圣经-旧约天主教思高圣经)

http://www.tianzhujiao.org/bible

Chinese-English Bible http://www.6art.net/sj

不认识圣经,就是不认识基督,不认识基督,就是不认识基督所建立的天主教会。

 

旧约·厄斯德拉上

10:

 

第一章(11)

居鲁士颁发上谕
1:1 波斯王居鲁士元年,为应验上主借耶肋米亚的口所说的话,上主感动了波斯王居鲁士的心,叫他出一道号令,并向全国颁发上谕说:
1:2 「波斯王居鲁士这样说:上天的神「雅威」将地上万国交给了我,嘱咐我在犹大的耶路撒冷,为他建筑一座殿宇。
1:3 你们中间凡作他子民的,愿他的神与他同在,上犹大的耶路撒冷,建筑以色列的神「雅威」的──殿宇他是在耶路撒冷的神。
1:4 所有的遗民,无论侨居在地方,那地方的人都应捐助金银、货财、牲畜,以及自愿的献仪,为那在耶路撒冷的神修建殿宇」。起程归国
1:5 于是,犹大和本雅明的族长、司祭、肋未人,以及那些受天主感动了心的人,就起身上去,要建筑耶路撒冷的上主的殿宇;
1:6 四邻八舍都拿出所有的金银、货财、牲畜和珠宝协助他们,此外还有各种自愿的献仪。
1:7 居鲁士王也将上主殿内的器皿交出,即先前拿步高从耶路撒冷掠夺而放在他神殿里的器皿,
1:8 波斯王居鲁士命司库官米特达特,将那些东西拿出,点交给犹太人的首领舍士巴匝,
1:9 共计金盆三十,银盆一千,刀子二十九,
1:10 金碗三十,次等银碗四百一十,其他器皿一千:
1:11 一切金银器皿,共五千四百件。舍市巴匝就带著这一切与充军的人,从巴比伦回了耶路撒冷。

 

 

第二章(70)

归国的领导人
2:1
以下是由被掳充军回国本省子民,即当初巴比伦王拿步高掳据往巴比伦去的人,如今回到耶路撒冷和犹大,各回了本城。
2:2 他们同则鲁巴贝耳、耶叔亚、乃赫米雅、色辣雅、勒厄拉雅、纳哈玛尼、摩尔德开、彼耳商、米斯帕尔、彼革外、勒洪、巴阿纳一起回来了。平民人数

以下是以色列人男子的数目:
2:3 帕洛士的子孙,二千一百七十二名;
2:4 舍法提雅的子孙,三百七十二名;
2:5 阿辣黑的子孙,七百七十五名;
2:6 帕哈特摩阿布的子孙,即耶叔亚和约阿布的子孙,二千八百一十二名;
2:7 厄蓝的子孙,一千二百五十四名;
2:8 匝突的子孙,九百四十五名;
2:9 匝凯的子孙,七百六十名;
2:10 巴尼的子孙,六百四十二名;
2:11 贝拜的子孙,六百二十三名;
2:12 阿次加得的子孙,一千二百二十二名;
2:13 阿多尼干的子孙,六百六十六名;
2:14 彼革外的子孙,二千零五十六名;
2:15 阿丁的子孙,四百五十四名;
2:16 阿特尔的子孙,即希则克雅的子孙,九十八名;
2:17 贝宰的子孙,三百二十三名;
2:18 约辣的子孙,一百一十二名;
2:19 哈雄的子孙,二百二十三名;
2:20 基巴尔的子孙,九十五名;
2:21 白冷人一百二十三名;
2:22 乃托法人五十六名;
2:23 阿纳托特人一百二十八名;
2:24 阿次玛委特人四十二名;
2:25 克黎雅特耶阿陵人、革非辣人和贝洛特人,共七百四十三名;
2:26 辣玛人和革巴人,共六百二十一名;
2:27 米革玛斯人一百二十二名;
2:28 贝特耳和哈依人,共二百二十三名;
2:29 乃波人五十二名;
2:30 玛革彼士人一百五十六名;
2:31 另一厄蓝的子孙,一千二百五十四名;
2:32 哈陵的子孙,三百二十名;
2:33 罗得人、哈狄得人和敖诺人,共七百二十五名,
2:34 耶利哥人三百四十五名;
2:35 色纳阿人三千六百三十名。

司祭人数
2:36
司祭:有耶达雅的子孙,即耶叔亚家族,九百七十三名;
2:37 依默尔的子孙,一千零五十二名;
2:38 帕市胡尔的子孙,一千二百四十七名;
2:39 哈陵的子孙,一千零一十七名。

肋未人数
2:40
肋未人:曷达委雅的后裔,耶叔亚和卡德米耳的子孙,共七十四名。
2:41 歌咏员:阿撒夫的子孙,一百二十八名;
2:42 门丁:有沙隆的子孙,阿特尔的子孙,塔耳孟的子孙,阿谷布的子孙,哈提达的子孙,芍拜的子孙,,共一百三十九名。

献身者
2:43
献身者:有漆哈的子孙,哈稣法的子孙,塔巴敖特的子孙,
2:44 刻洛斯的子孙,息阿哈的子孙,帕冬的子孙,
2:45 肋巴纳的子孙,哈加色的子孙,阿谷布的子孙,
2:46 哈加布的子孙,沙默来的子孙,哈南的子孙,
2:47 基德耳的子孙,加哈尔的子孙,勒阿雅的子孙,
2:48 勒斤的子孙,乃科达的子孙,加仓的子孙,
2:49 乌匝的子孙,帕色亚的子孙,贝赛的子孙,
2:50 阿斯纳的子孙,默乌宁的子孙,乃非心的子孙,
2:51 巴步刻的子孙,哈谷法的子孙,哈尔胡尔的子孙,
2:52 巴兹路特的子孙,默希达的子孙,哈尔沙的子孙,
2:53 巴尔科斯的子孙,息色辣的子孙,特玛赫的子孙,
2:54 漆亚的子孙,哈提法的子孙。

撒罗满的仆役
2:55
撒罗满的仆役的子孙:有索泰的子孙,索费勒特的子孙,培鲁达的子孙,
2:56 雅阿拉的子孙,达尔孔的子孙,基德耳的子孙,
2:57 舍法提雅的子孙,哈提耳的子孙,颇革勒特责巴因的子孙,阿米的子孙,
2:58 所有献身者和撒罗满的仆役的子孙,共计三百九十二名。

家世不明者
2:59
以下这些人,是由特耳默拉、特耳哈尔沙、革鲁布、阿丹和依默尔上来,而不能说出自己的家族和族系,是否出自以色列的:
2:60 有德拉雅的子孙,托彼雅的子孙,乃科达的子孙,共计六百五十二名。
2:61 由司祭的的子孙中,有哈巴雅的子孙,哈科兹的子孙,巴尔齐来的子孙,──巴尔齐来娶了基肋阿得人巴尔齐来的女儿为妻,也取了他的名字。
2:62 他们查考登记的祖谱,却没有找着自己的名字,所以他们由司祭中革除了。
2:63 省长指令他们,不准他们享用至圣之物,直到有位大司祭带「乌陵」和「突明」出来解决。

总数
2:64
全会众共计四万二千三百六十人,
2:65 仆婢七千三百三十七人在外;还有歌咏的男女二百名。
2:66 此外,尚有马七百三十六匹,骡子二百四十五匹,
2:67 骆驼四百三十五匹,驴六千七百二十匹。

献仪
2:68 有些族长,一来到耶路撒冷上主的殿宇,就自愿为天主的殿宇献款,好在原处重建行修。
2:69 他们遂按自己的力量,捐献了六万一千金「达理克」,五千银「玛纳」,一百件司祭畏衣,作为建筑的基金。
2:70 司祭、肋未人、歌咏员、门丁、献身者和一部分人民,住在耶路撒冷;其余以色列人,各住在本城内。

 

 

第三章(13)

建立祭坛
3:1
到了七月,当时住在各城里的以色列子民,全都一起聚集在耶路撒冷。
3:2 约匝达克的儿子耶叔亚,和他的兄弟司祭们,以及沙耳提耳的儿子则鲁巴贝耳,和他的兄弟们,于是下手修建以色列天主的祭坛,要按天主的人梅瑟在法律上所写的,在上面奉献全燔祭。
3:3 不论本地人民怎样恐吓,他们仍在原处重建了祭坛,向上主献了全燔祭,即每日早晚的全燔祭;
3:4 按照规定举行了帐棚节,每天依照法定数目奉献全燔祭;
3:5 以后,献了恒常祭,并在月朔、安息日和一切祝圣于上主的庆日,献了全燔祭,和各人自愿向上主献的自愿祭。
3:6 从七月一日起,已开始向上主奉献全燔祭,虽然上主的殿宇当时尚未奠基,
3:7 却将银钱交给凿石匠和木匠,将食物饮料和油,供给那些从黎巴嫩由海上将香柏木运到约培来的漆冬人和提洛人,全照波斯王居鲁士所允许的。

