Ezra

___Ezra chapter 1 1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, so that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah would be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, and he said, 2 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, the Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has commanded me to build a house for him at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) that is in Jerusalem. 4 And whoever remains in any place where he's visiting, let the men of that place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem." 5 Then the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin rose up, and the priests, and the Levites, with all of those whose spirit God had stirred up, to go up to build the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. 6 And all of those who were around them strengthened their hands with containers of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered. 7 Also Cyrus the king brought the containers of the house of the Lord, that Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods, 8 Those did Cyrus king of Persia bring out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. 9 And this is the number of them, thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, twenty nine knives, 10 Thirty basins of gold, silver basins of a second kind four hundred ten, and a thousand other containers. 11 All the containers of gold and of silver were five thousand four hundred. Sheshbazzar brought all these up with those of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

___Ezra chapter 2 1 Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and went back to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city, 2 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel, 3 The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy two. 4 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy two. 5 The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy five. 6 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve. 7 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty four. 8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty five. 9 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty. 10 The children of Bani, six hundred forty two. 11 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty three. 12 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty two. 13 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty six. 14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty six. 15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty four. 16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety eight. 17 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty three. 18 The children of Jorah, an hundred twelve. 19 The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty three. 20 The children of Gibbar, ninety five. 21 The children of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty three. 22 The men of Netophah, fifty six. 23 The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty eight. 24 The children of Azmaveth, forty two. 25 The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty three. 26 The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty one. 27 The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty two. 28 The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty three. 29 The children of Nebo, fifty two. 30 The children of Magbish, one hundred fifty six. 31 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty four. 32 The children of Harim, three hundred twenty. 33 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty five. 34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty five. 35 The children of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty. 36 The priests, the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy three. 37 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty two. 38 The children of Pashur, one thousand two hundred forty seven. 39 The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen. 40 The Levites, the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy four. 41 The singers, the children of Asaph, one hundred twenty eight. 42 The children of the porters, the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty nine. 43 The Nethinims, the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 44 The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon, 45 The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub, 46 The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan, 47 The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, 48 The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, 49 The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, 50 The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim, 51 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 52 The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 53 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah, 54 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 55 The children of Solomon's servants, the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda, 56 The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 57 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami. 58 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety two. 59 And these were those who went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they couldn't show their father's house, and their descendants, whether they were of Israel, 60 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty two. 61 And of the children of the priests, the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name, 62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they weren't found, therefore they were, as polluted, put from the priesthood. 63 And the Tirshatha said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, 'til there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim. 64 The whole congregation together was forty two thousand three hundred sixty, 65 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty seven, and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women. 66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty six, their mules, two hundred forty five, 67 Their camels, four hundred thirty five, their asses, six thousand seven hundred twenty. 68 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord that is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in its place, 69 They gave after their ability to the treasure of the work sixty one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priest's garments. 70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

___Ezra chapter 3 1 And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God. 3 And they set the altar on its bases, for fear was on them because of the people of those countries, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4 They also kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of each day required, 5 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of everyone that willingly offered a freewill offering to the Lord. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord had not yet been laid. 7 They gave money also to the masons, and to the carpenters, and food, and drink, and oil to those of Zidon, and to those of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia. 8 Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all of those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and older, began to set forward the work of the house of the Lord. 9 Then Jeshua stood with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God, the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites. 10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks to the Lord, because he is good, for his mercy endures forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord had been laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, cried with a loud voice, and many shouted out loud for joy, 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the crying of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard far off.

