עֶזְרָא 8

1 וְאֵ֛לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֥י אֲבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם וְהִתְיַחְשָׂ֑ם הָעֹלִ֣ים עִמִּ֗י בְּמַלְכ֛וּת אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מִבָּבֶֽל׃ ס

This is a list of the family leaders and genealogical records of those who came back with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:

2 מִבְּנֵ֤י פִֽינְחָס֙ גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם ס מִבְּנֵ֥י אִיתָמָ֖ר דָּנִיֵּ֑אל ס מִבְּנֵ֥י דָוִ֖יד חַטּֽוּשׁ׃ ס

From the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. From the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. From the sons of David, Hattush,

3 מִבְּנֵ֣י שְׁכַנְיָ֔ה ס מִבְּנֵ֥י פַרְעֹ֖שׁ זְכַרְיָ֑ה וְעִמֹּ֛ו הִתְיַחֵ֥שׂ לִזְכָרִ֖ים מֵאָ֥ה וַחֲמִשִּֽׁים׃ ס

son of Shecaniah. From the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him 150 men were registered.

4 מִבְּנֵי֙ פַּחַ֣ת מֹואָ֔ב אֶלְיְהֹֽועֵינַ֖י בֶּן־זְרַֽחְיָ֑ה וְעִמֹּ֖ו מָאתַ֥יִם הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

From the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai, son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men.

5 מִבְּנֵ֥י שְׁכַנְיָ֖ה בֶּן־יַחֲזִיאֵ֑ל וְעִמֹּ֕ו שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵאֹ֖ות הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

From the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah, son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men.

6 וּמִבְּנֵ֣י עָדִ֔ין עֶ֖בֶד בֶּן־יֹונָתָ֑ן וְעִמֹּ֖ו חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

From the sons of Adin, Ebed, son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men.

7 וּמִבְּנֵ֣י עֵילָ֔ם יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה בֶּן־עֲתַלְיָ֑ה וְעִמֹּ֖ו שִׁבְעִ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

From the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah, son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men.

8 וּמִבְּנֵ֣י שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה זְבַדְיָ֖ה בֶּן־מִֽיכָאֵ֑ל וְעִמֹּ֖ו שְׁמֹנִ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

From the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah, son of Michael, and with him 80 men.

9 מִבְּנֵ֣י יֹואָ֔ב עֹבַדְיָ֖ה בֶּן־יְחִיאֵ֑ל וְעִמֹּ֕ו מָאתַ֛יִם וּשְׁמֹנָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

From the sons of Joab, Obadiah, son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men.

10 וּמִבְּנֵ֥י שְׁלֹומִ֖ית בֶּן־יֹוסִפְיָ֑ה וְעִמֹּ֕ו מֵאָ֥ה וְשִׁשִּׁ֖ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

From the sons of Bani, Shelomith, son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men.

11 וּמִבְּנֵ֣י בֵבַ֔י זְכַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־בֵּבָ֑י וְעִמֹּ֕ו עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנָ֖ה הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

From the sons of Bebai, Zechariah, son of Bebai, and with him 28 men.

12 וּמִבְּנֵ֣י עַזְגָּ֔ד יֹוחָנָ֖ן בֶּן־הַקָּטָ֑ן וְעִמֹּ֕ו מֵאָ֥ה וַעֲשָׂרָ֖ה הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

From the sons of Azgad, Johanan, son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men.

13 וּמִבְּנֵ֣י אֲדֹנִיקָם֮ אַחֲרֹנִים֒ וְאֵ֣לֶּה שְׁמֹותָ֔ם אֱלִיפֶ֖לֶט יְעִיאֵ֣ל וּֽשְׁמַעְיָ֑ה וְעִמָּהֶ֖ם שִׁשִּׁ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

From the sons of Adonikam, those who were last, their names being Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men.

14 וּמִבְּנֵ֥י בִגְוַ֖י עוּתַ֣י וְזָבוּד (וְזַכּ֑וּר) וְעִמֹּ֖ו שִׁבְעִ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ פ

From the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur, and with them 70 men.

15 וָֽאֶקְבְּצֵ֗ם אֶל־הַנָּהָר֙ הַבָּ֣א אֶֽל־אַהֲוָ֔א וַנַּחֲנֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם יָמִ֣ים שְׁלֹשָׁ֑ה וָאָבִ֤ינָה בָעָם֙ וּבַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וּמִבְּנֵ֥י לֵוִ֖י לֹא־מָצָ֥אתִי שָֽׁם׃

I gathered the returning exiles together at the Ahava Canal. We camped there for three days while I reviewed who had come—the ordinary people, the priests, and the Levites. I discovered there wasn't a single Levite

16 וָאֶשְׁלְחָ֡ה לֶאֱלִיעֶ֡זֶר לַאֲרִיאֵ֡ל לִֽ֠שְׁמַעְיָה וּלְאֶלְנָתָ֨ן וּלְיָרִ֜יב וּלְאֶלְנָתָ֧ן וּלְנָתָ֛ן וְלִזְכַרְיָ֥ה וְלִמְשֻׁלָּ֖ם רָאשִׁ֑ים וּלְיֹויָרִ֥יב וּלְאֶלְנָתָ֖ן מְבִינִֽים׃

so I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men with good insight.

