EZRA 5

Temple Work Resumed

1 Now when the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, the son (grandson) of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel,whose Spirit wasover them,

2 then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel [heir to the throne of Judah] and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God [Haggai and Zechariah] were with them, supportingandencouraging them.

3 At that time Tattenai, the governor ofthe provinceon the west side of the [Euphrates] River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and said, “Whoissued you a decreeandauthorized you to rebuild this temple and to restore this wall (shrine)?”

4 Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were reconstructing this building.

5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so they [Tattenai and the others] did not stop them until a report could come before Darius, and then an answer was returned by letter concerning it.

Adversaries Write to Darius

6 This isa copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor ofthe provincewest of the [Euphrates] River, and Shethar-bozenai and his associates, the officials who were west of the River, sent to Darius the king.

7 They sent a report to him in which it was written: “To Darius the king, all peace.

8 Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, with beams laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligenceandcare and is succeeding in their hands.

9 Then we asked those elders, ‘Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?’

10 We also asked them their names so that we might notify you, and so that we might record the names of the menin charge.

11 They replied, ‘We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are rebuilding the temple which was erected many years ago, which agreat king of Israel built and finished.

12 ~‘But because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and exiled the people to Babylon.

13 ~‘But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, [the same] King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.

14 ~‘Also the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and had brought into the temple of Babylon, King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon and had them given to a man whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor.

15 ~‘And Cyrus said to him, “Take these utensils, go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site.”

16 ~‘Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under construction and is not yet completed.’

17 So now, if it pleases the king, let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house [in the royal archives] there in Babylon to see if it is true that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send us his decision concerning this matter.”

EZRA 6

Darius Finds Cyrus’ Decree

1 Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was conducted in Babylon in the archives where the treasures [and records] were stored.

2 In Ecbatana in the fortress (palace) in the province of Media, a scroll was found on which this was recorded: “Memorandum–

3 In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king issued a decree: ‘Concerningthe house of God in Jerusalem, let the temple (house), the place where sacrifices are offered, be rebuilt and let its foundations be strongly laid, its height and its width each 60 cubits,

4 with three layers of huge stones and one layer of timbers. Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury.

5 ~‘Also let the gold and silver utensils of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be returned and brought back to their [proper] places in the temple in Jerusalem; and you shall put them in the house of God.’

6 “Nowtherefore,Tattenai, governor ofthe provincewest of the [Euphrates] River, Shethar-bozenai and your associates, the officials who are west of the River, keep far away from there.

7 Leave the work on this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site.

8 Also, I issue a decree as to what you are to do for these Jewish elders for the rebuilding of this house of God: the full cost is to be paid to these people from the royal treasury out of the taxes ofthe provinceswest of the River, and that without delay.

9 Whatever is needed, including young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil, according to the request of the priests at Jerusalem, let it all be given to them daily without fail,

10 so that they may offer pleasing (sweet-smelling) sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

11 I have also issued a decree thatif there isany man who violates this edict, a beam of timber shall be pulled from his house [and set up]; then he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be turned into a refuse heap for this [violation].

12 May the God who has caused HisName to dwell there overthrow any king or people who attempts to alterthis command,so as to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree; let it be carried out quicklyandwith due diligence.”

The Temple Completed and Dedicated

13 Then Tattenai, governor ofthe provincewest of the [Euphrates] River, with Shethar-bozenai and their associates carried out the decree with due diligence, just as King Darius had sentandcommanded.

14 And the Jewish elders built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building as commanded by the God of Israel and in accordance with the decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

15 This temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in thesixth year of the reign of King Darius.

16 And all Israel–the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the [former] exiles–celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.

17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and, as a sin offering for all Israel, 12 male goats, according to the number of Israel’s tribes.

18 Then they appointed the priests to their divisions and the Levites in their orders for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.

The Passover Observed

19 The [former] exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth [day] of the first month.

20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were [ceremonially] clean. So they slaughtered the Passoverlambfor all the exiles, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.

21 ThePassoverwas eaten by the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob) who returned from exile and by all those who had separated themselves from the [ceremonial] uncleanness of the nations of the land tojointhem,in orderto seek the LordGod of Israel.

22 They observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, for the Lordhad caused them to rejoice and had turned the heart ofthe king of Assyria toward them, so that he encouraged themandstrengthened their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

EZRA 7

Ezra Journeys from Babylon to Jerusalem

1 Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes I [son of Ahasuerus (Xerxes)] king of Persia, Ezra the son (descendant) of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest–

6 this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law (the five books) of Moses, which the LordGod of Israel had given; and the king granted him everything that he asked, for the hand of the Lordhis God was on him.

