Ezra’s Arrival

After these events, during the reign of King Artaxerxes(A) of Persia, Ezra—

Seraiah’s(B) son, Azariah’s son,
Hilkiah’s(C) son, Shallum’s son,
Zadok’s(D) son, Ahitub’s son,
Amariah’s son, Azariah’s son,
Meraioth’s son, Zerahiah’s son,
Uzzi’s son, Bukki’s son,
Abishua’s son, Phinehas’s son,
Eleazar’s son, Aaron the chief priest’s son(E)

—came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses,(F) which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested(G) because the hand of Yahweh his God was on him.(H) Some of the Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants(I) accompanied him to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

Ezra[a] came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, during the seventh year of the king. He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month(J) and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month(K) since the gracious hand of his God was on him.(L) 10 Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach(M) its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Letter from Artaxerxes

11 This is the text of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest and scribe, an expert in matters of the Lord’s commands and statutes for Israel:[b]

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings,(N) to Ezra the priest, an expert in the law of the God of heaven:

Greetings.

13 I issue a decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including their priests and Levites, who want to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.(O) 14 You are sent by the king and his seven counselors(P) to evaluate Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your possession. 15 You are also to bring the silver and gold the king and his counselors have willingly given to the God of Israel,(Q) whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,(R) 16 and all the silver and gold you receive throughout the province of Babylon, together with the freewill offerings given by the people and the priests to the house of their God in Jerusalem.(S) 17 Then you are to buy with this money as many bulls, rams, and lambs as needed, along with their grain and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar at the house of your God in Jerusalem.(T) 18 You may do whatever seems best to you and your brothers with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God. 19 You must deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles given to you for the service of the house of your God.(U) 20 You may use the royal treasury to pay for anything else needed for the house of your God.(V)

21 I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers in the region west of the Euphrates River:(W)

Whatever Ezra the priest, an expert in the law of the God of heaven, asks of you must be provided promptly,(X) 22 up to 7,500 pounds[c] of silver, 500 bushels[d] of wheat, 550 gallons[e] of wine, 550 gallons[f] of oil, and salt without limit.[g] 23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be done diligently for the house of the God of heaven, so that wrath will not fall on the realm of the king and his sons.(Y) 24 Be advised that tribute, duty, and land tax must not be imposed on any priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

25 And you, Ezra, according to[h] God’s wisdom that you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people in the region west of the Euphrates who know the laws of your God and to teach anyone who does not know them.(Z) 26 Anyone who does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a fair judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.(AA)

27 Praise Yahweh the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king’s mind(AB) to glorify the house of the Lord in Jerusalem,(AC) 28 and who has shown favor to me before the king,(AD) his counselors, and all his powerful officers. So I took courage because I was strengthened by Yahweh my God,[i](AE) and I gathered Israelite leaders to return with me.(AF)

Those Returning with Ezra

These are the family leaders and the genealogical records of those who returned with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:(AG)

Gershom, from Phinehas’s descendants;
Daniel, from Ithamar’s descendants;
Hattush, from David’s descendants,
who was of Shecaniah’s descendants;(AH)
Zechariah, from Parosh’s(AI) descendants,
and 150 men[j] with him who were registered by genealogy;
Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah
from Pahath-moab’s descendants,(AJ)
and 200 men with him;
Shecaniah[k] son of Jahaziel
from Zattu’s descendants,
and 300 men with him;
Ebed son of Jonathan
from Adin’s descendants,(AK)
and 50 men with him;
Jeshaiah son of Athaliah
from Elam’s descendants,
and 70 men with him;
Zebadiah son of Michael
from Shephatiah’s descendants,
and 80 men with him;
Obadiah son of Jehiel
from Joab’s descendants,
and 218 men with him;
10 Shelomith[l] son of Josiphiah
from Bani’s descendants,
and 160 men with him;
11 Zechariah son of Bebai
from Bebai’s descendants,
and 28 men with him;
12 Johanan son of Hakkatan
from Azgad’s descendants,
and 110 men with him;
13 these are the last ones, from Adonikam’s descendants,(AL)
and their names are:
Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah,
and 60 men with them;
14 Uthai and Zaccur[m]
from Bigvai’s descendants,
and 70 men with them.

