Otherwise known as 3 Esdras
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9
1 Esdras, also called Greek Esdras, Greek Ezra, or 3 Esdras, is an ancient Greek version of the biblical Book of Ezra in use among the early church, and many modern Christians with varying degrees of canonicity. First Esdras is substantially the same as Masoretic Ezra. As part of the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament, it is regarded as deuterocanonical in the churches of the East, but apocryphal in the West. First Esdras is found in Origen’s Hexapla. Greek and related versions of the Bible include both Esdras Α (English title: 1 Esdras) and Esdras Β (Ezra–Nehemiah) in parallel.
Josiah held the Passover in Jerusalem to his Lord and offered the Passover [on] the fourteenth day of the first month; having set the priests according to their daily courses, being arrayed in their vestments, in the temple of the Lord. And he spoke to the Levites, the temple-servants of Israel, that they should make themselves holy to the Lord, to set the holy Ark of the Lord in the house that King Solomon the son of David had built, [and he said,] “You will no longer have need to bear it on your shoulders: now therefore, serve the Lord your God, and minister to His people Israel, and prepare after your fathers’ houses and relatives, according to the writing of David, king of Israel, and according to the magnificence of his son Solomon: and standing in the holy place according to the several divisions of the families of you the Levites, who [minister] in the presence of your countrymen the sons of Israel, offer the Passover in order, and make the sacrifices ready for your countrymen, and keep the Passover according to the command of the Lord, which was given to Moses.” And to the people which were present Josiah gave thirty thousand lambs and kids, and three thousand calves: these things were given of the king’s substance, according as he promised, to the people, and to the priests and Levites. And Hilkiah, and Zechariah, and Esyelus, the rulers of the temple, gave to the priests for the Passover two thousand [and] six hundred sheep, and three hundred calves. And Jeconias, and Samaias, and his brother Nathanael, and Sabias, and Ochielus, and Joram, captains over thousands, gave to the Levites for the Passover five thousand sheep, and seven hundred calves. And when these things were done, the priests and Levites, having the unleavened bread, stood in agreeable order according to the countrymen, and according to the several divisions by fathers’ houses, before the people, to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the Scroll of Moses: and so [they] did [in] the morning. And they roasted the Passover with fire, as pertains: and they boiled the sacrifices in the brazen vessels and cauldrons with a good savor, and set them before all the people; and afterward they prepared for themselves, and for their relatives the priests, the sons of Aaron. For the priests offered the fat until night: and the Levites prepared for themselves, and for their relatives the priests, the sons of Aaron. The holy singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their order, according to the appointment of David, Asaph, Zechariah, and Eddinus, who was of the king’s retinue. Moreover, the gatekeepers were at every gate; none had need to depart from his daily course, for their relatives the Levites prepared for them. So were the things that belonged to the sacrifices of the Lord accomplished in that day, in holding the Passover, and offering sacrifices on the altar of the Lord, according to the command of King Josiah. So the sons of Israel, which were present at that time, held the Passover and the Celebration of Unleavened Bread [for] seven days. And such a Passover was not held in Israel since the time of the prophet Samuel. Yes, all the kings of Israel had not held such a Passover as Josiah, and the priests, and the Levites, and the Jews, with all Israel that were present in their dwelling place at Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was held. And the works of Josiah were upright before his Lord with a heart full of godliness. Moreover, the things that came to pass in his days have been written in times past, concerning those that sinned, and did wickedly against the Lord above every people and kingdom, and how they grieved Him exceedingly, so that the words of the Lord were confirmed against Israel. Now after all these acts of Josiah, it came to pass that Pharaoh the king of Egypt came to raise war at Carchemish on [the] Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. But the king of Egypt sent to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, O king of Judea? I am not sent out from the Lord God against you; for my war is on [the] Euphrates: and now the Lord is with me, yes, the Lord is with me hastening me forward. Depart from me and do not be against the Lord.” However, Josiah did not turn back to his chariot, but undertook to fight with him, not regarding the words of the prophet Jeremiah [spoken] by the mouth of the Lord, but he joined battle with him in the plain of Megiddo, and the princes came down against King Josiah. Then the king said to his servants, “Carry me away out of the battle; for I am very weak. And immediately his servants carried him away out of the army.” Then he got up on his second chariot; and being brought back to Jerusalem he died and was buried in the tomb of his fathers. And in all Jewry they mourned for Josiah; and the prophet Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and the chief men with the women made lamentation for him, to this day: and this was given out for an ordinance to be done continually in all the nation of Israel. These things are written in the Scroll of the Histories of the Kings of Judea, and each of the acts that Josiah did, and his glory, and his understanding in the Law of the Lord, and the things that he had done before, and the things now [recited], are reported in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And the people took Joachaz, the son of Josiah, and made him king instead of his father Josiah, when he was twenty-three years old. And he reigned in Judah and in Jerusalem three months: and then the king of Egypt deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem. And he set a tax on the people of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold. The king of Egypt also made King Jehoiakim, his brother, king of Judea and Jerusalem. And Jehoiakim bound the nobles, but he apprehended his brother Zarakes and brought him up out of Egypt. Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign in Judea and Jerusalem; and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. And Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him with a chain of brass, and carried him to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also took of the holy vessels of the Lord, and carried them away, and set them up in his own temple at Babylon. But those things that are reported of him, and of his uncleanness and impiety, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings. And his son Jehoiakim reigned in his stead; for when he was made king he was eighteen years old; and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem; and did that which was evil before the Lord. So after a year Nebuchadnezzar sent and caused him to be brought to Babylon with the holy vessels of the Lord, and he made Zedekiah king of Judea and Jerusalem when he was twenty-one years old; and he reigned eleven years: and he also did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not care for the words that were spoken by the prophet Jeremiah from the mouth of the Lord. And after King Nebuchadnezzar had made him to swear by the Name of the Lord, he renounced it, and rebelled; and hardening his neck and his heart, he transgressed the laws of the Lord, the God of Israel. Moreover, the governors of the people and of the priests did many things wickedly, and surpassed all the pollutions of all nations, and defiled the temple of the Lord, which was sanctified in Jerusalem. And the God of their fathers sent by His messenger to call them back, because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. But they mocked His messengers; and in the day when the Lord spoke [to them], they scoffed at His prophets, so much so that He, being angry with His people for their great ungodliness, commanded to bring up the kings of the Chaldeans against them, who killed their young men with the sword, around their holy temple, and spared neither young man nor maid, old man nor child; but He delivered all into their hands. And they took all the holy vessels of the Lord, both great and small, with the vessels of the Ark of the Lord, and the king’s treasures, and carried them away to Babylon. And they burned the house of the Lord, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem, and burned the towers thereof with fire. And as for her glorious things, they never ceased until they had brought them all to nothing; and the people that were not slain with the sword he carried to Babylon, and they were servants to him and to his children, until the Persians reigned, to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah: “Until the land has enjoyed her Sabbaths, the whole time of her desolation she will keep Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.”
