15And I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava, and there we abode in tents three days; and I observed the people, and the priests, and found none of the sons of Levi there. 16Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and for Meshullam, leaders; and also for Joiarib, and Elnathan, men of understanding. 17And I sent them to Iddo, the head of the place, Casiphia, and to his brethren, the Nethinim (temple servants) to tell Iddo that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. 18And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, Sherebiah, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and with his eighteen sons and brethren,; 19And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah, of the sons of Merari, his twenty brethren and their sons,; 20Also two hundred twenty Nethinim, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites,; all of them were identified by name.

21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a right and safe journey for us, for our little ones, and for all our possessions. 22For I was ashamed to ask the king to protect us with a band of soldiers and horsemen against any enemy in the way; because we had told the king, “The hand of our God is upon all them for good who seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all them who forsake Him”. 23So we fasted and besought our God for this; and He was entreated of us.

24Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren, 25And weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered: 26I weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and a hundred talents in silver utensils, and a hundred talents of gold; 27Also, twenty basins of gold, weighing a thousand drams; and two utensils of fine burnished bronze, precious as gold. 28And I said to them, “You are holy unto the LORD; the utensils are also holy; and the silver and gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers. 29Guard and keep them, until you weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and heads of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD”. 30So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver, the gold, and the utensils, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

31Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the enemies and bandits that lay in wait along the way. 32And we came to Jerusalem, and stayed there three days. 33Now on the fourth day the silver, the gold and the utensils were 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; 34Every piece was counted and weighed and the number and weight of each one; and the total weight was recorded at that time. 35Also the children of those who had been carried away, and returned from the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering; all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD. 36And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's satraps (province governors), and to the governors on this side of the river; and they supported the people, and the house of God.