\id EZR  
\h Ezra 
\toc1 Ezra 
\toc2 Ezra 
\mt1 Ezra  
\c 1  
\s1 The Decree of Cyrus  
\p
\v 1  \w In|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* first \w year|strong="H8141"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*, \w in|strong="H8141"\w* \w order|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w fulfill|strong="H3615"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*’s\nd* \w message|strong="H1697"\w* \w spoken|strong="H1697"\w* \w through|strong="H5674"\w* \w Jeremiah|strong="H3414"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w stirred|strong="H5782"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w mind|strong="H7307"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*. \w He|strong="H3068"\w* disseminated \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w proclamation|strong="H6963"\w* \w throughout|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w entire|strong="H3605"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4438"\w*, announcing \w in|strong="H8141"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* written \w edict|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* following:   
\p
\v 2 “\w Thus|strong="H3541"\w* \w says|strong="H3541"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*:  
\p “‘\w The|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8064"\w* \w has|strong="H3068"\w* \w given|strong="H5414"\w* \w me|strong="H5414"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w kingdoms|strong="H4467"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w earth|strong="H8064"\w*. \w He|strong="H1931"\w* \w has|strong="H3068"\w* instructed \w me|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w build|strong="H1129"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*, \w which|strong="H1931"\w* \w is|strong="H3068"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w*.  
\v 3  \w Anyone|strong="H3605"\w* \w from|strong="H5927"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w among|strong="H5973"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* (\w may|strong="H1961"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w*!) \w may|strong="H1961"\w* \w go|strong="H5927"\w* \w up|strong="H5927"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*, \w which|strong="H1931"\w* \w is|strong="H3068"\w* \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w*, \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w may|strong="H1961"\w* \w build|strong="H1129"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* – \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w is|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w who|strong="H4310"\w* \w is|strong="H3068"\w* \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*.  
\v 4  \w Anyone|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* survives \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w any|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w places|strong="H4725"\w* \w where|strong="H8033"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w is|strong="H1931"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* resident foreigner \w must|strong="H5375"\w* \w be|strong="H3389"\w* \w helped|strong="H5375"\w* \w by|strong="H2091"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* neighbors \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w*, \w gold|strong="H2091"\w*, \w equipment|strong="H7399"\w*, \w and|strong="H3701"\w* animals, \w along|strong="H5973"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w voluntary|strong="H5071"\w* \w offerings|strong="H5071"\w* \w for|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* God \w which|strong="H1931"\w* \w is|strong="H1931"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*.’”   
\s1 The Exiles Prepare to Return to Jerusalem  
\p
\v 5  \w Then|strong="H6965"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w Benjamin|strong="H1144"\w*, \w along|strong="H6965"\w* \w with|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w* – \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w whose|strong="H1144"\w* \w mind|strong="H7307"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w stirred|strong="H5782"\w* – \w got|strong="H6965"\w* ready \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w go|strong="H5927"\w* \w up|strong="H5927"\w* \w in|strong="H3068"\w* order \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w build|strong="H1129"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w in|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*.  
\v 6  \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* neighbors \w assisted|strong="H2388"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w utensils|strong="H3627"\w*, \w gold|strong="H2091"\w*, \w equipment|strong="H3627"\w*, animals, \w and|strong="H3701"\w* expensive gifts, not \w to|strong="H5921"\w* mention \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* voluntary \w offerings|strong="H5068"\w*.   
\p
\v 7  \w Then|strong="H3318"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* \w brought|strong="H3318"\w* \w out|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w vessels|strong="H3627"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*’s \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w which|strong="H3068"\w* \w Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w brought|strong="H3318"\w* \w from|strong="H3318"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w displayed|strong="H5414"\w* \w in|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w his|strong="H5414"\w* gods.  
\v 8  \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w* \w entrusted|strong="H3027"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w Mithredath|strong="H4990"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w treasurer|strong="H1489"\w*, \w who|strong="H3063"\w* \w counted|strong="H5608"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w out|strong="H3318"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w Sheshbazzar|strong="H8339"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w leader|strong="H5387"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* Judahite exiles.   
\p
\v 9  \w The|strong="H4557"\w* inventory \w of|strong="H4557"\w* these items \w was|strong="H2091"\w* \w as|strong="H2091"\w* follows:  
\q1 30 \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* basins,  
\q1 1,000 \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* basins,  
\q1 29 \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* utensils,   
\q1
\v 10  30 \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w bowls|strong="H3713"\w*,  
\q1 410 \w other|strong="H4932"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w bowls|strong="H3713"\w*,  
\q1 \w and|strong="H3967"\w* 1,000 \w other|strong="H4932"\w* \w vessels|strong="H3627"\w*.   
\p
\v 11  \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w these|strong="H3605"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w vessels|strong="H3627"\w* totaled 5,400. \w Sheshbazzar|strong="H8339"\w* \w brought|strong="H5927"\w* \w them|strong="H5927"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w along|strong="H5973"\w* \w when|strong="H5927"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w captives|strong="H1473"\w* \w were|strong="H3627"\w* \w brought|strong="H5927"\w* \w up|strong="H5927"\w* \w from|strong="H5927"\w* Babylon \w to|strong="H5927"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*.   
\c 2  
\p
\v 1  \w These|strong="H4428"\w* \w are|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H7725"\w* \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H7725"\w* \w province|strong="H4082"\w* \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w going|strong="H5927"\w* \w up|strong="H5927"\w*, \w from|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H7725"\w* \w captives|strong="H7628"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H7725"\w* \w exile|strong="H1540"\w* whom \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Babylon \w had|strong="H4428"\w* forced \w into|strong="H1540"\w* \w exile|strong="H1540"\w* \w in|strong="H4428"\w* Babylon. \w They|strong="H1540"\w* \w returned|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w*, \w each|strong="H4082"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w his|strong="H7725"\w* own \w city|strong="H5892"\w*.  
\v 2  \w They|strong="H5971"\w* \w came|strong="H3478"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w Zerubbabel|strong="H2216"\w*, \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w*, \w Nehemiah|strong="H5166"\w*, \w Seraiah|strong="H8304"\w*, \w Reelaiah|strong="H7480"\w*, \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w Bilshan|strong="H1114"\w*, \w Mispar|strong="H4558"\w*, Bigvai, \w Rehum|strong="H7348"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w Baanah|strong="H1196"\w*.  
\p \w The|strong="H5973"\w* \w number|strong="H4557"\w* \w of|strong="H4557"\w* \w Israelites|strong="H3478"\w* \w was|strong="H3478"\w* \w as|strong="H5971"\w* follows:   
\p
\v 3  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Parosh|strong="H6551"\w*: 2,172;   
\p
\v 4  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shephatiah|strong="H8203"\w*: 372;   
\p
\v 5  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Arah: 775;   
\p
\v 6  \w the|strong="H3097"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Pahath-Moab|strong="H6355"\w* (\w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3097"\w* line \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w Joab|strong="H3097"\w*): 2,812;   
\p
\v 7  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Elam|strong="H5867"\w*: 1,254;   
\p
\v 8  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Zattu|strong="H2240"\w*: 945;   
\p
\v 9  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Zaccai|strong="H2140"\w*: 760;   
\p
\v 10  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Bani|strong="H1137"\w*: 642;   
\p
\v 11  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Bebai: 623;   
\p
\v 12  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Azgad|strong="H5803"\w*: 1,222;   
\p
\v 13  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Adonikam: 666;   
\p
\v 14  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Bigvai: 2,056;   
\p
\v 15  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Adin|strong="H5720"\w*: 454;   
\p
\v 16  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Ater (through \w Hezekiah|strong="H2396"\w*): 98;   
\p
\v 17  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Bezai|strong="H1209"\w*: 323;   
\p
\v 18  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jorah|strong="H3139"\w*: 112;   
\p
\v 19  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hashum|strong="H2828"\w*: 223;   
\p
\v 20  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Gibbar|strong="H1402"\w*: 95.   
\p
\v 21  \w The|strong="H1121"\w* \w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Bethlehem|strong="H1035"\w*: 123;   
\p
\v 22  the men of \w Netophah|strong="H5199"\w*: 56;   
\p
\v 23  \w the|strong="H3967"\w* men \w of|strong="H3967"\w* \w Anathoth|strong="H6068"\w*: 128;   
\p
\v 24  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* family \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Azmaveth|strong="H5820"\w*: 42;   
\p
\v 25  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Kiriath|strong="H7157"\w* Jearim, \w Kephirah|strong="H3716"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* Beeroth: 743;   
\p
\v 26  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Ramah|strong="H7414"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w Geba|strong="H1387"\w*: 621;   
\p
\v 27  \w the|strong="H8147"\w* \w men|strong="H8147"\w* \w of|strong="H8147"\w* \w Micmash|strong="H4363"\w*: 122;   
\p
\v 28  \w the|strong="H1008"\w* men \w of|strong="H3967"\w* \w Bethel|strong="H1008"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w Ai|strong="H5857"\w*: 223;   
\p
\v 29  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Nebo|strong="H5015"\w*: 52;   
\p
\v 30  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Magbish|strong="H4019"\w*: 156;   
\p
\v 31  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* other \w Elam|strong="H5867"\w*: 1,254;   
\p
\v 32  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Harim|strong="H2766"\w*: 320;   
\p
\v 33  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Lod|strong="H3850"\w*, \w Hadid|strong="H2307"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* Ono: 725;   
\p
\v 34  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jericho|strong="H3405"\w*: 345;   
\p
\v 35  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Senaah|strong="H5570"\w*: 3,630.   
\p
\v 36  \w The|strong="H3548"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*: \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jedaiah|strong="H3048"\w* (through \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w family|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w*): 973;   
\p
\v 37  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Immer: 1,052;   
\p
\v 38  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Pashhur|strong="H6583"\w*: 1,247;   
\p
\v 39  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Harim|strong="H2766"\w*: 1,017.   
\p
\v 40  \w The|strong="H1121"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w*: \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Kadmiel|strong="H6934"\w* (through \w the|strong="H1121"\w* line \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hodaviah|strong="H1938"\w*): 74.   
\p
\v 41  \w The|strong="H1121"\w* \w singers|strong="H7891"\w*: \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Asaph: 128.   
\p
\v 42  \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w gatekeepers|strong="H7778"\w*: \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shallum|strong="H7967"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Ater, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Talmon|strong="H2929"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Akkub|strong="H6126"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hatita|strong="H2410"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shobai|strong="H7630"\w*: 139.   
\p
\v 43  \w The|strong="H1121"\w* \w temple|strong="H5411"\w* \w servants|strong="H5411"\w*: \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Ziha|strong="H6727"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hasupha|strong="H2817"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Tabbaoth|strong="H2884"\w*,  
\v 44  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Keros|strong="H7026"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Siaha|strong="H5517"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Padon|strong="H6303"\w*,  
\v 45  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Lebanah|strong="H3838"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hagabah|strong="H2286"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Akkub|strong="H6126"\w*,  
\v 46  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hagab|strong="H2285"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shalmai|strong="H8073"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hanan|strong="H2605"\w*,  
\v 47  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Giddel|strong="H1435"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Gahar|strong="H1515"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Reaiah|strong="H7211"\w*,  
\v 48  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Rezin|strong="H7526"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Nekoda|strong="H5353"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Gazzam|strong="H1502"\w*,  
\v 49  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Uzzah|strong="H5798"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Paseah|strong="H6454"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Besai|strong="H1153"\w*,  
\v 50  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Asnah, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Meunim|strong="H4586"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Nephussim,  
\v 51  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Bakbuk|strong="H1227"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hakupha|strong="H2709"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Harhur|strong="H2744"\w*,  
\v 52  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Bazluth|strong="H1213"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Mehida|strong="H4240"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Harsha|strong="H2797"\w*,  
\v 53  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Barkos|strong="H1302"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Sisera|strong="H5516"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Temah|strong="H8547"\w*,  
\v 54  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Neziah|strong="H5335"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hatipha|strong="H2412"\w*.   
\p
\v 55  \w The|strong="H5650"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5650"\w* \w servants|strong="H5650"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Solomon|strong="H8010"\w*: \w the|strong="H5650"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Sotai|strong="H5479"\w*, \w the|strong="H5650"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hassophereth|strong="H5618"\w*, \w the|strong="H5650"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Peruda|strong="H6514"\w*,  
\v 56  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jaala|strong="H3279"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Darkon|strong="H1874"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Giddel|strong="H1435"\w*,  
\v 57  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shephatiah|strong="H8203"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hattil|strong="H2411"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Pokereth-Hazzebaim|strong="H6380"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Ami.   
\p
\v 58  \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H5411"\w* \w servants|strong="H5650"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w servants|strong="H5650"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Solomon|strong="H8010"\w*: 392.   
\p
\v 59  \w These|strong="H1992"\w* \w are|strong="H1992"\w* \w the|strong="H5927"\w* \w ones|strong="H1992"\w* \w that|strong="H3478"\w* \w came|strong="H5927"\w* \w up|strong="H5927"\w* \w from|strong="H5927"\w* Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, \w Kerub|strong="H3743"\w*, Addon, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* Immer (\w although|strong="H3808"\w* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w were|strong="H3478"\w* \w unable|strong="H3808"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w certify|strong="H5046"\w* \w their|strong="H1992"\w* \w family|strong="H1004"\w* connection \w or|strong="H3808"\w* \w their|strong="H1992"\w* ancestry, \w as|strong="H5927"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* whether \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w really|strong="H1992"\w* \w were|strong="H3478"\w* \w from|strong="H5927"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*):   
\p
\v 60  \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Delaiah|strong="H1806"\w*, \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Tobiah|strong="H2900"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Nekoda|strong="H5353"\w*: 652.   
\p
\v 61  \w And|strong="H1121"\w* \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w among|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*: \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hobaiah|strong="H2252"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hakkoz|strong="H6976"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Barzillai|strong="H1271"\w* (\w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w had|strong="H3548"\w* \w taken|strong="H3947"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* wife \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w daughters|strong="H1323"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Barzillai|strong="H1271"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Gileadite|strong="H1569"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H8034"\w* \w called|strong="H7121"\w* \w by|strong="H5921"\w* \w that|strong="H3548"\w* \w name|strong="H8034"\w*).  
\v 62  \w They|strong="H3808"\w* \w searched|strong="H1245"\w* \w for|strong="H1245"\w* \w their|strong="H1245"\w* records \w in|strong="H4672"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w genealogical|strong="H3187"\w* materials, \w but|strong="H3808"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w find|strong="H4672"\w* \w them|strong="H4672"\w*. \w They|strong="H3808"\w* \w were|strong="H4672"\w* therefore excluded \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w priesthood|strong="H3550"\w*.  
