2001 Translation

1

Events Leading Up to the Babylonian Captivity

¹JosiAh celebrated the Passover in JeruSalem for his Lord. They sacrificed the Passover on the 14^th day of the first month, ²after he had organized the priests by their divisions, dressed in the Lord’s temple.

³He also told the Levites, who served in the temple for Israel, to dedicate themselves to the Lord in the place where the holy Chest of the Lord was, in the house that King Solomon, David’s son, had built.

He also told the Levites:

⁴‘You’re not to carry it on your shoulders.

‘Now, serve your [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” God and serve his nation Israel!

‘Prepare yourselves according to your ancestral houses and tribes, following the arrangements made by David, Israel’s king, and his son Solomon. ⁵Stand in the sanctuary according to your family divisions as Levites, before your brothers, Israel’s sons.

⁶‘In proper order, sacrifice the Passover lamb and prepare the sacrifices for your brothers. Perform the Passover according to the Lord’s command given to Moses.’

⁷Well, JosiAh donated 30,000 lambs and young goats, and 3,000 calves to the people who were present. These came from the king’s own possessions, as he had announced, and were given to the people, priests, and Levites.

⁸Helkiah, Zachariah, and Jehiel, who oversaw the temple, gave the priests 2,600 sheep and 300 calves for the Passover. ⁹Jeconiah, Shemaiah, Nathanael his brother, Hashabiah, Jehiel, and Joram, who were commanders of a thousand, gave the Levites 1,000 sheep and 700 calves for the Passover.

¹⁰So, with these preparations complete, the priests and Levites took their proper places, holding the unleavened bread. They stood before the people, arranged by their tribes and ancestral divisions, to offer to the Lord according to what was written in Moses’ book.

This was done in the morning.

The Passover Begins

¹¹They roasted the Passover offerings over fire as was customary. They also boiled the sacrifices in bronze vessels and cauldrons, creating a pleasing aroma. Then they distributed them to all the people.

¹²Afterward, they prepared for themselves and for their brothers, the priests, Aaron’s sons. ¹³The priests were busy offering up the fat portions until late in the evening. So, the Levites prepared for themselves and for their brothers, the priests, Aaron’s sons.

¹⁴The singers, Asaph’s sons, were in their appointed places, following David’s arrangements. Asaph, Zachariah, and Jeduthun were the ones the king had appointed.

¹⁵The doorkeepers were at every gate. No one needed to leave their assigned duty, because their brothers, the Levites, had made preparations for them.

¹⁶So, the service of the Lord’s sacrifice was completed that day. The Passover offerings were brought, and the sacrifices were offered on the Lord’s altar, according to King JosiAh’s command. ¹⁷The Israelites who were present at that time celebrated the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. ¹⁸No such Passover had been celebrated in Israel since the time of Samuel the prophet.

¹⁹Yes, none of Israel’s kings had celebrated a Passover like the one JosiAh celebrated, along with the priests, the Levites, the Judeans, and all Israel who were present in JeruSalem! ²⁰This Passover was celebrated in the 18^th year of JosiAh’s reign.

²¹JosiAh’s deeds were upright before his Lord, performed with a heart full of devotion… ²²However, what concerned him has been recorded from earlier times: it was about those who had sinned and acted impiously against the Lord, more impiously than any other nation or kingdom, and this grieved him… And the Lord’s words concerning Israel came true.

JosiAh Battles Pharaoh at Carchemish

²³After all these deeds of JosiAh, Pharaoh, Egypt’s king, came to wage war at Carchemish by the Euphrates. JosiAh went out to meet him.

²⁴Egypt’s king sent messengers to him, saying:

²⁴‘What concern is this of yours, O Judah’s king?

²⁵‘I haven’t been sent against you by [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” God, because my war is by the Euphrates. And now [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” is with me, helping me to hurry. Withdraw, and don’t oppose the Lord.’

²⁶But JosiAh didn’t turn his chariot around… Instead, he tried to wage war against [Pharaoh], not paying attention to Jeremiah the prophet’s words, which came from [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”. ²⁷Instead, he engaged him in battle in the plain of Megiddo. And the rulers came down to King JosiAh.

²⁸The king said to his servants:

²⁸‘Take me away from the battle, for I’m severely wounded.’

His servants immediately removed him from the battle line, ²⁹and he got into his second chariot.

When he was brought back to JeruSalem, he died and was buried in his ancestral tomb.

³⁰All Judah mourned JosiAh. Jeremiah the prophet lamented for JosiAh, and the leaders, along with women, mourned him up to this very day. And this practice was established to be observed by all the people of Israel into the age.

³¹Also, these things have been recorded in the Book of Chronicles concerning Judah’s kings: every single deed of JosiAh, his glory, and his understanding of [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s law. Both his deeds and the present events have been recorded in the book of Israel’s and Judah’s kings.

JeconiAh (JehoAhaz) Becomes King

³²The people of the land took JeconiAh [also known as JehoAhaz], JosiAh’s son, and made him king in place of his father JosiAh. He was 23 years old.

³³He reigned in Israel and JeruSalem for three months. Then Egypt’s king restored him to reign in JeruSalem, ³⁴and fined the nation 100 talents [~7,000 lb / 3,200 kg] of silver and one talent [~70 lb / 32 kg] of gold.

JehoiAkim Appointed, Taken to Babylon

³⁵Egypt’s king then appointed JehoiAkim, his brother, as Judah’s and JeruSalem’s king.

³⁶JehoiAkim imprisoned the nobles, but he seized Zarius, his brother, and brought him up from Egypt. ³⁷JehoiAkim was 25 years old when he began to reign over Judah and JeruSalem, and he did what was evil in [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s sight.

³⁸After him, NebuChadnezzar, Babylon’s king, came and bound him with bronze chains, leading him away to Babylon. ³⁹NebuChadnezzar also took some of the Lord’s sacred vessels, carried them away, and stored them in his temple in Babylon. ⁴⁰The things recorded about him, his uncleanness, and his impiety have been written down in the Book of the Kings’ Chronicles.

JehoiAkim (JehoiAchin) Reigns For Three Months

⁴¹His son JehoiAkim [also known as JehoiAchin] reigned in his place. When he was appointed, he was eight[teen] years old. ⁴²He reigned in JeruSalem for three months and ten days, and he did what was evil in [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s sight.

⁴³After one year, NebuChadnezzar sent for him and transferred him to Babylon, along with the Lord’s sacred vessels, ⁴⁴and appointed ZedekiAh [to be] king of Judah and JeruSalem.

The Last King: ZedekiAh

ZedekiAh was 21 years old, and he reigned for 11 years.

⁴⁵He did what was evil in [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s sight, and he wasn’t ashamed by Jeremiah the prophet’s words spoken by the Lord. ⁴⁶Even though he had sworn an oath to King NebuChadnezzar in the Lord’s name, he broke his oath and rebelled. He became stubborn and hardened his heart, breaking the laws of [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”, Israel’s God.

⁴⁷Also, the people’s leaders and the priests committed many impious and lawless acts… Worse than all the nations’ abominations!

They also even defiled the Lord’s temple, which was perfected in JeruSalem!

⁴⁸Their fathers’ King, [that is, God,] sent word to them through his messenger, calling them back, because he had compassion on them and on his dwelling place. ⁴⁹But they scoffed at his messengers. On the very day [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” spoke, they mocked his prophets…

This continued until he became so angry with his nation because of their impious deeds that he commanded the Babylonian kings to come against them!