15 I gathered them at the river[n] that flows to Ahava,(AM) and we camped there for three days. I searched among the people and priests, but found no Levites(AN) there. 16 Then I summoned the leaders: Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam,(AO) as well as the teachers Joiarib and Elnathan. 17 I sent them to Iddo, the leader at Casiphia, with a message for[o] him and his brothers, the temple servants(AP) at Casiphia, that they should bring us ministers for the house of our God. 18 Since the gracious hand of our God was on us,(AQ) they brought us Sherebiah(AR)—a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli, a descendant of Levi son of Israel—along with his sons and brothers, 18 men, 19 plus Hashabiah,(AS) along with Jeshaiah, from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and their sons, 20 men. 20 There were also 220 of the temple servants,(AT) who had been appointed by David and the leaders for the work of the Levites. All were identified by name.

Preparing to Return

21 I proclaimed a fast(AU) by the Ahava River,[p] so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us, our children, and all our possessions. 22 I did this because I was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and cavalry to protect us from enemies during the journey, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who abandon Him.”(AV) 23 So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and He granted our request.

24 I selected 12 of the leading priests, along with Sherebiah,(AW) Hashabiah, and 10 of their brothers. 25 I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles—the contribution for the house of our God that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the Israelites who were present had offered. 26 I weighed out to them 24 tons[q] of silver, silver articles weighing 7,500 pounds,[r] 7,500 pounds[s] of gold, 27 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 gold coins,[t] and two articles of fine gleaming bronze, as valuable as gold.(AX) 28 Then I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, and the articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering(AY) to the Lord God of your fathers. 29 Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the Lord’s house before the leading priests, Levites, and heads of the Israelite families in Jerusalem.” 30 So the priests and Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the articles that had been weighed out, to bring them to the house of our God in Jerusalem.(AZ)

Arrival in Jerusalem

31 We set out from the Ahava River[u] on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. We were strengthened by our God,[v](BA) and He protected us from the power of the enemy and from ambush along the way.(BB) 32 So we arrived at Jerusalem and rested there for three days.(BC) 33 On the fourth day the silver, the gold, and the articles were weighed out in the house of our God into the care of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him. The Levites Jozabad(BD) son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui were also with them. 34 Everything was verified by number and weight, and the total weight was recorded at that time.

35 The exiles who had returned from the captivity(BE) offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, and 77 lambs, along with 12 male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering for the Lord.(BF) 36 They also delivered the king’s edicts to the royal satraps and governors of the region west of the Euphrates,(BG) so that they would support the people and the house of God.(BH)

Israel’s Intermarriage with Pagans

After these things had been done, the leaders approached me and said: “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves(BI) from the surrounding peoples whose detestable practices(BJ) are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.(BK) Indeed, the Israelite men[w] have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed(BL) has become mixed with the surrounding peoples.(BM) The leaders[x] and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”(BN) When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.(BO)

Ezra’s Confession

Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel(BP) gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles,(BQ) while I sat devastated until the evening offering.(BR) At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God.(BS) And I said:(BT)

My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens.(BU) Our guilt has been terrible from the days of our fathers until the present. Because of our iniquities we have been handed over, along with our kings and priests, to the surrounding kings, and to the sword, captivity, plundering, and open shame,(BV) as it is today. But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from Yahweh our God to preserve a remnant(BW) for us and give us a stake(BX) in His holy place. Even in our slavery, God has given us new life and light to our eyes.(BY) Though we are slaves,(BZ) our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. He has extended grace to us in the presence of the Persian kings,(CA) giving us new life, so that we can rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins,(CB) to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

10 Now, our God, what can we say in light of[y] this? For we have abandoned the commands 11 You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: “The land you are entering to possess is an impure land. The surrounding peoples have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness by their impurity and detestable practices.(CC) 12 So do not give your daughters to their sons in marriage or take their daughters for your sons.(CD) Never seek their peace or prosperity,(CE) so that you will be strong, eat the good things of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.” 13 After all that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and terrible guilt—though You, our God, have punished us less than our sins deserve and have allowed us to survive[z](CF) 14 should we break Your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit these detestable practices?(CG) Wouldn’t You become so angry with us that You would destroy us, leaving no survivors?(CH) 15 Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we survive as a remnant(CI) today. Here we are before You with our guilt, though no one can stand in Your presence because of this.(CJ)

Sending Away Foreign Wives

10 While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown(CK) before the house of God, an extremely large assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly.(CL) Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel,(CM) an Elamite, responded to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the surrounding peoples,(CN) but there is still hope for Israel in spite of this. Let us therefore make a covenant before our God(CO) to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God.(CP) Let it be done according to the law. Get up, for this matter is your responsibility,(CQ) and we support you. Be strong and take action!”(CR)

Then Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said; so they took the oath.(CS) Ezra then went from the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, where he spent the night.[aa] He did not eat food or drink water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.(CT)

They circulated a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem. Whoever did not come within three days would forfeit all his possessions,[ab] according to the decision of the leaders and elders, and would be excluded(CU) from the assembly of the exiles.

