Reference: Ezra, The Book of
Fausets
Hilary of Poitiers calls Ezra a continuation of Chronicles. The first part of Ezra (Ezra 1-6) describes the return from the captivity under Joshua and Zerubbabel, and the building of the temple; the enemy's obstructions; its advance through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Ezr 5:1-2; 6:14), and its completion in Darius Hystaspes' sixth year, 516 B.C. (Ezr 6:15.) A long interval follows; and the second part of the book (Ezra 7-10) passes to Ezra's journey from Persia to Jerusalem in Artaxerxes Longimanus' seventh year, 458-457 B.C. (Ezr 7:1,7); the details are given in Ezra 7; 8. Ezra's numerous caravan bringing fresh strength to the weak colony (Ezra 8). And his work in Ezra 9-10, restoring the theocratic nationality and removing foreign wives. The book ends with the names of those who had married them.
The second part combined with Nehemiah is a complete historical picture. But the distinct title to Nehemiah shows it is a separate book. ESTHER fills up the interval between Ezra 6 and Ezra 7. The first part (Ezra 1-6) period (536-516 B.C.) is the time of prince Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua aided by Haggai and Zechariah. The second (Ezra 7-10) is that of the priest Ezra and the governor Nehemiah, aided by the prophet Malachi. In both royal, priestly, and prophetical men lead God's people. The first is the period of building the temple, a religious restoration; the second that of restoring the people and rebuilding the city, a political combined with a religious restoration. The things of God first, then the things of men. Only 50,000 settled with Joshua and Zerubbabel (Ezr 2:64, etc.); and these intermingled with the pagan, and were in "affliction and reproach" (Ezr 9:6-15; Ne 1:3).
Hence the need of restoring the holy nationality, as well as the temple, under Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra the priest took charge of the inner restoration, by purging out paganism and bringing back the law; Nehemiah the governor did the outer work, restoring the city and its polity. Ezra is therefore rightly accounted by the Jews as a second Moses. Ezra received permission to go to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus (Ezr 7:6-26); Nehemiah in the 20th year (Ne 2:1). Ezra is supposed by some to have used the Babylonian era, Nehemiah the Persian. The 70 weeks (490 years) of Da 9:24-25 probably date from this seventh year of Artaxerxes, when Ezra received leave to restore the temple and the people and the holy city (457 B.C.), because the re-establishment of the theocracy then began, though the actual rebuilding was not until 13 years later under Nehemiah.
Ezra's placing of Daniel in the canon immediately before his own book and Nehemiah's implies that his commission began the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy; Christ's 30th year in beginning His ministry would be A.D. 26-27 (the A.D. dates three or four years later than Christ's actual birth), and His crucifixion A.D. 30. So that "He was cut off" and "caused the sacrifice to cease in the midst of the week," the last week beginning with His ministry to the Jews, A.D. 26-27, and ending with that exclusive ministry to them for three and a half years after His crucifixion, ceasing through their own rejection of Him when preached by the apostles and evangelists (Acts 7-8).
Thus the 490 years or 70 weeks consist of (1) seven weeks (49 years) of revelation, from 457 to 407 B.C., the probable date of Malachi's prophecy and Nehemiah's work, which the prophet supported, ending; then (2) 62 weeks (434 years) of no revelation; then seven years of special and brightest revelation to Israel, first by Messiah in person, then by His still more powerful presence by the Holy Spirit, in the middle of which week His one sacrifice supersedes all other sacrifices. The succession of Persian monarchs in Ezra is Cyrus, Ahasuerus (the Cam byses of secular history), Artaxerxes (Pseudo-Smerdis, the Magian, an usurper), Darius (the Ahasuerus of Esther or Xerxes of secular history comes in here, in the interval between Ezra 6 and 7), Artaxerxes. Ezra's account of (See CYRUS accords with his character, celebrated for clemency.
A Zoroastrian, a worshipper of Ormuzd, the great God, he hated idolatry and the shameless licentiousness of the Babylonian worship, and so was disposed to patronize the Jews, whose religion so much resembled his own. Hence his edicts for restoring the Jews, though an act unparalleled in history, harmonize with the facts concerning him in the Bible and in secular history (Ezr 1:2-4; 6:3-5). He identifies "the Lord God of heaven" with the Jehovah of the Jews. His restoring them in his first year immediately (Ezr 1:1), and his words "the Lord God of heaven has charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem," plainly show he bad heard of God's words by Isaiah (Isa 44:28), "Cyrus is My shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasure, even saying to Jerusalem, thou shalt be built, and to the temple, thy foundation shall be laid."
