The Road Home.

וְאֵ֛לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֥י אֲבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם וְהִתְיַחְשָׂ֑ם הָעֹלִ֣ים עִמִּ֗י בְּמַלְכ֛וּת אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מִבָּבֶֽל׃ ס

These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylonia, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:

מִבְּנֵ֤י פִֽינְחָס֙ גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם ס מִבְּנֵ֥י אִיתָמָ֖ר דָּנִיֵּ֑אל ס מִבְּנֵ֥י דָוִ֖יד חַטּֽוּשׁ׃ ס

[2] Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush.

מִבְּנֵ֣י שְׁכַנְיָ֔ה ס מִבְּנֵ֥י פַרְעֹ֖שׁ זְכַרְיָ֑ה וְעִמּ֛וֹ הִתְיַחֵ֥שׂ לִזְכָרִ֖ים מֵאָ֥ה וַחֲמִשִּֽׁים׃ ס

[3] Of the sons of Shecaniah, who was of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, with whom were registered 150 men.

מִבְּנֵי֙ פַּחַ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב אֶלְיְהֽוֹעֵינַ֖י בֶּן־זְרַֽחְיָ֑ה וְעִמּ֖וֹ מָאתַ֥יִם הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

[4] Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men.

מִבְּנֵ֥י שְׁכַנְיָ֖ה בֶּן־יַחֲזִיאֵ֑ל וְעִמּ֕וֹ שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

[5] Of the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men.

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י עָדִ֔ין עֶ֖בֶד בֶּן־יוֹנָתָ֑ן וְעִמּ֖וֹ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

[6] Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men.

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י עֵילָ֔ם יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה בֶּן־עֲתַלְיָ֑ה וְעִמּ֖וֹ שִׁבְעִ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

[7] Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men.

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה זְבַדְיָ֖ה בֶּן־מִֽיכָאֵ֑ל וְעִמּ֖וֹ שְׁמֹנִ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

[8] Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him 80 men.

מִבְּנֵ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב עֹבַדְיָ֖ה בֶּן־יְחִיאֵ֑ל וְעִמּ֕וֹ מָאתַ֛יִם וּשְׁמֹנָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

[9] Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men.

וּמִבְּנֵ֥י שְׁלוֹמִ֖ית בֶּן־יוֹסִפְיָ֑ה וְעִמּ֕וֹ מֵאָ֥ה וְשִׁשִּׁ֖ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

[10] Of the sons of Bani, Shelomith the son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men.

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י בֵבַ֔י זְכַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־בֵּבָ֑י וְעִמּ֕וֹ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנָ֖ה הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

[11] Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah, the son of Bebai, and with him 28 men.

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י עַזְגָּ֔ד יוֹחָנָ֖ן בֶּן־הַקָּטָ֑ן וְעִמּ֕וֹ מֵאָ֥ה וַעֲשָׂרָ֖ה הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

[12] Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men.

וּמִבְּנֵ֣י אֲדֹנִיקָם֮ אַחֲרֹנִים֒ וְאֵ֣לֶּה שְׁמוֹתָ֔ם אֱלִיפֶ֖לֶט יְעִיאֵ֣ל וּֽשְׁמַעְיָ֑ה וְעִמָּהֶ֖ם שִׁשִּׁ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ ס

[13] Of the sons of Adonikam, those who came later, their names being Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men.

וּמִבְּנֵ֥י בִגְוַ֖י עוּתַ֣י ׳וְזָבוּד׳ ״וְזַכּ֑וּר״ וְעִמּ֖וֹ שִׁבְעִ֥ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ פ

[14] Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur, and with them 70 men.

וָֽאֶקְבְּצֵ֗ם אֶל־הַנָּהָר֙ הַבָּ֣א אֶֽל־אַהֲוָ֔א וַנַּחֲנֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם יָמִ֣ים שְׁלֹשָׁ֑ה וָאָבִ֤ינָה בָעָם֙ וּבַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וּמִבְּנֵ֥י לֵוִ֖י לֹא־מָצָ֥אתִי שָֽׁם׃

[15] I gathered them to the river that runs to Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there none of the sons of Levi.

