{N}CYRUS HELPS THE JEWS RETURN TO JERUSALEM{/}

{1}1{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, Yahweh willed 
to fulfill the word he had said through the prophet Jeremiah, so 
he moved the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, to issue the 
following command and send it out in writing to be read aloud 
everywhere in his kingdom, [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}"Thus speaks Cyrus, king of 
Persia: Yahweh, the God of heavens, who has given me all the 
kingdoms of the earth, has ordered me to build him a Temple in 
Jerusalem, in the land of Judah. [=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}To everyone belonging to 
his people, may his God be with him! Let them go up to Jerusalem 
with the help of their God and there build the House of Yahweh, 
the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. [=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}In every 
place where the rest of the people of Yahweh live, let the people 
of those places help them for their journey with silver, gold and 
all kinds of goods and livestock. Let them also give them 
voluntary offerings for the House of Yahweh which is in 
Jerusalem."
{R}_{I}5_{/}Then they rose up - the heads of the families of Judah and 
Benjamin, the priests and the Levites, and all those whose spirit 
God had stirred up - and they decided to go and build the House of 
Yahweh. {I}6_{/}And all their neighbors gave them all kinds of help: 
gold, silver, livestock and precious objects in great quantity, 
besides every kind of voluntary offering.
[=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}King Cyrus also brought out the vessels of the House of 
Yahweh which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and 
placed in the house of his gods. {R}_{I}8_{/}Cyrus, the king, gave them 
into the hands of Mithredath, the treasurer, who counted them and 
turned them over to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
{I}9_{/}This is the list: golden cups for the offering, 30; silver 
cups for offering,1000; knives, 29; [=]_{I}10_{/}other cups of gold, 
30; of silver, 410; other vessels, 1,000.
{R}_{I}11_{/}Total number of golden and silver vessels: 5,400. All this 
was brought out by Sheshbazzar when the exiles were allowed to 
return to Jerusalem from Babylon.

