The Decree of Cyrus

In(A) the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah,(B) the Lord roused the spirit(C) of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing:

This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah.(D) Any of his people among you, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel,(E) the God who is in Jerusalem. Let every survivor,(F) wherever he resides, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.”

Return from Exile

So the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites—everyone whose spirit God had roused(G)—prepared to go up and rebuild the Lord’s house in Jerusalem. All their neighbors supported them[a](H) with silver articles, gold, goods, livestock, and valuables, in addition to all that was given as a freewill offering. King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the Lord’s house that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and had placed in the house of his gods.(I) King Cyrus of Persia had them brought out under the supervision of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.(J) This was the inventory:

30 gold basins, 1,000 silver basins,

29 silver knives, 10 30 gold bowls,

410 various[b] silver bowls, and 1,000 other articles.

11 The gold and silver articles totaled 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought all of them when the exiles went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

The Exiles Who Returned

These(K) now are the people of the province who came from those captive exiles King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon[c] had deported to Babylon.(L) They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. They came with Zerubbabel,(M) Jeshua,(N) Nehemiah, Seraiah,(O) Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.

The number of the Israelite men included[d]

Parosh’s descendants(P)2,172
Shephatiah’s descendants372
Arah’s descendants775
Pahath-moab’s descendants:
Jeshua’s and Joab’s descendants2,812
Elam’s descendants1,254
Zattu’s descendants945
Zaccai’s descendants760
10 Bani’s descendants642
11 Bebai’s descendants623
12 Azgad’s descendants1,222
13 Adonikam’s descendants(Q)666
14 Bigvai’s descendants2,056
15 Adin’s descendants454
16 Ater’s descendants: of Hezekiah98
17 Bezai’s descendants323
18 Jorah’s descendants112
19 Hashum’s descendants223
20 Gibbar’s descendants95
21 Bethlehem’s(R) people123
22 Netophah’s men56
23 Anathoth’s men128
24 Azmaveth’s people42
25 Kiriatharim’s, Chephirah’s, and Beeroth’s people743
26 Ramah’s(S) and Geba’s people621
27 Michmas’s men122
28 Bethel’s and Ai’s(T) men223
29 Nebo’s people52
30 Magbish’s people156
31 the other Elam’s people1,254
32 Harim’s people320
33 Lod’s, Hadid’s, and Ono’s people725
34 Jericho’s(U) people345
35 Senaah’s people3,630

36 The priests included

Jedaiah’s descendants of the house of Jeshua973
37 Immer’s descendants1,052
38 Pashhur’s descendants1,247
39 and Harim’s descendants1,017

40 The Levites included

Jeshua’s and Kadmiel’s descendants
from Hodaviah’s descendants74

41 The singers included

Asaph’s(V) descendants128

42 The gatekeepers’(W) descendants included

Shallum’s descendants, Ater’s descendants,
Talmon’s descendants, Akkub’s descendants,
Hatita’s descendants, Shobai’s descendants, in all139

43 The temple servants(X) included

Ziha’s descendants, Hasupha’s descendants,

Tabbaoth’s descendants, 44 Keros’s descendants,

Siaha’s descendants, Padon’s descendants,

45 Lebanah’s descendants, Hagabah’s descendants,

Akkub’s descendants, 46 Hagab’s descendants,

Shalmai’s[e] descendants, Hanan’s descendants,

47 Giddel’s descendants, Gahar’s descendants,

Reaiah’s descendants, 48 Rezin’s descendants,

Nekoda’s descendants, Gazzam’s descendants,

49 Uzza’s descendants, Paseah’s descendants,

Besai’s descendants, 50 Asnah’s descendants,

Meunim’s[f] descendants, Nephusim’s[g] descendants,

51 Bakbuk’s descendants, Hakupha’s descendants,

Harhur’s descendants, 52 Bazluth’s descendants,

Mehida’s descendants, Harsha’s descendants,

53 Barkos’s descendants, Sisera’s descendants,

Temah’s descendants, 54 Neziah’s descendants,

and Hatipha’s descendants.