圣殿奠基
3:8
他们来到耶路撒冷天主殿宇后的第二年二月,沙耳提耳的儿子则鲁巴贝耳,约匝达克的儿子耶叔亚,和他们其余的弟兄司祭及肋未人,以及所有由充军回到耶路撒冷的人,动了工,派定二十岁和二十岁以上的肋未人,监督建筑上主殿宇的工程。
3:9 耶叔亚和他的儿子们,以及他的兄弟们,卡德米耳和他的儿子们,以及曷达委雅的后裔,同心协力,监督那建筑天主殿宇的工人;还有赫纳达的儿子们,以及他们的儿子和弟兄肋未人。
3:10 工人们安放上主殿宇基础时,司祭身穿礼服,拿著号筒,阿撒夫的后裔肋未人拿著铙钹,各站在自己的地方,按以色列王达味制定的仪式,赞美上主,
3:11 彼此轮流唱歌赞美和感谢上主的诗歌:「因为他是圣善的,因为他对以色列的慈爱永远常存」。同时全体人民都大声欢呼,赞美上主,因为上主的殿宇已经奠基。
3:12 许多曾在这地基上,亲眼见过先前的圣殿的老司祭、老肋未人和老族长,面对这座圣殿,不禁放声大哭,却也有许多人欢喜高呼,
3:13 以致分不清是欢呼声或是哀哭声,因为民众都高声喊叫,这声音连远处都可听到。

 

 

第四章(24)

停工原因
4:1
犹大和本雅明的敌人,一听说充军回来的子民,为上主以色列的天主修建殿宇,
4:2 便来见则鲁巴贝耳、耶叔亚和族长,向他们说:「让我们同你们一同建筑罢!因为我们同你们一样,求问你们的天主;从亚述王厄撒哈冬,将我们带到这里之日起,我们即向他献祭」。
4:3 但是,则鲁巴贝耳、耶叔亚和以色列的族长,回答他们说:「你们不能同我们一起,给我们的天主修建殿宇,因为按波斯王居鲁士给我们出的命令,我们应单独给上主以色列的天主修建殿宇」。
4:4 时便有当地人来挫折犹大人民的勇气,扰乱他们的建筑的工程;
4:5 还买通了一些参议员,来反对反对他们,破坏他们的计划;整个波斯王居鲁士朝代,自始至终,直到波斯王达理阿朝代,常是如此。

控告犹太人奏文
4:6
在薛西斯朝代,在他登极之初,他们还写了诉状,控告犹大和耶路撒冷的居民。
4:7 阿塔薛西斯年间,彼舍蓝、米特达特、塔贝耳和其余的同僚,也曾上书于波斯王阿塔薛西斯;奏文是用阿刺美文字,也是用阿刺语言写的。
4:8 以後,勒洪总督和史默秘书,为耶路撒冷事,也曾上书于阿塔薛西斯王,其文如下:──
4:9 上书的是勒洪总督、史默瑟秘书和其余的同僚:即判官和钦差、波斯书记、厄勒客人。巴比伦人、叔商人即厄蓝人,
4:10 以及伟大和显贵的阿斯纳帕所遣来,安置在撒马黎雅城和河西其余地区的各民族??
11 以下是送于王的奏文副本:「你的臣仆,河西的人民上奏阿塔薛西斯王:
4:12 今上奏大王,前由大王那里上到我们这里来的犹太人,一到了那座作乱邪恶的耶路撒冷城,便大兴土木,修建城墙,现已打好基础。
4:13 今上奏大王,那城若的建成,城垣若是修完,他们便不再纳粮、出捐和完税了,如此於大王的国库必定有害。
4:14 现今我们既食王家的盐,自不应坐视大王受害,为此我们上奏,禀告大王:
4:15 请大王查阅先王记录,在记录上必会查出,从而知道这座城是座好乱的城,曾加害先王和各省;自古以来,其中常发生叛乱,故此才被毁灭。
4:16 为此我们奏明大王:如果那城建成,墙垣筑完,从此大王便没有河西的版图」。

君王的覆文
4:17
君王覆文如下:「愿勒洪总督、史默秘书、以及其余住在撒马黎雅的官员,和河西其余的人民平安:
4:18 你们呈来的奏文,已在我们前清楚诵读了。
4:19 我下命彻查,的确发现那座城,自古以来即违抗君王,其中常发生叛乱造反的事。
4:20 先前曾有英武的君王,治理过耶路撒冷,统辖过整个河西之地,人都给他们纳粮、出捐和完税。
4:21 所以现在,你们应发一道命令,叫这些人停工,不准修城,直到我们另发谕令。
4:22 你们应注意,对此不可疏忽,免得捐害加重,祸及君王」。

被迫停工
4:23
当阿塔薛西斯王的覆文副本,在勒洪、史默瑟秘书和他们同僚前,诵读之後,这些人就急速前往耶路撒冷,来到犹太人那里,用威胁和武力迫使他们停工。
4:24 于是耶路撒冷天主殿宇的工程,便停顿了,一直停到波斯王达理阿,在位第二年

 

 

第五章(17)

开工修殿
5:1
那时,有哈盖和依多的儿子匝加利亚二位先知,受感动奉以色列天主的名,劝勉在犹大和的犹太人。
5:2 于是沙耳提耳的儿子则鲁巴贝耳,和约匝达克的儿子耶叔亚起来,下手修建耶路撒冷的天主殿宇;身边有天主的二位先知,鼓励人民。

干涉再起
5:3
当时,河西州长塔特乃和舍达波则乃,以及他们的同僚,来到他们那里,问他们说:「谁给了你们许可,建筑这殿,修理城墙呢?
5:4 负责建筑这工程的人,他们叫什麽名字?」
5:5 于是天主垂顾了犹大人的长老,没有让人限令他们停工,直到上书达理阿,有了关于此事的覆文。

上奏达理阿
5:6
以下是河西州长塔特乃和舍达波则乃,以及他们在河西的同僚官员,上呈达理阿王奏文的副本。
5:7 他们向王所呈的奏文上这样写道:「达理阿陛下万安!
5:8 奉奏我大王,我们日前去过犹大省,到了伟大天主的殿宇那里,见那殿正在用一石块修建,墙上也在安放木板;这工程在他们手下,进行的非常快,又非常顺利。
5:9 我们询问了那些长老,这样问他们说:谁给了你们许可修建这殿,打奠墙基?
5:10 我们也询问了他们的名字,为奏知大王;所以我们能给陛下写出他们首领的名字。
5:11 他们如此答覆我们说:我们是天地大主的仆人,重修多年以前所修建的殿宇,这殿是一位以色列伟大的君王所建筑完成的。
5:12 但因为我们的祖先冒犯了上天的大主,他便把他们交在加色丁人巴比伦王拿步高手中,让他破坏了这座殿宇,将人民掳到巴比伦去。
5:13 然而,在巴比伦王居鲁士元年,居鲁士王颁发谕旨,令重建这座天主的殿宇。
5:14 居鲁士王且把拿步高从耶路撒冷殿内,带到巴比伦殿的天主殿宇的金银器皿,从巴比伦殿拿出来,交给了一个名叫市巴匝的,并立他为省长,
5:15 向他说:你将这些器皿带去,安放在耶路撒冷的殿内,并将天主的殿宇,重建在原来的地方。
5:16 于是这位舍市巴匝便来,安放了耶路撒冷的天主殿宇的基石;从那时修建至今,没有竣工。
5:17 现在大王若以为好,就派人彻查大王在巴比伦的宝库,看看是否居鲁士王,曾对重建耶路撒冷的天主殿宇,颁发过谕令,并祈大王对此事给我们颁下圣旨。

 

 

第六章(22)

发现谕文
6:1
达理阿王遂下令,彻查在巴比伦贮藏宝物的档案室。
6:2 在厄克巴塔纳,即在玛待省的王堡内,发现了一宗案卷,上边这样的记载:「备忘录:
6:3 居鲁士王元年,居鲁士王曾为耶路撒冷天主的殿宇,颁发上谕:殿宇应予重建,为在那里举行祭献,奉献火祭;殿应高六十肘,宽六十肘,
6:4 三层用方石,一层用木料修建;所有费用概出自王室。
6:5 此外,凡拿步高王取自耶路撒冷殿宇,而运到巴比伦的,天主殿宇的那些金银器皿,都应归还,送回耶路撒冷的殿宇内,各放在原处,安置在天主的殿宇内。

