7,821 verses contain “his” (in the KJV: 7,146, in the BSB: 5,467) — showing 3,101–3,200
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Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
Whoever among you belongs to
His people, may
his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.
And
whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of
his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the
freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
And let every
survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and
livestock, along with a
freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.’”
Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which
Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of
his gods;
King Cyrus also brought out the articles belonging to the house of the LORD that
Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the temple of
his gods.
Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto
his city;
Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by
Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to
his own town,
And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:
When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave
freewill offerings to rebuild the house of God on its original site.
Then 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.
Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and
his fellow priests, along with
Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and
his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.
And they set the altar upon
his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings
thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
They set up the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD—both the morning and evening burnt offerings—even though they feared the people of the land.
Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
So Jeshua and
his sons and brothers, Kadmiel and
his sons (descendants of Yehudah), and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together to
supervise those working on the house of God.
And they
sang together by course in praising and giving
thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for
his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people
shouted with a great
shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
And they
sang responsively with praise and
thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for
His loving devotion to Israel endures
forever.” Then all the people gave a great
shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.
And in the reign of
Ahasuerus, in the beginning of
his reign, wrote they unto him an
accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
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.
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.
But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
In his first year, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.
And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
and
instructed, ‘Take these articles, put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.’
Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s
treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send
his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
Now, therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made of the royal
archives in Babylon to see if King Cyrus did indeed issue a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us
his decision in this matter.
And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to
his place, and place them in the house of God.
Furthermore, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, must also be returned to the temple in Jerusalem and deposited in the house of God.
Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.
Leave this work on the house of God alone. Let the governor and elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its original site.
That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
Then they will be able to offer sacrifices of a sweet
aroma to the God of heaven and to pray for the lives of the king and
his sons.
Also I have made a decree, that
whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from
his house, and being set up, let him be
hanged thereon; and let
his house be made a
dunghill for this.
I also decree that if any man interferes with this directive, a beam is to be
torn from
his house and raised up, and he is to be impaled on it. And
his own house shall be made a pile of
rubble for this
offense.
And the God that hath caused
his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I
Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
May God, who has caused
His Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to alter this decree or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I,
Darius, have issued the decree. Let it be carried out with
diligence.
This
Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready
scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all
his request, according to the hand of the LORD
his God upon him.
this
Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a
scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted
Ezra all
his requests, for the hand of the LORD
his God was 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 his God upon him.
He had begun the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the
gracious hand of
his God was upon him.
For
Ezra had prepared
his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
For
Ezra had set
his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in 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:
I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of
his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own
freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
I
hereby decree that any
volunteers among the Israelites in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may go up with you to Jerusalem.
Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of
his seven counsellors, to
enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
You are sent by the king and
his seven counselors to
evaluate Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand.
And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and
his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose
habitation is in Jerusalem,
Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
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 hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
and who has shown me favor before the king, his counselors, and all his powerful officials. And because the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, I took courage and gathered the leaders of Israel to return with me.
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.
And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
And since the
gracious hand of our God was upon us, they brought us Sherebiah—a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel—along with
his sons and brothers, 18 men;
And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
also Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah, from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and their sons, 20 men.
For I was
ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and
horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but
his power and
his wrath is against all them that
forsake him.
For I was
ashamed to ask the king for an
escort of soldiers and
horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is
gracious to all who seek Him, but
His great anger is against all who
forsake Him.”
And
weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and
his counsellors, and
his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
and I
weighed out to them the contribution of silver and gold and the articles that the king,
his counselors,
his leaders, and all the Israelites there had offered for the house of our 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 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.
Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do
his pleasure: and separate
yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.
Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do
His will. Separate
yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.”
And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and
his brethren; Maaseiah, and
Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
Among the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women were found these descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers:
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,
And it came to pass in the month
Nisan, in the
twentieth year of
Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been
beforetime sad in
his presence.
Now in the month of
Nisan, in the
twentieth year of King
Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been
sad in
his presence,
Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will
prosper us; therefore we
his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor
memorial, in Jerusalem.
So I answered them and said, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start rebuilding, but you have no portion, right, or claim in Jerusalem.”
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with
his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they
sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they
sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
At the Sheep Gate, Eliashib the high priest and
his fellow priests began rebuilding. They dedicated it and
installed its doors. After building as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated the wall.
And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.
next to him, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house; and next to him, Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs.
And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
And next to them, Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of the other half-district of Jerusalem, made repairs, with the help of his daughters.
After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part.
Next to him, the Levites made repairs under Rehum son of Bani, and next to him, Hashabiah, ruler of a half-district of Keilah, made repairs for his district.
After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired
Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by
his house.
Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house, and next to them,
Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside
his house.
From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house.
After them repaired
Zadok the son of Immer over against
his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.
Next to them,
Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite
his house, and next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard of the East Gate, made repairs.
After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.
Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, as well as Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his own quarters.
And he spake before
his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they
fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the
rubbish which are burned?
before
his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of
rubble?”
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to
nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto
his work.
When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had
frustrated it, each of us returned to
his own work on the wall.
They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that
laded, every one with one of
his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.
For the builders, every one had
his sword
girded by
his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the
trumpet was by me.
And each of the builders worked with
his sword
strapped at
his side. But the
trumpeter stayed beside me.
Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with
his servant
lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.
At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and
his servant
spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.”
So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.
So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.
Then I consulted with myself, and I
rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact
usury, every one of
his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
and after serious thought I
rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting
usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them
Also I
shook my
lap, and said, So God
shake out every man from
his house, and from
his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he
shaken out, and
emptied. And all the congregation said,
Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
I also
shook out the folds of my
robe and said, “May God likewise
shake out of
His house and possession every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be
shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “
Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the
twentieth year even unto the two and
thirtieth year of
Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
Furthermore, from the day King
Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from
his twentieth year until
his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers
ate the food
allotted to the governor.
