Then Ezrarosefrom beforethe houseof Godand wentinto the chamberof Jehohananthe sonof Eliashib.Although he wentthere,he did not eatbreadnordrinkwater,for he was mourningoverthe unfaithfulnessof the exiles.
Now while Ezrawas prayingand makingconfession,weepingand prostratinghimself beforethe houseof God,a verylargeassembly,men,womenand children,gatheredto him from Israel;for the peopleweptbitterly.
They madea proclamationthroughout Judahand Jerusalemto allthe exiles,that they should assembleat Jerusalem,
Then everyonewho trembledat the wordsof the Godof Israelon accountof the unfaithfulnessof the exilesgatheredto me, and I satappalleduntilthe eveningoffering.
Jeshuabecamethe fatherof Joiakim,and Joiakimbecamethe fatherof Eliashib,and Eliashibbecamethe father of Joiada,
As for the Levites,the headsof fathers'[households] were registeredin the daysof Eliashib,Joiada,and Johananand Jaddua;so [were] the priestsin the reignof Dariusthe Persian.
Even one of the sonsof Joiada,the sonof Eliashibthe highpriest,was a son-in-lawof Sanballatthe Horonite,so I drovehim awayfrom me.
had prepareda largeroomfor him, whereformerlythey putthe grain offerings,the frankincense,the utensilsand the tithesof grain,wineand oilprescribedfor the Levites,the singersand the gatekeepers,and the contributionsfor the priests.
Then Eliashibthe highpriestarosewith his brothersthe priestsand builtthe SheepGate;they consecratedit and hungits doors.They consecratedthe wall to the Towerof the Hundred[and] the Towerof Hananel.
Afterhim Baruchthe sonof Zabbaizealouslyrepairedanothersection,from the Angleto the doorwayof the houseof Eliashibthe highpriest.
"I have not departedfrom the commandof His lips;I have treasuredthe wordsof His mouthmorethanmy necessaryfood.
My hearthas been smittenlike grassand has witheredaway, Indeed,I forgetto eatmy bread.
So he was therewith the LORDfortydaysand fortynights;he did not eatbreador drinkwater.And he wroteon the tabletsthe wordsof the covenant,the TenCommandments.
Therefore in that daythe LordGODof hostscalled[you] to weeping,to wailing,To shavingthe headand to wearingsackcloth.
So I gavemy attentionto the LordGodto seek[Him by] prayerand supplications,with fasting,sackclothand ashes.
"I felldownbeforethe LORD,as at the first,fortydaysand nights;I neitheratebreadnordrankwater,becauseof allyour sinwhichyou had committedin doingwhatwas evilin the sightof the LORDto provokeHim to anger.
