³¹ Then we left the Ahava River for Jerusalem on the twelfth day^[a] of the first month. Our God’s protection^[b] was with us, and he delivered us from the enemy’s power^[c] and from ambush along the way.

Ezra’s Delegation Arrives in Jerusalem

³² We arrived in Jerusalem and remained there three days. ³³ On the fourth day the silver, the gold, and the vessels were distributed at the Temple of our God into the care^[d] of Uriah’s son Meremoth the priest, Phinehas’ son Eleazar, Jeshua’s son Jozabad, and Binnui’s son Noadiah, the descendants of Levi. ³⁴ Distribution was according to inventory^[e] and weight, with all weights being recorded at that time.

³⁵ The descendants of those who had been taken into captivity and who had returned from captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all of Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering—all of them burnt offerings to the Lord. ³⁶ Then they delivered copies of^[f] the king’s orders to the king’s officers, and governors on this side of the Euphrates^[g] River. The orders were in support of the people and God’s Temple.