15_EZR_A_TXT

11 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia that the word

of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled the LORD

stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia that he made a

proclamation throughout all his kingdom and put it also in

writing saying .

12 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia The LORD God of heaven hath

given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he hath charged me to

build him an house at Jerusalem which is in Judah .

13 Who is there among you of all his people his God be with

him and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and build

the house of the LORD God of Israel (he is the God which is in

Jerusalem .

14 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth

let the men of his place help him with silver and with gold and

with goods and with beasts beside the freewill offering for the

house of God that is in Jerusalem .

15 Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin

and the priests and the Levites with all them whose spirit God

had raised to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in

Jerusalem .

16 And all they that were about them strengthened their hands

with vessels of silver with gold with goods and with beasts and

with precious things beside all that was willingly offered .

17 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house

of the LORD which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of

Jerusalem and had put them in the house of his gods .

18 Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand

of Mithredath the treasurer and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar

the prince of Judah .

19 And this is the number of them thirty chargers of gold a

thousand chargers of silver nine and twenty knives .

110 Thirty basins of gold silver basins of a second sort four

hundred and ten and other vessels a thousand .

111 All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand

and four hundred All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of

the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem .

* 21 Now these are the children of the province that went up

out of the captivity of those which had been carried away whom

Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon

and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah every one untohis city .

22 Which came with Zerubbabel Jeshua Nehemiah Seraiah Reelaiah

Mordecai Bilshan Mizpar Bigvai Rehum Baanah The number of the

men of the people of Israel .

23 The children of Parosh two thousand an hundred seventy and

two .

24 The children of Shephatiah three hundred seventy and two .

25 The children of Arah seven hundred seventy and five .

26 The children of Pahathmoab of the children of Jeshua and

Joab two thousand eight hundred and twelve .

27 The children of Elam a thousand two hundred fifty and four .

28 The children of Zattu nine hundred forty and five .

29 The children of Zaccai seven hundred and threescore .

210 The children of Bani six hundred forty and two .

211 The children of Bebai six hundred twenty and three .

212 The children of Azgad a thousand two hundred twenty and

two .

213 The children of Adonikam six hundred sixty and six .

214 The children of Bigvai two thousand fifty and six .

215 The children of Adin four hundred fifty and four .

216 The children of Ater of Hezekiah ninety and eight .

217 The children of Bezai three hundred twenty and three .

218 The children of Jorah an hundred and twelve .

219 The children of Hashum two hundred twenty and three .

220 The children of Gibbar ninety and five .

221 The children of Bethlehem an hundred twenty and three .

222 The men of Netophah fifty and six .

223 The men of Anathoth an hundred twenty and eight .

224 The children of Azmaveth forty and two .

225 The children of Kirjatharim Chephirah and Beeroth seven

hundred and forty and three .

226 The children of Ramah and Gaba six hundred twenty and one .

227 The men of Michmas an hundred twenty and two .

228 The men of Bethel and Ai two hundred twenty and three .

229 The children of Nebo fifty and two .

230 The children of Magbish an hundred fifty and six .

231 The children of the other Elam a thousand two hundred

fifty and four .

232 The children of Harim three hundred and twenty .

233 The children of Lod Hadid and Ono seven hundred twenty and

five .

234 The children of Jericho three hundred forty and five .

235 The children of Senaah three thousand and six hundred and

thirty .

236 The priests the children of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua

nine hundred seventy and three .

237 The children of Immer a thousand fifty and two .

238 The children of Pashur a thousand two hundred forty and

seven .

239 The children of Harim a thousand and seventeen .

240 The Levites the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel of the

children of Hodaviah seventy and four .

241 The singers the children of Asaph an hundred twenty and

eight .

242 The children of the porters the children of Shallum the

children of Ater the children of Talmon the children of Akkub

the children of Hatita the children of Shobai in all an hundred

thirty and nine .

243 The Nethinims the children of Ziha the children of Hasupha

the children of Tabbaoth .

244 The children of Keros the children of Siaha the children

of Padon .

245 The children of Lebanah the children of Hagabah the

children of Akkub .

246 The children of Hagab the children of Shalmai the children

of Hanan .

247 The children of Giddel the children of Gahar the children

of Reaiah .

248 The children of Rezin the children of Nekoda the children

of Gazzam .

249 The children of Uzza the children of Paseah the children

of Besai .

250 The children of Asnah the children of Mehunim the children

of Nephusim .

251 The children of Bakbuk the children of Hakupha the

children of Harhur .

