וּבִשְׁנַ֣ת אַחַ֗ת לְכ֙וֹרֶשׁ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס לִכְל֥וֹת דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה מִפִּ֣י יִרְמְיָ֑ה הֵעִ֣יר יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶת־ר֙וּחַ֙ כֹּ֣רֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרַ֔ס וַיַּֽעֲבֶר־קוֹל֙ בְּכׇל־מַלְכוּת֔וֹ וְגַם־בְּמִכְתָּ֖ב לֵאמֹֽר׃ In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, when the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah was fulfilled,^aCf. Jer. 29.10. the LORD roused the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia to issue a proclamation throughout his realm by word of mouth and in writing as follows:

כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֗ר כֹּ֚רֶשׁ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס כֹּ֚ל מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ נָ֣תַן לִ֔י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְהֽוּא־פָקַ֤ד עָלַי֙ לִבְנֽוֹת־ל֣וֹ בַ֔יִת בִּירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּֽיהוּדָֽה׃ “Thus said King Cyrus of Persia: The LORD God of Heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has charged me with building Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

מִֽי־בָכֶ֣ם מִכׇּל־עַמּ֗וֹ יְהִ֤י אֱלֹהָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וְיַ֕עַל לִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּיהוּדָ֑ה וְיִ֗בֶן אֶת־בֵּ֤ית יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל ה֥וּא הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ Anyone of you of all His people—may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judah and build the House of the LORD God of Israel, the God that is in Jerusalem;

וְכׇל־הַנִּשְׁאָ֗ר מִֽכׇּל־הַמְּקֹמוֹת֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר ה֣וּא גָֽר־שָׁם֒ יְנַשְּׂא֙וּהוּ֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י מְקֹמ֔וֹ בְּכֶ֥סֶף וּבְזָהָ֖ב וּבִרְכ֣וּשׁ וּבִבְהֵמָ֑ה עִ֨ם־הַנְּדָבָ֔ה לְבֵ֥ית הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ and all who stay behind, wherever he may be living, let the people of his place assist him with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, besides the freewill offering to the House of God that is in Jerusalem.”

וַיָּק֜וּמוּ רָאשֵׁ֣י הָאָב֗וֹת לִֽיהוּדָה֙ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֑ם לְכֹ֨ל הֵעִ֤יר הָאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־רוּח֔וֹ לַעֲל֣וֹת לִבְנ֔וֹת אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ So the chiefs of the clans of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites, all whose spirit had been roused by God, got ready to go up to build the House of the LORD that is in Jerusalem.

וְכׇל־סְבִיבֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ חִזְּק֣וּ בִֽידֵיהֶ֔ם בִּכְלֵי־כֶ֧סֶף בַּזָּהָ֛ב בָּרְכ֥וּשׁ וּבַבְּהֵמָ֖ה וּבַמִּגְדָּנ֑וֹת לְבַ֖ד עַל־כׇּל־הִתְנַדֵּֽב׃ {פ}
All their neighbors supported them with silver vessels, with gold, with goods, with livestock, and with precious objects, besides what had been given as a freewill offering.

וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ כּ֔וֹרֶשׁ הוֹצִ֖יא אֶת־כְּלֵ֣י בֵית־יְהֹוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצִ֤יא נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּר֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖ם בְּבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהָֽיו׃ King Cyrus released the vessels of the LORD’s house which Nebuchadnezzar had taken away from Jerusalem and had put in the house of his god.

וַיּֽוֹצִיאֵ֗ם כּ֚וֹרֶשׁ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס עַל־יַ֖ד מִתְרְדָ֣ת הַגִּזְבָּ֑ר וַֽיִּסְפְּרֵם֙ לְשֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֔ר הַנָּשִׂ֖יא לִיהוּדָֽה׃ {ס}         These King Cyrus of Persia released through the office of Mithredath the treasurer, who gave an inventory of them to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.

וְאֵ֖לֶּה מִסְפָּרָ֑ם אֲגַרְטְלֵ֨י זָהָ֜ב שְׁלֹשִׁ֗ים אֲגַרְטְלֵי־כֶ֙סֶף֙ אָ֔לֶף מַחֲלָפִ֖ים תִּשְׁעָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִֽים׃ {ס}         This is the inventory: 30 gold basins, 1,000 silver basins, 29 knives,

כְּפוֹרֵ֤י זָהָב֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֔ים כְּפ֤וֹרֵי כֶ֙סֶף֙ מִשְׁנִ֔ים אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת וַעֲשָׂרָ֑ה כֵּלִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים אָֽלֶף׃ 30 gold bowls, 410 silver ^bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.double bowls,^-b 1,000 other vessels;

כׇּל־כֵּלִים֙ לַזָּהָ֣ב וְלַכֶּ֔סֶף חֲמֵ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים וְאַרְבַּ֣ע מֵא֑וֹת הַכֹּ֞ל הֶעֱלָ֣ה שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֗ר עִ֚ם הֵעָל֣וֹת הַגּוֹלָ֔ה מִבָּבֶ֖ל לִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {פ}
in all, 5,400 gold and silver vessels. Sheshbazzar brought all these back when the exiles came back from Babylon to Jerusalem.

וְאֵ֣לֶּה ׀ בְּנֵ֣י הַמְּדִינָ֗ה הָֽעֹלִים֙ מִשְּׁבִ֣י הַגּוֹלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶגְלָ֛ה (נבוכדנצור) [נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר] מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל לְבָבֶ֑ל וַיָּשׁ֛וּבוּ לִירוּשָׁלַ֥͏ִם וִֽיהוּדָ֖ה אִ֥ישׁ לְעִירֽוֹ׃ ^aThis chapter appears as Neh. 7.6–73 with variations in the names and numbers.These are the people of the province who came up from among the captive exiles whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had carried into exile to Babylon, who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city,

אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ עִם־זְרֻבָּבֶ֗ל יֵשׁ֡וּעַ נְ֠חֶמְיָ֠ה שְׂרָיָ֨ה רְֽעֵלָיָ֜ה מׇרְדֳּכַ֥י בִּלְשָׁ֛ן מִסְפָּ֥ר בִּגְוַ֖י רְח֣וּם בַּעֲנָ֑ה מִסְפַּ֕ר אַנְשֵׁ֖י עַ֥ם יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {ס}         who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah:
The list of the men of the people of Israel:

בְּנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔שׁ אַלְפַּ֕יִם מֵאָ֖ה שִׁבְעִ֥ים וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃ {ס}         the sons of Parosh—2,172;

בְּנֵ֣י שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת שִׁבְעִ֥ים וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃ {ס}         the sons of Shephatiah—372;

בְּנֵ֣י אָרַ֔ח שְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה וְשִׁבְעִֽים׃ {ס}         the sons of Arah—775;

בְּנֵֽי־פַחַ֥ת מוֹאָ֛ב לִבְנֵ֥י יֵשׁ֖וּעַ יוֹאָ֑ב אַלְפַּ֕יִם שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מֵא֖וֹת וּשְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר׃ {ס}         the sons of Pahath-moab: the sons of Jeshua and Joab—2,812;

בְּנֵ֣י עֵילָ֔ם אֶ֕לֶף מָאתַ֖יִם חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וְאַרְבָּעָֽה׃ {ס}         the sons of Elam—1,254;

בְּנֵ֣י זַתּ֔וּא תְּשַׁ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃ {ס}         the sons of Zattu—945;

בְּנֵ֣י זַכָּ֔י שְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת וְשִׁשִּֽׁים׃ {ס}         the sons of Zaccai—760;

בְּנֵ֣י בָנִ֔י שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃ {ס}         the sons of Bani—642;

בְּנֵ֣י בֵבָ֔י שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ {ס}         the sons of Bebai—623;

בְּנֵ֣י עַזְגָּ֔ד אֶ֕לֶף מָאתַ֖יִם עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃ {ס}         the sons of Azgad—1,222;

בְּנֵי֙ אֲדֹ֣נִיקָ֔ם שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת שִׁשִּׁ֥ים וְשִׁשָּֽׁה׃ {ס}         the sons of Adonikam—666;

בְּנֵ֣י בִגְוָ֔י אַלְפַּ֖יִם חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וְשִׁשָּֽׁה׃ {ס}         the sons of Bigvai—2,056;

בְּנֵ֣י עָדִ֔ין אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וְאַרְבָּעָֽה׃ {ס}         the sons of Adin—454;

בְּנֵֽי־אָטֵ֥ר לִֽיחִזְקִיָּ֖ה תִּשְׁעִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנָֽה׃ {ס}         the sons of Ater: Hezekiah—98;

בְּנֵ֣י בֵצָ֔י שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ {ס}         the sons of Bezai—323;

בְּנֵ֣י יוֹרָ֔ה מֵאָ֖ה וּשְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר׃ {ס}         the sons of Jorah—112;

בְּנֵ֣י חָשֻׁ֔ם מָאתַ֖יִם עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ {ס}         the sons of Hashum—223;

בְּנֵ֥י גִבָּ֖ר תִּשְׁעִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃ {ס}         the sons of Gibbar—95;

בְּנֵ֣י בֵֽית־לָ֔חֶם מֵאָ֖ה עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ {ס}         the sons of Bethlehem—
123;

אַנְשֵׁ֥י נְטֹפָ֖ה חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וְשִׁשָּֽׁה׃ {ס}         the sons of Netophah—56;

אַנְשֵׁ֣י עֲנָת֔וֹת מֵאָ֖ה עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנָֽה׃ {ס}         the sons of Anathoth—128;

בְּנֵ֥י עַזְמָ֖וֶת אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃ {ס}         the sons of Azmaveth—42;

בְּנֵ֨י קִרְיַ֤ת עָרִים֙ כְּפִירָ֣ה וּבְאֵר֔וֹת שְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ {ס}         the sons of Kiriath-arim: Chephirah and Beeroth—743;

בְּנֵ֤י הָרָמָה֙ וָגָ֔בַע שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וְאֶחָֽד׃ {ס}         the sons of Ramah and Geba—621;

אַנְשֵׁ֣י מִכְמָ֔ס מֵאָ֖ה עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃ {ס}         the men of Michmas—122;

אַנְשֵׁ֤י בֵֽית־אֵל֙ וְהָעָ֔י מָאתַ֖יִם עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ {ס}         the men of Bethel and Ai—223;

בְּנֵ֥י נְב֖וֹ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃ {ס}         the men of Nebo—52;

בְּנֵ֣י מַגְבִּ֔ישׁ מֵאָ֖ה חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וְשִׁשָּֽׁה׃ {ס}         the sons of Magbish—156;

בְּנֵי֙ עֵילָ֣ם אַחֵ֔ר אֶ֕לֶף מָאתַ֖יִם חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וְאַרְבָּעָֽה׃ {ס}         the sons of the other Elam—1,254;

בְּנֵ֣י חָרִ֔ם שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וְעֶשְׂרִֽים׃ {ס}         the sons of Harim—320;

בְּנֵי־לֹד֙ חָדִ֣יד וְאוֹנ֔וֹ שְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃ {ס}         the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono—725;

בְּנֵ֣י יְרֵח֔וֹ שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃ {ס}         the sons of Jericho—345;

בְּנֵ֣י סְנָאָ֔ה שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֔ים וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וּשְׁלֹשִֽׁים׃ {ס}         the sons of Senaah—3,630.

הַֽכֹּהֲנִ֑ים {פ}
בְּנֵ֤י יְדַֽעְיָה֙ לְבֵ֣ית יֵשׁ֔וּעַ תְּשַׁ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שִׁבְעִ֥ים וּשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ {ס}         The priests: the sons of Jedaiah: the house of Jeshua—973;

בְּנֵ֣י אִמֵּ֔ר אֶ֖לֶף חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃ {ס}         the sons of Immer—1,052;

בְּנֵ֣י פַשְׁח֔וּר אֶ֕לֶף מָאתַ֖יִם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָֽה׃ {ס}         the sons of Pashhur—1,247;

בְּנֵ֣י חָרִ֔ם אֶ֖לֶף וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃ {ס}         the sons of Harim—1,017.

הַלְוִיִּ֑ם בְּנֵי־יֵשׁ֧וּעַ וְקַדְמִיאֵ֛ל לִבְנֵ֥י הוֹדַוְיָ֖ה שִׁבְעִ֥ים וְאַרְבָּעָֽה׃ {ס}         The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel: the sons of Hodaviah—74.

הַֽמְשֹׁרְרִ֑ים בְּנֵ֣י אָסָ֔ף מֵאָ֖ה עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנָֽה׃ {ס}         The singers: the sons of Asaph—128.

בְּנֵ֣י הַשֹּֽׁעֲרִ֗ים בְּנֵי־שַׁלּ֤וּם בְּנֵֽי־אָטֵר֙ בְּנֵי־טַלְמֹ֣ן בְּנֵי־עַקּ֔וּב בְּנֵ֥י חֲטִיטָ֖א בְּנֵ֣י שֹׁבָ֑י הַכֹּ֕ל מֵאָ֖ה שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים וְתִשְׁעָֽה׃ {ס}         The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, all told—139.

הַנְּתִינִ֑ים בְּנֵי־צִיחָ֥א בְנֵי־חֲשׂוּפָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י טַבָּעֽוֹת׃ {ס}         The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,

בְּנֵי־קֵרֹ֥ס בְּֽנֵי־סִֽיעֲהָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י פָדֽוֹן׃ {ס}         the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,

בְּנֵי־לְבָנָ֥ה בְנֵי־חֲגָבָ֖ה בְּנֵ֥י עַקּֽוּב׃ {ס}         the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub,

בְּנֵי־חָגָ֥ב בְּנֵי־[שַׁלְמַ֖י] (שמלי) בְּנֵ֥י חָנָֽן׃ {ס}         the sons of Hagab, the sons of Salmai, the sons of Hanan,

בְּנֵי־גִדֵּ֥ל בְּנֵי־גַ֖חַר בְּנֵ֥י רְאָיָֽה׃ {ס}         the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah,

בְּנֵי־רְצִ֥ין בְּנֵי־נְקוֹדָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י גַזָּֽם׃ {ס}         the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam,

בְּנֵי־עֻזָּ֥א בְנֵי־פָסֵ֖חַ בְּנֵ֥י בֵסָֽי׃ {ס}         the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai,

בְּנֵי־אַסְנָ֥ה בְנֵי־מְעוּנִ֖ים בְּנֵ֥י (נפיסים) [נְפוּסִֽים]׃ {ס}         the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephusim,

בְּנֵי־בַקְבּ֥וּק בְּנֵי־חֲקוּפָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י חַרְחֽוּר׃ {ס}         the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,

בְּנֵי־בַצְל֥וּת בְּנֵי־מְחִידָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י חַרְשָֽׁא׃ {ס}         the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,

בְּנֵי־בַרְק֥וֹס בְּֽנֵי־סִֽיסְרָ֖א בְּנֵי־תָֽמַח׃ {ס}         the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,

בְּנֵ֥י נְצִ֖יחַ בְּנֵ֥י חֲטִיפָֽא׃ {ס}         the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.

בְּנֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה בְּנֵי־סֹטַ֥י בְּנֵי־הַסֹּפֶ֖רֶת בְּנֵ֥י פְרוּדָֽא׃ {ס}         The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda,

בְּנֵי־יַעְלָ֥ה בְנֵי־דַרְק֖וֹן בְּנֵ֥י גִדֵּֽל׃ {ס}         the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,

בְּנֵ֧י שְׁפַטְיָ֣ה בְנֵֽי־חַטִּ֗יל בְּנֵ֛י פֹּכֶ֥רֶת הַצְּבָיִ֖ים בְּנֵ֥י אָמִֽי׃ {ס}         the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Ami.

כׇּ֨ל־הַנְּתִינִ֔ים וּבְנֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת תִּשְׁעִ֥ים וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃ {פ}
The total of temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants—392.

וְאֵ֗לֶּה הָֽעֹלִים֙ מִתֵּ֥ל מֶ֙לַח֙ תֵּ֣ל חַרְשָׁ֔א כְּר֥וּב אַדָּ֖ן אִמֵּ֑ר וְלֹ֣א יָֽכְל֗וּ לְהַגִּ֤יד בֵּית־אֲבוֹתָם֙ וְזַרְעָ֔ם אִ֥ם מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הֵֽם׃ {ס}         The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer—they were unable to tell whether their father’s house and descent were Israelite:

בְּנֵי־דְלָיָ֥ה בְנֵי־טוֹבִיָּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י נְקוֹדָ֑א שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃ {ס}         the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda—652.

וּמִבְּנֵי֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים בְּנֵ֥י חֳבַיָּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י הַקּ֑וֹץ בְּנֵ֣י בַרְזִלַּ֗י אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָ֠קַ֠ח מִבְּנ֞וֹת בַּרְזִלַּ֤י הַגִּלְעָדִי֙ אִשָּׁ֔ה וַיִּקָּרֵ֖א עַל־שְׁמָֽם׃ {ס}         Of the sons of the priests, the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai who had married a daughter of Barzillai and had taken his^bLit. “their.” name—

אֵ֗לֶּה בִּקְשׁ֧וּ כְתָבָ֛ם הַמִּתְיַחְשִׂ֖ים וְלֹ֣א נִמְצָ֑אוּ וַֽיְגֹאֲל֖וּ מִן־הַכְּהֻנָּֽה׃ these searched for their genealogical records, but they could not be found, so they were disqualified for the priesthood.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַתִּרְשָׁ֙תָא֙ לָהֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יֹאכְל֖וּ מִקֹּ֣דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים עַ֛ד עֲמֹ֥ד כֹּהֵ֖ן לְאוּרִ֥ים וּלְתֻמִּֽים׃ The Tirshatha^cA Persian title. ordered them not to eat of the most holy things until a priest with Urim and Thummim should appear.

כׇּל־הַקָּהָ֖ל כְּאֶחָ֑ד אַרְבַּ֣ע רִבּ֔וֹא אַלְפַּ֖יִם שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת שִׁשִּֽׁים׃ The sum of the entire community was 42,360,

מִ֠לְּבַ֠ד עַבְדֵיהֶ֤ם וְאַמְהֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ אֵ֔לֶּה שִׁבְעַ֣ת אֲלָפִ֔ים שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים וְשִׁבְעָ֑ה וְלָהֶ֛ם מְשֹׁרְרִ֥ים וּֽמְשֹׁרְר֖וֹת מָאתָֽיִם׃ not counting their male and female servants, those being 7,337; they also had 200 male and female singers.

סוּסֵיהֶ֕ם שְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים וְשִׁשָּׁ֑ה פִּרְדֵיהֶ֕ם מָאתַ֖יִם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃ {ס}         Their horses—736; their mules—245;

גְּמַ֨לֵּיהֶ֔ם אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֑ה חֲמֹרִ֕ים שֵׁ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֔ים שְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת וְעֶשְׂרִֽים׃ {פ}
their camels—435; their asses—6,720.

וּמֵרָאשֵׁי֙ הָֽאָב֔וֹת בְּבוֹאָ֕ם לְבֵ֥ית יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם הִֽתְנַדְּבוּ֙ לְבֵ֣ית הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים לְהַעֲמִיד֖וֹ עַל־מְכוֹנֽוֹ׃ Some of the chiefs of the clans, on arriving at the House of the LORD in Jerusalem, gave a freewill offering to erect the House of God on its site.

כְּכֹחָ֗ם נָתְנוּ֮ לְאוֹצַ֣ר הַמְּלָאכָה֒ זָהָ֗ב דַּרְכְּמוֹנִים֙ שֵׁשׁ־רִבֹּ֣אות וָאֶ֔לֶף וְכֶ֕סֶף מָנִ֖ים חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֑ים וְכׇתְנֹ֥ת כֹּהֲנִ֖ים מֵאָֽה׃ {ס}         In accord with their means, they donated to the treasury of the work: gold—61,000 drachmas, silver—5,000 minas, and priestly robes—100.

וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְ֠הַלְוִיִּ֠ם וּֽמִן־הָעָ֞ם וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֧ים וְהַשּׁוֹעֲרִ֛ים וְהַנְּתִינִ֖ים בְּעָרֵיהֶ֑ם וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּעָרֵיהֶֽם׃ {ס}         The priests, the Levites and some of the people, and the singers, gatekeepers, and the temple servants took up residence in their towns and all Israel in their towns.

וַיִּגַּע֙ הַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בֶּעָרִ֑ים {ס}        וַיֵּאָסְפ֥וּ הָעָ֛ם כְּאִ֥ישׁ אֶחָ֖ד אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {ס}         When the seventh month arrived—the Israelites being settled in their towns—the entire people assembled as one man in Jerusalem.

וַיָּ֩קׇם֩ יֵשׁ֨וּעַ בֶּן־יֽוֹצָדָ֜ק וְאֶחָ֣יו הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים וּזְרֻבָּבֶ֤ל בֶּן־שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל֙ וְאֶחָ֔יו וַיִּבְנ֕וּ אֶת־מִזְבַּ֖ח אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְהַעֲל֤וֹת עָלָיו֙ עֹל֔וֹת כַּכָּת֕וּב בְּתוֹרַ֖ת מֹשֶׁ֥ה אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brother priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brothers set to and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings upon it as is written in the Teaching of Moses, the man of God.

וַיָּכִ֤ינוּ הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ עַל־מְכ֣וֹנֹתָ֔יו כִּ֚י בְּאֵימָ֣ה עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם מֵעַמֵּ֖י הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת (ויעל) [וַיַּעֲל֨וּ] עָלָ֤יו עֹלוֹת֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה עֹל֖וֹת לַבֹּ֥קֶר וְלָעָֽרֶב׃ They set up the altar on its site because they were in fear of the peoples of the land, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings each morning and evening.

וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֛וּ אֶת־חַ֥ג הַסֻּכּ֖וֹת כַּכָּת֑וּב וְעֹלַ֨ת י֤וֹם בְּיוֹם֙ בְּמִסְפָּ֔ר כְּמִשְׁפַּ֖ט דְּבַר־י֥וֹם בְּיוֹמֽוֹ׃ Then they celebrated the festival of Tabernacles as is written, with its daily burnt offerings in the proper quantities, on each day as is prescribed for it,

וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֞ן עֹלַ֤ת תָּמִיד֙ וְלֶ֣חֳדָשִׁ֔ים וּלְכׇל־מוֹעֲדֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה הַמְקֻדָּשִׁ֑ים וּלְכֹ֛ל מִתְנַדֵּ֥ב נְדָבָ֖ה לַיהֹוָֽה׃ followed by the regular burnt offering and the offerings for the new moons and for all the sacred fixed times of the LORD, and whatever freewill offerings were made to the LORD.

מִיּ֤וֹם אֶחָד֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י הֵחֵ֕לּוּ לְהַעֲל֥וֹת עֹל֖וֹת לַיהֹוָ֑ה וְהֵיכַ֥ל יְהֹוָ֖ה לֹ֥א יֻסָּֽד׃ From the first day of the seventh month they began to make burnt offerings to the LORD, though the foundation of the Temple of the LORD had not been laid.

וַיִּ֨תְּנוּ־כֶ֔סֶף לַחֹצְבִ֖ים וְלֶחָרָשִׁ֑ים וּמַאֲכָ֨ל וּמִשְׁתֶּ֜ה וָשֶׁ֗מֶן לַצִּֽדֹנִים֙ וְלַצֹּרִ֔ים לְהָבִיא֩ עֲצֵ֨י אֲרָזִ֤ים מִן־הַלְּבָנוֹן֙ אֶל־יָ֣ם יָפ֔וֹא כְּרִשְׁי֛וֹן כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרַ֖ס עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ {פ}
They paid the hewers and craftsmen with money, and the Sidonians and Tyrians with food, drink, and oil to bring cedarwood from Lebanon by sea to Joppa, in accord with the authorization granted them by King Cyrus of Persia.

וּבַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשֵּׁנִ֗ית לְבוֹאָ֞ם אֶל־בֵּ֤ית הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ לִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם בַּחֹ֖דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֑י הֵחֵ֡לּוּ זְרֻבָּבֶ֣ל בֶּן־שְׁ֠אַלְתִּיאֵ֠ל וְיֵשׁ֨וּעַ בֶּן־יֽוֹצָדָ֜ק וּשְׁאָ֥ר אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם ׀ הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֗ם וְכׇל־הַבָּאִים֙ מֵהַשְּׁבִ֣י יְרֽוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וַיַּעֲמִ֣ידוּ אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֗ם מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה לְנַצֵּ֖חַ עַל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת בֵּית־יְהֹוָֽה׃ In the second year after their arrival at the House of God, at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brother priests and Levites, and all who had come from the captivity to Jerusalem, as their first step appointed Levites from the age of twenty and upward to supervise the work of the House of the LORD.

וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד יֵשׁ֡וּעַ בָּנָ֣יו וְ֠אֶחָ֠יו קַדְמִיאֵ֨ל וּבָנָ֤יו בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָה֙ כְּאֶחָ֔ד לְנַצֵּ֛חַ עַל־עֹשֵׂ֥ה הַמְּלָאכָ֖ה בְּבֵ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים {ס}        בְּנֵי֙ חֵֽנָדָ֔ד בְּנֵיהֶ֥ם וַאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ Jeshua, his sons and brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, ^aI.e., Hodaviah of 2.40.the sons of Judah,^-a together were appointed in charge of those who did the work in the House of God; also the sons of Henadad, their sons and brother Levites.

וְיִסְּד֥וּ הַבֹּנִ֖ים אֶת־הֵיכַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיַּעֲמִ֩ידוּ֩ הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים מְלֻבָּשִׁ֜ים בַּחֲצֹֽצְר֗וֹת וְהַלְוִיִּ֤ם בְּנֵֽי־אָסָף֙ בַּֽמְצִלְתַּ֔יִם לְהַלֵּל֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־יְדֵ֖י דָּוִ֥יד מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ When the builders had laid the foundation of the Temple of the LORD, priests in their vestments with trumpets, and Levites sons of Asaph with cymbals were stationed to give praise to the LORD, as King David of Israel had ordained.

וַֽ֠יַּעֲנ֠וּ בְּהַלֵּ֨ל וּבְהוֹדֹ֤ת לַֽיהֹוָה֙ כִּ֣י ט֔וֹב כִּֽי־לְעוֹלָ֥ם חַסְדּ֖וֹ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכׇל־הָעָ֡ם הֵרִ֩יעוּ֩ תְרוּעָ֨ה גְדוֹלָ֤ה בְהַלֵּל֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה עַ֖ל הוּסַ֥ד בֵּית־יְהֹוָֽה׃ They sang songs extolling and praising the LORD, ^bCf. Pss. 106.1; 136.“For He is good, His steadfast love for Israel is eternal.”^-b All the people raised a great shout extolling the LORD because the foundation of the House of the LORD had been laid.

וְרַבִּ֡ים מֵהַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהַלְוִיִּם֩ וְרָאשֵׁ֨י הָאָב֜וֹת הַזְּקֵנִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר רָא֜וּ אֶת־הַבַּ֤יִת הָֽרִאשׁוֹן֙ בְּיׇסְד֔וֹ זֶ֤ה הַבַּ֙יִת֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם בֹּכִ֖ים בְּק֣וֹל גָּד֑וֹל וְרַבִּ֛ים בִּתְרוּעָ֥ה בְשִׂמְחָ֖ה לְהָרִ֥ים קֽוֹל׃ Many of the priests and Levites and the chiefs of the clans, the old men who had seen the first house, wept loudly at the sight of the founding of this house. Many others shouted joyously at the top of their voices.

וְאֵ֣ין הָעָ֗ם מַכִּירִים֙ ק֚וֹל תְּרוּעַ֣ת הַשִּׂמְחָ֔ה לְק֖וֹל בְּכִ֣י הָעָ֑ם כִּ֣י הָעָ֗ם מְרִיעִים֙ תְּרוּעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה וְהַקּ֥וֹל נִשְׁמַ֖ע עַד־לְמֵרָחֽוֹק׃ {פ}
The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the people’s weeping, for the people raised a great shout, the sound of which could be heard from afar.

וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֔וּ צָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן כִּֽי־בְנֵ֤י הַגּוֹלָה֙ בּוֹנִ֣ים הֵיכָ֔ל לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ When the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel,

וַיִּגְּשׁ֨וּ אֶל־זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל וְאֶל־רָאשֵׁ֣י הָֽאָב֗וֹת וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נִבְנֶ֣ה עִמָּכֶ֔ם כִּ֣י כָכֶ֔ם נִדְר֖וֹשׁ לֵֽאלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם (ולא) [וְל֣וֹ ׀] אֲנַ֣חְנוּ זֹבְחִ֗ים מִימֵי֙ אֵסַ֤ר חַדֹּן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר הַמַּעֲלֶ֥ה אֹתָ֖נוּ פֹּֽה׃ they approached Zerubbabel and the chiefs of the clans and said to them, “Let us build with you, since we too worship your God, having offered sacrifices to Him since the time of King Esarhaddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”

וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ לָהֶ֨ם זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל וְיֵשׁ֗וּעַ וּשְׁאָ֨ר רָאשֵׁ֤י הָֽאָבוֹת֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹֽא־לָכֶ֣ם וָלָ֔נוּ לִבְנ֥וֹת בַּ֖יִת לֵאלֹהֵ֑ינוּ כִּי֩ אֲנַ֨חְנוּ יַ֜חַד נִבְנֶ֗ה לַֽיהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֔נוּ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרָֽס׃ Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the chiefs of the clans of Israel answered them, “It is not for you and us to build a House to our God, but we alone will build it to the LORD God of Israel, in accord with the charge that the king, King Cyrus of Persia, laid upon us.”

וַיְהִי֙ עַם־הָאָ֔רֶץ מְרַפִּ֖ים יְדֵ֣י עַם־יְהוּדָ֑ה (ומבלהים) [וּֽמְבַהֲלִ֥ים] אוֹתָ֖ם לִבְנֽוֹת׃ Thereupon the people of the land undermined the resolve of the people of Judah, and made them afraid to build.

וְסֹכְרִ֧ים עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם יוֹעֲצִ֖ים לְהָפֵ֣ר עֲצָתָ֑ם כׇּל־יְמֵ֗י כּ֚וֹרֶשׁ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס וְעַד־מַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרָֽס׃ They bribed ministers in order to thwart their plans all the years of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia.

וּבְמַלְכוּת֙ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ בִּתְחִלַּ֖ת מַלְכוּת֑וֹ כָּתְב֣וּ שִׂטְנָ֔ה עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {ס}         And in the reign of Ahasuerus, at the start of his reign, they drew up an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

וּבִימֵ֣י אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֗שְׂתָּא כָּתַ֨ב בִּשְׁלָ֜ם מִתְרְדָ֤ת טָֽבְאֵל֙ וּשְׁאָ֣ר כְּנָוֺתָ֔ו עַל־אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרָ֑ס וּכְתָב֙ הַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֔ן כָּת֥וּב אֲרָמִ֖ית וּמְתֻרְגָּ֥ם אֲרָמִֽית׃ {פ}
And in the time of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their colleagues wrote to King Artaxerxes of Persia, a letter written in Aramaic and translated.^aCf. below v. 18 and note d.

Aramaic:^bA note indicating that what follows is in the Aramaic language.

רְח֣וּם בְּעֵל־טְעֵ֗ם וְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ סָֽפְרָ֔א כְּתַ֛בוּ אִגְּרָ֥ה חֲדָ֖ה עַל־יְרוּשְׁלֶ֑ם לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥שְׂתְּא מַלְכָּ֖א כְּנֵֽמָא׃ Rehum the commissioner and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows: (

אֱדַ֜יִן רְח֣וּם בְּעֵל־טְעֵ֗ם וְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ סָֽפְרָ֔א וּשְׁאָ֖ר כְּנָוָתְה֑וֹן דִּ֠ינָיֵ֠א וַאֲפַרְסַתְכָיֵ֞א טַרְפְּלָיֵ֣א אֲפָֽרְסָיֵ֗א (ארכוי) [אַרְכֳּוָיֵ֤א] בָבְלָיֵא֙ שֽׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵ֔א (דהוא) [דֶּהָיֵ֖א] עֵלְמָיֵֽא׃ ^cVv. 9–11 amplify v. 8.Then Rehum the commissioner and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues, the judges, officials, officers, and overseers, the men of Erech, and of Babylon, and of Susa—that is the Elamites—

וּשְׁאָ֣ר אֻמַּיָּ֗א דִּ֤י הַגְלִי֙ אׇסְנַפַּר֙ רַבָּ֣א וְיַקִּירָ֔א וְהוֹתֵ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹ בְּקִרְיָ֖ה דִּ֣י שָׁמְרָ֑יִן וּשְׁאָ֥ר עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֖ה וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃ and other peoples whom the great and glorious Osnappar deported and settled in the city of Samaria and the rest of the province Beyond the River [wrote]—and now

דְּנָה֙ פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן אִגַּרְתָּ֔א דִּ֚י שְׁלַ֣חוּ עֲל֔וֹהִי עַל־אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא מַלְכָּ֑א עַבְדָ֛יךְ אֱנָ֥שׁ עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֖ה וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃ {פ}
this is the text of the letter which they sent to him:)—“To King Artaxerxes [from] your servants, men of the province Beyond the River. And now

יְדִ֙יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֣י יְהוּדָיֵ֗א דִּ֤י סְלִ֙קוּ֙ מִן־לְוָתָ֔ךְ עֲלֶ֥ינָא אֲת֖וֹ לִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם קִרְיְתָ֨א מָֽרָדְתָּ֤א וּבִֽאישְׁתָּא֙ בָּנַ֔יִן (ושורי) [וְשׁוּרַיָּ֣א] (אשכללו) [שַׁכְלִ֔ילוּ] וְאֻשַּׁיָּ֖א יַחִֽיטוּ׃ {ס}         be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have reached Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city; they are completing the walls and repairing the foundation.

כְּעַ֗ן יְדִ֙יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֠י הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥א דָךְ֙ תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א וְשׁוּרַיָּ֖א יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן מִנְדָּֽה־בְל֤וֹ וַהֲלָךְ֙ לָ֣א יִנְתְּנ֔וּן וְאַפְּתֹ֥ם מַלְכִ֖ים תְּהַנְזִֽק׃ {ס}         Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls completed, they will not pay tribute, poll-tax, or land-tax, and in the end it will harm the kingdom.

כְּעַ֗ן כׇּל־קֳבֵל֙ דִּֽי־מְלַ֤ח הֵֽיכְלָא֙ מְלַ֔חְנָא וְעַרְוַ֣ת מַלְכָּ֔א לָ֥א אֲֽרִֽיךְ־לַ֖נָא לְמֶֽחֱזֵ֑א עַ֨ל־דְּנָ֔ה שְׁלַ֖חְנָא וְהוֹדַ֥עְנָא לְמַלְכָּֽא׃ Now since we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not right that we should see the king dishonored, we have written to advise the king [of this]

דִּ֡י יְבַקַּר֩ בִּֽסְפַר־דׇּכְרָ֨נַיָּ֜א דִּ֣י אֲבָהָתָ֗ךְ וּ֠תְהַשְׁכַּ֠ח בִּסְפַ֣ר דׇּכְרָנַיָּא֮ וְתִנְדַּע֒ דִּי֩ קִרְיְתָ֨א דָ֜ךְ קִרְיָ֣א מָֽרָדָ֗א וּֽמְהַנְזְקַ֤ת מַלְכִין֙ וּמְדִנָ֔ן וְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּר֙ עָבְדִ֣ין בְּגַוַּ֔הּ מִן־יוֹמָ֖ת עָלְמָ֑א עַ֨ל־דְּנָ֔ה קִרְיְתָ֥א דָ֖ךְ הׇֽחָרְבַֽת׃ so that you may search the records of your fathers and find in the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and states. Sedition has been rife in it from early times; on that account this city was destroyed.

מְהוֹדְעִ֤ין אֲנַ֙חְנָה֙ לְמַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֠י הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥א דָךְ֙ תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א וְשׁוּרַיָּ֖ה יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן לׇקֳבֵ֣ל דְּנָ֔ה חֲלָק֙ בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔א לָ֥א אִיתַ֖י לָֽךְ׃ {פ}
We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will no longer have any portion in the province Beyond the River.”

פִּתְגָמָ֞א שְׁלַ֣ח מַלְכָּ֗א עַל־רְח֤וּם בְּעֵל־טְעֵם֙ וְשִׁמְשַׁ֣י סָֽפְרָ֔א וּשְׁאָר֙ כְּנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן דִּ֥י יָתְבִ֖ין בְּשָֽׁמְרָ֑יִן וּשְׁאָ֧ר עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֛ה שְׁלָ֖ם וּכְעֶֽת׃ {פ}
The king sent back the following message: “To Rehum the commissioner and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues, who dwell in Samaria and in the rest of the province of Beyond the River, greetings. Now

נִשְׁתְּוָנָ֕א דִּ֥י שְׁלַחְתּ֖וּן עֲלֶ֑ינָא מְפָרַ֥שׁ קֱרִ֖י קׇדָמָֽי׃ the letter that you wrote me has been read to me in translation.^dI.e., from Aramaic to Persian.

וּמִנִּי֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ וּבַקַּ֣רוּ וְהַשְׁכַּ֔חוּ דִּ֚י קִרְיְתָ֣א דָ֔ךְ מִן־יוֹמָת֙ עָֽלְמָ֔א עַל־מַלְכִ֖ין מִֽתְנַשְּׂאָ֑ה וּמְרַ֥ד וְאֶשְׁתַּדּ֖וּר מִתְעֲבֶד־בַּֽהּ׃ At my order a search has been made, and it has been found that this city has from earliest times risen against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been rife in it.

וּמַלְכִ֣ין תַּקִּיפִ֗ין הֲווֹ֙ עַל־יְר֣וּשְׁלֶ֔ם וְשַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔ין בְּכֹ֖ל עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה וּמִדָּ֥ה בְל֛וֹ וַהֲלָ֖ךְ מִתְיְהֵ֥ב לְהֽוֹן׃ Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole province of Beyond the River, and tribute, poll-tax, and land-tax were paid to them.

כְּעַן֙ שִׂ֣ימוּ טְּעֵ֔ם לְבַטָּלָ֖א גֻּבְרַיָּ֣א אִלֵּ֑ךְ וְקִרְיְתָ֥א דָךְ֙ לָ֣א תִתְבְּנֵ֔א עַד־מִנִּ֖י טַעְמָ֥א יִתְּשָֽׂם׃ Now issue an order to stop these men; this city is not to be rebuilt until I so order.

וּזְהִירִ֥ין הֱו֛וֹ שָׁל֖וּ לְמֶעְבַּ֣ד עַל־דְּנָ֑ה לְמָה֙ יִשְׂגֵּ֣א חֲבָלָ֔א לְהַנְזָקַ֖ת מַלְכִֽין׃ {ס}         Take care not to be lax in this matter or there will be much damage and harm to the kingdom.”

אֱדַ֗יִן מִן־דִּ֞י פַּרְשֶׁ֤גֶן נִשְׁתְּוָנָא֙ דִּ֚י אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣שְׂתְּא מַלְכָּ֔א קֱרִ֧י קֳדָם־רְח֛וּם וְשִׁמְשַׁ֥י סָפְרָ֖א וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹן אֲזַ֨לוּ בִבְהִיל֤וּ לִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ עַל־יְה֣וּדָיֵ֔א וּבַטִּ֥לוּ הִמּ֖וֹ בְּאֶדְרָ֥ע וְחָֽיִל׃ {ס}         When the text of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their colleagues, they hurried to Jerusalem, to the Jews, and stopped them by main force.

בֵּאדַ֗יִן בְּטֵלַת֙ עֲבִידַ֣ת בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֔א דִּ֖י בִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וַהֲוָת֙ בָּֽטְלָ֔א עַ֚ד שְׁנַ֣ת תַּרְתֵּ֔ין לְמַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרָֽס׃ {פ}
At that time, work on the House of God in Jerusalem stopped and remained in abeyance until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.

וְהִתְנַבִּ֞י חַגַּ֣י (נביאה) [נְבִיָּ֗א] וּזְכַרְיָ֤ה בַר־עִדּוֹא֙ נְבִיַּאיָּ֔א עַל־יְה֣וּדָיֵ֔א דִּ֥י בִיה֖וּד וּבִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּשֻׁ֛ם אֱלָ֥הּ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֲלֵיהֽוֹן׃ {ס}         Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem, ^aLit. “with the name of the God of Israel upon them.”inspired by the God of Israel.^-a

בֵּאדַ֡יִן קָ֠מוּ זְרֻבָּבֶ֤ל בַּר־שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל֙ וְיֵשׁ֣וּעַ בַּר־יֽוֹצָדָ֔ק וְשָׁרִ֣יו לְמִבְנֵ֔א בֵּ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וְעִמְּה֛וֹן נְבִיַּאיָּ֥א דִֽי־אֱלָהָ֖א מְסָעֲדִ֥ין לְהֽוֹן׃ {פ}
Thereupon Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak began rebuilding the House of God in Jerusalem, with the full support of the prophets of God.

בֵּהּ־זִמְנָא֩ אֲתָ֨ה עֲלֵיה֜וֹן תַּ֠תְּנַ֠י פַּחַ֧ת עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֛ה וּשְׁתַ֥ר בּוֹזְנַ֖י וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹן וְכֵן֙ אָמְרִ֣ין לְהֹ֔ם מַן־שָׂ֨ם לְכֹ֜ם טְעֵ֗ם בַּיְתָ֤א דְנָה֙ לִבְּנֵ֔א וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה׃ At once Tattenai, governor of the province of Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues descended upon them and said this to them, “Who issued orders to you to rebuild this house and complete its furnishing?”

אֱדַ֥יִן כְּנֵ֖מָא אֲמַ֣רְנָא לְּהֹ֑ם מַן־אִנּוּן֙ שְׁמָהָ֣ת גֻּבְרַיָּ֔א דִּֽי־דְנָ֥ה בִנְיָנָ֖א בָּנַֽיִן׃ Then we^bThe officials of v. 3; cf. v. 10. Greek and Syriac read “they.” said to them, “What are the names of the men who are engaged in the building?”

וְעֵ֣ין אֱלָהֲהֹ֗ם הֲוָת֙ עַל־שָׂבֵ֣י יְהוּדָיֵ֔א וְלָא־בַטִּ֣לוּ הִמּ֔וֹ עַד־טַעְמָ֖א לְדָרְיָ֣וֶשׁ יְהָ֑ךְ וֶאֱדַ֛יִן יְתִיב֥וּן נִשְׁתְּוָנָ֖א עַל־דְּנָֽה׃ {פ}
But God watched over the elders of the Jews and they were not stopped while a report went to Darius and a letter was sent back in reply to it.

פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן אִ֠גַּרְתָּ֠א דִּֽי־שְׁלַ֞ח תַּתְּנַ֣י ׀ פַּחַ֣ת עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֗ה וּשְׁתַ֤ר בּוֹזְנַי֙ וּכְנָ֣וָתֵ֔הּ אֲפַ֨רְסְכָיֵ֔א דִּ֖י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה עַל־דָּרְיָ֖וֶשׁ מַלְכָּֽא׃ This is the text of the letter that Tattenai, governor of the province of Beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues, the officials of Beyond the River, sent to King Darius.

פִּתְגָמָ֖א שְׁלַ֣חוּ עֲל֑וֹהִי וְכִדְנָה֙ כְּתִ֣יב בְּגַוֵּ֔הּ לְדָרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֖א שְׁלָמָ֥א כֹֽלָּא׃ {ס}         They sent a message to him and this is what was written in it: “To King Darius, greetings, and so forth.

יְדִ֣יעַ ׀ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֗א דִּֽי־אֲזַ֜לְנָא לִיה֤וּד מְדִֽינְתָּא֙ לְבֵית֙ אֱלָהָ֣א רַבָּ֔א וְה֤וּא מִתְבְּנֵא֙ אֶ֣בֶן גְּלָ֔ל וְאָ֖ע מִתְּשָׂ֣ם בְּכֻתְלַיָּ֑א וַעֲבִ֥ידְתָּא דָ֛ךְ אׇסְפַּ֥רְנָא מִתְעַבְדָ֖א וּמַצְלַ֥ח בְּיֶדְהֹֽם׃ Be it known to the king, that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being rebuilt of hewn stone, and wood is being laid in the walls. The work is being done with dispatch and is going well.

אֱדַ֗יִן שְׁאֵ֙לְנָא֙ לְשָׂבַיָּ֣א אִלֵּ֔ךְ כְּנֵ֖מָא אֲמַ֣רְנָא לְּהֹ֑ם מַן־שָׂ֨ם לְכֹ֜ם טְעֵ֗ם בַּיְתָ֤א דְנָה֙ לְמִבְנְיָ֔ה וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה׃ Thereupon we directed this question to these elders, ‘Who issued orders to you to rebuild this house and to complete its furnishings?’

וְאַ֧ף שְׁמָהָתְהֹ֛ם שְׁאֵ֥לְנָא לְּהֹ֖ם לְהוֹדָעוּתָ֑ךְ דִּ֛י נִכְתֻּ֥ב שֻׁם־גֻּבְרַיָּ֖א דִּ֥י בְרָאשֵׁיהֹֽם׃ {פ}
We also asked their names so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.

וּכְנֵ֥מָא פִתְגָמָ֖א הֲתִיב֣וּנָא לְמֵמַ֑ר אֲנַ֣חְנָא הִמּ֡וֹ עַבְד֩וֹהִי֩ דִֽי־אֱלָ֨הּ שְׁמַיָּ֜א וְאַרְעָ֗א וּבָנַ֤יִן בַּיְתָא֙ דִּֽי־הֲוָ֨א בְנֵ֜ה מִקַּדְמַ֤ת דְּנָה֙ שְׁנִ֣ין שַׂגִּיאָ֔ן וּמֶ֤לֶךְ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ רַ֔ב בְּנָ֖הִי וְשַׁכְלְלֵֽהּ׃ This is what they answered us: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth; we are rebuilding the house that was originally built many years ago; a great king of Israel built it and completed it.

לָהֵ֗ן מִן־דִּ֨י הַרְגִּ֤זוּ אֲבָהָתַ֙נָא֙ לֶאֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א יְהַ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹ בְּיַ֛ד נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל (כסדיא) [כַּסְדָּאָ֑ה] וּבַיְתָ֤ה דְנָה֙ סַתְרֵ֔הּ וְעַמָּ֖ה הַגְלִ֥י לְבָבֶֽל׃ {פ}
But because our fathers angered the God of Heaven, He handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who demolished this house and exiled the people to Babylon.

בְּרַם֙ בִּשְׁנַ֣ת חֲדָ֔ה לְכ֥וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֖א דִּ֣י בָבֶ֑ל כּ֤וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּא֙ שָׂ֣ם טְעֵ֔ם בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לִבְּנֵֽא׃ But in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon, King Cyrus issued an order to rebuild this House of God.

וְ֠אַ֠ף מָאנַיָּ֣א דִֽי־בֵית־אֱלָהָא֮ דִּ֣י דַהֲבָ֣ה וְכַסְפָּא֒ דִּ֣י נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר הַנְפֵּק֙ מִן־הֵֽיכְלָא֙ דִּ֣י בִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֔ם וְהֵיבֵ֣ל הִמּ֔וֹ לְהֵיכְלָ֖א דִּ֣י בָבֶ֑ל הַנְפֵּ֨ק הִמּ֜וֹ כּ֣וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֗א מִן־הֵֽיכְלָא֙ דִּ֣י בָבֶ֔ל וִיהִ֙יבוּ֙ לְשֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר שְׁמֵ֔הּ דִּ֥י פֶחָ֖ה שָׂמֵֽהּ׃ Also the silver and gold vessels of the House of God that Nebuchadnezzar had taken away from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon—King Cyrus released them from the temple in Babylon to be given to the one called Sheshbazzar whom he had appointed governor.

וַאֲמַר־לֵ֓הּ ׀ (אלה) [אֵ֚ל] מָֽאנַיָּ֔א שֵׂ֚א אֵֽזֶל־אֲחֵ֣ת הִמּ֔וֹ בְּהֵיכְלָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וּבֵ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖א יִתְבְּנֵ֥א עַל־אַתְרֵֽהּ׃ {פ}
He said to him, “Take these vessels, go, deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the House of God be rebuilt on its original site.”

אֱדַ֙יִן֙ שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר דֵּ֔ךְ אֲתָ֗א יְהַ֧ב אֻשַּׁיָּ֛א דִּי־בֵ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וּמִן־אֱדַ֧יִן וְעַד־כְּעַ֛ן מִתְבְּנֵ֖א וְלָ֥א שְׁלִֽם׃ That same Sheshbazzar then came and laid the foundations for the House of God in Jerusalem; and ever since then it has been under construction, but is not yet finished.’

וּכְעַ֞ן הֵ֧ן עַל־מַלְכָּ֣א טָ֗ב יִ֠תְבַּקַּ֠ר בְּבֵ֨ית גִּנְזַיָּ֜א דִּי־מַלְכָּ֣א תַמָּה֮ דִּ֣י בְּבָבֶל֒ הֵ֣ן אִיתַ֗י דִּֽי־מִן־כּ֤וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּא֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם לְמִבְנֵ֛א בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥א דֵ֖ךְ בִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וּרְע֥וּת מַלְכָּ֛א עַל־דְּנָ֖ה יִשְׁלַ֥ח עֲלֶֽינָא׃ {פ}
And now, if it please the king, let the royal archives there in Babylon be searched to see whether indeed an order had been issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this House of God in Jerusalem. May the king convey to us his pleasure in this matter.”

בֵּאדַ֛יִן דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֖א שָׂ֣ם טְעֵ֑ם וּבַקַּ֣רוּ ׀ בְּבֵ֣ית סִפְרַיָּ֗א דִּ֧י גִנְזַיָּ֛א מְהַחֲתִ֥ין תַּמָּ֖ה בְּבָבֶֽל׃ Thereupon, at the order of King Darius, they searched the archives where the treasures were stored in Babylon.

וְהִשְׁתְּכַ֣ח בְּאַחְמְתָ֗א בְּבִ֥ירְתָ֛א דִּ֛י בְּמָדַ֥י מְדִינְתָּ֖א מְגִלָּ֣ה חֲדָ֑ה וְכֵן־כְּתִ֥יב בְּגַוַּ֖הּ דִּכְרוֹנָֽהֿ׃ {פ}
But it was in the citadel of Ecbatana, in the province of Media, that a scroll was found in which the following was written: “Memorandum:

בִּשְׁנַ֨ת חֲדָ֜ה לְכ֣וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֗א כּ֣וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּא֮ שָׂ֣ם טְעֵם֒ בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֤א בִֽירוּשְׁלֶם֙ בַּיְתָ֣א יִתְבְּנֵ֔א אֲתַר֙ דִּֽי־דָבְחִ֣ין דִּבְחִ֔ין וְאֻשּׁ֖וֹהִי מְסֽוֹבְלִ֑ין רוּמֵהּ֙ אַמִּ֣ין שִׁתִּ֔ין פְּתָיֵ֖הּ אַמִּ֥ין שִׁתִּֽין׃ In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued an order concerning the House of God in Jerusalem: ‘Let the house be rebuilt, a place for offering sacrifices, with a base built up high. Let it be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide,

נִדְבָּכִ֞ין דִּי־אֶ֤בֶן גְּלָל֙ תְּלָתָ֔א וְנִדְבָּ֖ךְ דִּי־אָ֣ע חֲדַ֑ת וְנִ֨פְקְתָ֔א מִן־בֵּ֥ית מַלְכָּ֖א תִּתְיְהִֽב׃ {ס}         with a course of unused timber for each three courses of hewn stone. The expenses shall be paid by the palace.

וְ֠אַ֠ף מָאנֵ֣י בֵית־אֱלָהָא֮ דִּ֣י דַהֲבָ֣ה וְכַסְפָּא֒ דִּ֣י נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר הַנְפֵּ֛ק מִן־הֵיכְלָ֥א דִי־בִירוּשְׁלֶ֖ם וְהֵיבֵ֣ל לְבָבֶ֑ל יַהֲתִיב֗וּן וִ֠יהָ֠ךְ לְהֵיכְלָ֤א דִי־בִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ לְאַתְרֵ֔הּ וְתַחֵ֖ת בְּבֵ֥ית אֱלָהָֽא׃ {ס}         And the gold and silver vessels of the House of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken away from the temple in Jerusalem and transported to Babylon shall be returned, and let each go back to the temple in Jerusalem where it belongs; you shall deposit it in the House of God.’

כְּעַ֡ן תַּ֠תְּנַ֠י פַּחַ֨ת עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֜ה שְׁתַ֤ר בּוֹזְנַי֙ וּכְנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן אֲפַ֨רְסְכָיֵ֔א דִּ֖י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה רַחִיקִ֥ין הֲו֖וֹ מִן־תַּמָּֽה׃ “Now^aThis introduces the text of the reply of Darius that doubtless contained the preceding narrative (vv. 1–5) as a preliminary. you, Tattenai, governor of the province of Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai and colleagues, the officials of the province of Beyond the River, stay away from that place.

שְׁבֻ֕קוּ לַעֲבִידַ֖ת בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֣א דֵ֑ךְ פַּחַ֤ת יְהוּדָיֵא֙ וּלְשָׂבֵ֣י יְהוּדָיֵ֔א בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥א דֵ֖ךְ יִבְנ֥וֹן עַל־אַתְרֵֽהּ׃ Allow the work of this House of God to go on; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this House of God on its site.

וּמִנִּי֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ לְמָ֣א דִֽי־תַֽעַבְד֗וּן עִם־שָׂבֵ֤י יְהוּדָיֵא֙ אִלֵּ֔ךְ לְמִבְנֵ֖א בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֣א דֵ֑ךְ וּמִנִּכְסֵ֣י מַלְכָּ֗א דִּ֚י מִדַּת֙ עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔ה אׇסְפַּ֗רְנָא נִפְקְתָ֛א תֶּהֱוֵ֧א מִֽתְיַהֲבָ֛א לְגֻבְרַיָּ֥א אִלֵּ֖ךְ דִּי־לָ֥א לְבַטָּלָֽא׃ And I hereby issue an order concerning what you must do to help these elders of the Jews rebuild this House of God: the expenses are to be paid to these men with dispatch out of the resources of the king, derived from the taxes of the province of Beyond the River, so that the work not be stopped.

וּמָ֣ה חַשְׁחָ֡ן וּבְנֵ֣י תוֹרִ֣ין וְדִכְרִ֣ין וְאִמְּרִ֣ין ׀ לַעֲלָוָ֣ן ׀ לֶאֱלָ֪הּ שְׁמַיָּ֟א חִנְטִ֞ין מְלַ֣ח ׀ חֲמַ֣ר וּמְשַׁ֗ח כְּמֵאמַ֨ר כָּהֲנַיָּ֤א דִי־בִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ לֶהֱוֵ֨א מִתְיְהֵ֥ב לְהֹ֛ם י֥וֹם ׀ בְּי֖וֹם דִּי־לָ֥א שָׁלֽוּ׃ They are to be given daily, without fail, whatever they need of young bulls, rams, or lambs as burnt offerings for the God of Heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and oil, at the order of the priests in Jerusalem,

דִּֽי־לֶהֱוֺ֧ן מְהַקְרְבִ֛ין נִיחוֹחִ֖ין לֶאֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֑א וּמְצַלַּ֕יִן לְחַיֵּ֥י מַלְכָּ֖א וּבְנֽוֹהִי׃ so that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of Heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

וּמִנִּי֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ דִּ֣י כׇל־אֱנָ֗שׁ דִּ֤י יְהַשְׁנֵא֙ פִּתְגָמָ֣א דְנָ֔ה יִתְנְסַ֥ח אָע֙ מִן־בַּיְתֵ֔הּ וּזְקִ֖יף יִתְמְחֵ֣א עֲלֹ֑הִי וּבַיְתֵ֛הּ נְוָל֥וּ יִתְעֲבֵ֖ד עַל־דְּנָֽה׃ I also issue an order that whoever alters this decree shall have a beam removed from his house, and he shall be impaled on it and his house confiscated.^bMeaning uncertain; or “turned into ruins.”

וֵֽאלָהָ֞א דִּ֣י שַׁכִּ֧ן שְׁמֵ֣הּ תַּמָּ֗ה יְמַגַּ֞ר כׇּל־מֶ֤לֶךְ וְעַם֙ דִּ֣י ׀ יִשְׁלַ֣ח יְדֵ֗הּ לְהַשְׁנָיָ֛ה לְחַבָּלָ֛ה בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥א דֵ֖ךְ דִּ֣י בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם אֲנָ֤ה דָרְיָ֙וֶשׁ֙ שָׂ֣מֶת טְעֵ֔ם אׇסְפַּ֖רְנָא יִתְעֲבִֽד׃ {פ}
And may the God who established His name there cause the downfall of any king or nation that undertakes to alter or damage that House of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree; let it be carried out with dispatch.”

