the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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November 20 - Different Topics
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Ezra 6-10
Chapter 6
Darius's Search
1 King Darius gave the order, and they searched(a) in the library of Babylon in the archives.[a](b) 2 But it was in the fortress of Ecbatana in the province of Media(c) that a scroll was found with this record written on it:
3 In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree(d) concerning the house of God in Jerusalem:
Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its original foundations be retained.[b] Its height is to be 90 feet[c] and its width 90 feet,[d][e](e) 4 with three layers of cut[f] stones and one of timber.(f) The cost is to be paid from the royal treasury.(g) 5 The gold and silver articles of God's house that Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon must also be returned. They are to be brought to the temple in Jerusalem where they belong[g] and put into the house of God.(h)
Darius's Decree
6 Therefore, you must stay away from that place, Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and your[h] colleagues, the officials in the region.(i) 7 Leave the construction of the house of God alone. Let the governor(j) and elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its original site.
8 I hereby issue a decree concerning what you must do, so that the elders of the Jews can rebuild the house of God:
The cost is to be paid in full to these men out of the royal revenues(k) from the taxes of the region west of the Euphrates River, so that the work will not stop. 9 Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, or wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—let it be given to them every day without fail,(l) 10 so that they can offer sacrifices of pleasing aroma to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.(m)
11 I also issue a decree concerning any man who interferes with this directive:
Let a beam be torn from his house and raised up; he will be impaled on it, and his house will be made into a garbage dump because of this offense.(n) 12 May the God who caused His name to dwell there(o) overthrow any king or people who dares[i] to harm or interfere with this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree. Let it be carried out diligently.
13 Then Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues(p) diligently carried out what King Darius had decreed. 14 So the Jewish elders continued successfully with the building under the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo.(q) They finished the building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus,(r) Darius, and King Artaxerxes(s) of Persia. 15 This house was completed on the third day of the month of Adar[j](t) in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
Temple Dedication and the Passover
16 Then the Israelites, including the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. 17 For the dedication of God's house they offered 100 bulls, 200 rams, and 400 lambs, as well as 12 male goats(u) as a sin offering for all Israel—one for each Israelite tribe. 18 They also appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their groups to the service of God in Jerusalem, according to what is written in the book of Moses.(v)
19 The exiles(w) observed the Passover(x) on the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 All of the priests and Levites were ceremonially clean, because they had purified themselves. They killed the Passover lamb for themselves, their priestly brothers, and all the exiles.(y) 21 The Israelites who had returned from exile(z) ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the Gentiles of the land[k](aa) in order to worship Yahweh, the God of Israel. 22 They observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days(ab) with joy, because the Lord had made them joyful, having changed the Assyrian king's attitude toward them, so that he supported them[l] in the work on the house of the God of Israel.(ac)
Chapter 7
Ezra's Arrival
1 After these events, during the reign of King Artaxerxes(a) of Persia, Ezra—
Seraiah's(b) son, Azariah's son,
Hilkiah's(c) son,
2 Shallum's son,
Zadok's(d) son, Ahitub's son,
3 Amariah's son, Azariah's son,
Meraioth's son,
4 Zerahiah's son,
Uzzi's son, Bukki's son,
5 Abishua's son, Phinehas's son,
Eleazar's son, Aaron the chief priest's son(e)
6 —came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses,(f) which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested(g) because the hand of Yahweh his God was on him.(h) 7 Some of the Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants(i) accompanied him to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8 Ezra[a] came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, during the seventh year of the king. 9 He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month(j) and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month(k) since the gracious hand of his God was on him.(l) 10 Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord , obey it, and teach(m) its statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Letter from Artaxerxes
11 This is the text of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest and scribe, an expert in matters of the Lord 's commands and statutes for Israel:[b]
12 Artaxerxes, king of kings,(n) to Ezra the priest, an expert in the law of the God of heaven:
Greetings.