\v 63  \w The|strong="H5704"\w* \w governor|strong="H8660"\w* instructed \w them|strong="H5975"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* eat \w any|strong="H3808"\w* \w of|strong="H3548"\w* \w the|strong="H5704"\w* \w sacred|strong="H6944"\w* food \w until|strong="H5704"\w* \w there|strong="H5975"\w* \w was|strong="H3808"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w priest|strong="H3548"\w* \w who|strong="H3548"\w* could consult \w the|strong="H5704"\w* Urim \w and|strong="H3548"\w* \w Thummim|strong="H8550"\w*.   
\p
\v 64  \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w entire|strong="H3605"\w* group \w numbered|strong="H3967"\w* 42,360,  
\v 65  not counting their \w male|strong="H5650"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* female \w servants|strong="H5650"\w*, \w who|strong="H5650"\w* \w numbered|strong="H3967"\w* 7,337. They also \w had|strong="H7891"\w* 200 \w male|strong="H5650"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* female \w singers|strong="H7891"\w*  
\v 66  \w and|strong="H3967"\w* 736 \w horses|strong="H5483"\w*, 245 \w mules|strong="H6505"\w*,  
\v 67  435 \w camels|strong="H1581"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* 6,720 \w donkeys|strong="H2543"\w*.  
\v 68  \w When|strong="H3068"\w* \w they|strong="H3068"\w* \w came|strong="H3068"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*’s \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*, some \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w family|strong="H1004"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \w offered|strong="H5068"\w* voluntary \w offerings|strong="H3068"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* order \w to|strong="H3068"\w* rebuild \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w its|strong="H5921"\w* site.  
\v 69  \w As|strong="H5414"\w* \w they|strong="H5414"\w* \w were|strong="H5414"\w* \w able|strong="H3581"\w*, \w they|strong="H5414"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* treasury \w for|strong="H3701"\w* \w this|strong="H5414"\w* \w work|strong="H4399"\w* 61,000 \w drachmas|strong="H1871"\w* \w of|strong="H3548"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w*, 5,000 \w minas|strong="H4488"\w* \w of|strong="H3548"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* 100 \w priestly|strong="H3548"\w* \w robes|strong="H3801"\w*.   
\p
\v 70  \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w*, \w some|strong="H4480"\w* \w of|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w singers|strong="H7891"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w gatekeepers|strong="H7778"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H5411"\w* \w servants|strong="H5411"\w* \w lived|strong="H3427"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w towns|strong="H5892"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* rest \w of|strong="H3427"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* \w lived|strong="H3427"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w towns|strong="H5892"\w*.   
\c 3  
\p
\v 1  \w When|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5060"\w* \w seventh|strong="H7637"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w arrived|strong="H5060"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5060"\w* \w Israelites|strong="H3478"\w* \w were|strong="H3478"\w* living \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w their|strong="H5060"\w* \w towns|strong="H5892"\w*, \w the|strong="H5060"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w assembled|strong="H3478"\w* \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*.  
\v 2  \w Then|strong="H6965"\w* \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jozadak|strong="H3136"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w priestly|strong="H3548"\w* colleagues \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Zerubbabel|strong="H2216"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shealtiel|strong="H7597"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* colleagues \w started|strong="H6965"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w build|strong="H1129"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w altar|strong="H4196"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* God \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* \w so|strong="H5927"\w* \w they|strong="H5921"\w* \w could|strong="H6965"\w* \w offer|strong="H5927"\w* \w burnt|strong="H5930"\w* \w offerings|strong="H5930"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w as|strong="H5927"\w* required \w by|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w law|strong="H8451"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Moses|strong="H4872"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w man|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* God.  
\v 3  \w They|strong="H3588"\w* \w established|strong="H3559"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w altar|strong="H4196"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w its|strong="H5921"\w* foundations, \w even|strong="H6153"\w* \w though|strong="H3588"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* terror \w of|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* local \w peoples|strong="H5971"\w*, \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w offered|strong="H5927"\w* \w burnt|strong="H5930"\w* \w offerings|strong="H5930"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*, \w both|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w morning|strong="H1242"\w* \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w evening|strong="H6153"\w* \w offerings|strong="H5930"\w*.  
\v 4  \w They|strong="H3117"\w* \w observed|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w Festival|strong="H2282"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w Temporary|strong="H5521"\w* \w Shelters|strong="H5521"\w* \w as|strong="H1697"\w* \w required|strong="H3117"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w offered|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* proper \w number|strong="H4557"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w daily|strong="H3117"\w* \w burnt|strong="H5930"\w* \w offerings|strong="H5930"\w* \w according|strong="H4941"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* requirement \w for|strong="H6213"\w* \w each|strong="H3117"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w*.  
\v 5  Afterward \w they|strong="H3068"\w* \w offered|strong="H5068"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w continual|strong="H8548"\w* \w burnt|strong="H5930"\w* \w offerings|strong="H5930"\w* \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w for|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w new|strong="H2320"\w* \w moons|strong="H2320"\w* \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w for|strong="H3068"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w holy|strong="H6942"\w* \w assemblies|strong="H4150"\w* \w of|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H3068"\w* \w being|strong="H3068"\w* \w voluntarily|strong="H5071"\w* \w offered|strong="H5068"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*.  
\v 6  \w From|strong="H5927"\w* \w the|strong="H3068"\w* \w first|strong="H3117"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3068"\w* \w seventh|strong="H7637"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w began|strong="H2490"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w offer|strong="H5927"\w* \w burnt|strong="H5930"\w* \w offerings|strong="H5930"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3068"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*. However, \w the|strong="H3068"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*’s \w temple|strong="H1964"\w* \w was|strong="H3068"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w at|strong="H3068"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w time|strong="H3117"\w* \w established|strong="H3245"\w*.   
\s1 Preparations for Rebuilding the Temple  
\p
\v 7  \w So|strong="H4480"\w* \w they|strong="H5921"\w* \w provided|strong="H5414"\w* \w money|strong="H3701"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w masons|strong="H2672"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w carpenters|strong="H2796"\w*, \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w food|strong="H3978"\w*, \w beverages|strong="H4960"\w*, \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w olive|strong="H8081"\w* \w oil|strong="H8081"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* people \w of|strong="H4428"\w* Sidon \w so|strong="H4480"\w* \w that|strong="H5414"\w* \w they|strong="H5921"\w* \w would|strong="H4428"\w* \w bring|strong="H5414"\w* cedar \w timber|strong="H6086"\w* \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w Lebanon|strong="H3844"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* seaport \w at|strong="H5921"\w* \w Joppa|strong="H3305"\w*, \w in|strong="H5921"\w* accord \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w edict|strong="H5414"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*.  
\v 8  \w In|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w second|strong="H8145"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w* \w after|strong="H5921"\w* \w they|strong="H3068"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* come \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w in|strong="H8141"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*, \w in|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w second|strong="H8145"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w*, \w Zerubbabel|strong="H2216"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shealtiel|strong="H7597"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jozadak|strong="H3136"\w* initiated \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w work|strong="H4399"\w*, \w along|strong="H5921"\w* \w with|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w rest|strong="H7605"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* associates, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* coming \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* exile. \w They|strong="H3068"\w* \w appointed|strong="H5975"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w at|strong="H5921"\w* least \w twenty|strong="H6242"\w* \w years|strong="H8141"\w* \w old|strong="H1121"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w take|strong="H1121"\w* \w charge|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w work|strong="H4399"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*’s \w temple|strong="H1004"\w*.  
\v 9  \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w* \w appointed|strong="H5975"\w* \w both|strong="H5921"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w relatives|strong="H1121"\w*, \w Kadmiel|strong="H6934"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* (\w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Yehudah ), \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w take|strong="H6213"\w* \w charge|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w workers|strong="H4399"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* God, \w along|strong="H5921"\w* \w with|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Henadad|strong="H2582"\w*, \w their|strong="H5921"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w their|strong="H5921"\w* \w relatives|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w*.  
\v 10  \w When|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w builders|strong="H1129"\w* \w established|strong="H3245"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*’s \w temple|strong="H1964"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, ceremonially \w attired|strong="H3847"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w with|strong="H3847"\w* \w their|strong="H3068"\w* clarions, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w* (\w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Asaph) \w with|strong="H3847"\w* \w their|strong="H3068"\w* \w cymbals|strong="H4700"\w*, \w stood|strong="H5975"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w praise|strong="H1984"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w according|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* instructions \w left|strong="H5975"\w* \w by|strong="H3027"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w David|strong="H1732"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*.  
\v 11  \w With|strong="H1004"\w* antiphonal \w response|strong="H6030"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w sang|strong="H1984"\w*, \w praising|strong="H1984"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* glorifying \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*:  
\q1 “\w For|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w is|strong="H3068"\w* \w good|strong="H2896"\w*;  
\q1 \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w loyal|strong="H2617"\w* \w love|strong="H2617"\w* \w toward|strong="H5921"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* \w is|strong="H3068"\w* \w forever|strong="H5769"\w*.”  
\p \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w gave|strong="H7321"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w loud|strong="H1419"\w* \w shout|strong="H7321"\w* \w as|strong="H3068"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w praised|strong="H1984"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w when|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w was|strong="H3068"\w* \w established|strong="H3245"\w*.  
\v 12  \w Many|strong="H7227"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w*, \w and|strong="H1419"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* – \w older|strong="H1419"\w* \w people|strong="H5869"\w* \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w had|strong="H5869"\w* \w seen|strong="H7200"\w* \w with|strong="H1004"\w* \w their|strong="H7200"\w* \w own|strong="H3548"\w* \w eyes|strong="H5869"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w former|strong="H7223"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w while|strong="H2088"\w* \w it|strong="H7200"\w* \w was|strong="H1004"\w* still \w established|strong="H3245"\w* – \w were|strong="H3881"\w* \w weeping|strong="H1058"\w* \w loudly|strong="H6963"\w*, \w and|strong="H1419"\w* \w many|strong="H7227"\w* \w others|strong="H7227"\w* \w raised|strong="H7311"\w* \w their|strong="H7200"\w* \w voice|strong="H6963"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* joyous \w shout|strong="H8643"\w*.  
\v 13  \w People|strong="H5971"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* unable \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w tell|strong="H8085"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* difference \w between|strong="H6963"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w sound|strong="H6963"\w* \w of|strong="H6963"\w* joyous \w shouting|strong="H8643"\w* \w and|strong="H1419"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w sound|strong="H6963"\w* \w of|strong="H6963"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w*’s \w weeping|strong="H1065"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w shouting|strong="H8643"\w* \w so|strong="H3588"\w* \w loudly|strong="H6963"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w sound|strong="H6963"\w* \w was|strong="H6963"\w* \w heard|strong="H8085"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w long|strong="H5704"\w* \w way|strong="H5704"\w* \w off|strong="H7350"\w*.   
\c 4  
\p
\v 1  \w When|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w enemies|strong="H6862"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Benjamin|strong="H1144"\w* learned \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* former \w exiles|strong="H1473"\w* \w were|strong="H3478"\w* \w building|strong="H1129"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w temple|strong="H1964"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*,  
\v 2  \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w came|strong="H5927"\w* \w to|strong="H5927"\w* \w Zerubbabel|strong="H2216"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* said \w to|strong="H5927"\w* \w them|strong="H1992"\w*, “\w Let|strong="H3808"\w* \w us|strong="H3588"\w* help \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w build|strong="H1129"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w like|strong="H5973"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w seek|strong="H1875"\w* \w your|strong="H3588"\w* \w God|strong="H3808"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w have|strong="H3117"\w* \w been|strong="H3808"\w* \w sacrificing|strong="H2076"\w* \w to|strong="H5927"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w* \w from|strong="H5927"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w time|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Esarhaddon \w of|strong="H4428"\w* Assyria, \w who|strong="H1992"\w* \w brought|strong="H5927"\w* \w us|strong="H3588"\w* \w here|strong="H6311"\w*.”  
\v 3  \w But|strong="H3588"\w* \w Zerubbabel|strong="H2216"\w*, \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w rest|strong="H7605"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* said \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w them|strong="H6680"\w*, “\w You|strong="H3588"\w* \w have|strong="H3068"\w* \w no|strong="H3808"\w* \w right|strong="H3478"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* help \w us|strong="H3588"\w* \w build|strong="H1129"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w our|strong="H3068"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w*. \w We|strong="H3588"\w* \w will|strong="H3068"\w* \w build|strong="H1129"\w* \w it|strong="H3588"\w* \w by|strong="H3068"\w* \w ourselves|strong="H1129"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*, just \w as|strong="H3068"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w*, \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*, \w has|strong="H3068"\w* \w commanded|strong="H6680"\w* \w us|strong="H3588"\w*.”  
\v 4  \w Then|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H1129"\w* local \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w began|strong="H3063"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* discourage \w the|strong="H1129"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* dishearten \w them|strong="H3027"\w* \w from|strong="H3027"\w* \w building|strong="H1129"\w*.  
\v 5  \w They|strong="H3117"\w* \w were|strong="H3117"\w* hiring \w advisers|strong="H3289"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* oppose \w them|strong="H5921"\w*, \w so|strong="H5921"\w* \w as|strong="H5704"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w frustrate|strong="H6565"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w plans|strong="H6098"\w*, \w throughout|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w time|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w* \w until|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w reign|strong="H4438"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1867"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*.   
\s1 Official Complaints Are Lodged Against the Jews  
\p
\v 6  \w At|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w beginning|strong="H8462"\w* \w of|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w reign|strong="H4438"\w* \w of|strong="H3427"\w* Ahasuerus \w they|strong="H5921"\w* filed \w an|strong="H3427"\w* \w accusation|strong="H7855"\w* \w against|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w inhabitants|strong="H3427"\w* \w of|strong="H3427"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*.  
\v 7  \w And|strong="H4428"\w* \w during|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w reign|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* Artaxerxes, \w Bishlam|strong="H1312"\w*, \w Mithredath|strong="H4990"\w*, \w Tabeel|strong="H2870"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w rest|strong="H7605"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w their|strong="H5921"\w* \w colleagues|strong="H3674"\w* \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Artaxerxes \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*. \w This|strong="H3789"\w* \w letter|strong="H5406"\w* \w was|strong="H3117"\w* \w first|strong="H3117"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* Aramaic \w but|strong="H3117"\w* \w then|strong="H4428"\w* \w translated|strong="H8638"\w*.  
