And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the children of the priests, and of the children of the Levites, and of the singing men, and of the porters, and of the Nathinites to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
It is decreed by me, that all they of the people of Israel, and of the priests and of the Levites in my realm, that are minded to go into Jerusalem, should go with thee.
Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Juda and Benjamin, and the priests, and Levites, and every one whose spirit God had raised up, to go up to build the temple of the Lord which was in Jerusalem.
And his brethren of stronger age: two thousand seven hundred chiefs of families. And king David made them rulers over the Rubenites and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasses, for all the service of God, and the king.
And they also cast lots over against their brethren, the sons of Aaron, before David the king, and Sadoc, and Ahimelech, and the princes of the priestly and Levitical families, both the elder and the younger. The lot divided all equally.
And all Israel was numbered: and the sum of them was written in the book of the kings of Israel, and Juda. And they were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.
And hath inclined his mercy toward me before the king and his counsellors, and all the mighty princes of the king. And I being strengthened by the hand of the Lord my God, which was upon me, gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
Who came with Zorobabel: Josue, Nehemia, Saraia, Rahelaia, Mardochai, Belsan, Mesphar, Beguai, Rehum, Baana. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
This Esdras went up from Babylon, and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God had given to Israel. And the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.