In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians, and he made proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing, saying, “Cyrus king of the Persians says: The Lord of Israel, the Most High Lord, has made me king of the whole world, and commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem that is in Judea. If, therefore, there are any of you that are of His people, let the Lord, even his Lord, be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of Israel: He is the Lord that dwells in Jerusalem. Of such therefore as dwell in various places, let those who are in his own place help each one with gold, and with silver, with gifts, also with horses and cattle, besides the other things which have been added by vow for the temple of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.” Then the chief of the families of Judah and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up; the priests also, and the Levites, and all they whose spirit the Lord had stirred to go up, to build the house for the Lord which is in Jerusalem. And those who lived around them helped them in all things with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many gifts that were vowed of a great number whose minds were stirred up. King Cyrus also brought out the holy vessels of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem, and had set up in his temple of idols. Now when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them out, he delivered them to his treasurer Mithradates, and they were delivered by him to Sanabassar the governor of Judea. And this was the number of them: one thousand golden cups, one thousand cups of silver, twenty-nine censers of silver, thirty vials of gold, and of silver—two thousand four hundred and ten, and other vessels—one thousand. So all the vessels of gold and of silver were brought up, even five thousand four hundred and sixty-nine, and were carried back by Sanabassar, together with them of the captivity, from Babylon to Jerusalem. But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, Belemus, and Mithradates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Samellius the scribe, with the others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote to him against those who lived in Judea and Jerusalem the following letter: “To King Artaxerxes our Lord, Your servants, Rathumus the recorder, and Samellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges that are in Coele-Syria and Phoenicia. Be it now known to our lord the king, that the Jews that have come up from you to us, having come to Jerusalem, are building that rebellious and wicked city, and are repairing its marketplaces and walls, and are laying the foundation of a temple. Now if this city is built and the walls [thereof] are finished, they will not only refuse to give tribute, but will even stand up against kings. And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it suitable not to neglect such a matter, but to speak to our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be your pleasure, search may be made in the scrolls of your fathers: and you will find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and will understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities, and that the Jews were rebellious, and always raised wars therein of former time; for this reason even this city was laid waste. For that reason, now we declare to you, O lord the king, that if this city is built again, and the walls thereof set up anew, you will from now on have no passage into Coele-Syria and Phoenicia.” Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the recorder, and Beeltethmus, and Samellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and lived in Samaria, and Syria, and Phoenicia, after this manner: “I have read the letter which you have sent to me; therefore, I commanded to make search, and it has been found that that city of former time has made insurrection against kings; and the men were given to rebellion and war therein; and that fierce and mighty kings were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tribute in Coele-Syria and Phoenicia. Now therefore, I have commanded to hinder those men from building the city, and heed to be taken that there is nothing done contrary to this [order]; and that those wicked doings proceed no further to the annoyance of kings. Then King Artaxerxes, his letters being read, Rathumus, and Samellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with them, removing in haste to Jerusalem with horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the builders; and the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.
Now King Darius made a great feast to all his subjects, and to all that were born in his house, and to all the princes of Media and of Persia, and to all the local governors, and captains, and governors that were under him, from India to Ethiopia, in the one hundred [and] twenty-seven provinces. And when they had eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were gone home, then Darius the king went into his bedchamber, and slept, and awoke out of his sleep. Then the three young men of the bodyguard, that kept the king’s person, spoke to one another: “Let each of us say one thing which will be strongest; and he whose sentence will seem wiser than the others, to him Darius the king will give great gifts, and great honors in token of victory: as, to be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep on gold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and a turban of fine linen, and a chain around his neck; and he will sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and will be called cousin of Darius.” And then they each wrote his sentence, and set to their seals, and laid [the writing] under [the] pillow of King Darius, and said, “When the king is risen, some will give him the writing; and of whose side the king and the three princes of Persia will judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him will the victory be given, as it is written.” The first wrote, “Wine is the strongest.” The second wrote, “The king is strongest.” The third wrote, “Women are strongest, but above all things Truth bears away the victory.” Now when the king was risen up, they took the writing, and gave it to him, and so he read it: and sending out he called all the princes of Persia and of Media, and the local governors, and the captains, and the governors, and the chief officers, and he sat down in the royal seat of judgment, and the writing was read before them. And he said, “Call the young men, and they will explain their own sentences.” So they were called, and came in. And they said to them, “Declare to us your mind concerning the things you have written.” Then began the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine, and said, “O lords, how exceedingly strong is wine! it causes all men to err that drink it: it makes the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to be all one; of the bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man and of the rich; it also turns every thought into cheer and mirth, so that a man remembers neither sorrow nor debt; and it makes every heart rich, so that a man remembers neither king nor local governor; and it makes all things to speak by talents; and when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and relatives, and a little after draw their swords, but when they awake from their wine, they do not remember what they have done. O lords, is not wine the strongest, seeing that it enforces to do so?” And when he had so spoken, he held his peace.
