Ezra Chapter 1
The decree of Cyrus
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout 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 he has appointed me to build a house for him at Jerusalem in Judah.
3 Whoever among you is one of his people—may his God be with him—and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem.
4 And let all who remain, wherever they live, be assisted by the men of their place with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.’”
The return to Jerusalem
5 Then the heads of the ancestral houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites, all whose spirit God had stirred, rose up to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
6 And all the surrounding areas assisted them with silver and gold, goods and livestock, and precious gifts, besides all the freewill offerings.
7 King Cyrus brought out the articles from the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods.
8 Cyrus king of Persia brought them out by the hand of Mithridates the treasurer, who entrusted them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
9 This is the inventory of them: 30 gold bowls, 1,000 silver bowls, 29 knives,
10 30 gold cups, 410 silver cups, and 1,000 other utensils.
11 All the gold and silver utensils numbered 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought them all with those who came up from the Babylonian captivity to Jerusalem.
Ezra Chapter 2
Those who returned with Zerubbabel
1These are the sons of the province who came up from the captivity, those whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city;
2who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
3The sons of Paros, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
4The sons of Sefatiah, three hundred seventy-two.
5The sons of Ara, seven hundred seventy-five.
6The sons of Pahat-moab, the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve.
7The sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
8The sons of Zattu, nine hundred and forty-five.
9The sons of Zacai, seven hundred sixty.
10The sons of Bani, six hundred and forty-two.
11The sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three.
12The children of Azgad, one thousand two hundred and twenty-two.
13The children of Adonicam, six hundred sixty-six.
14The sons of Bigvai, two thousand fifty-six.
15The sons of Adin, four hundred fifty-four.
16The sons of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
17The sons of Bezai, three hundred twenty-three.
18The sons of Jora, one hundred twelve.
19The sons of Hasum, two hundred twenty-three.
20The sons of Gibar, ninety-five.
21The sons of Bethlehem, one hundred and twenty-three.
22The men of Netophah, fifty-six.
23The men of Anatot, one hundred and twenty-eight.
24The sons of Azmaveth, forty-two.
25The sons of Kiriath-jearim, Kaphira, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.
26The sons of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
27The men of Micmas, one hundred and twenty-two.
28The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred and twenty-three.
29The sons of Nebo, fifty-two.
30The sons of Magbis, one hundred and fifty-six.
31The sons of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
32The sons of Harim, three hundred twenty.
33The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five.
34The sons of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
35The sons of Senaa, three thousand six hundred thirty.
36The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three.
37The sons of Imer, one thousand fifty-two.
38The sons of Pasur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
39The sons of Harim, one thousand seventeen.
40The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Cadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, seventy-four.
41The singers: the sons of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight.
42The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Salum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmón, the sons of Acub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Sobai; in total, one hundred thirty-nine.
43The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasufa, the sons of Tabaot,
the sons of Queros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padón,
45the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Acub,
46the sons of Hagab, the sons of Salmai, the sons of Hanán,
47the sons of Gidel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah,
48the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazam,
49the sons of Uza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai,
50 the sons of Asena, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nefusim,
51the sons of Bacbuc, the sons of Hacufa, the sons of Harhur,
52the sons of Bazlut, the sons of Mehída, the sons of Harsa,
53the sons of Barcos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Tema,
54the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatiph.
55The sons of the servants of Solomon: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Soferet, the sons of Peruda,
56the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darcon, the sons of Gidel,
57the sons of Sefatiah, the sons of Hatil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon.
58All the temple servants and the sons of the servants of Solomon, three hundred ninety-two.
59These were the ones who came up from Tel-mela, Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers’ houses or their lineage, whether they were of Israel:
60the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two.
61And of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name.
62These sought their genealogical records, and they were not found; and they were excluded from the priesthood,
and the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest arose to consult with Urim and Thummim.
64The entire congregation, united as one man, was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
65excluding their male and female servants, who numbered seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven; and they had two hundred singers.
66His horses were seven hundred thirty-six; his mules, two hundred forty-five;
67their camels, four hundred thirty-five; donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.
68And some of the heads of the paternal houses, when they came to the house of Jehovah which was in Jerusalem, made voluntary offerings for the house of God, to rebuild it in its place.
69According to their ability, they gave to the treasurer of the work sixty-one thousand drachmas of gold, five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priestly tunics.
