Ezra 3 | Biblion Bible Reader

WEB·Ezra 4

¹Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel,

KJVNow when the adversaries^H6862 of Judah^H3063 and Benjamin^H1144 heard^H8085^(H8799) that the children^H1121 of the captivity^H1473 builded^H1129^(H8802) the temple^H1964 unto the LORD^H3068 God^H430 of Israel^H3478;

² they came near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.”

KJVThen they came^H5066^(H8799) to Zerubbabel^H2216, and to the chief^H7218 of the fathers^H1, and said^H559^(H8799) unto them, Let us build^H1129^(H8799) with you: for we seek^H1875^(H8799) your God^H430, as ye do; and we do sacrifice^H2076^(H8802) unto him since the days^H3117 of Esarhaddon^H634 king^H4428 of Assur^H804, which brought us up hither^H5927^(H8688).

³ But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”

KJVBut Zerubbabel^H2216, and Jeshua^H3442, and the rest^H7605 of the chief^H7218 of the fathers^H1 of Israel^H3478, said^H559^(H8799) unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build^H1129^(H8800) an house^H1004 unto our God^H430; but we ourselves together^H3162 will build^H1129^(H8799) unto the LORD^H3068 God^H430 of Israel^H3478, as king^H4428 Cyrus^H3566 the king^H4428 of Persia^H6539 hath commanded^H6680^(H8765) us.

⁴ Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building.

KJVThen the people^H5971 of the land^H776 weakened^H7503^(H8764) the hands^H3027 of the people^H5971 of Judah^H3063, and troubled^H926^(H8764)^(H8675)^H1089^(H8764) them in building^H1129^(H8800),

⁵ They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

KJVAnd hired^H7936^(H8802) counsellors^H3289^(H8802) against them, to frustrate^H6565^(H8687) their purpose^H6098, all the days^H3117 of Cyrus^H3566 king^H4428 of Persia^H6539, even until the reign^H4438 of Darius^H1867 king^H4428 of Persia^H6539.

⁶ In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

KJVAnd in the reign^H4438 of Ahasuerus^H325, in the beginning^H8462 of his reign^H4438, wrote^H3789^(H8804) they unto him an accusation^H7855 against the inhabitants^H3427^(H8802) of Judah^H3063 and Jerusalem^H3389.

⁷ In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian and delivered in the Syrian language.

KJVAnd in the days^H3117 of Artaxerxes^H783 wrote^H3789^(H8804) Bishlam^H1312, Mithredath^H4990, Tabeel^H2870, and the rest^H7605 of their companions^H3674, unto Artaxerxes^H783 king^H4428 of Persia^H6539; and the writing^H3791 of the letter^H5406 was written^H3789^(H8803) in the Syrian tongue^H762, and interpreted^H8638^(H8794) in the Syrian tongue^H762.

⁸ Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows.

KJVRehum^H7348 the chancellor^H1169^H2942 and Shimshai^H8124 the scribe^H5613 wrote^H3790^(H8754) a^H2298 letter^H104 against^H5922 Jerusalem^H3390 to Artaxerxes^H783 the king^H4430 in this sort^H3660:

⁹ Then Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,

KJVThen^H116 wrote Rehum^H7348 the chancellor^H1169^H2942, and Shimshai^H8124 the scribe^H5613, and the rest^H7606 of their companions^H3675; the Dinaites^H1784, the Apharsathchites^H671, the Tarpelites^H2967, the Apharsites^H670, the Archevites^H756, the Babylonians^H896, the Susanchites^H7801, the Dehavites^H1723, and the Elamites^H5962,

¹⁰ and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over and settled in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth, wrote.

KJVAnd the rest^H7606 of the nations^H524 whom^H1768 the great^H7229 and noble^H3358 Asnappar^H620 brought over^H1541^(H8684), and set^H3488^(H8684)^H1994 in the cities^H7149 of Samaria^H8115, and the rest^H7606 that are on this side^H5675 the river^H5103, and at such a time^H3706.

¹¹ This is the copy of the letter that they sent: To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the people beyond the River.

KJVThis^H1836 is the copy^H6573 of the letter^H104 that^H1768 they sent^H7972^(H8754) unto him^H5922, even unto Artaxerxes^H783 the king^H4430; Thy servants^H5649 the men^H606 on this side^H5675 the river^H5103, and at such a time^H3706.

