Ezra

Chapter 1

¹ In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, so that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, Yahweh stirred the spirit of Cyrus the king of Persia so that his voice went out throughout all his kingdom, and likewise what was written was spoken: ² “Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: Yahweh, God of Heaven, gave me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he appointed me to build for him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. ³ Whoever among you is from all his people (may his God be with him) may go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and build the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem. ⁴ Whoever survives in any place where he lives, let the people in that place help him with silver and gold, and possessions and animals, as well as a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.”

⁵ Then arose the heads of the fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with everyone whose spirit God had stirred up to go up and build the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem. ⁶ All those who were around them strengthened their hands with objects of silver and gold, possessions, and animals and precious things, besides all they freely offered. ⁷ King Cyrus also brought out the objects belonging to the house of Yahweh that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the temple of his gods. ⁸ King Cyrus of Persia brought them out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. ⁹ This was their number: thirty gold basins, one thousand silver basins, twenty-nine utensils, ¹⁰ thirty gold bowls, 410 small silver bowls, and a thousand additional objects. ¹¹ There were 5,400 items of gold and silver in all. Sheshbazzar brought all of them with the exiles who were brought from Babylon to Jerusalem.

Chapter 2

¹ These are the people of the province who went up from the captivity of those who were exiled, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city. ² They came with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.

This is the number of the men of the people of Israel. ³ The sons of Parosh: two thousand one hundred and seventy two. ⁴ The sons of Shephatiah: 372. ⁵ The sons of Arah: 775. ⁶ The sons of Pahath-Moab, the sons of Jeshua and Joab: 2,812. ⁷ The sons of Elam: 1,254. ⁸ The sons of Zattu: 945. ⁹ The sons of Zakkai: 760. ¹⁰ The sons of Bani: 642. ¹¹ The sons of Bebai: 623. ¹² The sons of Azgad: 1,222. ¹³ The sons of Adonikam: 666. ¹⁴ The sons of Bigvai: 2,056. ¹⁵ The sons of Adin: 454. ¹⁶ The sons of Ater, through Hezekiah: ninety-eight. ¹⁷ The sons of Bezai: 323. ¹⁸ The sons of Jorah: 112. ¹⁹ The sons of Hashum: 223. ²⁰ The sons of Gibbar: ninety-five. ²¹ The sons of Bethlehem: 123. ²² The men of Netophah: fifty-six. ²³ The men of Anathoth: 128. ²⁴ The sons of Azmaveth: forty-two. ²⁵ The sons of Kiriath Arim, Kephirah, and Beeroth: 743. ²⁶ The sons of Ramah and Geba: 621. ²⁷ The men of Michmas: 122. ²⁸ The men of Bethel and Ai: 223. ²⁹ The sons of Nebo: fifty-two. ³⁰ The sons of Magbish: 156. ³¹ The sons of the other Elam: 1,254. ³² The sons of Harim: 320. ³³ The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: 725. ³⁴ The sons of Jericho: 345. ³⁵ The sons of Senaah: 3,630.

³⁶ The priests: sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua: 973. ³⁷ The sons of Immer: 1,052. ³⁸ The sons of Pashhur: 1,247. ³⁹ The sons of Harim: 1,017.

⁴⁰ The Levites: sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, sons of Hodaviah: seventy-four. ⁴¹ The temple singers, sons of Asaph: 128. ⁴² The sons of the gatekeepers: sons of Shallum, sons of Ater, sons of Talmon, sons of Akkub, sons of Hatita, and sons of Shobai: 139 in all.

⁴³ The temple servants: sons of Ziha, sons of Hasupha, sons of Tabbaoth, ⁴⁴ sons of Keros, sons of Siaha, sons of Padon, ⁴⁵ sons of Lebanah, sons of Hagabah, sons of Akkub, ⁴⁶ sons of Hagab, sons of Shalmai, and sons of Hanan. ⁴⁷ The sons of Giddel: sons of Gahar, sons of Reaiah, ⁴⁸ sons of Rezin, sons of Nekoda, sons of Gazzam, ⁴⁹ sons of Uzza, sons of Paseah, sons of Besai, ⁵⁰ sons of Asnah, sons of Meunim, and sons of Nephusim. ⁵¹ The sons of Bakbuk: sons of Hakupha, sons of Harhur, ⁵² sons of Bazluth, sons of Mehida, sons of Harsha, ⁵³ sons of Barkos, sons of Sisera, sons of Temah, ⁵⁴ sons of Neziah, and sons of Hatipha.

