OET-RV G ESD Chapter 8

8 After these things, when Artahshashta (Artaxerxes) the king of the Persians reigned, Ezra came, who was the son of Azaryah, the son of Zekaryah (Zechariah), the son of Hilkiyah, the son of Shalem,[ref] 2 the son of Tsadok, the son of Ahituv, the son of Amaryah, the son of Ozias,[fn] the son of Merayot, the son of Zerahyah, the son of Zerahyah, the son of Buki, the son of Avishua, the son of Pinhas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aharon (Aaron), the chief priest. 3 This Ezra went up from Bavel (Babylon) as a skilled scribe in Mosheh’s (Moses’) law, which was given by the god of Yisrael. 4 The king honoured him, for he found favour in his sight in all his requests. 5 There went up with him also some of the Israeli people, and of the priests, Levites, holy singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) 6 in the seventh year of Artahshashta’s reign, in the fifth month (this was the king’s seventh year); for they left Bavel on the new moon of the first month and came to Yerushalem, by the prosperous journey which the master gave them[fn] for his sake. 7 Because Ezra had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the law and commandments of the master, but taught all Yisrael the ordinances and judgements.

8 Now the commission, which was written from King Artahshashta, came to Ezra the priest and reader of the master’s law, was as follows:

9 “King Artahshashta to Ezra the priest and reader of the master’s law, greetings. 10 Having determined to deal graciously, I’ve given orders that those of the nation of the Yehudim (Jews), and of the priests and Levites, and of those within our realm who are willing and freely choose to, should go with you to Yerushalem. 11 As many therefore as are so disposed, let them depart with you, as it’s seemed good both to me and my seven friends the counsellors, 12 that they may look to the affairs of Yehudah (Judea) and Yerushalem, in accordance with what’s in the master’s law, 13 and carry the gifts to the master of Yisrael to Yerushalem, which I and my friends have vowed, and that all the gold and silver that can be found in the country of Bavel for the master in Yerushalem, 14 with that also which is given of the people for the temple of the master their god that’s at Yerushalem, be collected: even the gold and silver for bulls, rams, and lambs, and what goes with them, 15 to the end that they may offer sacrifices to the master on the altar of the master their god, which is in Yerushalem. 16 Whatever you and your kindred decide to do with gold and silver, do that according to your god’s will. 17 The holy vessels of the master, which are given you for the use of your god’s temple, which is in Yerushalem, 18 and whatever else you remember for the use of your god’s temple, give it out of the king’s treasury. 19 I, King Artahshashta (Artaxerxes), have also commanded the keepers of the treasures in Aram (Syria) and Foinikai, that whatever Ezra the priest and reader of the Most High God’s law sends for, they should give it to him with all diligence, 20 to the sum of one hundred talents of silver, likewise also of wheat even to eighteen tonnes and four thousand litres of wine, and[fn] salt in abundance. 21 Let all things be performed after God’s law diligently to the most high God, that anger come not onto the kingdom of the king and his sons. 22 I command you also that no tax, nor any other imposition, be laid on any of the priests, or Levites, or holy singers, or gatekeepers, or temple servants, or any that have employment in this temple, and that no man has authority to impose any tax on them. 23 You, Ezra, according to God’s wisdom, ordain judges and justices that they may judge in all Aram and Foinikai all those who know your god’s law; and those who don’t know it, you must teach. 24 Anyone who transgresses the law of your god and of the king will be punished diligently, whether it be by death, or other punishment, by penalty of money, or by imprisonment.”

25 Then Ezra the scribe said, “Blessed be the only master, the god of my fathers, who’s put these things into the king’s heart, to glorify his house that’s in Yerushalem, 26 and has honoured me in the sight of the king, his counsellors, and all his friends and leading citizens. 27 Therefore I was encouraged by the help of the master my god, and gathered together out of Yisrael (Israel) men to go up with me.

