From: "FamilyNet" 

Bible Reading for October 08

Ezra 5
[1] Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo,
prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of
the God of Israel, even unto them.
[2] Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of
Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and
with them were the prophets of God helping them. [3] At the same time came
to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and
their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build
this house, and to make up this wall? [4] Then said we unto them after this
manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
[5] But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they
could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then
they returned answer by letter concerning this matter. [6] The copy of the
letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai,
and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river,
sent unto Darius the king: [7] They sent a letter unto him, wherein was
written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
[8] Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to
the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber
is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their
hands.
[9] Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you
to build this house, and to make up these walls? [10] We asked their names
also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were
the chief of them. [11] And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are
the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was
builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set
up. [12] But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto
wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon,
the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into
Babylon.
[13] But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus
made a decree to build this house of God. [14] And the vessels also of gold
and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple
that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those
did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were
delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
[15] And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple
that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
[16] Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house
of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it
been in building, and yet it is not finished. [17] Now therefore, if it
seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure
house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made
of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king
send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

Ezra 6
[1] Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of
the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. [2] And there was
found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a
roll, and therein was a record thus written: [3] In the first year of Cyrus
the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God
at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered
sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height
thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
[4] With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the
expences be given out of the king's house: [5] And also let the golden and
silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of
the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored,
and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his
place, and place them in the house of God. [6] Now therefore, Tatnai,
governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the
Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:
[7] Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews
and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. [8]
Moreover I made a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for
the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the
tribute beyond the river, forthwith expences be given unto these men, that
they be not hindered.
[9] And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and
lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and
oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem,
let it be given them day by day without fail: [10] That they may offer
sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life
of the king, and of his sons. [11] Also I have made a decree, that
whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house,
and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a
dunghill for this. [12] And the God that hath caused his name to dwell
there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter
and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made
a decree; let it be done with speed.
[13] Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and
their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they
did speedily.
[14] And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the
prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they
builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of
Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and
Artaxerxes king of Persia.
[15] And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which
was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. [16] And the
children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the
children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with
joy,
[17] And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred
bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for
all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of
Israel. [18] And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites
in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is
written in the book of Moses.
[19] And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the
fourteenth day of the first month.
[20] For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them
were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity,
and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. [21] And the
children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as
had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of
the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, [22] And kept the feast
of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful,
and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their
hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Ezra 7
[1] Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra
the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, [2] The son of
Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, [3] The son of Amariah, the
son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, [4] The son of Zerahiah, the son of
Uzzi, the son of Bukki, [5] The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the
son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
[6] This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of
Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all
his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. [7] And
there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the
Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto
Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. [8] And he came to
Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
[9] For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from
Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem,
according to the good hand of his God upon him. [10] For Ezra had prepared
his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel
statutes and judgments. [11] Now this is the copy of the letter that the
king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the
words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. [12]
Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the
God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. [13] I make a decree,
that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in
my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go
with thee.
[14] Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellers,
to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God
which is in thine hand;
[15] And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellers
have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in
Jerusalem,
[16] And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province
of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests,
offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem: [17]
That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with
their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the
altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. [18] And whatsoever
shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the
silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God. [19] The vessels
also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those
deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem. [20] And whatsoever more shall be
needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow,
bestow it out of the king's treasure house.
[21] And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the
treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the
scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done
speedily,
[22] Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of
wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and
salt without prescribing how much.
[23] Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently
done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath
against the realm of the king and his sons? [24] Also we certify you, that
touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or
ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll,
tribute, or custom, upon them. [25] And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy
God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all
the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God;
and teach ye them that know them not.
[26] And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king,
let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to
banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. [27] Blessed
be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the
king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:
[28] And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellers,
and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the
hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel
chief men to go up with me.

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