⁵⁵ The sons of the servants of Solomon: sons of Sotai, sons of Hassophereth, sons of Peruda, ⁵⁶ sons of Jaalah, sons of Darkon, sons of Giddel, ⁵⁷ sons of Shephatiah, sons of Hattil, sons of Pochereth Hazzebaim, and sons of Ami. ⁵⁸ All the temple servants and the sons of the servants of Solomon: 392.

⁵⁹ These were those who came from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer—but they could not prove the house of their father or their ancestry, whether they were from Israel— ⁶⁰ sons of Delaiah, sons of Tobiah, and sons of Nekoda: 652. ⁶¹ The sons of the priests: sons of Habaiah, sons of Hakkoz, and sons of Barzillai (who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name). ⁶² These searched for the records of their ancestry, but they were not found, so they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled. ⁶³ So the governor said to them that they must not eat from the most holy food until a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim.

⁶⁴ The whole group totaled 42,360, ⁶⁵ not including their servants and their maidservants (these were 7,337) and they had male and female temple singers (two hundred). ⁶⁶ Their horses: 736. Their mules: 245. ⁶⁷ Their camels: 435. Their donkeys: 6,720.

⁶⁸ When the heads of the fathers came to the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem, they freely offered gifts to build the house of God on its site. ⁶⁹ They gave according to their ability to the treasure for the work: 6.100 gold darics, five thousand silver minas, and one hundred priestly tunics.

⁷⁰ So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers ,and the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their cities, and all israel lived in their cities.

Chapter 3

¹ Now when the seventh month had come and the sons of Israel were in their cities, the people gathered together as one man in Jerusalem. ² Then arose Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel 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 Then they set the altar on its foundation, for dread was on them because of the people of the lands. They offered on it burnt offerings to Yahweh, both the morning and evening burnt offerings. ⁴ They also observed the Festival of Shelters as it is written, and offered burnt offerings day by day according to the ordinance, as required for each day. ⁵ Afterwards, there were continual burnt offerings, and those for the new moons, and for all the appointed festivals of Yahweh that were consecrated, along with those of everyone who offered freewill offerings to Yahweh. ⁶ They began to offer up burnt offerings to Yahweh from the first day of the seventh month, although the temple of Yahweh had not been founded. ⁷ So they gave silver to the masons and carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and Tyre, to bring cedar logs by sea from Lebanon to Joppa, according to the permission they had from King Cyrus of Persia.

⁸ Then in the second year after they came to the house of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who came from captivity to Jerusalem began the work. They assigned the Levites from twenty years old and older to oversee the work of the house of Yahweh. ⁹ Then arose as one Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel and his sons (sons of Hodaviah), to oversee the workmen, those working on the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers the Levites. ^{[1] 10} When the builders laid the foundation for the temple of Yahweh, the priests stood in their garments with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise Yahweh according to the hands of David, king of Israel. ¹¹ Then they sang, praising and giving thanks to Yahweh: “For he is good! His covenant faithfulness to Israel is forever.” All the people cried out with a great shout when they praised Yahweh because the foundation of the house of Yahweh had been laid. ¹² But many from the priests and Levites, and the heads of the fathers, the old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes. But many people shouted for joy with a loud voice. ¹³ So the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people were crying out with a loud shout, and the sound was heard from far away.

Chapter 4

¹ Now the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the sons of the exiles were building the temple of Yahweh, the God of Israel. ² So they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers and said to them, “Let us build with you, for, like you, we seek your God and we have sacrificed to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” ³ But Zerubbabel,and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the fathers of Israel said to them, “You may not build a house for our God with us, for we alone will build for Yahweh, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus, king of Persia, commanded us.” ⁴ So the people of the land made the hands of the people of Judah weak, and to make them afraid to build. ⁵ They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans, throughout the days of Cyrus king of Persia, and until the reign of Darius king of Persia. ⁶ Then in the reign of Ahasuerus ^[1] , in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

⁷ In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia, and the letter was written in Aramaic and translated into Aramaic. ⁸ Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows: ⁹ Rehum the commander, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions—judges and rulers, officials, Persians, men from Erech, Babylon, and Susa (that is, the Elamites), ¹⁰ and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal took captive and settled in the cities that are in Samaria, and also in the Province Beyond the River.