{N}THE LIST OF THE RETURNING EXILES{/}

{1}2{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}These were the people of the province who returned from 
captivity and exile. After being deported to Babylon by 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, they returned to Jerusalem and to 
Judah, each to his own town. {R}_{I}2_{/}They arrived with Zerubbabel, 
Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, 
Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah.
The list of the clans of the people of Israel: {I}3_{/}the clan of 
Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two; {I}4_{/}the clan of 
Sehphatiah, three hundred and seventy-two; {I}5_{/}the clan of Arah, 
seven hundred and seventy-five; {I}6_{/}the clan of Pahathmoab, that 
is to say the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred 
and twelve; {I}7_{/}the clan of Elam, one thousand two hundred and 
fifty-four; {I}8_{/}the clan of Zattu, nine hundred and forty-five; 
{I}9_{/}the clan of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty; {I}10_{/}the clan of 
Bani, six hundred and forty-two; {I}11_{/}the clan of Bebai, six 
hundred and twenty-three; {I}12_{/}the clan of Azgad, one thousand two 
hundred and twenty-two; {I}13_{/}the clan of Adonikam, six hundred and 
sixty-six; {I}14_{/}the clan of Bigvai, two thousand and fifty-six; 
{I}15_{/}the clan of Adin, four hundred and fifty-four; {R}_{I}16_{/}the clan 
of Ater, that is to say of Hezekiah, ninety-eight; {I}17_{/}the clan 
of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-three; {I}18_{/}the clan of Jorah, 
one hundred and twelve; {I}19_{/}the clan of Hashum, two hundred and 
twenty-three; {I}20_{/}the clan of Gibbar, ninety-five; {R}_{I}21_{/}people 
of Bethlehem, one hundred and twenty-three; {I}22_{/}people of 
Netophah, fifty-six; {I}23_{/}people of Anathoth, one hundred and 
twenty-eight; {I}24_{/}the clan of Azmaveth, forty-two; {I}25_{/}people of 
Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-
three; {I}26_{/}people of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one; 
{I}27_{/}people of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two; {R}_{I}28_{/}people 
of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three; {I}29_{/}people of Nebo, 
fifty-two; {I}30_{/}people of Magbish, one hundred and fifty-six; 
{I}31_{/}people of another Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-
four; {I}32_{/}people of Harim, three hundred and twenty; {I}33_{/}people 
of Lod, Hadid and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-five; {R}_{I}34_{/}people 
of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five; {I}35_{/}people of Se-naah, 
three thousand six hundred and thirty.
{R}_{I}36_{/}The priests: the clan of Jedaiah, that is to say the House 
of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three; {I}37_{/}the clan of Immer, 
one thousand and fifty-two; {I}38_{/}the clan of Pashhur, one thousand 
two hundred and forty-seven; {I}39_{/}the clan of Harim, one thousand 
and seventeen.
{I}40_{/}The Levites: descendants of Jeshua, that is to say Kadmiel, 
Binnui, Hodaviah, seventy-four.
{R}_{I}41_{/}The Temple musicians: the clan of Asaph, one hundred and 
twenty-eight.
{I}42_{/}The gatekeepers: the clan of Shallum, the clan of Ater, the 
clan of Talmon, the clan of Akkub, the clan of Hatita, the clan of 
Shobai: in all, one hundred and thirty-nine.
{I}43_{/}The helpers: the clans of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, 
{I}44_{/}Keros, Siaha, Padon, {I}45_{/}Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, 
{I}46_{/}Hagab, Shamlai, Hanan, {I}47_{/}Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, 
{I}48_{/}Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, {I}49_{/}Uzza, Paseah, Besai, {I}50_{/}Asnah, 
the Meunites, the Nephisites, {I}51_{/}Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, 
{I}52_{/}Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, {I}53_{/}Barkos, Sisera, Temah, 
{I}54_{/}Neziah, Hatipha.
{R}_{I}55_{/}The clans of Solomon's slaves: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, 
{I}56_{/}Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel, {I}57_{/}Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-
hazzebaim, Ami. {R}_{I}58_{/}The total of the helpers and the sons of 
Solomon's slaves: three hundred and ninety-two.
{I}59_{/}The following who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, 
Addan and Immer, could not prove that their families and ancestry 
were of Israelite origin: {I}60_{/}the clans of Dela-iah, Tobiah, 
Nekoda: six hundred and fifty-two. {R}_{I}61_{/}And among the priests: 
the clans of Habaiah, Hakkoz, Barzillai, who had married one of 
the daughters of Barzillai, the Gileadite, whose name he adopted. 
{I}62_{/}These people searched in their ancestral registers but could 
not be located in them, so they were excluded from the priesthood 
as unclean [=]_{I}63_{/}and His Excellency forbade them to eat the 
sacred foods until a priest could be found for the Urim and 
Thummim.
{I}64_{/}The whole assembly numbered forty-two thousand three hundred 
and sixty people, {I}65_{/}not counting their slaves and maidservants 
to the number of seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. 
They also had two hundred male and female singers. {I}66_{/}Their 
horses numbered seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two 
hundred and forty-five, {I}67_{/}their camels four hundred and thirty-
five and their donkeys six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
[=]_{R}_{I}68_{/}When they arrived at the Temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem, 
some of the leaders of the clans made voluntary offerings for the 
Temple of God, for its rebuilding on its old site. {I}69_{/}In 
accordance with their means they gave one thousand drachmas of 
gold; 5,740 minas of silver; and one hundred priestly robes to the 
sacred funds.
{R}_{I}70_{/}The priests, Levites and part of the people settled in 
Jerusalem; the gatekeepers, Temple musicians, workmen and all the 
other Israelites, in their own towns.

{N}REBUILDING THE ALTAR{/}

{1}3{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}By the seventh month, the Israelites were already settled 
in their cities. Then all the people gathered in Jerusalem.
[=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}Joshua, son of Jozadak, with his fellow-priests, and 
Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, with his brothers, began rebuilding 
the altar of the God of Israel, to offer the sacrifices upon it, 
as it is written in the Law of Moses, the man of God.
[=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}They built the altar in the same place, in spite of the 
fear they had of the people of the land, and they offered burnt 
offerings upon it, and the morning and evening sacrifice. 
[=]_{I}4_{/}They celebrated the Feast of the Tabernacles as it is 
written, and offered burnt offerings daily according to the 
established ritual. {R}_{I}5_{/}Then they continued offering the 
perpetual sacrifice and the sacrifices on the sabbaths, the new 
moon and all the solemnities of Yahweh, besides what everyone 
would offer voluntarily to Yahweh.
{I}6_{/}They began offering burnt offerings on the first day of the 
seventh month, although the foundation of the House of Yahweh had 
not yet been laid.
{R}_{I}7_{/}They gave money to the masons and the carpenters. They also 
gave food, wine and oil to the Tyrians to bring cedar lumber from 
Lebanon to Joppa by sea, according to the authorization of Cyrus, 
king of Persia. {R}_{I}8_{/}In the second year, after their arrival at 
the House of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel, 
son of Shealtiel, and Joshua, son of Jozadak, with the rest of 
their brothers, the priests, the Levites and all who had returned 
to Jerusalem from exile, began the work: they appointed the 
Levites who were twenty years old and upward to supervise the work 
in the House of Yahweh.
{R}_{I}9_{/}Joshua, his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, and 
the sons of Henadad, all together agreed to supervise those who 
worked in the House of God. {R}_{I}10_{/}When the workers had laid the 
foundation for the sanctuary of Yahweh, the priests, clothed in 
fine linen, came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, sons of 
Asaph, with cymbals, and they sang to Yahweh according to the 
ordinance of David, king of Israel.
[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}They gave thanks to Yahweh, singing and praising: "For 
he is good, for his love for Israel is eternal."
All the people shouted aloud the praises of Yahweh for the 
foundation of the House of Yahweh had now been laid. Many of the 
priests, Levites and older heads of the families who have seen the 
first house wept with great lamentation as the foundation was 
laid. [=]_{I}12_{/}But others raised their voices with shouts of joy, 
{I}13_{/}and the people could not distinguish the shouts of rejoicing 
from the cries of weeping, for the people shouted so loudly that 
the noise was heard afar.