Then the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say, “O lords, do men not excel in strength, that bear rule over the sea and land, and all things in them? But yet is the king stronger: and he is their lord and has dominion over them; and in whatever he commands them they obey him. If he commands them to make war—the one against the other—they do it; and if he sends them out against the enemies, they go, and overcome mountains, walls, and towers. They kill and are slain, and [still] do not transgress the king’s command: if they get the victory, they bring everything to the king, as well as the plunder, as everything else. Likewise for those that are not soldiers, and have nothing to do with wars, but are farming, when they have again reaped that which they had sown, they bring it to the king, and compel one another to pay tribute to the king. And he is but one man: if he commands to kill, they kill; if he commands to spare, they spare; if he commands to strike, they strike; if he commands to make desolate, they make desolate; if he commands to build, they build; if he commands to cut down, they cut down; if he commands to plant, they plant. So all his people and his armies obey him: furthermore, he lies down, he eats and drinks, and takes his rest, and these keep watch around him, neither may anyone depart and do his own business, neither do they disobey him in [anything]. O lords, how should the king not be strongest, seeing that in such sort he is obeyed? And he held his peace. Then the third, who had spoken of women and of truth (this was Zerubbabel), began to speak. “O lords, is not the king great, and men are many, and wine is strong? who is it then that rules them, or has the lordship over them? are they not women? Women have borne the king and all the people that bear rule by sea and land. Even from them they came: and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards, from where the wine comes. These also make garments for men; these bring glory to men; and without women men cannot be. Yes, and if men have gathered together gold, and silver, and any other attractive thing, and see a woman which is attractive in favor and beauty, they let all those things go, and stare after her, and even with open mouth fix their eyes fast on her; and they have all [the] more desire for her than for gold or silver, or any other attractive thing. A man leaves his own father that brought him up, and his own country, and joins with his wife. And with his wife he ends his days, and remembers neither father, nor mother, nor country. By this also you must know that women have dominion over you: do you not labor and toil, and give and bring all to women? Yes, a man takes his sword, and goes out to make excursions, and to rob and to steal, and to sail on the sea and on rivers; and looks on a lion and walks in the darkness; and when he has stolen, plundered, and robbed, he brings it to his love. For that reason, a man loves his wife better than father or mother. Yes, there are many that have run out of their wits for women and become bondmen for their sakes. Many have also perished, have stumbled, and sinned, for women. And now do you not believe me? is the king not great in his power? do all regions not fear to touch him? Yet I saw him and the king’s concubine Apame, the daughter of the illustrious Barticus, sitting at the right hand of the king, and taking the crown from the king’s head, and setting it on her own head; yes, she struck the king with her left hand: and immediately the king stared and gazed on her with open mouth. If she laughed on him, he also laughed, but if she took any displeasure at him, he was glad to flatter, that she might be reconciled to him again. O lords, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do so?” Then the king and the nobles looked on one another, so he began to speak concerning truth. “O lords, are women not strong? great is the earth, high is the Heaven, swift is the sun in his course, for he encircles the heavens around, and fetches his course again to his own place in one day. Is He not great that makes these things? therefore, great is truth, and stronger than all things. All the earth calls on truth, and the Heaven blesses her; all works shake and tremble, but with her is no unrighteous thing. Wine is unrighteous, the king is unrighteous, women are unrighteous, all the children of men are unrighteous, and all such works of theirs are unrighteous; and there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also, they will perish. But truth remains and is strong forever; she lives and conquers forevermore. With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she does the things that are just, and [refrains] from all unrighteous and wicked things; and all men do well like of her works. Neither is any unrighteousness in her judgment; and she is the strength, and the kingdom, and the power, and the majesty, of all ages. Blessed is the God of truth.” And with that he held his tongue. And all the people then shouted, and said, “Great is truth, and strong above all things.” Then the king said to him, “Ask what you will more than is appointed in writing, and we will give it to you, inasmuch as you are found wisest; and you will sit next to me, and will be called my cousin.” Then he said to the king, “Remember your vow, which you vowed to build Jerusalem, in the day when you came to your kingdom, and to send away all the vessels that were taken out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and vowed to send them there again. You also vowed to build up the temple, which the Edomites burned when Judea was made desolate by the Chaldeans. And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of you, and this is the princely generosity that will proceed from you: I pray therefore that you make good the vow, the performance of which you have vowed to the King of Heaven with your own mouth.” Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him to all the treasurers, and governors, and captains, and local governors, that they should safely bring on their way both him, and all those that should go up with him to build Jerusalem. He also wrote letters to all the governors that were in Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, and to them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from Libanus to Jerusalem, and that they should build the city with him. Moreover, he wrote for all the Jews that should go out of his realm up into Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no governor, no local governor, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their doors; and that all the country which they occupied should be free to them without tribute; and that the Edomites should give over the villages of the Jews which they then held: and that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the building of the temple, until the time that it were built; and ten more talents yearly, for burnt-offerings to be presented on the altar every day, as they had a command to offer seventeen: and that all those who should come from Babylonia to build the city should have their freedom—they as well as their posterity, and all the priests that came. He also wrote [to give them] their charges, and the priests’ vestments wherein they minister; and for the Levites he wrote that their charges should be given them until the day that the house were finished, and Jerusalem built up. And he commanded to give to all that kept the city lands and wages. He also sent away all the vessels from Babylon that Cyrus had set apart; and all that Cyrus had given in command, he also charged to be done, and sent to Jerusalem. Now when this young man had gone out, he lifted up his face to Heaven toward Jerusalem, and praised the King of Heaven, and said, “From You comes victory, from You comes wisdom, and Yours is the glory, and I am Your servant. Blessed are You, who have given me wisdom: and to You I give thanks, O Lord of our fathers.” And so he took the letters, and went out, and came to Babylon, and told it [to] all his countrymen. And they praised the God of their fathers, because He had given them freedom and liberty to go up, and to build Jerusalem, and the temple which is called by His Name: and they feasted with instruments of music and gladness [for] seven days.