\p [Aramaic:]   
\p
\v 8  \w Rehum|strong="H7348"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w commander|strong="H1169"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w Shimshai|strong="H8124"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w scribe|strong="H5613"\w* \w wrote|strong="H3790"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* letter \w concerning|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* Artaxerxes as \w follows|strong="H3660"\w*:  
\v 9  \w From|strong="H1768"\w* \w Rehum|strong="H7348"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w commander|strong="H1169"\w*, \w Shimshai|strong="H8124"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w scribe|strong="H5613"\w*, \w and|strong="H5613"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w rest|strong="H7606"\w* \w of|strong="H1768"\w* their \w colleagues|strong="H3675"\w* – \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w judges|strong="H1784"\w*, \w the|strong="H1768"\w* rulers, \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w officials|strong="H2967"\w*, \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w secretaries|strong="H5613"\w*, \w the|strong="H1768"\w* Erechites, \w the|strong="H1768"\w* Babylonians, \w the|strong="H1768"\w* people \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7801"\w* (\w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w*, \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w Elamites|strong="H5962"\w*),  
\v 10  \w and|strong="H7229"\w* \w the|strong="H5675"\w* \w rest|strong="H7606"\w* \w of|strong="H1768"\w* nations \w whom|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5675"\w* \w great|strong="H7229"\w* \w and|strong="H7229"\w* \w noble|strong="H3358"\w* Ashurbanipal \w deported|strong="H1541"\w* \w and|strong="H7229"\w* \w settled|strong="H3488"\w* \w in|strong="H3488"\w* \w the|strong="H5675"\w* \w cities|strong="H7149"\w* \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w Samaria|strong="H8115"\w* \w and|strong="H7229"\w* other places \w in|strong="H3488"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w*.  
\v 11  (\w This|strong="H1836"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w copy|strong="H6573"\w* \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* letter \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w sent|strong="H7972"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w him|strong="H5922"\w*:)  
\p “\w To|strong="H5922"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* Artaxerxes, \w from|strong="H1768"\w* \w your|strong="H1768"\w* \w servants|strong="H5649"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w*:  
\v 12  \w Now|strong="H4430"\w* let \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* \w aware|strong="H3046"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3062"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w came|strong="H5559"\w* \w up|strong="H3635"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w us|strong="H5922"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w have|strong="H1934"\w* gone \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*. \w They|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w rebuilding|strong="H1124"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w rebellious|strong="H4779"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* odious \w city|strong="H7149"\w*. \w They|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* completing \w its|strong="H3046"\w* \w walls|strong="H7792"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w repairing|strong="H2338"\w* \w its|strong="H3046"\w* foundations.  
\v 13  \w Let|strong="H3705"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w also|strong="H4430"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* \w aware|strong="H3046"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w if|strong="H2006"\w* \w this|strong="H1791"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w built|strong="H1124"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w its|strong="H3046"\w* \w walls|strong="H7792"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* completed, \w no|strong="H3809"\w* more \w tax|strong="H4061"\w*, \w custom|strong="H1093"\w*, \w or|strong="H2006"\w* \w toll|strong="H1983"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* paid, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w royal|strong="H4430"\w* treasury \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w suffer|strong="H5142"\w* \w loss|strong="H5142"\w*.  
\v 14  \w In|strong="H5922"\w* light \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* fact \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* loyal \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w*, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w since|strong="H1768"\w* \w it|strong="H5922"\w* does \w not|strong="H3809"\w* \w seem|strong="H2370"\w* appropriate \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w us|strong="H5922"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w should|strong="H4430"\w* sustain \w damage|strong="H6173"\w*, \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* sending \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w information|strong="H3046"\w*  
\v 15  \w so|strong="H1768"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w he|strong="H1768"\w* may initiate \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w search|strong="H1240"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w records|strong="H1799"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w his|strong="H5922"\w* predecessors \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w discover|strong="H7912"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w those|strong="H1768"\w* \w records|strong="H1799"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w rebellious|strong="H4779"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* injurious \w to|strong="H5922"\w* both \w kings|strong="H4430"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4083"\w*, \w producing|strong="H5648"\w* \w internal|strong="H1459"\w* revolts \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w long|strong="H5957"\w* \w ago|strong="H3118"\w*. \w It|strong="H5922"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w for|strong="H5922"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* very \w reason|strong="H5922"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w* \w was|strong="H4430"\w* \w destroyed|strong="H2718"\w*.  
\v 16  \w We|strong="H1768"\w* \w therefore|strong="H6903"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* informing \w the|strong="H5675"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w if|strong="H2006"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w rebuilt|strong="H1124"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w its|strong="H3046"\w* \w walls|strong="H7792"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* completed, \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w not|strong="H3809"\w* retain control \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w portion|strong="H2508"\w* \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w*.”   
\p
\v 17  \w The|strong="H5922"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w sent|strong="H7972"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* following response:  
\p “\w To|strong="H5922"\w* \w Rehum|strong="H7348"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w commander|strong="H1169"\w*, \w Shimshai|strong="H8124"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w scribe|strong="H5613"\w*, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w rest|strong="H7606"\w* \w of|strong="H4430"\w* their \w colleagues|strong="H3675"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w live|strong="H3488"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w Samaria|strong="H8115"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* other parts \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w*: Greetings!  
\v 18  \w The|strong="H5922"\w* \w letter|strong="H5407"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w sent|strong="H7972"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w us|strong="H5922"\w* \w has|strong="H1768"\w* been \w translated|strong="H6568"\w* \w and|strong="H7972"\w* \w read|strong="H7123"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w my|strong="H5922"\w* \w presence|strong="H6925"\w*.  
\v 19  \w So|strong="H1768"\w* \w I|strong="H4481"\w* \w gave|strong="H7761"\w* \w orders|strong="H2942"\w*, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w it|strong="H5922"\w* \w was|strong="H4430"\w* determined \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w this|strong="H1791"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w long|strong="H5957"\w* \w ago|strong="H3118"\w* \w has|strong="H1768"\w* been engaging \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w insurrection|strong="H5376"\w* \w against|strong="H5922"\w* \w kings|strong="H4430"\w*. \w It|strong="H5922"\w* \w has|strong="H1768"\w* continually engaged \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w rebellion|strong="H4776"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* revolt.  
\v 20  \w Powerful|strong="H8624"\w* \w kings|strong="H4430"\w* \w have|strong="H1934"\w* \w been|strong="H1934"\w* \w over|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* who \w ruled|strong="H7990"\w* throughout \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w entire|strong="H3606"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* who \w were|strong="H1934"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* beneficiaries \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w tribute|strong="H4061"\w*, \w custom|strong="H1093"\w*, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w toll|strong="H1983"\w*.  
\v 21  \w Now|strong="H3705"\w* \w give|strong="H7761"\w* \w orders|strong="H2942"\w* \w that|strong="H2942"\w* \w these|strong="H4481"\w* \w men|strong="H1400"\w* cease their work \w and|strong="H7149"\w* \w that|strong="H2942"\w* \w this|strong="H1791"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w* \w not|strong="H3809"\w* \w be|strong="H3809"\w* \w rebuilt|strong="H1124"\w* \w until|strong="H5705"\w* such time \w as|strong="H5705"\w* \w I|strong="H4481"\w* \w so|strong="H5705"\w* instruct.  
\v 22  Exercise appropriate caution so \w that|strong="H5922"\w* there \w is|strong="H4101"\w* no \w negligence|strong="H7960"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w matter|strong="H1836"\w*. \w Why|strong="H4101"\w* \w should|strong="H4101"\w* danger \w increase|strong="H7680"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* point \w that|strong="H5922"\w* \w kings|strong="H4430"\w* sustain \w damage|strong="H5142"\w*?”   
\p
\v 23  \w Then|strong="H1768"\w*, \w as|strong="H1768"\w* \w soon|strong="H4481"\w* \w as|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w copy|strong="H6573"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w letter|strong="H5407"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* Artaxerxes \w was|strong="H4430"\w* \w read|strong="H7123"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w presence|strong="H6925"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w Rehum|strong="H7348"\w*, \w Shimshai|strong="H8124"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w scribe|strong="H5613"\w*, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* their \w colleagues|strong="H3675"\w*, \w they|strong="H1768"\w* proceeded promptly \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3062"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* stopped \w them|strong="H1994"\w* \w with|strong="H5922"\w* threat \w of|strong="H4481"\w* armed force.   
\p
\v 24  \w So|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w work|strong="H5673"\w* \w on|strong="H5705"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* \w came|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H5705"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* halt. \w It|strong="H1934"\w* remained halted \w until|strong="H5705"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w second|strong="H8648"\w* \w year|strong="H8140"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w reign|strong="H4437"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6540"\w*.   
\c 5  
\p
\v 1  \w Then|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* prophets \w Haggai|strong="H2292"\w* \w and|strong="H2148"\w* \w Zechariah|strong="H2148"\w* \w son|strong="H1247"\w* \w of|strong="H1247"\w* \w Iddo|strong="H5714"\w* \w prophesied|strong="H5013"\w* \w concerning|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3062"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w were|strong="H1768"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3061"\w* \w and|strong="H2148"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w name|strong="H8036"\w* \w of|strong="H1247"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* God \w of|strong="H1247"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3479"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w was|strong="H8036"\w* \w over|strong="H5922"\w* \w them|strong="H5922"\w*.  
\v 2  \w Then|strong="H1768"\w* \w Zerubbabel|strong="H2217"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w son|strong="H1247"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w Shealtiel|strong="H7598"\w* \w and|strong="H1005"\w* \w Jeshua|strong="H3443"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w son|strong="H1247"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w Jozadak|strong="H3136"\w* \w began|strong="H8271"\w* \w to|strong="H5974"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1124"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God \w in|strong="H6966"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*. \w The|strong="H1768"\w* \w prophets|strong="H5029"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God \w were|strong="H1768"\w* \w with|strong="H5974"\w* \w them|strong="H5974"\w*, \w supporting|strong="H5583"\w* \w them|strong="H5974"\w*.   
\p
\v 3  At \w that|strong="H2942"\w* \w time|strong="H2166"\w* \w Tattenai|strong="H8674"\w* \w governor|strong="H6347"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w*, \w Shethar-Bozenai|strong="H8370"\w*, \w and|strong="H1005"\w* their \w colleagues|strong="H3675"\w* came \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w them|strong="H5922"\w* \w and|strong="H1005"\w* asked, “\w Who|strong="H4479"\w* \w gave|strong="H7761"\w* \w you|strong="H5922"\w* authority \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1124"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w and|strong="H1005"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* complete \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w structure|strong="H3635"\w*?”  
\v 4  \w They|strong="H3660"\w* \w also|strong="H3660"\w* asked them, “\w What|strong="H4479"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w names|strong="H8036"\w* \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w men|strong="H1400"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w building|strong="H1124"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w edifice|strong="H1147"\w*?”  
\v 5  But God \w was|strong="H1934"\w* \w watching|strong="H5870"\w* \w over|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w elders|strong="H7868"\w* \w of|strong="H5922"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3062"\w*, \w and|strong="H1934"\w* \w they|strong="H3809"\w* \w were|strong="H1934"\w* \w not|strong="H3809"\w* stopped \w until|strong="H5705"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* report could \w be|strong="H1934"\w* dispatched \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w* \w and|strong="H1934"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w letter|strong="H5407"\w* could \w be|strong="H1934"\w* sent back \w concerning|strong="H5922"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w*.   
\p
\v 6  \w This|strong="H5922"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w copy|strong="H6573"\w* \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* letter \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w Tattenai|strong="H8674"\w* \w governor|strong="H6347"\w* \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w*, \w Shethar-Bozenai|strong="H8370"\w*, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w his|strong="H5922"\w* \w colleagues|strong="H3675"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w were|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* officials \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w* \w sent|strong="H7972"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w*.  
\v 7  \w The|strong="H3606"\w* \w report|strong="H6600"\w* \w they|strong="H3606"\w* \w sent|strong="H7972"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w him|strong="H5922"\w* \w was|strong="H4430"\w* \w written|strong="H3790"\w* \w as|strong="H3606"\w* follows:  
\p “\w To|strong="H5922"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w*: \w All|strong="H3606"\w* greetings!  
\v 8  Let \w it|strong="H1934"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* \w known|strong="H3046"\w* \w to|strong="H3046"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w have|strong="H1934"\w* gone \w to|strong="H3046"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w province|strong="H4083"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3061"\w*, \w to|strong="H3046"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w great|strong="H7229"\w* God. \w It|strong="H1934"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* being \w built|strong="H1124"\w* \w with|strong="H1124"\w* \w large|strong="H7229"\w* stones, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* timbers \w are|strong="H1768"\w* being placed \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w walls|strong="H3797"\w*. \w This|strong="H1791"\w* \w work|strong="H5673"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* being \w done|strong="H5648"\w* \w with|strong="H1124"\w* all diligence \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* prospering \w in|strong="H4430"\w* their \w hands|strong="H3028"\w*.  
\v 9  \w We|strong="H7593"\w* \w inquired|strong="H7593"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* those \w elders|strong="H7868"\w*, asking them, ‘\w Who|strong="H4479"\w* \w gave|strong="H7761"\w* you \w the|strong="H1124"\w* authority \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1124"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w and|strong="H1005"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* complete \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w structure|strong="H3635"\w*?’  
\v 10  \w We|strong="H1768"\w* also \w inquired|strong="H7593"\w* \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w their|strong="H7593"\w* \w names|strong="H8036"\w* \w in|strong="H1768"\w* order \w to|strong="H3046"\w* \w inform|strong="H3046"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w*, \w so|strong="H1768"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* might \w write|strong="H3790"\w* \w the|strong="H3046"\w* \w names|strong="H8036"\w* \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H3046"\w* \w men|strong="H1400"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w were|strong="H1400"\w* \w their|strong="H7593"\w* leaders.  
\v 11  \w They|strong="H3660"\w* responded \w to|strong="H1994"\w* \w us|strong="H8421"\w* \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* following \w way|strong="H6600"\w*: ‘\w We|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w servants|strong="H5649"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* God \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* earth. \w We|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w rebuilding|strong="H1124"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w which|strong="H1768"\w* \w was|strong="H1934"\w* \w previously|strong="H6928"\w* \w built|strong="H1124"\w* \w many|strong="H7690"\w* \w years|strong="H8140"\w* \w ago|strong="H6928"\w*. \w A|strong="H3068"\w* \w great|strong="H7229"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3479"\w* \w built|strong="H1124"\w* \w it|strong="H1934"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* completed \w it|strong="H1934"\w*.  
\v 12  \w But|strong="H3861"\w* \w after|strong="H4481"\w* \w our|strong="H4481"\w* ancestors \w angered|strong="H7265"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* God \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w*, \w he|strong="H1768"\w* \w delivered|strong="H3052"\w* \w them|strong="H1994"\w* \w into|strong="H1541"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w hands|strong="H3028"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* Babylon, \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w Chaldean|strong="H3679"\w*, \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w destroyed|strong="H5642"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* exiled \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w people|strong="H5972"\w* \w to|strong="H1994"\w* Babylon.  
\v 13  \w But|strong="H1297"\w* \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w first|strong="H2298"\w* \w year|strong="H8140"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3567"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* Babylon, \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3567"\w* \w enacted|strong="H7761"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w decree|strong="H2942"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1124"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God.  
