| Book 15 Ezra |
| 001:001 |
|
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, |
| 001:002 |
|
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. |
| 001:003 |
|
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. |
| 001:004 |
|
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. |
| 001:005 |
|
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. |
| 001:006 |
|
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. |
| 001:007 |
|
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; |
| 001:008 |
|
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. |
| 001:009 |
|
And this is the number of them: thirty chargers
of gold, a thousand chargers of
silver, nine and twenty knives, |
| 001:010 |
|
Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and
ten, and other vessels a thousand. |
| 001:011 |
|
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. |
| 002:001 |
|
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; |
| 002:002 |
|
Which came with Zerubbabel:
Jeshua, Nehemiah,
Seraiah, Reelaiah,
Mordecai, Bilshan,
Mizpar, Bigvai,
Rehum, Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Israel: |
| 002:003 |
|
The children of Parosh,
two thousand an hundred seventy and two. |
| 002:004 |
|
The children of Shephatiah,
three hundred seventy and two. |
| 002:005 |
|
The children of Arah,
seven hundred seventy and five. |
| 002:006 |
|
The children of Pahath-moab,
of the children of Jeshua
and Joab, two thousand eight
hundred and twelve. |
| 002:007 |
|
The children of Elam,
a thousand two hundred fifty and four. |
| 002:008 |
|
The children of Zattu,
nine hundred forty and five. |
| 002:009 |
|
The children of Zaccai,
seven hundred and threescore. |
| 002:010 |
|
The children of Bani,
six hundred forty and two. |
| 002:011 |
|
The children of Bebai,
six hundred twenty and three. |
| 002:012 |
|
The children of Azgad,
a thousand two hundred twenty and two. |
| 002:013 |
|
The children of Adonikam,
six hundred sixty and six. |
| 002:014 |
|
The children of Bigvai,
two thousand fifty and six. |
| 002:015 |
|
The children of Adin,
four hundred fifty and four. |
| 002:016 |
|
The children of Ater
of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. |
| 002:017 |
|
The children of Bezai,
three hundred twenty and three. |
| 002:018 |
|
The children of Jorah,
an hundred and twelve. |
| 002:019 |
|
The children of Hashum,
two hundred twenty and three. |
| 002:020 |
|
The children of Gibbar,
ninety and five. |
| 002:021 |
|
The children of Bethlehem,
an hundred twenty and three. |
| 002:022 |
|
The men of Netophah, fifty
and six. |
| 002:023 |
|
The men of Anathoth, an hundred
twenty and eight. |
| 002:024 |
|
The children of Azmaveth,
forty and two. |
| 002:025 |
|
The children of Kirjatharim,
Chephirah, and Beeroth,
seven hundred and forty and three. |
| 002:026 |
|
The children of Ramah
and Gaba, six hundred twenty
and one. |
| 002:027 |
|
The men of Michmas, an hundred
twenty and two. |
| 002:028 |
|
The men of Bethel and Ai,
two hundred twenty and three. |
| 002:029 |
|
The children of Nebo,
fifty and two. |
| 002:030 |
|
The children of Magbish,
an hundred fifty and six. |
| 002:031 |
|
The children of the other Elam,
a thousand two hundred fifty and four. |
| 002:032 |
|
The children of Harim,
three hundred and twenty. |
| 002:033 |
|
The children of Lod,
Hadid, and Ono,
seven hundred twenty and five. |
| 002:034 |
|
The children of Jericho,
three hundred forty and five. |
| 002:035 |
|
The children of Senaah,
three thousand and six hundred and thirty. |
| 002:036 |
|
The priests: the children
of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua,
nine hundred seventy and three. |
| 002:037 |
|
The children of Immer,
a thousand fifty and two. |
| 002:038 |
|
The children of Pashur,
a thousand two hundred forty and seven. |
| 002:039 |
|
The children of Harim,
a thousand and seventeen. |
| 002:040 |
|
The Levites: the children
of Jeshua and Kadmiel,
of the children of Hodaviah,
seventy and four. |
| 002:041 |
|
The singers: the children of
Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight. |
| 002:042 |
|
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. |
| 002:043 |
|
The  Nethinims:
the children of Ziha,
the children of Hasupha,
the children of Tabbaoth, |
| 002:044 |
|
The children of Keros,
the children of Siaha,
the children of Padon, |
| 002:045 |
|
The children of Lebanah,
the children of Hagabah,
the children of Akkub, |
| 002:046 |
|
The children of Hagab,
the children of Shalmai,
the children of Hanan, |
| 002:047 |
|
The children of Giddel,
the children of Gahar,
the children of Reaiah, |
| 002:048 |
|
The children of Rezin,
the children of Nekoda,
the children of Gazzam, |
| 002:049 |
|
The children of Uzza,
the children of Paseah,
the children of Besai, |
| 002:050 |
|
The children of Asnah,
the children of Mehunim,
the children of Nephusim, |
| 002:051 |
|
The children of Bakbuk,
the children of Hakupha,
the children of Harhur, |
| 002:052 |
|
The children of Bazluth,
the children of Mehida,
the children of Harsha, |
| 002:053 |
|
The children of Barkos,
the children of Sisera,
the children of Thamah, |
| 002:054 |
|
The children of Neziah,
the children of Hatipha. |
| 002:055 |
|
The children of Solomon's
servants: the children
of Sotai, the children
of Sophereth, the children
of Peruda, |
| 002:056 |
|
The children of Jaalah,
the children of Darkon,
the children of Giddel, |
| 002:057 |
|
The children of Shephatiah,
the children of Hattil,
the children of Pochereth
of Zebaim, the children
of Ami. |
| 002:058 |
|
All the Nethinims, and the
children of Solomon's
servants, were three hundred
ninety and two. |
| 002:059 |
|
And these were they which went up from Telmelah,
Telharsa, Cherub,
Addan, and Immer:
but they could not shew their
father's house,
and their seed, whether they
were of Israel: |
| 002:060 |
|
The children of Delaiah,
the children of Tobiah,
the children of Nekoda,
six hundred fifty and two. |