17 וָאֹוצִאָה (וָאֲצַוֶּ֤ה) אֹותָם֙ עַל־אִדֹּ֣ו הָרֹ֔אשׁ בְּכָסִפְיָ֖א הַמָּקֹ֑ום וָאָשִׂימָה֩ בְּפִיהֶ֨ם דְּבָרִ֜ים לְ֠דַבֵּר אֶל־אִדֹּ֨ו אָחִ֤יו הַנְּתוּנִים (הַנְּתִינִים֙) בְּכָסִפְיָ֣א הַמָּקֹ֔ום לְהָֽבִיא־לָ֥נוּ מְשָׁרְתִ֖ים לְבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃

I told them to go to Iddo, the leader of the Temple servants at Casiphia, asking him and his relatives to send us ministers for the Temple of our God.

18 וַיָּבִ֨יאּוּ לָ֜נוּ כְּיַד־אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ הַטֹּובָ֤ה עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ שֶׂ֔כֶל מִבְּנֵ֣י מַחְלִ֔י בֶּן־לֵוִ֖י בֶּן־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֛ה וּבָנָ֥יו וְאֶחָ֖יו שְׁמֹנָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃

Since our gracious God was with us, they brought us Sherebiah, a man with good insight from the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel, together with his sons and brothers, a total of eighteen men;

19 וְאֶת־חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה וְאִתֹּ֥ו יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה מִבְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֑י אֶחָ֥יו וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם עֶשְׂרִֽים׃ ס

and Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah, from the sons of Merari, and his brothers and their sons, a total of twenty men.

20 וּמִן־הַנְּתִינִ֗ים שֶׁנָּתַ֨ן דָּוִ֤יד וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ לַעֲבֹדַ֣ת הַלְוִיִּ֔ם נְתִינִ֖ים מָאתַ֣יִם וְעֶשְׂרִ֑ים כֻּלָּ֖ם נִקְּב֥וּ בְשֵׁמֹֽות׃

In addition they brought 220 of the Temple servants, a group appointed by David and his officials to help the Levites. These were all registered by name.

21 וָאֶקְרָ֨א שָׁ֥ם צֹום֙ עַל־הַנָּהָ֣ר אַהֲוָ֔א לְהִתְעַנֹּ֖ות לִפְנֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְשָׁרָ֔ה לָ֥נוּ וּלְטַפֵּ֖נוּ וּלְכָל־רְכוּשֵֽׁנוּ׃

At the Ahava Canal I called for a fast so we could confess our sins before God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, along with all our possessions.

22 כִּ֣י בֹ֗שְׁתִּי לִשְׁאֹ֤ול מִן־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ חַ֣יִל וּפָרָשִׁ֔ים לְעָזְרֵ֥נוּ מֵאֹויֵ֖ב בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ כִּֽי־אָמַ֨רְנוּ לַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֗ר יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ עַל־כָּל־מְבַקְשָׁיו֙ לְטֹובָ֔ה וְעֻזֹּ֣ו וְאַפֹּ֔ו עַ֖ל כָּל־עֹזְבָֽיו׃

I had been reluctant to ask the king to give us a military escort to protect us from enemies on the way. We had told the king, “Our gracious God takes care of everyone who follows him, but shows his anger against anyone who abandons him.”

23 וַנָּצ֛וּמָה וַנְּבַקְשָׁ֥ה מֵאֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ עַל־זֹ֑את וַיֵּעָתֵ֖ר לָֽנוּ׃

So we fasted and asked God to protect us, and he answered our prayers.

24 וָאַבְדִּ֛ילָה מִשָּׂרֵ֥י הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר לְשֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֣ה חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה וְעִמָּהֶ֥ם מֵאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם עֲשָׂרָֽה׃

Then I designated twelve of the leading priests, and Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers,

25 וָאֶשְׁקֹולָה (וָאֶשְׁקֳלָ֣ה) לָהֶ֔ם אֶת־הַכֶּ֥סֶף וְאֶת־הַזָּהָ֖ב וְאֶת־הַכֵּלִ֑ים תְּרוּמַ֣ת בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ הַהֵרִ֙ימוּ֙ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְיֹעֲצָ֣יו וְשָׂרָ֔יו וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הַנִּמְצָאִֽים׃

and I weighed out and handed them the donations of silver and gold, and the items that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the people of Israel there had given for the Temple of our God.