So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. On the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God,(CV) trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt.(CW) 11 Therefore, make a confession to Yahweh the God of your fathers and do His will. Separate yourselves from the surrounding peoples and your foreign wives.”

12 Then all the assembly responded with a loud voice: “Yes, we will do as you say! 13 But there are many people, and it is the rainy season. We don’t have the stamina to stay out in the open. This isn’t something that can be done in a day or two, for we have rebelled terribly in this matter. 14 Let our leaders represent the entire assembly. Then let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each town, in order to avert the fierce anger of our God(CX) concerning[ac] this matter.” 15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, with Meshullam(CY) and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them.

16 The exiles did what had been proposed. Ezra the priest selected men[ad] who were family leaders, all identified by name, to represent[ae] their ancestral houses. They convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter, 17 and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.

Those Married to Foreign Wives

18 The following were found to have married foreign women from the descendants of the priests:

from the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 They pledged[af] to send their wives away, and being guilty, they offered a ram from the flock for their guilt;(CZ)

20 Hanani and Zebadiah from Immer’s(DA) descendants;
21 Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah from Harim’s(DB) descendants;
22 Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah from Pashhur’s(DC) descendants.

23 The Levites:(DD)

Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

24 The singers:(DE)

Eliashib.

The gatekeepers:(DF)

Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

25 The Israelites:(DG)

Parosh’s descendants:(DH) Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah,[ag] and Benaiah;
26 Elam’s descendants:(DI) Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah;
27 Zattu’s descendants:(DJ) Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza;
28 Bebai’s descendants:(DK) Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai;
29 Bani’s descendants:(DL) Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth;
30 Pahath-moab’s descendants:(DM) Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh;
31 Harim’s descendants:(DN) Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah;
33 Hashum’s descendants:(DO) Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei;

34 Bani’s descendants:(DP) Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu, 38 Bani, Binnui, Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph;

43 Nebo’s descendants:(DQ) Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

44 All of these(DR) had married foreign women, and some of the wives had given birth to children.(DS)

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 7:8 LXX, Syr, Vg read They
  2. Ezra 7:11 Ezr 7:12-26 is written in Aram.
  3. Ezra 7:22 Lit 100 talents
  4. Ezra 7:22 Lit 100 cors
  5. Ezra 7:22 Lit 100 baths
  6. Ezra 7:22 Lit 100 baths
  7. Ezra 7:22 Lit without instruction
  8. Ezra 7:25 Lit to your
  9. Ezra 7:28 Lit because the hand of the Lord my God was on me
  10. Ezra 8:3 Or males; also in vv. 4-14
  11. Ezra 8:5 LXX, 1 Esdras 8:32; MT reads the descendants of Shecaniah
  12. Ezra 8:10 Some LXX mss, 1 Esdras 8:36; MT reads the descendants of Shelomith
  13. Ezra 8:14 Alt Hb tradition, some LXX mss read Zabud
  14. Ezra 8:15 Or canal
  15. Ezra 8:17 Lit Casiphia, and I put in their mouth the words to speak to
  16. Ezra 8:21 Or Canal
  17. Ezra 8:26 Lit 650 talents
  18. Ezra 8:26 Lit 100 talents
  19. Ezra 8:26 Lit 100 talents
  20. Ezra 8:27 Or 1,000 drachmas, or 1,000 darics
  21. Ezra 8:31 Or Canal
  22. Ezra 8:31 Lit The hand of our God was on us
  23. Ezra 9:2 Lit they
  24. Ezra 9:2 Lit hand of the leaders
  25. Ezra 9:10 Lit say after
  26. Ezra 9:13 Lit and gave us a remnant like this
  27. Ezra 10:6 1 Esdras 9:2, Syr; MT, Vg read he went
  28. Ezra 10:8 Lit would set apart all his possessions for destruction
  29. Ezra 10:14 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg; other Hb mss read until
  30. Ezra 10:16 1 Esdras 9:16, Syr; MT, Vg read priest and men were selected
  31. Ezra 10:16 Lit name, for
  32. Ezra 10:19 Lit gave their hand
  33. Ezra 10:25 Some LXX mss, 1 Esdras 9:26 read Hashabiah

Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes(A) king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah,(B) the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,(C) the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok,(D) the son of Ahitub,(E) the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas,(F) the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— this Ezra(G) came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted(H) him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.(I) Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.(J)

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.(K) 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching(L) its decrees and laws in Israel.

King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra

11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the Lord for Israel:

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings,(M)

To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven:

Greetings.

13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. 14 You are sent by the king and his seven advisers(N) to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. 15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given(O) to the God of Israel, whose dwelling(P) is in Jerusalem, 16 together with all the silver and gold(Q) you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem.(R) 17 With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs,(S) together with their grain offerings and drink offerings,(T) and sacrifice(U) them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.

18 You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. 19 Deliver(V) to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. 20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.(W)

21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you— 22 up to a hundred talents[a] of silver, a hundred cors[b] of wheat, a hundred baths[c] of wine, a hundred baths[d] of olive oil, and salt without limit. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons?(X) 24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty(Y) on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.(Z)

25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint(AA) magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach(AB) any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.[e](AC)

27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart(AD) to bring honor(AE) to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor(AF) to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me,(AG) I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

List of the Family Heads Returning With Ezra

These are the family heads and those registered with them who came up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:(AH)

of the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom;

of the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel;

of the descendants of David, Hattush of the descendants of Shekaniah;(AI)

of the descendants of Parosh,(AJ) Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 men;

of the descendants of Pahath-Moab,(AK) Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men;

of the descendants of Zattu,[f] Shekaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men;

of the descendants of Adin,(AL) Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men;

of the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;

of the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men;

of the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men;

10 of the descendants of Bani,[g] Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men;

11 of the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;

12 of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;

13 of the descendants of Adonikam,(AM) the last ones, whose names were Eliphelet, Jeuel and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;

14 of the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai and Zakkur, and with them 70 men.

The Return to Jerusalem

15 I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava,(AN) and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites(AO) there. 16 So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, 17 and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants(AP) in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God. 18 Because the gracious hand of our God was on us,(AQ) they brought us Sherebiah,(AR) a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; 19 and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 in all. 20 They also brought 220 of the temple servants(AS)—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.

21 There, by the Ahava Canal,(AT) I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey(AU) for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers(AV) and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone(AW) who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.(AX) 23 So we fasted(AY) and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, namely, Sherebiah,(AZ) Hashabiah and ten of their brothers, 25 and I weighed out(BA) to them the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God. 26 I weighed out to them 650 talents[h] of silver, silver articles weighing 100 talents,[i] 100 talents[j] of gold, 27 20 bowls of gold valued at 1,000 darics,[k] and two fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold.

28 I said to them, “You as well as these articles are consecrated to the Lord.(BB) The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your ancestors. 29 Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem before the leading priests and the Levites and the family heads of Israel.” 30 Then the priests and Levites received the silver and gold and sacred articles that had been weighed out to be taken to the house of our God in Jerusalem.

31 On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal(BC) to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us,(BD) and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. 32 So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days.(BE)

33 On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out(BF) the silver and gold and the sacred articles into the hands of Meremoth(BG) son of Uriah, the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him, and so were the Levites Jozabad(BH) son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui.(BI) 34 Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the entire weight was recorded at that time.

35 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls(BJ) for all Israel,(BK) ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering,[l] twelve male goats.(BL) All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 36 They also delivered the king’s orders(BM) to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates,(BN) who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.(BO)

Ezra’s Prayer About Intermarriage

After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate(BP) from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites,(BQ) Ammonites,(BR) Moabites,(BS) Egyptians and Amorites.(BT) They have taken some of their daughters(BU) as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled(BV) the holy race(BW) with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.”(BX)

When I heard this, I tore(BY) my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled.(BZ) Then everyone who trembled(CA) at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled(CB) until the evening sacrifice.