252 The children of Bazluth the children of Mehida the

children of Harsha .

253 The children of Barkos the children of Sisera the children

of Thamah .

254 The children of Neziah the children of Hatipha .

255 The children of Solomon's servants the children of Sotai

the children of Sophereth the children of Peruda .

256 The children of Jaalah the children of Darkon the children

of Giddel .

257 The children of Shephatiah the children of Hattil the

children of Pochereth of Zebaim the children of Ami .

258 All the Nethinims and the children of Solomon's servants

were three hundred ninety and two .

259 And these were they which 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 .

260 The children of Delaiah the children of Tobiah the

children of Nekoda six hundred fifty and two .

261 And of the children of the priests the children of Habaiah

the children of Koz the children of Barzillai which took a wife

of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called after

their name .

262 These sought their register among those that were reckoned

by genealogy but they were not found therefore were they as

polluted put from the priesthood .

263 And the Tirshatha said unto them that they should not eat

of the most holy things till there stood up a priest with Urim

and with Thummim .

264 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand

three hundred and threescore .

265 Beside their servants and their maids of whom there were

seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven and there were

among them two hundred singing men and singing women .

266 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six their mules

two hundred forty and five .

267 Their camels four hundred thirty and five their asses six

thousand seven hundred and twenty .

268 And 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 .

269 They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the

work threescore and one thousand drams of gold and five thousand

pound of silver and one hundred priests' garments .

270 So the priests and the Levites and some of the people and

the singers and the porters and the Nethinims dwelt in their

cities and all Israel in their cities .

* 31 And 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 .

32 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren

the priests and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren

and builded the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt

offerings thereon as it is written in the law of Moses the man

of God .

33 And they set the altar upon his bases for fear was upon

them because of the people of those countries and they offered

burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD even burnt offerings

morning and evening .

34 They kept also 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 .

35 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering both of

the new moons and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were

consecrated and of every one that willingly offered a freewill

offering unto the LORD .

36 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer

burnt offerings unto the LORD But the foundation of the temple

of the LORD was not yet laid .

37 They gave money also unto the masons and to the carpenters

and meat and drink and oil unto them of Zidon 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 .

38 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of

God at Jerusalem in the second month began Zerubbabel the son of

Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak and the remnant of their

brethren the priests and the Levites and all they that were come

out of the captivity unto Jerusalem and appointed the Levites

from twenty years old and upward to set forward the work of the

house of the LORD .

39 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren 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 brethren the Levites .

310 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of

the LORD they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets and

the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals to praise the LORD

after the ordinance of David king of Israel .

311 And they sang together by course in praising and giving

thanks unto the LORD because he is good for his mercy endureth

for ever toward Israel And all the people shouted with a great

shout when they praised the LORD because the foundation of the

house of the LORD was laid .

312 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the

fathers who were ancient men that had seen the first house when

the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes wept

with a loud voice and many shouted aloud for joy .

313 So 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 afar

off .

* 41 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that

the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD

God of Israel .

42 Then they came to Zerubbabel and to the chief of the

fathers and said unto them Let us build with you for we seek

your God as ye do and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of

Esarhaddon king of Assur which brought us up hither .

43 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the chief of the

fathers of Israel said unto them Ye have nothing to do with us

to build an house unto our God but we ourselves together will

build unto the LORD God of Israel as king Cyrus the king of

Persia hath commanded us .

44 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the

people of Judah and troubled them in building .

45 And hired counsellors against them to frustrate their

purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia even until the

reign of Darius king of Persia .

46 And in the reign of Ahasuerus in the beginning of his reign

wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of

Judah and Jerusalem .

47 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam Mithredath

Tabeel and the rest of their companions unto Artaxerxes king of

Persia and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian

tongue and interpreted in the Syrian tongue .

48 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter

against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort .

49 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor 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 .

410 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble

Asnapper brought over and set in the cities of Samaria and the

rest that are on this side the river and at such a time .

411 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him

even unto Artaxerxes the king Thy servants the men on this side

the river and at such a time .

412 Be it known unto the king that the Jews which came up from

thee to us are come unto Jerusalem building the rebellious and

the bad city and have set up the walls thereof and joined the

foundations .

413 Be it known now unto the king that if this city be builded

and the walls set up again then will they not pay toll tribute

and custom and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings .

414 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace and

it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour therefore

have we sent and certified the king .

