
CYRUS HELPS THE JEWS 
RETURN TO JERUSALEM{/}

{1}1{/}

{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, 
{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. {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. {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."
{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.
{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. 
{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.
{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.
THE LIST OF THE RETURNING 
EXILES{/}

{1}2{/}

{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. 
{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; {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; 
{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; 
{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; 
{I}34_{/}people of 
Jericho, three hundred 
and forty-five; 
{I}35_{/}people of Se-
naah, three thousand six 
hundred and thirty.
{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.
{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.
{I}55_{/}The clans of 
Solomon's slaves: Sotai, 
Hassophereth, Peruda, 
{I}56_{/}Jaalah, Darkon, 
Giddel, 
{I}57_{/}Shephatiah, 
Hattil, Pochereth-
hazzebaim, Ami. 
{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. {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.
{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.
{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.
REBUILDING THE ALTAR{/}

{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}By the seventh 
month, the Israelites 
were already settled in 
their cities. Then all 
the people gathered in 
Jerusalem.
{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.
{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. 
{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.
{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. 
{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.
{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. {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.
{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.
THE REBUILDING IS 
INTERRUPTED{/}

{1}4{/}

{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, 
{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."
{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."
{I}4_{/}Then the people 
of the land set about 
discouraging the workers 
of Judah and frightening 
them to keep them from 
building. {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.
AN UNRELATED DOCUMENT{/}

{I}6_{/}In the beginning 
of the reign of Xerxes, 
they lodged a complaint 
against the inhabitants 
of Judah and Jerusalem. 
{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, 
{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, 
{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..."
{I}11_{/}This is a copy 
of the letter they sent 
to King Artaxerxes:
"Your servants, the 
people beyond the River, 
send greetings.
{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. {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. {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. {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. 
{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."
{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. {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.
{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. 
{I}22_{/}Do not neglect 
this grave concern, lest 
further harm be done to 
the kingdom."
{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.
{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.
WORK RESUMES{/}

{1}5{/}

{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. 
{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?"
{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.
{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:
{I}7_{/}"To King Darius, 
peace.
{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.
{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. {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.
{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. {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. 
{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. 
{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.
{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."
DARIUS HELPS BUILD THE 
TEMPLE{/}

{1}6{/}

{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:
{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, 
{I}4_{/}with three layers 
of hewn stones and one of 
wood. The expenses shall 
be paid for by the house 
of the king. 
{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. 
{I}7_{/}Let the governor 
of the Jews together with 
their leaders build the 
House of God on its 
former site.
{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. 
{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. 
{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. {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."
{I}13_{/}Tattenai, 
governor of the region 
beyond the River, Shethar 
Bozenai, and his 
counselors acted in 
conformity with the order 
of King Darius. 
{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.
{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, 
{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.
{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.
{I}19_{/}Those who had 
returned from exile 
celebrated the Passover 
on the fourteenth day of 
the first month, 
{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.
{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. {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.
EZRA COMES TO 
JERUSALEM{/}

{1}7{/}

{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, {I}5_{/}Abishua, 
Phinehas, Eleazar, and 
Aaron, the high priest.
{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. 
{I}7_{/}Many children of 
Israel, priests, Levites, 
singers, gatekeepers, and 
temple servants, also 
came to Jerusalem in the 
seventh year of King 
Artaxerxes.
{I}8_{/}Ezra came to 
Jerusalem in the fifth 
month of the seventh year 
of the king. {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. 
{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.
{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.
{I}12_{/}"Artaxerxes, 
King of kings, to Ezra, 
priest and teacher, 
learned in the Law of the 
God of heaven, peace.
{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. 
{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, {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. 
{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.
{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. 
{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.
{I}19_{/}Place before God 
in Jerusalem the vessels 
given to you for the 
service of the House of 
your God, {I}20_{/}and 
take from the treasuries 
of the king whatever is 
needed to pay for other 
expenses for the House of 
your God.
{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. 
{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.
{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.
{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.
{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."
{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, {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.
LIST OF THE JEWS 
RETURNING WITH EZRA{/}

{1}8{/}

{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:
{I}2_{/}Of the clan of 
Phinehas: Gershom; of the 
clan of Ithamar: Daniel; 
of the clan of David: 
Hattush {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; 
{I}6_{/}of the clan of 
Adin: Ebed, son of 
Jonathan, and with him 
fifty males; {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; 
{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. 
{I}16_{/}So I called for 
the leaders - Eliezer, 
Ariel, Shemaiah, Jarib, 
Elnathan, Zechariah and 
Meshullam - Joarib and 
Elnathan, men of 
understanding. {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.
{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; 
{I}19_{/}Hashabiah and 
with him Isaiah of the 
sons of Merari, their 
brothers and their sons, 
twenty; {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]{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. {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." {I}23_{/}So 
we fasted and prayed to 
our God for this 
intention, and he 
listened to us.
{I}24_{/}I chose twelve 
of the leaders of the 
priests, besides 
Sherebiah and Hashabiah 
and ten of their 
brothers. {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. {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. 
{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."
{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.
{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. 
{I}32_{/}We arrived in 
Jerusalem where we rested 
for three days. 
{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.
{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. {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.
ABOUT INTERMARRIAGES{/}

{1}9{/}

{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. {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. {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.
{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.
{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. 
{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. {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.
{I}10_{/}But now, our 
God, what shall we say 
when, in spite of all 
this, we have abandoned 
your commandments? 
{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.
{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. 
{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? 
{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."
THE FOREIGN WIVES ARE 
CAST OUT{/}

{1}10{/}

{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.
{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. {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. 
{I}4_{/}Let the Law be 
obeyed. You command and 
we are with you. Have 
courage and command."
{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. {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. 
{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.
{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.
{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. 
{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. {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."
{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. 
{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.
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; {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;
{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.
{I}23_{/}Among the 
Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, 
Kelaiah - that is, Kelita 
- Pethahiah, Judah, and 
Eliezer.
{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;
{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;
{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;
{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; 
{I}39_{/}Shelemiah, 
Nathan and Adaiah. 
{I}40_{/}of the clan 
Zaccai: Sharai; Shashai, 
Sharai {I}41_{/}Azarel, 
Shelemiah Shemariah, 
{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.

