When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Then the king asked me, “What is your request?”

So I prayed to the God of heaven

While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, an extremely large assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly.

By the rivers of Babylon—
there we sat down and wept
when we remembered Zion.

The messenger answered, “Israel has fled from the Philistines, and also there was a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”

This is the reply they gave us:

We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.

because zeal for Your house has consumed me,
and the insults of those who insult You
have fallen on me.

You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her—
the appointed time has come.

urging them to ask the God of heaven for mercy concerning this mystery, so Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of Babylon’s wise men.

So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

He answered them, “I’m a Hebrew. I worship Yahweh, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.”

I will gather those who have been driven
from the appointed festivals;
they will be a tribute from you
and a reproach on her.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

Bible References

I sat down

The messenger answered, “Israel has fled from the Philistines, and also there was a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, an extremely large assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly.
because zeal for Your house has consumed me,
and the insults of those who insult You
have fallen on me.
You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her—
the appointed time has come.
By the rivers of Babylon—
there we sat down and wept
when we remembered Zion.
So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
I will gather those who have been driven
from the appointed festivals;
they will be a tribute from you
and a reproach on her.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

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