13 I issue a decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including their priests and Levites, who want to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.(o) 14 You are sent by the king and his seven counselors(p) to evaluate Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your possession. 15 You are also to bring the silver and gold the king and his counselors have willingly given to the God of Israel,(q) whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,(r) 16 and all the silver and gold you receive throughout the province of Babylon, together with the freewill offerings given by the people and the priests to the house of their God in Jerusalem.(s) 17 Then you are to buy with this money as many bulls, rams, and lambs as needed, along with their grain and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar at the house of your God in Jerusalem.(t) 18 You may do whatever seems best to you and your brothers with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God. 19 You must deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles given to you for the service of the house of your God.(u) 20 You may use the royal treasury to pay for anything else needed for the house of your God.(v)
21 I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers in the region west of the Euphrates River:(w)
Whatever Ezra the priest, an expert in the law of the God of heaven, asks of you must be provided promptly,(x) 22 up to 7,500 pounds[c] of silver, 500 bushels[d] of wheat, 550 gallons[e] of wine, 550 gallons[f] of oil, and salt without limit.[g] 23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be done diligently for the house of the God of heaven, so that wrath will not fall on the realm of the king and his sons.(y) 24 Be advised that tribute, duty, and land tax must not be imposed on any priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
25 And you, Ezra, according to[h] God's wisdom that you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people in the region west of the Euphrates who know the laws of your God and to teach anyone who does not know them.(z) 26 Anyone who does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a fair judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.(aa)
27 Praise Yahweh the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's mind(ab) to glorify the house of the Lord in Jerusalem,(ac) 28 and who has shown favor to me before the king,(ad) his counselors, and all his powerful officers. So I took courage because I was strengthened by Yahweh my God,[i](ae) and I gathered Israelite leaders to return with me.(af)
Chapter 8
Those Returning with Ezra
1 These are the family leaders and the genealogical records of those who returned with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:(a)
2 Gershom, from Phinehas's descendants;
Daniel, from Ithamar's descendants;
Hattush, from David's descendants,
3 who was of Shecaniah's descendants;(b)
Zechariah, from Parosh's(c) descendants,
and 150 men[a] with him who were registered by genealogy;
4 Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah
from Pahath-moab's descendants,(d)
and 200 men with him;
5 Shecaniah[b] son of Jahaziel
from Zattu's descendants,
and 300 men with him;
6 Ebed son of Jonathan
from Adin's descendants,(e)
and 50 men with him;
7 Jeshaiah son of Athaliah
from Elam's descendants,
and 70 men with him;
8 Zebadiah son of Michael
from Shephatiah's descendants,
and 80 men with him;
9 Obadiah son of Jehiel
from Joab's descendants,
and 218 men with him;
10 Shelomith[c] son of Josiphiah
from Bani's descendants,
and 160 men with him;
11 Zechariah son of Bebai
from Bebai's descendants,
and 28 men with him;
12 Johanan son of Hakkatan
from Azgad's descendants,
and 110 men with him;
13 these are the last ones, from Adonikam's descendants,(f)
and their names are:
Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah,
and 60 men with them;
14 Uthai and Zaccur[d]
from Bigvai's descendants,
and 70 men with them.
15 I gathered them at the river[e] that flows to Ahava,(g) and we camped there for three days. I searched among the people and priests, but found no Levites(h) there. 16 Then I summoned the leaders: Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam,(i) as well as the teachers Joiarib and Elnathan. 17 I sent them to Iddo, the leader at Casiphia, with a message for[f] him and his brothers, the temple servants(j) at Casiphia, that they should bring us ministers for the house of our God. 18 Since the gracious hand of our God was on us,(k) they brought us Sherebiah(l)—a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli, a descendant of Levi son of Israel—along with his sons and brothers, 18 men, 19 plus Hashabiah,(m) along with Jeshaiah, from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and their sons, 20 men. 20 There were also 220 of the temple servants,(n) who had been appointed by David and the leaders for the work of the Levites. All were identified by name.
Preparing to Return
21 I proclaimed a fast(o) by the Ahava River,[g] so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us, our children, and all our possessions. 22 I did this because I was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and cavalry to protect us from enemies during the journey, 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 abandon Him."(p) 23 So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and He granted our request.
24 I selected 12 of the leading priests, along with Sherebiah,(q) Hashabiah, and 10 of their brothers. 25 I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles—the contribution for the house of our God that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the Israelites who were present had offered. 26 I weighed out to them 24 tons[h] of silver, silver articles weighing 7,500 pounds,[i] 7,500 pounds[j] of gold, 27 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 gold coins,[k] and two articles of fine gleaming bronze, as valuable as gold.(r) 28 Then I said to them, "You are holy to the Lord , and the articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering(s) to the Lord God of your fathers. 29 Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the Lord 's house before the leading priests, Levites, and heads of the Israelite families in Jerusalem." 30 So the priests and Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the articles that had been weighed out, to bring them to the house of our God in Jerusalem.(t)
Arrival in Jerusalem
31 We set out from the Ahava River[l] on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. We were strengthened by our God,[m](u) and He protected us from the power of the enemy and from ambush along the way.(v) 32 So we arrived at Jerusalem and rested there for three days.(w) 33 On the fourth day the silver, the gold, and the articles were weighed out in the house of our God into the care of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him. The Levites Jozabad(x) son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui were also with them. 34 Everything was verified by number and weight, and the total weight was recorded at that time.
