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Old Testament:  Ezra 6-8

Ezra 6

Darius Approves the Rebuilding
 1  So King Darius issued orders that a search be made in the Babylonian archives, which were stored in the treasury.  2  But it was at the fortress at Ecbatana in the province of Media that a scroll was found. This is what it said:

 3  "Memorandum:
  "In the first year of King Cyrus's reign, a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem.
  "Let the Temple be rebuilt on the site where Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundations. Its height will be ninety feet, and its width will be ninety feet. [3]   4  Every three layers of specially prepared stones will be topped by a layer of timber. All expenses will be paid by the royal treasury.  5  Furthermore, the gold and silver cups, which were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, must be returned to Jerusalem and put back where they belong. Let them be taken back to the Temple of God."

 6  So King Darius sent this message:

"Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, [6]  and Shethar-bozenai, and your colleagues and other officials west of the Euphrates River—stay away from there!  7  Do not disturb the construction of the Temple of God. Let it be rebuilt on its original site, and do not hinder the governor of Judah and the elders of the Jews in their work.
   8  "Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted.
   9  "Give the priests in Jerusalem whatever is needed in the way of young bulls, rams, and male lambs for the burnt offerings presented to the God of heaven. And without fail, provide them with as much wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil as they need each day.  10  Then they will be able to offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the welfare of the king and his sons.
   11  "Those who violate this decree in any way will have a beam pulled from their house. Then they will be tied to it and flogged, and their house will be reduced to a pile of rubble. [11]   12  May the God who has chosen the city of Jerusalem as the place to honor his name destroy any king or nation that violates this command and destroys this Temple.
  "I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed with all diligence."

The Temple's Dedication
 13  Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues complied at once with the command of King Darius.  14  So the Jewish elders continued their work, and they were greatly encouraged by the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. The Temple was finally finished, as had been commanded by the God of Israel and decreed by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, the kings of Persia.  15  The Temple was completed on March 12, [15]  during the sixth year of King Darius's reign.
   16  The Temple of God was then dedicated with great joy by the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the people who had returned from exile.  17  During the dedication ceremony for the Temple of God, 100 young bulls, 200 rams, and 400 male lambs were sacrificed. And 12 male goats were presented as a sin offering for the twelve tribes of Israel.  18  Then the priests and Levites were divided into their various divisions to serve at the Temple of God in Jerusalem, as prescribed in the Book of Moses.

Celebration of Passover
 19  On April 21 [19]  the returned exiles celebrated Passover.  20  The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were ceremonially clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves.  21  The Passover meal was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile and by the others in the land who had turned from their immoral customs to worship the LORD, the God of Israel.  22  Then they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There was great joy throughout the land because the LORD had caused the king of Assyria [22]  to be favorable to them, so that he helped them to rebuild the Temple of God, the God of Israel.

Ezra 7

Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem
 1  Many years later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, [1]  there was a man named Ezra. He was the son [1]  of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,  2  son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,  3  son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son [3]  of Meraioth,  4  son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,  5  son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest. [5]   6  This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the LORD his God was on him.  7  Some of the people of Israel, as well as some of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants, traveled up to Jerusalem with him in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes' reign.
   8  Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August of that year.  9  He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the new year, [9]  and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4, [9]  for the gracious hand of his God was on him.  10  This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.

Artaxerxes' Letter to Ezra
 11  King Artaxerxes had given a copy of the following letter to Ezra, the priest and scribe who studied and taught the commands and decrees of the LORD to Israel:

 12   [12] "From Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the teacher of the law of the God of heaven. Greetings
   13  "I decree that any of the people of Israel in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may volunteer to return to Jerusalem with you.  14  I and my council of seven hereby instruct you to conduct an inquiry into the situation in Judah and Jerusalem, based on your God's law, which is in your hand.  15  We also commission you to take with you silver and gold, which we are freely presenting as an offering to the God of Israel who lives in Jerusalem.
   16  "Furthermore, you are to take any silver and gold that you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the voluntary offerings of the people and the priests that are presented for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem.  17  These donations are to be used specifically for the purchase of bulls, rams, male lambs, and the appropriate grain offerings and liquid offerings, all of which will be offered on the altar of the Temple of your God in Jerusalem.  18  Any silver and gold that is left over may be used in whatever way you and your colleagues feel is the will of your God.
   19  "But as for the cups we are entrusting to you for the service of the Temple of your God, deliver them all to the God of Jerusalem.  20  If you need anything else for your God's Temple or for any similar needs, you may take it from the royal treasury.
   21  "I, Artaxerxes the king, hereby send this decree to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River [21] : `You are to give Ezra, the priest and teacher of the law of the God of heaven, whatever he requests of you.  22  You are to give him up to 7,500 pounds [22]  of silver, 500 bushels [22]  of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of olive oil, [22]  and an unlimited supply of salt.  23  Be careful to provide whatever the God of heaven demands for his Temple, for why should we risk bringing God's anger against the realm of the king and his sons?  24  I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.'
   25  "And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God's laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it.  26  Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment."