| 002:061 |
|
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: |
| 002:062 |
|
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. |
| 002:063 |
|
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. |
| 002:064 |
|
The whole congregation together
was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, |
| 002:065 |
|
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. |
| 002:066 |
|
Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred
forty and five; |
| 002:067 |
|
Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand
seven hundred and twenty. |
| 002:068 |
|
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: |
| 002:069 |
|
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. |
| 002:070 |
|
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. |
| 003:001 |
|
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. |
| 003:002 |
|
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. |
| 003:003 |
|
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. |
| 003:004 |
|
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; |
| 003:005 |
|
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. |
| 003:006 |
|
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. |
| 003:007 |
|
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. |
| 003:008 |
|
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. |
| 003:009 |
|
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. |
| 003:010 |
|
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. |
| 003:011 |
|
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. |
| 003:012 |
|
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: |
| 003:013 |
|
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. |
| 004:001 |
|
Now when the adversaries of Judah
and Benjamin heard that the children
of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; |
| 004:002 |
|
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. |
| 004:003 |
|
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. |
| 004:004 |
|
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah,
and troubled them in building, |
| 004:005 |
|
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. |
| 004:006 |
|
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. |
| 004:007 |
|
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. |
| 004:008 |
|
Rehum the chancellor
and Shimshai the scribe
wrote a letter against Jerusalem
to Artaxerxes the king in this
sort: |
| 004:009 |
|
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, |
| 004:010 |
|
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. |
| 004:011 |
|
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. |
| 004:012 |
|
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. |
| 004:013 |
|
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. |
| 004:014 |
|
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; |
| 004:015 |
|
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. |
| 004:016 |
|
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. |
| 004:017 |
|
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. |
| 004:018 |
|
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. |
| 004:019 |
|
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. |
| 004:020 |
|
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. |
| 004:021 |
|
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. |
| 004:022 |
|
Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to
the hurt of the kings? |
| 004:023 |
|
Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes'
letter was read before Rehum,
and Shimshai the scribe,
and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem
unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. |
| 004:024 |
|
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. |
| 005:001 |
|
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. |
| 005:002 |
|
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. |
| 005:003 |
|
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? |
| 005:004 |
|
Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the
men that make this building? |
| 005:005 |
|
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. |
| 005:006 |
|
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: |
| 005:007 |
|
They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius
the king, all peace. |
| 005:008 |
|
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. |
| 005:009 |
|
Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you
to build this house, and to make up these walls? |
| 005:010 |
|
We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the
names of the men that were the chief
of them. |
| 005:011 |
|
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. |
| 005:012 |
|
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. |
| 005:013 |
|
But in the first year of Cyrus
the king of Babylon the same king
Cyrus made a decree to build
this house of God. |
| 005:014 |
|
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; |
| 005:015 |
|
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. |
| 005:016 |
|
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. |
| 005:017 |
|
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. |
| 006:001 |
|
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. |
| 006:002 |
|
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: |
| 006:003 |
|
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; |
| 006:004 |
|
With three rows of great stones,
and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's
house: |
| 006:005 |
|
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. |
| 006:006 |
|
Now therefore, Tatnai, governor
beyond the river, Shethar-boznai,
and your companions the Apharsachites,
which are beyond the river, be
ye far from thence: |
| 006:007 |
|
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. |
| 006:008 |
|
Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews
for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even
