5,405 verses contain “com” (in the KJV: 4,378, in the BSB: 3,179) — showing 1,701–1,800
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So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.
So the Levites and all Judah did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions.
Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David’s, which were in the house of God.
Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields of King David that were in the house of God.
Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and
whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said,
Slay her not in the house of the LORD.
And Jehoiada the priest sent out the
commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, saying, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword
anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”
So they laid hands on her; and when she was
come to the entering of the horse gate by the king’s house, they
slew her there.
So they seized
Athaliah as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate to the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.
And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king’s house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.
He also took with him the
commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace through the Upper Gate. They seated King
Joash on the royal throne,
And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?
So the king called Jehoiada the high priest and said, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD and by the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?”
And at the king’s commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD.
At the king’s command a chest was made and placed outside, at the gate of the house of the LORD.
Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king’s office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s
scribe and the high priest’s officer came and
emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.
Whenever the chest was brought by the Levites to the king’s overseers and they saw that there was a large amount of money, the royal
scribe and the officer of the high priest would
come and empty the chest and carry it back to its place. They did this daily and gathered the money in abundance.
And the Spirit of God came upon
Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why
transgress ye the
commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot
prosper? because ye have
forsaken the LORD, he hath also
forsaken you.
Then the Spirit of God came upon
Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you
transgress the
commandments of the LORD so that you cannot
prosper? Because you have
forsaken the LORD, He has
forsaken you.’”
And they
conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the
commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.
For the army of the Syrians came with a small
company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had
forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against
Joash.
Although the
Aramean army had
come with only a few men, the LORD delivered into their hand a very great army. Because Judah had
forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, judgment was executed on
Joash.
But he
slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD
commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.
Yet he did not put their sons to death, but acted according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.”
Moreover
Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle
spear and shield.
Then
Amaziah gathered the people of Judah and assigned them according to their families to
commanders of thousands and of hundreds. And he numbered those twenty years of age or older throughout Judah and Benjamin and found 300,000 chosen men able to serve in the army, bearing the
spear and shield.
Then
Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was
come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly
kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.
So
Amaziah dismissed the troops who had
come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. And they were
furious with Judah and returned home in great anger.
Now it came to pass, after that
Amaziah was
come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of
Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.
When
Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the Seirites, set them up as his own gods, bowed before them, and burned sacrifices to them.
Then
Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to
Joash, the son of
Jehoahaz, the son of
Jehu, king of Israel, saying,
Come, let us see one another in the face.
Then
Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to the king of Israel Jehoash son of
Jehoahaz, the son of
Jehu. “
Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.
But
Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of
Edom.
But
Amaziah would not
listen, for this had
come from God in order to deliver them into the hand of Jehoash, because they had sought the gods of
Edom.
For again the Edomites had
come and
smitten Judah, and carried away
captives.
The Edomites had again
come and attacked Judah and carried away
captives.
And they gathered their brethren, and
sanctified themselves, and came, according to the
commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to
cleanse the house of the LORD.
When they had assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves, they went in to
cleanse the house of the LORD, according to the
command of the king by the words of the LORD.
And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD.
They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And the king commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD.
And the priests killed them, and they made
reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an
atonement for all Israel: for the king
commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.
And the priests slaughtered the goats and put their blood on the altar for a sin offering, to make
atonement for all Israel, because the king had ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel.
And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with
psalteries, and with harps, according to the
commandment of David, and of
Gad the king’s
seer, and
Nathan the prophet: for so was the
commandment of the LORD by his prophets.
Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the
command of David, of
Gad the king’s
seer, and of
Nathan the prophet. For the
command had
come from the LORD through His prophets.
And
Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the
trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.
And
Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be sacrificed on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD and the
trumpets began as well, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel.
And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers
sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
The whole assembly was worshiping, the singers were singing, and the trumpeters were playing. All this continued until the burnt offering was completed.
And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.
When the offerings were completed, the king and all those present with him bowed down and worshiped.
Moreover
Hezekiah the king and the princes
commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of
Asaph the
seer. And they
sang praises with
gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
Then King
Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD in the words of David and of
Asaph the
seer. So they
sang praises with
gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.
Then
Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated
yourselves unto the LORD,
come near and bring sacrifices and
thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and
thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.
Then
Hezekiah said, “Now that you have consecrated
yourselves to the LORD,
come near and bring sacrifices and
thank offerings to the house of the LORD.” So the assembly brought sacrifices and
thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.
And
Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and
Manasseh, that they should
come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the
passover unto the LORD God of Israel.
Then
Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and
Manasseh inviting them to
come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the
Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel.