{N}THE REBUILDING IS INTERRUPTED{/}

{1}4{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that those 
who had returned from exile were building the sanctuary of Yahweh, 
the God of Israel, [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}they approached Zerubbabel, Joshua and 
the heads of the families, and said to them, "Allow us to help you 
in the work of reconstruction for we are also concerned about your 
God. We have offered him sacrifices from the time of Esar Haddon, 
king of Assyria, who brought us here."
{R}_{I}3_{/}Zerubbabel, Joshua and the heads of the Israelite families 
answered them, "We cannot let you join us, for we alone must 
rebuild it, as Cyrus, king of Persia, has commanded."
[=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}Then the people of the land set about discouraging the 
workers of Judah and frightening them to keep them from building. 
{R}_{I}5_{/}They hired some counselors of the royal court to make the 
project fail, and they did this all during the time of Cyrus, king 
of Persia, until the reign of Darius, king of Persia.

{N}AN UNRELATED DOCUMENT{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}6_{/}In the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, they lodged a 
complaint against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 
{R}_{I}7_{/}Again in the time of King Artaxerxes, king of Persia, 
Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their colleagues 
wrote to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic and 
translated. So it began this way:
{I}8_{/}"From Rehum, the governor, and Shimshai, the secretary, 
{R}_{I}9_{/}and from the rest of their colleagues, the judges and the 
legates, and all Persian officials, the people of Erech, Babylon 
and Susa, that is, the Elamites, {R}_{I}10_{/}and from the rest of the 
nations whom the great Assurbanipal deported and settled in the 
cities of Samaria and in the rest of the province at the other 
side of the River..."
{R}_{I}11_{/}This is a copy of the letter they sent to King Artaxerxes:
"Your servants, the people beyond the River, send greetings.
{R}_{I}12_{/}It should be made known to the king that the Jews who came 
up from your side to ours and have gone to Jerusalem are now 
building this rebellious and wicked city. They are now rebuilding 
the walls and have laid the foundation. {R}_{I}13_{/}Be it known, then, 
to the king, that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, 
they will no longer pay taxes, tributes or toll duties, and in the 
end, this city shall bring harm to the kings. {R}_{I}14_{/}Now, as we eat 
the salt of the palace and we do not wish to see the king 
dishonored, we are sending this information to the king. {R}_{I}15_{/}If 
you look into the records of your fathers, you will find that this 
city is a rebellious city. It has disturbed the kings and the 
provinces, and has fostered sedition from of old. It is precisely 
because of this that it was destroyed. {R}_{I}16_{/}We make known to the 
king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls restored, you will 
soon lose your territories on that side of the River."
{R}_{I}17_{/}The king wrote this in reply:
"To Rehum, the governor; to Shimshai, the secretary; and to the 
rest of their colleagues who are in Samaria and in the other 
places at the other side of the River: greetings.
{I}18_{/}The letter you sent to me has been read word for word in my 
presence. [=]_{R}_{I}19_{/}I gave orders to inquire into these things, 
and it has been found that from ancient times that city has 
rebelled against the kings, and that sedition and rebellions have 
happened there.
{R}_{I}20_{/}There were powerful kings in Jerusalem, masters of all the 
land at the other side of the River, to whom tribute taxes and 
toll duties were paid.
[=]_{I}21_{/}Therefore, order the people to stop work; they shall not 
rebuild that city without my authorization. {R}_{I}22_{/}Do not neglect 
this grave concern, lest further harm be done to the kingdom."
{R}_{I}23_{/}When the copy of this letter of King Artaxerxes was read 
before Rehum, the governor, Shimshai, the secretary, and their 
colleagues, they went hurriedly to Jerusalem and they used force 
and violence to make the Jews suspend their work.
{R}_{I}24_{/}So the work on the House of God in Jerusalem was interrupted 
and not begun until the second year of the reign of Darius, king 
of Persia.

