\id EZR - Translation 4 Translators 1 
\ide 65001 - Unicode (UTF-8)
\h Ezra 
\toc1 Ezra 
\toc2 Ezra 
\toc3 EZR 
\mt2 This book contains the account of some of the people of Judah returning to Judah and rebuilding the temple. We call this book  
\mt1 Ezra  
\c 1  
\s1 Cyrus let the Jews return to Jerusalem  
\p
\v 1 \w During|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* first \w year|strong="H8141"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* \w ruled|strong="H4428"\w* \add the\add* Persian \add Empire\add*, \w he|strong="H3068"\w* \w did|strong="H3068"\w* \w something|strong="H1697"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w fulfilled|strong="H3615"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w Jeremiah|strong="H3414"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* prophesied. \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* motivated \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* write \w this|strong="H1697"\w* \w message|strong="H1697"\w*, \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w then|strong="H1571"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* \w sent|strong="H5674"\w* \w this|strong="H1697"\w* \w message|strong="H1697"\w* \w throughout|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w empire|strong="H4438"\w*:   
\pi1
\v 2 “\w I|strong="H5414"\w*, \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w*, \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w rule|strong="H4428"\w* \add the\add* Persian \add Empire\add*, declare \w this|strong="H1931"\w*: '\w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \add who is in/rules\add* \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8064"\w*, \w has|strong="H3068"\w* \w caused|strong="H5414"\w* \w me|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* become \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w ruler|strong="H6485"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w kingdoms|strong="H4467"\w* \add that I know about\add* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w earth|strong="H8064"\w*. \w And|strong="H3063"\w* \w he|strong="H1931"\w* \w has|strong="H3068"\w* \w appointed|strong="H6485"\w* \w me|strong="H5414"\w* \add to enable his people\add* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w build|strong="H1129"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5414"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*, \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w* \add land\add*.  
\v 3 \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w who|strong="H4310"\w* \w belong|strong="H1961"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w may|strong="H1961"\w* \w go|strong="H5927"\w* \w up|strong="H5927"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1129"\w* \w this|strong="H1931"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w for|strong="H3068"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w who|strong="H4310"\w* \w lives|strong="H1961"\w* \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \add who is worshiped by you\add* Israeli \w people|strong="H5971"\w*. \w I|strong="H3068"\w* desire/hope \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w your|strong="H3068"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w will|strong="H3068"\w* \w be|strong="H1961"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* \add and help those who go there\add*.  
\v 4 \w Those|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H1931"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w are|strong="H1004"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w places|strong="H4725"\w* \w where|strong="H8033"\w* Israelis \w are|strong="H1004"\w* \w living|strong="H3605"\w*, \w whose|strong="H8033"\w* ancestors \w were|strong="H7604"\w* exiled \w here|strong="H4725"\w*, \w should|strong="H4725"\w* contribute \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w to|strong="H3389"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* go. \w They|strong="H8033"\w* \w should|strong="H4725"\w* \w also|strong="H1931"\w* \w give|strong="H5375"\w* \w them|strong="H5375"\w* \w supplies|strong="H7399"\w* \add that they will need for the journey to Jerusalem\add*. \w They|strong="H8033"\w* \w should|strong="H4725"\w* \w also|strong="H1931"\w* \w give|strong="H5375"\w* \w them|strong="H5375"\w* \w some|strong="H8033"\w* livestock, \w and|strong="H3701"\w* gifts \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w money|strong="H3701"\w* \w to|strong="H3389"\w* \w help|strong="H5375"\w* build \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* God \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*.' ”   
\p
\v 5 \w Then|strong="H6965"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* motivated \w some|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* ◄\w Levites|strong="H3881"\w*/\w men|strong="H7218"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w did|strong="H3068"\w* work \w in|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w*► \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w some|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* tribes \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H3881"\w* descended \w from|strong="H5927"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w Benjamin|strong="H1144"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* return \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*. \w Those|strong="H3605"\w* whom \w God|strong="H3068"\w* motivated \w got|strong="H6965"\w* ready \w to|strong="H3068"\w* return \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w build|strong="H1129"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w for|strong="H3068"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* \w there|strong="H5927"\w*.  
\v 6 \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* neighbors \w helped|strong="H2388"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w by|strong="H3027"\w* giving \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w things|strong="H3605"\w* \w made|strong="H2388"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w things|strong="H3605"\w* \w made|strong="H2388"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w*, \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w supplies|strong="H7399"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* journey, \w and|strong="H3701"\w* livestock. \w They|strong="H5921"\w* \w also|strong="H3027"\w* \w gave|strong="H2388"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w valuable|strong="H4030"\w* gifts, \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w also|strong="H3027"\w* \w gave|strong="H2388"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w money|strong="H3701"\w* \add to buy things for building the temple\add*.  
\v 7 \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* \w brought|strong="H3318"\w* \w out|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* valuable \w things|strong="H3627"\w* \w that|strong="H3068"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019"\w*’s \add soldiers\add* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w taken|strong="H5414"\w* \w from|strong="H3318"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* \w in|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w put|strong="H5414"\w* \w in|strong="H3068"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019"\w*’s gods \add in Babylon\add*.  
\v 8 \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* commanded \w Mithredath|strong="H4990"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w treasurer|strong="H1489"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \add the\add* Persian \add Empire\add*, \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w count|strong="H5608"\w* \w all|strong="H5921"\w* \w these|strong="H4428"\w* items \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w then|strong="H3318"\w* give \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w Sheshbazzar|strong="H8339"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w leader|strong="H5387"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \add the group that was going to return to\add* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w*.   
\p
\v 9 This \w is|strong="H3701"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w list|strong="H4557"\w* \w of|strong="H4557"\w* \w the|strong="H4557"\w* items \w that|strong="H4557"\w* Cyrus donated:  
\pi1 30 large \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* dishes  
\pi1 1,000 large \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* dishes  
\pi1 29 \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* ◄censers/incense burning pans►   
\pi1
\v 10 30 \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w bowls|strong="H3713"\w*  
\pi1 410 \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w bowls|strong="H3713"\w*  
\pi1 1,000 \w other|strong="H4932"\w* \w items|strong="H3627"\w*.   
\p
\v 11 \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w together|strong="H5973"\w*, \w there|strong="H5927"\w* \w were|strong="H3627"\w* 5,400 \w items|strong="H3627"\w* \w made|strong="H3627"\w* \w of|strong="H3627"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w or|strong="H3701"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w*, \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \add were given to\add* \w Sheshbazzar|strong="H8339"\w* \add to\add* \w take|strong="H5927"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w* \w when|strong="H5927"\w* \w he|strong="H2568"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* others \w returned|strong="H5927"\w* \w to|strong="H5927"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*.   
\c 2  
\s1 The list of groups that returned to Judah  
\p
\v 1 \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020"\w*’s \add soldiers\add* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w captured|strong="H7628"\w* many \add Israeli\add* \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w taken|strong="H5927"\w* \w them|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* Babylonia. \add Many years later, \add* some Israeli \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \w returned|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w*. Some \w returned|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* some \w returned|strong="H7725"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \add other places in\add* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w*. \w They|strong="H1540"\w* \w went|strong="H5927"\w* \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w the|strong="H7725"\w* \w towns|strong="H5892"\w* where \w their|strong="H7725"\w* ancestors \w had|strong="H4428"\w* lived. \w This|strong="H7725"\w* \w is|strong="H4428"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* list \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H7725"\w* \w groups|strong="H1121"\w* \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w returned|strong="H7725"\w*.  
\v 2 \w The|strong="H5973"\w* leaders \w of|strong="H4557"\w* \w those|strong="H5973"\w* groups \w were|strong="H3478"\w* \w Zerubbabel|strong="H2216"\w*, \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w*, \w Nehemiah|strong="H5166"\w*, \w Seraiah|strong="H8304"\w*, \w Reelaiah|strong="H7480"\w*, \w Mordecai|strong="H4782"\w*, \w Bilshan|strong="H1114"\w*, \w Mispar|strong="H4558"\w*, Bigvai, \w Rehum|strong="H7348"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w Baanah|strong="H1196"\w*.  
\p There \w were|strong="H3478"\w*:  
\tr
\tc1   
\v 3 2,172 
\tc2 descendants of Parosh 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 4 372 
\tc2 descendants of Shephatiah 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 5 775 
\tc2 descendants of Arah 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 6 2,812 
\tc2 descendants of Pahath-Moab, from the families of Jeshua and Joab 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 7 1,254 
\tc2 descendants of Elam 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 8 945 
\tc2 descendants of Zattu 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 9 760 
\tc2 descendants of Zaccai 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 10 642 
\tc2 descendants of Bani 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 11 623 
\tc2 descendants of Bebai 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 12 1,222 
\tc2 descendants of Azgad 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 13 666 
\tc2 descendants of Adonikam 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 14 2,056 
\tc2 descendants of Bigvai 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 15 454 
\tc2 descendants of Adin 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 16 98 
\tc2 descendants of Ater, whose other name was Hezekiah 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 17 323 
\tc2 descendants of Bezai 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 18 112 
\tc2 descendants of Jorah 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 19 223 
\tc2 descendants of Hashum 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 20 95 
\tc2 descendants of Gibbar. 
\b  
\p \add People whose ancestors had lived in these towns in Judah:\add*  
\tr
\tc1   
\v 21 123 
\tc2 from Bethlehem 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 22 56 
\tc2 from Netophah 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 23 128 
\tc2 from Anathoth 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 24 42 
\tc2 from Azmaveth 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 25 743 
\tc2 from Kiriath-Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 26 621 
\tc2 from Ramah and Geba 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 27 122 
\tc2 from Micmash 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 28 223 
\tc2 from Bethel and Ai 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 29 52 
\tc2 from Nebo 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 30 156 
\tc2 from Magbish 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 31 1,254 
\tc2 from Elam 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 32 320 
\tc2 from Harim 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 33 725 
\tc2 from Lod, Hadid, and Ono 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 34 345 
\tc2 from Jericho 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 35 3,630 
\tc2 from Senaah.  
\b  
\p
\v 36 \w Priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w who|strong="H3548"\w* returned:  
\tr
\tc1 973 
\tc2 descendants of Jedaiah (that is, those from the family of Jeshua) 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 37 1,052 
\tc2 descendants of Immer 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 38 1,247 
\tc2 descendants of Pashhur 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 39 1,017 
\tc2 descendants of Harim. 
\p \w The|strong="H1121"\w* \w ones|strong="H1121"\w* \w from|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \add rest of the\add* tribe \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Levi \w who|strong="H1121"\w* returned \w were|strong="H1121"\w*:  
\tr
\tc1   
\v 40 74 
\tc2 descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel, who were from the family of Hodaviah 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 41 128 
\tc2 singers who were descendants of Asaph 
\tr
\tc1   
\v 42 139 
\tc2 ◄gatekeepers/men who guarded the gates of the temple► who were descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai.  
\b  
\p
\v 43 \w The|strong="H1121"\w* ◄\w temple|strong="H5411"\w* workers/\w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w who|strong="H1121"\w* would work \w in|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w temple|strong="H5411"\w*► \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* these \w men|strong="H1121"\w*:  
\li2 Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,   
\li2
\v 44 Keros, Siaha, Padon,   
\li2
\v 45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,   
\li2
\v 46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,   
\li2
\v 47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,   
\li2
\v 48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,   
\li2
\v 49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai,   
\li2
\v 50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim,   
\li2
\v 51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,   
\li2
\v 52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,   
\li2
\v 53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,   
\li2
\v 54 Neziah, and Hatipha.   
\b  
\p
\v 55 These \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \add King\add* \w Solomon|strong="H8010"\w*’s \w servants|strong="H5650"\w* \add returned\add*:  
\b  
\li2 Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,   
\li2
\v 56 Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,   
\li2
\v 57 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and Ami.   
\b  
\p
\v 58 \w Altogether|strong="H3605"\w*, \w there|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* 392 \w temple|strong="H5411"\w* workers \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Solomon|strong="H8010"\w*’s \w servants|strong="H5650"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* returned.   
\b  
\pi1
\v 59 \w There|strong="H1992"\w* \w was|strong="H3478"\w* \w another|strong="H5046"\w* group \w who|strong="H3478"\w* \w returned|strong="H5927"\w* \add to Judah\add* \w from|strong="H5927"\w* \w Tel-Melah|strong="H8528"\w*, \w Tel-Harsha|strong="H8521"\w*, \w Kerub|strong="H3743"\w*, Addan, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* Immer \add towns in Babylonia\add*. \w But|strong="H3808"\w* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w could|strong="H3201"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* prove \w that|strong="H3478"\w* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w were|strong="H3478"\w* \w descendants|strong="H2233"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \add people who previously lived in\add* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w*.   
\b  
\p
\v 60 \w This|strong="H1121"\w* group included 652 \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Delaiah|strong="H1806"\w*, \w Tobiah|strong="H2900"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w Nekoda|strong="H5353"\w*.   
\p
\v 61 \w Hobaiah|strong="H2252"\w*’s clan, \w Hakkoz|strong="H6976"\w*’s clan, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Barzillai|strong="H1271"\w*’s clan \w also|strong="H8034"\w* returned. \w Barzillai|strong="H1271"\w* \w had|strong="H3548"\w* \w married|strong="H3947"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w woman|strong="H1323"\w* \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w was|strong="H8034"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w descendant|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Barzillai|strong="H1271"\w* \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \add the\add* Gilead \add region\add*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w he|strong="H5921"\w* \w had|strong="H3548"\w* \w taken|strong="H3947"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w himself|strong="H7121"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w name|strong="H8034"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H7121"\w* father-in-law’s clan.   
\p
\v 62 \w The|strong="H4480"\w* \w people|strong="H3808"\w* \w in|strong="H4672"\w* \w that|strong="H4480"\w* group \w searched|strong="H1245"\w* \w in|strong="H4672"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* documents \w that|strong="H4480"\w* \w had|strong="H4672"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* names \w of|strong="H4480"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* ancestors \w of|strong="H4480"\w* \w all|strong="H4480"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* clans, \w but|strong="H3808"\w* these men’s names \w were|strong="H4672"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w found|strong="H4672"\w*. \w So|strong="H4480"\w* \w they|strong="H3808"\w* \w were|strong="H4672"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* permitted do \w the|strong="H4480"\w* work \w that|strong="H4480"\w* \w priests|strong="H3808"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w*.  
\v 63 \w The|strong="H5704"\w* \w governor|strong="H8660"\w* told \w them|strong="H5975"\w* \w that|strong="H3548"\w* \w they|strong="H3808"\w* \w would|strong="H3548"\w* need \w to|strong="H5704"\w* ask \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w priest|strong="H3548"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* consult \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* \w by|strong="H5975"\w* \add ◄casting/throwing\add* \w the|strong="H5704"\w* \w sacred|strong="H6944"\w* lots/stones \add that had been marked\add*►, \w to|strong="H5704"\w* determine if those men \w were|strong="H6944"\w* truly Israelis. \w When|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H5704"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w that|strong="H3548"\w*, \add if the stones showed that those men were Israelis\add*, \w they|strong="H3808"\w* \w would|strong="H3548"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* permitted \w to|strong="H5704"\w* eat \w the|strong="H5704"\w* shares \w of|strong="H3548"\w* \w the|strong="H5704"\w* \w sacrifices|strong="H6944"\w* \w that|strong="H3548"\w* \w were|strong="H6944"\w* given \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H5704"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*.   
\b  
\pi1
\v 64 \w Altogether|strong="H3605"\w* 42,360 Israeli people \w who|strong="H3605"\w* returned \w to|strong="H3605"\w* Judah.  
\v 65 There \w were|strong="H5650"\w* also 7,337 \w servants|strong="H5650"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* 200 \w musicians|strong="H7891"\w*, both \w men|strong="H5650"\w* \w and|strong="H3967"\w* \w women|strong="H7891"\w*, \w who|strong="H5650"\w* returned.  
\v 66 \w The|strong="H3967"\w* Israelis brought \w with|strong="H5483"\w* them \add from Babylonia\add* 736 \w horses|strong="H5483"\w*, 245 \w mules|strong="H6505"\w*,  
\v 67 435 \w camels|strong="H1581"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* 6,720 \w donkeys|strong="H2543"\w*.   
