Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close LSB

Ezra 8
Legacy Standard Bible

Genealogical Records

8 Now these are the heads of their fathers’ households and the genealogical records of those who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of King Artaxerxes:

2 of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom;
of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel;
of the sons of David, (A)Hattush;
3 of the sons of Shecaniah who was of the sons of (B)Parosh, Zechariah and with him 150 males who were in the genealogical records;
4 of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah and 200 males with him;
5 of the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel and 300 males with him;
6 and of the sons of (C)Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan and 50 males with him;
7 and of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah and 70 males with him;
8 and of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael and 80 males with him;
9 of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel and 218 males with him;
10 and of the sons of Bani, Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah and 160 males with him;
11 and of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai and 28 males with him;
12 and of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan and 110 males with him;
13 and of the sons of Adonikam, the last ones, these being their names, Eliphelet, [a]Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and 60 males with them;
14 and of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai, and [b]Zabbud, and 70 males with [c]them.

Ezra Sends for Levites

15 Now I gathered them at (D)the river that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days. And I [d]observed the people and the priests, but I (E)did not find any Levites there. 16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, [e]chief men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, teachers. 17 I sent them out to Iddo the [f]chief man at the place Casiphia; and I put words in their mouths to say to [g]Iddo and his brothers, (F)the temple servants at the place Casiphia, that is, to bring ministers to us for the house of our God. 18 (G)So, according to the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a (H)man of insight of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, and his sons and brothers, 18 men; 19 and Hashabiah and [h]Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 men; 20 and 220 of (I)the temple servants, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, all of them designated by name.

God’s Protection Sought

21 Then I called for (J)a fast there at (K)the river of Ahava, that we might (L)humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a [i]direct journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to ask from the king for a military force and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “(M)The hand of our God is upon all those who seek Him, for their good, but (N)His strength and His anger are against all those who (O)forsake Him.” 23 So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He [j](P)was moved by our entreaty.

24 Then I [k]set apart twelve of the leading priests, (Q)Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and with them ten of their brothers; 25 and I (R)weighed out to them (S)the silver, the gold, and the utensils, the contribution for the house of our God which the king and (T)his counselors and his princes and all Israel present there had offered. 26 (U)Thus I weighed into their hands [l]650 talents of silver, and silver utensils worth 100 talents, and 100 gold talents, 27 and 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 [m]darics, and two utensils of fine shiny bronze, precious as gold. 28 Then I said to them, “(V)You are holy to Yahweh, and the (W)utensils are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Yahweh, the God of your fathers. 29 Watch and keep them (X)until you weigh them before the officials of the priests, the Levites and the officials of the fathers’ households of Israel at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Yahweh.” 30 So the priests and the Levites (Y)accepted the weighed out silver and gold and the utensils, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

31 Then we set out from (Z)the river Ahava on (AA)the twelfth of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and (AB)the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the ambushes by the way. 32 (AC)Thus we came to Jerusalem and remained there three days.

Silver, Gold, and Utensils Weighed

33 On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the utensils (AD)were weighed out in the house of our God into the hand of (AE)Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui. 34 Everything was numbered and weighed, and all the weight was written down at that time.

35 (AF)The exiles who had come from the captivity brought burnt offerings near to the God of Israel: (AG)12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, 12 male goats for a sin offering, all as a burnt offering to Yahweh. 36 Then (AH)they gave the king’s edicts to (AI)the king’s satraps and to the governors in the provinces beyond the [n]River, and they supported the people and the house of God.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 8:13 Or Jeuel
  2. Ezra 8:14 Or Zakkur
  3. Ezra 8:14 Or him
  4. Ezra 8:15 Lit understood, discerned
  5. Ezra 8:16 Lit heads
  6. Ezra 8:17 Lit head
  7. Ezra 8:17 As in Gr; Heb Iddo his brother
  8. Ezra 8:19 As in Gr; Heb with him Jeshaiah
  9. Ezra 8:21 Lit straight way
  10. Ezra 8:23 Lit was entreated by us
  11. Ezra 8:24 Lit separated
  12. Ezra 8:26 Approx. 24 tons or 22 metric tons, a talent was approx. 75 lb. or 34 kg
  13. Ezra 8:27 A Persian gold coin weighing approx. 0.3 oz. or 8 gm
  14. Ezra 8:36 The Euphrates River
Close VOICE

Ezra 8
The Voice

8 These are the tribal leaders and the genealogies of those who traveled with me from Babylon to Jerusalem in the reign of King Artaxerxes:

2 From the priestly families: Gershom of the Phinehas family and Daniel of the Ithamar family. From the royal family: Hattush of the David family 3 from the line of Shecaniah. From the lay families: Zechariah of the Parosh family and 150 men from that line, 4 Eliehoenai (son of Zerahiah) of the Pahath-moab family and 200 men, 5 Shecaniah (son of Jahaziel) of the Zattu family and 300 men, 6 Ebed (son of Jonathan) of the Adin family and 50 men, 7 Jeshaiah (son of Athaliah) of the Elam family and 70 men, 8 Zebadiah (son of Michael) of the Shephatiah family and 80 men, 9 Obadiah (son of Jehiel) of the Joab family and 218 men, 10 Shelomith (son of Josiphiah) of the Bani family and 160 men, 11 Zechariah (son of Bebai) of the Bebai family and 28 men, 12 Johanan (son of Hakkatan) of the Azgad family and 110 men, 13 Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah of the Adonikam family and 60 men, 14 Uthai and Zabbud of the Bigvai family and 70 men.

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.

21 I declared that the whole caravan should fast by the river of Ahava, humbling ourselves before our True God and asking for a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and our possessions. 22 We needed His protection more than ever since I had been ashamed to ask the king for a military escort of soldiers and horses on our journey after telling him, “Our True God takes care of anyone who follows Him, but He uses His power and anger against anyone who abandons Him.” 23 We knew fasting and following our True God would ensure that He helped us travel safely to Jerusalem—and He did.