{N}WORK RESUMES{/}

{1}5{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}The prophets Haggai and Zechariah, son of Iddo, addressed 
the Jews who lived in Judea and Jerusalem in the name of the God 
of Israel, who was with them. [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}Upon hearing them, 
Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Joshua, son of Jozadak, began to 
rebuild the House of God in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were 
with them, supporting them. {I}3_{/}Then Tattenai, the governor of the 
province at the other side of the River, and Shethar Bozenai came 
with their counselors and said to them, "Who has ordered you to 
build this House and its walls?" {I}4_{/}And they also asked, "Who are 
the men working on the construction of this building?"
{R}_{I}5_{/}But the favor of God was with the leaders of the Jews, for 
these people did not oblige the Jews to stop the work while the 
matter was being referred to King Darius and they were waiting for 
his answer.
{R}_{I}6_{/}This is a copy of the joint letter to King Darius from 
Tattenai, governor of the province of the other side of the River, 
Shethar Bozenai and his counselors, the Persians at the other bank 
of the River:
{R}_{I}7_{/}"To King Darius, peace.
{R}_{I}8_{/}We wish to inform the king that we went to the province of 
Judea, to the House of the Great God. They are now building the 
Temple with hewn stones and timber to reinforce the walls; the 
work is being done with great care and progresses quickly at their 
hands. {I}9_{/}We questioned the Elders, and asked them: Who has 
ordered you to build this House and finish this Sanctuary? {I}10_{/}We 
also asked them their names and wrote down the names of their 
leaders for your information.
{R}_{I}11_{/}They gave us this answer: We are the servants of the God of 
heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the House that was built 
many years ago. A great king of Israel built and finished it. 
{R}_{I}12_{/}But then, our fathers angered the God of heaven, so he gave 
the children into the hands of the king of Babylon, 
Nebuchadnezzar, who destroyed this house and exiled them.
[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}However, in the first year of his reign Cyrus, king of 
Babylon, issued a decree that the House of God should be rebuilt. 
{R}_{I}14_{/}The gold and silver vessels of the House of God, which 
Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple of Jerusalem, and placed 
in the temple of Babylon, were taken from there by Cyrus and 
turned over to Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor. 
{R}_{I}15_{/}He said to him: Take these vessels, and bring them to the 
temple of Jerusalem, and let the House of God be rebuilt in the 
same place. {R}_{I}16_{/}Then Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations 
of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that time until now, it is 
gradually being rebuilt but is still not finished.
{R}_{I}17_{/}Now, if it seems good to the king that inquiries be made 
into the royal archives there in Babylon, to verify whether a 
decree was indeed issued by King Cyrus for the rebuilding of the 
House of God in Jerusalem, then may the king inform us of his will 
in this matter."

{N}DARIUS HELPS BUILD THE TEMPLE{/}

{1}6{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}Then King Darius commanded that inquiries be made in the 
house of the archives in Babylon, where the records were kept. 
{I}2_{/}And in Ecbatana, a fortress in the province of Media, a scroll 
was found on which the following was written:
[=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}"In the first year of his reign, King Cyrus has issued 
this decree concerning the House of God in Jerusalem: Let the 
foundation of that House be laid and the House be rebuilt in order 
that sacrifices be offered in it. The said House shall be thirty 
meters high and thirty meters wide, {R}_{I}4_{/}with three layers of hewn 
stones and one of wood. The expenses shall be paid for by the 
house of the king. {R}_{I}5_{/}Moreover, the vessels of gold and silver 
which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple of Jerusalem are to be 
returned to the place where these used to be kept in the House of 
God.
{I}6_{/}Now therefore, I say this to you: Tattenai, governor of the 
province at the other side of the River, Shethar, Bozenai, and 
their Persian counselors living at the other side of the River, do 
not interfere in this matter. {R}_{I}7_{/}Let the governor of the Jews 
together with their leaders build the House of God on its former 
site.
{R}_{I}8_{/}This is the command I give as to what you should do to help 
those Jewish leaders rebuild the House of God: pay the expenses in 
full and without delay, with the income from taxes of the province 
at the other side of the River which is allotted to the king. 
{R}_{I}9_{/}Then, upon the request of the priests of Jerusalem, give them 
daily and without fail what is needed for the sacrifices to the 
God of Heaven: young bulls, rams, lambs, wheat, salt, wine and 
oil. {R}_{I}10_{/}With these, they shall offer sacrifices acceptable to 
the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons. 
{I}11_{/}Moreover, I command the following: if anyone opposes these 
ordinances, a beam shall be pulled out of his house and he shall 
be hung on it, and his house reduced to a heap of ruin as 
punishment for his rebellion. [=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}And may the God who makes 
his Name dwell there crush every rebel, king or people, who goes 
against this and tries to destroy the House of God in Jerusalem. 
I, Darius, give this command. Let it be carried out at once."
{R}_{I}13_{/}Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, Shethar 
Bozenai, and his counselors acted in conformity with the order of 
King Darius. {R}_{I}14_{/}And the leaders of the Jews continued to make 
progress in building, encouraged by what Haggai, the prophet, and 
Zechariah, the son of Iddo, had said; and they finished the work 
according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of 
Cyrus and Darius. {I}15_{/}The House was finished on the third day of 
the month of Adar in the sixth year of the reign of Darius.
{R}_{I}16_{/}The children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the 
rest of those who had returned from exile celebrated the 
consecration of this House of God with rejoicing, {R}_{I}17_{/}offering 
on this solemnity one hundred young bulls, two hundred rams and 
four hundred lambs; and twelve he-goats as a sin-offering for all 
Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
[=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}Then they installed the priests according to their 
ranks, and the Levites according to their classes, for the service 
of the house of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of 
Moses.
{R}_{I}19_{/}Those who had returned from exile celebrated the Passover on 
the fourteenth day of the first month, {R}_{I}20_{/}for the priests and 
the Levites had purified themselves together, and all of them were 
clean. So, they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all who had 
returned from exile, for their fellow-priests and for themselves.
{R}_{I}21_{/}The Israelites who had returned from exile ate the Passover 
lamb with all those who had separated themselves from the people 
of the land and joined the returned exiles to seek Yahweh, the God 
of Israel. [=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}They celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread 
joyfully for seven days; the reason for their joy was that Yahweh 
had turned the king of Assyria to look favorably on them so that 
they had been allowed to continue the work of rebuilding the House 
of the God of Israel.

