unfoldingWord® Translation Questions
v88
Ezra
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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions
Date: 2026-01-14
Version: v88
Published by: unfoldingWord®
unfoldingWord® Literal Text
Date: 2026-01-14
Version: v88
Published by: unfoldingWord®
unfoldingWord® Simplified Text
Date: 2026-01-14
Version: v88
Published by: unfoldingWord®
Table of Contents
Ezra
Ezra 1
Ezra 1:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 1:1ULT:
Now in year one of Cyrus, the king of Persia, in order to accomplish the word of Yahweh from the mouth of Jeremiah, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, the king of Persia. So he caused a sound to pass throughout all his kingdom, and also in writing, saying:
UST:
During the first year after Cyrus, king of Persia, {conquered the kingdom of Babylon,} Yahweh motivated Cyrus to write a message. Yahweh did this in order to fulfill a prophecy that Jeremiah had spoken. Cyrus sent messengers throughout his empire with copies of the message and he ordered them to proclaim it as they went. This is what they proclaimed:
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 1:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 1:2ULT:
“Thus says Cyrus, the king of Persia: Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given to me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he himself has appointed me to build for him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
UST:
“I, King Cyrus, rule the Persian Empire, and I say this: Yahweh, the God who is in heaven, has made me ruler over the great kingdoms of this part of the world. Now he has assigned me to {make sure that his people} build a temple for him in {the city of} Jerusalem in {the province of} Judah.
Who did Yahweh appoint to build for him a house in Jerusalem?
Yahweh appointed Cyrus to build for him a house in Jerusalem.
Ezra 1:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 1:3ULT:
Whoever among you is from all his people, may his God be with him, and may he go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and may he build the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem.
UST:
All you people who belong to God may go up to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this temple for Yahweh. He is the God who is in Jerusalem, the God whom the people of Israel worship. And may God give you success!
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 1:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 1:4ULT:
And every one who is remaining in all of the places where he is sojourning there, let the men of his place lift him with silver and with gold, and with goods and with livestock, along with the freewill offering for the house of God, which is in Jerusalem.”
UST:
There are other people who are living around the Israelites in the places where the Israelites have been living since their ancestors were exiled here. Those people must contribute silver and gold to the Israelites who go. They must also give to the Israelites animals and {any} supplies {that they might need}. They should also give them other gifts that they can use to help build the temple of God in Jerusalem.”
Who would provide silver and gold and goods and livestock for the Jewish people who were returning to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple?
The Jewish people returning to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple were to be provided silver and gold and goods and livestock by the Jewish men who had been living in the same region.
Ezra 1:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 1:5ULT:
Then the heads of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, that is, all whose spirit God had stirred up, arose to go up to build the house of Yahweh, which is in Jerusalem.
UST:
Then God motivated some of the priests and Levites and {some of} the clan leaders from {the tribes of} Judah and Benjamin to return to Jerusalem. Those whom God motivated got ready to return to Jerusalem and build the temple for him there.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 1:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 1:6ULT:
And all those around them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with livestock, and with precious gifts, apart from all that was freely offered.
UST:
Many of their neighbors helped them by giving them silver and golden things, animals, and supplies for the journey. They also gave them other valuable gifts, and they gave them money to buy things for building the temple.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 1:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 1:7ULT:
And the king Cyrus brought out the vessels of the house of Yahweh that Nebuchadnezzar had brought out from Jerusalem and had put in the house of his gods.
UST:
King Cyrus also commanded {his servants} to bring out the valuable things that King Nebuchadnezzar{’s soldiers} had taken from the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem and had put in the temples of their gods {in Babylon}.
Where had Nebuchadnezzar put the objects belonging to Yahweh’s house?
Nebuchadnezzar had put the objects belonging to Yahweh’s house in the house of his own gods.
Ezra 1:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 1:8ULT:
And Cyrus, the king of Persia, brought them out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer. And he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the ruler of Judah.
UST:
{Specifically,} King Cyrus of Persia commanded Mithredath, his treasurer, {to command his servants} to bring out all of these items and to give each one of them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of {the group that was going to return to} Judah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 1:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 1:9ULT:
And this was their number: 30 basins of gold, 1000 basins of silver, 29 knives,
UST:
This is a list of the items {that Cyrus donated}: 30 gold basins, 1,000 silver basins, 29 knives,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 1:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 1:10ULT:
30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver of a second kind, and 1000 other vessels.
UST:
30 gold bowls, 410 secondary silver bowls, and 1,000 other utensils.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 1:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 1:11ULT:
All the vessels of gold and of silver were 5400. Sheshbazzar brought up all this with the going up of the exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem.
UST:
All together, Cyrus gave 5, 400 silver and gold items to Sheshbazzar to take with him when he and the others returned from {the kingdom of} Babylon to Jerusalem.
How many gold and silver items did Sheshbazzar bring when the exiles went from Babylon to Jerusalem?
Sheshbazzar brought 5,400 gold and silver items when the exiles went from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Ezra 2
Ezra 2:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:1ULT:
Now these are the sons of the province, the ones who went up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had exiled to Babylon. And they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, a man to his city;
UST:
{Many years ago, the army of} King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had captured many Israelite people and taken them away to the kingdom of Babylon. Now, these Israelite people began to return to Judah. Some returned to Jerusalem, and some returned to other places in Judah. Each of them went to the towns where their ancestors had lived. This is a list of the groups who returned.
Who had exiled the Jewish people living in Babylon?
King Nebuchadnezzar had exiled the Jewish people living in Babylon.