7 Some of the sons of Israel, with some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants also went up [from Babylon] to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

8 Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.

9 For on the first of the first month he started out from Babylon, and on the first of the fifth month he arrived in Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was on him.

10 For Ezra had set his heart (resolved) to studyandinterpret the Law of the Lord, and to practice it and teachHisstatutes and ordinances in Israel.

King’s Decree on Behalf of Ezra

11 Now this is a copy of the decree that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe [who was] learned in the words of the commandments of the Lordand of His statutes to Israel:

12 “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, perfectpeace(greetings). And now

13 I have issued a decree that all of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.

14 For you are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem in accordance with the Law of your God, which is in your hand,

15 and to bring [with you] the silver and gold which the king and his advisers have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,

16 and all the silver and gold which you find in the whole province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and of the priests for the house of their God in Jerusalem.

17 Therefore with this money, you shall diligently buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

18 And whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, you may do in accordance with the will of your God.

19 As for the utensils which are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver [those] in full before the God of Jerusalem.

20 The rest of the things required for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to provide, provide it from the royal treasury.

21 “And I, Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree to all the treasurersin the provinceswest of the [Euphrates] River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligentlyandat once–

22 evenup to 100 talents of silver, 100 kors (measures) of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of [olive] oil, and salt as needed.

23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done diligentlyandwith enthusiasm for the house of the God of heaven, so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons.

24 We also inform you that it is not authorized to impose tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants orotherservants of this house of God.

25 “You, Ezra, are to appoint magistrates and judges in accordance with the wisdomandinstruction of your God which is in your hand, so that they may judge all the people who are inthe provincewest of the [Euphrates] River;appointthose who know the laws of your God; and you may teach anyone who does not knowthem.

26 Whoever does not observeandpractice the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictlyandpromptly, whether it be for death or banishment or confiscation of property or imprisonment.”

The King’s Kindness

27 Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers [said Ezra], who putsuch a thingas this in the king’s heart, to adornandglorify the house of the Lordin Jerusalem,

28 and has extended His mercyandlovingkindness to me before the king, his advisers, and all the king’s mighty officials. I was strengthenedandencouraged, for the hand of the Lordmy God was upon me, and I gathered together outstanding men of Israel to go up with me [to Jerusalem].

EZRA 8

People Who Went with Ezra

1 These are the heads of their fathers’householdsandthis isthe genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of King Artaxerxes:

2 of thesons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush;

3 of the sons of Shecaniahwho wasof the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 men by genealogy;

4 of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, with 200 men;

5 of the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, with 300 men;

6 of the sons of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, with 50 men;

7 of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, with 70 men;

8 of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, with 80 men;

9 of the sons of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, with 218 men;

10 of the sons of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, with 160 men;

11 of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, with 28 men;

12 of the sons of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, with 110 men;

13 of the sons of Adonikam, the last to come, their names are Eliphelet,Jeiel, and Shemaiah, with 60 men;

14 and of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai andZabbud, with 70 men.

Ezra Sends for Levites

15 Now I gathered them together at the river that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days. I observed the people and the priests, and I did not find any Levites there.

16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, [who were] leading men, and also for Joiarib and Elnathan, [who were] teachers.

17 And I sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brothers, the temple servants at the place Casiphia,that is,to bring us servants (ministers) for the house of our God.

18 And as the good hand of our God was upon us, they brought us a man of understanding (insight) from the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel,namedSherebiah, with his sons and his brothers (relatives), 18 men;

19 and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers (relatives) and their sons, 20 men;

20 also 220 of the temple servants, whom David and the leaders had set apart [with their descendants] for the service of the Levites. They were all designated by name.

Protection of God Invoked

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, so that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, ourchildren, and all our possessions.

22 For I was ashamed to request troops and horsemen from the king to protect us from the enemy along the way, because we had told the king, “The hand of our God is favorable toward all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who abandon (turn away from) Him.”

23 So we fasted and sought [help from] our God concerning this [matter], and He heard our plea.

24 Then I set apart twelve leading priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers (relatives),

25 and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the utensils, the offering for the house of our God which the king, his advisers, his officials, and all Israel who were present there had offered.

26 I weighed into their hands 650 talents of silver, and silver utensilsworth100 talents, and 100 talents of gold;

27 also 20 bowls of goldworth1,000 darics, and two utensils of fineshiny bronze, precious as gold.