After this the chiefs of fathers’ houses were chosen to go up according to their tribes, with their wives, and sons, and daughters, with their menservants and maidservants, and their cattle. And Darius sent one thousand horsemen with them, until they had brought them back to Jerusalem safely, and with musical instruments, tabrets, and flutes. And all their countrymen played, and he made them go up together with them. And these are the names of the men which went up, according to their families among their tribes, after their several divisions. The priests, the sons of Phinehas, the sons of Aaron: Jesus the son of Josedek, the son of Saraias, and Jehoiakim the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Salathiel, of the house of David, of the lineage of Phares, of the tribe of Judah; who spoke wise sentences before Darius the king of Persia in the second year of his reign, in the month Nisan, which is the first month. And these are they of Jewry that came up from the captivity, where they lived as strangers, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon. And they returned to Jerusalem, and to the other parts of Jewry, every man to his own city, who came with Zerubbabel, with Jesus, Nehemiah, and Zerahiah, Resaias, Eneneus, Mardocheus, Beelsarus, Aspharsus, Reelias, Roimus, and Baana, their leaders. The number of them of the nation, and their leaders: the sons of Phoros, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two; the sons of Saphat, four hundred and seventy-two; the sons of Ares, seven hundred and fifty-six; the sons of Phaath-Moab, of the sons of Jesus and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve; the sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; the sons of Zathui, nine hundred and forty-five; the sons of Chorbe, seven hundred and five; the sons of Bani, six hundred and forty-eight; the sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-three; the sons of Astad, one thousand three hundred and twenty-two; the sons of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-seven; the sons of Bagoi, two thousand and sixty-six; the sons of Adinu, four hundred and fifty-four; the sons of Ater, of Ezekias, ninety-two; the sons of Kilan and Azetas, sixty-seven; the sons of Azaru, four hundred and thirty-two; the sons of Annis, one hundred and one; the sons of Arom, of the sons of Bassai, three hundred and twenty-three; the sons of Arsiphurith, one hundred and twelve; the sons of Baiterus, three thousand and five; the sons of Bethlomon, one hundred and twenty-three; they of Netophas, fifty-five; they of Anathoth, one hundred and fifty-eight; they of Bethasmoth, forty-two; they of Kariathiarius, twenty-five; they of Caphira and Beroth, seven hundred and forty-three; the Chadiasai and Ammidioi, four hundred and twenty-two; they of Kirama and Gabbe, six hundred and twenty-one; they of Macalon, one hundred and twenty-two; they of Betolion, fifty-two; the sons of Niphis, one hundred and fifty-six; the sons of Calamolalus and Onus, seven hundred and twenty-five; the sons of Jerechu, three hundred and forty-five; the sons of Sanaas, three thousand three hundred and thirty. The priests: the sons of Jeddu, the son of Jesus, among the sons of Sanasib, nine hundred and seventy-two; the sons of Emmeruth, one thousand and fifty-two; the sons of Phassurus, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven; the sons of Charme, one thousand and seventeen. The Levites: the sons of Jesus, and Kadmiel, and Bannas, and Sudias, seventy-four. The holy singers: the sons of Asaph, one hundred and twenty-eight. The gatekeepers: the sons of Salum, the sons of Atar, the sons of Tolman, the sons of Dacubi, the sons of Ateta, the sons of Sabi, in all one hundred and thirty-nine. The temple servants: the sons of Esau, the sons of Asipha, the sons of Tabaoth, the sons of Keras, the sons of Sua, the sons of Phaleas, the sons of Labana, the sons of Aggaba. The sons of Acud, the sons of Uta, the sons of Ketab, the sons of Accaba, the sons of Subai, the sons of Anan, the sons of Cathua, the sons of Geddur, the sons of Jairus, the sons of Daisan, the sons of Noeba, the sons of Chaseba, the sons of Gazera, the sons of Ozias, the sons of Phinoe, the sons of Asara, the sons of Basthai, the sons of Asana, the sons of Maani, the sons of Naphisi, the sons of Acub, the sons of Achipha, the sons of Asur, the sons of Pharakim, the sons of Basaloth, the sons of Meedda, the sons of Cutha, the sons of Charea, the sons of Barchus, the sons of Serar, the sons of Thomei, the sons of Nasi, the sons of Atipha. The sons of the servants of Solomon: the sons of Assaphioth, the sons of Pharida, the sons of Jeeli, the sons of Lozon, the sons of Isdael, the sons of Saphuthi, the sons of Agia, the sons of Phacareth, the sons of Sabie, the sons of Sarothie, the sons of Masias, the sons of Gas, the sons of Addus, the sons of Subas, the sons of Apherra, the sons of Barodis, the sons of Saphat, the sons of Allon. All the temple-servants, and the sons of the servants of Solomon, were three hundred and seventy-two. These came up from Thermeleth, and Thelersas, Charaathalan leading them, and Allar; and they could not show their families, nor their stock, how they were of Israel: the sons of Dalan the son of Ban, the sons of Nekodan, six hundred and fifty-two. And of the priests, those who usurped the office of the priesthood and were not found: the sons of Obdia, the sons of Akkos, the sons of Jaddus, who married Augia one of the daughters of Zorzelleus, and was called after his name. And when the description of the relatives of these men was sought in the register, and was not found, they were removed from executing the office of the priesthood: for Nehemiah and Attharias said to them that they should not be partakers of the holy things, until there arose up a chief priest wearing Lights and Perfections. So all those of Israel, from twelve years old [and upward], besides menservants and maidservants, were in [number forty] and two thousand three hundred and sixty. Their menservants and handmaids were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; the minstrels and singers, two hundred and forty-five; four hundred and thirty-five camels, seven thousand and thirty-six horses, two hundred and forty-five mules, five thousand five hundred and twenty-five beasts of burden. And certain of the chief men of their families, when they came to the temple of God that is in Jerusalem, vowed to set up the house again in its own place according to their ability, and to give into the holy treasury of the works one thousand pounds of gold, five thousand of silver, and one hundred priestly vestments. And the priests, and the Levites, and those who were of the people lived in Jerusalem and the country; the holy singers also, and the gatekeepers, and all Israel in their villages. But when the seventh month was at hand, and when the sons of Israel were each in his own place, they all came together with one consent into the broad place before the first porch which is toward the east. Then Jesus the son of Josedek arose, and his relatives the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Salathiel, and his relatives, and they made the altar of the God of Israel ready, to offer burned sacrifices on it, according as it is expressly commanded in the Scroll of Moses the man of God. And certain [ones] were gathered to them out of the other nations of the land, and they erected the altar on its own place, because all the nations of the land were at enmity with them and oppressed them; and they offered sacrifices according to the time and burnt-offerings to the Lord, both morning and evening. They also held the Celebration of Shelters, as it is commanded in the Law, and [offered] sacrifices daily, as was suitable; and after that, the continual oblations, and the sacrifices of the Sabbaths, and of the new moons, and of all the consecrated feasts. And all those who had made any vow to God began to offer sacrifices to God from the new moon of the seventh month, although the temple of God was not yet built. And they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and meat and drink, and carts to them of Sidon and Tyre, that they should bring cedar trees from Libanus, and transport them in floats to the haven of Joppa, according to the command which was written for them by Cyrus king of the Persians. And in the second year after his coming to the temple of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedek, and their relatives, and the Levitical priests, and all those who had come to Jerusalem out of the