וָאֶשְׁלְחָ֡ה לֶאֱלִיעֶ֡זֶר לַאֲרִיאֵ֡ל לִֽ֠שְׁמַעְיָה וּלְאֶלְנָתָ֨ן וּלְיָרִ֜יב וּלְאֶלְנָתָ֧ן וּלְנָתָ֛ן וְלִזְכַרְיָ֥ה וְלִמְשֻׁלָּ֖ם רָאשִׁ֑ים וּלְיוֹיָרִ֥יב וּלְאֶלְנָתָ֖ן מְבִינִֽים׃

[16] Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of insight,

׳וָאוֹצִאָה׳ ״וָאֲצַוֶּ֤ה״ אוֹתָם֙ עַל־אִדּ֣וֹ הָרֹ֔אשׁ בְּכָסִפְיָ֖א הַמָּק֑וֹם וָאָשִׂימָה֩ בְּפִיהֶ֨ם דְּבָרִ֜ים לְ֠דַבֵּר אֶל־אִדּ֨וֹ אָחִ֤יו ׳הַנְּתוּנִים׳ ״הַנְּתִינִים֙״ בְּכָסִפְיָ֣א הַמָּק֔וֹם לְהָֽבִיא־לָ֥נוּ מְשָׁרְתִ֖ים לְבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃

[17] and sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brothers and the temple servants at the place Casiphia, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God.

וַיָּבִ֨יאּוּ לָ֜נוּ כְּיַד־אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ הַטּוֹבָ֤ה עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ שֶׂ֔כֶל מִבְּנֵ֣י מַחְלִ֔י בֶּן־לֵוִ֖י בֶּן־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֛ה וּבָנָ֥יו וְאֶחָ֖יו שְׁמֹנָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃

[18] And by the good hand of our God on us, they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah with his sons and kinsmen, 18;

וְאֶת־חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה וְאִתּ֥וֹ יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה מִבְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֑י אֶחָ֥יו וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם עֶשְׂרִֽים׃ ס

[19] also Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his kinsmen and their sons, 20;

וּמִן־הַנְּתִינִ֗ים שֶׁנָּתַ֨ן דָּוִ֤יד וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ לַעֲבֹדַ֣ת הַלְוִיִּ֔ם נְתִינִ֖ים מָאתַ֣יִם וְעֶשְׂרִ֑ים כֻּלָּ֖ם נִקְּב֥וּ בְשֵׁמֽוֹת׃

[20] besides 220 of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all mentioned by name.

וָאֶקְרָ֨א שָׁ֥ם צוֹם֙ עַל־הַנָּהָ֣ר אַהֲוָ֔א לְהִתְעַנּ֖וֹת לִפְנֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְשָׁרָ֔ה לָ֥נוּ וּלְטַפֵּ֖נוּ וּלְכָל־רְכוּשֵֽׁנוּ׃

[21] Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.

כִּ֣י בֹ֗שְׁתִּי לִשְׁא֤וֹל מִן־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ חַ֣יִל וּפָרָשִׁ֔ים לְעָזְרֵ֥נוּ מֵאוֹיֵ֖ב בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ כִּֽי־אָמַ֨רְנוּ לַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֗ר יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ עַל־כָּל־מְבַקְשָׁיו֙ לְטוֹבָ֔ה וְעֻזּ֣וֹ וְאַפּ֔וֹ עַ֖ל כָּל־עֹזְבָֽיו׃

[22] For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.”

וַנָּצ֛וּמָה וַנְּבַקְשָׁ֥ה מֵאֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ עַל־זֹ֑את וַיֵּעָתֵ֖ר לָֽנוּ׃

[23] So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

וָאַבְדִּ֛ילָה מִשָּׂרֵ֥י הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר לְשֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֣ה חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה וְעִמָּהֶ֥ם מֵאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם עֲשָׂרָֽה׃

[24] Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen with them.

׳וָאֶשְׁקוֹלָה׳ ״וָאֶשְׁקֳלָ֣ה״ לָהֶ֔ם אֶת־הַכֶּ֥סֶף וְאֶת־הַזָּהָ֖ב וְאֶת־הַכֵּלִ֑ים תְּרוּמַ֣ת בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ הַהֵרִ֙ימוּ֙ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְיֹעֲצָ֣יו וְשָׂרָ֔יו וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הַנִּמְצָאִֽים׃

[25] And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king and his counselors and his lords and all Israel there present had offered.

