Old/New Testament
King Darius Finds King Cyrus’ Memorandum
6 Then King Darius gave the order to search the library where the archives were stored in Babylon. 2 A scroll was found in the palace of Ecbatana, which is in the province of Media. This was written on it:
MEMORANDUM
3 Date: Cyrus’ first year as king
From: King Cyrus
Subject: Elah’s temple in Jerusalem.
The temple should be rebuilt as a place to offer sacrifices. Its foundation should be laid. It should be 90 feet high and 90 feet wide 4 with three rows of large stones and a row of wood. The king’s palace will pay for it. 5 In addition, Cyrus took out of a temple in Babylon the gold and silver utensils that belonged to Elah’s temple. (Nebuchadnezzar had taken them out of Elah’s temple in Jerusalem and brought them into a temple in Babylon.) They should be returned to their proper place in the temple in Jerusalem. You should put each one in Elah’s temple.
6 Governor Tattenai from the province west of the Euphrates, Shethar Bozenai, and those of your group (the Persians west of the river):
You must stay away from there. 7 Don’t interfere with the work on Elah’s temple. Let the governor of the Jews and the leaders of Judah rebuild Elah’s temple on its original foundation. 8 I am issuing this decree about how you must help the Jewish leaders rebuild Elah’s temple:
The cost for this should be paid out of the king’s own money from the taxes on the province west of the Euphrates. Full payment should be made to these men so that the work is not interrupted. 9 Also, whatever the priests in Jerusalem need for burnt offerings to the Elah of heaven—young bulls, rams, lambs, wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil—should be provided for them each day. Make sure that nothing is omitted. 10 Then they can offer sacrifices that please the Elah of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
11 I am also issuing a decree that if anyone tampers with my orders, that person should be impaled on a beam torn from his own house and his house should be turned into a pile of rubble.[a] 12 May the Elah whose name is worshiped there cause the downfall of each king and nation who tries to tamper with my orders or tries to destroy the temple of the Elah in Jerusalem.
I, Darius, have issued a decree. It’s to be carried out exactly as ordered.
13 Then Governor Tattenai from the province west of the Euphrates River, Shethar Bozenai, and their group did exactly what King Darius had ordered. 14 So the Jewish leaders continued to make progress because of the message from the prophet Haggai and Zechariah, the grandson of Iddo. They finished building as the Elah of Israel had ordered and as Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes (the kings of Persia) had ordered. 15 This temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar in the sixth year of King Darius’ reign.
The Temple Is Completed and Dedicated
16 Then the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the others who had returned from exile celebrated at the dedication of Elah’s temple. 17 At the dedication of Elah’s temple, they sacrificed 100 bulls, 200 rams, and 400 lambs. They sacrificed 12 male goats as an offering for sin, one goat for each of the tribes of Israel.
18 The priests were assigned to their divisions and the Levites to their groups to lead the worship of Elah in Jerusalem by following the directions written in the Book of Moses.
The Passover Is Celebrated
19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, those who had returned from exile celebrated the Passover. 20 Since the priests and Levites had cleansed themselves, all of them were now clean.[b] They killed the Passover lambs for all the people who had returned from exile, for the rest of the priests, and for themselves. 21 The lambs were eaten by the Israelites who had returned from exile and by all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of the non-Jews in the land to worship Yahweh Elohim of Israel. 22 So for seven days they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread because Yahweh had made them joyful. Yahweh had made the king of Assyria change his mind so that he supported the people in their work on the temple of Elohim, the Elohim of Israel.
Ezra’s Family Background
7 After these things, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra left Babylon.
Ezra was the son of Seraiah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah, 2 who was the son of Shallum, who was the son of Zadok, who was the son of Ahitub, 3 who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Meraioth, 4 who was the son of Zerahiah, who was the son of Uzzi, who was the son of Bukki, 5 who was the son of Abishua, who was the son of Phinehas, who was the son of Eleazer, who was the son of Aaron (the first priest).
6 As a scribe, Ezra was an expert in Moses’ Teachings, which Yahweh Elohim of Israel had given. The king gave Ezra everything he requested because Yahweh his Elohim was guiding him.
7 Some Israelites (including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants) went to Jerusalem in Artaxerxes’ seventh year as king. 8 In that same year in the fifth month, Ezra arrived in Jerusalem. 9 He had left Babylon on the first day of the first month, and on the first day of the fifth month, he arrived in Jerusalem, since his Elohim was good to him. 10 Ezra was determined to study Yahweh’s Teachings, live by them, and teach their rules and regulations in Israel.