captivity commenced: and they laid the foundation of the temple of God on the new moon of the second month, in the second year after they had come to Jewry and Jerusalem. And they appointed the Levites from twenty years old over the works of the Lord. Then Jesus arose, and his sons and relatives, and his brother Kadmiel, and the sons of Jesus, Emadabun, and the sons of Joda the son of Iliadun, and their sons and relatives, all the Levites, started the undertaking with one accord, laboring to advance the works in the house of God. So the builders built the temple of the Lord. And the priests stood arrayed in their vestments with musical instruments and trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with their cymbals, singing songs of thanksgiving, and praising the Lord, after the order of David king of Israel. And they sang aloud, praising the Lord in songs of thanksgiving, because His goodness and His glory are forever in all Israel. And all the people sounded trumpets, and shouted with a loud voice, singing songs of thanksgiving to the Lord for the rearing up of the house of the Lord. Also of the Levitical priests, and of the heads of their families, the ancients who had seen the former house, came to the building of this with lamentation and great weeping. But many with trumpets and joy [shouted] with a loud voice, insomuch that the people did not hear the trumpets for the weeping of the people; for the multitude sounded marvelously, so that it was heard far off. For that reason, when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin heard it, they came to know what that noise of trumpets should mean. And they perceived that those who were of the captivity built the temple to the Lord, the God of Israel. So they went to Zerubbabel and Jesus, and to the chief men of the families, and said to them, “We will build together with you. For we likewise, as you, obey your Lord, and sacrifice to Him from the days of Asbasareth the king of the Assyrians, who brought us here.” Then Zerubbabel, and Jesus, and the chief men of the families of Israel said to them, “It is not for you to build the house to the Lord our God. We ourselves alone will build to the Lord of Israel, according as Cyrus the king of the Persians has commanded us.” But the heathen of the land lying heavy on the inhabitants of Judea, and holding them constricted, hindered their building; and by their secret plots, and popular persuasions, and commotions, hindered the finishing of the building all the time that King Cyrus lived; so they were hindered from building for the space of two years, until the reign of Darius.
Now in the second year of the reign of Darius, Haggai and Zechariah, the [grand]son of Iddo, the prophets, prophesied to the Jews in Jewry and Jerusalem; in the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel, [they prophesied] to them. Then Zerubbabel the son of Salathiel and Jesus the son of Josedek stood up and began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with them, and helping them. At the same time, Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia came to them, with Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and said to them, “By whose appointment do you build this house and this roof, and perform all the other things? and who are the builders that perform these things?” Nevertheless, the elders of the Jews obtained favor, because the Lord had visited the captivity; and they were not hindered from building, until such time as communication was made to Darius concerning them, and his answer signified. The copy of the letter which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, the rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, wrote and sent to Darius: “To King Darius, greetings: Let all things be known to our lord the king, that having come into the country of Judea, and having entered into the city of Jerusalem, we found in the city of Jerusalem the elders of the Jews that were of the captivity building a house to the Lord, great [and] new, of hewn and costly stones, with timber laid in the walls. And those works are done with great speed, and the work goes on prosperously in their hands, and it is accomplished with all glory and diligence. Then we asked these elders, saying, By whose command do you build this house, and lay the foundations of these works? Therefore, to the intent that we might give knowledge to you by writing who were the chief doers, we questioned them, and we required of them the names in writing of their principal men. So they gave us this answer: We are the servants of the Lord which made the heavens and earth. And as for this house, it was built many years ago by a great and mighty king of Israel and was completed. But when our fathers sinned against the Lord of Israel, who is in Heaven, and provoked Him to wrath, He gave them over into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of the Chaldeans; and they pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried the people away [as] captives to Babylon. But in the first year that Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylon, King Cyrus wrote [an edict] to build up this house. And the holy vessels of gold and of silver, that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away out of the house at Jerusalem, and had set up in his own temple, those Cyrus the king brought out again out of the temple in Babylonia, and they were delivered to Zerubbabel and to Sanabassarus the governor, with command that he should carry away all these vessels and put them in the temple at Jerusalem; and that the temple of the Lord should be built in its place. Then Sanabassarus, having come here, laid the foundations of the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem; and from that time to this being still a building, it is not yet fully ended. Now therefore, if it seems good, O king, let search be made among the royal archives of our lord the king that are in Babylon: and if it is found that the building of the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem has been done with the consent of King Cyrus, and it seems good to our lord the king, let him signify to us thereof.” Then King Darius commanded to seek among the archives that were laid up at Babylon: and so at Ekbatana the palace, which is in the country of Media, there was found a scroll where these things were recorded: “In the first year of the reign of Cyrus, King Cyrus commanded to build up the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, where they sacrifice with continual fire: whose height will be sixty cubits, and the breadth sixty cubits, with three rows of hewn stones, and one row of new wood of that country; and the expenses thereof to be given out of the house of King Cyrus; and that the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both gold and silver, that Nebuchadnezzar took out of the house at Jerusalem, and carried away to Babylon, should be restored to the house at Jerusalem, and be set in the place where they were before.” And also, he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and their companions, and those which were appointed rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, should be careful not to meddle with the place, but permit Zerubbabel, the servant of the Lord, and governor of Judea, and the elders of the Jews, to build that house of the Lord in its place. “And I also command to have it built up whole again; and that they look diligently to help those that be of the captivity of Judea, until the house of the Lord is finished; and that out of the tribute of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia a portion be carefully given these men for the sacrifices of the Lord, [that is,] to Zerubbabel the governor, for bullocks, and rams, and lambs; and also corn, salt, wine, and oil—and that continually every year without further question, according as the priests that are in Jerusalem will signify to be daily spent, that drink offerings may be made to the Most High God for the king and for his children, and that they may pray for their lives. And that command [will] be given that whoever will transgress, yes, or neglect anything written here, out of his own [house] will a tree be taken, and he [will] be hanged on it, and all his goods seized for the king. May the Lord therefore, whose Name is there called on, utterly destroy every king and nation that will stretch out his hand to hinder or damage that house of the Lord in Jerusalem. I, Darius the king, have ordained that according to these things it [will] be done with diligence.”