415 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy

fathers so shalt thou find in the book of the records and know

that this city is a rebellious city and hurtful unto kings and

provinces and that they have moved sedition within the same of

old time for which cause was this city destroyed .

416 We certify the king that if this city be builded again and

the walls thereof set up by this means thou shalt have no

portion on this side the river .

417 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor and

to Shimshai the scribe and to the rest of their companions that

dwell in Samaria and unto the rest beyond the river Peace and at

such a time .

418 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read

before me .

419 And I commanded and search hath been made and it is found

that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings

and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein .

420 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem which

have ruled over all countries beyond the river and toll tribute

and custom was paid unto them .

421 Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease and

that this city be not builded until another commandment shall be

given from me .

422 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this why should

damage grow to the hurt of the kings .

423 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read

before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their companions they

went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews and made them to

cease by force and power .

424 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at

Jerusalem So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of

Darius king of Persia .

* 51 Then the prophets Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son

of Iddo prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and

Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel even unto them .

52 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the

son of Jozadak and began to build the house of God which is at

Jerusalem and with them were the prophets of God helping them .

53 At the same time came to them Tatnai governor on this side

the river and Shetharboznai and their companions and said thus

unto them Who hath commanded you to build this house and to make

up this wall .

54 Then said we unto them after this manner What are the names

of the men that make this building .

55 But the eye of their God was upon 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 .

56 The copy of the letter that Tatnai governor on this side

the river and Shetharboznai and his companions the Apharsachites

which were on this side the river sent unto Darius the king .

57 They sent a letter unto him wherein was written thus Unto

Darius the king all peace .

58 Be it known unto the king that we went into the province of

Judea to the house of the great God which is builded with great

stones and timber is laid in the walls and this work goeth fast

on and prospereth in their hands .

59 Then asked we those elders and said unto them thus Who

commanded you to build this house and to make up these walls .

510 We asked their names also to certify thee that we might

write the names of the men that were the chief of them .

511 And thus they returned us answer saying We are the

servants of the God of heaven and earth and build the house that

was builded these many years ago which a great king of Israel

builded and set up .

512 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven

unto wrath 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 .

513 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the

same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God .

514 And the vessels also 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 did

Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon and they were

delivered unto one whose name was Sheshbazzar whom he had made

governor .

515 And said unto him Take these vessels go carry them into

the temple that is in Jerusalem and let the house of God be

builded in his place .

516 Then came the same Sheshbazzar and laid the foundation of

the house of God which is in Jerusalem and since that time even

until now hath it been in building and yet it is not finished .

517 Now therefore if it seem good to the king let there be

search made in the king's treasure house which is there at

Babylon whether it be so that a decree was made of Cyrus the

king to build this house of God at Jerusalem and let the king

send his pleasure to us concerning this matter .

* 61 Then Darius the king made a decree and search was made in

the house of the rolls where the treasures were laid up in

Babylon .

62 And there was found at Achmetha in the palace that is in

the province of the Medes a roll and therein was a record thus

written .

63 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king

made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem Let the

house be builded the place where they offered sacrifices and let

the foundations thereof be strongly laid the height thereof

threescore cubits and the breadth thereof threescore cubits .

64 With three rows of great stones and a row of new timber and

let the expenses be given out of the king's house .

65 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of

God which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is

at Jerusalem and brought unto Babylon be restored and brought

again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem every one to his

place and place them in the house of God .

66 Now therefore Tatnai governor beyond the river

Shetharboznai and your companions the Apharsachites which are

beyond the river be ye far from thence .

67 Let the work of this house of God alone let the governor of

the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in

his place .

68 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of

these Jews for the building of this house of God that of the

king's goods even of the tribute beyond the river forthwith

expenses be given unto these men that they be not hindered .

69 And that which they have need of both young bullocks and

rams and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven

wheat salt wine and oil according to the appointment of the

priests which are at Jerusalem let it be given them day by day

without fail .

610 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the

God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and of his sons .

611 Also I have made a decree that whosoever shall alter this

word let timber be pulled down from his house and being set up

let him be hanged thereon and let his house be made a dunghill

for this .

612 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there

destroy all kings and people that shall put to their hand to

alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem I

Darius have made a decree let it be done with speed .

613 Then Tatnai governor on this side the river Shetharboznai

and their companions according to that which Darius the king had

sent so they did speedily .

614 And the elders of the Jews builded and they prospered

through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the

son of Iddo And they builded 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 .

615 And 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

616 And the children of Israel the priests and the Levites and

the rest of the children of the captivity kept the dedication of

this house of God with joy .

