EZR EN_UST en_English_ltr Mon Jul 26 2021 20:26:21 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) tc

\zaln-s |x-strong="c:b:H8141" x-lemma="שָׁנָה" x-morph="He,C:R:Ncfsc" x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1" x-content="וּ⁠בִ⁠שְׁנַ֣ת"\*\zaln-s |x-strong="H0259" x-lemma="אֶחָד" x-morph="He,Acfsa" x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1" x-content="אַחַ֗ת"\*During Cyrus, king of Persia, {conquered the kingdom of Babylon,} Yahweh motivated Cyrus to write a message. Yahweh did this in order to fulfill a prophecy that Jeremiah had spoken. Cyrus sent messengers throughout his empire with copies of the message and he ordered them to proclaim it as they went. This is what they proclaimed:

|x-strong="c:b:H8141" x-lemma="שָׁנָה" x-morph="He,C:R:Ncfsc" x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1" x-content="וּ⁠בִ⁠שְׁנַ֣ת"|x-strong="H0259" x-lemma="אֶחָד" x-morph="He,Acfsa" x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1" x-content="אַחַ֗ת"During Cyrus, king of Persia, {conquered the kingdom of Babylon,} Yahweh motivated Cyrus to write a message. Yahweh did this in order to fulfill a prophecy that Jeremiah had spoken. Cyrus sent messengers throughout his empire with copies of the message and he ordered them to proclaim it as they went. This is what they proclaimed:

\zaln-s |x-strong="c:b:H8141" x-lemma="שָׁנָה" x-morph="He,C:R:Ncfsc" x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1" x-content="וּ⁠בִ⁠שְׁנַ֣ת"\*\zaln-s |x-strong="H0259" x-lemma="אֶחָד" x-morph="He,Acfsa" x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1" x-content="אַחַ֗ת"\*\w During|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w*, \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Persia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, {\w conquered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w kingdom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,} \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w motivated|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w write|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w message|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w order|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w fulfill|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w prophecy|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jeremiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w spoken|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w messengers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w throughout|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w empire|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w copies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w message|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ordered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w proclaim|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w went|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w proclaimed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:

“I, King Cyrus, rule the Persian Empire, and I say this: Yahweh, the God who is in heaven, has made me ruler over the great kingdoms of this part of the world. Now he has assigned me to {make sure that his people} build a temple for him in {the city of} Jerusalem in {the province of} Judah.

“\w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w rule|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Persian|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Empire|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w say|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*: \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w heaven|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w has|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w made|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w me|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w ruler|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w over|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w great|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kingdoms|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w part|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w world|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Now|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w has|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w assigned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w me|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w make|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sure|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w build|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w*} \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w*} \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

All you people who belong to God may go up to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this temple for Yahweh. He is the God who is in Jerusalem, the God whom the people of Israel worship. And may God give you success!

\w All|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w belong|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w may|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w go|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w up|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w He|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w worship|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w And|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w may|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w give|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w success|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*!

There are other people who are living around the Israelites in the places where the Israelites have been living since their ancestors were exiled here. Those people must contribute silver and gold to the Israelites who go. They must also give to the Israelites animals and {any} supplies {that they might need}. They should also give them other gifts that they can use to help build the temple of God in Jerusalem.”

\w There|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w living|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w around|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w places|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w where|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w been|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w living|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w since|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ancestors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w exiled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w here|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w must|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w contribute|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w go|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w must|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w give|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w animals|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w any|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w supplies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w might|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w need|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w They|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w should|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w give|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w gifts|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w can|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w use|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w help|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w build|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.”

Then God motivated some of the priests and Levites and {some of} the clan leaders from {the tribes of} Judah and Benjamin to return to Jerusalem. Those whom God motivated got ready to return to Jerusalem and build the temple for him there.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w motivated|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* {\w some|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*} \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w tribes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*} \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Benjamin|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w return|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w motivated|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w got|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ready|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w return|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w build|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Many of their neighbors helped them by giving them silver and golden things, animals, and supplies for the journey. They also gave them other valuable gifts, and they gave them money to buy things for building the temple.

\w Many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w neighbors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w helped|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w by|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w giving|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w golden|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w animals|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w supplies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w journey|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w valuable|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gifts|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w money|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w buy|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w building|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

King Cyrus also commanded {his servants} to bring out the valuable things that King Nebuchadnezzar{’s soldiers} had taken from the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem and had put in the temples of their gods {in Babylon}.

\w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w commanded|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w servants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w bring|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w valuable|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Nebuchadnezzar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*{’\w s|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w soldiers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w taken|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w put|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w temples|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gods|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w in|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

{Specifically,} King Cyrus of Persia commanded Mithredath, his treasurer, {to command his servants} to bring out all of these items and to give each one of them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of {the group that was going to return to} Judah.

{\w Specifically|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,} \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Persia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w commanded|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Mithredath|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w treasurer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, {\w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w command|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w servants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w bring|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w items|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w give|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w each|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Sheshbazzar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w leader|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w group|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w going|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w return|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w*} \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

This is a list of the items {that Cyrus donated}: 30 gold basins, 1,000 silver basins, 29 knives,

\w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w list|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w items|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w donated|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}: \w 30|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w basins|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w 1|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,\w 000|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w basins|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w 29|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w knives|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

30 gold bowls, 410 secondary silver bowls, and 1,000 other utensils.

\w 30|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w bowls|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w 410|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w secondary|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w bowls|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 1|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,\w 000|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w utensils|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

All together, Cyrus gave 5, 400 silver and gold items to Sheshbazzar to take with him when he and the others returned from {the kingdom of} Babylon to Jerusalem.

\w All|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w together|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 5|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 400|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w items|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Sheshbazzar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w take|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w when|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w others|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w kingdom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

{Many years ago, the army of} King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had captured many Israelite people and taken them away to the kingdom of Babylon. Now, these Israelite people began to return to Judah. Some returned to Jerusalem, and some returned to other places in Judah. Each of them went to the towns where their ancestors had lived. This is a list of the groups who returned.

{\w Many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w years|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ago|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w army|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w*} \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Nebuchadnezzar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w captured|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w taken|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w away|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w kingdom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Now|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w began|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w return|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w places|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Each|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w went|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w towns|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w where|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ancestors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w lived|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w list|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w groups|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*.

The leaders of those people who returned were Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Zerubbabel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Joshua|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Nehemiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Seraiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Reelaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Mordecai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Bilshan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Mispar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Bigvai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Rehum|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Baanah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

 \w The|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w groups|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w listed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w next|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

\w 2|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 172|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Parosh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 372|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Shephatiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 775|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Arach|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

2, 812 descendants of Pahath-Moab, from the families of Jeshua and Joab,

\w 2|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 812|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Pahath|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*-\w Moab|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w families|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jeshua|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Joab|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 1|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 254|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Elam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 945|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Zattu|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 760|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Zaccai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 642|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Bani|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 623|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Bebai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 1|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 222|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Azgad|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 666|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Adonikam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 2|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 056|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Bigvai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 454|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Adin|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 98|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ater|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Hezekiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 323|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Bezai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 112|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jorah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 223|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Hashum|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 95|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Gibbar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

{The following is a list of people whose ancestors had lived in these towns in Judah:}

{\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w following|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w list|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whose|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ancestors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w lived|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w towns|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:}

 \w 123|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Bethlehem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 56|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Netophah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 128|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Anathoth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 42|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Azmaveth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 743|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Kiriath|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Arim|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Kephirah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Beeroth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 621|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ramah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Geba|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 122|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Michmas|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 223|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Bethel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 52|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Nebo|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 156|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Magbish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 1|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 254|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Elam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 320|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Harim|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 725|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Lod|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Hadid|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ono|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 345|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jericho|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 3|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 630|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Senaah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

\w These|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:

 973 descendants of Jedaiah (that is, those who descended through Jeshua),

 \w 973|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jedaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* (\w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w through|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jeshua|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*),

\w 1|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 052|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Immer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 1|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 247|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Pashur|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 1|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 017|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Harim|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w These|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Levi|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:

 74 descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel, who were from the family of Hodaviah,

 \w 74|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jeshua|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Kadmiel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w family|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Hodaviah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 128|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w musicians|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Asaph|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

139 gatekeepers who were descendants of the gatekeepers Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai,

\w 139|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gatekeepers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gatekeepers|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Shallum|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Ater|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Talmon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Akkub|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Hatita|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Shobai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

The following is a list of the temple workers who returned. They were the descendants of these men: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w following|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w list|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w workers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*: \w Ziha|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Hasupha|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Tabbaoth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Keros|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Siaha|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Padon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Lebanah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Hagabah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Akkub|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Hagab|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Shalmai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Hanan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Giddel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Gahar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Reaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Rezin|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Nekoda|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Gazzam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Uzza|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Paseah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Besai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Asnah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Meunim|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Nephusim|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Bakbuk|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Hakupha|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Harhur|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Bazluth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Mehida|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Harsha|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Barkos|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Sisera|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Temah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Neziah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Hatipha|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

The following descendants of King Solomon’s servants returned {to Jerusalem}. They were the descendants of these men: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w following|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Solomon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w servants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*: \w Sotai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Hassophereth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Peruda|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Jaalah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Darkon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Giddel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Shephatiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Hattil|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Pochereth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Hazzebaim|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ami|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Altogether, there were 392 descendants of temple workers and Solomon’s servants who returned.

\w Altogether|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 392|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w workers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Solomon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w servants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

There was another group that returned {to Judah} from {the towns of} Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cerub, Addon, and Immer {in Babylonia}. But they could not prove that they were genuine Israelites.

\w There|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w another|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w group|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w towns|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w Tel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Melah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Tel|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Harsha|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Cerub|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Addon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Immer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w But|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w prove|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w genuine|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

This group included 652 people who were descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda.

\w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w group|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w included|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 652|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Delaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Tobiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Nekoda|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

The descendants of the priests in this group included people belonging to Habaiah’s clan, Hakkoz’s clan, and Barzillai’s clan. Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of Barzillai from the region of Gilead. He had taken the name of his father-in-law’s clan for himself.

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w group|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w included|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w belonging|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Habaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w*, \w Hakkoz|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Barzillai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w*. \w Barzillai|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w married|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w woman|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w descendant|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Barzillai|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w region|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Gilead|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w He|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w taken|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w name|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w father|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*-\w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*-\w law|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w himself|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

The people in this group searched in the documents that listed the names {of the descendants} from the {various Israelite} clans, but they did not find {their names there}. So the officials did not permit them to do the work that priests did.

