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“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.
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in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah): The list of the men of the people of Israel:
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the men of Bethlehem 123
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Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim,
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Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
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The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:
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Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king,
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Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.
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A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana in the province of Media, and this was written on it: Memorandum:
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Ezra Comes to Jerusalem
After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
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the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
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and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.
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List of the Family Heads Returning With Ezra
These are the family heads and those registered with them who came up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:
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of the descendants of Shekaniah; of the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 men;
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of the descendants of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men;
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of the descendants of Zattu, Shekaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men;
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of the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men;
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of the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;
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of the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men;
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of the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men;
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of the descendants of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men;
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of the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;
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of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;
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of the descendants of Adonikam, the last ones, whose names were Eliphelet, Jeuel and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;
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of the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai and Zakkur, and with them 70 men.
