Bible in 90 Days
16 So, all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the Passover and to offer Burnt Offerings upon the Altar of the LORD, according to the commandment of King Josiah.
17 And the children of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, for seven days.
18 And there was no Passover kept like that in Israel from the days of Samuel the Prophet. Nor did any of the kings of Israel ever keep such a Passover as Josiah kept with the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
19 This Passover was kept in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah.
20 After all this, after Josiah had prepared the Temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Perath. And Josiah went out against him.
21 But he sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I do not come against you this day, but against the House of my enemy. And God Commanded me to hurry. Cease your coming against God, Who is with me, lest He destroy you.”
22 But Josiah would not turn his face from him. But he changed his apparel to fight with him and did not listen to the words of Necho, which were from the Mouth of God. But he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo.
23 And the archers shot at King Josiah. Then the king said to his servants, “Carry me away; for I am very sick.”
24 So his servants took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot which he had. And when they had brought him to Jerusalem, he died and was buried in the sepulchers of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
25 And Jeremiah lamented Josiah. And all singing men and singing women mourn for Josiah in their Lamentations to this day. They made the same an ordinance in Israel. And behold, they are written in the Lamentations.
26 Concerning the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, as it was written in the Law of the LORD,
27 and his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.
36 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem.
2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign. And he reigned for three months in Jerusalem.
3 And the king of Egypt took him away at Jerusalem and imposed a tribute on the land of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.
4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim, his brother, king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz, his brother, and carried him to Egypt.
5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign. And he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem and did evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
6 Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel, came up against him and bound him with chains to carry him to Babel.
7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the House of the LORD to Babel and put them in his temple at Babel.
8 Concerning the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and his abominations which he did, and that which was found against him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin, his son, reigned in his place.
9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign. And he reigned for three months and ten days in Jerusalem and did evil in the sight of the LORD.
10 And when the year was out, King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babel, with the precious vessels of the House of the LORD. And he made Zedekiah, his brother, king over Judah and Jerusalem.
11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign and reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem.
12 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the Prophet at the Commandment of the LORD.
13 But he also rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, who had caused him to swear by God. And he hardened his neck and made his heart obstinate, so that he might not return to the LORD God of Israel.
14 Also, all the chief of the priests and of the people trespassed very much, according to all the abominations of the heathen, and polluted the houses of the LORD which He had sanctified in Jerusalem.
15 Therefore, the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising early and sending. For He had compassion on His people, and on His habitation.
16 But they mocked the messengers of God and despised His Words and misused His Prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, and until there was no remedy.
17 For He brought the king of the Chaldeans upon them, who killed their young men with the sword in the House of their Sanctuary, and spared neither young man nor virgin, ancient nor aged. God gave all into his hand.
18 And all the vessels of the House of God, great and small, and the treasures of the House of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes, all these he carried to Babel.
19 And they burnt the House of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious vessels.
20 And those who were left by the sword, he carried away to Babel. And they were servants to him, and to his sons, until the kingdom of the Persians ruled,
21 to fulfill the Word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had her fill of her Sabbaths. For all the days that she lay desolate, she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.
22 But in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia (when the Word of the LORD, spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah, was finished) the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia. And he made a proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing, saying,
23 “Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia, ‘The LORD God of Heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the Earth and has Commanded me to build Him a House in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all His people with whom the LORD his God is, let him go up!’”
1 Now in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia (so that the Word of the LORD, by the mouth of Jeremiah, might be accomplished) the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia. And he made a proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing, saying,
2 “Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia, ‘The LORD God of Heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the Earth. And He has Commanded me to build Him a House in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3 ‘Who is he among you of all His people with whom his God is? Let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the House of the LORD God of Israel. He is the God Who is in Jerusalem.
4 “And anyone who remains in any place where he has sojourned, let the men of his place support him with silver and with gold and with goods and with cattle, a willing offering for the House of God that is in Jerusalem.”
5 Then, the chief fathers of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites rose up with all those whose spirit God had raised up to go, to build the House of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.
6 And all those who were around them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods and with cattle, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.
7 Also, King Cyrus brought forth the vessels of the House of the LORD which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of Jerusalem and put in the house of his god.