¹¹ (This is a copy of the letter that they sent him:) “To Artaxerxes. Your servants, men of the Province Beyond the River. And now ¹² let it be known to the king that the Jews who went from you have come to us in Jerusalem. They are rebuilding the rebellious and evil city, completing the walls, and repairing the foundations. ¹³ Now let it be known to the king that if this city is built and the wall is completed, they will not give tax, or tribute, or custom, and the treasury of the king will suffer loss. ¹⁴ Now according to all this, because we have eaten the salt of the palace, it is not fitting for us to see the dishonor of the king. On account of this we have sent and informed the king ¹⁵ so that a search may be made in the record books of your father. You will discover in the record book and understand that this city is a rebellious city and harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited revolts within the city in past days. On account of that, this city was destroyed. ¹⁶ We are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, then you will have no control in the Province Beyond the River.”

¹⁷ So the king sent a reply: “To Rehum the commander, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions who live in Samaria, and the Province Beyond the River. Peace. And now ¹⁸ the letter that you sent me has been translated and read before me. ¹⁹ So I issued a decree, and a search was made, and it was discovered that in former days this city has rebelled against kings and revolt and rebellion has been made in it. ²⁰ There have been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the Province Beyond the River. Tax,tribute, and custom were paid to them. ²¹ Now, give a command to cause these men to stop, that this city may not be rebuilt until a command is given by me. ²² Be careful that you do not neglect to carry this out. Why should this damage increase, to the hurt of the kings?

²³ Then as soon as the copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up quickly to Jerusalem against the Jews and made them stop by armed force. ²⁴ So the work on the house of God which is in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Chapter 5

¹ Then Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo, prophets to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, prophesied in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. ² Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, helping them. ³ At that time, Tattenai, the governor of the Province Beyond the River, and Shethar-Bozenai, and their associates came to them and said to them thus, “Who issued you a decree to build this house and to complete this wall?” ⁴ Then they also asked them, “What are the names of the men who are building this building?” ⁵ But the eye of God was on the elders of the Jews so that they could not stop them until a report could be sent to Darius and a decree was returned concerning this matter.

⁶ This is a copy of the letter that was sent by Tattenai, governor of the Province Beyond the River, and Shethar-Bozenai and his associates, officials who were in the Province Beyond the River, to Darius the king. ⁷ They sent a report to him, in which was written thus, “All peace to King Darius. ⁸ Let it be known to the king that we went to the province of Judah to the house of the great God that is being built with large stones, and timbers are being set in the walls. This work is going on diligently and is succeeding in their hands. ⁹ Then we asked these elders, and spoke to them thus, ‘Who issued you a command to build this house and to complete this wall?’ ¹⁰ We also asked them their names to inform you, so that we might write the names of the men who were chief among them. ¹¹ They gave us an answer, saying thus, ‘We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed. ¹² However, because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and deported the people to Babylon. ¹³ Nevertheless, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a command to rebuild this house of God. ¹⁴ Also the objects of gold and silver of the house of God that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem and they brought to the temple in Babylon, these King Cyrus took from the temple in Babylon and gave them to one named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor. ¹⁵ He said to him, “Take these objects. Go and put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its place.” ¹⁶ Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation for the house of God which is in Jerusalem; but from then even until now it has been under construction, but is not complete.’ ¹⁷ Now if it seems good to the king, let a search be made there in the treasure house of the king which is in Babylon, if it is so that a command was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter.”