70And the priests, the Levites, the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their cities; and all Israel in their cities.
Ezra Chapter 3
Restoration of the altar and worship
1 When the seventh month came, and the Israelites were settled in their cities, the people assembled as one in Jerusalem.
2 Then Jeshua son of Jehozadak and his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, 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 They set the altar on its base, for they were afraid of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening.
4 They also kept the Festival of Tabernacles, as it is written, offering burnt offerings every day according to the prescribed schedule, each on its proper day.
5 They also kept the regular burnt offering, the New Moon offerings, all the appointed festivals of the Lord, and every freewill offering and sacrifice to the Lord.
6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord; but the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid.
7 They gave money to the masons and carpenters, and also food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and Tyrians to bring cedar logs from Lebanon by sea to Joppa, according to the will of Cyrus king of Persia concerning this matter.
Laying the foundations of the temple
8 In the second year after they came to the house of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and their fellow priests and Levites, all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years old and above to oversee the work on the house of the Lord.
9 Jeshua, his sons, and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, along with the sons of Henadad, their sons, and their brothers, the Levites, were also present to oversee the work on the house of God.
10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their vestments with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel.
11 They sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good; his love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
12 Many of the priests, Levites, and heads of families, the elders who had seen the first temple, when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, wept aloud, while many others shouted for joy.
13 The people could not distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of the weeping; because the people shouted with great joy, and the noise was heard far away.
Ezra Chapter 4
The adversaries halt the work
1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel,
2 they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the ancestral houses and said to them, “Let us help you build, for we, like you, seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.”
3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the ancestral houses of Israel said, “It is not in our best interest to build a house for our God with you; we alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus king of Persia commanded us.”
4 But the people of the land intimidated the people of Judah and made them afraid so that they would not build.
5 They also bribed advisors against them to frustrate their plans, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia and until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, at the beginning of his reign, they wrote accusations against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 Also in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithridates, Tabeel, and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing and language of the letter were in Aramaic.
8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes.
9 At that time Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the secretary, and the rest of their associates, the judges, governors, and officials, and those from Persia, Erech, Babylon, Susa (that is, the Elamites),
10 and the other peoples whom the great and glorious Asnappar had carried away captive and settled in the cities of Samaria and the other provinces beyond the River, wrote.
11 And this is a copy of the letter they sent: To King Artaxerxes: Your servants from beyond the river send you greetings.
12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have come to Jerusalem and are rebuilding the rebellious and wicked city, raising its walls and repairing its foundations.
13 Now let it be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are raised, they will not pay tribute, taxes, or rent, and the king’s treasury will be diminished.
14 Since they support us from the palace, it is not right for us to see the king’s contempt shown to us. Therefore, we have sent to inform the king,
15 so that he may search in the book of the records of your ancestors. You will find it in the book of the records, and you will know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that from ancient times rebellions have been stirred up within it, for which reason this city was destroyed.
16 We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are raised, the region beyond the river will not be yours.
17 The king sent this reply: To Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the secretary, and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria, and to the rest beyond the river: Greetings and peace.
18 The letter you sent us was read clearly before me.
19 And a command was issued from me, and they searched and found that this city has been in rebellion and rebellion in ancient times;
20 and that there were powerful kings in Jerusalem who ruled over all that is beyond the river, and tribute, taxes, and rents were paid to them.
21 Now therefore, give a command that these men cease, and that this city not be rebuilt until a new command is issued from me.
22 And see that you are not negligent in this matter; Why should the harm to the kings increase?
23 Then, when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the secretary, and their associates, they went hastily to Jerusalem to the Jews and forcefully stopped them.
24 So the work on the house of God in Jerusalem ceased and remained suspended until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Ezra Chapter 5
Rebuilding of the temple
1 Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo, both prophets, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and in Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.
2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jehozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that was in Jerusalem; and with them the prophets of God who were helping them.
3 At that time Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and said, “Who gave you the order to build this house and to raise up these walls?”
4 They also asked, “What are the names of the men who are building this house?”
5 But the eyes of God were on the elders of the Jews, and they did not let them rest until the matter had been brought before Darius; and then they answered by letter concerning this matter.
6 A copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their fellow governors beyond the Euphrates River sent to King Darius.