28 Then I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, the utensils are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LordGod of your fathers.

29 Guard and keep them until you weigh them before the leading priests and the Levites and the leaders of the fathers’householdsof Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord.”

30 So the priests and the Levites received the weighed out silver and gold, and the utensils, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

31 We set out from the river Ahava on the twelfth [day] of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was upon us, and He rescued us from the hand of the enemy and those who lay in ambushes along the way.

32 So we came to Jerusalem and remained there for three days.

Treasure Placed in the Temple

33 On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the utensils were weighed out in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, 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.

34 Every piece was counted and weighed, and all the weight was recorded at that time.

35 Also the [former] exiles who had come from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 male goats for a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord.

36 And they delivered the king’s edicts to the king’s satraps (lieutenants) and to the governorswest of the [Euphrates] River, and they supported the people and God’s house.

EZRA 9

Mixed Marriages

1 When these things were completed, the officials came to me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, but have committed the repulsive acts of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.

2 For they have taken some of their daughtersas wivesfor themselves and for their sons, so that the holyrace hasintermingled with the peoples of the lands. Indeed, the officials and chief men have been foremost in this unfaithful actanddirect violation [of God’s will].”

3 When I heard this, I tore my clothing and my robe [in grief], I pulled out some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled [at the shame of it].

4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me as I sat appalled until the evening offering.

Prayer of Confession

5 At the evening offering I arose from my [time of] humiliationandpenitence and having torn my clothing and my robe, I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lordmy God,

6 and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our wrongdoings have risen higher than our heads and our guilt has grown to the heavens.

7 Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been exceedingly guilty; and on account of our wrongdoings we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to complete shame, as it is today.

8 But now for a brief moment grace has been [shown to us] from the Lordour God, who has left us a surviving remnant and has given us a peg (secure hold) in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

9 For we are slaves; yet our God has not abandoned us in our bondage, but has extended lovingkindness to us before the kings of Persia, to revive us to rebuild the house of our God, to repair the site of its ruins and to give us a wall [of protection] in Judah and Jerusalem.

10 “Now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have abandoned (turned away from) Your commandments,

11 which You have commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is a defiled land with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their repulsive acts which have filled it from one end to the otheralongwith their impurity.

12 ~‘So now do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons; and never seek their peace or their prosperity, so that you may be strong and eat the goodthingsof the land and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.’

13 And after everything that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since You our God have punished us less than our wrongdoingsdeserve,and have given us survivors like these,

14 shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who practice these repulsive acts? Would You not be angry with us to the point of total destruction, so that there would be no remnant nor survivor?

15 O LordGod of Israel, You are [uncompromisingly] just (righteous), for we have been left as survivors, as it is this day. Behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.”

EZRA 10

Reconciliation with God

1 Now while Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and laying himself face down before the house of God, a very large group from Israel, of men, women, and children, gathered to him, for the people wept bitterly.

2 Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.

3 Therefore let us now make a covenant with our God to send away all the [foreign] wives and their children, in accordance with the advice of my lord and of those who tremble [in reverent obedience] at the commandment of our God; and let it be done in accordance with the Law.

4 Stand up, for it is your duty, and we will be with you. Be brave and act.”

5 Then Ezra stood and made the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, take an oath that they would act in accordance with this proposal; so they took the oath.

6 Then Ezra got up from before the house of God and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib [and spent the night there]. He did not eat bread nor drink water, for he was mourning over the [former] exiles’ faithlessness.

7 They made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the [former] exiles, that they were to assemble at Jerusalem,

8 and that whoever would not come within three days, by order of the counsel of the leaders and the elders, all his possessionsandproperty would be forfeited and he himself would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.

9 So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the twentieth [day] of the ninth month, and all the people sat in the open squarein front ofthe house of God, trembling because of [the seriousness of] this matter and because of the heavy rain.

10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful [to God] and have married foreign (pagan) women, adding to the guilt of Israel.

11 So now, make confession to the LordGod of your fathers and do His will.Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from [your] foreign wives.”

12 Then all the assembly replied with a loud voice, “It is our responsibility to do just as you have said.

13 But there are many people and it is the season of heavy rain; so we are unable to stand outside. Norcanthe taskbe donein a day or two, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter.

14 Let our leaders stand forandrepresent the entire assembly; let all those in our cities who have married foreign wives come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each city, until the burning anger of our God over this matter is turned away from us.”