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w group|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w searched|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w documents|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w listed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w names|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* {\w various|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w clans|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w but|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w find|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w names|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w permit|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*.

The governor told these men that they could not eat the shares of the sacrifices that only the priests could eat until a {high} priest could consult Yahweh by using the sacred lots {to determine that they truly were descendants of priestly families. Only if the high priest determined that these men truly were priests could they eat the most sacred food}.

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w governor|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w told|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w eat|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w shares|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w sacrifices|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w only|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w eat|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w until|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w high|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w priest|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w consult|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w by|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w using|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w sacred|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w lots|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w determine|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w truly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w priestly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w families|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Only|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w if|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w high|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w priest|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w determined|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w truly|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w eat|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w most|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacred|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w food|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

Altogether in this group, 42, 360 Israelite people returned to Judah.

\w Altogether|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w group|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 42|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 360|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

The Israelites also brought along with them 7, 337 male and female servants and 200 male and female musicians.

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w brought|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w along|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 7|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 337|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w male|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w female|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w servants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w 200|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w male|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w female|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w musicians|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

The Israelites also brought with them {from Babylonia} 736 horses, 245 mules,

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w brought|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w 736|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w horses|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 245|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w mules|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w 435|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w camels|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 6|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 720|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w donkeys|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

When they arrived at {the ruins of} the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem, some of the clan leaders gave money for the supplies needed to rebuild the temple in the same place where the old temple had been.

\w When|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w arrived|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w at|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w ruins|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w*} \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w money|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w supplies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w needed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w same|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w place|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w where|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w old|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w been|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Each one gave as much as he was able to give for the work {on the temple}. Altogether, they gave 61,000 gold coins, 5,000 silver bars, and 100 robes for the priests.

\w Each|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w much|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w able|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w give|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w Altogether|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w 61|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,\w 000|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w coins|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 5|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,\w 000|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w bars|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 100|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w robes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So all of these priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants, and other people returned to live in the towns and villages {of the province of Judah}. They settled in the places where their ancestors had lived.

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w musicians|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w gatekeepers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w servants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w live|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w towns|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w villages|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w settled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w places|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w where|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ancestors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w lived|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

After the Israelite people {returned and} began to live in their towns, in the autumn of that year, they all gathered together in Jerusalem.

\w After|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w began|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w live|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w towns|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w autumn|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w year|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gathered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w together|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Then Joshua son of Jehozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates all began to rebuild the altar of the God of Israel. They did that so that they could sacrifice burnt offerings on it. They wanted to follow what the prophet Moses had written in the laws that God had given to him.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Joshua|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jehozadak|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w fellow|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Zerubbabel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Shealtiel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w associates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w began|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w altar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacrifice|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w burnt|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w offerings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w wanted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w follow|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w prophet|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Moses|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w written|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w laws|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w given|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Even though they were afraid of the people who were already living in that area, they rebuilt the altar at the same place where the previous altar had been. They began to offer sacrifices to Yahweh on it every morning and every evening.

\w Even|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w though|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w afraid|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w already|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w living|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w area|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w rebuilt|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w altar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w at|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w same|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w place|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w where|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w previous|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w altar|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w been|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w began|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w offer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacrifices|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w every|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w morning|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w every|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w evening|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

{Fifteen days after they started to offer these sacrifices,} the people celebrated the Festival of Shelters. {Moses had commanded them to do this in the decrees that God had given to him.} Each day the priests offered the sacrifices that were required for that day.

{\w Fifteen|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w days|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w after|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w started|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w offer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacrifices|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*,} \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w celebrated|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Festival|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Shelters|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. {\w Moses|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w commanded|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w decrees|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w given|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.} \w Each|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w day|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w offered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w sacrifices|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w required|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w day|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*.

From then on, they presented the regular burnt offerings and the {other required} offerings{. These were} for the New Moon festivals and the other festivals that they celebrated as special times each year to honor Yahweh. They also brought other offerings to Yahweh just because they wanted to{, not because they were required to bring them}.

\w From|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w presented|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w regular|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w burnt|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w offerings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* {\w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w required|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w offerings|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*{. \w These|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w New|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Moon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w festivals|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w festivals|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w celebrated|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w special|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w times|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w each|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w year|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w honor|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w brought|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w offerings|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w just|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w wanted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w*{, \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w required|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w bring|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

But even though they started bringing burnt offerings to Yahweh at the beginning of autumn, they had not yet started rebuilding the temple.

\w But|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w even|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w though|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w started|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w bringing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w burnt|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w offerings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w at|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w beginning|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w autumn|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w yet|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w started|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w rebuilding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So the {leaders of the} Israelites hired stone-cutters and carpenters {to do the construction work}. They also bought logs of cedar trees from the people of {the cities of} Tyre and Sidon. To pay for the logs, the Israelites sent grain, wine, and olive oil to those people. Since King Cyrus had said that the Israelites could buy these things, the people of Tyre and Sidon {agreed. They} brought the logs down from the mountains in Lebanon {to the Mediterranean seacoast} and then floated them along the coast to {the city of} Joppa. {Then they brought the logs inland from Joppa up to Jerusalem.}

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="15"\w* {\w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="15"\w*} \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w hired|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w stone|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*-\w cutters|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w carpenters|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="15"\w* \w construction|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w bought|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w logs|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w cedar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w trees|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="15"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="15"\w* \w cities|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w*} \w Tyre|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Sidon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w To|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w pay|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="15"\w* \w logs|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="15"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w grain|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w wine|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w olive|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w oil|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*. \w Since|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="8" x-occurrences="15"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w buy|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="9" x-occurrences="15"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Tyre|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Sidon|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w agreed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w brought|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="10" x-occurrences="15"\w* \w logs|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w down|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="11" x-occurrences="15"\w* \w mountains|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Lebanon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="12" x-occurrences="15"\w* \w Mediterranean|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w seacoast|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w and|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w floated|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w along|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="13" x-occurrences="15"\w* \w coast|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="14" x-occurrences="15"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w*} \w Joppa|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. {\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w brought|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="15" x-occurrences="15"\w* \w logs|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w inland|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Joppa|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w up|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.}

The Israelites started to rebuild the temple in the second month of the second year after they had returned to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Joshua the son of Jozadak, their fellow leaders the priests and the Levites, and all the people who had come from where their enemies had taken them to Jerusalem supported this project. The leaders assigned the Levites who were twenty years old and older to supervise this work of rebuilding the temple for Yahweh.

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w started|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w second|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w month|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w second|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w year|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w after|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Zerubbabel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Shealtiel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Joshua|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jozadak|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w fellow|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="8" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w come|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w where|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w enemies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w taken|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w supported|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w project|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w The|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w assigned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="9" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w twenty|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w years|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w old|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w older|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w supervise|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w rebuilding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="10" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Jeshua, his sons, and his other relatives, and Kadmiel and his sons together helped to supervise those who were doing the work on the temple. They were all descendants of Judah. The sons and grandsons of Henadad along with the rest of their fellow Levites {joined in the work}.

\w Jeshua|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w sons|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w relatives|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Kadmiel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w sons|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w together|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w helped|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w supervise|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w doing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sons|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w grandsons|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Henadad|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w along|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w rest|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w fellow|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w joined|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*}.

When the builders finished laying the foundation of the temple of Yahweh, the priests and the Levites did what King David had told Asaph and the other musicians to do {many years previously} in order to praise Yahweh. The priests put on their robes and stood in their places, blowing their trumpets. Then the Levites who were descendants of Asaph clashed their cymbals.

\w When|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w builders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w finished|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w laying|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w foundation|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w David|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w told|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Asaph|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w musicians|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w years|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w previously|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w order|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w praise|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w put|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w robes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w stood|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w places|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w blowing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w trumpets|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Asaph|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w clashed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w cymbals|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Then the Levites praised Yahweh and thanked him by singing this song about him:

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w praised|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w thanked|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w by|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w singing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w song|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w about|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*:

“\w He|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w good|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w*!

He will continue to be faithful and kind to us Israelites {and he will love us} forever.” Then all the people shouted loudly. They praised Yahweh because they had finished laying the foundation of his temple.

\w He|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w continue|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w faithful|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w kind|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w love|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*} \w forever|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.” \w Then|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w shouted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w loudly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w praised|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w finished|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w laying|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w foundation|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Many of the old priests, Levites, and leaders of families remembered seeing the first temple. They cried aloud when they saw the workers lay the foundation of this temple {because they thought that this temple would not be as big or as beautiful as the first temple}. But the other people shouted joyfully in loud voices.

\w Many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w old|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w families|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w remembered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w seeing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w first|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w cried|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w aloud|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w when|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w saw|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w workers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w lay|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w foundation|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* {\w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w thought|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w big|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w beautiful|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w first|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w*}. \w But|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w shouted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w joyfully|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w loud|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w voices|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Since the shouting was so loud, no one could tell the difference between the people who were shouting joyfully and the people who were crying sorrowfully. All the noise was so loud that even people far away could hear it.

\w Since|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w shouting|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w loud|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w no|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w tell|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w difference|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w between|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w shouting|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w joyfully|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w crying|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sorrowfully|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w All|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w noise|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w loud|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w even|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w far|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w away|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w hear|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

The enemies of {the people of the tribes of} Judah and Benjamin learned that the Israelites who had returned from Babylon were rebuilding the temple for Yahweh, the God whom the people of Israel worship.

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w enemies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w tribes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w*} \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Benjamin|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w learned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuilding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w worship|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So they approached Zerubbabel the governor and the other clan leaders and {deceptively} said to them, “We want to help you to build the temple. After all, we also worship your God. We have been offering sacrifices to him since the time that Esarhaddon, the king of Assyria, brought us here.”

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w approached|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Zerubbabel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w governor|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w deceptively|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, “\w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w want|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w help|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w build|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w After|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w worship|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w We|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w been|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w offering|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacrifices|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w since|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Esarhaddon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Assyria|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w brought|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w here|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.”

But Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the other Jewish clan leaders replied, “We will not allow you to help us build a temple for our God. No, we alone will build it for Yahweh, the God whom Israel worships, because that is what King Cyrus of Persia told us to do.”

\w But|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Zerubbabel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Joshua|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jewish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w replied|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, “\w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w allow|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w help|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w build|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w No|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w alone|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w build|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w worships|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Persia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w told|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.”

