The Book Of Second EZRA - ESDRAS - Chapter 2
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:1
In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the Word of YAHWEH might
be accomplished, that he had promised by the mouth of YeremiYah;
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:2
YAHWEH raised up the ruach of Cyrus the king of the Persians, and he made
proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing,
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:3
Saying, Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians; YAHWEH of Yisrael, the most high
YAHWEH, has made me king of the whole world,
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:4
And commanded me to build HIM a house at Yerusalem in Yahudah.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:5
If therefore there be any of you that are of HIS people, let YAHWEH, even his
ALMIGHTY will be with him, and let him go up to Yerusalem that is in Yahudah,
and build the house of YAHWEH of Yisrael: for HE is YAHWEH that dwells in
Yerusalem.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:6
Whosoever then dwell in the places about, let them help him, those, I say, that
are his neighbors, with gold, and with silver,
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:7
With gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other things, which have been set
forth by vow, for the Great Tabernacle of YAHWEH at Yerusalem.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:8
Then the chief of the families of Yahudah and of the tribe of Benjamin stood
up; the kohenim also, and the Levites, and all they whose mind YAHWEH had moved
to go up, and to build a house for YAHWEH at Yerusalem,
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:9
And they that dwelt round about them, and helped them in all things with silver
and gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many free gifts of a great
number whose minds were stirred up to that.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:10
King Cyrus also brought forth the kodesh vessels, which Nebuchadnezzar had
carried away from Yerusalem, and had set up in his temple of idols.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:11
Now when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them forth, he delivered them
to Mithridates his treasurer:
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:12
And by him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of Yahudah.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:13
And this was the number of them; A thousand golden cups, and a thousand of
silver, censers of silver twenty nine, vials of gold thirty, and of silver two
thousand four hundred and ten, and one thousand other vessels.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:14
So all the vessels of gold and of silver, which were carried away, were five
thousand four hundred and sixty nine.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:15
These were brought back by Sanabassar, together with them of the captivity,
from Babylon to Yerusalem.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:16
But in the time of Ahasuerus king of the Persians Belemus, and Mithridates, and
Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Semellius the secretary, with
others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places,
wrote to him against them that dwelt in Yahudah and Yerusalem these letters
following;
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:17
To king Ahasuerus our lord, Your servants, Rathumus the story-writer, and
Semellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges that are in
Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:18
Be it now known to the lord king, that the Yahudim that are up from you to us,
being come into Yerusalem, that rebellious and wicked city, do build the
marketplaces, and repair the walls of it and do lay the foundation of the Great
Tabernacle.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:19
Now if this city and the walls thereof be made up again, they will not only
refuse to give tribute, but also rebel against kings.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:20
And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the tabernacle are now in hand, we
think it meet not to neglect such a matter,
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:21
But to speak to our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be your pleasure
it may be sought out in the books of your fathers:
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:22
And you shall find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things,
and shall understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and
cities:
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:23
And that the Yahudim were rebellious, and raised always wars therein; for the
which cause even this city was made desolate.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:24
Wherefore now we do declare to you, O lord the king, that if this city be built
again, and the walls thereof set up anew, you shall from henceforth have no
passage into Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:25
Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the story-writer, to Beeltethmus, to
Semellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and Phoenicia, after this manner;
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:26
I have read the epistle which you have sent to me: therefore I commanded to
make diligent search, and it has been found that that city was from the
beginning practicing against kings;
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:27
And the men therein were given to rebellion and war: and that were in
Yerusalem, who reigned and exacted tributes in Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:28
Now therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from building the city, and
heed to be taken that there be no more done in it;
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:29
And that those wicked workers proceed no further to the annoyance of kings,
EZRA
-2- ESDRAS 2:30
Then king Ahasuerus his letters being read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe,
and the rest that were in commission with them, removing in haste toward
Yerusalem with a troop of horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array,
began to hinder the builders; and the building of the Great Tabernacle in
Yerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.