Chronological

Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

7 After these things, during the rule of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra came up [^CEzra’s coming is not actually stated until v. 6] from Babylon [^Cif this refers to Artaxerxes I, then chapter seven takes place around 458 bc, about fifty-eight years after chapter six, but some date the events differently] as the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, ² the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, ³ the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, ⁴ the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, ⁵ the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the ·high [chief] priest. ⁶ This Ezra came ·to Jerusalem [^Lup] from Babylon. He was a ·teacher and knew well [scribe skilled/well versed in] the ·Teachings [Law; ^LTorah] of Moses that had been given by the Lord, the God of Israel. Ezra received everything he asked for from the king, because the [^Lhand of the] Lord his God was ·helping [on] him. ⁷ In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes more ·Israelites [sons/people of Israel] came to Jerusalem. Among them were priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants.

⁸ Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of Artaxerxes’ seventh year as king. ⁹ Ezra had left Babylon on the first day of the first month [^CApril 8], and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month [^CAugust 4], because [the good/gracious hand of] God was ·helping [on] him. ¹⁰ Ezra had ·worked hard [dedicated/devoted himself; ^Lset his heart] to ·know [study] and ·obey [practice; do; observe] the ·Teachings [Law; ^LTorah] of the Lord and to teach his rules and commands to the Israelites.

Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra

¹¹ King Artaxerxes had given a ·letter [document] to Ezra, a priest and ·teacher [scribe] ·who taught about [learned in] the commands and laws the Lord gave Israel. This is a copy of the ·letter [document]:

²⁷ ·Praise [Blessed be] the Lord, the God of our ·ancestors [fathers]. He ·caused the king [^Lput in the king’s heart] to want to ·honor [beautify; adorn; glorify] the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord in Jerusalem. ²⁸ The Lord has shown me [^CEzra], his ·love [loyalty] ·in the presence of [before] the king, ·those who advise the king [his counselors/advisers], and ·the royal officers [his mighty nobles/officials]. Because the Lord my God was helping me, I ·had courage [was strengthened], and I gathered the ·leaders [^Lheads of the fathers] of Israel to ·return [^Lgo up] with me.

Leaders Who Returned with Ezra

8 These are the ·leaders [heads] of the family groups and ·those who were listed with them [the genealogies of those] who ·came back [^Lwent up] with me from Babylon during the ·rule [reign] of King Artaxerxes [^Cruled 464–425 bc].

² From the ·descendants [family; sons; ^Cand so on throughout the list] of Phinehas [Num. 25:7, 11]: Gershom.

From the descendants of Ithamar: Daniel.

From the descendants of David: Hattush ³ of the descendants of Shecaniah.

From the descendants of Parosh: Zechariah, with one hundred fifty registered men.

⁴ From the descendants of Pahath-Moab: Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, with two hundred men.

⁵ From the descendants of Zattu: Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, with three hundred men.

⁶ From the descendants of Adin: Ebed son of Jonathan, with fifty men.

⁷ From the descendants of Elam: Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, with seventy men.

⁸ From the descendants of Shephatiah: Zebadiah son of Michael, with eighty men.

⁹ From the descendants of Joab: Obadiah son of Jehiel, with two hundred eighteen men.

¹⁰ From the descendants of Bani: Shelomith son of Josiphiah, with one hundred sixty men.

¹¹ From the descendants of Bebai: Zechariah son of Bebai, with twenty-eight men.

¹² From the descendants of Azgad: Johanan son of Hakkatan, with one hundred ten men.

¹³ From the descendants of Adonikam, these were the last ones: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, with sixty men.

¹⁴ From the descendants of Bigvai: Uthai and Zaccur, with seventy men.