\p
\v 68 \w When|strong="H3068"\w* \w they|strong="H3068"\w* arrived \w at|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*, some \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* clan \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* gave money \add for the supplies needed \add* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* rebuild \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w at|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w place|strong="H4349"\w* \w where|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w been|strong="H3068"\w* previously.  
\v 69 \w They|strong="H4399"\w* \w all|strong="H5414"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w as|strong="H5414"\w* much \w money|strong="H3701"\w* \w as|strong="H5414"\w* \w they|strong="H4399"\w* \w were|strong="H5414"\w* \w able|strong="H3581"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w give|strong="H5414"\w*. Altogether \w they|strong="H4399"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* 61,000 \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* coins, ◄6,250 pounds/3,000 kg.► \w of|strong="H3548"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w*, \w and|strong="H3967"\w* 100 \w robes|strong="H3801"\w* \w for|strong="H3701"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*.   
\p
\v 70 \w Then|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \add other\add* descendants \w of|strong="H3427"\w* \w Levi|strong="H3881"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w musicians|strong="H7891"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H5411"\w* \w guards|strong="H7778"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w some|strong="H4480"\w* \w of|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \add other\add* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* started \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w live|strong="H3427"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w towns|strong="H5892"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* villages \add near Jerusalem\add*. \w The|strong="H3605"\w* rest \w of|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w went|strong="H3478"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w places|strong="H3605"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3478"\w* \w where|strong="H4480"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* ancestors \w had|strong="H3478"\w* \w lived|strong="H3427"\w*.   
\c 3  
\s1 They rebuilt the altar in Jerusalem  
\p
\v 1 After \w the|strong="H5060"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \add returned to Israel, and\add* \w had|strong="H3478"\w* begun \w to|strong="H3478"\w* live \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w their|strong="H5060"\w* \w towns|strong="H5892"\w*, ◄\w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H5060"\w* autumn \w of|strong="H1121"\w*/after \w the|strong="H5060"\w* hot season ended \w in|strong="H3478"\w*► \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w year|strong="H7637"\w*, \w they|strong="H2320"\w* all \w gathered|strong="H3478"\w* \w together|strong="H5971"\w* \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*.  
\v 2 \w Then|strong="H6965"\w* \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Jehozadak, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w fellow|strong="H1121"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Zerubbabel|strong="H2216"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shealtiel|strong="H7597"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* friends, \w all|strong="H5927"\w* \w began|strong="H3478"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1129"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w altar|strong="H4196"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* God, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w one|strong="H1121"\w* whom \w the|strong="H5921"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \add worshiped\add*. \w They|strong="H5921"\w* \w did|strong="H3478"\w* \w that|strong="H3478"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* order \w that|strong="H3478"\w* \w they|strong="H5921"\w* \w could|strong="H6965"\w* \w sacrifice|strong="H5930"\w* burned \w offerings|strong="H5930"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w*, \w according|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w what|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* prophet \w Moses|strong="H4872"\w* \w had|strong="H3478"\w* \w written|strong="H3789"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w laws|strong="H8451"\w* \add that God gave to him\add*.  
\v 3-6 Even though they were afraid of the people who were already living in that area, they rebuilt the altar at the same place \add where the previous altar had been\add*. Before they started to lay the foundation of \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*’s temple, \add the priests\add* started to burn sacrifices to \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* \add on the altar\add*. They offered sacrifices every morning and every evening. Fifteen days after \add they started to offer these sacrifices\add*, the people celebrated the Festival of \add Living in Temporary\add* Shelters, as \add Moses\add* had commanded them to do in the laws \add that God gave to him\add*. Each day the priests offered the sacrifices \add that were required\add* for that day. In addition, they presented the regular burned offerings and the offerings \add that were required\add* for the New Moon Festivals and the other festivals that they celebrated each year to \add honor\add* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*. They also brought other offerings only because they desired to bring them, \add not because they were required to bring them\add*.   
\s1 They rebuilt the temple  
\p
\v 7 \w Then|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* Israelis hired \w masons|strong="H2672"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w carpenters|strong="H2796"\w*, \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w they|strong="H5921"\w* \w bought|strong="H5414"\w* \add logs from\add* cedar \w trees|strong="H6086"\w* \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* people \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Tyre|strong="H6876"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* Sidon \add cities\add*, \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w they|strong="H5921"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w those|strong="H4480"\w* people \w food|strong="H3978"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* wine \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w olive|strong="H8081"\w* \w oil|strong="H8081"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w logs|strong="H6086"\w*. \w They|strong="H5921"\w* \w brought|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w logs|strong="H6086"\w* \w down|strong="H5414"\w* \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \add the mountains in\add* \w Lebanon|strong="H3844"\w* \add to the Mediterranean seacoast and then floated them along the coast of the Sea,\add* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w Joppa|strong="H3305"\w*. \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* \w permitted|strong="H5414"\w* \w them|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* do \w that|strong="H5414"\w*. \add Then the logs were brought from Joppa inland up to Jerusalem\add*.   
\p
\v 8 \w The|strong="H3605"\w* Israelis \w started|strong="H2490"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* rebuild \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w in|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* ◄spring/\w time|strong="H8145"\w* \w before|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* hot season► \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w second|strong="H8145"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w* \w after|strong="H5921"\w* \w they|strong="H3068"\w* returned \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*. \w Zerubbabel|strong="H2216"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* returned \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w worked|strong="H4399"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* building. \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* ◄\w Levites|strong="H3881"\w*/\w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w did|strong="H3068"\w* \w work|strong="H4399"\w* \w in|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w*► \w supervised|strong="H5921"\w* \w this|strong="H3068"\w* \w work|strong="H4399"\w*.  
\v 9 \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* other \w relatives|strong="H1121"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Kadmiel|strong="H6934"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Hodaviah, \w also|strong="H6213"\w* helped \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w supervise|strong="H5329"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w work|strong="H4399"\w*. \w The|strong="H5921"\w* \w family|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Henadad|strong="H2582"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w also|strong="H6213"\w* \w all|strong="H6213"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w*, joined \w with|strong="H1004"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* supervising \w this|strong="H6213"\w* \w work|strong="H4399"\w*.   
\p
\v 10 \w When|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w builders|strong="H1129"\w* finished \w laying|strong="H3245"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w foundation|strong="H3245"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w temple|strong="H1964"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w put|strong="H3847"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w their|strong="H3068"\w* robes \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w stood|strong="H5975"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w their|strong="H3068"\w* \w places|strong="H3027"\w*, blowing \w their|strong="H3068"\w* \w trumpets|strong="H2689"\w*. \w Then|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w*, \w who|strong="H3068"\w* \w were|strong="H3478"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Asaph, clashed/banged \w their|strong="H3068"\w* \w cymbals|strong="H4700"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w praise|strong="H1984"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*, \w just|strong="H5975"\w* \w as|strong="H3068"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w David|strong="H1732"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \add many years previously\add* told \add Asaph and the other musicians\add* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w do|strong="H3068"\w*.  
\v 11 \w They|strong="H3588"\w* \w praised|strong="H1984"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* thanked \w him|strong="H5921"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w sang|strong="H1984"\w* \w this|strong="H3588"\w* song \w about|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*:  
\q1 “\w He|strong="H3588"\w* \w is|strong="H3068"\w* \w very|strong="H1419"\w* \w good|strong="H2896"\w* \add to us\add*!  
\q1 \w He|strong="H3588"\w* \w faithfully|strong="H2617"\w* loves \w us|strong="H5921"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H5971"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w will|strong="H3068"\w* \w love|strong="H2617"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w* \w forever|strong="H5769"\w*.”  
\m \w Then|strong="H6030"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w shouted|strong="H7321"\w* \w loudly|strong="H1419"\w*, \w praising|strong="H1984"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* finished \w laying|strong="H3245"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w foundation|strong="H3245"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*’s \w temple|strong="H1004"\w*.  
\v 12 \w Many|strong="H7227"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \add old\add* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w*, \w and|strong="H1419"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w families|strong="H1004"\w* remembered \add what\add* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w first|strong="H7223"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \add was like\add*, \w and|strong="H1419"\w* \w they|strong="H3548"\w* \w cried|strong="H1058"\w* \w aloud|strong="H7311"\w* \w when|strong="H7200"\w* \w they|strong="H3548"\w* \w saw|strong="H7200"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w foundation|strong="H3245"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w being|strong="H1004"\w* \w laid|strong="H3245"\w* \add because they knew that the new temple would not be as beautiful as the first temple\add*. \w But|strong="H7200"\w* \w the|strong="H7200"\w* \w other|strong="H2088"\w* \w people|strong="H5869"\w* \w shouted|strong="H8643"\w* \w joyfully|strong="H8057"\w*.  
\v 13 \w The|strong="H8085"\w* \w shouting|strong="H8643"\w* \w and|strong="H1419"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w crying|strong="H1065"\w* \w was|strong="H6963"\w* \w very|strong="H5704"\w* \w loud|strong="H1419"\w*; \add even people\add* \w far|strong="H5704"\w* \w away|strong="H7350"\w* \w could|strong="H5971"\w* \w hear|strong="H8085"\w* \w it|strong="H3588"\w*.   
\c 4  
\s1 Their enemies opposed rebuilding the temple  
\p
\v 1 \w The|strong="H8085"\w* \w enemies|strong="H6862"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \add the tribes of\add* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Benjamin|strong="H1144"\w* \w heard|strong="H8085"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \add Israeli\add* \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \w who|strong="H3068"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* returned \w from|strong="H3478"\w* Babylonia \w were|strong="H3478"\w* \w rebuilding|strong="H1129"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w temple|strong="H1964"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*, \w the|strong="H8085"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w whom|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H8085"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \add worshiped\add*.  
\v 2 \w So|strong="H3808"\w* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w went|strong="H5927"\w* \w to|strong="H5927"\w* \w Zerubbabel|strong="H2216"\w* \add the governor\add* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w other|strong="H6311"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* said \add deceptively\add*, “\w We|strong="H3588"\w* \w want|strong="H3808"\w* \w to|strong="H5927"\w* help \add you build the temple\add*, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* worship \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w same|strong="H1992"\w* \w God|strong="H3808"\w* \w whom|strong="H1992"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* worship, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w have|strong="H3117"\w* \w been|strong="H3808"\w* \w offering|strong="H5927"\w* \w sacrifices|strong="H2076"\w* \w to|strong="H5927"\w* \w him|strong="H5973"\w* \w since|strong="H3588"\w* Esarhaddon, \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* Assyria, \w brought|strong="H5927"\w* \w us|strong="H3588"\w* \w here|strong="H6311"\w*.”   
\p
\v 3 \w But|strong="H3588"\w* \w Zerubbabel|strong="H2216"\w*, \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w other|strong="H7605"\w* \add Israeli\add* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* replied, “\w We|strong="H3588"\w* \w will|strong="H3068"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* allow \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* help \w us|strong="H3588"\w* \w build|strong="H1129"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w our|strong="H3068"\w*(exc) \w God|strong="H3068"\w*. \w We|strong="H3588"\w* \w will|strong="H3068"\w* \w build|strong="H1129"\w* \w it|strong="H3588"\w* ◄\w ourselves|strong="H1129"\w*/\w without|strong="H3808"\w* \w your|strong="H3068"\w* help► \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*, \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w whom|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* Israelis \w worship|strong="H3478"\w*, \w like|strong="H1004"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w*, \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*, \w told|strong="H6680"\w* \w us|strong="H3588"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w do|strong="H3068"\w*.”   
\p
\v 4 \w Then|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H1129"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w who|strong="H5971"\w* \w had|strong="H1961"\w* \w been|strong="H1961"\w* living \w in|strong="H1129"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* land \add before the Israelis returned\add* tried \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w cause|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H1129"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3063"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w become|strong="H1961"\w* \w discouraged|strong="H7503"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w become|strong="H1961"\w* afraid, \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w cause|strong="H5971"\w* \w them|strong="H3027"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* stop \w building|strong="H1129"\w* \w the|strong="H1129"\w* temple.  
\v 5 \w They|strong="H3117"\w* bribed government officials \w to|strong="H5704"\w* oppose \w what|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* Israelis \w were|strong="H3117"\w* doing \add and prevent them from continuing to work on the temple\add*. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* \w did|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w during|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w time|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3566"\w* \w was|strong="H3117"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* continued \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w do|strong="H6565"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w when|strong="H3117"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1867"\w* became \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w King|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*.   
\s1 Opposition to rebuilding Jerusalem  
\p
\v 6 During \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w first|strong="H8462"\w* year \w that|strong="H3063"\w* \add Darius’ son\add* Xerxes \w was|strong="H3063"\w* \w king|strong="H5921"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \add enemies of the Jews\add* \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* note \add to the king\add* saying \w that|strong="H3063"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3063"\w* \add were planning to rebel against the government\add*.   
\p
\v 7 Later, \w when|strong="H3117"\w* \add Xerxes’ son\add* Artaxerxes \add became the King of Persia\add*, \w Bishlam|strong="H1312"\w*, \w Mithredath|strong="H4990"\w*, \w Tabeel|strong="H2870"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w their|strong="H5921"\w* \w colleagues|strong="H3674"\w*/\w companions|strong="H3674"\w* \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w letter|strong="H5406"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w letter|strong="H5406"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* Aramaic language, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w was|strong="H3117"\w* \w translated|strong="H8638"\w* \add into another language that the king knew\add*.   
\p
\v 8 \w Rehum|strong="H7348"\w*, \w the|strong="H5922"\w* high commissioner, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w Shimshai|strong="H8124"\w*, \w the|strong="H5922"\w* provincial \w secretary|strong="H5613"\w*, \w wrote|strong="H3790"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* letter \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* Artaxerxes \w concerning|strong="H5922"\w* what \w was|strong="H4430"\w* happening \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*.   
\mi
\v 9 \w They|strong="H1768"\w* stated \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* letter \w was|strong="H2942"\w* \w from|strong="H1768"\w* \w Rehum|strong="H7348"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* high commissioner/governor \w and|strong="H5613"\w* \w Shimshai|strong="H8124"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* provincial \w secretary|strong="H5613"\w* \w and|strong="H5613"\w* \w from|strong="H1768"\w* their associates, \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w judges|strong="H1784"\w*, \w and|strong="H5613"\w* other government \w officials|strong="H2967"\w*, \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w were|strong="H1768"\w* \w from|strong="H1768"\w* Erech \add city\add*, Babylon \add city\add*, \w and|strong="H5613"\w* \w Susa|strong="H7801"\w* \add city\add* \w in|strong="H1768"\w* Elam \add district\add*.  
\v 10  \add They also wrote that they represented\add* \w the|strong="H5675"\w* other people-groups \w whom|strong="H1768"\w* \add the army of\add* \w the|strong="H5675"\w* \w great|strong="H7229"\w* \w and|strong="H7229"\w* glorious/famous \add King\add* Ashurbanipal \w had|strong="H1768"\w* ◄\w deported|strong="H1541"\w*/forced \w to|strong="H1994"\w* move \w from|strong="H1768"\w* their homes► \w and|strong="H7229"\w* taken \w to|strong="H1994"\w* \w live|strong="H3488"\w* \w in|strong="H3488"\w* \w Samaria|strong="H8115"\w* \w and|strong="H7229"\w* \w in|strong="H3488"\w* other \w cities|strong="H7149"\w* \w in|strong="H3488"\w* \w the|strong="H5675"\w* province west \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5675"\w* Euphrates \add River\add*.   
\b  
\p
\v 11 \w This|strong="H1836"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w what|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* wrote \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* letter:  
\mi “\w To|strong="H5922"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* Artaxerxes,  
\mi \w From|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* officials \w who|strong="H1768"\w* serve \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* live \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* province west \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* Euphrates \add River.\add*   
\pi1
\v 12 “\w Your|strong="H1768"\w* majesty, \w we|strong="H3068"\w* want \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w know|strong="H3046"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3062"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w came|strong="H5559"\w* here \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w your|strong="H1768"\w* territories \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w rebuilding|strong="H1124"\w* \w this|strong="H5922"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w*, \add Jerusalem\add*. \w These|strong="H4481"\w* people \w are|strong="H1768"\w* wicked \w and|strong="H4430"\w* want \w to|strong="H5922"\w* rebel \w against|strong="H5922"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w*. \w Now|strong="H4430"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w repairing|strong="H2338"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* foundations \add of the walls/buildings\add* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w building|strong="H1124"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w walls|strong="H7792"\w* \add of the city\add*.   