国王覆文
6:6
河西州长塔特乃舍达波则,乃以及你们河西的同僚官员,应退出那地,
6:7 不可干涉天主殿宇的工程,任凭犹太人的总督和犹太人的长老,在原处重建天主的殿宇。
6:8 此外,我且颁下此旨,谕令你们为协助犹太人的长老,修建天主的殿应行的事:由河西收入王室的赋税,给那些人拨出充分的经费,不得有误!
6:9 他们向上天大王,献全燔祭所需要是牛犊、公绵羊和羔羊,以及面、盐、酒和油,应按耶路撒冷的司祭所指定的,每天供应,不得有误!
6:10 好使他们向上天的大王,奉献馨香祭,为君王和王孙的长寿祈祷。
6:11 我今颁下此令:凡有敢删改此令者,应把他屋内的梁木拆出,坚起来,把他悬在上面;令他的房屋从此成为粪堆。
6:12 凡有敢伸手删改此令,对耶路撒冷的天主殿宇,敢於破坏的王侯和人民,愿那使己名住在那里的天主将他毁灭!我达理阿颁发此令,应悉依照遵行!」

圣殿竣工
6:13
于是河西长塔特乃,舍达波则和他们的同僚,全照达理阿王所颁布的,一一遵行。
6:14 犹太人的长老遂继续修建,因着先知哈盖,和依多的儿子匝加利亚的鼓励,进行的很是顺利;如此他们遵照以色列天主的旨意,并按照波斯王居鲁士和达理阿的谕令,完成了建殿的工程。
6:15 圣殿完工的日期,是在达理阿王在位第六年,「阿达尔」月初三日。

行奉献礼
6:16
以色列子民、司祭、肋未人和其余由充军归来的人,兴高彩烈,为天主的殿举行了奉献礼。
6:17 天主圣殿的奉献礼,奉献了牛犊一百头,公绵羊二百只,羔羊四百只;又照以色列支派的数目,奉献了十二只公山羊,为赎以色列叵的罪。
6:18 他们又派定了司祭,按照他们的编制,肋未人,按照他们的班次,在耶路撒冷值班奉侍天主,全照梅瑟书上所记载的。

举行逾越节
6:19
由充军归来的子民,于正月十四日,举行了逾越节。
6:20 肋未人全都圣洁了自己,他们既已圣洁了,就为所有充军归来的人,并为他们的兄弟司祭和自己,宰杀了逾越节羔羊。
6:21 凡由充军归来的以色列子民,并所有戒绝当地民族不洁的人,为寻求上主以色列的天主,都吃了逾越节羔羊。
6:22 七天之久,欢乐地举行了无酵节,因为上主使亚述王的心倾向他们,协助了他们修建以色列天主的圣殿,都非常欢乐。

 

 

第七章(28)

厄斯德拉家世
7:1
这些事以後,当波斯王阿塔薛西斯在位时,有位厄斯德拉,是色辣雅的儿子,色辣雅是阿匝黎雅的儿子,阿匝黎雅是希耳克雅的儿子,
7:2 希耳克雅是沙隆的儿子,沙隆是匝多克的儿子,匝多克是阿希突布是儿子,
7:3 阿希突布是阿玛黎雅的儿子,阿玛黎雅是阿匝黎雅的儿子,阿匝黎雅是默辣约特的儿子,
7:4 默辣约特是则辣希雅的儿子,则辣希雅是乌齐的儿子,乌齐是步克的儿子,
7:5 步克是阿彼叔亚的儿子,阿彼叔亚是丕乃哈斯的儿子,阿彼叔亚是厄肋阿匝尔的儿子,厄肋阿匝尔是大司祭亚郎的儿子。

厄斯德拉回国
7:6
这厄斯德拉是位经师,精通上主以色列的天主赐给梅瑟的法律。他因有上主他天主的助佑,君王准许了他所要求的一切,他遂从巴比伦起程。
7:7 与他同行的,还有一些以色列子民、司祭、肋未人、歌咏员、门丁和献身者;他们在阿塔薛西斯王第七年,上了耶路撒冷。
7:8 厄斯德拉在王当国第七年五月,到了耶路撒冷。
7:9 他决定由一月一日由巴比伦起程,赖他天主的助佑,五月一日到了耶路撒冷。
7:10 厄斯德拉专心致志研究上主的法律,心体力行,且在以色列人中教授法律和诫命。

国王的诏书
7:11
阿塔薛西斯王,颁给精通上主给以色列人的诫命和法律的司祭兼经师厄斯德拉的诏书,副本如下:
7:12 万王之王阿塔薛西斯,祝司祭兼上天大王的法律经师厄斯德拉安好:
7:13 我现今颁布此令:凡在我国土内的以色列人民,以及司祭和肋未人,有愿赴耶路撒冷的,可与你同去;
7:14 因为君王和七位参谋派遗你去,照你手中所持有的你天主的法律,视察犹大和耶路撒冷,
7:15 并带去君王和他的参谋,甘愿献于住在耶路撒冷的天主的金银,
7:16 以及你在巴比伦所获得的金银,和民众并司祭向耶路撒冷天主的殿宇,所自愿捐献的献仪。
7:17 为此,你可用这钱,费心去买牛犊、绵羊和羔羊,以及同献的素祭和奠祭的祭品,奉献在耶路撒冷你们天主殿内的祭坛上。
7:18 对于所余的金银,你和你的弟兄看着怎样作好,就按照你们天主的旨意去作。
7:19 至于交给你,为你天主的殿宇行敬礼时用的器皿,都应安置在耶路撒冷的天主前!
7:20 如你天主的殿另有需要,而你又必须备置,概由王家府库支付。
7:21 我阿塔薛西斯王,向河西众司库官颁布此令:凡厄斯德拉司祭兼上天大王的法律经师,向你所要求的,都应立即一一照办:
7:22 银子至一百「塔冷通」,麦子至一百「苛尔」,酒至一百「巴特」,油至一百「巴特」,盐无限制。
7:23 凡上天大主所命令的一切,都应为上天大主的殿一一遵行,免得义怒降在君王和他子孙的国土上。
7:24 我再通告你们:不得向所有司祭、肋未人、歌咏员、门丁、献身作殿役的,或在这天主殿内作侍役的,征收田赋、课捐和关税。
7:25 厄斯德拉,你要按手中所持的天主的法律,派定官吏和判官,治理河西所有的人民,即所有认识你天主法律的人民,凡不认识的,应加教导;
7:26 凡不遵守你天主的法律和君王的法律,应严加处分:或处死刑,或放逐,或财产充公,或徒刑」。

谢主颂
7:27
上主我们祖先的天主,应受赞美,因为他感动了君王的心,决意光荣耶路撒冷上主的殿宇,
7:28 使我在王和他的参谋前,以及在王所有的一切有权势的首长前,获得了宠幸。我因上主我天主的扶助,增加了勇气,遂召集以色列人的首领,与我一同起程。

 

 

第八章(36)

归国人数
8:1
在阿塔薛西斯在位期间,与我从巴比伦一同起程的族长,和他们的祖谱,记载如下:
8:2 丕乃哈斯的子孙,有革尔雄;依塔玛尔的子孙,有达尼耳;达味的子孙,有舍加尼雅的儿子哈突士,
8:3 帕洛士的子孙,有则加黎雅,同他登记的,有男子一百五十名;
8:4 帕哈特摩阿布的子孙,有则辣希雅的儿子厄里约乃,同他一起的,有男子二百名;
8:5 匝突的子孙,有雅哈齐耳的儿子舍加尼雅,同他一起的,有男子三百名;
8:6 阿丁的子孙,有约纳堂的儿子厄贝得,同他一起的,有男子五十名;
8:7 厄蓝的子孙,有阿塔里雅的儿子耶沙雅,同他一起的,有男子七十名;
8:8 舍法提雅的子孙,有米加耳的儿子则把狄雅,同他一起的,有男子八十名;
8:9 约阿布的子孙,有耶希耳的儿子敖巴狄雅,同他一起的,有男子二百一十八名;
8:10 巴尼的子孙,有约息非雅的儿子舍罗米特,同他一起的,有男子一百六十名;
8:11 贝拜的子孙,有贝拜的儿子则加黎雅,同他一起的,有男子二十八名;
8:12 阿次加得的子孙,有哈卡堂的儿子约哈南,同他一起的,有男子一百一十名;
8:13 阿多尼干的子孙,是最後来的,他们的名字是厄里培肋特、耶依耳和舍玛雅,同他们一起的,有男子六十名。
8:14 彼革外的子孙,有匝雇尔的儿子乌泰,同他一起的,有男子七十名。

