1 {1:1} 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, {1:2} 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.
{1:3} 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. {1:4} 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.
{1:5} 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. {1:6} 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.
{1:7} Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the
house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought
forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his
gods; {1:8} Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth
by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them
unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. {1:9} And this [is]
the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand
chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives, {1:10} Thirty
basons of gold, silver basons of a second [sort] four hundred
and ten, [and] other vessels a thousand. {1:11} All the
vessels of gold and of silver [were] five thousand and four
hundred. All [these] did Sheshbazzar bring up with [them
of] the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto
Jerusalem.
2 {2:1} Now these [are] the children of the province that
went up out of the captivity, of those which had been
carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon
had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto
Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; {2:2} Which
came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah,
Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum,
Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
{2:3} The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred
seventy and two. {2:4} The children of Shephatiah, three
hundred seventy and two. {2:5} The children of Arah, seven
hundred seventy and five. {2:6} The children of Pahathmoab,
of the children of Jeshua [and] Joab, two thousand
eight hundred and twelve. {2:7} The children of Elam, a
thousand two hundred fifty and four. {2:8} The children of
Zattu, nine hundred forty and five. {2:9} The children of
Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. {2:10} The children
of Bani, six hundred forty and two. {2:11} The children of
Bebai, six hundred twenty and three. {2:12} The children of
Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two. {2:13} The
children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six. {2:14}
The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six. {2:15}
The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four. {2:16}
The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. {2:17}
The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.
{2:18} The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve.
{2:19} The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and
three. {2:20} The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.
{2:21} The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and
three. {2:22} The men of Netophah, fifty and six. {2:23}
The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight. {2:24}
The children of Azmaveth, forty and two. {2:25} The
children of Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven
hundred and forty and three. {2:26} The children of Ramah
and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one. {2:27} The men of
Michmas, an hundred twenty and two. {2:28} The men of
Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three. {2:29} The
children of Nebo, fifty and two. {2:30} The children of
Magbish, an hundred fifty and six. {2:31} The children of
the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
{2:32} The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
{2:33} The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred
twenty and five. {2:34} The children of Jericho, three
hundred forty and five. {2:35} The children of Senaah,
three thousand and six hundred and thirty.
{2:36} The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house
of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. {2:37} The
children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. {2:38} The
children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
{2:39} The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
{2:40} The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel,
of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.
{2:41} The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred
twenty and eight.
{2:42} 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 an hundred thirty and nine.
{2:43} The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children
of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, {2:44} The children
of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
{2:45} The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah,
the children of Akkub, {2:46} The children of Hagab, the
children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan, {2:47} The
children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of
Reaiah, {2:48} The children of Rezin, the children of
Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, {2:49} The children of
Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, {2:50}
The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the
children of Nephusim, {2:51} The children of Bakbuk, the
children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, {2:52} The
children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of
Harsha, {2:53} The children of Barkos, the children of
Sisera, the children of Thamah, {2:54} The children of
Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
{2:55} The children of Solomonfs servants: the children
of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
{2:56} The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the
children of Giddel, {2:57} The children of Shephatiah, the
children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the
children of Ami. {2:58} All the Nethinims, and the children
of Solomonfs servants, [were] three hundred ninety and
two. {2:59} And these [were] they which went up from Telmelah,
Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan, [and] Immer: but they
could not shew their fatherfs house, and their seed, whether
they [were] of Israel: {2:60} The children of Delaiah, the
children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred
fifty and two.
{2:61} And of the children of the priests: the children of
Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai;
which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the
Gileadite, and was called after their name: {2:62} 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. {2:63} And the Tirshatha
said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy
things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with
Thummim.
{2:64} The whole congregation together [was] forty and
two thousand three hundred [and] threescore, {2:65} Beside
their servants and their maids, of whom [there were] seven
thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and [there were]
among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
{2:66} Their horses [were] seven hundred thirty and six;
their mules, two hundred forty and five; {2:67} Their
camels, four hundred thirty and five; [their] asses, six
thousand seven hundred and twenty.
{2:68} 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:
{2:69} 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.