Daniel would necessarily, as just made "third ruler in the kingdom," and having foretold its transfer to "the Medes and Persians" (Da 5:28-29), come under Cyrus' notice immediately on the capture of Babylon; moreover, it is stated "he prospered in the reign of Cyrus the Persian" (Da 6:28), he would therefore be sure to mention to Cyrus Isaiah's prophecy. Cyrus' pious confession that he received all his dominions from Him accords with the spirit of the old Persian religion. His returning the golden vessels (Ezr 1:7-11; 6:5), his allowing the whole expense of rebuilding from the royal revenue (Ezr 6:4), his directing all Persians to help with silver, etc. (Ezr 1:4), agree with his known munificence. An undesigned coincidence, and therefore mark of genuineness, is that when Ezra wrote, a century later than Cyrus, the Persian kings usually lived at Susa or Babylon, where the archives were kept, and there Ezra would naturally have placed Cyrus' roll had he been forging.
But Ezra says Cyrus' decree was found at Achmetha (Ecbatana), Ezr 6:2. Herodotus (i. 153) and Ctesias (Exc. Per., 2-4) confirm this by mentioning that Cyrus held his court permanently at Ecbatana, and so would have his archives there. (See ARTAXERXES.) (Ezr 4:7) Artaxerxes or Smerdis, as a Magian, whose worship was antagonistic to Zoroastrianism (compare Herodotus iii. 61, Ctes. Exc. Pers., 10, Justin, 1:9, and Darius' inscription at Behistun, as to Smerdis' special portion), would naturally reverse the policy of Cyrus and Ahasuerus (Cambyses, who did not act on the accusation of the Jews' enemies: Ezr 4:6); accordingly, his harsh edict expresses no faith in the supreme God, whom Cyrus' edict honored (Ezr 4:17-22). Darius, a zealous Zoroastrian, succeeded; his Behistun inscription tells us he "rebuilt the temples the Magian had destroyed, and restored the chants and worship he had abolished."
This explains the strange boldness of the Jews (Ezr 5:1-2) in treating Smerdis' edict as void, and without waiting for Darius' warrant resuming the work under Zerubbabel and Jeshua, with Zechariah and Haggai. Their enemies, hoping Smerdis had destroyed Cyrus' edict, wrote to king Darius (Ezr 5:6) that they were building again on the plea of Cyrus' edict, and that search should be made at Babylon whether there were any such edict of Cyrus. Their mention of Babylon was either to mislead the king as to the real repository of the decree, or more probably from ignorance of Cyrus' habit of living at Ecbatana, which ignorance Providence overruled to save the roll from their destroying hands under Smerdis. The language of Darius' edict on finding it accords with his character and circumstances.
The Jewish temple he calls "the house of God," and Jehovah "the God of heaven"; he approves as a Zoroastrian of sacrifices to the Supreme Being, desires their prayers for himself and "his sons" (Herodotus i. 132, confirms Ezra that Darius had "sons" already, though he had but just ascended the throne), mentions the "tribute" (Ezr 6:8) which (Herodotus, 3:89) he was the first to impose on the provinces, and threatens the refractory with impaling, his usual mode of punishment (Ezr 6:11; Behistun inscription; Herodotus, 3:159). The three books Ezra, (See CHRONICLES , prob
See Verses Found in Dictionary
In his days, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went against the king of Assyria to the river of Euphrates. And king Josiah went against him, and was slain of him at Megiddo when he had seen him.
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he caused it to be proclaimed throughout all his empire, yea and by writing also, saying,
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he caused it to be proclaimed throughout all his empire, yea and by writing also, saying, "Thus sayeth Cyrus the king of Persia: 'The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the land and hath commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. read more. Whosoever now among you is of his people, the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel. He is the God that is at Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth yet in any manner of place, where he is a stranger, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with good and cattle, beside that which they willingly offer, for the house of God at Jerusalem.'"
