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Ezra 1-2
Expanded Bible
Ezra 1-2
Expanded Bible
Cyrus Helps the Captives Return
1 In the first year Cyrus was king of Persia [C 539 bc], the Lord ·caused [L stirred up the spirit of] Cyrus to send an announcement to his whole kingdom and to put it in writing. This happened so the Lord’s ·message [prophecy; L word] ·spoken by [L by the mouth of] Jeremiah would ·come true [be fulfilled]. He wrote:
2 This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
The Lord, the God of heaven, has given all the kingdoms of the earth to me, and he has ·appointed [instructed; charged] me to build a ·Temple [L house] for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 May God be with all ·of [among] you who are his people. You ·are free to [may] go to Jerusalem in Judah and ·build [or rebuild] the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord, the God of Israel, [L he is the God] who is in Jerusalem. 4 Those who ·stay behind [L survive], ·wherever they live [in those places; C referring to the Jews remaining in exile, to the Jewish remnant who remained in Israel during the exile, or to their non-Jewish neighbors], ·should [must] ·support [help; assist; provide for] those who want to go. Give them silver and gold, ·supplies [goods] and ·cattle [livestock], and ·special gifts [voluntary/freewill offerings] for the ·Temple [L house] of God in Jerusalem.
5 Then the ·family [clan] leaders of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and Levites ·got ready [L arose] to go to Jerusalem—everyone ·God had caused to want [L whose spirit/heart/mind God had stirred] to go to Jerusalem to ·build [or rebuild] the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. 6 All their neighbors ·helped them [encouraged/assisted/aided them; L strengthened their hands], giving them things made of silver and gold, along with ·supplies [goods], ·cattle [livestock], valuable gifts, and ·special gifts [voluntary/freewill offerings]. 7 Also, King Cyrus brought out the ·bowls and pans [L articles] that belonged in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had ·taken [carried away] from Jerusalem and put in the ·temple [L house] of his own ·god [gods; Dan. 1:2; 5:1–4]. 8 Cyrus king of Persia had Mithredath the treasurer bring them and count them out ·for [to] Sheshbazzar, the ·prince [leader of the exiles] of Judah.
9 He listed thirty gold dishes, one thousand silver dishes, twenty-nine ·pans [or knives; or utensils], 10 thirty gold bowls, four hundred ten matching silver bowls, and one thousand other pieces.
11 There was a total of fifty-four hundred ·pieces [articles; vessels] of gold and silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these things along when the ·captives [exiles] went from Babylon to Jerusalem.
The Captives Who Returned
2 These are the people of the ·area [province] who ·returned [were returning/on their way back] from ·captivity [exile], whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had ·taken [carried] away to Babylon [2 Kin. 25:11–12]. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each going back to his own town. 2 These people returned with Zerubbabel [3:2], Jeshua [3:2], Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.
·These are [This is the number/list of] the people from Israel: 3 the ·descendants [sons; C and so throughout the list] of Parosh—2,172; 4 the descendants of Shephatiah—372; 5 the descendants of Arah—775; 6 the descendants of Pahath-Moab (through the ·family [line] of Jeshua and Joab)—2,812; 7 the descendants of Elam—1,254; 8 the descendants of Zattu—945; 9 the descendants of Zaccai—760; 10 the descendants of Bani—642; 11 the descendants of Bebai—623; 12 the descendants of Azgad—1,222; 13 the descendants of Adonikam—666; 14 the descendants of Bigvai—2,056; 15 the descendants of Adin—454; 16 the descendants of Ater (through the ·family [line] of Hezekiah)—98; 17 the descendants of Bezai—323; 18 the descendants of Jorah—112; 19 the descendants of Hashum—223; 20 the descendants of Gibbar—95.
21 These are the people from the towns: of Bethlehem—123; 22 of Netophah—56; 23 of Anathoth—128; 24 of Azmaveth—42; 25 of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth—743; 26 of Ramah and Geba—621; 27 of Micmash—122; 28 of Bethel and Ai—223; 29 of Nebo—52; 30 of Magbish—156; 31 of the other town of Elam—1,254; 32 of Harim—320; 33 of Lod, Hadid and Ono—725; 34 of Jericho—345; 35 of Senaah—3,630.
36 These are the priests: the ·descendants [sons; C and so on throughout the list] of Jedaiah (through the ·family [line; L house] of Jeshua)—973; 37 the descendants of Immer—1,052; 38 the descendants of Pashhur—1,247; 39 the descendants of Harim—1,017.
40 These are the Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the ·family [line] of Hodaviah)—74.
41 These are the ·singers [musicians]: the descendants of Asaph—128.
42 These are the gatekeepers of the ·Temple [L house]: the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai—139.
43 These are the Temple servants: the ·descendants [sons; C and so throughout the list] of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, 44 Keros, Siaha, Padon, 45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, 46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan, 47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, 48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, 49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai, 50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephussim, 51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, 52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, 53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, 54 Neziah, and Hatipha.
55 These are the descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, 56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, 57 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and Ami.
58 The Temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon numbered 392.
59 ·Some [The following; Another group of] people came to Jerusalem from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove that their ·ancestors [families; L house of their fathers and their seed] came from Israel. 60 They were the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda—652.
61 Also these priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai, who had ·married a daughter [L taken a wife from the daughters] of Barzillai from Gilead and was called by her family name.