___Ezra chapter 4 1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built the temple to the Lord God of Israel, 2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God, like you do, and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, who brought us up here." 3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said to them, "You have nothing to do with us to build a house to our God, but we ourselves together will build to the Lord God of Israel, like king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us." 4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5 And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, until the rule of Darius king of Persia. 6 And in the rule of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his rule, they wrote to him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia, and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian language, and interpreted in the Syrian language. 8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king like this: 9 "Then Rehum the chancellor wrote, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, 10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side of the river, and at such a time. 11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent to him, to Artaxerxes the king, your servants the men on this side of the river, and at such a time. 12 Be it known to the king, that the Jews that came up from you to us have come to Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls of it, and joined the foundations. 13 Let it be known now to the king, that, if this city is built, and the walls set up again, then they won't pay toll, taxes, and custom, and so you shall damage the revenue of the kings. 14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not right for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore we've sent and certified to the king, 15 So that search can be made in the book of the records of your fathers, so you'll find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within it of old time, for which reason this city was destroyed. 16 We certify the king that, if this city is built again, and the walls of it set up, by this means you'll have no portion on this side of the river." 17 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that live in Samaria, and to the rest beyond the river, "Peace, and at such a time. 18 The letter that you sent us has been plainly read before me. 19 And I commanded, and search has been made, and it was found that this city of old time has made rebellion against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. 20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all countries beyond the river, and toll, taxes, and custom, were paid to them. 21 Now give commandment to cause these men to stop, and that this city not be built, until another commandment shall be given from me. 22 Take heed now that you don't fail to do this, why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?" 23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to stop by force and power. 24 Then the work of the house of God stopped that is at Jerusalem. So it stopped until the second year of the rule of Darius king of Persia.

___Ezra chapter 5 1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel rose up, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God that is at Jerusalem, and with them were the prophets of God helping them. 3 At the same time Tatnai came to them who was governor on this side of the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus to them, "Who has commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?" 4 Then we said to them after this manner, what are the names of the men that make this building? 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they could not cause them to stop, 'til the matter came to Darius, and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter. 6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were on this side of the river, sent to Darius the king, 7 They sent a letter to him that said, "To Darius the king, all peace. 8 Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, that's been built with large stones, and timber has been laid in the walls, and this work goes fast on, and prospers in their hands. 9 Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? 10 We asked their names also, to certify to you, so that we could write the names of their top men. 11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, we are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago, that a great king of Israel built and set up. 12 But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to anger, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. 13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. 14 And the containers also of gold and silver of the house of God, that Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, Cyrus the king took those out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to someone named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor, 15 And said to him, take these containers, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in his place. 16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundation of the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and since that time until now it has been being built, and yet it's not finished. 17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, that is there at Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."

___Ezra chapter 6 1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the scrolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a scroll, and in it was a record thus written, 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations of it be strongly laid, the height of it ninety feet, and the breadth of it ninety feet, 4 With three rows of large stones, and a row of new timber, and let the expenses be given out of the king's house, 5 And also let the gold and silver containers of the house of God, that Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought back to the temple that is at Jerusalem, each one to its place, and put them in the house of God. 6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the river, be far from there, 7 Let the work of this house of God alone, let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place. 8 Also I make a decree what you shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God, that from the king's goods, from the taxes beyond the river, expenses immediately be given to these men, so they're not hindered. 9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests that are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail, 10 So they can offer sacrifices of sweet savors to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11 Also I've made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hung on it, and let his house be made a manure pile for this. 12 And the God that has caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God that is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree, let it be done with speed." 13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, they did so speedily. 14 And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, that was in the sixth year of the rule of Darius the king. 16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, 17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses. 19 And the children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves. 21 And the children of Israel, who had come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel ate, 22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

___Ezra chapter 7 1 Now after these things, in the rule of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest, 6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given, and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God on him. 7 And some of the children of Israel went up, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him. 10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and judgments in Israel. 11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel. 12 "Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. 13 I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, that of their own free will, have it in their minds to go up to Jerusalem, go with you. 14 Since you are sent by the king, and by his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God that is in your hand, 15 And to carry the silver and gold, that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16 And all the silver and gold that you can find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God who is in Jerusalem, 17 So that you can buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God who is in Jerusalem. 18 And whatever shall seem good to you, and to your brothers, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that according to the will of your God. 19 The containers also that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver those before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatever more shall be necessary for the house of your God, that you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house. 21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers that are beyond the river, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, 22 Up to a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven, for why should there be anger against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 Also we certify you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, taxes, or custom, on them. 25 And you, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God, that is in your hand, set magistrates and judges, who'll judge all the people that are beyond the river, all knowledgeable in the laws of your God, and teach those who don't know them. 26 And whoever won't do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it's to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. 27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, 28 And has extended mercy to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