And whosoever remaineth yet in any manner of place, where he is a stranger, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with good and cattle, beside that which they willingly offer, for the house of God at Jerusalem.'"
And king Cyrus brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of Jerusalem and put in his god's house. Those did Cyrus the king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. read more. And this is the number of them: thirty basins of gold, and a thousand basins of silver, nine and twenty knives, thirty cups of gold, and of other silver cups four hundred and ten, and of other vessels a thousand. So that all the vessels both of gold and silver, were five thousand and four hundred. Sheshbazzar brought them all up, with them that came up out of the captivity of Babylon unto Jerusalem.
The whole congregation as one man, was two and forty thousand, three hundred and threescore;
So the priests and the Levites, and certain of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
And when the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were now in their cities, the people came together, even as one man, unto Jerusalem. And there stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
And there stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God. And the altar set they upon his sockets - for there was a fearfulness among them because of the nations and the lands - and offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, in the morning and at evening. read more. And held the feast of tabernacles as it is written, and offered burnt sacrifices daily, in order: according to the custom, day by day. Afterward, the daily burnt offering also, and of the new moons and of all the feast days of the LORD that were hallowed, and all manner of freewill offerings, which they did of their own freewill unto the LORD. Upon the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt sacrifices unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.
Upon the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt sacrifices unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.
In the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem: and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and above, to see that the work of the house of the LORD went forward.
In the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem: and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and above, to see that the work of the house of the LORD went forward.
In the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem: and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and above, to see that the work of the house of the LORD went forward. And Jeshua stood with his sons and his brethren, and Kadmiel with his sons and the children of Judah, to further the workmen of the house of God; namely, the children of Henadad with their children and their brethren the Levites. read more. And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their array, with trumpets, and the Levites, the children of Asaph, with cymbals; to praise the LORD, after the manner of David, king of Israel. And they sang together, giving praise and thanks unto the LORD; because he is gracious, and because his mercy endureth forever upon Israel. And all the people shouted loud in praising the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. Many also of the old priests and Levites and ancient fathers which had seen the first house - when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes - wept with a loud voice. And many shouted with joy,
Many also of the old priests and Levites and ancient fathers which had seen the first house - when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes - wept with a loud voice. And many shouted with joy,
But when Ahasuerus was king, even in the beginning of his reign, they wrote unto him a complaint against the inhabiters of Judah and Jerusalem. And in the time of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the others of their counsel wrote unto Artaxerxes the king of Persia. But the scripture of the letter was written in the Syrians speech, and was interpreted in the language of the Syrians.
Then sent the king an answer, "Unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the others of their counsel that dwelt in Samaria, and unto others beyond the water: Peace and salutation. The letter which ye sent unto us, hath been openly read before me, read more. and I have commanded to make search: and it is found, that this city, of old, hath made insurrection against kings; and how the uproar and rebellion hath been committed therein. There have been mighty kings also at Jerusalem which have reigned over all that is beyond the water, and toll, tribute and a yearly custom was given unto them. Do ye now after this commandment, forbid the same men, that the city be not builded, till I have given commandment? Take heed now that ye be not negligent herein, lest the king have harm therethrough."
Then ceased the work of the house of God at Jerusalem, and continued so unto the second year of Darius king of Persia.
The Prophets, Haggai, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel.
The Prophets, Haggai, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel.
The Prophets, Haggai, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel.
The Prophets, Haggai, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel. Then gat up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God at Jerusalem, and with them the Prophets of God which strengthened them.
Then gat up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God at Jerusalem, and with them the Prophets of God which strengthened them.
Then gat up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God at Jerusalem, and with them the Prophets of God which strengthened them.
Then gat up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God at Jerusalem, and with them the Prophets of God which strengthened them.
This is the copy of the letter that Tattenai the captain on this side the water, and Shetharbozenai, and their counselors of Arphaxad, which were on this side the water, sent unto king Darius;
So at Ecbatana, in a castle that lieth in the land of the Medes, there was found a book, and in it was there an act written after this manner: "In the first year of king Cyrus, commanded the same king Cyrus to build the house of God at Jerusalem, in the place where the sacrifice is made, and to lay the foundation to bear threescore cubits height, threescore cubits breadth, read more. and three walls of all maner of stones, and one wall of timber, and the expenses shall be given of the king's house.
and three walls of all maner of stones, and one wall of timber, and the expenses shall be given of the king's house. And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God - which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon - shall be restored again, that they may be brought unto the temple at Jerusalem to their place into the house of God."
