Ezra Chapter 8
1 The Heads of Families and the Genealogies of Men
Who Went Up from Babylon During the Reign of King Artaxerxes
2 from the family of Phinehas, Gershom;
from the family of Ithamar, Daniel;
from the family of David, Hattush,
3a descendant of Shecaniah;
from the family of Parosh—Zechariah, plus 150 men in the genealogy;
4 from the family of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai Ben-Zerahiah plus 200 men;
5 from the family Shecaniah Ben-Jahaziel plus 300 men;
6 from the family of Adin, Ebed Ben-Jonathan plus 50 men;
Ezra 8:1-6
7 from the family of Elam, Jeshaiah Ben-Athaliah plus 70 men;
8 from the family of Shephatiah, Zebadiah Ben-Michael plus 80 men;
9 from the family of Joab, Obadiah Ben-Jehiel plus 218 men;
10 from the family of Shelomith Ben-Josiphiah plus 160 men;
11 from the family of Bebai, Zechariah Ben-Bebai plus 28 men;
12 from the family of Azgad, Johanan Ben-Hakkatan plus 110 men;
13 from the family of Adonikam (coming later): Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah plus 60
men;
14 from the family of Bigvai: Uthai and Zabbub plus 70 men.
Ezra 8:7-14
Ezra’s Journey to Jerusalem
15 I assembled them at the canal that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days. When I looked over the people and the priests, I didn’t find any Levites. 16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam (leaders), and for Joiarib and Elnathan (teachers). 17 I sent them to Iddo, leader of the Levites at Casiphia, to tell him and his brothers (the Temple servants at that place) to bring ministers to us for God’s Temple. 18 By God’s good hand on us, they brought
Sherebiah (an insightful Ben-Mahli, descendant of Levi) as well as his sons and brothers, 18 men;
19 Hashabiah and Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 men;
20 220 Temple servants that David and the officials had given to assist the Levites—all identified by name.
21 Then I declared a fast at the Ahava Canal, to humble ourselves toward God and look to him for a safe journey for us, our little ones, and our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for troops and cavalry to protect us, because we’d told him, “God favors those who look to him. His power and anger oppose those who leave him.” 23 We fasted and looked to God on the matter, and he listened to our plea.
Ezra 8:15-23
24 Then I set apart 12 leading priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and 10 others. 25 I weighed out to them the silver and gold, the utensils, and the offering for God’s Temple that the king, his advisors, officials, and all Israel present there had offered: 26 24½ tons 650 talents of silver, utensils worth 7,550 lbs 100 talents of silver, 7,550 lbs 100 talents of gold, 27 20 bowls worth 19 lbs 1,000 darics of gold; and 2 utensils of fine, shiny bronze, precious as gold. 28 Then I said,
“You’re holy to Yahveh; the utensils are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to Yahveh God of your ancestors. 29 Keep them till you weigh them in the presence of the leading priests, Levites, and heads of families at Jerusalem, in the rooms in Yahveh’s Temple.”
30 The priests and Levites received the silver, gold, and utensils, to take to Jerusalem.
31 Then we left the Ahava River on the twelfth day, first month to go to Jerusalem. God watched over us and delivered us from enemies and ambushes along the way. 32 We arrived at Jerusalem and rested three days. 33 On the fourth day, we weighed out in God’s Temple the silver, gold, and utensils to Meremoth son of Uriah the priest, Eleazar son of Phinehas, and the Levites, Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. 34 We numbered and weighed everything, and recorded the total.
35 The exiles offered burnt offerings to God: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, 12 male goats for a sin offering. 36 Then they delivered the king’s edicts to his satraps and the governors of Beyond the River [Ever-hannahar, Hebrew], and they supported the people and God’s Temple.
Ezra 8:24-36