Babylon Attacks

⁵⁰These Babylonians killed their young men with the sword around the Holy Temple. They spared no one — neither young men nor virgins, old men nor young — but delivered everyone into their hands.

⁵¹They took:

• all the Lord’s sacred vessels, both great and small
• the Lord’s Chests
• the royal treasuries

…and carried them away to Babylon!

⁵²They burned the Lord’s house, tore down JeruSalem’s walls, and set its towers on fire. ⁵³They utterly destroyed all her glorious things. As for those who remained, he led them away with the sword to Babylon.

⁵⁴They became servants to him and his sons until the Persians came to power, fulfilling the Lord’s word spoken by Jeremiah. [Jeremiah 25:11] ⁵⁵Yes, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths, the whole time of its desolation, it kept Sabbath — until the 70 years were over.

2

The Exiles Return

¹In the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia, [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s word spoken by Jeremiah was about to come true. ²[Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, Persia’s king.

So he issued a proclamation throughout his whole kingdom, both verbally and in writing, saying:

³‘This is what Cyrus, Persia’s king, says:

'[Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” of Israel, [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” the Most High, has made me king over the whole earth, ⁴and he told me to build his house in JeruSalem, which is in Judea.

⁵‘So, if you are one of his people, may their Lord be with them! They should go up to JeruSalem in Judea and build the house of Israel’s Lord! This is the Lord who lives in JeruSalem.

⁶‘Therefore, everyone in various places should help those who are returning with:

• Gold
• Silver
• Gifts
• Horses
• Cattle

‘Plus other offerings they’ve promised for the Lord’s temple in JeruSalem.’

⁷So, the tribal family heads of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites (indeed, everyone whose spirit [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” had stirred up) got ready to go up and build the Lord’s house in JeruSalem!

⁸Their neighbors helped them in every way, giving silver, gold, horses, cattle, and many other generous offerings, because many people’s minds had been stirred.

⁹King Cyrus also brought out the Lord’s holy vessels, which NebuChadnezzar had taken from JeruSalem and put in his idol temple. ¹⁰Then, Cyrus, Persia’s king, gave them to his treasurer, Mithridates. ¹¹Mithridates then delivered them to Sanabassar, Judea’s governor.

¹²The list of these items was:

• 1,000 golden libation bowls
• 1,000 silver libation bowls
• 29 silver censers
• 30 golden bowls
• 210 silver bowls
• 1,000 other vessels

¹³In total, there were 5,469 vessels, both gold and silver. ¹⁴Sanabassar took them up to JeruSalem with those who had returned from captivity in Babylon.

The Rebuilding Work is Halted

¹⁵During the reign of Artaxerxes (Persia’s king), Belemus, Mithradates, Tabellius, Rathymus, Beeltethmus, Samellius the scribe, and their other associates living in Samaria and other regions, wrote this letter against the people living in Judea and JeruSalem:

¹⁶‘To King Artaxerxes, our lord, from your servants Rathymus, the chief administrator, Samellius the scribe, the rest of their council, and those in Coele-Syria and Phoenicia:

¹⁷‘We want our lord the king to know that the Jews who came from you to us have arrived in JeruSalem and are living in that rebellious and wicked city. They’re repairing its marketplaces and walls, and laying the foundations for a temple.

¹⁸‘So, if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, they will certainly refuse to pay taxes and will even rebel against kings.

‘Since the temple’s work is underway, we think it’s wise not to ignore this but to inform our lord the king, so that, if you wish, an investigation can be done into your predecessors’ records. ¹⁹You’ll find in the records what has been written about these matters, and you’ll learn that this city has always been rebellious, causing trouble for kings and cities. The Jews there have been rebellious and organizing sieges since ancient times, which is why this city was destroyed.

²⁰‘So, we’re informing you, O lord king, that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are put up, you won’t have access to Coele-Syria and Phoenicia anymore.’

The King’s Reply

²¹The king then sent this reply to Rathymus, the chief administrator, Beeltethmus, Samellius the scribe, and their other associates living in Samaria, Syria, and Phoenicia:

²²‘I’ve read the letter you sent me. So I ordered an investigation, and it was found that this city has long been hostile to kings, ²³and its people have been starting rebellions and wars. Powerful and oppressive kings once ruled in JeruSalem, collecting taxes from Coele-Syria and Phoenicia.

²⁴‘Therefore, I now command that these people be stopped from rebuilding the city, and that care be taken to prevent anything else from happening that might lead to greater wickedness and trouble for kings.’

²⁵When King Artaxerxes’s decree was read, Rathymus, Samellius the scribe, and their associates immediately went to JeruSalem with cavalry and a military escort… They began to stop those who were building, and the temple’s construction in JeruSalem stopped until the second year of Persian King Darius’ reign.

3

The Contest of the Three Youths: Wine and the King

¹King Darius hosted a grand feast for everyone under his rule, including his household staff and all the nobles from Media and Persia. ²This also included all the satraps, generals, and local governors who served him, from India to Ethiopia, across 127 regions. ³They ate and drank as much as they wanted, then left. King Darius, however, went to his bedroom, slept, and then woke up.

⁴Then the three young bodyguards, who guarded the king, said to each other:

⁵‘Let’s each suggest [a] statement. Whichever statement is judged wisest, King Darius will give great gifts and wonderful rewards to the person who wrote it!

⁶‘This includes:

• A purple robe to wear
• Golden cups to drink from
• A gold bed to sleep on
• A chariot with golden reins
• A fine linen turban
• A necklace for his neck.

⁷He’ll also be made second in command to Darius because of his wisdom, and he’ll be called a relative of Darius!’

⁸So each man wrote down his statement, sealed it, and put it under King Darius’s pillow.

They said:

⁹‘When the king wakes up, he’ll be given the writings! The person whose statement the king and the three nobles of Persia decide is the wisest will win, just as we’ve agreed.’

¹⁰The first wrote:

‘Wine is the strongest.’

¹¹The second wrote:

‘The king is the strongest.’

¹²The third wrote:

‘Women are the strongest, but above all else, truth wins.’

¹³When the king woke up, they took the writings and gave them to him, and he read them. ¹⁴Then he sent for and summoned all the nobles from Persia and Media, along with the satraps, generals, local governors, and officials. He sat down in the council room, and the writings were read aloud to everyone.

¹⁵Then he said:

‘Call the young men. They need to present their arguments.’

So they were called, and they came in. ¹⁶The assembly told them:

‘Explain what you’ve written to us.’

The First Man

The first speaker, who had written about wine’s strength, then began to speak:

¹⁷‘Gentlemen, wine is incredibly powerful! It tricks the minds of everyone who drinks it.

¹⁸‘It makes everyone’s mind the same, whether they’re a king or an orphan, a servant or a free person, poor or rich.

¹⁹‘Also, it turns every mind into a state of celebration and joy, making people forget all their sorrows and debts. ²⁰It makes all hearts feel rich, and causes them to forget about kings and satraps. It even makes them talk about everything as if it’s about money.

²¹‘When people drink, they forget to be friendly to their friends and brothers. Soon, they’re even drawing swords against each other…

²²‘And when they wake up from the wine, they don’t remember what they did!

²³‘Gentlemen, doesn’t wine truly win, since it forces people to act like this?’

He then fell silent.

4

The Second Man

¹The second speaker, who had talked about the king’s power, then began to speak.

He began:

²‘Men, don’t people control the earth, the sea, and everything in them? ³But the king overpowers, rules, and masters them; they do everything he tells them!