Ezra 2:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:2ULT:
who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the number of the men of the people of Israel.
UST:
The leaders of those people who returned were Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.
The groups of people who returned to Judah are listed next.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:3ULT:
The sons of Parosh were 2, 172.
UST:
2, 172 descendants of Parosh,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:4ULT:
The sons of Shephatiah were 372.
UST:
372 descendants of Shephatiah,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:5ULT:
The sons of Arah were 775.
UST:
775 descendants of Arach,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:6ULT:
The sons of Pahath-Moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab were 2, 812.
UST:
2, 812 descendants of Pahath-Moab, from the families of Jeshua and Joab,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:7ULT:
The sons of Elam were 1, 254.
UST:
1, 254 descendants of Elam,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:8ULT:
The sons of Zattu were 945.
UST:
945 descendants of Zattu,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:9ULT:
The sons of Zakkai were 760.
UST:
760 descendants of Zaccai,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:10ULT:
The sons of Bani were 642.
UST:
642 descendants of Bani,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:11ULT:
The sons of Bebai were 623.
UST:
623 descendants of Bebai,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:12ULT:
The sons of Azgad were 1, 222.
UST:
1, 222 descendants of Azgad,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:13ULT:
The sons of Adonikam were 666.
UST:
666 descendants of Adonikam,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:14ULT:
The sons of Bigvai were 2,056.
UST:
2, 056 descendants of Bigvai,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:15ULT:
The sons of Adin were 454.
UST:
454 descendants of Adin,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:16ULT:
The sons of Ater, of Hezekiah were 98.
UST:
98 descendants of Ater, who descended from Hezekiah,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:17ULT:
The sons of Bezai were 323.
UST:
323 descendants of Bezai,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:18ULT:
The sons of Jorah were 112.
UST:
112 descendants of Jorah,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:19ULT:
The sons of Hashum were 223.
UST:
223 descendants of Hashum,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:20ULT:
The sons of Gibbar were 95.
UST:
95 descendants of Gibbar.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:21ULT:
The sons of Bethlehem were 123.
UST:
{The following is a list of people whose ancestors had lived in these towns in Judah:}
123 from Bethlehem,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:22ULT:
The men of Netophah were 56.
UST:
56 from Netophah,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:23ULT:
The men of Anathoth were 128.
UST:
128 from Anathoth,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:24ULT:
The sons of Azmaveth were 42.
UST:
42 from Azmaveth,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:25ULT:
The sons of Kirjath-Arim, Kephirah, and Beeroth were 743.
UST:
743 from Kiriath Arim, Kephirah, and Beeroth,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:26ULT:
The sons of the Ramah and Geba were 621.
UST:
621 from Ramah and Geba,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:27ULT:
The men of Michmas were 122.
UST:
122 from Michmas,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:28ULT:
The men of Bethel and the Ai were 223.
UST:
223 from Bethel and Ai,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:29ULT:
The sons of Nebo were 52.
UST:
52 from Nebo,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:30
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:30ULT:
The sons of Magbish were 156.
UST:
156 from Magbish,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:31
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:31ULT:
The sons of the other Elam were 1, 254.
UST:
1, 254 from the other Elam,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:32
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:32ULT:
The sons of Harim were 320.
UST:
320 from Harim,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:33
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:33ULT:
The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono were 725.
UST:
725 from Lod, Hadid, and Ono,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:34
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:34ULT:
The sons of Jericho were 345.
UST:
345 from Jericho,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:35
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:35ULT:
The sons of Senaah were 3, 630.
UST:
3, 630 from Senaah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:36
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:36ULT:
The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua were 973.
UST:
These are the priests who returned:
973 descendants of Jedaiah (that is, those who descended through Jeshua),
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:37
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:37ULT:
The sons of Immer were 1,052.
UST:
1, 052 descendants of Immer,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:38
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:38ULT:
The sons of Pashhur were 1, 247.
UST:
1, 247 descendants of Pashur,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:39
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:39ULT:
The sons of Harim were 1,017.
UST:
1, 017 descendants of Harim,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:40
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:40ULT:
The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, were 74.
UST:
These are the descendants of Levi who returned:
74 descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel, who were from the family of Hodaviah,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:41
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:41ULT:
The singers: the sons of Asaph were 128.
UST:
128 musicians who were descendants of Asaph,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:42
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:42ULT:
The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai were 139 in all.
UST:
139 gatekeepers who were descendants of the gatekeepers Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:43
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:43ULT:
The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
UST:
The following is a list of the temple workers who returned. They were the descendants of these men: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:44
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:44ULT:
the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,
UST:
Keros, Siaha, Padon,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:45
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:45ULT:
the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub,
UST:
Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:46
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:46ULT:
the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shalmai, and the sons of Hanan,
UST:
Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:47
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:47ULT:
the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah,
UST:
Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:48
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:48ULT:
the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam,
UST:
Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:49
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:49ULT:
the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai,
UST:
Uzza, Paseah, Besai,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:50
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:50ULT:
the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephusim,
UST:
Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:51
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:51ULT:
the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
UST:
Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:52
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:52ULT:
the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
UST:
Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:53
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:53ULT:
the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,
UST:
Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:54
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:54ULT:
the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.
UST:
Neziah, and Hatipha.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:55
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:55ULT:
The sons of the servants of Solomon: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda,
UST:
The following descendants of King Solomon’s servants returned {to Jerusalem}. They were the descendants of these men: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:56
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:56ULT:
the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
UST:
Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:57
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:57ULT:
the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth Hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami.
