Ezra
Ezra 1 : The Proclamation of Cyrus
1Now in the 1st year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2Thus said Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he has charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3Who 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. 4And whoever remains in any place where he sojournes, 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.
Cyrus = “posses thou the furnace”; the king of Persia and conqueror of Babylon; first ruler of Persia to make a decree allowing the Israelite exiles to return to Jerusalem Lex: Persians called the sun by this name 15 times in 13 verses
Persia = “pure” or “splendid” the empire Persia; encompassed the territory from India on the east to Egypt and Thrace on the west, and included, besides portions of Europe and Africa, the whole of western Asia between the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Caspian and the Jaxartes on the north, the Arabian desert, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean on the south; Persia proper was bounded on the west by Susiana or Elam, on the north by Media, on the south by the Persian Gulf and on the east by Carmania Persian = see Persia “pure” or “splendid” פָּרַס Pâraç, paw-ras’; 28 times in 24 verses
Stirred Up עוּר ʻûwr, oor; a primitive root (rather identical with through the idea of opening the eyes); to wake (literally or figuratively):—(a-) wake(-n, up), lift up (self), ×master, raise (up), stir up (self). to rouse oneself, awake, awaken, incite 81 times in 65 verses
Proclamation עָבַר ʻâbar, aw-bar’; a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation):—to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress 567 times in 493 verses Lexicon: to cross a stream
Kingdom מַלְכוּת malkûwth, mal-kooth’; or מַלְכֻת malkuth; or (in plural) מַלְכֻיָּה malkuyâh; from H4427; a rule; concretely, a dominion:—empire, kingdom, realm, reign, royal. royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom, sovereign power 91 times in 82 verses
Writing מִכְתָּב miktâb, mik-tawb’; from H3789; a thing written, the characters, or a document (letter, copy, edict, poem):—writing. 9 in 8
כָּתַב kâthab, kaw-thab’; a primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe):—describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten). 223 times in 212 verses
Freewill offering נְדָבָה nᵉdâbâh, ned-aw-baw’; from H5068; properly (abstractly) spontaneity, or (adjectively) spontaneous; also (concretely) a spontaneous or (by inference, in plural) abundant gift:—free(-will) offering, freely, plentiful, voluntary(-ily, offering), willing(-ly), offering). 26 times in 25 verses
נָדַב nâdab, naw-dab’; a primitive root; to impel; hence, to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously:—offer freely, be (give, make, offer self) willing(-ly). impel, urge 17 times in 15 verses
“freewill” occurs 17 times in 17 verses
Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ͏ם Yᵉrûwshâlaim, yer-oo-shaw-lah’-im; rarely יְרוּשָׁלַיִם Yᵉrûwshâlayim; a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of H3390)); probably from (the passive participle of) H3384 and H7999; founded peaceful; Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine:—Jerusalem. 643 in 600 :: 643 is the 117th prime :: 17x in psalms :: 117 in 2nd Chr
The Exiles Plan Their Return
5Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. 6And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.
Levite = see Levi “joined to” לֵוִיִּי Lêvîyîy, lay-vee-ee’; Lexicon : “adhesion”, “garland”, “crown” 286 times in 258 verses 286 is 11th heptagon; sum of divisors 504; next prime 293; 2862 = 16.911
Treasurer גִּזְבָּר gizbâr, ghiz-bawr’; of foreign derivation; treasurer:—treasurer. 1 in 1
Cyrus Restores the Holy Vessels
7Also 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; 8Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
Mithredath = “given by Mithra”; treasurer of king Cyrus of Persia; a Persian officer stationed at Samaria in the time of Artaxerxes 2 in 2
Sheshbazzar = “worshipper of fire” the prince of Judah at the first return from exile in Babylon; usually identified as the Babylonian name for Zerubbabel 2 in 2
9And this is the number of them: 30 chargers of gold,1,000 chargers of silver, 229 knives, 1030 basins of gold, silver basins of a second sort 410, and other vessels 1,000. 11All the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
30 CHARGERS OF GOLD
1,000 CHARGERS OF SILVER
229 KNIVES
30 BASINS OF GOLD
410 SILVER BASINS OF A SECOND SORT
1,000 OTHER VESSELS .
ALL THE VESSELS OF GOLD AND OF SILVER WERE 5,400
Ezra 2 : The List of Returning Exiles
1Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.