Chapter 6

¹ So King Darius issued a command and a search was made in the archives where the treasures were stored there in Babylon. ² In the fortress at Ecbatana that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found, and thus was the record written in it: ³ “In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a command about the house of God in Jerusalem: ‘Let the house be rebuilt in the place where they offered sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid—its height sixty cubits, and its width sixty cubits, ⁴ with three rows of large stones and a row of new timber, and let the cost be paid by the house of the king. ⁵ Now let the gold and silver objects of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple which is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and returned to the temple which is in Jerusalem, and deposit each in its place in the house of God.’

⁶ Now Tattenai, governor of the Province Beyond the River, Shethar-Bozenai, and your associates and officials who are in the Province Beyond the River, keep far away from there! ⁷ Leave 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 on its place. ⁸ I also am issuing a decree about what you must do for these elders of the Jews in the rebuilding of the house of God: Let this cost be paid diligently at the expense of the king from the taxes beyond the River, and be given to these men so that they do not need to stop. ⁹ Whatever is needed—young bulls, and rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings to the God of Heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil according to the command of the priests who are in Jerusalem—must be given to them day by day without fail, ¹⁰ so that they may offer sweet-smelling sacrifices to the God of Heaven and pray for the life of the king, and his sons. ¹¹ I am issuing a decree that any man who changes this edict, a beam must be pulled from his house and stood up and he must be impaled on it. His house must be turned into a rubbish heap because of this. ¹² May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who extends their hand to change it, or to destroy this house of God which is in Jerusalem. I, Darius, am issuing a decree—let it be done diligently!” ¹³ Then Tattenai, the governor of the Province Beyond the River, and Shethar-Bozenai, and their associates, diligently did thus, according to what King Darius had sent. ¹⁴ So the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished building according to the decree of the God of Israel and by the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes the king of Persia. ¹⁵ So this house was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

¹⁶ Then the sons of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the exile celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. ¹⁷ For the dedication of this house of God, they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering for all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. ¹⁸ They also assigned the priests to their divisions, and the Levites to their divisions, for the service of God who is in Jerusalem, as it was written in the book of Moses.

¹⁹ So the sons of the exile observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. ²⁰ Now the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together, and all of them were pure. They slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the sons of the exile and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves. ²¹ The sons of Israel, who had returned from the exile, ate together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land, in order to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel. ²² They observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, for Yahweh had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Chapter 7

¹ Now after these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, ² son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, ³ son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, ⁴ son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, ⁵ son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶ this Ezra came up from Babylon, and he was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses that Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given. The king granted to him all his request according to the hand of Yahweh his God upon him. ⁷ Some from the sons of Israel and from the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, also went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. ⁸ He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ Now he began his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had established his heart to seek the law of Yahweh and to observe it and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

¹¹ This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commandments of Yahweh 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: Peace. And now ¹³ I am issuing a decree that all those in my kingdom from the people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites who desire to go up to Jerusalem, may go with you. ¹⁴ For since from before the king, and his seven counselors, you are being sent to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your hand. ¹⁵ You are to bring the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem. ¹⁶ All the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests, is to be freely offered for the house of God which is in Jerusalem. ¹⁷ So therefore, with this money, diligently buy bulls, rams, lambs, and grain offerings and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar that is in the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. ¹⁸ Now that which seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, do it accordinmg to the will of your God. ¹⁹ The objects that were given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem. ²⁰ Anything else that is needed for the house of your God that you may have occasion to give, pay for it from the treasury house of the king. ²¹ I, even I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the Province Beyond the River, that anything that Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, asks from you, let it be done diligently, ²² up to one hundred silver talents, and one hundred cors of wheat, and one hundred baths of wine, and one hundred baths of oil, and salt without limit. ²³ Anything from the decree of the God of heaven, let it be done diligently for the house of the God of heaven. For why should his wrath be against the kingdom of the king and his sons? ²⁴ We also make known to you that it is not lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants, or other servants of the house of this God. ²⁵ Now you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of God that is in your hand, appoint judges and magistrates who will judge all the people who are in the Province Beyond the River—all who know the laws of your God—and teach those who do not know them. ²⁶ And on all who will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be quickly executed on him, whether death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.