\v 14  \w Even|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w gold|strong="H1722"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w silver|strong="H3702"\w* \w vessels|strong="H3984"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* God \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020"\w* \w had|strong="H4430"\w* \w taken|strong="H5312"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w had|strong="H4430"\w* \w brought|strong="H2987"\w* \w to|strong="H1994"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w palace|strong="H1965"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* Babylon – \w even|strong="H1768"\w* \w those|strong="H1994"\w* things \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3567"\w* \w brought|strong="H2987"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w palace|strong="H1965"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* Babylon \w and|strong="H4430"\w* presented \w to|strong="H1994"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* man \w by|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w name|strong="H8036"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w Sheshbazzar|strong="H8340"\w* \w whom|strong="H1768"\w* \w he|strong="H1768"\w* \w had|strong="H4430"\w* \w appointed|strong="H7761"\w* \w as|strong="H1768"\w* \w governor|strong="H6347"\w*.  
\v 15  \w He|strong="H1768"\w* said \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w him|strong="H5922"\w*, “\w Take|strong="H5376"\w* \w these|strong="H1994"\w* \w vessels|strong="H3984"\w* \w and|strong="H1005"\w* go \w deposit|strong="H5182"\w* \w them|strong="H1994"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*, \w and|strong="H1005"\w* let \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w house|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w rebuilt|strong="H1124"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* its proper location.”  
\v 16  \w Then|strong="H1768"\w* \w this|strong="H1791"\w* \w Sheshbazzar|strong="H8340"\w* went \w and|strong="H1005"\w* \w laid|strong="H3052"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* foundations \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* God \w in|strong="H8000"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*. \w From|strong="H4481"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* time \w to|strong="H5705"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* present moment \w it|strong="H4481"\w* \w has|strong="H1768"\w* been \w in|strong="H8000"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* process \w of|strong="H4481"\w* being \w rebuilt|strong="H1124"\w*, although \w it|strong="H4481"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w not|strong="H3809"\w* yet \w finished|strong="H8000"\w*.’   
\p
\v 17 “\w Now|strong="H3705"\w* \w if|strong="H2006"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w so|strong="H1768"\w* inclined, \w let|strong="H3705"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w search|strong="H1240"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w conducted|strong="H1240"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w royal|strong="H4430"\w* \w archives|strong="H1005"\w* \w there|strong="H8536"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* Babylon \w in|strong="H5922"\w* order \w to|strong="H5922"\w* determine \w whether|strong="H2006"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3567"\w* did \w in|strong="H5922"\w* fact \w issue|strong="H7761"\w* \w orders|strong="H2942"\w* \w for|strong="H5922"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* God \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w rebuilt|strong="H1124"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*. \w Then|strong="H1768"\w* \w let|strong="H3705"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w send|strong="H7972"\w* \w us|strong="H5922"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* decision \w concerning|strong="H5922"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w matter|strong="H1836"\w*.”   
\c 6  
\p
\v 1  \w So|strong="H1768"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w issued|strong="H7761"\w* \w orders|strong="H2942"\w*, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* searched \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w archives|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w treasury|strong="H1596"\w* \w which|strong="H1768"\w* \w were|strong="H1768"\w* deposited \w there|strong="H8536"\w* \w in|strong="H4430"\w* Babylon.  
\v 2  \w A|strong="H3068"\w* \w scroll|strong="H4040"\w* \w was|strong="H1459"\w* \w found|strong="H7912"\w* \w in|strong="H7912"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* citadel \w of|strong="H4083"\w* Ecbatana \w which|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w in|strong="H7912"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w province|strong="H4083"\w* \w of|strong="H4083"\w* \w Media|strong="H4076"\w*, \w and|strong="H4076"\w* it \w was|strong="H1459"\w* inscribed \w as|strong="H1768"\w* \w follows|strong="H3652"\w*:  
\p “\w Memorandum|strong="H1799"\w*:  
\v 3  \w In|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w first|strong="H2298"\w* \w year|strong="H8140"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w his|strong="H1768"\w* \w reign|strong="H4430"\w*, \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3567"\w* \w gave|strong="H7761"\w* \w orders|strong="H2942"\w* \w concerning|strong="H2942"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*: ‘Let \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w rebuilt|strong="H1124"\w* \w as|strong="H1768"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* place \w where|strong="H1768"\w* \w sacrifices|strong="H1685"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w offered|strong="H1684"\w*. Let its foundations \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w set|strong="H7761"\w* \w in|strong="H4430"\w* place. Its \w height|strong="H7314"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w ninety|strong="H8361"\w* feet \w and|strong="H4430"\w* its \w width|strong="H6613"\w* \w ninety|strong="H8361"\w* feet,  
\v 4  with \w three|strong="H8532"\w* \w layers|strong="H5073"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* large stones \w and|strong="H4430"\w* one \w layer|strong="H5073"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* timber. \w The|strong="H4481"\w* expense \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H4481"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* subsidized \w by|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w royal|strong="H4430"\w* \w treasury|strong="H1005"\w*.  
\v 5  Furthermore let \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w gold|strong="H1722"\w* \w and|strong="H1722"\w* \w silver|strong="H3702"\w* \w vessels|strong="H3984"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* God, \w which|strong="H1768"\w* \w Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020"\w* \w brought|strong="H2987"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w in|strong="H5182"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* \w and|strong="H1722"\w* carried \w to|strong="H3390"\w* Babylon, \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w returned|strong="H8421"\w* \w and|strong="H1722"\w* \w brought|strong="H2987"\w* \w to|strong="H3390"\w* their proper \w place|strong="H5182"\w* \w in|strong="H5182"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w in|strong="H5182"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*. Let them \w be|strong="H1005"\w* deposited \w in|strong="H5182"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* God.’   
\p
\v 6 “\w Now|strong="H3705"\w* \w Tattenai|strong="H8674"\w* \w governor|strong="H6347"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w*, Shethar Bozenai, \w and|strong="H1934"\w* their \w colleagues|strong="H3675"\w*, \w the|strong="H4481"\w* officials \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w* – all \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* stay \w far|strong="H7352"\w* \w away|strong="H7352"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w there|strong="H8536"\w*!  
\v 7  \w Leave|strong="H7662"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w work|strong="H5673"\w* \w on|strong="H5922"\w* \w this|strong="H1791"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God \w alone|strong="H7662"\w*. Let \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w governor|strong="H6347"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3062"\w* \w and|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w elders|strong="H7868"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3062"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1124"\w* \w this|strong="H1791"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God \w in|strong="H5922"\w* its proper place.   
\p
\v 8 “\w I|strong="H4481"\w* \w also|strong="H4430"\w* \w hereby|strong="H4481"\w* \w issue|strong="H7761"\w* \w orders|strong="H2942"\w* \w as|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w what|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w do|strong="H5648"\w* \w with|strong="H5974"\w* \w those|strong="H1768"\w* \w elders|strong="H7868"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3062"\w* \w in|strong="H4430"\w* order \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1124"\w* \w this|strong="H1791"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* God. \w From|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w royal|strong="H4430"\w* \w treasury|strong="H5232"\w*, \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w taxes|strong="H4061"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* complete \w costs|strong="H5313"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* \w given|strong="H3052"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w these|strong="H4481"\w* \w men|strong="H1400"\w*, \w so|strong="H1768"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w there|strong="H1768"\w* may \w be|strong="H1934"\w* \w no|strong="H3809"\w* interruption \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* work.  
\v 9  \w Whatever|strong="H4101"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* needed – \w whether|strong="H1768"\w* \w oxen|strong="H8450"\w* \w or|strong="H3809"\w* \w rams|strong="H1798"\w* \w or|strong="H3809"\w* lambs \w or|strong="H3809"\w* \w burnt|strong="H5928"\w* \w offerings|strong="H5928"\w* \w for|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* God \w of|strong="H1123"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w* \w or|strong="H3809"\w* \w wheat|strong="H2591"\w* \w or|strong="H3809"\w* \w salt|strong="H4416"\w* \w or|strong="H3809"\w* \w wine|strong="H2562"\w* \w or|strong="H3809"\w* \w oil|strong="H4887"\w*, \w as|strong="H1768"\w* required \w by|strong="H3549"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w priests|strong="H3549"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w in|strong="H7960"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* – must \w be|strong="H1934"\w* \w given|strong="H3052"\w* \w to|strong="H3390"\w* \w them|strong="H3052"\w* \w daily|strong="H3118"\w* \w without|strong="H3809"\w* any \w neglect|strong="H7960"\w*,  
\v 10  \w so|strong="H1768"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w may|strong="H2417"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* \w offering|strong="H7127"\w* \w incense|strong="H5208"\w* \w to|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* God \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w may|strong="H2417"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* \w praying|strong="H6739"\w* \w for|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* good fortune \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w his|strong="H1768"\w* family.   
\p
\v 11 “\w I|strong="H4481"\w* \w hereby|strong="H4481"\w* \w give|strong="H7761"\w* \w orders|strong="H2942"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* if \w anyone|strong="H3606"\w* \w changes|strong="H8133"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w directive|strong="H6600"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* beam \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* pulled \w out|strong="H5648"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w his|strong="H5922"\w* \w house|strong="H1005"\w* \w and|strong="H1005"\w* \w he|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* raised \w up|strong="H2211"\w* \w and|strong="H1005"\w* \w impaled|strong="H2211"\w* \w on|strong="H5922"\w* \w it|strong="H5922"\w*, \w and|strong="H1005"\w* \w his|strong="H5922"\w* \w house|strong="H1005"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w reduced|strong="H7761"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w rubbish|strong="H5122"\w* \w heap|strong="H5122"\w* \w for|strong="H5922"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* indiscretion.  
\v 12  May God \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w makes|strong="H7932"\w* \w his|strong="H7972"\w* \w name|strong="H8036"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* reside \w there|strong="H8536"\w* \w overthrow|strong="H4049"\w* \w any|strong="H3606"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w or|strong="H4430"\w* nation \w who|strong="H1768"\w* reaches \w out|strong="H5648"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w cause|strong="H3606"\w* \w such|strong="H1768"\w* \w change|strong="H8133"\w* \w so|strong="H1768"\w* \w as|strong="H3606"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w destroy|strong="H2255"\w* \w this|strong="H1791"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God \w in|strong="H8133"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*. \w I|strong="H1768"\w*, \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w*, \w have|strong="H7761"\w* \w given|strong="H7761"\w* \w orders|strong="H2942"\w*. Let them \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w carried|strong="H5648"\w* \w out|strong="H5648"\w* \w with|strong="H5648"\w* precision!”   
\s1 The Temple Is Finally Dedicated  
\p
\v 13  \w Then|strong="H6903"\w* \w Tattenai|strong="H8674"\w* \w governor|strong="H6347"\w* \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w*, \w Shethar-Bozenai|strong="H8370"\w*, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* their \w colleagues|strong="H3675"\w* \w acted|strong="H5648"\w* \w accordingly|strong="H3660"\w* – \w with|strong="H5648"\w* precision, \w just|strong="H6903"\w* \w as|strong="H6903"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w* \w the|strong="H5675"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w had|strong="H4430"\w* given instructions.  
\v 14  \w The|strong="H4481"\w* \w elders|strong="H7868"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3062"\w* continued \w building|strong="H1124"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* prospering, while at \w the|strong="H4481"\w* same time \w Haggai|strong="H2292"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w prophet|strong="H5029"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w Zechariah|strong="H2148"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w son|strong="H1247"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w Iddo|strong="H5714"\w* continued \w prophesying|strong="H5017"\w*. They \w built|strong="H1124"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* brought \w it|strong="H4481"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* completion \w by|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w command|strong="H2942"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* God \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3479"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w by|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w command|strong="H2942"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3567"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* Artaxerxes \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6540"\w*.  
\v 15  \w They|strong="H1768"\w* \w finished|strong="H3319"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w on|strong="H5705"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w third|strong="H8532"\w* \w day|strong="H3118"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w month|strong="H3393"\w* Adar, \w which|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w sixth|strong="H8353"\w* \w year|strong="H8140"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w reign|strong="H4437"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w*.   
\p
\v 16  \w The|strong="H5648"\w* people \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3479"\w* – \w the|strong="H5648"\w* \w priests|strong="H3549"\w*, \w the|strong="H5648"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3879"\w*, \w and|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H5648"\w* \w rest|strong="H7606"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H5648"\w* \w exiles|strong="H1123"\w* – \w observed|strong="H5648"\w* \w the|strong="H5648"\w* \w dedication|strong="H2597"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God \w with|strong="H5648"\w* \w joy|strong="H2305"\w*.  
\v 17  \w For|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w dedication|strong="H2597"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God \w they|strong="H3606"\w* \w offered|strong="H7127"\w* \w one|strong="H1836"\w* \w hundred|strong="H3969"\w* \w bulls|strong="H8450"\w*, \w two|strong="H8648"\w* \w hundred|strong="H3969"\w* \w rams|strong="H1798"\w*, four \w hundred|strong="H3969"\w* lambs, \w and|strong="H1005"\w* \w twelve|strong="H8648"\w* \w male|strong="H6841"\w* \w goats|strong="H5796"\w* \w for|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w sin|strong="H2409"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w all|strong="H3606"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3479"\w*, according \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w number|strong="H4510"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w tribes|strong="H7625"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3479"\w*.  
\v 18  \w They|strong="H1768"\w* \w appointed|strong="H6966"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w priests|strong="H3549"\w* \w by|strong="H3549"\w* their \w divisions|strong="H6392"\w* \w and|strong="H3792"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3879"\w* \w by|strong="H3549"\w* their \w divisions|strong="H6392"\w* \w over|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* worship \w of|strong="H5922"\w* God \w at|strong="H6966"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*, \w in|strong="H5922"\w* accord \w with|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w book|strong="H5609"\w* \w of|strong="H5922"\w* \w Moses|strong="H4873"\w*.  
\v 19  \w The|strong="H6213"\w* \w exiles|strong="H1473"\w* \w observed|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w Passover|strong="H6453"\w* \w on|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w fourteenth|strong="H6240"\w* \w day|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w first|strong="H7223"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w*.  
\v 20  \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w* \w had|strong="H3588"\w* \w purified|strong="H2891"\w* \w themselves|strong="H1992"\w*, \w every|strong="H3605"\w* \w last|strong="H3588"\w* \w one|strong="H3605"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* ceremonially \w pure|strong="H2889"\w*. \w They|strong="H1992"\w* sacrificed \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Passover|strong="H6453"\w* lamb \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w exiles|strong="H1473"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* colleagues \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w themselves|strong="H1992"\w*.  
\v 21  \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w Israelites|strong="H3478"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H3478"\w* \w returning|strong="H7725"\w* \w from|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w exile|strong="H1473"\w* ate \w it|strong="H7725"\w*, along \w with|strong="H3068"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* joined \w them|strong="H7725"\w* \w in|strong="H3478"\w* separating themselves \w from|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w uncleanness|strong="H2932"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w nations|strong="H1471"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* land \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w seek|strong="H1875"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*.  