Province מְדִינָה mᵉdîynâh, med-ee-naw’; from H1777; properly, a judgeship, i.e. jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region:—(×every) province. 44 times in 40
דִּין dîyn, deen; or (Genesis 6:3) דּוּן dûwn; a primitive root; to rule; by implication to judge (as umpire); also to strive (as at law):—contend contend execute (judgment) judge minister judgment plead (the cause) at strife strive. 24 in 24
Captivity שְׁבִי shᵉbîy, sheb-ee’; from H7618; exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by extension, booty:—captive(-ity), prisoners, × take away, that was taken. 49 in 47
Carried away גּוֹלָה gôwlâh, go-law’; or (shortened) גֹּלָה gôlâh; active participle feminine of H1540; exile; concretely and collectively exiles:—(carried away), captive(-ity), removing. 42 times in 41 verses
The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3the sons of Parosh, 2,172. 4The sons of Shephatiah, 372. 5The sons of Arah, 775. 6The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812. 7The sons of Elam, 1,254. 8The sons of Zattu, 945. 9The sons of Zaccai, 760. 10The sons of Bani, 642. 11The sons of Bebai, 623. 12The sons of Azgad, 1,222. 13The sons of Adonikam, 666. 14The sons of Bigvai, 2,056. 15The sons of Adin, 454. 16The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. 17The sons of Bezai, 323. 18The sons of Jorah, 112. 19The sons of Hashum, 223. 20The sons of Gibbar, 95. 21The sons of Bethlehem, 123. 22The men of Netophah, 56. 23The men of Anathoth, 128. 24The sons of Azmaveth, 42. 25The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. 26The sons of Ramah and Geba, 621. 27The men of Michmas, 122. 28The men of Bethel and Ai, 223.29The sons of Nebo, 52. 30The sons of Magbish, 156. 31The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. 32The sons of Harim, 320. 33The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725. 34The sons of Jericho, 345. 35The sons of Senaah, 3,630.
24,144 Total
The Priests
36The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. 37The sons of Immer, 1,052. 38The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. 39The sons of Harim, 1,017.
4289
Properties of the number 4289
Factorization 4289 Divisors 1, 4289 Count of divisors 2 Sum of divisors 4290 Is prime? YES (589th prime) Previous prime 4283 Next prime 4297 4289th prime 40961 Is a Fibonacci number? NO Is a Bell number? NO Is a Catalan number? NO Is a factorial? NO Is a regular number? NO Is a perfect number? NO Polygonal number (s < 11)? NO Binary 1000011000001 Octal 10301 Duodecimal 2595 Hexadecimal 10c1 Square 18395521 Square root 65.490457320132 Natural logarithm 8.3638088845169 Decimal logarithm 3.6323560462391 Sine -0.66390443731489 Cosine -0.74781742298077 Tangent 0.88778947496113
The Levites, Singers, Gatekeepers
40The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74.
41The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128.
42The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, in all 139.
340
Properties of the number 340
Factorization 2 * 2 * 5 * 17 Divisors 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 17, 20, 34, 68, 85, 170, 340 Count of divisors 12 Sum of divisors 756 Is prime? NO Previous prime 337 Next prime 347 340th prime 2287 Is a Fibonacci number? NO Is a Bell number? NO Is a Catalan number? NO Is a factorial? NO Is a regular number? NO Is a perfect number? NO Polygonal number (s < 11)? NO Binary 101010100 Octal 524 Duodecimal 244 Hexadecimal 154 Square 115600 Square root 18.439088914586 Natural logarithm 5.8289456176102 Decimal logarithm 2.5314789170423 Sine 0.65031074016255 Cosine 0.75966831000722 Tangent 0.85604563412204
The Temple Servants
43The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 44the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,45the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub, 46the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan, 47the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, 48the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, 49the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, 50the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim, 51the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 52the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 53the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, 54the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.
35
Descendants of Solomon’s Servants
55The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda, 56the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 57the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami.
357
58All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392.
59The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers’ houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: 60the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652.
Priests Removed
61And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name: 62These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. 63And the Tirshatha said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.
The Full Number and Possessions
64The whole assembly together was 42,360, 65besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers. 66Their horses were 736, their mules were 245, 67their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720.
