Ezra 8:1-36 The Genealogy of Those Who Returned from Captivity in Babylon

 

The Genealogy of Those Who Returned from Captivity in Babylon

Ezra 8:1-36         The Book of Ezra in [Smaller Chunks]

These are the [leaders] of their fathers & their genealogy of [those who returned] with me from Babylon, [when] Artaxerxes, the king, [ruled:] Of the [descendants] of Phinehas: Gersham. Of the [descendants] of Ithamar: Daniel. Of the [descendants] of David: Hattush.

Of the [descendants] of Shechaniah [a.k.a. Shekaiah, who was a descendant] of Pharosh: Zechariah & with him, 150 males [registered] by [their] genealogy. Of the [descendants] of Pahath Moab: Elihoenani, [who was] the son of Zerahiah & with him, 200 males.

Of the [descendants] of Shechaniah, [a.k.a. Shekaniah, who was] the son of Jahaziel & with him, 300 males. Of the [descendants] of Adin: Ebed, [who] was the son of Jonathan & with him, 50 males.

And of the [descendants] of Elam: Jeshaiah, [who was] the son of Athaliah & with him 70 males. And of the [descendants] of Shephatiah: Zebadiah, [who was] the son of Michael & with him, 80 males.

Of the [descendants] of Joab: Obadiah, [who was] the son of Jehiel & with him, 218 males. And of the [descendants] of Shelomith [a.k.a. Bani’s descendant, who was] the son of Josiphiah & with him, 160 males.

And of the [descendants] of Bebai: Zechariah, [who was] the son of Bebai & with him, 28 males. And of the [descendants] of Asgard: Johanan, [who was] the son of Hakkata & with him, 110 males.

And the last of the [descendants] of Adonikam, are these: Eliphelet, Jeiel [a.k.a. Jenel] & Shemaiah & with them, 60 males. Also, of the [descendants] of Bigvai: Uthai & Zabbud [a.k.a. Zakkur,] with them, 70 males.

And I gathered them together to the river that runs toward Ahava & we [camped] in tents [there] 3 days. I [saw] the people & priests & [I] found there were [no descendants] of Levi.

Then, I sent for: Eliezer, Ariel, Semaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, Meshullam, [who were leaders] & also for: Joiarib, & Elnathan, [knowledgeable] men.

I sent them with a [command] to Iddo, the chief [priest] at Casiphia [a.k.a. Kasipra] & I told them what they should say to Iddo & his brethren, the Nethinims, at Casiphia [a.k.a. Kasphia, so] they [could] bring to us ministers [to serve in] the house of our God.

With God’s [gracious] hand upon us, they brought us a [knowledgeable] man: Sherebiah, a [descendant] of Mahli, [who was] a [descendant] of Levi, with his sons & [relatives,] 18 [total.]

And Hashabiah & with him: Jeshaiah, of the [descendants] of Merari & his [relatives] & their sons, 20. Also, [they brought] of the Nethinims, whom David & the princes had appointed for the service of Levites, 220 Nethinims, who were [registered] by name.

Then, I [declared] a fast there, at the River of Ahava, that we might [humble] ourselves before our God, for Him to [search] for a right [road] for us & our little ones & all our [possessions.]

I was ashamed to [need] a band of the king’s soldiers & horsemen, to help [protect] us on the [road.] We had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all [those who] seek Him for good; but [God’s] power & His [anger] are against all [those who abandon] Him.

So, we fasted & [pleaded with] our God for this & He [answered our prayer for] us. Then, I separated 12 of the chief priests, Sherebiah & Hashabiah, with 10 of their brethren.

[Then,] I even weighed to them the silver & gold & the vessels, even the offering [from] the house of our God, [that] the king, his counselors, his lords & all Israel present [there] had offered. I even weighed into their hand: 650 talents of silver & 100 talents of silver vessels,100 talents of silver vessels & 100 talents of gold.

