Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Ezra » Chapter 8 » Verse 1-36

Ezra 8:1-36 King James Version (KJV)

1 These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.

2 Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.

3 Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.

4 Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.

5 Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.

6 Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.

7 And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.

8 And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.

9 Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.

10 And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males.

11 And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.

12 And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.

13 And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.

14 Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.

15 And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.

17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.

18 And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;

19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;

20 Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.

23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.

24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,

25 And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:

26 I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;

27 Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.

28 And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.

29 Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.

30 So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.

31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.

32 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.

33 Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;

34 By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.

35 Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.

36 And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.


Ezra 8:1-36 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 These are now the chief H7218 of their fathers, H1 and this is the genealogy H3187 of them that went up H5927 with me from Babylon, H894 in the reign H4438 of Artaxerxes H783 the king. H4428

2 Of the sons H1121 of Phinehas; H6372 Gershom: H1647 of the sons H1121 of Ithamar; H385 Daniel: H1840 of the sons H1121 of David; H1732 Hattush. H2407

3 Of the sons H1121 of Shechaniah, H7935 of the sons H1121 of Pharosh; H6551 Zechariah: H2148 and with him were reckoned by genealogy H3187 of the males H2145 an hundred H3967 and fifty. H2572

4 Of the sons H1121 of Pahathmoab; H6355 Elihoenai H454 the son H1121 of Zerahiah, H2228 and with him two hundred H3967 males. H2145

5 Of the sons H1121 of Shechaniah; H7935 the son H1121 of Jahaziel, H3166 and with him three H7969 hundred H3967 males. H2145

6 Of the sons H1121 also of Adin; H5720 Ebed H5651 the son H1121 of Jonathan, H3129 and with him fifty H2572 males. H2145

7 And of the sons H1121 of Elam; H5867 Jeshaiah H3470 the son H1121 of Athaliah, H6271 and with him seventy H7657 males. H2145

8 And of the sons H1121 of Shephatiah; H8203 Zebadiah H2069 the son H1121 of Michael, H4317 and with him fourscore H8084 males. H2145

9 Of the sons H1121 of Joab; H3097 Obadiah H5662 the son H1121 of Jehiel, H3171 and with him two hundred H3967 and eighteen H8083 H6240 males. H2145

10 And of the sons H1121 of Shelomith; H8019 the son H1121 of Josiphiah, H3131 and with him an hundred H3967 and threescore H8346 males. H2145

11 And of the sons H1121 of Bebai; H893 Zechariah H2148 the son H1121 of Bebai, H893 and with him twenty H6242 and eight H8083 males. H2145

12 And of the sons H1121 of Azgad; H5803 Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Hakkatan, H6997 and with him an hundred H3967 and ten H6235 males. H2145

13 And of the last H314 sons H1121 of Adonikam, H140 whose names H8034 are these, Eliphelet, H467 Jeiel, H3273 and Shemaiah, H8098 and with them threescore H8346 males. H2145

14 Of the sons H1121 also of Bigvai; H902 Uthai, H5793 and Zabbud, H2072 H2139 and with them seventy H7657 males. H2145

15 And I gathered them together H6908 to the river H5104 that runneth H935 to Ahava; H163 and there abode we in tents H2583 three H7969 days: H3117 and I viewed H995 the people, H5971 and the priests, H3548 and found H4672 there none of the sons H1121 of Levi. H3878

16 Then sent H7971 I for Eliezer, H461 for Ariel, H740 for Shemaiah, H8098 and for Elnathan, H494 and for Jarib, H3402 and for Elnathan, H494 and for Nathan, H5416 and for Zechariah, H2148 and for Meshullam, H4918 chief men; H7218 also for Joiarib, H3114 and for Elnathan, H494 men of understanding. H995

17 And I sent H6680 them with commandment H3318 unto Iddo H112 the chief H7218 at the place H4725 Casiphia, H3703 and I told H7760 H6310 them what H1697 they should say H1696 unto Iddo, H112 and to his brethren H251 the Nethinims, H5411 H5411 at the place H4725 Casiphia, H3703 that they should bring H935 unto us ministers H8334 for the house H1004 of our God. H430