{N}EZRA COMES TO JERUSALEM{/}

{1}7{/}

[\u0095]_[*]_{R}_{I}1_{/}After this, in the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, 
Ezra, the son of Seraiah, came from Babylon. He was a descendant 
of Azariah, Hilkiah, {I}2_{/}Shallum, Zadik, Ahitub, {I}3_{/}Amariah, 
Azariah, Meraioth, {I}4_{/}Zerahiah, Uzzi, Bukki, {R}_{I}5_{/}Abishua, 
Phinehas, Eleazar, and Aaron, the high priest.
{R}_{I}6_{/}This Ezra, well-educated in the law given to Moses by Yahweh, 
the God of Israel, went up from Babylon, and as the hand of 
Yahweh, his God, was upon him, the king granted him all he asked. 
{R}_{I}7_{/}Many children of Israel, priests, Levites, singers, 
gatekeepers, and temple servants, also came to Jerusalem in the 
seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
{R}_{I}8_{/}Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year 
of the king. {R}_{I}9_{/}He had left Babylon on the first day of the 
first month, and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the 
fifth month, for the good hand of his God was upon him. 
{R}_{I}10_{/}Ezra had indeed dedicated himself with all his heart in 
putting into action the Law of Yahweh and teaching his 
commandments and precepts to Israel.
{R}_{I}11_{/}Here is the copy of the letter given by King Artaxerxes to 
Ezra, priest and scribe, learned in the commandments and laws 
Yahweh has given to Israel.
{R}_{I}12_{/}"Artaxerxes, King of kings, to Ezra, priest and teacher, 
learned in the Law of the God of heaven, peace.
{R}_{I}13_{/}I have given orders so that all the Israelites who are in my 
kingdom and are ready to go with you to Jerusalem may leave with 
their priests and Levites. [=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}As for you, you shall go as 
the representative of the king and of his seven counselors to see 
to it that the Law of God which is in your hands is observed in 
Judah and Jerusalem, {R}_{I}15_{/}and to bring there the gold and silver 
which the king and his counselors have generously offered to the 
God of Israel, whose House is in Jerusalem. {R}_{I}16_{/}You shall also 
bring all the silver and gold you can gather in Babylon with the 
voluntary offerings of the people and the priests for the House of 
God in Jerusalem.
{R}_{I}17_{/}With this money, take care to buy young bulls, rams, lambs, 
and everything needed for the grain offerings and the libations, 
which you shall offer upon the altar of the House of your God in 
Jerusalem. {R}_{I}18_{/}Do whatever seems best to you and your brothers 
with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of 
your God.
{R}_{I}19_{/}Place before God in Jerusalem the vessels given to you for 
the service of the House of your God, {R}_{I}20_{/}and take from the 
treasuries of the king whatever is needed to pay for other 
expenses for the House of your God.
{R}_{I}21_{/}I, King Artaxerxes, command all the treasurers in the region 
at the other side of the River to do exactly all that Ezra, priest 
and scribe, learned in the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of 
them, {I}22_{/}giving him up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred 
sacks of wheat, a hundred measures of wine and a hundred measures 
of oil; salt shall be given him without measure. {R}_{I}23_{/}Everything 
commanded by the God of heaven should be done with great care for 
the House of the God of heaven in order that his wrath may not 
come upon the kingdom, the king and his sons.
{R}_{I}24_{/}We also make it known that taxes, contributions or toll 
duties cannot be collected from any of the priests, Levites, 
singers, gatekeepers, ministers and servants of this House of God.
{R}_{I}25_{/}And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, appoint 
judges and magistrates to administer justice to all the people at 
the other side of the River, to all who know the Law of your God; 
and teach it to those who do not know it.
{R}_{I}26_{/}Whoever will not fulfill the Law of your God and the law of 
the king shall be severely punished with death, banishment, fine 
or imprisonment."
{R}_{I}27_{/}Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who inspired the 
king with this will to exalt and glorify the House of Yahweh in 
Jerusalem, {R}_{I}28_{/}and who let me win the favor of the king, of his 
counselors and of all his important officers. For my part, I took 
courage, since the hand of Yahweh my God was with me, and I 
gathered together the leaders of Israel to go up with me.