29817
Properties of the number 29817
Factorization 3 * 3 * 3313 Divisors 1, 3, 9, 3313, 9939, 29817 Count of divisors 6 Sum of divisors 43082 Is prime? NO Previous prime 29803 Next prime 29819 29817th prime 347989 Is a Fibonacci number? NO Is a Bell number? NO Is a Catalan number? NO Is a factorial? NO Is a regular number? NO Is a perfect number? NO Polygonal number (s < 11)? NO Binary 111010001111001 Octal 72171 Duodecimal 15309 Hexadecimal 7479 Square 889053489 Square root 172.6759971739 Natural logarithm 10.302833979636 Decimal logarithm 4.4744639453213 Sine -0.14362633840075 Cosine -0.98963198963938 Tangent 0.14513105872122 42360
Properties of the number 42360
Factorization 2 * 2 * 2 * 3 * 5 * 353 Divisors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 24, 30, 40, 60, 120, 353, 706, 1059, 1412, 1765, 2118, 2824, 3530, 4236, 5295, 7060, 8472, 10590, 14120, 21180, 42360 Count of divisors 32 Sum of divisors 127440 Is prime? NO Previous prime 42359 Next prime 42373 42360th prime 510931 Is a Fibonacci number? NO Is a Bell number? NO Is a Catalan number? NO Is a factorial? NO Is a regular number? NO Is a perfect number? NO Polygonal number (s < 11)? NO Binary 1010010101111000 Octal 122570 Duodecimal 20620 Hexadecimal a578 Square 1794369600 Square root 205.81545131501 Natural logarithm 10.653959799715 Decimal logarithm 4.6269559514354 Sine -0.94426051589764 Cosine 0.32919914659174 Tangent -2.8683565120801 42360 – 29817 = 12543
Properties of the number 12543
Factorization 3 * 37 * 113 Divisors 1, 3, 37, 111, 113, 339, 4181, 12543 Count of divisors 8 Sum of divisors 17328 Is prime? NO Previous prime 12541 Next prime 12547 12543rd prime 134581 Is a Fibonacci number? NO Is a Bell number? NO Is a Catalan number? NO Is a factorial? NO Is a regular number? NO Is a perfect number? NO Polygonal number (s < 11)? NO Binary 11000011111111 Octal 30377 Duodecimal 7313 Hexadecimal 30ff Square 157326849 Square root 111.99553562531 Natural logarithm 9.4369180200247 Decimal logarithm 4.0984014222701 Sine 0.98175208111531 Cosine -0.19016532603439 Tangent -5.1626240260949 8,136 animals
Properties of the number 8136
Factorization 2 * 2 * 2 * 3 * 3 * 113 Divisors 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 72, 113, 226, 339, 452, 678, 904, 1017, 1356, 2034, 2712, 4068, 8136 Count of divisors 24 Sum of divisors 22230 Is prime? NO Previous prime 8123 Next prime 8147 8136th prime 83341 Is a Fibonacci number? NO Is a Bell number? NO Is a Catalan number? NO Is a factorial? NO Is a regular number? NO Is a perfect number? NO Polygonal number (s < 11)? NO Binary 1111111001000 Octal 17710 Duodecimal 4860 Hexadecimal 1fc8 Square 66194496 Square root 90.199778270237 Natural logarithm 9.0040539377284 Decimal logarithm 3.9104109399147 Sine -0.66311508141074 Cosine 0.74851746058834 Tangent -0.88590462657949
The Exiles’ Offerings
68Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. 69According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 daricsa of gold, 5,000 minasb of silver, and 100 priests’ garments. 70So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelled in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
daric, drachma, dram, unit of measure; a gold coin current in Palestine in the period after the return from Babylon; 128 grains (8.32 grams) of gold worth about $120 dollars and 128 grains of silver worth about $2.40 4 in 4 Lex: the coins beared the image of an archer
maneh, mina, pound; 60 shekels and 1/50 talent (of silver); 1/60 talent in early Babylonian standard; 100 shekels and 1/100 talent (of gold)
מָנָה mânâh, maw-naw’; a primitive root; properly, to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll:—appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell. 28 times in 27 verses
Singers שִׁיר shîyr, sheer; or (the original form) שׁוּר shûwr; (1 Samuel 18:6), a primitive root (rather identical with H7788 through the idea of strolling minstrelsy); to sing:—behold (by mistake for H7789), sing(-er, -ing man, -ing woman). 87 times in 79 verses
Porter שׁוֹעֵר shôwʻêr, sho-are’; or שֹׁעֵר shôʻêr active participle of H8176 (as denominative from H8179); a janitor:—doorkeeper, porter. 37 times in 37 verses
Nethinims; temple slaves assigned to the Levites and priests for service in the sanctuary 18 times in 15 verses נָתִין Nâthîyn, naw-theen’; or נָתוּן Nâthûwn (Ezra 8:17), (the proper form as passive participle), from H5414; one given, i.e. (in the plural only) the Nethinim, or Temple-servants (as given to that duty):—Nethinims.
