Old/New Testament
6 Then Daryavesh (Darius) the Melech made a decree, and search was made in the bais of the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon.
2 And there was found at Achmeta, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a megillah, and therein was a record thus written;
3 In the first year of Koresh the Melech, Koresh the Melech made a decree concerning the Beis Elohim at Yerushalayim, Let the Beis [Hamikdash] be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
4 With three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber; and let the expenses be given out of the Melech’s treasury;
5 And also let the vessels of zahav and kesef of the Beis Elohim, which Nevuchadnetzar took forth out of the Heikhal which is at Yerushalayim, and brought unto Babylon, be returned, and brought again unto the Heikhal which is at Yerushalayim, every one to its place, and deposit them in the Beis Elohim.
6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], Shetar-Boznai, and your companions the envoys, which were in the province Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], you stay far from there!
7 Let the work of this Beis Elohim alone; let the governor of the Yehudim and the leaders of the Yehudim build this Beis Elohim in its place.
8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the leaders of these Yehudim for the building of this Beis Elohim; that of the royal treasuries, even of the revenue of the province Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.
9 And that which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the Elohei Shomayim, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the request of the kohanim which are at Yerushalayim, let it be given them day by day without fail;
10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the Elohei Shomayim, and pray for the chayyei Melech, and of his banim.
11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his bais, and being set up, let him be impaled hanging dead thereon; and let his bais be made a dunghill for this.
12 And the Elohim that hath caused Shmo to dwell there destroy all Melech or Am that shall lift up their hand to alter and to destroy this Beis Elohim which is at Yerushalayim. I Daryavesh have issued a decree; let it be done with speed.
13 Then Tatnai, governor of Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], Shetar-Boznai, and their companions, according to that which Daryavesh the Melech had sent, so they did speedily.
14 And the leaders of the Yehudim built, and they prospered through the prophesying and preaching of Chaggai HaNavi and Zecharyah ben Iddo. And they built, and finished it, according to the commandment of the Elohei Yisroel, and according to the commandment of Koresh (Cyrus), and Daryavesh (Darius), and Artachshasta (Artaxerxes) Melech Paras (Persia).
15 And this Beis [Hamikdash] was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Daryavesh the Melech [i.e., March 12, 515 B.C.E.].
16 And the Bnei Yisroel, the Kohanim, and the Levi’im, and the rest of the Banim of the Golus, kept the dedication of this Beis Elohim with joy.
17 And offered at the dedication of this Beis Elohim one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for kol Yisroel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Yisroel.
18 And they installed the kohanim in their divisions, and the Levi’im in their courses, for the Avodas Elohim, which is at Yerushalayim, as it is written in the Sefer Moshe.
19 And the Banim of the Golus kept the Pesach upon the 14th day of the first month.
20 For the Kohanim and the Levi’im made themselves tahor, all of them were tehorim, and slaughtered the Pesach for all the Banim of the Golus, and for their brethren the Kohanim, and for themselves.
21 And the Bnei Yisroel, which were come again out of Golus, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the tum’a of the Goyim of ha’aretz, to seek Hashem Elohei Yisroel, did eat,
22 And kept the Chag Matzot seven days with simchah; for Hashem had made them joyful, and turned the lev Melech Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the Beis Elohim, Elohei Yisroel.
7 Now after these things, in the reign of Artachshasta Melech Paras (Persia), Ezra ben Serayah ben Azaryah ben Hilkiyah,
2 Ben Shallum, ben Tzadok, ben Achituv,
3 Ben Amaryah, ben Azaryah, ben Merayot,
4 Ben Zerachyah, ben Uzzi, ben Bukki,
5 Ben Avishua, ben Pinchas, ben Eleazar, ben Aharon HaKohen HaRosh;
6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a sofer mahir expert in the Torat Moshe, which Hashem Elohei Yisroel had given, and HaMelech granted him all his request, for the yad Hashem Elohav was upon him.
7 And there went up some of the Bnei Yisroel, and of the Kohanim, and the Levi’im, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Netinim, unto Yerushalayim, in the seventh year of Artachshasta [Artaxerxes] HaMelech [i.e., 458 B.C.E.].
8 And he came to Yerushalayim in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the Melech.
9 For upon the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Yerushalayim, for the good yad Elohav was upon him.
10 For Ezra had prepared his lev to study the Torat Hashem, and to do it, and to teach in Yisroel chok and mishpat.
11 Now this is the copy of the letter that HaMelech Artachshasta gave unto Ezra HaKohen, HaSofer, even a Sofer of the divrei mitzvot Hashem, and of his chukkot for Yisroel:
12 Artachshasta, Melech Melachim, unto Ezra Kohen, Sofer of the law of Elohei Shomayim, Greetings! And now
13 I issued a decree, that all they of the Am Yisroel, and of Kohanim and Levi’im, in my kingdom, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Yerushalayim, go with thee.