⁴‘If he tells them to wage war against each other, don’t they do it? If he sends them out against enemies, they march out and conquer mountains, walls, and towers. ⁵They kill and are killed, and they don’t disobey the king’s command, do they? If they conquer, they bring everything to the king. And if they plunder, they bring all the rest as well.

⁶‘And those who don’t serve in war or fight, but farm the land — when they sow and reap, don’t they bring their produce to the king? They also force each other to bring their taxes to the king.

⁷‘And even if he’s alone, if he says to kill, they kill.

‘If he says to release, they release.

⁸‘If he says to strike, they strike.

‘If he says to destroy, they destroy.

‘If he says to build, they build.

⁹‘If he says to cut down, they cut down.

‘If he says to plant, they plant.

¹⁰‘All his people and his forces obey him.

‘What’s more, while he himself relaxes, eats, drinks, and sleeps, ¹¹they guard him. No one can leave to do his own work, and they don’t disobey him.

¹²‘Men, how can the king not be the most powerful, since everyone obeys him like this?’

Thus, he fell silent.

The Third Man

¹³Then the third speaker, [the son of] ZerubbaBel, who had talked about women and truth, began to speak.

He said:

¹⁴‘Men, isn’t the king great? Aren’t men numerous? And isn’t wine strong? Who then is their master, or who rules over them?

‘Isn’t it women?

¹⁵‘Women gave birth to the king and all the people who rule the sea and the earth. ¹⁶Men came into being from them… And it was women who nourished those who planted the vineyards where wine is made. ¹⁷They make men’s clothing, and they bring honor to men.

‘Men can’t exist without women!

¹⁸‘If men gather gold, silver, and every beautiful thing, and then they see a single woman beautiful in form and beauty, ¹⁹they abandon all these things and stare at her with open mouths. They all prefer her to gold, silver, and every beautiful thing!

²⁰‘A man leaves his own father who raised him, and his own land, and clings to his own wife. ²¹With his wife, he gives up his very life. He remembers neither father, mother, nor land.

²²‘From this, you should know that women rule over you, shouldn’t you? Don’t you toil and labor, and give and bring everything to women? ²³A man takes his sword and goes out to travel, to plunder, and to steal, even sailing the sea and rivers, ²⁴he faces the lion, and doesn’t he walk in darkness? When he steals, snatches, and strips, he brings it back to his beloved!

²⁵‘A man loves his own wife more than his father and mother. ²⁶Many have been driven to despair because of women, and haven’t they become slaves because of them? ²⁷‘Many have perished, stumbled, and sinned because of women!

²⁸‘Now, don’t you believe me? Isn’t the king great in his authority? Don’t all lands fear to challenge him?

²⁹‘I saw him and Apame, the king’s concubine and the admirable Bartacus’s daughter, sitting at the king’s right hand, ³⁰taking the diadem from the king’s head and putting it on her own, and even slapping the king with her left hand. ³¹What’s more, the king gazed at her with an open mouth!

‘If she laughed at him, he laughed. But if she became angry with him, he flattered her so she might be reconciled to him!

³²‘Men, how can women not be powerful, seeing that they act like this?’

The Third Man Speaks About Truth

³³Then the king and the magnates looked at each other. He then began to speak about truth.

He said:

³⁴‘Men, aren’t women strong?

‘The earth is great, heaven is high, and the sun is swift in its course. It revolves in the circle of the heavens and returns to its place in one day. ³⁵Isn’t the one who makes these things great?

‘And truth is great and stronger than all things.

³⁶‘All the earth calls upon truth, and heaven praises it. All works are shaken and tremble, and there is nothing unjust about it.

³⁷‘Wine is unjust, the king is unjust, women are unjust, all men’s sons are unjust, and all their works are unjust — aren’t all such things?! There is no truth in them, and they will perish in their injustice.

³⁸‘But truth remains and is strong into the age… It lives and prevails into the age of the age.

³⁹‘With truth, there’s no partiality or distinction. Doesn’t it do what is just for all the unjust and wicked? And everyone is pleased with its works, ⁴⁰and in its judgment there’s nothing unjust. Truth possesses strength, the kingdom, authority, and majesty for all the ages! Praised be The God of truth!’

⁴¹Then he stopped speaking. All the people shouted aloud, saying:

‘Great is truth, and it prevails!’

The King Rewards Him

⁴²Then the king said to him:

‘Ask for whatever you wish, beyond what is written, and we will give it to you, since you’ve been found to be the wisest. You’ll sit next to me and be called my relative.’

⁴³Then he said to the king:

‘Remember the vow you made to rebuild JeruSalem on the day you received your kingdom, ⁴⁴and to send back all the vessels taken from JeruSalem that Cyrus had set aside, when he vowed to destroy Babylon and vowed to send them back there.

⁴⁵‘You also vowed to rebuild the temple which the Judeans burned, when Judea was laid waste by the Babylonians. ⁴⁶Now, this is what I request, Lord King, and what I ask of you.

‘Isn’t this the great favor from you? Therefore, I beg you to fulfill the vow you made from your own mouth to the King of Heaven.’

King Darius Writes to Local Leaders

⁴⁷Then King Darius stood up and kissed him [on the cheek]. He then wrote letters to all the:

• Stewards
• Local rulers
• Generals
• Satraps

…instructing them to escort him and all those with him who were going up to rebuild JeruSalem.

⁴⁸He also wrote letters to all the local rulers in:

• Coele-Syria
• Phoenicia
• Lebanon

…instructing them to transport cedar wood from Lebanon to JeruSalem, so they could build the city with him.

⁴⁹He also wrote to all the Judeans who were returning from the kingdom to Judea about their freedom, stating that no:

• Powerful person
• Satrap
• Local ruler
• Steward

…should enter their homes, ⁵⁰and that all the land they would possess should be exempt from tax for them, and that the Babylonians should release the villages they held from the Judeans.

⁵¹And for the building of the temple, 20 talents [~1,400 lb / 640 kg] a year were to be given until it was completed; ⁵²and for burnt offerings to be consumed daily upon the altar, as they were commanded to offer 17 [talents] [~1,190 lb / 544 kg], and an additional 10 talents [~700 lb / 320 kg] each year.

⁵³Also:

• For all those coming from Babylonia to establish the city, freedom was to be granted to them and their children, and to all the priests who were coming.
• ⁵⁴He wrote about the provisions and the priestly vestments in which they were to serve there.
• ⁵⁵He wrote to the Levites to give them provisions until the day the house was completed and JeruSalem was rebuilt.
• ⁵⁶He wrote to all those guarding the city to give them allotments and wages.
• ⁵⁷He sent out all the vessels that Cyrus had set apart from Babylon. And everything that Cyrus had commanded to be done, he himself also commanded to be done and sent out to JeruSalem.

The Young Men Praise God

⁵⁸Well, when the young man left [the palace], he lifted his face to heaven, facing JeruSalem, and praised the King of Heaven, saying:

⁵⁹‘Victory comes from You,
Wisdom comes from You,
And Yours is the glory.
I am Your servant.

⁶⁰‘Praised are You,
Who has given me wisdom.
And I give thanks to You,
Master of our fathers.’

⁶¹So he took the letters and went out to Babylon, and reported to all his brothers. ⁶²They praised The God of their fathers, because he had granted them relief and freedom, ⁶³to go up and rebuild JeruSalem and the temple where his name was invoked. They feasted with music and joy for seven days.