\pi1
\v 13 “\w It|strong="H2006"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* important \w for|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H3046"\w* \w know|strong="H3046"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w if|strong="H2006"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1124"\w* \w the|strong="H3046"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w finish|strong="H3635"\w* \w building|strong="H1124"\w* \w the|strong="H3046"\w* \w walls|strong="H7792"\w*, \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* stop paying any kind \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w taxes|strong="H4061"\w*. \w As|strong="H1768"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* result, \w there|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* less money \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w your|strong="H1768"\w* treasury.  
\v 14 \w Now|strong="H3705"\w*, \w because|strong="H6903"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* loyal \w to|strong="H5922"\w* [IDM] \w you|strong="H1768"\w*, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w because|strong="H6903"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w do|strong="H5922"\w* \w not|strong="H3809"\w* want \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w be|strong="H3809"\w* humiliated [IDM], \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* sending \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w information|strong="H3046"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w*.  
\v 15 \w And|strong="H4430"\w*, \w we|strong="H3068"\w* suggest \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* order/tell \add your officials\add* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w search|strong="H1240"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w records|strong="H1799"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w your|strong="H5922"\w* ancestors \w made|strong="H5648"\w*/wrote. \add If you do that\add*, \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w find|strong="H7912"\w* \w out|strong="H5648"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* people \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w* \w have|strong="H4430"\w* always rebelled \add against the government\add*. \w You|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w also|strong="H4430"\w* \w find|strong="H7912"\w* \w out|strong="H5648"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w long|strong="H5957"\w* \w ago|strong="H3118"\w* \w these|strong="H1836"\w* people \w have|strong="H4430"\w* caused trouble \w for|strong="H5922"\w* \w kings|strong="H4430"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w for|strong="H5922"\w* rulers \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w provinces|strong="H4083"\w*. \w They|strong="H1768"\w* \w have|strong="H4430"\w* always revolted \add against those who ruled them\add*. \w That|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w reason|strong="H5922"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w* \w was|strong="H4430"\w* \w destroyed|strong="H2718"\w* \add by the Babylonian army\add*.  
\v 16 \w We|strong="H1768"\w* want \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H3046"\w* \w know|strong="H3046"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w if|strong="H2006"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1124"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w finish|strong="H3635"\w* \w building|strong="H1124"\w* \w its|strong="H3046"\w* \w walls|strong="H7792"\w*, \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w no|strong="H3809"\w* longer \w be|strong="H3809"\w* able \w to|strong="H3046"\w* control/rule \add the people in\add* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* province west \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H5675"\w* Euphrates \add River\add*.”   
\b  
\p
\v 17  \add After\add* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \add read this letter, he\add* \w sent|strong="H7972"\w* \w this|strong="H5922"\w* reply \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w them|strong="H5922"\w*:  
\pi1 “\w To|strong="H5922"\w* \w Rehum|strong="H7348"\w*, \w the|strong="H5922"\w* high commissioner, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w Shimshai|strong="H8124"\w*, \w the|strong="H5922"\w* provincial \w secretary|strong="H5613"\w*, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* their \w colleagues|strong="H3675"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w Samaria|strong="H8115"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* other parts \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* province \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* west \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \add Euphrates\add* \w River|strong="H5103"\w*: \w I|strong="H1768"\w* ◄\w send|strong="H7972"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w my|strong="H5922"\w* greetings/wish \w that|strong="H1768"\w* things \w will|strong="H1768"\w* go well \w for|strong="H5922"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w*►.  
\v 18 \w The|strong="H5922"\w* \w letter|strong="H5407"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w sent|strong="H7972"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w me|strong="H5922"\w* \w was|strong="H5407"\w* \w translated|strong="H6568"\w* \w and|strong="H7972"\w* \w read|strong="H7123"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w me|strong="H5922"\w*.  
\v 19 \w So|strong="H1768"\w* \w then|strong="H4430"\w* \w I|strong="H4481"\w* ordered \add my officials\add* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w search|strong="H1240"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* records. \w I|strong="H4481"\w* \w have|strong="H4430"\w* \w found|strong="H7912"\w* \w out|strong="H5648"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \add it is true that\add* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* people \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w* \w have|strong="H4430"\w* always revolted \w against|strong="H5922"\w* their rulers, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* full \w of|strong="H4481"\w* people \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w have|strong="H4430"\w* rebelled \w and|strong="H4430"\w* caused trouble.  
\v 20 \w Powerful|strong="H8624"\w* \w kings|strong="H4430"\w* \w have|strong="H1934"\w* \w ruled|strong="H7990"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w they|strong="H3606"\w* \w have|strong="H1934"\w* \w also|strong="H4430"\w* \w ruled|strong="H7990"\w* \w over|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w whole|strong="H3606"\w* province west \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \add Euphrates\add* \w River|strong="H5103"\w*. \add The people in that province were\add* paying \w all|strong="H3606"\w* kinds \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w taxes|strong="H4061"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* those \w kings|strong="H4430"\w*.  
\v 21 \w So|strong="H5705"\w* \w you|strong="H5705"\w* must \w command|strong="H2942"\w* \w that|strong="H2942"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w people|strong="H1400"\w* must stop \w rebuilding|strong="H1124"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w city|strong="H7149"\w*. Only if \w I|strong="H4481"\w* tell them \add that they may rebuild it\add* will \w they|strong="H3809"\w* \w be|strong="H3809"\w* allowed \w to|strong="H2942"\w* continue.  
\v 22 \w Do|strong="H5648"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* immediately [LIT], because \w I|strong="H1836"\w* \w do|strong="H5648"\w* not want those people \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w do|strong="H5648"\w* anything \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w harm|strong="H2257"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* things/area \w about|strong="H5922"\w* \w which|strong="H1836"\w* \w I|strong="H1836"\w* am concerned.”   
\p
\v 23  \add Messengers took\add* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w letter|strong="H5407"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w Rehum|strong="H7348"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w Shimshai|strong="H8124"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* their \w colleagues|strong="H3675"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w read|strong="H7123"\w* \w it|strong="H5922"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w them|strong="H1994"\w*. \w Then|strong="H4430"\w* \w Rehum|strong="H7348"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* others \w went|strong="H5613"\w* quickly \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* forced \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3062"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* stop \add rebuilding the city wall\add*.   
\p
\v 24 \w The|strong="H1768"\w* result \w was|strong="H1934"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* Jews stopped rebuilding \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w*. \w They|strong="H1768"\w* \w did|strong="H1934"\w* not \w do|strong="H1934"\w* any more \w work|strong="H5673"\w* \w to|strong="H5705"\w* rebuild \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w until|strong="H5705"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w* \w became|strong="H1934"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6540"\w*.   
\c 5  
\s1 Tattenai’s letter to King Darius  
\p
\v 1 At \w that|strong="H1768"\w* time two prophets gave messages \w from|strong="H1768"\w* God \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3062"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* \w and|strong="H2148"\w* \add other cities in\add* \w Judah|strong="H3061"\w*. \w The|strong="H5922"\w* prophets \w were|strong="H1768"\w* \w Haggai|strong="H2292"\w* \w and|strong="H2148"\w* \w Zechariah|strong="H2148"\w*, \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w was|strong="H8036"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* descendant \w of|strong="H1247"\w* \w Iddo|strong="H5714"\w*. \w They|strong="H1768"\w* spoke \w those|strong="H1768"\w* messages representing God, \w whom|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* Israelis \add worshiped/belonged to\add*, \w the|strong="H5922"\w* one \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w was|strong="H8036"\w* their true king.  
\v 2 \w Then|strong="H1768"\w* \w Zerubbabel|strong="H2217"\w* \w and|strong="H5029"\w* \w Shealtiel|strong="H7598"\w* \add led many other people\add* \w as|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* started \add again\add* \w to|strong="H5974"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1124"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God \w in|strong="H6966"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*. \w And|strong="H5029"\w* God’s \w prophets|strong="H5029"\w* \add Haggai and Zechariah\add* \w were|strong="H1768"\w* \w with|strong="H5974"\w* \w them|strong="H5974"\w* \w and|strong="H5029"\w* helped \w them|strong="H5974"\w*.   
\p
\v 3 Then \w Tattenai|strong="H8674"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w governor|strong="H6347"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* province west \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \add Euphrates\add* \w River|strong="H5103"\w* \w and|strong="H3652"\w* \w Shethar-Bozenai|strong="H8370"\w* \w his|strong="H5922"\w* assistant \w and|strong="H3652"\w* \add some of\add* their officials went \w to|strong="H5922"\w* Jerusalem \w and|strong="H3652"\w* said \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* people, “\w Who|strong="H4479"\w* has permitted \w you|strong="H5922"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1124"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w and|strong="H3652"\w* put furnishings \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w it|strong="H5922"\w*?”  
\v 4 \w They|strong="H3660"\w* \w also|strong="H3660"\w* requested \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w people|strong="H1400"\w* \w to|strong="H8036"\w* tell them \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w names|strong="H8036"\w* \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w men|strong="H1400"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w were|strong="H1400"\w* working \add at the temple\add*. \add But the people refused\add*.  
\v 5 However, God \w was|strong="H1934"\w* taking care \w of|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jewish|strong="H3062"\w* leaders, \w so|strong="H5705"\w* their enemies \w were|strong="H1934"\w* \w not|strong="H3809"\w* able \w to|strong="H5922"\w* prevent \w the|strong="H5922"\w* people from continuing \add to rebuild the temple\add*. \add They continued to work while their enemies\add* sent \w a|strong="H3068"\w* report \w to|strong="H5922"\w* King \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w*, \w and|strong="H1934"\w* asked \w him|strong="H5922"\w* \add what he wanted them to do\add* \w about|strong="H5922"\w* \w it|strong="H5922"\w*.   
\p
\v 6 \w So|strong="H1768"\w* \w Tattenai|strong="H8674"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w Shethar-Bozenai|strong="H8370"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* their officials \w sent|strong="H7972"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* report \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w*.  
\v 7 \w This|strong="H1836"\w* \w is|strong="H3606"\w* what \w they|strong="H3606"\w* \w wrote|strong="H3790"\w*:  
\b  
\q1 “\w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w*, \w we|strong="H3068"\w* hope \w that|strong="H3606"\w* \w things|strong="H3606"\w* \w are|strong="H5922"\w* going well \w for|strong="H5922"\w* \w you|strong="H5922"\w*!   
\pi1
\v 8  \add “We want you to know that\add* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* went \w to|strong="H3046"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3061"\w* \w Province|strong="H4083"\w*, \w where|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H3046"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H3046"\w* \w great|strong="H7229"\w* God \w is|strong="H1768"\w* being \w rebuilt|strong="H1124"\w*. \w The|strong="H3046"\w* people \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w building|strong="H1124"\w* \w it|strong="H1934"\w* \w with|strong="H1124"\w* \w huge|strong="H1560"\w* stones, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* putting wooden beams \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H3046"\w* \w walls|strong="H3797"\w*. \w The|strong="H3046"\w* \w work|strong="H5673"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* being \w done|strong="H5648"\w* very carefully, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* progressing well.   
\pi1
\v 9 “\w We|strong="H7593"\w* \w asked|strong="H7593"\w* \w the|strong="H1124"\w* Jewish leaders, ‘\w Who|strong="H4479"\w* has permitted you \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1124"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w and|strong="H1005"\w* put furnishings in it?’  
\v 10 \w And|strong="H1768"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* requested them \w to|strong="H3046"\w* tell us \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w names|strong="H8036"\w* \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w their|strong="H7593"\w* leaders, \w in|strong="H1768"\w* order \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w could|strong="H1768"\w* tell \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w were|strong="H1400"\w*.   
\pi1
\v 11 “\w But|strong="H1768"\w* \add instead of telling us their leaders’ names,\add* \w what|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H3660"\w* said \w was|strong="H1934"\w*, ‘\w We|strong="H1768"\w* serve \w the|strong="H1768"\w* God \add who created\add* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* earth. \w Many|strong="H7690"\w* \w years|strong="H8140"\w* \w ago|strong="H6928"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w great|strong="H7229"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \add who ruled\add* \w us|strong="H5649"\w* Israeli people \add told our ancestors to\add* \w build|strong="H1124"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* here, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w now|strong="H4430"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* \w rebuilding|strong="H1124"\w* \w it|strong="H1934"\w*.   
\b  
\pi1
\v 12 “'\w But|strong="H3861"\w* God, \add who rules\add* \w in|strong="H5020"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w*, allowed \add the armies of\add* \w Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020"\w*, \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* Babylonia, \w to|strong="H1994"\w* destroy \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w*, \w because|strong="H4481"\w* \w our|strong="H4481"\w* ancestors \w did|strong="H1994"\w* \w things|strong="H5642"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* caused God \w to|strong="H1994"\w* become very angry. \w Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020"\w*’s army \w took|strong="H5020"\w* \add many of\add* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \add Israeli\add* \w people|strong="H5972"\w* \w to|strong="H1994"\w* Babylonia.   
\pi1
\v 13 “'\w However|strong="H1297"\w*, during \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w first|strong="H2298"\w* \w year|strong="H8140"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3567"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* Babylon started \w to|strong="H2942"\w* rule, \w he|strong="H1768"\w* decreed \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God \w should|strong="H4430"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w rebuilt|strong="H1124"\w*.  
\v 14 \w Cyrus|strong="H3567"\w* returned \add to the Jewish leaders\add* all \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w gold|strong="H1722"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w silver|strong="H3702"\w* cups \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w had|strong="H4430"\w* been \w taken|strong="H5312"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w in|strong="H1965"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w which|strong="H1768"\w* \w had|strong="H4430"\w* been put \w in|strong="H1965"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w in|strong="H1965"\w* Babylon. \w Those|strong="H1768"\w* cups \w were|strong="H1768"\w* \w given|strong="H3052"\w* \w to|strong="H1994"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* man \w named|strong="H8036"\w* \w Sheshbazzar|strong="H8340"\w*, \w whom|strong="H1768"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3567"\w* \w had|strong="H4430"\w* \w appointed|strong="H7761"\w* \w to|strong="H1994"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w governor|strong="H6347"\w* \w in|strong="H1965"\w* Judah.   
\pi1
\v 15 “'\w The|strong="H5922"\w* king instructed \w him|strong="H5922"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w take|strong="H5376"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* cups back \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*, \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w place|strong="H5182"\w* \add from which they had previously been taken\add*. \w He|strong="H1768"\w* also decreed \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* should \w rebuild|strong="H1124"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* at \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w place|strong="H5182"\w* \w where|strong="H1768"\w* \w it|strong="H5922"\w* \w had|strong="H1768"\w* been \w before|strong="H5922"\w*. \w So|strong="H1768"\w* Cyrus appointed Sheshbazzar \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* governor \w in|strong="H5922"\w* Judah. \w He|strong="H1768"\w* also sent all \w those|strong="H1768"\w* things made \w of|strong="H1005"\w* gold \w and|strong="H1005"\w* silver, \w for|strong="H5922"\w* Sheshbazzar \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w put|strong="H5182"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* new \w temple|strong="H1005"\w*.  
\v 16 \w So|strong="H1768"\w* \w Sheshbazzar|strong="H8340"\w* did \w that|strong="H1768"\w*. \w He|strong="H1768"\w* \w came|strong="H1768"\w* here \w to|strong="H5705"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*, \w and|strong="H1005"\w* \add supervised the men who\add* \w laid|strong="H3052"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* foundation \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w*. \w And|strong="H1005"\w* \w since|strong="H1768"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* time, \w the|strong="H4481"\w* people \w have|strong="H1768"\w* been working \w on|strong="H5705"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w*, \w but|strong="H1768"\w* \w it|strong="H4481"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w not|strong="H3809"\w* \w finished|strong="H8000"\w* yet.’   