Then the people who had been living in that land {before the Israelites returned there} started doing things to make the Jews discouraged and afraid to continue building {the temple}.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w been|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w living|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w land|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w before|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w started|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w doing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w make|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w discouraged|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w afraid|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w continue|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w building|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

They bribed government officials to prevent the Jews from fulfilling their plans {to rebuild the temple and the city}. They did that all during the time that Cyrus was king of Persia, and continued to do it during {the time of the kings after him, including} the time when Darius was king of Persia.

\w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w bribed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w government|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w prevent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w fulfilling|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w plans|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w They|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w during|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Persia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w continued|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w during|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w kings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w after|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w including|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w when|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Darius|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Persia|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*.

These enemies of the Jews continued to accuse them during the time that {Darius’ son} Ahasuerus was king. When Ahasuerus became king, they wrote a letter to him in which they accused the people living in the province of Judah and the city of Jerusalem {of planning to rebel against the government}.

\w These|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w enemies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w continued|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w accuse|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w during|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w Darius|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*’ \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w Ahasuerus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w When|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ahasuerus|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w became|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w wrote|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w which|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w accused|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w living|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w planning|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w rebel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w against|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w government|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

Then again during the time of Artaxerxes, {who was the next} king of Persia, the enemies of the Jews wrote a letter to him. Some men named Bishlam, Mithredath, and Tabeel were the leaders of this group. They had someone write the letter for them in the Aramaic language, using the Aramaic alphabet.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w again|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w during|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Artaxerxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, {\w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w next|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Persia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w enemies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w wrote|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w named|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Bishlam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Mithredath|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Tabeel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w group|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w someone|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w write|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w Aramaic|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w language|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w using|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="8" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w Aramaic|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w alphabet|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Rehum, the high commissioner, and Shimshai, the provincial secretary, agreed that they could write the letter to King Artaxerxes {with their authority} to protest about what was happening in Jerusalem. This is what they wrote:

\w Rehum|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w high|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w commissioner|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Shimshai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w provincial|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w secretary|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w agreed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w write|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Artaxerxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w authority|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w protest|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w about|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w happening|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w wrote|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:

From Rehum the high commissioner, Shimshai the provincial secretary, and others with us who are judges and other government officials{. We represent the people} from {the areas of} Persia, Erech, Babylon, and Susa in the district of Elam,

\w From|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Rehum|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w high|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w commissioner|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Shimshai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w provincial|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w secretary|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w others|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w judges|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w government|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*{. \w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w represent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w areas|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w Persia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Erech|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Susa|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w district|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Elam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

as well as the other people groups whom the great and glorious Ashurbanipal had deported and sent to live in cities in Samaria and in the rest of the province west of the {Euphrates} River. Therefore:

\w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w well|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w groups|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w great|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w glorious|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ashurbanipal|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w deported|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w live|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w cities|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Samaria|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w rest|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w west|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* {\w Euphrates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w River|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Therefore|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:

(\w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w wrote|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:)

 This letter is for King Artaxerxes. It comes from the officials serving you who live in the province west of the Euphrates River. Therefore:

 \w This|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Artaxerxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w It|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w comes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w serving|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w live|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w west|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Euphrates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w River|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Therefore|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:

“Your Majesty, we want you to know that the Jews who left from your territories are now living near us. They are rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. These people are wicked and want to rebel against you. Therefore, they are now rebuilding the walls {of that city} and repairing the foundations {of its buildings}.

“\w Your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Majesty|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w want|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w know|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w left|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w territories|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w now|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w living|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w near|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w rebuilding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w These|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w wicked|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w want|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w rebel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w against|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Therefore|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w now|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w rebuilding|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w walls|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w repairing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w foundations|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w its|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w buildings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

It is important for you to know that if they rebuild this city and finish building its walls, they will stop paying any taxes. As a result, there will be less money in your treasury.

\w It|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w important|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w know|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w if|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w finish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w building|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w its|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w walls|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w stop|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w paying|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w any|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w taxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w As|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w result|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w less|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w money|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w treasury|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So, because we are loyal to you, and because we do not want anyone to humiliate you, for these reasons we are sending this information to you.

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w loyal|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w want|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w anyone|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w humiliate|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*, \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w reasons|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sending|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w information|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*.

We suggest that you {order your officials to} search among the records that your predecessors kept. {If you do that,} you will find out that the people in this city have always rebelled against their rulers. You will find out that these people have withheld taxes from kings and from rulers of provinces. You will find out that from long ago the leaders of this city have started rebellions. That is the reason why {the Babylonian army} destroyed this city.

\w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w suggest|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* {\w order|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w search|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w among|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w records|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w predecessors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kept|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. {\w If|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w*,} \w you|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w find|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w always|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebelled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w against|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rulers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w You|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w find|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w withheld|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w taxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w kings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w rulers|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w provinces|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w You|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w find|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w long|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ago|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w started|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebellions|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w That|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w reason|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w why|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Babylonian|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w army|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w destroyed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*.

We want you to know that if they rebuild this city and finish building its walls, then you will no longer be able to control {any of the people in} this province west of the {Euphrates} River.”

\w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w want|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w know|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w if|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w finish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w building|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w its|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w walls|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w no|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w longer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w able|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w control|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w any|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w west|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w Euphrates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w River|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.”

{After} the king {read this letter, he} sent this reply to them:

{\w After|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w read|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w reply|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:

 “To you, Rehum, the high commissioner, and Shimshai, the provincial secretary, and your colleagues in Samaria and in other parts of the province that is west of the {Euphrates} River, I send my greetings. Therefore:

 “\w To|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Rehum|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w high|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w commissioner|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Shimshai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w provincial|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w secretary|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w colleagues|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Samaria|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w parts|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w west|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* {\w Euphrates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w River|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w send|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w greetings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Therefore|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:

My officials carefully read out loud to me the letter that you sent to us.

\w My|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w carefully|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w read|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w loud|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w me|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Then I ordered my officials to search {the records}. I have found out that {what you said is true.} The people of Jerusalem have repeatedly revolted against their rulers, beginning a long time ago.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w ordered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w search|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w records|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w found|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w true|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.} \w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w repeatedly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w revolted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w against|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rulers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w beginning|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w long|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ago|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

{In the past,} powerful kings ruled in Jerusalem. They also ruled over the whole province west of the {Euphrates} River. They forced the people there to pay them all kinds of taxes.

{\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w past|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,} \w powerful|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ruled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ruled|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w over|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w whole|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w west|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* {\w Euphrates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w River|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w forced|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w pay|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kinds|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w taxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Therefore, you must command those Jews to stop rebuilding the city. They will only be allowed to resume if I tell them that they may rebuild it.

\w Therefore|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w must|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w command|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w stop|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuilding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w only|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w allowed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w resume|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w if|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w tell|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w may|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Do this immediately, because I do not want those people to do anything more that will cause me to lose {any territory or income}.”

\w Do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w immediately|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w want|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w anything|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w more|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w cause|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w me|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w lose|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w any|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w territory|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w income|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.”

Then King Artaxerxes sent {messengers with} a copy of the letter to Rehum and Shimshai the provincial secretary and their colleagues. As soon as the messengers finished reading it out loud to them, Rehum and Shimshai and their colleagues went quickly to the Jews in Jerusalem, and they forced the Jews to stop rebuilding {the city}.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Artaxerxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w messengers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w copy|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Rehum|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Shimshai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w provincial|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w secretary|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w colleagues|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w As|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w soon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w messengers|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w finished|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w reading|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w loud|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Rehum|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Shimshai|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w colleagues|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w went|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w quickly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w forced|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w stop|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuilding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

{Because the enemies of the Jews kept opposing them so strongly in these ways,} the Jews had stopped rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. They did not do any more work to rebuild the temple until the second year after Darius had become the king of Persia.

{\w Because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w enemies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w kept|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w opposing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w strongly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ways|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,} \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w stopped|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuilding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w any|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w more|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w until|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w second|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w year|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w after|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Darius|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w become|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Persia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

At that time two prophets were giving messages from God to the Jews living in Jerusalem and in other cities in Judah{, saying that they should continue rebuilding the temple}. Those prophets were Haggai and Zechariah, the son of Iddo. They spoke their messages representing the God whom the people of Israel worshiped, the one who ruled them.

\w At|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w two|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w prophets|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w giving|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w messages|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w living|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w cities|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*{, \w saying|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w should|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w continue|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuilding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w Those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w prophets|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Haggai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Zechariah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Iddo|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w spoke|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w messages|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w representing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w worshiped|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ruled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak led many other people to start rebuilding the temple of God in Jerusalem again. God’s prophets Haggai and Zechariah were with them and helping them.

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Zerubbabel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Shealtiel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Joshua|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jozadak|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w led|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w start|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuilding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w again|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w prophets|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Haggai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Zechariah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w helping|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*.

But then Tattenai, the governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-Bozenai went to Jerusalem together with some of their officials and said to the people, “Who has permitted you to do all this work to rebuild this temple?”

\w But|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Tattenai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w governor|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w west|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Euphrates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w River|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Shethar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*-\w Bozenai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w went|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w together|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, “\w Who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w has|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w permitted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*?”

They also asked the Jews to tell them the names of the men who were working on this temple.

\w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w asked|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w tell|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w names|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w working|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

However, God was taking care of the Jewish leaders, and their enemies did not make them stop {building the temple}. Instead, the enemies sent King Darius a report and waited for him to send back a decree about it. {The decree would either allow the Jewish leaders to finish their work on the temple, or else it would command them to stop their work completely}.

\w However|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w taking|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w care|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Jewish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w enemies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w make|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w stop|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w building|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*}. \w Instead|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w enemies|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Darius|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w report|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w waited|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w send|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w back|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w decree|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w about|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. {\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w decree|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w either|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w allow|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Jewish|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w finish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w or|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w else|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w command|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w stop|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w completely|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

This is a copy of the report that Tattenai, governor of the province of Beyond-the-River, Shethar-Bozenai, and their associates, {who were} the officials of the province of Beyond-the-River, sent to King Darius.

\w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w copy|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w report|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Tattenai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w governor|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Beyond|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*-\w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w*-\w River|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w Shethar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*-\w Bozenai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w associates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, {\w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Beyond|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*-\w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w*-\w River|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Darius|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

When they sent the report to him, this is what they wrote in it:

\w When|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w report|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w wrote|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:

 “\w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Darius|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w hope|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w everything|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w going|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w well|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

We want you to know that we went to the temple of the great God in the province of Judah. The people are building it with huge stones, and they are putting wooden beams in the walls. They are doing this work very carefully, and they are making good progress.