5

The Returnees: Lists and Rebuilding Begins

¹After this, leaders of ancestral families were chosen to go up, organized by their tribes, along with their wives, sons, daughters, servants, and livestock.

²Darius also sent 1,000 horsemen with them to make sure they returned safely to JeruSalem, bringing musical instruments, drums, and flutes. ³He also arranged for all their celebrating brothers to go with them.

⁴These are the names of the men who went up, listed by their families and tribes, to the areas assigned to them:

⁵The priests (the sons of Phinees and Aaron) included:

• JesusYeshuaIshoa [also known as Jeshua] (son of Josedek, son of Saraia)
• Joakeim (son of Zorobabel, son of Salathiel)

[Both] from David’s family, Phares’ lineage, and Judah’s tribe.

⁶This Joakeim spoke wisely before Darius, the Persians’ king, in the 2^nd year of his reign, during Nisan, the first month.

⁷These are the ones from Judea who had returned from foreign captivity. Nebuchodonosor, Babylon’s king, had sent them into exile in Babylon. ⁸They returned to JeruSalem and the rest of Judea, each to their own city.

They came with these leaders:

• Zorobabel
• JesusYeshuaIshoa
• Neemias
• Zaraia
• Rheesaia
• Enenios
• Mardochaios
• Beelsaros
• Aspharasos
• Boroleios
• Rhoimos
• Baana

⁹The total number of the nation’s leaders, including their family leaders, was as follows:

• 72,000 [scribal error, should be 2,172] of Phoros’ sons
• ¹⁰756 of Ares’ sons
• ¹¹2,802 of the sons of Phthaleimoab and Rhoboab, [including one] of JesusYeshuaIshoa
• ¹²2 of Iolamos’ sons
• 970 of Zaton’s sons
• 705 of Chorbe’s sons
• 648 of Bane’s sons
• ¹³633 of Bebai’s sons
• 1,322 of Argai’s sons
• ¹⁴37 of Adoneikam’s sons
• 2,606 of Bosai’s sons
• 454 of Aseiliou’s sons
• ¹⁵67 of the sons of Hezeki, Keilan, and Azetas
• 432 of Azarou’s sons
• ¹⁶101 of Hanneis’ sons
• 323 of Arom’s and Bassai’s sons
• 3,005 of Arseiphoureith’s and Baiteirous’ sons
• 123 of those from Ragethlommon
• 55 of those from Netebas
• 158 of those from Enatou
• 25 of those from Baitasmon Zammoth ¹⁹[and] from Kartatheiareios
• 700 of those from Peiras and Berog
• ²⁰422 of the sons of Chadiasai and Ammidioi
• 621 of those from Keiramas Kabbes
• ²¹122 of those from Makalon
• 52 of those from Betolo
• 156 of those from Neipheis
• ²²725 of the sons of Kalamokalos and Onous
• 245 of those from Ierechou
• ²³3,301 of the sons of Sama

²⁴The priests:

• 872 of the sons of Ieddou, Jesus’Yeshua’sIshoa’s son, and Sanabeis
• 252 of the sons of Hermerou
• ²⁵1,247 of the sons of Phassoros
• 217 of the sons of Charye

²⁶The Levites:

• 74 of the sons of Iesoueis, Kodoelou, Bannou, and Soudiou

²⁷The temple-singers:

• 128 of the sons of Asaph

²⁸The doorkeepers [numbered] 400.

[Plus:]

• 1,000 of the sons of Ismael and Lakoubatos
• 139 of Tobeis’ sons

²⁹The temple-servants:

• Esau’s sons
• Taseipha’s sons
• Tabaoth’s sons
• Keiras’ sons
• Soua’s sons
• Phalaia’s sons
• Labana’s sons
• ³⁰Akoud’s sons
• Outa’s sons
• Ketab’s sons
• Hakkaba’s sons
• Sybaei’s sons
• Hanan’s sons
• Koua’s sons
• Kedour’s sons
• ³¹Iaeirou’s sons
• Daisan’s sons
• Noeba’s sons
• Chaseba’s sons
• Kazeira’s sons
• Ozeiou’s sons
• Phinoe’s sons
• Asara’s sons
• Bastai’s sons
• Assana’s sons
• Manei’s sons
• Napheisei’s sons
• Akouph’s sons
• Acheiba’s sons
• Asour’s sons
• Pharakeim’s sons
• Basaleim’s sons
• ³²Dedda’s sons
• Bachous’ sons
• Serar’s sons
• Thomthei’s sons
• Nasei’s sons
• Hatepha’s sons

³³Solomon’s servants’ sons:

• Hasseiphioth’s sons
• Phareida’s sons
• Ieielei’s sons
• Lozon’s sons
• Isdael’s sons
• Saphyiei’s sons
• ³⁴Hagia’s sons
• Phakareth Sabeie’s sons
• Sarothei’s sons
• Meisaias’ sons
• Gas’ sons
• Addous’ sons
• Soubas’ sons
• Apherra’s sons
• Barodeis’ sons
• Sapha’s sons
• Allon’s sons

³⁵All the temple-servants and Solomon’s servants’ sons totaled 372.

³⁶These people had come from Thermeleth and Thelersas. Their leaders were Charaathalan and Allar. ³⁷Now, they couldn’t prove their family origins and lineage to show they were from Israel:

• Asan’s sons
• Baenan’s son
• Nekodan’s sons

[Totaling] 652.

³⁸Among the priests, some claimed priesthood, but their names weren’t found in the official register. [They were]:

• Hobbeia’s sons
• Hakbos’ sons
• Iaddous’ sons

Now, Iaddous’ sons were those who came from his marriage to Augia, [a] woman from Phaeizeldaia’s daughters, and they were called by her family’s name.

³⁹Now, when their overall record was searched in the enrollment and couldn’t be found, they were barred from serving as [a] priest. ⁴⁰Neemias and Hattharias told them not to eat from the holy things until [a] priest appeared who was clothed with Revelation and Truth.

⁴¹The total number of all Israel, aged 12 and older, not including servants, was 42,360.

They had:

• 7,337 male and female servants
• 245 male and female singers
• ⁴²435 camels
• 7,036 horses
• 245 mules
• 5,525 beasts of burden

Donations For The Temple

⁴³When the leaders of the ancestral families arrived at God’s temple in JeruSalem, they vowed to rebuild the temple on its original site, as much as they could afford. ⁴⁴They contributed to the temple’s treasury for the construction work:

• 1,000 minas of gold
• 5,000 minas of silver
• 100 priestly robes

⁴⁵The priests, the Levites, and some of the people settled in JeruSalem and the surrounding land. The temple-singers, doorkeepers, and all the rest of Israel settled in their villages.

The Festival of Temproray Structures

⁴⁶When the 7^th month arrived, and Israel’s people were in their own towns, they unitedly gathered in the open square in front of the first gate, which faced east. ⁴⁷JesusYeshuaIshoa, Josedek’s son, and his priestly brothers, along with Zorobabel, Salathiel’s son, and his brothers, stood up and prepared Israel’s God’s altar, ⁴⁸to offer burnt offerings on it, as commanded in the book of Moses, the man of God.

⁴⁹Foreigners [who lived] in the land gathered around them as they set themselves up at the altar in its proper place. Even though the foreigners were hostile to them, and all the nations on the earth had overcome them, they still offered sacrifices at the appointed times, burnt offerings to [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”, both morning and evening.

