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
a 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 Nebuchadnezzar 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 Mithradath the treasurer, and number them unto Sheshpazar,
the prince of Judah. And this is the number of them,
30 charges of gold, a thousand charges of silver, nine and twenty
knives, 30 basins of gold, silver basins of a second sort, 410,
and other vessels, a thousand. All the vessels of gold and of
silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazar bring
up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon
unto Jerusalem. Ezra chapter 3 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. Then
stood up Jeshua the son of Josedach, and his brethren the priests,
and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and built 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 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. 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 Josedach, 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 Jeshua with his sons
and his brethren, Cadmeal and his sons, the sons of Judah together,
to set forward the workmen in the house of God, the sons of
Hinnadad 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 Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord after the
ordinances 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 forever 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 Ezra chapter 4 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 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 Esauhaddon
king of Asser which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel and
Jeshua and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel said
unto them He have nothing to do with us to build a 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 counselors against them to frustrate their purpose
all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even unto the reign of
Darius king of Persia. 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. And in the days
of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlem, Mithridath, Tabil, 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. Rehom, the chancellor, and Shimshi,
the scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes, the
king, in this sort. Then wrote Rehom, the chancellor,
and Shishai, the scribe, and the rest of their companions,
the Dinaites, the Epharsathkites, the Tarpilites, the Epharsites,
the Archivites, the Babylonians, the Susankites, the Dehavites,
and the Elamites. and the rest of the nations whom
the great and noble Asnapa brought over and set in the cities of
Samaria, and the rest that are on this side of the river, and
at such a time. This is the copy of the letter
that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king. Thy
servants, the men on this side of the 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 built again, and the walls thereof set up,
by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
then sent the king an answer unto Rehom the chancellor, and
to Shimshi 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. The letter which he 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 river, and tall 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 the kings? Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes'
letter was read before Rehom and Shimshi 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 Darius, king of Persia. Ezra chapter 5 Then the prophets Haggai, the
prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Ido, prophesied unto the Jews
that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel,
even unto them. Then rose up Zerubbabel, the
son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Josedach, 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 Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shethabaznai
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 he could not cause them to cease,
till the matter came to Darius, and then they returned answer
by letter concerning this matter. The copy of the letter that Tatnai,
governor on this side of the river, and Shetharboznai, and
his companions, the Arphasakites, which were on this side of the
river, sent unto Darius the king. They sent a letter unto him wherein
was written thus. Unto Darius the king all peace. 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. 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 as answers, saying,
We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build
the house that was built these many years ago, which a great
king of Israel built and set up. 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. 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
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 Sheshbazar. 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 built in
this place. Then came the same Sheshbazar,
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. Ezra chapter 6 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. And there
was found at Akmetha, 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 expenses be given out of the king's house. and also that
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 now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river,
Sheetha Bosnai, and your companions, the Arphasakites, which are beyond
the 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 be on the river, forthwith expenses 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 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 destroy this house
of God which is at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have made a decree. Let it be done with speed. Then
Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, Shethar-Bosnai
and their companions, according to that which Tiraeus the king
had sent, so they did speedily. And the elders of the Jews builded,
and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet
and Zechariah the son of Ido. 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. 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. 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 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. 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 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 the 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. Ezra chapter 7 Now after these
things in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia Ezra the son of
Zeriah the son of Azariah the son of Hilkiah the son of Shalem
the son of Zadok the son of Ahitub the son of Amariah the son of
Azariah the son of Meraoth the son of Zerahiah the son of Uzziah
the son of Buccai the son of Abishua the son of Phineas the
son of Eleazar 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 requests, 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 Levites, and the singers, and the porters,
and the nephenims unto Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes
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 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.
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. 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 free will to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee,
forasmuch as thou art sent of the king. and of his seven counsellors
to inquire 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 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, art Xerxes, the
king, to 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,
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, nephenims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall
not be lawful to impose toll, 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 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 have put such a thing as this
in the king's heart to beautify the house of the Lord which is
in Jerusalem and have extended mercy unto me before the king
and his counselors and before all the king's mighty princess
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 Ezra chapter 7 Now after these
things in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia Ezra the son of
Zeriah the son of Azariah the son of Hilkiah the son of Shalem
the son of Zadok the son of Ahitub the son of Ammariah the son of
Azariah the son of Mereoth the son of Zerahiah the son of Uzziah
the son of Bukkiah the son of Abishua the son of Phineas the
son of Eliezer 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 requests 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 Levites, and the singers, and the porters,
and the nephenims unto Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes
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 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. 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. 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 free
will to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee, forasmuch as thou
art sent of the king. and of his seven counsellors
to inquire 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 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, art Xerxes the
king, to 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,
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, nephenims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall
not be lawful to impose toll, 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 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 have put such a thing as this
in the king's heart to beautify the house of the Lord which is
in Jerusalem and have extended mercy unto me before the king
and his counselors and before all the king's mighty princess
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 Ezra chapter 8 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 of the sons of Phineas, Gershom and of the sons of Ithamah,
Daniel of the sons of David, Hattush of the sons of Shechaniah
of the sons of Pharash, Zechariah and with him were reckoned by
genealogy of the males and hundred and fifty Of the sons of Pahaph
Moab, Elihoani, the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.
Of the sons of Shekeniah, the son of Jehaziel, and with him
three hundred males. Of the sons also of Aden, Ebed,
the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. And of the sons
of Elam, Jeshiah, the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy
males. And of the sons of Shephetiah,
Zebediah, the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.
Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah, the son of Jehiel, and with him
two hundred and eighteen males. And of the sons of Shalemeth,
the son of Josephiah, and with him one hundred and threescore
males. And of the sons of Bebei, Zechariah, the son of Bebei,
and with him twenty and eight males. And of the sons of Asgad,
Johanan, the son of Hakaten, and with him one hundred and
ten males. And of the last sons of Adonicum, whose names are
these, Eliphelet, Jeil, and Shemaiah, and with them three score males. Of the sons also of Bigvai, Uthai,
and Zabbod, and with them seventy males. 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. Then sent
I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for El Nathan,
and for Jarob, and for El Nathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah,
and for Meshulam, chief men, also for Joirib and for Elnathan,
men of understanding. And I sent them with commandment
unto Iddo, the chief at the place of Cassaphia. And I told them
what they should say unto Iddo and to his brethren, the Nethanims,
at the place Cassaphia, 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 Malai, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Cherubiah,
with his sons and his brethren, eighteen, and Hashabiah, and
with him Jeshiah, of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their
sons, twenty. Also of the Nethanims, whom David
and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites,
220 nethernyms, all of them were expressed by name. 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. 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 entreated of us. Then I separated twelve
of the chief of the priests, Cherubiah, Hashebiah, 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 their present had offered. I even weighed unto
their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver
vessels, and hundred talents, and of gold, and hundred talents,
also twenty basins 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 the 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 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. And we came to Jerusalem 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 Merimoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with
him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them was Josabad the
son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Benuai, Levites, by number
and by weight of every one. And all the weight was written
at that time. Also, the children of those that
had been carried away, which will 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 the river. And they furthered the people
and the house of God. Ezra chapter 9 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. 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 garments
and my mantle and plucked off the hair of my head and of my
beard and sat down astonied Then were assembled down to me everyone
that trembled at the words of the God of Israel because of
the transgression of those that have been carried away and I
sat astonied until the evening sacrifice and And at the evening
sacrifice I rose 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 trespasses grown up unto the 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 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. And now, for
a little space, grace hath been showed from the Lord our God
to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in this
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 has come upon us for our evil
deeds and for our great trespass seeing that thou our God has
punished us less than our iniquities deserve and has given us such
deliverance as this Should we again break thy commandments,
and join in affinity with the people of these abominations?
Wouldst not thou be angry with us, till thou hadst consumed
us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? 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 Ezra chapter 10 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 Shechaniah, the son of Jehiel,
one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have transgressed
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 swear. Then Ezra rose
up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of
Jehanun, 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. 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 have 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're 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 congregations stand, and let them all 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 Asahel, and Jehoziah, the son of Tikva,
were employed about this matter, and Meshulam and Shabbatai, 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 Jeshua, the son of Josedach, and his brethren, Measele, and
Eliezer, and Jareb, and Gedaliah. 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
Emma, Hanani, and Zebediah. and of the sons of Haram, Maaseah
and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah, and of the
sons of Pashur, Elinonai, Maseah, Ishmael, Nethaniel, Josabad,
and Elasah, also of the Levites, Josabad, and Shemai, and Kelilah,
the same is Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. of the singers
also Eliashib, and of the porters Shalem, and Telam, and Uri. Moreover of Israel, of the sons
of Parosh, Ramiah, and Josiah, and Malchiah, and Miamim, and
Eleazar, and Malchiah, and Benaiah. and of the sons of Elam, Mataniah,
Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdiah, and Jeremoth, and Eliah, and
of the sons of Zatu, Elioenai, Eliashib, Mataniah, and Jeremoth,
and Zebed, and Aziza, of the sons also of Bebei, Jehohanan,
Hananiah, Zebei, and Athlaei, and of the sons of Benai, Meshulam,
Maloch, and Adiah, Jashub, and Sheol, and Ramoth. And of the
sons of Pahav-moab, Adnah, and Kelal, Benaiah, Maasiah, Mataniah,
Bezaliel, and Benuai, and Manasseh. And of the sons of Haram, Eliezer,
Ishajah, Malkiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon. Benjamin, Malak, and Shemariah. Of the sons of Hashem, Matinai,
Matathah, Zabod, Elephelet, Jeremiai, Manasseh, and Shimei. Of the
sons of Bani, Meadei, Amram, and Ul. Baniah, Bediah, Kelu. Vaniah, Merimoth, Eliashib. Mattaniah,
Mattinai, and Jeassau, And Benai, and Benuai, Shimei, And Shelemiah,
and Nathan, and Addiah, Magnedibai, Sheshai, Sharii, Azariel, and
Shelemiah, Shemariah, Shalom, and Moriah, and Joseph, Of the
sons of Nebo, Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zebad, Zebina, Jedao, and Joel,
Benaiah. All these had taken strange wives,
and some of them had wives by whom they had children.