אֱ֠דַ֠יִן תַּתְּנַ֞י פַּחַ֧ת עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֛ה שְׁתַ֥ר בּוֹזְנַ֖י וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹן לׇקֳבֵ֗ל דִּֽי־שְׁלַ֞ח דָּרְיָ֧וֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֛א כְּנֵ֖מָא אׇסְפַּ֥רְנָא עֲבַֽדוּ׃ Then Tattenai, governor of the province of Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues carried out with dispatch what King Darius had written.

וְשָׂבֵ֤י יְהוּדָיֵא֙ בָּנַ֣יִן וּמַצְלְחִ֔ין בִּנְבוּאַת֙ חַגַּ֣י (נביאה) [נְבִיָּ֔א] וּזְכַרְיָ֖ה בַּר־עִדּ֑וֹא וּבְנ֣וֹ וְשַׁכְלִ֗לוּ מִן־טַ֙עַם֙ אֱלָ֣הּ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמִטְּעֵם֙ כּ֣וֹרֶשׁ וְדָרְיָ֔וֶשׁ וְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא מֶ֥לֶךְ פָּרָֽס׃ So the elders of the Jews progressed in the building, urged on by the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo, and they brought the building to completion under the aegis of the God of Israel and by the order of Cyrus and Darius and King Artaxerxes of Persia.

וְשֵׁיצִיא֙ בַּיְתָ֣ה דְנָ֔ה עַ֛ד י֥וֹם תְּלָתָ֖ה לִירַ֣ח אֲדָ֑ר דִּי־הִ֣יא שְׁנַת־שֵׁ֔ת לְמַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מַלְכָּֽא׃ {פ}
The house was finished on the third of the month of Adar in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

וַעֲבַ֣דוּ בְנֵֽי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל כָּהֲנַיָּ֨א וְלֵוָיֵ֜א וּשְׁאָ֣ר בְּנֵי־גָלוּתָ֗א חֲנֻכַּ֛ת בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥א דְנָ֖ה בְּחֶדְוָֽה׃ The Israelites, the priests, and the Levites, and all the other exiles celebrated the dedication of the House of God with joy.

וְהַקְרִ֗בוּ לַחֲנֻכַּת֮ בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֣א דְנָה֒ תּוֹרִ֣ין מְאָ֔ה דִּכְרִ֣ין מָאתַ֔יִן אִמְּרִ֖ין אַרְבַּ֣ע מְאָ֑ה וּצְפִירֵ֨י עִזִּ֜ין (לחטיא) [לְחַטָּאָ֤ה] עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ תְּרֵֽי־עֲשַׂ֔ר לְמִנְיָ֖ן שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ And they sacrificed for the dedication of this House of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve goats as a purification offering for all of Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

וַהֲקִ֨ימוּ כָהֲנַיָּ֜א בִּפְלֻגָּתְה֗וֹן וְלֵוָיֵא֙ בְּמַחְלְקָ֣תְה֔וֹן עַל־עֲבִידַ֥ת אֱלָהָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם כִּכְתָ֖ב סְפַ֥ר מֹשֶֽׁה׃ {פ}
They appointed the priests in their courses and the Levites in their divisions for the service of God in Jerusalem, according to the prescription in the Book of Moses.

וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ בְנֵי־הַגּוֹלָ֖ה אֶת־הַפָּ֑סַח בְּאַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ ^cHebrew resumes here.The returned exiles celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month,

כִּ֣י הִֽטַּהֲר֞וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֛ם כְּאֶחָ֖ד כֻּלָּ֣ם טְהוֹרִ֑ים וַיִּשְׁחֲט֤וּ הַפֶּ֙סַח֙ לְכׇל־בְּנֵ֣י הַגּוֹלָ֔ה וְלַאֲחֵיהֶ֥ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְלָהֶֽם׃ for the priests and Levites had purified themselves to a man; they were all pure. They slaughtered the passover offering for all the returned exiles, and for their brother priests and for themselves.

וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הַשָּׁבִים֙ מֵֽהַגּוֹלָ֔ה וְכֹ֗ל הַנִּבְדָּ֛ל מִטֻּמְאַ֥ת גּוֹיֵֽ־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם לִדְרֹ֕שׁ לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ The children of Israel who had returned from the exile, together with all who joined them in separating themselves from the uncleanliness of the nations of the lands to worship the LORD God of Israel, ate of it.

וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֧וּ חַג־מַצּ֛וֹת שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה כִּ֣י ׀ שִׂמְּחָ֣ם יְהֹוָ֗ה וְֽהֵסֵ֞ב לֵ֤ב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם לְחַזֵּ֣ק יְדֵיהֶ֔ם בִּמְלֶ֥אכֶת בֵּית־הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {פ}
They joyfully celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days, for the LORD had given them cause for joy by inclining the heart of the Assyrian king toward them so as to give them support in the work of the House of God, the God of Israel.

וְאַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה בְּמַלְכ֖וּת אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּא מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרָ֑ס עֶזְרָא֙ בֶּן־שְׂרָיָ֔ה בֶּן־עֲזַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּֽה׃ After these events, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah son of Azariah son of Hilkiah

בֶּן־שַׁלּ֥וּם בֶּן־צָד֖וֹק בֶּן־אֲחִיטֽוּב׃ son of Shallum son of Zadok son of Ahitub

בֶּן־אֲמַרְיָ֥ה בֶן־עֲזַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־מְרָיֽוֹת׃ son of Amariah son of Azariah son of Meraioth

בֶּן־זְרַֽחְיָ֥ה בֶן־עֻזִּ֖י בֶּן־בֻּקִּֽי׃ son of Zerahiah son of Uzzi son of Bukki

בֶּן־אֲבִישׁ֗וּעַ בֶּן־פִּֽינְחָס֙ בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֔ר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹ֥ן הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הָרֹֽאשׁ׃ son of Abishua son of Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the chief priest—

ה֤וּא עֶזְרָא֙ עָלָ֣ה מִבָּבֶ֔ל וְהֽוּא־סֹפֵ֤ר מָהִיר֙ בְּתוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּתֶּן־ל֣וֹ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ כְּיַד־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהָיו֙ עָלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל בַּקָּשָׁתֽוֹ׃ {פ}
that Ezra came up from Babylon, a scribe expert in the Teaching of Moses which the LORD God of Israel had given, whose request the king had granted in its entirety, thanks to the benevolence of the LORD toward him.

וַיַּֽעֲל֣וּ מִבְּנֵֽי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל וּמִן־הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֜ם וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֧ים וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֛ים וְהַנְּתִינִ֖ים אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם בִּשְׁנַת־שֶׁ֖בַע לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ Some of the Israelites, the priests and Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants set out for Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes,

וַיָּבֹ֥א יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁ֑י הִ֛יא שְׁנַ֥ת הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖ית לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ arriving in Jerusalem in the fifth month in the seventh year of the king.)

כִּ֗י בְּאֶחָד֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן ה֣וּא יְסֻ֔ד הַֽמַּעֲלָ֖ה מִבָּבֶ֑ל וּבְאֶחָ֞ד לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁ֗י בָּ֚א אֶל־יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם כְּיַד־אֱלֹהָ֖יו הַטּוֹבָ֥ה עָלָֽיו׃ On the first day of the first month the journey up from Babylon was started, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived in Jerusalem, thanks to the benevolent care of his God for him.

כִּ֤י עֶזְרָא֙ הֵכִ֣ין לְבָב֔וֹ לִדְרֹ֛שׁ אֶת־תּוֹרַ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה וְלַעֲשֹׂ֑ת וּלְלַמֵּ֥ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֹ֥ק וּמִשְׁפָּֽט׃ {ס}         For Ezra had dedicated himself to study the Teaching of the LORD so as to observe it, and to teach laws and rules to Israel.

וְזֶ֣ה ׀ פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן הַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֗ן אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָתַן֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא לְעֶזְרָ֥א הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הַסֹּפֵ֑ר סֹפֵ֞ר דִּבְרֵ֧י מִצְוֺת־יְהֹוָ֛ה וְחֻקָּ֖יו עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {פ}
The following is the text of the letter which King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest-scribe, a scholar in matters concerning the commandments of the LORD and His laws to Israel:

אַ֨רְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא מֶ֖לֶךְ מַלְכַיָּ֑א לְעֶזְרָ֣א כָ֠הֲנָ֠א סָפַ֨ר דָּתָ֜א דִּֽי־אֱלָ֧הּ שְׁמַיָּ֛א גְּמִ֖יר וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃ ^aAramaic resumes here through v. 26.“Artaxerxes king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scholar in the law of the God of heaven, ^bMeaning uncertain.and so forth.^-b And now,

מִנִּי֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ דִּ֣י כׇל־מִתְנַדַּ֣ב בְּמַלְכוּתִי֩ מִן־עַמָּ֨א יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וְכָהֲנ֣וֹהִי וְלֵוָיֵ֗א לִמְהָ֧ךְ לִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֛ם עִמָּ֖ךְ יְהָֽךְ׃ I hereby issue an order that anyone in my kingdom who is of the people of Israel and its priests and Levites who feels impelled to go to Jerusalem may go with you.

כׇּל־קֳבֵ֗ל דִּי֩ מִן־קֳדָ֨ם מַלְכָּ֜א וְשִׁבְעַ֤ת יָעֲטֹ֙הִי֙ שְׁלִ֔יחַ לְבַקָּרָ֥ה עַל־יְה֖וּד וְלִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּדָ֥ת אֱלָהָ֖ךְ דִּ֥י בִידָֽךְ׃ For you are commissioned by the king and his seven advisers to regulate Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your care,

וּלְהֵיבָלָ֖ה כְּסַ֣ף וּדְהַ֑ב דִּֽי־מַלְכָּ֣א וְיָעֲט֗וֹהִי הִתְנַדַּ֙בוּ֙ לֶאֱלָ֣הּ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל דִּ֥י בִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֖ם מִשְׁכְּנֵֽהּ׃ and to bring the freewill offering of silver and gold, which the king and his advisers made to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,

וְכֹל֙ כְּסַ֣ף וּדְהַ֔ב דִּ֣י תְהַשְׁכַּ֔ח בְּכֹ֖ל מְדִינַ֣ת בָּבֶ֑ל עִם֩ הִתְנַדָּב֨וּת עַמָּ֤א וְכָֽהֲנַיָּא֙ מִֽתְנַדְּבִ֔ין לְבֵ֥ית אֱלָהֲהֹ֖ם דִּ֥י בִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ and whatever silver and gold that you find throughout the province of Babylon, together with the freewill offerings that the people and the priests will give for the House of their God, which is in Jerusalem.

כׇּל־קֳבֵ֣ל דְּנָה֩ אׇסְפַּ֨רְנָא תִקְנֵ֜א בְּכַסְפָּ֣א דְנָ֗ה תּוֹרִ֤ין ׀ דִּכְרִין֙ אִמְּרִ֔ין וּמִנְחָתְה֖וֹן וְנִסְכֵּיה֑וֹן וּתְקָרֵ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹ עַֽל־מַדְבְּחָ֔ה דִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית אֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם דִּ֥י בִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ You shall, therefore, with dispatch acquire with this money bulls, rams, and lambs, with their meal offerings and libations, and offer them on the altar of the House of your God in Jerusalem.

וּמָ֣ה דִי֩ (עליך) [עֲלָ֨ךְ] וְעַל־[אֶחָ֜ךְ] (אחיך) יֵיטַ֗ב בִּשְׁאָ֛ר כַּסְפָּ֥א וְדַהֲבָ֖ה לְמֶעְבַּ֑ד כִּרְע֥וּת אֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם תַּעַבְדֽוּן׃ And whatever you wish to do with the leftover silver and gold, you and your kinsmen may do, in accord with the will of your God.

וּמָֽאנַיָּא֙ דִּֽי־מִתְיַהֲבִ֣ין לָ֔ךְ לְפׇלְחָ֖ן בֵּ֣ית אֱלָהָ֑ךְ הַשְׁלֵ֕ם קֳדָ֖ם אֱלָ֥הּ יְרוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ The vessels for the service of the House of your God that are given to you, deliver to God in Jerusalem,

וּשְׁאָ֗ר חַשְׁחוּת֙ בֵּ֣ית אֱלָהָ֔ךְ דִּ֥י יִפֶּל־לָ֖ךְ לְמִנְתַּ֑ן תִּנְתֵּ֕ן מִן־בֵּ֖ית גִּנְזֵ֥י מַלְכָּֽא׃ and any other needs of the House of your God that it falls to you to supply, do so from the royal treasury.

וּ֠מִנִּ֠י אֲנָ֞ה אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא מַלְכָּא֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם לְכֹל֙ גִּזַּֽבְרַיָּ֔א דִּ֖י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה דִּ֣י כׇל־דִּ֣י יִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְכ֠וֹן עֶזְרָ֨א כָהֲנָ֜א סָפַ֤ר דָּתָא֙ דִּֽי־אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א אׇסְפַּ֖רְנָא יִתְעֲבִֽד׃ I, King Artaxerxes, for my part, hereby issue an order to all the treasurers in the province of Beyond the River that whatever request Ezra the priest, scholar in the law of the God of Heaven, makes of you is to be fulfilled with dispatch

עַד־כְּסַף֮ כַּכְּרִ֣ין מְאָה֒ וְעַד־חִנְטִין֙ כּוֹרִ֣ין מְאָ֔ה וְעַד־חֲמַר֙ בַּתִּ֣ין מְאָ֔ה וְעַד־בַּתִּ֥ין מְשַׁ֖ח מְאָ֑ה וּמְלַ֖ח דִּי־לָ֥א כְתָֽב׃ up to the sum of one hundred talents of silver, one hundred kor of wheat, one hundred bath of wine, one hundred bath of oil, and salt without limit.