8 Cyrus, king of Persia, brought them forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
9 And this is the number of them: thirty basins of gold, one thousand basins of silver, twenty-nine knives,
10 thirty bowls of gold, four hundred ten silver bowls of the second sort, and one thousand other vessels.
11 All the vessels of gold and silver were five thousand four hundred. Sheshbazzar brought up all with those of the captivity who came up from Babel to Jerusalem.
2 Also, these are the sons of the province who went up out of the captivity (whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel, had carried away to Babel) and who returned to Jerusalem, and to Judah, everyone to his city.
2 These came up with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel was:
3 two thousand one hundred seventy-two of the sons of Parosh,
4 three hundred seventy-two of the sons of Shephatiah,
5 seven hundred seventy-five of the sons of Arah,
6 two thousand eight hundred twelve of the sons of Pahath-Moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab,
7 one thousand two hundred fifty-four of the sons of Elam,
8 nine hundred forty-five of the sons of Zattu,
9 seven hundred sixty of the sons of Zaccai,
10 six hundred forty-two of the sons of Bani,
11 six hundred twenty-three of the sons of Bebai,
12 one thousand two hundred twenty-two of the sons of Azgad,
13 six hundred sixty-six of the sons of Adonikam,
14 two thousand fifty-six of the sons of Bigvai,
15 four hundred fifty-four of the sons of Adin,
16 ninety-eight of the sons of Ater of Hezekiah,
17 three hundred twenty-three of the sons of Bezai,
18 one hundred twelve of the sons of Jorah,
19 two hundred twenty-three of the sons of Hashum,
20 ninety-five of the sons of Gibbar,
21 one hundred twenty-three of the sons of Bethlehem,
22 fifty-six of the men of Netophah,
23 one hundred twenty-eight of the men of Anothoth,
24 forty-two of the sons of Azmaveth,
25 seven hundred forty-three of the sons of Kirjath Arim, of Chephirah, and Beeroth,
26 six hundred twenty-one of the sons of Ramah and Geba,
27 one hundred twenty-two of the men of Michmas,
28 two hundred twenty-three of the sons of Bethel and Ai,
29 fifty-two of the sons of Nebo,
30 one hundred fifty-six of the sons of Magbish,
31 one thousand two hundred fifty-four of the sons of the other Elam,
32 three hundred twenty of the sons of Harim,
33 seven hundred twenty-five of the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono,
34 three hundred forty-five of the sons of Jericho,
35 three thousand six hundred thirty of the sons of Senaah,
36 nine hundred seventy-three of the priests of the sons of Jedaiah of the House of Jeshua,
37 one thousand fifty-two of the sons of Immer,
38 one thousand two hundred forty-seven of the sons of Pashur,
39 one thousand seventeen of the sons of Harim.
40 Of the Levites were seventy-four of the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah.
41 Of the Singers were one hundred twenty-eight of the sons of Asaph.
42 Of the sons of the gatekeepers were the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai. In all, there were one hundred thirty-nine.
43 Of the Nethinim were the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
44 the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,
45 the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub,
46 the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan,
47 the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah,
48 the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam,
49 the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai,
50 the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephusim,
51 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
52 the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
53 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Thamah,
54 the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha,
55 the sons of Solomon’s servants (the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Peruda),
56 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
57 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth Hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami.
58 In all, the Nethinim and the sons of Solomon’s servants were three hundred ninety-two.
59 And these went up from Tel Melah, and from Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan and Immer. But they could not discern their father’s House and their seed, whether they were of Israel:
60 six hundred fifty-two of the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda.
61 And of the sons of the priests were the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, and the sons of Barzillai, who took of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife and were called after their name.
62 These sought their writings in the genealogies, but they were not found. Therefore, they were cast out from the priesthood.
63 And Tirshatha told them that they should not eat of the Most Holy thing, until there rose up a priest with Urim and Thummim.
64 Altogether, the whole Congregation was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
65 besides their servants and their maids (of whom were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven). And among them were two hundred singing men and singing women.
66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six. Their mules were two hundred forty-five.
67 Their camels were four hundred thirty-five. Their donkeys were six thousand seven hundred-twenty.
68 And certain of the chief fathers, when they came to the House of the LORD, which was in Jerusalem, they offered willingly for the House of God, to set it up upon its foundation.
