 1. Now in the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia, that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus King of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus King of Persia, Yahweh the God of Heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of Yahweh the God of Israel, he is God, which is in Jerusalem. Whoever is left in any place where he lives, let the men of his place help him with silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, besides the free will offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem. Then the heads of fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up, rose up to build the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem. All those who were around them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered. Also Cyrus the King brought forth the vessels of the house of Yahweh, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods, even those Cyrus King of Persia brought out by the hand of Mithraddoth, the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbazar, the Prince of Judah. This is the number of them. Thirty platters of gold, one thousand platters of silver, twenty-nine knives, thirty bowls of gold, silver bowls of a second sort, four hundred and ten, and other vessels, one thousand. All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. Sheshbazar brought all these up, when the captives were brought up, from Babylon to Jerusalem. CHAPTER II Now these are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city, who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Sarahiah, Rialiah, Mordecai, Bilshon, Miss Parr, Bigvai, Rahum, Ba'ana. The number of the men of the people of Israel. The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two. The children of Shafataya, three hundred seventy-two. The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five. The children of Pahaf Moab. Of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve. The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. The children of Zatu, nine hundred forty-five. The children of Zakkai, seven hundred sixty. The children of Bani, six hundred forty-two. The children of Bebi, six hundred twenty-three. The children of Asgad, one thousand two hundred twenty-two. The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-six. The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty-six. The children of Adin, four hundred fifty-four. The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight. The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty-three. The children of Jorah, one hundred twelve. The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty-three. The children of Gebar, ninety-five. The children of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty-three. The men of Natophah, fifty-six. The men of Anaphoph, one hundred twenty-eight. The children of Azmaveth, forty-two. The children of Keryaf Arim, Chafairah and Birov, seven hundred forty-three. The children of Rama and Giba, six hundred twenty-one. The men of Mikmas, one hundred twenty-two. The men of Bethel and Ayy, two hundred twenty-three. The children of Nebo, fifty-two. The children of Magbish, one hundred fifty-six. The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. The children of Harim, three hundred twenty. The children of Lod, Hadid and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five. The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five. The children of Sana'a, three thousand six hundred thirty. The priests. The children of Jedaya, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three. The children of Imer, one thousand fifty-two. The children of Pashur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven. The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen. The Levites, the children of Jeshua and Kadmi'el, of the children of Hodevaya, seventy-four. The Singers, the children of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight. The children of the Porters, the children of Shalom, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akhub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, and all, one hundred thirty-nine. The Nephilim, the children of Zayha, the children of Hasufa, the children of Tabayuf, the children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon, the children of Labana, the children of Haggabah, the children of Akhub, the children of Haggab, the children of Shamlai, the children of Hanan, the children of Gedel, the children of Gahar, the children of Riyahaya, the children of Rezin, the children of Nakoda, the children of Ghazam, the children of Uzah, the children of Pasya, the children of Besai, the children of Azna, the children of Mayunim, the children of Nefesim, the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakufa, the children The children of Har-Hor, the children of Baz Luth, the children of Me-Haida, the children of Harsha, the children of Bar-Kos, the children of Sesara, the children of Teema, the children of Nez'saya, the children of Haditha. The children of Solomon's servants—the children of Sothay, the children of Hassuf introduces, the children of Peruda, the children of Ja'ala, the children of Darkon, the children of Gdell, the children of Shafataya, the children of Hatil, the children of Pokharev-Hazabaim, the children of Amai. All the Nephilim and the children of Solomon's servants were 392. These were those who went up from Tel-Mila, Tel-Harsha, Cherub, Adan, and Imer, but they could not show their fathers' houses and their seed whether they were of Israel, the children of Dela'aya, the children of Tobaya, the children of Nakoda, 652, of the children of the priests, the children of Haba'aya, the children of Hakkos, the children of Barzili, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzili the Gileadite, and was called after their name. These sought their place among those who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found, therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. The governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things until they stood up a priest with Urim and with Thumen. The whole assembly together was 42,360, besides their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 singing men and singing women. Their horses were 736, their mules, 245, their camels, 435, their donkeys, 6,720. Some of the heads of fathers' households, when they came to the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to set it up in its place. They gave after their ability into the treasury of the work 61,000 derricks of gold and 5,000 minas of silver and 100 priests' garments. So the priests