כׇּל־דִּ֗י מִן־טַ֙עַם֙ אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א יִתְעֲבֵד֙ אַדְרַזְדָּ֔א לְבֵ֖ית אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֑א דִּֽי־לְמָ֤ה לֶֽהֱוֵא֙ קְצַ֔ף עַל־מַלְכ֥וּת מַלְכָּ֖א וּבְנֽוֹהִי׃ Whatever is by order of the God of Heaven must be carried out diligently for the House of the God of Heaven, else wrath will come upon the king and his sons.

וּלְכֹ֣ם מְהוֹדְעִ֗ין דִּ֣י כׇל־כָּהֲנַיָּ֣א וְ֠לֵוָיֵ֠א זַמָּ֨רַיָּ֤א תָרָֽעַיָּא֙ נְתִ֣ינַיָּ֔א וּפָ֣לְחֵ֔י בֵּ֖ית אֱלָהָ֣א דְנָ֑ה מִנְדָּ֤ה בְלוֹ֙ וַהֲלָ֔ךְ לָ֥א שַׁלִּ֖יט לְמִרְמֵ֥א עֲלֵיהֹֽם׃ {פ}
We further advise you that it is not permissible to impose tribute, poll tax, or land tax on any priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, temple servant, or other servant of this House of God.

וְאַ֣נְתְּ עֶזְרָ֗א כְּחׇכְמַ֨ת אֱלָהָ֤ךְ דִּֽי־בִידָךְ֙ מֶ֣נִּי שָׁפְטִ֞ין וְדַיָּנִ֗ין דִּי־לֶהֱוֺ֤ן (דאנין) [דָּאיְנִין֙] לְכׇל־עַמָּא֙ דִּ֚י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔ה לְכׇל־יָדְעֵ֖י דָּתֵ֣י אֱלָהָ֑ךְ וְדִ֧י לָ֦א יָדַ֖ע תְּהוֹדְעֽוּן׃ And you, Ezra, by the divine wisdom you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people in the province of Beyond the River who know the laws of your God, and to teach those who do not know them.

וְכׇל־דִּי־לָא֩ לֶהֱוֵ֨א עָבֵ֜ד דָּתָ֣א דִֽי־אֱלָהָ֗ךְ וְדָתָא֙ דִּ֣י מַלְכָּ֔א אׇסְפַּ֕רְנָא דִּינָ֕ה לֶהֱוֵ֥א מִתְעֲבֵ֖ד מִנֵּ֑הּ הֵ֤ן לְמוֹת֙ הֵ֣ן (לשרשו) [לִשְׁרֹשִׁ֔י] הֵן־לַעֲנָ֥שׁ נִכְסִ֖ין וְלֶאֱסוּרִֽין׃ {פ}
Let anyone who does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king be punished with dispatch, whether by death, corporal punishment, confiscation of possessions, or imprisonment.”

בָּר֥וּךְ יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹתֵ֑ינוּ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֤ן כָּזֹאת֙ בְּלֵ֣ב הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְפָאֵ֕ר אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ ^cHebrew resumes here.Blessed is the LORD God of our fathers, who put it into the mind of the king to glorify the House of the LORD in Jerusalem,

וְעָלַ֣י הִטָּה־חֶ֗סֶד לִפְנֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְיֽוֹעֲצָ֔יו וּלְכׇל־שָׂרֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הַגִּבֹּרִ֑ים וַאֲנִ֣י הִתְחַזַּ֗קְתִּי כְּיַד־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהַי֙ עָלַ֔י וָאֶקְבְּצָ֧ה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֛ל רָאשִׁ֖ים לַעֲל֥וֹת עִמִּֽי׃ {פ}
and who inclined the king and his counselors and the king’s military officers to be favorably disposed toward me. For my part, thanks to the care of the LORD for me, I summoned up courage and assembled leading men in Israel to go with me.

וְאֵ֛לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֥י אֲבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם וְהִתְיַחְשָׂ֑ם הָעֹלִ֣ים עִמִּ֗י בְּמַלְכ֛וּת אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מִבָּבֶֽל׃ {ס}         These are the chiefs of the clans and the register of the genealogy of those who came up with me from Babylon in the reign of King Artaxerxes:

מִבְּנֵ֤י פִֽינְחָס֙ גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם {ס}        מִבְּנֵ֥י אִיתָמָ֖ר דָּנִיֵּ֑אל {ס}        מִבְּנֵ֥י דָוִ֖יד חַטּֽוּשׁ׃ {ס}         Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush.

מִבְּנֵ֣י שְׁכַנְיָ֔ה {ס}        מִבְּנֵ֥י פַרְעֹ֖שׁ זְכַרְיָ֑ה וְעִמּ֛וֹ הִתְיַחֵ֥שׂ לִזְכָרִ֖ים מֵאָ֥ה וַחֲמִשִּֽׁים׃ {ס}         Of the sons of Shecaniah: of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; through him the genealogy of 150 males was registered.

מִבְּנֵי֙ פַּחַ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב אֶלְיְהֽוֹעֵינַ֖י בֶּן־זְרַֽחְיָ֑ה וְעִמּ֖וֹ מָאתַ֥יִם הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ {ס}         Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, of the sons of Pahath-moab, and with him 200 males.

מִבְּנֵ֥י שְׁכַנְיָ֖ה בֶּן־יַחֲזִיאֵ֑ל וְעִמּ֕וֹ שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ {ס}         Of the sons of Shecaniah son of Jahaziel; and with him 300 males.

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י עָדִ֔ין עֶ֖בֶד בֶּן־יוֹנָתָ֑ן וְעִמּ֖וֹ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ {ס}         And of the sons of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan; and with him 50 males.

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י עֵילָ֔ם יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה בֶּן־עֲתַלְיָ֑ה וְעִמּ֖וֹ שִׁבְעִ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ {ס}         And of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah; and with him 70 males.

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה זְבַדְיָ֖ה בֶּן־מִֽיכָאֵ֑ל וְעִמּ֖וֹ שְׁמֹנִ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ {ס}         And of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael; and with him 80 males.

מִבְּנֵ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב עֹבַדְיָ֖ה בֶּן־יְחִיאֵ֑ל וְעִמּ֕וֹ מָאתַ֛יִם וּשְׁמֹנָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ {ס}         Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel; and with him 218 males.

וּמִבְּנֵ֥י שְׁלוֹמִ֖ית בֶּן־יוֹסִפְיָ֑ה וְעִמּ֕וֹ מֵאָ֥ה וְשִׁשִּׁ֖ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ {ס}         And of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him 160 males.

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י בֵבַ֔י זְכַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־בֵּבָ֑י וְעִמּ֕וֹ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנָ֖ה הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ {ס}         And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai; and with him 28 males.

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י עַזְגָּ֔ד יוֹחָנָ֖ן בֶּן־הַקָּטָ֑ן וְעִמּ֕וֹ מֵאָ֥ה וַעֲשָׂרָ֖ה הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ {ס}         And of the sons of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan; and with him 110 males.

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י אֲדֹנִיקָם֮ אַחֲרֹנִים֒ וְאֵ֣לֶּה שְׁמוֹתָ֔ם אֱלִיפֶ֖לֶט יְעִיאֵ֣ל וּֽשְׁמַעְיָ֑ה וְעִמָּהֶ֖ם שִׁשִּׁ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ {ס}         And of the sons of Adonikam, who were the last; and these are their names: Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah; and with them 60 males.

וּמִבְּנֵ֥י בִגְוַ֖י עוּתַ֣י (וזבוד) [וְזַכּ֑וּר] וְעִמּ֖וֹ שִׁבְעִ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ {פ}
And of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur; and with them 70 males.

וָֽאֶקְבְּצֵ֗ם אֶל־הַנָּהָר֙ הַבָּ֣א אֶֽל־אַהֲוָ֔א וַנַּחֲנֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם יָמִ֣ים שְׁלֹשָׁ֑ה וָאָבִ֤ינָה בָעָם֙ וּבַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וּמִבְּנֵ֥י לֵוִ֖י לֹא־מָצָ֥אתִי שָֽׁם׃ These I assembled by the river that enters Ahava, and we encamped there for three days. I reviewed the people and the priests, but I did not find any Levites there.

וָאֶשְׁלְחָ֡ה לֶאֱלִיעֶ֡זֶר לַאֲרִיאֵ֡ל לִֽ֠שְׁמַעְיָ֠ה וּלְאֶלְנָתָ֨ן וּלְיָרִ֜יב וּלְאֶלְנָתָ֧ן וּלְנָתָ֛ן וְלִזְכַרְיָ֥ה וְלִמְשֻׁלָּ֖ם רָאשִׁ֑ים וּלְיוֹיָרִ֥יב וּלְאֶלְנָתָ֖ן מְבִינִֽים׃ I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, the leading men, and also for Joiarib and Elnathan, the instructors,

(ואוצאה) [וָאֲצַוֶּ֤ה] אוֹתָם֙ עַל־אִדּ֣וֹ הָרֹ֔אשׁ בְּכָסִפְיָ֖א הַמָּק֑וֹם וָאָשִׂ֩ימָה֩ בְּפִיהֶ֨ם דְּבָרִ֜ים לְ֠דַבֵּ֠ר אֶל־אִדּ֨וֹ אָחִ֤יו (הנתונים) [הַנְּתִינִים֙] בְּכָסִפְיָ֣א הַמָּק֔וֹם לְהָֽבִיא־לָ֥נוּ מְשָׁרְתִ֖ים לְבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ and I gave them an order for Iddo, the leader at the place [called] Casiphia. I gave them a message to convey to Iddo [and] his brother, temple-servants at the place [called] Casiphia, that they should bring us attendants for the House of our God.

וַיָּבִ֨יאּוּ לָ֜נוּ כְּיַד־אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ הַטּוֹבָ֤ה עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ שֶׂ֔כֶל {ס}        מִבְּנֵ֣י מַחְלִ֔י בֶּן־לֵוִ֖י בֶּן־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשֵׁרֵ֥בְיָ֛ה וּבָנָ֥יו וְאֶחָ֖יו שְׁמֹנָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃ Thanks to the benevolent care of our God for us, they brought us a capable man of the family of Mahli son of Levi son of Israel, and Sherebiah and his sons and brothers, 18 in all,

וְאֶ֨ת־חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה וְאִתּ֥וֹ יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה מִבְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֑י אֶחָ֥יו וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם עֶשְׂרִֽים׃ {ס}         and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the family of Merari, his brothers and their sons, 20 in all;

וּמִן־הַנְּתִינִ֗ים שֶׁנָּתַ֨ן דָּוִ֤יד וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ לַעֲבֹדַ֣ת הַלְוִיִּ֔ם נְתִינִ֖ים מָאתַ֣יִם וְעֶשְׂרִ֑ים כֻּלָּ֖ם נִקְּב֥וּ בְשֵׁמֽוֹת׃ and of the temple servants whom David and the officers had appointed for the service of the Levites—220 temple servants, all of them listed by name.

וָאֶקְרָ֨א שָׁ֥ם צוֹם֙ עַל־הַנָּהָ֣ר אַהֲוָ֔א לְהִתְעַנּ֖וֹת לִפְנֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְשָׁרָ֔ה לָ֥נוּ וּלְטַפֵּ֖נוּ וּלְכׇל־רְכוּשֵֽׁנוּ׃ I proclaimed a fast there by the Ahava River to afflict ourselves before our God to beseech Him for a smooth journey for us and for our children and for all our possessions;

כִּ֣י בֹ֗שְׁתִּי לִשְׁא֤וֹל מִן־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ חַ֣יִל וּפָרָשִׁ֔ים לְעׇזְרֵ֥נוּ מֵאוֹיֵ֖ב בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ כִּֽי־אָמַ֨רְנוּ לַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֗ר יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ עַל־כׇּל־מְבַקְשָׁיו֙ לְטוֹבָ֔ה וְעֻזּ֣וֹ וְאַפּ֔וֹ עַ֖ל כׇּל־עֹזְבָֽיו׃ for I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us against any enemy on the way, since we had told the king, “The benevolent care of our God is for all who seek Him, while His fierce anger is against all who forsake Him.”

וַנָּצ֛וּמָה וַנְּבַקְשָׁ֥ה מֵאֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ עַל־זֹ֑את וַיֵּעָתֵ֖ר לָֽנוּ׃ So we fasted and besought our God for this, and He responded to our plea.

וָאַבְדִּ֛ילָה מִשָּׂרֵ֥י הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר לְשֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֣ה חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה וְעִמָּהֶ֥ם מֵאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם עֲשָׂרָֽה׃ Then I selected twelve of the chiefs of the priests, namely Sherebiah and Hashabiah with ten of their brothers,

(ואשקולה) [וָאֶשְׁקֳלָ֣ה] לָהֶ֔ם אֶת־הַכֶּ֥סֶף וְאֶת־הַזָּהָ֖ב וְאֶת־הַכֵּלִ֑ים תְּרוּמַ֣ת בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ הַהֵרִ֙ימוּ֙ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְיֹעֲצָ֣יו וְשָׂרָ֔יו וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הַנִּמְצָאִֽים׃ and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels, the contribution to the House of our God which the king, his counselors and officers, and all Israel who were present had made.

וָאֶשְׁקְלָ֨ה עַל־יָדָ֜ם כֶּ֗סֶף כִּכָּרִים֙ שֵֽׁשׁ־מֵא֣וֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁ֔ים וּכְלֵי־כֶ֥סֶף מֵאָ֖ה לְכִכָּרִ֑ים זָהָ֖ב מֵאָ֥ה כִכָּֽר׃ I entrusted to their safekeeping the weight of six hundred and fifty talents of silver, one hundred silver vessels of one talent each, one hundred talents of gold;

וּכְפֹרֵ֤י זָהָב֙ עֶשְׂרִ֔ים לַאֲדַרְכֹנִ֖ים אָ֑לֶף וּכְלֵ֨י נְחֹ֜שֶׁת מֻצְהָ֤ב טוֹבָה֙ שְׁנַ֔יִם חֲמוּדֹ֖ת כַּזָּהָֽב׃ also, twenty gold bowls worth one thousand darics and two vessels of good, shining bronze, as precious as gold.

וָאֹמְרָ֣ה אֲלֵהֶ֗ם אַתֶּ֥ם קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה וְהַכֵּלִ֖ים קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְהַכֶּ֤סֶף וְהַזָּהָב֙ נְדָבָ֔ה לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ I said to them, “You are consecrated to the LORD, and the vessels are consecrated, and the silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.