\w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w want|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w know|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w went|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w great|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w building|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w huge|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w stones|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w putting|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w wooden|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w beams|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w walls|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w doing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w carefully|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w making|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w good|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w progress|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So we asked the Jewish leaders, ‘Who has permitted you to rebuild this temple?’

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w asked|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jewish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, ‘\w Who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w has|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w permitted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*?’

We also asked them for the names of their leaders so that we could write them down and so that we could inform you who their leaders were.

\w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w asked|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w names|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w write|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w down|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w inform|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

This is what they told us in reply. They said, ‘We serve the God who created heaven and earth. We are rebuilding his temple, which a great king of Israel originally completed many years ago.

\w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w told|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w reply|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, ‘\w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w serve|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w created|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w heaven|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w earth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w We|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuilding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w which|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w great|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w originally|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w completed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w years|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ago|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

But our ancestors did things that caused God, who is in heaven, to become very angry. So God allowed {the armies of} Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, a Chaldean, to conquer them. His armies destroyed that temple, and they took many of the Israelite people to Babylon.

\w But|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ancestors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w caused|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w heaven|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w become|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w angry|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w allowed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w armies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w*} \w Nebuchadnezzar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Chaldean|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w conquer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w His|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w armies|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w destroyed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w took|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*.

However, during the first year that Cyrus ruled as king of Babylon, he decreed that our people could rebuild the temple for God.

\w However|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w during|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w first|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w year|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ruled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w decreed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

There had been a lot of containers made of gold and silver in the temple of God. Nebuchadnezzar took them from the temple in Jerusalem and brought them to a temple {for his god} in Babylon. Later, King Cyrus removed those containers from that temple in Babylon and gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he appointed as governor {of Judah}.

\w There|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w been|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w lot|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w containers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w made|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Nebuchadnezzar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w took|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w brought|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* {\w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w god|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w in|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Later|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w removed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w containers|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w man|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w named|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Sheshbazzar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w appointed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w governor|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

King Cyrus told Sheshbazzar to take these containers and put them back in the temple in Jerusalem. He also decreed that the Jews should rebuild the temple at the place where it had been before.

\w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w told|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Sheshbazzar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w take|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w containers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w put|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w back|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w He|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w decreed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w should|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w at|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w place|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w where|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w been|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w before|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So Sheshbazzar came here to Jerusalem and {supervised the men who} laid the foundation of this temple. And since that time, the people have been working on the temple, but they have not finished it yet.’

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Sheshbazzar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w came|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w here|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w supervised|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w laid|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w foundation|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w And|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w since|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w been|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w working|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w but|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w finished|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w yet|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.’

Therefore, your Majesty, please order your officials to search in the place in Babylon where you keep the royal records. Have them find out whether or not it is true that King Cyrus decreed that the Jews should rebuild this temple of God in Jerusalem. Then please tell us what you would like us to do about this matter.”

\w Therefore|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Majesty|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w please|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w order|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w search|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w place|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w where|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w keep|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w royal|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w records|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w find|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whether|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w true|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w decreed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w should|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w please|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w tell|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w like|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w about|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w matter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.”

So King Darius commanded his servants to search in the places where he kept important records there in the kingdom of Babylon.

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Darius|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w commanded|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w servants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w search|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w places|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w where|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kept|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w important|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w records|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w kingdom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

They {searched, and they} found a scroll {that contained the information that they wanted to know} in the fortress city of Ecbatana in the province of Media. This is what that scroll said:

\w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w searched|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w found|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w scroll|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w contained|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w information|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w wanted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w know|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w fortress|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Ecbatana|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Media|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w scroll|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:

“During the first year that King Cyrus ruled the empire, he sent out a decree concerning the temple of God that was in Jerusalem. He said, ‘I command that the Jews shall build a new temple in the same place where they had previously offered sacrifices. They must make the temple 27 meters high and 27 meters wide.

“\w During|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w first|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w year|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ruled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w empire|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w decree|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w concerning|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w He|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, ‘\w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w command|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w shall|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w build|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w new|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w same|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w place|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w where|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w previously|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w offered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacrifices|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w must|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w make|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w 27|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w meters|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w high|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 27|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w meters|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w wide|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

They must build the temple from large stones. {After putting down} three layers of stones, {the workers must put} a layer of new timber {on top of them}. I will pay for this work with money from the royal treasury.

\w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w must|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w build|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w large|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w stones|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. {\w After|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w putting|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w down|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w three|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w layers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w stones|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, {\w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w workers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w must|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w put|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w layer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w new|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w timber|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w top|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w pay|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w money|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w royal|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w treasury|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

I also give back {to the Jews} the gold and silver containers that had belonged to the temple of God but that Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon. The Jews must take these and return them to the temple in Jerusalem. The Jews must put each one back in its original place in the temple of God.’”

\w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w give|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w back|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w*} \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w containers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w belonged|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w but|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Nebuchadnezzar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w took|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w brought|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w must|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w take|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w return|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w The|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w must|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w put|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w each|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w back|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w its|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w original|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w place|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*.’”

{After learning this from the scroll, King Darius had a scribe write that information in a letter that he sent to the leaders of the enemies of the Jews in Jerusalem. He also included this message:} “This is a message for you, Tattenai, the governor of {the province} west of the {Euphrates} River, for you, Shethar-Bozenai, and for all of your associates, who are the officials of that province: Stay away from there!

{\w After|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w learning|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w scroll|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Darius|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w scribe|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w write|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w information|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w enemies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w He|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w included|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w message|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*:} “\w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w message|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w Tattenai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w governor|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w west|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="8"\w* {\w Euphrates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w River|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w for|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w Shethar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*-\w Bozenai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w associates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="8" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*: \w Stay|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w away|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*!

Allow them to continue the work of rebuilding that temple of God. Allow the governor of the Jews and their elders to lead their people in building this new temple on the same site as the former temple.

\w Allow|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w continue|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w rebuilding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Allow|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w governor|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w elders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w lead|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w building|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w new|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w same|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w site|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w former|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*.

Furthermore, I command you to help these leaders of the Jews {in the following ways} as they rebuild this temple of God. You must be sure to give these men funds so that they can continue the building work. Take the money from my treasury, from the tribute you collect in {the province} west of the {Euphrates} River.

\w Furthermore|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w command|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w help|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w following|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ways|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w You|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w must|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sure|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w give|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w funds|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w can|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w continue|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w building|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Take|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w money|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w treasury|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w tribute|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w collect|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w west|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="7"\w* {\w Euphrates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w River|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

The priests in Jerusalem need animals to sacrifice as burnt offerings to the God who is in heaven. This may include young bulls or rams or lambs. They may also need wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil {to go with those sacrifices}. Make sure that you diligently give them whatever they demand of those things every day.

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w need|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w animals|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w sacrifice|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w burnt|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w offerings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w heaven|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w may|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w include|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w young|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w bulls|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w rams|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w lambs|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w may|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w need|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w wheat|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w salt|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w wine|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w olive|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w oil|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w go|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sacrifices|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w Make|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sure|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w diligently|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w give|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whatever|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w demand|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w every|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w day|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

When you do that, they will be able to offer sacrifices that please the God who is in heaven, and they will be able to pray that God will bless me and my sons.

\w When|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w able|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w offer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacrifices|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w please|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w heaven|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w able|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w pray|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w bless|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w me|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sons|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

This is what I command about anyone who disobeys this decree. My soldiers will pull a beam from his house {and sharpen one end of it}. Then they will bury the other end of the beam in the ground so that it stands upright. Then they will pick that person up and ram his body onto the {sharpened} beam. Then they will completely destroy that person’s house until only a pile of rubble is left, because he disobeyed me.

\w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w command|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w about|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w anyone|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w disobeys|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w decree|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w My|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w soldiers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w pull|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w beam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w house|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sharpen|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w end|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*}. \w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w bury|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w end|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w beam|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w ground|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w stands|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w upright|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Then|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w pick|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w person|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w up|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w ram|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w body|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w onto|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* {\w sharpened|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w beam|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*. \w Then|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w completely|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w destroy|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w person|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w house|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w until|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w only|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w pile|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w rubble|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w left|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w disobeyed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w me|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

God himself has chosen that city of Jerusalem as the place where people will honor him. May he get rid of any king or any nation that tries to change this decree or destroy that temple in Jerusalem! I, Darius, make this decree. You must completely obey it.”

\w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w himself|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w has|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w chosen|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w place|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w where|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w honor|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w May|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w get|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rid|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w any|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w any|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w nation|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w tries|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w change|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w decree|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w destroy|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*! \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Darius|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w make|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w decree|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w You|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w must|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w completely|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w obey|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.”

Tattenai, the governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates {read the message from King Darius and} immediately obeyed what the message from King Darius commanded them to do.

\w Tattenai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w governor|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w west|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Euphrates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w River|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Shethar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*-\w Bozenai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w associates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w read|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w message|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Darius|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*} \w immediately|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w obeyed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w message|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Darius|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w commanded|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So the Jewish leaders continued to progress in their work of rebuilding {the temple}. The messages that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo preached encouraged them greatly. The people worked until they completed {the temple}, just as their God had commanded them to do, and just as the Persian kings Cyrus and Darius had decreed, and as the Persian king Artaxerxes {would decree later}.

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w Jewish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w continued|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w progress|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w rebuilding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*}. \w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w messages|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w prophets|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Haggai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Zechariah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Iddo|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w preached|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w encouraged|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w greatly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w The|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w worked|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w until|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w completed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*}, \w just|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w commanded|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w just|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w Persian|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w kings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Cyrus|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Darius|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w decreed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w Persian|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Artaxerxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w decree|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w later|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

The people finished building this temple on the third day of the month of Adar, during the sixth year that King Darius ruled {the kingdom of Persia}.

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w finished|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w building|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w third|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w day|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w month|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Adar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w during|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w sixth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w year|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Darius|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ruled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w kingdom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Persia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

Then the people of Israel, {that is,} the priests, the Levites, and everyone else who had returned from Babylonia, joyfully dedicated this temple to God.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, {\w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,} \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w everyone|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w else|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w joyfully|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w dedicated|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

During the ceremony to dedicate this temple to God, they sacrificed 100 young bulls, 200 rams, and 400 lambs. They also sacrificed 12 male goats as an offering so that God would forgive the sins of all the people, because that was how many tribes there were in Israel.