{N}LIST OF THE JEWS RETURNING WITH EZRA{/}

{1}8{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}These are the heads of clans who set out from Babylon with me 
in the reign of King Artaxerxes - their predecessors are named:
{R}_{I}2_{/}Of the clan of Phinehas: Gershom; of the clan of Ithamar: 
Daniel; of the clan of David: Hattush {R}_{I}3_{/}son of Secaniah; of the 
clan of Parosh: Zechariah, with whom one hundred and fifty males 
were registered; {I}4_{/}of the clan of Pahath-moab: Eliehoenai, son 
of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males; {I}5_{/}of the clan of 
Zattu: Shecaniah, son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred 
males; {R}_{I}6_{/}of the clan of Adin: Ebed, son of Jonathan, and with 
him fifty males; {R}_{I}7_{/}of the clan of Elam: Jeshaiah, son of 
Athaliah, and with him seventy males; {I}8_{/}of the clan of 
Shephatiah: Zebadiah, son of Michael, and with him eighty males; 
{I}9_{/}of the clan of Joab: Obadiah, son of Jehiel, and with him two 
hundred and eighteen males; {I}10_{/}of the clan of Bani: Shelomith, 
son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and sixty males; {R}_{I}11_{/}of 
the clan of Bebai: Zechariah, son of Bebai, and with him twenty-
eight males; {I}12_{/}of the clan of Azgad: Johanan son of Hakkatan, 
and with him a hundred and ten males; {I}13_{/}of the clan of 
Adonikam: the younger sons, whose names are: Eliphelet, Jeiel and 
Shemaiah, and with them sixty males; {I}14_{/}and of the clan of 
Bigvai: Uthai, son of Zabud, and with him seventy males.
{I}15_{/}I gathered them by the river that runs to Ahava, and there we 
encamped for three days; and having searched among these people, I 
did not find anyone from the tribe of Levi. {R}_{I}16_{/}So I called for 
the leaders - Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Jarib, Elnathan, Zechariah 
and Meshullam - Joarib and Elnathan, men of understanding. {R}_{I}17_{/}I 
gave them orders concerning Iddo, the leader who was in Casiphia; 
I gave them a message to relay to Iddo and his brothers, the 
helpers, in Casiphia, to send us ministers for the House of our 
God.
{R}_{I}18_{/}As the good hand of God was with us, they brought us 
Sherebiah, a very sensible man, of the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, 
son of Israel, and with him were his sons and his brothers, 
numbering eighteen; {R}_{I}19_{/}Hashabiah and with him Isaiah of the 
sons of Merari, their brothers and their sons, twenty; 
[=]_{R}_{I}20_{/}and of the helpers whom David and the leaders had placed 
at the service of the Levites, two hundred twenty-two men, all 
written down by name.
[\u0095]{R}_{I}21_{/}There at the banks of the river Ahava, I proclaimed a 
fast so we might humble ourselves before our God, to implore him 
for a safe journey for ourselves, our children and our goods. 
[=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen 
to protect us against the enemy on the way, for we had said to the 
king, "The hand of our God is for good, upon all who seek him; and 
the power of his wrath upon all who abandon him." {R}_{I}23_{/}So we 
fasted and prayed to our God for this intention, and he listened 
to us.
[=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}I chose twelve of the leaders of the priests, besides 
Sherebiah and Hashabiah and ten of their brothers. {R}_{I}25_{/}I weighed 
out before them the silver and gold, the consecrated vessels given 
by the king, his counselors and his leaders, and by all the 
Israelites who were there, for the House of our God. {I}26_{/}And I 
entrusted into their hands six hundred and fifty talents of 
silver, silver vessels worth a hundred talents, {I}27_{/}twenty bowls 
of gold worth a thousand darics, and two vessels of fine bright 
bronze as precious as vessels of gold. {R}_{I}28_{/}Then I said to them, 
"You are consecrated to Yahweh, these vessels are sacred objects, 
and the silver and gold are voluntary offerings made to Yahweh, 
the God of our fathers. [=]_{R}_{I}29_{/}Take care of them and keep them 
until you weigh them before the leaders of the priests, the 
Levites and the families of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers 
of the House of Yahweh."
{R}_{I}30_{/}Then, the priests and the Levites received all that we had 
weighed: the silver and gold, and the vessels, to bring them to 
Jerusalem to the House of our God.
{R}_{I}31_{/}We left the banks of the river Ahava to go to Jerusalem on 
the twelfth day of the first month. The hand of God was with us 
and he kept us from all attacks and ambushes from enemies 
throughout our journey. {R}_{I}32_{/}We arrived in Jerusalem where we 
rested for three days. {R}_{I}33_{/}On the fourth day, in the House of 
our God we weighed the silver, the gold and the vessels, turning 
over everything to the priest Meremoth, son of Uriah, and to 
Eleazar, son of Phinehas, with the Levites Jozabad, son of Joshua, 
and Hoadiah, son of Binnui. {I}34_{/}After counting and weighing 
everything again, the total weight was written down.
{R}_{I}35_{/}The Jews who had returned from exile offered sacrifices to 
the God of Israel: twelve young bulls for all Israel, ninety-six 
rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin-offering, twelve he-goats. 
All these were burnt offerings to Yahweh. {R}_{I}36_{/}And the decrees of 
the king were delivered to his governors and officials of the 
province beyond the River, who helped the people and the House of 
God.