Then sent
Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in
his hand;
The fifth time,
Sanballat sent me this same message by
his young servant, who had in
his hand an unsealed letter
Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to
slay thee;
yea, in the night will they come to
slay thee.
Later, I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his house. He said: “Let us meet at the house of God inside the temple. Let us shut the temple doors because they are coming to kill you— by night they are coming to kill you!”
And I said, Should such a man as I
flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save
his life? I will not go in.
But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go!”
For there were many in Judah
sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and
his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.
Also they reported
his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And
Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me
Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And
Tobiah sent letters to
intimidate me.
And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and
appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in
his watch, and every one to be over against
his house.
And I told them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are on duty, keep the doors shut and securely fastened. And
appoint the residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their own homes.”
These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto
his city;
These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by
Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to
his own town,
And
Ezra the
scribe stood upon a
pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on
his right hand; and on
his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana,
Zechariah, and Meshullam.
Ezra the
scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. At
his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and at
his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum,
Hash-baddanah,
Zechariah, and Meshullam.
So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
And the people went out, brought back branches, and made booths on their own rooftops, in their courtyards, in the court of the house of God, and in the squares by the Water Gate and by the Gate of Ephraim.
And foundest
his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the
Canaanites, the
Hittites, the
Amorites, and the
Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to
his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous:
You found
his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the
Canaanites and
Hittites, of the
Amorites and
Perizzites, of the Jebusites and Girgashites— to give it to
his descendants. You have kept Your promise, because You are righteous.
And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all
his servants, and on all the people of
his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So
didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.
You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all
his officials, and all the people of
his land, for You knew they had acted with
arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for
Yourself that endures to this day.
Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
So now, our God, the great and mighty and
awesome God who keeps
His gracious covenant, do not view lightly all the
hardship that has come upon us, and upon our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until
today.
They
clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a
curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and
his judgments and
his statutes;
hereby join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a
sworn oath to follow the Law of God given through
His servant Moses and to carefully obey all the commandments, ordinances, and statutes of the LORD our Lord.
Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in
his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the
Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants.
These are the heads of the provinces who settled in Jerusalem. (In the villages of Judah, however, each lived on his own property in their towns—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants—
And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.
and his followers Gabbai and Sallai—928 men.
And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of
Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah; and
his associates, the leaders of families—242 men;
And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their
overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.
Amashai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer; and
his associates—128 mighty men of
valor. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim was their
overseer.
And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of
Asaph, was the principal to begin the
thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among
his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of
Jeduthun.
Mattaniah son of
Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of
Asaph, who led in
thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among
his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of
Jeduthun.
And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance.
Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the
thanksgiving, he and
his brethren.
The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who, with
his associates, led the songs of
thanksgiving.
And
his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and
Ezra the
scribe before them.
and
his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani—with the musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God.
Ezra the
scribe led the
procession.
And both the singers and the
porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the
purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon
his son.
They performed the service of their God and the service of
purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and
his son Solomon had prescribed.
And all Israel in the days of
Zerubbabel, and in the days of
Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the
porters, every day
his portion: and they
sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites
sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.
So in the days of
Zerubbabel and
Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for the descendants of Aaron.
But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and
thirtieth year of
Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:
While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to
Artaxerxes king of Babylon in the thirty-second year of
his reign. Some time later I obtained leave from the king
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields.
Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by
profaning the sabbath.
Did not your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this
disaster on us and on this city? And now you are
rekindling His wrath against Israel by
profaning the Sabbath!”
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of
his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did
outlandish women cause to sin.
Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.
Thus
cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in
his business;
Thus I
purified the priests and Levites from everything foreign, and I assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites.
That in those days, when the king
Ahasuerus sat on the throne of
his kingdom, which was in
Shushan the palace,
In those days King
Xerxes sat on
his royal throne in the citadel of
Susa.
In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
In the third year of
his reign,
Xerxes held a feast for all
his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
When he shewed the riches of
his glorious kingdom and the honour of
his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and
fourscore days.
And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of
his kingdom and the magnificent
splendor of
his greatness.
And the drinking was according to the law; none did
compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of
his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.
But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by
his chamberlains: therefore was the king very
wroth, and
his anger burned in him.
Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by
his eunuchs. And the king became
furious, and
his anger burned within him.
And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha,
Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha,
Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom.
And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king
Ahasuerus.
And in the presence of the king and
his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King
Xerxes.
And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom—and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.”
And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
The king and
his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan had
advised.
For he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.
He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own
script and to each people in their own language,
proclaiming that every man should be master of
his own household.
And let the king
appoint officers in all the provinces of
his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto
Shushan the palace, to the house of the women unto the
custody of Hege the king’s
chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for
purification be given them:
and let the king
appoint commissioners in each province of
his kingdom to
assemble all the beautiful young women into the
harem at the citadel of
Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s
eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments.
And he brought up Hadassah, that is,
Esther,
his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the
maid was fair and beautiful; whom
Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for
his own daughter.
And
Mordecai had brought up Hadassah (that is,
Esther), the daughter of
his uncle, because she did not have a father or mother. The young woman was lovely in form and appearance, and when her father and mother had died,
Mordecai had taken her in as
his own daughter.
So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and
his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto
Shushan the palace, to the
custody of Hegai, that
Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the
custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
When the king’s command and edict had been proclaimed, many young women gathered at the citadel of
Susa under the care of Hegai.
Esther was also taken to the palace and placed under the care of Hegai, the
custodian of the women.
And the
maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for
purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
And the young woman pleased him and obtained
his favor, so he quickly provided her with beauty treatments and the special diet. He assigned to her seven select maidservants from the palace and transferred her with them to the best place in the
harem.