⁵⁰They also kept the Festival of Temporary Structures as written in the Law, and offered daily sacrifices, as was proper. ⁵¹Afterward, they offered regular offerings, and sacrifices for Sabbaths, New Moons, and all other special feasts.

⁵²Everyone who had made a vow to God began to offer sacrifices to God from the New Moon of the first month, even though God’s temple hadn’t been built yet.

⁵³They gave silver to the stonecutters and carpenters, as well as supplies, food, and gifts to the Sidonians and Tyrians. This was so they would bring cedar wood from Lebanon and transport it by rafts to Joppa’s harbor, as decreed for them by Cyrus, the Persians’ king.

The Rebuilding Work Begins

⁵⁴In the 2^nd year, in the 2^nd month, Zorobabel (Salathiel’s son), JesusYeshuaIshoa (Josedek’s son), and their brothers, the priests (the Levites), and everyone who had returned from captivity to JeruSalem, arrived at God’s temple in JeruSalem and began the work.

⁵⁵They began to lay the foundation of God’s temple on the New Moon of the 2^nd month of the 2^nd year after their arrival in Judea and JeruSalem.

⁵⁶They appointed the Levites, aged 20 and older, to oversee the Lord’s work:

• JesusYeshuaIshoa, with his sons and brothers
• Damadiel his brother
• JesusYeshuaIshoa Hemadaboun’s sons
• Judah Eiliadoun’s son’s sons

Yes, with their sons and brothers, all the Levites stood together as overseers of the work in the Lord’s house. The builders then [began] to build the Lord’s temple.

⁵⁷The priests stood in their robes, with trumpets and other musical instruments. Asaph’s sons, who were Levites, with cymbals, sang praise to [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” and praised him, according to David, Israel’s king’s custom.

⁵⁸They shouted with hymns, praising [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”, for his goodness and his glory endure into the ages for all Israel… ⁵⁹All the people blew trumpets and shouted loudly, praising [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” for [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s house’s rebuilding!

⁶⁰But many of the priests, Levites, and family heads (the elders who had seen the previous temple) wept loudly and bitterly when this temple was being built, ⁶¹while many others shouted with trumpets and great joy.

⁶²As a result, the people couldn’t tell the sound of the trumpets from the sound of the people’s weeping, because the crowd was making such a loud noise with trumpets that it could be heard from a great distance.

Enemies Halt Reconstruction

⁶³Well, when the enemies of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin heard this, they came to find out what the trumpet sound was… ⁶⁴They learned that those who’d returned from captivity were building the temple to [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”, Israel’s God.

⁶⁵So they approached Zorobabel, JesusYeshuaIshoa, and the family heads, saying to them:

⁶⁵‘Let us build with you, ⁶⁶because we worship your Lord just as you do, and we’ve been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Asbakaphath, the Assyrians’ king, who brought us here.’

⁶⁷But Zorobabel, JesusYeshuaIshoa, and Israel’s family leaders said to them:

⁶⁷‘It’s not for you to build [a] house for our [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” God. ⁶⁸We alone will build for the Lord of Israel, just as Cyrus, the Persians’ king, commanded us.’

⁶⁹Yes, the people of the land opposed those in Judea and harassed them, preventing them from building… ⁷⁰They made plans, stirred up the people, and formed conspiracies, preventing the building from being completed throughout King Cyrus’ lifetime.

They were prevented from building for two years, until Darius’ reign.

6

Temple Rebuilding Continues

¹In the second year of Darius’s reign, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, Iddo’s son, prophesied to the Jews living in Judea and JeruSalem. They spoke to them in [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s name, Israel’s God.

²Then Zerubbabel, Salathiel’s son, and Jeshua, Jozedek’s son, began building the Lord’s house in JeruSalem. The Lord’s prophets were there, helping them.

³At that same time, Sisinnes, Syria and Phoenicia’s governor, along with Sathrabouzanes and their associates, came to them ⁴and asked:

‘By whose command are you building this house and finishing this roof and all these other parts? And who are the builders doing this work?’

⁵The Jews’ elders, who had returned from captivity, received loving kindness from the Lord, as he watched over them. ⁶They were not stopped from building until a report could be sent to Darius about them and a reply received.

The Letter to Darius

⁷This is a copy of the letter that Sisinnes, Syria and Phoenicia’s governor, along with Sathrabourzanes and their associates, who were rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, wrote and sent to Darius. It said:

‘To King Darius, greetings.

⁸‘Our lord the king should know that when we came to Judea’s land and JeruSalem’s city, we found the Jews’ elders who had returned from captivity in JeruSalem’s city building a great, new Lord’s house. They were using expensive cut stones and timbers for the walls.

⁹‘They were doing this work diligently; the work was succeeding for them, and it was being completed with great honor and care.

¹⁰‘So we questioned these elders, asking:

‘By whose command are you building this house and laying the foundations for this construction?’

¹¹‘Therefore, we asked them about the men leading this work, so we could inform you and write to you. We also asked for a list of names of those in charge.

¹²‘But they replied, saying:

‘We are the Lord’s servants, who created the heavens and the earth. ¹³This house was built many years ago by [a] great and mighty Israel’s king, and he finished it. ¹⁴But because our ancestors greatly angered and sinned against the Lord, Israel’s God in heaven, he handed them over to NebuChadnezzar, Babylon’s king, the Chaldeans’ king; ¹⁵who tore down and burned the house down, and took the people captive to Babylon.

¹⁶‘However, in Cyrus’s first year of reign, Babylonia’s king, King Cyrus issued an order to rebuild this house, ¹⁷and the sacred gold and silver vessels, which NebuChadnezzar had taken from the house in JeruSalem and placed in his own temple, King Cyrus brought out of the temple in Babylonia again, and gave them to Zerubbabel and Sabanassar, the governor.

¹⁸‘He was commanded to bring all these vessels back and place them in the temple in JeruSalem, and that the Lord’s temple should be built on that very site. ¹⁹Then Sanabassarus came and laid the foundations for [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s house in JeruSalem, and from then until now, it has been under construction but isn’t finished.’

²⁰‘So now, O king, please have a search made in our lord the king’s royal archives in Babylon, ²¹and if it is found that the building of the Lord’s house in JeruSalem was indeed authorized by an order from King Cyrus.

‘And if our lord the king thinks it’s right, please send us word about these matters.’

The Record is Found

²²So King Darius ordered a search to be made in the archives kept in Babylon, and it was found in Ecbatana, in the fortress in Media’s province, where these things had been recorded:

²³‘In King Cyrus’s first year of reign, King Cyrus ordered that the Lord’s house in JeruSalem be built, where continuous burnt offerings are made. ²⁴It should be 60 cubits high [100 feet / 30 m] and 60 cubits wide [100 feet / 30 m], with three layers of cut stones and one layer of new native timber. The costs are to be paid from King Cyrus’s treasury.

²⁵‘And the sacred gold and silver vessels from [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s house, which NebuChadnezzar had taken from the house in JeruSalem and brought to Babylon, are to be returned to the house in JeruSalem, to their original place, so they can be stored there.

²⁶‘Also, he ordered Sisinnes, the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, along with Sathrabouzanes, their associates, and the appointed rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, to stay away from that place, and to allow [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s servant Zerubbabel, Judea’s governor, and the Jews’ elders to build the Lord’s house on its site.