{N}ABOUT INTERMARRIAGES{/}

{1}9{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}After all this was finished, the leaders approached me 
and said, "The people of Israel, the priests and the Levites have 
not departed from the pagan peoples and are now serving the idols 
of the Canaanites, the Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, 
Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. [=]_{I}2_{/}For they took women from 
among these people for themselves and for their sons, and mixed 
their holy race with that of the pagans. The leaders and 
magistrates were the first in committing this sin."
{I}3_{/}When I heard this, I tore my garments and my mantle, pulled 
hair from my head and beard, and sat down very much grieved. 
[=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}All who remembered the words of the God of Israel 
gathered around me; they were afraid because of this sin committed 
by the men who had returned from exile. {R}_{I}5_{/}I remained seated and 
dismayed until the evening sacrifice; and then, at the time for 
the evening offering, I rose from my fasting, and with my clothes 
and mantle torn, I knelt down, spreading out my hands to Yahweh, 
my God.
{R}_{I}6_{/}I said, "My God! I am ashamed and confused, my God, I do not 
dare raise my eyes to you for our sins have increased over our 
heads and our crimes reach up to the heavens.
{R}_{I}7_{/}From the days of our fathers to this day, our guilt has been 
great. We, our kings and priests have been given into the hands of 
foreign kings because of our crimes; we have been delivered to the 
sword, to captivity, to plunder, and put to shame as on this day. 
{R}_{I}8_{/}However, for a brief moment, the mercy of Yahweh, our God, 
has been shown to us. He made a remnant of our people survive, and 
allowed the survivor to settle once again in his Holy Place; he 
has given us joy and life, though we are in bondage. {R}_{I}9_{/}We are 
no more than slaves, but in the midst of our slavery, God has not 
abandoned us, he has extended a merciful hand over us to support 
us before the kings of Persia. He has revived our life, enabled us 
to rebuild the House of our God, and to have walls in Jerusalem 
and in the other cities of Judah.
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}But now, our God, what shall we say when, in spite of 
all this, we have abandoned your commandments? [=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}You have 
said through your servants, the prophets: The land you are 
entering to take possession of was defiled by the impurities of 
its inhabitants; they made it entirely unclean from one end to the 
other with their idolatry. {I}12_{/}Therefore, do not give your 
daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters as 
wives for your sons. Do not work with them for their prosperity 
and well-being forever. Be strong, eat the best fruits of the 
land, and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.
{R}_{I}13_{/}After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our 
sins, you, our God, have pardoned our wickedness, since you 
allowed all who are here to survive. {R}_{I}14_{/}How could we despise 
your commandments once more and intermarry with these wretched 
peoples? Will you not be angry with us and destroy us without 
leaving any remnant or survivors? 
{R}_{I}15_{/}Yahweh, God of Israel, you are just; see that we are a 
remnant of survivors. We are here in your presence with our sins, 
but we cannot remain so in your presence."