\v 22  \w They|strong="H3588"\w* \w observed|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Feast|strong="H2282"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Unleavened|strong="H4682"\w* \w Bread|strong="H4682"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w seven|strong="H7651"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w with|strong="H1004"\w* \w joy|strong="H8057"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w given|strong="H3027"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w joy|strong="H8057"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w changed|strong="H5437"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w opinion|strong="H3820"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* Assyria \w toward|strong="H5921"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*, \w so|strong="H6213"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w assisted|strong="H2388"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w work|strong="H4399"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*.   
\c 7  
\p
\v 1  \w Now|strong="H4428"\w* after \w these|strong="H4428"\w* \w things|strong="H1697"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w happened|strong="H1697"\w*, during \w the|strong="H1697"\w* \w reign|strong="H4438"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Artaxerxes \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*, \w Ezra|strong="H5830"\w* \w came|strong="H1697"\w* \w up|strong="H1121"\w* \w from|strong="H1121"\w* Babylon. \w Ezra|strong="H5830"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H1697"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Seraiah|strong="H8304"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H1697"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Azariah|strong="H5838"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H1697"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hilkiah|strong="H2518"\w*,  
\v 2  \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H6659"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shallum|strong="H7967"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H6659"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Zadok|strong="H6659"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H6659"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Ahitub,  
\v 3  \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5838"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Amariah, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5838"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Azariah|strong="H5838"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5838"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Meraioth|strong="H4812"\w*,  
\v 4  \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Zerahiah|strong="H2228"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Uzzi|strong="H5813"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Bukki|strong="H1231"\w*,  
\v 5  \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Abishua, \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Phinehas|strong="H6372"\w*, \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Eleazar, \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Aaron \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w chief|strong="H7218"\w* \w priest|strong="H3548"\w*.  
\v 6  \w This|strong="H1931"\w* \w Ezra|strong="H5830"\w* \w is|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w one|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w came|strong="H5927"\w* \w up|strong="H5927"\w* \w from|strong="H5921"\w* Babylon. \w He|strong="H1931"\w* \w was|strong="H3068"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w scribe|strong="H5608"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w was|strong="H3068"\w* \w skilled|strong="H4106"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w law|strong="H8451"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Moses|strong="H4872"\w* \w which|strong="H1931"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w given|strong="H5414"\w*. \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w supplied|strong="H5414"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w* \w with|strong="H3068"\w* \w everything|strong="H3605"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w requested|strong="H1246"\w*, \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w hand|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w was|strong="H3068"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w*.  
\v 7  \w In|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w seventh|strong="H7651"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Artaxerxes, Ezra \w brought|strong="H5927"\w* \w up|strong="H5927"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w some|strong="H4480"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w Israelites|strong="H3478"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w some|strong="H4480"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w*, \w the|strong="H4480"\w* attendants, \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w gatekeepers|strong="H7778"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w temple|strong="H5411"\w* \w servants|strong="H5411"\w*.  
\v 8  \w He|strong="H1931"\w* entered \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w in|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H8141"\w* \w fifth|strong="H2549"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H8141"\w* \w seventh|strong="H7637"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H8141"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*.  
\v 9  \w On|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w first|strong="H7223"\w* \w day|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w first|strong="H7223"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w had|strong="H3588"\w* determined \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w make|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* ascent \w from|strong="H5921"\w* Babylon, \w and|strong="H3027"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w first|strong="H7223"\w* \w day|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w fifth|strong="H2549"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* arrived \w at|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w good|strong="H2896"\w* \w hand|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w God|strong="H3027"\w* \w was|strong="H1931"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 10  \w Now|strong="H3588"\w* \w Ezra|strong="H5830"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w dedicated|strong="H3559"\w* \w himself|strong="H3824"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w study|strong="H1875"\w* \w of|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w law|strong="H8451"\w* \w of|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*, \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w its|strong="H6213"\w* observance, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w teaching|strong="H8451"\w* \w its|strong="H6213"\w* \w statutes|strong="H2706"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w judgments|strong="H4941"\w* \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*.   
\s1 Artaxerxes Gives Official Endorsement to Ezra’s Mission  
\p
\v 11  \w What|strong="H1697"\w* \w follows|strong="H2088"\w* \w is|strong="H3068"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w copy|strong="H6572"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w letter|strong="H5406"\w* \w that|strong="H3068"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Artaxerxes \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w Ezra|strong="H5830"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w priestly|strong="H3548"\w* \w scribe|strong="H5608"\w*. \w Ezra|strong="H5830"\w* \w was|strong="H3068"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w scribe|strong="H5608"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w matters|strong="H1697"\w* \w pertaining|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w commandments|strong="H4687"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w his|strong="H5414"\w* \w statutes|strong="H2706"\w* \w over|strong="H5921"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*:  
\v 12   
\p “Artaxerxes, \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w kings|strong="H4430"\w*, \w to|strong="H4430"\w* \w Ezra|strong="H5831"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w priest|strong="H3549"\w*, \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w scribe|strong="H5613"\w* \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w perfect|strong="H1585"\w* \w law|strong="H1882"\w* \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* God \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w*:  
\v 13  \w I|strong="H4481"\w* \w have|strong="H7761"\w* now \w issued|strong="H7761"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w decree|strong="H2942"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w anyone|strong="H3606"\w* \w in|strong="H4437"\w* \w my|strong="H4481"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4437"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w people|strong="H5972"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3479"\w* – \w even|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w priests|strong="H3549"\w* \w and|strong="H4437"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3879"\w* – \w who|strong="H1768"\w* wishes \w to|strong="H2942"\w* do \w so|strong="H1768"\w* may \w go|strong="H1946"\w* \w up|strong="H1946"\w* \w with|strong="H5974"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*.  
\v 14  \w You|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* authorized \w by|strong="H6925"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w his|strong="H5922"\w* \w seven|strong="H7655"\w* \w advisers|strong="H3272"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w inquire|strong="H1240"\w* \w concerning|strong="H5922"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3061"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*, \w according|strong="H4481"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w law|strong="H1882"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w your|strong="H1768"\w* God \w which|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w your|strong="H1768"\w* possession,  
\v 15  \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w to|strong="H3390"\w* \w bring|strong="H2987"\w* \w silver|strong="H3702"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w gold|strong="H1722"\w* \w which|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w his|strong="H1768"\w* \w advisers|strong="H3272"\w* \w have|strong="H1768"\w* \w freely|strong="H5069"\w* contributed \w to|strong="H3390"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* God \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3479"\w*, \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w resides|strong="H4907"\w* \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*,  
\v 16  along \w with|strong="H5974"\w* \w all|strong="H3606"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w silver|strong="H3702"\w* \w and|strong="H1722"\w* \w gold|strong="H1722"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* may collect throughout \w all|strong="H3606"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w province|strong="H4083"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* Babylon \w and|strong="H1722"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* contributions \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w people|strong="H5972"\w* \w and|strong="H1722"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w priests|strong="H3549"\w* \w for|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w their|strong="H3606"\w* God \w which|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w in|strong="H7912"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*.  
\v 17  \w With|strong="H5922"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w money|strong="H3702"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* should \w be|strong="H1005"\w* sure \w to|strong="H5922"\w* purchase \w bulls|strong="H8450"\w*, \w rams|strong="H1798"\w*, \w and|strong="H3702"\w* lambs, along \w with|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* appropriate meal \w offerings|strong="H5261"\w* \w and|strong="H3702"\w* libations. \w You|strong="H1768"\w* should bring \w them|strong="H1994"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w altar|strong="H4056"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w your|strong="H1768"\w* God \w which|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*.  
\v 18  \w You|strong="H5921"\w* may \w do|strong="H5648"\w* \w whatever|strong="H4101"\w* seems appropriate \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w you|strong="H5921"\w* \w and|strong="H1722"\w* \w your|strong="H5921"\w* colleagues \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w rest|strong="H7606"\w* \w of|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w silver|strong="H3702"\w* \w and|strong="H1722"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w gold|strong="H1722"\w*, \w in|strong="H5921"\w* keeping \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w will|strong="H4101"\w* \w of|strong="H5921"\w* \w your|strong="H5921"\w* God.  
\v 19  \w Deliver|strong="H8000"\w* \w to|strong="H6925"\w* \w the|strong="H6925"\w* God \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* \w the|strong="H6925"\w* \w vessels|strong="H3984"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w given|strong="H3052"\w* \w to|strong="H6925"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w for|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H6925"\w* \w service|strong="H6402"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H6925"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w your|strong="H1768"\w* God.  
\v 20  \w The|strong="H4481"\w* \w rest|strong="H7606"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w needs|strong="H2819"\w* \w for|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w your|strong="H1768"\w* God \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* may \w have|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H5308"\w* supply, \w you|strong="H1768"\w* may do \w so|strong="H1768"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w royal|strong="H4430"\w* \w treasury|strong="H1596"\w*.   
\p
\v 21 “\w I|strong="H4481"\w*, \w King|strong="H4430"\w* Artaxerxes, \w hereby|strong="H4481"\w* \w issue|strong="H7761"\w* \w orders|strong="H2942"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w all|strong="H3606"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w treasurers|strong="H1490"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w*, \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* precisely \w execute|strong="H5648"\w* \w all|strong="H3606"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w Ezra|strong="H5831"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* priestly \w scribe|strong="H5613"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w law|strong="H1882"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* God \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w* may request \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* –  
\v 22  up \w to|strong="H5705"\w* 100 \w talents|strong="H3604"\w* \w of|strong="H3734"\w* \w silver|strong="H3702"\w*, 100 \w cors|strong="H3734"\w* \w of|strong="H3734"\w* \w wheat|strong="H2591"\w*, 100 \w baths|strong="H1325"\w* \w of|strong="H3734"\w* \w wine|strong="H2562"\w*, 100 \w baths|strong="H1325"\w* \w of|strong="H3734"\w* olive \w oil|strong="H4887"\w*, \w and|strong="H3702"\w* unlimited \w salt|strong="H4416"\w*.  
\v 23  \w Everything|strong="H3606"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* God \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w* \w has|strong="H1768"\w* required \w should|strong="H4101"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* precisely \w done|strong="H5648"\w* \w for|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* God \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w*. \w Why|strong="H4101"\w* \w should|strong="H4101"\w* \w there|strong="H1768"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* \w wrath|strong="H7109"\w* \w against|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* empire \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w his|strong="H5922"\w* \w sons|strong="H1123"\w*?  
\v 24  Furthermore, \w be|strong="H3809"\w* \w aware|strong="H3046"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* fact \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w have|strong="H1768"\w* \w no|strong="H3809"\w* \w authority|strong="H7990"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w impose|strong="H7412"\w* \w tax|strong="H4061"\w*, \w tribute|strong="H4061"\w*, \w or|strong="H3809"\w* \w toll|strong="H1983"\w* \w on|strong="H5922"\w* \w any|strong="H3606"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w priests|strong="H3549"\w*, \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3879"\w*, \w the|strong="H3606"\w* musicians, \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w doorkeepers|strong="H8652"\w*, \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w servants|strong="H6399"\w*, \w or|strong="H3809"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* attendants at \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* God.   
\p
\v 25 “Now \w you|strong="H1768"\w*, \w Ezra|strong="H5831"\w*, \w in|strong="H1768"\w* keeping with \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w wisdom|strong="H2452"\w* \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w your|strong="H1768"\w* God \w which|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* possess, \w appoint|strong="H4483"\w* \w judges|strong="H1782"\w* \w and|strong="H2452"\w* court officials \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w can|strong="H1768"\w* arbitrate cases on behalf \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w all|strong="H3606"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w people|strong="H5972"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w in|strong="H1768"\w* \w Trans-Euphrates|strong="H5103"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w know|strong="H3046"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w laws|strong="H1882"\w* \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w your|strong="H1768"\w* God. \w Those|strong="H1768"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w do|strong="H1934"\w* \w not|strong="H3809"\w* \w know|strong="H3046"\w* \w this|strong="H3606"\w* \w law|strong="H1882"\w* should \w be|strong="H1934"\w* taught.  
\v 26  \w Everyone|strong="H3606"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w does|strong="H5648"\w* \w not|strong="H3809"\w* \w observe|strong="H5648"\w* both \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w law|strong="H1882"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w your|strong="H1768"\w* God \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w law|strong="H1882"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* completely liable \w to|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* appropriate \w penalty|strong="H1780"\w*, \w whether|strong="H2006"\w* \w it|strong="H1934"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w death|strong="H4193"\w* \w or|strong="H2006"\w* \w banishment|strong="H8332"\w* \w or|strong="H2006"\w* \w confiscation|strong="H6065"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* property \w or|strong="H2006"\w* detainment \w in|strong="H4430"\w* prison.”  
\v 27   
\p \w Blessed|strong="H1288"\w* \w be|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w our|strong="H3068"\w* fathers, \w who|strong="H3068"\w* \w so|strong="H5414"\w* \w moved|strong="H2063"\w* \w in|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w heart|strong="H3820"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w so|strong="H5414"\w* \w honor|strong="H6286"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w which|strong="H3068"\w* \w is|strong="H3068"\w* \w in|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*!  
\v 28  \w He|strong="H3068"\w* \w has|strong="H3068"\w* \w also|strong="H3068"\w* conferred \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w favor|strong="H6440"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w me|strong="H6440"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w advisers|strong="H3289"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* influential \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*. \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w gained|strong="H1368"\w* \w strength|strong="H3027"\w* \w as|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w hand|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w my|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w was|strong="H3068"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w me|strong="H6440"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w gathered|strong="H6908"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \w from|strong="H6440"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w go|strong="H5927"\w* \w up|strong="H5927"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w me|strong="H6440"\w*.   