{2:70} So the priests, and the Levites, and [some] of the
people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims,
dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
3 {3:1} And when the seventh month was come, and the
children of Israel [were] in the cities, the people gathered
themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. {3:2} Then
stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the
priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his
brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer
burnt offerings thereon, as [it is] written in the law of Moses
the man of God. {3:3} 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. {3:4}
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; {3:5} 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. {3:6} 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. {3:7} They gave money also unto
the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and
oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar
trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the
grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
{3:8} Now in the second year of their coming unto the
house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of
Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and
the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity
unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty
years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house
of the LORD. {3:9} Then stood Jeshua [with] his sons and
his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah,
together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God:
the sons of Henadad, [with] their sons and their brethren the
Levites. {3:10} And when the builders laid the foundation
of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their
apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph
with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of
David king of Israel. {3:11} 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. {3:12} 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: {3:13}
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.
4 {4:1} Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin
heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple
unto the LORD God of Israel; {4:2} Then they came to
Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto
them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye
[do;] and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-
haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. {4:3}
But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the
fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do
with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves
together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king
Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. {4:4} Then
the people of the land weakened the hands of the people
of Judah, and troubled them in building, {4:5} 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. {4:6} And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the
beginning of his reign, wrote they [unto him] an accusation
against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
{4:7} And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam,
Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto
Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter [was]
written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian
tongue. {4:8} Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the
scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the
king in this sort: {4:9} Then [wrote] Rehum the chancellor,
and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions;
the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the
Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the
Susanchites, the Dehavites, [and] the Elamites, {4:10} And
the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper
brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest
[that are] on this side the river, and at such a time.
{4:11} This [is] the copy of the letter that they sent unto
him, [even] unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men
on this side the river, and at such a time. {4:12} 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. {4:13} 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. {4:14} Now
because we have maintenance from [the kingfs] palace, and
it was not meet for us to see the kingfs dishonour, therefore
have we sent and certified the king; {4:15} 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. {4:16} We
certify the king that, if this city be builded [again,] and the
walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no
portion on this side the river.
{4:17} [Then] sent the king an answer unto Rehum the
chancellor, and [to] Shimshai the scribe, and [to] the rest of
their companions that dwell in Samaria, and [unto] the rest
beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. {4:18} The
letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before
me. {4:19} 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. {4:20} There have been mighty
kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all
[countries] beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom,
was paid unto them. {4:21} 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.
{4:22} Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why
should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
{4:23} Now when the copy of king Artaxerxesf letter
[was] read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their
companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the
Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. {4:24}
Then ceased the work of the house of God which [is] at
Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign
of Darius king of Persia.
5 {5:1} Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and
Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that
[were] in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of
Israel, [even] unto them. {5:2} Then rose up Zerubbabel the
son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began
to build the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem: and with
them [were] the prophets of God helping them.
{5:3} At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on
this side the river, and Shethar- boznai, and their
companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath
commanded you to build this house, and to make up this
wall? {5:4} Then said we unto them after this manner, What
are the names of the men that make this building? {5:5} But
the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that
they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to
Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning
this [matter.
]{5:6} The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this
side the river, and Shethar- boznai, and his companions the
Apharsachites, which [were] on this side the river, sent unto
Darius the king: {5:7} They sent a letter unto him, wherein
was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace. {5:8} Be
it known unto the king, that we went into the province of
Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with
great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work
goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. {5:9} Then
asked we those elders, [and] said unto them thus, Who
commanded you to build this house, and to make up these
walls? {5:10} We asked their names also, to certify thee,
that we might write the names of the men that [were] the
chief of them. {5:11} 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. {5:12} But
after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto
wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the
king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house,
and carried the people away into Babylon. {5:13} But in the
first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon [the same] king
Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. {5:14}
And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God,
which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that [was] in
Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon,
those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon,
and they were delivered unto [one,] whose name [was]
Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; {5:15} 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. {5:16} Then came the same
Sheshbazzar, [and] laid the foundation of the house of God
which [is] in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now
hath it been in building, and [yet] it is not finished. {5:17}
Now therefore, if [it seem] good to the king, let there be
search made in the kingfs 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.