28 These are the chief according to their families and their several divisions, who went up with me from Bavel (Babylon) in King Artahshashta’s (Artaxerxes’) reign: 29 of the sons of Pinhas, Gereshom; of the sons of Itamar, Daniyel; of the sons of David,[fn] Hatush[fn] the son of Shekanyah; 30 of the sons of Par’osh, Zekaryah (Zechariah); and with him were counted one hundred and fifty men; 31 of the sons of Pahat-Moav, Elyehoeynay the son of[fn] Zerahyah, and with him two hundred men; 32 of[fn] the sons of Zatu, Shekanyah the son of Yahaziel, and with him three hundred men; of the sons of Adin, Ovadyah (Obadiah) the son of Yonatan (Jonathan), and with him two hundred and fifty men; 33 of the sons of Eylam, Yeshaeyah son of Atalyah (Athaliah), and with him seventy men; 34 of the sons of Shefatyah, Zevadyah son of Mika’el (Michael), and with him seventy men; 35 of the sons of Yoav (Joab), Ovadyah son of Yehiel. Yehiel, and with him two hundred and twelve men; 36 of the sons of Bani, Shelomit son of Yosifyah,[fn] and with him one hundred and sixty men; 37 of the sons of Bevay, Zekaryah son of Bevay, and with him twenty-eight men; 38 of the sons of Azgad: Azgad, Yohan (John) son of Hakatan Hakatan, and with him one hundred and ten men; 39 of the sons of Adonikam, the last, and these are the names of them, Elifelet, Ye’uel, and Shemayah, and with them seventy men; 40 of the sons of Bigvay, Utay the son of Zabud, and with him seventy men.

41 I gathered them together to the river called Ahava. There we pitched our tents three days, and I inspected them. 42 When I’d found there none of the priests and Levites, 43 then sent I to Eleazar, Ariel, Shemayah, 44 Elnatan, Shemayah, Yoyariv, Natan (Nathan), Elnatan, Zekaryah, and Meshulam, principal men and men of understanding. 45 I asked them to go to Ido the captain, who was in the place of the treasury, 46 and commanded them that they should speak to Ido, to his kindred, and to the treasurers in that place, to send us such men as might execute the priests’ office in our master’s house. 47 By the mighty hand of our master, they brought to us men of understanding of the sons of[fn] Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Yisrael (Israel),[fn] Shereveyah, and his sons, and his kindred, who were eighteen, 48 and[fn] Hashavyah, Annuus, and Osaias his brother, of the sons of Chanuneus, and their sons were twenty men; 49 and of the temple servants whom David and the principal men had appointed for the servants of the Levites, two hundred and twenty temple servants. The list of all their names was reported.

50 / 50 There I vowed a fast for the young men before our master, to seek from him a prosperous journey both for us and for our children and livestock that were with us; 51 for I was ashamed to ask of the king infantry, cavalry, and an escort for protection against our adversaries. 52 Because we’d said to the king that our master’s power would be with those who seek him, to support them in all ways. 53 Again we prayed to our lord about these things, and found him to be merciful.

54 Then I set apart twelve men of the chiefs of the priests,[fn] Shereveyah, Hashavyah, and ten men of their kindred with them. 55 I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the holy vessels of our master’s house, which the king, his counsellors, the leading citizens, and all Yisrael (Israel) had given. 56 When I’d weighed it, I delivered to them six hundred and fifty talents of silver, silver vessels weighing one hundred talents, one hundred talents of gold, 57 twenty golden vessels, and twelve vessels of brass, even of fine brass, glittering like gold. 58 I said to them, “You’re holy to the master, the vessels are holy, and the gold and the silver are a vow to the master, the master of our fathers. 59 Watch and keep them until you deliver them to the chiefs of the priests and Levites, and to the principal men of the families of Yisrael in Yerushalem, in the chambers of our master’s house. 60 So the priests and the Levites who received the silver, the gold, and the vessels which were in Yerushalem, brought them into the master’s temple.