7 They sent him a letter, and this is what it said: 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, which is being built with large stones. The timbers are already in place in the walls, and the work is being done quickly and is prospering in their hands.
9 Then we asked the elders, saying to them, “Who gave you the order to build this house and to raise these walls?”
10 We also asked them their names so that we could inform you and write down for you the names of the men who were at their head.
11 They answered us, saying, “We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which the great king of Israel built and finished.”
12 But when our ancestors provoked the God of heaven to anger, he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar, the Chaldean king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and carried the people away captive to Babylon.
13 However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus himself issued a decree that this temple of God should be rebuilt.
14 Also the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to the temple in Babylon, King Cyrus took from the temple in Babylon and gave them to Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor.
15 He said to him, “Take these articles, go, and carry them to the temple in Jerusalem, so that the house of God may be rebuilt on its site.”
16 So Sheshbazzar went and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it is not yet finished.
17 Now then, if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasury in Babylon to see if King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem, and let a messenger be sent to us to tell us what the king wishes in this matter.
Ezra Chapter 6
1 Then King Darius gave orders to search the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon.
2 And a book was found in Acmetha, in the palace in the province of Media, in which was written:
3 In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem, that the house should be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and that its walls should be made firm, sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide,
4 with three courses of large stones and one of new timbers; and that the expense should be paid from the king’s treasury.
5 Also, the articles of gold and silver that belonged to the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, should be returned and placed in their place, in the temple in Jerusalem, and put in the house of God.
6 Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and your fellow governors who are beyond the Euphrates, withdraw from here.
7 Let the work of this house of God be done; let the governor of the Jews and his elders rebuild this house of God on its site.
8 And I hereby issue a decree concerning what you are to do with these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God: let the expenses be paid promptly to these men from the king’s treasury, which he receives from the tribute of the province beyond the Euphrates, so that the work may not be hindered.
9 And whatever is needed—bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to what the priests who are in Jerusalem say—let it be given to them daily without hindrance,
10 so that they may offer sacrifices acceptable to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
11 I also issue a decree that whoever alters this decree, a beam shall be cut from his house, lifted up, and hung on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill for this.
12 And may the God who caused his name to dwell there destroy any king or people who lay a hand on altering or destroying this house of God, which is in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree; let it be carried out promptly.
13 Then Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their associates did exactly as King Darius had commanded.
14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered, according to the prophecy of Haggai the prophet and of Zechariah son of Iddo. They built and finished, according to the command of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
15This house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
16 Then the Israelites—the priests, the Levites, and the rest who had come from the captivity—dedicated this house of God with joy.
17 They offered for the dedication of this house of God 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 assigned the priests to their divisions and the Levites to their divisions for the service of God in Jerusalem, as it was written in the Book of Moses.
19 The exiles also celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; they were all clean, and they sacrificed the Passover for all the exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves.
21 The Israelites who had returned from captivity ate the bread, along with all those who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to seek the Lord, the God of Israel.
22 They celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, because the Lord had given them joy and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.
Ezra Chapter 7
Ezra and his companions arrive in Jerusalem
1 After these things, in 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 Zeraiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest—
6 this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was upon Ezra.
7 And with him went up to Jerusalem some of the children of Israel, and some of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants, in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8 He arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.
9 For on the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived in Jerusalem, the good hand of God being upon him.
10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, to do it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.
11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, a scribe skilled in the commandments of the Lord and in His statutes for Israel:
12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra, priest and scribe skilled in the Law of the God of heaven: Peace.
13 I hereby decree that everyone in my kingdom, from the people of Israel, including its priests and Levites, who is willing to go with you to Jerusalem, may go.
14 For you are being sent by the king and his seven counselors to visit Judah and Jerusalem, according to the Law of your God that is in your hand;
15 and to take the silver and gold that the king and his counselors freely offer to the God of Israel, whose dwelling place is in Jerusalem,
16 and all the silver and gold that you find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, which they freely offer for the house of their God, which is in Jerusalem.
17 With this money you shall diligently buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God, which is in Jerusalem.
18 And whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the other silver and gold, do it according to the will of your God.
19 The articles that are delivered to you for the service of the house of your God, you shall return before God in Jerusalem.
20And whatever is required for the house of your God, which you need to give, you shall give from the king’s treasury.