69 They gave to the treasure of the work after their ability: sixty-one thousand drams of gold, five thousand pieces of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.
70 So the priests and the Levites and some of the people and the singers and the gatekeepers and the Nethinim dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
3 And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in their cities, the people assembled themselves as one man to Jerusalem.
2 Then Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, stood up and built the Altar of the God of Israel, to offer Burnt Offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.
3 And they set the Altar upon its bases (for fear was among them because of the people of those countries). Therefore, they offered Burnt Offerings to the LORD on it, Burnt Offerings in the morning and at evening.
4 They also kept the Feast of the Tabernacles, as it is written, and a daily Burnt Offering, by number, according to the custom, day by day,
5 and afterward, the continual Burnt Offering, both in the new months and on all the Feast days that were consecrated to the LORD, and in all the oblations willingly offered to the LORD.
6 From the first day of the seventh month, they began to offer Burnt Offerings to the LORD. But the foundation of the Temple of the LORD was not laid.
7 They also gave money to the masons, and to the workmen, and food and drink, and oil to those of Zidon and of Tyre, to bring them cedar wood from Lebanon to the sea, to Japho, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus, king of Persia.
8 And in the second year of their coming to the House of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, 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 had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and above, began to set forward the work of the House of the LORD.
9 And Jeshua stood with his sons, and his brethren, and Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of Judah together, to set forward the workmen in the House of God, and the sons of Henadad, with their sons, and their brethren the Levites.
10 And after the builders laid the foundation of the Temple of the LORD, they appointed 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.
11 Thus they sang to the LORD, when they gave praise and when they gave thanks: “For He is good! For His mercy endures 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 had been laid.
12 Also, many of the priests and the Levites and the chief of the fathers, ancient men who 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 sound of the shout for joy from the noise of the weeping of the people. For the people shouted with a loud cry. And the noise was heard far away.
4 Now the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built the Temple to the LORD God of Israel.
2 And they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief fathers, and said to them, “We will build with you. For we seek the LORD your God like you; and we have sacrificed to Him since the time of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, who brought us up here.”
3 Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the chief fathers of Israel said to them, “It is not for you but for us to build the House to our God. For we ourselves together will build it to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, has commanded us.”
4 Therefore, the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and troubled them in building.
5 And they hired counselors against them to hinder their plans 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) they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 And in the days of Artachshashta, when it was peace, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes, king of Persia. And the writing of the letter was in the Aramites’ writing. And the thing declared was in the language of the Aramites.
8 Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, wrote a letter of this type to Artaxerxes the king, against Jerusalem.
9 Then, Rehum the chancellor wrote, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions Dinai and Apharsathcai, Tarpelai, Persia, Archevai, Bablai, Shushanchai, Dehave, Elamai,
10 and the rest of the people whom the great and noble Osnapper brought over and set in the cities of Samaria, and others who are beyond the River and Cheeneth.
11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent to King Artaxerxes, “THY SERVANTS, the men beyond the River and Cheeneth:
12 “Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have come to Jerusalem (a rebellious and wicked city). And they build and lay the foundations of the walls and have joined the foundations.
13 “Be it known now to the king that if this city is built, and the foundations of the walls laid, they will give neither toll, tribute nor custom. So shall they hinder the king’s tribute.
14 “Now therefore, since we have been brought up in the palace, it was not right for us to see the king’s dishonor. For this reason, we have sent and informed the king,
15 “so that one may search in the Book of the Chronicles of your fathers, and you shall find in the Book of the Chronicles and perceive that this city is rebellious and noisome to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition in former times, for which reason this city was destroyed.
16 “We inform the king that if this city is built, and the foundation of the walls laid, by this means the portion beyond the River shall not be yours.”
17 The king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe and to the rest of their companions who dwelt in Samaria, and to the others beyond the River (Shelam and Cheeth).
18 “The letter which you sent to us has been openly read before me.
19 “And I have commanded, and they have searched, and found, that this city has made insurrection against kings in former times and has rebelled. And rebellion has been committed in it.
20 “Also, there have been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all beyond the River. And toll, tribute and custom were given to them.
21 “Now make a decree that those men may cease, and that the city not be built until I have given commandment.
22 “Be careful now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage grow to hurt the king?”
23 When the copy of King Artaxerxes’s letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up quickly to Jerusalem, to the Jews, and made them cease by force and power.
