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Ezra 2:1-70
These are the people of the province who were going up, from the captives of the exile whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile in Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city.They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of Israelites was as follows:the descendants of Parosh: 2,172;the descendants of Shephatiah: 372;the descendants of Arah: 775;the descendants of Pahath-Moab( from the line of Jeshua and Joab): 2,812;the descendants of Elam: 1,254;the descendants of Zattu: 945;the descendants of Zaccai: 760;the descendants of Bani: 642;the descendants of Bebai: 623;the descendants of Azgad: 1,222;the descendants of Adonikam: 666;the descendants of Bigvai: 2,056;the descendants of Adin: 454;the descendants of Ater( through Hezekiah): 98;the descendants of Bezai: 323;the descendants of Jorah: 112;the descendants of Hashum: 223;the descendants of Gibbar: 95.The men of Bethlehem: 123;the men of Netophah: 56;the men of Anathoth: 128;the men of the family of Azmaveth: 42;the men of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth: 743;the men of Ramah and Geba: 621;the men of Micmash: 122;the men of Bethel and Ai: 223;the descendants of Nebo: 52;the descendants of Magbish: 156;the descendants of the other Elam: 1,254;the descendants of Harim: 320;the men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: 725;the men of Jericho: 345;the descendants of Senaah: 3,630.The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah( through the family of Jeshua): 973;the descendants of Immer: 1,052;the descendants of Pashhur: 1,247;the descendants of Harim: 1,017.The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel( through the line of Hodaviah): 74.The singers: the descendants of Asaph: 128.The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai: 139.The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth,the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Siaha, the descendants of Padon,the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Akkub,the descendants of Hagab, the descendants of Shalmai, the descendants of Hanan,the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar, the descendants of Reaiah,the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, the descendants of Gazzam,the descendants of Uzzah, the descendants of Paseah, the descendants of Besai,the descendants of Asnah, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephussim,the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur,the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha,the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah,the descendants of Neziah, and the descendants of Hatipha.The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Hassophereth, the descendants of Peruda,the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel,the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and the descendants of Ami.All the temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon: 392.These are the ones that came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer( although they were unable to certify their family connection or their ancestry, as to whether they really were from Israel):the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda: 652.And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai( who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).They searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but did not find them. They were therefore excluded from the priesthood.The governor instructed them not to eat any of the sacred food until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim.The entire group numbered 42,360,not counting their male and female servants, who numbered 7,337. They also had 200 male and female singersand 736 horses, 245 mules,435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.When they came to the LORD’s temple in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders offered voluntary offerings for the temple of God in order to rebuild it on its site.As they were able, they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priestly robes.The priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel lived in their towns.
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2 Chronicles 36 1-2 Chronicles 36 23
The people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem.Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.The king of Egypt prevented him from ruling in Jerusalem and imposed on the land a special tax of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.The king of Egypt made Jehoahaz’s brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Necho seized his brother Jehoahaz and took him to Egypt.Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God.King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked him, bound him with bronze chains, and carried him away to Babylon.Nebuchadnezzar took some of the items in the LORD’s temple to Babylon and put them in his palace there.The rest of the events of Jehoiakim’s reign, including the horrible sins he committed and his shortcomings, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel and Judah. His son Jehoiachin replaced him as king.Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD.At the beginning of the year King Nebuchadnezzar ordered him to be brought to Babylon, along with the valuable items in the LORD’s temple. In his place he made his relative Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem.He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, the LORD’s spokesman.He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him vow allegiance in the name of God. He was stubborn and obstinate, and refused to return to the LORD God of Israel.All the leaders of the priests and people became more unfaithful and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations. They defiled the LORD’s temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.The LORD God of their ancestors continually warned them through his messengers, for he felt compassion for his people and his dwelling place.But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his warnings, and ridiculed his prophets. Finally the LORD got very angry at his people and there was no one who could prevent his judgment.He brought against them the king of the Babylonians, who slaughtered their young men in their temple. He did not spare young men or women, or even the old and aging. God handed everyone over to him.He carried away to Babylon all the items in God’s temple, whether large or small, as well as what was in the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and in the treasuries of the king and his officials.They burned down the LORD’s temple and tore down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned all its fortified buildings and destroyed all its valuable items.He deported to Babylon all who escaped the sword. They served him and his sons until the Persian kingdom rose to power.This took place to fulfill the LORD’s message delivered through Jeremiah. The land experienced its sabbatical years; it remained desolate for seventy years, as prophesied.In the first year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, in fulfillment of the promise he delivered through Jeremiah, the LORD moved King Cyrus of Persia to issue a written decree throughout his kingdom.It read:“ This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:‘ The LORD God of the heavens has given to me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build for him a temple in Jerusalem in Judah. May the LORD your God energize you who belong to his people, so you may be able to go back there!”
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2 Kings 25 11
Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, deported the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen.