and the Levites and some of the people and the singers and the porters and the Nephanem lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities. CHAPTER III When the seventh month had come and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. Then stood up Jeshua, the son of Josadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zarebabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings thereon as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God. They set the altar on its base, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the countries, and they offered burnt offerings thereon to Yahweh, even burnt offerings morning and evening. They kept the feast of tents as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required, and afterward the continual burnt offering, and the offerings of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of Yahweh that were consecrated, and of every one who willingly offered a free will offering to Yahweh. From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh, but the foundation of the temple of Yahweh was not yet laid. They gave money also to the masons and to the carpenters, and they offered food, and drink, and oil to them of Sidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus, king of Persia. Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Josadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of Yahweh. Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, Cadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah together, to have the oversight of the workmen in the house of God, the sons of Henedad with their sons and their brothers the Levites. When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Yahweh, they set the priests in their clothing with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with symbols to praise Yahweh after the order of David, king of Israel. They sang one to another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel. All the people shouted with a great shout when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of the house of Yahweh was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' households, the old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice. And many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel, then they drew near to Zerubbabel and to the heads of fathers' households and said to them, Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do, and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, who brought us up here, but Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers' households of Israel said to them, You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God, but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah and troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius, king of Persia. In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. In the days of Artexerxes, wrote Bishlam, Mithridoth, Tabiel, and the rest of his companions to Artexerxes king of Persia, and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian and set forth in the Syrian language. Rahum, the chancellor, and Shemshai, the scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artexerxes the king in this sort. Then Rahum, the chancellor, and Shemshai, the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Afarsethchites, the Tarpolites, the Afarsites, the Archivites, the Babylonians, the Shushenchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites, and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over and set in the city of Samaria and in the rest of the country beyond the river, and so forth, wrote, This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artexerxes the king. Your servants, the men beyond the river, and so forth. Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and the bad city and have finished the walls and repaired the foundations. Be it known now to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings. Now, because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. So you shall find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time for which cause was this city laid waste. We inform the king that if this city be built and the walls finished, by this means you shall have no portion beyond the river. Then the king sent an answer to Rahum, the chancellor, and to Shemshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the river. Peace and so forth. The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. I decreed and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the country beyond the river, and tribute custom and toll was paid to them. Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built until a decree shall be made by me. Take heed that you not be slack herein. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? Then when the copy of King Artexerxes' letter was read before Rahum, and Shemshai the scribe and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia. Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Edo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel they prophesied to them. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shialtiel, and Jeshua the son of Josedek, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem, and with them were the prophets of God helping them. At the same time came to them Tatani, the governor beyond the river, and Shetarbozanai and their companions, and said thus to them, Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall? Then we told them in this way what the names of the men were who were making this building. But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease until the matter should come to Darius, and then answers should be returned by letter concerning it. The copy of the letter that Tatani, the governor beyond the river, and Shetarbozanai and his companions, the Afarsachites, who were beyond the river, sent to Darius the king. They sent a letter to him in which was written thus, To Darius the king, all peace, be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah to the house of the great God which is built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goes on with diligence and prosperous in their hands. Then we asked those elders and said to them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall? We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head. Thus they returned us answers saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago which a great king of Israel built and finished. But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon. But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God. The gold and silver vessels also of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Shesh Bazar, whom he had made governor, and he said to them, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place. Then the same Shesh Bazar came and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem, and since that time even until now it has been in building, and yet it is not completed. Now therefore if it seemed good to the king, let a search be made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter. Chapter 6 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. There was found at Akmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Medea, a scroll, and therein was thus written for a record. In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree. Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid, its height sixty cubits, and its breadth sixty cubits, with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber, and let the expenses be given out of the king's house. Also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everyone to its place, and you shall put them in the house of God. Now therefore Tatani, governor beyond the river, Shetharbozanai, and your companions the Afarsachites, who are beyond the river, you must stay far from there. Leave the work of this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place. Moreover, I make a decree what you shall do to these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God, that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, expenses be given with all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered. That which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail, that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons. Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon, and let his house be made a dung hill for this. And the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have made a decree, let it be done with all diligence. Then Tatani, the governor beyond the river, Shethar Bosani and their companions, because Darius the king had sent a decree, did accordingly with all diligence. The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Edo. They built and finished it according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artexarxes king of Persia. This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. The children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy. They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bowls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and for a sin offering for all Israel, 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. They set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses for the service of God which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses. The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, for the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together, all of them were pure, and they killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves. The children of Israel who had come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Yahweh the God of Israel, eight, and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy. For Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Issyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. Chapter 7 Now after these things in the reign of Artexerxes king of Persia. Ezra the son of Saraiah the son of Azariah the son of Hilkayah the son of Shalom the son of Zadok the son of Ahitub the son of Amariah the son of Azariah the son of Mariah the son of Zarahiah the son of Azai the son of Bukai the son of Abishua the son of Phineas the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the chief priest. This Ezra went up from Babylon and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses which Yahweh the God of Israel had given, and the king granted him all his request according to the hand of Yahweh his God on him. There went up some of the children of Israel and of the priests and the Levites and the singers and the porters and the Nephenym to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artexerxes the king. He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month which was in the seventh year of the king for on the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem according to the good hand of his God on him for Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Yahweh and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances. Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artexerxes gave to Ezra the priest the scribe even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Yahweh and of his statutes to Israel. Artexerxes king of kings to Ezra the priest the scribe of the law of the God of heaven perfect and so forth. I make a decree that all those of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my realm who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem go with you because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God which is in your hand and to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel whose habitation is in Jerusalem and all the silver and gold that you shall find in all the province of Babylon with the free will offering of the people and of the priests offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem. Therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bowls rams lambs with their meal offerings and their drink offerings and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold do that after the will of your God the vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God deliver before the God of Jerusalem whatever more shall be needful for the house of your God which you shall have occasion to bestow bestow it out of the king's treasure house. I even I Artexerxes the king do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the river that whatever Israel the priest the scribe of the law of the God of heaven shall require of you it be done with all diligence to 100 talents of silver and to 100 measures of wheat and to 100 baths of wine and to 100 baths of oil and salt without prescribing how much whatever is commanded by the God of heaven let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons also we inform you that touching any of the priests and Levites the singers porters Nethanim or servants of this house of God it shall not be lawful to impose tribute custom or toll on them you Ezra after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are beyond the river all such as know the loss of your God and teach him who doesn't know them whoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king let judgment be executed on him with all diligence whether it be to death or to benishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment blessed be Yahweh the God of our fathers who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem and has extended loving kindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king's mighty princes I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahweh my God on me and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me chapter eight now these are the heads of their fathers households and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of Artexerxes the king of the sons of Phineas Gersham of the sons of Ifamar Daniel of the sons of David Hattush of the sons of Shekiniah of the sons of Parosh Zechariah and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty of the sons of Pahaf Moab Elioenai the son of Zarahiah and with him two hundred males of the sons of Shekiniah the son of Jehazel and with him three hundred males of the sons of Adin Ebed the son of Jonathan and with him fifty males of the sons of Elam Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah and with him seventy males of the sons of Shephateiah Zebediah the son of Michael and with him eighty males of the sons of Joab Obediah the son of Jehiel and with him two hundred and eighteen males of the sons of Shalomith the son of Josephiah and with him one hundred sixty males of the sons of Bebi Zechariah the son of Bebi and with him twenty eight males of the sons of Asgad Johanan the son of Hakatan and with him one hundred ten males of the sons of Atonikam who were the last and these are their names Elifelet Jehuel and Shemaiah and with them sixty males of the sons of Bigvai Uthai and Zabud and with them seventy males I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava and there we encamped three days and I viewed the people and the priests and found there none of the sons of Levi then sent I for Eliezer for Ariel for Shemaiah and for Elnathan and for Jarib and for Elnathan and for Nathan and for Zechariah and for Mesulam chief men also for Joyarib and for Elnathan who were teachers I sent them forth to Edo the chief at the place Kassafiah and I told them what they should tell Edo and his brothers the Nephanem at the place Kassafiah that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God according to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion of the sons of Malai the son of Levi the son of Israel and Sherabiah with his sons and his brothers 18 and Hashabiah and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Marari his brothers and their sons 20 and of the Nephanem whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites 220 Nephanem all of them were mentioned by name then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek of him a straight way for us and for our little ones and for all our substance for I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way because we had spoken to the king saying the hand of our God is on all those who seek him for good but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him so we fasted and begged our God for this and he was entreated of us then I set apart 12 of the chiefs of the priests even Sherabiah Hashabiah and 10 of their brothers with them and weighed to them the silver and the gold and the vessels even the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes and all Israel their present had offered I weighed into their hand 650 talents of silver and silver vessels 100 talents of gold 100 talents and 20 bowls of gold of 1000 Derek's and two vessels of fine bright brass precious as gold I said to them you are holy to Yahweh and the vessels are holy and the silver and the gold are a free will offering to Yahweh the God of your fathers watch and keep them until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites and the princes of the father's households of Israel at Jerusalem in the rooms of the house of Yahweh so the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold and the vessels to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God then we departed from the river Ahava on the 12th the day of the first month to go to Jerusalem and the hand of our God was on us and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandit by the way we came to Jerusalem and stayed there three days on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meramoth the son of Uriah the priest and with him was Eleazar the son of Phineas and with them was Josephad the son of Jeshua and Noah Daya the son of Benui the Levite the whole by number and by weight and all the weight was written at that time the children of the captivity who had come out of exile offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel 12 bowls for all Israel 96 rams 77 lambs and 12 male goats for a sin offering all this was a burnt offering to Yahweh they delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps and to the governors beyond the river and they furthered the people and the house of God chapter 9 now when these things were done the princes drew near to me saying the people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands following their abominations even those of the Canaanites the Hittites the parasites the Jebusites the Ammonites the Moabites the Egyptians and the Amorites for they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands yes the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass when I heard this thing I tore my garment and my robe and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard and sat down confounded then were assembled to me everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel because of their trespass of the captivity and I sat confounded until the evening offering at the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation even with my garment and my robe torn and I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God and I said my God I am ashamed and blushed to lift up my face to you my God for our iniquities have increased over our head and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens since the days of our fathers we have been exceedingly guilty to this day and for our iniquities we our kings and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands to the sword to captivity to plunder and to confusion of face as it is this day now for a little moment grace has been shown from Yahweh our God to leave us a remnant to escape and to give us a nail in his holy place that our God may lighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage for we are bond servants yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia to give us a reviving to set up the house of our God and to repair its ruins