- The Beginning
- YisraYah
- Babylon
- Persia
- Greece
- Rome
- Yahchanan
Ezra the Priest the Scribe
The Book of Ezra The Priest The Scribe
Chapter 1
1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the Word of Yahwah [YHWH] by the mouth of YermeYah [Jeremiah] might be accomplished, Yahwah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying:
2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: Yahwah [YHWH], the Father of heaven, gave me all the kingdoms of the earth. He charged me to build Him a house in Yerusalem [Jerusalem], which is in Yahudah [Judah].
3 Whosoever there is among you of all His people, His Father is with him. Let him go up to Yerusalem, which is in Yahudah, and build the house of Yahwah, the Father of Yisrayah (He is Master), which is in Yerusalem.
4 Whosoever is left, in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place help him with silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, besides the freewill-offering for the house of Yahwah which is in Yerusalem.
5 Then the heads of fathers' houses of Yahudah and Benjamin rose up, with the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit Yahwah stirred to go up to build the house of Yahwah which is in Yerusalem.
6 All those who were round about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.
7 Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of Yahwah, which Nebuchadnezzar brought forth out of Yerusalem, and put in the house of his god.
8 Even those Cyrus king of Persia brought forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Yahudah.
9 This is the number of them: thirty platters of gold, a thousand platters of silver, nine and twenty knives,
10 thirty bowls of gold, silver bowls of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.
11 All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these Sheshbazzar brought up, when those of the captivity were brought up from Babylon to Yerusalem.
1 Now these are the children of the province, who went up out of the captivity of those who were carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon carried away to Babylon, and that returned to Yerusalem and Yahudah, every one to his city,
2 who came with Zerubbabel, Yahshua, Nehemyah, Scrayah, Reelayah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Yisrayah:
3 The children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred seventy and two.
4 The children of Shephatyah, three hundred seventy and two.
5 The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.
6 The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Yahshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.
7 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.
9 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
10 The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.
11 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.
12 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.
13 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.
14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.
15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.
16 The children of Ater, of Khazaqiyah, ninety and eight.
17 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.
18 The children of Jorah, a hundred and twelve.
19 The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.
20 The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.
21 The children of Beth-lehem, a hundred twenty and three.
22 The men of Netophah, fifty and six.
23 The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and eight.
24 The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.
25 The children of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.
26 The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.
27 The men of Michmas, a hundred twenty and two.
28 The men of Beth-el and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.
29 The children of Nebo, fifty and two.
30 The children of Magbish, a hundred fifty and six.
31 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
32 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
33 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five.
34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
35 The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.
36 The priests: the children of Yedayah, of the house of Yahshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
37 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
38 The children of Pashhur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
39 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
40 The Levites: the children of Yahshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.
41 The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight.
42 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 a hundred thirty and nine.
43 The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
44 the children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
45 the children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
46 the children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of Hanan,
47 the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
48 the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
49 the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
50 the children of Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephisim,
51 the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
52 the children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
53 the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,
54 the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
55 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda,
56 the children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
57 the children of Shepharyah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Ami.
58 All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.
59 These were those who went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they could not show their fathers' houses, and their seed, whether they were of Yisrayah:
60 the children of Delayah, the children of Tobyah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.
61 Of the children of the priests: the children of Habayah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.
62 These searched their register among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found. Therefore they were deemed polluted, and put from the priesthood.
63 The governor said to them they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.
64 The whole assembly together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
65 besides their men-servants and their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven. They had two hundred singing men and singing women.
66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;
67 their camels, four hundred thirty and five; and their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
68 Some of the heads of fathers' houses, when they came to the house of Yahwah in Yerusalem, offered willingly for the house of Yahwah to set it up in its place.
69 They gave after their ability into the treasury of the work threescore and one thousand darics of gold, five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.
70 So the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the porters, and the Nethinim, dwelt in their cities, and all Yisrayah in their cities.
1 When the seventh month came, and the children of Yisrayah were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Yerusalem.