14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the Melech, and of his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Yehudah and Yerushalayim, according to the law of thy G-d which is in thine hand;
15 And to carry the kesef and zahav, which the Melech and his counselors have freely offered unto the Elohei Yisroel, Whose habitation is in Yerushalayim,
16 And all the kesef and zahav that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the Kohanim, offering willingly for the Beis Eloheihem which is in Yerushalayim;
17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this kesef bulls, rams, lambs, with their minchot and their nesakhim, and offer them upon the Mizbe’ach of the Beis Eloheichem which is in Yerushalayim.
18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the kesef and the zahav, that do according to the will of Eloheichem.
19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the Beis of thy G-d, those deliver thou before the Elohei Yerushalayim.
20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the Beis of thy G-d, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the bais of treasuries of the Melech.
21 And I, even I Artachshasta the Melech, do issue a decree to all the treasurers which are in Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], that whatsoever Ezra HaKohen, the Sofer of the law of the Elohei Shomayim, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
22 Unto one hundred talents of kesef, and to one hundred cors of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and unlimited melach (salt).
23 Whatsoever is commanded by Elohei Shomayim, let it be diligently done for the Beis of Elohei Shomayim; for why should there be ketzaf (wrath) against the malchut of the Melech and his banim?
24 Also we make known to you, that touching any of the Kohanim and Levi’im, singers, gatekeepers, Netinim, or ministers of this Beis Elohim, it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or duty, upon them.
25 And thou, Ezra, after the chochmah of thy G-d, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are in Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], all such as know the laws of thy G-d; and teach ye them that know them not.
26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy G-d, and the law of the Melech, let punishment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27 Baruch Hashem Elohei Avoteinu, Who hath put such a thing as this in the lev HaMelech, to honor the Beis Hashem which is in Yerushalayim;
28 And hath extended chesed unto me before HaMelech, and his counselors, and before all the mighty officials of the Melech. And I was strengthened because the Yad Hashem Elohai was upon me, and I gathered together out of Yisroel chief men to go up with me.
8 These are now the Rashei Avoteihem, and this is the register of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artachshasta the Melech:
2 Of the Bnei Pinchas, Gershom; of the Bnei Itamar, Daniel; of the Bnei Dovid, Chattush;
3 Of the Bnei Shechanyah, of the Bnei Parosh, Zecharyah; and with him were reckoned by register of the zakhar 150.
4 Of the Bnei Pachat-Moav, Elyehoeinai ben Zerachyah, and with him 200 zakhar.
5 Of the Bnei Shechanyah, ben Yachziel, and with him 300 zakhar.
6 Of the banim also of Adin, Eved ben Yonatan, and with him 50 zakhar.
7 And of the Bnei Elam, Yeshayah ben Atalyah, and with him 70 zakhar.
8 And of the Bnei Shephatyah, Zevadyah ben Michael, and with him 80 zakhar.
9 Of the Bnei Yoav, Ovadyah ben Yechiel, and with him 218 zakhar.
10 And of the Bnei Shlomit, ben Yosiphyah, and with him 160 zakhar.
11 And of the Bnei Bevai, Zecharyah ben Bevai, and with him 28 zakhar.
12 And of the Bnei Azgad, Yochanan ben Hakkatan, and with him 110 zakhar.
13 And of the younger Bnei Adonikam, whose shmot are these, Eliphelet, Ye’i’el, and Shemayah, and with them 60 zakhar.
14 Of the banim also of Bigvai, Utai, and Zakkur, and with them 70 zakhar.
15 And I gathered them together by the river that runneth to Ahava, and there abode we in tents three days; and I reviewed the people, and the Kohanim, and found there none of the Bnei Levi.
16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemayah, and for Elnatan, and for Yariv, and for Elnatan, and for Natan, and for Zecharyah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Yoyariv, and for Elnatan, men of discernment.
17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place called Casiphya, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Netinim, at the place Casiphya, that they should bring unto us ministers for the Beis Eloheinu.
18 And by the good Yad of Eloheinu upon us they brought us an Ish Seichel, of the Bnei Machli, ben Levi, ben Yisroel; and Sherevyah, with his banim and his brethren, eighteen;
19 And Chashavyah, and with him Yeshayah of the Bnei Merari, his brethren and their banim, twenty;
20 Also of the Netinim, whom Dovid and the sarim (princes) had appointed for the Avodas HaLevi’im, two hundred and twenty Netinim; all of them were registered by shemot.
21 Then I proclaimed a tzom there, at the Ahava River, that we might afflict ourselves before Eloheinu, to seek of Him a derech yesharah for us, and for our little ones, and for all our possessions.
22 For I was ashamed to require of the Melech a band of soldiers and parashim to protect us against the enemy on the road; because we had spoken unto the Melech, saying, The Yad Eloheinu is upon all them for tovah that seek Him, but His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him.
23 So we did a tzom and besought Eloheinu for this, and He was entreated of us.
24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the Kohanim, Sherevyah, Chashavyah, and ten of their brethren with them,
25 And weighed out unto them the kesef, and the zahav, and the vessels, even the terumat Beis Eloheinu, which the Melech, and his counselors, and his officials, and kol Yisroel there present, had given as an offering.
26 I even weighed out unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of kesef, and vessels of kesef one hundred talents, and of zahav one hundred talents;
27 Also twenty bowls of zahav, of a thousand darics; and two vessels of nechoshet, precious as zahav.
28 And I said unto them, Ye are kodesh unto Hashem; the vessels are kodesh also; and the kesef and the zahav are a nedavah unto Hashem Elohei Avoteichem.