UST:
Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth Hazzebaim, and Ami.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:58
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:58ULT:
All the temple servants and the sons of the servants of Solomon were 392.
UST:
Altogether, there were 392 descendants of temple workers and Solomon’s servants who returned.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:59
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:59ULT:
And these were the ones who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer; but they were not able to tell the house of their fathers or their seed, whether they were from Israel.
UST:
There was another group that returned {to Judah} from {the towns of} Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cerub, Addon, and Immer {in Babylonia}. But they could not prove that they were genuine Israelites.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:60
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:60ULT:
The sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda were 652.
UST:
This group included 652 people who were descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:61
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:61ULT:
And from the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah; the sons of Hakkoz; and the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, so he was called by their name.
UST:
The descendants of the priests in this group included people belonging to Habaiah’s clan, Hakkoz’s clan, and Barzillai’s clan. Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of Barzillai from the region of Gilead. He had taken the name of his father-in-law’s clan for himself.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:62
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:62ULT:
These ones sought their record among the ones who were enrolled by genealogy, but they were not found. And they were desecrated from the priesthood.
UST:
The people in this group searched in the documents that listed the names {of the descendants} from the {various Israelite} clans, but they did not find {their names there}. So the officials did not permit them to do the work that priests did.
Why were some of the the priests’ descendants excluded from the priesthood?
They were excluded from the priesthood because they could not find a record of their genealogy.
Ezra 2:63
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:63ULT:
And the Tirshatha said to them that they must not eat from the holiest holy food until a priest stood with Urim and with Thummim.
UST:
The governor told these men that they could not eat the shares of the sacrifices that only the priests could eat until a {high} priest could consult Yahweh by using the sacred lots {to determine that they truly were descendants of priestly families. Only if the high priest determined that these men truly were priests could they eat the most sacred food}.
When could the priests’ descendants eat the holiest holy food?
The priests’ descendants could eat the holiest holy food after a priest stood with the Urim and Thummim.
Ezra 2:64
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:64ULT:
All the assembly, as one, was 42, 360:
UST:
Altogether in this group, 42, 360 Israelite people returned to Judah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:65
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:65ULT:
apart from their male servants and their female servants, these were 7, 337; and for them were 200 men who sang and women who sang.
UST:
The Israelites also brought along with them 7, 337 male and female servants and 200 male and female musicians.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:66
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:66ULT:
Their horses were 736. Their mules were 245.
UST:
The Israelites also brought with them {from Babylonia} 736 horses, 245 mules,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:67
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:67ULT:
Their camels were 435. Their donkeys were 6, 720.
UST:
435 camels, and 6, 720 donkeys.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:68
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:68ULT:
And when some from the heads of the fathers came to the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem, they freely gave for the house of God to cause it to stand upon its place.
UST:
When they arrived at {the ruins of} the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem, some of the clan leaders gave money for the supplies needed to rebuild the temple in the same place where the old temple had been.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:69
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:69ULT:
They gave according to their ability to the treasury of the work: 61000 gold darics, and 5000 silver minas, and 100 tunics of the priests.
UST:
Each one gave as much as he was able to give for the work {on the temple}. Altogether, they gave 61,000 gold coins, 5,000 silver bars, and 100 robes for the priests.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 2:70
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 2:70ULT:
So the priests, and the Levites, and some from the people, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the temple servants dwelt in their cities. So all Israel was in their cities.
UST:
So all of these priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants, and other people returned to live in the towns and villages {of the province of Judah}. They settled in the places where their ancestors had lived.
Who lived in their cities?
The priests, and the Levites, and some from the people, and the ones who sang, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim lived in their cities.
Ezra 3
Ezra 3:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 3:1ULT:
Then the seventh month came and the sons of Israel were in their cities. And the people were gathered together as one man to Jerusalem.
UST:
After the Israelite people {returned and} began to live in their towns, in the autumn of that year, they all gathered together in Jerusalem.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 3:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 3:2ULT:
Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and they built the altar of the God of Israel to offer up burnt up offerings on it as is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
UST:
Then Joshua son of Jehozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates all began to rebuild the altar of the God of Israel. They did that so that they could sacrifice burnt offerings on it. They wanted to follow what the prophet Moses had written in the laws that God had given to him.
What did Jeshua, the priests, and Zerubbabel and his brothers rise up to do?
They rose up to build the altar of the God of Israel so that burnt offerings could be offered on it.
Ezra 3:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 3:3ULT:
And they set up the altar on its foundation, for dread was on them because of the peoples of the lands. Then they offered up on it burnt up offerings to Yahweh, burnt up offerings at the morning and at the evening.
UST:
Even though they were afraid of the people who were already living in that area, they rebuilt the altar at the same place where the previous altar had been. They began to offer sacrifices to Yahweh on it every morning and every evening.
How often did Jeshua and the priests and Zerubbabel and his brothers offer burnt offerings to Yahweh?
They offered burnt offerings to Yahweh in the morning and in the evening.
Ezra 3:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 3:4ULT:
Then they performed the Festival of Huts as is written, with a burnt up offering day by day, by number according to the ordinance of the matter of the day, on its day.
UST:
{Fifteen days after they started to offer these sacrifices,} the people celebrated the Festival of Shelters. {Moses had commanded them to do this in the decrees that God had given to him.} Each day the priests offered the sacrifices that were required for that day.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 3:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 3:5ULT:
And after this was a continual burnt up offering, and for the new moons, and for all the consecrated appointed times of Yahweh, and for everyone who freely offered a freewill offering to Yahweh.