King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra
11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest and scribe, a man with a thorough knowledge of Yahweh’s commands and laws for Israel:
12 From: Artaxerxes, king of kings
To: Ezra the priest, a scribe for the Teachings of the Elah of Heaven:
I wish you peace and prosperity!
13 I have issued a decree that any Israelites who are in my kingdom and want to go with you to Jerusalem may go. This also includes the priests and Levites. 14 I, the king, and my seven advisers are sending you to evaluate the situation in Judah and Jerusalem on the basis of your Elah’s Teachings, which you hold in your hands. 15 Also, you must take the silver and gold that the king and his advisers willingly contributed to the Elah of Israel, the Elah whose temple is in Jerusalem. 16 Take any silver and gold that you find in the whole province of Babylon when you take the gifts contributed by the people and the priests. They willingly contributed these gifts for the temple of their Elah in Jerusalem. 17 You must use this money to buy bulls, rams, lambs, grain, and wine to offer on the altar of the temple of your Elah in Jerusalem. 18 You and your relatives may do whatever you think is right with the rest of the silver and gold. However, what you do must conform to the will of your Elah. 19 The utensils that have been given to you so that they can be used in your Elah’s temple must all be presented to the Elah of Jerusalem. 20 You may use the king’s treasury to pay for anything else that you must provide for your Elah’s temple.
21 I, King Artaxerxes, order all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River to do exactly what Ezra the priest, a scribe for the Teachings of the Elah of Heaven, asks you to do. 22 You may give him up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 100 measures of wheat, 600 gallons of wine, 600 gallons of olive oil, and as much salt as he needs. 23 Whatever the Elah of heaven has commanded must be carried out in detail for the temple of the Elah of heaven. Why should Elah become angry with the king’s empire and his sons? 24 Furthermore, we are notifying you that you are forbidden to make any priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, servant, or worker in the temple of this Elah pay any taxes, fees, or tolls.
25 You, Ezra, using your Elah’s wisdom—the Teachings you hold in your hands—will appoint judges and administrators for all the people who know your Elah’s Teachings and live in the province west of the Euphrates River. In addition, you will teach anyone who doesn’t know the Teachings.
26 Whoever will not strictly follow your Elah’s Teachings and the king’s orders should be promptly exiled, have his goods confiscated, be imprisoned or be sentenced to die.
27 I, Ezra, said: Thanks be to Yahweh Elohim of our ancestors. He put this into the king’s mind to make Yahweh’s temple in Jerusalem beautiful. 28 He made the king, his advisers, and all the king’s powerful officials treat me kindly.
I was encouraged because Yahweh my Elohim was guiding me. So I gathered leaders in Israel to go with me.
The List of Those Returning from Babylon
8 These are the leaders of the families and the genealogy of those who left Babylon with me during the reign of King Artaxerxes:
2 from the family of Phinehas:
Gershom
from the family of Ithamar:
Daniel
3 from the family of David:
Hattush, son of Shecaniah
from the family of Parosh:
Zechariah, with 150 males whose genealogies were known
4 from the family of Pahath Moab:
Eliehoenai, son of Zerahiah, with 200 males
5 from the family of Zattu:[c]
Shecaniah, son of Jahaziel, with 300 males
6 from the family of Adin:
Ebed, son of Jonathan, with 50 males
7 from the family of Elam:
Jeshaiah, son of Athaliah, with 70 males
8 from the family of Shephatiah:
Zebadiah, son of Michael, with 80 males
9 from the family of Joab:
Obadiah, son of Jehiel, with 210 males
10 from the family of Bani:[d]
Shelomith, son of Josiphiah, with 160 males
11 from the family of Bebai:
Zechariah, son of Bebai, with 38 males
12 from the family of Azgad:
Johanan, son of Hakkatan, with 110 males
13 from the family of Adonikam:
Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, who arrived later with 60 males
14 from the family of Bigvai:
Uthai and Zabbud, with 70 males.
The People Prepare for Their Journey
15 I had this group gather by the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there for three days. I noticed laypeople and priests there, but I didn’t find any Levites. 16 Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam (who were leading men) and for Joiarib and Elnathan (who were wise). 17 I sent them to Iddo, the leader in Casiphia. I told them to tell Iddo and his relatives, the temple servants in Casiphia, that they should bring us men who can serve in our Elohim’s temple. 18 Elohim was guiding us, so Iddo and his relatives brought us someone competent, Sherebiah, who was a descendant of Mahli, Levi, and Israel. They brought us 18 of Sherebiah’s sons and relatives. 19 They also brought Hashabiah, Jeshaiah (who was a descendant of Merari), 20 of Jeshaiah’s relatives and their sons, 20 and 220 temple servants. They were descended from the temple servants whom David and his officials had appointed to work for the Levites. These were all listed by name.
