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

³³ On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out^(D) the silver and gold and the sacred articles into the hands of Meremoth^(E) son of Uriah, the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him, and so were the Levites Jozabad^(F) son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui.^{(G) 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^(H) for all Israel,^(I) ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering,^[a] twelve male goats.^(J) All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. ³⁶ They also delivered the king’s orders^(K) to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates,^(L) who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.^(M)