\{I want\} you men to know that it is against the law to make the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and other workers in God’s temple pay taxes. Those people don’t have to pay taxes, money to honor the king, or any duty taxes.
Ezra 8:15 - Easy To Read Version I, (Ezra) called all those people to meet together at the river that flows toward Ahava. We camped at that place for three days. I learned there were priests in that group, but there were no Levites. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition I [Ezra] gathered them together at the river that runs to Ahava, and there we encamped three days. I reviewed the people and the priests, and found no Levites. American Standard Version (1901) And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. Common English Bible I gathered them by the river that runs to Ahava, and there we camped for three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found no Levites there. Catholic Public Domain Version Now I gathered them together at the river that runs down to Ahava, and we stayed there for three days. And I sought among the people and among the priests for the sons of Levi, and I found none there. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And I gathered them together to the river, which runneth down to Ahava, and we stayed there three days. And I sought among the people and among the priests for the sons of Levi, and found none there. |
\{I want\} you men to know that it is against the law to make the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and other workers in God’s temple pay taxes. Those people don’t have to pay taxes, money to honor the king, or any duty taxes.
The Lord showed his true love to me\par in front of the king, his advisers\par and the king’s important officials.\par The Lord God was with me,\par so I was brave.\par I gathered together the leaders of Israel\par to go with me to Jerusalem.\par
\{Many people of Israel came with Ezra.\} Those were priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants. Those people of Israel arrived in Jerusalem during the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
from the descendants of Bigvai, were Uthai, Zaccur, and 70 other men.
So I called these leaders: Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam. And I called Joiarib and Elnathan. (These men were teachers.)
From the descendants of Phinehas, was Gershom; from the descendants of Ithamar, was Daniel; from the descendants of David, was Hattush;
There near the Ahava River, I (Ezra) announced that we all should fast. {\cf2\super [53]} We should fast to make ourselves humble before our God. We wanted to ask God for a safe trip for ourselves, our children, and for all the things we owned.
On the twelfth day of the first month {\cf2\super [57]} we left the Ahava River and started toward Jerusalem. God was with us, and he protected us from enemies and robbers along the way.
We sat by the rivers in Babylon\par and cried as we remembered Zion. {\cf2\super [628]} \par
I went to the people of Israel that were forced to live in Tel Aviv {\cf2\super [27]} by the Kebar Canal. I sat there among them for seven days, shocked and silent.
On the Sabbath day {\cf2\super [336]} we went out the city gate to the river. At the river we thought we might find a special place for prayer. Some women had gathered there. So we sat down and talked with them.