UST:
From then on, they presented the regular burnt offerings and the {other required} offerings{. These were} for the New Moon festivals and the other festivals that they celebrated as special times each year to honor Yahweh. They also brought other offerings to Yahweh just because they wanted to{, not because they were required to bring them}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 3:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 3:6ULT:
From day one of the seventh month they began to offer up burnt up offerings to Yahweh, but the temple of Yahweh had not been founded.
UST:
But even though they started bringing burnt offerings to Yahweh at the beginning of autumn, they had not yet started rebuilding the temple.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 3:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 3:7ULT:
And they gave silver to the masons and to the carpenters, and food, and drink, and oil to the Sidonians and to the Tyrians, to bring trees of cedar from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the permission of Cyrus, the king of Persia, given to them.
UST:
So the {leaders of the} Israelites hired stone-cutters and carpenters {to do the construction work}. They also bought logs of cedar trees from the people of {the cities of} Tyre and Sidon. To pay for the logs, the Israelites sent grain, wine, and olive oil to those people. Since King Cyrus had said that the Israelites could buy these things, the people of Tyre and Sidon {agreed. They} brought the logs down from the mountains in Lebanon {to the Mediterranean seacoast} and then floated them along the coast to {the city of} Joppa. {Then they brought the logs inland from Joppa up to Jerusalem.}
Who gave permission for cedar trees to be sent from Lebanon to Joppa by sea?
Cyrus, king of Persia, gave permission for cedar trees to be sent from Lebanon to Joppa by sea.
Ezra 3:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 3:8ULT:
Then in the second year of their coming to the house of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all the ones who came from captivity to Jerusalem began, and they appointed the Levites from a son of 20 years and above to act as overseers for the work of the house of Yahweh.
UST:
The Israelites started to rebuild the temple in the second month of the second year after they had returned to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Joshua the son of Jozadak, their fellow leaders the priests and the Levites, and all the people who had come from where their enemies had taken them to Jerusalem supported this project. The leaders assigned the Levites who were twenty years old and older to supervise this work of rebuilding the temple for Yahweh.
When did the work begin?
The work began in the second month of the second year after the Israelites came to the house of God in Jerusalem.
Ezra 3:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 3:9ULT:
And Jeshua, his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, stood as one to act as overseers for the ones doing the work at the house of God, the sons of Henadad, their sons, and their brothers the Levites.
UST:
Jeshua, his sons, and his other relatives, and Kadmiel and his sons together helped to supervise those who were doing the work on the temple. They were all descendants of Judah. The sons and grandsons of Henadad along with the rest of their fellow Levites {joined in the work}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 3:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 3:10ULT:
Then the ones who were building laid the foundation of the temple of Yahweh. And they caused to stand the clothed priests with the trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with the cymbals, to praise Yahweh in accordance with the hands of David, the king of Israel.
UST:
When the builders finished laying the foundation of the temple of Yahweh, the priests and the Levites did what King David had told Asaph and the other musicians to do {many years previously} in order to praise Yahweh. The priests put on their robes and stood in their places, blowing their trumpets. Then the Levites who were descendants of Asaph clashed their cymbals.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 3:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 3:11ULT:
Then they sang in response, praising and giving thanks to Yahweh: “For he is good, for his covenant faithfulness to Israel is to eternity!” And all the people shouted a great shout in praise to Yahweh because the foundation of the house of Yahweh had been laid.
UST:
Then the Levites praised Yahweh and thanked him by singing this song about him: “He is very good to us! He will continue to be faithful and kind to us Israelites {and he will love us} forever.” Then all the people shouted loudly. They praised Yahweh because they had finished laying the foundation of his temple.
How did all the people respond after the temple’s foundations had been laid?
All the people shouted a great shout in praise to Yahweh because the temple’s foundation had been laid.
Ezra 3:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 3:12ULT:
But many from the priests and the Levites, and the heads of the fathers, the old men who had seen the first house, at the founding of this house in their eyes, were weeping with a loud voice. Yet many with a shout, with joy, were lifting up a voice.
UST:
Many of the old priests, Levites, and leaders of families remembered seeing the first temple. They cried aloud when they saw the workers lay the foundation of this temple {because they thought that this temple would not be as big or as beautiful as the first temple}. But the other people shouted joyfully in loud voices.
How did the people who had seen the first temple respond after seeing the foundation of the second temple?
They wept with a loud voice.
Ezra 3:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 3:13ULT:
So the people could not differentiate the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people. For the people were shouting a great shout, and the sound was heard as far as from a remote place.
UST:
Since the shouting was so loud, no one could tell the difference between the people who were shouting joyfully and the people who were crying sorrowfully. All the noise was so loud that even people far away could hear it.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4
Ezra 4:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:1ULT:
Now the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the sons of the exile were building a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel.
UST:
The enemies of {the people of the tribes of} Judah and Benjamin learned that the Israelites who had returned from Babylon were rebuilding the temple for Yahweh, the God whom the people of Israel worship.
What did the enemies of Judah and Benjamin hear that the people who had been exiled were doing?
The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people who had been exiled were building a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel.
Ezra 4:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:2ULT:
So they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the fathers and they said to them, “Let us build with you, for, like you, we seek your God and to him we have been sacrificing since the days of Esarhaddon, the king of Assyria, the one who caused us to come up here.”
UST:
So they approached Zerubbabel the governor and the other clan leaders and {deceptively} said to them, “We want to help you to build the temple. After all, we also worship your God. We have been offering sacrifices to him since the time that Esarhaddon, the king of Assyria, brought us here.”
For how long did the enemies of Judah and Benjamin say that they themselves had been sacrificing to Yahweh?