15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvahopposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.

16 Then the [former] exiles did so. Ezra the priest and menwho wereheads of fathers’householdswere selected, according to their fathers’ households, each of them by name; and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter.

17 And by the first day of the first month they finishedinvestigatingall the men married to foreign wives.

List of Offenders

18 Now among the sons of the priests who had married foreign women were found: of the sons of Jeshua [the high priest] the son of Jozadak, and his brothers–Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.

19 They vowed to send away their [pagan] wives, and being guilty,they each offereda ram of the flock for their offense.

20 Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah;

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

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

23 Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah, that is, Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

24 Of the singers: Eliashib; and of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

25 Of Israel, of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah (Hashabiah), and Benaiah;

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

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

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

29 and of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth;

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

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

32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah;

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

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

35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,

36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu,

38 Bani, Binnui, Shimei,

39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,

40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.

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

44 All these had married foreign women, and some of them had wivesby whomthey had children.

2 CHRONICLES 1

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

1 Solomon the son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the Lordhis God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

2 Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ (ancestors’)households.

3 Then Solomon and all the assembly went to the high place at Gibeon [to offer sacrifices, where the Canaanites had habitually worshiped], for God’s Tent of Meeting was there, which Moses the servant of the Lordhad made in the wilderness.

4 But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.

5 Now the bronze altar, which Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before the tabernacle of the Lord, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out.

6 And Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lordat the Tent of Meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give to you.”

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

8 Then Solomon said to God, “You have shown great lovingkindnessandmercy to my father David, and have made me king in his place.

9 Now, O LordGod, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.

10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may go out and come in [performing my duties] before this people, for [otherwise] who can ruleandadminister justice to this great people of Yours?”

11 God replied to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart and you did not ask for riches, possessions or honorandpersonal glory, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself so that you may ruleandadminister justice to My people over whom I have made you king,

12 wisdom and knowledge have been granted you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor will those who will come after you.”

13 So Solomon went from the high place at Gibeon, from the Tent of Meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.

Solomon’s Wealth

14 Solomon acquired chariots and horsemen; he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the cities [suited for the use] of chariots and with the king at Jerusalem.

15 The king made silver and gold as plentifulandcommon in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as plentiful as thesycamore-fig trees in the lowland.

16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and fromKue. The king’s merchants purchased them [in large numbers] from Kueat a price.

17 And they imported chariots from Egypt for 600shekelsof silver apiece, and horses for 150 apiece; and in the same way they exported horses to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Arameans (Syrians).

2 CHRONICLES 2

Solomon Will Build a Temple and Palace

1 Now Solomon decided to build a house (temple) for the Name of the Lord, and a royal palace for himself.

2 So Solomon assigned 70,000 men to carry loads, 80,000 men to quarry stone in the mountains, and 3,600 to supervise them.

3 Then Solomon sentwordtoHiram king of Tyre, saying, “As you dealt with my father David and sent him cedars to build himself a house in which to live, [please] do the same for me.

4 Observe, I am about to build a house for the Name of the Lordmy God, dedicated to Him, to burn fragrant incense [of sweet spices] before Him, to set out the showbread continually, and to offer burnt offerings morning and evening, on Sabbaths, New Moons, and on the festivals of the Lordour God, asordainedforever in Israel.

5 The house I am going to build will be great, for our God is greater than all the gods.

6 But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens and [even] the highest heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I to build a house for Him, except [as a place] to burnincensebefore Him?

7 Now send me a man who is skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and bluefabrics,and who knows how to make engravings,to workwith the skilled men who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom my father David provided.

8 Send me also cedar, cypress, andalgum timber, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And indeed my servantswill workwith your servants

9 to prepare for me an abundance of timber, because the house I am about to build will be great and wonderful.

10 And I will give to your servants who cut timber, 20,000measures of crushed wheat and 20,000 measures of barley, and 20,000 baths of wine and 20,000 baths of [olive] oil.”

Hiram to Assist

11 Then Hiram, king of Tyre replied in a letter sent to Solomon: “Because the Lordloves His people, He has made you king over them.”

12 Hiram said also, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, who will build a house for the Lordand a royal palace for himself.

13 “Now I am sending a skilled man, endowed with understanding, Huram-abi,

14 the son of aDanite woman and a Tyrian father. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood; in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics, and in fine linen. He is able to make any kind of engraving and to carry out any design given him.He will workwith your skilled men and those of my lord, David your father.

