Ezra 8:15-23

New International Version

The Return to Jerusalem

¹⁵ I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava,^(A) and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites^(B) 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^(C) 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,^(D) they brought us Sherebiah,^(E) 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^(F)—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.

²¹ There, by the Ahava Canal,^(G) I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey^(H) for us and our children, with all our possessions. ²² I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers^(I) 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^(J) who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.^(K)” ²³ So we fasted^(L) and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.