62 These people searched ·for their family [or in the genealogical] records but could not find them. So they could not be priests, because they were ·thought to be unclean [disqualified; L desecrated]. 63 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the ·food offered to God [sacred food; L most holy things] until a priest ·had settled this matter by using [L stood up with] the Urim and Thummim [Ex. 28:30].
64 The total number of ·those who returned [the company/assembly/group] was 42,360. 65 This is not counting their 7,337 male and female servants and the 200 male and female singers they had with them. 66 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 67 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
68 When they arrived at the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the ·leaders of families [L heads of the fathers] ·gave [made voluntary] offerings to rebuild the ·Temple [L house] of God on the same site as before. 69 They gave as much as they could to the treasury ·to rebuild the Temple [for this work]—·about 1,100 pounds [L 61,000 drachmas] of gold, ·about 6,000 pounds [L 5,000 minas] of silver, and 100 ·pieces of clothing for the priests [priestly garments/robes].
70 All the Israelites settled in their hometowns. The priests, Levites, ·singers [musicians], gatekeepers, and Temple servants, along with some of the other people, settled in their own towns as well.
Ezra 1-2
New International Version
Ezra 1-2
New International Version
Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return(A)
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah,(B) the Lord moved the heart(C) of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed(D) me to build(E) a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. 4 And in any locality where survivors(F) may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold,(G) with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings(H) for the temple of God(I) in Jerusalem.’”(J)
5 Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin,(K) and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved(L)—prepared to go up and build the house(M) of the Lord in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold,(N) with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.
7 Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god.[a](O) 8 Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar(P) the prince of Judah.
9 This was the inventory:
| gold dishes | 30 |
| silver dishes | 1,000 |
| silver pans[b] | 29 |
| 10 gold bowls | 30 |
| matching silver bowls | 410 |
| other articles | 1,000 |
11 In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
The List of the Exiles Who Returned(Q)
2 Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles,(R) whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon(S) had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town,(T) 2 in company with Zerubbabel,(U) Joshua,(V) Nehemiah, Seraiah,(W) Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah):
The list of the men of the people of Israel:
| 3 the descendants of Parosh(X) | 2,172 |
| 4 of Shephatiah | 372 |
| 5 of Arah | 775 |
| 6 of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) | 2,812 |
| 7 of Elam | 1,254 |
| 8 of Zattu | 945 |
| 9 of Zakkai | 760 |
| 10 of Bani | 642 |
| 11 of Bebai | 623 |
| 12 of Azgad | 1,222 |
| 13 of Adonikam(Y) | 666 |
| 14 of Bigvai | 2,056 |
| 15 of Adin | 454 |
| 16 of Ater (through Hezekiah) | 98 |
| 17 of Bezai | 323 |
| 18 of Jorah | 112 |
| 19 of Hashum | 223 |
| 20 of Gibbar | 95 |
| 21 the men of Bethlehem(Z) | 123 |
| 22 of Netophah | 56 |
| 23 of Anathoth | 128 |
| 24 of Azmaveth | 42 |
| 25 of Kiriath Jearim,[c] Kephirah and Beeroth | 743 |
| 26 of Ramah(AA) and Geba | 621 |
| 27 of Mikmash | 122 |
| 28 of Bethel and Ai(AB) | 223 |
| 29 of Nebo | 52 |
| 30 of Magbish | 156 |
| 31 of the other Elam | 1,254 |
| 32 of Harim | 320 |
| 33 of Lod, Hadid and Ono | 725 |
| 34 of Jericho(AC) | 345 |
| 35 of Senaah | 3,630 |
36 The priests:
| the descendants of Jedaiah(AD) (through the family of Jeshua) | 973 |
| 37 of Immer(AE) | 1,052 |
| 38 of Pashhur(AF) | 1,247 |
| 39 of Harim(AG) | 1,017 |
40 The Levites:(AH)
| the descendants of Jeshua(AI) and Kadmiel (of the line of Hodaviah) | 74 |
41 The musicians:(AJ)
| the descendants of Asaph | 128 |
42 The gatekeepers(AK) of the temple:
| the descendants of | |
| Shallum, Ater, Talmon, | |
| Akkub, Hatita and Shobai | 139 |
43 The temple servants:(AL)
| the descendants of |
| Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, |
| 44 Keros, Siaha, Padon, |
| 45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, |
| 46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan, |
| 47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, |
| 48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, |
| 49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai, |
| 50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim, |
| 51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, |
| 52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, |
| 53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, |
| 54 Neziah and Hatipha |
55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:
| the descendants of |
| Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, |
| 56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, |
| 57 Shephatiah, Hattil, |
| Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami |
| 58 The temple servants(AM) and the descendants of the servants of Solomon | 392 |
59 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended(AN) from Israel:
| 60 The descendants of | |
| Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda | 652 |
61 And from among the priests:
| The descendants of |
| Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite(AO) and was called by that name). |
62 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood(AP) as unclean. 63 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food(AQ) until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.(AR)
64 The whole company numbered 42,360, 65 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 200 male and female singers.(AS) 66 They had 736 horses,(AT) 245 mules, 67 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
68 When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families(AU) gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics[d] of gold, 5,000 minas[e] of silver and 100 priestly garments.
70 The priests, the Levites, the musicians, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.(AV)
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