Judah and Benjamin’s enemies said that they themselves had been sacrificing to Yahweh since the days of Esarhaddon, the king of Assyria.
Ezra 4:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:3ULT:
But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the fathers of Israel said to them, “It is not for you and for us to build a house for our God, but we ourselves together will build for Yahweh, the God of Israel, just as the king Cyrus, the king of Persia, has commanded us.”
UST:
But Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the other Jewish clan leaders replied, “We will not allow you to help us build a temple for our God. No, we alone will build it for Yahweh, the God whom Israel worships, because that is what King Cyrus of Persia told us to do.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:4ULT:
And it happened that the people of the land were making the hands of the people of Judah weak, and making them afraid to build,
UST:
Then the people who had been living in that land {before the Israelites returned there} started doing things to make the Jews discouraged and afraid to continue building {the temple}.
What were the people of the land doing to the people of Judah? (4:4-5)
The people of the land were making the hands of the people of Judah weak, and making them afraid to build, and hiring counselors against them to frustrate their plans.
Ezra 4:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:5ULT:
and hiring counselors against them to frustrate their plans all the days of Cyrus, the king of Persia, and until the reign of Darius, the king of Persia.
UST:
They bribed government officials to prevent the Jews from fulfilling their plans {to rebuild the temple and the city}. They did that all during the time that Cyrus was king of Persia, and continued to do it during {the time of the kings after him, including} the time when Darius was king of Persia.
For how long did the people of the land make the hands of the people of Judah weak and make them afraid to build and hire counselors against them to frustrate their plans?
They people of the land did this to the people of Judah all the days of Cyrus, the king of Persia, and until the reign of Darius, the king of Persia.
Ezra 4:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:6ULT:
Now in the reign of Ahasuerus,in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against those who dwelled in Judah and Jerusalem.
UST:
These enemies of the Jews continued to accuse them during the time that {Darius’ son} Ahasuerus was king. When Ahasuerus became king, they wrote a letter to him in which they accused the people living in the province of Judah and the city of Jerusalem {of planning to rebel against the government}.
What did the enemies of Judah and Benjamin write at the beginning of Ahasuerus’ reign?
At the beginning of Ahasuerus’ reign, the enemies wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Ezra 4:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:7ULT:
And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his companions wrote to Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, and the script of the letter was written in Aramaic and was interpreted in Aramaic.
UST:
Then again during the time of Artaxerxes, {who was the next} king of Persia, the enemies of the Jews wrote a letter to him. Some men named Bishlam, Mithredath, and Tabeel were the leaders of this group. They had someone write the letter for them in the Aramaic language, using the Aramaic alphabet.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:8ULT:
Rehum, a lord of decree, and Shimshai the scribe wrote one letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:
UST:
Rehum, the high commissioner, and Shimshai, the provincial secretary, agreed that they could write the letter to King Artaxerxes {with their authority} to protest about what was happening in Jerusalem. This is what they wrote:
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:9ULT:
Then Rehum, a lord of decree, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the judges and the rulers, the officials, the Persians, the Erechites, the Babylonians, the Susaites (that is, the Elamites),
UST:
From Rehum the high commissioner, Shimshai the provincial secretary, and others with us who are judges and other government officials{. We represent the people} from {the areas of} Persia, Erech, Babylon, and Susa in the district of Elam,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:10ULT:
and the rest of the nations whom Ashurbanipal the great and the noble caused to be exiled and caused them to dwell in the cities of Samaria, and the rest of Beyond-the-River. And now:
UST:
as well as the other people groups whom the great and glorious Ashurbanipal had deported and sent to live in cities in Samaria and in the rest of the province west of the {Euphrates} River. Therefore:
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:11ULT:
(This is a copy of the letter that they sent to him.)
“To Artaxerxes the king; your servants, men of Beyond-the-River; and now:
UST:
(This is what they wrote in the letter that they sent to him:)
This letter is for King Artaxerxes. It comes from the officials serving you who live in the province west of the Euphrates River. Therefore:
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:12ULT:
let it be known to the king that the Jews who went up from near you have come to us at Jerusalem. Rebuilding the rebellious and evil city, they are completing the walls and repairing the foundations.
UST:
“Your Majesty, we want you to know that the Jews who left from your territories are now living near us. They are rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. These people are wicked and want to rebel against you. Therefore, they are now rebuilding the walls {of that city} and repairing the foundations {of its buildings}.
What did the enemies tell the king about Jerusalem?
The enemies told the king that Jerusalem was a rebellious city.
Ezra 4:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:13ULT:
Now let it be known to the king that if that city is built and the walls are completed, they will not give tax, tribute, or custom, and the revenue of the kings will suffer harm.
UST:
It is important for you to know that if they rebuild this city and finish building its walls, they will stop paying any taxes. As a result, there will be less money in your treasury.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:14ULT:
Now, because we have eaten the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the nakedness of the king, on account of this we have sent and made known to the king,
UST:
So, because we are loyal to you, and because we do not want anyone to humiliate you, for these reasons we are sending this information to you.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:15ULT:
so that he may search in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will discover in the book of the records and learn that that city is a rebellious city and one that has caused harm to kings and provinces, and they have made revolt in its midst since the ancient days. On account of this, that city was destroyed.
UST:
We suggest that you {order your officials to} search among the records that your predecessors kept. {If you do that,} you will find out that the people in this city have always rebelled against their rulers. You will find out that these people have withheld taxes from kings and from rulers of provinces. You will find out that from long ago the leaders of this city have started rebellions. That is the reason why {the Babylonian army} destroyed this city.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:16ULT:
We are making known to the king that if that city is built and the walls are completed, because of this there will be no share for you in Beyond-the-River.”