2 Then Yahshua the son of Jozadak stood up, his brothers the priests, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and built the altar of the Father of Yisrayah, to offer burnt-offerings on it, as it is written in the teaching of Moshe the man of Yahwah.
3 They set the altar upon its base, for fear was upon them because of the peoples of the countries. They offered burnt-offerings on it to Yahwah, even burnt-offerings morning and evening.
4 They kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required.
5 Afterward the continual burnt-offering, the offerings of the new moons, all the set feasts of Yahwah that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill-offering to Yahwah.
6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt-offerings unto Yahwah. But the foundation of the temple of Yahwah was not yet laid.
7 They gave money also to the masons, and to the carpenters. They gave food, drink, and oil, to those of Sidon, and to those of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
8 Now in the second year of their coming to the house of Yahwah at Yerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Yahshua the son of Jozadak, the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who came out of the captivity to Yerusalem, and the appointed Levites, from twenty years old and upward, began to have the oversight of the work of the house of Yahwah.
9 Then Yahshua stood with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Yahudah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in the house of Yahwah: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites.
10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Yahwah, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Yahwah, after the order of David king of Yisrayah.
11 They sang one to another in praising and giving thanks to Yahwah, saying: He is good. His lovingkindness endures forever toward Yisrayah. All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahwah, because the foundation of the house of Yahwah was laid.
12 But many of the priests, Levites, and heads of fathers' houses, the old men who saw the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice. Many shouted aloud for joy.
13 The people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people. The people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
1 Now the adversaries of Yahudah and Benjamin heard the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahwah, the Father of Yisrayah.
2 They [Samarians] drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers' houses, and said to them: Let us build with you. For we seek your Father, as you do. We sacrifice to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.
3 But Zerubbabel, Yahshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers houses of Yisrayah, said to them: You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our Father. We ourselves together will build to Yahwah, the Father of Yisrayah, as king Cyrus the king of Persia commanded us.
4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Yahudah, troubled them in building,
5 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.
6 In the reign of Xerxes, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Yahudah and Yerusalem.
7 In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The writing of the letter was written in the Syrian character, and set forth in the Syrian tongue.
8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Yerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort.
9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,
10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth.
11 This is the copy of the letter they sent to Artaxerxes the king: Your servants the men beyond the River, and so forth.
12 Be it known to the king, the Yahudim that came up from you are come to us to Yerusalem. They are building the rebellious and the bad city, have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.
13 Be it known now to the king, that, if this city is built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.
14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not meet for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore we sent and notified the king.
15 Search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. So you will find in the book of the records, and know this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they moved sedition within the same of old time, for which reason this city was laid waste.
16 We tell the king that, if this city is built, and the walls finished, by this means you will have no portion beyond the River.
17 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.
18 The letter you sent to us was plainly read before me.
19 I decreed, and search was made, and it is found that this city of old time made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition were made there.
20 There were mighty kings also over Yerusalem, who ruled over all the country beyond the River. Tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them.
21 Make you now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city is not built, until a decree is made by me.
22 Take heed that you not be slack about it. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
23 Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Yerusalem to the Yahudim, and made them to cease by force and power.
24 Then the work of the house of Yahwah which is at Yerusalem ceased. It ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zecharyah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Yahudim that were in Yahudah and Yerusalem. In the Name of the Father of Yisrayah they prophesied to them.
2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel rose up, and Yahshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of Yahwah at Yerusalem. With them were the prophets of Yahwah, helping them.
3 At the same time Tattenai came to them, the governor beyond the River, with Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, and said thus to them: Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
4 Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were that were making this building.
5 But the eye of their Father was upon the elders of the Yahudim, and they did not make them cease, till the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
6 The copy of the letter Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king.
7 They sent a letter to him, in which this was written: To Darius the king, all peace.
8 Be it known to the king, we went into the province of Yahudah, to the house of the great Yahwah, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on with diligence, and prospers in their hands.