שִׁקְד֣וּ וְשִׁמְר֗וּ עַֽד־תִּשְׁקְל֡וּ לִפְנֵי֩ שָׂרֵ֨י הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֛ם וְשָׂרֵֽי־הָאָב֥וֹת לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם הַלִּשְׁכ֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ Guard them diligently until such time as you weigh them out in the presence of the officers of the priests and the Levites and the officers of the clans of Israel in Jerusalem in the chambers of the House of the LORD.”

וְקִבְּלוּ֙ הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם מִשְׁקַ֛ל הַכֶּ֥סֶף וְהַזָּהָ֖ב וְהַכֵּלִ֑ים לְהָבִ֥יא לִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם לְבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ {פ}
So the priests and the Levites received the cargo of silver and gold and vessels by weight, to bring them to Jerusalem to the House of our God.

וַֽנִּסְּעָ֞ה מִנְּהַ֣ר אַֽהֲוָ֗א בִּשְׁנֵ֤ים עָשָׂר֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן לָלֶ֖כֶת יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְיַד־אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ הָיְתָ֣ה עָלֵ֔ינוּ וַיַּ֨צִּילֵ֔נוּ מִכַּ֥ף אוֹיֵ֛ב וְאוֹרֵ֖ב עַל־הַדָּֽרֶךְ׃ We set out for Jerusalem from the Ahava River on the twelfth of the first month. We enjoyed the care of our God, who saved us from enemy ambush on the journey.

וַנָּב֖וֹא יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַנֵּ֥שֶׁב שָׁ֖ם יָמִ֥ים שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ We arrived in Jerusalem and stayed there three days.

וּבַיּ֣וֹם הָרְבִיעִ֡י נִשְׁקַ֣ל הַכֶּ֩סֶף֩ וְהַזָּהָ֨ב וְהַכֵּלִ֜ים בְּבֵ֣ית אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ עַ֠ל יַד־מְרֵמ֤וֹת בֶּן־אֽוּרִיָּה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְעִמּ֖וֹ אֶלְעָזָ֣ר בֶּן־פִּֽינְחָ֑ס וְעִמָּהֶ֞ם יוֹזָבָ֧ד בֶּן־יֵשׁ֛וּעַ וְנֽוֹעַדְיָ֥ה בֶן־בִּנּ֖וּי הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ On the fourth day the silver, gold, and vessels were weighed out in the House of our God into the keeping of Meremoth son of Uriah the priest, with whom was Eleazar son of Phinehas. Jozabad son of Jeshua, and Noadiah son of Binnui, the Levites, were with them.

בְּמִסְפָּ֥ר בְּמִשְׁקָ֖ל לַכֹּ֑ל וַיִּכָּתֵ֥ב כׇּֽל־הַמִּשְׁקָ֖ל בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽיא׃ {פ}
Everything accorded as to number and weight, the entire cargo being recorded at that time.

הַ֠בָּאִ֠ים מֵֽהַשְּׁבִ֨י בְנֵֽי־הַגּוֹלָ֜ה הִקְרִ֥יבוּ עֹל֣וֹת ׀ לֵאלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל פָּרִ֨ים שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֤ר עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֵילִ֣ים ׀ תִּשְׁעִ֣ים וְשִׁשָּׁ֗ה כְּבָשִׂים֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים וְשִׁבְעָ֔ה צְפִירֵ֥י חַטָּ֖את שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר הַכֹּ֖ל עוֹלָ֥ה לַיהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
The returning exiles who arrived from captivity made burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs and twelve he-goats as a purification offering, all this a burnt offering to the LORD.

וַֽיִּתְּנ֣וּ ׀ אֶת־דָּתֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנֵי֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּפַחֲו֖וֹת עֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֑ר וְנִשְּׂא֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם וְאֶת־בֵּ֥ית הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ {ס}         They handed the royal orders to the king’s satraps and the governors of the province of Beyond the River who gave support to the people and the House of God.

וּכְכַלּ֣וֹת אֵ֗לֶּה נִגְּשׁ֨וּ אֵלַ֤י הַשָּׂרִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹֽא־נִבְדְּל֞וּ הָעָ֤ם יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם מֵעַמֵּ֖י הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת כְּ֠תֹעֲבֹֽתֵיהֶ֠ם לַכְּנַעֲנִ֨י הַחִתִּ֜י הַפְּרִזִּ֣י הַיְבוּסִ֗י הָֽעַמֹּנִי֙ הַמֹּ֣אָבִ֔י הַמִּצְרִ֖י וְהָאֱמֹרִֽי׃ When this was over, the officers approached me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the land whose abhorrent practices are like those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

כִּֽי־נָשְׂא֣וּ מִבְּנֹֽתֵיהֶ֗ם לָהֶם֙ וְלִבְנֵיהֶ֔ם וְהִתְעָֽרְבוּ֙ זֶ֣רַע הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ בְּעַמֵּ֖י הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת וְיַ֧ד הַשָּׂרִ֣ים וְהַסְּגָנִ֗ים הָ֥יְתָ֛ה בַּמַּ֥עַל הַזֶּ֖ה רִאשׁוֹנָֽה׃ They have taken their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed has become intermingled with the peoples of the land; and it is the officers and prefects who have taken the lead in this trespass.”

וּכְשׇׁמְעִי֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה קָרַ֥עְתִּי אֶת־בִּגְדִ֖י וּמְעִילִ֑י וָאֶמְרְטָ֞ה מִשְּׂעַ֤ר רֹאשִׁי֙ וּזְקָנִ֔י וָאֵשְׁבָ֖ה מְשׁוֹמֵֽם׃ When I heard this, I rent my garment and robe, I tore hair out of my head and beard, and I sat desolate.

וְאֵלַ֣י יֵאָסְפ֗וּ כֹּ֚ל חָרֵד֙ בְּדִבְרֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ל מַ֣עַל הַגּוֹלָ֑ה וַאֲנִי֙ יֹשֵׁ֣ב מְשׁוֹמֵ֔ם עַ֖ד לְמִנְחַ֥ת הָעָֽרֶב׃ Around me gathered all who were concerned over the words of the God of Israel because of the returning exiles’ trespass, while I sat desolate until the evening offering.

וּבְמִנְחַ֣ת הָעֶ֗רֶב קַ֚מְתִּי מִתַּֽעֲנִיתִ֔י וּבְקׇרְעִ֥י בִגְדִ֖י וּמְעִילִ֑י וָֽאֶכְרְעָה֙ עַל־בִּרְכַּ֔י וָאֶפְרְשָׂ֥ה כַפַּ֖י אֶל־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽי׃ At the time of the evening offering I ended my self-affliction; still in my torn garment and robe, I got down on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God,

וָאֹמְרָ֗ה אֱלֹהַי֙ בֹּ֣שְׁתִּי וְנִכְלַ֔מְתִּי לְהָרִ֧ים אֱלֹהַ֛י פָּנַ֖י אֵלֶ֑יךָ כִּ֣י עֲוֺנֹתֵ֤ינוּ רָבוּ֙ לְמַ֣עְלָה רֹּ֔אשׁ וְאַשְׁמָתֵ֥נוּ גָדְלָ֖ה עַ֥ד לַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ and said, “O my God, I am too ashamed and mortified to lift my face to You, O my God, for our iniquities ^aLit. “are numerous above the head.”are overwhelming^-a and our guilt has grown high as heaven.

מִימֵ֣י אֲבֹתֵ֗ינוּ אֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ בְּאַשְׁמָ֣ה גְדֹלָ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וּבַעֲוֺנֹתֵ֡ינוּ נִתַּ֡נּוּ אֲנַ֩חְנוּ֩ מְלָכֵ֨ינוּ כֹהֲנֵ֜ינוּ בְּיַ֣ד ׀ מַלְכֵ֣י הָאֲרָצ֗וֹת בַּחֶ֜רֶב בַּשְּׁבִ֧י וּבַבִּזָּ֛ה וּבְבֹ֥שֶׁת פָּנִ֖ים כְּהַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ From the time of our fathers to this very day we have been deep in guilt. Because of our iniquities, we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to foreign kings, to the sword, to captivity, to pillage, and to humiliation, as is now the case.

וְעַתָּ֡ה כִּמְעַט־רֶ֩גַע֩ הָיְתָ֨ה תְחִנָּ֜ה מֵאֵ֣ת ׀ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ לְהַשְׁאִ֥יר לָ֙נוּ֙ פְּלֵיטָ֔ה וְלָתֶת־לָ֥נוּ יָתֵ֖ד בִּמְק֣וֹם קׇדְשׁ֑וֹ לְהָאִ֤יר עֵינֵ֙ינוּ֙ אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ וּלְתִתֵּ֛נוּ מִֽחְיָ֥ה מְעַ֖ט בְּעַבְדֻתֵֽנוּ׃ “But now, for a short while, there has been a reprieve from the LORD our God, who has granted us a surviving remnant and given us a stake in His holy place; our God has restored the luster to our eyes and furnished us with a little sustenance in our bondage.

כִּֽי־עֲבָדִ֣ים אֲנַ֔חְנוּ וּ֨בְעַבְדֻ֔תֵנוּ לֹ֥א עֲזָבָ֖נוּ אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וַֽיַּט־עָלֵ֣ינוּ חֶ֡סֶד לִפְנֵי֩ מַלְכֵ֨י פָרַ֜ס לָֽתֶת־לָ֣נוּ מִֽחְיָ֗ה לְרוֹמֵ֞ם אֶת־בֵּ֤ית אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּלְהַעֲמִ֣יד אֶת־חׇרְבֹתָ֔יו וְלָֽתֶת־לָ֣נוּ גָדֵ֔ר בִּֽיהוּדָ֖ה וּבִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {ס}         For bondsmen we are, though even in our bondage God has not forsaken us, but has disposed the king of Persia favorably toward us, to furnish us with sustenance and to raise again the House of our God, repairing its ruins and giving us a hold^bLit. “fence.” in Judah and Jerusalem.

וְעַתָּ֛ה מַה־נֹּאמַ֥ר אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ אַֽחֲרֵי־זֹ֑את כִּ֥י עָזַ֖בְנוּ מִצְוֺתֶֽיךָ׃ “Now, what can we say in the face of this, O our God, for we have forsaken Your commandments,

אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּ֗יתָ בְּיַ֨ד עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ הַנְּבִיאִים֮ לֵאמֹר֒ הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֤ם בָּאִים֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ אֶ֤רֶץ נִדָּה֙ הִ֔יא בְּנִדַּ֖ת עַמֵּ֣י הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת בְּתוֹעֲבֹֽתֵיהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִלְא֛וּהָ מִפֶּ֥ה אֶל־פֶּ֖ה בְּטֻמְאָתָֽם׃ which You gave us through Your servants the prophets when You said, ‘The land that you are about to possess is a land unclean through the uncleanness of the peoples of the land, through their abhorrent practices with which they, in their impurity, have filled it from one end to the other.

וְ֠עַתָּ֠ה בְּֽנוֹתֵיכֶ֞ם אַל־תִּתְּנ֣וּ לִבְנֵיהֶ֗ם וּבְנֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ אַל־תִּשְׂא֣וּ לִבְנֵיכֶ֔ם וְלֹֽא־תִדְרְשׁ֧וּ שְׁלֹמָ֛ם וְטוֹבָתָ֖ם עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם לְמַ֣עַן תֶּחֶזְק֗וּ וַאֲכַלְתֶּם֙ אֶת־ט֣וּב הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּ֥ם לִבְנֵיכֶ֖ם עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ Now then, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or let their daughters marry your sons; do nothing for their well-being or advantage, then you will be strong and enjoy the bounty of the land and bequeath it to your children forever.’

וְאַֽחֲרֵי֙ כׇּל־הַבָּ֣א עָלֵ֔ינוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֙ינוּ֙ הָרָעִ֔ים וּבְאַשְׁמָתֵ֖נוּ הַגְּדֹלָ֑ה כִּ֣י ׀ אַתָּ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ חָשַׂ֤כְתָּֽ לְמַ֙טָּה֙ מֵֽעֲוֺנֵ֔נוּ וְנָתַ֥תָּה לָּ֛נוּ פְּלֵיטָ֖ה כָּזֹֽאת׃ After all that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and our deep guilt—though You, our God, have been forbearing, [punishing us] less than our iniquity [deserves] in that You have granted us such a remnant as this—

הֲנָשׁוּב֙ לְהָפֵ֣ר מִצְוֺתֶ֔יךָ וּ֨לְהִתְחַתֵּ֔ן בְּעַמֵּ֥י הַתֹּעֵב֖וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה הֲל֤וֹא תֶֽאֱנַף־בָּ֙נוּ֙ עַד־כַּלֵּ֔ה לְאֵ֥ין שְׁאֵרִ֖ית וּפְלֵיטָֽה׃ {ס}         shall we once again violate Your commandments by intermarrying with these peoples who follow such abhorrent practices? Will You not rage against us till we are destroyed without remnant or survivor?

יְהֹוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ צַדִּ֣יק אַ֔תָּה כִּֽי־נִשְׁאַ֥רְנוּ פְלֵיטָ֖ה כְּהַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה הִנְנ֤וּ לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ בְּאַשְׁמָתֵ֔ינוּ כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין לַעֲמ֛וֹד לְפָנֶ֖יךָ עַל־זֹֽאת׃ {פ}
O LORD, God of Israel, You are benevolent,^cOr “in the right.” for we have survived as a remnant, as is now the case. We stand before You in all our guilt, for we cannot face You on this account.”

וּכְהִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל עֶזְרָא֙ וּכְהִתְוַדֹּת֔וֹ בֹּכֶה֙ וּמִתְנַפֵּ֔ל לִפְנֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים נִקְבְּצוּ֩ אֵלָ֨יו מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֜ל קָהָ֣ל רַב־מְאֹ֗ד אֲנָשִׁ֤ים וְנָשִׁים֙ וִֽילָדִ֔ים כִּֽי־בָכ֥וּ הָעָ֖ם הַרְבֵּה־בֶֽכֶה׃ {פ}
While Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and prostrating himself before the House of God, a very great crowd of Israelites gathered about him, men, women, and children; the people were weeping bitterly.