24 Then the work of the House of God which was in Jerusalem ceased. And it ceased until the second year of Darius, king of Persia.
5 Then Haggai, a Prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Iddo, a Prophet, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the Name of the God of Israel to them.
2 Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, arose and began to build the House of God at Jerusalem, and with them the Prophets of God, who helped them.
3 At the same time, Tattenai came to them (who was captain beyond the River) and Shethar-Boznai and their companions, and said thus to them, “Who has given you commandment to build this House, and to lay the foundations of these walls?”
4 Then we said to them after this manner, “What are the names of the men who build this building?”
5 But the Eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them stop until the matter came to Darius. And then they answered by letters about it.
6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai, captain beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai and his companions, Persians, (who were beyond the river) sent to King Darius
7 (they sent a letter to him in which it was written): “TO DARIUS the king, all peace.
8 “Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judea, to the House of the great God, which is built with great stones. And beams are laid in the walls. And this work is wrought speedily and prospers in their hands.
9 “Then asked we those elders, and said to them thus, ‘Who has given you commandment to build this House, and to lay the foundation of these walls?’
10 “We also asked their names so that we might inform you, and so that we might write the names of the men who were their rulers.
11 “But they answered us thus, and said, ‘We are the servants of the God of Heaven and Earth, and build the House that was built of old, many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and founded.
12 ‘But after our fathers had provoked the God of Heaven to wrath, He gave them over into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel, the Chaldean. And he destroyed this house and carried the people away captive to Babel.
13 ‘But in the first year of Cyrus, king of Babel, King Cyrus made a decree to build this House of God.
14 ‘And the vessels of gold and silver of the House of God which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the Temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babel—Cyrus the king took those out of the temple of Babel and gave them to Sheshbazzar by name, whom he had made captain.
15 ‘And he said to him, “Take these vessels and go your way, and put them in the Temple that is in Jerusalem. And let the House of God be built in its place.”
16 ‘Then, the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the House of God, which is in Jerusalem. And since that time until now, it has been under construction. It is not finished yet.’
17 “Now therefore, if it pleases the king, let there be a search made in the house of the king’s treasures which is there in Babel, to find whether a decree has been made by King Cyrus to build this House of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send his pleasure concerning this.”
6 Then King Darius gave commandment. And they searched in the library of the treasures which were laid up there in Babel.
2 And a volume was found in a coffer (in the palace that was in the province of the Medes). And a memorial was written in it:
3 “IN THE FIRST year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus made a decree for the House of God in Jerusalem: ‘Let the House be built, the place where they offered Sacrifices. And let its walls be joined together. Let its height be sixty cubits, and its width sixty cubits,
4 ‘with three rows of great stones, and one row of timber. And let the expenses be given from the king’s house.
5 ‘And also let them render the vessels of the House of God (from gold and silver which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the Temple which was in Jerusalem and brought to Babel). And let each go to the Temple in Jerusalem to its place and put it in the House of God.’
6 “Therefore Tattenai, captain beyond the river, and Shethar-Boznai, (and their companions, Apharsecai, who are beyond the River) stay far from there.
7 “Allow the work of this House of God, so that the captain of the Jews and the elders of the Jews may build this House of God in its place.
8 “For I have given a commandment as to what you shall do for the elders of these Jews for the building of this House of God: that the revenue of the king which is from the tribute beyond the River shall immediately be given for these men’s expenses, so that they do not cease.
9 “And that which they shall have need of, let it be given to them day by day, whether it be young bulls, or rams, or lambs for the Burnt Offerings of the God of Heaven, or wheat, salt, wine and oil, according to the appointment of the priests who are in Jerusalem, without fail,
10 “so that they may have sweet odors to offer to the God of Heaven, and pray for the king’s life and for his sons.
11 “And I have made a decree that whoever shall alter this edict shall have the wood pulled down from his house. And it shall be set up, and he shall be hanged on it. And his house shall be made a dunghill for this.
12 “And may the God Who has caused His Name to dwell there destroy all kings and people who make it their intention to alter and to destroy this House of God, which is in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have made a decree. Let it be done with speed.”
13 Then Tattenai, the captain beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai and their companions, did according to that which Darius had sent, speedily.