29 Watch ye, and guard them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the Kohanim and the Levi’im, and chief of the avot of Yisroel, at Yerushalayim, in the chambers of the Beis Hashem.
30 So took the kohanim and the Levi’im the weight of the kesef, and the zahav, and the vessels, to bring them to Yerushalayim unto the Beis Eloheinu.
31 Then we departed from the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Yerushalayim; and the Yad Eloheinu was upon us, and delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and the bandit laying in wait along the Derech (road).
32 And we came to Yerushalayim, and abode there three days.
33 Now on the fourth day was the kesef and the zahav and the vessels weighed in the Beis Eloheinu by the yad of Meremot ben Uriyah HaKohen; and with him was Eleazar ben Pinchas; and with them was Yozavad ben Yeshua, and Noadyah ben Binnui, the Levi’im;
34 By mispar (number) and by weight of every one; and all the weight was written at that time.
35 Also the children of those that had been carried away, the Bnei HaGolus, offered olot unto Elohei Yisroel, twelve bulls for kol Yisroel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin offering; all this was an olah unto Hashem.
36 And they delivered the orders of the Melech unto the Satraps of the Melech, and to the governors of Beyond-the-River [Euphrates] and they gave support to HaAm, and the Beis HaElohim.
21 After these things Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach manifested himself again to His talmidim at Lake Tiberias. Now Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was manifested thus.
2 Together there were Shimon Kefa and T’oma (his name means Twin) and Natan’el, the one from Kanah in the Galil and the Bnei Zavdai and two others of the talmidim of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.
3 Shimon Kefa says to them, I am going to fish. They say to Shimon Kefa, We are coming also with you. They went forth and embarked into the sirah. And during that lailah they caught not one thing.
4 Now when the beginning of Shacharis had already come, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach stood on the shore. The talmidim had not, however, realized it was he.
5 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says, therefore, to them, Yeladim, surely not any dagim (fish) you have? In reply, they said to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Lo.
6 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, Throw the reshet (net) to the right side of the sirah (boat), and you will find dagim. Therefore, they threw it. And now they were not strong enough to draw in the reshet (net), because of the multitude of dagim.
7 Therefore, the talmid ha’ahuv says to Shimon Kefa, It is Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu! Therefore, Shimon Kefa, having heard this, strapped his gartel around his kaftan, for he was unclothed, and threw himself into the sea.
8 But the other talmidim in the sirah, for they were not far from the land but about two hundred cubits out, came dragging the reshet of the dagim.
9 Therefore, when the talmidim disembarked onto the shore, they see a hadlakah (bonfire) there and dagim lying on it and lechem.
10 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to them, Bring some from the dagim which you caught now.
11 Therefore, Shimon Kefa went up and dragged the reshet (net) onto the shore, full of large dagim, me’ah vchamishim ushloshah (one hundred and fifty three), and, though being so many, did not split the reshet (net).
12 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to them, Come, eat! Now not one of the talmidim was daring to ask him, Who are you?‖having had da’as that it is Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu.
13 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach comes and takes the lechem and gives to them, likewise the dagim.
14 This was now the shlishit (third) time Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, having been made to stand up alive from the mesim, was manifested to the talmidim.
15 Then when they ate, he says to Shimon Kefa, Shimon Bar-Yochanan, do you have ahavah for me more than these? Shimon Kefa says to him, Ken, Adoni, You have da’as that I have ahavah for You. He says to him, Feed My lambs.
16 He again a second time says to him, Shimon Bar-Yochanan, do you have ahavah for me? Shimon Kefa says to him, Ken, Adoni, You have da’as that I have ahavah for You. He says to him, Take care [as a ro’eh (shepherd) would] of My sheep. [2Sm 5:2; Ezek 34:2 Ps 78:71]
17 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him the shlishit time, Shimon Ben Yochanan, do you have ahavah for me? Kefa was grieved because Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to him the shlishit time, Do you have ahavah for me? And he says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Adoni, You have da’as of all things. You have da’as that I have ahavah for You. Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, Feed My kevasim.
18 Omein, omein, I say to you, that when you were young, you were girding yourself and were walking where you wanted, but when you grow old you will extend your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.
19 And this He said signifying by what mavet Shimon Kefa will glorify Hashem. After this, He said to him, Follow Me.
20 Having turned, Kefa sees the talmid ha’ahuv following them, who also was reclining at tish during the seudah upon the kheyk of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, and this talmid was the one who had said Adoni, who is the one betraying you?
21 Then Kefa, having seen this one, says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Adoni, and what about this man?
22 He says to him, If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.
23 Therefore, a rumor went out saying to the achim B’Moshiach that that talmid would not die. But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach did not tell him that he would not die, but rather, If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?
24 This is the talmid, the one giving solemn edut (testimony) about these things, and the one having written these things and we have da’as that his edut is Emes.
25 And there are many other things which Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach did, which if they are written one by one, not the Olam Hazeh itself I suppose would have room enough for the sfarim being written.
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