\w During|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w ceremony|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w dedicate|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacrificed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w 100|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w young|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w bulls|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w 200|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rams|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 400|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w lambs|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacrificed|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w 12|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w male|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w goats|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w an|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w offering|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w forgive|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w sins|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w how|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w tribes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Then the Jewish leaders divided the priests and Levites into groups that would take turns serving in the temple of God in Jerusalem. They did this according to what Moses had written {many years previously} in the law.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jewish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w divided|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w into|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w groups|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w take|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w turns|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w serving|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w according|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Moses|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w written|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w years|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w previously|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w in|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w law|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

On the fourteenth day of the first month, the Jews who had returned from Babylonia celebrated the Passover Festival.

\w On|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w fourteenth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w day|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w first|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w month|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w celebrated|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Passover|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Festival|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

{To qualify themselves for offering the sacrifices,} all the priests and Levites had already purified themselves by performing the proper rituals. Then they slaughtered the lambs for the benefit of everyone who had returned from Babylonia, for the other priests, and for themselves.

{\w To|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w qualify|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w themselves|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w offering|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w sacrifices|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,} \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w already|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w purified|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w themselves|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w by|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w performing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w proper|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rituals|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w slaughtered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w lambs|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w benefit|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w everyone|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w for|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w themselves|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*.

All of the Israelite people celebrated the Passover. This included the Israelites who had returned from Babylonia and the people who had separated themselves from the people of the area around them who worshiped other gods. They separated themselves from those people and joined the Israelites so that they could worship Yahweh, the God whom the Israelite people worshiped.

\w All|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="9"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w celebrated|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="9"\w* \w Passover|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w included|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="9"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="9"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w separated|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w themselves|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="9"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="9"\w* \w area|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w around|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w worshiped|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gods|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w separated|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w themselves|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w joined|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="9"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w could|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w worship|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="8" x-occurrences="9"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="9" x-occurrences="9"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w worshiped|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*.

Then for the next seven days, they joyfully celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread. They were joyful because Yahweh had caused the king of Assyria to be favorable to them. As a result, the king had helped them to rebuild the temple of God, the God whom Israel worshiped.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w next|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w seven|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w days|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w joyfully|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w celebrated|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Festival|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Unleavened|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Bread|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w joyful|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w caused|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Assyria|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w favorable|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w As|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w result|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w helped|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w worshiped|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Many years later, during the time when Artaxerxes was the king of Persia, {there was a man named} Ezra{. He} was a descendant of Seraiah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah.

\w Many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w years|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w later|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w during|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w when|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Artaxerxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Persia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, {\w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w man|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w named|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*{. \w He|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w was|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w descendant|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Seraiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Azariah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Hilkiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Hilkiah was the son of Shallum, who was the son of Zadok, who was a descendant of Ahitub,

\w Hilkiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Shallum|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Zadok|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendant|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Ahitub|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

who was a descendant of Amariah, who was the son of Azariah, who was a descendant of Meraioth,

\w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w descendant|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Amariah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Azariah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w descendant|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Meraioth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

who was the son of Zerahiah, who was the son of Uzzi, who was the son of Bukki,

\w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Zerahiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Uzzi|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Bukki|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

who was the son of Abishua, who was the son of Phinehas, who was the son of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron, the {first} Supreme Priest.

\w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Abishua|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Phinehas|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Eleazar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Aaron|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* {\w first|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w Supreme|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Priest|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

This man Ezra knew the laws of Moses very well. Those were the laws that Yahweh had given to the people who worship him, the Israelite people. {Ezra asked the king for many things and} the king gave Ezra everything that he asked for because Yahweh, the God whom Ezra worshiped, caused all of it to go well for him. Then Ezra traveled from Babylon {to Jerusalem}.

\w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w man|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w knew|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w laws|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Moses|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w well|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w laws|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w given|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w worship|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*. {\w Ezra|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w asked|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w everything|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w asked|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w worshiped|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w caused|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w go|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w well|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w traveled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

Many Israelite people came with Ezra to Jerusalem, including some priests, some Levites, some musicians, some gatekeepers, and some {of the descendants of} men who worked in the temple. That was during the seventh year that Artaxerxes was the king of Persia.

\w Many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w came|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w including|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w some|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w some|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w musicians|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w some|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w gatekeepers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* {\w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*} \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w worked|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w That|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w during|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w seventh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w year|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Artaxerxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Persia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Ezra {and the group with him} arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year that Artaxerxes was king.

\w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w group|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w arrived|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w fifth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w month|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w seventh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w year|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Artaxerxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Consider this: They started out from Babylon on the first day of the first month. They arrived safely in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month of that year. God certainly acted very kindly toward them.

\w Consider|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*: \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w started|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w first|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w day|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w first|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w month|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w arrived|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w safely|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w first|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w day|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w fifth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w month|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w year|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w certainly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w acted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kindly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w toward|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

{God made Ezra’s journey successful} because Ezra had devoted himself to studying the laws of Yahweh and understanding how to obey them. He had also devoted himself to teach everything in those laws to the Israelite people.

{\w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w made|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w journey|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w successful|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w devoted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w himself|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w studying|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w laws|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w understanding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w how|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w obey|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w He|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w devoted|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w himself|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w teach|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w everything|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w laws|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

King Artaxerxes gave a letter to Ezra the priest and scribe who studied what Yahweh had commanded in the law that Yahweh had given to Israel. This is what the letter said:

\w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Artaxerxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w priest|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w scribe|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w studied|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w commanded|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w law|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w given|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:

“This letter is from Artaxerxes, the greatest of the kings. I am giving it to Ezra the priest, who has carefully studied the law that the God who is in heaven gave {to the Israelite people}. Greetings. This is what I want you to know:

“\w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Artaxerxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w greatest|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w kings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w am|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w giving|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w priest|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w has|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w carefully|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w studied|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w law|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w heaven|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w Greetings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w This|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w want|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w know|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*:

I am commanding that any of the Israelite people in my kingdom may go with you to Jerusalem if they want to go. That includes priests and Levites.

\w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w am|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w commanding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w any|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kingdom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w may|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w go|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w if|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w want|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w go|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w That|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w includes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

I, the king, and my seven advisors are sending you to investigate whether the people of Judah and Jerusalem are following the law of your God that you carry.

\w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w seven|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w advisors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sending|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w investigate|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whether|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w following|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w law|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w carry|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

We are also telling you to take with you the silver and gold that I and my advisors will give to you. We give it freely to the God of Israel who has a temple in Jerusalem.

\w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w telling|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w take|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w advisors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w give|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*. \w We|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w give|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w freely|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w has|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

You should also take any silver and gold that {the people in} the entire province of Babylonia may give to you. Add that to the money that the Israelite people and the priests freely give for you to use at the temple of their God in Jerusalem.

\w You|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w should|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w take|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w any|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w entire|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w may|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w give|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Add|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w money|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w freely|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w give|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w use|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w at|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Then carefully use this money to buy the bulls, rams, and lambs that the priests will burn on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem. Also buy the grain and wine that go with these offerings.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w carefully|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w use|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w money|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w buy|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w bulls|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w rams|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w lambs|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w burn|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w altar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w buy|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w grain|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w wine|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w go|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w offerings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

If there is any silver or gold left over {after you buy all of those things}, you and your companions may use it to buy whatever you think that your God wants you to buy.

\w If|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w any|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w left|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w over|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w after|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w buy|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}, \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w companions|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w may|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w use|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w buy|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w whatever|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w think|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w wants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w buy|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*.

We have also given to you some {valuable} containers for the priests to use in the temple of your God. Take all of them to your God in Jerusalem.

\w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w given|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w valuable|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w containers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w use|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Take|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

If you need to supply any other things for the temple of your God, I permit you to get the money {to pay for those things} from the royal treasury.

\w If|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w need|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w supply|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w any|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w permit|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w get|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w money|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w pay|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w royal|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w treasury|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

And I, King Artaxerxes, personally command this to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River: Ezra is a priest who has carefully studied the laws of the God who is in heaven. If there is anything that he requests, give it to him quickly.

\w And|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Artaxerxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w personally|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w command|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w treasurers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w west|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Euphrates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w River|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*: \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w priest|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w has|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w carefully|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w studied|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w laws|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w heaven|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w If|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w anything|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w requests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w give|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w quickly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Give him up to three and one-third metric tons of silver, up to 500 bushels of wheat, up to two and one-fifth kiloliters of wine, up to the same amount of olive oil, and all the salt that he requests.

\w Give|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w up|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w three|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*-\w third|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w metric|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w tons|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w up|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w 500|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w bushels|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w wheat|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w up|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w two|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*-\w fifth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kiloliters|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w wine|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w up|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w same|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w amount|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w olive|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w oil|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w salt|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w requests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Be sure that you provide everything that the God who is in heaven requires for his temple. We certainly do not want this God to be angry with me or with my descendants{, who will later be kings, because I did not provide what he required}.

\w Be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sure|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w provide|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w everything|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w heaven|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w requires|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w certainly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w want|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w angry|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w me|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*{, \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w later|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w kings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w provide|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w required|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

By means of this letter, I also prohibit you from collecting tax payments of any kind from any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, or any men who work in the temple. They are exempt from taxes {because} they serve in the temple of this God.

\w By|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w means|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w prohibit|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w collecting|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w tax|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w payments|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w any|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w kind|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w any|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w musicians|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w gatekeepers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w or|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w any|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w exempt|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w taxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w serve|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Now I will address you, Ezra. The God whom you worship has made you wise. Therefore, I want you to appoint men who can settle disputes between people and interpret God’s laws for all {of the Jews} in the province west of the Euphrates River. They must do this for all of those who know the laws of this God, and all of you must teach God’s laws to those who do not know them.

\w Now|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w address|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w*, \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w worship|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w has|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w made|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w wise|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Therefore|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w want|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w appoint|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w can|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w settle|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w disputes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w between|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w interpret|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w laws|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* {\w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w west|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Euphrates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w River|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w must|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w know|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w laws|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w must|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w teach|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w laws|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w know|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

{You and the men whom you appoint} must make sure to severely punish everyone who does not obey my law or the law of the God whom you worship. You may decide whether to execute them or to send them out of the country or to take away all of their property or to put them in prison.”