UST:
We want you to know that if they rebuild this city and finish building its walls, then you will no longer be able to control {any of the people in} this province west of the {Euphrates} River.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:17ULT:
The king sent the answer:
“To Rehum, a lord of decree, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and the rest of Beyond the River: Peace. And now:
UST:
{After} the king {read this letter, he} sent this reply to them:
“To you, Rehum, the high commissioner, and Shimshai, the provincial secretary, and your colleagues in Samaria and in other parts of the province that is west of the {Euphrates} River, I send my greetings. Therefore:
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:18ULT:
The letter that you sent to us has been carefully read aloud before me.
UST:
My officials carefully read out loud to me the letter that you sent to us.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:19ULT:
So from me was set a decree, and they searched and discovered that that city since the ancient days has risen up against kings and rebellion and revolt have been made in it.
UST:
Then I ordered my officials to search {the records}. I have found out that {what you said is true.} The people of Jerusalem have repeatedly revolted against their rulers, beginning a long time ago.
After the letter that the enemies sent to the king was read to him, what did the king do?
After the letter that the enemies sent to the king was read to him, the king ordered that the book of the records be searched to see if what the enemies had written about Jerusalem’s past history of rebellion was true.
Ezra 4:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:20ULT:
And mighty kings were over Jerusalem, even rulers over all of Beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them.
UST:
{In the past,} powerful kings ruled in Jerusalem. They also ruled over the whole province west of the {Euphrates} River. They forced the people there to pay them all kinds of taxes.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:21ULT:
Now, set a decree to stop these men, so that city may not be rebuilt until the decree is set from me.
UST:
Therefore, you must command those Jews to stop rebuilding the city. They will only be allowed to resume if I tell them that they may rebuild it.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:22ULT:
And be careful of negligence of action concerning this. Why should the damage increase to the harm of the kings?”
UST:
Do this immediately, because I do not want those people to do anything more that will cause me to lose {any territory or income}.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:23ULT:
Then from when the copy of the letter of Artaxerxes the king was read aloud before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in a hurry to Jerusalem against the Jews, and they stopped them by an arm and strength.
UST:
Then King Artaxerxes sent {messengers with} a copy of the letter to Rehum and Shimshai the provincial secretary and their colleagues. As soon as the messengers finished reading it out loud to them, Rehum and Shimshai and their colleagues went quickly to the Jews in Jerusalem, and they forced the Jews to stop rebuilding {the city}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 4:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 4:24ULT:
At that time the work of the house of God which is in Jerusalem stopped, and it was stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius, the king of Persia.
UST:
{Because the enemies of the Jews kept opposing them so strongly in these ways,} the Jews had stopped rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. They did not do any more work to rebuild the temple until the second year after Darius had become the king of Persia.
For how long did the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stop?
The work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia.
Ezra 5
Ezra 5:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:1ULT:
Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and in Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.
UST:
At that time two prophets were giving messages from God to the Jews living in Jerusalem and in other cities in Judah{, saying that they should continue rebuilding the temple}. Those prophets were Haggai and Zechariah, the son of Iddo. They spoke their messages representing the God whom the people of Israel worshiped, the one who ruled them.
What did the prophets Haggai and Zechariah do?
They prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and in Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel.
Ezra 5:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:2ULT:
Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, arose and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
UST:
So Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak led many other people to start rebuilding the temple of God in Jerusalem again. God’s prophets Haggai and Zechariah were with them and helping them.
What did the Jewish elders Zerubbabel and Jeshua arise and do?
The Jewish elders Zerubbabel and Jeshua arose and began to build the house of God in Jerusalem.
Ezra 5:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:3ULT:
At that time, Tattenai, the governor of Beyond-the-River, and Shethar-Bozenai, and their companions came to them and spoke to them thus, “Who set for you a decree to build this house and to complete this structure?”
UST:
But then Tattenai, the governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-Bozenai went to Jerusalem together with some of their officials and said to the people, “Who has permitted you to do all this work to rebuild this temple?”
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 5:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:4ULT:
Then accordingly we said to them, “What are the names of the men who are building this building?”
UST:
They also asked the Jews to tell them the names of the men who were working on this temple.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 5:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:5ULT:
But the eye of God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report came to Darius, and then they returned the letter concerning this matter.
UST:
However, God was taking care of the Jewish leaders, and their enemies did not make them stop {building the temple}. Instead, the enemies sent King Darius a report and waited for him to send back a decree about it. {The decree would either allow the Jewish leaders to finish their work on the temple, or else it would command them to stop their work completely}.
Did the Jewish elders stop their work of building the temple while they were waiting for King Darius to respond to the letter that Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai and their companions sent?
The elders of the Jews did not stop their work of rebuilding God’s house in Jerusalem while they were waiting for King Darius to respond to the letter that was sent to him.
Ezra 5:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:6ULT:
A copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor of Beyond-the-River, and Shethar-Bozenai and his companions, the officials who were in Beyond-the-River, sent to Darius the king.
UST:
This is a copy of the report that Tattenai, governor of the province of Beyond-the-River, Shethar-Bozenai, and their associates, {who were} the officials of the province of Beyond-the-River, sent to King Darius.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 5:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:7ULT:
They sent a report to him and thus was written within it:
“To Darius the king: All peace.
