In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order to fulfill the Lord's message spoken through Jeremiah, the Lord stirred the mind of King Cyrus of Persia. He disseminated a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom, announcing in a written edict the following:

the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah): 98;

The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua): 973;

The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the line of Hodaviah): 74.

which you commanded us through your servants the prophets with these words: 'The land that you are entering to possess is a land defiled by the impurities of the local residents! With their abominations they have filled it from one end to the other with their filthiness.