14 So the elders of the Jews built. And they prospered by the prophesying of Haggai the Prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, by the appointment of the God of Israel, and by 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 the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
16 And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity kept the dedication of this House of God with joy,
17 and offered one hundred bulls at the dedication of this House of God, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve goats, for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18 And they set the priests in their order, and the Levites in their divisions, over the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses.
19 And the children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month,
20 for the priests and the Levites were purified altogether. And they killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren, the priests, and for themselves.
21 So, the children of Israel who had come back out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land to seek the LORD God of Israel, ate.
22 And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy. For the LORD had made them glad and turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to encourage them in the work of the House of God, the God of Israel.
7 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, was 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 High Priest.
6 This Ezra came up from Babel and was a scribe, skilled in the Law of Moses which the LORD God of Israel had given. And the king gave him all his request according to the Hand of the LORD his God which was upon him.
7 And in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, some of the children of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, went up to Jerusalem.
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, he began to go up from Babel. And on the first day of the fifth month, he came to Jerusalem, according to the good Hand of his God that was upon him.
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach the Precepts and Judgments in Israel.
11 And this is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the Priest and scribe, a writer of the Words of the Commandments of the LORD, and of His Statutes, over Israel:
12 “ARTAXERXES, king of kings, to Ezra the Priest and perfect scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven, and to Cheeneth,
13 “I have given commandment that every one of the people in my kingdom— of Israel and of the priests and Levites—who is willing to go to Jerusalem with you, shall go.
14 “Therefore, you are sent from the king and his seven counselors to enquire in Judah and Jerusalem, according to the Law of your God which is in your hand,
15 “and to carry the silver and the gold which the king and his counselors willingly offer to the God of Israel (whose habitation is in Jerusalem)
16 “and all the silver and gold that you can find in all the province of Babel, with the free offering of the people, and that which the priests offer willingly to the House of their God which is in Jerusalem,
17 “so that you may speedily buy bulls, rams and lambs, with their Meat Offerings and their Drink Offerings, with this silver. And you shall offer them upon the Altar of the House of your God, which is in Jerusalem.
18 “And whatever it pleases you and your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and gold, do it according to the will of your God.
19 “And the vessels that are given to you for the service of the House of your God, deliver those before God in Jerusalem.
20 “And the rest that shall be needed for the House of your God, which shall be right for you to bestow, you shall bestow it out of the king’s treasure house.
21 “And I, King Artaxerxes, have given commandment to all the treasurers which are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the Priest and scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven shall require of you, that it be done immediately,
22 “to a hundred talents of silver, to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without writing.
23 “Whatever is by the Commandment of the God of Heaven, let it be done speedily for the House of the God of Heaven. For why should He be angry against the realm of the king and his children?
24 “And we inform you that upon any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or ministers in this House of God, no governor shall lay toll, tribute or custom.
25 “And you, Ezra (after the wisdom of your God that is in your hand), set judges and arbiters which may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all that know the Law of your God. And teach those who do not know it.
26 “And whoever will not do the Law of your God, and the king’s law, let him have judgment without delay, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.”
27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, Who has put such in the king’s heart, to beautify the House of the LORD that is in Jerusalem,
28 and has inclined mercy toward me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes! And I was comforted by the Hand of the LORD my God upon me. And I gathered the chief of Israel to go up with me.
8 These, now, are the chief fathers of those—and the genealogy of those— who came up with me from Babel, in the reign of King Artaxerxes.
2 Of the sons of Phinehas came Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar came Daniel. Of the sons of David came Hattush.
3 Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh came Zechariah, and the count of the males with him was one hundred fifty.
4 Of the sons of Pahath-Moab came Elihoenai, the son of Zerahiah, and two hundred males with him.
5 Of the sons of Shechaniah came the son of Jahaziel, and three hundred males with him.
6 And of the sons of Adin came Ebed, the son of Jonathan, and fifty males with him.
7 And of the sons of Elam came Jeshaiah, the son of Athaliah, and seventy males with him.
8 And of the sons of Shephatiah came Zebadiah, the son of Michael, and eighty males with him.
9 Of the sons of Joab came Obadiah, the son of Jehiel, and two hundred eighteen males with him.
10 And of the sons of Shelomith came the son of Josiphiah, and one hundred sixty males with him.
11 And of the sons of Bebai came Zechariah, the son of Bebai, and twenty-eight males with him.
12 And of the sons of Azgad came Johanan, the son of Hakkatan, and one hundred ten males with him.
13 And of the sons of Adonikam came the last, whose names are these: Eliphelet, Jehiel and Shemaiah, and sixty males with them.