So they established a decree to make
proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-
sheba even to
Dan, that they should
come to keep the
passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.
So they established a decree to
circulate a
proclamation throughout Israel, from
Beersheba to
Dan, that the people should
come to keep the
Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem. For they had not observed it as a nation as prescribed.
So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the
commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the
remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
So the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the
grasp of the kings of Assyria.
Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield
yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath
sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.
Now do not
stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and
come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated
forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.
For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find
compassion before them that lead them
captive, so that they shall
come again into this land: for the LORD your God is
gracious and
merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.
For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is
gracious and
merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”
Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.
Moreover, the power of God was on the people in Judah to give them one heart to obey the command of the king and his officials according to the word of the LORD.
And
Hezekiah spake
comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.
And
Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites who performed
skillfully before the LORD. For seven days they
ate their assigned portion, sacrificing
fellowship offerings and giving
thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah,
rejoiced.
Then the whole assembly of Judah
rejoiced along with the priests and Levites and the whole assembly that had
come from Israel, including the foreigners who had
come from Israel and those who lived in Judah.
Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.
Moreover, he
commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could
devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.
And as soon as the
commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the
tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a
tithe of everything.
Then
Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,
Then
Hezekiah commanded them to prepare storerooms in the house of the LORD, and they did so.
And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and
Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the
commandment of
Hezekiah the king, and
Azariah the ruler of the house of God.
Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath,
Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei, by appointment of King
Hezekiah and of
Azariah the chief official of the house of God.
And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the
commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and
prospered.
He was
diligent in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law and the
commandments, in order to seek his God. And so he
prospered.
And when
Hezekiah saw that
Sennacherib was
come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,
He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.
he consulted with his leaders and
commanders about
stopping up the waters of the springs outside the city, and they helped him carry it out.
So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the
brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria
come, and find much water?
Many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria
come and find
plenty of water?” they said.
And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake
comfortably to them, saying,
Hezekiah appointed military
commanders over the people and gathered the people in the square of the city gate. Then he encouraged them, saying,
Hath not the same
Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and
commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?
Did not
Hezekiah himself remove His high places and His altars and say to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn sacrifices’?
And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was
come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own
bowels slew him there with the sword.
and the LORD sent an angel who
annihilated every mighty man of
valor and every leader and
commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword.
Notwithstanding
Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of
Hezekiah.
Then
Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not
come upon them during the days of
Hezekiah.
Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take
heed to do all that I have
commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
I will never again cause the feet of the Israelites to leave the land that I assigned to your fathers, if only they are careful to do all that I have commanded them through Moses—all the laws, statutes, and judgments.”
Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took
Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with
fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
So the LORD brought against them the military
commanders of the king of Assyria, who captured
Manasseh, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze
shackles, and took him to Babylon.
Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of
Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and
compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the
fenced cities of Judah.
After this,
Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David from west of
Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate, and he brought it around the hill of Ophel and
heightened it considerably. He also stationed military
commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah.
And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed
thereon peace offerings and
thank offerings, and
commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.
Then he restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and
thank offerings on it, and he told Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel.
And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it.
Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported, “Your servants are doing all that has been placed in their hands.
And the king
commanded Hilkiah, and
Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of
Micah, and Shaphan the
scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king’s, saying,
and
commanded Hilkiah,
Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of
Micah, Shaphan the
scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king:
And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his
commandments, and his
testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.
So the king stood by the
pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His
commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book.
So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king’s commandment.
So the service was prepared; the priests stood in their places and the Levites in their divisions according to the king’s command.
And the singers the sons of
Asaph were in their place, according to the
commandment of David, and
Asaph, and Heman, and
Jeduthun the king’s
seer; and the
porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.
The singers, the descendants of
Asaph, were at their stations according to the
command of David,
Asaph, Heman, and
Jeduthun the king’s
seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their position, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.
So all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the
passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of the LORD, according to the
commandment of king
Josiah.
So on that day the entire service of the LORD was carried out for
celebrating the
Passover and offering burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the
command of King
Josiah.
But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I
come not against thee this day, but against the house
wherewith I have war: for God
commanded me to make
haste:
forbear thee from
meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.
But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not
come against you
today, but I am fighting another dynasty. God told me to
hurry; so stop
opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!”
Now the rest of the acts of
Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and
Jehoiachin his son reigned in his
stead.
As for the rest of the acts of
Jehoiakim, the abominations he
committed, and all that was found against him, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And his son
Jehoiachin reigned in his place.