召集肋未人
8:15
我将众人召集在流往阿哈瓦的河边,在那里住了三天;当我视察民众和司祭时,其中没有发现一个肋未人。
8:16 我遂派首领厄里厄则尔、阿黎耳、舍玛雅、厄耳纳堂、雅黎布、厄耳纳堂、纳堂、则加黎雅和默叔蓝通士约雅黎布和厄耳纳堂,
8:17 命他们到加息非雅地方的首领依多那里去,我并把他们应向那定居在加息非雅的依多和兄弟们,要说的话告诉了他们,好为我们天主的殿,给我们带来侍役。
8:18 赖我们天主慈悲的手对我们的扶助,他们由以色列的儿子肋未的后裔玛赫里的子孙中,给我们带来了一位明智人,就是舍勒彼雅,和他们儿子及兄弟,一共十八人;
8:19 还有哈沙彼雅,同他一起的,有默辣黎的子孙耶沙雅和他的兄弟及儿子,一共二十人;
8:20 还有达味和诸首长为服事肋未人所立的献身者,一共二百二十人;这些人全部都是登记了的。

准备起程
8:21
我遂在阿哈瓦河那里宣布禁食,在我们的天主前自谦自卑,祈求他使我们和我们的子孙,并我们的一切财物,一路平安;
8:22 因为我羞于请求君王派遗部队和骑兵,协助我们防御路上的仇敌,因为我们曾向君王说过:「凡寻求天主的人,他的手常加助佑;凡离弃他的人,他便施行强力和义怒」。
8:23 我们为此禁食,祈求我们的天主, 便俯听了我们。
8:24 我由司祭的首领选了十二人,又选了舍勒彼雅和哈沙彼雅,以及同他们在一起的十个兄弟,
8:25 把金银和器皿,即君王和他的参谋、首长,以及在那里所有的以色列人,奉献给我们天主殿的礼品,一一衡量了交给了他们。
8:26 我衡量了交在他们手中的,有银子六百五十「塔冷通」,银器一百「塔冷通」,金子一百「塔冷通」;
8:27 还有金碗二十个,值一千「达理克」;发亮的铜器两个,贵如黄金。
8:28 我向他们说:「你们在上主前是圣的,器皿也是圣的,金银是自愿献于上主你们祖先的天主,作礼品的。
8:29 你们要谨慎护守,直到在耶路撒冷,在上主殿宇的库房内,当著司祭和肋未人的首领,以及以色列众族长的面,衡量交清为止」。
8:30 司祭和肋未人,就把数点过的金银和器皿收下,带到耶路撒冷我们天主的殿内。

抵达圣城
8:31
一月十二日,我们从阿哈瓦河起程赴耶路撒冷,赖我们天主的手扶助,我们一路脱免了仇人和暗害者的手,
8:32 平安到了耶路撒冷,在那里休息了三天
8:33 第四日,在我们天主是殿内,衡量了金银和器皿,交给了乌利雅的儿子默勒摩特司祭,同他在一起的,还有丕乃哈斯的儿子厄肋阿匝尔,以及肋未人耶叔亚的儿子约匝巴得,和彼奴依的儿子诺阿狄雅,
8:34 每件点过称过,即将总数记录下来。
8:35 当时被掳充军回来的子民,向以色列的天主奉献了全燔祭,为全以色列奉献了牛犊十二头,公绵羊九十六只,羔羊七十二只,作赎罪祭的公山羊十二只:这一切都献给上主作全燔祭。
8:36 以后,他们向君王的州长和河西诸省长,呈上君王的谕令;他们便协助民众,资助天主的殿宇。

 

 

第九章(15)

对杂婚的悲愤
9:1
这些事完毕後,众首领来到我面前说:「以色列民众、司祭和肋未人在可耻的事上,并没有离开当地的人民:客纳罕人、希威人、培黎齐人、耶步斯人、阿孟人、摩阿布人、埃及人和阿摩黎人,
9:2 因为他们为自己和自己是儿子,娶了他们的女子,以致圣洁的苗裔,与当地的人民混合;尤其首长和官员,是这罪孽的魁首」。
9:3 我一听这话,便撕裂了我的衣服和外氅,拔我的头发和胡须,绝望地坐下。
9:4 当时凡对以色列天主的诫命起敬起畏的人,为了充军归来者的罪孽,都聚集在我周围,我绝望地坐着,直到晚祭。

认罪祈祷
9:5
到了献晚祭时,我悲愤中起来,仍穿著撕裂的衣服和外氅,双膝跪下,伸开双手向上主我的天主说:
9:6 「我的天主,我实觉惭愧!我的天主!我不敢向你仰面,因为我们的邪恶,积累得高过了我们的头顶,我们的罪孽上达于天。
9:7 自从我们的祖先时代,直到今日,我们犯了重大的罪孽;为了我们的罪恶,我们连我们的君王司祭,都被交在异地的君王手中,丧身刀下,被俘掳,遭掠夺,丢脸受辱,就像今日一样。
9:8 但是现在,转瞬之间,上主我们的天主,对我们施了仁慈,留给了我们一些残存的人,又在圣地给了我们居所;并且我们的天主,还使我们的眼目明亮,在我们为奴隶期中,使我们尚有少许生气。
9:9 我们原是奴隶,但我们在为奴隶期中,我们的天主没有离弃我们,反而使我们在波斯王,获得了宠遇,使我们有了生气,得以重建天主的殿宇,重修废墟,使我们在犹大和耶路撒冷,得了保障。
9:10 现今,我们的天主!在这些事後,我们还有什麽可说的呢?只能说我们又遗弃了你的诫命,
9:11 因你曾借你的仆人众先知,吩咐说:『你们要去占领的地方,因各地异民的卑污行为,成了不洁之地;他们的丑行和罪孽,充满了那地方的各个角落,
9:12 所以你们绝不可将你们的女儿嫁给他们的儿子;也不给你们的儿子,他们的女儿为妻,也永不可他们共谋平安和福利:这样你们才会强盛,才能吃那地方的出产,将这地留给你们的子孙,作为永远基业」。
9:13 为了我们的许多罪行和重大的罪孽,这一切降到了我们身上之后,──我们的天主!其实你估低了我们的罪恶,还给我们留下了这些亡命的人,──
9:14 我们还敢破坏你的诫命,而同这些不洁的民族联婚吗?难道还要你向我们发怒,一直将我们完全消灭,不留一个遗民或亡命的人吗?
9:15 上主,以色列的天主!因你仁义,才剩下了我们这些亡命的人,像今天一样;看,我们在你面前都带有罪孽,因此,没有一个能在你面前站得住。

 

 

第十章(43)

祈祷的效果
10:1
当厄斯德拉泪流如注,俯伏在天主殿前祈祷认罪时,有很大的一群以色列人,男、女、孩童都聚集在她四周,民众也都流泪痛哭。
10:2 当时厄蓝子孙中有一位,即耶希耳的儿子舍加尼雅,发言向厄斯德拉说:「我们由本地异民中娶了外方妇女,实在得罪了天主,但对此事为以色列还有希望。
10:3 现在我们与我们的天主立约,离弃这些妇女和她们所生的儿女,全照我主和那些对我们天主诫命起敬起畏者的意见,依照法律行事。
10:4 起来!因为这事全在你身上,我们支持你,你应勇敢去作!」
10:5 厄斯德拉便起来,令司祭并肋未人和全以色列的首领起誓,必按这话去做;他们就发了誓。
10:6 厄斯德拉遂离开天主的殿,到了厄肋雅史的儿子约哈南的房里,在那里过夜,饭也不吃,水也不喝,因为她对充军归来者的罪恶悲伤。
10:7 首领们遂在犹大和耶路撒冷发出通告,令充军归来的人都聚集在耶路撒冷;
10:8 照众首领和长老的议决:凡三内日不来者,他的一切财产应充公,他本人也应由充军归来的会众中革除。

