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.
The people were very happy because their leaders were happy to give so much. The leaders were happy to give freely from good hearts. King David was also very happy.
And so in any place where there might be survivors {\cf2\super [3]} of Israel, the men in that place must support those survivors. Give those people silver, gold, cows, and other things. Give them gifts for God’s temple in Jerusalem.”
On the fourth day, we went to the temple and weighed the silver, gold, and special things. We gave those things to Meremoth son of Uriah the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with Meremoth. And the Levites, Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui, were with them also.
Our enemies were only trying to make us afraid. They are thinking to themselves, “The Jews will be afraid and too weak to keep on working. Then the wall won’t be finished.”
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
Then the people of Israel did what Moses asked them to do. They went to their Egyptian neighbors and asked for clothing and things made from silver and gold.
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.