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Ezra 1
1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the LORD stirred
up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia so that the word of the LORD by the
mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, so that he made a proclamation throughout
all his kingdom and also put it in writing, saying, 2Thus
says Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms
of the earth; and he has charged me to build a house for him at Jerusalem,
which is in Judah. 3Who 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,) which is in Jerusalem. 4And who
ever remains in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place help
him with silver and with gold and with goods and with animals, beside the
freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
5Then the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin rose up and
the priests and the Levites, with all those whose spirit God had
raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.
6And all those who were about them strengthened their
hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods and with animals and
with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered. 7Also
Cyrus the king brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD, which
Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem and had put them in the house
of his gods; 8Even those Cyrus king of Persia brought out by the
hand of Mithredath the treasurer and numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the prince
of Judah. 9And this is the number of them: thirty chargers
of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, twenty nine knives,
10Thirty basins of gold, four hundred ten silver basins of a second
sort, and a thousand. other vessels 11All the
vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand four hundred. All
these Sheshbazzar brought up with them of the captivity
who were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
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Chapter 2
1Now these are the children of the province who 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 came again to Jerusalem
and Judah, every one to his city; 2Who came with Zerubbabel: Joshua,
Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3The children of
Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy two. 4The children of
Shephatiah, three hundred seventy two. 5The children of Arah,
seven hundred seventy five. 6The children of Pahathmoab, of the
children of Joshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve.
7The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty four.
8The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty five. 9The
children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty. 10The children of Bani,
six hundred forty two. 11The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty
three. 12The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty
two. 13The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty six.
14The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty six. 15The
children of Adin, four hundred fifty four. 16The children of Ater
of Hezekiah, ninety eight. 17The children of Bezai, three hundred
twenty three. 18The children of Jorah, one hundred twelve.
19The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty three.
20The children of Gibbar, ninety five. 21The children
of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty three. 22The men of Netophah,
fifty six. 23The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty eight.
24The children of Azmaveth, forty two. 25The children
of Kirjatharim, Chephirah and Beeroth, seven hundred forty three.
26The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty one.
27The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty two. 28The
men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty three. 29The children
of Nebo, fifty two. 30The children of Magbish, one hundred fifty
six. 31The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred
fifty four. 32The children of Harim, three hundred twenty.
33The children of Lod, Hadid and Ono, seven hundred twenty five.
34The children of Jericho, three hundred forty five.
35The children of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty.
36The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Joshua,
nine hundred seventy three. 37The children of Immer, one thousand
fifty two. 38The children of Pashur, one thousand two hundred
forty seven. 39The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen.
40The Levites: the children of Joshua and Kadmiel, of the children
of Hodaviah, seventy four. 41The singers: the children of Asaph,
pne hundred twenty eight. 42The 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. 43The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the
children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 44The children
of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon, 45The
children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
46The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children
of Hanan, 47The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the
children of Reaiah, 48The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
the children of Gazzam, 49The children of Uzza, the children of
Paseah, the children of Besai, 50The children of Asnah, the children
of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim, 51The children of Bakbuk,
the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 52The children
of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 53The
children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,
54The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
55The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the
children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda, 56The children
of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 57The
children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth
of Zebaim, the children of Ami. 58All the Nethinims and the children
of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety
two. 59And these were they who went up from Telmelah,
Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not show their
father's house and their seed, whether they were of Israel:
60The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children
of Nekoda, six hundred fifty two. 61And 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
after their name: 62These sought their register among
those who were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore
they were put from the priesthood as polluted.
63And the Tirshatha said to them, that they should not eat of
the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.
64The whole congregation together was forty two thousand
three hundred sixty, 65Beside 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.
66Their horses were seven hundred thirty six; their mules,
two hundred forty five; 67Their camels, four hundred thirty five;
their asses, six thousand seven hundred twenty. 68And
some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of
the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of
God to set it up in his place: 69They 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 priests' garments. 70So the priests
and the Levites and some of the people and the singers and the porters
and the Nethinims, dwelled in their cities and all Israel in their cities.
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Chapter 3
1And when the seventh month was come and the children of Israel
were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one
man to Jerusalem. 2Then Joshua 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. 3And
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, even burnt offerings morning and evening. 4They
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 every day required; 5And 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 every one who willingly offered
a freewill offering to the LORD. 6From 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 was not yet laid. 7They gave
money also to the masons and to the carpenters; and meat and drink and oil,
to them of Sidon and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to
the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
8Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at
Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua
the son of Jozadak and the remnant of their brothers the priests and the
Levites and all they who were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem began
to set forward the work of the house of the LORD and appointed the Levites,
from twenty years old and upward. 9Then Joshua 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. 10And
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.