大会通过
10:9
所有犹大和本雅明人,三天内都聚集在耶路撒冷,时在九月二十日,众人都坐在天主殿前的广场上,为了这事和大雨的缘故,都战战兢兢。
10:10 厄斯德拉司祭起来向他们说:「你们娶了外方妇女而失了信,增加了以色列的罪孽;
10:11 现今你们应向上主你们祖先的天主认罪,承行他的旨意,离开本地异民和外方妇女」。
10:12 全会众都高声回答说:「你怎样说,我们就怎样做。
10:13 但因人民众多,又兼雨季,我们不能留在露天地里,何况又不是一两天内能完成的事,因为我们在这事上越规的人实在太多。
10:14 让我们的首领为全会众负责好了!凡在我们城内娶了外方妇女的人,照指定的时候,同自己城内的长老和判官,一起前来了结此案,直到挽回我们的天主对此事的盛怒」。
10:15 只有阿撒耳的儿子约纳堂,和提克瓦的儿子雅赫则雅,起来反对这种办法;还有默叔蓝和肋未人沙贝泰,支持他们。
10:16 由充军归来的子民就这样做了。厄斯德拉司祭,於是由各家族为自己拣选了一些族长,都是提名指定的。他们便在十月一日,开庭审查此案,
10:17 直到一月一日,方才办完关于娶外方妇女的男子的案件。

离婚者名单
10:18 在司祭中,发现有些人娶了外方的妇女;约匝达克的儿子耶叔亚的子孙和他的兄弟中,有玛阿色雅、厄里厄则尔、雅黎布和革达里雅;
10:19 他们宣誓辞去自己的妻子,为赎自己的罪,献了一公绵羊作赎过祭。
10:20 依默尔的子孙,有哈纳尼和则巴狄雅;哈陵的子孙有玛阿色雅、厄里雅、舍玛雅、耶希耳和乌 齐雅;
10:21 帕市胡尔的子孙,有厄里约乃、玛阿色雅、依市玛耳、乃塔乃耳、约匝巴得和厄拉撒;
10:22 肋未人有约匝巴得、史米、刻拉雅即刻里达、培塔希雅、犹达和厄里厄则尔;
10:23 歌咏者中有厄肋雅史布;守门者中有沙隆、特冷和乌黎。
10:24 以色列平民帕洛士的子孙,有辣米雅、依齐雅。玛耳基雅、米雅明、厄肋阿匝尔、玛耳基雅和贝纳雅;
10:25 厄蓝的子孙,有玛塔尼雅、则加黎雅、耶希耳、阿贝狄、耶勒摩特和厄里雅、;
10:26 厄突的子孙,有厄里约乃、厄肋雅史布、玛塔尼雅、耶勒摩特、匝巴得和阿齐匝;
10:27 贝拜的子孙,有约哈南、哈纳尼雅、匝拜和阿特来;
10:28 巴尼的子孙,有默叔蓝、玛路克、哈达雅、雅叔布、舍阿耳和耶勒摩特;
10:29 帕哈特摩阿布的子孙,有阿德纳、革拉耳、贝纳雅、玛阿色雅、玛塔尼雅、贝匝肋耳、彼奴依和默纳舍;
10:30 哈陵的子孙,有厄里厄则尔、依史雅、玛耳基雅、舍玛雅、史默红、
10:31 本雅明、玛路克和舍玛黎雅;
10:32 哈雄的子孙,有玛特 、玛达达、匝巴得、厄里培约特、耶勒买、默纳舍和史米;
10:33 巴尼的子孙,有玛阿待、阿默兰、约厄耳、
10:34 贝纳雅、贝狄雅、革路希、
10:35 瓦尼雅、默勒摩特、厄肋雅史布、
10:36 玛塔尼雅、玛特乃、雅阿扫、
10:37 巴尼、彼奴依、史米、
10:38 舍肋米雅、纳堂、阿达雅、
10:39 玛革纳德拜、沙瑟、沙赖、
10:40 阿匝勒耳、舍肋米雅、舍玛黎雅、
10:41 沙隆、阿玛黎雅、约色夫;
10:42 乃波的子孙,有耶依耳、玛提提雅、匝巴得、则彼纳、雅特、约厄耳和贝纳雅;
10:43 以上诸人都娶了外方妇女,有的妇女也生了儿女。

 

BOOK ENDS. Seraphim, April 2009.


JB EZRA Chapter 1

 

I. THE RETURN FROM EXILE AND THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE

 

The return of the exiles

1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia [*a], to fulfil the word of  Yahweh that was spoken through Jeremiah [*b],  Yahweh roused the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a proclamation and to have it publicly displayed throughout his kingdom:

1:2 'Thus speaks Cyrus king of Persia, "Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; he has ordered me to build him a Temple in Jerusalem, in Judah.

1:3 Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah to build the Temple of Yahweh, the God of Israel - he is the God who is in Jerusalem.

1:4 And let each survivor, wherever he lives, be helped by the people of that place with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, as well as voluntary offerings for the Temple of God which is in Jerusalem." '

1:5 Then the heads of families of Judah and of Benjamin, the priests and the Levites, in fact all whose spirit had been roused by God, prepared to go and rebuild the Temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem;

1:6 and all their neighbours gave them every assistance with silver, gold, goods, cattle, quantities of costly gifts and with voluntary offerings of every kind.

1:7 King Cyrus took the vessels of the Temple of Yahweh which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and dedicated to the temple of his god.

1:8 Cyrus, king of Persia, handed them over to Mithredath, the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.

1:9 The inventory was as follows: thirty golden bowls for offerings; one thousand and twenty-nine silver bowls for offerings;

1:10 thirty golden bowls; four hundred and ten silver bowls; one thousand other vessels.

1:11 In all, five thousand four hundred vessels of gold and silver. Sheshbazzar took all these with him when the exiles travelled back from Babylon to Jerusalem.


JB EZRA Chapter 2

 

The list of the returning exiles

2:1 These were the people of the province who returned from captivity and exile. After being deported to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, they returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each to his own town.

2:2 They arrived with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah. The list of the men of the people of Israel:

2:3 sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two;

2:4 sons of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy- two;

2:5 sons of Arah, seven hundred and seventy-five;

2:6 sons of Pahath-moab, that is to say the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve;

2:7 sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four;

2:8 sons of Zattu, nine hundred and forty-five;

2:9 sons of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty;

2:10 sons of Bani, six hundred and forty-two;

2:11 sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-three;

2:12 sons of Azgad, one thousand two hundred and twenty-two;

2:13 sons of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-six;

2:14 sons of Bigvai, two thousand and fifty-six;

2:15 sons of Adin, four hundred and fifty-four;

2:16 sons of Ater, that is to say of Hezekiah, ninety-eight;

2:17 sons of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-three;

2:18 sons of Jorah, one hundred and twelve;

2:19 sons of Hashum, two hundred and twenty-three;

2:20 sons of Gibbar, ninety-five;

2:21 men of Bethlehem, one hundred and twenty-three;

2:22 men of Netophah, fifty-six;

2:23 men of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight;

2:24 men of Beth-azmaveth, forty-two;

2:25 men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three;

2:26 men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one;

2:27 men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two;

2:28 men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred and twenty-three;

2:29 sons of Nebo, fifty-two;

2:30 sons of Magbish, one hundred and fifty-six;

2:31 sons of another Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four;

2:32 sons of Harim, three hundred and twenty;

2:33 men of Lod, Hadid and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-five;

2:34 men of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five;

2:35 sons of Senaah, three thousand six hundred and thirty.

2:36 The priests: sons of Jedaiah, that is to say the House of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three;

2:37 sons of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two;

2:38 sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven;

2:39 sons of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.

2:40 The Levites: sons of Jeshua, that is to say Kadmiel, Binnui, Hodaviah, seventy-four.

2:41 The cantors: sons of Asaph, one hundred and twenty-eight.

2:42 The gatekeepers: sons of Shallum, sons of Ater, sons of Talmon, sons of Akkub, sons of Hatita, sons of Shobai: in all, one hundred and thirty-nine.

2:43 The oblates: sons of Ziha, sons of Hasupha, sons of Tabbaoth,

2:44 sons of Keros, sons of Siaha, sons of Padon,

2:45 sons of Lebanah, sons of Hagabah, sons of Akkub,

2:46 sons of Hagab, sons of Shamlai, sons of Hanan,

2:47 sons of Giddel, sons of Gahar, sons of Reaiah,

2:48 sons of Rezin, sons of Nekoda, sons of Gazzam, sons of Uzza, sons of Paseah, sons of Besai,

2:49 sons of Asnah, sons of the Meunites,

2:50 sons of the Nephisites,

2:51 sons of Bakbuk, sons of Hakupha, sons of Harhur,

2:52 sons of Baziuth, sons of Mehida, sons of Harsha,

2:53 sons of Barkos, sons of Sisera, sons of Temah,

2:54 sons of Neziah, sons of Hatipha.