נָתַן nâthan, naw-than’; a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.): s 2,009 times in 1,816 verses
Ezra 3 : Altar and Sacrifices Restored
1And when the 7th month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. 2Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and built 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. 3And they set the altar on his bases; for fear was on them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon to the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening. 4They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required; 5And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering to the LORD. 6From the 1st day of the 7th month began they to offer burnt offerings to the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. 7They gave money also to the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, to them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
One אֶחָד ʼechâd, ekh-awd’; a numeral from H258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first: 952 times in 739 verses 739: 131st prime
Factorization 2 * 2 * 2 * 7 * 17 Divisors 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 17, 28, 34, 56, 68, 119, 136, 238, 476, 952 Count of divisors 16 Sum of divisors 2160 Jeshua = “he is saved” יֵשׁוּעַ Yêshûwaʻ, yay-shoo’-ah; for H3091; he will save; Jeshua, the name of ten Israelites, also of a place in Palestine:—Jeshua. 29 times in 29 verses
Jozadak = “Jehovah is righteous” grandson of the high priest Hilkiah; son of the high priest Seraiah; and father of the high priest Joshua; he never attained the office of high priest himself because he was carried captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar 5 in 5
Zerubbabel = “sown in Babylon” the grandson of king Jehoiachin and leader of the first group of returning exiles from Babylon; זְרֻבָּבֶל Zᵉrubbâbel, zer-oob-baw-bel’; from H2215 and H894; descended of (i.e. from) Babylon, i.e. born there; Zerubbabel, an Israelite:—Zerubbabel. 21 times in 20 verses
Shealtiel or Salathiel = “I have asked of God” father of Zerubbabel 9 in 9
written כָּתַב kâthab, kaw-thab’; a primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe):—describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten). 223 in 212 223 : 48th Prime
Bases מְכוֹנָה mᵉkôwnâh, mek-o-naw’; or מְכֹנָה mᵉkônâh; feminine of H4349; a pedestal, also a spot:—base. 23 times in 18 verses
Fear אֵימָה ʼêymâh, ay-maw’; or (shortened) אֵמָה ʼêmâh; from the same as H366; fright; concrete, an idol (as a bugbear):—dread, fear, horror, idol, terrible, terror. 17 times in 17 verses
Custom מִשְׁפָּט mishpâṭ, mish-pawt’; from H8199; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant’s) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant’s right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style: 421 in 406 421 : 82nd Prime 406 sum of div : 720; previous prime 401
Required יוֹם yôwm, yome; from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb):— day, time, year 2,287 times in 1,931 verses 2287 : 340th prime, next p 2293 1931: 294th prime
Feasts מוֹעֵד môwʻêd, mo-ade’; or מֹעֵד môʻêd; or (feminine) מוֹעָדָה môwʻâdâh; (2 Chronicles 8:13), from H3259; properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand): 223 in 213
Joppa or Japho = “beautiful” a town on the southwest coast of Palestine in the territory of Dan; became primary port of Jerusalem during reign of Solomon
Temple Restoration Begins
8Now in the 2nd year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the 2nd month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from 20 years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD. 9Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, 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 brothers the Levites.