¹² Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and bad city, and have finished the walls and repaired the foundations.

KJVBe it^H1934^(H8748) known^H3046^(H8752) unto the king^H4430, that the Jews^H3062 which^H1768 came up^H5559^(H8760) from^H4481 thee^H3890 to us^H5922 are come^H858^(H8754) unto Jerusalem^H3390, building^H1124^(H8750) the rebellious^H4779 and the bad^H873 city^H7149, and have set up^H3635^(H8806)^(H8675)^H3635^(H8720) the walls^H7792 thereof, and joined^H2338^(H8681) the foundations^H787.

¹³ Be it known now to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.

KJVBe it known^H3046^(H8752)^H1934^(H8748) now^H3705 unto the king^H4430, that, if^H2006 this^H1791 city^H7149 be builded^H1124^(H8731), and the walls^H7792 set up^H3635^(H8720) again, then will they not^H3809 pay^H5415^(H8748) toll^H4061, tribute^H1093, and custom^H1983, and so thou shalt endamage^H5142^(H8681) the revenue^H674 of the kings^H4430.

¹⁴ Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king,

KJVNow^H3705 because^H6903^H3606 we have^H1768 maintenance^H4415^(H8754)^H4416 from the king's palace^H1965, and it was not^H3809 meet^H749^(H8750) for us to see^H2370^(H8749) the king's^H4430 dishonour^H6173, therefore^H5922^H1836 have we sent^H7972^(H8754) and certified^H3046^(H8684) the king^H4430;

¹⁵ that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have started rebellions within it in the past. That is why this city was destroyed.

KJVThat search^H1240^(H8741) may be made in the book^H5609 of the records^H1799 of thy fathers^H2: so shalt thou find^H7912^(H8681) in the book^H5609 of the records^H1799, and know^H3046^(H8748) that this^H1791 city^H7149 is a rebellious^H4779 city^H7149, and hurtful^H5142^(H8683) unto kings^H4430 and provinces^H4083, and that they have moved^H5648^(H8751) sedition^H849 within the same^H1459 of^H4481 old^H5957 time^H3118: for^H5922 which^H1836 cause was this^H1791 city^H7149 destroyed^H2718^(H8717).

¹⁶ We inform the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, then you will have no possession beyond the River.

KJVWe^H586 certify^H3046^(H8683) the king^H4430 that, if^H2006 this^H1791 city^H7149 be builded^H1124^(H8731) again, and the walls^H7792 thereof set up^H3635^(H8720), by this^H1836 means^H6903 thou shalt have^H383 no^H3809 portion^H2508 on this side^H5675 the river^H5103.

¹⁷ Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who live in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace.

KJVThen sent^H7972^(H8754) the king^H4430 an answer^H6600 unto^H5922 Rehum^H7348 the chancellor^H1169^H2942, and to Shimshai^H8124 the scribe^H5613, and to the rest^H7606 of their companions^H3675 that dwell^H3488^(H8750) in Samaria^H8115, and unto the rest^H7606 beyond^H5675 the river^H5103, Peace^H8001, and at such a time^H3706.

¹⁸ The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.

KJVThe letter^H5407 which ye sent^H7972^(H8754) unto us^H5922 hath been plainly^H6568^(H8744) read^H7123^(H8752) before^H6925 me.

¹⁹ I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past, and that rebellion and revolts have been made in it.

KJVAnd I^H4481 commanded^H7761^(H8752)^H2942, and search^H1240^(H8745) hath been made, and it is found^H7912^(H8684) that this^H1791 city^H7149 of^H4481 old^H5957 time^H3118 hath made insurrection^H5376^(H8723) against^H5922 kings^H4430, and that rebellion^H4776 and sedition^H849 have been made^H5648^(H8727) therein.

²⁰ There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll was paid to them.

KJVThere have been^H1934^(H8754) mighty^H8624 kings^H4430 also over^H5922 Jerusalem^H3390, which have ruled^H7990 over all^H3606 countries beyond^H5675 the river^H5103; and toll^H4061, tribute^H1093, and custom^H1983, was paid^H3052^(H8727) unto them.

²¹ Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built until a decree is made by me.