21 And by me, King Artaxerxes, a decree is issued to all the treasurers beyond the river, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, asks of you, be granted to him promptly,
22 Up to 100 talents of silver, 100 kors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, and 100 baths of oil; and salt without measure.
23 Let everything that the God of heaven commands be done promptly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should his wrath be against the kingdom of the king and his sons?
24 And we make it known to you that no one may impose tribute, tax, or rent on any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and ministers of the house of God.
25 And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom that you have from your God, appoint judges and officers to govern all the people who are beyond the river, all who know the laws of your God; and those who do not know them, you shall teach.
26 And whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let him be judged swiftly, whether to death, exile, a fine, or imprisonment.
27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who put this thing into the heart of the king, to honor the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem,
28 and extended his mercy to me in the sight of the king and his counselors, and all the king’s mighty princes. And I, strengthened by the hand of my God upon me, gathered the leading men of Israel to come up with me.
Ezra Chapter 8
1 These are the heads of their ancestral houses, and the genealogy of those who came up with me from Babylon in the reign of King Artaxerxes:
2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershon; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush.
3 Of the sons of Shecaniah and of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him, in the male line, 150.
4 Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Elioenai son of Zeraiah, and with him 200 men.
5 Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men.
6 Of the sons of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men.
7 Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men.
8 Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men.
9 From the sons of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men.
10 From the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men.
11 From the sons of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men.
12 From the sons of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakatan, and with him 110 men.
13 From the sons of Adonikam, the last of all, whose names are Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men.
14 And from the sons of Bigvai, Uttai and Zabud, and with them 60 men.
15 I gathered them together at the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. And though I searched among the people and among the priests, I did not find any of the sons of Levi there.
16 So I sent Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leading men, as well as Joiarib and Elnathan, learned men.
17 I sent them to Iddo, the leader in the place called Casiphia, and I put in their mouths the words they were to speak to Iddo and his brethren, the temple servants in the place called Casiphia, so that they might bring us ministers for the house of our God.
18 And they brought us, according to the gracious hand of our God upon us, a discerning man, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel: Sherebiah with his sons and his brothers, eighteen;
19 Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers and his sons, twenty;
20 And of the temple servants, whom David, along with the princes, appointed for the ministry of the Levites, two hundred and twenty temple servants, all of whom were designated by name.
21So I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, to humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our possessions.
22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had told the king, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek him, but his power and his wrath are against all who forsake him.”
23 So we fasted and supplicated to our God concerning this, and he answered our prayer.
24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests—Sherebiah and Hashabiah—and with them ten of their brothers;
25 And I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the utensils, the offering which the king, his counselors, his princes, and all Israel present there had offered for the house of our God.
26 So I weighed out into their hands 650 talents of silver, 100 talents of silver articles, and 100 talents of gold;
27 also 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 drachmas, and two fine burnished bronze vessels, as precious as gold.
28 Then I said to them, “You are consecrated to the Lord, and the articles, the silver, and the gold are holy, a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of our ancestors.
29 Keep watch over them and guard them until you weigh them out before the chief priests and Levites and the heads of the families of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the Lord’s house.”
30 The priests and Levites received the weight of the silver, the gold, and the articles, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.
31 So we set out from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from those who lay in wait on the road.
32 Then we came to Jerusalem and rested there three days.
33 On the fourth day the silver, the gold, and the articles were weighed in the house of our God by Meremoth son of Uriah the priest, with Eleazar son of Phinehas, and with them Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui, all Levites.
34 Everything was delivered by count and by weight, and the entire weight was recorded at that time.
35 The exiles who had come from the captivity 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 the Lord.
36 And they delivered the king’s dispatches to his satraps and captains beyond the river, who helped the people and the house of God.
Ezra Chapter 9
Ezra's prayer of confession
1 After these things had been done, the officials came to me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands—the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites—and they continue to do their detestable things.
2 They have taken some of their daughters for themselves and their sons, and the holy race has been mingled with the peoples of the lands. The leaders and officials have been the first to commit this sin.”
3 When I heard this, I tore my tunic and my robe, and pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down in utter distress.
4 All those who feared the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the transgression of the exiles, and I was in great distress until the time of the evening sacrifice.
5 At the time of the evening sacrifice I rose from my affliction, and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God,
6 and said: “My God, I am ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are so great that they reach to the heavens.