UST:
When they sent the report to him, this is what they wrote in it:
“King Darius, we hope everything is going well for you.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 5:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:8ULT:
Let it be known to the king that we went to Judah, the province, to the house of the great God, and it is being built of large stones, and timber is being placed in the walls. And this work is being done diligently and is succeeding in their hand.
UST:
We want you to know that we went to the temple of the great God in the province of Judah. The people are building it with huge stones, and they are putting wooden beams in the walls. They are doing this work very carefully, and they are making good progress.
How did Tattenai, Shethar Bozenai, and their fellow officials describe the work on the house of God?
They wrote that the work was being done diligently and was succeeding.
Ezra 5:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:9ULT:
Then we asked these elders, we said thus to them, ‘Who set a decree for you to build this house and to complete this structure?’
UST:
So we asked the Jewish leaders, ‘Who has permitted you to rebuild this temple?’
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 5:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:10ULT:
And also we asked of them their names, to let you know, so that we could write down the names of the men who were at their head.
UST:
We also asked them for the names of their leaders so that we could write them down and so that we could inform you who their leaders were.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 5:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:11ULT:
And thus is the answer they returned us, saying, ‘We are servants of him who is the God of heaven and earth, and we are building the house that was built many years before this, and a great king of Israel built it and completed it.
UST:
This is what they told us in reply. They said, ‘We serve the God who created heaven and earth. We are rebuilding his temple, which a great king of Israel originally completed many years ago.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 5:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:12ULT:
However, because of this, that our fathers caused the God of heaven to be angry, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, and he destroyed this house and caused the people to be exiled to Babylon.
UST:
But our ancestors did things that caused God, who is in heaven, to become very angry. So God allowed {the armies of} Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, a Chaldean, to conquer them. His armies destroyed that temple, and they took many of the Israelite people to Babylon.
Why did the God of heaven give the ancestors of the Jews into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon?
The God of heaven gave the Jews into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon because their ancestors caused him to be angry by sinning against him.
Ezra 5:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:13ULT:
But in year one of Cyrus, the king of Babylon, Cyrus the king set a decree to build this house of God.
UST:
However, during the first year that Cyrus ruled as king of Babylon, he decreed that our people could rebuild the temple for God.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 5:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:14ULT:
And also the vessels of the house of God, of gold and silver, that Nebuchadnezzar had taken out from the temple that was in Jerusalem and had brought them to the temple of Babylon—Cyrus the king took them out from the temple of Babylon and they were given to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had set as governor.
UST:
There had been a lot of containers made of gold and silver in the temple of God. Nebuchadnezzar took them from the temple in Jerusalem and brought them to a temple {for his god} in Babylon. Later, King Cyrus removed those containers from that temple in Babylon and gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he appointed as governor {of Judah}.
What items did King Cyrus give to Sheshbazzar the governor?
King Cyrus gave Sheshbazzar the gold and silver vessels belonging to the house of God.
Ezra 5:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:15ULT:
Then he said to him, “Take away these vessels. Go deposit them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built on its place.”
UST:
King Cyrus told Sheshbazzar to take these containers and put them back in the temple in Jerusalem. He also decreed that the Jews should rebuild the temple at the place where it had been before.
What did Cyrus the king command Sheshbazzar to do with the silver and gold vessels that belonged to God’s house?
King Cyrus commanded Sheshbazzar to take the silver and gold vessels and deposit them in God’s temple in Jerusalem.
Ezra 5:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:16ULT:
Then that Sheshbazzar came; he laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem. And from then even until now it is being built, but it is not complete.’
UST:
So Sheshbazzar came here to Jerusalem and {supervised the men who} laid the foundation of this temple. And since that time, the people have been working on the temple, but they have not finished it yet.’
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 5:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 5:17ULT:
And now, if it is good to the king, let a search be made in the house of the treasures of the king which is there in Babylon, if it is that a decree was set by Cyrus the king to build this house of God in Jerusalem. And let him send to us the will of the king concerning this.”
UST:
Therefore, your Majesty, please order your officials to search in the place in Babylon where you keep the royal records. Have them find out whether or not it is true that King Cyrus decreed that the Jews should rebuild this temple of God in Jerusalem. Then please tell us what you would like us to do about this matter.”
What did Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai and his companions request that the king do?
They requested that the king search in the house of the treasures of the king to see if Cyrus had made a decree to build the house of God in Jerusalem.
Ezra 6
Ezra 6:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:1ULT:
Then Darius the king set a decree and they searched in the house of the books where the treasures had been deposited there in Babylon.
UST:
So King Darius commanded his servants to search in the places where he kept important records there in the kingdom of Babylon.
How did King Darius respond to the request that a search be made to see if Cyrus had made a decree to build the house of God in Jerusalem?
Darius the king responded to the request by making a decree that a search be made in the house of the books where the treasures had been deposited to see if it was true that King Cyrus had made a decree to build the house of God in Jerusalem.
Ezra 6:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:2ULT:
And one scroll was found in the fortress at Ecbatana that is in the province of Media, and the record was written within it thusly:
UST:
They {searched, and they} found a scroll {that contained the information that they wanted to know} in the fortress city of Ecbatana in the province of Media. This is what that scroll said:
What was found when King Darius ordered a search be made in the house of archives in Babylon?
A scroll was found in the fortress at Ecbatana in the province of Media.
Ezra 6:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:3ULT:
“In year one of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king set a decree about the house of God in Jerusalem:
‘Let the house be built, a place where sacrifices are sacrificed, and let its foundations be raised. Its height will be 60 cubits. Its width will be 60 cubits,
UST:
“During the first year that King Cyrus ruled the empire, he sent out a decree concerning the temple of God that was in Jerusalem. He said, ‘I command that the Jews shall build a new temple in the same place where they had previously offered sacrifices. They must make the temple 27 meters high and 27 meters wide.