KJVGive^H7761^(H8747) ye now^H3705 commandment^H2942 to cause^H989 these^H479 men^H1400 to cease^H989^(H8749), and that this^H1791 city^H7149 be not^H3809 builded^H1124^(H8731), until^H5705 another commandment^H2941 shall be given^H7761^(H8725) from me^H4481.

²² Be careful that you not be slack doing so. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

KJVTake heed^H1934^(H8747)^H2095^(H8750) now that ye fail^H7960 not to do^H5922^H5648^(H8749) this^H1836: why^H4101 should damage^H2257 grow^H7680^(H8748) to the hurt^H5142^(H8682) of the kings^H4430?

²³ Then when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force of arms.

KJVNow^H116 when^H4481^H1768 the copy^H6573 of king^H4430 Artaxerxes^H783' letter^H5407 was read^H7123^(H8752) before^H6925 Rehum^H7348, and Shimshai^H8124 the scribe^H5613, and their companions^H3675, they went up^H236^(H8754) in haste^H924 to Jerusalem^H3390 unto^H5922 the Jews^H3062, and made them^H1994 to cease^H989^(H8754) by force^H153 and power^H2429.

²⁴ Then work stopped on God’s house which is at Jerusalem. It stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

KJVThen^H116 ceased^H989^(H8754) the work^H5673 of the house^H1005 of God^H426 which is at Jerusalem^H3390. So it ceased^H1934^(H8754)^H989^(H8750) unto^H5705 the second^H8648 year^H8140 of the reign^H4437 of Darius^H1868 king^H4430 of Persia^H6540.

WEB·Ezra 3

¹When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

KJVAnd when the seventh^H7637 month^H2320 was come^H5060^(H8799), and the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478 were in the cities^H5892, the people^H5971 gathered themselves together^H622^(H8735) as one^H259 man^H376 to Jerusalem^H3389.

² Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up with his brothers the priests and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his relatives, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.

KJVThen stood up^H6965^(H8799) Jeshua^H3442 the son^H1121 of Jozadak^H3136, and his brethren^H251 the priests^H3548, and Zerubbabel^H2216 the son^H1121 of Shealtiel^H7597, and his brethren^H251, and builded^H1129^(H8799) the altar^H4196 of the God^H430 of Israel^H3478, to offer^H5927^(H8687) burnt offerings^H5930 thereon, as it is written^H3789^(H8803) in the law^H8451 of Moses^H4872 the man^H376 of God^H430.

³ In spite of their fear because of the peoples of the surrounding lands, they set the altar on its base; and they offered burnt offerings on it to Yahweh, even burnt offerings morning and evening.

KJVAnd they set^H3559^(H8686) the altar^H4196 upon his bases^H4350; for fear^H367 was upon them because of the people^H5971 of those countries^H776: and they offered^H5927^(H8686) burnt offerings^H5930 thereon unto the LORD^H3068, even burnt offerings^H5930 morning^H1242 and evening^H6153.

⁴ They kept the feast of booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required;

KJVThey kept^H6213^(H8799) also the feast^H2282 of tabernacles^H5521, as it is written^H3789^(H8803), and offered the daily^H3117^H3117 burnt offerings^H5930 by number^H4557, according to the custom^H4941, as the duty^H1697 of every day^H3117 required^H3117;

⁵ and afterward the continual burnt offering, the offerings of the new moons, of all the set feasts of Yahweh that were consecrated, and of everyone who willingly offered a free will offering to Yahweh.

KJVAnd afterward^H310 offered the continual^H8548 burnt offering^H5930, both of the new moons^H2320, and of all the set feasts^H4150 of the LORD^H3068 that were consecrated^H6942^(H8794), and of every one that willingly offered^H5068^(H8693) a freewill offering^H5071 unto the LORD^H3068.

⁶ From the first day of the seventh month, they began to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh; but the foundation of Yahweh’s temple was not yet laid.

KJVFrom the first^H259 day^H3117 of the seventh^H7637 month^H2320 began^H2490^(H8689) they to offer^H5927^(H8687) burnt offerings^H5930 unto the LORD^H3068. But the foundation^H3245 of the temple^H1964 of the LORD^H3068 was not yet laid^H3245^(H8795).