And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God - which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon - shall be restored again, that they may be brought unto the temple at Jerusalem to their place into the house of God."
I have commanded also, what shall be done to the Elders of Judah for the building of the house of God, that there shall diligently be taken of the king's goods, even of the rents beyond the water, and given unto the men, and that they be not hindered.
This commandment have I given. And what man soever he be that altereth these words, there shall a beam be taken from his house, and set up, and he shall be hanged thereon, and his house shall be made a dunghill for the deed.
And the Elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo: and they builded, and laid up the foundation, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and after the commandment of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.
And the Elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo: and they builded, and laid up the foundation, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and after the commandment of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. And the house was finished the third day of the month Adar, even in the sixth year of the reign of king Darius.
And the house was finished the third day of the month Adar, even in the sixth year of the reign of king Darius. And the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the other children of the captivity held the dedication of the house of God with joy,
and held the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them glad, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, so that their hands were strengthened in the work of the house of God, which is the God of Israel.
After these acts in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, there went up from Babylon, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
After these acts in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, there went up from Babylon, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, read more. the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest. This Ezra was a perfect scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel did give. And the king gave him all that he required, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
This Ezra was a perfect scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel did give. And the king gave him all that he required, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. And there went up certain of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and of the Levites, of the singers, of the porters, and of the Nethinims; unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of king Artaxerxes.
And there went up certain of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and of the Levites, of the singers, of the porters, and of the Nethinims; unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of king Artaxerxes.
And there went up certain of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and of the Levites, of the singers, of the porters, and of the Nethinims; unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of king Artaxerxes. And they came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, that is the seventh year of the king.
And they came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, that is the seventh year of the king. For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon: and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of God upon him.
For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon: and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of God upon him. For Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach the precept and judgment in Israel.
For Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach the precept and judgment in Israel. And this is the copy of the letter, that king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, which was a teacher in the words of the LORD and of his statutes over Israel:
And this is the copy of the letter, that king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, which was a teacher in the words of the LORD and of his statutes over Israel: "Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest and scribe in the law of the God of heaven: peace and salutation.
"Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest and scribe in the law of the God of heaven: peace and salutation.
"Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest and scribe in the law of the God of heaven: peace and salutation. I have commanded, that all they of the people of Israel, and of the priests and Levites in my realm, which are minded of their own good will to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee;
I have commanded, that all they of the people of Israel, and of the priests and Levites in my realm, which are minded of their own good will to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee;
I have commanded, that all they of the people of Israel, and of the priests and Levites in my realm, which are minded of their own good will to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee; and therefore art thou sent of the king and of the seven lords of the counsel, to visit Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of God, which is in thy hand;
and therefore art thou sent of the king and of the seven lords of the counsel, to visit Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of God, which is in thy hand;
and therefore art thou sent of the king and of the seven lords of the counsel, to visit Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of God, which is in thy hand; and that thou shouldest take with thee, silver and gold, which the king and the lords of his counsel give of their own good will unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is at Jerusalem,
and that thou shouldest take with thee, silver and gold, which the king and the lords of his counsel give of their own good will unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is at Jerusalem,
and that thou shouldest take with thee, silver and gold, which the king and the lords of his counsel give of their own good will unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is at Jerusalem, and all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the country of Babylon; with it that the people and priests give of their own good will unto the house of God at Jerusalem.
and all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the country of Babylon; with it that the people and priests give of their own good will unto the house of God at Jerusalem.
and all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the country of Babylon; with it that the people and priests give of their own good will unto the house of God at Jerusalem. Take thou the same, and buy diligently with the same money, calves, lambs, goats, and meat offerings and drink offerings, to be offered upon the altar of the house of your God at Jerusalem.
Take thou the same, and buy diligently with the same money, calves, lambs, goats, and meat offerings and drink offerings, to be offered upon the altar of the house of your God at Jerusalem.
Take thou the same, and buy diligently with the same money, calves, lambs, goats, and meat offerings and drink offerings, to be offered upon the altar of the house of your God at Jerusalem. And look: what it liketh thee and thy brethren to do with the remnant of the money, that do after the will of your God.
