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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Ezra 8 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/ezra/8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/ezra/8-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Ezra 8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../ezra/7.htm" title="Ezra 7">◄</a> Ezra 8 <a href="../ezra/9.htm" title="Ezra 9">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">The Families Who Came Back with Ezra</h3><p class="par"><span class="v15_8_1"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.1" class="v15_8_1">1</span>Artaxerxes was king of Persia when I<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.1!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> led the following chiefs of the family groups from Babylonia to Jerusalem:</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.2-Ezra.8.14" class="v15_8_2">2-14</span>Gershom of the Phinehas family;</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Daniel of the Ithamar family;</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Hattush son of Shecaniah of the David family;</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Zechariah and 150 other men of the Parosh family, who had family records;</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah with 200 men of the Pahath Moab family;</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Shecaniah son of Jahaziel with 300 men of the Zattu family;<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.2-Ezra.8.14!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Ebed son of Jonathan with 50 men of the Adin family;</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Jeshaiah son of Athaliah with 70 men of the Elam family;</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Zebadiah son of Michael with 80 men of the Shephatiah family;</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Obadiah son of Jehiel with 218 men of the Joab family;</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Shelomith son of Josiphiah with 160 men of the Bani family;<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.2-Ezra.8.14!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Zechariah son of Bebai with 28 men of the Bebai family;</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Johanan son of Hakkatan with 110 men of the Azgad family;</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah who returned sometime later with 60 men of the Adonikam family;</span></p><p class="li1"><span class="v15_8_2">Uthai and Zaccur with 70 men of the Bigvai family.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Ezra Finds Levites for the Temple</h3><p class="par"><span class="v15_8_15"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.15" class="v15_8_15">15</span>I<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.15!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> brought everyone together by the river<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.15!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> that flows to the town of Ahava<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.15!f.3" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> where we camped for three days. Not one Levite could be found among the people and priests. </span><span class="v15_8_16"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.16" class="v15_8_16">16</span>So I sent for the leaders Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam. I also sent for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were very wise counselors. </span><span class="v15_8_17"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.17" class="v15_8_17">17</span>Then I sent them to Iddo, the leader at Casiphia,<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.17!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and I told them to ask him and his temple workers to send people to serve in God's temple.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v15_8_18"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.18" class="v15_8_18">18</span>God was kind to us and caused them to send a skillful man named Sherebiah, who was a Levite from the family of Mahli. Eighteen of his relatives came with him. </span><span class="v15_8_19"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.19" class="v15_8_19">19</span>We were also sent Hashabiah and Jeshaiah from the family of Merari along with 20 of their relatives. </span><span class="v15_8_20"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.20" class="v15_8_20">20</span>In addition, 220 others came to help the Levites in the temple. The ancestors of these workers had been chosen years ago by King David<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.20!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and his officials, and they were all listed by name.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Ezra Asks the People To Go without Eating and To Pray</h3><p class="par"><span class="v15_8_21"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.21" class="v15_8_21">21</span>Beside the Ahava River,<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.21!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> I<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.21!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> asked the people to go without eating<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.21!f.3" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and to pray. We humbled ourselves and asked God to bring us and our children safely to Jerusalem with all of our possessions. </span><span class="v15_8_22"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.22" class="v15_8_22">22</span>I was ashamed to ask the king to send soldiers and cavalry to protect us against enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king that our God takes care of everyone who truly worships him, but that he gets very angry and punishes anyone who refuses to obey. </span><span class="v15_8_23"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.23" class="v15_8_23">23</span>So we went without food and asked God himself to protect us, and he answered our prayers.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Gifts for the Temple</h3><p class="par"><span class="v15_8_24"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.24" class="v15_8_24">24</span>I<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.24!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> chose twelve of the leading priests—Sherebiah, Hashabiah and ten of their relatives. </span><span class="v15_8_25"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.25-Ezra.8.27" class="v15_8_25">25-27</span>Then I weighed the gifts that had been given for God's temple, and I divided them among the twelve priests I had chosen. There were gifts of silver and gold, as well as the articles that the king, his advisors and officials, and the people of Israel had contributed. In all there were: 22 tons of silver; 100 silver articles weighing 70 kilograms; 3.4 tons of gold; 20 gold bowls weighing over 8 kilograms; and 2 polished bronze articles as valuable as gold.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v15_8_28"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.28" class="v15_8_28">28</span>I said to the priests:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v15_8_28">You belong to the <span class="nd">Lord</span>, the God of your ancestors, and these things also belong to him. The silver and gold were willingly given as gifts to the <span class="nd">Lord</span>. </span><span class="v15_8_29"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.29" class="v15_8_29">29</span>Be sure to guard them and keep them safe until you reach Jerusalem. Then weigh them inside God's temple in the presence of the chief priests, the Levites, and the heads of the Israelite families.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v15_8_30"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.30" class="v15_8_30">30</span>The priests and Levites then took charge of the gifts that had been weighed, so they could take them to the temple of our God in Jerusalem.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Return to Jerusalem</h3><p class="par"><span class="v15_8_31"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.31" class="v15_8_31">31</span>On the twelfth day of the first month,<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.31!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> we left the Ahava River<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.31!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and started for Jerusalem. Our God watched over us, and as we traveled along, he kept our enemies from ambushing us.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v15_8_32"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.32" class="v15_8_32">32</span>After arriving in Jerusalem, we rested for three days. </span><span class="v15_8_33"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.33" class="v15_8_33">33</span>Then on the fourth day we went to God's temple, where the silver, the gold, and the other things were weighed and given to the priest Meremoth son of Uriah. With him were Eleazar son of Phinehas and the two Levites, Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. </span><span class="v15_8_34"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.34" class="v15_8_34">34</span>Everything was counted, weighed, and recorded.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v15_8_35"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.35" class="v15_8_35">35</span>Those who had returned from exile offered sacrifices on the altar to the God of Israel. Twelve bulls were offered for all Israel. Ninety-six rams and 77 lambs<a href="#fn" id="link_Ezra.8.35!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> were offered on the altar, and 12 goats were sacrificed for the sins of the people. </span><span class="v15_8_36"><span class="reftext" id="Ezra.8.36" class="v15_8_36">36</span>Some of those who had returned took the king's orders to the governors and officials in Western Province. Then the officials did what they could for the people and for the temple of God.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.1 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">I: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Ezra.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.2-14 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">of the Zattu family: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">One ancient translation; these words are not in the Hebrew text, but see 2.2-20, where Zattu is mentioned.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.2-14 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">of the Bani family: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">One ancient translation; these words are not in the Hebrew text, but see 2.2-20.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.15 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">I: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 8.1.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.15 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">river: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “canal.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.15 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">town of Ahava: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">A town (or place) in Babylonia, but the exact location is unknown.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.17 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Casiphia: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The location is not known.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.20 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">King David: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 3.10.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.21 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">River: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 8.15.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.21 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">I: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 8.1.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.21 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">to go without eating: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Jews often went without eating as a way of worshiping God. This is sometimes called “fasting.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.24 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">I: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 8.1.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.31 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">first month: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 6.19.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.31 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">River: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 8.15.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">8.35 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">77 lambs: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “72 lambs.”</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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