Also, 20 gold [basins] [worth] 1,000 drams [a.k.a. drachmas] & 2 vessels of fine copper, [as] precious as gold. And I said to them, You are holy to the Lord: the vessels are also holy. And the silver & gold are a freewill offering to the Lord God of your [forefathers.]

Watch & keep them [safe,] until you weigh them [in front of] the chief of priests & the Levites & the [leaders of our fathers’ families] of Israel, [in] Jerusalem, in the [rooms] of the [Lord’s] house.

So, the priests & the Levites took the weight of the silver, gold & vessels to bring them to the house of our God [in] Jerusalem. Then, we [left] from the River of Ahava on the 12th day of the 1st month, to go to Jerusalem.

The hand of [the Lord] our God was upon us & He delivered us from the hand of our enemy [who] lay in wait by the [road to ambush us.] We came to Jerusalem & [stayed] there 3 days.

On the 4th day, the silver, gold & vessels were weighed in [God’s] house by Meremoth, [Uriah’s] son, the priest. Eleazar, [Phinehas’] son, was with him & so were Jozabad, [Jeshua’s] son & Noadiah, [Binnui’s] son, [of the] Levites.

At that time, every one was written by number & by weight. Also, [those who had returned from] captivity offered burnt offerings to the [Lord] God of Israel: 12 bulls for all [of] Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs & 12 [male] goats for a sin offering.

All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. They delivered the king’s [orders] to the king’s lieutenants & governors on this side of the [Euphrates] River & they [gave support] to the people & the house of God.

Ezra 7:1-28 Ezra’s Genealogy & Funding the Rebuilding of the Lord’s House.

 

Ezra’s Genealogy & Funding the Rebuilding of the Lord’s House.

Ezra 7:1-28      The Book of Ezra in [Smaller Chunks]

After these things, [during] the reign of Artaxerxes, [Persia’] king, [were:] Ezra [was Seraiah’s] son. [Seraiah was Azariah’s] son. [Azariah was Hilkiah’s] son. [Hilkiah was] the son of Shallum. [Shallum was Zadok’s] son.

[Zadok was Ahitub’s] son. [Ahitub was Amariah’s] son. [Amariah was Azariah’s] son. [Azariah was Meraioth’s] son. [Meraioth was Zerahiah’s] son. [Zerahiah was Uzzi’s] son. [Uzzi was Bukki’s] son. [Bukki was Abishua’s] son.

[Abishua was Phinehas’] son. [Phinehas was Eleazar’s] son. [Eleazar was Aaron’s] son, the chief priest [also Aaron was the brother of Moses.] This Ezra [left] Babylon & was a [capable] scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given.

The king granted [Ezra] all [he requested, because] the hand of the Lord, his God, was upon him. [Also,] some of the children [people] of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers [& musicians] & the [gate keepers] & the Nethinims went up to Jerusalem, [during] the 7th year king Artaxerxes [ruled.]

[Ezra] came to Jerusalem in the 5th month, which was [during] the 7th year of the king. On the 1st day of the 1st month, [Ezra left] Babylon & on the 1st day of the 5th month, [Ezra] came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord & to do it & to teach statutes & judgments in Israel.

Now, this is the copy of the letter king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra, the priest & a scribe of the commandments, statutes & words of the Lord to Israel. [From] Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest & a scribe of the Law of perfect peace, at such a time of, the God of heaven.

[Isaiah 49:8-10 The Lord says [this,] In an acceptable time, I have heard you & in a day of Salvation I have helped you & I will preserve you for a covenant [contract for] My people, to establish the earth & to cause [them] to inherit the desolate [& empty] heritages. That you may say to the prisoners, Go forth; to those [who] are in darkness, Show yourselves.

They shall feed in the [paths] & their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger, nor thirst. Neither shall the heat nor the sun [strike] them. For He, [Who] has mercy on them, shall lead them, even by the springs of water, He shall guide them.]

I make a decree, [that] all [who are of a mind] of their own free will, of the people of Israel & of His priests & Levites, in my [kingdom may] go up to Jerusalem, with you. [Since,] you are sent [by] the king & his 7 counselors, to [inquire about] Judah & Jerusalem, according to the Law of your God, which is in [Ezra’s] hand.