{\w You|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w appoint|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w must|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w make|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sure|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w severely|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w punish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w everyone|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w does|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w obey|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w law|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w law|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w worship|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w You|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w may|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w decide|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whether|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w execute|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w send|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w country|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w take|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w away|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w property|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w put|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w prison|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.”

{When I, Ezra, read this letter, I said,} “Praise Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors worshiped! He has caused the king to want to honor his temple in Jerusalem.

{\w When|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w read|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,} “\w Praise|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ancestors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w worshiped|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*! \w He|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w has|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w caused|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w want|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w honor|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

God also acted very kindly to me by causing the king and his advisors and all of his powerful officials to want to help me. When I saw how Yahweh, the God whom I worship, was making all of my plans succeed, I boldly asked some of the Israelite leaders to go {to Jerusalem} with me.”

\w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w acted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kindly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w me|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w by|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w causing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w advisors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w powerful|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w want|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w help|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w me|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*. \w When|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w saw|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w how|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w worship|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w making|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w plans|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w succeed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w I|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w boldly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w asked|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w go|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w me|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*.”

“This is a list of the names of the clan leaders, along with the names of their clans, who traveled {to Jerusalem} with me from Babylonia when Artaxerxes was king {of Persia}:

“\w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w list|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w names|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w along|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w names|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clans|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w traveled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w with|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w me|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w when|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Artaxerxes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Persia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}:

Gershom from the clan descended from {Aaron’s grandson} Phinehas.

\w Gershom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* {\w Aaron|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w grandson|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w Phinehas|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

 \w Daniel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* {\w Aaron|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w Ithamar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

 \w Hattush|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* {\w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w David|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

{\w Hattush|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendant|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Shecaniah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

 Zechariah and 150 other men from the clan descended from Parosh.

 \w Zechariah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 150|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Parosh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah and 200 other men from the clan descended from Pahath-Moab.

\w Eliehoenai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Zerahiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 200|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Pahath|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*-\w Moab|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Shecaniah son of Jahaziel and 300 other men from the clan descended from {Zattu}.

\w Shecaniah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jahaziel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 300|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w Zattu|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

Ebed son of Jonathan and 50 other men from the clan descended from Adin.

\w Ebed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jonathan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 50|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Adin|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Jeshaiah son of Athaliah and 70 other men from the clan descended from Elam.

\w Jeshaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Athaliah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 70|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Elam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Zebadiah son of Michael and 80 other men from the clan descended from Shephatiah.

\w Zebadiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Michael|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 80|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Shephatiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Obadiah son of Jehiel and 218 other men from the clan descended from Joab.

\w Obadiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jehiel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 218|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Joab|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Shelomith son of Josiphiah and 160 other men from the clan descended from {Bani}.

\w Shelomith|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Josiphiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 160|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w Bani|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

Zechariah son of Bebai and 28 other men from the clan descended from {another man whose name was} Bebai.

\w Zechariah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Bebai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 28|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w another|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w man|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whose|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w name|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w Bebai|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*.

Johanan son of Hakkatan and 110 other men from the clan descended from Azgad.

\w Johanan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Hakkatan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 110|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Azgad|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah and 60 other men from the clan descended from Adonikam. They were the last three leaders from the clan descended from Adonikam {that had not returned earlier with Zerubbabel}.

\w Eliphelet|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Jeuel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Shemaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w 60|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Adonikam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w last|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w three|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Adonikam|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w earlier|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Zerubbabel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

Uthai and Zaccur and 70 other men from the clan descended from Bigvai.

\w Uthai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Zaccur|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w 70|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descended|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Bigvai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

{This is an account of how we traveled to Jerusalem.} I gathered together all of these Israelites at the canal that goes from Babylon to Ahava. We set up our tents and stayed there for three days. {During that time} I interviewed the people and the priests and discovered that there were no Levites among us.

{\w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w an|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w account|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w how|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w traveled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.} \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w gathered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w together|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w at|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w canal|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w goes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Ahava|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w set|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w up|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w tents|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w stayed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w three|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w days|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. {\w During|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w interviewed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w discovered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w no|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w among|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, {another man named} Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were all leaders of the people. I also summoned Joiarib and {a third man named} Elnathan, who were wise.

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w summoned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Eliezer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Ariel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Shemaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Elnathan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w*, \w Jarib|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, {\w another|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w man|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w named|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w Elnathan|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*, \w Nathan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Zechariah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Meshullam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w summoned|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Joiarib|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w third|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w man|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w named|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w Elnathan|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w wise|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

I sent them all to Iddo, a Levite leader who was living in a place called Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and to his fellow Levites, the {descendants of} temple workers whom he oversaw there. I wanted them to send us some men who would {go with us to} work in the temple of our God.

\w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Iddo|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Levite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leader|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w living|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w place|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w called|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Kasiphia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w told|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w say|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Iddo|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w fellow|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w workers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w oversaw|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w I|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w wanted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w send|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w go|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w*} \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Because God acted kindly toward us, they brought us a very wise man named Sherebiah and 18 of his sons and other relatives. He was a descendant of Mahli, who was a grandson of Levi, the son of Israel.

\w Because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w acted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kindly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w toward|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w brought|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w wise|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w man|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w named|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Sherebiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w 18|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sons|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w relatives|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w He|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w descendant|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Mahli|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w grandson|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Levi|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

{They} also {sent to us} Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah, and 20 of his brothers and their sons. Both men were descendants of Merari {the son of Levi}.

{\w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w Hashabiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w along|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jeshaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w 20|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w brothers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sons|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Both|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Merari|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Levi|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

They also sent 220 other men to work in the temple. King David and his officials had apppointed the ancestors of these men to assist the Levites. I listed the names of all of these men.

\w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 220|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w work|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w King|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w David|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w apppointed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w ancestors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w assist|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w listed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w names|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*.

There alongside the Ahava Canal, I announced a time for all of us to abstain from eating food {and to pray}. {I told them that this was a time} to humble ourselves in the presence of our God and to pray that God would protect us, our children, and our possessions while we traveled.

\w There|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w alongside|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Ahava|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Canal|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w announced|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w abstain|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w eating|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w food|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w pray|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*}. {\w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w told|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w humble|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ourselves|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w presence|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w pray|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w protect|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w our|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w children|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w possessions|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w while|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w traveled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Previously we had told the king that our God takes care of all those who truly trust in him, but that he powerfully punishes everyone who refuses to obey him. So I would have been ashamed to ask the king to send soldiers and men riding on horses to protect us from our enemies while we were traveling along the road.

\w Previously|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w told|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w takes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w care|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w truly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w trust|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w but|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w powerfully|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w punishes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w everyone|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w refuses|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w obey|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w been|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ashamed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w ask|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w send|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w soldiers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w riding|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w horses|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w protect|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w enemies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w while|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w traveling|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w along|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w road|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So we abstained from eating food and we asked our God to protect us. We prayed to him, and he answered our prayer.

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w abstained|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w eating|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w food|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w asked|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w protect|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w prayed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w answered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w prayer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

I chose 12 of the leaders of the priests and brought them together with Sherebiah and Hashabiah and ten of the other Levites.

\w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w chose|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 12|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w brought|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w together|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Sherebiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Hashabiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w ten|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

I assigned to each of them a portion of the gifts of silver and gold and the other valuable items {to transport to Jerusalem}. These were the items that the king and his advisors and other officials, and the Israelite people who were living in Babylonia, had contributed for the temple of our God.

\w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w assigned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w each|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w portion|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w gifts|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w valuable|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w items|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w transport|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w These|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w items|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w advisors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w living|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w contributed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

As I gave these various items to those men, I weighed each of the items. This was the total: about 21 and one half metric tons of silver, items made from silver that altogether weighed three and one third metric tons, three and one third metric tons of gold,

\w As|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w various|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w items|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w weighed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w each|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w items|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*. \w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w total|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*: \w about|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 21|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w half|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w metric|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w tons|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w items|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w made|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w altogether|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w weighed|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w three|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w third|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w metric|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w tons|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*, \w three|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w third|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w metric|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w tons|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

20 gold bowls that altogether weighed about eight and one-half kilograms, and two items made of beautiful polished bronze that were as valuable as ones made of gold.

\w 20|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w bowls|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w altogether|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w weighed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w about|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w eight|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*-\w half|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kilograms|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w two|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w items|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w made|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w beautiful|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w polished|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w bronze|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w valuable|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w ones|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w made|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*.

I said to those priests and Levites, ‘I have set you apart from the others to serve Yahweh in a special way. The people have also set apart these valuable things for only him. The people also gave the silver and the gold voluntarily as an offering to Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors worshiped.

\w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, ‘\w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w set|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w apart|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w others|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w serve|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w special|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w way|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w set|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w apart|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w valuable|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w only|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w The|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w voluntarily|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w an|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w offering|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ancestors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w worshiped|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So guard them carefully. When we arrive in Jerusalem, weigh them out where the leading priests and Levites and the other leaders of the Israelite clans can see them. {They will then put them} in the storerooms in the temple of Yahweh.’

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w guard|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w carefully|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w When|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w arrive|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w weigh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w where|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w leading|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clans|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w can|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w see|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w*. {\w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w put|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w*} \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w storerooms|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.’

So these priests and Levites said that they would be responsible to transport all of the {gifts of} silver and gold and other valuable items to the temple of our God in Jerusalem.

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w responsible|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w transport|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w gifts|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*} \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w valuable|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w items|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

On the twelfth day of the first month, we left the Ahava Canal and started to travel to Jerusalem. Our God took care of us, and while we traveled, he prevented any enemies from attacking or robbing us.

\w On|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w twelfth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w day|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w first|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w month|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w left|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Ahava|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Canal|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w started|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w travel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w took|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w care|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w while|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w traveled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w prevented|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w any|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w enemies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w attacking|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w robbing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*.

\w After|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w arrived|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w we|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w rested|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w three|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w days|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Then on the fourth day we went to the temple of our God. There the priests and Levites weighed out the silver and gold and the other items and gave them to the leaders there. The leaders there were two priests, Meremoth the son of Uriah and Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and two Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w fourth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w day|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w went|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w There|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w weighed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w silver|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w gold|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w items|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w two|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w Meremoth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Uriah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w Eleazar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="8" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Phinehas|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w two|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w Jozabad|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="9" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Jeshua|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w Noadiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="10" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Binnui|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

They counted everything, and wrote down how much each item weighed, and wrote a description of each one as they received it.