Then, at the evening sacrifice,(CC) I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands(CD) spread out to the Lord my God and prayed:

“I am too ashamed(CE) and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.(CF) From the days of our ancestors(CG) until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword(CH) and captivity,(CI) to pillage and humiliation(CJ) at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today.

“But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious(CK) in leaving us a remnant(CL) and giving us a firm place[m](CM) in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes(CN) and a little relief in our bondage. Though we are slaves,(CO) our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness(CP) in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins,(CQ) and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.

10 “But now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commands(CR) 11 you gave through your servants the prophets when you said: ‘The land you are entering(CS) to possess is a land polluted(CT) by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices(CU) they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. 12 Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them(CV) at any time, that you may be strong(CW) and eat the good things(CX) of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.’(CY)

13 “What has happened to us is a result of our evil(CZ) deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved(DA) and have given us a remnant like this. 14 Shall we then break your commands again and intermarry(DB) with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us,(DC) leaving us no remnant(DD) or survivor? 15 Lord, the God of Israel, you are righteous!(DE) We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand(DF) in your presence.(DG)

The People’s Confession of Sin

10 While Ezra was praying and confessing,(DH) weeping(DI) and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam,(DJ) said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful(DK) to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel.(DL) Now let us make a covenant(DM) before our God to send away(DN) all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.”

So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath(DO) to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath. Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water,(DP) because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.

Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin(DQ) had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain. 10 Then Ezra(DR) the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt.(DS) 11 Now honor[n] the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”(DT)

12 The whole assembly responded with a loud voice:(DU) “You are right! We must do as you say. 13 But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing. 14 Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges(DV) of each town, until the fierce anger(DW) of our God in this matter is turned away from us.” 15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai(DX) the Levite, opposed this.

16 So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases, 17 and by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.

Those Guilty of Intermarriage

18 Among the descendants of the priests, the following had married foreign women:(DY)

From the descendants of Joshua(DZ) son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib and Gedaliah. 19 (They all gave their hands(EA) in pledge to put away their wives, and for their guilt they each presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.)(EB)

20 From the descendants of Immer:(EC)

Hanani and Zebadiah.

21 From the descendants of Harim:(ED)

Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel and Uzziah.

22 From the descendants of Pashhur:(EE)

Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah.

23 Among the Levites:(EF)

Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer.

24 From the musicians:

Eliashib.(EG)

From the gatekeepers:

Shallum, Telem and Uri.

25 And among the other Israelites:

From the descendants of Parosh:(EH)

Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah and Benaiah.

26 From the descendants of Elam:(EI)

Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth and Elijah.

27 From the descendants of Zattu:

Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad and Aziza.

28 From the descendants of Bebai:

Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai.

29 From the descendants of Bani:

Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal and Jeremoth.

30 From the descendants of Pahath-Moab:

Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui and Manasseh.

31 From the descendants of Harim:

Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluk and Shemariah.

33 From the descendants of Hashum:

Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh and Shimei.

34 From the descendants of Bani:

Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai and Jaasu.

38 From the descendants of Binnui:[o]

Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Maknadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah and Joseph.

43 From the descendants of Nebo:

Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel and Benaiah.

44 All these had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives.[p]

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 3 3/4 tons or about 3.4 metric tons
  2. Ezra 7:22 That is, probably about 18 tons or about 16 metric tons
  3. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 600 gallons or about 2,200 liters
  4. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 600 gallons or about 2,200 liters
  5. Ezra 7:26 The text of 7:12-26 is in Aramaic.
  6. Ezra 8:5 Some Septuagint manuscripts (also 1 Esdras 8:32); Hebrew does not have Zattu.
  7. Ezra 8:10 Some Septuagint manuscripts (also 1 Esdras 8:36); Hebrew does not have Bani.
  8. Ezra 8:26 That is, about 24 tons or about 22 metric tons
  9. Ezra 8:26 That is, about 3 3/4 tons or about 3.4 metric tons
  10. Ezra 8:26 That is, about 3 3/4 tons or about 3.4 metric tons
  11. Ezra 8:27 That is, about 19 pounds or about 8.4 kilograms
  12. Ezra 8:35 Or purification offering
  13. Ezra 9:8 Or a foothold
  14. Ezra 10:11 Or Now make confession to
  15. Ezra 10:38 See Septuagint (also 1 Esdras 9:34); Hebrew Jaasu 38 and Bani and Binnui,
  16. Ezra 10:44 Or and they sent them away with their children