And look: what it liketh thee and thy brethren to do with the remnant of the money, that do after the will of your God.
And look: what it liketh thee and thy brethren to do with the remnant of the money, that do after the will of your God. And the vessels that are given thee for the ministration in the house of thy God, those deliver thou before God at Jerusalem.
And the vessels that are given thee for the ministration in the house of thy God, those deliver thou before God at Jerusalem.
And the vessels that are given thee for the ministration in the house of thy God, those deliver thou before God at Jerusalem. And whatsoever thing more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which is necessary for thee to spend, let the same be given out of the king's chamber.
And whatsoever thing more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which is necessary for thee to spend, let the same be given out of the king's chamber.
And whatsoever thing more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which is necessary for thee to spend, let the same be given out of the king's chamber. I king Artaxerxes have commanded all the treasurers beyond the water, that look: whatsoever Ezra, the priest and scribe in the law of the God of heaven, requireth of you; that ye fulfill the same diligently,
I king Artaxerxes have commanded all the treasurers beyond the water, that look: whatsoever Ezra, the priest and scribe in the law of the God of heaven, requireth of you; that ye fulfill the same diligently,
I king Artaxerxes have commanded all the treasurers beyond the water, that look: whatsoever Ezra, the priest and scribe in the law of the God of heaven, requireth of you; that ye fulfill the same diligently, until a hundred talents of silver, until a hundred quarters of wheat, and until a hundred baths of wine, and till a hundred baths of oil, and salt without measure.
until a hundred talents of silver, until a hundred quarters of wheat, and until a hundred baths of wine, and till a hundred baths of oil, and salt without measure.
until a hundred talents of silver, until a hundred quarters of wheat, and until a hundred baths of wine, and till a hundred baths of oil, and salt without measure. Whatsoever belongeth to the law of the God of heaven, let the same be done with diligence for the house of the God of heaven, that there come no wrath upon the king's realm and his children.
Whatsoever belongeth to the law of the God of heaven, let the same be done with diligence for the house of the God of heaven, that there come no wrath upon the king's realm and his children.
Whatsoever belongeth to the law of the God of heaven, let the same be done with diligence for the house of the God of heaven, that there come no wrath upon the king's realm and his children. And known be it unto you, that ye shall have no authority to require taxing and custom, yearly rents upon any of the priests, Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, and ministers in the house of this God.
And known be it unto you, that ye shall have no authority to require taxing and custom, yearly rents upon any of the priests, Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, and ministers in the house of this God.
And known be it unto you, that ye shall have no authority to require taxing and custom, yearly rents upon any of the priests, Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, and ministers in the house of this God. But thou Ezra - after the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand - set thou judges and arbiters, to judge all the people that is beyond the Jordan, even all such as know the law of thy God: and them that know it not, those see that ye teach.
But thou Ezra - after the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand - set thou judges and arbiters, to judge all the people that is beyond the Jordan, even all such as know the law of thy God: and them that know it not, those see that ye teach.
But thou Ezra - after the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand - set thou judges and arbiters, to judge all the people that is beyond the Jordan, even all such as know the law of thy God: and them that know it not, those see that ye teach. And whosoever will not diligently fulfill the law of thy God, and the king's law, shall have his judgment for the deed, whether it be unto death, or to be banished, or to be condemned in goods, or to be put in prison."
And whosoever will not diligently fulfill the law of thy God, and the king's law, shall have his judgment for the deed, whether it be unto death, or to be banished, or to be condemned in goods, or to be put in prison."
And whosoever will not diligently fulfill the law of thy God, and the king's law, shall have his judgment for the deed, whether it be unto death, or to be banished, or to be condemned in goods, or to be put in prison." Praised be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath so inspired the king's heart, to garnish the house of God at Jerusalem:
and said, "My God, I am ashamed, and dare not lift up mine eyes unto thee my God: for our wickednesses are grown over our head, and our trespasses are waxen great unto the heaven. Since the time of our fathers have we been in great trespass unto this day, and because of our wickedness have we and our kings been delivered into the hand of the kings of the nations, in to the sword, in to captivity, in to spoil, and in to confusion of face, as it is come to pass this day. read more. But now is there a little and sudden graciousness come from the LORD our God, so that some of us are escaped: that he may give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may light our eyes, and give us a little life in our bondage. For we are bondmen, and our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, and hath inclined mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, that he should give us life, and promote the house of our God, and to set up the desolation thereof, and to give us a hedge in Judah and in Jerusalem.