18 And by the good H2896 hand H3027 of our God H430 upon us they brought H935 us a man H376 of understanding, H7922 of the sons H1121 of Mahli, H4249 the son H1121 of Levi, H3878 the son H1121 of Israel; H3478 and Sherebiah, H8274 with his sons H1121 and his brethren, H251 eighteen; H8083 H6240

19 And Hashabiah, H2811 and with him Jeshaiah H3470 of the sons H1121 of Merari, H4847 his brethren H251 and their sons, H1121 twenty; H6242

20 Also of the Nethinims, H5411 whom David H1732 and the princes H8269 had appointed H5414 for the service H5656 of the Levites, H3881 two hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 Nethinims: H5411 all of them were expressed H5344 by name. H8034

21 Then I proclaimed H7121 a fast H6685 there, at the river H5104 of Ahava, H163 that we might afflict H6031 ourselves before H6440 our God, H430 to seek H1245 of him a right H3477 way H1870 for us, and for our little ones, H2945 and for all our substance. H7399

22 For I was ashamed H954 to require H7592 of the king H4428 a band of soldiers H2428 and horsemen H6571 to help H5826 us against the enemy H341 in the way: H1870 because we had spoken H559 unto the king, H4428 saying, H559 The hand H3027 of our God H430 is upon all them for good H2896 that seek H1245 him; but his power H5797 and his wrath H639 is against all them that forsake H5800 him.

23 So we fasted H6684 and besought H1245 our God H430 for this: and he was intreated H6279 of us.

24 Then I separated H914 twelve H8147 H6240 of the chief H8269 of the priests, H3548 Sherebiah, H8274 Hashabiah, H2811 and ten H6235 of their brethren H251 with them,

25 And weighed H8254 unto them the silver, H3701 and the gold, H2091 and the vessels, H3627 even the offering H8641 of the house H1004 of our God, H430 which the king, H4428 and his counsellors, H3289 and his lords, H8269 and all Israel H3478 there present, H4672 had offered: H7311

26 I even weighed H8254 unto their hand H3027 six H8337 hundred H3967 and fifty H2572 talents H3603 of silver, H3701 and silver H3701 vessels H3627 an hundred H3967 talents, H3603 and of gold H2091 an hundred H3967 talents; H3603

27 Also twenty H6242 basons H3713 of gold, H2091 of a thousand H505 drams; H150 and two H8147 vessels H3627 of fine H2896 H6668 copper, H5178 precious H2532 as gold. H2091

28 And I said H559 unto them, Ye are holy H6944 unto the LORD; H3068 the vessels H3627 are holy H6944 also; and the silver H3701 and the gold H2091 are a freewill offering H5071 unto the LORD H3068 God H430 of your fathers. H1

29 Watch H8245 ye, and keep H8104 them, until ye weigh H8254 them before H6440 the chief H8269 of the priests H3548 and the Levites, H3881 and chief H8269 of the fathers H1 of Israel, H3478 at Jerusalem, H3389 in the chambers H3957 of the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068

30 So took H6901 the priests H3548 and the Levites H3881 the weight H4948 of the silver, H3701 and the gold, H2091 and the vessels, H3627 to bring H935 them to Jerusalem H3389 unto the house H1004 of our God. H430

31 Then we departed H5265 from the river H5104 of Ahava H163 on the twelfth H8147 H6240 day of the first H7223 month, H2320 to go H3212 unto Jerusalem: H3389 and the hand H3027 of our God H430 was upon us, and he delivered H5337 us from the hand H3709 of the enemy, H341 and of such as lay in wait H693 by the way. H1870

32 And we came H935 to Jerusalem, H3389 and abode H3427 there three H7969 days. H3117

33 Now on the fourth H7243 day H3117 was the silver H3701 and the gold H2091 and the vessels H3627 weighed H8254 in the house H1004 of our God H430 by the hand H3027 of Meremoth H4822 the son H1121 of Uriah H223 the priest; H3548 and with him was Eleazar H499 the son H1121 of Phinehas; H6372 and with them was Jozabad H3107 the son H1121 of Jeshua, H3442 and Noadiah H5129 the son H1121 of Binnui, H1131 Levites; H3881

