Ezra 8:21-36 ▼

21 And there by the Ahava (I shall subsist) Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God {Elohenu} and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.

22 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 {Elohenu} is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.”

23 So we fasted and petitioned our God {Elohenu} about this, and He granted our request.

24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, together with Sherebiah (YHWH has scorched), Hashabiah (YHWH has considered), and ten of their brothers,

25 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 (God prevails) there had offered for the house of our God {Elohenu}.

26 I weighed out into their hands 650 talents of silver <24.5 t / 22.2 mt>, articles of silver weighing 100 talents <3.77 t / 3.42 mt>, 100 talents of gold,

27 20 gold bowls valued at 1,000 darics <18.5 lb / 8.4 kg>, and two articles of fine polished bronze, as precious as gold.

28 Then I told them, “You⁺ are holy to the LORD {YHWH}, and these articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God {Elohe} of your⁺ fathers.

29 Guard them carefully until you⁺ weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the LORD {YHWH} in Jerusalem (city of peace) before the leading priests, Levites, and heads of the Israelite (he wrestles with God) families.”

30 So the priests and Levites took charge of the silver and gold and sacred articles that had been weighed out to be taken to the house of our God {Elohenu} in Jerusalem (city of peace).

31 On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava (I shall subsist) Canal to go to Jerusalem (city of peace), and the hand of our God {Elohenu} was upon us to protect us from the hands of the enemies and bandits along the way.

32 So we arrived at Jerusalem (city of peace) and rested there for three days.

33 On the fourth day, in the house of our God {Elohenu}, we weighed out the silver and gold and sacred articles into the hand of Meremoth (elevations) son of Uriah (YHWH is my light), the priest. Eleazar (God has helped) son of Phinehas (mouth of brass) was with him, along with the Levites Jozabad (YHWH has endowed) son of Jeshua (he is saved) and Noadiah (meeting with YHWH) son of Binnui (built up).

34 Everything was verified by number and weight, and the total weight was recorded at that time.

35 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God): 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and a sin offering of 12 male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD {YHWH}.

36 They also delivered the king’s edicts to the royal satraps (Persian official) and governors of the region west of the Euphrates \governors beyond the River/, who proceeded to assist the people and the house of God {Elohim}.