Study Desk

And they set the priests in their ministrations and the Levites in their ministrations over the service of the house of God which is in Jerusalem. as it is written in the book of the law of Moses.

And the children of Israel who had come up from the captivity of Babylon, all such who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the Gentiles of the land to pray before the LORD God of Israel, did eat.

And they celebrated the feast of the unleavened bread seven days with joy; for the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of the LORD God of Israel.

This Ezra was a leader who went up from Babylon; and he was a scribe learned in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all his request, that he might walk as he pleased according to the law of the LORD.

For on the first month they began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month they came to Jerusalem, according to the hand of God which had been good to them.

Artakhshisht, king of kings, to Ezra the priest and scribe, learned in the law of the God of heaven, peace.

Moreover I have issued a decree and made a statute and sent some of my friends to inquire concerning the welfare of Judah and Jerusalem, and also to inquire concerning the law of your God which is in your hand;

And all the silver and gold that shall be found in all the province of Babylon shall go with you, and the priests and the Levites and all who wish to go with you may go to the house of God which is in Jerusalem,

That you may buy wisely with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of your God which is in Jerusalem.

And whatsoever shall seem good to you and to your brethren to do with the rest of this money, do according to the will of your God.

The vessels also that are given you for the service of the house of your God you shall deliver before the God who is in Jerusalem.

And the rest of the vessels which you may need for the service of the house of your God you shall take and give out of the kings treasure house.

And I, Artakhshisht the king, do make a decree to all treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe learned in the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, you shall do it speedily,

And everything which is in the decree shall be given, and you shall give it according to the law of the God of heaven; let it be taken and done, that there may not be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons.

Also we inform you that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, and the workers of the house of God, it is unlawful for you to interfere with them.

And you, Ezra, according to your wisdom which your God has given you, appoint governors and judges, who may judge all the people that are beyond the River, all such as know the law of your God; and him who does not know it, you shall teach.

And whosoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be to death or to banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment.

Blessed art thou, O LORD God of our fathers, for thou hast put this thing in the kings heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem;

And hast extended mercy to me before the king and before the kings mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I chose out of Israel leading men to go up with me.

And I commanded them to go to Adai their chief who was at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say to Adai and to his brethren who were encamped at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.