\b  
\pi1
\v 17 “\w Therefore|strong="H5922"\w*, \w your|strong="H5922"\w* majesty, please order someone \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w search|strong="H1240"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* place \w in|strong="H5922"\w* Babylon \w where|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* important records \w are|strong="H1768"\w* kept, \w to|strong="H5922"\w* find out \w whether|strong="H2006"\w* \add it is true that\add* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3567"\w* decreed \w that|strong="H1768"\w* God’s \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w should|strong="H4430"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w rebuilt|strong="H1124"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*. \w Then|strong="H4430"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w can|strong="H1768"\w* tell \w us|strong="H5922"\w* \w what|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* want \w us|strong="H5922"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w do|strong="H5922"\w* \w about|strong="H5922"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w matter|strong="H1836"\w*.”   
\c 6  
\s1 What King Darius commanded  
\p
\v 1  \add Later\add* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w* \add became the ruler of the Persian Empire. When the enemies of the Israelis forced them to stop rebuilding the temple, the Persian officials sent a message to King Darius. They asked him to\add* \w search|strong="H1240"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* records \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* ◄\w archives|strong="H1005"\w*/government records►, \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* building \w where|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w stored|strong="H5182"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* important documents, \add to find out whether King Cyrus had authorized that the temple should be rebuilt\add*.  
\v 2  \add The king commanded someone to search there, but those documents were not there in Babylon\add*. \w They|strong="H1768"\w* \w found|strong="H7912"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w scroll|strong="H4040"\w* \w at|strong="H7912"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* fort \w in|strong="H7912"\w* Ecbatana, \w in|strong="H7912"\w* \w Media|strong="H4076"\w* \w province|strong="H4083"\w*, \add that contained the information that they wanted to know\add*.  
\p This \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w what|strong="H1768"\w* \w was|strong="H1768"\w* \w written|strong="H3790"\w* on \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w scroll|strong="H4040"\w*:   
\pi1
\v 3 “During \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w first|strong="H2298"\w* \w year|strong="H8140"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3567"\w* \add ruled the empire\add*, \w he|strong="H1768"\w* sent out \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w decree|strong="H2942"\w* \w concerning|strong="H2942"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God \w which|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* at \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*. \w In|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w decree|strong="H2942"\w* it \w was|strong="H4430"\w* stated \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* new \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* must \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w built|strong="H1124"\w* at \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w same|strong="H2298"\w* place \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \add the Israeli people previously\add* \w had|strong="H4430"\w* \w offered|strong="H1684"\w* \w sacrifices|strong="H1685"\w*, \w where|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \add original\add* foundation \add of the first temple\add* \w was|strong="H4430"\w*. \w The|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* must \w be|strong="H1005"\w* 90 feet high \w and|strong="H4430"\w* 90 feet \w wide|strong="H6613"\w*.  
\v 4 \w The|strong="H4481"\w* building must \w be|strong="H5313"\w* made \w from|strong="H4481"\w* large stones. \w After|strong="H4481"\w* putting down \w three|strong="H8532"\w* \w layers|strong="H5073"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* stones, \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w layer|strong="H5073"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* timber must \w be|strong="H5313"\w* put on top \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w them|strong="H3052"\w*. \w This|strong="H4481"\w* work \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w be|strong="H5313"\w* \w paid|strong="H3052"\w* \w for|strong="H1768"\w* \w by|strong="H4481"\w* money \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w my|strong="H1768"\w* \w treasury|strong="H1005"\w*.  
\v 5 \w Also|strong="H4481"\w*, \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w gold|strong="H1722"\w* \w and|strong="H1722"\w* \w silver|strong="H3702"\w* \w utensils|strong="H3984"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* King \w Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020"\w* \w took|strong="H5312"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* God \w in|strong="H1965"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* \w and|strong="H1722"\w* \w brought|strong="H2987"\w* \w to|strong="H3390"\w* Babylon must \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w taken|strong="H5312"\w* back \w to|strong="H3390"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*. \w They|strong="H1768"\w* must \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w put|strong="H5182"\w* \w in|strong="H1965"\w* God’s \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* just \w as|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w were|strong="H1768"\w* \w in|strong="H1965"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* previous \w temple|strong="H1005"\w*.”   
\b  
\p
\v 6 \w After|strong="H4481"\w* reading \w this|strong="H4481"\w*, King Darius sent \w this|strong="H4481"\w* message \add to the leaders of the Israeli people’s enemies in Jerusalem\add*:  
\pi1 “\w This|strong="H4481"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* message \w for|strong="H1768"\w* \w Tattenai|strong="H8674"\w*, \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w governor|strong="H6347"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* province west \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \add Euphrates\add* \w River|strong="H5103"\w*, \w and|strong="H1934"\w* \w for|strong="H1768"\w* \add his assistant\add* \w Shethar-Bozenai|strong="H8370"\w*, \w and|strong="H1934"\w* \w for|strong="H1768"\w* all \w your|strong="H1768"\w* \w colleagues|strong="H3675"\w*: Stay \w away|strong="H7352"\w* \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* area!  
\v 7 \w Do|strong="H5922"\w* not ◄interfere \w with|strong="H1124"\w*/hinder► \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w work|strong="H5673"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w building|strong="H1124"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* God! \w The|strong="H5922"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* must \w be|strong="H1005"\w* \w rebuilt|strong="H1124"\w* at \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w same|strong="H1791"\w* place where \w the|strong="H5922"\w* former \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w was|strong="H1005"\w*. \w And|strong="H1005"\w* \w do|strong="H5922"\w* not hinder \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w governor|strong="H6347"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3062"\w* \w and|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w elders|strong="H7868"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3062"\w* \add while they are doing this work\add*.   
\pi1
\v 8 “Furthermore, \w I|strong="H4481"\w* declare \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* must help \w these|strong="H4481"\w* leaders \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w Jews|strong="H3062"\w* \w as|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w rebuild|strong="H1124"\w* \w this|strong="H1791"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* God \add by giving them funds for the building work\add*.   
\pi1
\v 9 “\w The|strong="H1768"\w* Jewish \w priests|strong="H3549"\w* \w in|strong="H3549"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* \w need|strong="H2818"\w* \w young|strong="H1123"\w* \w bulls|strong="H8450"\w* \w and|strong="H8065"\w* \w rams|strong="H1798"\w* \w and|strong="H8065"\w* lambs \w to|strong="H2818"\w* sacrifice \w as|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w make|strong="H3809"\w* burned \w offerings|strong="H5928"\w* \w to|strong="H2818"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* God \w of|strong="H1123"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w*. \w You|strong="H1768"\w* must \w give|strong="H3052"\w* \w them|strong="H3052"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* animals \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w need|strong="H2818"\w*. Also, \w you|strong="H1768"\w* must \w be|strong="H1934"\w* certain \w to|strong="H2818"\w* \w give|strong="H3052"\w* \w them|strong="H3052"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w wheat|strong="H2591"\w*, \w salt|strong="H4416"\w*, \w wine|strong="H2562"\w*, \w and|strong="H8065"\w* \add olive\add* \w oil|strong="H4887"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w need|strong="H2818"\w* each \w day|strong="H3118"\w* \add for those sacrifices\add*.  
\v 10 If \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w do|strong="H1934"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w*, \w the|strong="H1768"\w* Jewish priests \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* able \w to|strong="H4430"\w* \w offer|strong="H7127"\w* \w sacrifices|strong="H5208"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* please \w the|strong="H1768"\w* God \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w*, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w pray|strong="H6739"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* God \w will|strong="H1768"\w* bless me \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w my|strong="H1768"\w* \w sons|strong="H1123"\w*.   
\pi1
\v 11 “If \w anyone|strong="H3606"\w* disobeys \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w decree|strong="H2942"\w*, \add my soldiers\add* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* pull \w a|strong="H3068"\w* beam \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w his|strong="H5922"\w* \w house|strong="H1005"\w*. \w Then|strong="H1768"\w* \add after they sharpen one end of the beam,\add* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* lift \w that|strong="H1768"\w* man \w up|strong="H2211"\w* \w and|strong="H1005"\w* impale \w him|strong="H5922"\w* \w on|strong="H5922"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* beam. \w Then|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \add completely destroy that man’s house until only\add* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* pile \w of|strong="H4481"\w* rubble \w is|strong="H1768"\w* left.  
\v 12 God \w has|strong="H1768"\w* chosen \add that city of\add* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w* \w as|strong="H3606"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* place \w where|strong="H1768"\w* \w people|strong="H5972"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* honor him [MTY]. \w What|strong="H1768"\w* \w I|strong="H1768"\w* desire \w is|strong="H1768"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w he|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* get rid \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w any|strong="H3606"\w* \w king|strong="H4430"\w* \w or|strong="H4430"\w* \w any|strong="H3606"\w* nation \w that|strong="H1768"\w* tries \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w change|strong="H8133"\w* \w this|strong="H1791"\w* \w decree|strong="H2942"\w* \w or|strong="H4430"\w* tries \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w destroy|strong="H2255"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w in|strong="H8133"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*. \w I|strong="H1768"\w*, \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w*, \w have|strong="H4430"\w* \w made|strong="H5648"\w* \w this|strong="H1791"\w* \w decree|strong="H2942"\w*. It must \w be|strong="H1005"\w* obeyed quickly \w and|strong="H4430"\w* thoroughly.”   
\s1 They completed and dedicated the temple  
\p
\v 13 \w Tattenai|strong="H8674"\w*, \w the|strong="H5675"\w* \w governor|strong="H6347"\w* \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H5675"\w* province, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \add his assistant\add* \w Shethar-Bozenai|strong="H8370"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* their \w colleagues|strong="H3675"\w* \add read the message and\add* immediately obeyed \w the|strong="H5675"\w* decree \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w*.  
\v 14 \w So|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w Jewish|strong="H3062"\w* leaders continued their work \add of rebuilding the temple\add*. They were greatly encouraged \w by|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* messages \w that|strong="H2942"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w prophets|strong="H5029"\w* \w Haggai|strong="H2292"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w Zechariah|strong="H2148"\w* preached. \w The|strong="H4481"\w* Israelis continued \w building|strong="H1124"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* temple, just like God \w had|strong="H4430"\w* \w commanded|strong="H4481"\w* them \w to|strong="H2942"\w* do \w and|strong="H4430"\w* like \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Cyrus|strong="H3567"\w* \w had|strong="H4430"\w* decreed.  
\v 15 \w They|strong="H1768"\w* \w finished|strong="H3319"\w* building \w it|strong="H1932"\w* \w on|strong="H5705"\w* March 12, during \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w sixth|strong="H8353"\w* \w year|strong="H8140"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w King|strong="H4430"\w* \w Darius|strong="H1868"\w* \add ruled\add*.   
\p
\v 16 Then \w the|strong="H5648"\w* \w priests|strong="H3549"\w* \w and|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H5648"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3879"\w* \w and|strong="H1005"\w* all \w the|strong="H5648"\w* other Israeli people who had returned \w from|strong="H1123"\w* Babylon very joyfully dedicated \w the|strong="H5648"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w*.  
\v 17 During \add the ceremony to\add* dedicate \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w*, \w they|strong="H3606"\w* sacrificed 100 young \w bulls|strong="H8450"\w*, 200 \w rams|strong="H1798"\w*, \w and|strong="H1005"\w* 400 lambs. \w They|strong="H3606"\w* also sacrificed \w twelve|strong="H8648"\w* \w male|strong="H6841"\w* \w goats|strong="H5796"\w* \w as|strong="H3606"\w* \w an|strong="H3606"\w* \w offering|strong="H7127"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* order \w that|strong="H3606"\w* \add God would forgive\add* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* sins \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* people \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w twelve|strong="H8648"\w* \w tribes|strong="H7625"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w Israel|strong="H3479"\w*.  
\v 18 \w Then|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* \w priests|strong="H3549"\w* \w and|strong="H3792"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3879"\w* \w were|strong="H1768"\w* divided into groups \w that|strong="H1768"\w* would \add take turns to\add* serve \w at|strong="H6966"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* temple. \w They|strong="H1768"\w* did \w this|strong="H5922"\w* according \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w what|strong="H1768"\w* \w Moses|strong="H4873"\w* \w had|strong="H1768"\w* \w written|strong="H3792"\w* \add many years previously\add* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H5922"\w* laws \add that he wrote\add*.   
\s1 They celebrated the Passover Festival  
\p
\v 19 \w On|strong="H6213"\w* April 21, \w the|strong="H6213"\w* Jews \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w had|strong="H1121"\w* returned \w from|strong="H1121"\w* Babylon \w celebrated|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H6213"\w* \w Passover|strong="H6453"\w* Festival.  
\v 20  \add To qualify themselves for offering the sacrifices\add*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Levites|strong="H3881"\w* \w had|strong="H3588"\w* already \w purified|strong="H2891"\w* \w themselves|strong="H1992"\w* \w by|strong="H3605"\w* performing certain rituals. \w Then|strong="H3588"\w* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w slaughtered|strong="H7819"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w lambs|strong="H1121"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* benefit \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H3588"\w* returned \w from|strong="H1121"\w* Babylon, \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w themselves|strong="H1992"\w*.  
\v 21 \w Those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w returned|strong="H7725"\w* \w from|strong="H7725"\w* Babylon \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H1471"\w* \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* land \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w turned|strong="H7725"\w* \w away|strong="H7725"\w* \w from|strong="H7725"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* immoral practices \w in|strong="H3478"\w* order \w to|strong="H7725"\w* \w worship|strong="H3478"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H1471"\w*, ate \w the|strong="H3605"\w* Passover meal.  
\v 22 \w They|strong="H3588"\w* \w celebrated|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w Unleavened|strong="H4682"\w* \w Bread|strong="H4682"\w* \w Festival|strong="H2282"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \add Eating\add* \w Unleavened|strong="H4682"\w* \w Bread|strong="H4682"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w seven|strong="H7651"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w*. \w The|strong="H5921"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H3820"\w* \w throughout|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* land \w were|strong="H3478"\w* \w joyful|strong="H8055"\w* \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w changed|strong="H5437"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w attitude|strong="H3820"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* Assyria \w toward|strong="H5921"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w as|strong="H3117"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* result, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w helped|strong="H2388"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* rebuild \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w one|strong="H3588"\w* \w whom|strong="H3588"\w* \w they|strong="H3588"\w* \add worshiped\add*.   
\c 7  
\s1 Ezra went to Jerusalem  
\p
\v 1  \add Many/Fifty years\add* later, while Artaxerxes \w was|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H1697"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w*, \w I|strong="H1697"\w*, \w Ezra|strong="H5830"\w* \w came|strong="H1697"\w* \w from|strong="H1121"\w* Babylon here \w to|strong="H1121"\w* Jerusalem. \w I|strong="H1697"\w* am \w the|strong="H1697"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Seraiah|strong="H8304"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1697"\w* \w grandson|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Azariah|strong="H5838"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1697"\w* great-grandson \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Hilkiah|strong="H2518"\w*.  
\v 2 Hilkiah \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H6659"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shallum|strong="H7967"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H6659"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Zadok|strong="H6659"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H6659"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Ahitub,  
\v 3 \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5838"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Amariah, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5838"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Azariah|strong="H5838"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5838"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Meraioth|strong="H4812"\w*,  
\v 4 \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Zerahiah|strong="H2228"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Uzzi|strong="H5813"\w*, \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H1121"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Bukki|strong="H1231"\w*,  
\v 5 \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Abishua, \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Phinehas|strong="H6372"\w*, \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Eleazar, \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Aaron, \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \add first\add* Supreme \w Priest|strong="H3548"\w*.  
\v 6 \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w am|strong="H3068"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w man|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* knows very well \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w laws|strong="H8451"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w Moses|strong="H4872"\w* \add wrote\add*. \w Those|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w laws|strong="H8451"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* whom \w we|strong="H3068"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H1931"\w* ◄\add worship/belong to\add*►, \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w given|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H1931"\w*. \w When|strong="H3068"\w* \w I|strong="H5414"\w* arrived \w in|strong="H5921"\w* Jerusalem, \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* \w my|strong="H5414"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w was|strong="H3068"\w* kind \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w me|strong="H5414"\w*, \w and|strong="H4872"\w* \w as|strong="H3068"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* result \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \add people\add* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w me|strong="H5414"\w* \w everything|strong="H3605"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w requested|strong="H1246"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \add tell them to\add* \w give|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w me|strong="H5414"\w*.  
