Old/New Testament
Cyrus Helps the Prisoners Return
1 During the first year[a] that Cyrus was king of Persia, the Lord caused him to make an announcement. It was written down, and Cyrus ordered that it be read throughout his kingdom. This was done so that what the Lord had told Jeremiah[b] years before would now happen. This was the announcement:
2 From King Cyrus of Persia:
The Lord, the God of heaven, gave all the kingdoms on earth to me. And he chose me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in the country of Judah. 3 If any of God’s people are living among you, I pray God will bless them. You must let them go to Jerusalem in the country of Judah. You must let them go build the Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And so in any place where there might be survivors of Israel, the men in that place must support these survivors. Give them silver, gold, animals, and other things. Give them gifts for God’s Temple in Jerusalem.
5 So the family leaders from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin prepared to go up to Jerusalem. They were going to Jerusalem to build the Lord’s Temple. Also everyone who God had encouraged prepared to go to Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors gave them many gifts. They gave them silver, gold, animals, and other expensive things. Their neighbors freely gave them all those things. 7 Also, King Cyrus brought out the things that belonged in the Lord’s Temple that Nebuchadnezzar had taken away from Jerusalem. He had put them in his temple where he kept his false gods. 8 King Cyrus of Persia told Mithredath, the man who keeps his money, to bring those things out. So Mithredath brought them out to Sheshbazzar, the leader of Judah.
9 This is what Mithredath brought out of the Lord’s Temple: 30 gold dishes, 1000 silver dishes, 29 knives and pans, 10 30 gold bowls, 410 silver bowls similar to the gold bowls, and 1000 other dishes.
11 All together, there were 5400 things made from gold and silver. Sheshbazzar brought them all with him when the prisoners left Babylon and went back to Jerusalem.
The List of the Prisoners Who Returned
2 These are the people of the province who returned from captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had taken these people as prisoners to Babylon. They now returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to their own town. 2 These are the people who returned with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the list of names and numbers of men from Israel who returned:
3 the descendants of Parosh 2172
4 the descendants of Shephatiah 372
5 the descendants of Arah 775
6 the descendants of Pahath Moab of the family of Jeshua and Joab 2812
7 the descendants of Elam 1254
8 the descendants of Zattu 945
9 the descendants of Zaccai 760
10 the descendants of Bani 642
11 the descendants of Bebai 623
12 the descendants of Azgad 1222
13 the descendants of Adonikam 666
14 the descendants of Bigvai 2056
15 the descendants of Adin 454
16 the descendants of Ater through the family of Hezekiah 98
17 the descendants of Bezai 323
18 the descendants of Jorah 112
19 the descendants of Hashum 223
20 the descendants of Gibbar 95
21 from the town of Bethlehem 123
22 from the town of Netophah 56
23 from the town of Anathoth 128
24 from the town of Azmaveth 42
25 from the towns of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth 743
26 from the towns of Ramah and Geba 621
27 from the town of Micmash 122
28 from the towns of Bethel and Ai 223
29 from the town of Nebo 52
30 from the town of Magbish 156
31 from the other town named Elam 1254
32 from the town of Harim 320
33 from the towns of Lod, Hadid, and Ono 725
34 from the town of Jericho 345
35 from the town of Senaah 3630
36 These are the priests:
the descendants of Jedaiah through the family of Jeshua 973
37 the descendants of Immer 1052
38 the descendants of Pashhur 1247
39 the descendants of Harim 1017
40 These are the people from the tribe of Levi:
the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel through the family of Hodaviah 74
41 These are the singers:
the descendants of Asaph 128
42 These are the descendants of the Temple gatekeepers:
the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai 139
43 These are the descendants of the special Temple servants:
Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
44 Keros, Siaha, Padon,
45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,
46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,
47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,
48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,
49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai,
50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephussim,
51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
54 Neziah, and Hatipha.
55 These are the descendants of Solomon’s servants:
Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
56 Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,
57 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth Hazzebaim, and Ami,
58 the Temple servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants 392
59 Some people came to Jerusalem from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer. But these people could not prove that their families were from the family of Israel:
60 the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda 652
61 From the family of priests there were descendants of
Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai. (If a man married a daughter of Barzillai from Gilead, he was counted as a descendant of Barzillai.)
62 These people searched for their family histories, but they could not find them. Their names were not included in the list of priests. They could not prove that their ancestors were priests, so they could not serve as priests. 63 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the holy food until there was a priest who could use the Urim and Thummim to ask God what to do.
64-65 All together, there were 42,360 people in the group who came back. This is not counting their 7337 men and women slaves. They also had 200 men and women singers with them. 66-67 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels, and 6720 donkeys.
68 When the group arrived at the place in Jerusalem where the Lord’s Temple had been, the family leaders gave their gifts for building this house of God again. They wanted to build it in this same place. 69 They gave as much as they were able. These are the things they gave for building the Temple: 1100 pounds[c] of gold, about 4 tons[d] of silver, and 100 coats that priests wear.
70 So the priests, Levites, and some of the other people moved to Jerusalem and the area around it. This group included the Temple singers, gatekeepers, and the Temple servants. The other Israelites settled in their own hometowns.
23 After the soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts. Each soldier got one part. They also took his tunic. It was all one piece of cloth woven from top to bottom. 24 So the soldiers said to each other, “We should not tear this into parts. Let’s throw lots to see who will get it.” This happened to make clear the full meaning of what the Scriptures say:
“They divided my clothes among them,
and they threw lots for what I was wearing.” (A)
So the soldiers did this.
25 Jesus’ mother stood near his cross. Her sister was also standing there with Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 Jesus saw his mother. He also saw the follower he loved very much standing there. He said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 Then he said to the follower, “Here is your mother.” So after that, this follower took Jesus’ mother to live in his home.
Jesus Dies(B)
28 Later, Jesus knew that everything had been done. To make the Scriptures come true he said, “I am thirsty.”[a] 29 There was a jar full of sour wine there, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it. They put the sponge on a branch of a hyssop plant and lifted it to Jesus’ mouth. 30 When he tasted the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and died.
31 This day was Preparation day. The next day was a special Sabbath day. The Jewish leaders did not want the bodies to stay on the cross on the Sabbath day. So they asked Pilate to order that the legs of the men be broken. And they asked that the bodies be taken down from the crosses. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs[b] of the two men on the crosses beside Jesus. 33 But when the soldiers came close to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead. So they did not break his legs.
34 But one of the soldiers stuck his spear into Jesus’ side. Immediately blood and water came out. 35 (The one who saw this happen has told about it. He told about it so that you also can believe. The things he says are true. He knows that he tells the truth.) 36 These things happened to give full meaning to the Scriptures that said, “None of his bones will be broken”[c] 37 and “People will look at the one they stabbed.”[d]
Jesus Is Buried(C)
38 Later, a man named Joseph from Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. (Joseph was a follower of Jesus, but he did not tell anyone, because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders.) Pilate said Joseph could take Jesus’ body, so he came and took it away.
39 Nicodemus went with Joseph. He was the man who had come to Jesus before and talked to him at night. He brought about 100 pounds[e] of spices—a mixture of myrrh and aloes. 40 These two men took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in pieces of linen cloth with the spices. (This is how the Jews bury people.) 41 In the place where Jesus was killed on the cross, there was a garden. In the garden there was a new tomb. No one had ever been buried there before. 42 The men put Jesus in that tomb because it was near, and the Jews were preparing to start their Sabbath day.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International