The Bible, King James version, Book 15: Ezra
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Unknown >> The Bible, King James version, Book 15: Ezra
This eBook was produced by David Widger [widger@cecomet.net]
with the help of Derek Andrew's text from January 1992
and the work of Bryan Taylor in November 2002.
Book 15 Ezra
15:001:001 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word
of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the
LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he
made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it
also in writing, saying,
15:001:002 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath
given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me
to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
15:001:003 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him,
and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build
the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is
in Jerusalem.
15:001:004 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let
the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and
with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for
the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
15:001:005 Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin,
and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit
God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which
is in Jerusalem.
15:001:006 And all they that were about them strengthened their hands
with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with
beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was
willingly offered.
15:001:007 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of
the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of
Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;
15:001:008 Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of
Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar,
the prince of Judah.
15:001:009 And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a
thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,
15:001:010 Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four
hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.
15:001:011 All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and
four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of
the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto
Jerusalem.
15:002:001 Now these are the children of the province that went up out of
the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto
Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one
unto his city;
15:002:002 Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah,
Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Israel:
15:002:003 The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and
two.
15:002:004 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
15:002:005 The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.
15:002:006 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and
Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.
15:002:007 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
15:002:008 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.
15:002:009 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
15:002:010 The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.
15:002:011 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.
15:002:012 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.
15:002:013 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.
15:002:014 The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.
15:002:015 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.
15:002:016 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
15:002:017 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.
15:002:018 The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve.
15:002:019 The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.
15:002:020 The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.
15:002:021 The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three.
15:002:022 The men of Netophah, fifty and six.
15:002:023 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
15:002:024 The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.
15:002:025 The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven
hundred and forty and three.
15:002:026 The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.
15:002:027 The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.
15:002:028 The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.
15:002:029 The children of Nebo, fifty and two.
15:002:030 The children of Magbish, an hundred fifty and six.
15:002:031 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty
and four.
15:002:032 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
15:002:033 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and
five.
15:002:034 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
15:002:035 The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and
thirty.
15:002:036 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua,
nine hundred seventy and three.
15:002:037 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
15:002:038 The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and
seven.
15:002:039 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
15:002:040 The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the
children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.
15:002:041 The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and
eight.
15:002:042 The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the
children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of
Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all
an hundred thirty and nine.
15:002:043 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha,
the children of Tabbaoth,
15:002:044 The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of
Padon,
15:002:045 The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children
of Akkub,
15:002:046 The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children
of Hanan,
15:002:047 The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of
Reaiah,
15:002:048 The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of
Gazzam,
15:002:049 The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of
Besai,
15:002:050 The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children
of Nephusim,
15:002:051 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children
of Harhur,
15:002:052 The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children
of Harsha,
15:002:053 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children
of Thamah,
15:002:054 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
15:002:055 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the
children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
15:002:056 The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children
of Giddel,
15:002:057 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the
children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.
15:002:058 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants,
were three hundred ninety and two.
15:002:059 And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa,
Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their
father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:
15:002:060 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children
of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.
15:002:061 And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah,
the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a
wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was
called after their name:
15:002:062 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by
genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as
polluted, put from the priesthood.
15:002:063 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of
the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim
and with Thummim.
15:002:064 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand
three hundred and threescore,
15:002:065 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were
seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were
among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
15:002:066 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules,
two hundred forty and five;
15:002:067 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six
thousand seven hundred and twenty.
15:002:068 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the
house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for
the house of God to set it up in his place:
15:002:069 They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work
threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand
pound of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.
15:002:070 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and
the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in
their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
15:003:001 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of
Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves
together as one man to Jerusalem.
15:003:002 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the
priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his
brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer
burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses
the man of God.
15:003:003 And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them
because of the people of those countries: and they offered
burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings
morning and evening.
15:003:004 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and
offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the
custom, as the duty of every day required;
15:003:005 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of
the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were
consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a
freewill offering unto the LORD.
15:003:006 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer
burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the
temple of the LORD was not yet laid.
15:003:007 They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters;
and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them
of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of
Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of
Persia.
15:003:008 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God
at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of
their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that
were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed
the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward
the work of the house of the LORD.
15:003:009 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and
his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the
workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their
sons and their brethren the Levites.
15:003:010 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the
LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and
the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the
LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
15:003:011 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks
unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for
ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great
shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of
the house of the LORD was laid.
15:003:012 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers,
who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the
foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with
a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
15:003:013 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of
joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the
people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar
off.
15:004:001 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the
children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God
of Israel;
15:004:002 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers,
and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your
God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of
Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
15:004:003 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the
fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with
us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together
will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king
of Persia hath commanded us.
15:004:004 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people
of Judah, and troubled them in building,
15:004:005 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their
purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the
reign of Darius king of Persia.
15:004:006 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign,
wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of
Judah and Jerusalem.
15:004:007 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath,
Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king
of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the
Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
15:004:008 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter
against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
15:004:009 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and
the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the
Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the
Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites,
and the Elamites,
15:004:010 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper
brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest
that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
15:004:011 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even
unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side
the river, and at such a time.
15:004:012 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from
thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious
and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and
joined the foundations.
15:004:013 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded,
and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll,
tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of
the kings.
15:004:014 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it
was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore
have we sent and certified the king;
15:004:015 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy
fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and
know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto
kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within
the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
15:004:016 We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and
the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no
portion on this side the river.
15:004:017 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to
Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that
dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace,
and at such a time.
15:004:018 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before
me.
15:004:019 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found
that this city of old time hath made insurrection against
kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
15:004:020 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have
ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute,
and custom, was paid unto them.
15:004:021 Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that
this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be
given from me.
15:004:022 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage
grow to the hurt of the kings?
15:004:023 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before
Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they
went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to
cease by force and power.
15:004:024 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at
Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of
Darius king of Persia.
15:005:001 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son
of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and
Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
15:005:002 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the
son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is
at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping
them.
15:005:003 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side
the river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said
thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house,
and to make up this wall?
15:005:004 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names
of the men that make this building?
15:005:005 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that
they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to
Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning
this matter.
15:005:006 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the
river, and Shetharboznai and his companions the Apharsachites,
which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
15:005:007 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto
Darius the king, all peace.
15:005:008 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of
Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with
great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work
goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
15:005:009 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who
commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
15:005:010 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might
write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
15:005:011 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants
of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was
builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel
builded and set up.
15:005:012 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto
wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king
of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and
carried the people away into Babylon.
15:005:013 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same
king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
15:005:014 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God,
which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in
Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those
did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they
were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he
had made governor;
15:005:015 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the
temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be
builded in his place.
15:005:016 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the
house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even
until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not
finished.
15:005:017 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be
search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at
Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the
king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king
send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
15:006:001 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the
house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in
Babylon.
15:006:002 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the
province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus
written:
15:006:003 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king
made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let
the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices,
and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height
thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore
cubits;
15:006:004 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and
let the expenses be given out of the king's house:
15:006:005 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of
God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which
is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and
brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one
to his place, and place them in the house of God.
15:006:006 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river,
Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which
are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:
15:006:007 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of
the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in
his place.
15:006:008 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of
these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the
king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith
expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.
15:006:009 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and
rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven,
wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of
the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day
by day without fail:
15:006:010 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God
of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
15:006:011 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this
word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set
up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a
dunghill for this.
15:006:012 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy
all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter
and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I
Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