\v 7 \w Some|strong="H4480"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w some|strong="H4480"\w* \add other\add* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Levi|strong="H3881"\w*, \add some\add* \w singers|strong="H7891"\w*, \add some\add* ◄\w gatekeepers|strong="H7778"\w*/\w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w who|strong="H3548"\w* guarded \w the|strong="H4480"\w* gates \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w temple|strong="H5411"\w*►, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \add some\add* \w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w worked|strong="H5927"\w* \w in|strong="H8141"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w temple|strong="H5411"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w some|strong="H4480"\w* other \add Israeli\add* \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \w came|strong="H5927"\w* \w up|strong="H5927"\w* \w with|strong="H3389"\w* \w me|strong="H4480"\w* here \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*. \w That|strong="H3478"\w* \w was|strong="H3478"\w* during \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w seventh|strong="H7651"\w* \w year|strong="H8141"\w* \w that|strong="H3478"\w* Artaxerxes \w was|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H4480"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \add of Persia\add*.   
\p
\v 8-9 We left Babylon on April 8, which was the first day of the Jewish year. Because God was very kind to us, \w we|strong="H3068"\w* arrived \add safely\add* in Jerusalem on August 4 of that year.  
\v 10 During \w my|strong="H3068"\w* entire \w life|strong="H4941"\w*, \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w devoted|strong="H3824"\w* myself \w to|strong="H3478"\w* studying \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w laws|strong="H8451"\w* \w of|strong="H3068"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w how|strong="H3588"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w obey|strong="H6213"\w* \w those|strong="H3588"\w* \w laws|strong="H8451"\w*. \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w also|strong="H3068"\w* \w taught|strong="H3925"\w* \w those|strong="H3588"\w* \w laws|strong="H8451"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w all|strong="H6213"\w* \w their|strong="H3068"\w* \w regulations|strong="H4941"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* Israeli people \add for many years\add*.   
\s1 The letter that Artaxerxes gave to Ezra  
\p
\v 11 \w King|strong="H4428"\w* Artaxerxes \add knew that\add* \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w am|strong="H3068"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w priest|strong="H3548"\w* \w who|strong="H3068"\w* knows \w the|strong="H5921"\w* Jewish \w laws|strong="H2706"\w* \w very|strong="H2088"\w* well. \add He knew that for many years\add* \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* studied \w those|strong="H5921"\w* \w laws|strong="H2706"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* taught \w all|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w rules|strong="H2706"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* regulations \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w those|strong="H5921"\w* \w laws|strong="H2706"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* Israeli people. \add So before I left Babylon to come to Jerusalem,\add* \w he|strong="H3068"\w* wrote \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w letter|strong="H5406"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w gave|strong="H5414"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w copy|strong="H6572"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w me|strong="H5414"\w*. \add This is what he wrote\add*:   
\p
\v 12  \add “This letter is\add* \w from|strong="H1768"\w* me, Artaxerxes, \w the|strong="H1768"\w* greatest \w of|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w kings|strong="H4430"\w*. \add I am giving it\add* \w to|strong="H4430"\w* \w Ezra|strong="H5831"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w priest|strong="H3549"\w*, \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w has|strong="H1768"\w* studied very well all \w the|strong="H1768"\w* rules \w and|strong="H4430"\w* regulations \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* God \add who is/rules\add* \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w* \add gave to the Israeli people\add*.   
\b  
\pi1
\v 13 “Ezra, \w I|strong="H4481"\w* \w command|strong="H2942"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w when|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* return \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*, \w any|strong="H3606"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H5972"\w* \w in|strong="H4437"\w* \w my|strong="H1768"\w* \w kingdom|strong="H4437"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* want \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* allowed \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w go|strong="H1946"\w* \w with|strong="H5974"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w*. \w That|strong="H1768"\w* includes \w any|strong="H3606"\w* \w priests|strong="H3549"\w* \w and|strong="H4437"\w* \add other\add* descendants \w of|strong="H4481"\w* Levi \add who will work in the temple\add* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* want \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w go|strong="H1946"\w*.  
\v 14 \w I|strong="H4481"\w*, along \w with|strong="H5922"\w* \w my|strong="H5922"\w* \w seven|strong="H7655"\w* \w counselors|strong="H3272"\w*/advisors, am sending \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*, \w in|strong="H5922"\w* order \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w can|strong="H1768"\w* determine \w what|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* happening \w there|strong="H1768"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \add other towns in\add* \w Judah|strong="H3061"\w*. \w You|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* taking \w with|strong="H5922"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* [MTY] \w a|strong="H3068"\w* copy \w of|strong="H4481"\w* God’s \w laws|strong="H1882"\w*; make sure \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* people \w are|strong="H1768"\w* doing \w everything|strong="H3606"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* written \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w those|strong="H1768"\w* \w laws|strong="H1882"\w*.  
\v 15  \add We are also saying that\add* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w should|strong="H4430"\w* take with \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w silver|strong="H3702"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w gold|strong="H1722"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w I|strong="H1768"\w* \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w my|strong="H1768"\w* advisors \w are|strong="H1768"\w* wanting \w to|strong="H4430"\w* give \w to|strong="H4430"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w*, \w in|strong="H4430"\w* order \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* present it \w to|strong="H4430"\w* be \w an|strong="H4430"\w* \w offering|strong="H5069"\w* \w to|strong="H4430"\w* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* God \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \add rules\add* \w the|strong="H1768"\w* Israeli people \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* lives \w in|strong="H4430"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*.  
\v 16 \w You|strong="H1768"\w* should also take \w any|strong="H3606"\w* \w silver|strong="H3702"\w* \w and|strong="H1722"\w* \w gold|strong="H1722"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w people|strong="H5972"\w* \w in|strong="H7912"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w entire|strong="H3606"\w* Babylonia \w province|strong="H4083"\w* give \w to|strong="H5974"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w*, \w and|strong="H1722"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w money|strong="H3702"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w priests|strong="H3549"\w* \w and|strong="H1722"\w* \add other\add* Israeli \w people|strong="H5972"\w* \w have|strong="H1768"\w* happily said \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H3606"\w* would give \w to|strong="H5974"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H5974"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* offerings \w for|strong="H1768"\w* building \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w their|strong="H3606"\w* God \w in|strong="H7912"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*.  
\v 17 \w With|strong="H5922"\w* \w this|strong="H1836"\w* \w money|strong="H3702"\w*, \w you|strong="H1768"\w* should \w buy|strong="H7066"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w bulls|strong="H8450"\w*, \w rams|strong="H1798"\w*, lambs, \w and|strong="H3702"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* grain \w and|strong="H3702"\w* wine \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* priests \w will|strong="H1768"\w* burn \w on|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w altar|strong="H4056"\w* \add outside\add* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w your|strong="H5922"\w* God \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*.   
\pi1
\v 18 “If \w there|strong="H1768"\w* \w is|strong="H1768"\w* any \w silver|strong="H3702"\w* or \w gold|strong="H1722"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* remains \add you have bought all those things\add*, \w you|strong="H5921"\w* \w and|strong="H1722"\w* \w your|strong="H5921"\w* companions/colleagues \w are|strong="H1768"\w* permitted \w to|strong="H5921"\w* use \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \add buy\add* \w whatever|strong="H4101"\w* \w you|strong="H5921"\w* desire, \w but|strong="H5921"\w* buy only things \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \add you know that\add* God wants \w you|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* buy.  
\v 19 \w We|strong="H1768"\w* \w have|strong="H1768"\w* \w given|strong="H3052"\w* \w to|strong="H6925"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* some valuable items \w to|strong="H6925"\w* \w be|strong="H1005"\w* used \w in|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H6925"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w your|strong="H1768"\w* God. Take \w them|strong="H3052"\w* also \w to|strong="H6925"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3390"\w*.  
\v 20 If \w you|strong="H1768"\w* need any other things \w for|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w*, \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* permitted \w to|strong="H5308"\w* get \w the|strong="H4481"\w* money \w for|strong="H1768"\w* \w those|strong="H1768"\w* things \w from|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H4481"\w* building here \w where|strong="H1768"\w* \w my|strong="H1768"\w* government’s money \w is|strong="H1768"\w* kept/stored.   
\pi1
\v 21 “\w And|strong="H4430"\w* \w I|strong="H4481"\w*, \w King|strong="H4430"\w* Artaxerxes, \w command|strong="H2942"\w* \w this|strong="H3606"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w all|strong="H3606"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w treasurers|strong="H1490"\w* \w in|strong="H5648"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* province west \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \add Euphrates\add* \w River|strong="H5103"\w*: '\w Give|strong="H7761"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w Ezra|strong="H5831"\w*, \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w priest|strong="H3549"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w has|strong="H1768"\w* studied very well \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w laws|strong="H1882"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* God \add who is/rules\add* \w in|strong="H5648"\w* \w heaven|strong="H8065"\w*, \w everything|strong="H3606"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w he|strong="H1768"\w* requests, \w and|strong="H4430"\w* \w give|strong="H7761"\w* \w it|strong="H4481"\w* \w to|strong="H2942"\w* \w him|strong="H4481"\w* quickly.  
\v 22 \w The|strong="H1768"\w* most \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* should give \w to|strong="H5705"\w* him \w is|strong="H1768"\w* ◄7,500 pounds/3,400 kg.► \w of|strong="H3734"\w* \w silver|strong="H3702"\w*, 500 bushels \w of|strong="H3734"\w* \w wheat|strong="H2591"\w*, 550 gallons \w of|strong="H3734"\w* \w wine|strong="H2562"\w*, \w and|strong="H3702"\w* 550 gallons \w of|strong="H3734"\w* \add olive\add* \w oil|strong="H4887"\w*, \w but|strong="H1768"\w* give \w to|strong="H5705"\w* him all \w the|strong="H1768"\w* \w salt|strong="H4416"\w* \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w they|strong="H1768"\w* need.  
\v 23 \w Be|strong="H1934"\w* sure \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* provide \w whatever|strong="H4101"\w* \w their|strong="H3606"\w* God requires \w for|strong="H5922"\w* \w his|strong="H5922"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w*, \w because|strong="H4481"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* certainly \w do|strong="H5648"\w* not [RHQ] want \w him|strong="H5922"\w* \w to|strong="H5922"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* angry \w with|strong="H5648"\w* \w me|strong="H5922"\w* \w or|strong="H4430"\w* \w with|strong="H5648"\w* \w my|strong="H5922"\w* descendants \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H4101"\w* later \w be|strong="H1934"\w* \w kings|strong="H4430"\w*.  
\v 24 \w We|strong="H1768"\w* \w are|strong="H1768"\w* also commanding \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w none|strong="H3809"\w* \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w priests|strong="H3549"\w*, descendants \w of|strong="H1005"\w* Levi, musicians, \w temple|strong="H1005"\w* guards, \w or|strong="H3809"\w* other men \w who|strong="H1768"\w* work \w in|strong="H5922"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w temple|strong="H1005"\w*, \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w be|strong="H3809"\w* required \w to|strong="H5922"\w* pay \w any|strong="H3606"\w* kind \w of|strong="H1005"\w* \w taxes|strong="H4061"\w*.'   
\pi1
\v 25 “\w Ezra|strong="H5831"\w*, \w your|strong="H4483"\w* God \w has|strong="H1768"\w* enabled \w you|strong="H1768"\w* \w to|strong="H3046"\w* become very wise. Using \w that|strong="H1768"\w* \w wisdom|strong="H2452"\w*, \w appoint|strong="H4483"\w* men \w in|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* province west \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \add Euphrates\add* \w River|strong="H5103"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w judge|strong="H1934"\w* cases involving \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w people|strong="H5972"\w*, \w and|strong="H2452"\w* men \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w judge|strong="H1934"\w* cases involving \w the|strong="H3606"\w* government. \w You|strong="H1768"\w* must \w appoint|strong="H4483"\w* men \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w know|strong="H3046"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w laws|strong="H1882"\w* \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w your|strong="H4483"\w* God. \w All|strong="H3606"\w* \w of|strong="H1768"\w* \w you|strong="H1768"\w* must \w teach|strong="H3046"\w* God’s \w laws|strong="H1882"\w* \w to|strong="H3046"\w* others \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w do|strong="H1934"\w* \w not|strong="H3809"\w* \w know|strong="H3046"\w* them.  
\v 26 \w Everyone|strong="H3606"\w* \w who|strong="H1768"\w* \w does|strong="H5648"\w* \w not|strong="H3809"\w* obey God’s \w laws|strong="H1882"\w* \w or|strong="H2006"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* \w laws|strong="H1882"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w my|strong="H1768"\w* government must \w be|strong="H1934"\w* punished severely. \w Some|strong="H4481"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* them \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* \w executed|strong="H5648"\w*, \w some|strong="H4481"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* put \w in|strong="H5648"\w* prison, \w some|strong="H4481"\w* \w will|strong="H1768"\w* \w be|strong="H1934"\w* sent \w out|strong="H5648"\w* \w of|strong="H4481"\w* \w the|strong="H3606"\w* country \w or|strong="H2006"\w* \w have|strong="H1934"\w* \w all|strong="H3606"\w* \w their|strong="H3606"\w* property taken away \w from|strong="H4481"\w* them.”   
\s1 Ezra praised Yahweh  
\p
\v 27  \add Because King Artaxerxes was very kind like that, I said\add*, “\w Praise|strong="H1288"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*, \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* whom \w our|strong="H3068"\w* ancestors \add worshiped/belonged to\add*! \w He|strong="H3068"\w* \w has|strong="H3068"\w* \w caused|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* want \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w honor|strong="H6286"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* \w in|strong="H3068"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*.  
\v 28 \w Because|strong="H5921"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w was|strong="H3068"\w* very kind \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w me|strong="H6440"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* advisors \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w powerful|strong="H1368"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w have|strong="H3068"\w* \w also|strong="H3068"\w* \w been|strong="H5927"\w* kind \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w me|strong="H6440"\w*. \w So|strong="H5927"\w*, \w because|strong="H5921"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w has|strong="H3068"\w* \w helped|strong="H2388"\w* \w me|strong="H6440"\w*, \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w have|strong="H3068"\w* \w become|strong="H3027"\w* \w encouraged|strong="H2388"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w have|strong="H3068"\w* \add been able to\add* persuade \w some|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* Israeli \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w go|strong="H5927"\w* \w up|strong="H5927"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* Jerusalem \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w me|strong="H6440"\w*.”   
\c 8  
\s1 The clans that returned with Ezra to Jerusalem  
\p
\v 1 \w This|strong="H5927"\w* \w is|strong="H4428"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w list|strong="H3187"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5927"\w* names \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5927"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5927"\w* clans \w who|strong="H4428"\w* \w came|strong="H5927"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w me|strong="H5973"\w* \w up|strong="H5927"\w* \add to Jerusalem\add* \w from|strong="H5927"\w* Babylonia \w when|strong="H5927"\w* Artaxerxes \w was|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5927"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \add of Persia\add*:   
\b  
\li1
\v 2 Gershom, from the clan descended from \add Aaron’s grandson\add* Phinehas  
\li1 Daniel, from the clan descended from \add Aaron’s son\add* Ithamar  
\li1 Hattush, the son of Shecaniah, from the clan descended from King David   
\li1
\v 3 Zechariah and 150 \add other\add* men from the clan descended from Parosh   
\li1
\v 4 Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah and 200 other men from the clan descended from Pahath-Moab   
\li1
\v 5 Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel and 300 other men from the clan descended from Zattu   
\li1
\v 6 Ebed the son of Jonathan and 50 other men from the clan descended from Adin   
\li1
\v 7 Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah and 70 other men from the clan descended from Elam   
\li1
\v 8 Zebadiah the son of Michael and 80 other men from the clan descended from Shephatiah   
\li1
\v 9 Obadiah the son of Jehiel and 218 other men from the clan descended from Joab   
\li1
\v 10 Shelomith the son of Josiphiah and 160 other men from the clan descended from Bani   
\li1
\v 11 Zechariah the son of Bebai and 28 other men from the clan descended from \add another man whose name was\add* Bebai   
\li1
\v 12 Johanan the son of Hakkatan and 110 other men from the clan descended from Azgad   
\li1
\v 13 Also Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, who returned \add here\add* later with 60 men from the clan descended from Adonikam   
\li1
\v 14 And Uthai and Zaccur and 70 other men from the clan descended from Bigvai.   
