Read Through the Bible: Ezra

[janbear]

Ezra 1
Cyrus's Proclamation
1(A)Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he (B)sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:
2"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and (C)He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

3'Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; (D)He is the God who is in Jerusalem.

4'Every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.'"

Holy Vessels Restored
5Then the heads of fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, (E)even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.
6All those about them (F)encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle and with valuables, aside from all that was given as a freewill offering.

7(G)Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, (H)which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods;

8and Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and he counted them out to (I)Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.

9Now this was their number: 30 (J)gold dishes, 1,000 silver dishes, 29 duplicates;

1030 gold bowls, 410 silver bowls of a second kind and 1,000 other articles.

11All the articles of gold and silver numbered 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought them all up with the exiles who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

Cross references:

Ezra 1:1 : 2 Chr 36:22; Jer 25:12; 29:10
Ezra 1:1 : Ezra 5:13
Ezra 1:2 : Is 44:28; 45:1, 12, 13
Ezra 1:3 : 1 Kin 8:23; 18:39; Is 37:16; Dan 6:26
Ezra 1:5 : Ezra 1:1, 2
Ezra 1:6 : Neh 6:9; Is 35:3
Ezra 1:7 : Ezra 5:14; 6:5
Ezra 1:7 : 2 Kin 24:13; 2 Chr 36:7
Ezra 1:8 : Ezra 5:14
Ezra 1:9 : Ezra 8:27

[admin]

Ezra 2
The List of the Exiles Who Returned
1 Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, 2 in company with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah):
The list of the men of the people of Israel:

3 the descendants of Parosh 2,172

4 of Shephatiah 372

5 of Arah 775

6 of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) 2,812

7 of Elam 1,254

8 of Zattu 945

9 of Zaccai 760

10 of Bani 642

11 of Bebai 623

12 of Azgad 1,222

13 of Adonikam 666

14 of Bigvai 2,056

15 of Adin 454

16 of Ater (through Hezekiah) 98

17 of Bezai 323

18 of Jorah 112

19 of Hashum 223

20 of Gibbar 95

21 the men of Bethlehem 123

22 of Netophah 56

23 of Anathoth 128

24 of Azmaveth 42

25 of Kiriath Jearim, [a] Kephirah and Beeroth 743

26 of Ramah and Geba 621

27 of Micmash 122

28 of Bethel and Ai 223

29 of Nebo 52

30 of Magbish 156

31 of the other Elam 1,254

32 of Harim 320

33 of Lod, Hadid and Ono 725

34 of Jericho 345

35 of Senaah 3,630

36 The priests:
the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) 973

37 of Immer 1,052

38 of Pashhur 1,247

39 of Harim 1,017

40 The Levites:
the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the line of Hodaviah) 74

41 The singers:
the descendants of Asaph 128

42 The gatekeepers of the temple:
the descendants of
Shallum, Ater, Talmon,
Akkub, Hatita and Shobai 139

43 The temple servants:
the descendants of
Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

44 Keros, Siaha, Padon,

45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,

46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,

47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,

48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,

49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai,

50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephussim,

51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,

52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,

53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,

54 Neziah and Hatipha

55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:
the descendants of
Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,

56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,

57 Shephatiah, Hattil,
Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami

58 The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon 392

59 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:

60 The descendants of
Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda 652

61 And from among the priests:
The descendants of
Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).

62 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 63 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.

64 The whole company numbered 42,360, 65 besides their 7,337 menservants and maidservants; and they also had 200 men and women singers. 66 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 67 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

68 When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas [b] of gold, 5,000 minas [c] of silver and 100 priestly garments.

70 The priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.

[janbear]

Ezra 3
Altar and Sacrifices Restored
1Now when the seventh month came, and (A)the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem.
2Then (B)Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and (C)Zerubbabel the son (D)of Shealtiel and his brothers arose and (E)built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, (F)as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.

3So they set up the altar on its foundation, for (G)they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands; and they (H)offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening.

4They celebrated the (I)Feast of [a]Booths, (J)as it is written, and offered the fixed number of burnt offerings daily, (K)according to the ordinance, as each day required;

5and afterward there was a (L)continual burnt offering, also (M)for the new moons and (N)for all the fixed festivals of the LORD that were consecrated, and from everyone who 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 had not been laid.

7Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and (O)food, drink and oil to the Sidonians and to the Tyrians, (P)to bring cedar wood from Lebanon to the sea at (Q)Joppa, according to the permission they had from (R)Cyrus king of Persia.

Temple Restoration Begun
8Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem in the second month, (S)Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and (T)appointed the Levites from twenty years and older to oversee the work of the house of the LORD.
9Then (U)Jeshua with his sons and brothers stood united with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah and the sons of Henadad with their sons and brothers the Levites, to oversee the workmen in the temple of God.

10Now when the builders had (V)laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD (W)according to the directions of King David of Israel.

11(X)They sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, "(Y)For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever." 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.

12Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' households, (Z)the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,

13so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.

Footnotes:

Ezra 3:4 Or Tabernacles

Cross references:
Ezra 3:1 : Neh 7:73; 8:1
Ezra 3:2 : Neh 12:1, 8
Ezra 3:2 : Ezra 2:2; Hag 1:1; 2:2
Ezra 3:2 : 1 Chr 3:17
Ezra 3:2 : Ex 27:1
Ezra 3:2 : Deut 12:5, 6
Ezra 3:3 : Ezra 4:4
Ezra 3:3 : Num 28:2
Ezra 3:4 : Neh 8:14; Zech 14:16
Ezra 3:4 : Ex 23:16
Ezra 3:4 : Num 29:12
Ezra 3:5 : Ex 29:38; Num 28:3
Ezra 3:5 : Num 28:11
Ezra 3:5 : Num 29:39
Ezra 3:7 : 2 Chr 2:10; Acts 12:20
Ezra 3:7 : 2 Chr 2:16
Ezra 3:7 : Acts 9:36
Ezra 3:7 : Ezra 1:2; 6:3
Ezra 3:8 : Ezra 3:2; 4:3
Ezra 3:8 : 1 Chr 23:4, 24
Ezra 3:9 : Ezra 2:40
Ezra 3:10 : Zech 4:6-10
Ezra 3:10 : 1 Chr 6:31; 25:1
Ezra 3:11 : 2 Chr 7:3; Neh 12:24, 40
Ezra 3:11 : 1 Chr 16:34; 2 Chr 5:13; Ps 100:5; 106:1; 107:1; 118:1; 131:1; Jer 33:11
Ezra 3:12 : Hag 2:3

[admin]

Ezra 4
Opposition to the Rebuilding
1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, 2 they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, "Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."

3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, "You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us."

4 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. [a] 5 They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes
6 At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, [b] they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language. [c] , [d]

8 Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:

9 Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary, together with the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over the men from Tripolis, Persia, [e] Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa, 10 and the other people whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal [f] deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates.

11 (This is a copy of the letter they sent him.)
To King Artaxerxes,
From your servants, the men of Trans-Euphrates:

12 The king should know that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations.

13 Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty will be paid, and the royal revenues will suffer. 14 Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king, 15 so that a search may be made in the archives of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place of rebellion from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. 16 We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.

17 The king sent this reply:
To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates:
Greetings.

18 The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence. 19 I issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition. 20 Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them. 21 Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. 22 Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests?

23 As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.

24 Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Footnotes:

1. Ezra 4:4 Or and troubled them as they built
2. Ezra 4:6 Hebrew Ahasuerus , a variant of Xerxes' Persian name
3. Ezra 4:7 Or written in Aramaic and translated
4. Ezra 4:7 The text of Ezra 4:8-6:18 is in Aramaic.
5. Ezra 4:9 Or officials, magistrates and governors over the men from
6. Ezra 4:10 Aramaic Osnappar , a variant of Ashurbanipal

[admin]

Ezra 5
Tattenai's Letter to Darius
1 Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them.

3 At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?" 4 They also asked, "What are the names of the men constructing this building?" [a] 5 But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates, the officials of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius. 7 The report they sent him read as follows:
To King Darius:
Cordial greetings.

8 The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction.

9 We questioned the elders and asked them, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?" 10 We also asked them their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.

11 This is the answer they gave us:
"We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But because our fathers angered the God of heaven, he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.

13 "However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. 14 He even removed from the temple [b] of Babylon the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple [c] in Babylon.
"Then King Cyrus gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor, 15 and he told him, 'Take these articles and go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem. And rebuild the house of God on its site.' 16 So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished."