Carry the silver & the gold which the king & the counselors have freely offered to the [Lord] God of Israel, Whose habitation is in Jerusalem. And all the silver & gold you can find in all [of] the province of Babylon, the freewill offering of the people & the priests [who offered] willingly for the house of their God in Jerusalem.

[So] you [may quickly] buy with this money: bulls, rams & lambs to offer on the altar of [God’s] house in Jerusalem with their [meat/grain] offerings & drink offerings. Do whatever [seems best] to you & your brethren with the rest of the silver & gold, [according] to the will of your God.

Also, deliver before the God of Jerusalem, the vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God. Out of the king’s treasure house [will be given whatever you shall still need] for the house of your God.

I, king Artaxerxes, do make a decree to all the treasurers beyond the [Euphrates] River, [to speedily give whatever] Ezra, the priest & scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, [might need from] you, [up to] 100 talents of silver, 100 measures of wheat, 100 baths of wine & 100 baths of oil & [an unlimited amount of] salt.

[Whatever] the [Lord] God of heaven commands, [shall] be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven. For [why] should there be [any anger] against the [kingdom] of the king & his sons?

We certify [to] you, that it is [unlawful] to impose [a tax,] tribute, or [import taxes upon any] of the priests, Levites, singers [& musicians,] [gate keepers,] Nethinims, or ministers of [God’s] house.

[According to] the wisdom of your God, [Who] is your [right] hand, Ezra, [Who] [puts law officers,] judges & all [who] know the Laws of your God [to] judge all the people beyond the [Euphrates] River & to teach [those who don’t] know them.

Let judgment be [carried out] speedily, whether [for] death, [exile], imprisonment, or confiscation of goods [from those who won’t] do the Law of your God & the law of the king.

Blessed be the Lord God of our [forefathers,] which has put [something] such as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the [Lord’s] house in Jerusalem. [The Lord God] has extended mercy to me before the king, his counselors & the king’s mighty princes. As the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, I was strengthened & gathered [leaders] of Israel together to go up with me.

[Ezra 8:18-19 And by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, [from the descendants] of Mahli, [Levi’s] son, [from] Israel & Sherebiah, with his sons & brethren, 18. And Hashabiah & with him, Jeshaiah, [from the descendants] of Merari, his brethren & sons, 20.]

Ezra 6:1-22 They Found King Cyrus’ Decree to Rebuild the Lord God’s House

 

They Found King Cyrus’ Decree to Rebuild the Lord God’s House

Ezra 6:1-22         The Book of Ezra in [Smaller Chunks]

Then, king Darius made a decree & a search was made in the house of [scrolls] where [they put] the treasures of Babylon. A [scroll] was found in the palace at Achmetha [a.k.a. Ecbatana] in the province of the Medes.

[This] record was written [on it.] In the 1st year of king Cyrus, the king made a decree [about] the house of God [in] Jerusalem. Let the house & the place where they offer sacrifices be [rebuilt.]

Let the foundations be [strong when it is] laid. The height [of it] 60 cubits & the [width] 60 cubits. With 3 rows of [large] stones & a row of new [lumber] & let the expenses be [paid] out of the king’s [palace.]

Also, let the golden & silver vessels be [returned to its] own place in the temple, of the [Lord] God, [that] Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple [in] Jerusalem & brought to Babylon.

Therefore, now, governor, Tatnai, beyond the [Euphrates] River, Shethar Boznai & your companions, the Apharsachites, [stay] far from [there &] let the work of the house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews & the Jew’s elders [rebuild God’s] house in [its own] place.

[Also,] I decree that the expenses [are] given to these men for building [God’s] house, from the king’s [treasury & revenues of those] beyond the [Euphrates] River, so they [aren’t financially] hindered.

Give them without fail [whatever] the priest [in] Jerusalem [may] have need of: both young bulls, rams & lambs for the burnt offerings of the [Lord] God of heaven [&] wheat, salt, wine & oil, [so] they may offer sacrifices of sweet [aromas] to the God of heaven & pray for the [lives] of the king & his sons.

