Ezra 8:15-17

Expanded Bible

The Return to Jerusalem

¹⁵ I ·called [assembled; gathered] all those people together [^Che lists 1,513 males, probably over 5,000 total with women and children] at the ·canal [river] that flows toward Ahava, where we camped for three days. I ·checked [reviewed; observed] all the people and the priests, but I did not find any Levites [^Cneeded for service at a rebuilt Temple]. ¹⁶ So I called these leaders: Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam. And I called Joiarib and Elnathan, who were ·teachers [wise; judicious; men of learning/discernment]. ¹⁷ I sent these men to Iddo, the leader [^Cof the Levites] at Casiphia, and told them what to say to Iddo and his ·relatives [or collegues; ^Lbrothers], who are the Temple servants in Casiphia. I sent them to bring ·servants [ministers; attendants] to us for the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of our God.