\w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w counted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w everything|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w wrote|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w down|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w how|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w much|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w each|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w item|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w weighed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w wrote|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w description|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w each|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w received|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

The Babylonian soldiers had captured our ancestors and taken them away to Babylon, but now we who are their descendants have safely returned {to Israel}. So we offered sacrifices of burnt offerings to our God: 12 bulls, {one} for {each of the 12 tribes of} the Israelite people, 96 rams, and 77 lambs. We also sacrificed 12 male goats to atone for the sins {that all of the Israelite people had committed}. We offered all of these sacrifices to Yahweh by putting them on the fire {of the altar}.

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylonian|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w soldiers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w captured|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w ancestors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w taken|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w away|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Babylon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w but|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w now|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w safely|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w offered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sacrifices|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w burnt|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w offerings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*: \w 12|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w bulls|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, {\w one|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w each|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w 12|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w tribes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w*} \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w 96|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w rams|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w 77|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w lambs|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacrificed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w 12|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w male|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w goats|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w atone|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w sins|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w committed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w We|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w offered|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacrifices|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w by|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w putting|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w fire|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w of|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w altar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.

Some of us who had returned from Babylonia took the letter that the king had given to us to the governors of the king’s provinces and to the officials of the province west of the Euphrates River. {After they read the letter,} they did what the king commanded for us {Israelite} people and for the temple of God.”

\w Some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w took|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w given|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w governors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w provinces|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w west|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w Euphrates|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w River|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. {\w After|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w read|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="8" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w letter|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*,} \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="9" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w commanded|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* {\w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="10" x-occurrences="10"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.”

“After that, {some of} the {Jewish} leaders came to me and said, ‘Many Israelites and {even some} priests and Levites have not kept themselves from doing what the other people who are living in this land do. They are doing the same disgusting things that those people do. Those people are from the Canaanite, Hittite, Perizzite, Jebusite, Ammonite, Moabite, Egyptian, and Amorite people groups.

“\w After|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, {\w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* {\w Jewish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w came|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w me|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, ‘\w Many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* {\w even|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kept|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w themselves|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w doing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w living|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w land|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w doing|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w same|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w disgusting|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Canaanite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Hittite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Perizzite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Jebusite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Ammonite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Moabite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Egyptian|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Amorite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w groups|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Specifically, some Israelite men have married women from these groups, and they have allowed their sons to do the same thing. So they are making us, God’s sacred people, to be no longer distinct from the other groups that live here. In fact, some of our leaders and officials have been the first ones to betray God in this way!’

\w Specifically|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w married|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w women|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w groups|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w allowed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sons|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w same|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w thing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w making|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacred|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w no|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w longer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w distinct|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w groups|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w live|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w here|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w fact|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w some|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w officials|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w been|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w first|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ones|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w betray|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w way|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*!’

When I heard that, {I was so sad and angry that} I tore my clothes and my robe. I even pulled out some hair from my head and my beard. Then I sat down. I was very dismayed.

\w When|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w heard|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, {\w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sad|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w angry|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w I|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w tore|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w clothes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w robe|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w I|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w even|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w pulled|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w out|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w hair|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w head|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w beard|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w sat|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w down|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w I|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w dismayed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Many of the Jews still respected God’s commandment {not to marry foreign women}, and they were upset and afraid because some of those who had returned from Babylonia had disobeyed it. They gathered around me as I sat there dismayed until the time of the evening sacrifice.

\w Many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w still|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w respected|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w commandment|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w marry|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w foreign|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w women|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w upset|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w afraid|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w disobeyed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gathered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w around|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w me|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sat|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w dismayed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w until|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w evening|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacrifice|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

When it was time to offer the evening sacrifice, I stopped sitting there, silently showing how ashamed and sad I felt. Still wearing those torn clothes, I got on my knees and opened my hands {in prayer} to Yahweh, my God,

\w When|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w offer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w evening|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacrifice|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w stopped|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sitting|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w silently|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w showing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w how|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ashamed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sad|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w felt|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Still|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w wearing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w torn|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clothes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w I|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w got|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w knees|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w opened|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w my|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w hands|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w prayer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w my|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

and this is what I prayed: ‘God, I belong to you. Yet I am very ashamed even to approach you in prayer. This is because the sins that we Israelites have committed are very bad. It is as though our sins are so many that they have risen up in a heap that is higher than our heads. We are so guilty for committing those sins that it is as though the heap of them has risen all the way up to you in heaven.

\w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w prayed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*: ‘\w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w I|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w belong|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w*. \w Yet|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w am|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w ashamed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w even|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w approach|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w prayer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w sins|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w committed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w bad|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w It|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w though|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sins|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w risen|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w up|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w heap|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w higher|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w than|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w heads|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w guilty|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w committing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sins|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w though|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w heap|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w has|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w risen|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w way|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w up|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w heaven|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Since the time of our ancestors until now, we{, the Jewish people,} have been very guilty of sinning {against you}. That is the reason why you, God, allowed {the armies of} the kings of other lands to do whatever they wanted to do with our people and with our kings and our priests. They killed {many of} them, they captured {many of} them, they robbed {many of} them, and they caused them all to be disgraced, just as we are today.

\w Since|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w ancestors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w until|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w now|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*{, \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Jewish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*,} \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w been|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w guilty|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w sinning|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w against|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*}. \w That|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w reason|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w why|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w allowed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w armies|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="7"\w*} \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w kings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="7"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w lands|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w whatever|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w wanted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w kings|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w killed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="7"\w*} \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w captured|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w many|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="7"\w*} \w them|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w robbed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w many|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="7"\w*} \w them|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w caused|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w disgraced|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w just|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w today|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

But for just a little while now, Yahweh our God, you have been kind to us. You have allowed some of us to survive. You have given us a secure home in your sacred place. You have made us joyful and given us some freedom, even though the Persian king is still our master.

\w But|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w just|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w little|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w while|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w now|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w been|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kind|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w*. \w You|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w allowed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w survive|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w You|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w given|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w secure|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w home|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sacred|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w place|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w You|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w made|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w joyful|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w given|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w freedom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w even|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w though|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Persian|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w king|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w still|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w master|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Yes, we are like slaves, but even so, you have not abandoned us. Instead, you have caused the kings of Persia to act very kindly toward us. They have given us some freedom and allowed us to rebuild your temple, which had been destroyed. They have allowed us to live safely here in the province of Judah and the city of Jerusalem.

\w Yes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w like|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w slaves|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w but|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w even|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w abandoned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w*. \w Instead|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w caused|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w kings|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Persia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w act|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w kindly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w toward|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w given|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w freedom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w allowed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w rebuild|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w which|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w been|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w destroyed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w allowed|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w live|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w safely|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w here|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Our God, there is nothing that we can say now to defend ourselves after all {of the sinful things that we have done}. We have continued to disobey your commands.

\w Our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w nothing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w can|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w say|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w now|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w defend|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ourselves|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w after|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sinful|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w done|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w continued|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w disobey|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w commands|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

They are the commands that you gave to your servants, the prophets, to tell to us. They told us that it was as though the land that we would occupy was a filthy land because the people who live there do disgusting things. They said that those people continually do shameful things, making it seem like the land is full of filth from one end to the other.

\w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w commands|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gave|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w servants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w prophets|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w tell|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w told|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w though|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w land|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w occupy|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w filthy|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w land|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w live|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w disgusting|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w continually|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w shameful|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w making|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w seem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w like|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w land|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w full|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w filth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w end|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

{They said,} ‘Therefore do not allow your daughters to marry their sons! Do not allow your sons to marry their daughters! Do not ever try to cause things to go well for those people! If you obey these instructions, your nation will be strong. You will enjoy the good crops that grow on the land, and the land will belong to your descendants forever.’

{\w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,} ‘\w Therefore|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w allow|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w daughters|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w marry|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sons|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*! \w Do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w allow|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w sons|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w marry|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w daughters|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*! \w Do|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w ever|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w try|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w cause|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w go|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w well|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*! \w If|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w obey|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w instructions|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w your|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w nation|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w strong|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w You|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w enjoy|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w good|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w crops|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w grow|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w land|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w land|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w belong|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w forever|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.’

But you punished us because we became very guilty for doing wicked things. Still, you, our God, have not punished us as much as we deserve for you to punish us. I say this because you have allowed this group of us to survive.

\w But|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w punished|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w became|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w guilty|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w doing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w wicked|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Still|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w*, \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w punished|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w much|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w deserve|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w punish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w*. \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w say|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w allowed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w group|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w survive|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

However, some of us are again disobeying your commands. Some of us have married women from the people groups that do those detestable things. If we continue to do that, you will be so angry with us that you will destroy us completely, leaving none of us to survive!

\w However|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w again|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w disobeying|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w commands|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w married|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w women|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w groups|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w detestable|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w If|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w continue|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*, \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w angry|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w destroy|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w completely|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w leaving|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w none|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w survive|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*!

Yahweh, God of Israel, you always do the right thing! Because of that, you have continually allowed some of us to survive, just as you have done with this group now. But we acknowledge that we are guilty of disobeying you and so because of what we have done, we do not deserve even to pray to you.’”

\w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Israel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w always|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w right|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w thing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*! \w Because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w continually|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w allowed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w survive|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w just|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w done|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w group|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w now|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w But|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w acknowledge|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w guilty|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w disobeying|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w done|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w we|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w deserve|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w even|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w pray|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w*.’”

Ezra prostrated himself on the ground in front of the temple as he cried and prayed {to God}. He was confessing {to God the sins that the people had committed}. While he was doing that, a very large crowd of Israelites gathered around him, consisting of men, women, and children. They all cried very, very much {because they had sinned against God}.

\w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w prostrated|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w himself|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w on|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w ground|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w front|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w cried|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w prayed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w*}. \w He|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w confessing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w sins|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w committed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w While|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w doing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w large|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w crowd|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gathered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w around|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w him|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w consisting|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w women|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w children|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w cried|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*, \w very|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w much|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sinned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w against|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w*}.

Then Shecaniah, the son of Jehiel from the clan of Elam, spoke. He said this to Ezra: “We have disobeyed our God. Some of us have married women who are not Israelites. They come from the other people groups that live around us. But we can still hope {that Yahweh will be merciful to} us Israelite people.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Shecaniah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jehiel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Elam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w spoke|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w He|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*: “\w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w disobeyed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w married|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w women|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w come|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w groups|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w live|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w around|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*. \w But|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w can|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w still|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w hope|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w merciful|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*} \w us|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*.

