Ezra 8

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 8 of 10

1 ¶ And these are the heads of the fathers, and the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:

2 From the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. From the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. From the sons of David, Hattush.

3 From the sons of Shechaniah, from the sons of Parosh, Zechariah. And with him were counted by genealogy a hundred and fifty of the males.

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Chapter Summary

1 The companions of Ezra, who returned from Babylon. 24 He commits the treasures to the custody of the priests. 33 The treasure is weighed in the temple.

Key Hebrew Words

שָׁקַל to weigh out H8254 · TWOT 2454
צוֹם a fast H6685 · TWOT 1890a
בָּקַשׁ to seek H1245 · TWOT 276
קֹדֶשׁ holy, set apart H6944 · TWOT 1990a
נְדָבָה freewill offering H5071 · TWOT 1299a
יָד hand (of God) H3027 · TWOT 844

People & Context

Ezra

The narrating scribe who leads the exiles up from Babylon, proclaims the fast, and weighs out the temple treasure

Artaxerxes

Persian king in whose reign Ezra's company goes up from Babylon to Jerusalem

Sherebiah

Levite of the sons of Mahli brought by God's good hand; set apart among the chiefs to carry the sacred silver and gold

Hashabiah

Levite of the sons of Merari who comes with his brothers and is entrusted with the holy vessels

Iddo

Chief at the place Casiphia to whom Ezra sends for ministers and temple-slaves for the house of God

Meremoth

Priest, son of Uriah, who weighs the silver, gold, and articles in the house of God at Jerusalem

Timeline

Gathering at the River Ahava

Ezra gathers the returning exiles at the river Ahava, where they camp for three days. Upon reviewing the people and priests, he discovers there are no Levites among them.

Ezra 8:15
Recruitment of Levites and Temple-Slaves

Ezra sends leaders to Iddo at Casiphia to request ministers for the house of God. They successfully bring back Sherebiah, Hashabiah, other Levites, and 220 temple-slaves.

Ezra 8:16-20
Fasting and Prayer for a Safe Journey

Ashamed to ask the king for a military escort after testifying of God's protection, Ezra proclaims a fast at the river Ahava to seek God's protection for their journey.

Ezra 8:21-23

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