17 Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

Footnotes:

1. Ezra 5:4 See Septuagint; Aramaic 4 We told them the names of the men constructing this building.
2. Ezra 5:14 Or palace
3. Ezra 5:14 Or palace

[janbear]

Ezra 6
Darius Finds Cyrus's Decree
1Then King Darius issued a decree, and (A)search was made in the [a]archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon.
2In [b]Ecbatana in the fortress, which is (B)in the province of Media, a scroll was found and there was written in it as follows: "Memorandum--

3"(C)In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king issued a decree: 'Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the temple, the place where sacrifices are offered, be rebuilt and let its foundations be retained, its height being 60 cubits and its width 60 cubits;

4(D)with three layers of huge stones and one layer of timbers. And let the cost be paid from the royal treasury.

5'Also let (E)the gold and silver utensils of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be returned and brought to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; and you shall put them in the house of God.'

6"Now therefore, (F)Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai and your colleagues, the officials of the provinces beyond the River, keep away from there.

7"Leave this work on the house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site.

8"Moreover, (G)I issue a decree concerning what you are to do for these elders of Judah in the rebuilding of this house of God: the full cost is to be paid to these people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the River, and that without delay.

9"Whatever is needed, both young bulls, rams, and lambs for a burnt offering to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and anointing oil, as the priests in Jerusalem request, it is to be given to them daily without fail,

10that they may offer [c]acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and (H)pray for the life of the king and his sons.

11"And I issued a decree that (I)any man who violates this edict, a timber shall be drawn from his house and he shall be impaled on it and (J)his house shall be made a refuse heap on account of this.

12"May the God who (K)has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who attempts to change it, so as to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree, let it be carried out with all diligence!"

The Temple Completed and Dedicated
13Then (L)Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues carried out the decree with all diligence, just as King Darius had sent.
14And (M)the elders of the Jews were successful in building through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo And they finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decree (N)of Cyrus, (O)Darius, and (P)Artaxerxes king of Persia.

15This temple was completed on the third day of the (Q)month Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

16And the sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles, (R)celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.

17They offered for the dedication of this temple of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel (S)12 male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel.

18Then they appointed the priests to (T)their divisions and the Levites in (U)their orders for the service of God in Jerusalem, (V)as it is written in the book of Moses.

The Passover Observed
19(W)The exiles observed the Passover on (X)the fourteenth of the first month.
20(Y)For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure Then (Z)they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, both for their brothers the priests and for themselves.

21The sons of Israel who returned from exile and (AA)all those who had separated themselves from (AB)the impurity of the nations of the land to join them, to seek the LORD God of Israel, ate the Passover.

22And (AC)they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had caused them to rejoice, and (AD)had turned the heart of (AE)the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Footnotes:

Ezra 6:1 Lit house of the books
Ezra 6:2 Aram Achmetha
Ezra 6:10 Lit pleasing; or sweet-smelling sacrifices

Cross references:
Ezra 6:1 : Ezra 5:17
Ezra 6:2 : 2 Kin 17:6
Ezra 6:3 : Ezra 1:1; 5:13
Ezra 6:4 : 1 Kin 6:36
Ezra 6:5 : Ezra 1:7; 5:14
Ezra 6:6 : Ezra 5:3; 6:13
Ezra 6:8 : Ezra 6:4; 7:14-22
Ezra 6:10 : Ezra 7:23; Jer 29:7; 1 Tim 2:1, 2
Ezra 6:11 : Ezra 7:26
Ezra 6:11 : Dan 2:5; 3:29
Ezra 6:12 : Deut 12:5, 11; 1 Kin 9:3
Ezra 6:13 : Ezra 6:6
Ezra 6:14 : Ezra 5:1, 2
Ezra 6:14 : Ezra 1:1; 5:13
Ezra 6:14 : Ezra 4:24; 6:12
Ezra 6:14 : Ezra 7:1
Ezra 6:15 : Esth 3:7
Ezra 6:16 : 1 Kin 8:63; 2 Chr 7:5
Ezra 6:17 : Ezra 8:35
Ezra 6:18 : 1 Chr 24:1; 2 Chr 35:5
Ezra 6:18 : 1 Chr 23:6
Ezra 6:18 : Num 3:6; 8:9
Ezra 6:19 : Ezra 1:11
Ezra 6:19 : Ex 12:6
Ezra 6:20 : 2 Chr 29:34; 30:15
Ezra 6:20 : 2 Chr 35:11
Ezra 6:21 : Neh 9:2; 10:28
Ezra 6:21 : Ezra 9:11
Ezra 6:22 : Ex 12:15
Ezra 6:22 : Ezra 7:27; Prov 21:1
Ezra 6:22 : Ezra 1:1; 6:1

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Ezra 7
Ezra Comes to Jerusalem
1 After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra 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 came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. 7 Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
King Artaxerxes' Letter to Ezra
11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest and teacher, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the LORD for Israel:

12 [a] Artaxerxes, king of kings,
To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven:
Greetings.