Laid the foundation יָסַד yâçad, yaw-sad’; a primitive root; to set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e. settle, consult:—17 in 41
Temple הֵיכָל hêykâl, hay-kawl’; probably from H3201 (in the sense of capacity); a large public building, such as a palace or temple:—palace, temple. 80 times in 76 verses
יָכֹל yâkôl, yaw-kole’; or (fuller) יָכוֹל yâkôwl; a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might):— 195 times in 182 verses
10And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks to the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endures 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. 12But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
EZRA 4 : Adversaries Hinder the Work
1Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built the temple to the LORD God of Israel; 2Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said to them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as you do; and we do sacrifice to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up here. 3But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said to them, You have nothing to do with us to build an house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us. 4Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Adversaries צַר tsar, tsar; or צָר tsâr; from H6887; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble (as in H6864); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding): narrow, tight 105 times in 102 verses
Esarhaddon = “Ashur has given a brother”king of Assyria in the seventh-century BC 3 in 3
Sacrifice זָבַח zâbach, zaw-bakh’; a primitive root; to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice):—kill, offer, (do) sacrifice, slay. 134 in 127
Darius = “lord” Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, king of the Chaldeans, who succeeded to the Babylonian kingdom on the death of Belshazzar; probably the same as “Astyages” the last king of the Medes (538 BC); Darius, the son of Hystaspes, the founder of the Perso-Arian dynasty (521 BC); Darius II or Darius III; Darius II, Nothus (Ochus) was king of Persia during the time of Nehemiah (424/3 – 405/4 BC). Darius II is the most probable because he is mentioned by Nehemiah and ruled during the time of Nehemiah; Darius III, Codomannus was king of Persia during its last years at the time of Alexander the Great and was his opponent (336 – 330 BC) 10 times in 10
Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes
(Esther 1:1-9; Proverbs 1:1-7; Proverbs 9:1-12)
6And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they to him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.7And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. 8Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: 9Then 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, 10And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time. 11This is the copy of the letter that they sent to him, even to Artaxerxes the king; Your servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time. 12Be it known to the king, that the Jews which came up from you to us are come to Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. 13Be it known now to the king, that, if this city be built, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so you shall damage the revenue of the kings. 14Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king; 15That search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers: so shall you find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. 16We certify the king that, if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means you shall have no portion on this side the river.
Accusation שִׂטְנָה siṭnâh, sit-naw’; from H7853; opposition (by letter):—accusation. enmity 1 in 1
שָׂטַן sâṭan, saw-tan’; a primitive root; to attack, (figuratively) accuse:—(be an) adversary, resist.
Artaxerxes = “I will make the spoiled to boil: I will stir myself (in) winter” 15 times in 14 verses son and successor of Xerxes as emperor of Persia, 465-424 BC
Bishlam = “in peace” a Persian officer in Palestine in the time of Ezra 1 in 1
Tabeal = “God is good” a man whose son was either in the army of Pekah or the army of Rezin and whom Pekah and Rezin proposed to make king of Israel Tabeel = “God is good” an officer of the Persian government in Samaria in the reign of Artaxerxes
Rehum = “compassion” an man who returned from exile with Zerubbabel 8 in 8
Chancellor בְּעֵל bᵉʻêl, beh-ale’; (Aramaic) corresponding to H1167:— chancellor. 3 in 3
Shimshai = “sunny” the scribe for Rehum, the satrap of Judea for the Persian government
Dinaites = “judgment” the name of some of the Cuthaean colonists who were placed in the cities of Samaria after the captivity of the ten tribes
Apharsachites = “as causers of division (?)”
Tarpelites = “they of the fallen (or wondrous) mountain” he group of Assyrian colonists who were planted in the cities of Samaria after the captivity of the northern kingdom of Israel; identity uncertain
Apharsite = “causers of division (?)”
Archevites = “lengthy” a native of the city of Erech
Susanchites = see Shushan “lily”
Dehavites = “the sickly”
Elamites = see Elam “their heaps”
Asnappar or Osnappar = “horned bull: thorn abolished” an Assyrian king who transported other peoples into Samaria – probably the king, Ashurbanipal
The Decree of Artaxerxes
17Then sent the king an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and to the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. 18The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. 19And I commanded, and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. 20There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid to them. 21Give you now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not built, until another commandment shall be given from me. 22Take heed now that you fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 23Now 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 to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. 24Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased to the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
EZRA 5 : Temple Rebuilding Resumes
1Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even to them. 2Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.3At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said thus to them, Who has commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? 4Then said we to them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? 5But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
Tatnai = “gift” a Persian governor in Syria who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem
Shethar-boznai = “star of splendour” a Persian officer in the reign of Darius
Tattenai’s Letter to Darius
6The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent to Darius the king: 7They sent a letter to him, wherein was written thus; To Darius the king, all peace. 8Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goes fast on, and prospers in their hands. 9Then asked we those elders, and said to them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? 10We asked their names also, to certify you, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them. 11And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and set up. 12But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. 13But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. 14And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; 15And said to him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in his place. 16Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not finished. 17Now 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.