\c 8  
\p
\v 1  \w These|strong="H4428"\w* \w are|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5927"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w those|strong="H5973"\w* \w enrolled|strong="H3187"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w them|strong="H5927"\w* \w by|strong="H3187"\w* \w genealogy|strong="H3187"\w* \w who|strong="H4428"\w* \w were|strong="H4428"\w* \w coming|strong="H5927"\w* \w up|strong="H5927"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w me|strong="H5973"\w* \w from|strong="H5927"\w* Babylon during \w the|strong="H5927"\w* \w reign|strong="H4438"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Artaxerxes:   
\p
\v 2  \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1732"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Phinehas|strong="H6372"\w*, \w Gershom|strong="H1647"\w*;  
\p \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1732"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Ithamar, \w Daniel|strong="H1840"\w*;  
\p \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1732"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w David|strong="H1732"\w*, \w Hattush|strong="H2407"\w*  
\v 3  \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shecaniah|strong="H7935"\w*;  
\p \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Parosh|strong="H6551"\w*, \w Zechariah|strong="H2148"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w enrolled|strong="H3187"\w* \w by|strong="H3187"\w* \w genealogy|strong="H3187"\w* 150 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*;   
\p
\v 4  \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Pahath-Moab|strong="H6355"\w*, Eliehoenai \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Zerahiah|strong="H2228"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w* 200 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*;   
\p
\v 5  \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Zattu, \w Shecaniah|strong="H7935"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jahaziel|strong="H3166"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w* 300 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*;   
\p
\v 6  \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Adin|strong="H5720"\w*, \w Ebed|strong="H5651"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jonathan|strong="H3129"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w* 50 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*;   
\p
\v 7  \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Elam|strong="H5867"\w*, \w Jeshaiah|strong="H3470"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Athaliah|strong="H6271"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w* 70 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*;   
\p
\v 8  \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shephatiah|strong="H8203"\w*, \w Zebadiah|strong="H2069"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Michael|strong="H4317"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w* 80 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*;   
\p
\v 9  \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Joab|strong="H3097"\w*, \w Obadiah|strong="H5662"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jehiel|strong="H3171"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w* 218 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*;   
\p
\v 10  \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Bani, \w Shelomith|strong="H8019"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Josiphiah|strong="H3131"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w* 160 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*;   
\p
\v 11  \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Bebai, \w Zechariah|strong="H2148"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Bebai, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w* 28 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*;   
\p
\v 12  \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Azgad|strong="H5803"\w*, \w Johanan|strong="H3110"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hakkatan|strong="H6997"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w* 110 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*;   
\p
\v 13  \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Adonikam \w there|strong="H8034"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* latter \w ones|strong="H1121"\w*. \w Their|strong="H5973"\w* \w names|strong="H8034"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* Eliphelet, \w Jeuel|strong="H3273"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shemaiah|strong="H8098"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w them|strong="H1121"\w* 60 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*;   
\p
\v 14  \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Bigvai, \w Uthai|strong="H5793"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* Zaccur, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w them|strong="H1121"\w* 70 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*.   
\s1 The Exiles Travel to Jerusalem  
\p
\v 15  \w I|strong="H3117"\w* \w had|strong="H3548"\w* \w them|strong="H4672"\w* \w assemble|strong="H6908"\w* \w at|strong="H2583"\w* \w the|strong="H3117"\w* \w canal|strong="H5104"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* flows toward Ahava, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w camped|strong="H2583"\w* \w there|strong="H8033"\w* \w for|strong="H3117"\w* \w three|strong="H7969"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w*. \w I|strong="H3117"\w* observed \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H3117"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3117"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w present|strong="H4672"\w*, \w but|strong="H3808"\w* \w I|strong="H3117"\w* \w found|strong="H4672"\w* \w no|strong="H3808"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3878"\w* \w there|strong="H8033"\w*.  
\v 16  \w So|strong="H7971"\w* \w I|strong="H7971"\w* \w sent|strong="H7971"\w* \w for|strong="H7971"\w* Eliezer, Ariel, \w Shemaiah|strong="H8098"\w*, Elnathan, \w Jarib|strong="H3402"\w*, Elnathan, \w Nathan|strong="H5416"\w*, \w Zechariah|strong="H2148"\w*, \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w Meshullam|strong="H4918"\w*, who \w were|strong="H7218"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w*, \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w Joiarib|strong="H3114"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* Elnathan, who \w were|strong="H7218"\w* teachers.  
\v 17  \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w sent|strong="H3318"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* Iddo, who \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w leader|strong="H7218"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w place|strong="H4725"\w* \w called|strong="H7760"\w* \w Casiphia|strong="H3703"\w*. \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w told|strong="H1696"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w say|strong="H1696"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* Iddo \w and|strong="H1004"\w* \w his|strong="H7760"\w* relatives, who \w were|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w servants|strong="H5411"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Casiphia|strong="H3703"\w*, \w so|strong="H3318"\w* \w they|strong="H5921"\w* \w would|strong="H1697"\w* \w bring|strong="H3318"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w* attendants \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w our|strong="H5921"\w* God.   
\p
\v 18  \w Due|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* fact \w that|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w good|strong="H2896"\w* \w hand|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w our|strong="H5921"\w* \w God|strong="H3027"\w* \w was|strong="H3478"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w*, \w they|strong="H5921"\w* \w brought|strong="H3478"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* skilled \w man|strong="H1121"\w*, \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Mahli|strong="H4249"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Levi|strong="H3878"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*. \w This|strong="H3027"\w* \w man|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H3478"\w* \w Sherebiah|strong="H8274"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H3478"\w* accompanied \w by|strong="H3027"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w brothers|strong="H1121"\w*, 18 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*,  
\v 19  \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hashabiah|strong="H2811"\w*, along \w with|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jeshaiah|strong="H3470"\w* \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3470"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Merari|strong="H4847"\w*, \w with|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H3470"\w* \w brothers|strong="H1121"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w their|strong="H4847"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w*, 20 \w men|strong="H1121"\w*,  
\v 20  \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w some|strong="H4480"\w* \w of|strong="H8269"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H5411"\w* \w servants|strong="H5411"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w David|strong="H1732"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w had|strong="H1732"\w* \w established|strong="H5414"\w* \w for|strong="H8034"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w work|strong="H5656"\w* \w of|strong="H8269"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w* – 220 \w of|strong="H8269"\w* \w them|strong="H5414"\w*. \w They|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H3881"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w designated|strong="H5344"\w* \w by|strong="H5344"\w* \w name|strong="H8034"\w*.   
\p
\v 21  \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w called|strong="H7121"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w fast|strong="H6685"\w* \w there|strong="H8033"\w* \w by|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* Ahava \w Canal|strong="H5104"\w*, \w so|strong="H4480"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w might|strong="H3477"\w* \w humble|strong="H6031"\w* \w ourselves|strong="H6031"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* God \w and|strong="H6440"\w* \w seek|strong="H1245"\w* \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w safe|strong="H3477"\w* \w journey|strong="H1870"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w*, \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w children|strong="H2945"\w*, \w and|strong="H6440"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w property|strong="H7399"\w*.  
\v 22  \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w was|strong="H4428"\w* embarrassed \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w request|strong="H1245"\w* \w soldiers|strong="H2428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w horsemen|strong="H6571"\w* \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w protect|strong="H5826"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w* \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* enemy \w along|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w way|strong="H1870"\w*, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* said \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, “\w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w good|strong="H2896"\w* \w hand|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H3027"\w* \w is|strong="H3027"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w everyone|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w is|strong="H3027"\w* \w seeking|strong="H1245"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*, \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w great|strong="H2428"\w* anger \w is|strong="H3027"\w* \w against|strong="H5921"\w* \w everyone|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w forsakes|strong="H5800"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*.”  
\v 23  \w So|strong="H2063"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w fasted|strong="H6684"\w* \w and|strong="H6684"\w* \w prayed|strong="H6279"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w our|strong="H5921"\w* God \w about|strong="H5921"\w* \w this|strong="H2063"\w*, \w and|strong="H6684"\w* \w he|strong="H5921"\w* \w answered|strong="H6279"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w*.   
\p
\v 24  \w Then|strong="H3548"\w* \w I|strong="H8147"\w* set apart \w twelve|strong="H8147"\w* \w of|strong="H8269"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w leading|strong="H8269"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w together|strong="H5973"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w Sherebiah|strong="H8274"\w*, \w Hashabiah|strong="H2811"\w*, \w and|strong="H3548"\w* \w ten|strong="H6235"\w* \w of|strong="H8269"\w* \w their|strong="H8147"\w* brothers,  
\v 25  \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w I|strong="H4672"\w* \w weighed|strong="H8254"\w* \w out|strong="H4672"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w them|strong="H1992"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w vessels|strong="H3627"\w* \w intended|strong="H8641"\w* \w for|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* God – \w items|strong="H3627"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*, \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w advisers|strong="H3289"\w*, \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H3478"\w* \w present|strong="H4672"\w* \w had|strong="H3478"\w* \w contributed|strong="H7311"\w*.  
\v 26  \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w weighed|strong="H8254"\w* \w out|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* 650 \w talents|strong="H3603"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w*, \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w vessels|strong="H3627"\w* worth 100 \w talents|strong="H3603"\w*, 100 \w talents|strong="H3603"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w*,  
\v 27  20 \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w bowls|strong="H3713"\w* worth 1,000 darics, \w and|strong="H6242"\w* \w two|strong="H8147"\w* \w exquisite|strong="H2896"\w* \w vessels|strong="H3627"\w* \w of|strong="H3627"\w* gleaming \w bronze|strong="H5178"\w*, \w as|strong="H2532"\w* \w valuable|strong="H2532"\w* \w as|strong="H2532"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w*.  
\v 28  \w Then|strong="H3068"\w* \w I|strong="H3068"\w* said \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w them|strong="H3068"\w*, “You \w are|strong="H3068"\w* \w holy|strong="H6944"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3068"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*, just \w as|strong="H3068"\w* these \w vessels|strong="H3627"\w* \w are|strong="H3068"\w* \w holy|strong="H6944"\w*. \w The|strong="H3068"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3068"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w are|strong="H3068"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w voluntary|strong="H5071"\w* \w offering|strong="H5071"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3068"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*, \w the|strong="H3068"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w of|strong="H3068"\w* \w your|strong="H3068"\w* fathers.  
\v 29  \w Be|strong="H3068"\w* \w careful|strong="H8104"\w* \w with|strong="H1004"\w* \w them|strong="H6440"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w protect|strong="H8104"\w* \w them|strong="H6440"\w*, \w until|strong="H5704"\w* \w you|strong="H6440"\w* \w weigh|strong="H8254"\w* \w them|strong="H6440"\w* \w out|strong="H6440"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w leading|strong="H8269"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w family|strong="H1004"\w* \w leaders|strong="H8269"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*, \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* storerooms \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*.”   
\p
\v 30  \w Then|strong="H3548"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w* \w took|strong="H6901"\w* \w charge|strong="H4948"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w*, \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w*, \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w vessels|strong="H3627"\w* \w that|strong="H3548"\w* \w had|strong="H3548"\w* been \w weighed|strong="H4948"\w* \w out|strong="H4948"\w*, \w to|strong="H3389"\w* transport them \w to|strong="H3389"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w to|strong="H3389"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* our God.   
\p
\v 31  \w On|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w twelfth|strong="H8147"\w* \w day|strong="H2320"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w first|strong="H7223"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w began|strong="H1961"\w* \w traveling|strong="H5265"\w* \w from|strong="H5265"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* Ahava \w Canal|strong="H5104"\w* \w to|strong="H3212"\w* \w go|strong="H3212"\w* \w to|strong="H3212"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*. \w The|strong="H5921"\w* \w hand|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w our|strong="H5921"\w* \w God|strong="H3027"\w* \w was|strong="H1961"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w*, \w and|strong="H3027"\w* \w he|strong="H8147"\w* \w delivered|strong="H5337"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w* \w from|strong="H5265"\w* \w our|strong="H5921"\w* enemy \w and|strong="H3027"\w* \w from|strong="H5265"\w* bandits \w along|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w way|strong="H1870"\w*.  
\v 32  \w So|strong="H3427"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w came|strong="H7969"\w* \w to|strong="H3117"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*, \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w stayed|strong="H3427"\w* \w there|strong="H8033"\w* \w for|strong="H3427"\w* \w three|strong="H7969"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w*.  
\v 33  \w On|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w fourth|strong="H7243"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w weighed|strong="H8254"\w* \w out|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w vessels|strong="H3627"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w house|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w our|strong="H5921"\w* \w God|strong="H3027"\w* \w into|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w care|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Meremoth|strong="H4822"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Uriah, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w priest|strong="H3548"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* Eleazar \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Phinehas|strong="H6372"\w*, \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w accompanied|strong="H5973"\w* \w by|strong="H3027"\w* \w Jozabad|strong="H3107"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Noadiah|strong="H5129"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Binnui|strong="H1131"\w*, \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w*.  
\v 34  \w Everything|strong="H3605"\w* \w was|strong="H1931"\w* verified \w by|strong="H3605"\w* \w number|strong="H4557"\w* \w and|strong="H6256"\w* \w by|strong="H3605"\w* \w weight|strong="H4948"\w*, \w and|strong="H6256"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w total|strong="H3605"\w* \w weight|strong="H4948"\w* \w was|strong="H1931"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w* \w down|strong="H3789"\w* \w at|strong="H3605"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w time|strong="H6256"\w*.   
\p
\v 35  \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w exiles|strong="H1473"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H3478"\w* returning \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w captivity|strong="H7628"\w* \w offered|strong="H7126"\w* \w burnt|strong="H5930"\w* \w offerings|strong="H5930"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* – \w twelve|strong="H8147"\w* \w bulls|strong="H6499"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*, \w ninety-six|strong="H8337"\w* rams, \w seventy-seven|strong="H7657"\w* \w male|strong="H3532"\w* \w lambs|strong="H3532"\w*, \w along|strong="H5921"\w* \w with|strong="H3068"\w* \w twelve|strong="H8147"\w* \w male|strong="H3532"\w* \w goats|strong="H6842"\w* \w as|strong="H3068"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w sin|strong="H2403"\w* \w offering|strong="H5930"\w*. \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w this|strong="H3068"\w* \w was|strong="H3068"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w burnt|strong="H5930"\w* \w offering|strong="H5930"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd*.  
\v 36  \w Then|strong="H5375"\w* \w they|strong="H5971"\w* \w presented|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* decrees \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w*’s satraps \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w governors|strong="H6346"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* Trans-Euphrates, \w who|strong="H5971"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w help|strong="H5971"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w God|strong="H5414"\w*.   
\c 9  
\p
\v 1  \w Now|strong="H3478"\w* \w when|strong="H3615"\w* \w these|strong="H5971"\w* \w things|strong="H8441"\w* \w had|strong="H3478"\w* \w been|strong="H3615"\w* \w completed|strong="H3615"\w*, \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w leaders|strong="H8269"\w* \w approached|strong="H5066"\w* \w me|strong="H5066"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* said, “\w The|strong="H3548"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w of|strong="H8269"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*, \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w* \w have|strong="H5971"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* separated themselves \w from|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* local \w residents|strong="H5971"\w* \w who|strong="H5971"\w* practice \w detestable|strong="H8441"\w* \w things|strong="H8441"\w* similar \w to|strong="H3478"\w* those \w of|strong="H8269"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w Canaanites|strong="H3669"\w*, \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w Hittites|strong="H2850"\w*, \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w Perizzites|strong="H6522"\w*, \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w Jebusites|strong="H2983"\w*, \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w Ammonites|strong="H5984"\w*, \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w Moabites|strong="H4125"\w*, \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w Egyptians|strong="H4713"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* Amorites.  