וַיַּ֩עַן֩ שְׁכַנְיָ֨ה בֶן־יְחִיאֵ֜ל מִבְּנֵ֤י (עולם) [עֵילָם֙] וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְעֶזְרָ֔א אֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ מָעַ֣לְנוּ בֵאלֹהֵ֔ינוּ וַנֹּ֛שֶׁב נָשִׁ֥ים נׇכְרִיּ֖וֹת מֵעַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְעַתָּ֛ה יֵשׁ־מִקְוֶ֥ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַל־זֹֽאת׃ Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel of the family of Elam spoke up and said to Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God by bringing into our homes foreign women from the peoples of the land; ^aOr “Is there…?”but there is still hope for Israel despite this.^-a

וְעַתָּ֣ה נִֽכְרׇת־בְּרִ֣ית לֵ֠אלֹהֵ֠ינוּ לְהוֹצִ֨יא כׇל־נָשִׁ֜ים וְהַנּוֹלָ֤ד מֵהֶם֙ בַּעֲצַ֣ת אֲדֹנָ֔י וְהַחֲרֵדִ֖ים בְּמִצְוַ֣ת אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וְכַתּוֹרָ֖ה יֵעָשֶֽׂה׃ {פ}
Now then, let us make a covenant with our God to expel all these women and those who have been born to them, in accordance with the bidding of the Lord and of all who are concerned over the commandment of our God, and let the Teaching be obeyed.

ק֛וּם כִּֽי־עָלֶ֥יךָ הַדָּבָ֖ר וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ עִמָּ֑ךְ חֲזַ֖ק וַעֲשֵֽׂה׃ {פ}
Take action, for the responsibility is yours and we are with you. Act with resolve!”

וַיָּ֣קׇם עֶזְרָ֡א וַיַּשְׁבַּ֣ע אֶת־שָׂרֵי֩ הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים הַלְוִיִּ֜ם וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לַעֲשׂ֛וֹת כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה וַיִּשָּׁבֵֽעוּ׃ So Ezra at once put the officers of the priests and the Levites and all Israel under oath to act accordingly, and they took the oath.

וַיָּ֣קׇם עֶזְרָ֗א מִלִּפְנֵי֙ בֵּ֣ית הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ אֶל־לִשְׁכַּ֖ת יְהוֹחָנָ֣ן בֶּן־אֶלְיָשִׁ֑יב וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ שָׁ֗ם לֶ֤חֶם לֹֽא־אָכַל֙ וּמַ֣יִם לֹֽא־שָׁתָ֔ה כִּ֥י מִתְאַבֵּ֖ל עַל־מַ֥עַל הַגּוֹלָֽה׃ Then Ezra rose from his place in front of the House of God and went into the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib; there, he ate no bread and drank no water, for he was in mourning over the trespass of those who had returned from exile.

וַיַּעֲבִ֨ירוּ ק֜וֹל בִּיהוּדָ֣ה וִירֽוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם לְכֹל֙ בְּנֵ֣י הַגּוֹלָ֔ה לְהִקָּבֵ֖ץ יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ Then a proclamation was issued in Judah and Jerusalem that all who had returned from the exile should assemble in Jerusalem,

וְכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יָב֜וֹא לִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת הַיָּמִ֗ים כַּעֲצַ֤ת הַשָּׂרִים֙ וְהַזְּקֵנִ֔ים יׇחֳרַ֖ם כׇּל־רְכוּשׁ֑וֹ וְה֥וּא יִבָּדֵ֖ל מִקְּהַ֥ל הַגּוֹלָֽה׃ {פ}
and that anyone who did not come in three days would, by decision of the officers and elders, have his property confiscated and himself excluded from the congregation of the returning exiles.

וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ כׇל־אַנְשֵֽׁי־יְהוּדָה֩ וּבִנְיָמִ֨ן ׀ יְרוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם לִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת הַיָּמִ֗ים ה֛וּא חֹ֥דֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁיעִ֖י בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים בַּחֹ֑דֶשׁ וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ כׇל־הָעָ֗ם בִּרְחוֹב֙ בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים מַרְעִידִ֥ים עַל־הַדָּבָ֖ר וּמֵהַגְּשָׁמִֽים׃ {פ}
All the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem in three days; it was the ninth month, the twentieth of the month. All the people sat in the square of the House of God, trembling on account of the event and because of the rains.

וַיָּ֨קׇם עֶזְרָ֤א הַכֹּהֵן֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אַתֶּ֣ם מְעַלְתֶּ֔ם וַתֹּשִׁ֖יבוּ נָשִׁ֣ים נׇכְרִיּ֑וֹת לְהוֹסִ֖יף עַל־אַשְׁמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Then Ezra the priest got up and said to them, “You have trespassed by bringing home foreign women, thus aggravating the guilt of Israel.

וְעַתָּ֗ה תְּנ֥וּ תוֹדָ֛ה לַיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם וַעֲשׂ֣וּ רְצוֹנ֑וֹ וְהִבָּֽדְלוּ֙ מֵעַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ וּמִן־הַנָּשִׁ֖ים הַנׇּכְרִיּֽוֹת׃ {ס}         So now, make confession to the LORD, God of your fathers, and do His will, and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women.”

וַיַּֽעֲנ֧וּ כׇֽל־הַקָּהָ֛ל וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ ק֣וֹל גָּד֑וֹל כֵּ֛ן (כדבריך) [כִּדְבָרְךָ֥] עָלֵ֖ינוּ לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ The entire congregation responded in a loud voice, “We must surely do just as you say.

אֲבָ֞ל הָעָ֥ם רָב֙ וְהָעֵ֣ת גְּשָׁמִ֔ים וְאֵ֥ין כֹּ֖חַ לַעֲמ֣וֹד בַּח֑וּץ וְהַמְּלָאכָ֗ה לֹֽא־לְי֤וֹם אֶחָד֙ וְלֹ֣א לִשְׁנַ֔יִם כִּֽי־הִרְבִּ֥ינוּ לִפְשֹׁ֖עַ בַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃ However, many people are involved, and it is the rainy season; it is not possible to remain out in the open, nor is this the work of a day or two, because we have transgressed extensively in this matter.

יַֽעַמְדוּ־נָ֣א שָׂ֠רֵ֠ינוּ לְֽכׇל־הַקָּהָ֞ל וְכֹ֣ל ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בֶּעָרֵ֗ינוּ הַהֹשִׁ֞יב נָשִׁ֤ים נׇכְרִיּוֹת֙ יָבֹא֙ לְעִתִּ֣ים מְזֻמָּנִ֔ים וְעִמָּהֶ֛ם זִקְנֵי־עִ֥יר וָעִ֖יר וְשֹׁפְטֶ֑יהָ עַ֠ד לְהָשִׁ֞יב חֲר֤וֹן אַף־אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ עַ֖ד לַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃ {ס}         Let our officers remain on behalf of the entire congregation, and all our townspeople who have brought home foreign women shall appear before them at scheduled times, together with the elders and judges of each town, in order to avert the burning anger of our God from us on this account.”

אַ֣ךְ יוֹנָתָ֧ן בֶּן־עֲשָׂהאֵ֛ל וְיַחְזְיָ֥ה בֶן־תִּקְוָ֖ה עָמְד֣וּ עַל־זֹ֑את וּמְשֻׁלָּ֛ם וְשַׁבְּתַ֥י הַלֵּוִ֖י עֲזָרֻֽם׃ Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah remained for this purpose, assisted by Meshullam and Shabbethai, the Levites.

וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן֮ בְּנֵ֣י הַגּוֹלָה֒ וַיִּבָּדְלוּ֩ עֶזְרָ֨א הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֲנָשִׁ֨ים רָאשֵׁ֧י הָאָב֛וֹת לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָ֖ם וְכֻלָּ֣ם בְּשֵׁמ֑וֹת וַיֵּשְׁב֗וּ בְּי֤וֹם אֶחָד֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִ֔י לְדַרְי֖וֹשׁ הַדָּבָֽר׃ The returning exiles did so. Ezra the priest and the men who were the chiefs of the ancestral clans—all listed by name—sequestered themselves on the first day of the tenth month to study the matter.

וַיְכַלּ֣וּ בַכֹּ֔ל אֲנָשִׁ֕ים הַהֹשִׁ֖יבוּ נָשִׁ֣ים נׇכְרִיּ֑וֹת עַ֛ד י֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ {פ}
By the first day of the first month they were done with all the men who had brought home foreign women.

וַיִּמָּצֵא֙ מִבְּנֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֹשִׁ֖יבוּ נָשִׁ֣ים נׇכְרִיּ֑וֹת מִבְּנֵ֨י יֵשׁ֤וּעַ בֶּן־יֽוֹצָדָק֙ וְאֶחָ֔יו מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ וֶֽאֱלִיעֶ֔זֶר וְיָרִ֖יב וּגְדַלְיָֽה׃ Among the priestly families who were found to have brought foreign women were Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.

וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ יָדָ֖ם לְהוֹצִ֣יא נְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם וַאֲשֵׁמִ֥ים אֵֽיל־צֹ֖אן עַל־אַשְׁמָתָֽם׃ {ס}         They gave their word^bLit. “hand.” to expel their wives and, acknowledging their guilt, offered a ram from the flock to expiate it.

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י אִמֵּ֔ר חֲנָ֖נִי וּזְבַדְיָֽה׃ {ס}         Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah;

וּמִבְּנֵ֖י חָרִ֑ם מַעֲשֵׂיָ֤ה וְאֵֽלִיָּה֙ וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה וִיחִיאֵ֖ל וְעֻזִּיָּֽה׃ {ס}         of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah;

וּמִבְּנֵ֖י פַּשְׁח֑וּר אֶלְיוֹעֵינַ֤י מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל נְתַנְאֵ֔ל יוֹזָבָ֖ד וְאֶלְעָשָֽׂה׃ {ס}         of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah;

וּמִֽן־הַלְוִיִּ֑ם יוֹזָבָ֣ד וְשִׁמְעִ֗י וְקֵֽלָיָה֙ ה֣וּא קְלִיטָ֔א פְּתַֽחְיָ֥ה יְהוּדָ֖ה וֶאֱלִיעֶֽזֶר׃ {ס}         of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah who is Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

וּמִן־הַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים אֶלְיָשִׁ֑יב וּמִן־הַשֹּׁ֣עֲרִ֔ים שַׁלֻּ֥ם וָטֶ֖לֶם וְאוּרִֽי׃ {ס}         Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

וּמִֽיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִבְּנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֡שׁ רַ֠מְיָ֠ה וְיִזִּיָּ֤ה וּמַלְכִּיָּה֙ וּמִיָּמִ֣ן וְאֶלְעָזָ֔ר וּמַלְכִּיָּ֖ה וּבְנָיָֽה׃ {ס}         Of the Israelites: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah;

וּמִבְּנֵ֖י עֵילָ֑ם מַתַּנְיָ֤ה זְכַרְיָה֙ וִיחִיאֵ֣ל וְעַבְדִּ֔י וִירֵמ֖וֹת וְאֵלִיָּֽה׃ {ס}         of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah;

וּמִבְּנֵ֖י זַתּ֑וּא אֶלְיוֹעֵנַ֤י אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ מַתַּנְיָ֣ה וִֽירֵמ֔וֹת וְזָבָ֖ד וַעֲזִיזָֽא׃ {ס}         of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza;

וּמִבְּנֵ֖י בֵּבָ֑י יְהוֹחָנָ֥ן חֲנַנְיָ֖ה זַבַּ֥י עַתְלָֽי׃ {ס}         of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai;

וּמִבְּנֵ֖י בָּנִ֑י מְשֻׁלָּ֤ם מַלּוּךְ֙ וַעֲדָיָ֔ה יָשׁ֖וּב וּשְׁאָ֥ל (ירמות) [וְרָמֽוֹת]׃ {ס}         of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Ramoth;

וּמִבְּנֵ֛י פַּחַ֥ת מוֹאָ֖ב עַדְנָ֣א וּכְלָ֑ל בְּנָיָ֤ה מַעֲשֵׂיָה֙ מַתַּנְיָ֣ה בְצַלְאֵ֔ל וּבִנּ֖וּי וּמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃ {ס}         of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh;

וּבְנֵ֖י חָרִ֑ם אֱלִיעֶ֧זֶר יִשִּׁיָּ֛ה מַלְכִּיָּ֖ה שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃ {ס}         of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, and Shimeon;

בִּנְיָמִ֥ן מַלּ֖וּךְ שְׁמַרְיָֽה׃ {ס}         also Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah;

מִבְּנֵ֖י חָשֻׁ֑ם מַתְּנַ֤י מַתַּתָּה֙ זָבָ֣ד אֱלִיפֶ֔לֶט יְרֵמַ֥י מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה שִׁמְעִֽי׃ {ס}         of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei;

מִבְּנֵ֣י בָנִ֔י מַעֲדַ֥י עַמְרָ֖ם וְאוּאֵֽל׃ {ס}         of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel;

בְּנָיָ֥ה בֵדְיָ֖ה (כלוהי) [כְּלֽוּהוּ]׃ {ס}         also Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhu,

וַנְיָ֥ה מְרֵמ֖וֹת אֶלְיָשִֽׁיב׃ {ס}         Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

מַתַּנְיָ֥ה מַתְּנַ֖י (ויעשו) [וְיַעֲשָֽׂי]׃ {ס}         Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasai,

וּבָנִ֥י וּבִנּ֖וּי שִׁמְעִֽי׃ {ס}         Bani, Binnui, Shimei,

וְשֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֥ה וְנָתָ֖ן וַעֲדָיָֽה׃ {ס}         Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,

מַכְנַדְבַ֥י שָׁשַׁ֖י שָׁרָֽי׃ {ס}         Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

עֲזַרְאֵ֥ל וְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֖הוּ שְׁמַרְיָֽה׃ {ס}         Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

שַׁלּ֥וּם אֲמַרְיָ֖ה יוֹסֵֽף׃ {ס}         Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph;

מִבְּנֵ֖י נְב֑וֹ יְעִיאֵ֤ל מַתִּתְיָה֙ זָבָ֣ד זְבִינָ֔א (ידו) [יַדַּ֥י] וְיוֹאֵ֖ל בְּנָיָֽה׃ of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

כׇּל־אֵ֕לֶּה (נשאי) [נָשְׂא֖וּ] נָשִׁ֣ים נׇכְרִיּ֑וֹת וְיֵ֣שׁ מֵהֶ֣ם נָשִׁ֔ים וַיָּשִׂ֖ימוּ בָּנִֽים׃ {פ}
All these had married foreign women, among whom were some women ^cMeaning of Heb. uncertain.who had borne children.^-c