²⁷‘I also ordered that the building be finished without any interference, and to supervise closely, so that those who returned from captivity in Judea can work together until the Lord’s house is finished; ²⁸and that from the taxes from Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, careful provision be made for these men for sacrifices to the Lord, specifically for Zerubbabel the governor, providing:

• Bulls
• Rams
• Lambs

²⁹‘Also, wheat, salt, wine, and oil are to be provided continuously, year after year, just as the priests in JeruSalem may order for daily use, without any argument, ³⁰so that offerings can be made to The God Most High for the king and his servants, and so they can pray for their lives.

³¹‘It is also ordered that if anyone breaks any of these written orders or cancels them, a beam is to be taken from his own house, and he is to be hanged on it, and his possessions will become royal property.

³²‘Also, may the Lord, whose name is honored there, destroy every king and nation who tries to stop or harm [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s house in JeruSalem.

³³‘I, King Darius, have carefully ordered that these things must be done.’

7

Temple Completed and Dedicated

¹Sisinnes, the governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, along with Sathrabouzanes and their associates, obeyed the orders from King Darius.

²They carefully supervised the sacred work, working with the Judean elders and the temple officials.

³The sacred work succeeded because Haggai and Zechariah, the prophets, kept prophesying. ⁴They finished these tasks as commanded by Israel’s God [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”, and with the approval of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, Persia’s kings, ⁵the house was completed on Adar 23^rd, during the sixth year of King Darius’s reign.

⁶The Israelites, priests, Levites, and the others who had returned from captivity and joined them, followed what was written in Moses’ Book. ⁷To dedicate [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s temple, they offered:

• 100 bulls
• 200 rams
• 400 lambs

⁸They also offered 12 male goats as [a] sin offering for all Israel, representing Israel’s 12 tribal divisions.

⁹The priests and Levites took their assigned places, organized by their tribal divisions, to manage the work of [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”, Israel’s God, as written in Moses’ Book. The gatekeepers also took their posts at each gate.

Passover Celebrated

¹⁰The Israelites who had returned from captivity celebrated the Passover on the 14^th day of the first month, after the priests and Levites had all purified themselves. ¹¹All the exiles were purified as well, because they had purified themselves. In fact, the Levites had all purified themselves together.

¹²They offered the Passover sacrifice for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves. ¹³Then the Israelites who had returned from captivity ate, seeking the Lord (including everyone who had separated themselves from the disgusting practices of the land’s peoples).

¹⁴They then celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days, rejoicing before [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”, ¹⁵because he had turned the heart of the king of Assyria favorably toward them, strengthening their hands for the work of Israel’s God, [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”.

8

Ezra Arrives and Addresses Intermarriage

¹After these events, during King Artaxerxes of Persia’s reign, Ezra went up [to JeruSalem].

[He was the]:

• Son of Azariah
• Son of Zechariah
• Son of Chelkias
• Son of Salemos
• ²Son of Saddoulokos
• Son of Acheitob
• Son of Amartheios
• Son of Ozeias
• Son of Bokkas
• Son of Abeisai
• Son of Pheinees
• Son of Eleazar
• Son of Aaron, the first priest.

³Yes, this Ezra went up [to JeruSalem] from Babylon, for he was [a] very skilled scribe in Moses’ Law, which had been given by The God of Israel.

⁴The king honored him, for Ezra had found loving kindness in his sight regarding all his requests.

⁵And from Israel’s sons, there went up to JeruSalem with him:

• Priests
• Levites
• Temple-singers
• Doorkeepers
• Temple-servants

⁶This occurred in King Artaxerxes’ seventh year of reign, in the fifth month.

This was the king’s second year. [spurious?]

For they had departed from Babylon on the 1^st day of the 1^st month and arrived in JeruSalem, thanks to the prosperous journey granted to them by The Lord upon him.

⁷Absaras was so knowledgeable that he made sure nothing from [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s Law and its commandments (its statutes and judgments) would be left out for all Israel.

King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra

⁸[A] copy of the letter sent by King Artaxerxes to Ezra, the priest and interpreter of [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s Law, is provided below.

King Artaxerxes to Ezra, the priest and interpreter of [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s Law:

⁹‘Greetings.

¹⁰‘After considering what is right and humane, I have commanded that all who willingly choose to go, whether from the Jewish nation, or from the priests, or from the Levites, or from others in our kingdom, may accompany you to JeruSalem.

¹¹‘Therefore, let all who are willing depart with you, just as it has been decided by me and my seven counselors. ¹²This is so that they may inquire about Judea and JeruSalem, in accordance with [Jehovah’s][Yahweh’s]“Lord’s” Law as it stands, ¹³and to bring to The Lord the gifts which I and my friends have vowed for JeruSalem.

‘Also, all the gold and silver that may be found in Babylonia’s land, designated for The Lord in JeruSalem, along with what the people have donated for their Lord's temple in JeruSalem, ¹⁴is to be collected, both the gold and silver, for the purchase of bulls, rams, lambs, and their accompanying offerings, ¹⁵so that sacrifices may be offered upon their Lord's altar in JeruSalem.

¹⁶‘And whatever else you and your brothers wish to do with the gold and silver, carry out according to your God’s will. ¹⁷Regarding your God’s sacred vessels given for the service of his temple in JeruSalem, and whatever else you may require for the service of your God’s temple, ¹⁸you shall take from the royal treasury.

¹⁹‘Take notice! I, King Artaxerxes, have commanded Syria and Phoenicia’s treasurers to diligently provide Ezra, the priest and interpreter of The God Most High’s Law, with whatever he requests, up to 100 talents [~7,000 lb / 3,200 kg] of silver, ²⁰likewise also up to 100 kors [~600 bushels / 22,000 L] of wheat and 100 baths [~600 gal / 2,200 L] of wine.

²¹‘Let all this be done precisely according to The God Most High’s Law, so that no wrath may come upon the king’s kingdom or his sons.

²²‘And it’s also decreed for you that no taxation or other imposition shall be levied upon any of:

• Priests
• Levites
• Temple-singers
• Doorkeepers
• Temple-servants
• Administrators of this temple.

‘No one shall have authority to impose anything upon them.

²³‘And you, Ezra, according to The God's wisdom, are to appoint judges and magistrates, so that they may administer justice throughout all Syria and Phoenicia to all who know your God’s Law; and those who don’t know it, you shall teach.

²⁴‘And all who transgress your God’s Law or the royal law shall be diligently punished, whether by death, or by other severe penalties, and not merely by monetary fines or deportation.’

²⁵Praised be The Lord alone, who put these things into my king’s [heart], to glorify his house in JeruSalem!

²⁶He also honored me before the kings and all his friends and nobles. ²⁷So, strengthened by [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” my God’s help, I gathered men from Israel to go up [to JeruSalem] with me.

Heads of the Ancestral Families

²⁸Here are the heads of the ancestral families and their groups who went up with me from Babylon during King Artaxerxes’ reign:

• ²⁹From Phoros’ sons, Tarosotomos;
• From Ietamaros’ sons, Gamelos;
• From David’s sons, ³⁰Phares, Zacharias, and with him, as recorded, 150 men;
• ³¹From Maathmoab, Elialonias (son of Zaraios), and with him 200 men;
• ³²From Zathoes’ sons, Iiechonias (son of Ieethelos), and with him 200 men;
• From Adein’s sons, Ouben (son of Ionathos), and with him 250 men;
• ³³From Lam’s sons, Esias (son of Gotholios), and with him 70 men;
• ³⁴From Sophotios’ sons, Zaraias (son of Meichaelos), and with him 70 men;
• ³⁵From Ioab’s sons, Abadias (son of Ieezelos), and with him 212 men;
• ³⁶From Banias’ sons, Saleimoth (son of Iosaphios), and with him 160 men;
• ³⁷From Baieer, Zachariai (son of Beemai), and with him 28 men;
• ³⁸From Astath’s sons, Ioanes (son of Hacatan), and with him 110 men;
• ³⁹From Adoniakaim’s last sons, these are their names: Eleiphalas (son of Geouel), Samaias, and with them 70 men;
• ⁴⁰From Banai’s sons, Outou (son of Istacalkos), and with him 70 men.