6 {6:1} Then Darius the king made a decree, and search
was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures
were laid up in Babylon. {6:2} And there was found at
Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the
Medes, a roll, and therein [was] a record thus written: {6:3}
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; {6:4} [With] three rows of great
stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expences be
given out of the kingfs house: {6:5} And also let the golden
and silver vessels of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at
Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and
brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, [every
one] to his place, and place [them] in the house of God.
{6:6} Now [therefore,] Tatnai, governor beyond the river,
Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites,
which [are] beyond the river, be ye far from thence: {6:7}
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. {6:8} 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 kingfs goods, [even] of the tribute
beyond the river, forthwith expences be given unto these
men, that they be not hindered. {6:9} 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: {6:10} That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours
unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king,
and of his sons. {6:11} 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. {6:12} And
the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all
kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter [and] to
destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius
have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
{6:13} Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river,
Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that
which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. {6:14}
And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered
through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and
Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished
[it,] according to the commandment of the God of Israel,
and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius,
and Artaxerxes king of Persia. {6:15} And this house was
finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in
the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
{6:16} 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, {6:17} 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. {6:18} And they set the
priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for
the service of God, which [is] at Jerusalem; as it is written
in the book of Moses. {6:19} And the children of the
captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth [day] of the
first month. {6:20} For the priests and the Levites were
purified together, all of them [were] pure, and killed the
passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their
brethren the priests, and for themselves. {6:21} 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, {6:22} 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.
7 {7:1} Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes
king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah,
the son of Hilkiah, {7:2} The son of Shallum, the son of
Zadok, the son of Ahitub, {7:3} The son of Amariah, the
son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, {7:4} The son of
Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, {7:5} The son
of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son
of Aaron the chief priest: {7:6} 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. {7:7} And there went up [some]
of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites,
and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto
Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. {7:8}
And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which [was]
in the seventh year of the king. {7:9} 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.
{7:10} 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.
{7:11} Now this [is] the copy of the letter that the king
Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, [even] a
scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD,
and of his statutes to Israel. {7:12} Artaxerxes, king of
kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of
heaven, perfect [peace,] and at such a time. {7:13} 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. {7:14}
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;
{7:15} 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, {7:16} 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: {7:17} 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. {7:18} 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. {7:19} The vessels also that are given
thee for the service of the house of thy God, [those] deliver
thou before the God of Jerusalem. {7:20} And whatsoever
more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou
shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow [it] out of the kingfs
treasure house. {7:21} And I, [even] I Artaxerxes the king,
do make a decree to all the treasurers which [are] beyond
the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the
law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done
speedily, {7:22} 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. ]{7:23} 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? {7:24} Also we certify
you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers,
porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it
shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon
them. {7:25} And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God,
that [is] in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which
may judge all the people that [are] beyond the river, all such
as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know
[them] not. {7:26} 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.
{7:27} Blessed [be] the LORD God of our fathers, which
hath put [such a thing] as this in the kingfs heart, to beautify
the house of the LORD which [is] in Jerusalem: {7:28} And
hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his
counsellors, and before all the kingfs 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.
8 {8:1} These [are] now the chief of their fathers, and
[this is] the genealogy of them that went up with me from
Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. {8:2} Of the
sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel:
of the sons of David; Hattush. {8:3} Of the sons of
Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with
him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred
and fifty. {8:4} Of the sons of Pahath- moab; Elihoenai the
son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males. {8:5} Of
the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him
three hundred males. {8:6} Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed
the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. {8:7} And of
the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with
him seventy males. {8:8} And of the sons of Shephatiah;
Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.
{8:9} Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and
with him two hundred and eighteen males. {8:10} And of
the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an
hundred and threescore males. {8:11} And of the sons of
Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and
eight males. {8:12} And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the
Page 277 Ezra
son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.
{8:13} And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names
[are] these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them
threescore males. {8:14} Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai,
and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.