34 By number H4557 and by weight H4948 of every one: and all the weight H4948 was written H3789 at that time. H6256

35 Also the children H1121 of those that had been carried away, H1473 which were come out H935 of the captivity, H7628 offered H7126 burnt offerings H5930 unto the God H430 of Israel, H3478 twelve H8147 H6240 bullocks H6499 for all Israel, H3478 ninety H8673 and six H8337 rams, H352 seventy H7657 and seven H7651 lambs, H3532 twelve H8147 H6240 he goats H6842 for a sin offering: H2403 all this was a burnt offering H5930 unto the LORD. H3068

36 And they delivered H5414 the king's H4428 commissions H1881 unto the king's H4428 lieutenants, H323 and to the governors H6346 on this side H5676 the river: H5104 and they furthered H5375 the people, H5971 and the house H1004 of God. H430


Ezra 8:1-36 American Standard (ASV)

1 Now these are the heads of their fathers' `houses', and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:

2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush.

3 Of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males a hundred and fifty.

4 Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with him two hundred males.

5 Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel; and with him three hundred males.

6 And of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males.

7 And of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males.

8 And of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him fourscore males.

9 Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males.

10 And of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him a hundred and threescore males.

11 And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty and eight males.

12 And of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan; and with him a hundred and ten males.

13 And of the sons of Adonikam, `that were' the last; and these are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them threescore males.

14 And of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud; and with them seventy males.

15 And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who were teachers.

17 And I sent them forth unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, `and' his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.

18 And according to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;

19 and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;

20 and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name.

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

22 For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.

23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.

24 Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,

25 and weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered:

26 I weighed into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels a hundred talents; of gold a hundred talents;

27 and twenty bowls of gold, of a thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold.

28 And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto Jehovah, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill-offering unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers.

29 Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the princes of the fathers' `houses' of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Jehovah.

30 So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.

31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth `day' of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the lier-in-wait by the way.

32 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.

33 And on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levite;

34 the whole by number and by weight: and all the weight was written at that time.

35 The children of the captivity, that were come out of exile, offered burnt-offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin-offering: all this was a burnt-offering unto Jehovah.

36 And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.


Ezra 8:1-36 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And these `are' heads of their fathers, and the genealogy of those going up with me, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king, from Babylon.

2 From the sons of Phinehas: Gershom; from the sons of Ithamar: Daniel; from the sons of David: Hattush;

3 from the sons of Shechaniah, from the sons of Pharosh: Zechariah, and with him, reckoning themselves by genealogy, of males a hundred and fifty.

4 From the sons of Pahath-Moab: Elihoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred who are males.

5 From the sons of Shechaniah: the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred who are males.

6 And from the sons of Adin: Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him fifty who are males.

7 And from the sons of Elam: Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him seventy who are males.

8 And from the sons of Shephatiah: Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him eighty who are males.

9 From the sons of Joab: Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen who are males.

10 And from the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and sixty who are males.

11 And from the sons of Bebai: Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight who are males.

12 And from the sons of Azgad: Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred and ten who are males.

13 And from the younger sons of Adonikam -- and these `are' their names -- Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty who are males.

14 And from the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, and with them seventy who are males.

15 And I gather them unto the river that is going unto Ahava, and we encamp there three days; and I consider about the people, and about the priests, and of the sons of Levi I have found none there;

16 and I send for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, heads, and for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding;

17 and I charge them for Iddo the head, in the place Casiphia, and put in their mouth words to speak unto Iddo, `and' his brethren the Nethinim, in the place Casiphia, to bring to us ministrants for the house of our God.

18 And they bring to us, according to the good hand of our God upon us, a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel, and Sherebiah, and his sons, and his brethren, eighteen;

19 and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah, of the sons of Merari, his brethren, and their sons, twenty;

20 and from the Nethinim, whom David and the heads gave for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim, all of them defined by name.

21 And I proclaim there a fast, by the river Ahava, to afflict ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a right way for us, and for our infants, and for all our substance,

22 for I was ashamed to ask from the king a force and horsemen to help us because of the enemy in the way, for we spake to the king, saying, `The hand of our God `is' upon all seeking Him for good, and His strength and His wrath `is' upon all forsaking Him.'

23 And we fast, and seek from our God for this, and He is entreated of us.

24 And I separate from the heads of the priests, twelve, even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and with them of their brethren ten,

25 and I weigh to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, a heave-offering of the house of our God, that the king, and his counsellors, and his heads, and all Israel -- those present -- lifted up;

26 and I weigh to their hand, of silver, talents six hundred and fifty, and of vessels of silver a hundred talents, of gold a hundred talents,

27 and basins of gold twenty, of a thousand drams, and two vessels of good shining brass, desirable as gold.