Then Sisinnes the governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, following the commands of King Darius, very carefully oversaw the holy works, assisting the elders of the Jews and rulers of the temple. And so the holy works prospered, while Haggai and Zechariah the prophets prophesied. And they finished these things by the command of the Lord, the God of Israel, and with the consent of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of the Persians. [And so] the house was finished by the twenty-third [[or third]] day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of King Darius. And the sons of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the others that were of the captivity, that were added [to them], did according to the things [written] in the Scroll of Moses. And for the dedication of the temple of the Lord they offered one hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, [and] four hundred lambs; [and also] twelve male goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the twelve princes of the tribes of Israel. The priests and the Levites also stood arrayed in their vestments, according to their relatives, for the services of the Lord, the God of Israel, according to the Scroll of Moses: and the gatekeepers at every gate. And the sons of Israel that came out of the captivity held the Passover [on] the fourteenth day of the first month, when the priests and the Levites were sanctified together, and all those who were of the captivity; for they were sanctified. For the Levites were all sanctified together, and they offered the Passover for all those of the captivity, and for their relatives the priests, and for themselves. And the sons of Israel that came out of the captivity ate, even all those who had separated themselves from the abominations of the heathen of the land and sought the Lord. And they kept the Celebration of Unleavened Bread seven days, making merry before the Lord, for that He had turned the counsel of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the works of the Lord, the God of Israel.
And after these things, when Artaxerxes the king of the Persians reigned, Ezra came, the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Salem, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitob, the son of Amariah, the son of Ozias, the son of Memeroth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Savias, the son of Boccas, the son of Abisne, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the chief priest. This Ezra went up from Babylon, as being a ready scribe in the Law of Moses that was given by the God of Israel. And the king honored him, for he found grace in his sight in all his requests. There also went up with him certain of the sons of Israel, and of the priests, and Levites, and holy singers, and gatekeepers, and temple servants, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, in the fifth month, this was the king’s seventh year; for they went from Babylon on the new moon of the first month, and came to Jerusalem, according to the prosperous journey which the Lord gave them for His sake. For Ezra had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the law and commands of the Lord but taught all Israel the ordinances and judgments. Now the commission, which was written from Artaxerxes the king, came to Ezra the priest and reader of the Law of the Lord, of which this that follows is a copy: “King Artaxerxes to Ezra the priest and reader of the Law of the Lord, greetings: Having determined to deal graciously, I have given order that such of the nation of the Jews, and of the priests and Levites, and of those within our realm, as are willing and desirous, should go with you to Jerusalem. Therefore, as many as have a mind [to this purpose], let them depart with you, as it has seemed good both to me and my seven friends the counselors, that they may look to the affairs of Judea and Jerusalem, agreeably to that which is in the Law of the Lord, and carry the gifts to the Lord of Israel to Jerusalem, which my friends and I have vowed; and that all the gold and silver that can be found in the country of Babylonia for the Lord in Jerusalem, with that also which is given of the people for the temple of the Lord their God that is at Jerusalem, be collected: even the gold and silver for bullocks, rams, and lambs, and things pertaining to that, to the end that they may offer sacrifices to the Lord on the altar of the Lord their God, which is in Jerusalem— and whatever you and your relatives are inclined to do with gold and silver, that perform, according to the will of your God. And the holy vessels of the Lord, which are given to you for the use of the temple of your God, which is in Jerusalem, and anything else you will remember for the use of the temple of your God, you will give it out of the king’s treasury. And I, King Artaxerxes, have also commanded the keepers of the treasures in Syria and Phoenicia, that whatever Ezra the priest and reader of the Law of the Most High God will send for, they should give it to him with all diligence, to the sum of one hundred talents of silver, likewise also of wheat even to one hundred measures, and one hundred firkins of wine, and salt in abundance. Let all things be diligently performed after the Law of God—to the Most High God—that wrath does not come on the kingdom of the king and his sons. I also command you that no tax, nor any other imposition, be laid on any of the priests, or Levites, or holy singers, or gatekeepers, or temple servants, or any that have employment in this temple, and that no man have authority to impose anything on them. And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of God, ordain judges and justices, that they may judge in all Syria and Phoenicia all those that know the law of your God; and you will teach those that do not know it. And whoever will transgress the law of your God, and of the king, will be punished diligently, whether it be by death, or other punishment, by penalty of money, or by imprisonment.” Then Ezra the scribe said, “Blessed is the only Lord, the God of my fathers, who has put these things into the heart of the king, to glorify His house that is in Jerusalem, and has honored me in the sight of the king, and his counselors, and all his friends and nobles. Therefore, I was encouraged by the help of the Lord my God and gathered together out of Israel men to go up with me. And these are the chiefs, according to their families and the several divisions thereof, that went up with me from Babylon in the reign of King Artaxerxes: of the sons of Phinehas, Gerson; of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael; of the sons of David, Attus the son of Sechenias; of the sons of Phoros, Zechariah, and with him were counted one hundred and fifty men; of the sons of Phaath-Moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred men; of the sons of Zathoes, Sechenias the son of Jezelus, and with him three hundred men; of the sons of Adin, Obeth the son of Jonathan, and with him two hundred and fifty men; of the sons of Elam, Jesias son of Gotholia, and with him seventy men; of the sons of Saphatias, Zerahiah son of Michael, and with him seventy men; of the sons of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and twelve men; of the sons of Banias, Salimoth son of Josaphias, and with him one hundred and sixty men; of the sons of Babi, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight men; of the sons of Azgad, Joannes son of Hakkatan, and with him one hundred and ten men; of the sons of Adonikam, the last, and these are the names of them—Eliphalat, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them seventy men; of the sons of Bigvai, Uthi the son of Istalcurus, and with him seventy men. And I gathered them together to the river called Theras; and there we pitched our tents