The Return to Jerusalem

¹⁵ I ·called [assembled; gathered] all those people together [^Che lists 1,513 males, probably over 5,000 total with women and children] at the ·canal [river] that flows toward Ahava, where we camped for three days. I ·checked [reviewed; observed] all the people and the priests, but I did not find any Levites [^Cneeded for service at a rebuilt Temple]. ¹⁶ So I called these leaders: Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam. And I called Joiarib and Elnathan, who were ·teachers [wise; judicious; men of learning/discernment]. ¹⁷ I sent these men to Iddo, the leader [^Cof the Levites] at Casiphia, and told them what to say to Iddo and his ·relatives [or collegues; ^Lbrothers], who are the Temple servants in Casiphia. I sent them to bring ·servants [ministers; attendants] to us for the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of our God. ¹⁸ The ·good [gracious] hand of our God was ·helping [^Lon] us, so ·Iddo’s relatives [^Lthey] ·gave [brought; sent] us Sherebiah, a ·wise [skilled; capable; astute] man from the ·descendants [sons] of Mahli ·son [descendant] of Levi, who was the son of Israel. And they brought Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, for a total of eighteen men. ¹⁹ And they brought to us Hashabiah and Jeshaiah from the ·descendants [sons] of Merari, and his brothers and ·nephews [their sons]. In all there were twenty men. ²⁰ They also brought two hundred twenty of the Temple servants, a group David and ·the officers [his officials] had ·set up [established; instituted] to ·help [assist; serve] the Levites. All of those men were ·listed [designated] by name.

²¹ There by the Ahava ·Canal [River], I announced we would all fast and ·deny [humble] ourselves before our God. We would ask God for a safe ·trip [journey] for ourselves, our children, and all our possessions. ²² I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and ·horsemen [cavalry] to protect us from enemies on the ·road [way]. We had said to the king, “The hand of our God ·helps [^Lis on] everyone who ·obeys [seeks] him, but ·he is very angry with [his power and anger are against] all who reject him.” ²³ So we fasted and ·prayed to [petitioned; pleaded with; ^Tsought] our God about our trip, and he ·answered [heard; listened to] our prayers.

²⁴ Then I ·chose [appointed; set apart] twelve of the priests who were leaders, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their ·relatives [colleagues; ^Lbrothers]. ²⁵ I weighed the offering of silver and gold and the ·utensils [articles; vessels] given for the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of our God, and I gave them to the twelve priests I had chosen. The king, ·the people who advised him [his counselors], his ·officers [officials], and all the Israelites there with us had given these things. ²⁶ I weighed out ·and gave them [^Linto their hands] ·about fifty thousand pounds [^L650 talents] of silver, ·about seventy-five hundred pounds [^L100 talents] of silver objects, and ·about seventy-five hundred pounds [^L100 talents] of gold. ²⁷ I gave them twenty gold bowls ·that weighed [or worth] ·about nineteen pounds [^L1,000 darics] and two fine pieces of polished bronze that were as ·valuable [precious] as gold.

²⁸ Then I said to the priests, “You and these utensils ·belong [are set apart/holy] to the Lord. The silver and gold are ·gifts [a freewill/voluntary offering] to the Lord, the God of your ·ancestors [fathers]. ²⁹ ·Guard [Watch] these things carefully. In Jerusalem, weigh them in front of the ·leading [chief] priests, Levites, and the ·leaders [heads] of the family groups of Israel in the ·rooms [chambers; storerooms] of the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord.” ³⁰ So the priests and Levites accepted the silver, the gold, and the ·utensils [articles; vessels] that had been weighed to take them to the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of our God in Jerusalem.

³¹ On the twelfth day of the first month [^CApril 19] we left the Ahava ·Canal [River] ·and started toward [to travel/journey to] Jerusalem. The hand of our God ·helped us [was over us] and ·protected [saved; ^Tdelivered] us from enemies and ·robbers [ambushes] along the way. ³² Finally we arrived in Jerusalem where we ·rested [stayed] three days.

³³ On the fourth day we weighed out the silver, the gold, and the ·utensils [articles; vessels] in the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of our God. We handed them to the priest Meremoth son of Uriah. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him, as were the Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. ³⁴ We checked everything by number and by weight, and the total weight was ·written down [recorded].

