¶ 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,
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- ¶ 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.
- 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.
- ¶ Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the ⟨Lord⟩, which Neb-u-chad-nez′-zar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;
- Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mith′-re-dath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Shesh-baz′-zar, the prince of Judah.
- And this is the number of them: thirty chargers⇑ of gold, a thousand chargers⇑ of silver, nine and twenty knives,
- Thirty basons⇑ of gold, silver basons⇑ of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.
- All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Shesh-baz′-zar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.
Chapter Two
¶ NOW THESE ARE the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;
- Which came with Ze-rub′-ba-bel: Jesh′-u-a, Ne-he-mi′-ah, Se-ra′-iah, Re-el-a′-iah, Mor′-de-cai, Bil′-shan, Miz′-par, Big′-vai, Re′-hum, Ba′-a-nah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
- The children of Pa′-rosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.[2,172]
- The children of Sheph-a-ti′-ah, three hundred seventy and two.[372]
- The children of A′-rah, seven hundred seventy and five.[775]
- The children of Pa′-hath–mo′-ab of the children of Jesh′-u-a and Jo′-ab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.[2,812]
- The children of E′-lam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.[1,254]
- The children of Zat′-tu, nine hundred forty and five.[945]
- The children of Zac′-cai, seven hundred and threescore.[760]
- The children of Ba′-ni, six hundred forty and two.[642]
- The children of Be′-bai, six hundred twenty and three.[623]
- The children of Az′-gad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.[1,222]
- The children of A-don′-i-kam, six hundred sixty and six.[666]
- The children of Big′-vai, two thousand fifty and six.[2,056]
- The children of A′-din, four hundred fifty and four.[454]
- The children of A′-ter of Hez-e-ki′-ah, ninety and eight.[98]
- The children of Be′-zai, three hundred twenty and three.[323]
- The children of Jo′-rah, an hundred and twelve.[112]
- The children of Ha′-shum, two hundred twenty and three.[223]
- The children of Gib′-bar, ninety and five.[95]
- The children of Beth′–le-hem, an hundred twenty and three.[123]
- The men of Ne-to′-phah, fifty and six.[56]
- The men of An′-a-thoth, an hundred twenty and eight.[128]
- The children of Az′-ma-veth, forty and two.[42]
- The children of Kir′-jath–a′-rim, Che-phi′-rah, and Be-e′-roth, seven hundred and forty and three.[743]
- The children of Ra′-mah and Ga′-ba, six hundred twenty and one.[621]
- The men of Mich′-mas, an hundred twenty and two.[122]
- The men of Beth′–el and A′-i, two hundred twenty and three.[223]
- The children of Ne′-bo, fifty and two.[52]
- The children of Mag′-bish, an hundred fifty and six.[156]
- The children of the other E′-lam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.[1,254]
- The children of Ha′-rim, three hundred and twenty.[320]
- The children of Lod, Ha′-did, and O′-no, seven hundred twenty and five.[725]
- The children of Jer′-i-cho, three hundred forty and five.[345]
- The children of Se-na′-ah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.[3,630]
- ¶ The priests: the children of Je-da′-iah, of the house of Jesh′-u-a, nine hundred seventy and three.[973]
- The children of Im′-mer, a thousand fifty and two.[1,052]
- The children of Pash′-ur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.[1,247]
- The children of Ha′-rim, a thousand and seventeen.[1,017]
- ¶ The Levites: the children of Jesh′-u-a and Kad′-mi-el, of the children of Hod-a-vi′-ah, seventy and four.[74]
- ¶ The singers: the children of A′-saph, an hundred twenty and eight.[128]
- ¶ The children of the porters:⇑ the children of Shal′-lum, the children of A′-ter, the children of Tal′-mon, the children of Ak′-kub, the children of Hat′-i-ta, the children of Sho′-bai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.[139]
- ¶ The Neth′-i-nims: the children of Zi′-ha, the children of Ha-s(h)u′-pha, the children of Tab′-ba-oth,
- The children of Ke′-ros, the children of Si′-a-ha, the children of Pa′-don,
- The children of Leb′-a-nah, the children of Hag′-a-bah, the children of Ak′-kub,
- The children of Ha′-gab, the children of Shal′-mai, the children of Ha′-nan,
- The children of Gid′-del, the children of Ga′-har, the children of Re-a′-iah,
- The children of Re′-zin, the children of Ne-ko′-da, the children of Gaz′-zam,
- The children of Uz′-za, the children of Pa-se′-ah, the children of Be′-sai,
- The children of As′-nah, the children of Me-hu′-nim, the children of Ne-phu′-sim,
- The children of Bak′-kuk, the children of Ha-ku′-pha, the children of Har′-hur,
- The children of Baz′-luth, the children of Me-hi′-da, the children of Har′-sha,
- The children of Bar′-kos, the children of Sis′-e-ra, the children of Tha′-mah,
- The children of Ne-zi′-ah, the children of Hat′-i-pha.