28 And I say unto them, `Ye `are' holy to Jehovah, and the vessels `are' holy, and the silver and the gold `are' a willing-offering to Jehovah, God of your fathers;

29 watch, and keep, till ye weigh before the heads of the priests, and of the Levites, and the heads of the fathers of Israel, in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Jehovah.'

30 And the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver, and of the gold, and of the vessels, to bring to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

31 And we journey from the river Ahava, on the twelfth of the first month, to go to Jerusalem, and the hand of our God hath been upon us, and He delivereth us from the hand of the enemy and the lier in wait by the way;

32 and we come in to Jerusalem, and dwell there three days.

33 And on the fourth day hath been weighed the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, in the house of our God, unto the hand of Meremoth son of Uriah the priest, and with him Eleazar son of Phinehas, and with them Jozabad son of Jeshua, and Noadiah son of Binnui, the Levites:

34 by number, by weight of every one, and all the weight is written at that time.

35 Those coming in of the captives -- sons of the removal -- have brought near burnt-offerings to the God of Israel, bullocks twelve, for all Israel, rams ninety and six, lambs seventy and seven, young he-goats for a sin-offering twelve -- the whole a burnt-offering to Jehovah;

36 and they give the laws of the king to the lieutenants of the king and the governors beyond the river, and they have lifted up the people and the house of God.


Ezra 8:1-36 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And these are the chief fathers, and their genealogy, who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.

2 Of the children of Phinehas, Gershom; of the children of Ithamar, Daniel; of the children of David, Hattush;

3 of the children of Shecaniah, of the children of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered by genealogy of the males a hundred and fifty.

4 Of the children of Pahath-Moab, Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.

5 Of the children of Shechaniah, the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.

6 And of the children of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.

7 And of the children of Elam, Isaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.

8 And of the children of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him eighty males.

9 Of the children of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.

10 And of the children of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and sixty males.

11 And of the children of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight males.

12 And of the children of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred and ten males.

13 And of the children of Adonikam, the last ones, whose names are these: Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males.

14 And of the children of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.

15 And I gathered them together at the river that runs to Ahava; and there we encamped three days; and I surveyed the people and the priests, and found none of the sons of Levi there.

16 And I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men, and for Joiarib and for Elnathan, men of understanding.

17 And I gave them a commission to Iddo the chief, at the place Casiphia, and I put words in their mouths to say to Iddo [and] his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.

18 And by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely, Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;

19 and Hashabiah, and with him Isaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;

20 and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were expressed by name.

21 And I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way; for we had spoken to the king saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his anger is against all them that forsake him.

23 And we fasted, and besought our God for this; and he was entreated of us.

24 And I separated twelve of the chiefs of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,

25 and I weighed to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the heave-offering for the house of our God, which the king and his counsellors and his princes, and all Israel present, had offered.

26 And I weighed into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver; and silver vessels a hundred talents, [and] of gold a hundred talents;

27 and twenty basons of gold, of a thousand darics; and two vessels of shining copper, precious as gold.

28 And I said to them, Ye are holy unto Jehovah; the vessels also are holy; and the silver and the gold is a voluntary offering to Jehovah the God of your fathers.

29 Watch and keep [them] until ye weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the chiefs of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Jehovah.

30 And the priests and the Levites received by weight the silver and the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.

31 And we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth of the first month, to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.

32 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.

33 And on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Urijah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them were Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites:

34 the whole by number and by weight; and all the weight was written down at that time.

35 The children of those that had been carried away, who had come out of the captivity, presented burnt-offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin-offering: all for a burnt-offering to Jehovah.

36 And they delivered the king's edicts to the king's satraps, and to the governors on this side the river. And they furthered the people and the house of God.


Ezra 8:1-36 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Now these are the heads of their fathers' [houses], and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:

2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush.

3 Of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty.

4 Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with him two hundred males.

5 Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel; and with him three hundred males.

6 Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males.

7 Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males.

8 Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him eighty males.

9 Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males.

10 Of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him one hundred sixty males.

11 Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty-eight males.

