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.
I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, the leading men, and also for Joiarib and Elnathan, the instructors,
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.
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 Sherebiahband Sherebiah Or “namely, Sherebiah,…” and his sons and brothers, 18 in all,
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויביאו
35
לנו
86
כידאלהינו
136
הטובה
27
עלינו
166
איש
311
שכלסמבני
512
מחלי
88
בןלוי
98
בןישראל
593
ושרביה
523
ובניו
74
ואחיו
31
שמנה
395
עשר
570
Ezra 8:19
Gematria: 2910
ואתחשביהואתוישעיהמבנימרריאחיוובניהםעשריםס
and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the family of Merari, his brothers and their sons, 20 in all;
I proclaimed a fast there by the Ahava River to afflict ourselves before our God and to plead for a smooth journey for us and for our children and for all our possessions;
for I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and cavalry to protect us against any enemy on the way, since we had told the king, “Our God shows benevolent care for all seekers, but fierce anger against all deserters.”
Word-by-Word Analysis
כי
30
בשתי
712
לשאול
367
מןהמלך
185
חיל
48
ופרשים
636
לעזרנו
363
מאויב
59
בדרך
226
כיאמרנו
327
למלך
120
לאמר
271
ידאלהינו
116
עלכלמבקשיו
608
לטובה
52
ועזו
89
ואפו
93
על
100
כלעזביו
145
Ezra 8:23
Gematria: 2082
ונצומהונבקשהמאלהינועלזאתויעתרלנו
So we fasted and besought our God for this, and our plea was answered.
and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels, the contribution to the House of our God that the king, his counselors and officers, and all Israel who were present had made.
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;
I said to them, “You are consecrated to GOD, and the vessels are consecrated, and the silver and gold are a freewill offering to the ETERNAL God of your ancestors.
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 GOD.”
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.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ונסעה
191
מנהר
295
אהוא
13
בשנים
402
עשר
570
לחדש
342
הראשון
562
ללכת
480
ירושלם
586
וידאלהינו
122
היתה
420
עלינו
166
ויצילנו
202
מכף
140
אויב
19
ואורב
215
עלהדרך
329
Ezra 8:32
Gematria: 2084
ונבואירושלםונשבשםימיםשלשה
We arrived in Jerusalem and stayed there three days.
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.
Word-by-Word Analysis
וביום
64
הרביעי
297
נשקל
480
הכסף
165
והזהב
25
והכלים
111
בבית
414
אלהינו
102
על
100
ידמרמות
700
בןאוריה
274
הכהן
80
ועמו
122
אלעזר
308
בןפינחס
260
ועמהם
161
יוזבד
29
בןישוע
438
ונועדיה
151
בןבנוי
120
הלוים
91
Ezra 8:34
Gematria: 2470
במספרבמשקללכלויכתבכלהמשקלבעתההיאפ
Everything accorded as to number and weight, the entire cargo being recorded at that time.
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 GOD.
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.