And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up
betimes, and sending; because he had
compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had
compassion on them and on His dwelling place.
Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who
slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no
compassion upon young man or
maiden, old man, or him that
stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.
So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary,
sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of
Nebuchadnezzar,
To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay
desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil
threescore and ten years.
So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the
desolation, until seventy years were
completed, in
fulfillment of the word of the LORD through Jeremiah.
And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
By the seventh month, the Israelites had settled in their towns, and the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem.
Now 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 upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.
In the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem,
Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their associates including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years of age or older to
supervise the construction of the house of the LORD.
But
Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath
commanded us.
But
Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has
commanded us.”
And in the days of
Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their
companions, unto
Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the
Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the
Syrian tongue.
And in the days of
Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to
Artaxerxes. It was written in
Aramaic and then translated.
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the
scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to
Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
Rehum the
commander and Shimshai the
scribe wrote the letter against Jerusalem to King
Artaxerxes as follows:
Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the
scribe, and the rest of their
companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
From Rehum the
commander, Shimshai the
scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of
Susa,
Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are
come unto Jerusalem, building the
rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that
rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing its foundations.
Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the
scribe, and to the rest of their
companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the
commander, Shimshai the
scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.
And I
commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and
sedition have been made therein.
I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times,
engaging in rebellion and
sedition.
Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.
Now when the copy of king
Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the
scribe, and their
companions, they went up in
haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
When the text of the letter from King
Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the
scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and
forcibly stopped them.
At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his
companions the
Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto
Darius the king:
This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates, the officials in the region, sent to King
Darius.
Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.
And this is the answer they returned: “We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.
Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.”
Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your
companions the
Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:
Therefore
Darius decreed: To Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates and officials in the region: You must stay away from that place!
Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their
companions, according to that which
Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.
In
response, Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates
diligently carried out what King
Darius had decreed.
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 finished it, according to the
commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the
commandment of Cyrus, and
Darius, and
Artaxerxes king of Persia.
And this house was finished on the third day of the month
Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of
Darius the king.
And this temple was
completed on the third day of the month of
Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King
Darius.
And the children of Israel, which were
come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the
filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,
The Israelites who had returned from exile
ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to seek the LORD, the God of Israel.
Now this is the copy of the letter that the king
Artaxerxes gave unto
Ezra the priest, the
scribe, even a
scribe of the words of the
commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
This is the text of the letter King
Artaxerxes had given to
Ezra the priest and
scribe, an
expert in the
commandments and statutes of the LORD to Israel:
Whatsoever is
commanded by the God of heaven, let it be
diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
Whatever is
commanded by the God of heaven must be done
diligently for His house. For why should wrath fall on the realm of the king and his sons?
And I sent them with
commandment unto
Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto
Iddo, and to his brethren the
Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
And I sent them to
Iddo, the leader at Casiphia, with a message for him and his
kinsmen, the temple servants at Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.
Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were
come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel,
ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.
Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and a sin offering of 12 male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD.
And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.
They also delivered the king’s edicts to the royal satraps and governors of the region west of the Euphrates, who proceeded to assist the people and the house of God.
And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a
remnant to escape, and to give us a
nail in his holy place, that our God may
lighten our eyes, and give us a little
reviving in our
bondage.
But now, for a brief moment, grace has
come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a
remnant and to give us a
stake in His holy place. Even in our
bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes.
And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have
forsaken thy
commandments,
And now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have
forsaken the
commandments Which thou hast
commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the
filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.
that You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land
polluted by the impurity of its peoples and the abominations with which they have filled it from end to end.
And after all that is
come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great
trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our
iniquities deserve, and hast given us such
deliverance as this;
After all that has
come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our
iniquities deserve and have given us such a
remnant as this),
Should we again break thy
commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be
angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no
remnant nor escaping?
shall we again break Your
commandments and
intermarry with the peoples who
commit these abominations? Would You not become so
angry with us as to
wipe us out, leaving no
remnant or
survivor?
Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that
tremble at the
commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who
tremble at the
command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.
And that
whosoever would not
come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be
forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
Whoever failed to appear within three days would
forfeit all his property, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.
Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.
Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let
everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman
come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.”
And said, I
beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his
commandments:
Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and
awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His
commandments,
Let thine ear now be
attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and
confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have
sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have
sinned.
let Your eyes be open and Your ears
attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I
confess the sins that we Israelites have
committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have
sinned.
We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.
We have
behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the
commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.
Remember, I
beseech thee, the word that thou
commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye
transgress, I will
scatter you abroad among the nations:
Remember, I pray, the word that You
commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will
scatter you among the nations,