²⁷ Blessed be Yahweh, God of our fathers, who placed such a thing into the heart of the king to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem, ²⁸ and who has extended covenant faithfulness to me before the king, and his counselors, and all the mighty princes of the king. So I was strengthened as the hand of Yahweh my God was upon me, and I gathered the heads of Israel to go up with me.

Chapter 8

¹ These are the heads of their fathers’ houses, and the geneology of those who went up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes: ² from the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; from the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; from the sons of David, Hattush; ³ from the sons of Shecaniah, from the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 males; ⁴ from the sons of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males; ⁵ from the sons of Zattu, Ben Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males; ⁶ from the sons of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males; ⁷ from the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males; ⁸ from the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him eighty males; ⁹ from the sons of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 males; ¹⁰ from the sons of Bani, ^[1] Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 males; ¹¹ from the sons of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight males. ¹² from the sons of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 males; ¹³ from the sons of Adonikam, the last ones, and the names of these were Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males; ¹⁴ from the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur, and with him seventy males.

¹⁵ I gathered them at the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. Then I examined the people and the priests, but none of the sons of Levi were found there. ¹⁶ So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, and Elnathan, and Jarib, and Elnathan and Nathan, and Zechariah, and Meshullam—head men—and for Joiarib, and Elnathan—men of understanding. ¹⁷ Next I sent them to Iddo, the head of the place called Kasiphia, and I put in their mouths the words to speak to Iddo and his brothers, the temple servants in the place called Kasiphia, to send to us servants for the house of our God. ¹⁸ So they sent to us by the good hand of our God a man of understanding named Sherebiah, from the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, with his eighteen sons and brothers, ¹⁹ and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah, of the sons of Merari, and his brothers and their sons, twenty men. ²⁰ and also the temple servants whom David and his officials had appointed for the service of the Levites—220 temple servants, all of them designated by name,

²¹ Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, to humble ourselves before our God, to seek a straight way from him for us and our little ones, and all our possessions. ²² For I was ashamed to ask from the king soldiers and horsemen to protect us from the enemy along the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, ‘The hand of our God is on all those who seek him for good, but his strength and his wrath are against all those who forsake him.’ ²³ So we fasted and sought our God about this matter, and he answered our prayer.

²⁴ Then I set apart twelve from the heads of the priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and with them ten from their brothers. ²⁵ I weighed out to them the silver, and the gold, and the objects for the offering for the house of our God that the king, and his counselors, and his princes, and all Israel who were present had offered. ²⁶ I weighed into their hand 650 talents of silver, one hundred talents of silver objects, one hundred talents of gold, ²⁷ and twenty gold bowls worth one thousand darics, and two fine polished vessels of bronze as precious as gold. ²⁸ Then I said to them, “You are holy to Yahweh, and these objects are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Yahweh, the God of your fathers. ²⁹ Watch over them and keep them until you weigh them out before the heads of the priests and the Levites, and the heads of the fathers of Israel, in Jerusalem, in the rooms of the house of Yahweh.” ³⁰ The priests and the Levites received by weight the silver, and the gold, and the objects, to take them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.

³¹ We went out from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from those lying in ambush along the road. ³² So we came to Jerusalem and stayed there three days. ³³ On the fourth day, the silver and the gold and the objects were weighed out in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites—Jozabad son of Jeshua, and Noadiah son of Binnui: ³⁴ the number and weight of everything, and all the weight was written down at that time.

³⁵ Then those who had come back from the captivity, the sons of the exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering, all as a burnt offering to Yahweh. ³⁶ Then they gave the decrees of the king to the satraps of the king and the governors in the Province Beyond the River, and they supported the people and the house of God.

Chapter 9

¹ When these things were done, the officials came to me, saying, “The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations: the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, the Ammonite, the Moabite, the Egyptian, and the Amorite. ² For they have taken from their daughters for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of the lands, and the hand of the officials and rulers has been foremost in this unfaithfulness.” ³ When I heard this matter, I tore my clothing and my robe and pulled out hair from my head and beard, and I sat down, devastated. ⁴ All those who trembled at the words of the God of Israel because of the transgression of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat devastated until the evening sacrifice.