617 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an

hundred bullocks two hundred rams four hundred lambs and for a

sin offering for all Israel twelve he goats according to the

number of the tribes of Israel .

618 And they set the priests in their divisions and the

Levites in their courses for the service of God which is at

Jerusalem as it is written in the book of Moses .

619 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon

the fourteenth day of the first month .

620 For the priests and the Levites were purified together all

of them were pure and killed the passover for all the children

of the captivity and for their brethren the priests and for

themselves .

621 And the children of Israel which were come again out of

captivity and all such as had separated themselves unto them

from the filthiness of the heathen of the land to seek the LORD

God of Israel did eat .

622 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy

for the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the

king of Assyria unto them to strengthen their hands in the work

of the house of God the God of Israel .

* 71 Now after these things in the reign of Artaxerxes king of

Persia Ezra the son of Seraiah the son of Azariah the son of

Hilkiah .

72 The son of Shallum the son of Zadok the son of Ahitub .

73 The son of Amariah the son of Azariah the son of Meraioth .

74 The son of Zerahiah the son of Uzzi the son of Bukki .

75 The son of Abishua the son of Phinehas the son of Eleazar

the son of Aaron the chief priest .

76 This Ezra went up from Babylon and he was a ready scribe in

the law of Moses which the LORD God of Israel had given and the

king granted him all his request according to the hand of the

LORD his God upon him .

77 And there went up some of the children of Israel and of the

priests and the Levites and the singers and the porters and the

Nethinims unto Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the

king .

78 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month which was in

the seventh year of the king .

79 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up

from Babylon and on the first day of the fifth month came he to

Jerusalem according to the good hand of his God upon him .

710 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the

LORD and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments .

711 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king

Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest the scribe even a scribe of

the words of the commandments of the LORD and of his statutes to

Israel .

712 Artaxerxes king of kings unto Ezra the priest a scribe of

the law of the God of heaven perfect peace and at such a time .

713 I make a decree that all they of the people of Israel and

of his priests and Levites in my realm which are minded of their

own freewill to go up to Jerusalem go with thee .

714 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and of his seven

counsellors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according

to the law of thy God which is in thine hand .

715 And to carry the silver and gold which the king and his

counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel whose

habitation is in Jerusalem .

716 And all the silver and gold that thou canst 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 .

717 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks

rams lambs with their meat offerings and their drink offerings

and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is

in Jerusalem .

718 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren

to do with the rest of the silver and the gold that do after the

will of your God .

719 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of

the house of thy God those deliver thou before the God of

Jerusalem .

720 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy

God which thou shalt have occasion to bestow bestow it out of

the king's treasure house .

721 And I even I Artaxerxes the king do make a decree to all

the treasurers which are beyond the river that whatsoever Ezra

the priest the scribe of the law of the God of heaven shall

require of you it be done speedily .

722 Unto an hundred talents of silver and to an hundred

measures of wheat and to an hundred baths of wine and to an

hundred baths of oil and salt without prescribing how much .

723 Whatsoever 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 wrath against the realm of the king and his sons

724 Also 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 upon

them .

725 And thou Ezra after the wisdom of thy God that is in thine

hand set magistrates and judges which may judge all the people

that are beyond the river all such as know the laws of thy God

and teach ye them that know them not .

726 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God and the law

of the king let judgment be executed speedily upon him whether

it be unto death or to banishment or to confiscation of goods or

to imprisonment .

727 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers which hath put such

a thing as this in the king's heart to beautify the house of the

LORD which is in Jerusalem .

728 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king and his

counsellors and before all the king's mighty princes And I was

strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me and I

gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me .

* 81 These are now the chief of their fathers and this is the

genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon in the reign

of Artaxerxes the king .

82 Of the sons of Phinehas Gershom of the sons of Ithamar

Daniel of the sons of David Hattush .

83 Of the sons of Shechaniah of the sons of Pharosh Zechariah

and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred

and fifty .

84 Of the sons of Pahathmoab Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah and

with him two hundred males .

85 Of the sons of Shechaniah the son of Jahaziel and with him

three hundred males .

86 Of the sons also of Adin Ebed the son of Jonathan and with

him fifty males .

87 And of the sons of Elam Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah and

with him seventy males .

88 And of the sons of Shephatiah Zebadiah the son of Michael

and with him fourscore males .

89 Of the sons of Joab Obadiah the son of Jehiel and with him

two hundred and eighteen males .