and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem now our God what shall we say after this for we have forsaken your commandments which you have commanded by your servants the prophets saying the land to which you go to possess it is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands through their abominations which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness now therefore don't give your daughters to their sons neither take their daughters to your sons nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever after all that has come on us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt since you our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant shall we again break your commandments and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations wouldn't you be angry with us until you had consumed us so that there should be no remnant nor any to escape Yahweh the God of Israel you are righteous for we are left a remnant that has escaped as it is this day behold we are before you in our guiltiness for none can stand before you because of this chapter 10 now while Ezra prayed and made confession weeping and casting himself down before the house of God there was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children for the people wept very bitterly shekinaya the son of jahail one of the sons of ilam answered Ezra we have trespassed against our God and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives and such as are born of them according to the council of my Lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God let it be done according to the law arise for the matter belongs to you and we are with you be courageous and do it then Ezra arose and made the chiefs of the priests the Levites and all Israel to swear that they would do according to this word so they swore then Ezra rose up from before the house of God and went into the room of Jeho Hannon the son of Eliashim and when he came there he ate no bread nor drank water for he mourned because of their trespass of the captivity they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem and that whoever didn't come within three days according to the council of the princes and the elders all his substance should be forfeited and himself separated from the assembly of the captivity then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within the three days it was the ninth month on the twentieth day of the month and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God trembling because of this matter and for the great rain Ezra the priest stood up and sent to them you have trespassed and have married foreign women to increase the guilt of Israel now therefore make confession to Yahweh the God of your fathers and do his pleasure and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women then all the assembly answered with a loud voice as you have said concerning us so must we do but the people are many and it is a time of much rain and we are not able to stand outside neither is this a work of one day or two for we have greatly transgressed in this matter let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times and with them the elders of every city and its judges until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us until this matter is resolved only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Josiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this and Meshulam and Shabbathai the Levite helped them the children of the captivity did so Ezra the priest with certain heads of father's households after their father's houses and all of them by their names were set apart and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter they made an end with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women of the sons of Jeshua the son of Josadak and his brothers may Asiah and Eliezer and Jareeb and Getaliah they gave their hand that they would put away their wives and being guilty they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt of the sons of Emer Hanani and Zebediah of the sons of Harim Measiah and Elijah and Chimaaya and Jihael and Uziah of the sons of Pashur Eli Ohanai Measiah Ishmael Nethanel Josephad and Elisa of the Levites Josephad and Chimaay and Kalaaya the same as Calayta Paphahaya Judah and Eliezer of the singers Eliashib of the porters Shalom and Telem and Uray of Israel of the sons of Parosh Ramayah and Isaiah and Malkaija and Majemen and Eliezer and Malkaija and Benaiah of the sons of Elam Mataniah Zechariah and Jihael and Abdi and Jeremoff and Elijah of the sons of Zatuh Eli Onai Eliashib Mataniah and Jeremoff and Zabad and Aziza of the sons of Bebi Jehohanan Hananiah Zabai Aflai of the sons of Bani Meshulam Maluk and Adaiah Jashub and Shea'al Jeremoff of the sons of Pahaf Moab Adna and Shalal Benaiah Measiah Mataniah Bezalel and Benui and Manasseh of the sons of Harim Eliezer Ishhaija Malkaija Shimaaya Shimeon Benjemen Maluk Shamariah of the sons of Hashum Matanih Matata Zabad Eliphalot Jeremai Manasseh Shimei of the sons of Bani Mayadai Amram and Uel Benaiah Bedaiah Celuhai Vanaiah Meremoff Eliashib Mataniah Mataniah and Jayasu and Benai and Benui Shimei and Shalamaiah and Nathan and Adaiah Macbadanai Shashai Sherriai Azarelle and Shalamaiah Shemariah Shalom Amariah Joseph of the sons of Nebo Jiayel Matathiah Zabad Zabina Edo and Joel Benaiah All these had taken foreign wives and some of them had wives by whom they had children. The end of the Book of Ezra from the World English Bible Recording by Mark Penfold Recording by November 8th Echo Victor Victor Nehemiah from the World English Bible Chapters 1 through 7 Chapter 1 The Words of Nehemiah The Son of Hakalaya Now it happened in the month Chislev in the twentieth year as I was in Shushan the palace, that Heneini, one of my brothers came, he and certain men out of Judah, and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity and concerning Jerusalem. They said to me, the remnant who were left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire. It happened when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept and mourned certain days, and I fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven, and said, I beg you, Yahweh, the God of Heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love Him, and keep His commandments. Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my Father's house have sinned, we have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which you commanded your servant, Moses. Remember I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant, Moses, saying, if you trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples. But if you return to me, and keep my commandments, and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there. Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand. Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name, and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cup-bearer to the king. Chapter 2 It happened in the month Nisan in the 20th year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence. The king said to me, Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, Let the king live for ever. Why shouldn't my face be sad, when the city, the place of my father's tombs lies waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire? Then the king said to me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. I said to the king, If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my father's tombs, that I may build it. The king said to me, The queen was also sitting by him, For how long shall your journey be, and when will you return? So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time. Moreover I said to the king, If it pleases the king, Let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. The king granted my requests because of the good hand of my God on me. Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen. When Sanballet, the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. I arose in the night, I and some few men with me. Neither told I any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. Neither was there any animal with me, except the animal that I rode on. I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the jackals well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with fire. Then I went on to the spring gate, and to the king's pool, but there was no place for the animal that was under me to pass. Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and I turned back and entered by the valley gate, and so returned. The rulers didn't know where I went, or what I did. Neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work. Then I said to them, you see the evil case that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we won't be disgraced. I told them of the hand of my God which was good on me, as also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. They said, let's rise up and build, so they strengthened their hands for the good work. But when Sandballot, the Horonite, and Tobiah the Servant, the Ammonite, and Gisham the Arabian heard it, they ridiculed us, and despised us, and said, what is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said to them, the God of heaven will prosper us. Therefore we, his servants, will arise and build, but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem. Chapter 3. Then Eliashub the High Priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep-gate. They sanctified it, and set up its doors, even to the tower of Hamia they sanctified it, to the tower of Hananil. Next to him built the men of Jericho. Next to them built Zachar, the son of Imri. The sons of Hasenea built the fish-gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. Next to them Marimoth, the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkos, made repairs. Next to them Misholom, the son of Berikiah, the son of Meshezabil, made repairs. Next to them Zadok, the son of Baiana, made repairs. Next to them the Techoites, made repairs, but their nobles didn't put their necks to the work of their lord. Joiada, the son of Pesia, and Misholom, the son of Bessediah, repaired the old gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, and its bolts, and its bars. Next to them Melitiah, the Gibyanite, and Jadon, the Moronathite, the men of Gibyan, and of Midspa, repaired the residents of the governor beyond the river. Next to him Azael, the son of Harhaya, goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they fortified Jerusalem, even to the broad wall. Next to them Raphiah, the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. Next to them Jadiah, the son of Harumoth, made repairs across from his house. Next to him Hattush, the son of Hashibnaya, made repairs. Malkijah, the son of Harum, and Hashib, the son of Pehithmohab, repaired another portion, and the tower of the furnaces. Next to him Shalom, the son of Halihash, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters made repairs. Hanan and the inhabitants of Zenoa repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and one thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate. Malkijah, the son of Rekab, the ruler of the district of Beth Hakerum, repaired the dung gate. He built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. Shalom, the son of Kolhosi, the ruler of the district of Mitzpa, repaired the spring gate. He built it, and covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and the wall of the pool of Sheela, by the king's garden, even to the stairs that go down from the city of David. After him, Nehemiah, the son of Asbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth Azur, made repairs to the place opposite the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men. After him, the Levites, Riham, the son of Benai, made repairs. Next to him, Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Kiala, made repairs for his district. After him, their brothers, Bevei, the son of Henedad, the ruler of half the district of Kiala, made repairs. Next to him, Ezur, the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mitzpa, repaired another portion across from the ascent to the armory at the turning of the wall. After him, Barak, the son of Zebei, earnestly repaired another portion from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashub, the high priest. After him, Marimoth, the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkos, repaired another portion from the door of the house of Eliashub, even to the end of the house of Eliashub. After him, the priests, the men of the plain, made repairs. After them, Benjamin and Hashub made repairs across from their house. After them, Azariah, the son of Mayasiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his own house. After him, Benui, the son of Henedad, repaired another portion from the house of Azariah to the turning of the wall and to the corner. Pelul, the son of Uzai, made repairs opposite the turning of the wall, and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him, Padaya, the son of Parish, made repairs. Now the Nephenym lived in Ophel, to the place over against the Watergate toward the east, and the tower that stands out. After him, the Taqoites repaired another portion over against the great tower that stands out and to the wall of Ophel. Above the horse gate, the priests made repairs, every one across from his own house. After them, Zadok, the son of Imr, made repairs across from his own house. After him, Shemaya, the son of Shekiniah, the keeper of the east gate, made repairs. After him, Hananiah, the son of Shelley-Maya, and Hanan, the sixth son of Zaeloth, repaired another portion. After him, Michellem, the son of Berikiah, made repairs across from his room. After him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, to the house of the Nephenym, and of the merchants, made repairs over against the gate of Hamifcat, and to the ascent of the corner. Between the ascent of the corner, and the sheep gate, the goldsmiths, and the merchants made repairs. But it happened that when Sandballot heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and took great indignation and mocked the Jews. He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, since they are burned? Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, What they are building, if a fox climbed up it, he would break down their stone wall. Here are God, for we are despised, and turn back their reproach on their own head. Give them up for spoil in a land of captivity. Don't cover their iniquity, and don't let their sin be blotted out from before you, for they have insulted the builders. So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. But it happened that when Sandballot, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashtidites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be filled, then they were very angry, and they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein. But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is fading, and there is much rubbish, so that we are not able to build the wall. Our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, until we come into their midst, and kill them, and cause the work to cease. It happened that when the Jews who lived by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, wherever you turn they will attack us. Therefore, set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places I set the people after their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. I looked and rose up and said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. It happened when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their council to nothing, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one to his work. It happened from that time forth that half of my servants worked in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail, and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They all built the wall, and those who bore burdens loaded themselves. Everyone, with one of his hands, worked in the work, and with the other, held his weapon. And the builders, every one wore his sword at his side, and so built. He who sounded the trumpet was by me. I said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, the work is great and large, and we are separated on the wall, one far from another. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally there to us. Our God will fight for us. So we worked in the work, and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning, until the stars appeared. Likewise at the same time said I to the people, let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day. So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes. Everyone took his weapon to the water. Chapter 5 Then there arose a great cry of the people, and of their wives against their brothers the Jews. For there were that said, We our sons and our daughters are many, let us get grain that we may eat and live. Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, let us get grain because of the famine. There were also some who said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, using our fields and our vineyards as collateral. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. Neither is it in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards. I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, You exact usury, every one of his brother. I held a great assembly against them. I said to them, We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations, and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us? Then they held their peace, and found never a word. Also I said, The thing that you do is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations our enemies. I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury. Please restore to them even this day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you are charging them. Then they said, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. So will we do, even as you say. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise. Also I shook out my lap, and said, So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that doesn't perform this promise, even thus be he shaken out and emptied. All the assembly said, Amen, and praised Yahweh. The people did, according to this promise. Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year, even to the two-and-thirtieth year of Artexerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor. But the former governors, who were before me, were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants ruled over the people, but I didn't do so, because of the fear of God. Yes, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land, and all my servants were gathered there to the work. Moreover there were at my table of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, besides those who came to us from among the nations that were around us. Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox, and six choice sheep, also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this I didn't demand the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy on this people. Remember to me, my God, for good all that I have done for this people. Chapter 6 Now it happened, when it was reported to Sandballot and Tobiah and to Gisham the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein. Though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates, that Sandballot and Gisham sent to me, saying, Come let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they intended to harm me. I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I can't come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you? They sent to me four times after this sort, and I answered them the same way. Then Sandballot sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand, in which was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel, because of that you were building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words. You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah. Now it will be reported to the king, according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart. For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now strengthen my hands. I went to the house of Shamiah, the son of Deliah, the son of Meheda Biel, who was shut in at his home, and he said, Let us meet together in God's house within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they will come to kill you. Yes, in the night they will come to kill you. I said, Should such a man as I flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him, but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballet had hired him. He hired, so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, that they might have material for an evil report, that they might reproach me. Remember my God, Tobiah and Sanballet, according to their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. So the wall was finished, in the twenty-fifth day of Elol, in fifty-two days. It happened when our enemies heard of it, that all the nations that were about us were afraid, and were much cast down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was worked of our God. Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them, for there were many in Judah sworn to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shekiniah, the son of Ere, and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Mishulam, the son of Berikiah as wife. Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. Chapter 7 Now it happened when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters, and the singers, and the Levites were appointed, that I put my brother Heneini, and Hananiah the governor of the castle, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. I said to them, Don't let the gates of Jerusalem be opened, until the sun is hot, and while they stand guard, let them shut the doors, and you bar them, and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, with every one near his house. Now the city was wide and large, but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built. My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written therein. These are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one to his city, who came with Zareb Babel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Rehemiah, Nehemiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Misparith, Bigvai, Nihem, Baena, the number of the men of the people of Israel, the children of Parish, 2,172, the children of Shephatiah, 372, the children of Ere, 652, the children of Payeth Moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, 2818, the children of Elam, 1254, the children of Zatu, 845, the children of Zakei, 760, the children of Binyuai, 648, the children of Bebei, 628, the children of Asgad, 2,322, the children of Adonikom, 667, the children of Bigvai, 2,067, the children of Aden, 655, the children of Aeter, of Hezekiah, 98, the children of Hashem, 328, the children of Bezei, 324, the children of Heraph, 112, the children of Gibeon, 95, the men of Bethlehem and Netofa, 188, the men of Anathoth, 128, the men of Beth Esmaeveth, 42, the men of Kariath-Giarum, Chephira, and Beiroth, 743, the men of Rehma and Gibea, 621, the men of Micmus, 122, the men of Bethel and Aae, 123, the men of the other Nebo, 52, the children of the other Elam, 1254, the children of Herum, 320, the children of Jericho, 345, the children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721, the children of Sennah, 3930, the priests, the children of Jediah, of the house of Jeshua, 973, the children of Imr, 1052, the children of Pashur, 1247, the children of Herum, 1017, the Levites, the children of Jeshua, of Kadmael, of the children of Hodeva, 74, the singers, the children of Asaph, 148, the porters, the children of Shalom, the children of Aeter, the children of Talman, the children of Aqab, the children of Hittaita, the children of Shobai, 138, the Nethnym, the children of Zayha, the children of Hesufa, the children of Tabaoth, the children of Kyrus, the children of Saya, the children of Paydan, the children of Lebeina, the children of Haggabah, the children of Salmi, the children of Hainan, the children of Giddle, the children of Ghehar, the children of Riyah, the children of Rezin, the children of Dakota, the children of Gasm, I, the children of Sophrath, the children of Pyrrida, the children of Jaila, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddle, the children of Shephataya, the children of Hattle, the children of Pokerith Hazabaim, the children of Ammon. All the Nethanim, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety-two. These were those who went up from Tel-Mila, Tel-Harsha, Cherub, Adon, and Imr. But they could not show their father's houses nor their seed, whether they were of Israel. The children of Deliah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nikoda, six hundred forty-two. Of the priests, the children of Hobiah, the children of Hacchus, the children of Barzelae, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzelae, the Gileodite, and was called after their name. These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn't find them. Therefore, were they deemed polluted, and put from the priesthood. The governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummon. The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, beside their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven, and they had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women. Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six, their mules two hundred forty-five, their camels four hundred thirty-five, their donkeys six thousand seven hundred twenty. Some from among the heads of father's households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand derricks of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred thirty priests' garments. Some of the heads of father's households gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand derricks of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas of silver. That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand derricks of gold, and two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests' garments. So the priests and the Levites and the porters and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethanym, and all Israel lived in their cities. When the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in their cities. End of chapters one through seven from the book of Nehemiah.