EZRA 6 : The Decree of Darius
1Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: 3In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof 60 cubits, and the breadth thereof 60 cubits; 4With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house: 5And 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 to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
Roll = “book”
Achmetha = “Ecbatana” capital of Media, captured by Cyrus in 550 BC and then summer residence of Persian kings
Height = 60 cubits :: 1080″ :: 90ft :: 30 yds
Width = 60 cubits :: 1080″ :: 90ft :: 30 yds
Medes = “middle land” an inhabitant of Media; located northwest of Persia proper, south and southwest of the Caspian Sea, east of Armenia and Assyria, and west and northwest of the great salt desert of Iram
6Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be you far from there: 7Let 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.8Moreover I make a decree what you shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, immediately expenses be given to these men, that they be not hindered. 9And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: 10That they may offer sacrifices of sweet smells to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11Also I have made a decree, that whoever 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. 12And the God that has 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.
The Temple Completed
13Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. 14And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built, 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. 15And this house was finished on the 3rd day of the month Adar, which was in the 6th year of the reign of Darius the king.
533 bc
The Feast of Dedication
16And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.17And offered at the dedication of this house of God an 100 bullocks, 200 hundred rams, 400 hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, 12 he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
712 animals
The Passover
19And the children of the captivity kept the passover on the 14th day of the 1st month. 20For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves. 21And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, 22And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
EZRA 7 : Ezra Goes Up to Jerusalem
1Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest: 6This 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 on him. 7And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, to Jerusalem, in the 7th year of Artaxerxes the king.
Artaxerxes = “I will make the spoiled to boil: I will stir myself (in) winter” son and successor of Xerxes as emperor of Persia, 465-424 BC אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׁתָּא ʼArtachshashtâʼ, ar-takh-shash-taw’; or אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׁתְּא ʼArtachshashtᵉʼ; or by permutation אַרְתַּחְשַׁסְתְּא ʼArtachshaçtᵉʼ; of foreign origin; Artachshasta (or Artaxerxes), a title (rather than name) of several Persian kings:—Artaxerxes. 15 in 14
8And he came to Jerusalem in the 5th month, which was in the 7th year of the king. 9For on the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the 1st day of the 5th month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him. 10For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra
11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. 12Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. 13I 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 you. 14For as much as you are sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand; 15And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16And all the silver and gold that you can find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem: 17That you may buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.18And whatever shall seem good to you, and to your brothers, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God. 19The vessels also that are given you for the service of the house of your God, those deliver you before the God of Jerusalem. 20And whatever more shall be needful for the house of your God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house.
21And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, 22To an 100 talents of silver, and to an 100 measures of wheat, and to an 100 baths of wine, and to an 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23Whatever 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? 24Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, on them.
25And you, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God, that is in your hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach you them that know them not. 26And whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Ezra Praises God
27Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem: 28And has extended mercy to 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 on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
EZRA 8 : The Exiles who Returned with Ezra
1These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. 2Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush. 3Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an 150. 4Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 males. 5Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 males. 6Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him 50 males. 7And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him 70 males. 8And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him 80 males. 9Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him 218 males. 10And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an 160 males. 11And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him 28 males. 12And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an 110 males. 13And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 males. 14Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them 70 males.
1496
Properties of the number 1496
Factorization 2 * 2 * 2 * 11 * 17 Divisors 1, 2, 4, 8, 11, 17, 22, 34, 44, 68, 88, 136, 187, 374, 748, 1496 Count of divisors 16 Sum of divisors 3240 Is prime? NO Previous prime 1493 Next prime 1499 1496th prime 12527 Is a Fibonacci number? NO Is a Bell number? NO Is a Catalan number? NO Is a factorial? NO Is a regular number? NO Is a perfect number? NO Polygonal number (s < 11)? NO Binary 10111011000 Octal 2730 Duodecimal a48 Hexadecimal 5d8 Square 2238016 Square root 38.678159211627 Natural logarithm 7.3105501585344 Decimal logarithm 3.1749315935284 Sine 0.56620702852238 Cosine 0.82426306532069 Tangent 0.68692514846834
Ezra Sends for Levites
15And I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there stayed we in tents 3 days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. 16Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding. 17And I sent them with commandment to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say to Iddo, and to his brothers the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God. 18And by the good hand of our God on 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 brothers, 18; 19And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, 20; 20Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, 220 Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.