⁵ But at the evening sacrifice, I arose from my fasting, having torn my clothes and my robe, and knelt down on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God. ⁶ I said, “My God, I am ashamed and disgraced to raise my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens. ⁷ From the days of our fathers until this day, we have been very guilty. For our iniquities, we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to ashamed faces, as it is this day. ⁸ But now for a little while, grace has been shown from Yahweh our God to leave us a remnant, and to give us a peg in his holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a little relief in our bondage. ⁹ For we are slaves, but in our bondage, our God did not forsake us, but he extended covenant faithfulness to us in the sight of the king of Persia, in order to give us relief, to raise up the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. ¹⁰ But now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken your commands, ¹¹ which you commanded through your servants the prophets, saying, “The land that you are entering to possess, it is an impure land with the impurity of the people of the lands with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to the other with their uncleanness. ¹² Now therefore, do not give your daughters to their sons, and do not take their daughters for your sons, and do not ever seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land, and leave it as a possession to your sons forever.” ¹³ Yet after all that has come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt—for you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities, and have given us a remnant like this— ¹⁴ should we again break your commandments and intermarry with the people of these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant or survivor? ¹⁵ Yahweh, God of Israel, you are righteous, for we have remained as a remnant this day. Look! We are before you in our guilt, though no one can stand before you because of this.

Chapter 10

¹ As Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly from Israel of men, and women, and children gathered to him, for the people wept, greatly weeping. ² Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel from the sons of Elam spoke and said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the people of the land, but still there is hope for Israel in spite of this. ³ So now let us make a covenant with our God to send away all these wives and those who have been born to 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. ⁴ Arise, for this matter is upon you, and we are with you. Be strong and do this.”

⁵ So Ezra rose and made the heads of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel take an oath that they would do according to this word, and so they took an oath. ⁶ Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God and went to the rooms of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. When he went there, he ate no bread and drank no water, because he was mourning concerning the faithlessness of the exiles. ⁷ So they sent a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the sons of the captivity that they must assemble in Jerusalem. ⁸ Everyone who did not come in three days according to the counsel of the officials and the elders, all his property would be forfeited, and he would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.

⁹ So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem in three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. All the people sat in the square of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and because of the rains. ¹⁰ Then Ezra the priest arose and said to them, “You have acted unfaithfully, and have taken foreign wives, adding to the guilt of Israel. ¹¹ But now give praise to Yahweh, God of your fathers, and do his will—separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the foreign women.” ¹² All the assembly answered and said in a loud voice, “Right! According to your word, thus we must do. ¹³ However, there are many people, and it is the rainy season. We have no strength to stand outside, and this is not the work of one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter. ¹⁴ Now let the heads of all the assembly stand, and let all those in our cities who have taken foreign wives come at the appointed time with the elders and judges of each of their cities, until the fierce wrath of our God is turned away from us, even in this matter.” ¹⁵ Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.

¹⁶ So the sons of the exile did this. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of their fathers, according to their fathers—all of them by name, and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter, ¹⁷ and they finished with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month.

¹⁸ Among the sons of the priests who had married foreign women were found the sons of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. ¹⁹ So they gave their hand to send away their wives, and being guilty, a ram from the flock for their guilt.

²⁰ Among the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. ²¹ Among the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. ²² Among the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. ²³ Among the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. ²⁴ Among the singers: Eliashib. Among the gatekeepers: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri. ²⁵ Among the rest of Israel—among the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, and Izziah, and Malkijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malkijah, and Benaiah. ^{[1] 26} Among the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah. ²⁷ Among the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza. ²⁸ Among the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. ²⁹ Among the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluk, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Jeremoth. ^{[2] 30} Among the sons of Pahath-Moab: Adna, and Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh. ³¹ Among the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, ³² Benjamin, Malluk, and Shemariah. ³³ Among the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. ³⁴ Among the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel, ³⁵ Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, ³⁶ Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, ³⁷ Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu. ³⁸ Among the sons of Binnui: Shimei, ^{[3] 39} and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah, ⁴⁰ Maknadebai, Shashai, Sharai, ^{[4] 41} Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah, ⁴² Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. ⁴³ Among the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, and Joel, and Benaiah. ⁴⁴ All of these had married foreign wives, and there were some of these wives by whom they had sons. ^[5]