I have also [decreed] that [whoever alters] this word, [shall have the lumber] pulled down from his house & [put] up to [hang him on them.] Let his house be made a [garbage dump] for this.

I, Darius, have made a decree. Let it be done with speed & the God, Who caused His name to dwell there, destroy all the kings & people [who try] to alter [this.] Then, governor Tatnai, on this side of the [Euphrates] River, Shethar Boznai & their companions speedily did according to [the decree that] king Darius had sent.

The elders of the Jews [continued to build] & they prospered through the prophesying of the prophet, Haggai & Zechariah, [Iddo’s] son. And they [built] & finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel & according to the [command] of Cyrus, Darius & Artaxerxes, [king] of Persia.

The [Lord’s] house was finished on the 3rd day of the month Adar, [during] the 6th year king Darius [ruled.] The children [people] of Israel, the priests & the Levites & the rest of [those returned from] captivity kept the dedication of [God’s] house with joy.

At the dedication of [God’s] house, they offered: 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs & for a sin offering: 12 male goats, according to the number of tribes of Israel. They [appointed] the priests in their divisions & the Levites in their [groups,] for their service of God [in] Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses.

The children [people who returned from] captivity kept the Passover on the 14th day of the 1st month. For the priests & Levites [had] purified [themselves] together & were pure. [They] killed the Passover [animals] for all the [people who returned from] captivity & for their brethren, the priests & for themselves.

The children [people who had] come again [from] captivity & all [those who] separated themselves from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, [in order to] seek the Lord God of Israel, [ate.]

[Ezra 9:10-11 O our God & now what shall we say after this? For we have [abandoned] Your commandments, [that] You have commanded by the prophets, Your servants, saying, The land [where] you go to possess, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.]

[They] kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread 7 days with joy: for the Lord had made them joyful & turned the heart of [Assyria’s] king to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Ezra 5:1-17 The Enemies Continue to Try to Stop the Rebuilding of the Lord’s House

 

The Enemies Continue to Try to Stop the Rebuilding of the Lord’s House

Ezra 5:1-17               The Book of Ezra in [Smaller Chunks]

Then, the prophets: Haggai & Zechariah, [Iddo’s] son, prophesied even to [those] Jews in Judah & Jerusalem in the Name of the God of Israel.

Then, Zerubbabel, [Shealtiel’s] son & Jeshua, [a.k.a. Joshua, Jozadak’s] son, rose up & began to [rebuild] the house of God [in] Jerusalem: with [God’s] prophets helping them.

The same time, Tatnai, governor on this side of the [Euphrates] River & Shethar Boznai & their companions came & said to them, Who commanded you to [rebuild] this house & [put] up this wall? What are the names of the men [who are constructing] this building?

But the eye of the [Lord,] their God was upon the [Jew's] elders, so they couldn’t [make them stop, until] the matter came to Darius. And then, they returned [an] answer by letter, [about] this matter.

The copy of the letter sent to king Darius, [by:] Tatnai, governor on this side [of] the [Euphrates] River, Shethar Boznai & his companions: the Apharsachites, which were on this side of the river.

[In] the letter that was sent to him was written, All peace [be to] king Darius. The king [should know] we went to the province of Judea to the house of the great God, which is [being rebuilt with large] stones & timber is laid in the walls & the work goes [quickly] & their hands prosper.

[When] we asked those elders, Who commanded you to [rebuild] this house & to [put] up these walls? Also, we asked their names, [so] we might write the names of the [leaders] of the men & [inform] you.

They [replied,] We are the servants of the [Lord] God of heaven & earth & have [rebuilt] the house that the great king [Solomon] of Israel built many years ago.

After that, our [forefathers] provoked the God of heaven [to [anger] & He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, [Babylon’s] king, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house & carried the people away into Babylon.