Ezra Praises the LORD
 27  Praise the LORD, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem!  28  And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the LORD my God was on me. And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.

Ezra 8

Exiles Who Returned with Ezra
 1  Here is a list of the family leaders and the genealogies of those who came with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:

 2  From the family of Phinehas: Gershom.
From the family of Ithamar: Daniel.
From the family of David: Hattush,  3  a descendant of Shecaniah.
From the family of Parosh: Zechariah and 150 other men were registered.
 4  From the family of Pahath-moab: Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah and 200 other men.
 5  From the family of Zattu [5] : Shecaniah son of Jahaziel and 300 other men.
 6  From the family of Adin: Ebed son of Jonathan and 50 other men.
 7  From the family of Elam: Jeshaiah son of Athaliah and 70 other men.
 8  From the family of Shephatiah: Zebadiah son of Michael and 80 other men.
 9  From the family of Joab: Obadiah son of Jehiel and 218 other men.
 10  From the family of Bani [10] : Shelomith son of Josiphiah and 160 other men.
 11  From the family of Bebai: Zechariah son of Bebai and 28 other men.
 12  From the family of Azgad: Johanan son of Hakkatan and 110 other men.
 13  From the family of Adonikam, who came later [13] : Eliphelet, Jeuel, Shemaiah, and 60 other men.
 14  From the family of Bigvai: Uthai, Zaccur, [14]  and 70 other men.

Ezra's Journey to Jerusalem
 15  I assembled the exiles at the Ahava Canal, and we camped there for three days while I went over the lists of the people and the priests who had arrived. I found that not one Levite had volunteered to come along.  16  So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders of the people. I also sent for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of discernment.  17  I sent them to Iddo, the leader of the Levites at Casiphia, to ask him and his relatives and the Temple servants to send us ministers for the Temple of God at Jerusalem.
   18  Since the gracious hand of our God was on us, they sent us a man named Sherebiah, along with eighteen of his sons and brothers. He was a very astute man and a descendant of Mahli, who was a descendant of Levi son of Israel. [18]   19  They also sent Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and twenty of his sons and brothers,  20  and 220 Temple servants. The Temple servants were assistants to the Levites—a group of Temple workers first instituted by King David and his officials. They were all listed by name.
   21  And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled.  22  For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen [22]  to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, "Our God's hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him."  23  So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.
   24  I appointed twelve leaders of the priests—Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten other priests—  25  to be in charge of transporting the silver, the gold, the gold bowls, and the other items that the king, his council, his officials, and all the people of Israel had presented for the Temple of God.  26  I weighed the treasure as I gave it to them and found the totals to be as follows:

24 tons [26]  of silver,
7,500 pounds [26]  of silver articles,
7,500 pounds of gold,
 27  20 gold bowls, equal in value to 1,000 gold coins, [27] 
2 fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold.