\v 2  \w Indeed|strong="H3588"\w*, \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w have|strong="H1961"\w* \w taken|strong="H5375"\w* \w some|strong="H1992"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w their|strong="H5375"\w* \w daughters|strong="H1323"\w* \w as|strong="H1961"\w* wives \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w themselves|strong="H1992"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w their|strong="H5375"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w*, \w so|strong="H1961"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w holy|strong="H6944"\w* \w race|strong="H2233"\w* \w has|strong="H1961"\w* \w become|strong="H1961"\w* \w intermingled|strong="H6148"\w* \w with|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* local \w residents|strong="H5971"\w*. Worse \w still|strong="H5971"\w*, \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w leaders|strong="H8269"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w have|strong="H1961"\w* \w been|strong="H1961"\w* \w at|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* forefront \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w all|strong="H5375"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w*!”   
\p
\v 3  \w When|strong="H8085"\w* \w I|strong="H1697"\w* \w heard|strong="H8085"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w report|strong="H1697"\w*, \w I|strong="H1697"\w* \w tore|strong="H7167"\w* \w my|strong="H8085"\w* tunic \w and|strong="H7218"\w* \w my|strong="H8085"\w* \w robe|strong="H4598"\w* \w and|strong="H7218"\w* ripped \w out|strong="H3427"\w* \w some|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w hair|strong="H8181"\w* \w from|strong="H8085"\w* \w my|strong="H8085"\w* \w head|strong="H7218"\w* \w and|strong="H7218"\w* \w beard|strong="H2206"\w*. \w Then|strong="H2088"\w* \w I|strong="H1697"\w* \w sat|strong="H3427"\w* \w down|strong="H3427"\w*, quite \w devastated|strong="H8074"\w*.  
\v 4  \w Everyone|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* held \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w words|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* God \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* awe \w gathered|strong="H3478"\w* \w around|strong="H5921"\w* \w me|strong="H5921"\w* \w because|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w unfaithful|strong="H4604"\w* \w acts|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H3427"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w exile|strong="H1473"\w*. \w Devastated|strong="H8074"\w*, \w I|strong="H5704"\w* \w continued|strong="H3427"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w sit|strong="H3427"\w* \w there|strong="H3427"\w* \w until|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w evening|strong="H6153"\w* \w offering|strong="H4503"\w*.   
\p
\v 5  \w At|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w time|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w evening|strong="H6153"\w* \w offering|strong="H4503"\w* \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w got|strong="H6965"\w* \w up|strong="H6965"\w* \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w my|strong="H3068"\w* self-abasement, \w with|strong="H3068"\w* \w my|strong="H3068"\w* tunic \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w robe|strong="H4598"\w* \w torn|strong="H7167"\w*, \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w then|strong="H6965"\w* dropped \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w my|strong="H3068"\w* \w knees|strong="H1290"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w spread|strong="H6566"\w* \w my|strong="H3068"\w* \w hands|strong="H3709"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w my|strong="H3068"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w*.  
\v 6  \w I|strong="H3588"\w* prayed,  
\p “\w O|strong="H3068"\w* \w my|strong="H7311"\w* \w God|strong="H8064"\w*, \w I|strong="H3588"\w* am \w ashamed|strong="H3637"\w* \w and|strong="H8064"\w* \w embarrassed|strong="H3637"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w lift|strong="H7311"\w* \w my|strong="H7311"\w* \w face|strong="H6440"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w*, \w my|strong="H7311"\w* \w God|strong="H8064"\w*! \w For|strong="H3588"\w* \w our|strong="H3588"\w* \w iniquities|strong="H5771"\w* \w have|strong="H5771"\w* climbed \w higher|strong="H4605"\w* \w than|strong="H7235"\w* \w our|strong="H3588"\w* \w heads|strong="H7218"\w*, \w and|strong="H8064"\w* \w our|strong="H3588"\w* \w guilt|strong="H5771"\w* \w extends|strong="H5704"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w heavens|strong="H8064"\w*.  
\v 7  \w From|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w our|strong="H5414"\w* fathers \w until|strong="H5704"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w very|strong="H2088"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w our|strong="H5414"\w* \w guilt|strong="H5771"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* been \w great|strong="H1419"\w*. \w Because|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w our|strong="H5414"\w* \w iniquities|strong="H5771"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w*, \w along|strong="H3027"\w* \w with|strong="H6440"\w* \w our|strong="H5414"\w* \w kings|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w have|strong="H3027"\w* been \w delivered|strong="H5414"\w* \w over|strong="H3027"\w* \w by|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* local \w kings|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w sword|strong="H2719"\w*, \w captivity|strong="H7628"\w*, plunder, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* embarrassment – right \w up|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w present|strong="H5414"\w* \w time|strong="H3117"\w*.   
\p
\v 8 “\w But|strong="H1961"\w* \w now|strong="H6258"\w* \w briefly|strong="H7281"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w have|strong="H1961"\w* \w received|strong="H1961"\w* \w mercy|strong="H8467"\w* \w from|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w our|strong="H3068"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w*, \w in|strong="H3068"\w* \w that|strong="H3068"\w* \w he|strong="H3068"\w* \w has|strong="H3068"\w* \w left|strong="H7604"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w remnant|strong="H7604"\w* \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w has|strong="H3068"\w* \w given|strong="H5414"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* secure \w position|strong="H4725"\w* \w in|strong="H3068"\w* \w his|strong="H5414"\w* \w holy|strong="H6944"\w* \w place|strong="H4725"\w*. \w Thus|strong="H1961"\w* \w our|strong="H3068"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w has|strong="H3068"\w* enlightened \w our|strong="H3068"\w* \w eyes|strong="H5869"\w* \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w has|strong="H3068"\w* \w given|strong="H5414"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w little|strong="H4592"\w* \w relief|strong="H4241"\w* \w in|strong="H3068"\w* \w our|strong="H3068"\w* \w time|strong="H6258"\w* \w of|strong="H3068"\w* servitude.  
\v 9  \w Although|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w are|strong="H5650"\w* \w slaves|strong="H5650"\w*, \w our|strong="H5414"\w* \w God|strong="H5414"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w abandoned|strong="H5800"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w our|strong="H5414"\w* \w servitude|strong="H5650"\w*. \w He|strong="H3588"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* \w extended|strong="H5186"\w* \w kindness|strong="H2617"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w sight|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w kings|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*, \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w has|strong="H4428"\w* revived \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w restore|strong="H5975"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w our|strong="H5414"\w* \w God|strong="H5414"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w raise|strong="H7311"\w* \w up|strong="H7311"\w* \w its|strong="H5414"\w* \w ruins|strong="H2723"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w give|strong="H5414"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* protective \w wall|strong="H1447"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*.   
\p
\v 10 “\w And|strong="H4687"\w* \w now|strong="H6258"\w* \w what|strong="H4100"\w* \w are|strong="H4100"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* able \w to|strong="H3588"\w* say \w after|strong="H3588"\w* \w this|strong="H2063"\w*, \w our|strong="H3588"\w* God? \w For|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w have|strong="H6258"\w* \w forsaken|strong="H5800"\w* \w your|strong="H3588"\w* \w commandments|strong="H4687"\w*  
\v 11  \w which|strong="H1931"\w* \w you|strong="H6680"\w* \w commanded|strong="H6680"\w* \w us|strong="H3027"\w* \w through|strong="H3027"\w* \w your|strong="H6680"\w* \w servants|strong="H5650"\w* \w the|strong="H3423"\w* \w prophets|strong="H5030"\w* \w with|strong="H4390"\w* \w these|strong="H1931"\w* \w words|strong="H6310"\w*: ‘\w The|strong="H3423"\w* land \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w you|strong="H6680"\w* \w are|strong="H5971"\w* entering \w to|strong="H3027"\w* \w possess|strong="H3423"\w* \w is|strong="H1931"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* land defiled \w by|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H3423"\w* \w impurities|strong="H2932"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H3423"\w* local \w residents|strong="H5971"\w*! \w With|strong="H4390"\w* \w their|strong="H4390"\w* \w abominations|strong="H8441"\w* \w they|strong="H6310"\w* \w have|strong="H5971"\w* \w filled|strong="H4390"\w* \w it|strong="H1931"\w* \w from|strong="H3027"\w* \w one|strong="H1931"\w* \w end|strong="H6310"\w* \w to|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H3423"\w* \w other|strong="H6310"\w* \w with|strong="H4390"\w* \w their|strong="H4390"\w* \w filthiness|strong="H2932"\w*.  
\v 12  \w Therefore|strong="H6258"\w* do \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w give|strong="H5414"\w* \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w daughters|strong="H1323"\w* \w in|strong="H1121"\w* marriage \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w their|strong="H5375"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* do \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w take|strong="H5375"\w* \w their|strong="H5375"\w* \w daughters|strong="H1323"\w* \w in|strong="H1121"\w* marriage \w for|strong="H5704"\w* \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w*. Do \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w ever|strong="H5769"\w* \w seek|strong="H1875"\w* \w their|strong="H5375"\w* \w peace|strong="H7965"\w* \w or|strong="H3808"\w* \w welfare|strong="H7965"\w*, \w so|strong="H4616"\w* \w that|strong="H4616"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w may|strong="H1121"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* \w strong|strong="H2388"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w may|strong="H1121"\w* eat \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w good|strong="H2896"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* land \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w may|strong="H1121"\w* \w leave|strong="H5414"\w* \w it|strong="H5414"\w* \w as|strong="H5704"\w* \w an|strong="H5414"\w* \w inheritance|strong="H3423"\w* \w for|strong="H5704"\w* \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w children|strong="H1121"\w* \w forever|strong="H5769"\w*.’   
\p
\v 13 “\w Everything|strong="H3605"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w has|strong="H3588"\w* happened \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w has|strong="H3588"\w* come \w about|strong="H5921"\w* \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w of|strong="H5921"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w wicked|strong="H7451"\w* \w actions|strong="H4639"\w* \w and|strong="H1419"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w great|strong="H1419"\w* \w guilt|strong="H5771"\w*. \w Even|strong="H3588"\w* \w so|strong="H5414"\w*, \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H5414"\w*, \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w have|strong="H5771"\w* exercised \w restraint|strong="H2820"\w* \w toward|strong="H5921"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w iniquities|strong="H5771"\w* \w and|strong="H1419"\w* \w have|strong="H5771"\w* \w given|strong="H5414"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w remnant|strong="H6413"\w* \w such|strong="H2063"\w* \w as|strong="H3588"\w* \w this|strong="H2063"\w*.  
\v 14  \w Shall|strong="H5971"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w once|strong="H7725"\w* \w again|strong="H7725"\w* \w break|strong="H6565"\w* \w your|strong="H7725"\w* \w commandments|strong="H4687"\w* \w and|strong="H7725"\w* \w intermarry|strong="H2859"\w* \w with|strong="H5971"\w* \w these|strong="H5971"\w* \w abominable|strong="H8441"\w* \w peoples|strong="H5971"\w*? \w Would|strong="H5971"\w* \w you|strong="H5704"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* \w so|strong="H3808"\w* angered \w by|strong="H5704"\w* \w us|strong="H7725"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w you|strong="H5704"\w* \w would|strong="H5971"\w* \w wipe|strong="H3615"\w* \w us|strong="H7725"\w* \w out|strong="H7725"\w*, \w with|strong="H5971"\w* \w no|strong="H3808"\w* \w survivor|strong="H6413"\w* \w or|strong="H3808"\w* \w remnant|strong="H7611"\w*?  
\v 15  \w O|strong="H3068"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w of|strong="H3068"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*, \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w are|strong="H3117"\w* \w righteous|strong="H6662"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w are|strong="H3117"\w* \w left|strong="H7604"\w* \w as|strong="H3117"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w remnant|strong="H7604"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w*. \w Indeed|strong="H3588"\w*, \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w stand|strong="H5975"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w our|strong="H3068"\w* guilt. \w However|strong="H3588"\w*, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w of|strong="H3068"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* guilt \w no|strong="H5975"\w* \w one|strong="H2088"\w* \w can|strong="H5975"\w* \w really|strong="H2088"\w* \w stand|strong="H5975"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w*.”   
\c 10  
\p
\v 1  \w While|strong="H3588"\w* \w Ezra|strong="H5830"\w* \w was|strong="H3478"\w* \w praying|strong="H6419"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w confessing|strong="H3034"\w*, \w weeping|strong="H1058"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* throwing \w himself|strong="H6440"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w ground|strong="H6440"\w* \w before|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* God, \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w very|strong="H3966"\w* \w large|strong="H7227"\w* \w crowd|strong="H6951"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w Israelites|strong="H3478"\w* – \w men|strong="H3206"\w*, women, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w children|strong="H3206"\w* \w alike|strong="H6440"\w* – \w gathered|strong="H6908"\w* \w around|strong="H6440"\w* \w him|strong="H6440"\w*. \w The|strong="H6440"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w wept|strong="H1058"\w* \w loudly|strong="H3966"\w*.  
\v 2  \w Then|strong="H6030"\w* \w Shecaniah|strong="H7935"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jehiel|strong="H3171"\w*, \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Elam|strong="H5867"\w*, addressed \w Ezra|strong="H5830"\w*:  
\p “\w We|strong="H6258"\w* \w have|strong="H3426"\w* \w been|strong="H4603"\w* \w unfaithful|strong="H4603"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w our|strong="H5921"\w* God \w by|strong="H5921"\w* \w marrying|strong="H3427"\w* \w foreign|strong="H5237"\w* women \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* local \w peoples|strong="H5971"\w*. Nonetheless, \w there|strong="H3426"\w* \w is|strong="H3426"\w* \w still|strong="H3427"\w* \w hope|strong="H4723"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w this|strong="H2063"\w* \w regard|strong="H5921"\w*.  
\v 3  \w Therefore|strong="H6258"\w* \w let|strong="H6258"\w* \w us|strong="H6213"\w* enact \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w covenant|strong="H1285"\w* \w with|strong="H1285"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* God \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w send|strong="H3318"\w* \w away|strong="H3318"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w these|strong="H1992"\w* \w women|strong="H1992"\w* \w and|strong="H6213"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* offspring, \w in|strong="H6213"\w* keeping \w with|strong="H1285"\w* \w your|strong="H3605"\w* \w counsel|strong="H6098"\w*, \w my|strong="H3605"\w* lord, \w and|strong="H6213"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H3205"\w* \w those|strong="H1992"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* respect \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w commandments|strong="H4687"\w* \w of|strong="H3205"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* God. \w And|strong="H6213"\w* \w let|strong="H6258"\w* \w it|strong="H6213"\w* \w be|strong="H1285"\w* \w done|strong="H6213"\w* according \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w law|strong="H8451"\w*.  
\v 4  \w Get|strong="H6965"\w* \w up|strong="H6965"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w this|strong="H6213"\w* \w matter|strong="H1697"\w* concerns \w you|strong="H3588"\w*. \w We|strong="H3588"\w* \w are|strong="H1697"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w*, \w so|strong="H6213"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* \w strong|strong="H2388"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w act|strong="H6213"\w* decisively!”   