- The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of So′-tai, the children of Soph′-e-reth, the children of Pe-ru′-da,
- The children of Ja-a′-lah, the children of Dar′-kon, the children of Gid′-del,
- The children of Sheph-a-ti′-ah, the children of Hat′-til, the children of Poch′-e-reth of Ze-ba′-im, the children of A′-mi.
- All the Neth′-i-nims, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.[392]
- And these were they which went up from Tel-me′-lah, Tel-har′-sa, Cherub, Ad′-dan, and Im′-mer: but they could not shew their father’s house, and their seed,⇑ whether they were of Israel:
- The children of De-la′-iah, the children of To-bi′-ah, the children of Ne-ko′-da, six hundred fifty and two.[652]
- And of the children of the priests: the children of Ha-ba′-iah, the children of Koz, the children of Bar-zil′-lai; which took a wife of the daughters of Bar-zil′-lai the Gil′-e-ad-ite, and was called after their name:
- 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.
- And the Tir-sha′-tha
⇑ said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with U′-rim and with Thum′-mim.⇑
- ¶ The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,[42,360]
- Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven:[7,337]and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
- Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five;
- Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
- ¶ 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:
- 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.
- So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters,⇑ and the Neth′-i-nims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
Chapter Three
¶ AND WHEN THE seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves as one man to Jerusalem.
- Then stood up Jesh′-u-a the son of Joz′-a-dak, and his brethren the priests, and Ze-rub′-ba-bel the son of She-al′-ti-el, 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⟩.
- 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.
- 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;
- 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⟩.
- 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.
- They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zi′-don, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Leb′-a-non to the sea of Jop′-pa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
- ¶ Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of ⟨God⟩ at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Ze-rub′-ba-bel the son of She-al′-ti-el, and Jesh′-u-a the son of Joz′-a-dak, 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⟩.
- Then stood Jesh′-u-a with his sons and his brethren, Kad′-mi-el and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of ⟨God⟩: the sons of Hen′-a-dad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
- 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 A′-saph with cymbals, to praise the ⟨Lord⟩, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
Chapter Four
¶ NOW WHEN THE adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the ⟨Lord⟩ ⟨God⟩ of Israel;
- Then they came to Ze-rub′-ba-bel, 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 E′-sar–had′-don king of As′-sur, which brought us up hither.
- But Ze-rub′-ba-bel, and Jesh′-u-a, 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.
- Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
- And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Da-ri′-us king of Persia.
- And in the reign of A-has-u-e′-rus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
- ¶ And in the days of Ar-tax-erx′-es wrote Bish′-lam, Mith′-re-dath, Ta′-be-el, and the rest of their companions, unto Ar-tax-erx′-es king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
- Re′-hum the chancellor and Shim′-shai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Ar-tax-erx′-es the king in this sort:
- Then wrote Re′-hum the chancellor, and Shim′-shai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Di′-na-ites, the A-phar′-sath-chites, the Tar′-pel-ites, the A-phar′-sites, the Ar′-che-vites, the Babylonians, the Su′-san-chites, the De-ha′-vites and the E′-lam-ites,
- And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble As-nap′-per brought over, and set
⇑ in the cities of Sa-ma′-ri-a, and the rest that are on this side (of) the (Euphrates) river, and at such a time.
- ¶ This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Ar-tax-erx′-es the king; Thy servants the men on this side (of) the (Euphrates) river, and at such a time.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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;
- 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.
- 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 (of) the (Euphrates) river.
- ¶ Then sent the king an answer unto Re′-hum the chancellor, and to Shim′-shai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Sa-ma′-ri-a, and unto the rest beyond the (Euphrates) river, Peace, and at such a time.
- The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
- 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.
- There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the (Euphrates) river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.
- 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.
- Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of kings?