12 Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan; and with him one hundred ten males.

13 Of the sons of Adonikam, [who were] the last; and these are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them sixty males.

14 Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud; and with them seventy males.

15 I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who were teachers.

17 I sent them forth to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should tell Iddo, [and] his brothers the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.

18 According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen;

19 and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty;

20 and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name.

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

22 For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him.

23 So we fasted and begged our God for this: and he was entreated of us.

24 Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them,

25 and weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered:

26 I weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred talents; of gold one hundred talents;

27 and twenty bowls of gold, of one thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold.

28 I said to them, You are holy to Yahweh, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill-offering to Yahweh, the God of your fathers.

29 Watch you, and keep them, until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the princes of the fathers' [houses] of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Yahweh.

30 So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth [day] of the first month, to go to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandit by the way.

32 We came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.

33 On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levite;

34 the whole by number and by weight: and all the weight was written at that time.

35 The children of the captivity, who had come out of exile, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats for a sin-offering: all this was a burnt offering to Yahweh.

36 They delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.


Ezra 8:1-36 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Now these are the heads of families who were listed of those who went up with me from Babylon, when Artaxerxes was king.

2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush;

3 Of the sons of Shecaniah; of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were listed a hundred and fifty males.

4 Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai, the son of Zerahiah; and with him two hundred males.

5 Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel; and with him three hundred males.

6 And of the sons of Adin, Ebed, the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males.

7 And of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah; the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males.

8 And of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah, the son of Michael; and with him eighty males.

9 Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah, the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males.

10 And of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him a hundred and sixty males.

11 And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah, the son of Bebai; and with him twenty-eight males.

12 And of the sons of Azgad, Johanan, the son of Hakkatan; and with him a hundred and ten males.

13 And of the sons of Adonikam, the last, whose names were Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them sixty males.

14 And of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud; and with them seventy males.

15 And I made them come together by the river flowing to Ahava; and we were there in tents for three days: and after viewing the people and the priests I saw that no sons of Levi were there.

16 Then I sent for Eliezer and Ariel and Shemaiah and Elnathan Jarib and Elnathan and Nathan and Zechariah and Meshullam, all responsible men; and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were wise men.

17 And I sent them to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and gave them orders what to say to Iddo and his brothers the Nethinim at the place Casiphia, so that they might come back to us with men to do the work of the house of our God.

18 And by the help of our God they got for us Ish-sechel, one of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah with his sons and brothers, eighteen;

19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty;

20 And of the Nethinim, to whom David and the captains had given the work of helping the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim, all of them specially named.

21 Then I gave orders for a time of going without food, there by the river Ahava, so that we might make ourselves low before our God in prayer, requesting from him a straight way for us and for our little ones and for all our substance.

22 For I would not, for shame, make request to the king for a band of armed men and horsemen to give us help against those who might make attacks on us on the way: for we had said to the king, The hand of our God is on his servants for good, but his power and his wrath are against all those who are turned away from him.

23 So we went without food, requesting our God for this: and his ear was open to our prayer.

24 So I put on one side twelve of the chiefs of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them,

25 And gave to them by weight the silver and the gold and the vessels, all the offering for the house of our God which the king and his wise men and his captains and all Israel there present had given:

26 Measuring into their hands six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels, a hundred talents' weight, and a hundred talents of gold,

27 And twenty gold basins, of a thousand darics, and two vessels of the best bright brass, equal in value to gold.

28 And I said to them, You are holy to the Lord and the vessels are holy: and the silver and the gold are an offering freely given to the Lord, the God of your fathers.

29 Take care of them and keep them, till you put them on the scales before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites and the chiefs of the families of Israel, in Jerusalem, in the rooms of the house of the Lord.

30 So the priests and the Levites took the weight of silver and gold and the vessels, to take them to Jerusalem into the house of our God.

31 Then we went away from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was on us, and he gave us salvation from our haters and those who were waiting to make an attack on us by the way.

32 And we came to Jerusalem and were there for three days.

33 And on the fourth day, the silver and the gold and the vessels were measured out by weight in the house of our God into the hands of Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the priest; and with him was Eleazar, the son of Phinehas; and with them were Jozabad, the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah, the son of Binnui, the Levites;

34 All was handed over by number and by weight: and the weight was put on record at that time.

35 And those who had been prisoners, who had come back from a strange land, made burned offerings to the God of Israel, twelve oxen for all Israel, ninety-six male sheep, seventy-seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin-offering: all this was a burned offering to the Lord.