55 The descendants of Solomon’s servants(Y) included

Sotai’s descendants, Hassophereth’s descendants,
Peruda’s descendants, 56 Jaalah’s descendants,
Darkon’s descendants, Giddel’s descendants,
57 Shephatiah’s descendants, Hattil’s descendants,
Pochereth-hazzebaim’s descendants, and Ami’s descendants.
58 All the temple servants
and the descendants of Solomon’s servants392.

59 The following are those who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer but were unable to prove that their ancestral families[h] and their lineage were Israelite:

60 Delaiah’s descendants,
Tobiah’s descendants,
Nekoda’s descendants652

61 and from the descendants of the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, the descendants of Barzillai—who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and who bore their name. 62 These searched for their entries in the genealogical records, but they could not be found, so they were disqualified from the priesthood. 63 The governor(Z) ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim.(AA)

64 The whole combined assembly numbered42,360
65 not including their 7,337 male and female servants,
and their 200 male and female singers.(AB)
66 They had 736 horses, 245 mules,
67 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

Gifts for the Work

68 After they arrived at the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, some of the family heads gave freewill offerings(AC) for the house of God in order to have it rebuilt on its original site. 69 Based on what they could give, they gave 61,000 gold coins,[i] 6,250 pounds[j] of silver, and 100 priestly garments to the treasury(AD) for the project. 70 The priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and some of the people settled in their towns, and the rest of Israel settled in their towns.(AE)

Footnotes

  1. 1:6 Lit strengthened their hands
  2. 1:10 Or similar
  3. 2:1 Nebuchadnezzar reigned 605–562 BC
  4. 2:2 Lit the men of the people of Israel
  5. 2:46 Alt Hb tradition reads Shamlai’s
  6. 2:50 Alt Hb tradition reads Meinim’s
  7. 2:50 Alt Hb tradition reads Nephisim’s
  8. 2:59 Lit that the house of their fathers
  9. 2:69 Or drachmas, or darics
  10. 2:69 Lit 5,000 minas

Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return(A)

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah,(B) the Lord moved the heart(C) of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:

“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:

“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed(D) me to build(E) a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors(F) may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold,(G) with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings(H) for the temple of God(I) in Jerusalem.’”(J)

Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin,(K) and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved(L)—prepared to go up and build the house(M) of the Lord in Jerusalem. All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold,(N) with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.

Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god.[a](O) Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar(P) the prince of Judah.

This was the inventory:

gold dishes30
silver dishes1,000
silver pans[b]29
10 gold bowls30
matching silver bowls410
other articles1,000

11 In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

The List of the Exiles Who Returned(Q)

Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles,(R) whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon(S) had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town,(T) in company with Zerubbabel,(U) Joshua,(V) Nehemiah, Seraiah,(W) Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah):

The list of the men of the people of Israel:

the descendants of Parosh(X)2,172
of Shephatiah372
of Arah775
of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab)2,812
of Elam1,254
of Zattu945
of Zakkai760
10 of Bani642
11 of Bebai623
12 of Azgad1,222
13 of Adonikam(Y)666
14 of Bigvai2,056
15 of Adin454
16 of Ater (through Hezekiah)98
17 of Bezai323
18 of Jorah112
19 of Hashum223
20 of Gibbar95
21 the men of Bethlehem(Z)123
22 of Netophah56
23 of Anathoth128
24 of Azmaveth42
25 of Kiriath Jearim,[c] Kephirah and Beeroth743
26 of Ramah(AA) and Geba621
27 of Mikmash122
28 of Bethel and Ai(AB)223
29 of Nebo52
30 of Magbish156
31 of the other Elam1,254
32 of Harim320
33 of Lod, Hadid and Ono725
34 of Jericho(AC)345
35 of Senaah3,630

36 The priests:

the descendants of Jedaiah(AD) (through the family of Jeshua)973
37 of Immer(AE)1,052
38 of Pashhur(AF)1,247
39 of Harim(AG)1,017

40 The Levites:(AH)

the descendants of Jeshua(AI) and Kadmiel (of the line of Hodaviah)74

41 The musicians:(AJ)

the descendants of Asaph128

42 The gatekeepers(AK) of the temple:

the descendants of
Shallum, Ater, Talmon,
Akkub, Hatita and Shobai139

43 The temple servants:(AL)

the descendants of
Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
44 Keros, Siaha, Padon,
45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,
46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,
47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,
48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,
49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai,
50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim,
51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
54 Neziah and Hatipha

55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:

the descendants of
Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,
57 Shephatiah, Hattil,
Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami
58 The temple servants(AM) and the descendants of the servants of Solomon392

59 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended(AN) from Israel:

60 The descendants of
Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda652

61 And from among the priests:

The descendants of
Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite(AO) and was called by that name).