21 Then I announced a fast there at the Ahava River so that we might humble ourselves in the presence of our Elohim to ask him for a safe journey for ourselves, for our little ones, and for all our goods. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for an armed escort with cavalry to help us against an enemy attack on the way. We had already told the king, “Our Elohim works things out for the good of everyone who dedicates his life to serving him, but his power and his anger oppose everyone who abandons him.” 23 So we fasted and asked our Elohim for a safe journey, and he answered our prayer.
24 Then I selected 12 leaders from the priests—Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and 10 of their relatives. 25 I weighed for them the silver, the gold, and the utensils. These were the contributions that the king, his advisers, his officials, and all the Israelites had contributed for our Elohim’s temple. 26 I weighed the contributions for them to guard: about 24 tons of silver, 100 silver utensils weighing 150 pounds apiece, 7,500 pounds of gold, 27 20 gold bowls weighing 18 pounds apiece, and two utensils of fine polished bronze that were as precious as gold. 28 I told them, “You and the utensils are holy to Yahweh. The silver and gold are freewill offerings to Yahweh Elohim of your ancestors. 29 Guard them carefully. In Jerusalem, inside the storerooms of Yahweh’s temple, weigh these items. Do this in front of the chief priests, Levites, and the leaders of Israel’s families.” 30 So the priests and the Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the utensils. They were responsible for bringing these items to the temple of our Elohim in Jerusalem.
The People Arrive in Jerusalem
31 Then we left the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. Elohim was guiding us, and he rescued us from our enemies and from ambushes along the way. 32 When we reached Jerusalem, we rested for three days. 33 On the fourth day we weighed the silver, the gold, and the utensils in our Elohim’s temple. We put them under the supervision of Meremoth, son of the priest Uriah, as well as Eleazar, the son of Phinehas. The Levites, Jeshua’s son Jozabad, and Binnui’s son Noadiah, assisted them. 34 Everything was counted and weighed, and the entire weight was recorded at that time.
35 The exiles who had come back from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the Elohim of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 male goats for an offering for sin. All of these animals were burnt offerings for Yahweh.
36 The exiles delivered the king’s orders to the king’s satraps and governors in the province west of the Euphrates River. These officials then gave their support to the people and the temple of Elohim.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples Again
21 Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Yeshua showed himself again to the disciples. This is what happened. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples of Yeshua were together. 3 Simon Peter said to the others, “I’m going fishing.”
They told him, “We’re going with you.”
They went out in a boat but didn’t catch a thing that night. 4 As the sun was rising, Yeshua stood on the shore. The disciples didn’t realize that it was Yeshua.
5 Yeshua asked them, “Friends, haven’t you caught any fish?”
They answered him, “No, we haven’t.”
6 He told them, “Throw the net out on the right side of the boat, and you’ll catch some.” So they threw the net out and were unable to pull it in because so many fish were in it.
7 The disciple whom Yeshua loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put back on the clothes that he had taken off and jumped into the sea. 8 The other disciples came with the boat and dragged the net full of fish. They weren’t far from the shore, only about 100 yards.
9 When they went ashore, they saw a fire with a fish lying on the coals, and they saw a loaf of bread.
10 Yeshua told them, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” 11 Simon Peter got into the boat and pulled the net ashore. Though the net was filled with 153 large fish, it was not torn.
12 Yeshua told them, “Come, have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared to ask him who he was. They knew he was the Lord. 13 Yeshua took the bread, gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
14 This was the third time that Yeshua showed himself to the disciples after he had come back to life.
Jesus Speaks with Peter
15 After they had eaten breakfast, Yeshua asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the other disciples do?”
Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Yeshua told him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Yeshua asked him again, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Yeshua told him, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 Yeshua asked him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter felt sad because Yeshua had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” So Peter said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Yeshua told him, “Feed my sheep. 18 I can guarantee this truth: When you were young, you would get ready to go where you wanted. But when you’re old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will get you ready to take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Yeshua said this to show by what kind of death Peter would bring glory to God. After saying this, Yeshua told Peter, “Follow me!”
20 Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Yeshua loved. That disciple was following them. He was the one who leaned against Yeshua’s chest at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he asked Yeshua, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Yeshua said to Peter, “If I want him to live until I come again, how does that concern you? Follow me!” 23 So a rumor that that disciple wouldn’t die spread among Yeshua’s followers. But Yeshua didn’t say that he wouldn’t die. What Yeshua said was, “If I want him to live until I come again, how does that concern you?”
24 This disciple was an eyewitness of these things and wrote them down. We know that what he says is true.
25 Yeshua also did many other things. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the world wouldn’t have enough room for the books that would be written.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.