36 And they gave the king's orders to the king's captains and the rulers across the river, and they gave the people and the house of God the help which was needed.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezra 8


Chapter 8

This chapter gives us a more particular narrative of Ezra's journey to Jerusalem, of which we had a general account in the foregoing chapter

  • I. The company that went up with him (v. 1-20).
  • II. The solemn fast which he kept with his company, to implore God's presence with them in this journey (v. 21-23).
  • III. The care he took of the treasure he had with him, and the charge he gave concerning it to the priests, to whose custody he committed it (v. 24-30).
  • IV. The care God took of him and his company in the way (v. 31).
  • V. Their safe arrival at Jerusalem, where they delivered their treasure to the priests (v. 32-34), their commissions to the kings lieutenants (v. 36), offered sacrifices to God (v. 35), and then applied to their business.

Ezr 8:1-20

Ezra, having received his commission from the king, beats up for volunteers, as it were, sets up an ensign to assemble the outcasts of Israel and the dispersed of Judah, Isa. 11:12. "Whoever of the sons of Sion, that swell with the daughters of Babylon, is disposed to go to Jerusalem, now that the temple there is finished and the temple-service set a-going, now is their time.' Now one would think that under such a leader, with such encouragements, all the Jews should at length have shaken themselves from their dust, and loosed the bands of their neck, according to that call, Isa. 52:1, 2, etc. I wonder how any of them could read that chapter and yet stay behind. But multitudes did. They loved their ease better than their religion, thought themselves well off where they were, and either believed not that Jerusalem would better their condition or durst not go thither through any difficulties. But here we are told,

  • I. That some offered themselves willingly to go with Ezra. The heads of the several families are here named, for their honour, and the numbers of the males that each brought in, amounting in all to 1496. Two priests are named (v. 2) and one of the sons of David; but, it should seem, they came without their families, probably intending to see how they liked Jerusalem and then either to send for their families or return to them as they saw cause. Several of their families, or clans, here named, we had before, ch. 2. Some went up from them at that time, more went up now, as God inclined their hearts; some were called into the vineyard at the third hour, others not till the eleventh, yet even those were not rejected. But here we read of the last sons of Adonikam (v. 13), which some understand to their dispraise, that they were the last that enlisted themselves under Ezra; I rather understand it to their honour, that now all the sons of that family returned and none staid behind.
  • II. That the Levites who went in this company were in a manner pressed into the service. Ezra appointed a general rendezvous of all his company at a certain place upon new-year's day, the first day of the first month. ch. 7:9. Then and there he took a view of them, and mustered them, and (which was strange) found there none of the sons of Levi, v. 15. Some priests there were, but no others that were Levites. Where was the spirit of that sacred tribe? Ezra, a priest, like Moses proclaims, Who is on the Lord's side? They, unlike to Levi, shrink, and desire to abide among the sheep-folds to hear the bleatings of the flock. Synagogues we suppose they had in Babylon, in which they prayed, and preached, and kept sabbaths (and, when they could not have better, they had reason to be thankful for them); but now that the temple at Jerusalem was opened, to the service of which they were ordained, they ought to have preferred the gates of Zion before all those synagogues. It is upon record here, to their reproach; but tell it not in Gath. Ezra, when he observed that he had no Levites in his retinue, was much at a loss. He had money enough for the service of the temple, but wanted men. The king and princes had more than done their part, but the sons of Levi had not half done theirs. Eleven men, chief men, and men of understanding, he chooses out of his company, to be employed for the filling up of this lamentable vacancy; and here we are informed,
    • 1. Of their being sent. Ezra sent them to a proper place, where there was a college of Levites, the place Casiphia, probably a street or square in Babylon allowed for that purpose-Silver Street one may call it, for ceseph signifies silver. He sent them to a proper person, to Iddo, the chief president of the college, not to urge him to come himself (we will suppose him to be old and unfit for such a remove), but to send some of the juniors, ministers for the house of our God, v. 17. The furnishing of God's house with good ministers is a good work, which will redound to the comfort and credit of all that have a hand in it.
    • 2. Of their success. They did not return without their errand, but, though the warning was short, they brought about forty Levites to attend Ezra, Sherebiah, noted as a very intelligent man, and eighteen with him (v. 18). Hashabiah, and Jeshaiah, and twenty with them, v. 19. By this it appears that they were not averse to go, but were slothful and inattentive, and only wanted to be called upon and excited to go. What a pity it is that good men should omit a good work, merely for want of being spoken to! What a pity that they should need it, but, if they do, what a pity that they should be left without it! Of the Nethinim, the servitors of the sacred college, the species infima-the lowest order of the temple ministers, more appeared forward to go than of the Levites themselves. Of them 220, upon this hasty summons, enlisted themselves, and had the honour to be expressed by name in Ezra's muster-roll, v. 20. "Thus,' says Ezra, "were we furnished with Levites, by the good hand of our God upon us.' If, where ministers have been wanting, the vacancies are well supplied, let God have the glory, and his good hand be acknowledged as qualifying them for the service, inclining them to it, and then opening a door of opportunity for them.