___Ezra chapter 8 1 These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the rule of Artaxerxes the king. 2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom, of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel, of the sons of David, Hattush. 3 Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh, Zechariah, and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty. 4 Of the sons of Pahathmoab, Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males. 5 Of the sons of Shechaniah, the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. 6 Of the sons also of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. 7 And of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. 8 And of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him eighty males. 9 Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred eighteen males. 10 And of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah, and with him one hundred sixty males. 11 And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty eight males. 12 And of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him one hundred ten males. 13 And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males. 14 Of the sons also of Bigvai, Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males. 15 And I gathered them together at the river that runs to Ahava, and we lived there in tents three days, and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. 16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men, also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding. 17 And I sent them with commandment to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say to Iddo, and to his brothers the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, so that they would bring us ministers for the house of our God. 18 And by the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen, 19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty, 20 Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred twenty Nethinims, all of them were expressed by name. 21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, so we could afflict ourselves before our God, to seek from him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is on all those for good who seek him, but his power and his anger is against all those who forsake him." 23 So we fasted and besought our God for this, and he was entreated by us. 24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them, 25 And weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the containers, the offering of the house of our God, that the king, and his counselors, and his lords, and all Israel that were present there, had offered, 26 I weighed to their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver containers a hundred talents, and of gold a hundred talents, 27 Also twenty basins of gold, of a thousand drams, and two containers of fine copper, precious as gold. 28 And I said to them, "You are holy to the Lord, the containers are holy also, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord God of your fathers. 29 Watch and keep them, until you weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the rooms of the house of the Lord." 30 So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the containers, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God. 31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem, and the hand of our God was on us, and he gave us deliverance from the hand of the enemy, and of those who laid in ambush by the road. 32 And we came to Jerusalem, and lived there three days. 33 Now on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the containers were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites, 34 By number and by weight of every one, and all the weight was written at that time. 35 Also the children of those that had been carried away, who had come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety six rams, seventy seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering, all this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 36 And they delivered the king's commissions to the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side of the river, and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

___Ezra chapter 9 1 Now when these things had been done, the princes came to me, saying, "The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their dirty things, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they've taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the people of those lands, yes, the princes and rulers are among the most guilty in this trespass." 3 And when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonished. 4 Then everyone that trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice. 5 And at the evening sacrifice I got up from my heaviness, and having torn my garment and my mantle, I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord my God, 6 And said, "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God, for our sins have increased over our head, and our trespass has grown up to the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass to this day, and for our sins we, our kings, and our priests, have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 8 And now for a little space grace has been showed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, so that our God will illuminate our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. 9 For we were bondmen, yet our God hasn't forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations of it, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. 10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 That you've commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, the land, to which you go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their dirty things, who have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness. 12 Now therefore don't give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth forever, so you'll be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever. 13 And after all that has come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that you our God have punished us less than our sins deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this, 14 Should we again break your commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these dirty things? Wouldn't you be angry with us 'til you had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant nor escaping? 15 O Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day, see, we are before you in our trespasses, for we can't stand before you because of this."

___Ezra chapter 10 1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a very great congregation of men and women and children assembled to him out of Israel, for the people cried very much. 2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, "We've trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land, yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. 3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and those who've been born from them, according to the advice of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the law. 4 Arise, for this matter belongs to you, we also will be with you, be of good courage, and do it." 5 Then Ezra got up, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. And they swore. 6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the room of Johanan the son of Eliashib, and when he came there, he didn't eat any bread, nor drink water, for he mourned because of the transgression of those who had been carried away. 7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem, 8 And that whoever wouldn't come within three days, according to the advice of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and he himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away. 9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month, and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. 10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, "You've transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. 11 Now therefore make confession to the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure, and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives." 12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, "As you've said, so we must do. 13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside, nor is this a work of one day or two, for we are many who have transgressed in this thing. 14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all those who've taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges of them, until the fierce anger of our God for this matter has turned from us." 15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. 16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. 17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month. 18 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives, specifically, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives, and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass. 20 And of the sons of Immer, Hanani, and Zebadiah. 21 And of the sons of Harim, Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. 22 And of the sons of Pashur, Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah. 23 Also of the Levites, Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 24 Of the singers also, Eliashib, and of the porters, Shallum, and Telem, and Uri. 25 Also of Israel, of the sons of Parosh, Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah. 26 And of the sons of Elam, Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah. 27 And of the sons of Zattu, Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza. 28 Of the sons also of Bebai, Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. 29 And of the sons of Bani, Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth. 30 And of the sons of Pahathmoab, Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh. 31 And of the sons of Harim, Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah. 33 Of the sons of Hashum, Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. 34 Of the sons of Bani, Maadai, Amram, and Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau, 38 And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei, 39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. 43 Of the sons of Nebo, Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah. 44 All these had taken strange wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

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