- ¶ Now when the copy of king Ar-tax-erx′-es’ letter was read before Re′-hum, and Shim′-shai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
- Then ceased the work of the house of ⟨God⟩ which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Da-ri′-us king of Persia.
Chapter Five
¶THEN THE PROPHETS, Hag′-gai the prophet, and Zech-a-ri′-ah the son of Id′-do, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the ⟨God⟩ of Israel, even unto them.
- Then rose up Ze-rub′-ba-bel the son of She-al′-ti-el, and Jesh′-u-a the son of Joz′-a-dak, and began to build the house of ⟨God⟩ which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of ⟨God⟩ helping them.
- ¶ At the same time came to them Tat′-nai, governor on this side (of) the (Euphrates) river, and She′-thar–boz′-nai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
- Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
- 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 Da-ri′-us: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
- ¶ The copy of the letter that Tat′-nai, governor on this side (of) the (Euphrates) river, and She′-thar–boz′-nai, and his companions the A-phar′-sach-ites, which were on this side (of) the (Euphrates) river, sent unto Da-ri′-us the king:
- They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Da-ri′-us the king, all peace.
- Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Ju-de′-a, 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.
- Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
- We asked their names also, to certify
⇑ thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
- 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.
- But after that our fathers had provoked the ⟨God⟩ of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Neb-u-chad-nez′-zar the king of Babylon, the Chal-de′-an,⇑ who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
- But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of ⟨God⟩.
- And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of ⟨God⟩, which Neb-u-chad-nez′-zar 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 Shesh-baz′-zar, whom he had made governor;
- 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.
- Then came the same Shesh-baz′-zar, 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.
- 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.
Chapter Six
¶THEN DA-RI′-US THE king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
- And there was found at Ach′-me-tha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:
- 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;⇑
- With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expences be given out of the king’s house:⇑
- And also let the golden and silver(n) vessels of the house of ⟨God⟩, which Neb-u-chad-nez′-zar 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⟩.
- Now therefore, Tat′-nai, governor beyond the (Euphrates) river, She′-thar–boz′-nai, and your companions the A-phar′-sach-ites, which are beyond the (Euphrates) river, be ye far from thence:
- 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.
- 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 (Euphrates) river, forthwith expences be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.
- 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: [⇒]
|
|
That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the ⟨God⟩ of⇑ (the third) heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
- 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.
- 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 Da-ri′-us have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
- ¶ Then Tat′-nai, governor on this side (of) the (Euphrates) river, She′-thar–boz′-nai, and their companions, according to that which Da-ri′-us the king had sent, so they did speedily.
- And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Hag′-gai the prophet and Zech-a-ri′-ah the son of Id′-do. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the ⟨God⟩ of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Da-ri′-us, and Ar-tax-erx′-es king of Persia.
- And this house was finished on the third day of the month A′-dar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Da-ri′-us the king.
- ¶ 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,
- 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.
- And they set⇑ the priests in their courses, for the service of ⟨God⟩, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
- ¶ And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.
- For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover (lambs) for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
- 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,
- 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.
Chapter Seven
¶ NOW AFTER THESE things, in the reign of Ar-tax-erx′-es king of Persia, Ezra the son of Se-ra′-iah, the son of Az-a-ri′-ah, the son of Hil-ki′-ah,
- The son of Shal′-lum, the son of Za′-dok, the son of A-hi′-tub,
- The son of Am-a-ri′-ah, the son of Az-a-ri′-ah, the son of Me-ra′-ioth,
- The son of Zer-a-hi′-ah, the son of Uz′-zi, the son of Buk′-ki,
- The son of A-bish′-u-a, the son of Phin′-e-has, the son of E-le-a′-zar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
- 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.
- 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 Neth′-i-nims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Ar-tax-erx′-es the king.
- And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
- 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.
- 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.
- ¶ Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Ar-tax-erx′-es 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.
- Ar-tax-erx′-es, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the ⟨God⟩ of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
- 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.
- Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy ⟨God⟩ which is in thine hand;
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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⟩.
- The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy ⟨God⟩, those deliver thou before the ⟨God⟩ of Jerusalem.
- 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.
- And I, even I Ar-tax-erx′-es, king do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the (Euphrates) river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the ⟨God⟩ of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
- 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.
- 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?
- Also we certify⇑ you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters,⇑ Neth′-i-nims, or ministers of this house of ⟨God⟩, it shall not be lawful to impose toil, tribute, or custom, upon them.
- 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 (Euphrates) river, all such as know the laws of thy ⟨God⟩; and teach ye them that know them not.