24 I designated 12 priests and Levites, including Sherebiah and Hashabiah, to care for the freewill offerings during our trip. 25 I measured the silver and gold and counted the vessels, which King Artaxerxes, his cabinet, his princes, and the Jews in Babylon had sent to offer at our True God’s house, so no one could be accused of stealing the riches. We carried a tremendous offering back to Jerusalem: 26 25 tons of silver coins; 7,500 pounds of silver vessels; 7,500 pounds of gold coins; 27 20 gold bowls weighing 19 pounds;[a] and 2 shiny copper vessels (as valuable as gold).

Ezra (commissioning the priests and Levites): 28 Everything dedicated to Him is holy to the Eternal: you, the vessels for the temple, and the silver and gold for the freewill offering to the Eternal God of our ancestors. 29 Guard these things until you reach the rooms of the Eternal’s temple. There, the head priests, the Levites, and the tribal leaders already living in Jerusalem will weigh them and make sure the same amount reached the temple as left Babylon.

30 The priests and Levites accepted their commission and carried the carefully measured goods to our True God’s temple in Jerusalem. 31 We left the banks of the Ahava River on the 12th day of the 1st month. On our 4-month journey to Jerusalem, the True God did indeed protect us—He saved us from any enemies or skirmishes along our journey.

32 Once we reached Jerusalem, we rested 3 days. 33 On the 4th day, we took the measured silver, gold, and vessels to our True God’s house. There, Meremoth (son of Uriah the priest), Eleazer (son of Phineas the priest), and the Levites Jozabad (son of Jeshua) and Noadiah (son of Binnui) 34 counted, weighed, and inventoried everything. 35 Then the exiles who had joined our caravan and left their captivity gave these burnt offerings to the Eternal God of Israel: 12 bulls (1 for each tribe of Israel), 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 male goats (as a sin offering for each tribe of Israel).

36 Meanwhile, they delivered the king’s command that the leaders of the provinces west of the Euphrates should fully support the Jews and the True God’s temple. Those governors obeyed the command.

Footnotes

  1. 8:27 1,000 darics
Listen to Ezra 8
Close NKJV

Ezra 8
New King James Version

Heads of Families Who Returned with Ezra

8 These are the heads of their fathers’ houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of King Artaxerxes: 2 of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, (A)Hattush; 3 of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of (B)Parosh, Zechariah; and registered with him were one hundred and fifty males; 4 of the sons of (C)Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males; 5 of [a]the sons of Shechaniah, Ben-Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males; 6 of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males; 7 of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males; 8 of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him eighty males; 9 of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males; 10 of [b]the sons of Shelomith, Ben-Josiphiah, and with him one hundred and sixty males; 11 of the sons of (D)Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight males; 12 of the sons of Azgad, Johanan [c]the son of Hakkatan, and with him one hundred and ten males; 13 of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these—Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah—and with them sixty males; 14 also of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and [d]Zabbud, and with them seventy males.

Servants for the Temple

15 Now I gathered them by the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. And I looked among the people and the priests, and found none of the (E)sons of Levi there. 16 Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and (F)Meshullam, leaders; also for Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding. 17 And I gave them a command for Iddo the chief man at the place Casiphia, and [e]I told them what they should say to [f]Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim at the place Casiphia—that they should bring us servants for the house of our God. 18 Then, by the good hand of our God upon us, they (G)brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men; 19 and (H)Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty men; 20 (I)also of the Nethinim, whom David and the leaders had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim. All of them were designated by name.

Fasting and Prayer for Protection

21 Then I (J)proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might (K)humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the (L)right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. 22 For (M)I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, (N)“The hand of our God is upon all those for (O)good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are (P)against all those who (Q)forsake Him.” 23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He (R)answered our prayer.

Gifts for the Temple

24 And I separated twelve of the leaders of the priests—Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them— 25 and weighed out to them (S)the silver, the gold, and the articles, the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes, and all Israel who were present, had offered. 26 I weighed into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, silver articles weighing one hundred talents, one hundred talents of gold, 27 twenty gold basins worth a thousand drachmas, and two vessels of fine polished bronze, precious as gold. 28 And I said to them, “You are (T)holy[g] to the Lord; the articles are (U)holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord God of your fathers. 29 Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leaders of the priests and the Levites and (V)heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord.” 30 So the priests and the Levites received the silver and the gold and the articles by weight, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

The Return to Jerusalem

31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And (W)the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road. 32 So we (X)came to Jerusalem, and stayed there three days.

33 Now on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the articles were (Y)weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; with them were the Levites, (Z)Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui, 34 with the number and weight of everything. All the weight was written down at that time.

35 The children of those who had been (AA)carried away captive, who had come from the captivity, (AB)offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord.

36 And they delivered the king’s (AC)orders to the king’s satraps and the governors in the region beyond [h]the River. So they gave support to the people and the [i]house of God.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 8:5 So with MT, Vg.; LXX the sons of Zatho, Shechaniah
  2. Ezra 8:10 So with MT, Vg.; LXX the sons of Banni, Shelomith
  3. Ezra 8:12 Or the youngest son,
  4. Ezra 8:14 Or Zakkur
  5. Ezra 8:17 Lit. I put words in their mouths to say
  6. Ezra 8:17 So with Vg.; MT to Iddo his brother; LXX to their brethren
  7. Ezra 8:28 consecrated
  8. Ezra 8:36 The Euphrates
  9. Ezra 8:36 Temple
Next
Ezra 7
Ezra 9
Next
dropdown
Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.LSBible.org.

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Learn the Bible in 30 days