11And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks
to the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy toward Israel endures
for ever. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised
the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
12But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers,
who were ancient men, who had seen the first house, when the foundation
of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many
shouted aloud for joy: 13So that the people could not discern
the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people:
for the people shouted with a loud shout and the noise was heard far off.
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Chapter 4
1Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the
children of the captivity built the temple to the LORD God of Israel;
2Then 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, as you do; and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esarhaddon
king of Assur, who brought us up here. 3But Zerubbabel and Joshua
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, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has
commanded us. 4Then the people of the land weakened the hands
of the people of Judah and troubled them in building, 5And hired
counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus
king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign,
they wrote an accusation to him against the inhabitants of Judah
and Jerusalem. 7And 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 tongue and
interpreted in the Syrian tongue. 8Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai
the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this
sort: 9Then 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, 10And 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 the river and at
such a time. 11This is the copy of the letter that they
sent to him, even to Artaxerxes the king; Your servants the men
on this side the river and at such a time. 12Be it known to the
king, that the Jews who came up from you to us are come to Jerusalem, building
the rebellious and the bad city and have set up its walls and joined the
foundations. 13Be it known now to the king, that, if this city
is built and the walls set up again, then they will not pay toll,
tribute and custom and you shall damage the revenue of the kings.
14Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace
and it was not fitting for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore we have
sent and certified the king; 15That search may be made in the
book of the records of your fathers: and you shall 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 the same
of old time: for which cause this city was destroyed. 16We certify
the king that, if this city is built again and its walls set up,
by this means you shall have no portion on this side the river.
17Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor
and to Shimshai the scribe and to the rest of their companions
who dwell in Samaria and to the rest beyond the river, Peace and
at such a time. 18The letter which you sent to us has been plainly
read before me. 19And I commanded and search has been made and
it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings
and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. 20There
have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all
countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute and custom, was paid
to them. 21Now give commandment to cause these men to cease and
that this city not be built, until another commandment shall be
given from me. 22Take heed now that you do not fail to do this:
why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 23Now 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 cease by force and power. 24Then the work of
the house of God who is at Jerusalem ceased. So it ceased to the
second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
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Chapter 5
1Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of
Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in
the name of the God of Israel, even to them. 2Then Zerubbabel
the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build
the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and the prophets of God
were with them helping them.
3At the same time Tatnai, governor on this side the river came
to them and Shetharboznai, and their companions and said thus to them, Who
has commanded you to build this house and to make up this wall?
4Then we said to them after this manner, What are the names of
the men who make this building? 5But the eye of their God was
on the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till
the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning
this matter. 6The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor
on this side the river and Shetharboznai and his companions the Apharsachites,
who were on this side the river, sent to Darius the king:
7They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus; to Darius
the king, all peace. 8Be it known to the king, that we went into
the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is built with
great stones and timber is laid in the walls and this work goes on fast and
prospers in their hands. 9Then we asked those elders, and
said to them thus, Who commanded you to build this house and to make up these
walls? 10We asked their names also, to certify you, that we might
write the names of the men who were the chief of them.
11And 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, which a great king of Israel built and set up. 12But
after that 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. 13But in
the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus
made a decree to build this house of God. 14And also the vessels
of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of
the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought them into the temple
of Babylon, those Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon and they
were delivered to one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom
he had made governor; 15And said to him, Take these vessels, go,
carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem and let the house
of God be built in its place. 16Then the same Sheshbazzar came,
and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in
Jerusalem: and since that time even until now it has been in building and
yet it is not finished. 17Now therefore, if it seems
good to the king, let a search be made in the king's treasure house, which
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.
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Chapter 6
1Then Darius the king made a decree and search was made in the
house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is
in the province of the Medes, a roll and in it was a record thus
written: 3In 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 its
foundations be strongly laid; its height sixty cubits, and its breadth
sixty cubits; 4With three rows of great stones and a
row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:
5And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God,
which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which was at Jerusalem
and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple which
is at Jerusalem, every one to his place and place
them in the house of God. 6Now therefore, Tatnai,
governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai and your companions the Apharsachites,
who are beyond the river, get far from there: 7Let 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. 8Also I make
a decree of what you shall do to the elders of these Jews for building this
house of God: that expenses be given quickly to these men, of the king's
goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, so that they are not
hindered. 9And 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 who
are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:
10So that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savors to the God
of heaven and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.