14 And of the sons of Bigvai came Uthai and Zabbud, and seventy males with them.
15 And I gathered them to the river that goes toward Ahava. And we stayed there for three days. Then I viewed the people, and the priests, and found none of the sons of Levi there.
16 Therefore I sent to Eliezer, to Ariel, to Shemeiah, and to Elnathan, and to Jarib, and to Elnathan, and to Nathan, and to Zechariah, and to Meshullam (the chief), and to Joiarib, and to Elnathan, men of understanding.
17 And I gave them a commandment for Iddo (the highest at the place of Casiphia). And I told them the words that they should speak to Iddo and to his brethren, the Nethinim, at the place of Casiphia, so that they would cause the ministers of the House of our God to come to us.
18 So, 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).
19 Also Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah, of the sons of Merari, with his brethren, and their sons (twenty).
20 And of the Nethinim whom David had set—and the princes for the service of the Levites—two hundred twenty of the Nethinim, all of which were named by name.
21 And there at the river, by Ahava, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek of Him a right way for us, and for our children, and for all our possessions.
22 For I was ashamed to require an army and horsemen of the king, to help us against the enemy on the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The Hand of our God is upon all those who seek Him in goodness. But His power and His wrath is against all those who forsake Him.”
23 So we fasted and sought our God for this. And He was entreated by us.
24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
25 and weighed the silver and the gold and the vessels for them, the offering of the House of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes and all Israel that was present had offered.
26 And I weighed to their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and one hundred talents in silver vessels, and one hundred talents in gold,
27 and twenty basins of gold of a thousand drams, and two vessels of shining bronze (very good and precious as gold).
28 And I said to them, “You are consecrated to the LORD. And the vessels are consecrated. And the gold and the silver are freely offered to the LORD God of your fathers.
29 “Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites, and the chief fathers of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the House of the LORD.”
30 So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver, and of the gold, and of the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the House of our God.
31 Then we departed from the river Ahavah, on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And the Hand of our God was upon us, and delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as laid in wait by the way.
32 And we came to Jerusalem and stayed there for three days.
33 And on the fourth day, the silver was weighed, and the gold, and the vessels, 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 (the Levites)
34 and all the weight was written at the same time, by number and by weight of each one.
35 Also, the children of the captivity who had come out of captivity offered Burnt Offerings to the God of Israel— twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats for sin—all a Burnt Offering to the LORD.
36 And they delivered the king’s commission to the king’s officers, and to the captains beyond the river. And they promoted the people, and the House of God.
9 When these things were done, the rulers came to me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites are not separated from the people of the lands (as touching their abominations) —the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2 “For they have taken their daughters to themselves, and to their sons. And they have mixed the holy seed with the people of the lands. And the hand of the princes and rulers have been chief in this trespass.”
3 But when I heard this saying, I tore my clothes and my garment, and plucked off the hair of my head, and of my beard, and sat down astonished.
4 And all who feared the Words of the God of Israel assembled to me there, because of the transgression of those of the captivity. And I sat down astonished until the evening Sacrifice.
5 And at the evening Sacrifice, I rose up from my heaviness. And when I had torn my clothes and my garment, I fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God,
6 and said, “O my God! I am confounded and ashamed to lift up my eyes to You, my God! For our iniquities have increased over our head! And our trespass has grown up to the heaven!
7 “From the days of our fathers we have been in a great trespass until this day. And we, our kings and our priests have, for our iniquities, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, into captivity, into a spoil, and into confusion of face, as it is this day!
8 “And now for a short time, grace has been shown from the LORD our God, in allowing a remnant to escape, and in giving us a nail in His Holy Place, so that our God may light our eyes and give us a little reviving in our servitude.
9 “For we were slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has inclined mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us life, and to erect the House of our God, and to redress its desolate places, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10 “And now, our God, 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 to which you go to possess is an unclean land, because of the filthiness of the people of the lands, which by their abominations and by their uncleanness have filled it from corner to corner.