{N}THE FOREIGN WIVES ARE CAST OUT{/}

{1}10{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}While Ezra bowed before the House of God, weeping, 
praying and making this confession, a great crowd of men, women 
and children of Israel were gathered around him; and these people 
wept bitterly.
{R}_{I}2_{/}Then Shecaniah, son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, said to 
Ezra, "We have treated our God badly, by marrying foreign women 
taken from the peoples of this land, but Israel is not without 
hope because of this. {R}_{I}3_{/}Let us make a covenant with our God, 
and send these women away with their children according to the 
statement of my lord and all of us who respect the commandment of 
our God. {R}_{I}4_{/}Let the Law be obeyed. You command and we are with 
you. Have courage and command."
{R}_{I}5_{/}So Ezra arose and made the leaders of the priests, the 
Levites and of all Israel swear that they would do what had just 
been said, and so they swore. {R}_{I}6_{/}Then, Ezra withdrew from where 
he stood, in front of the House of God and went to the chamber of 
Jehohanan, son of Eliashib, but he did not eat bread or drink 
water there, for he was much afflicted by the sin of those who had 
returned from exile. {R}_{I}7_{/}A proclamation was made throughout Judah 
and Jerusalem that all who had returned from exile should assemble 
in Jerusalem, {I}8_{/}and if anyone would not come within three days, 
according to the decision of the leaders and of the local elders, 
all his prop-erty would be confiscated and he himself banned from 
the assembly of those who had returned from exile.
{R}_{I}9_{/}All the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem 
within the three days. It was the twentieth day of the ninth 
month, and all the people were in the open square of the House of 
God, trembling because of this matter and because it was raining.
{R}_{I}10_{/}Then the priest Ezra stood up and said, "You have been 
rebels in marrying foreign women, and have increased the offense 
of Israel. [=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}Now then, acknowledge your sin before Yahweh, 
the God of your fathers, and carry out his will; separate 
yourselves from the peoples of this land and from your foreign 
wives." {I}12_{/}The whole assembly answered with a loud voice, "Yes, 
we shall do as you say. {I}13_{/}But the people are so numerous and we 
are now in the rainy season; we cannot endure the inclement 
weather, and besides, this matter cannot be settled in a day or 
two, for we are many who have committed this sin. {R}_{I}14_{/}Our 
leaders can represent the whole assembly: those in our cities who 
have married foreign women shall come at appointed times, 
accompanied by the local leaders and judges of every city, until 
we have turned aside from us the anger of our God because of this 
matter."
{R}_{I}15_{/}The only ones who opposed this option were Jonathan, son of 
Asahel, and Jahzeiah, son of Tikvah, who were supported by the 
Levites Meshullam and Shabbethai. {R}_{I}16_{/}But those who had returned 
from exile complied. In accordance with what the priest Ezra 
ordered, they selected a family head for every family group, each 
of them designated in a personal way, and they sat down to resolve 
the matter on the first day of the tenth month.
{I}17_{/}On the first day of the first month, they finished attending 
to all the cases of Jews who had been married to foreign women.

{N}THE LIST OF THE GUILTY{/}

{I}18_{/}In the clan of the priestly clans, these are the names of 
those who were found to have married foreign women: among the clan 
of Jeshua, son of Jozadak, and among his brothers: Maaseiah, 
Eliezer, Jarib and Gedaliah; {R}_{I}19_{/}they pledged their word to put 
their wives away and, for their sin, offered a ram as a sacrifice 
of reparation;
{I}20_{/}In the clan of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah;
{R}_{I}21_{/}In the clan of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel and 
Uzziah;
{I}22_{/}In the clan of Pashhur: Elioenia, Maaseiah, Ishmael, 
Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah.
{R}_{I}23_{/}Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah - that is, 
Kelita - Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
{R}_{I}24_{/}Among the Temple musicians: Eliashib and Zaccur.
Among the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem and Uri.
{I}25_{/}And among the Israelites: 
of the clan of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, 
Eleazar, Malchijah and Benaiah;
{R}_{I}26_{/}of the clan of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, 
Meremoth and Elijah;
{I}27_{/}of the clan of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, 
Jeremoth, Zabad and Aziza;
{I}28_{/}of the clan of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai;
{I}29_{/}of the clan of Bigvai: Meshullam, Malluch, Jedaiah, Jashub, 
Sheal, Jeremoth;
{R}_{I}30_{/}of the clan of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, 
Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui and Manasseh;
{I}31_{/}of the clan of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, 
Shimeon, {I}32_{/}Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah;
{R}_{I}33_{/}of the clan of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, 
Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei;
{I}34_{/}of the clan of Bani: Maadai, Amran, Uel, {I}35_{/}Benaiah, 
Bediah, Cheluhi, {I}36_{/}Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, {I}37_{/}Mattaniah, 
Matenai and Jaasau; {I}38{/} of the clan Binnui; Shimei; 
{R}_{I}39_{/}Shelemiah, Nathan and Adaiah. {I}40_{/}of the clan Zaccai: 
Sharai; Shashai, Sharai {I}41_{/}Azarel, Shelemiah Shemariah, 
{R}_{I}42_{/}Shallum, Amariah, Joseph;
{I}43_{/}of the clan of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, 
Jaddai, Joel, Benaiah.
{I}44_{/}All these had married of foreign wives; they put them away, 
both women and children.