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Jeremiah 39:1-18
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. The siege began in the tenth month of the ninth year that Zedekiah ruled over Judah.It lasted until the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year. On that day they broke through the city walls.Then Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim, who was a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer, who was a high official, and all the other officers of the king of Babylon came and set up quarters in the Middle Gate.When King Zedekiah of Judah and all his soldiers saw them, they tried to escape. They departed from the city during the night. They took a path through the king’s garden and passed out through the gate between the two walls. Then they headed for the Jordan Valley.But the Babylonian army chased after them. They caught up with Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho and captured him. They took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon at Riblah in the territory of Hamath and Nebuchadnezzar passed sentence on him there.There at Riblah the king of Babylon had Zedekiah’s sons put to death while Zedekiah was forced to watch. The king of Babylon also had all the nobles of Judah put to death.Then he had Zedekiah’s eyes put out and had him bound in chains to be led off to Babylon.The Babylonians burned down the royal palace, the temple of the LORD, and the people’s homes, and they tore down the wall of Jerusalem.Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, took captive the rest of the people who were left in the city. He carried them off to Babylon along with the people who had deserted to him.But he left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing. He gave them fields and vineyards at that time.Now King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had issued orders concerning Jeremiah. He had passed them on through Nebuzaradan, the captain of his royal guard,“ Find Jeremiah and look out for him. Do not do anything to harm him, but do with him whatever he tells you.”So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, Nebushazban, who was a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer, who was a high official, and all the other officers of the king of Babylonsent and had Jeremiah brought from the courtyard of the guardhouse. They turned him over to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and the grandson of Shaphan, to take him home with him. But Jeremiah stayed among the people.Now the LORD had spoken to Jeremiah while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse,“ Go and tell Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian,‘ The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says,“ I will carry out against this city what I promised. It will mean disaster and not good fortune for it. When that disaster happens, you will be there to see it.But I will rescue you when it happens. I, the LORD, affirm it! You will not be handed over to those whom you fear.I will certainly save you. You will not fall victim to violence. You will escape with your life because you trust in me. I, the LORD, affirm it!”’”
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2 Kings 24 14-2 Kings 24 16
He deported all the residents of Jerusalem, including all the officials and all the soldiers( 10,000 people in all). This included all the craftsmen and those who worked with metal. No one was left except for the poorest among the people of the land.He deported Jehoiachin from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with the king’s mother and wives, his eunuchs, and the high-ranking officials of the land.The king of Babylon deported to Babylon all the soldiers( there were 7,000), as well as 1,000 craftsmen and metal workers. This included all the best warriors.
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Ezra 5:8
Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones, and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands.
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Jeremiah 52:1-34
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah, from Libnah.He did what displeased the LORD just as Jehoiakim had done.What follows is a record of what happened to Jerusalem and Judah because of the LORD’s anger when he drove them out of his sight. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem with his whole army and set up camp outside it. They built siege ramps all around it. He arrived on the tenth day of the tenth month in the ninth year that Zedekiah ruled over Judah.The city remained under siege until Zedekiah’s eleventh year.By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city was so severe the residents had no food.They broke through the city walls, and all the soldiers tried to escape. They left the city during the night. They went through the gate between the two walls that is near the king’s garden.( The Babylonians had the city surrounded.) Then they headed for the Jordan Valley.But the Babylonian army chased after the king. They caught up with Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and his entire army deserted him.They captured him and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the territory of Hamath and he passed sentence on him there.The king of Babylon had Zedekiah’s sons put to death while Zedekiah was forced to watch. He also had all the nobles of Judah put to death there at Riblah.He had Zedekiah’s eyes put out and had him bound in chains. Then the king of Babylon had him led off to Babylon and he was imprisoned there until the day he died.On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard who served the king of Babylon, arrived in Jerusalem.He burned down the LORD’s temple, the royal palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem, including every large house.The whole Babylonian army that came with the captain of the royal guard tore down the walls that surrounded Jerusalem.Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, took into exile some of the poor, the rest of the people who remained in the city, those who had deserted to him, and the rest of the craftsmen.But he left behind some of the poor and gave them fields and vineyards.The Babylonians broke the two bronze pillars in the temple of the LORD, as well as the movable stands and the large bronze basin called the“ The Sea.” They took all the bronze to Babylon.They also took the pots, shovels, trimming shears, basins, pans, and all the bronze utensils used by the priests.The captain of the royal guard took the gold and silver bowls, censers, basins, pots, lampstands, pans, and vessels.The bronze of the items that King Solomon made for the LORD’s temple( including the two pillars, the large bronze basin called“ The Sea,” the twelve bronze bulls under“ The Sea,” and the movable stands) was too heavy to be weighed.Each of the pillars was about 27 feet high, about 18 feet in circumference, three inches thick, and hollow.The bronze top of one pillar was about seven and one-half feet high and had bronze latticework and pomegranate-shaped ornaments all around it. The second pillar with its pomegranate-shaped ornaments was like it.There were ninety-six pomegranate-shaped ornaments on the sides; in all there were one hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments over the latticework that went around it.The captain of the royal guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest who was second in rank, and the three doorkeepers.From the city he took an official who was in charge of the soldiers, seven of the king’s advisers who were discovered in the city, an official army secretary who drafted citizens for military service, and sixty citizens who were discovered in the middle of the city.Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.The king of Babylon ordered them to be executed at Riblah in the territory of Hamath. So Judah was taken into exile away from its land.Here is the official record of the number of people Nebuchadnezzar carried into exile: In the seventh year, 3, 023 Jews;in Nebuchadnezzar’s eighteenth year, 832 people from Jerusalem;in Nebuchadnezzar’s twenty-third year, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, carried into exile 745 Judeans. In all 4, 600 people went into exile.In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, Evil-Merodach, in the first year of his reign, pardoned King Jehoiachin of Judah and released him from prison.He spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prestigious position than the other kings who were with him in Babylon.Jehoiachin took off his prison clothes and ate daily in the king’s presence for the rest of his life.He was given daily provisions by the king of Babylon for the rest of his life until the day he died.
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Ezra 6:2
A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana which is in the province of Media, and it was inscribed as follows:“ Memorandum: