Restored King James Version Book of Ezra
Based on the Authorised Version (King James) with the words "God" and "LORD"
restored to their original words, and various words
(thee, thine, shouldest, crieth, didst, etc) and
constructions (them that, etc) modernized.
1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of
YHWH by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, YHWH 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,
2 Thus said Cyrus king of
Persia, YHWH Elohim of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth;
and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3 Who is there among you of all his people? his Elohim be with him, and let him
go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of YHWH Elohim of
Israel, (he is the Elohim,) which is in Jerusalem.
4 And whosoever remains in
any place where he sojourns, 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 Elohim that is in Jerusalem.
5 Then rose up the chief of the
fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them
whose spirit Elohim had raised, to go up to build the house of YHWH which is
in Jerusalem.
6 And all those who 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.
7 Also Cyrus the
king brought forth the vessels of the house of YHWH, which Nebuchadnezzar
had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his elohim;
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.
9 And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand
chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,
10 Thirty basins of gold, silver
basins of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.
11 All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four
hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that
were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.
1 Now these are the children
of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those who 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 Who came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai,
Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of
Israel:
3 The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.
4 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
5 The
children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.
6 The children of
Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and
twelve.
7 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.
9 The children of
Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
10 The children of Bani, six hundred
forty and two.
11 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.
12 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.
13 The
children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.
14 The children of Bigvai,
two thousand fifty and six.
15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and
four.
16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
17 The
children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.
18 The children of Jorah,
a hundred and twelve.
19 The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and
three.
20 The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.
21 The children of
Bethlehem, a hundred twenty and three.
22 The men of Netophah, fifty and
six.
23 The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and eight.
24 The children
of Azmaveth, forty and two.
25 The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and
Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.
26 The children of Ramah and
Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.
27 The men of Michmas, a hundred twenty
and two.
28 The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.
29 The
children of Nebo, fifty and two.
30 The children of Magbish, a hundred
fifty and six.
31 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred
fifty and four.
32 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
33 The
children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five.
34 The
children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
35 The children of
Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.
36 The priests: the
children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
37 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
38 The children of
Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
39 The children of Harim, a
thousand and seventeen.
40 The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel,
of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.
41 The singers: the children
of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight.
42 The children of the porters: the
children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the
children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all a
hundred thirty and nine.
43 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the
children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
44 The children of Keros, the
children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
45 The children of Lebanah, the
children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
46 The children of Hagab, the
children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,
47 The children of Giddel, the
children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
48 The children of Rezin, the
children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
49 The children of Uzza, the
children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
50 The children of Asnah, the
children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,
51 The children of Bakbuk,
the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
52 The children of Bazluth,
the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
53 The children of Barkos,
the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,
54 The children of Neziah,
the children of Hatipha.
55 The children of Solomon's servants: the children
of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
56 The children
of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
57 The children
of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim,
the children of Ami.
58 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's
servants, were three hundred ninety and two.
59 And these were those who
went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not
show their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:
60 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda,
six hundred fifty and two.
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:
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.
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.
64 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three
hundred and threescore,
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.
66 Their horses were seven
hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;
67 Their
camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred
and twenty.
68 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the
house of YHWH which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of Elohim
to set it up in his place:
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.
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.
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.
2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the
priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and built
the altar of the Elohim of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is
written in the law of Moses the man of Elohim.
3 And they set the altar upon
its bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries:
and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto YHWH, even burnt offerings
morning and evening.
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;
5 And afterward offered the
continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of
YHWH that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a
freewill offering unto YHWH.
6 From the first day of the seventh month
began they to offer burnt offerings unto YHWH. But the foundation of the
temple of YHWH was not yet laid.
7 They gave money also unto the masons,
and to the carpenters; and food, 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.
8 Now in the
second year of their coming unto the house of Elohim 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 those who 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 YHWH.
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
Elohim: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of YHWH, they
set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of
Asaph with cymbals, to praise YHWH, after the ordinance of David king of
Israel.
11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks
unto YHWH; because he is good, for his mercy endures for ever toward
Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised YHWH, because the foundation of the house of YHWH was laid.
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:
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.
1 Now when the adversaries of
Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built the temple
unto YHWH Elohim of Israel;
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 Elohim, as you do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon
king of Assur, who brought us up hither.
3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and
the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, You have
nothing to do with us to build a house unto our Elohim; but we ourselves
together will build unto YHWH Elohim of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of
Persia has commanded us.
4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands
of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
5 And hired
counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus
king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 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.
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.
8 Rehum
the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to
Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
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,
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.
11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even
unto Artaxerxes the king; Your servants the men on this side the river, and at
such a time.
12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from
you to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city,
and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
13 Be it
known now unto the king, that, if this city be built, and the walls set up
again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so you shall
endamage the revenue of the kings.
14 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;
15 That search may be made in
the book of the records of your fathers: so shall you 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.
16 We certify the king that, if
this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means you
shall have no portion on this side the river.
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.
18 The letter which you sent unto us has been
plainly read before me.
19 And I commanded, and search has been made, and
it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings,
and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
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.
21 Give you now
commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not built,
until another commandment shall be given from me.
22 Take heed now that you
fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
23 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.
24 Then ceased the work of
the house of Elah which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of
the reign of Darius king of Persia.
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 Elah of Israel, even unto them.
2 Then
rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and
began to build the house of Elah which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the
prophets of Elah helping them.
3 At the same time came to them Tatnai,
governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and
said thus unto them, Who has commanded you to build this house, and to make
up this wall?
4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names
of the men that make this building?
5 But the eye of their Elah 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.
6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the
river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on
this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
7 They sent a letter unto
him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
8 Be it
known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of
the great Elah, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the
walls, and this work goes fast on, and prospers in their hands.
9 Then
asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build
this house, and to make up these walls?
10 We asked their names also, to
certify you, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of
them.
11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of
the Elah 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.
12 But after
that our fathers had provoked the Elah 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.
13 But in the first
year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build
this house of Elah.
14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house
of Elah, 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;
15 And said unto him, Take these
vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the
house of Elah be built in his place.
16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and
laid the foundation of the house of Elah which is in Jerusalem: and since that
time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
17 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 Elah at Jerusalem, and
let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
1 Then Darius
the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where
the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
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:
3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus
the king made a decree concerning the house of Elah at Jerusalem, Let the house
be built, 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;
4 With three rows of great stones, and a
row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:
5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of Elah, 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 Elah.
6 Now
therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your
companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be you far from
thence:
7 Let the work of this house of Elah alone; let the governor of the
Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of Elah in his place.
8 Moreover I make a decree what you shall do to the elders of these Jews for
the building of this house of Elah: 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.
9 And that which they have need of, both young
bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the Elah 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:
10 That they
may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the Elah of heaven, and pray for the
life of the king, and of his sons.
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.
12 And the Elah that has 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 Elah which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it
be done with speed.
13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river,
Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king
had sent, so they did speedily.
14 And the elders of the Jews built, and
they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the
son of Iddo. And they built, and finished it, according to the commandment
of the Elah of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius,
and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
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.
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
Elah with joy,
17 And offered at the dedication of this house of Elah a
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.
18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in
their courses, for the service of Elah, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written
in the book of Moses.
19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover
upon the fourteenth day of the first month.
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.
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 YHWH Elohim of Israel, did
eat,
22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for YHWH 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 Elohim, the Elohim of
Israel.
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,
2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3 The son of
Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4 The son of Zerahiah, the
son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas,
the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
6 This Ezra went up
from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which YHWH
Elohim of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according
to the hand of YHWH his Elohim upon him.
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.
8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which
was in the seventh year of the king.
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 Elohim upon him.
10 For
Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of YHWH, and to do it, and to
teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
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 YHWH, and of his statutes to
Israel.
12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the
law of the Elah of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
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 you.
14 Forasmuch as you are sent of the king, and of his seven
counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law
of your Elah which is in your hand;
15 And to carry the silver and gold,
which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the Elah of Israel,
whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
16 And all the silver and gold that you
can 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 Elah
which is in Jerusalem:
17 That you may buy speedily with this money
bullocks, rams, lambs, with their food offerings and their drink offerings,
and offer them upon the altar of the house of your Elah which is in Jerusalem.
18 And whatsoever shall seem good to you, and to your brethren, to do with
the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your Elah.
19 The vessels also that are given you for the service of the house of your
Elah, those deliver you before the Elah of Jerusalem.
20 And whatsoever more
shall be needful for the house of your Elah, which you shall have occasion to
bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.
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 Elah
of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
22 Unto a hundred
talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred
baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing
how much.
23 Whatsoever is commanded by the Elah of heaven, let it be
diligently done for the house of the Elah of heaven: for why should there be
wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24 Also we certify you,
that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or
ministers of this house of Elah, it shall not be lawful to impose toll,
tribute, or custom, upon them.
25 And you, Ezra, after the wisdom of your
Elah, that is in your hand, set magistrates and judges, who may judge all
the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of your Elah;
and teach you those who know them not.
26 And whosoever will not do the law
of your Elah, 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.
27 Blessed be YHWH Elohim of our fathers, who has
put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of YHWH which is in Jerusalem:
28 And has 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 YHWH my Elohim was upon me, and I gathered
together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
1 These are now the
chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me
from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.
2 Of the sons of
Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David;
Hattush.
3 Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and
with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males a hundred and fifty.
4 Of
the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two
hundred males.
5 Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with
him three hundred males.
6 Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of
Jonathan, and with him fifty males.
7 And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the
son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.
8 And of the sons of
Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.
9 Of
the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and
eighteen males.
10 And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and
with him a hundred and threescore males.
11 And of the sons of Bebai;
Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.
12 And of
the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred and
ten males.
13 And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these,
Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.
14 Of the
sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.
15 And
I gathered them together to the river that runs 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.
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.
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 Elohim.
18 And by the good
hand of our Elohim 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;
19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons
of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
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.
21 Then I
proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict
ourselves before our Elohim, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our
little ones, and for all our substance.
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 Elohim is upon
all them for good who seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all
those who forsake him.
23 So we fasted and besought our Elohim for this: and he
was entreated of us.
24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests,
Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
25 And weighed
unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the
house of our Elohim, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all
Israel there present, had offered:
26 I even weighed unto their hand six
hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents,
and of gold a hundred talents;
27 Also twenty basins of gold, of a thousand
drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
28 And I said unto
them, You are holy unto YHWH; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and
the gold are a freewill offering unto YHWH Elohim of your fathers.
29 Watch
you, and keep them, until you 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 YHWH.
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 Elohim.
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 Elohim was upon
us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait
by the way.
32 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
33 Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed
in the house of our Elohim 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;
34 By number and by
weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.
35 Also
the children of those that had been carried away, who were come out of the
captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the Elohim 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 YHWH.
36 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 Elohim.
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.
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:
yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.
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.
4 Then were
assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the Elohim of Israel,
because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat
astonied until the evening sacrifice.
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 YHWH my Elohim,
6 And said, O my Elohim, I
am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my Elohim: for our iniquities
are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
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.
8 And now for a
little space grace has been shown from YHWH our Elohim, to leave us a
remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our Elohim may
lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 For we
were bondmen; yet our Elohim has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has
extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a
reviving, to set up the house of our Elohim, and to repair the desolations
thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10 And now, O our
Elohim, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken your commandments,
11 Which you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, The land,
unto which you 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.
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 you may be strong, and eat the
good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great
trespass, seeing that you our Elohim have punished us less than our iniquities
deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this;
14 Should we again
break your commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these
abominations? would not you be angry with us till you had consumed us,
so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
15 O YHWH Elohim of Israel,
you are righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we
are before you in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before you because of
this.
1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and
casting himself down before the house of Elohim, there assembled unto him out of
Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people
wept very sore.
2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam,
answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our Elohim, and have
taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel
concerning this thing.
3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our Elohim
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 Elohim;
and let it be done according to the law.
4 Arise; for this matter belongs
unto you: we also will be with you: be of good courage, and do it.
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 swore.
6 Then Ezra rose
up from before the house of Elohim, 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 those who had been carried
away.
7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all
the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together
unto Jerusalem;
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 who
had been carried away.
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 Elohim, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, You have transgressed,
and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
11 Now
therefore make confession unto YHWH Elohim of your fathers, and do his
pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the
strange wives.
12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud
voice, As you have said, so must we do.
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 who have transgressed in this
thing.
14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all those who 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 Elohim for this matter be turned from us.
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.
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.
17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange
wives by the first day of the first month.
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.
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.
20 And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
21 And of the sons of
Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22 And of
the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and
Elasah.
23 Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same
is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24 Of the singers also; Eliashib:
and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
25 Moreover of Israel: of
the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar,
and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
26 And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah,
Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.
27 And of the sons
of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
28 Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29 And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and
Sheal, and Ramoth.
30 And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal,
Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
31 And of
the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33 Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai,
Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34 Of the sons
of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
36 Vaniah,
Meremoth, Eliashib,
37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
38 And Bani, and
Binnui, Shimei,
39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
40 Machnadebai,
Shashai, Sharai,
41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42 Shallum,
Amariah, and Joseph.
43 Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad,
Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.
44 All these had taken strange wives: and
some of them had wives by whom they had children.
Where this translation came from
Latest update: December 2007
(C) Selwyn Russell 2005
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