- 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.
- ¶ 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:
- 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.
Chapter Eight
¶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 Ar-tax-erx′-es the king.
- Of the sons of Phin′-e-has; Ger′-shom: of the sons of Ith′-a-mar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hat′-tush,
- Of the sons of Shech-a-ni′-ah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.[150]
- Of the sons of Pa′-hath–mo′-ab; El-i-ho-e′-nai the son of Zer-a-hi′-ah, and with him two hundred males.[200]
- Of the sons of Shech-a-ni′-ah; the son of Ja-ha′-zi-el, and with him three hundred males.[300]
- Of the sons also of A′-din; E′-bed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.[50]
- And of the sons of E′-lam; Je-sha′-iah the son of Ath-a-li′-ah, and with him seventy males.[70]
- And of the sons of Sheph-a-ti′-ah; Zeb-a-di′-ah the son of Mi′-cha-el, and with him fourscore males.[80]
- Of the sons of Jo′-ab; O-ba-di′-ah the son of Je-hi′-el, and with him two hundred and eight males.[218]
- And of the sons o f Shel′-o-mith; the son of Jos-i-phi′-ah, and with him an hundred and threescore males.[160]
- And of the sons of Be′-bai; Zech-a-ri′-ah the son of Be′-bai, and with him twenty and eight males.[28]
- And of the sons of Az′-gad; Jo-ha′-nan the son of Hak′-ka-tan, and with him an hundred and ten males.[110]
- And of the last sons of A-don′-i-kam, whose names are these, E-liph′-e-let, Je-i′-el, and She-ma′-iah, and with them threescore males.[60]
- Of the sons also of Big′-vai; U′-thai, and Zab′-bud, and with them seventy males.[70]
- ¶ And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to A-ha′-va; 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.
- Then sent I for E-li-e′-zer, for A′-ri-el, for She-ma′-iah, and for El-na′-than, and for Nathan, and for Zech-a-ri′-ah, and for Me-shul′-lam, chief men; also for Jo′-a-rib, and for El-na′-than, men of understanding.
- And I sent them with commandment unto Id′-do the chief at the place Ca-siph′-i-a, and I told them what they should say unto Id′-do, and to his brethren the Neth′-i-nims, at the place Ca-siph′-i-a, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our ⟨God⟩.
- And by the good hand of our ⟨God⟩ upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mah′-li, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sher-e-bi′-ah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;[18]
- And Hash-a-bi′-ah, and with him Je-sha′-iah of the sons of Me-ra′-ri, his brethren and their sons, twenty;[20]
- Also of the Neth′-i-nims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Neth′-i-nims:[220]all of them were expressed by name.
- ¶ Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of A-ha′-va, 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.
- 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.
- So we fasted and besought our ⟨God⟩ for this: and he was intreated of us.
- ¶ Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sher-e-bi′-ah, Hash-a-bi′-ah, and ten of their brethren with them.
- 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:
- 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;
- Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams;⇑ and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
- 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.
- 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⟩.
- 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⟩.
- ¶ Then we departed from the river of A-ha′-va 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.
- And we came to erusalem, and abode there three days.
- ¶ 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 Mer′-e-moth the son of U-ri′-ah the priest; and with him was E-le-a′-zar the son of Phin′-e-has; and with them was Joz′-a-bad the son of Jesh′-u-a, and No-a-di′-ah the son of Bin′-nu-i, Levites;
- By number and by weight was written at that time.
- 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⟩.
- And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side (of) the (Euphrates) river: and they furthered the people, and the house of ⟨God⟩.
Chapter Nine
¶ 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 Ca′-naan-ites, the Hit′-tites, the Per′-iz-zites, the Jeb′-u-sites, the Am′-mon-ites, the Mo′-ab-ites, the Egyptians, and the Am′-or-ites.
- 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.
- 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.(sic)
- 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(sic)until the evening sacrifice.
- ¶ 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⟩,
- 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 (three) heavens.
- 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 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.
- And now for a little space grace⇑ hath been shewed 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.
- 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.
- And now, O our ⟨God⟩, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
- 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.
- 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.
- 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;
- 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 comsumed⇑ us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
- 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.
Chapter Ten
¶ 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.
- And Shech-a-ni′-ah the son of Je-hi′-el, one of the sons of E′-lam, 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.
- 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.
- Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.
- 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.