7 From the days of our ancestors until this day we have lived in great sin; and because of our sins we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to shame that covers our faces, as it is this day.
8 But now for a brief moment the Lord our God has shown mercy, to leave us a remnant and to give us a place of safety in his sanctuary, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a little life in our bondage.
9 For we are servants; But in our bondage our God has not forsaken us, but extended his mercy to us before the kings of Persia, so that we might be spared to rebuild the house of our God and restore its ruins, and to give us refuge in Judah and Jerusalem.
10 But now, what shall we say, our God, after this? For we have forsaken your commandments,
11 which you prescribed through your servants the prophets, saying, “The land you are entering to possess is an unclean land because of the uncleanness of the peoples of those regions, because of the abominations with which they have filled it from one end to the other with their uncleanness.”
12 Now therefore, you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, nor seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.
13 But after all that has befallen us because of our evil deeds and because of our great sin, since you, our God, have not punished us according to our iniquities, but have given us a remnant like this,
14 shall we again transgress your commandments and intermarry with nations that commit these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, leaving no remnant or one to escape?
15 O Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, since we are left a remnant that has escaped, as at this day. Here we are before you in our transgressions; for it is not possible to stand in your presence because of them.
Ezra Chapter 10
Expulsion of foreign women
1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and prostrating himself before the house of God, a very large crowd of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly.
2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, of the descendants of Elam, answered Ezra, “We have sinned against our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples of the land. Yet in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel.
3 Now let us make a covenant with our God to send away all the wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the law.
4 Now therefore, arise, for this is your duty, and we will be with you; be strong and do it.”
5 So Ezra arose and made the leading priests and the Levites and all Israel swear that they would do according to this command, and they swore.
6 Then Ezra rose from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Johanan son of Eliashib. When he was there, he neither ate bread nor drank water, for he was grieved over the sin of the exiles.
7 So a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should assemble in Jerusalem.
8 Anyone who did not come within three days, as the leaders and elders had decided, would forfeit all his possessions and be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.
9 So all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem within three days, on the twentieth day of the ninth month. All the people sat in the open square of the house of God, trembling because of the matter and because of the rain.
10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have sinned, for you have married foreign women, thus adding to the sin of Israel.
11 Now therefore, give glory to the Lord, the God of your fathers, and do his will, and separate yourselves from the peoples of the lands and from foreign women.”
12 And all the assembly answered and said with a loud voice, “So be it, according to your word.
13 But the people are many, and the season is rainy, and we cannot stand in the streets; nor can the work be completed in one or two days, for we are many who have sinned in this matter.
14 Let our leaders remain in place of all the congregation, and let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at appointed times, with the elders of each town and their judges, until we turn away from us the fierce anger of our God concerning this matter.”
15Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahaziah son of Tikvah opposed this, and the Levites Meshullam and Shabbethai helped them.
16 So the exiles did. Ezra the priest and certain men, heads of families according to their ancestral houses, were set apart; all of them sat down by name on the first day of the tenth month to inquire about the matter.
17 And they finished judging all those who had married foreign women on the first day of the first month.
18 Of the sons of the priests who had married foreign women, these were found: Of the sons of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, and of his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19 They pledged to divorce their wives and offered a ram from the flock as a sin 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 From the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelitha), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24 From the singers: Eliashib; and from the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25 Also of Israel: Of the children of Paros: Ramiah, Jeziah, Malchiah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchiah and Benaiah.
26 Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremot and Elijah.
27 Of the sons of Zatu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremot, Zabad and Aziza.
28 Of the sons of Bebai: Johanan, Hananiah, Zabai and Atlai.
29 Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Maluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal and Ramoth.
30 Of the sons of Pahat-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, Binui and Manasseh.
31 Of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isiah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Simeon,
32 Benjamin, Maluch and Shemariah.
33 Of the sons of Hasum: Matenai, Matatah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh and Shimei.
34 Of the sons of Bani: Madai, Amram, Uel,
35 Benaiah, Bediah, Cheluhi,
36 Vanijah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37 Mattaniah, Matenai, Jaasai,
38 Bani, Binui, Shimei,
39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
40 Macnadebai, Sasai, Sarai,
41 Azareel, Shelemiah, Shemarias,
42 Shallum, Amarias and Joseph.
43 And of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattathias, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, Joel and Benaiah.
44 All these had married foreign women; and some of their wives had borne children.