three days, and I surveyed them. But when I had found there none of the priests and Levites, then I sent to Eleazar, and Iduel, and Maasmas, and Elnathan, and Samaias, and [Jarib], Nathan, Ennatan, Zechariah, and Mosollamus, principal men and men of understanding. And I commanded those who should go to [Iddo], Loddeus the captain, who was in the place of [Casiphia], the treasury; and I commanded them that they should speak to Loddeus, and to his relatives, and to the treasurers in that place, to send us such men as might execute the priests’ office in the house of our Lord. And by the mighty hand of our Lord they brought to us men of understanding of the sons of Mooli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, Asebebias, and his sons, and his relatives, who were eighteen, and Asebias, and Annuus, and Osaias his brother, of the sons of Chanuneus, and their sons were twenty men; and of the temple-servants whom David and the principal men had appointed for the servants of the Levites, two hundred and twenty temple-servants, the catalogue of all their names was shown. And there I vowed a fast for the young men before our Lord, to desire of Him a prosperous journey both for us and for our children, and [for the] cattle that were with us: for I was ashamed to ask of the king footmen, and horsemen, and conduct for protection against our adversaries. For we had said to the king that the power of our Lord would be with those who seek Him, to support them in all ways. And again we implored our Lord as touching these things and found Him favorable [to us]. Then I separated twelve men of the chiefs of the priests: Eserebias, and Assamias, and ten men of their relatives with them; and I weighed them the silver, and the gold, and the holy vessels of the house of our Lord, which the king, and his counselors, and the nobles, and all Israel, had given. And when I had weighed it, I delivered to them six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels of one hundred talents, and one hundred talents of gold, and twenty golden vessels, and twelve vessels of brass, even of fine brass, glittering like gold. And I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord and the vessels are holy—both—and the gold and the silver are a vow to the Lord, the Lord of our fathers. Watch and keep them until you deliver them to the chiefs of the priests and Levites, and to the principal men of the families of Israel, in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of our Lord.” So the priests and the Levites, who received the silver, and the gold, and the vessels which were in Jerusalem, brought them into the temple of the Lord. And from the River Theras we departed [on] the twelfth day of the first month, until we came to Jerusalem, by the mighty hand of our Lord which was on us: and the Lord delivered us from [assault by] the way, from every enemy, and so we came to Jerusalem. And when we had been there three days, the silver and gold was weighed and delivered in the house of our Lord on the fourth day to Marmoth the priest, the son of Urias. And with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were Josabdus the son of Jesus and Moeth the son of Sabannus, the Levites: all [was delivered to them] by number and weight. And all the weight of them was written up the same hour. Moreover, those who had come out of the captivity offered sacrifices to the Lord, the God of Israel, even twelve bullocks for all Israel, [and] ninety-six rams, seventy-two lambs, goats for a peace offering—twelve; all of them a sacrifice to the Lord. And they delivered the king’s commands to the king’s stewards, and to the governors of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia; and they honored the people and the temple of the Lord. Now when these things were done, the principal men came to me, and said, “The nation of Israel, and the princes, and the priests, and the Levites, have not put away the strange people of the land, nor the uncleanness of the nations—of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and the Moabites, Egyptians, and Edomites. For both they and their sons have married with their daughters, and the holy seed is mixed with the strange people of the land; and from the beginning of this matter the rulers and the nobles have been partakers of this iniquity.” And as soon as I had heard these things, I tore my clothes and my holy garment, and plucked the hair from off my head and beard, and sat myself down sad and full of heaviness. So all those who were moved at the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, assembled to me, while I mourned for the iniquity, but I sat still full of heaviness until the evening sacrifice. Then rising up from the fast with my clothes and my holy garment torn, and bowing my knees, and stretching out my hands to the Lord, I said, “O Lord, I am ashamed and confounded before Your face, for our sins are multiplied above our heads, and our errors have reached up to Heaven, ever since the time of our fathers; and we are in great sin, even to this day. And for our sins and our fathers’ we with our relatives, and our kings, and our priests were given up to the kings of the earth, to the sword, and to captivity, and for a prey with shame, to this day. And now in some measure mercy has been shown to us from You, O Lord, that a root and a name should be left for us in the place of Your sanctuary, and to discover a light for us in the house of the Lord our God, and to give us food in the time of our servitude. Yes, when we were in bondage, we were not forsaken of our Lord, but He made us gracious before the kings of Persia, so that they gave us food, and glorified the temple of our Lord, and raised up the desolate Zion, to give us a sure dwelling in Jewry and Jerusalem. And now, O Lord, what will we say, having these things? For we have transgressed Your commands, which You gave by the hand of Your servants the prophets, saying, The land, which you enter into to possess as a heritage, is a land polluted with the pollutions of the strangers of the land, and they have filled it with their uncleanness. Therefore now, you will not join your daughters to their sons, neither will you take their daughters to your sons, neither will you seek to have peace with them forever, that you may be strong, and eat the good things of the land, and that you may leave it for an inheritance to your children forevermore. And all that has befallen [us] is done to us for our wicked works and great sins, for You, O Lord, made our sins light, and gave to us such a root, [but] we have turned back again to transgress Your law, in mingling ourselves with the uncleanness of the heathen of the land. You were not angry with us to destroy us, until You had left us neither root, seed, nor name. O Lord of Israel, You are true, for we are left a root to this day. Behold, now we are before You in our iniquities, for we cannot stand any longer before You by reason of these things.” And as Ezra made his confession in his prayer, weeping and lying flat on the ground before the temple, there gathered to him from Jerusalem a very great crowd of men, and women, and children, for there was great weeping among the multitude. Then Jehoiachin the son of Jeelus, one of the sons of Israel, called out, and said, “O Ezra, we have sinned against the Lord God, we have married strange women of the heathen of the land, and now is all Israel aloft. Let us make an oath to the Lord herein, that we will put away all our wives, which [we have taken] of the strangers, with their children, like as seems good to you, and to as many as obey the Law of the Lord. Arise and execute this, for this matter pertains to you, and we will be with you to do valiantly.” So Ezra arose, and took an oath of the chief of the priests and Levites of all Israel to do after these things; and [so] they swore.
