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)

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Footnotes

  1. Ezra 8:35 Or purification offering

The Return to Jerusalem

31 Then we left the River Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem; the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes along the way.(A) 32 We came to Jerusalem and remained there three days.(B) 33 On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver, the gold, and the vessels were weighed into the hands of the priest Meremoth son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui.(C) 34 The total was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded.

35 At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats; all this was a burnt offering to the Lord.(D) 36 They also delivered the king’s commissions to the king’s satraps and to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and they supported the people and the house of God.(E)

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