26 וָאֶשְׁקֲלָ֨ה עַל־יָדָ֜ם כֶּ֗סֶף כִּכָּרִים֙ שֵֽׁשׁ־מֵאֹ֣ות וַחֲמִשִּׁ֔ים וּכְלֵי־כֶ֥סֶף מֵאָ֖ה לְכִכָּרִ֑ים זָהָ֖ב מֵאָ֥ה כִכָּֽר׃

I weighed out and placed in their hands 650 talents of silver, silver Temple items weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold,

27 וּכְפֹרֵ֤י זָהָב֙ עֶשְׂרִ֔ים לַאֲדַרְכֹנִ֖ים אָ֑לֶף וּכְלֵ֨י נְחֹ֜שֶׁת מֻצְהָ֤ב טֹובָה֙ שְׁנַ֔יִם חֲמוּדֹ֖ת כַּזָּהָֽב׃

20 gold bowls worth 1,000 darics, and two articles of highly-polished bronze, as valuable as gold.

28 וָאֹמְרָ֣ה אֲלֵהֶ֗ם אַתֶּ֥ם קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ לַיהוָ֔ה וְהַכֵּלִ֖ים קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְהַכֶּ֤סֶף וְהַזָּהָב֙ נְדָבָ֔ה לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

I told them, “You are set apart for the Lord, and these Temple items are too. The silver and gold are a voluntary offering to the Lord, the God of your forefathers.

29 שִׁקְד֣וּ וְשִׁמְר֗וּ עַֽד־תִּשְׁקְל֡וּ לִפְנֵי֩ שָׂרֵ֨י הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֛ם וְשָׂרֵֽי־הָאָבֹ֥ות לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם הַלִּשְׁכֹ֖ות בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

You are to guard them and keep them safe until you hand them over, weighing them before the high priests, the Levites and the family leaders in Israel at Jerusalem, in the treasury rooms within the Lord's Temple.”

30 וְקִבְּלוּ֙ הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם מִשְׁקַ֛ל הַכֶּ֥סֶף וְהַזָּהָ֖ב וְהַכֵּלִ֑ים לְהָבִ֥יא לִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם לְבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ פ

The priests and Levites took responsibility for the silver and gold and the Temple items that had been weighed out to be brought to the Temple of our God in Jerusalem.

31 וַֽנִּסְעָ֞ה מִנְּהַ֣ר אֽ͏ַהֲוָ֗א בִּשְׁנֵ֤ים עָשָׂר֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשֹׁ֔ון לָלֶ֖כֶת יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְיַד־אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ הָיְתָ֣ה עָלֵ֔ינוּ וַיַּ֨צִּילֵ֔נוּ מִכַּ֥ף אֹויֵ֛ב וְאֹורֵ֖ב עַל־הַדָּֽרֶךְ׃

On the twelfth day of the first month, we left the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem, and our God was with us to protect us from enemy ambushes along the way.

32 וַנָּבֹ֖וא יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַנֵּ֥שֶׁב שָׁ֖ם יָמִ֥ים שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃

Eventually we arrived in Jerusalem and rested there for three days.

33 וּבַיֹּ֣ום הָרְבִיעִ֡י נִשְׁקַ֣ל הַכֶּסֶף֩ וְהַזָּהָ֨ב וְהַכֵּלִ֜ים בְּבֵ֣ית אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ עַ֠ל יַד־מְרֵמֹ֤ות בֶּן־אֽוּרִיָּה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְעִמֹּ֖ו אֶלְעָזָ֣ר בֶּן־פִּֽינְחָ֑ס וְעִמָּהֶ֞ם יֹוזָבָ֧ד בֶּן־יֵשׁ֛וּעַ וְנֹֽועַדְיָ֥ה בֶן־בִּנּ֖וּי הַלְוִיִּֽם׃

On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the Temple items were weighed out in the Temple of our God and handed over to Meremoth, son of Uriah the priest, accompanied by Eleazar, son of Phinehas. Also present were the Levites, Jozabad, son of Jeshua, and Noadiah, son of Binnui.

34 בְּמִסְפָּ֥ר בְּמִשְׁקָ֖ל לַכֹּ֑ל וַיִּכָּתֵ֥ב כָּֽל־הַמִּשְׁקָ֖ל בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽיא׃ פ

Everything was checked, both by number and weight, and the total weight was written down at the time.

35 הַ֠בָּאִים מֵֽהַשְּׁבִ֨י בְנֵֽי־הַגֹּולָ֜ה הִקְרִ֥יבוּ עֹלֹ֣ות ׀ לֵאלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל פָּרִ֨ים שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֤ר עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֵילִ֣ים ׀ תִּשְׁעִ֣ים וְשִׁשָּׁ֗ה כְּבָשִׂים֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים וְשִׁבְעָ֔ה צְפִירֵ֥י חַטָּ֖את שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר הַכֹּ֖ל עֹולָ֥ה לַיהוָֽה׃ פ

Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel—twelve bulls for all of Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and a sin offering of twelve goats. All were sacrificed as a burnt offering to the Lord.

36 וַֽיִּתְּנ֣וּ ׀ אֶת־דָּתֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנֵי֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּפַחֲוֹ֖ות עֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֑ר וְנִשְּׂא֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם וְאֶת־בֵּֽית־הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ ס

They also delivered the king's decrees to the chief officers of the king and the governors of the province west of the Euphrates, who then provided assistance to the people and to God's Temple.