of the tribute beyond the river,
forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. |
| 006:009 |
|
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: |
| 006:010 |
|
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. |
| 006:011 |
|
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. |
| 006:012 |
|
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. |
| 006:013 |
|
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. |
| 006:014 |
|
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. |
| 006:015 |
|
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. |
| 006:016 |
|
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. |
| 006:017 |
|
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. |
| 006:018 |
|
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. |
| 006:019 |
|
And the children of the captivity
kept the passover upon the fourteenth
day of the first month. |
| 006:020 |
|
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. |
| 006:021 |
|
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, |
| 006:022 |
|
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. |
| 007:001 |
|
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, |
| 007:002 |
|
The son of Shallum, the son
of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, |
| 007:003 |
|
The son of Amariah, the son
of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, |
| 007:004 |
|
The son of Zerahiah, the son
of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, |
| 007:005 |
|
The son of Abishua, the son of
Phinehas, the son of Eleazar,
the son of Aaron the chief
priest: |
| 007:006 |
|
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. |
| 007:007 |
|
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. |
| 007:008 |
|
And he came to Jerusalem in
the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. |
| 007:009 |
|
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. |
| 007:010 |
|
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. |
| 007:011 |
|
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. |
| 007:012 |
|
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. |
| 007:013 |
|
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. |
| 007:014 |
|
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; |
| 007:015 |
|
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, |
| 007:016 |
|
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: |
| 007:017 |
|
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. |
| 007:018 |
|
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. |
| 007:019 |
|
The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of
thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem. |
| 007:020 |
|
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. |
| 007:021 |
|
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, |
| 007:022 |
|
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. |
| 007:023 |
|
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? |
| 007:024 |
|
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. |
| 007:025 |
|
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. |
| 007:026 |
|
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. |
| 007:027 |
|
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: |
| 007:028 |
|
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. |
| 008:001 |
|
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. |
| 008:002 |
|
Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom:
of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel:
of the sons of David; Hattush. |
| 008:003 |
|
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. |
| 008:004 |
|
Of the sons of Pahath-moab;
Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah,
and with him two hundred males. |
| 008:005 |
|
Of the sons of Shechaniah;
the son of Jahaziel, and with
him three hundred males. |
| 008:006 |
|
Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed
the son of Jonathan, and with
him fifty males. |
| 008:007 |
|
And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah
the son of Athaliah, and with
him seventy males. |
| 008:008 |
|
And of the sons of Shephatiah;
Zebadiah the son of Michael,
and with him fourscore males. |
| 008:009 |
|
Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah
the son of Jehiel, and with him
two hundred and eighteen males. |
| 008:010 |
|
And of the sons of Shelomith;
the son of Josiphiah, and with
him an hundred and threescore males. |
| 008:011 |
|
And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah
the son of Bebai, and with him
twenty and eight males. |
| 008:012 |
|
And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan
the son of Hakkatan, and with
him an hundred and ten males. |
| 008:013 |
|
And of the last sons of Adonikam,
whose names are these, Eliphelet,
Jeiel, and Shemaiah,
and with them threescore males. |
| 008:014 |
|
Of the sons also of Bigvai;
Uthai, and Zabbud,
and with them seventy males. |
| 008:015 |
|
And I gathered them together to the river
that runneth to Ahava; and there
abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests,
and found there none of the sons of Levi. |
| 008:016 |
|
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. |
| 008:017 |
|
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. |
| 008:018 |
|
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; |
| 008:019 |
|
And Hashabiah, and with him
Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari,
his brethren and their sons, twenty; |
| 008:020 |
|
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. |
| 008:021 |
|
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. |
| 008:022 |
|
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. |
| 008:023 |
|
So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of
us. |
| 008:024 |
|
Then I separated twelve of the chief
of the priests, Sherebiah,
Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren
with them, |
| 008:025 |
|
