Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

These are the leaders from their ancestral households who accompanied me from Babylon in the reign of King Artaxerxes. Of the sons of Phinehas, there was Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush.

Of the sons of Shecaniah, Zechariah, from the family of Parosh, was counted with 150 males in his genealogy. From Pahathmoab's line, Elihoenai son of Zerahiah brought two hundred males. Of the sons of Shechaniah, three hundred males followed Jahaziel's son. The descendants of Adin included Ebed, Jonathan's son, who brought fifty males.

The sons of Elam were accompanied by seventy males, led by Jeshaiah, Athaliah's son. From Shephatiah's line came Zebadiah, Michael's son, with eighty males. Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah, Jehiel's son, was counted with 218 males. The descendants of Shelomith had 160 males from Josiphiah's family.

From Bebai's line, Zechariah brought twenty-eight males. The sons of Azgad were accompanied by Johanan, Hakkatan's son, with 110 males. Of the last sons of Adonikam, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah had sixty males. From Bigvai's family came Uthai and Zabbud, who brought seventy males.

I gathered them together at the river that flows to Ahava and camped in tents for three days. I inspected the people and the priests but found none of the sons of Levi. So, I sent respected leaders – Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Nathan, Zechariah, Meshullam, Joiarib, and Elnathan – to Iddo at Casiphia.

I told them what to say to him and his brothers, the Nethinims: "Ask them to send us ministers for the house of our God." And by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought Sherebiah with 18 sons and brethren, Hashabiah with Jeshaiah from Merari's family, who had 20 brethren and sons. Also, two hundred and twenty temple servants were identified for service in the Levites' place.

Then I proclaimed a fast at the river of Ahava so we might humble ourselves before our God to seek a right way for us, our little ones, and all our substance. I was ashamed to ask the king for a military escort because we had told him that God's hand is upon those who seek him, while his power and wrath are against those who forsake him.

We fasted and prayed to our God, and he was pleased with us. So, I designated 12 chief priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren. We weighed silver, gold, and vessels from the offering that the king, his counselors, lords, and all Israel had given for the house of our God.

I gave them 650 talents of silver, 100 talents of silver vessels, and 100 talents of gold. There were also twenty basins of gold weighing a thousand drams and two fine copper vessels precious as gold. These vessels are holy to the Lord, along with the silver and gold – they are a freewill offering to the Lord God of our fathers.

You must watch over them until you weigh them before the leaders in Jerusalem at the house of the Lord. The priests and Levites took charge of weighing the silver, gold, and vessels for transport to Jerusalem.

We departed from Ahava's river on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. Our God's hand was upon us, delivering us from enemy grasp and those who lay in wait along the way. We arrived in Jerusalem and stayed for three days.

On the fourth day, the silver, gold, and vessels were weighed in our God's house by Meremoth son of Uriah with Eleazar son of Phinehas, Jozabad son of Jeshua, and Noadiah son of Binnui, Levites. They recorded every weight at that time.

The children who had come out of captivity offered burnt offerings to Israel's God – 12 bulls for the nation, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 goats as a sin offering; all this was a burnt offering unto the Lord.

We delivered the king's commissions to local governors on both sides of the river, supporting the people and God's house.