11Also I have made a decree, that who ever shall alter this word,
let a timber be pulled down from his house and being set up, let him be hanged
on it; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. 12And the
God who has caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people,
who shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of
God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be
done with speed.
13Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai
and their companions, according to that which Darius
the king had sent, so they did speedily. 14And 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.
15And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar,
which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16And
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,
17And 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 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18And 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. 19And the children of the
captivity kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
20For 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.
21And the children of Israel, who were 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,
22And 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.
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Chapter 7
1Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia,
Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar,
the son of Aaron the chief priest: 6This 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. 7And some of
the children of Israel and of the priests and the Levites and the singers
and the porters and the Nethinims went up, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year
of Artaxerxes the king. 8And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth
month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9For
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. 10For Ezra had prepared his
heart to seek the law of the LORD and to do it and to teach in Israel
statutes and judgments.
11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes
gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words
of the commandments of the LORD and of his statutes to Israel.
12Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the
law of the God of heaven, perfect peace and at such a time.
13I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel and
of theit priests and Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their
own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with you. 14Forasmuch as
you are sent by the king and by his seven counselors, to enquire concerning
Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in
your hand; 15And to carry the silver and gold, which the king
and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation
is in Jerusalem, 16And 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
which is in Jerusalem: 17That you may speedily buy 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 which
is in Jerusalem. 18And what ever shall seem good to you
and to your brothers, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that
do after the will of your God. 19The vessels also that are given
you for the service of the house of your God, deliver those before
the God of Jerusalem. 20And what ever more shall be needful for
the house of your God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow
it out of the king's treasure house. 21And I,
even I Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers
who are beyond the river, that what ever Ezra the priest, the scribe
of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, let it be done speedily,
22To 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. 23What ever 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? 24Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests
and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God,
it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, on them.
25And you, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God, that is
in your hand, set magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who
are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of your God; and
teach them who do not know them. 26And whoever will not
do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed
speedily on him, whether it is to death, or to banishment, or to
confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27Blessed 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 which is in Jerusalem: 28And 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.
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Chapter 8
1These now are the chief of their fathers and this
is the genealogy of them who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign
of Artaxerxes the king. 2Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of
the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush. 3Of
the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were
reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty. 4Of the
sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah and with him two hundred
males. 5Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel and with
him three hundred males. 6Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son
of Jonathan and with him fifty males. 7And of the sons of Elam;
Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah and with him seventy males. 8And
of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael and with him eighty
males. 9Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel and with
him two hundred eighteen males. 10And of the sons of Shelomith;
the son of Josiphiah and with him one hundred sixty males. 11And
of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai and with him twenty eight
males. 12And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan
and with him one hundred ten males. 13And of the last sons of
Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel and Shemaiah and
with them sixty males. 14Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai and
Zabbud and with them seventy males. 15And I gathered them together
to the river that runs to Ahava; and there we abode in tents three days:
and I viewed the people and the priests and found none of the sons of Levi
there. 16Then I sent 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. 17And 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, that they
should bring to us ministers for the house of our God. 18And 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; 19And Hashabiah and with
him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty;
20Also 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.
21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that
we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for
us and for our little ones and for all our substance. 22For 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 for good on all those who seek him; but his
power and his anger is against all those who forsake him.
23So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated
of us.
24Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah,
Hashabiah and ten of their brothers with them, 25And weighed the
silver and the gold to them and the vessels, even the offering of
the house of our God, which the king and his counselors and his lords and
all Israel there present, had offered: 26I even weighed
to their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver and silver vessels a hundred
talents, and a hundred talents of gold; 27Also twenty
basins of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious
as gold. 28And I said to them, you are holy to the LORD;
the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are
a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers. 29Watch and
keep them, until you weigh them before the chief of the
priests and the Levites and chief of the fathers of Israel, in the chambers
of the house of the LORD at Jerusalem. 30So the priests and the
Levites took the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring
them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.
31Then 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 delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and from such
as lay in wait by the way. 32And we came to Jerusalem and abode
there three days. 33Now on the fourth day the silver and the gold
and the vessels was 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 Joshua and Noadiah
the son of Binnui, Levites; 34By number and by weight
of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.