For we are bondmen, and our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, and hath inclined mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, that he should give us life, and promote the house of our God, and to set up the desolation thereof, and to give us a hedge in Judah and in Jerusalem. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken thy commandments, read more. which thou hast commanded by thy servants the Prophets, and said, 'The land unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land through the filthiness of the people of the lands, in their abominations wherewith they have made it full of uncleanness on every side. Therefore shall ye not give your daughters unto their sons, and their daughters shall ye not take unto your sons, and seek not their peace and wealth forever, that ye may be strong, and enjoy the good in the land, and that ye and your children may have the inheritance of it for evermore.' And after all this that is come upon us, because of our evil deeds and great trespass, thou our God hast spared our wickednesses, and hast given us a deliverance as it is come to pass this day. As for us, we have turned back, and have let go thy commandments, to make contract with the people of these abominations. Wilt thou then be wroth at us, till we be utterly consumed, so that nothing remain, and there be no deliverance? O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous, for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day. Behold, in thy presence are we in our trespass: for because of it is there no standing before thee."
And they said unto me, "The remnant of the captivity are there in the land in great misfortune and rebuke. The walls of Jerusalem are broken down, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire."
In the month Nisan in the twentieth year of king Artaxerxes, when the wine stood before him, I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king and I was heavy in his presence.
and said unto the king, "If it please the king, and if thy servant be favoured in thy sight, I beseech thee: send me in to Judah unto the city of my fathers' burial, that I may build it." And the king said unto me, the queen his wife sitting by him, "How long shall thy journey continue, and when wilt thou come again?" And it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time, read more. and said unto the king, "If it please the king, let him give me letters to the captains beyond the water, that they may convey me over, till I come into Judah: And letters unto Asaph the lord of the king's wood, that he may give me wood for beams to the gates of the palace, which are hard on the house and hard on the walls of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into." And the king gave me according to the good hand of God upon me.
And my God gave me in my heart, that I gathered together the principal men and the people to number them. And I found a register of the number of them, which came up afore out of the captivity: and found written therein:
And my God gave me in my heart, that I gathered together the principal men and the people to number them. And I found a register of the number of them, which came up afore out of the captivity: and found written therein:
And the priests and Levites, the Porters, the singers, and the other of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities."
Now when the seventh month drew nigh, and the children of Israel were in their cities, all the people gathered themselves together as one man upon the street before the Watergate, and said unto Ezra the scribe that he should fetch the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD commanded to Israel.
These are the priests and Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, read more. Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, Shemaiah, and Joiarib and Jedaiah, Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the heads among the priests and their brethren in the time of Jeshua. The Levites were these: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, over the office of thanksgiving, they and their brethren: Bakbukiah and Unni, and their brethren, were about them in the watches. Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim begat Eliashib, Eliashib begat Joiada. Joiada begat Jonathan, Jonathan begat Jaddua. And in the time of Joiakim were these the chief fathers among the priests: under Seraiah was Meraiah; under Jeremiah was Hananiah; under Ezra, Meshullam; under Amariah, Jehohanan; under Malluchi, Jonathan; under Shebaniah, Joseph; under Harim, Adna; under Meraioth, Helkai; under Iddo, Zechariah; under Ginnethon, Meshullam; under Abijah, Zichri; under Miniamin and Moadiah Piltai; under Bilgah, Shammua; under Shemaiah, Jehonathan; under Joiarib, Mattenai; under Jedaiah, Uzzi; under Sallai, Kallai; under Amok, Eber; under Hilkiah, Hashabiah; under Jedaiah, Nethanel. And in the time of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, were the chief fathers among the Levites and the priests written under the reign of Darius the Persian. The children of Levi the principal fathers were written in the Chronicles, until the time of Jonathan the son of Eliashib. And these were the chief among the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, and their brethren over against them, to give praise and thanks, according as David the man of God had ordained it, one watch over against another. Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were porters in the watch at the thresholds of the gates. These were in the time of Joiakim the son of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and in the time of Nehemiah the captain and of the priest Ezra the scribe.