- Then Ezra rose up from before the house of ⟨God⟩, and went into the chamber of Jo-ha′-nan the son of E-li′-a-shib: 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.
- And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;
- 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.
- ¶ 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.
- And Ezra the priest stood up and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
- 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.
- Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.
- 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.
- 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.
- Only Jonathan the son of A′-sa-hel and Ja-ha-zi′-ah the son of Tik′-vah were employed about this matter and Me-shul′-lam and Shab′-be-thai the Levite helped them.
- 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.
- And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.
- ¶ And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jesh′-u-a the son of Joz′-a-dak, and his brethren; Ma-a-se′-iah1, and E-li-e′-zer2, and Ja′-rib3, and Ged-a-li′-ah4.
- 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.
- And of the sons of Im′-mer; Ha-na′-ni5, and Zeb-a-di′-ah6,
- And of the sons of Ha′-rim; Ma-a-se′-iah7, and E-li′-jah8, and She-ma′-iah9, and Je-hi′-el,10and Uz-zi′-ah,11
- And of the sons of Pash′-ur; E-li-o-e′-nai,12Ma-a-se′-iah,13Ish′-ma-el,14Ne-than′-e-el,15Joz′-a-bad,16and El′-a-sah.17
- Also of the Levites; Joz′-a-bad,18and Shim′-e-i,19and Ke-la′-iah,20(the name is Kel′-i-ta,20) Peth-a-hi′-ah,21Judah,22and E-li-e′-zer.23
- Of the singers also; E-li′-a-shib:24and of the porters;⇑ Shal′-lum,25and Te′-lem,26and U′-ri.27
- Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Pa′-rosh; Ra-mi′-ah,28and Je-zi′-ah,29and Mal-chi′-ah,30and Mi′-a-min,31and E-le-a′-zar,32and Mal-chi′-jah,33and Be-na′-iah.34
- And of the sons of E′-lam; Mat-ta-ni′-ah,35Zech-a-ri′-ah,36and Je-hi′-el,37and Ab′-di,38and Jer′-e-moth,39and E-li′-ah.40
- And of the sons of Zat′-tu; E-li-o-e′-nai,41E-li′-a-shib,42Mat-ta-ni′-ah,43and Jer′-e-moth,44and Za′-bad,45and A-zi′-za.46
- Of the sons also of Be′-bai; Je-ho-ha′-nan,47Han-a-ni′-ah,48Zab′-bai,49and Ath′-lai.50
- And of the sons of Ba′-ni; Me-shul′-lam,51Mal′-luch,52and A-da′-iah,53Jash′-ub,54and She′-al,55and Ra′-moth.56
- And of the sons of Pa′-hath–mo′-ab; Ad′-na,56and Che′-lal,57Be-nai′-ah,58Ma-a-se′-iah,59Mat-ta-ni′-ah,60Be-zal′-e-el,61and Bin′-nu-i,62and Ma-nas′-seh.63
- And of the sons of Ha′-rim; E-li-e′-zer,64Ish-i′-jah,65Mal-chi′-ah,66She-ma′-iah,67Shim′-e-on,68
- Benjamin,69Mal′-luch,70and Shem-a-ri′-ah.71
- Of the sons of Ha′-shum; Mat-te′-nai,72Mat′-ta-thah,73Za′-bad,74E-liph′-e-let,75Jer′-e-mai,76Ma-nas′-seh,78and Shim′-e-i.79
- Of the sons of Ba′-ni; Ma′-a-dai,80Am′-ram,81and U′-el,82
- Be-na′-iah,83Be-de′-iah,84Chel′-luh,85
- Va-ni′-ah,86Mer′-e-moth,87E-li′-a-shib,88
- Mat-ta-ni′-ah,89Mat-te′-nai,90and Ja′-a-sau,91
- And Ba′-ni,92and Bin′-nu-i,93Shim′-e-i,94
- And Shel-e-mi′-ah,95and Nathan,96and A-da′-iah,97
- Mach-na-de′-bai,98Sha′-shai,99Sha′-rai,100
- A-zar′-e-el,101and Shel-e-mi′-ah,102Shem-a-ri′-ah,103
- Shal′-lum,104Am-a-ri′-ah,105and Joseph.106
- Of the sons of Ne′-bo; Je-i′-el,107Mat-ti-thi′-ah,108Za′-bad,109Ze-bi′-na,110Ja′-dau,111and Jo′-el,112Be-na′-iah.113
- All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.
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