From: "FamilyNet Direct"    
      
   Bible Reading for October 03   
      
   Ezra 1   
   [1] Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD   
   by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of   
   Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom,   
   and put it also in writing, saying, [2] Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The   
   LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath   
   charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.   
   [3] Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him   
   go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of   
   Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. [4] And whosoever remaineth in   
   any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver,   
   and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering   
   for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.   
   [5] Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the   
   priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up   
   to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. [6] And all they that   
   were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold,   
   with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was   
   willingly offered. [7] Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the   
   house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem,   
   and had put them in the house of his gods;   
   [8] Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath   
   the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.   
   [9] And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand   
   chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives, [10] Thirty basons of gold, silver   
   basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.   
   [11] All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four   
   hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that   
   were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.   
      
   Ezra 2   
   [1] Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the   
   captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king   
   of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and   
   Judah, every one unto his city; [2] Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua,   
   Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah.   
   The number of the men of the people of Israel:   
   [3] The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two. [4] The   
   children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. [5] The children of   
   Arah, seven hundred seventy and five. [6] The children of Pahath-moab, of the   
   children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.   
   [7] The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. [8] The   
   children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five. [9] The children of Zaccai,   
   seven hundred and threescore. [10] The children of Bani, six hundred forty and   
   two. [11] The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three. [12] The   
   children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two. [13] The children of   
   Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six. [14] The children of Bigvai, two thousand   
   fifty and six. [15] The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four. [16]   
   The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. [17] The children of   
   Bezai, three hundred twenty and three. [18] The children of Jorah, an hundred   
   and twelve. [19] The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three. [20]   
   The children of Gibbar, ninety and five. [21] The children of Bethlehem, an   
   hundred twenty and three. [22] The men of Netophah, fifty and six. [23] The   
   men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight. [24] The children of Azmaveth,   
   forty and two. [25] The children of Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth,   
   seven hundred and forty and three.   
   [26] The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one. [27] The men   
   of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two. [28] The men of Bethel and Ai, two   
   hundred twenty and three. [29] The children of Nebo, fifty and two. [30] The   
   children of Magbish, an hundred fifty and six. [31] The children of the other   
   Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. [32] The children of Harim, three   
   hundred and twenty. [33] The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred   
   twenty and five. [34] The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.   
   [35] The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty. [36]   
   The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred   
   seventy and three.   
   [37] The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. [38] The children of   
   Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. [39] The children of Harim, a   
   thousand and seventeen. [40] The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel,   
   of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.   
   [41] The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight. [42] The   
   children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the   
   children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the   
   children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine. [43] The Nethinims: the   
   children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,   
   [44] The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon, [45]   
   The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,   
   [46] The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,   
   [47] The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,   
   [48] The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,   
   [49] The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, [50]   
   The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,   
   [51] The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,   
   [52] The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,   
   [53] The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,   
   [54] The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. [55] The children of   
   Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the   
   children of Peruda, [56] The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the   
   children of Giddel, [57] The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil,   
   the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami. [58] All the   
   Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety   
   and two.   
   [59] And these were they which went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsa, Cherub,   
   Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and their   
   seed, whether they were of Israel:   
   [60] The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda,   
   six hundred fifty and two.   
   [61] And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children   
   of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of   
   Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name: [62] These sought   
   their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not   
   found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.   
   [63] And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most   
   holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim. [64] The   
   whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and   
   threescore,   
   [65] Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand   
   three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing   
   men and singing women. [66] Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six;   
   their mules, two hundred forty and five;   
   [67] Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand   
   seven hundred and twenty.   
   [68] And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the   
   LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up   
   in his place:   
   [69] They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore   
   and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one   
   hundred priests' garments.   
   [70] So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers,   
   and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in   
   their cities.   
      
   Ezra 3   
   [1] And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in   
   the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.   
   [2] Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and   
   Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of   
   the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the   
   law of Moses the man of God.   
   [3] And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of   
   the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto   
   the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening. [4] They kept also the   
   feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings   
   by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;   
   [5] And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons,   
   and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one   
   that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD. [6] From the first   
   day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD.   
   But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.   
   [7] They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and   
   drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees   
   from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of   
   Cyrus king of Persia.   
   [8] Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem,   
   in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son   
   of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and   
   all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the   
   Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the   
   house of the LORD. [9] Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren,   
   Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen   
   in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren   
   the Levites. [10] And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of   
   the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites   
   the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of   
   David king of Israel.   
   [11] And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the   
   LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And   
   all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because   
   the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. [12] But many of the priests   
   and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the   
   first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes,   
   wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:   
   [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 afar off.   
      
   Ezra 4   
   [1] Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of   
   the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; [2] Then they   
   came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let   
   us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto   
   him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.   
   [3] But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of   
   Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto   
   our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as   
   king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. [4] Then the people of the   
   land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,   
   [5] And hired counsellers against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the   
   days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.   
   [6] And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they   
   unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. [7] And   
   in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of   
   their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the   
   letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.   
   [8] Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against   
   Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: [9] Then wrote Rehum the   
   chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the   
   Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites,   
   the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,   
   [10] And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought   
   over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the   
   river, and at such a time.   
   [11] This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto   
   Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such   
   a time.   
   [12] Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us   
   are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have   
   set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. [13] Be it known now   
   unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then   
   will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the   
   revenue of the kings. [14] Now because we have maintenance from the king's   
   palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have   
   we sent and certified the king;   
   [15] That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so   
   shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a   
   rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have   
   moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city   
   destroyed.   
   [16] We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls   
   thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the   
   river.   
   [17] Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai   
   the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and   
   unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. [18] The letter   
   which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. [19] And I commanded,   
   and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath   
   made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been   
   made therein. [20] There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which   
   have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom,   
   was paid unto them.   
   [21] Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city   
   be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. [22] Take   
   heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of   
   the kings?   
   [23] Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and   
   Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem   
   unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. [24] Then ceased the   
   work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second   
   year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.   
      
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