810 And of the sons of Shelomith the son of Josiphiah and with

him an hundred and threescore males .

811 And of the sons of Bebai Zechariah the son of Bebai and

with him twenty and eight males .

812 And of the sons of Azgad Johanan the son of Hakkatan and

with him an hundred and ten males .

813 And of the last sons of Adonikam whose names are these

Eliphelet Jeiel and Shemaiah and with them threescore males .

814 Of the sons also of Bigvai Uthai and Zabbud and with them

seventy males .

815 And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to

Ahava and there abode we in tents three days and I viewed the

people and the priests and found there none of the sons of Levi .

816 Then sent I for Eliezer for Ariel for Shemaiah and for

Elnathan and for Jarib and for Elnathan and for Nathan and for

Zechariah and for Meshullam chief men also for Joiarib and for

Elnathan men of understanding .

817 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at

the place Casiphia and I told them what they should say unto

Iddo and to his brethren the Nethinims at the place Casiphia

that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our

God .

818 And by the good hand of our God upon 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 brethren

eighteen .

819 And Hashabiah and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari

his brethren and their sons twenty .

820 Also of the Nethinims whom David and the princes had

appointed for the service of the Levites two hundred and twenty

Nethinims all of them were expressed by name .

821 Then 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 .

822 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of

soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way

because we had spoken unto the king saying The hand of our God

is upon all them for good that seek him but his power and his

wrath is against all them that forsake him .

823 So we fasted and besought our God for this and he was

entreated of us .

824 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests

Sherebiah Hashabiah and ten of their brethren with them .

825 And weighed unto them the silver and the gold and the

vessels even the offering of the house of our God which the king

and his counsellors and his lords and all Israel there present

had offered .

826 I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty

talents of silver and silver vessels an hundred talents and of

gold an hundred talents .

827 Also twenty basins of gold of a thousand drams and two

vessels of fine copper precious as gold .

828 And I said unto them Ye are holy unto the LORD the vessels

are holy also and the silver and the gold are a freewill

offering unto the LORD God of your fathers .

829 Watch ye and keep them until ye weigh them before the

chief of the priests and the Levites and chief of the fathers of

Israel at Jerusalem in the chambers of the house of the LORD .

830 So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the

silver and the gold and the vessels to bring them to Jerusalem

unto the house of our God .

831 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth

day of the first month to go unto Jerusalem and the hand of our

God was upon us and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy

and of such as lay in wait by the way .

832 And we came to Jerusalem and abode there three days .

833 Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the

vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth

the son of Uriah the priest and with him was Eleazar the son of

Phinehas and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah

the son of Binnui Levites .

834 By number and by weight of every one and all the weight

was written at that time .

835 Also the children of those that had been carried away

which were come out of the captivity offered burnt offerings

unto the God of Israel twelve bullocks for all Israel ninety and

six rams seventy and seven lambs twelve he goats for a sin

offering all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD .

836 And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's

lieutenants and to the governors on this side the river and they

furthered the people and the house of God .

* 91 Now 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 .

92 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and

for their sons so that the holy seed have mingled themselves

with the people of those lands yea the hand of the princes and

rulers hath been chief in this trespass .

93 And when I heard this thing I rent my garment and my mantle

and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard and sat down

astonied .

94 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the

words of the God of Israel because of the transgression of those

that had been carried away and I sat astonied until the evening

sacrifice .

95 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness

and having rent my garment and my mantle I fell upon my knees

and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God .

96 And said O my God I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face

to thee my God for our iniquities are increased over our head

and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens .

97 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great

trespass unto this day and for our iniquities have we our kings

and our priests 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 .

98 And now for a little space grace hath been showed 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 .

99 For we were bondmen yet our God hath not forsaken us in our

bondage but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the

kings of Persia to give us a reviving to set up the house of our

God and to repair the desolations thereof and to give us a wall

in Judah and in Jerusalem .

910 And now O our God what shall we say after this for we have

forsaken thy commandments .

911 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets

saying The land unto which ye 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 .

912 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons

neither take their daughters unto your sons nor seek their peace

or their wealth for ever that ye may be strong and eat the good

of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children for

ever .

913 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds and

for our great trespass seeing that thou our God hast punished us

less than our iniquities deserve and hast given us such

deliverance as this .

914 Should we again break thy commandments and join in

affinity with the people of these abominations wouldest not thou

be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us so that there

should be no remnant nor escaping .