13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who wish to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. 14 You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. 15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 together with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem. 17 With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.

18 You and your brother Jews may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. 19 Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. 20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you may have occasion to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.

21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, order all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you- 22 up to a hundred talents [b] of silver, a hundred cors [c] of wheat, a hundred baths [d] of wine, a hundred baths [e] of olive oil, and salt without limit. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and of his sons? 24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.

25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

27 Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Footnotes:

1. Ezra 7:12 The text of Ezra 7:12-26 is in Aramaic.
2. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 3 3/4 tons (about 3.4 metric tons)
3. Ezra 7:22 That is, probably about 600 bushels (about 22 kiloliters)
4. Ezra 7:22 That is, probably about 600 gallons (about 2.2 kiloliters)
5. Ezra 7:22 That is, probably about 600 gallons (about 2.2 kiloliters)

[janbear]

Ezra 8
People Who Went with Ezra
1Now these are the heads of their fathers' households and the genealogical enrollment of those who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of King Artaxerxes:
2of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, (A)Hattush;

3of the sons of Shecaniah who was of the sons of (B)Parosh, Zechariah and with him 150 males who were in the genealogical list;

4of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah and 200 males with him;

5of the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel and 300 males with him;

6and of the sons of (C)Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan and 50 males with him;

7and of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah and 70 males with him;

8and of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael and 80 males with him;

9of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel and 218 males with him;

10and of the sons of Bani, Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah and 160 males with him;

11and of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai and 28 males with him;

12and of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan and 110 males with him;

13and of the sons of Adonikam, the last ones, these being their names, Eliphelet, Jeuel and Shemaiah, and 60 males with them;

14and of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, and 70 males with them.

Ezra Sends for Levites
15Now I assembled them at (D)the river that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days; and when I observed the people and the priests, I (E)did not find any Levites there.
16So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, teachers.

17I sent them to Iddo the leading man at the place Casiphia; and I told them what to say to Iddo and his brothers, (F)the temple servants at the place Casiphia, that is, to bring ministers to us for the house of our God.

18(G)According to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a (H)man of insight of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, and his sons and brothers, 18 men;

19and Hashabiah and Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 men;

20and 220 of (I)the temple servants, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, all of them designated by name.

Protection of God Invoked
21Then I proclaimed (J)a fast there at (K)the river of Ahava, that we might (L)humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.
22For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, "(M)The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but (N)His power and His anger are against all those who (O)forsake Him."

23So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He (P)listened to our entreaty.

24Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, (Q)Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and with them ten of their brothers;

25and I (R)weighed out to them (S)the silver, the gold and the utensils, the offering for the house of our God which the king and (T)his counselors and his princes and all Israel present there had offered.

26(U)Thus I weighed into their hands 650 talents of silver, and silver utensils worth 100 talents, and 100 gold talents,

27and 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 darics, and two utensils of fine shiny bronze, precious as gold.

28Then I said to them, "(V)You are holy to the LORD, and the (W)utensils are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.

29"Watch and keep them (X)until you weigh them before the leading priests, the Levites and the heads of the fathers' households of Israel at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD."

30So the priests and the Levites (Y)accepted the weighed out silver and gold and the utensils, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

31Then we journeyed from (Z)the river Ahava on (AA)the twelfth of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and (AB)the hand of our God was over us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the ambushes by the way.

32(AC)Thus we came to Jerusalem and remained there three days.

Treasure Placed in the Temple
33On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the utensils (AD)were weighed out in the house of our God into the hand of (AE)Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui.
34Everything was numbered and weighed, and all the weight was recorded at that time.

35(AF)The exiles who had come from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: (AG)12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, 12 male goats for a sin offering, all as a burnt offering to the LORD.

36Then (AH)they delivered the king's edicts to (AI)the king's satraps and to the governors in the provinces beyond the River, and they supported the people and the house of God.

