Now I assembledthem at the riverthat runsto Ahava,wherewe campedfor threedays;and when I observedthe peopleand the priests,I did not findanyLevitesthere.
"We also informyou that it is not allowedto imposetax,tributeor toll[on] anyof the priests,Levites,singers,doorkeepers,Nethinimor servantsof thishouseof God.
and has extendedlovingkindnessto me beforethe kingand his counselorsand before allthe king'smightyprinces.Thus I was strengthenedaccording to the handof the LORDmy Godupon me, and I gatheredleadingmenfrom Israelto goup with me.
Someof the sonsof Israeland someof the priests,the Levites,the singers,the gatekeepersand the templeservantswentup to Jerusalemin the seventhyearof KingArtaxerxes.
and of the sonsof Bigvai,Uthaiand Zabbud,and 70maleswith them.
So I sentfor Eliezer,Ariel,Shemaiah,Elnathan,Jarib,Elnathan,Nathan,Zechariahand Meshullam,leadingmen,and for Joiariband Elnathan,teachers.
of the sonsof Phinehas,Gershom;of the sonsof Ithamar,Daniel;of the sonsof David,Hattush;
Then I proclaimeda fastthereat the riverof Ahava,that we might humbleourselves beforeour Godto seekfrom Him a safejourneyfor us, our littleones,and allour possessions.
Then we journeyedfrom the riverAhavaon the twelfthof the firstmonthto goto Jerusalem;and the handof our Godwas overus, and He deliveredus from the handof the enemyand the ambushesby the way.
By the riversof Babylon,Therewe satdownand wept,When we rememberedZion.
Now it cameabout in the thirtiethyear,on the fifth[day] of the fourthmonth,while I was by the riverChebaramongthe exiles,the heavenswere openedand I sawvisionsof God.
Then I cameto the exileswho livedbesidethe riverChebarat Tel-abib,and I sattheresevendayswherethey were living,causingconsternationamongthem.
And on the Sabbathdaywe wentoutsidethe gateto a riverside,wherewe were supposingthat there would be a place of prayer;and we sat downand began speakingto the womenwho had assembled.