Here is what I suggest. We should do what God told us to do in his laws. We should make an agreement with our God that we will divorce our foreign wives and send them away with their children. We will do everything according to what you, sir, and the others who greatly respect what our God has commanded, tell us to do.

\w Here|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w I|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w suggest|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w should|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w told|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w laws|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w We|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w should|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w make|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w an|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w agreement|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w divorce|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w foreign|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w wives|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w send|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w away|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w children|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w We|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w everything|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w according|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w sir|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w others|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w greatly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w respect|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w has|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w commanded|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w tell|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w*.

Since you are our leader, get going, and be courageous, and do {what is necessary to fix this problem}. We will do whatever you say.”

\w Since|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leader|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w get|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w going|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w courageous|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w necessary|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w fix|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w problem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w whatever|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w say|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.”

So Ezra acted {to fix the problem}. He demanded that all of the Israelite people, including the leaders of the priests and the Levites, solemnly declare that they would do what Shekaniah said that they should do. So they all solemnly promised {to do that}.

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w acted|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w fix|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w problem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w He|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w demanded|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w including|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w solemnly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w declare|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Shekaniah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w should|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w*. \w So|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w solemnly|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w promised|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w*}.

Then Ezra went away from in front of the temple and went to the room where Jehohanan the grandson of Eliashib lived. Ezra continued to grieve because some of the Israelites who had returned from Babylonia had not faithfully obeyed God’s laws. So while he was there, he did not eat or drink anything.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w went|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w away|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w front|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w went|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w room|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w where|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jehohanan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w grandson|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Eliashib|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w lived|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Ezra|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w continued|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w grieve|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="4"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w faithfully|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w obeyed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*’\w s|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w laws|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w while|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w he|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w eat|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w or|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w drink|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w anything|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Then the leaders sent a message to all the people in the province of Judan and the city of Jerusalem. They told them that all the Jews who had returned from Babylonia had to come to Jerusalem immediately.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w message|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w province|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Judan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w told|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Jews|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w come|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w immediately|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

The leaders announced the following penalties for anyone who did not arrive within three days. They would take away all the property belonging to that person, and they would banish that person from the community of Israelites.

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w announced|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w following|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w penalties|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w anyone|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w did|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w arrive|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w within|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w three|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w days|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w take|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w away|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w property|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w belonging|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w person|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w banish|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w person|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w community|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So within three days, by the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the men from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem. They were sitting in the courtyard in front of the temple. They were trembling because it was raining hard and {because they were worried that they would be punished} for what they had done.

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w within|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w three|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w days|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w by|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w twentieth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w day|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w ninth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w month|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w tribes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Benjamin|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w gathered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jerusalem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w sitting|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w courtyard|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w front|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="6"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w trembling|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w raining|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w hard|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* {\w because|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w worried|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w be|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w punished|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w done|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “Some of you have sinned very badly {against God}. Specifically, you have married women who are not Israelites. By doing that, you have made us Israelite people more guilty than we were before.

\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w priest|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w stood|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w up|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, “\w Some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w sinned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w badly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w against|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}. \w Specifically|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w you|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w married|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w women|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w By|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w doing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w you|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w made|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w more|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w guilty|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w than|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w before|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So now, confess your sin to Yahweh, the God whom your ancestors worshiped, and do what he commands. {That is,} separate yourselves from the people of other nations by divorcing your foreign wives.”

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w now|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w confess|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w sin|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Yahweh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whom|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w ancestors|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w worshiped|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w he|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w commands|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. {\w That|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,} \w separate|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w yourselves|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w people|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w nations|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w by|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w divorcing|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w your|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w foreign|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w wives|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.”

The whole group answered, shouting loudly, “Yes, we must do what you have said.”

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w whole|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w group|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w answered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w shouting|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w loudly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, “\w Yes|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w must|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.”

{Then one of them said,} “But we are a very large group, and it is raining hard. We cannot continue to stand outside in this rain. Also, since many of us have committed this sin, it will take a long time to make things right again.

{\w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w one|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,} “\w But|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w are|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w very|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w large|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w group|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w raining|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w hard|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w We|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w cannot|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w continue|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w stand|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w outside|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w rain|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w since|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w many|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w committed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sin|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w it|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w take|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w long|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w make|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w things|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w right|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w again|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

So please allow our leaders to decide what we should all do. Tell everyone in each city who has married a woman who is not an Israelite to come at a time that you decide. They should each come with the elders and judges from their own city. If we do that, our God will stop being angry with us because of what we have done.”

\w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w please|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w allow|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w our|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w decide|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w should|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w Tell|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w everyone|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w in|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w each|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w has|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w married|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w woman|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w an|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelite|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w come|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w at|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w time|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w you|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w decide|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w should|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w each|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w come|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w elders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w judges|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w own|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w city|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*. \w If|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w our|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w God|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w will|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w stop|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w being|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w angry|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w us|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w because|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w what|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w we|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w have|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w done|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.”

{Within the crowd,} Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah said that they disagreed with this plan. Then Meshullam and Shabbethai, a descendant of Levi, said that they agreed with Jonathan and Jahzeiah.

{\w Within|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w crowd|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,} \w Jonathan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Asahel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jahzeiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Tikvah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w disagreed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w this|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w plan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Then|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Meshullam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Shabbethai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w descendant|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Levi|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w said|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w agreed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Jonathan|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Jahzeiah|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*.

But {they were the only ones who opposed the plan; all of} the others who had returned from Babylonia said that they would do it. So Ezra the priest chose men who were leaders from each of the clans and wrote down their names. On the first day of the tenth month these men met to investigate the matter.

\w But|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w only|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w ones|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w opposed|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w plan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*; \w all|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w*} \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w others|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w returned|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Babylonia|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w said|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w would|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w do|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w it|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w So|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ezra|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w priest|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w chose|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w leaders|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w from|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w each|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w clans|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w wrote|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w down|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w names|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w On|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="6" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w first|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w day|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="7" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w tenth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w month|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w these|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w met|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w investigate|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="8" x-occurrences="8"\w* \w matter|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

By the first day of the first month {of the next year} they had finished determining which men had married women who were not Israelites.

\w By|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w first|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w day|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w first|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w month|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w next|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w year|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*} \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w finished|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w determining|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w which|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w married|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w women|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

They determined that some of the descendants of the priests had married foreign women. These included some descendants of Joshua the son of Jozadak and of his brothers. Their names were Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.

\w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w determined|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w that|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w priests|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w married|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w foreign|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w women|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w These|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w included|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w some|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w descendants|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Joshua|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w son|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="4" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w Jozadak|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="5" x-occurrences="5"\w* \w his|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w brothers|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w names|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Maaseiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Eliezer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Jarib|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w Gedaliah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

They solemnly promised to divorce their wives and they each offered a ram as a sacrifice to atone for their sins.

\w They|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w solemnly|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w promised|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w divorce|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w wives|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w each|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w offered|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w ram|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w as|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sacrifice|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w to|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w atone|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w for|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sins|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Immer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Hanani|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Zebadiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

In the clan of Harim there were Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.

\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Harim|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Maaseiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Elijah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Shemaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Jehiel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Uzziah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

In the clan of Pashhur there were Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Pashhur|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Elioenai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Maaseiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Ishmael|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Nethanel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Jozabad|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Elasah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

The Levites who had married foreign women were Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (whose other name was Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

\w The|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Levites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w married|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w foreign|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w women|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jozabad|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Shimei|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Kelaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* (\w whose|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w name|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Kelita|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*), \w Pethahiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Judah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Eliezer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

There was Eliashib the musician. Among the temple guards there were Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

\w There|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w was|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Eliashib|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w musician|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Among|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w temple|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w guards|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Shallum|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Telem|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Uri|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

This is a list of the names of the other Israelites {who had married foreign wives}:

\w This|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w is|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w a|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w list|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w names|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w other|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* {\w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w married|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w foreign|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w wives|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}:

 In the clan of Parosh there were Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.

 \w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w Parosh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Ramiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Izziah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Malkijah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w Mijamin|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Eleazar|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Malkijah|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Benaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

In the clan of Elam there were Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.

\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Elam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Mattaniah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Zechariah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Jehiel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Abdi|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Jeremoth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Elijah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

In the clan of Zattu there were Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.

\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Zattu|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Elioenai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Eliashib|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Mattaniah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Jeremoth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Zabad|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Aziza|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

In the clan of Bebai there were Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Bebai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jehohanan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Hananiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Zabbai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Athlai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

In the clan of Bani there were Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal Jeremoth.

\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Bani|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Meshullam|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Malluk|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Adaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Jashub|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Sheal|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jeremoth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

In the clan of Pahath-Moab there were Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.

\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Pahath|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*-\w Moab|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Adna|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Kelal|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Benaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Maaseiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Mattaniah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Bezalel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Binnui|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Manasseh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

In the clan of Harim there were Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Harim|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Eliezer|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Ishijah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Malkijah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Shemaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Shimeon|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Benjamin|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Malluk|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Shemariah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

In the clan of Hashum there were Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Hashum|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Mattenai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Mattattah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Zabad|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Eliphelet|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Jeremai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Manasseh|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Shimei|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Bani|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Maadai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Amram|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Uel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Benaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Bedeiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Keluhi|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Vaniah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Meremoth|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Eliashib|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Mattaniah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Mattenai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jaasu|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Binnui|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Shimei|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Shelemiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Nathan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Adaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Maknadebai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Shashai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Sharai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Azarel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Shelemiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Shemariah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*,

\w Shallum|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Amariah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Joseph|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

In the clan of Nebo there were Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

\w In|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w clan|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Nebo|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w there|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Jeiel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Mattithiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Zabad|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Zebina|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Jaddai|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w Joel|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w and|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Benaiah|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*.

All of those men had married women who were not Israelites. Some of those women had borne children{, so when the men sent the women away, they also sent their children with them}.

\w All|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w married|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w women|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w who|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w were|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w not|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w Israelites|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*. \w Some|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w of|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w those|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w women|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w had|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w borne|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w children|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w*{, \w so|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w when|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w men|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w the|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w women|x-occurrence="3" x-occurrences="3"\w* \w away|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*, \w they|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w also|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w sent|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w their|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w children|x-occurrence="2" x-occurrences="2"\w* \w with|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w* \w them|x-occurrence="1" x-occurrences="1"\w*}.