2:55 The sons of Solomon's slaves: sons of Sotal, sons of Hassophereth, sons of Peruda,

2:56 sons of Jaalah, sons of Darkon, sons of Giddel,

2:57 sons of Shephatiah, sons of Hattil, sons of Pochereth-haz-zebaim, sons of Ami.

2:58 The total of the oblates and the sons of Solomon's slaves: three hundred and ninety-two.

2:59 The following, who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan and Immer, could not prove that their families and ancestry were of Israelite origin:

2:60 sons of Delaiah, sons of Tobiah, sons of Nekoda: six hundred and fifty-two.

2:61 And among the priests: sons of Habaiah, sons of Hakkoz, sons of Barzillai, who had married one of the daughters of Barzillai, the Gileadite, whose name he adopted.

2:62 These people searched in their ancestral registers but could not be located in them, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.

2:63 and His Excellency[*a] forbade them to eat the sacred foods until a priest could be found for the Urim and Thummim[*b].

2:64 The whole assembly numbered forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty people,

2:65 not counting their slaves and maidservants to the number of seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. They also had two hundred male and female singers.

2:66 Their horses numbered seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five,

2:67 their camels four hundred and thirty-five and their donkeys six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

2:68 When they arrived at the Temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem, a certain number of heads of families made voluntary offerings for the Temple of God, for its rebuilding on its site.

2:69 In accordance with their means they gave sixty-one thousand gold drachmas, five thousand silver minas and one hundred priestly robes to the sacred funds.

2:70 The priests, Levites and part of the people settled in Jerusalem; the gatekeepers, cantors, oblates and all the other Israelites, in their own towns.


JB EZRA Chapter 3

 

The resumption of worship

3:1 When the seventh month came and the sons of Israel were in their own towns, they all gathered as one man in Jerusalem.

3:2 Jeshua son of Jozadak, with his brother priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, with his brothers, began to rebuild the altar of the God of Israel, to offer holocausts there, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.

3:3 The altar was set up on its old site, despite their fear of the surrounding peoples, and on it they offered holocausts to Yahweh, holocausts morning and evening;

3:4 they celebrated the feast of Tabernacles, according to the written Law, with as many daily holocausts as are ordained for each day;

3:5 then, in addition to the perpetual holocaust, they offered those prescribed for the sabbaths, New Moon feasts and all the solemnities sacred to Yahweh, as well as those voluntary offerings made by individuals to Yahweh.

3:6 From the first day of the seventh month they began offering holocausts to Yahweh, though the foundations of the sanctuary of Yahweh had not yet been laid.

3:7 Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters; to the Sidonians and Tyrians they gave food, drink and oil, so that they would bring cedar wood from Lebanon by sea to Jaffa, for which Cyrus king of Persia had given permission.

3:8 It was in the second month of the second year after their arrival at the Temple of God in Jerusalem that Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak, with the rest of their brothers, the priests, the Levites and all the people who had returned to Jerusalem from captivity, began the work; they appointed the Levites who were twenty years old or more to superintend the work on the Temple of Yahweh.

3:9 So Jeshua, his sons and his brothers, with Kadmiel, Binnui and Hodaviah, agreed to superintend the workmen at the Temple of God.

3:10 When the builders had laid the foundations of the sanctuary of Yahweh, the priests in fine linen came with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise Yahweh according to the ordinances of David king of Israel;

3:11 they chanted praise and thanksgiving to Yahweh, 'For he is good, for his love for Israel is everlasting'. And all the people shouted aloud the praises of Yahweh, since the foundations of the Temple of Yahweh had now been laid.

3:12 True, many priests and Levites, many heads of families, who were then old and had seen with their own eyes the earlier Temple on its foundations, wept aloud, but many others raised their voices in shouts of joy.

3:13 And nobody could distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of the people's weeping; for the people shouted so loudly that the noise could be heard far away.


JB EZRA Chapter 4

 

An indictment of the Samaritans: their tactics under Cyrus

4:1 But when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a sanctuary for Yahweh, the God of Israel,

4:2 they came to Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the heads of families and said, 'We would like to build with you, for we seek your God as you do and we have sacrificed to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here'.

4:3 Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of Israelite families replied, 'It is not right that you should join us in building a Temple for our God; we alone may build for Yahweh, the God of Israel, as we were ordered by Cyrus king of Persia'.

4:4 Then the people of the country[*a] set out to dishearten and frighten the people of Judah from building any further;

4:5 they lured counsellors against them, to defeat their purpose. This lasted throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

 

Samaritan tactics under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

4:6 At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes[*b] they lodged a complaint against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

4:7 In the time of Artaxerxes[*c], Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of their colleagues denounced Jerusalem in writing to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The text of the document was in the Aramaic script and the Aramaic language.

4:8 Then Rehum the governor and Shimshai the secretary wrote the following letter denouncing Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes -

4:9 Rehum the governor[*d] and Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their colleagues, the judges and legates, Persian officials, the people of Uruk, Babylon and Susa - that is, the Elamites -

4:10 and the other peoples whom Assurbanipal the Great deported and settled in the towns of Samaria and in the rest of Transeuphrates[*e].

4:11 This is a copy of the letter they sent: 'To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the people of Transeuphrates: Whereas

4:12 the king should be informed that the Jews, who have come up from your country to Jerusalem, are now rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city; they are working to restore the walls, and the foundations are already laid,

4:13 and whereas the king should be informed that if this city is rebuilt and the walls are restored, they will refuse to pay tribute, customs or tolls, and that in short this city will damage the authority of the kings,

4:14 and whereas, because we eat the salt of the palace, it does not seem proper to us to see this affront offered to the king; we therefore send this information to the king

4:15 so that a search may be made in the archives of your ancestors: in which archives you will find it proved that this city is a rebellious city, the bane of the kings and the provinces, and that sedition has been stirred up there from ancient times; which is why this city was destroyed.

4:16 We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will soon have no territories left in Transeuphrates.'

4:17 The king sent this reply: 'To Rehum the governor, to Shimshai the secretary, and to the rest of their colleagues resident in Samaria and elsewhere in Transeuphrates, peace! Whereas

4:18 the document you sent to me has been translated and read before me,

4:19 and by my orders search has been made, and it has been found that from ancient times this city has risen against kings and that rebellion and sedition have been contrived in it;

4:20 and that powerful kings have reigned in Jerusalem, who dominated all Transeuphrates, exacting tribute, customs and tolls,

4:21 you must now order the work of these men to cease immediately: this city is not to be rebuilt until I give further orders.

4:22 Beware of negligence in this matter lest further harm be done to the king's interests.'

4:23 As soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes' document had been read before Rehum the governor, Shimshai the secretary and their colleagues, they hurried to the Jews in Jerusalem and stopped their work by force of arms.

 

The building of the Temple (52O-515 B.C.)

4:24 Thus the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem was brought to a standstill; it remained interrupted until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.


JB EZRA Chapter 5

 

5:1 Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo began to prophesy to the Jews of Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel who was with them.

5:2 At this, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak started again to build the Temple of God in Jerusalem; the prophets of God were with the people, giving them courage.

5:3 It was then that Tattenai, satrap of Transeuphrates, Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and asked, 'Who gave you authority to build this Temple and to do this woodwork?

5:4 What are the names of the men responsible for this building?'

5:5 But the eyes of their God were on the elders of the Jews; they were not compelled to stop while a report on the matter was sent to Darius and an official edict awaited.

5:6 Copy of the letter that Tattenai, satrap of Transeuphrates, Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues, the officials in Transeuphrates, sent to King Darius.

5:7 They sent a report to him which ran as follows: 'To King Darius, all peace!

5:8 The king should be informed that we went to the district of Judah, to the Temple of the great God: it is being built of blocks of stone; the walls are being panelled with wood; the work is being done with great care and makes progress in their hands.

5:9 Questioning the elders, we asked, "Who gave you authority to build this Temple and to do this woodwork?"

5:10 We also asked their names so that you might be informed; hence we have been able to list the names of those who are superintending these men.

5:11 'They gave us this answer, "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth; we are rebuilding a Temple which until recently had been standing for many years and which was built and finished by a great king of Israel.

5:12 But our ancestors angered the God of heaven and he delivered them into the power of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldaean, king of Babylon, who destroyed that Temple and deported the people to Babylon.

5:13 In the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, however, King Cyrus authorised the rebuilding of this Temple of God;

5:14 furthermore, those vessels of gold and silver belonging to the Temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had removed from the sanctuary in Jerusalem and taken to that of Babylon, King Cyrus in turn removed from the sanctuary in Babylon and handed back to a man called Sheshbazzar, whom he appointed high commissioner,

5:15 with the words: Take these vessels; go and return them to the sanctuary in Jerusalem and let the Temple of God be rebuilt on its original site;

5:16 the aforesaid Sheshbazzar therefore came and laid the foundations of the Temple of God in Jerusalem; they have been building it ever since, and it is still not finished."

5:17 "Wherefore, if it please the king, let search be made in the king's muniment rooms in Babylon, to find out if it is true that King Cyrus gave permission for the rebuilding of this Temple of God in Jerusalem. And let the king's decision on this matter be sent to us.'


JB EZRA Chapter 6

 

6:1 Then, on the order of King Darius, a search was made in Babylonia in the muniment rooms where the archives were kept;

6:2 at Ecbatana, the fortress situated in the province of Media, a scroll was found which ran thus:'Memorandum.

6:3 'In the first year of Cyrus the king, King Cyrus decreed: "Temple of God in Jerusalem. The Temple will be rebuilt at a place at which sacrifices are offered and to which offerings are brought to be burnt. Its height is to be sixty cubits, its width sixty cubits.

6:4 There are to be three thicknesses of stone blocks and one of wood.  The expense is to be met by the king's household.

6:5 Furthermore, the vessels of gold and silver from the Temple of God which Nebuchadnezzar took from the sanctuary in Jerusalem and, brought to Babylon are to be restored so that everything may be restored to the sanctuary in Jerusalem and be put back in the Temple of God."

6:6 'Wherefore, Tattenai, satrap of Transeuphrates, Shethar-bozenai and you, their colleagues, the officials of Transeuphrates, withdraw from there;

6:7 leave the high commissioner of Judah and the elders of the Jews to work on this Temple of God; they are to rebuild this Temple of God on its ancient site.

6:8 This, I decree, is how you must assist the elders of the Jews in the reconstruction of this Temple of God: the expenses of these people are to be paid, promptly and without fail, from the royal revenue-that is, from the tribute of Transeuphrates.

6:9 What they need for holocausts to the God of heaven: young bulls, rams and lambs, as also wheat, salt, wine and oil, is to be supplied to them daily, without fail, as required by the priests of Jerusalem,

6:10 so that they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the lives of the king and his sons.

6:11 I also decree this: If anyone disobeys this edict, a beam is to be torn from his house, he is to be pilloried upright on it and his house is to be made into a dung heap for this crime.

6:12 May the God who causes his name to live there overthrow any king or people who dares to defy this and destroy the Temple of God in Jerusalem! I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed to the letter!'

6:13 Then Tattenai, satrap of Transeuphrates, Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues obeyed to the letter the instructions sent by King Darius.

6:14 The elders of the Jews, for their part, prospered with their building, inspired by Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished the building in accordance with the order of the God of Israel and the order of Cyrus and of Darius.

6:15 this Temple was finished on the twenty-third day of the month of Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius[*a].

6:16 The Israelites-the priests, the Levites and the remainder of the exiles-joyfully dedicated this Temple of God;

6:17 for the dedication of this Temple of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs and, as a sacrifice for sin for the whole of Israel, twelve he-goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel.

6:18 Then they installed the priests according to their orders in the service of the Temple of God in Jerusalem, as is written in the Book of Moses.

 

The Passover of 515 B.C.

6:19 The exiles celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

6:20 The Levites, as one man, had purified themselves; all were pure, so they sacrificed the passover for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests and for themselves.

6:21 The following ate the passover: the Israelites who had returned from exile and all those who, having broken with the impurity of the surrounding peoples, joined them to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel.

6:22 For seven days they joyfully celebrated the feast of Unleavened Bread, for Yahweh had given them cause to rejoice, having moved the heart of the king of Assyria to encourage their work on the Temple of God, the God of Israel.


JB EZRA Chapter 7

 

II. THE ORGANISATION OF THE COMMUNITY BY EZRA AND NEHEMIAH

 

The mission and personality of Ezra

7:1 After these events, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,

7:2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,

7:3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,

7:4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,

7:5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of the chief priest Aaron,

7:6 this man Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe versed in the Law of Moses, which had been given by Yahweh, the God of Israel. As the favour of his God, Yahweh, was with him, the king gave him all he asked.

7:7 A certain number of Israelites, priests, Levites, cantors, gatekeepers and oblates went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of the reign of King Artaxerxes.

7:8 He arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month: it was the seventh year of the king's reign,

7:9 for he had decided to depart from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month; the kindly favour of his God was certainly with him.

7:10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study of the Law of Yahweh, to practising it and to teaching Israel its laws and customs.

 

The edict of Artaxerxes

7:11 This is a copy of the document which King Artaxerxes handed to Ezra, the priest-scribe, the scribe who was especially learned in the text of Yahweh's commandments and his laws relating to Israel:

7:12 'Artaxerxes, king of kings, to the priest Ezra, scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, perfect peace.

7:13 'Here then are my orders: Anyone in my kingdom who is of the people of Israel, of their priests or their Levites and who freely chooses to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.

7:14 For you are sent by the king and his seven counsellors to make an inspection of Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your possession,

7:15 and also to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counsellors have voluntarily offered to the God of Israel who dwells in Jerusalem,

7:16 as well as all the silver and gold you find in the whole province of Babylonia, together with those voluntary offerings given by the people and the priests for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem.

7:17 Further, with this money take pains to buy bulls, rams and lambs, as well as the oblations and libations which go with them; you must offer them on the altar of the Temple of your God in Jerusalem.

7:18 'The gold and silver left over you may spend as you and your brothers think right, according to the will of your God.

7:19 Place the vessels that have been given you for the service of the Temple of your God before your God in Jerusalem.

7:20 For anything else necessary for the Temple of your God, which you may find occasion to provide, you may draw on the royal treasury.

7:21 I, King Artaxerxes, give this command to all the treasurers of Transeuphrates: Whatever the priest Ezra, scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you must be instantly allowed:

7:22 up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred measures of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and salt as requested.

7:23 Everything that the God of heaven commands must be carried out zealously for the Temple of the God of heaven, lest the wrath should come on the realm of the king and of his sons.

7:24 'You are also informed that it is forbidden to impose tribute, customs or tolls on any of the priests, Levites, cantors, gatekeepers, oblates; in short, on the servants of this Temple of God.

7:25 'And you, Ezra, by virtue of the wisdom of your God, which is in your possession[*a], you are to appoint scribes and judges to administer justice for the whole people of Transeuphrates, that is, for all who know the Law of your God. You must teach those who do not know it.

7:26 If anyone does not obey the Law of your God-which is the law of the king-let judgement be strictly executed on him: death, banishment, confiscation or imprisonment.'

 

The journey of Ezra from Babylonia to Palestine

7:27 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our ancestors, who moved the king's heart in this way to glorify the Temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem

7:28 and who won for me the favour of the king, his counsellors and all the most powerful of the king's officials. For my part, I took courage, for the favour of Yahweh my God was with me, and I gathered the leading men of Israel together to set out with me.


JB EZRA Chapter 8

 

8:1 These, with their genealogies, are the heads of families who set out from Babylon with me in the reign of King Artaxerxes:

8:2 Of the sons of Phinehas: Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar: Daniel; of the sons of David: Hattush

8:3 son of Shecaniah; of the sons of Parosh: Zechariah, with whom one hundred and fifty males were registered;

8:4 of the sons of Pahath-moab: Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males;

8:5 of the sons of Zattu: Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males;

8:6 of the sons of Adin: Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males;

8:7 of the sons of Elam: Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males;

8:8 of the sons of Shephatiah: Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him eighty males;

8:9 of the sons of Joab: Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males;

8:10 of the sons of Bani: Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and sixty males;

8:11 of the sons of Bebai: Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight males;

8:12 of the sons of Azgad: Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred and ten males;

8:13 of the sons of Adonikam: the younger sons, whose names are: Eliphelet, Jeiel and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males;

8:14 and of the sons of Bigvai: Uthai son of Zabud, and with him seventy males.

8:15 I assembled them near the river that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days. Observing them I saw laymen and priests, but no Levites.

8:16 So I dispatched Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, men of judgement,

8:17 and sent them to Iddo, the leading man in the region of Casiphia; I told them the words they were to say to Iddo and his kinsmen, living in the region of Casiphia, to provide us with servants for the Temple of our God.

