Ezra

Praise the LORD, the God of our ancestors, who put it into the king's mind to do this. God was with me, so I found the courage and gathered the leaders to come with me.

Artaxerxes, king of Persia@artaxerxesTo Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven. Any Israelite in my kingdom who wants to go with you, can. Take the silver and gold my advisers and I are giving to the God of Israel. My treasurers west of the Euphrates will give you whatever you ask for, up to a hundred talents of silver, with wheat, wine, oil and as much salt as you want. Nobody taxes the people who serve at that temple. And with the wisdom your God has given you, appoint judges, and teach his laws to anyone who doesn't know them.

Everyone gathered at the canal that runs to Ahava. Three days camping. Went through the list. People, priests. Not one Levite.

Replying to @ezra.scribe

Sent a message to Iddo, the leader at Casiphia. They sent us Sherebiah, a man with real insight, with his sons and brothers, and more after him. God was being kind to us.

Called a fast by the canal, to ask God for a safe journey for us, our children and everything we're carrying. Honestly? I was too embarrassed to ask the king for soldiers. We'd told him our God looks after everyone who looks to him.

Replying to @ezra.scribe

So we fasted and prayed about it. And he answered.

Weighed out the gifts for God's house to twelve of the leading priests: 650 talents of silver, silver bowls and dishes weighing another 100, and 100 talents of gold. Told them: you belong to the LORD, and so does this. Guard it until it's weighed out again in Jerusalem.

Four months on the road. God looked after us the whole way and kept us safe from enemies and bandits. And no soldiers. Rested three days, then weighed everything out in the house of our God. Every item counted, the total written down.

Ezra@ezra.scribe · Ahava CanalCalled a fast by the canal, to ask God for a safe journey for us, our children and everything we're carrying. Honestly? I was too embarrassed to ask the king for soldiers. We'd told him our God looks after everyone who looks to him.

Replying to @leader.jerusalem

When I heard, I tore my clothes. Pulled hair out of my head and my beard. Sat there in shock until the evening sacrifice. Everyone who trembled at God's word came and sat round me.

My God, I'm too ashamed to lift my face to you. Our wrongs are piled higher than our heads.

Replying to @ezra.scribe

And yet, for a short moment, you've been kind. You've left a few of us, and given us a foothold in your holy place. Light in our eyes. We're slaves, but you haven't left us.

You've been unfaithful and married foreign women, and added to Israel's guilt. Confess it to the LORD and do what he wants. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from your foreign wives.

Replying to @theisraelites

They'd built a high wooden platform for it. I read, and the Levites went through the crowd explaining it, so everyone understood what they were hearing.