[2 Kings 17:9-12 And the [people] of Israel secretly did those things that weren’t right, against the Lord, their God & they built [themselves] high places in all their cities, from the Tower of the Watchman to the fenced city. And they [put up for themselves] images & groves in every high hill & under every green tree.

And they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen, whom the Lord carried away before them & [ they formed] wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger; for they served idols, where the Lord had said to them, You shall not do this thing.]

In the 1st year of king Cyrus of Babylon made a decree to [rebuild] the house of God. Nebuchadnezzar took the vessels of gold & silver out of the temple in Jerusalem & brought them into [Babylon’s] temple.

King Cyrus [took those] out of [Babylon’s] temple & they were delivered to Sheshbazzar, whom [Cyrus] had made governor. And said to him, Take these vessels & go carry them to the temple [site] that is in Jerusalem & let [God’s] house be [rebuilt] in this place.

Then, Sheshbazzar came & laid the foundations of [God’s] house, which is in Jerusalem. And since that time even until now, it [is being rebuilt] & isn’t finished yet.

Therefore, now, if it [seems] good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there [in] Babylon, to [see] whether it [is] so, that a decree was made [by] king Cyrus to [rebuild God’s] house in Jerusalem. And let the king send to us [his response about] this matter, at his pleasure.

[Ezra 6:3 In the 1st year of king Cyrus, this same Cyrus made a decree [about] the house of God in Jerusalem, Let the house be [rebuilt,] the place where they offer sacrifices & [its] foundations, should be strongly laid. [It should be] 60 cubits [high] 60 cubits wide.]

Ezra 4:1-24 Their Enemies Try to Stop the Rebuilding of the Lord God’s House

 

Their Enemies Try to Stop the Rebuilding of the Lord God’s House

Ezra 4:1-24      The Book of Ezra in [Smaller Chunks]

Now, when the [enemies] of Judah & Benjamin heard that the children [people returned from] captivity [were building] a temple to the Lord God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel & the [leaders] of the [forefather’s families] & said to them, Let us [rebuild] with you, [because] we seek your God, [like] you do.

And we [have sacrificed] to Him, since the days of Esar Haddon, [Assur’s] king, [who] brought us [here.] But Zerubbabel & the [leaders of the forefather’s families] of Israel said to them, You have [no part] with us [building] a house to our God.

We [will rebuild] a house to the Lord, our God of Israel ourselves, [like] king Cyrus of Persia commanded us. Then, the people of the land [tried to discourage] the people of Judah & troubled them in building.

[They] hired counselors to [keep them from attaining their goal,] all the days of Cyrus, [Persia’s king ruled] even until Darius, [Persia’s] king [ruled.] And in the beginning of [Ahasuerus’] reign, they wrote to him [with] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah & Jerusalem.

[During Artaxerxes’ reign,] Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel & the rest of their companions wrote a letter in the Syrian [language] to Artaxerxes, [Persia’s] king & [was] interpreted in the Syrian [language.]

Rehum, the [chief director of state] & Shimshai, the scribe, wrote a letter to Artaxerxes, the king, against Jerusalem [about] this. Then, Rehum, Shimshai wrote [with] the rest of their companions:

The Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites,the Dehavites, the Elamites & the rest of the nations,

whom the great & noble Asnapper [a.k.a. Ashurbanipal] brought over & [put] in the cities of Samaria & the rest that are on this side [of] the [Euphrates] River, at [this] time.

This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes, the king. [From] our servants, the men of this side of the river, at [this] time.

The king [should know] that the Jews [who] came up from you to us [have gone into] Jerusalem [& are] building the rebellious & bad city & have [put] up [its] walls & joined the foundations.

The king [should also know] now that, if this city [is rebuilt] & the walls [are restored,] they [won’t] pay [taxes,] tribute, or [taxes on imports, which will eventually affect] the revenue of the kings.

[Since,] we [are under obligation to] the king’s palace, it [wasn’t proper] for us to see the king [dishonored, so] we sent & [informed] the king.