{8:15} And I gathered them together to the river than
runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days:
and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there
none of the sons of Levi. {8:16} Then sent I for Eliezer, for
Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for
Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for
Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan,
men of understanding. {8:17} And I sent them with
commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia,
and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, [and] to his
brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they
should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
{8:18} And by the good hand of our God upon us they
brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the
son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons
and his brethren, eighteen; {8:19} And Hashabiah, and with
him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their
sons, twenty; {8:20} Also of the Nethinims, whom David
and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites,
two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were
expressed by name.
{8:21} Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of
Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to
seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and
for all our substance. {8:22} 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. {8:23} So we fasted and besought
our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
{8:24} Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests,
Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
{8:25} 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: {8:26} 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; {8:27} Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand
drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
{8:28} 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.
{8:29} 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. {8:30} 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.
{8:31} Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the
twelfth [day] of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and
the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from
the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the
way. {8:32} And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there
three days.
{8:33} Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold
and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the
hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him
[was] Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them [was]
Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui,
Levites; {8:34} By number [and] by weight of every one:
and all the weight was written at that time. {8:35} [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.
{8:36} And they delivered the kingfs commissions unto
the kingfs lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the
river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.
9 {9:1} Now when these things were done, the princes came
to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the
Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of
the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of
the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the
Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
{9:2} 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.
{9:3} 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. {9:4} Then were assembled
unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of
Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been
carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
{9:5} 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. {9:6} And said, O my God, I am ashamed
and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our
iniquities are increased over [our] head, and our trespass is
grown up unto the heavens. {9:7} Since the days of our
fathers [have] we [been] in a great trespass unto this day;
and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and [our] priests,
been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the
sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face,
as [it is] this day. {9:8} 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. {9:9} 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. {9:10} And now, O our God, what shall
we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
{9:11} 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. {9:12} 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. {9:13} 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;
{9:14} Should we again break thy commandments, and join
in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest
not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed [us,] so
that [there should be] no remnant nor escaping? {9:15} 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.
10 {10:1} 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. {10:2} And Shechaniah the son of
Jehiel, [one] of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto
Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken
strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is
hope in Israel concerning this thing. {10:3} 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. {10:4} Arise; for [this] matter [belongeth] unto
thee: we also [will be] with thee: be of good courage, and
do [it.] {10:5} 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.
{10:6} Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God,
and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib:
and [when] he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink
water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them
that had been carried away. {10:7} And they made
proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the
children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves
together unto Jerusalem; {10:8} 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.
{10:9} 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.
{10:10} And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them,
Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to
increase the trespass of Israel. {10:11} 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. {10:12} Then all the
congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou
hast said, so must we do. {10:13} 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. {10:14}
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.
{10:15} Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the
son of Tikvah were employed about this [matter:] and
Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. {10:16}
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. {10:17} And they made an end with all the men
that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first
month.
{10:18} And among the sons of the priests there were
found that had taken strange wives: [namely,] of the sons of
Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and
Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. {10:19} 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. {10:20} And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and
Zebadiah. {10:21} And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and
Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. {10:22} And
of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael,
Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah. {10:23} Also of the
Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same [is]
Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. {10:24} Of the
singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and
Telem, and Uri. {10:25} Moreover of Israel: of the sons of
Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin,
and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah. {10:26} And of
the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and
Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah. {10:27} And of the sons of
Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and
Zabad, and Aziza. {10:28} Of the sons also of Bebai;
Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, [and] Athlai. {10:29} And of
the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub,
and Sheal, and Ramoth. {10:30} And of the sons of Paha-
thmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah,
Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh. {10:31} And [of] the
sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah,
Shimeon, {10:32} Benjamin, Malluch, [and] Shemariah.
{10:33} Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah,
Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, [and] Shimei. {10:34}
Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel, {10:35}
Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh, {10:36} Vaniah, Meremoth,
Eliashib, {10:37} Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau, {10:38}
And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei, {10:39} And Shelemiah,
and Nathan, and Adaiah, {10:40} Machnadebai, Shashai,
Sharai, {10:41} Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
{10:42} Shallum, Amariah, [and] Joseph. {10:43} Of the
sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and
Joel, Benaiah. {10:44} All these had taken strange wives:
and [some] of them had wives by whom they had children.