⁴¹I assembled them at the place called the River, and we camped there for three days. While I was inspecting them, ⁴²I didn’t find any priests or Levites among them.

⁴³So I sent for:

• Eleazar
• Iduel
• Maasmas
• Ennatan
• Samaias
• Ioribos
• Nathan
• Ennatan
• Zacharias
• Mesolabōn

…who were leading and knowledgeable men, ⁴⁴and instructed them to go to Laadaios, the leader of the treasury at that place, ⁴⁵and to tell Lodaios, his brothers, and the treasurers there to send us men who could serve as priests in our Lord’s house.

⁴⁶They sent:

• Asebebias, [a] knowledgeable man, from Mooli’s sons, of Levi, of Israel
• Along with ten of his sons and brothers

⁴⁷They also sent:

• 20 men from Chanounaios’ sons, including their own sons

⁴⁸And from the temple-servants (whom David and the leaders had assigned to assist the Levites) they sent:

• 220 temple-servants

[A] list of all their names was recorded.

⁴⁹There I proclaimed [a] fast for the young men before our Lord, ⁵⁰so that we might seek from him [a] prosperous journey for ourselves, our children, and our livestock.

⁵¹For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of horsemen and footmen to protect us from our enemies along the way. ⁵²You see, we had told the king that our Lord’s strength would be with all who seek him for every good purpose. ⁵³So we again entreated our Lord concerning all these matters, and he was gracious to us.

⁵⁴Then I set aside twelve men from the priestly families’ chiefs, along with Eserebias and Hassamias, and ten of their brothers… ⁵⁵And I weighed out for them the silver, gold, and our Lord’s sacred vessels for his house, which the king, his counselors, his nobles, and all Israel had donated.

⁵⁶He delivered to them, having weighed it to be:

• 650 talents [~45,500 lb / 20,800 kg] of silver
• Silver vessels weighing 100 talents
• 100 talents [~7,000 lb / 3,200 kg] of gold
• 20 golden bowls
• And ten shining vessels of fine bronze

And I said to them:

⁵⁷‘You yourselves are holy to the Lord, and these vessels are holy. The silver and gold are [a] freewill offering to [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”, the Lord of our fathers…

⁵⁸‘So, be vigilant! Guard them until you [safely] deliver them to the chambers of our Lord’s house in JeruSalem, to the chiefs of the priestly and Levite families, and to Israel’s ancestral houses’ leaders.’

⁵⁹So the priests and Levites received the silver, gold, and vessels, and brought them to the Lord’s temple in JeruSalem.

Arrival in Jerusalem

⁶⁰We set out from Thera on the 12^th day of the 1^st month. By our Lord’s mighty hand that was upon us, we arrived in JeruSalem… He rescued us from ambushes and from every enemy!

⁶¹On the 3^rd day after our arrival, the silver and gold were weighed and delivered to [Jehovah’s][Yahweh’s]“Lord’s” house to Marmothis, son of Oureias, the priest, ⁶²along with Eleazar, son of Pheinees. With them were the Levites Iosabees, son of Ieesous, and Moeth, son of Sabannos.

Everything was counted and weighed, and the total weight was recorded at that very hour. ⁶³Those who had returned from captivity offered [the following] sacrifices to [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”, The God of Israel:

• 96 bulls
• 76 rams
• 12 goats as peace offerings

All of these were [a] sacrifice to the Lord.

⁶⁴They also delivered the king’s decrees to the royal governors and to Syria and Phoenicia’s satraps, who then honored the people and the Lord’s temple.

The Leaders’ Complaint

⁶⁵After these things were completed, the leaders came to me, saying:

⁶⁶‘The leaders, priests, and Levites haven’t separated themselves from the foreign nations’ uncleanness! [That of the]…

• Canaanites
• Hittites
• Perizzites
• Jebusites
• Moabites
• Egyptians
• And Idumaeans

⁶⁷‘They have intermarried with some of their daughters, both they and their sons. So, the holy offspring has become mixed with the land’s foreign nations. Indeed, the leaders and nobles have been foremost in this lawlessness from the very beginning!’

⁶⁸As soon as I heard this, I tore my clothes and my sacred vestment! I pulled out hair from my head and beard, and sat down distraught and deeply distressed…

⁶⁹Everyone who trembled at the word of [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” of Israel gathered around me as I mourned over this lawlessness… I remained deeply distressed until the evening sacrifice. ⁷⁰Then, rising from my fast, with my clothes and sacred vestment still torn, I knelt down and stretched out my hands to The Lord, saying:

⁷¹‘O [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”,

‘I am ashamed and utterly confounded before You!

⁷²‘For our sins have risen above our heads, and our iniquities have reached even to heaven, ⁷³from our ancestors’ times until this very day.

‘We are in great sin!

⁷⁴‘Thanks to our sins and our ancestors’ sins, we, along with our brothers, our kings, and our priests, were delivered into the hands of earth’s kings, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to shame, even to this present day!

⁷⁵‘And now, for [a] brief moment, mercy has been shown to us by the Lord [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”. He has left us [a] remnant and [a] name in this holy place, ⁷⁶and has uncovered [a] light for us in our Lord’s house, to give us sustenance during the time of our servitude.

‘Even while we were enslaved, our Lord didn’t abandon us, ⁷⁷but granted us loving kindness in the sight of Persia’s kings, to provide us with sustenance, ⁷⁸and to glorify our temple, to raise up desolate Zion, and to give us [a] firm foothold in Judea and JeruSalem.

⁷⁹‘So now, what shall we say, O [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”, after all this?

‘For we have disobeyed Your commandments, which You gave through Your servants the prophets, who said:

⁸⁰‘The land which you are entering to inherit is [a] defiled land, defiled by the uncleanness of the land’s foreign peoples; they’ve filled it with their impurity.

⁸¹‘Now, therefore, don’t give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons! ⁸²And you should never seek peace or prosperity with them, so that you’ll be strong, eat the land’s good things, and leave it as an inheritance to your children into the age.’

⁸³‘And all that has happened to us is because of our evil deeds and great sins.

‘For You, O [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”, have lightened our sins, ⁸⁴and given us such [a] remnant. Yet we have again turned back to transgress Your law by mixing with the uncleanness of the land’s nations. ⁸⁵Weren’t You angry enough with us to destroy us completely, leaving no root, no remnant, no name for us?

⁸⁶‘O [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” of Israel, You are true!

‘For we are left as [a] remnant this very day. ⁸⁷Look! We are before You in our lawlessness; for we can’t stand before You any longer because of these things.’

⁸⁸While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and prostrate before the temple, [a] very large crowd gathered around him from JeruSalem — men, women, and young men. There was great weeping among the crowd.

⁸⁹Then Iechonias (son of Iehelos), one of the sons of Israel, called out and said to Ezra:

⁸⁹‘We’ve sinned against the Lord! We’ve settled with foreign women from the land’s peoples. And now, this guilt rests upon all of Israel.