In the time of Zerubbabel, and Nehemiah, did all Israel give portions unto the singers and porters, every day his portion, and they gave things hallowed unto the Levites, and the Levites gave things that were sanctified, unto the children of Aaron.
I say to Cyrus, "Thou art mine herdsman," so that he shall fulfill all things after my will. I say unto Jerusalem, "Be thou builded," and to the temple, "Be thou fast grounded."
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it:
So God gave Daniel favour and grace before the chief chamberlain, that he said unto him, "I am afraid of my lord the king, which hath appointed you your meat and drink: lest he spy your faces to be worse liking than the other springaldes of your age, and so ye shall make me lose my head unto the king."
In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, had Nebuchadnezzar a dream, wherethrough his spirit was vexed, and his sleep brake from him.
Phares, thy kingdom is dealt in parts, and given to the Medes and Persians." Then commanded Belshazzar to clothe Daniel with purple, to hang a chain of gold about his neck, and to make a proclamation concerning him: that he should be the ruler of the third part of his kingdom.
This Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and Cyrus of Persia.
Yea, even in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, desired to know the yearly number out of the books, whereof the LORD spake unto Jeremiah the Prophet: that Jerusalem should lie waste seventy years:
Seventy weeks are determined over thy people, and over the holy city: that the wickedness may be consumed, that the sin may have an end, that the offense may be reconciled, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, to fulfill the visions and the Prophets, and to anoint the most holy one. Understand this then, and mark it well: That from the time it shall be concluded to go and repair Jerusalem again, unto Christ, the anointed Prince: there shall be seven weeks.Then shall the streets and walls be builded again sixty two weeks, but with hard troublous time.
In the third year of king Cyrus of Persia, there was showed unto Daniel, otherwise called Balteshazzar, a matter: yea, a true matter, but it is yet a long time unto it. He understood the matter well, and perceived what the vision was.
In the second year of king Darius, in the sixth month, the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the Prophet Haggai, unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel the prince of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, saying,
In the second year of king Darius, in the sixth month, the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the Prophet Haggai, unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel the prince of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, saying,
In the second year of king Darius, in the sixth month, the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the Prophet Haggai, unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel the prince of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, saying,
Now when Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, with the remnant of the people, heard the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of the Prophet Haggai, like as the LORD their God had sent him, the people did fear the LORD.
Now when Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, with the remnant of the people, heard the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of the Prophet Haggai, like as the LORD their God had sent him, the people did fear the LORD.
Now when Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, with the remnant of the people, heard the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of the Prophet Haggai, like as the LORD their God had sent him, the people did fear the LORD.
So the LORD waked up the spirit of Zerubbabel the prince of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, and the spirit of the remnant of all the people: that they came and laboured, in the house of the LORD of Hosts their God.
So the LORD waked up the spirit of Zerubbabel the prince of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, and the spirit of the remnant of all the people: that they came and laboured, in the house of the LORD of Hosts their God.
So the LORD waked up the spirit of Zerubbabel the prince of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, and the spirit of the remnant of all the people: that they came and laboured, in the house of the LORD of Hosts their God. Upon the twenty fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of king Darius,
The twenty first day of the seventh month, came the word of the LORD by the Prophet Haggai, saying, "Speak to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel prince of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, and to the residue of the people, and say,
"Speak to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel prince of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, and to the residue of the people, and say, 'Who is left among you, that saw this house in her first beauty? But what think ye now by it? Is it not in your eyes, even as though it were nothing? read more. Nevertheless be of good cheer, O Zerubbabel, sayeth the LORD; be of good comfort, O Joshua thou son of Jozadak, high priest: take good hearts unto you also, all ye people of the land, sayeth the LORD of Hosts,
The twenty fourth day of the ninth month in the second year of king Darius, came the word of the LORD unto the Prophet Haggai, saying,
The twenty fourth day of the ninth month in the second year of king Darius, came the word of the LORD unto the Prophet Haggai, saying,
Consider then from this day forth and afore, namely, from the twenty fourth day of the ninth month, unto the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid: Mark it well,
And as for thee, O Zerubbabel, sayeth the LORD of Hosts, thou son of Shealtiel my servant: I will take thee, sayeth the LORD, at the same time: and make thee as a seal. For I have chosen thee, sayeth the LORD of Hosts.'"