\s1 Ezra and the others prepared to return to Jerusalem  
\p
\v 15 \w I|strong="H3117"\w* \w gathered|strong="H6908"\w* \w all|strong="H6908"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w them|strong="H4672"\w* \w together|strong="H6908"\w* \w at|strong="H2583"\w* \w the|strong="H3117"\w* \w canal|strong="H5104"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* goes \add from Babylon\add* \w to|strong="H3117"\w* Ahava \add town\add*. \w We|strong="H3117"\w* set \w up|strong="H6908"\w* \w our|strong="H5971"\w* \w tents|strong="H2583"\w* \w there|strong="H8033"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* stayed \w there|strong="H8033"\w* \w for|strong="H3117"\w* \w three|strong="H7969"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w*. \add During that time\add* \w I|strong="H3117"\w* checked \w the|strong="H3117"\w* lists \w of|strong="H1121"\w* names \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w found|strong="H4672"\w* \w out|strong="H4672"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w there|strong="H8033"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \add going with us\add*, \w but|strong="H3808"\w* \w no|strong="H3808"\w* \add other\add* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Levi|strong="H3878"\w* \add who could help them in the temple\add*.  
\v 16 \w So|strong="H7971"\w* \w I|strong="H7971"\w* summoned Eliezer, Ariel, \w Shemaiah|strong="H8098"\w*, two \w men|strong="H7218"\w* whose names \w were|strong="H7218"\w* Elnathan, \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w Jarib|strong="H3402"\w*, \w Nathan|strong="H5416"\w*, \w Zechariah|strong="H2148"\w*, \w and|strong="H7971"\w* \w Meshullam|strong="H4918"\w*, who \w were|strong="H7218"\w* \w all|strong="H7971"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \add of the people\add*. \w I|strong="H7971"\w* also summoned \w Joiarib|strong="H3114"\w* \w and|strong="H7971"\w* another Elnathan, who \w were|strong="H7218"\w* \w wise|strong="H7971"\w*.  
\v 17 \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w sent|strong="H3318"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* Iddo, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w leader|strong="H7218"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w descendants|strong="H3318"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* Levi, who \w was|strong="H1697"\w* living \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Casiphia|strong="H3703"\w* \add town\add*, \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w request|strong="H1697"\w* \w that|strong="H1697"\w* \w he|strong="H1004"\w* \w and|strong="H1004"\w* \w his|strong="H7760"\w* relatives \w and|strong="H1004"\w* \w other|strong="H6310"\w* \w men|strong="H7218"\w* who \w had|strong="H7760"\w* worked \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w send|strong="H3318"\w* \w to|strong="H1696"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w* \w some|strong="H1697"\w* \w men|strong="H7218"\w* who \w would|strong="H1697"\w* \add go/come with us to\add* \w work|strong="H1697"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* God’s new \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \add in Jerusalem\add*.   
\p
\v 18 \w Because|strong="H5921"\w* \w God|strong="H3027"\w* \w was|strong="H3478"\w* \w kind|strong="H2896"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w*, \w they|strong="H5921"\w* \w brought|strong="H3478"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w man|strong="H1121"\w* \w named|strong="H5921"\w* \w Sherebiah|strong="H8274"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* 18 \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w his|strong="H5921"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* other \w relatives|strong="H1121"\w*. \w Sherebiah|strong="H8274"\w* \w was|strong="H3478"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w very|strong="H2896"\w* \w wise|strong="H7922"\w* \w man|strong="H1121"\w*, \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w descendant|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Mahli|strong="H4249"\w*, \add who was a grandson\add* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Levi|strong="H3878"\w*.  
\v 19 They \w also|strong="H1121"\w* sent \w to|strong="H1121"\w* us \w Hashabiah|strong="H2811"\w*, along \w with|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jeshaiah|strong="H3470"\w*, \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \add Levi’s son\add* \w Merari|strong="H4847"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* 20 \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w their|strong="H4847"\w* \w relatives|strong="H1121"\w*.  
\v 20 \w They|strong="H3605"\w* \w also|strong="H1732"\w* \w sent|strong="H5414"\w* 220 \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w men|strong="H3605"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w work|strong="H5656"\w* \w in|strong="H8034"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H5411"\w*. \w Those|strong="H3605"\w* \w men|strong="H3605"\w*’s ancestors \w had|strong="H1732"\w* \w been|strong="H3605"\w* \w appointed|strong="H5414"\w* \w by|strong="H5344"\w* King \w David|strong="H1732"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* assist \w the|strong="H3605"\w* descendants \w of|strong="H8269"\w* \w Levi|strong="H3881"\w* \add who helped the priests in the temple\add*. \w I|strong="H5414"\w* \w listed|strong="H8034"\w*/wrote \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w names|strong="H8034"\w* \w of|strong="H8269"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w men|strong="H3605"\w*.   
\p
\v 21 \w There|strong="H8033"\w* \w alongside|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* Ahava \w Canal|strong="H5104"\w*, \w I|strong="H5921"\w* told \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w would|strong="H3605"\w* ◄\w fast|strong="H6685"\w*/abstain \w from|strong="H4480"\w* eating food► \w and|strong="H6440"\w* \w pray|strong="H7121"\w*. \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w also|strong="H2945"\w* told \w them|strong="H5921"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* should \w humble|strong="H6031"\w* \w ourselves|strong="H6031"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w presence|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H6440"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* God. \w We|strong="H8033"\w* \w prayed|strong="H1245"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* God \w would|strong="H3605"\w* protect \w us|strong="H5921"\w* \w while|strong="H5921"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* traveled, \w and|strong="H6440"\w* \w also|strong="H2945"\w* protect \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w children|strong="H2945"\w* \w and|strong="H6440"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w possessions|strong="H7399"\w*/belongings.  
\v 22 \w Previously|strong="H4480"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* told \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H3027"\w* takes \w care|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w truly|strong="H3588"\w* trust \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*, \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w he|strong="H3588"\w* \w becomes|strong="H3027"\w* \w very|strong="H2896"\w* angry \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w refuse|strong="H3588"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* obey \w him|strong="H5921"\w*. \w So|strong="H4480"\w* \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w would|strong="H3605"\w* \w have|strong="H3027"\w* \w been|strong="H3605"\w* ashamed \w if|strong="H3588"\w* \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w asked|strong="H7592"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* send \w soldiers|strong="H2428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w men|strong="H2428"\w* riding \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w horses|strong="H6571"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w protect|strong="H5826"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w* \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w enemies|strong="H3027"\w* \w while|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w were|strong="H3027"\w* traveling \w along|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w road|strong="H1870"\w*.  
\v 23 \w So|strong="H2063"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* ◄\w fasted|strong="H6684"\w*/abstained \w from|strong="H5921"\w* eating food► \w and|strong="H6684"\w* \w requested|strong="H1245"\w* God \w to|strong="H5921"\w* protect \w us|strong="H5921"\w*, \w and|strong="H6684"\w* \w he|strong="H5921"\w* ◄\w answered|strong="H6279"\w* \w our|strong="H5921"\w* \w prayers|strong="H6279"\w*/did \w what|strong="H5921"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w requested|strong="H1245"\w*.►   
\s1 The gifts for the temple  
\p
\v 24 \w I|strong="H8147"\w* chose \w twelve|strong="H8147"\w* \w of|strong="H8269"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w leaders|strong="H8269"\w* \w of|strong="H8269"\w* \w the|strong="H5973"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w Sherebiah|strong="H8274"\w* \w and|strong="H3548"\w* \w Hashabiah|strong="H2811"\w* \w and|strong="H3548"\w* \w ten|strong="H6235"\w* \w of|strong="H8269"\w* \w their|strong="H8147"\w* relatives.  
\v 25 \w I|strong="H3478"\w* appointed \w them|strong="H1992"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* supervise carrying \w to|strong="H3478"\w* Jerusalem \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w gifts|strong="H8641"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* valuable \w items|strong="H3627"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* advisors \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w other|strong="H3605"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* Israeli people \add who were living in Babylonia\add*, \w had|strong="H3478"\w* \w contributed|strong="H7311"\w* \w for|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* God.  
\v 26 \w As|strong="H3027"\w* \w I|strong="H5921"\w* gave these various \w items|strong="H3627"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w those|strong="H5921"\w* priests, \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w weighed|strong="H8254"\w* each \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w items|strong="H3627"\w*. \w This|strong="H3027"\w* \w was|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* total: 25 tons \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w*, 100 \w items|strong="H3627"\w* \w made|strong="H3627"\w* \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w that|strong="H3627"\w* altogether \w weighed|strong="H8254"\w* 7,500 pounds, ◄7,500 pounds/3,400 kg.► \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w*,  
\v 27 20 \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w bowls|strong="H3713"\w* \w that|strong="H3627"\w* altogether weighed ◄19 pounds/8.6 kg.►, \w and|strong="H6242"\w* \w two|strong="H8147"\w* \w items|strong="H3627"\w* \w made|strong="H3627"\w* \w of|strong="H3627"\w* polished \w bronze|strong="H5178"\w* \w that|strong="H3627"\w* \w were|strong="H3627"\w* \w as|strong="H2091"\w* \w valuable|strong="H2532"\w* \w as|strong="H2091"\w* \w ones|strong="H2896"\w* \w made|strong="H3627"\w* \w of|strong="H3627"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w*.   
\p
\v 28 \w I|strong="H3068"\w* said \w to|strong="H3068"\w* those priests, “You belong \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*, \w the|strong="H3068"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* whom \w our|strong="H3068"\w* ancestors ◄worshiped/\w also|strong="H3068"\w* belonged \w to|strong="H3068"\w*►, \w and|strong="H3068"\w* these valuable \w things|strong="H6944"\w* \w also|strong="H3068"\w* belong \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w him|strong="H3068"\w*. \w The|strong="H3068"\w* people themselves gave these \w things|strong="H6944"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w be|strong="H3068"\w* \w offerings|strong="H5071"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* ◄\w voluntarily|strong="H5071"\w*/\w because|strong="H3068"\w* \w they|strong="H3068"\w* wanted \w to|strong="H3068"\w*►.  
\v 29 \w So|strong="H6440"\w* \w guard|strong="H8104"\w* \w them|strong="H6440"\w* \w carefully|strong="H8104"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \add when we arrive\add* \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*, \w weigh|strong="H8254"\w* \w them|strong="H6440"\w* \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w presence|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w the|strong="H6440"\w* descendants \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w Levi|strong="H3881"\w* \add who will help the priests\add*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* other Israeli \w leaders|strong="H8269"\w* \w there|strong="H5704"\w*. \w They|strong="H3068"\w* \w will|strong="H3068"\w* \w then|strong="H3068"\w* \w put|strong="H3068"\w* \w them|strong="H6440"\w* \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* storerooms \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* new \w temple|strong="H1004"\w*.”  
\v 30 So \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \add other\add* descendants \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w Levi|strong="H3881"\w* \w took|strong="H6901"\w* \w from|strong="H3881"\w* \w me|strong="H1004"\w* all \w the|strong="H3548"\w* gifts \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w and|strong="H3701"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* other valuable \w items|strong="H3627"\w*, \w in|strong="H1004"\w* order \w to|strong="H3389"\w* carry them \w to|strong="H3389"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w in|strong="H1004"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*.   
\s1 They returned to Jerusalem  
\p
\v 31 \w On|strong="H5921"\w* April 19, \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w left|strong="H5265"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* Ahava \w Canal|strong="H5104"\w* \w and|strong="H3027"\w* \w started|strong="H1961"\w* \w to|strong="H3212"\w* travel \w to|strong="H3212"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*. \w Our|strong="H5921"\w* \w God|strong="H3027"\w* \w took|strong="H1961"\w* \w care|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w*, \w and|strong="H3027"\w* \w while|strong="H1961"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w traveled|strong="H5265"\w*, \w he|strong="H8147"\w* prevented \w our|strong="H5921"\w* \w enemies|strong="H3389"\w* \w and|strong="H3027"\w* bandits \w from|strong="H5265"\w* ◄ambushing \w us|strong="H5921"\w*/suddenly attacking \w us|strong="H5921"\w*►.  
\v 32 \w After|strong="H3117"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* arrived \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*, \w we|strong="H3068"\w* rested \w for|strong="H3427"\w* \w three|strong="H7969"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w*.  
\v 33 \w Then|strong="H3548"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w fourth|strong="H7243"\w*/\w next|strong="H5921"\w* \w day|strong="H3117"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w went|strong="H3548"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w*. \w There|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w silver|strong="H3701"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w gold|strong="H2091"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* other \w items|strong="H3627"\w* \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w weighed|strong="H8254"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w given|strong="H3027"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w priest|strong="H3548"\w* \w Meremoth|strong="H4822"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* Uriah. Eleazar \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Phinehas|strong="H6372"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w two|strong="H1004"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Levi|strong="H3881"\w*, \w Jozabad|strong="H3107"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jeshua|strong="H3442"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Noadiah|strong="H5129"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Binnui|strong="H1131"\w*, \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w him|strong="H5921"\w*.   
\p
\v 34 \w They|strong="H6256"\w* \w counted|strong="H4557"\w* \w everything|strong="H3605"\w*, \w and|strong="H6256"\w* \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* \w down|strong="H3789"\w* how \w much|strong="H3605"\w* \w they|strong="H6256"\w* \w weighed|strong="H4948"\w*, \w and|strong="H6256"\w* \w wrote|strong="H3789"\w* \add a description of\add* \w each|strong="H3605"\w* item.   
\p
\v 35 \w We|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* returned \w from|strong="H5921"\w* Babylonia \w offered|strong="H7126"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w sacrifices|strong="H5930"\w* \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* altar. \w We|strong="H3605"\w* \w offered|strong="H7126"\w* \w twelve|strong="H8147"\w* \w bulls|strong="H6499"\w* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H1121"\w*. \w We|strong="H3605"\w* \w also|strong="H3068"\w* \w offered|strong="H7126"\w* 96 rams \w and|strong="H1121"\w* 27 \w lambs|strong="H3532"\w*. \w We|strong="H3605"\w* \w also|strong="H3068"\w* sacrificed \w twelve|strong="H8147"\w* \w goats|strong="H6842"\w* \add to atone\add* \w for|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w sins|strong="H2403"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H1121"\w* \w had|strong="H3068"\w* \w committed|strong="H3478"\w*. \w These|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H3478"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w completely|strong="H3605"\w* burned \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* altar.  
\v 36 \w Some|strong="H5971"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w who|strong="H5971"\w* returned \add from Babylonia\add* \w took|strong="H5375"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w governors|strong="H6346"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w other|strong="H5676"\w* officials \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* province \w west|strong="H5676"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \add Euphrates\add* \w River|strong="H5104"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* letter \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w king|strong="H4428"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w given|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5414"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w*. \add After they read the letter,\add* \w they|strong="H5971"\w* \w did|strong="H5971"\w* \w all|strong="H5414"\w* \add that they were able to do\add* \w for|strong="H1004"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w for|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w God|strong="H5414"\w*.   