Ezr 8:21-23

Ezra has procured Levites to go along with him; but what will that avail, unless he have God with him? That is therefore his chief care. In all our ways we must acknowledge God, and in those particularly wherein we are endeavouring to serve the interest of his kingdom among men. Ezra does so here. Observe,

  • I. The stedfast confidence he had in God and in his gracious protection. He told the king (v. 22) what principles he went upon, that those who seek God are safe under the shadow of his wings, even in their greats dangers, but that those who forsake him are continually exposed, even when they are most secure. God's servants have his power engaged for them; his enemies have it engaged against them. This Ezra believed with his heart, and with his mouth made confession of it before the king; and therefore he was ashamed to ask of the king a convoy, lest thereby he should give occasion to the king, and those about him, to suspect either God's power to help his people or Ezra's confidence in that power. Those that trust in God, and triumph in him, will be ashamed of seeking to the creature for protection, especially of using any sorry shifts for their own safety, because thereby they contradict themselves and their own confidence. Not but that those who depend upon God must use proper means for their preservation, and they need not be ashamed to do so; but, when the honour of God is concerned, one would rather expose one's-self than do any thing to the prejudice of that, which ought to be dearer to us than our lives.
  • II. The solemn application he made to God in that confidence: He proclaimed a fast, v. 21. No doubt he had himself begged of God direction in this affair from the first time he had it in his thoughts; but for public mercies public prayers must be made, that all who are to share in the comfort of them may join in the request for them. Their fasting was,
    • 1. To express their humiliation. This he declares to be the intent and meaning of it. "that we might afflict ourselves before our God for our sins, and so be qualified for the pardon of them.' When we are entering upon any new condition of life our care should be to bring none of the guilt of the sins of our former condition into it. When we are in any imminent peril let us be sure to make our peace with God, and then we are safe: nothing can do us any real hurt.
    • 2. To excite their supplications. Prayer was always joined with religious fasting. Their errand to the throne of grace was to seek of God the right way, that is, to commit themselves to the guidance of the divine Providence, to put themselves under the divine protection, and to beg of God to guide and keep them in their journey and bring them safely to their journey's end. They were strangers in the road, were to march through their enemies' countries, and had not a pillar of cloud and fire to lead them, as their fathers had; but they believed that the power and favour of God, and the ministration of his angels, would be to them instead of that, and hoped by prayer to obtain divine assistance. Note, All our concerns about ourselves, our families, and our estates, it is our wisdom and duty by prayer to commit to God, and leave the care of with him, Phil. 4:6.
  • III. The good success of their doing so (v. 23): We besought our God by joint-prayer, and he was entreated of us. They had some comfortable assurance in their own minds that their prayers were answered, and the event declared it; for never any that sought God in earnest sought him in vain.