³⁵ Then the ·captives [exiles] who returned from captivity made burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] to the God of Israel. They sacrificed twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six ·male sheep [rams], and seventy-seven lambs. For a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] there were twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] to the Lord. ³⁶ They ·took [delivered] King Artaxerxes’ ·orders [decrees] to the royal officers and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates [^Cprovinces west of the Euphrates River]. Then these men gave help to the people and the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of God.

Ezra’s Prayer

9 After these things had been ·done [completed], the ·leaders [officials] came to me and said, “Ezra, the Israelites, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the people ·around us [^Lof the land]. Those neighbors ·do [practice] ·evil [detestable; abominable] things, as the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites did. ² ·The Israelite men and their sons [^LThey] have ·married [^Ltaken] these women. They have ·mixed [intermingled] the ·people who belong to God [^Lholy race] with the people ·around them [^Lof the land]. The leaders and ·officers of Israel [officials] have led the rest of the Israelites to do this unfaithful thing.”

³ When I heard this, I angrily tore my ·robe [tunic; clothes] and ·coat [cloak; mantle], pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down ·in shock [devastated; appalled; in horror]. ⁴ Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the ·captives [exiles] who had returned. I sat there ·in shock [devastated; appalled; in horror] until the evening ·sacrifice [offering].

⁵ At the evening ·sacrifice [offering] I got up from ·where I had shown my shame [my humiliation/self-abasement]. My ·robe [tunic; clothes] and ·coat [cloak; mantle] were torn, and I fell on my knees with my hands ·spread [stretched] out to the Lord my God. ⁶ I prayed,

“My God, I am too ashamed and ·embarrassed [disgraced] to lift up my face to you, my God, because our ·sins [iniquities] are so many. They are higher than our heads. Our guilt even ·reaches up [extends] to the ·sky [heavens]. ⁷ From the days of our ·ancestors [fathers] until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our ·sins [iniquities], we, our kings, and our priests have been ·punished by [^Lgiven into the hands of the kings of the land, to] the sword and ·captivity [exile]. Foreign kings have ·taken away our things [plundered; pillaged] and ·shamed [humiliated] us, even as ·it [the case] is today.

⁸ “But now, for a short time, the Lord our God has been ·kind [gracious; merciful] to us. He has let ·some of us [a remnant] ·come back from [escape; or survive] ·captivity [exile] and has ·let us live in safety [^Lgiven us a peg; ^Ca tent peg symbolizing pitching a tent after travel] in his holy place. And so our God ·gives us hope [^Lcauses our eyes to shine; ^Cthat is, revives] and a little relief ·from [in] our ·slavery [bondage]. ⁹ Even though we ·are [were] slaves, our God in his ·unfailing love [loyalty] ·has not left [did not abandon/forsake] us. He caused the kings of Persia to ·be kind to [look kindly on] us and has ·given us new life [revived us]. We can rebuild the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of our God and ·repair [restore] its ruins. And he has given us a wall [^Cof protection] in Judah and Jerusalem.

¹⁰ “But now, our God, what can we say after you have done all this? We have ·disobeyed [abandoned; forsaken] your commands ¹¹ that you ·gave [commanded] through your servants the prophets. You said, ‘The land you are entering to ·own [possess] is ·ruined [defiled; polluted; unclean]; the people living there have ·spoiled it [defiled it; polluted it; made it unclean] by ·the evil they do [their detestable/abominable practices]. Their evil filled the land with ·uncleanness [corruption; filth; impurity] from one end to the other. ¹² So do not ·let your daughters marry [^Lgive your daughters to] their sons, and do not ·let their daughters marry [^Ltake their daughters for] your sons. Do not wish for their peace or ·success [prosperity; welfare]. Then you will be strong and eat the good things of the land. Then you can leave ·this land [^Lit as an inheritance] to your ·descendants [sons] forever.’

