Ezra 8:15-20

The Voice

¹⁵ I gathered everyone together on the banks of the river to Ahava, and we camped there for 3 days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I noticed that no Levites had joined our group. ¹⁶ I sent 9 tribal leaders (Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam) and 2 teachers (Joiarib and Elnathan) ¹⁷ to Iddo, the tribal leader in Casiphia, with instructions for Iddo, his coworkers, and the temple servants in Casiphia to bring ministers to join our caravan and work in the True God’s temple. ¹⁸ Just as the True God intended, they brought Sherebiah and 17 of his sons and brothers, all of whom were descendants of Mahli (son of Levi, son of Israel); ¹⁹ Hashabiah and Jeshaiah and 18 of their sons and brothers, all of whom were descendants of Merari; ²⁰ and 220 temple servants, a position David and the princes had created to serve the Levites, who are listed.