915 O LORD God of Israel thou art righteous for we remain yet

escaped as it is this day behold we are before thee in our

trespasses for we cannot stand before thee because of this .

* 101 Now when Ezra had prayed and when he had confessed

weeping and casting himself down before the house of God there

assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of

men and women and children for the people wept very sore .

102 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel one of the sons of Elam

answered and said unto Ezra We have trespassed against our God

and have taken strange wives of the people of the land yet now

there is hope in Israel concerning this thing .

103 Now 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 that tremble at the commandment

of our God and let it be done according to the law .

104 Arise for this matter belongeth unto thee we also will be

with thee be of good courage and do it .

105 Then arose Ezra and made the chief priests the Levites and

all Israel to swear that they should do according to this word

And they sware .

106 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God and went

into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib and when he came

thither he did eat no bread nor drink water for he mourned

because of the transgression of them that had been carried away .

107 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem

unto all the children of the captivity that they should gather

themselves together unto Jerusalem .

108 And that whosoever would not come within three days

according to the counsel of the princes and the elders all his

substance should be forfeited and himself separated from the

congregation of those that had been carried away .

109 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves

together unto 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 .

1010 And Ezra the priest stood up and said unto them Ye have

transgressed and have taken strange wives to increase the

trespass of Israel .

1011 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your

fathers and do his pleasure and separate yourselves from the

people of the land and from the strange wives .

1012 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud

voice As thou hast said so must we do .

1013 But the people are many and it is a time of much rain and

we are not able to stand without neither is this a work of one

day or two for we are many that have transgressed in this thing .

1014 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand and let

all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at

appointed times and with them the elders of every city and the

judges thereof until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter

be turned from us .

1015 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of

Tikvah were employed about this matter and Meshullam and

Shabbethai the Levite helped them .

1016 And the children of the captivity did so And Ezra the

priest with certain chief of the fathers after the house of

their fathers and all of them by their names were separated and

sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the

matter .

1017 And they made an end with all the men that had taken

strange wives by the first day of the first month .

1018 And among the sons of the priests there were found that

had taken strange wives namely of the sons of Jeshua the son of

Jozadak and his brethren Maaseiah and Eliezer and Jarib and

Gedaliah .

1019 And they gave their hands that they would put away their

wives and being guilty they offered a ram of the flock for their

trespass .

1020 And of the sons of Immer Hanani and Zebadiah .

1021 And of the sons of Harim Maaseiah and Elijah and Shemaiah

and Jehiel and Uzziah .

1022 And of the sons of Pashur Elioenai Maaseiah Ishmael

Nethaneel Jozabad and Elasah .

1023 Also of the Levites Jozabad and Shimei and Kelaiah the

same is Kelita Pethahiah Judah and Eliezer .

1024 Of the singers also Eliashib and of the porters Shallum

and Telem and Uri .

1025 Moreover of Israel of the sons of Parosh Ramiah and

Jeziah and Malchiah and Miamin and Eleazar and Malchijah and

Benaiah .

1026 And of the sons of Elam Mattaniah Zechariah and Jehiel

and Abdi and Jeremoth and Eliah .

1027 And of the sons of Zattu Elioenai Eliashib Mattaniah and

Jeremoth and Zabad and Aziza .

1028 Of the sons also of Bebai Jehohanan Hananiah Zabbai and

Athlai .

1029 And of the sons of Bani Meshullam Malluch and Adaiah

Jashub and Sheal and Ramoth .

1030 And of the sons of Pahathmoab Adna and Chelal Benaiah

Maaseiah Mattaniah Bezaleel and Binnui and Manasseh .

1031 And of the sons of Harim Eliezer Ishijah Malchiah

Shemaiah Shimeon .

1032 Benjamin Malluch and Shemariah .

1033 Of the sons of Hashum Mattenai Mattathah Zabad Eliphelet

Jeremai Manasseh and Shimei .

1034 Of the sons of Bani Maadai Amram and Uel .

1035 Benaiah Bedeiah Chelluh .

1036 Vaniah Meremoth Eliashib .

1037 Mattaniah Mattenai and Jaasau .

1038 And Bani and Binnui Shimei .

1039 And Shelemiah and Nathan and Adaiah .

1040 Machnadebai Shashai Sharai .

1041 Azareel and Shelemiah Shemariah .

1042 Shallum Amariah and Joseph .

1043 Of the sons of Nebo Jeiel Mattithiah Zabad Zebina Jadau

and Joel Benaiah .

1044 All these had taken strange wives and some of them had

wives by whom they had children .

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