\c 9  
\s1 Ezra prayed about the Israeli people marrying foreign wives  
\p
\v 1 \w Some|strong="H5971"\w* \w time|strong="H3478"\w* later, \w the|strong="H3548"\w* Jewish \w leaders|strong="H8269"\w* \w came|strong="H5066"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w me|strong="H5066"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* said, “\w Many|strong="H3808"\w* Israelis, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w even|strong="H3808"\w* \w some|strong="H5971"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \add other men who are\add* descendants \w of|strong="H8269"\w* \w Levi|strong="H3881"\w* \add who work in the temple\add*, \w have|strong="H5971"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* kept themselves \w from|strong="H3478"\w* \add doing what\add* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* other \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w who|strong="H5971"\w* \w are|strong="H5971"\w* living \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w this|strong="H3478"\w* land \add do\add*. \w They|strong="H3808"\w* \w are|strong="H5971"\w* practicing \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w detestable|strong="H8441"\w* \w things|strong="H8441"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w Canaan|strong="H3669"\w*, Heth, Periz, Jebus, \w Ammon|strong="H4125"\w*, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* Amor people-groups, \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w the|strong="H3548"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w from|strong="H3478"\w* \w Moab|strong="H4125"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w Egypt|strong="H4713"\w* do.  
\v 2  \add Specifically, some\add* Israeli \w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w have|strong="H1961"\w* \w married|strong="H5375"\w* \w women|strong="H1323"\w* \w who|strong="H5971"\w* \w are|strong="H1992"\w* \w not|strong="H2088"\w* Israelis, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* \w have|strong="H1961"\w* allowed \w their|strong="H5375"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w do|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w same|strong="H2088"\w* \w thing|strong="H6944"\w*. \w So|strong="H1961"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w*, \w God|strong="H3027"\w*’s \w sacred|strong="H6944"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w*, \w have|strong="H1961"\w* \w become|strong="H1961"\w* ◄contaminated/polluted \w in|strong="H1121"\w* \w God|strong="H3027"\w*’s sight►. \w And|strong="H1121"\w* \w some|strong="H1992"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w our|strong="H1961"\w* \w leaders|strong="H8269"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w officials|strong="H8269"\w* \w have|strong="H1961"\w* \w been|strong="H1961"\w* \w the|strong="H3588"\w* \w first|strong="H7223"\w*/worst \w ones|strong="H1121"\w* \w to|strong="H1961"\w* \w do|strong="H3027"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w*.”   
\p
\v 3 \w When|strong="H8085"\w* \w I|strong="H1697"\w* \w heard|strong="H8085"\w* \w that|strong="H8085"\w*, \add I became very angry, with the result that\add* \w I|strong="H1697"\w* \w tore|strong="H7167"\w* \w my|strong="H8085"\w* clothes \w and|strong="H7218"\w* \w tore|strong="H7167"\w* \w some|strong="H1697"\w* \w hair|strong="H8181"\w* \w from|strong="H8085"\w* \w my|strong="H8085"\w* \w head|strong="H7218"\w* \w and|strong="H7218"\w* \w from|strong="H8085"\w* \w my|strong="H8085"\w* \w beard|strong="H2206"\w*. \w Then|strong="H2088"\w* \w I|strong="H1697"\w* \w sat|strong="H3427"\w* \w down|strong="H3427"\w*, \w very|strong="H2088"\w* \w shocked|strong="H8074"\w*/dismayed. \add The Israelis knew that God had warned us that he would punish us if we disobeyed\add* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w he|strong="H2088"\w* \w had|strong="H3427"\w* \w said|strong="H1697"\w* \w to|strong="H8085"\w* \w us|strong="H8085"\w* \add about marrying women who are not Israelis\add*.  
\v 4  \add So\add* \w many|strong="H5704"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* Israelis \w trembled|strong="H2730"\w*/\w were|strong="H3478"\w* \w afraid|strong="H2730"\w* \w when|strong="H5704"\w* \w they|strong="H5921"\w* heard \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w some|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H3478"\w* returned \w from|strong="H5921"\w* Babylonia \w had|strong="H3478"\w* sinned \w by|strong="H5921"\w* disobeying \w the|strong="H3605"\w* God \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w* Israelis \w like|strong="H3478"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w*. \w They|strong="H5921"\w* \w came|strong="H3478"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w sat|strong="H3427"\w* \w with|strong="H5921"\w* \w me|strong="H5921"\w* \w until|strong="H5704"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w was|strong="H3478"\w* \w time|strong="H5704"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* offer \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w evening|strong="H6153"\w* \w sacrifices|strong="H4503"\w* \add of grain\add*.   
\p
\v 5 \w When|strong="H3068"\w* \w it|strong="H5921"\w* \w was|strong="H3068"\w* \w time|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* offer \w those|strong="H5921"\w* \w sacrifices|strong="H4503"\w*, \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w was|strong="H3068"\w* still sitting \w there|strong="H3068"\w*, wearing \w those|strong="H5921"\w* \w torn|strong="H7167"\w* clothes \w and|strong="H6965"\w* mourning/sad. \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w stood|strong="H6965"\w* \w up|strong="H6965"\w*, \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w then|strong="H6965"\w* \w I|strong="H5921"\w* quickly prostrated myself \w on|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* ground. \w I|strong="H5921"\w* lifted \w up|strong="H6965"\w* \w my|strong="H3068"\w* \w hands|strong="H3709"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*, \w my|strong="H3068"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w*,  
\v 6 \w and|strong="H8064"\w* \w this|strong="H3588"\w* \w is|strong="H5771"\w* \w what|strong="H3588"\w* \w I|strong="H3588"\w* prayed:  
\pi1 “\w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* \w my|strong="H7311"\w* \w God|strong="H8064"\w*, \w I|strong="H3588"\w* am \w very|strong="H5704"\w* \w ashamed|strong="H3637"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w raise|strong="H7311"\w* \w my|strong="H7311"\w* \w head|strong="H7218"\w* \w in|strong="H6440"\w* \w front|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H7218"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w*. \w The|strong="H6440"\w* \w sins|strong="H5771"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* Israelis \w have|strong="H5771"\w* committed \add are very great; it is as though they\add* \w have|strong="H5771"\w* \w risen|strong="H7235"\w* \w up|strong="H7311"\w* \w higher|strong="H4605"\w* \w than|strong="H7235"\w* \w our|strong="H3588"\w* \w heads|strong="H7218"\w*, \w and|strong="H8064"\w* \w our|strong="H3588"\w* \w guilt|strong="H5771"\w* \add for committing those sins, it is as though it\add* rises \w up|strong="H7311"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w heavens|strong="H8064"\w*.  
\v 7 \w Since|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w time|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w our|strong="H5414"\w* ancestors lived \w until|strong="H5704"\w* \w now|strong="H3117"\w*, \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w have|strong="H3027"\w* been \w very|strong="H2088"\w* \w guilty|strong="H5771"\w*. \w That|strong="H3117"\w* \w is|strong="H2088"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w reason|strong="H6440"\w* \w that|strong="H3117"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w our|strong="H5414"\w* \w kings|strong="H4428"\w* \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w our|strong="H5414"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w* \w have|strong="H3027"\w* been defeated \w by|strong="H3027"\w* \add the armies of\add* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w kings|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w other|strong="H2088"\w* lands. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* \w killed|strong="H2719"\w* \add some of our people\add*, \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w captured|strong="H7628"\w* \add some\add*, \w they|strong="H3117"\w* robbed \add some\add*, \w and|strong="H4428"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \add caused them all to be\add* disgraced, \w just|strong="H2088"\w* \w like|strong="H5704"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w are|strong="H3117"\w* \w today|strong="H3117"\w*.   
\pi1
\v 8 “\w But|strong="H1961"\w* \w now|strong="H6258"\w*, \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w*, \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H1961"\w* \w been|strong="H1961"\w* \w very|strong="H6258"\w* kind \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w*. \w You|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H1961"\w* \w allowed|strong="H5414"\w* \w some|strong="H4592"\w* \w of|strong="H3068"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* ◄\w survive|strong="H7604"\w*/\w continue|strong="H1961"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* live►. \w You|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H1961"\w* revived \w our|strong="H3068"\w* spirits [IDM] \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w allowed|strong="H5414"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w escape|strong="H6413"\w* \w from|strong="H3068"\w* \w being|strong="H1961"\w* slaves \add in Babylonia\add* \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w to|strong="H3068"\w* return safely [IDM] \w to|strong="H3068"\w* live \w in|strong="H3068"\w* \w this|strong="H5414"\w* \w sacred|strong="H6944"\w* \w place|strong="H4725"\w*.  
\v 9 \w We|strong="H3588"\w* \w were|strong="H3063"\w* \w slaves|strong="H5650"\w*, \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w did|strong="H5650"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w abandon|strong="H5800"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w*. \w Instead|strong="H3588"\w*, \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w faithfully|strong="H2617"\w* \w love|strong="H2617"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w*, \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w caused|strong="H5414"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w kings|strong="H4428"\w* \w of|strong="H4428"\w* \w Persia|strong="H6539"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* very kind \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w*. \w You|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H5650"\w* \w allowed|strong="H5414"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w continue|strong="H5975"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* live \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* rebuild \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w which|strong="H1004"\w* \w had|strong="H4428"\w* \w been|strong="H3808"\w* completely \w destroyed|strong="H2723"\w*. \w You|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H5650"\w* \w allowed|strong="H5414"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* start \w to|strong="H5921"\w* live safely \w here|strong="H5921"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \add other towns in\add* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w*.   
\pi1
\v 10 “\w Our|strong="H3588"\w* God, \w what|strong="H4100"\w* \w more|strong="H3588"\w* \w can|strong="H4100"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* say \w now|strong="H6258"\w* [RHQ]? \w In|strong="H5800"\w* spite \w of|strong="H4687"\w* all \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \add you have done for us\add*, \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w have|strong="H3588"\w* disobeyed \w your|strong="H3588"\w* \w commands|strong="H4687"\w*.  
\v 11 \w They|strong="H6310"\w* \w are|strong="H5971"\w* \w commands|strong="H6680"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w you|strong="H6680"\w* \w gave|strong="H6680"\w* \w to|strong="H3027"\w* \w your|strong="H6680"\w* \w servants|strong="H5650"\w*, \w the|strong="H3423"\w* \w prophets|strong="H5030"\w*, \w to|strong="H3027"\w* tell \w to|strong="H3027"\w* \w us|strong="H3027"\w*. \w They|strong="H6310"\w* \w said|strong="H6310"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H3423"\w* land \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w would|strong="H5971"\w* \w occupy|strong="H3423"\w* \w was|strong="H1931"\w* polluted \w because|strong="H3027"\w* \w of|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H3423"\w* \w detestable|strong="H8441"\w*/\w disgusting|strong="H8441"\w* \w things|strong="H8441"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w done|strong="H3027"\w* \w by|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H3423"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w who|strong="H1931"\w* lived there. \w They|strong="H6310"\w* \w said|strong="H6310"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w in|strong="H5650"\w* \w the|strong="H3423"\w* land there \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w from|strong="H3027"\w* \w one|strong="H1931"\w* \w end|strong="H6310"\w* \w to|strong="H3027"\w* \w the|strong="H3423"\w* \w other|strong="H6310"\w* \w who|strong="H1931"\w* \w did|strong="H5971"\w* immoral/shameful \w things|strong="H8441"\w*.  
\v 12 \w They|strong="H3808"\w* said, ‘Do \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w allow|strong="H5414"\w* \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w daughters|strong="H1323"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w marry|strong="H5414"\w* \w their|strong="H5375"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w*! Do \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w allow|strong="H5414"\w* \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w sons|strong="H1121"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w marry|strong="H5414"\w* \w their|strong="H5375"\w* \w daughters|strong="H1323"\w*! Do \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w even|strong="H5704"\w* try \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w cause|strong="H5414"\w* \w things|strong="H2898"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* go \w well|strong="H7965"\w* \w for|strong="H5704"\w* \w those|strong="H1121"\w* people-groups! \w If|strong="H1121"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* obey these instructions, \w your|strong="H5414"\w* nation \w will|strong="H1121"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* \w strong|strong="H2388"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w will|strong="H1121"\w* \w enjoy|strong="H3423"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w good|strong="H2896"\w* crops \w that|strong="H4616"\w* \w grow|strong="H2388"\w* \w on|strong="H5375"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* land, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* land \w will|strong="H1121"\w* belong \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w your|strong="H5414"\w* \w descendants|strong="H1121"\w* \w forever|strong="H5769"\w*.’   
\pi1
\v 13 “\w You|strong="H5414"\w* \w punished|strong="H2820"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w were|strong="H1419"\w* \w very|strong="H1419"\w* \w guilty|strong="H5771"\w* \w for|strong="H3588"\w* \w having|strong="H3588"\w* \w done|strong="H4639"\w* \w wicked|strong="H7451"\w* \w things|strong="H1419"\w*. \w But|strong="H3588"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H5771"\w* \w not|strong="H5414"\w* \w punished|strong="H2820"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w as|strong="H3588"\w* \w much|strong="H1419"\w* \w as|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* deserve \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w be|strong="H5414"\w* \w punished|strong="H2820"\w*. \add I say this because\add* \w you|strong="H5414"\w*, \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w God|strong="H5414"\w*, \w have|strong="H5771"\w* \w allowed|strong="H5414"\w* \w some|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H5921"\w* \w us|strong="H5414"\w* \w to|strong="H5921"\w* survive.  
\v 14 However, \w some|strong="H5971"\w* \w of|strong="H7611"\w* \w us|strong="H7725"\w* \w are|strong="H5971"\w* \w again|strong="H7725"\w* disobeying \w your|strong="H7725"\w* \w commands|strong="H4687"\w*, \w and|strong="H7725"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w are|strong="H5971"\w* marrying women \w who|strong="H5971"\w* \w do|strong="H6565"\w* \w those|strong="H7611"\w* \w detestable|strong="H8441"\w* \w things|strong="H4687"\w*. If \w we|strong="H3068"\w* continue \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w do|strong="H6565"\w* \w that|strong="H5971"\w*, \w surely|strong="H7725"\w* \w you|strong="H5704"\w* \w will|strong="H5971"\w* \w get|strong="H7725"\w* rid \w of|strong="H7611"\w* \w all|strong="H5704"\w* \w of|strong="H7611"\w* \w us|strong="H7725"\w* [RHQ], \w with|strong="H5971"\w* \w the|strong="H7725"\w* result \w that|strong="H5971"\w* \w none|strong="H3808"\w* \w of|strong="H7611"\w* \w us|strong="H7725"\w* \w will|strong="H5971"\w* \w remain|strong="H7611"\w* alive.  
\v 15 \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*, \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w whom|strong="H6440"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* Israelis \add worship/belong to\add*, \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w are|strong="H3117"\w* fair/\w just|strong="H6662"\w*. \w We|strong="H3588"\w* \w are|strong="H3117"\w* guilty. \w We|strong="H3588"\w* \w are|strong="H3117"\w* \w only|strong="H3588"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* few people \w who|strong="H3068"\w* \w have|strong="H3068"\w* \w escaped|strong="H6413"\w* \add from Babylonia\add*, \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* pray \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w*, \w even|strong="H3588"\w* \w though|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w do|strong="H3068"\w* \w not|strong="H2088"\w* deserve \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w stand|strong="H5975"\w* \w in|strong="H5921"\w* \w your|strong="H3068"\w* \w presence|strong="H6440"\w*.”   
\c 10  
\s1 The men agreed to divorce their foreign wives  
\p
\v 1 \w While|strong="H3588"\w* \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w was|strong="H3478"\w* kneeling \w down|strong="H5307"\w* \w in|strong="H3478"\w* \w front|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w praying|strong="H6419"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w crying|strong="H1058"\w*, \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w was|strong="H3478"\w* \w confessing|strong="H3034"\w* \add the sins that the Israeli people had committed\add*. \w Many|strong="H7227"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w*, \w men|strong="H3206"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* women \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w children|strong="H3206"\w*, \w gathered|strong="H6908"\w* \w around|strong="H6440"\w* \w me|strong="H6440"\w* \w and|strong="H3478"\w* \w also|strong="H3478"\w* \w cried|strong="H3478"\w* \w very|strong="H3966"\w* \w much|strong="H7227"\w*.  