Ezr 8:24-30

We have here an account of the particular care which Ezra took of the treasure he had with him, that belonged to God's sanctuary, Observe,

  • 1. Having committed the keeping of it to God, he committed the keeping of it to proper men, whose business it was to watch it, though without God they would have waked in vain. Note, Our prayers must always be seconded with our endeavours; the care of Christ's gospel, his church, and ordinances, must not be so left with him but that it must also be committed to faithful men, 2 Tim. 2:2.
  • 2. Having prayed to God to preserve all the substance they had with them, he shows himself especially solicitous for that part of it which belonged to the house of God and was an offering to him. Do we expect that God should, by his providence, keep that which belongs to us? Let us, by his grace, keep that which belongs to him. Let God's honour and interest be our care; and then we may expect that our lives and comforts will be his. Observe,
    • (1.) The persons to whom he delivered the offerings of the house of God. Twelve chief priests, and as many Levites, he appointed to this trust (v. 24, 30), who were bound by their office to take care of the things of God, and were in a particular manner to have the benefit of these sacred treasures. Ezra tells them why he put those things into their hands (v. 28): You are holy unto the Lord, the vessels are holy also; and who so fit to take care of holy things as holy persons? Those that have the dignity and honour of the priesthood must take along with them the trust and duty of it. The prophet is foretelling the return of God's people and ministers out of Babylon, when he gives the solemn charge (Isa. 52:11), Be you clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.
    • (2.) The great exactness with which he lodged this trust in their hands: He weighed to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels (v. 25), because he expected to have it from them again by weight. In all trust, but especially sacred ones, we ought to be punctual, and preserve a right understanding on both sides. In Zerubbabel's time the vessels were delivered by number, here by weight, that all might be forth-coming and it might easily appear if any were missing, to intimate that such as are entrusted with holy things (as all the stewards of the mysteries of God are) are concerned to remember, both in receiving their trust and in discharging it, that they must shortly give a very particular account of it, that they may be faithful to it and so give up their account with joy.
    • (3.) The charge he have them with these treasures (v. 29): "Watch you, and keep them, that they be not lost, nor embezzled, nor mingled with the other articles. Keep them together; keep them by themselves; keep them safely, till you weigh them in the temple, before the great men there,' hereby intimating how much it was their concern to be careful and faithful and how much it would be their honour to be found so. Thus when Paul charges Timothy with the gospel treasure he bids him keep it until the appearing of Jesus Christ, and his appearing before him to give account of his trust, when his fidelity would be his crown.

Ezr 8:31-36

We are now to attend Ezra to Jerusalem, a journey of about four months in all; but his multitude made his marches slow and his stages short. Now here we are told,

  • I. That his God was good, and he acknowledged his goodness: The hand of our God was upon us, to animate us for our undertaking. To him they owed it,
    • 1. That they were preserved in their journey, and not all cut off; for there were enemies that laid wait for them by the way to do them a mischief, or at least, like Amalek, to smite the hindmost of them, but God protected them, v. 31. Even the common perils of journeys are such as oblige us to sanctify our going out with prayer and our returns in peace with praise and thanksgiving; much more ought God to be thus eyed in such a dangerous expedition as this was.
    • 2. That they were brought in safety to their journey's end, v. 32. Let those that have stedfastly set their faces towards the new Jerusalem proceed and persevere to the end till they appear before God in Zion, and they shall find that he who has begun the good work will perform it.
  • II. That his treasurers were faithful. When they had come to Jerusalem they were impatient to be discharged of their trust, and therefore applied to the great men of the temple, who received it from them and gave them an acquittance in full, v. 33, 34. It is a great ease to one's mind to be discharged from a trust, and a great honour to one's name to be able to make it appear that it has been faithfully discharged.
  • III. That his companions were devout. As soon as they came to be near the altar they thought themselves obliged to offer sacrifice, whatever they had done in Babylon, v. 35. That will be dispensed with when we want opportunity which when the door is opened again will be expected from us. It is observable,
    • 1. That among their sacrifices they had a sin-offering; for it is the atonement that sweetens and secures every mercy to us, which will not be truly comfortable unless iniquity be taken away and our peace made with God.
    • 2. That the number of their offerings related to the number of the tribes, twelve bullocks, twelve he-goats, and ninety-six rams (that is, eight times twelve), intimating the union of the two kingdoms, according to what was foretold, Eze. 37:22. They did not any longer go two tribes one way and ten another, but all the twelve met by their representatives at the same altar.
  • IV. That even the enemies of the Jews became their friends, bowed to Ezra's commission, and, instead of hindering the people of God, furthered them (v. 36), purely in complaisance to the king: when he appeared moderate they all coveted to appear so too. Then had the churches rest.