[If a search] is made [in] the records of your [forefathers, you will find] that this is a rebellious city, [troublesome] to kings & provinces & they have [reverted] to [inciting the people to rebel, like in] the past, which [caused] this city [to be] destroyed.

We [are informing] the king that if this city [is rebuilt] & the walls [are restored,] you shall have [no control] on this side of the river. Then, the king [returned] an answer to Rehum, the [chief director of state,] Shimshai, the scribe & the rest of their companions [who live] in Samaria & beyond the [Euphrates] River.

Peace [& greetings.] The letter you sent to us has been read plainly [in front of] me. I commanded & a search [was] made & it is found that this city [in the past] has [revolted] against kings & that rebellion & [inciting riots] have been made there.

Also, mighty kings have been over Jerusalem & ruled over all [the] countries beyond the river & [taxes,] tribute & [taxes on imports were] paid to them. Now, give the [command] that these men [stop rebuilding] this city, until [I give] another [command.]

Now, [pay attention & don’t] fail to do this. Why should [this threat increase] & [harm] the kings?

When [a] copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read [in front of] Rehum, Shimshai & their companions, they [hurried] & went up to the Jews [in] Jerusalem & made them [stop] by force & power. So, the work [on] the house of God [stopped] in Jerusalem [until] the 2nd year Darius, [Persia’s] king [ruled.]

Ezra 3:1-13 Those Who Return from Babylon Unite Together as One

 

Those Who Return from Babylon Unite Together as One

Ezra 3:1-13                                    The Book of Ezra in [Smaller Chunks]

When the 7th month [came] the children [people] of Israel were in the cities. The people gathered themselves together [united] [like] one man [in] Jerusalem.

Then, Jeshua, [a.k.a. Joshua, Jozadak’s] son & his brethren, the priests & Zerubbabel, [Shealtiel’s] son & his brethren, stood up & [rebuilt] the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings [on it,] as it is written in the Law of Moses, the man of God. They [put] the altar on [its base.]

Fear [respect] was upon them, because of the people of [the other] countries & they offered burnt offerings [on it] to the Lord, [every] morning & evening. They also kept the Feast of the Tabernacles, as it is written. [They] offered the required number [of] daily burnt offerings, according to the custom [for each] day.

Afterward, they offered the continual burnt [offerings, both] of the New Moon [sacrifices] & all the [appointed sacred] feasts of the Lord, that were consecrated & [from] everyone [who] willingly offered a freewill offering to the Lord.

From the 1st day of the 7th month, they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. But the foundation of the [Lord’s] temple, [hadn’t] been laid yet.

They also gave money, food, [drinks] & oil to the masons & carpenters of Zidon & Tyre to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the Sea of Joppa, according to the [contract authorized by] Cyrus, [Persia’s] king.

Now in the 2nd year, 2nd month, of their coming to [God’s] house in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel, [Shealtiel’s] son & Jeshua, [Jozadak’s] son, & [the remaining] of their brethren, the priests & the Levites & all [those who had] come out of captivity to Jerusalem, began & appointed the Levites, 20 years & older, to [move] forward the work in the [Lord God’s] house.

Then, Jeshua stood with his sons & his brethren, Kadmiel & his sons & the sons of Judah, together to [move] forward the workmen of [God’s] house: [who were] the sons of Henadad, with their sons & their brethren [of] the Levites.

When the builders laid the foundation of the [Lord’s] house, the priests [wore] their [priestly clothes, along] with trumpets & the Levites, [Asaph’s] sons, [had] cymbals to praise the Lord, [as ordered by] king David of Israel.

They sang together by [divisions] in praising & giving thanks to the Lord, because He is good & His mercy [endures] forever toward Israel. All the people shouted [loudly,] when they praised the Lord, because the foundation [was] laid for the [Lord’s] house.

Many of the priests, Levites & [elderly leaders of] the fathers [who] had seen the 1st [temple] wept with a loud voice & shouted aloud when the foundation of this [temple] was laid.

The people [couldn’t distinguish between] the noise of the shouts of joy & the noise of the weeping. The people [shouted so loudly, it] was heard far [away.]