12 ‘Now, therefore, you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons, nor seek their peace nor wealth forever, so that you may be strong and eat the goodness of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your sons forever.’
13 “And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespasses, (seeing that You, our God, have stayed your Hand for our iniquities, and have given us such deliverance),
14 “should we return to break Your Commandments and join in marriage with the people of such abominations? Would You not be angry toward us until You had consumed us, so that there would be neither remnant nor any escaping?
15 “O LORD God of Israel! You are just! For we have been reserved to escape, as it is this day. Behold, we are before You in our trespass. Though we cannot stand before You because of it.”
10 While Ezra prayed thus and confessed, himself weeping and falling down before the House of God, there assembled to him a very great Congregation of men and women and children of Israel. For the people wept with a great lamentation.
2 Then Shechaniah, the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said to 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.
3 “Now, therefore, let us make a Covenant with our God, to put away all the wives (and such as are born of them) according to the counsel of the LORD, and of those who fear the Commandments of our God. And let it be done according to the Law.
4 “Arise! For the matter belongs to you. We will be with you also. Be of comfort and do it!”
5 Then Ezra arose and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this Word. So, they swore.
6 And Ezra rose up from before the House of God and went into the chamber of Johanan, the son of Eliashib. He went there, but he neither ate bread nor drank water. For he mourned because of the transgression of those of the captivity.
7 And they issued a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem, to all those of the captivity, so that they would assemble themselves at Jerusalem.
8 And whoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and elders, all his possessions would be forfeited, and he would be separated from the Congregation of those of the captivity.
9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled themselves at Jerusalem within three days, which was the twentieth day of the ninth month. And all the people sat in the street of the House of God, trembling because of this matter, and because of the rain.
10 And Ezra the Priest stood up, and said to them, “You have transgressed, and have taken strange wives to increase the trespass of Israel.
11 “Now, therefore, give praise to the LORD God of your fathers, and do His will, and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives!”
12 And all the Congregation answered, and said with a loud voice, “So will we do according to your Words to us!
13 “But the people are many, and it is rainy weather, and we are not able to stand outside. Nor is it the work of one day or two. For there are many of us who have offended in this thing.
14 “Therefore, let our rulers stand before all the Congregation. And let all those who have taken strange wives in our cities come at the time appointed, and the elders of every city with them, and their judges, till the fierce wrath of our God for this matter turns away from us.”
15 Then Jonathan, the son of Asahel, and Jahaziah, the son of Tikvah, were appointed over this matter. And Meshullam and Shabbethai (the Levites) helped them.
16 And those of the captivity did so and departed—Ezra the Priest and the men who were chief fathers to the family of their fathers by name—and sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
17 And until the first day of the first month, they were finishing the business with all the men who had taken strange wives.
18 And men were found of the sons of the priests who had taken strange wives. Of the sons of Jeshua was the son of Jozadak. And of his brethren were Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19 And they pledged that they would put away their wives. And those who had trespassed gave a ram for their trespass.
20 And of the sons of Immer were Honani and Zebadiah.
21 And of the sons of Harim were Maaseiah and Elijah and Shemaiah and Jehiel and Uzziah.
22 And of the sons of Pashur were Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23 And of the Levites were Jozabad and Shimei and Kelaiah (who is Kelita) Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer.
24 And of the singers was Eliashib. And of the gatekeepers were Shallum and Telem and Uri.
25 And of Israel: of the sons of Parosh were Ramiah and Jeziah and Malchiah and Mijamin and Eleazar and Malchijah and Benaiah.
26 And of the sons of Elam were Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth and Eliah.
27 And of the sons of Zattu were Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jerimoth, Zabad and Aziza.
28 And of the sons of Bebai were Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai.
29 And of the sons of Bani were Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal and Jeremoth.
30 And of the sons of Pahath-Moab were Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, Binnui and Manasseh.
31 And of the sons of Harim were Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32 Benjamin, Malluch and Shamariah.
33 Of the sons of Hashum were Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh and Shimei.
34 Of the sons of Bani were Maadai, Amram, Uel,
35 Banaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasai,
38 Bani, Binnui, Shimei,
39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42 Shallum, Amariah and Joseph.
43 Of the sons of Nebo were Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadai, Joel and Benaiah.
44 All these had taken strange wives. And among them were women who had children.
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