All their neighbors gave them many gifts. They gave them silver, gold, cows, and other expensive things. Their neighbors freely gave them all those things.
That group arrived at the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem. Then the family leaders gave their gifts for building the Lord’s temple. They would build the new temple in the same place as the temple that was destroyed.
After that, they began offering the continual burnt offerings each day, the offerings for the New Moon, and for all the other festivals and holidays that were commanded by the Lord. The people also began giving any other gifts they wanted to give to the Lord.
You must also go through all the provinces of Babylonia. Collect the gifts from your people, from the priests, and from the Levites. Those gifts are for their God’s temple in Jerusalem.
Your people will volunteer\par when you gather your army together.\par They will wear their special clothes\par and meet together early in the morning,\par Those young men will be\par \{all around you\} like dew on the ground. {\cf2\super [574]} \par
But the people of Israel will give one tenth of everything they have to me. And I will give that one tenth to the Levite people. That is why I said these words about the Levite people: Those people will not get the land that I promised the people of Israel.”
Each person should give what he has decided in his heart to give. A person should not give if it makes him sad. And a person should not give if he thinks he is forced to give. God loves the person who gives happily.