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When Esdras had received this epistle, he was very joyful, and began
to worship God, and confessed that he had been the cause of the king's
great favor to him, and that for the same reason he gave all the thanks
to God. So he read the epistle at Babylon to those Jews that were there;
but he kept the epistle itself, and sent a copy of it to all those of his
own nation that were in Media. And when these Jews had understood what
piety the king had towards God, and what kindness he had for Esdras, they
were all greatly pleased; nay, many of them took their effects with them,
and came to Babylon, as very desirous of going down to Jerusalem; but then
the entire body of the people of Israel remained in that country; wherefore
there are but two tribes in Asia and Europe subject to the Iomans, while
the ten tribes are beyond Euphrates till now, and are an immense multitude,
and not to be estimated by numbers. Now there came a great number of priests,
and Levites, and porters, and sacred singers, and sacred servants to Esdras.
So he gathered those that were in the captivity together beyond Euphrates,
and staid there three days, and ordained a fast for them, that they might
make their prayers to God for their preservation, that they might suffer
no misfortunes by the way, either from their enemies, or from any other
ill accident; for Esdras had said beforehand that he had told the king
how God would preserve them, and so he had not thought fit to request that
he would send horsemen to conduct them. So when they had finished their
prayers, they removed from Euphrates on the twelfth day of the first month
of the seventh year of the reign of Xerxes, and they came to Jerusalem
on the fifth month of the same year. Now Esdras presented the sacred money
to the treasurers, who were of the family of the priests, of silver six
hundred and fifty talents, vessels of silver one hundred talents, vessels
of gold twenty talents, vessels of brass, that was more precious than gold,
1 twelve
talents by weight; for these Presents had been made by the king and his
counselors, and by all the Israelites that staid at Babylon. So when Esdras
had delivered these things to the priests, he gave to God, as the appointed
sacrifices of whole burnt-offerings, twelve bulls on account of the common
preservation of the people, ninety rams, seventy-two lambs, and twelve
kids of the goats, for the remission of sins. He also delivered the king's
epistle to the king's officers, and to the governors of Celesyria and Phoenicia;
and as they were under a necessity of doing what was enjoined by him, they
honored our nation, and were assistant to them in all their necessities.