15 Now then, let my lord send to his servants the wheat, the barley, the oil, and the wine of which he has spoken.

16 We will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you on rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may take it up to Jerusalem.”

17 Then Solomon took a count of all the aliens in the land of Israel, like the census that his father David had taken; and they were found to be 153,600.

18 He assigned 70,000 of them to carry loads and 80,000 to quarry stone in the mountain, and 3,600 as overseers to make the people work.

2 CHRONICLES 3

The Temple Construction in Jerusalem

1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lordin Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lordappeared to his father David, in the place that David had prepared, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

2 Solomon began to build on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.

Dimensions and Materials of the Temple

3 Now this is the [measurement of the] foundation which Solomon laid for the house of God: the length in cubits–by the old standard of measure–was sixty cubits (90 ft.), and the width was twenty cubits (30 ft.).

4 The porch in front of the house was as long as the width of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was 120 cubits. He overlaid it inside with pure gold.

5 He overlaid the main room [the Holy Place] with cypress wood and overlaid it with fine gold, and decorated it with palm trees and chains.

6 And he adorned the house with precious stones; and the gold was gold from Parvaim.

7 He also overlaid the house [the Holy Place] with gold–the beams, the thresholds, and its walls and its doors; and he carved cherubim on the walls.

8 Now he made the room of the Holy of Holies: its length equaling the width of the house was twenty cubits, and its width was twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with 600 talents of fine gold.

9 The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold.

10 And in the Holy of Holies he made two sculptured cherubim, and overlaid them with gold.

11 The wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits: one wing of one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house, and its other wing, of five cubits, touched the other cherub’s wing.

12 The wing of the other cherub, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house; and its other wing of five cubits touched the wing of the first cherub.

13 The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits. The cherubim stood on their feet, their faces toward the Holy Place (the main room).

14 He made the veil [between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies] of blue, purple, and crimson colors, andfine linen, and embroidered cherubim on it.

15 He also made two pillars for the front of the house, thirty-five cubits high, and the capital on the top of each one was five cubits.

16 He made chains [like a necklace] in the inner sanctuary and put them on the tops of the pillars; and he made a hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains.

17 He erected the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right, the other on the left, and named the one on the right Jachin (may He establish) and the one on the left Boaz (in Him is strength).

2 CHRONICLES 4

Furnishings of the Temple

1 Then Solomon made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits in length, twenty cubits in width, and ten cubits in height.

2 He also made the Sea [that is, the large basin used for ceremonial washing] of cast metal, ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, and five cubits in height, and its circumference was thirty cubits.

3 Under it and entirely encircling it were figures of oxen, ten to a cubit. The oxen were in two rows, cast in one piece.

4 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, three facing east; and the Sea was set on top of them and all their hindquarters turned inward.

5 It was a handbreadth (the width of the four fingers) thick; its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold3,000 baths (measures).

6 He also made ten [portable] basins in which to wash, and he put five on the right (south) side and five on the left (north). They would rinse things for the burnt offering in them, but the Sea was for the priests to wash in.

7 And he made ten golden lampstands just as directed and set them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left.

8 He made also ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left side, and he made a hundred [ceremonial] basins of gold.

9 Moreover, he made the courtyard of the priests, and the great courtyard [for the people] and doors for the courtyard, and he overlaid their doors with bronze.

10 He set the Sea on the right side at the southeast corner [of the house].

11 And Huram also made the pails [for ashes], the shovels, and the basins. So Huram finished the work that he did for King Solomon in the house of God:

12 the two pillars, the bowls, the capitals on top of the two pillars, and the two lattice works to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on top of the pillars,

13 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two lattice works, two rows of pomegranates for each lattice to cover the two bowls of the capitals on the pillars.

14 He also made the stands and he made the basins on the stands;

15 and the one Sea with the twelve oxen under it.

16 The pails, the shovels, and the meat-forks, and all the utensils Huram-abi made of polished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the Lord.

17 The king cast them on the plain of the Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.

18 Solomon made all these utensils in such great quantity that the weight of the bronze could not be determined.

19 Solomon also made all the articles that were in the house of God: the golden altar, and the tables for the bread of the Presence (showbread),

20 and the lampstands with their lamps of pure gold, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary (the Holy of Holies) as directed;

21 the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs of gold, of purest gold;

22 and the snuffers, the basins, the dishes [for incense], and the firepans, of pure gold; and for the entrance of the house (temple), the inner doors for the Holy of Holies and the doors of the Holy Place (main room), were of gold.