\v 2 \w Then|strong="H6030"\w* \w Shecaniah|strong="H7935"\w*, \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Jehiel|strong="H3171"\w* \w from|strong="H5921"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* clan \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Elam|strong="H5867"\w*, \w said|strong="H6030"\w* \w this|strong="H2063"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w me|strong="H5921"\w*: “\w We|strong="H6258"\w* \w have|strong="H3426"\w* \w disobeyed|strong="H4603"\w* God. \add Some of\add* \w us|strong="H5921"\w* \w have|strong="H3426"\w* \w married|strong="H3427"\w* women \w who|strong="H5971"\w* \w are|strong="H5971"\w* \w not|strong="H5971"\w* Israelis. \w But|strong="H6030"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w can|strong="H3426"\w* \w still|strong="H3427"\w* confidently expect \add Yahweh to be merciful to\add* \w us|strong="H5921"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H5971"\w*.  
\v 3 \w We|strong="H6258"\w* \w will|strong="H6213"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w*, \w and|strong="H6213"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w others|strong="H1992"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w have|strong="H3605"\w* \w an|strong="H6213"\w* awesome respect \w for|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* God \w has|strong="H3318"\w* \w commanded|strong="H4687"\w*, \w tell|strong="H3605"\w* \w us|strong="H6213"\w* \w to|strong="H3318"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w*. \w We|strong="H6258"\w* \w will|strong="H6213"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* God \w told|strong="H6213"\w* \w us|strong="H6213"\w* \w in|strong="H6213"\w* \w his|strong="H3605"\w* \w laws|strong="H8451"\w*. \w We|strong="H6258"\w* \w will|strong="H6213"\w* \w make|strong="H6213"\w* \w an|strong="H6213"\w* \w agreement|strong="H1285"\w* \w with|strong="H1285"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* God, saying \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w will|strong="H6213"\w* divorce \w our|strong="H3605"\w* wives \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w are|strong="H1992"\w* \w not|strong="H6213"\w* Israelis, \w and|strong="H6213"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w will|strong="H6213"\w* \w send|strong="H3318"\w* \w them|strong="H1992"\w* \w away|strong="H3318"\w* \w with|strong="H1285"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w children|strong="H3205"\w*.  
\v 4 ◄\w It|strong="H5921"\w* \w is|strong="H1697"\w* \w your|strong="H5921"\w* \w responsibility|strong="H5921"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w*/\w Because|strong="H3588"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w are|strong="H1697"\w* \w our|strong="H5921"\w* leader, \w you|strong="H3588"\w* must► \add tell us what to do\add*. \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w get|strong="H6965"\w* \w up|strong="H6965"\w*, \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w be|strong="H1697"\w* \w courageous|strong="H2388"\w*, \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \add what is necessary\add*. \w We|strong="H3588"\w* \w will|strong="H1697"\w* ◄\w support|strong="H2388"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w*/tell people \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w you|strong="H3588"\w* \w say|strong="H1697"\w*►.”   
\p
\v 5 \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w I|strong="H1697"\w* \w stood|strong="H6965"\w* \w up|strong="H6965"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* demanded \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w leaders|strong="H8269"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w priests|strong="H3548"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \add other\add* descendants \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w Levi|strong="H3881"\w*, \w and|strong="H6965"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \add the other\add* Israeli people \w solemnly|strong="H7650"\w* declare \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w they|strong="H1697"\w* \w would|strong="H3478"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* Shecaniah \w said|strong="H1697"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w they|strong="H1697"\w* \w should|strong="H3478"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w*. \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w they|strong="H1697"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w solemnly|strong="H7650"\w* \w promised|strong="H7650"\w* \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w*.  
\v 6 \w Then|strong="H6965"\w* \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w went|strong="H3212"\w* \w away|strong="H3212"\w* \w from|strong="H6440"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w front|strong="H6440"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w went|strong="H3212"\w* \w to|strong="H3212"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* \w room|strong="H1004"\w* \w where|strong="H8033"\w* \w Jehohanan|strong="H3076"\w* lived. \w I|strong="H3588"\w* stayed \w there|strong="H8033"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w night|strong="H1121"\w*, \w but|strong="H3588"\w* \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* \w eat|strong="H3899"\w* \w or|strong="H3808"\w* \w drink|strong="H8354"\w* \w anything|strong="H3899"\w*. \w I|strong="H3588"\w* \w was|strong="H1004"\w* \w still|strong="H3588"\w* sad \w because|strong="H3588"\w* \w some|strong="H8033"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H6440"\w* Israelis \w who|strong="H1121"\w* \w had|strong="H3588"\w* returned \add from Babylonia\add* \w had|strong="H3588"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* faithfully obeyed \add God’s laws\add*.   
\p
\v 7 \w Then|strong="H5674"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w sent|strong="H5674"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w message|strong="H3389"\w* \w to|strong="H3389"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \add the people in\add* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \add in other towns in\add* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w*, \w saying|strong="H6963"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H3063"\w* returned \add from Babylonia\add* should \w come|strong="H5674"\w* \w to|strong="H3389"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w* immediately.  
\v 8 \w We|strong="H3117"\w* said \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w if|strong="H1931"\w* \w any|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w them|strong="H2763"\w* \w did|strong="H3808"\w* \w not|strong="H3808"\w* arrive within \w three|strong="H7969"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w*, \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w leaders|strong="H8269"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H3808"\w* \w would|strong="H3605"\w* order \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w property|strong="H7399"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w those|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H3808"\w* \w would|strong="H3605"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* taken \w from|strong="H3117"\w* \w them|strong="H2763"\w*, \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w would|strong="H3605"\w* \w no|strong="H3808"\w* \w longer|strong="H3808"\w* \w be|strong="H3808"\w* considered \w to|strong="H3117"\w* belong \w to|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H3808"\w*; \add they would be considered to be foreigners\add*.   
\p
\v 9 \w So|strong="H1697"\w* \w within|strong="H1004"\w* \w three|strong="H7969"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w*, \w on|strong="H5921"\w* December 19, \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* tribes \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w Judah|strong="H3063"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w Benjamin|strong="H1144"\w* \w gathered|strong="H6908"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w Jerusalem|strong="H3389"\w*. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w there|strong="H3427"\w*, \w sitting|strong="H3427"\w* \w in|strong="H3427"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* courtyard \w in|strong="H3427"\w* front \w of|strong="H1004"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w temple|strong="H1004"\w*. \w They|strong="H3117"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* \w trembling|strong="H7460"\w* \w because|strong="H5921"\w* \w it|strong="H1931"\w* \w was|strong="H1931"\w* raining \w hard|strong="H5971"\w* \w and|strong="H3063"\w* \w because|strong="H5921"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w were|strong="H5971"\w* worried \add that they would be punished for what they had done\add*.  
\v 10 \w Then|strong="H6965"\w* \w I|strong="H5921"\w* \w stood|strong="H6965"\w* \w up|strong="H6965"\w* \w and|strong="H6965"\w* said \w to|strong="H3478"\w* \w them|strong="H5921"\w*, “\add Some of\add* \w you|strong="H5921"\w* \w men|strong="H3478"\w* \w have|strong="H3478"\w* \w committed|strong="H4603"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* very bad sin. \w You|strong="H5921"\w* \w have|strong="H3478"\w* \w married|strong="H3427"\w* women \w who|strong="H3548"\w* \w are|strong="H3478"\w* \w not|strong="H3254"\w* Israelis. \w By|strong="H5921"\w* doing \w that|strong="H3478"\w*, \w you|strong="H5921"\w* \w have|strong="H3478"\w* \w made|strong="H3478"\w* \w us|strong="H5921"\w* Israeli \w people|strong="H3427"\w* \w more|strong="H3254"\w* guilty \add than we were before\add*.  
\v 11 \w So|strong="H6213"\w* \w now|strong="H6258"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* must confess \w to|strong="H3068"\w* \w Yahweh|strong="H3068"\w*, \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w God|strong="H3068"\w* \w whom|strong="H5971"\w* \w your|strong="H3068"\w* ancestors \add worshiped/belonged to\add*, \w the|strong="H5414"\w* sin \w which|strong="H3068"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H3068"\w* \w committed|strong="H6213"\w*, \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* must \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H6213"\w* \w he|strong="H6213"\w* wants. Separate \w yourselves|strong="H3068"\w* \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* \w people|strong="H5971"\w* \w of|strong="H3068"\w* other \w nations|strong="H5971"\w* \w and|strong="H3068"\w* \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w the|strong="H5414"\w* women \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w those|strong="H4480"\w* \w nations|strong="H5971"\w* \w whom|strong="H5971"\w* \w you|strong="H5414"\w* \w have|strong="H3068"\w* married.”   
\p
\v 12 \w The|strong="H3605"\w* \w whole|strong="H3605"\w* group \w answered|strong="H6030"\w*, \w shouting|strong="H6963"\w* \w loudly|strong="H6963"\w*, “\w Yes|strong="H3651"\w*, \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* \w have|strong="H1697"\w* \w said|strong="H1697"\w* \w is|strong="H1697"\w* \w right|strong="H3651"\w*! \w We|strong="H6213"\w* \w will|strong="H1697"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* \w have|strong="H1697"\w* \w said|strong="H1697"\w*.”  
\v 13 \w But|strong="H3588"\w* \w then|strong="H2088"\w* \add one of\add* \w them|strong="H5975"\w* \w said|strong="H1697"\w*, “\w But|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w are|strong="H3117"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w very|strong="H2088"\w* \w large|strong="H7227"\w* \w group|strong="H7235"\w*, \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w it|strong="H3588"\w* \w is|strong="H2088"\w* raining \w hard|strong="H5971"\w*. \w Also|strong="H2088"\w*, \w there|strong="H2088"\w* \w are|strong="H3117"\w* \w many|strong="H7227"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w us|strong="H3588"\w* \w who|strong="H5971"\w* \w have|strong="H5971"\w* \w committed|strong="H6586"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* bad sin. \w This|strong="H2088"\w* \w is|strong="H2088"\w* \w something|strong="H1697"\w* \w that|strong="H3588"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w cannot|strong="H3808"\w* ◄\w take|strong="H5975"\w* \w care|strong="H1697"\w* \w of|strong="H3117"\w*/handle► \w in|strong="H3117"\w* \w one|strong="H2088"\w* \w or|strong="H3808"\w* \w two|strong="H8147"\w* \w days|strong="H3117"\w*, \w and|strong="H3117"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w cannot|strong="H3808"\w* \w stand|strong="H5975"\w* \w here|strong="H2088"\w* \w in|strong="H3117"\w* \w this|strong="H2088"\w* \w rain|strong="H1653"\w*.  
\v 14 \w So|strong="H4480"\w* \w allow|strong="H4994"\w* \w our|strong="H3605"\w* \w leaders|strong="H8269"\w* \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w decide|strong="H8199"\w* \w for|strong="H5704"\w* \w all|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H1697"\w* \w us|strong="H4994"\w* \w what|strong="H1697"\w* \w we|strong="H3068"\w* should \w do|strong="H3605"\w*. \w Tell|strong="H3605"\w* \w everyone|strong="H3605"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w has|strong="H2088"\w* \w married|strong="H3427"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w woman|strong="H5237"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w is|strong="H2088"\w* \w not|strong="H2088"\w* Israeli \w to|strong="H5704"\w* \w come|strong="H7725"\w* \w at|strong="H3427"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w time|strong="H6256"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w you|strong="H3605"\w* \w decide|strong="H8199"\w*. \w They|strong="H5704"\w* should \w come|strong="H7725"\w* \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w elders|strong="H2205"\w* \w and|strong="H7725"\w* \w judges|strong="H8199"\w* \w from|strong="H4480"\w* \w each|strong="H3605"\w* \w city|strong="H5892"\w*. If \w we|strong="H3068"\w* \w do|strong="H3605"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w*, \w our|strong="H3605"\w* God \w will|strong="H5892"\w* \w stop|strong="H5975"\w* being angry \w with|strong="H5973"\w* \w us|strong="H4994"\w* \add because of what we have done\add*.”   
\p
\v 15 \w Jonathan|strong="H3129"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Asahel|strong="H6214"\w*, \w Jahzeiah|strong="H3167"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* \w son|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Tikvah|strong="H8616"\w*, \w Meshullam|strong="H4918"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w Shabbethai|strong="H7678"\w*, \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w descendant|strong="H1121"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w Levi|strong="H3881"\w*, \w were|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H5921"\w* only \w ones|strong="H1121"\w* \w who|strong="H1121"\w* objected \w to|strong="H5921"\w* \w this|strong="H2063"\w*.   
\p
\v 16 \w All|strong="H3605"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* others \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H3548"\w* returned \w from|strong="H1121"\w* Babylonia \w said|strong="H1697"\w* \w that|strong="H3605"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w would|strong="H1697"\w* \w do|strong="H6213"\w* \w it|strong="H6213"\w*. \w So|strong="H3651"\w* \w I|strong="H3117"\w* \w chose|strong="H6213"\w* \w leaders|strong="H7218"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w each|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w clans|strong="H1004"\w*, \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w I|strong="H3117"\w* wrote \w down|strong="H3427"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w names|strong="H8034"\w*. \w On|strong="H3117"\w* December 29, \w these|strong="H6213"\w* \w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w came|strong="H1697"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w sat|strong="H3427"\w* \w down|strong="H3427"\w* \w to|strong="H6213"\w* \w investigate|strong="H1875"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* \w matter|strong="H1697"\w*.  
\v 17 \w By|strong="H3117"\w* March 27 \w of|strong="H3117"\w* \w the|strong="H3605"\w* next \w year|strong="H3117"\w* \w they|strong="H3117"\w* \w finished|strong="H3615"\w* determining \w which|strong="H3605"\w* \w men|strong="H3605"\w* \w had|strong="H3427"\w* \w married|strong="H3427"\w* women \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w were|strong="H3117"\w* \w not|strong="H5704"\w* Israelis.   
\s1 The men who had married foreign wives  
\li1
\v 18 This is a list of the names of the priests who had married non-Israeli women, and the clans to which they belonged. From the clan of Jeshua and his brothers, who were sons of Jehozadak, there were Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.  
\v 19 They solemnly promised to divorce their wives, and they each sacrificed a ram to be an offering \add to atone\add* for their sins.   
\li1
\v 20 From the clan of Immer there were Hanani and Zebadiah.   
\li1
\v 21 From the clan of Harim there were Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.   
\li1
\v 22 From the clan of Pashhur there were Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.   
\li1
\v 23 The \add other\add* descendants of Levi \add who had married non-Israeli women\add* were Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (whose other name was Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.   
\li1
\v 24 There was Eliashib the musician.  
\li2 From the temple guards there were Shallum, Telem, and Uri.   
\b  
\li1
\v 25 This is a list of the names of the other Israelis who had married foreign wives:  
\li1 From the clan of Parosh there were Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Hashabiah, and Benaiah.   
\li1
\v 26 From the clan of Elam there were Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.   
\li1
\v 27 From the clan of Zattu there were Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.   
\li2
\v 28 From the clan of Bebai there were Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.   
\li1
\v 29 From the clan of Bani there were Meshullam, Malluch,, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.   
\li1
\v 30 From the clan of Pahath-Moab there were Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.   
\li1
\v 31 From the clan of Harim there were Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,  
\v 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.   
\li1
\v 33 From the clan of Hashum there were Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.   
\li1
\v 34 From the clan of Bigvai there were Maadai, Amram, Uel,  
\v 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi,  
\v 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,  
\v 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.   
\li1
\v 38 From the clan of Binnui there were Shimei,   
\li2
\v 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,  
\v 40 Macnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,  
\v 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,  
\v 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.   
\li1
\v 43 From the clan of Nebo there were Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.   
\b  
\p
\v 44 \w Each|strong="H3605"\w* \w of|strong="H1121"\w* \w those|strong="H1992"\w* \w men|strong="H1121"\w* \w had|strong="H3426"\w* \w married|strong="H5375"\w* \w a|strong="H3068"\w* \w woman|strong="H5237"\w* \w who|strong="H3605"\w* \w was|strong="H1121"\w* \w not|strong="H7760"\w* \w an|strong="H7760"\w* Israeli. \add But immediately\add* \w they|strong="H1992"\w* divorced \w those|strong="H1992"\w* \w women|strong="H1992"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* sent \w them|strong="H1992"\w* \w and|strong="H1121"\w* \w their|strong="H3605"\w* \w children|strong="H1121"\w* \w away|strong="H5375"\w*.