Cross references:

Ezra 8:2 : 1 Chr 3:22
Ezra 8:3 : Ezra 2:3
Ezra 8:6 : Ezra 2:15; Neh 7:20; 10:16
Ezra 8:15 : Ezra 8:21, 31
Ezra 8:15 : Ezra 7:7; 8:2
Ezra 8:17 : Ezra 2:43
Ezra 8:18 : Ezra 7:6, 28
Ezra 8:18 : 2 Chr 30:22
Ezra 8:20 : Ezra 2:43; 7:7
Ezra 8:21 : 1 Sam 7:6; 2 Chr 20:3
Ezra 8:21 : Ezra 8:15, 31
Ezra 8:21 : Lev 16:29; 23:29; Is 58:3, 5
Ezra 8:22 : Ezra 7:6, 9, 28
Ezra 8:22 : Josh 22:16
Ezra 8:22 : 2 Chr 15:2
Ezra 8:23 : 1 Chr 5:20; 2 Chr 33:13
Ezra 8:24 : Ezra 8:18, 19
Ezra 8:25 : Ezra 8:33
Ezra 8:25 : Ezra 7:15, 16
Ezra 8:25 : Ezra 7:14
Ezra 8:26 : Ezra 1:9-11
Ezra 8:28 : Lev 21:6-8
Ezra 8:28 : Lev 22:2, 3
Ezra 8:29 : Ezra 8:33, 34
Ezra 8:30 : Ezra 1:9
Ezra 8:31 : Ezra 8:15, 21
Ezra 8:31 : Ezra 7:9
Ezra 8:31 : Ezra 8:22
Ezra 8:32 : Neh 2:11
Ezra 8:33 : Ezra 8:30
Ezra 8:33 : Neh 3:4, 21
Ezra 8:35 : Ezra 2:1
Ezra 8:35 : Ezra 6:17
Ezra 8:36 : Ezra 7:21-24
Ezra 8:36 : Ezra 4:7; 5:6

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Ezra 9
Ezra's Prayer About Intermarriage
1 After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, "The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. 2 They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness."

3 When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled. 4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice.

5 Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD my God 6 and prayed:
"O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. 7 From the days of our forefathers until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today.

8 "But now, for a brief moment, the LORD our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. 9 Though we are slaves, our God has not deserted us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.

10 "But now, O our God, what can we say after this? For we have disregarded the commands 11 you gave through your servants the prophets when you said: 'The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. 12 Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.'

13 "What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins have deserved and have given us a remnant like this. 14 Shall we again break your commands and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor? 15 O LORD, God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence."

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Ezra 10
The People's Confession of Sin
1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. 3 Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. 4 Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it."

5 So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath. 6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

7 A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. 8 Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.

9 Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel's guilt. 11 Now make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives."

12 The whole assembly responded with a loud voice: "You are right! We must do as you say. 13 But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing. 14 Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us." 15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this.

16 So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases, 17 and by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.
Those Guilty of Intermarriage
18 Among the descendants of the priests, the following had married foreign women:
From the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib and Gedaliah. 19 (They all gave their hands in pledge to put away their wives, and for their guilt they each presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.)

20 From the descendants of Immer:
Hanani and Zebadiah.

21 From the descendants of Harim:
Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel and Uzziah.

22 From the descendants of Pashhur:
Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah.

23 Among the Levites:
Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer.

24 From the singers:
Eliashib.
From the gatekeepers:
Shallum, Telem and Uri.

25 And among the other Israelites:
From the descendants of Parosh:
Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah and Benaiah.

26 From the descendants of Elam:
Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth and Elijah.

27 From the descendants of Zattu:
Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad and Aziza.

28 From the descendants of Bebai:
Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai.

29 From the descendants of Bani:
Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal and Jeremoth.

30 From the descendants of Pahath-Moab:
Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui and Manasseh.

31 From the descendants of Harim:
Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch and Shemariah.

33 From the descendants of Hashum:
Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh and Shimei.

34 From the descendants of Bani:
Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai and Jaasu.

38 From the descendants of Binnui: [a]
Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Macnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah and Joseph.

43 From the descendants of Nebo:
Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel and Benaiah.

44 All these had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives. [b]

Footnotes:

1. Ezra 10:38 See Septuagint (also 1 Esdras 9:34 Hebrew Jaasu 38 and Bani and Binnui ,
2. Ezra 10:44 Or and they sent them away with their children