8:18 Then, thanks to the kindly favour of our God which was with us, they sent us a capable man, of the sons of Mahli son of Levi son of Israel, Sherebiah with his sons and kinsmen: eighteen men;

8:19 also Hashabiah and with him his brother Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, as well as their sons: twenty men;

8:20 and of the oblates whom David and his notables had assigned to serve the Levites: two hundred and twenty oblates. All were registered by name.

8:21 There, beside the river of Ahava, I proclaimed a fast: we were to humble ourselves before our God and pray to him for a successful journey for us, our children and our belongings;

8:22 since I should have been ashamed to ask the king for an armed guard and cavalry to protect us from an enemy on the road, for we had already told the king, 'The hand of our God is held out in blessing over all who seek him, his power and his anger over all who turn away from him'.

8:23 So we fasted, pleading with our God for this favour, and he answered our prayers.

8:24 I chose twelve of the leading priests, and then Sherebiah and Hashabiah and with them ten of their kinsmen;

8:25 I weighed out for them the silver, the gold and the vessels, the offerings that the king, his counsellors, his nobles and all the Israelites present had presented for the Temple of our God.

8:26 So I weighed out and handed over to them six hundred and fifty talents of silver, one hundred silver vessels worth two talents, one hundred talents of gold,

8:27 twenty golden bowls worth a thousand darics and two vessels of fine gilded bronze which were as valuable as gold.

8:28 I told them, 'You are consecrated to Yahweh; these vessels are sacred; the silver and gold are voluntary offerings to Yahweh, the God of your ancestors.

8:29 Take charge of them and guard them until you weigh them before the leading priests, the Levites and the heads of families of Israel in Jerusalem in the chambers of the Temple of Yahweh.'

8:30 The priests and Levites then took charge of the silver, the gold and the vessels thus weighed, to take them to Jerusalem to the Temple of our God.

8:31 On the twelfth day of the first month we left the river of Ahava to go to Jerusalem; the favour of our God was with us and protected us on the road from enemies and thieves.

8:32 We arrived in Jerusalem and stayed there, resting, for three days.

8:33 On the fourth day the silver, the gold and the vessels were weighed in the Temple of our God and handed over to the priest Meremoth son of Uriah and, with him, Eleazar son of Phinehas; with them were the Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui.

8:34 Number and weight, all was there. The total weight was put on record. At that time

8:35 those who came back from captivity, the exiles, offered holocausts to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-two lambs, twelve he-goats for sin; the whole as a holocaust to Yahweh.

8:36 The king's instructions were notified to the king's satraps and the governors of Transeuphrates, who then assisted the people and the Temple of God.


JB EZRA Chapter 9

 

The marriages with foreigners dissolved

9:1 Once this was done, the leaders approached me to say, 'The people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, have not broken with the natives of the countries who are steeped in abominations-Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites-

9:2 but have found wives among these foreign women for themselves and for their sons; the holy race has been mingling with the natives of the countries; in this act of treachery the chief men and officials have led the way'.

9:3 At this news I tore my garment and my cloak; I tore hair from my head and beard and sat down, quite overcome.

9:4 All who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered round me, when faced by this treachery of the exiles. For my part, I went on sitting there, overcome, until the evening oblation.

9:5 At the evening sacrifice I came out of my stupor and falling on my knees, with my garment and cloak torn, I stretched out my hands to Yahweh my God,

9:6 and said: 'My God, I am ashamed, I blush to lift my face to you, my God. For our crimes have increased, until they are higher than our heads, and our sin has piled up to heaven.

9:7 From the days of our ancestors until now our guilt has been great; on account of our crimes we, our kings and our priests, were given into the power of the kings of other countries, given to the sword, to captivity, to pillage and to shame, as is the case today.

9:8 But now, suddenly, Yahweh our God by his favour has left us a remnant and granted us a refuge in his holy place; this is how our God has cheered our eyes and given us a little respite in our slavery.

9:9 For we are slaves; but God has not forgotten us in our slavery; he has shown us kindness in the eyes of the kings of Persia, obtaining permission for us to rebuild the Temple of our God and restore its ruins, and he has found us safety and shelter in Judah and in Jerusalem.

9:10 But now what can we say, my God, if after this kindness we have deserted your commandments,

9:11 which, through your servants the prophets, you ordained in these words, "The land you are entering to possess is a land unclean because of the foulness of the natives of the countries and of the abominations with which their impurities have infected it from end to end.

9:12 So you must not give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters for your sons; you must not be concerned for their peace or their prosperity, so that you yourselves may grow strong, eat the best of what the country produces and leave it as an inheritance to your sons for ever."

9:13 'Now after all that has come upon us on account of our evil deeds and our great fault-although you, our God, have rated our crimes less than their wickedness and left us this remnant here-

9:14 are we to break your commandments again and intermarry with these people who practise such abominations? Would you not be provoked to the point of destroying us, so that not even the smallest remnant would survive?

9:15 'Yahweh, God of Israel, by your justice we survive as the remnant we are today; here we are before you with our sin. And because of it, no one can survive in your presence.'


JB EZRA Chapter 10

 

10:1 While Ezra, weeping and prostrate before the Temple of God, prayed and confessed, a great crowd of Israelites gathered round him, men, women and children, weeping bitterly too.

10:2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, 'We have betrayed our God by marrying foreign women, taken from the natives of the countries. But, in spite of this, there is still some hope for Israel.

10:3 We will make a solemn promise before our God to put away our foreign wives and the children born to them, as my lord and those who tremble at the commandment of our God may advise. Let us act in accordance with the Law. Up!

10:4 This is for you to decide, but we will support you. Take courage; to work!

10:5 Then Ezra stood up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel on oath to do what had been said. They took the oath.

10:6 Ezra left his place before the Temple of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, where he spent the night without eating bread or drinking water; he was in mourning for the exiles' treachery.

10:7 A proclamation was issued in Judah and in Jerusalem to all the exiles that they were to assemble in Jerusalem:

10:8 anyone who did not come within three days-such was the warning of the leaders and elders-would have all his goods seized and would himself be excluded from the community of the exiles.

10:9 As a result, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, the twentieth day of the month; all the people gathered in the square before the Temple of God; the occasion itself, and the heavy rain, had them trembling.

10:10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and spoke, 'You have committed treason by marrying foreign women; you have added to the sin of Israel.

10:11 But now give thanks to Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, and do his will, by separating from the natives of the country and from your foreign wives.'

10:12 In a loud voice the whole assembly answered, 'Yes, our duty is to do as you say.

10:13 But there are a great many people here and it is the rainy season; we cannot stay out in the open; besides, this is not something that can be dealt with in one or two days, since many of us have sinned in this respect.

10:14 Our leaders could represent the full assembly; all those from our towns who have foreign wives could come at stated times, accompanied by elders and judges from each town, until we have turned away God's anger which has been thus roused against us.'

10:15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, were opposed to this procedure.

10:16 The exiles acted on this suggestion. Ezra the priest chose as helpers the heads of families for each House, all designated by name. The session for investigating individual cases began on the first day of the tenth month.

10:17 And by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.

 

The list of the guilty

10:18 Among the members of the priesthood, these are the names of those who were found to have married foreign women: among the sons of Jeshua son of Jozadak and among his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib and Gedaliah;

10:19 they pledged their word to put their wives away and, for their sin, offered a ram as a sacrifice of reparation;

10:20 among the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah;

10:21 among the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel and Uzziah;

10:22 among the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah.

10:23 Among the Levites:

Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah - that is, Kelita-Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

10:24 Among the cantors:

Eliashib and Zaccur. Among the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem and Uri.

10:25 And among the Israelites:

of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah and Benaiah;

10:26 of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth and Elijah;

10:27 of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad and Aziza;

10:28 of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai;

10:29 of the sons of Bigvai: Meshullam, Malluch, Jedaiah, Jashub, Sheal, Jeremoth;

10:30 of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui and Manasseh;

10:31 of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

10:32 Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah;

10:33 of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei;

10:34 of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,

10:35 Benaiah, Bediah, Cheluhi,

10:36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

10:37 Mattaniah, Mattenai and Jaasau;

10:38 of the sons of Binnui: Shimei,

10:39 Shelemiah, Nathan and Adaiah;

10:40 of the sons of Zaccai: Shashai, Sharai,

10:41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

10:42 Shallum, Amariah, Joseph;

10:43 of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, Benaiah.

10:44 All these had married foreign wives; they put them away, both women and children.

 

END OF JB EZRA [10 Chapters].