9 Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus: Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
10 We asked them their names also, to notify you, that we might write the names of the men that were at the head of them.
11 Thus they returned us answer, saying: We are the servants of the Father of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Yisrayah built and finished.
12 But after our fathers provoked the Father of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of Yahwah.
14 The gold and silver vessels also of the house of Yahwah, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Yerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he made governor.
15 He said to him: Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Yerusalem, and let the house of Yahwah be built in its place.
16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundations of the house of Yahwah which is in Yerusalem. Since that time even until now it is in building, and yet it is not completed.
17 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 Yahwah at Yerusalem. Let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2 There was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a roll, and there this was written for a record:
3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree. Concerning the house of Yahwah at Yerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let the foundations of it be strongly laid. The height of it threescore cubits, and the breadth of it threescore cubits,
4 with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king's house.
5 Let the gold and silver vessels of the house of Yahwah, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Yerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored, brought again to the temple which is at Yerusalem, every one to its place. You will put them in the house of Yahwah.
6 Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, be you far from there.
7 Let the work of this house of Yahwah alone. Let the governor of the Yahudim and the elders of the Yahudim build this house of Yahwah in its place.
8 Moreover I make a decree what you will do to these elders of the Yahudim for the building of this house of Yahwah. That of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be given with all diligence to these men, that they are not hindered.
9 What they have need of, both young bulls, rams, and lambs, for burnt-offerings to the Father of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests that are at Yerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail;
10 that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savor to the Father of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
11 Also I make a decree, that whosoever will alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, let him be lifted up and fastened on it, and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
12 The Father who caused His Name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples that will put forth their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of Yahwah which is at Yerusalem. I, Darius, made a decree. Let it be done with all diligence.
13 Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, because Darius the king had sent, did accordingly with all diligence.
14 The elders of the Yahudim built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zecharyah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the Father of Yisrayah, and according to the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes kings of Persia.
15 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.
16 The children of Yisrayah, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of Yahwah with joy.
17 They offered at the dedication of this house of Yahwah a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs. And for a sin-offering for all Yisrayah, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Yisrayah.
18 They set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of Yahwah, which is at Yerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moshe.
19 The children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.
20 The priests and the Levites purified themselves together, all of them were pure. They killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.
21 The children of Yisrayah who were come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Yahwah, the Father of Yisrayah, ate,
22 and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy. Yahwah made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of Yahwah, the Father of Yisrayah.
1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Serayah, the son of Azaryah, the son of Hilkyah,
2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3 the son of Amaryah, the son of Azaryah, the son of Meraioth,
4 the son of Zerahyah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest;
6 this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a ready scribe in the teaching of Moshe, which Yahwah, the Father of Yisrayah, gave. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Yahwah his Father upon him.
7 There went up some of the children of Yisrayah, of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the porters, and the Nethinim, to Yerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
8 He came to Yerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9 Upon the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Yerusalem, according to the good hand of his Father upon him.
10 Ezra set his heart to seek the law of Yahwah, to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Yisrayah.
11 Now this is the copy of the letter the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Yahwah, and of His statutes to Yisrayah:
12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the Father of heaven, perfect and so forth.
13 I make a decree, all those of the people of Yisrayah in my realm, with their priests and the Levites, that are minded of their own free will to go to Yerusalem, go with you.
14 Forasmuch as you are sent of the king and his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Yahudah and Yerusalem, according to the law of your Father which is in your hand,
15 and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors freely offer to the Father of Yisrayah, whose habitation is in Yerusalem,
16 and all the silver and gold you will 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 Father which is in Yerusalem,
17 therefore you will with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal-offerings and their drink-offerings, and will offer them upon the altar of the house of your Father which is in Yerusalem.
18 Whatsoever will seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that you do after the will of your Father.
19 The vessels that are given you for the service of the house of your Father, you deliver before the Father of Yerusalem.
20 Whatsoever more will be needful for the house of your Father, which you will have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure-house.
