Chapter 7

¹ Now that the wall had been rebuilt, I had the doors set up, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites were put in charge of them. ² Over Jerusalem I placed Hanani, my brother, and Hananiah, the commander of the citadel, who was more trustworthy and God-fearing than most. ³ I said to them: “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot, and while the sun is still shining they shall shut and bar the doors. Appoint as sentinels the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their watch posts, and others in front of their own houses.”

Census of the Province. ⁴ Now, the city was quite wide and spacious, but its population was small, and none of the houses had been rebuilt. ⁵ When my God had inspired me to gather together the nobles, the magistrates, and the people, and to examine their family records, I came upon the family list of those who had returned in the earliest period. There I found the following written:

^6 [a](A)These are the inhabitants of the province who returned from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had carried away, and who came back to Jerusalem and Judah, to their own cities: ⁷ They returned with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.

The census of the people of Israel: ⁸ descendants of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two; ⁹ descendants of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two; ¹⁰ descendants of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two; ¹¹ descendants of Pahath-moab who were descendants of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen; ¹² descendants of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; ¹³ descendants of Zattu, eight hundred and forty-five; ¹⁴ descendants of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty; ¹⁵ descendants of Binnui, six hundred and forty-eight; ¹⁶ descendants of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-eight; ¹⁷ descendants of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two; ¹⁸ descendants of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-seven; ¹⁹ descendants of Bigvai, two thousand and sixty-seven; ²⁰ descendants of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five; ²¹ descendants of Ater who were descendants of Hezekiah, ninety-eight; ²² descendants of Hashum, three hundred and twenty-eight; ²³ descendants of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-four; ²⁴ descendants of Hariph, one hundred and twelve; ²⁵ descendants of Gibeon, ninety-five; ²⁶ people of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred and eighty-eight; ²⁷ people of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight; ²⁸ people of Beth-azmaveth, forty-two; ²⁹ people of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three; ³⁰ people of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one; ³¹ people of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two; ³² people of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three; ³³ people of Nebo, fifty-two; ³⁴ descendants of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; ³⁵ descendants of Harim, three hundred and twenty; ³⁶ descendants of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five; ³⁷ descendants of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one; ³⁸ descendants of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.

³⁹ The priests: descendants of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three; ⁴⁰ descendants of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two; ⁴¹ descendants of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven; ⁴² descendants of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.

⁴³ The Levites: descendants of Jeshua, Kadmiel of the descendants of Hodeviah, seventy-four.

⁴⁴ The singers: descendants of Asaph, one hundred and forty-eight.

⁴⁵ The gatekeepers: descendants of Shallum, descendants of Ater, descendants of Talmon, descendants of Akkub, descendants of Hatita, descendants of Shobai, one hundred and thirty-eight.

⁴⁶ The temple servants: descendants of Ziha, descendants of Hasupha, descendants of Tabbaoth, ⁴⁷ descendants of Keros, descendants of Sia, descendants of Padon, ⁴⁸ descendants of Lebana, descendants of Hagaba, descendants of Shalmai, ⁴⁹ descendants of Hanan, descendants of Giddel, descendants of Gahar, ⁵⁰ descendants of Reaiah, descendants of Rezin, descendants of Nekoda, ⁵¹ descendants of Gazzam, descendants of Uzza, descendants of Paseah, ⁵² descendants of Besai, descendants of the Meunites, descendants of the Nephusites, ⁵³ descendants of Bakbuk, descendants of Hakupha, descendants of Harhur, ⁵⁴ descendants of Bazlith, descendants of Mehida, descendants of Harsha, ⁵⁵ descendants of Barkos, descendants of Sisera, descendants of Temah, ⁵⁶ descendants of Neziah, descendants of Hatipha.

⁵⁷ Descendants of Solomon’s servants: descendants of Sotai, descendants of Sophereth, descendants of Perida, ⁵⁸ descendants of Jaala, descendants of Darkon, descendants of Giddel, ⁵⁹ descendants of Shephatiah, descendants of Hattil, descendants of Pochereth-hazzebaim, descendants of Amon. ⁶⁰ The total of the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants was three hundred and ninety-two.