35 The exiles who had returned from the captivity(y) offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, and 77 lambs, along with 12 male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering for the Lord .(z) 36 They also delivered the king's edicts to the royal satraps and governors of the region west of the Euphrates,(aa) so that they would support the people and the house of God.(ab)
Chapter 9
Israel's Intermarriage with Pagans
1 After these things had been done, the leaders approached me and said: "The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves(a) from the surrounding peoples whose detestable practices(b) are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.(c) 2 Indeed, the Israelite men[a] have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed(d) has become mixed with the surrounding peoples.(e) The leaders[b] and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!"(f) 3 When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.(g)
Ezra's Confession
4 Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel(h) gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles,(i) while I sat devastated until the evening offering.(j) 5 At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God.(k) 6 And I said:(l)
My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens.(m) 7 Our guilt has been terrible from the days of our fathers until the present. Because of our iniquities we have been handed over, along with our kings and priests, to the surrounding kings, and to the sword, captivity, plundering, and open shame,(n) as it is today. 8 But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from Yahweh our God to preserve a remnant(o) for us and give us a stake(p) in His holy place. Even in our slavery, God has given us new life and light to our eyes.(q) 9 Though we are slaves,(r) our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. He has extended grace to us in the presence of the Persian kings,(s) giving us new life, so that we can rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins,(t) to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.
10 Now, our God, what can we say in light of[c] this? For we have abandoned the commands 11 You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: "The land you are entering to possess is an impure land. The surrounding peoples have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness by their impurity and detestable practices.(u) 12 So do not give your daughters to their sons in marriage or take their daughters for your sons.(v) Never seek their peace or prosperity,(w) so that you will be strong, eat the good things of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever." 13 After all that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and terrible guilt—though You, our God, have punished us less than our sins deserve and have allowed us to survive[d](x)— 14 should we break Your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit these detestable practices?(y) Wouldn't You become so angry with us that You would destroy us, leaving no survivors?(z) 15 Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we survive as a remnant(aa) today. Here we are before You with our guilt, though no one can stand in Your presence because of this.(ab)
Chapter 10
Sending Away Foreign Wives
1 While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown(a) before the house of God, an extremely large assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly.(b) 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel,(c) an Elamite, responded to Ezra: "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the surrounding peoples,(d) but there is still hope for Israel in spite of this. 3 Let us therefore make a covenant before our God(e) 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.(f) Let it be done according to the law. 4 Get up, for this matter is your responsibility,(g) and we support you. Be strong and take action!"(h)
5 Then Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said; so they took the oath.(i) 6 Ezra then went from the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, where he spent the night.[a] He did not eat food or drink water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.(j)
7 They circulated a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem. 8 Whoever did not come within three days would forfeit all his possessions,[b] according to the decision of the leaders and elders, and would be excluded(k) from the assembly of the exiles.
9 So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. On the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God,(l) trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to Israel's guilt.(m) 11 Therefore, make a confession to Yahweh the God of your fathers and do His will. Separate yourselves from the surrounding peoples and your foreign wives."
12 Then all the assembly responded with a loud voice: "Yes, we will do as you say! 13 But there are many people, and it is the rainy season. We don't have the stamina to stay out in the open. This isn't something that can be done in a day or two, for we have rebelled terribly in this matter. 14 Let our leaders represent the entire assembly. Then let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each town, in order to avert the fierce anger of our God(n) concerning[c] this matter." 15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, with Meshullam(o) and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them.
16 The exiles did what had been proposed. Ezra the priest selected men[d] who were family leaders, all identified by name, to represent[e] their ancestral houses. They convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter, 17 and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.
Those Married to Foreign Wives
18 The following were found to have married foreign women from the descendants of the priests:
from the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 They pledged[f] to send their wives away, and being guilty, they offered a ram from the flock for their guilt;(p)
20 Hanani and Zebadiah from Immer's(q) descendants;
21 Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah from Harim's(r) descendants;
22 Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah from Pashhur's(s) descendants.
23 The Levites:(t)
Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24 The singers:(u)
Eliashib.
The gatekeepers:(v)
Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25 The Israelites:(w)
Parosh's descendants:(x) Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah,[g] and Benaiah;
26 Elam's descendants:(y) Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah;
27 Zattu's descendants:(z) Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza;
28 Bebai's descendants:(aa) Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai;
29 Bani's descendants:(ab) Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth;
30 Pahath-moab's descendants:(ac) Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh;
31 Harim's descendants:(ad) Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah;
33 Hashum's descendants:(ae) Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei;
34 Bani's descendants:(af) Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu, 38 Bani, Binnui, Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph;
43 Nebo's descendants:(ag) Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44 All of these(ah) had married foreign women, and some of the wives had given birth to children.(ai)
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