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: |
| 008:026 |
|
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; |
| 008:027 |
|
Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of
fine copper, precious as gold. |
| 008:028 |
|
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. |
| 008:029 |
|
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. |
| 008:030 |
|
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. |
| 008:031 |
|
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. |
| 008:032 |
|
And we came to Jerusalem, and
abode there three days. |
| 008:033 |
|
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; |
| 008:034 |
|
By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written
at that time. |
| 008:035 |
|
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. |
| 008:036 |
|
And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants,
and to the governors on this side the river:
and they furthered the people, and the house of God. |
| 009:001 |
|
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. |
| 009:002 |
|
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. |
| 009:003 |
|
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. |
| 009:004 |
|
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. |
| 009:005 |
|
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, |
| 009:006 |
|
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. |
| 009:007 |
|
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. |
| 009:008 |
|
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. |
| 009:009 |
|
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. |
| 009:010 |
|
And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken
thy commandments, |
| 009:011 |
|
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. |
| 009:012 |
|
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. |
| 009:013 |
|
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; |
| 009:014 |
|
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? |
| 009:015 |
|
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. |
| 010:001 |
|
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. |
| 010:002 |
|
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. |
| 010:003 |
|
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. |
| 010:004 |
|
Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee:
be of good courage, and do it. |
| 010:005 |
|
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. |
| 010:006 |
|
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. |
| 010:007 |
|
And they made proclamation throughout Judah
and Jerusalem unto all the children
of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; |
| 010:008 |
|
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. |
| 010:009 |
|
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. |
| 010:010 |
|
And Ezra the priest
stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed,
and have taken strange wives,
to increase the trespass of Israel. |
| 010:011 |
|
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. |
| 010:012 |
|
Then all the congregation answered
and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. |
| 010:013 |
|
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. |
| 010:014 |
|
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. |
| 010:015 |
|
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. |
| 010:016 |
|
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. |
| 010:017 |
|
And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange
wives by the first day of the first month. |
| 010:018 |
|
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. |
| 010:019 |
|
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. |
| 010:020 |
|
And of the sons of Immer; Hanani,
and Zebadiah. |
| 010:021 |
|
And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah,
and Elijah, and Shemaiah,
and Jehiel, and Uzziah. |
| 010:022 |
|
And of the sons of Pashur;
Elioenai, Maaseiah,
Ishmael, Nethaneel,
Jozabad, and Elasah. |
| 010:023 |
|
Also of the Levites; Jozabad,
and Shimei, and Kelaiah,
(the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah,
Judah, and Eliezer. |
| 010:024 |
|
Of the singers also; Eliashib:
and of the porters; Shallum,
and Telem, and Uri. |
| 010:025 |
|
Moreover of Israel: of the sons of
Parosh; Ramiah,
and Jeziah, and Malchiah,
and Miamin, and Eleazar,
and Malchijah, and Benaiah. |
| 010:026 |
|
And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah,
Zechariah, and Jehiel,
and Abdi, and Jeremoth,
and Eliah. |
| 010:027 |
|
And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai,
Eliashib, Mattaniah,
and Jeremoth, and Zabad,
and Aziza. |
| 010:028 |
|
Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan,
Hananiah, Zabbai,
and Athlai. |
| 010:029 |
|
And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam,
Malluch, and Adaiah,
Jashub, and Sheal,
and Ramoth. |
| 010:030 |
|
And of the sons of Pahath-moab; Adna,
and Chelal, Benaiah,
Maaseiah, Mattaniah,
Bezaleel, and Binnui,
and Manasseh. |
| 010:031 |
|
And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer,
Ishijah, Malchiah,
Shemaiah, Shimeon, |
| 010:032 |
|
Benjamin, Malluch,
and Shemariah. |
| 010:033 |
|
Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai,
Mattathah, Zabad,
Eliphelet, Jeremai,
Manasseh, and Shimei. |
| 010:034 |
|
Of the sons of Bani; Maadai,
Amram, and Uel, |
| 010:035 |
|
Benaiah, Bedeiah,
Chelluh, |
| 010:036 |
|
Vaniah, Meremoth,
Eliashib, |
| 010:037 |
|
Mattaniah, Mattenai,
and Jaasau, |
| 010:038 |
|
And Bani, and Binnui,
Shimei, |
| 010:039 |
|
And Shelemiah, and Nathan,
and Adaiah, |
| 010:040 |
|
Machnadebai, Shashai,
Sharai, |
| 010:041 |
|
Azareel, and Shelemiah,
Shemariah, |
| 010:042 |
|
Shallum, Amariah,
and Joseph. |
| 010:043 |
|
Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel,
Mattithiah, Zabad,
Zebina, Jadau,
and Joel, Benaiah. |
| 010:044 |
|
All these had taken strange wives:
and some of them had wives by whom they
had children. |