   28  And I said to these priests, "You and these treasures have been set apart as holy to the LORD. This silver and gold is a voluntary offering to the LORD, the God of our ancestors.  29  Guard these treasures well until you present them to the leading priests, the Levites, and the leaders of Israel, who will weigh them at the storerooms of the LORD's Temple in Jerusalem."  30  So the priests and the Levites accepted the task of transporting these treasures of silver and gold to the Temple of our God in Jerusalem.
   31  We broke camp at the Ahava Canal on April 19 [31]  and started off to Jerusalem. And the gracious hand of our God protected us and saved us from enemies and bandits along the way.  32  So we arrived safely in Jerusalem, where we rested for three days.
   33  On the fourth day after our arrival, the silver, gold, and other valuables were weighed at the Temple of our God and entrusted to Meremoth son of Uriah the priest and to Eleazar son of Phinehas, along with Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui—both of whom were Levites.  34  Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the total weight was officially recorded.
   35  Then the exiles who had come out of captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel. They presented twelve bulls for all the people of Israel, as well as ninety-six rams and seventy-seven male lambs. They also offered twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was given as a burnt offering to the LORD.  36  The king's decrees were delivered to his highest officers and the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, [36]  who then cooperated by supporting the people and the Temple of God.
<<  6:3 Aramaic Its height will be 60 cubits [27.6 meters], and its width will be 60 cubits. It is commonly held that this verse should be emended to read: "Its height will be 30 cubits [45 feet, or 13.8 meters], its length will be 60 cubits [90 feet, or 27.6 meters], and its width will be 20 meters [30 feet, or 9.2 meters]"; compare 1 Kgs 6:2. The emendation regarding the width is supported by the Syriac version.
<<  6:6 Aramaic the province beyond the river; also in 6:6b, 8, 13.
<<  6:11 Aramaic a dunghill.
<<  6:15 Aramaic on the third day of the month Adar, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. A number of events in Ezra can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Persian records and related accurately to our modern calendar. This day was March 12, 515 <%=ftSC%>B.C.
<<  6:19 Hebrew On the fourteenth day of the first month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was April 21, 515 <%=ftSC%>B.C.; also see note on 6:15.
<<  6:22 King Darius of Persia is here identified as the king of Assyria because Persia had conquered the Babylonian Empire, which included the earlier Assyrian Empire.
<<  7:1a Artaxerxes reigned 465–424 <%=ftSC%>B.C. 7:1b Or descendant; see 1 Chr 6:14.
<<  7:3 Or descendant; see 1 Chr 6:6-10.
<<  7:5 Or the first priest.
<<  7:8 Hebrew in the fifth month. This month in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred within the months of August and September 458 <%=ftSC%>B.C.
<<  7:9a Hebrew on the first day of the first month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was April 8, 458 <%=ftSC%>B.C.; also see note on 6:15. 7:9b Hebrew on the first day of the fifth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was August 4, 458 <%=ftSC%>B.C.; also see note on 6:15.
<<  7:12 The original text of 7:12-26 is in Aramaic.
<<  7:21 Aramaic the province beyond the river; also in 7:25.
<<  7:22a Aramaic 100 talents [3,400 kilograms]. 7:22b Aramaic 100 cors [18.2 kiloliters]. 7:22c Aramaic 100 baths [2.1 kiloliters] of wine, 100 baths of olive oil.
<<  8:5 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Esdras 8:32); Hebrew lacks Zattu.
<<  8:10 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Esdras 8:36); Hebrew lacks Bani.
<<  8:13 Or who were the last of his family.
<<  8:14 As in Greek and Syriac versions and an alternate reading of the Masoretic Text; the other alternate reads Zabbud.
<<  8:18 Israel is the name that God gave to Jacob.
<<  8:22 Or charioteers.
<<  8:26a Hebrew 650 talents [22 metric tons]. 8:26b Hebrew 100 talents [3,400 kilograms]; also in 8:26c.
<<  8:27 Hebrew 1,000 darics, about 19 pounds or 8.6 kilograms in weight.
<<  8:31 Hebrew on the twelfth day of the first month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was April 19, 458 <%=ftSC%>B.C.; also see note on 6:15.
<<  8:36 Hebrew the province beyond the river.

New Testament:  John 21

John 21

Epilogue: Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
 1  Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. [1]  This is how it happened.  2  Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), [2]  Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
   3  Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing."
  "We'll come, too," they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
   4  At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was.  5  He called out, "Fellows, [5]  have you caught any fish?"
  "No," they replied.
   6  Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get some!" So they did, and they couldn't haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.    7  Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.  8  The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards [8]  from shore.  9  When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
   10  "Bring some of the fish you've just caught," Jesus said.  11  So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn't torn.
   12  "Now come and have some breakfast!" Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.  13  Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.  14  This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
   15  After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.    16  Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
  "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you."
  "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said.
   17  A third time he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep."    18  "I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others [18]  will dress you and take you where you don't want to go."  19  Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow me."
   20  Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, "Lord, who will betray you?"  21  Peter asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord?"
   22  Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me."  23  So the rumor spread among the community of believers [23]  that this disciple wouldn't die. But that isn't what Jesus said at all. He only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"
   24  This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.
   25  Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.
<<  21:1 Greek Sea of Tiberias, another name for the Sea of Galilee.
<<  21:2 Greek Thomas, who was called Didymus.
<<  21:5 Greek Children.
<<  21:8 Greek 200 cubits [90 meters].
<<  21:15 Or more than these others do?
<<  21:18 Some manuscripts read and another one.
<<  21:23 Greek the brothers.

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