35Also the children of those who had been carried away,
who were 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 male goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt
offering to the LORD. 36And they delivered the king's commissions
to the king's lieutenants and to the governors on this side the river: and
they furthered the people and the house of God.
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Chapter 9
1Now when these things were 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
abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites,
the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Amorites.
2For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for
their sons: so that the holy seed has mingled themselves with the people
of those lands: yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been
chief in this trespass. 3And 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. 4Then every one who trembled at the words
of the God of Israel were assembled to me, because of the transgression of
those who had been carried away; and I sat astonished until the evening
sacrifice.
5And at the evening sacrifice I arose 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, 6And said, O my God, I am ashamed and
blush to lift up my face to you, my God: for our iniquities are increased
over our head and our trespass is grown up to the heavens.
7Since the days of our fathers we have been
in a great trespass to this day; and for our iniquities and our kings,
and our priests, we have been delivered 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. 8And now for a little space
grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant
to escape and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten
our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage. 9For we
were bondmen; yet our God has not 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 its desolations
and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. 10And now, O
our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken your commandments,
11Which you have 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 abominations, which have filled it
from one end to another with their uncleanness. 12Now therefore
do not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your
sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that you may be strong
and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to
your children for ever. 13And after all that is come on us for
our evil deeds and for our great trespass, seeing that you our God have punished
us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such
deliverance as this; 14Should we again break your commandments
and join in affinity with the people in these abominations? would you not
be angry with us till you had consumed us, so that there should
be no remnant nor escaping? 15O LORD God of Israel, you are
righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold,
we are before you in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before
you because of this.
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Chapter 10
1Now when Ezra had prayed and when he had confessed, weeping and
casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled to him out
of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the
people wept very sore. 2And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel,
one of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have trespassed
against our God and have taken foreign wives of the people of the land: yet
now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. 3Now therefore
let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives and such as
are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble
at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
4Arise; for this matter belongs to you: we also
will be with you: be of good courage and do it.
5Then Ezra arose and made the chief priests, the Levites and all
Israel swear that they should do according to this word. And they swore.
6Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God and went into
the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came there,
he did not eat bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the
transgression of those who had been carried away. 7And they made
proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity,
that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem; 8And
that whoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of
the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited and he
himself separated from the congregation of those who had been carried away.
9Then 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.
10And Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, you have
transgressed and have taken foreign wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
11Now therefore make a confession to the LORD God of your fathers
and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land
and from the foreign wives. 12Then all the congregation answered
and said with a loud voice, As you have said, so we must do. 13But
the people are many and it is a time of much rain and we
are not able to stand outside, neither is this a work of one day
or two: for we are many who have transgressed in this thing. 14Let
our rulers of all the congregatio nown stand and let all them who have taken
foreign wives in our cities come at appointed times and with them the elders
of every city and its judges, until the fierce anger of our God for this
matter is turned from us.
15Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah
were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the
Levite helped them. 16And 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 in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
17And they made an end with all the men who had taken foreign
wives by the first day of the first month. 18And among the sons
of the priests there were found those who had taken foreign wives:
namely, of the sons of Joshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers;
Maaseiah and Eliezer and Jarib and Gedaliah. 19And they gave their
hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they
offered a ram of the flock for their trespass. 20And of the
sons of Immer; Hanani and Zebadiah. 21And of the sons of Harim;
Maaseiah, and Elijah and Shemaiah and Jehiel and Uzziah. 22And
of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad and
Elasah. 23Also of the Levites; Jozabad and Shimei and Kelaiah,
(the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer. 24Of
the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum and Telem and Uri.
25Also of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah and Jeziah and
Malchiah and Miamin and Eleazar and Malchijah and Benaiah. 26And
of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah and Jehiel and Abdi and Jeremoth
and Eliah. 27And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah
and Jeremoth and Zabad and Aziza. 28Of the sons also of Bebai;
Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. 29And of the
sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch and Adaiah, Jashub and Sheal and Ramoth.
30And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah,
Mattaniah, Bezaleel and Binnui and Manasseh. 31And of
the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah. 33Of the
sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh,
and Shimei. 34Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram and
Uel, 35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh, 36Vaniah, Meremoth,
Eliashib, 37Mattaniah, Mattenai and Jaasau, 38And Bani,
and Binnui, Shimei, 39And Shelemiah and Nathan and Adaiah,
40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41Azareel, and Shelemiah,
Shemariah, 42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau
and Joel, Benaiah. 44All these had taken foreign wives: and
some of them had wives by whom they had children.
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