62 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood(AP) as unclean. 63 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food(AQ) until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.(AR)

64 The whole company numbered 42,360, 65 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 200 male and female singers.(AS) 66 They had 736 horses,(AT) 245 mules, 67 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

68 When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families(AU) gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics[d] of gold, 5,000 minas[e] of silver and 100 priestly garments.

70 The priests, the Levites, the musicians, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.(AV)

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 1:7 Or gods
  2. Ezra 1:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  3. Ezra 2:25 See Septuagint (see also Neh. 7:29); Hebrew Kiriath Arim.
  4. Ezra 2:69 That is, about 1,100 pounds or about 500 kilograms
  5. Ezra 2:69 That is, about 3 tons or about 2.8 metric tons

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see who gets it.” This happened that the Scripture(A) might be fulfilled(B) that says: They divided my clothes among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.[a](C) This is what the soldiers did.

Jesus’s Provision for His Mother

25 Standing(D) by the cross(E) of Jesus were his mother,(F) his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.(G) 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved(H) standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

The Finished Work of Jesus

28 After(I) this, when Jesus knew that everything was now finished(J) that the Scripture might be fulfilled, he said, “I’m thirsty.”(K) 29 A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch(L) and held it up to his mouth.

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.”(M) Then bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.(N)

Jesus’s Side Pierced

31 Since it was the preparation day,(O) the Jews did not want the bodies(P) to remain on the cross(Q) on the Sabbath(R) (for that Sabbath was a special[b] day). They requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that their bodies be taken away.(S) 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with him. 33 When they came to Jesus, they did not break his legs since they saw that he was already dead.(T) 34 But one of the soldiers pierced(U) his side(V) with a spear, and at once blood and water(W) came out. 35 He who saw this has testified(X) so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth.(Y) 36 For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled:(Z) Not one of his bones will be broken.[c](AA) 37 Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the one they pierced.[d](AB)

Jesus’s Burial

38 After(AC) this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body.(AD) Pilate gave him permission; so he came and took his body away. 39 Nicodemus(AE) (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds[e] of myrrh and aloes. 40 They took Jesus’s body(AF) and wrapped it in linen cloths(AG) with the fragrant spices, according to the burial(AH) custom of the Jews. 41 There was a garden in the place where he was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. 42 They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby.

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Footnotes

  1. 19:24 Ps 22:18
  2. 19:31 Lit great
  3. 19:36 Ex 12:46; Nm 9:12; Ps 34:20
  4. 19:37 Zch 12:10
  5. 19:39 Lit a hundred litrai; a Roman litrai = 12 ounces

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled(A) that said,

“They divided my clothes among them
    and cast lots for my garment.”[a](B)

So this is what the soldiers did.

25 Near the cross(C) of Jesus stood his mother,(D) his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.(E) 26 When Jesus saw his mother(F) there, and the disciple whom he loved(G) standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,[b] here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus(H)

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished,(I) and so that Scripture would be fulfilled,(J) Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar(K) was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.”(L) With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

31 Now it was the day of Preparation,(M) and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses(N) during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.(O) 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced(P) Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.(Q) 35 The man who saw it(R) has given testimony, and his testimony is true.(S) He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled:(T) “Not one of his bones will be broken,”[c](U) 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”[d](V)

The Burial of Jesus(W)

38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders.(X) With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus,(Y) the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[e] 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen.(Z) This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.(AA) 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation(AB) and since the tomb was nearby,(AC) they laid Jesus there.

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Footnotes

  1. John 19:24 Psalm 22:18
  2. John 19:26 The Greek for Woman does not denote any disrespect.
  3. John 19:36 Exodus 12:46; Num. 9:12; Psalm 34:20
  4. John 19:37 Zech. 12:10
  5. John 19:39 Or about 34 kilograms