21 I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers that are beyond the River, that whatsoever Ezra the priest (the scribe of the law of the Father of heaven) will require of you, it be done with all diligence,
22 to a hundred talents of silver, to a hundred measures of wheat, to a hundred baths of wine, to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23 Whatsoever is commanded by the Father of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the Father of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24 Also we notify you, touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of Yahwah, it will not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, upon them.
25 You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your Father that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people that are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your Father. You teach him who does not know them.
26 Whosoever will not do the law of your Father, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him with all diligence, whether it is to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27 Blessed is Yahwah, the Father of our fathers, who put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of Yahwah which is in Yerusalem;
28 and extended lovingkindness to me before the king, his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahwah my Father upon me, and I gathered together out of Yisrayah chief men to go up with me.
1 Now these are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:
2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniyl. Of the sons of David, Hattush.
3 Of the sons of Shecanyah, of the sons of Parosh, Zecharyah, and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males a hundred and fifty.
4 Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahyah, and with him two hundred males.
5 Of the sons of Shecanyah, the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.
6 Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.
7 Of the sons of Elam, Jeshayah the son of Athalyah, and with him seventy males.
8 Of the sons of Shephatyah, Zebadyah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.
9 Of the sons of Joab, Obadyah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.
10 Of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphyah, and with him a hundred and threescore males.
11 Of the sons of Bebai, Zecharyah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.
12 Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred and ten males.
13 Of the sons of Adonikam, that were the last. These are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemayah, and with them threescore males.
14 Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.
15 I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava. There we camped three days. I viewed the people, and the priests, and found none of the sons of Levi there.
16 Then I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemayah, for Elnathan, for Jarib, for Elnathan, for Nathan, for Zecharyah, and for Meshullam, chief men. Also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who were teachers.
17 I sent them forth to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia. I told them what they should say to Iddo, and his brothers the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our Father.
18 According to the good hand of our Father upon us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Yisrayah.
19 Sherebyah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen. Hashabyah, and with him Jeshayah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty.
20 Of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes gave for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim. All of them were mentioned by name.
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our Father, to seek of Him a straight way for us, for our little ones, and for all our substance.
22 I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we spoke to the king, saying: The hand of our Father is upon all those who seek Him for good. But His power and His wrath is against all those who forget Him.
23 So we fasted, and asked our Father for this. He was entreated of us.
24 Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebyah, Hashabyah, and ten of their brothers with them,
25 and weighed to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our Father, which the king, his counsellors, his princes, and all Yisrayah there present, offered.
26 I weighed into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, silver vessels a hundred talents; of gold a hundred talents;
27 and twenty bowls of gold, of a thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold.
28 I said to them: You are holy to Yahwah, and the vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are a freewill-offering to Yahwah, the Father of your fathers.
29 Watch, keep them, until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and the princes of the fathers' houses of Yisrayah, at Yerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Yahwah.
30 So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver, the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Yerusalem to the house of our Father.
31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Yerusalem. The hand of our Father was upon us. He delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and the lier-in-wait by the way.
32 We came to Yerusalem, and abode there three days.
33 On the fourth day the silver, the gold, and the vessels, were weighed in the house of our Father into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uryah the priest. With him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, with them was Jozabad the son of Yahshua, and Noadyah the son of Binnui, the Levite.
34 The whole by number, and by weight, and all the weight was written at that time.
35 The children of the captivity that were come out of exile offered burnt-offerings to the Father of Yisrayah, twelve bulls for all Yisrayah, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin-offering. All this was a burnt-offering to Yahwah.
36 They delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the River. They furthered the people and the house of Yahwah.
1 Now when these things were done, the princes drew near to me, saying: The people of Yisrayah, the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples 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.
2 They took of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yea, the hand of the princes and rulers are chief in this trespass.
3 When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, plucked off the hair off my head and off my beard, and sat down confounded.
4 Then were assembled to me every one that trembled at the words of the Father of Yisrayah, because of the trespass of those of the captivity. I sat confounded until the evening oblation.
5 At the evening oblation I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn. I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahwah my Father.