⁷ They also gave money to the masons and to the carpenters. They also gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus King of Persia.

KJVThey gave^H5414^(H8799) money^H3701 also unto the masons^H2672^(H8802), and to the carpenters^H2796; and meat^H3978, and drink^H4960, and oil^H8081, unto them of Zidon^H6722, and to them of Tyre^H6876, to bring^H935^(H8687) cedar^H730 trees^H6086 from Lebanon^H3844 to the sea^H3220 of Joppa^H3305, according to the grant^H7558 that they had of Cyrus^H3566 king^H4428 of Persia^H6539.

⁸ Now in the second year of their coming to God’s house at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of Yahweh’s house.

KJVNow in the second^H8145 year^H8141 of their coming^H935^(H8800) unto the house^H1004 of God^H430 at Jerusalem^H3389, in the second^H8145 month^H2320, began^H2490^(H8689) Zerubbabel^H2216 the son^H1121 of Shealtiel^H7597, and Jeshua^H3442 the son^H1121 of Jozadak^H3136, and the remnant^H7605 of their brethren^H251 the priests^H3548 and the Levites^H3881, and all they that were come out^H935^(H8802) of the captivity^H7628 unto Jerusalem^H3389; and appointed^H5975^(H8686) the Levites^H3881, from twenty^H6242 years^H8141 old^H1121 and upward^H4605, to set forward^H5329^(H8763) the work^H4399 of the house^H1004 of the LORD^H3068.

⁹ Then Jeshua stood with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together to have the oversight of the workmen in God’s house: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites.

KJVThen stood^H5975^(H8799) Jeshua^H3442 with his sons^H1121 and his brethren^H251, Kadmiel^H6934 and his sons^H1121, the sons^H1121 of Judah^H3063, together^H259, to set forward^H5329^(H8763) the workmen^H6213^(H8802)^H4399 in the house^H1004 of God^H430: the sons^H1121 of Henadad^H2582, with their sons^H1121 and their brethren^H251 the Levites^H3881.

¹⁰ When the builders laid the foundation of Yahweh’s temple, they set the priests in their vestments with trumpets, with the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Yahweh, according to the directions of David king of Israel.

KJVAnd when the builders^H1129^(H8802) laid the foundation^H3245^(H8765) of the temple^H1964 of the LORD^H3068, they set^H5975^(H8686) the priests^H3548 in their apparel^H3847^(H8794) with trumpets^H2689, and the Levites^H3881 the sons^H1121 of Asaph^H623 with cymbals^H4700, to praise^H1984^(H8763) the LORD^H3068, after the ordinance^H3027 of David^H1732 king^H4428 of Israel^H3478.

¹¹ They sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of Yahweh’s house had been laid.

KJVAnd they sang together by course^H6030^(H8799) in praising^H1984^(H8763) and giving thanks^H3034^(H8687) unto the LORD^H3068; because he is good^H2896, for his mercy^H2617 endureth for ever^H5769 toward Israel^H3478. And all the people^H5971 shouted^H7321^(H8689) with a great^H1419 shout^H8643, when they praised^H1984^(H8763) the LORD^H3068, because the foundation^H3245 of the house^H1004 of the LORD^H3068 was laid^H3245^(H8717).

¹² But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice. Many also shouted aloud for joy,

KJVBut many^H7227 of the priests^H3548 and Levites^H3881 and chief^H7218 of the fathers^H1, who were ancient men^H2205, that had seen^H7200^(H8804) the first^H7223 house^H1004, when the foundation^H3245 of this house^H1004 was laid^H3245^(H8800) before their eyes^H5869, wept^H1058^(H8802) with a loud^H1419 voice^H6963; and many^H7227 shouted^H8643 aloud^H7311^(H8687) for joy^H8057:

¹³ so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard far away.

KJVSo that the people^H5971 could not discern^H5234^(H8688) the noise^H6963 of the shout^H8643 of joy^H8057 from the noise^H6963 of the weeping^H1065 of the people^H5971: for the people^H5971 shouted^H7321^(H8688) with a loud^H1419 shout^H8643, and the noise^H6963 was heard^H8085^(H8738) afar off^H7350.

Section titles come from the Biblion commentary, not from Scripture.

You can also read or listen to the Introduction to the book of Ezra.