⁶¹ The following who returned from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer were unable to prove that their ancestral houses and their descent were Israelite: ⁶² descendants of Delaiah, descendants of Tobiah, descendants of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two. ⁶³ Also, of the priests: descendants of Hobaiah, descendants of Hakkoz, descendants of Barzillai (he had married one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was named after him). ⁶⁴ These men searched their family records, but their names could not be found written there; hence they were disqualified from the priesthood, ⁶⁵ and the governor^[b] ordered them not to partake of the most holy foods until there should be a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.

⁶⁶ The entire assembly taken together came to forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, ⁶⁷ not counting their male and female servants, who were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. They also had two hundred male and female singers. Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five, ⁶⁸ their camels four hundred and thirty-five, their donkeys six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

⁶⁹ Certain of the heads of ancestral houses contributed to the temple service. The governor put into the treasury one thousand drachmas of gold, fifty basins, thirty vestments for priests, and five hundred minas of silver. ⁷⁰ Some of the heads of ancestral houses contributed to the treasury for the temple service: twenty thousand drachmas of gold and two thousand two hundred minas of silver. ⁷¹ The contributions of the rest of the people amounted to twenty thousand drachmas of gold, two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven vestments for priests.

⁷² The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all Israel took up residence in their cities.

II. Promulgation of the Law

Chapter 8

Ezra Reads the Law. ^1 [c](B)Now when the seventh month came, the whole people gathered as one in the square in front of the Water Gate, and they called upon Ezra the scribe to bring forth the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had commanded for Israel. ^2 (C)On the first day of the seventh month, therefore, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, which consisted of men, women, and those children old enough to understand. ³ In the square in front of the Water Gate, Ezra read out of the book from daybreak till midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand; and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law. ⁴ Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the occasion; at his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and on his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, Meshullam. ⁵ Ezra opened the scroll so that all the people might see it, for he was standing higher than any of the people. When he opened it, all the people stood. ⁶ Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, “Amen, amen!” Then they knelt down and bowed before the Lord, their faces to the ground. ^7 (D)The Levites Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah explained the law to the people, who remained in their places. ^8 (E)Ezra read clearly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so that all could understand what was read. ⁹ Then Nehemiah, that is, the governor, and Ezra the priest-scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all the people: “Today is holy to the Lord your God. Do not lament, do not weep!”—for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. ^10 (F)He continued: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our Lord. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord is your strength!” ¹¹ And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Silence! Today is holy, do not be saddened.” ¹² Then all the people began to eat and drink, to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy, for they understood the words that had been explained to them.

The Feast of Booths. ¹³ On the second day, the heads of ancestral houses of the whole people, and also the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to study the words of the law. ^14 (G)They found it written in the law commanded by the Lord through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month; ^15 (H)and that they should have this proclamation made throughout their cities and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring in branches of olive, oleaster, myrtle, palm, and other trees in leaf, to make booths, as it is written.” ¹⁶ The people went out and brought in branches with which they made booths for themselves, on the roof of their houses, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God, and in the squares of the Water Gate and the Gate of Ephraim. ^17 (I)So the entire assembly of the returned exiles made booths and dwelt in them. Now the Israelites had done nothing of this sort from the days of Jeshua, son of Nun, until this occasion; therefore there was very great joy. ¹⁸ Ezra read from the book of the law of God day after day, from the first day to the last. They kept the feast for seven days, and the solemn assembly on the eighth day, as was required.

Chapter 27

IV. The Ideal Christian Life in the World

Chapter 3

Mystical Death and Resurrection.^{[a] 1} If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.^{(A) 2} Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.^{(B) 4} When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

Renunciation of Vice.^{[b] 5} Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly:^(C) immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.^{[c] 6} Because of these the wrath of God^[d] is coming [upon the disobedient].^{(D) 7} By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way. ⁸ But now you must put them all away:^[e] anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths.^{(E) 9} Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices^{(F) 10 [f]}and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.^{(G) 11} Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian,^[g] slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.^(H)

¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,^{(I) 13} bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.^{(J) 14} And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.^{(K) 15} And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful.^{(L) 16} Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.^{(M) 17} And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.^(N)

The Christian Family. ^18 [h]Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.^{(O) 19} Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.^{(P) 21} Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.^(Q)

Slaves and Masters. ²² Slaves,^[i] obey your human masters in everything, not only when being watched, as currying favor, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord.^{(R) 23} Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, ²⁴ knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ. ²⁵ For the wrongdoer will receive recompense for the wrong he committed, and there is no partiality.^(S)