6 I said: O my Father, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my Father. Our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up to the heavens.
7 Since the days of our fathers we were exceeding guilty to this day. For our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests, were delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is today.
8 Now for a little moment grace is showed from Yahwah our Father, to leave us a remnant to escape, to give us a nail in his holy place, that our Father may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 For we are bondmen. Yet our Father did not forget us in our bondage, but extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our Father, to repair the ruins of it, and to give us a wall in Yahudah and in Yerusalem.
10 O our Father, what will we say after this? We forgot your commandment,
11 which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying: The land, unto which you go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, who fill it from one end to another with their filthiness.
12 Now therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity for ever, that you may be strong, eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
13 After all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that you our Father punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and gave us such a remnant,
14 will we break your commandment again, and join in affinity with the peoples who do these abominations? Would you not be angry with us till you consumed us, so there should be no remnant, nor any to escape?
15 O Yahwah, the Father of Yisrayah, you are righteous. We are left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day. Behold, we are before you in our guiltiness, for none can stand before you because of this.
1 Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of Yahwah, there was gathered together to him out of Yisrayah a very great assembly of men and women and children, for the people wept very severe.
2 Shecanyah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered, and said to Ezra: We trespassed against our Father, and married foreign women of the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope for Yisrayah concerning this thing.
3 Let us make a covenant with our Father to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of Yahwah and of those that tremble at the commandments of our Father. Let it be done according to the law.
4 Arise, for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.
5 Then Ezra arose, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Yisrayah, to swear they would do according to this word. So they swore.
6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of Yahwah, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib. When he came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water. He mourned because of the trespass of those of the captivity.
7 They made proclamation throughout Yahudah and Yerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Yerusalem.
8 That whosoever did 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 assembly of the captivity.
9 Then all the men of Yahudah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Yerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. All the people sat in the broad place before the house of Yahwah, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
10 Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them: You trespassed, and married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Yisrayah.
11 Now therefore make confession to Yahwah, the Father of your fathers, and do His pleasure. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.
12 Then all the assembly answered, and said with a loud voice: As you said concerning us, so we must do.
13 But the people are many, it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside. Nor is this a work of one day or two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.
14 Let our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who married foreign women come at appointed times, with them the elders of every city, and the judges of it, until the fierce wrath of our Father is turned from us, until this matter is dispatched.
15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeyah the son of Tikvah stood up against this matter, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levites helped them.
16 The children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers' houses, after their fathers' houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart. They sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
17 They made an end with all the men who married foreign women by the first day of the first month.
18 Among the sons of the priests there were found some who married foreign women. Namely, of the sons of Yahshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseyah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedalyah.
19 They gave their hand that they would put away their wives. Being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt.
20 Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadyah.
21 Of the sons of Harim: Maaseyah, Eliyah, Shemayah, Jehiel, and Uzziyah.
22 Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseyah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23 Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelayah (the same is Kelita), Pethahyah, Yahudah, and Eliezer.
24 Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the porters: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25 Of Yisrayah: Of the sons of Parosh: Ramyah, Izzyah, Malchiyah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchiyah, and Benayah.
26 Of the sons of Elam: Mattanyah, Zecharyah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Eliyah.
27 Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattanyah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28 Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananyah, Zabbai, Athlai.
29 Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adayah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30 Of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benayah, Maaseyah, Mattanyah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31 Of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshiyah, Malchiyah, Shemayah, Shimeon,
32 Benjamin, Malluch, Shemaryah.
33 Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei.
34 Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
35 Benayah, Bedeyah, Cheluhi,
36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37 Mattanyah, Mattenai, Jaasu,
38 Bani, Binnui, Shimei,
39 Shelemyah, Nathan, Adayh,
40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41 Azarel, Shelemyah, Shemaryah,
42 Shallum, Amaryah, and Yahusef.
43 Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithyah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, and Yahuel, Benayah.
44 All these had taken foreign wives. Some of them had wives by whom they had children.