\p
\v 5  \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w Ezra|strong="H5830"\w* \w got|strong="H6965"\w* \w up|strong="H6965"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w made|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w leading|strong="H8269"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* \w take|strong="H6213"\w* \w an|strong="H6213"\w* \w oath|strong="H7650"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w carry|strong="H6213"\w* \w out|strong="H6213"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w plan|strong="H1697"\w*. \w And|strong="H6965"\w* \w they|strong="H6213"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w took|strong="H7650"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w solemn|strong="H7650"\w* \w oath|strong="H7650"\w*.  
\v 6  \w Then|strong="H6965"\w* \w Ezra|strong="H5830"\w* \w got|strong="H6965"\w* \w up|strong="H6965"\w* \w from|strong="H6440"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w front|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w God|strong="H3808"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w went|strong="H3212"\w* \w to|strong="H3212"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w room|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jehohanan|strong="H3076"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Eliashib. \w While|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* stayed \w there|strong="H8033"\w*, \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w eat|strong="H3899"\w* \w food|strong="H3899"\w* \w or|strong="H3808"\w* \w drink|strong="H8354"\w* \w water|strong="H4325"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w was|strong="H1004"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* mourning \w over|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* infidelity \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w exiles|strong="H1473"\w*.   
\p
\v 7  \w A|strong="H3068"\w* \w proclamation|strong="H6963"\w* \w was|strong="H3063"\w* \w circulated|strong="H5674"\w* \w throughout|strong="H3605"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w exiles|strong="H1473"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w to|strong="H3389"\w* \w be|strong="H1121"\w* \w assembled|strong="H6908"\w* \w in|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*.  
\v 8  \w Everyone|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* come within \w three|strong="H7969"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w* \w would|strong="H3605"\w* thereby forfeit \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w property|strong="H7399"\w*, \w in|strong="H3117"\w* keeping \w with|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w counsel|strong="H6098"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w elders|strong="H2205"\w*. Furthermore, \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w himself|strong="H1931"\w* \w would|strong="H3605"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* excluded \w from|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w assembly|strong="H6951"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w exiles|strong="H1473"\w*.   
\p
\v 9  \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w men|strong="H5971"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w Benjamin|strong="H1144"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w gathered|strong="H6908"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w within|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w three|strong="H7969"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w*. (\w It|strong="H1931"\w* \w was|strong="H1931"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w ninth|strong="H8671"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w*, \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w twentieth|strong="H6242"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w*.) \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w sat|strong="H3427"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w square|strong="H7339"\w* \w at|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* God, \w trembling|strong="H7460"\w* \w because|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w this|strong="H1931"\w* \w matter|strong="H1697"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w because|strong="H5921"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w rains|strong="H1653"\w*.   
\p
\v 10  \w Then|strong="H6965"\w* \w Ezra|strong="H5830"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w priest|strong="H3548"\w* \w stood|strong="H6965"\w* \w up|strong="H6965"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* said \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*, “\w You|strong="H5921"\w* \w have|strong="H3478"\w* behaved \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w an|strong="H6965"\w* \w unfaithful|strong="H4603"\w* manner \w by|strong="H5921"\w* taking \w foreign|strong="H5237"\w* wives! \w This|strong="H3478"\w* \w has|strong="H3478"\w* contributed \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* guilt \w of|strong="H3427"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*.  
\v 11  \w Now|strong="H6258"\w* \w give|strong="H5414"\w* \w praise|strong="H8426"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \nd \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*\nd* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w of|strong="H3068"\w* \w your|strong="H3068"\w* fathers, \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w his|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H3068"\w*. Separate \w yourselves|strong="H3068"\w* \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* local \w residents|strong="H5971"\w* \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w these|strong="H6213"\w* \w foreign|strong="H5237"\w* wives.”   
\p
\v 12  \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w assembly|strong="H6951"\w* \w replied|strong="H6030"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w loud|strong="H1419"\w* \w voice|strong="H6963"\w*: “\w We|strong="H6213"\w* \w will|strong="H1697"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w just|strong="H1697"\w* \w as|strong="H1697"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* \w have|strong="H1697"\w* \w said|strong="H1697"\w*!  
\v 13  \w However|strong="H3588"\w*, \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w are|strong="H3117"\w* \w numerous|strong="H7227"\w* \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w it|strong="H3588"\w* \w is|strong="H2088"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w rainy|strong="H1653"\w* \w season|strong="H6256"\w*. \w We|strong="H3588"\w* \w are|strong="H3117"\w* \w unable|strong="H3808"\w* \w to|strong="H6256"\w* \w stand|strong="H5975"\w* \w here|strong="H2088"\w* \w outside|strong="H2351"\w*. Furthermore, \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w business|strong="H4399"\w* \w cannot|strong="H3808"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* resolved \w in|strong="H3117"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w or|strong="H3808"\w* \w two|strong="H8147"\w*, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w have|strong="H5971"\w* sinned \w greatly|strong="H7227"\w* \w in|strong="H3117"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w matter|strong="H1697"\w*.  
\v 14  \w Let|strong="H4994"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w leaders|strong="H8269"\w* \w take|strong="H7725"\w* steps \w on|strong="H3427"\w* \w behalf|strong="H5973"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w assembly|strong="H6951"\w*. \w Let|strong="H4994"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w towns|strong="H5892"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w have|strong="H1697"\w* \w married|strong="H3427"\w* \w foreign|strong="H5237"\w* \w women|strong="H2205"\w* \w come|strong="H7725"\w* \w at|strong="H3427"\w* \w an|strong="H4480"\w* \w appointed|strong="H5975"\w* \w time|strong="H6256"\w*, \w and|strong="H7725"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w them|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w elders|strong="H2205"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w each|strong="H3605"\w* \w town|strong="H5892"\w* \w and|strong="H7725"\w* \w its|strong="H3605"\w* \w judges|strong="H8199"\w*, \w until|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* hot \w anger|strong="H2740"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* God \w is|strong="H2088"\w* \w turned|strong="H7725"\w* \w away|strong="H7725"\w* \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w us|strong="H4994"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w matter|strong="H1697"\w*.”   
\p
\v 15  Only \w Jonathan|strong="H3129"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Asahel|strong="H6214"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jahzeiah|strong="H3167"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Tikvah|strong="H8616"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w against|strong="H5921"\w* \w this|strong="H2063"\w*, \w assisted|strong="H5826"\w* \w by|strong="H5921"\w* \w Meshullam|strong="H4918"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shabbethai|strong="H7678"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Levite|strong="H3881"\w*.  
\v 16  \w So|strong="H3651"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w exiles|strong="H1473"\w* \w proceeded|strong="H6213"\w* \w accordingly|strong="H3651"\w*. \w Ezra|strong="H5830"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w priest|strong="H3548"\w* separated \w out|strong="H6213"\w* \w by|strong="H3117"\w* \w name|strong="H8034"\w* \w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w family|strong="H1004"\w* \w groups|strong="H7218"\w*. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* \w sat|strong="H3427"\w* \w down|strong="H3427"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* consider \w this|strong="H3651"\w* \w matter|strong="H1697"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w first|strong="H1121"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w tenth|strong="H6224"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w*,  
\v 17  \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w on|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w first|strong="H7223"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w first|strong="H7223"\w* \w month|strong="H2320"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w finished|strong="H3615"\w* \w considering|strong="H5704"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w men|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H3427"\w* \w married|strong="H3427"\w* \w foreign|strong="H5237"\w* wives.   
\s1 Those Who Had Taken Foreign Wives  
\p
\v 18  \w It|strong="H4672"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* determined \w that|strong="H3548"\w* \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H4672"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H4672"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w the|strong="H4672"\w* following \w had|strong="H3548"\w* \w taken|strong="H3427"\w* \w foreign|strong="H5237"\w* wives: \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H4672"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jozadak|strong="H3136"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H4672"\w* \w brothers|strong="H1121"\w*: \w Maaseiah|strong="H4641"\w*, Eliezer, \w Jarib|strong="H3402"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Gedaliah|strong="H1436"\w*.  
\v 19  (\w They|strong="H5921"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w their|strong="H5414"\w* word \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w send|strong="H5414"\w* \w away|strong="H3318"\w* \w their|strong="H5414"\w* wives; \w their|strong="H5414"\w* guilt offering \w was|strong="H3027"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* ram \w from|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w flock|strong="H6629"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w their|strong="H5414"\w* guilt.)   
\p
\v 20  \w From|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Immer: \w Hanani|strong="H2607"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Zebadiah|strong="H2069"\w*.   
\p
\v 21  \w From|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H8098"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Harim|strong="H2766"\w*: \w Maaseiah|strong="H4641"\w*, Elijah, \w Shemaiah|strong="H8098"\w*, \w Jehiel|strong="H3171"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Uzziah|strong="H5818"\w*.   
\p
\v 22  \w From|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3458"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Pashhur|strong="H6583"\w*: Elioenai, \w Maaseiah|strong="H4641"\w*, \w Ishmael|strong="H3458"\w*, \w Nethanel|strong="H5417"\w*, \w Jozabad|strong="H3107"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* Elasah.   
\p
\v 23  \w From|strong="H4480"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w*: \w Jozabad|strong="H3107"\w*, \w Shimei|strong="H8096"\w*, \w Kelaiah|strong="H7041"\w* (\w also|strong="H3063"\w* known \w as|strong="H3063"\w* \w Kelita|strong="H7042"\w*), \w Pethahiah|strong="H6611"\w*, \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w*, \w and|strong="H3063"\w* Eliezer.   
\p
\v 24  \w From|strong="H4480"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w singers|strong="H7891"\w*: Eliashib. \w From|strong="H4480"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w gatekeepers|strong="H7778"\w*: \w Shallum|strong="H7967"\w*, \w Telem|strong="H2928"\w*, \w and|strong="H7891"\w* Uri.   
\p
\v 25  \w From|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H1141"\w* \w Israelites|strong="H3478"\w*: \w from|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H1141"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Parosh|strong="H6551"\w*: \w Ramiah|strong="H7422"\w*, \w Izziah|strong="H3150"\w*, \w Malkijah|strong="H4441"\w*, \w Mijamin|strong="H4326"\w*, Eleazar, \w Malkijah|strong="H4441"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Benaiah|strong="H1141"\w*.   
\p
\v 26  \w From|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Elam|strong="H5867"\w*: \w Mattaniah|strong="H4983"\w*, \w Zechariah|strong="H2148"\w*, \w Jehiel|strong="H3171"\w*, \w Abdi|strong="H5660"\w*, \w Jeremoth|strong="H3406"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* Elijah.   
\p
\v 27  \w From|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Zattu|strong="H2240"\w*: Elioenai, Eliashib, \w Mattaniah|strong="H4983"\w*, \w Jeremoth|strong="H3406"\w*, \w Zabad|strong="H2066"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Aziza|strong="H5819"\w*.   
\p
\v 28  \w From|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3076"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Bebai: \w Jehohanan|strong="H3076"\w*, \w Hananiah|strong="H2608"\w*, \w Zabbai|strong="H2079"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Athlai|strong="H6270"\w*.   
\p
\v 29  \w From|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Bani|strong="H1137"\w*: \w Meshullam|strong="H4918"\w*, \w Malluch|strong="H4409"\w*, \w Adaiah|strong="H5718"\w*, \w Jashub|strong="H3437"\w*, \w Sheal|strong="H7594"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jeremoth|strong="H3406"\w*.   
\p
\v 30  \w From|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1141"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Pahath-Moab|strong="H6355"\w*: \w Adna|strong="H5733"\w*, \w Kelal|strong="H3636"\w*, \w Benaiah|strong="H1141"\w*, \w Maaseiah|strong="H4641"\w*, \w Mattaniah|strong="H4983"\w*, \w Bezalel|strong="H1212"\w*, \w Binnui|strong="H1131"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Manasseh|strong="H4519"\w*.   
\p
\v 31  \w From|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H8098"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Harim|strong="H2766"\w*: Eliezer, \w Ishijah|strong="H3449"\w*, \w Malkijah|strong="H4441"\w*, \w Shemaiah|strong="H8098"\w*, \w Shimeon|strong="H8095"\w*,  
\v 32  \w Benjamin|strong="H1144"\w*, \w Malluch|strong="H4409"\w*, \w and|strong="H1144"\w* \w Shemariah|strong="H8114"\w*.   
\p
\v 33  \w From|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hashum|strong="H2828"\w*: \w Mattenai|strong="H4982"\w*, \w Mattattah|strong="H4992"\w*, \w Zabad|strong="H2066"\w*, Eliphelet, \w Jeremai|strong="H3413"\w*, \w Manasseh|strong="H4519"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shimei|strong="H8096"\w*.   
\p
\v 34  \w From|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Bani|strong="H1137"\w*: \w Maadai|strong="H4572"\w*, \w Amram|strong="H6019"\w*, Uel,  
\v 35  \w Benaiah|strong="H1141"\w*, Bedeiah, \w Keluhi|strong="H3622"\w*,  
\v 36  \w Vaniah|strong="H2057"\w*, \w Meremoth|strong="H4822"\w*, Eliashib,  
\v 37  \w Mattaniah|strong="H4983"\w*, \w Mattenai|strong="H4982"\w*, and \w Jaasu|strong="H3299"\w*.   
\p
\v 38  \w From|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Binnui|strong="H1131"\w*: \w Shimei|strong="H8096"\w*,  
\v 39  \w Shelemiah|strong="H8018"\w*, \w Nathan|strong="H5416"\w*, \w Adaiah|strong="H5718"\w*,  
\v 40  \w Machnadebai|strong="H4367"\w*, \w Shashai|strong="H8343"\w*, \w Sharai|strong="H8298"\w*,  
\v 41  \w Azarel|strong="H5832"\w*, \w Shelemiah|strong="H8018"\w*, \w Shemariah|strong="H8114"\w*,  
\v 42  \w Shallum|strong="H7967"\w*, Amariah, \w and|strong="H3130"\w* \w Joseph|strong="H3130"\w*.   
\p
\v 43  \w From|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1141"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Nebo|strong="H5015"\w*: \w Jeiel|strong="H3273"\w*, \w Mattithiah|strong="H4993"\w*, \w Zabad|strong="H2066"\w*, \w Zebina|strong="H2081"\w*, \w Jaddai|strong="H3035"\w*, \w Joel|strong="H3100"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Benaiah|strong="H1141"\w*.   
\p
\v 44  \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w these|strong="H1992"\w* \w had|strong="H3426"\w* \w taken|strong="H5375"\w* \w foreign|strong="H5237"\w* wives, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w some|strong="H1992"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w them|strong="H1992"\w* \w also|strong="H1121"\w* \w had|strong="H3426"\w* \w children|strong="H1121"\w* \w by|strong="H3605"\w* \w these|strong="H1992"\w* \w women|strong="H1992"\w*.   