⁹⁰‘Therefore, let’s now swear to the Lord to send all our foreign wives and their children away, as you have determined, [and make it a] requirement for everybody who obeys the Lord’s Law.

⁹¹‘Get up and act! This matter is your responsibility, but we’ll back you up!’

⁹²So Ezra arose and made the priestly and Levite families’ chiefs, and all Israel, swear to do all of this… And they swore to it!

9

The Assembly and the Law

¹Ezra left the temple court and went into the chamber of Jonan the Naseibos. ²While there, he didn’t eat bread or drink water, mourning the people’s many sins.

³Then, an announcement was made across all Judea and JeruSalem, telling everyone who had returned from captivity to gather in JeruSalem. ⁴Anyone who didn’t show up within two or three days, as decided by the presiding elders, would have their livestock confiscated, and that person would be excluded from the community of the exiles!

⁵So, those from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin gathered in JeruSalem within three days. This happened on the 20^th day of the 9^th month. ⁶The entire assembly sat together in the open space in front of the temple, trembling because winter was coming.

⁷Ezra stood up and said to them:

⁷‘You’ve acted unlawfully by marrying foreign women, thus adding to Israel’s sin.

⁸‘Now, confess and give glory to [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”, our fathers’ God, ⁹and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women!’

¹⁰The entire assembly shouted loudly, saying:

¹⁰‘We’ll do as you’ve said!

¹¹‘But the assembly is large, and it’s winter! We can’t stay out in the open. This task isn’t something that can be done in one or two days, for we’ve sinned greatly in these matters.

¹²‘Therefore, let’s have the leaders of our assembly step forward. Then, at a set time, everyone from our households with foreign wives should come, ¹³accompanied by the local elders and judges. We’ll do this until [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord”‘s anger over this is removed from us.’

¹⁴Jonathan (son of Azaelos) and Hezekiah (son of Thokanos) accepted these terms, and Mosollamos, Leuis, and Sabbataios served as judges with them. ¹⁵This is what those who had returned from captivity [from Babylon] did.

¹⁶Ezra the priest selected men, leaders of their respective clans, all by name. They convened on the 1^st day of the 10^th month to investigate the matter. ¹⁷The investigation concerning the men who had married foreign women was completed by the 1^st day of the 1^st month.

¹⁸It was found that among the priests, the following men had foreign wives.

¹⁹From the sons of JesusYeshuaIshoa, son of Josedek, and his brothers:

• Mahelas
• Eleazar
• Joribos
• Jodanos

²⁰They pledged to send away their wives and offered rams as a sin offering for their unintentional sin.

²¹From the sons of Emer:

• Ananias
• Zabdaios
• Manes
• Thamios
• Jereel
• Azarias

²²From the sons of Phaisour:

• Elionais
• Asseias
• Ismael
• Nathanael
• Okaledos
• Salthas

²³From the Levites:

• Jozabdos
• Senseis
• Konos (who was also called Kaleitais)
• Pathaios
• Ooudas
• Joanas

²⁴From the singers:

• Eliasebos
• Bakkouros

²⁵From the gatekeepers:

• Salloumos
• Tolbanes

²⁶From the Israelites, from the sons of Phoros:

• Jerma
• Jezeias
• Melcheias
• Milelos
• Eleazar
• Hasebeias
• Bannaias

²⁷From the sons of Ela:

• Matan
• Zacharias
• Jezoriklos
• Oabdeios
• Jeremoth
• Aedeias

²⁸From the sons of Zamoth:

• Eliadas
• Eliaseimos
• Othonias
• Jareimoth
• Sabathos
• Zeralias

²⁹From the sons of Bebai:

• Joannes
• Ananias
• Zabdos
• Ematthis

³⁰From the sons of Mani:

• Oolamos
• Mamouchos
• Jedaios
• Jasoubos
• Asaelos
• Jeremoth

³¹From the sons of Addin:

• Lathos
• Moosseiss
• Lakkounos
• Naidos
• Beskaspasmus
• Sesthel
• Balnous
• Manasseas

³²From the sons of Annan:

• Eliodas
• Asaias
• Melcheias
• Sabbaias
• Simon Chosamos

³³From the sons of Hasom:

• Maltannaios
• Mattathias
• Sabannaious
• Eleiphalat
• Manasse
• Semei

³⁴From the sons of Baanei:

• Jeremias
• Momdeios
• Maeros
• Jouna
• Mamda
• Pedias
• Anos
• Karabaseion
• Enaseibos
• Mamtanimos
• Eliaseis
• Bannous
• Edialeis
• Someeis
• Selemia
• Nathanias

And from the sons of Ezora:

• Seseis
• Ezreil
• Azaelos
• Samatos
• Zambrei
• Phosepos

³⁵From Ooma:

• Zeitias
• Zabadaias
• Edos
• Ouel
• Banaias

³⁶All these men had married foreign women, and they sent them away, along with their children.

The Law is Read Aloud

³⁷The priests, the Levites, and the Israelites settled in JeruSalem and throughout the land on the 1^st day of the 7^th month, and the people of Israel settled in their own towns.

³⁸The entire assembly gathered together as one in the open area before the eastern gate of the temple. ³⁹They asked Ezra, the priest and the reader of the Law, to bring out Moses’ Law, which The God of Israel had given.

⁴⁰So Ezra the high priest brought Moses’ Law before the entire assembly — men, women, and all the priests — to hear the Law, on the 1^st day of the 7^th month.

⁴¹He read from the open area in front of the temple gate from dawn until midday, in the presence of the men and women; and they paid close attention to it!

⁴²Ezra, the priest and Law’s reader, stood upon the wooden platform that had been constructed. ⁴³Standing beside him on his right were:

• Mattathias
• Sammou
• Ananias
• Azarias
• Oureias
• Hezekiah
• Baalsamos

⁴⁴On his left were:

• Phaladaios
• Meisael
• Melcheias
• Lothasoubos
• Nabareias
• Zacharias

⁴⁵Ezra took up the Law’s book for the people, for he was seated in a prominent place before everyone. ⁴⁶When he opened the Law [book], all the people stood up. Then Azarias praised the Most High God Almighty, ⁴⁷and the entire assembly cried out:

‘May it be so!, may it be so!!’

Then, raising their hands, they bowed down to the ground and bowed down to The God.

⁴⁸[These men] taught [Jehovah’s][Yahweh’s]“Lord’s” law:

• JesusYeshuaIshoa
• Anniouth
• Sarabeias
• Jadeinos
• Jarsouboos
• Abtaios
• Autaias
• Maiannas
• Kaleitas
• Azarias
• Katethzabdos
• Annias
• Phalias
• And the Levites

And they read the Lord’s Law to the assembly, explaining it as they read.

⁴⁹Attarates said to Ezra the high priest and reader, and to the Levites who were teaching the multitude, addressing everyone:

⁵⁰‘This day is holy to the Lord!’

(For all the people wept as they heard the Law.)

⁵¹‘Go now, eat rich foods and send portions to those who have nothing, ⁵²for the day is holy to the Lord, and do not grieve; for the Lord will bring you honor.’

⁵³The Levites also encouraged the people, saying repeatedly:

‘This day is holy; don’t grieve.’

⁵⁴So everyone went to eat, drink, and celebrate, sharing portions with those who had nothing. They were extremely happy, ⁵⁵for they had been enlightened by the teaching, and felt a profound sense of unity.