וָאֶשְׁקֲלָ֨ה עַל־יָדָ֜ם כֶּ֗סֶף כִּכָּרִים֙ שֵֽׁשׁ־מֵא֣וֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁ֔ים וּכְלֵי־כֶ֥סֶף מֵאָ֖ה לְכִכָּרִ֑ים זָהָ֖ב מֵאָ֥ה כִכָּֽר׃

[26] I weighed out into their hand 650 talents of silver, and silver vessels worth 200 talents, and 100 talents of gold,

וּכְפֹרֵ֤י זָהָב֙ עֶשְׂרִ֔ים לַאֲדַרְכֹנִ֖ים אָ֑לֶף וּכְלֵ֨י נְחֹ֜שֶׁת מֻצְהָ֤ב טוֹבָה֙ שְׁנַ֔יִם חֲמוּדֹ֖ת כַּזָּהָֽב׃

[27] 20 bowls of gold worth 1,000 darics, and two vessels of fine bright bronze as precious as gold.

וָאֹמְרָ֣ה אֲלֵהֶ֗ם אַתֶּ֥ם קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ לַיהוָ֔ה וְהַכֵּלִ֖ים קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְהַכֶּ֤סֶף וְהַזָּהָב֙ נְדָבָ֔ה לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

[28] And I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord , and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord , the God of your fathers.

שִׁקְד֣וּ וְשִׁמְר֗וּ עַֽד־תִּשְׁקְל֡וּ לִפְנֵי֩ שָׂרֵ֨י הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֛ם וְשָׂרֵֽי־הָאָב֥וֹת לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם הַלִּשְׁכ֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

[29] Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of fathers' houses in Israel at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the Lord .”

וְקִבְּלוּ֙ הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם מִשְׁקַ֛ל הַכֶּ֥סֶף וְהַזָּהָ֖ב וְהַכֵּלִ֑ים לְהָבִ֥יא לִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם לְבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ פ

[30] So the priests and the Levites took over the weight of the silver and the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.

וַֽנִּסְעָ֞ה מִנְּהַ֣ר אַֽהֲוָ֗א בִּשְׁנֵ֤ים עָשָׂר֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן לָלֶ֖כֶת יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְיַד־אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ הָיְתָ֣ה עָלֵ֔ינוּ וַיַּ֨צִּילֵ֔נוּ מִכַּ֥ף אוֹיֵ֛ב וְאוֹרֵ֖ב עַל־הַדָּֽרֶךְ׃

[31] Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way.

וַנָּב֖וֹא יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַנֵּ֥שֶׁב שָׁ֖ם יָמִ֥ים שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃

[32] We came to Jerusalem, and there we remained three days.

וּבַיּ֣וֹם הָרְבִיעִ֡י נִשְׁקַ֣ל הַכֶּסֶף֩ וְהַזָּהָ֨ב וְהַכֵּלִ֜ים בְּבֵ֣ית אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ עַ֠ל יַד־מְרֵמ֤וֹת בֶּן־אֽוּרִיָּה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְעִמּ֖וֹ אֶלְעָזָ֣ר בֶּן־פִּֽינְחָ֑ס וְעִמָּהֶ֞ם יוֹזָבָ֧ד בֶּן־יֵשׁ֛וּעַ וְנֽוֹעַדְיָ֥ה בֶן־בִּנּ֖וּי הַלְוִיִּֽם׃

[33] On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed into the hands of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui.

בְּמִסְפָּ֥ר בְּמִשְׁקָ֖ל לַכֹּ֑ל וַיִּכָּתֵ֥ב כָּֽל־הַמִּשְׁקָ֖ל בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽיא׃ פ

[34] The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded.

הַ֠בָּאִים מֵֽהַשְּׁבִ֨י בְנֵֽי־הַגּוֹלָ֜ה הִקְרִ֥יבוּ עֹל֣וֹת׀ לֵאלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל פָּרִ֨ים שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֤ר עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֵילִ֣ים׀ תִּשְׁעִ֣ים וְשִׁשָּׁ֗ה כְּבָשִׂים֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים וְשִׁבְעָ֔ה צְפִירֵ֥י חַטָּ֖את שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר הַכֹּ֖ל עוֹלָ֥ה לַיהוָֽה׃ פ

[35] At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord .

וַֽיִּתְּנ֣וּ׀ אֶת־דָּתֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנֵי֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּפַחֲו֖וֹת עֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֑ר וְנִשְּׂא֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם וְאֶת־בֵּֽית־הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ ס

[36] They also delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps and to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and they aided the people and the house of God.