Ezra:4-7

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* Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel ; * Then they came to Zerubbabel , and to the chief of the fathers , and said unto them , Let us build with you : for we seek your God , as ye do ; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur , which brought us up hither . * But Zerubbabel , and Jeshua , and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel , said unto them , Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God ; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel , as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us . * Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah , and troubled them in building , * And 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 . * 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 . * Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort : * Then 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 , * And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over , and set in the cities of Samaria , and the rest that are on this side the river , and at such a time . * This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him , even unto Artaxerxes the king ; Thy servants the men on this side the river , and at such a time . * Be it known unto the king , that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem , building the rebellious and the bad city , and have set up the walls thereof , and joined the foundations . * Be it known now unto the king , that , if this city be builded , and the walls set up again , then will they not pay toll , tribute , and custom , and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings . * Now because we have maintenance from the king 's palace , and it was not meet for us to see the king 's dishonour , therefore have we sent and certified the king ; * That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers : so shalt thou find in the book of the records , and know that this city is a rebellious city , and hurtful unto kings and provinces , and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time : for which cause was this city destroyed . * We certify the king that , if this city be builded again , and the walls thereof set up , by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river . * Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor , and to Shimshai the scribe , and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria , and unto the rest beyond the river , Peace , and at such a time . * The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me . * And I commanded , and search hath been made , and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings , and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein . * There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem , which have ruled over all countries beyond the river ; and toll , tribute , and custom , was paid unto them . * Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease , and that this city be not builded , until another commandment shall be given from me . * Take heed now that ye fail not to do this : why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings ? * Now 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 unto the Jews , and made them to cease by force and power . * Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem . So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia . * Then the prophets , Haggai the prophet , and Zechariah the son of Iddo , prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel , even unto them . * Then 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 . * At the same time came to them Tatnai , governor on this side the river , and Shetharboznai , and their companions , and said thus unto them , Who hath commanded you to build this house , and to make up this wall ? * Then said we unto them after this manner , What are the names of the men that make this building ? * But the eye of their God was upon 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 . * The 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 unto Darius the king : * They sent a letter unto him , wherein was written thus ; Unto Darius the king , all peace . * Be it known unto the king , that we went into the province of Judea , to the house of the great God , which is builded with great stones , and timber is laid in the walls , and this work goeth fast on , and prospereth in their hands . * Then asked we those elders , and said unto them thus , Who commanded you to build this house , and to make up these walls ? * We asked their names also , to certify thee , that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them . * And thus they returned us answer , saying , We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth , and build the house that was builded these many years ago , which a great king of Israel builded and set up . * But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto 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 . * But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God . * And 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 unto one , whose name was Sheshbazzar , whom he had made governor ; * 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 . * Then came the same Sheshbazzar , and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem : and since that time even until now hath it been in building , and yet it is not finished . * 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 . * Then Darius the king made a decree , and search was made in the house of the rolls , where the treasures were laid up in Babylon . * And 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 : * In 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 builded , the place where they offered sacrifices , and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid ; the height thereof threescore cubits , and the breadth thereof threescore cubits ; * With three rows of great stones , and a row of new timber : and let the expenses be given out of the king 's house : * 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 . * Now therefore , Tatnai , governor beyond the river , Shetharboznai , and your companions the Apharsachites , which are beyond the river , be ye far from thence : * 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 . * Moreover I make a decree what ye 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 , forthwith expenses be given unto these men , that they be not hindered . * And 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 : * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * Then Tatnai , governor on this side the river , Shetharboznai , and their companions , according to that which Darius the king had sent , so they did speedily . * And the elders of the Jews builded , and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo . And they builded , 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 . * And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar , which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king . * And 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 , * And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks , two hundred rams , four hundred lambs ; and for a sin offering for all Israel , twelve he goats , according to the number of the tribes of Israel . * And 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 . * And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month . * For 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 brethren the priests , and for themselves . * And the children of Israel , which were come again out of captivity , and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land , to seek the LORD God of Israel , did eat , * And 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 unto them , to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God , the God of Israel . * Now after these things , in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia , Ezra the son of Seraiah , the son of Azariah , the son of Hilkiah , * The son of Shallum , the son of Zadok , the son of Ahitub , * The son of Amariah , the son of Azariah , the son of Meraioth , * The son of Zerahiah , the son of Uzzi , the son of Bukki , * The son of Abishua , the son of Phinehas , the son of Eleazar , the son of Aaron the chief priest : * 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 . * And 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 , unto Jerusalem , in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king . * And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month , which was in the seventh year of the king . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * Artaxerxes , king of kings , unto Ezra the priest , a scribe of the law of the God of heaven , perfect peace , and at such a time . * 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 . * 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 ; * 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 , * And all the silver and gold that thou canst 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 : * That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks , rams , lambs , with their meat offerings and their drink offerings , and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem . * And whatsoever shall seem good to thee , and to thy brethren , to do with the rest of the silver and the gold , that do after the will of your God . * The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God , those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem . * And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God , which thou shalt have occasion to bestow , bestow it out of the king 's treasure house . * And I , even I Artaxerxes the king , do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river , that whatsoever Ezra the priest , the scribe of the law of the God of heaven , shall require of you , it be done speedily , * Unto an hundred talents of silver , and to an hundred measures of wheat , and to an hundred baths of wine , and to an hundred baths of oil , and salt without prescribing how much . * 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 ? * Also 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 , upon them . * And thou , Ezra , after the wisdom of thy God , that is in thine hand , set magistrates and judges , which may judge all the people that are beyond the river , all such as know the laws of thy God ; and teach ye them that know them not . * And whosoever will not do the law of thy God , and the law of the king , let judgment be executed speedily upon him , whether it be unto death , or to banishment , or to confiscation of goods , or to imprisonment . * Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers , which hath put such a thing as this in the king 's heart , to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem : * 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 . * These 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 .

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