1 Then Ezra, rising from the court of the temple, went to the chamber of Jonas the son of Eliasib, 2 and lodged there, and ate no bread nor drank water, mourning for the great iniquities of the multitude. 3 And there was made proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all those who were of the captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem, 4 and that whoever did not meet there within two or three days, according as the elders that bore rule appointed, their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple, and himself cast out from the multitude of those who were of the captivity. 5 And in three days all those of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin were gathered together at Jerusalem: this was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. 6 And all the multitude sat together trembling in the broad place before the temple because of the present foul weather. 7 So Ezra arose and said to them, “You have transgressed the Law and married strange wives to increase the sins of Israel. 8 And now make confession and give glory to the Lord, the God of our fathers, 9 and do His will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the strange women.” 10 Then the whole multitude cried, and said with a loud voice, “Just as you have spoken, so we will do. 11 But forasmuch as the multitude is great, and it is foul weather, so that we cannot stand outside, this indeed is not a work of one day or two, seeing our sin in these things is spread far: 12 therefore, let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all those of our habitations that have strange wives come at the time appointed, 13 and with them the rulers and judges of every place, until we turn the wrath of the Lord away from us for this matter.” 14 [Then] Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezekias the son of Thocanus took the matter on them accordingly; and Mosollamus, and Levis, and Sabbateus were assessors to them. 15 And those who were of the captivity did according to all these things. 16 And Ezra the priest chose principal men for himself of their families, all by name: and on the new moon of the tenth month, they were shut in together to examine the matter. 17 So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end by the new moon of the first month. 18 And there were found of the priests that had come together and had strange wives, 19 of the sons of Jesus the son of Josedek, and his relatives: Mathelas, and Eleazar, and Joribus, and Joadanus. 20 And they gave their hands to put away their wives, and to [offer] rams to make reconciliation for their error. 21 And of the sons of Emmer: Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Manes, and Sameus, and Hiereel, and Azariah. 22 And of the sons of Phaisur: Elionas, Massias, Ishmael, and Nathanael, and Ocidelus, and Saloas. 23 And of the Levites: Jozabdus, and Semeis, and Colius, who was called Calitas, and Patheus, and Judas, and Jonas. 24 Of the holy singers: Eliasibus [and] Bacchurus. 25 Of the gatekeepers: Sallumus and tolbanes. 26 Of Israel, of the sons of Phoros: Hiermas, and Ieddias, and Melchias, and Maelus, and Eleazar, and Asibas, and Banneas. 27 Of the sons of Ela: Matthanias, Zechariah, and Jezrielus, and Oabdius, and Hieremoth, and Aedias. 28 And of the sons of Zamoth: Eliadas, Eliasimus, Othonias, Jarimoth, and Sabathus, and Zardeus. 29 Of the sons of Bebai: Joannes, and Ananias, and Jozabdus, and Ematheis. 30 Of the sons of Mani: Olamus, Mamuchus, Jedeus, Jasubas, and Jasaelus, and Hieremoth. 31 And of the sons of Addi: Naathus, and Moossias, Laccunus, and Naidus, and Matthanias, and Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas. 32 And of the sons of Annas: Elionas, and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus. 33 And of the sons of Asom: Maltanneus, and Mattathias, and Sabanneus, Eliphalat, and Manasseh, and Semei. 34 And of the sons of Baani: Jeremias, Momdis, Ismaerus, Juel, Mamdai, and Pedias, and Anos, Carabasion, and Enasibus, and Mamnitamenus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, someis, Selemias, Nathanias. And of the sons of Ezora: Sesis, Ezril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zambri, Josephus. 35 And of the sons of Nooma: Mazitias, Zabadeas, Edos, Juel, Banaias. 36 All these had taken strange wives, and they put them away with their children. 37 And the priests and Levites, and those who were of Israel, lived in Jerusalem, and in the country, on the new moon of the seventh month, and the sons of Israel in their habitations. 38 And the whole multitude were gathered together with one accord into the broad place before the porch of the temple toward the east; 39 and they said to Ezra the priest and reader, “Bring the Law of Moses, that was given of the Lord, the God of Israel.” 40 So Ezra the chief priest brought the Law to the whole multitude of both men and women, and to all the priests, to hear the Law on the new moon of the seventh month. 41 And he read in the broad place before the porch of the temple from morning to midday, before both men and women; and all the multitude gave heed to the Law. 42 And Ezra the priest and reader of the Law stood up on the pulpit of wood, which was made [for that purpose]. 43 And there stood up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azariah, Urias, Ezekias, Ba’alsamus, on the right hand; 44 and on his left hand: Phaldeus, Misael, Melchias, Lothasubus, Nabarias, [and] Zechariah. 45 Then Ezra took the Scroll of the Law before the multitude and sat honorably in the first place before all. 46 And when he opened the Law, they all stood straight up. So Ezra blessed the Lord God Most High, the God of armies, Almighty. 47 And all the people answered, “Amen”; and lifting up their hands they fell to the ground and worshiped the Lord. 48 Also Jesus, Annus, Sarabias, Iadinus, Jacubus, Sabateus, Auteas, Maiannas, and Calitas, Azariah, and Jozabdus, and Ananias, Phalias, the Levites, taught the Law of the Lord, and read the Law of the Lord to the multitude, in addition, making them to understand it. 49 Then Attharates said to Ezra the chief priest and reader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude, even to all, 50 “This day is holy to the Lord”—now they all wept when they heard the Law— 51 “go then, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing, 52 for the day is holy to the Lord; and do not be sorrowful, for the Lord will bring you to honor.” 53 So the Levites published all things to the people, saying, “This day is holy; do not be sorrowful.” 54 Then they went their way, everyone to eat, and drink, and make merry, and to give portions to those who had nothing, and to make great cheer, 55 because they understood the words wherein they were instructed, and for which they had been assembled.