61 We left the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month. We came to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) by the mighty hand of our master which was on us. The master delivered us from every enemy on the way, and so we came to Yerushalem. 62 When we’d been there three days, the silver and gold was weighed and delivered in our master’s house on the fourth day to[fn] Meremot the priest the son of[fn] Uriyah. 63 With him was Eleazar the son of Pinhas, and with them were Yozavad the son of Yeshua (Jesus) and[fn] Noadyah the son of Binuy, the Levites. All was delivered to them by number and weight. 64 All the weight of them was recorded at the same hour. 65 Moreover those who’d come out of captivity offered sacrifices to the master, the god of Yisrael, even twelve bulls for all Yisrael, ninety-six rams, 66 seventy-two lambs, and twelve goats for a peace offering—all of them a sacrifice to the master. 67 They delivered the king’s commandments to the king’s stewards and to the governors of Coele-Syria and Foinikai; and they honoured the people and the master’s temple.

68 Now when these things were done, the principal men came to me and said, 69 “The nation of Yisrael, the princes, the priests, and the Levites haven’t put away from themselves the foreign people of the land nor the uncleannesses of the Gentiles—the Kena’anim (Canaanites), Hitim, Perizi, Yevusim, Moavim, Mitsrim (Egyptians), and Edomim. 70 Because both they and their sons have married with their daughters, and the holy seed is mixed with the foreign people of the land. From the beginning of this matter the rulers and the leading citizens have been partakers of this iniquity.”

71 And as soon as I’d heard these things, I tore my clothes and my holy garment, and plucked the hair from off my head and beard, and sat down sad and full of heaviness. 72 So all those who were moved at the word of the master, the god of Yisrael, assembled to me while I mourned for the iniquity, but I sat still full of heaviness until the evening sacrifice. 73 Then rising up from the fast with my clothes and my holy garment torn, and bowing my knees and stretching out my hands to the master, 74 I said, “Oh master, I’m ashamed and confounded before your face, 75 for our sins are multiplied above our heads, and our errors have reached up to heaven 76 ever since the time of our fathers. We’re in great sin, even to this day. 77 Because our sins and our fathers’ we with our kindred, our kings, and our priests were given up to the kings of the earth, to the sword, and to captivity, and for a prey with shame, to this day. 78 Now in some measure mercy has been shown to us from you, Oh master, that there should be left us a root and a name in the place of your sanctuary, 79 and to uncover a light in the house of the master our god, and to give us food in the time of our servitude. 80 Yes, when we were in bondage, we weren’t forsaken by our master, but he gave us favour before Paras’ (Persia’s) kings, so that they gave us food, 81 glorified our master’s temple, and raised up the desolate Tsiyon (Zion), to give us a sure residence in Yehudah (Judea) and Yerushalem (Jerusalem).

82 “Now, Oh master, what can we say, having these things? Because we’ve transgressed your commandments which you gave by the hand of your servants the prophets, saying, 83 ‘The land, which you enter into to possess as an inheritance, is a land polluted with the pollutions of the foreigners of the land, and they’ve filled it with their uncleanness. 84 Therefore now you mustn’t marry your daughters to their sons, and you mustn’t take their daughters for your sons. 85 You must never seek to have peace with them, that you may be strong, and eat the good things of the land, and that you may leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’ 86 All that’s happened is done to us for our wicked works and great sins, for you, Oh master, made our sins light, 87 and gave to us such a root; but we’ve turned back again to transgress your law in mingling ourselves with the uncleanness of the heathen of the land. 88 You weren’t angry with us to destroy us until you’d left us neither root, seed, nor name. 89 Oh master of Yisrael (Israel), you’re true, for we’re left a root this day. 90 Listen, now we’re before you in our iniquities, for we can’t stand any longer before you because of these things.”

91 As Ezra in his prayer made his confession, weeping, and lying flat on the ground before the temple, a very great throng of men, women, and children gathered to him from Yerushalem (Jerusalem); for there was great weeping among the multitude.[ref] 92 Then Yekonias the son of Yehiel, one of the sons of Yisrael, called out, and said, “Oh Ezra, we’ve sinned against the master God, we’ve married foreign women of the heathen of the land, but there’s still hope for Yisrael. 93 Let’s make an oath to the master about this, that we’ll put away all our foreign wives with their children, 94 as seems good to you, and to as many as obey the master’s Law. 95 Arise, and take action, for this is your task, and we’ll be with you to do valiantly.” 96 So Ezra arose, and took an oath from the chief of the priests and Levites of all Yisrael to do these things; and they swore to it.