258
Fasting for Protection
21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. 22For 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 to the king, saying, The hand of our God is on all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. 23So we fasted and sought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.
The Priests Guard Offerings
24Then I separated 12 of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them, 25And weighed to 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: 26I even weighed to their hand 650 talents of silver, and silver vessels an 100 talents, and of gold an 100 talents; 27Also 20 basins of gold, of a 1000 drams; and 2 vessels of fine copper, precious as gold. 28And I said to them, You are holy to the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers. 29Watch you, and keep them, until you weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD. 30So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.
31Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the 12th day of the 1st month, to go to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way. 32And we came to Jerusalem, and stayed there 3 days.
Treasure Placed in the Temple
33Now on the 4th day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites; 34By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.
35Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, 12 bullocks for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, 12 he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering to the LORD.36And they delivered the king’s commissions to the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.
197
Properties of the number 197
Factorization 197 Divisors 1, 197 Count of divisors 2 Sum of divisors 198 Is prime? YES (45th prime) Previous prime 193 Next prime 199 197th prime 1201 Is a Fibonacci number? NO Is a Bell number? NO Is a Catalan number? NO Is a factorial? NO Is a regular number? NO Is a perfect number? NO Polygonal number (s < 11)? NO Binary 11000101 Octal 305 Duodecimal 145 Hexadecimal c5 Square 38809 Square root 14.035668847618 Natural logarithm 5.283203728738 Decimal logarithm 2.2944662261616 Sine 0.79580584291965 Cosine -0.60555186431465 Tangent -1.3141827972412
EZRA 9 : Intermarriage with Neighboring Peoples
1Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass. 3And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonished. 4Then were assembled to me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.
Ezra’s Prayer of Confession
5And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to the LORD my God, 6And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up to the heavens. 7Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass to this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 8And now for a little space grace has been showed 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. 9For we were slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken your commandments, 11Which you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, The land, to which you 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. 12Now therefore give not your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever. 13And after all that is come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that you our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this; 14Should we again break your commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? would not you be angry with us till you had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? 15O LORD God of Israel, you are righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before you in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before you because of this.
EZRA 10 : Shecaniah Encourages Reform
1Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled to him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. 2And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. 3Now 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. 4Arise; for this matter belongs to you: we also will be with you: be of good courage, and do it.
Shecaniah or Shechaniah = “dweller with Jehovah” a descendant of Zerubbabel whose descendants returned from exile with Ezra; son of Jehiel of the sons of Elam and one who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra 10 in 10
Jehiel = “God lives” preserves alive; 14 times in 14 verses
Elam = “eternity” 28 times in 27 verses
Ezra = “help” the priest and scribe who led the reforms of the returned exiles in Jerusalem; co-worker with Nehemiah 22 in 22
Trespass מָעַל mâʻal, maw-al’; a primitive root; properly, to cover up; used only figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. treacherously:—transgress, (commit, do a) trespass(-ing). 35 in 35
Strange נׇכְרִי nokrîy, nok-ree’; from H5235 (second form); strange, in a variety of degrees and applications (foreign, non-relative, adulterous, different, wonderful):—alien, foreigner, outlandish, strange(-r, woman). 45 times in 45 verses
Hope מִקְוֶה miqveh, mik-veh’; or מִקְוֵה miqvêh; (1 Kings 10:28), or מִקְוֵא miqvêʼlemma מִּקְוֵא extra dagesh, corrected to מִקְוֵא; (2 Chronicles 1:16), from H6960; something waited for, i.e. confidence (objective or subjective); also a collection, i.e. (of water) a pond, or (of men and horses) a caravan or drove: 12 in 10
5Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they swore.
The People’s Confession of Sin
6Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away. 7And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem; 8And that whoever would not come within 3 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.
9Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within 3 days. It was the 9th month, on the 20th day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. 10And Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, You have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. 11Now therefore make confession to the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.12Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As you have said, so must we do. 13But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing. 14Let 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. 15Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
16And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the 1st day of the 10th month to examine the matter. 17And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the 1st day of the 1st month.
Those Guilty of Intermarriage
18And 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 brothers; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.
20And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
21And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
25Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
26And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.
27And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
28Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth.
30And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
31And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,32Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh, 36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
38And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei, 39And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah, 40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.
44All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.