¹³ “What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt. But you, our God, have punished us less than ·we [our sin/iniquities] deserve; you have left a ·few of us alive [remnant such as this]. ¹⁴ ·We should not [^LShould we…?] again break your commands by ·allowing marriages [intermarrying] with these ·wicked [detestable; abominable] people. ·If we did, you would get angry [^LWould not your anger be…?] enough to destroy us, ·and none of us would be left alive [without remnant or survivor]. ¹⁵ Lord, God of Israel, by your ·goodness [righteousness] a ·few of us [remnant] are left alive today. We ·admit that we are guilty [stand/come before you in our guilt] ·and [although] ·none of us should be allowed to [no one can truly] stand before you.”

The People Confess Sin

10 As Ezra was praying and confessing and crying and throwing himself down in front of the ·Temple [^Lhouse], a large group of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him who were also crying loudly. ² Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel the Elamite said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying women from the peoples around us. But even so, there is still hope for Israel. ³ Now let us make an ·agreement [covenant; treaty] before our God. We will send away all these women and their children as you and those who ·respect [^Ltremble at] the commands of our God advise. Let it be done to obey God’s ·Teachings [Law; ^LTorah]. ⁴ Get up, Ezra. You are in charge, and we will support you. Have courage and do it.”

⁵ So Ezra got up and made the priests, Levites, and all the people of Israel promise to do what was suggested; and they promised. ⁶ Then Ezra left the ·Temple [^Lhouse] and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While Ezra was there, he did not eat or drink, because he was still sad about the unfaithfulness of the ·captives [exiles] who had returned.

⁷ They sent an order in Judah and Jerusalem for all the ·captives [exiles] who had returned to meet together in Jerusalem. ⁸ Whoever did not come to Jerusalem within three days would lose his property and would no longer be a member of the community of the returned ·captives [exiles]. That was the decision of the officers and elders.

⁹ So within three days all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem. It was the twentieth day of the ninth month. All the men were sitting in the open place in front of the ·Temple [^Lhouse] and were upset because of the meeting and because it was raining. ¹⁰ Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful and have married ·non-Jewish [^Lforeign] women. You have made Israel more guilty. ¹¹ Now, confess it to the Lord, the God of your ·ancestors [fathers]. Do his will and separate yourselves from the people living around you and from your ·non-Jewish [^Lforeign] wives.”

¹² Then the whole group answered Ezra with a loud voice, “Ezra, you’re right! We must do what you say. ¹³ But there are many people here, and it’s the rainy season. We can’t stand outside, and this problem can’t be solved in a day or two, because we have sinned badly. ¹⁴ Let our officers make a decision for the whole group. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a non-Jewish woman meet with the elders and judges of each town at a planned time, until the hot anger of our God turns away from us.” ¹⁵ Only Jonathan son of Asahel, Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, Meshullam, and Shabbethai the Levite were against the plan.

¹⁶ So the returned ·captives [exiles] did what was suggested. Ezra the priest chose men who were leaders of the family groups and named one from each family division. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to study each case. ¹⁷ By the first day of the first month, they had finished with all the men who had married non-Jewish women.

Those Guilty of Marrying Non-Jewish Women

¹⁸ These are the ·descendants [sons; ^Cand so throughout this section] of the priests who had married foreign women:

From the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak [3:2] and Jeshua’s brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. ¹⁹ (They all promised to ·divorce [send away; ^Lput out] their wives, and each one brought a male sheep from the flock as a ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering [Lev. 5:14—6:7].)

²⁰ From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.

²¹ From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.

²² From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

²³ Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

²⁴ Among the singers: Eliashib.

Among the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

²⁵ And among the other Israelites, these married ·non-Jewish [^Lforeign] women:

From the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.

²⁶ From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.

²⁷ From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.

²⁸ From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

²⁹ From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.

³⁰ From the descendants of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.

³¹ From the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, ³² Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.

³³ From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

³⁴ From the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, ³⁵ Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, ³⁶ Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, ³⁷ Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.

³⁸ From the descendants of Binnui: Shimei, ³⁹ Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, ⁴⁰ Macnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, ⁴¹ Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, ⁴² Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.

⁴³ From the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

⁴⁴ All these men had married ·non-Jewish [^Lforeign] women, and some of them had children by these wives.