What did King Cyrus do in his first year as king?
King Cyrus made a decree regarding the house of God in Jerusalem.
Ezra 6:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:4ULT:
with three layers of large stone and a layer of new timber. And let the cost be given from the house of the king.
UST:
They must build the temple from large stones. {After putting down} three layers of stones, {the workers must put} a layer of new timber {on top of them}. I will pay for this work with money from the royal treasury.
According to the decree of King Cyrus how was the cost of building God’s house in Jerusalem to be paid for?
The cost for building God’s house in Jerusalem was to be paid for by the house of the king.
Ezra 6:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:5ULT:
And also, the vessels of the house of God, of gold and silver, that Nebuchadnezzar had taken out from the temple that was in Jerusalem and had brought to Babylon, must be returned. And let each go to the temple that is in Jerusalem, to its place. So you must put them in the house of God.’”
UST:
I also give back {to the Jews} the gold and silver containers that had belonged to the temple of God but that Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon. The Jews must take these and return them to the temple in Jerusalem. The Jews must put each one back in its original place in the temple of God.’”
According to King Cyrus’ decree, what was to be brought back to the house of God?
According to King Cyrus’ decree, the gold and silver vessels belonging to the house of God in Jerusalem that Nebuchadnezzar had taken to Babylon were to be brought back to the house of God in Jerusalem.
Ezra 6:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:6ULT:
“Now Tattenai, the governor of Beyond-the-River, Shethar-Bozenai, and their companions, the officials who are in Beyond-the-River: be far away from there.
UST:
{After learning this from the scroll, King Darius had a scribe write that information in a letter that he sent to the leaders of the enemies of the Jews in Jerusalem. He also included this message:} “This is a message for you, Tattenai, the governor of {the province} west of the {Euphrates} River, for you, Shethar-Bozenai, and for all of your associates, who are the officials of that province: Stay away from there!
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 6:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:7ULT:
Leave alone the work of that house of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build that house of God on its place.
UST:
Allow them to continue the work of rebuilding that temple of God. Allow the governor of the Jews and their elders to lead their people in building this new temple on the same site as the former temple.
After King Darius read the decree of Cyrus what did Darius write to Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai and their companions regarding the work that was being done on the house of God in Jerusalem?
Darius commanded Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai and their companions to leave the work on God’s house alone and to stay far away from it so that it could be built successfully.
Ezra 6:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:8ULT:
And from me is set a decree for what it is that you shall do with these elders of the Jews to build that house of God. And from the treasures of the king (that is, the tribute of Beyond-the-River) let the expense be given to those men diligently, so that it does not stop.
UST:
Furthermore, I command you to help these leaders of the Jews {in the following ways} as they rebuild this temple of God. You must be sure to give these men funds so that they can continue the building work. Take the money from my treasury, from the tribute you collect in {the province} west of the {Euphrates} River.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 6:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:9ULT:
And whatever is needed (whether sons of bulls, or rams, or lambs for burnt up offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, according to the command of the priests who are in Jerusalem), let it be given to them day by day (that is, without neglect),
UST:
The priests in Jerusalem need animals to sacrifice as burnt offerings to the God who is in heaven. This may include young bulls or rams or lambs. They may also need wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil {to go with those sacrifices}. Make sure that you diligently give them whatever they demand of those things every day.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 6:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:10ULT:
so that they may be offering sweet-smelling sacrifices to the God of heaven and praying for the life of the king and his sons.
UST:
When you do that, they will be able to offer sacrifices that please the God who is in heaven, and they will be able to pray that God will bless me and my sons.
Why did Cyrus say that he wanted the Jews to be given whatever they needed for building the house of God?
Cyrus said he wanted the Jews to be given whatever they needed to build the house of God so that the Jews could offer sweet-smelling sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
Ezra 6:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:11ULT:
And from me is set a decree that, for any man who changes this edict, a beam shall be pulled from his house, and, being erect, he shall be impaled on it. And his house shall be made a rubbish heap on account of this.
UST:
This is what I command about anyone who disobeys this decree. My soldiers will pull a beam from his house {and sharpen one end of it}. Then they will bury the other end of the beam in the ground so that it stands upright. Then they will pick that person up and ram his body onto the {sharpened} beam. Then they will completely destroy that person’s house until only a pile of rubble is left, because he disobeyed me.
What did Darius decree must happen to the person who changes the edict?
Darius decreed that a beam must be pulled from the person’s house and the beam placed upright and the person who had changed the edict be impaled on the beam and their house be made into a rubbish heap.
Ezra 6:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:12ULT:
And may the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who stretches out his hand to change, to destroy that house of God which is in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have set a decree. Let it be done diligently.”
UST:
God himself has chosen that city of Jerusalem as the place where people will honor him. May he get rid of any king or any nation that tries to change this decree or destroy that temple in Jerusalem! I, Darius, make this decree. You must completely obey it.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 6:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:13ULT:
Then Tattenai, the governor of Beyond-the-River, Shethar-Bozenai, and their companions did thus diligently, according to what Darius the king had sent.
UST:
Tattenai, the governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates {read the message from King Darius and} immediately obeyed what the message from King Darius commanded them to do.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 6:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:14ULT:
And the elders of the Jews were building and prospering by the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and completed by the decree of the God of Israel and by the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes, the king of Persia.
UST:
So the Jewish leaders continued to progress in their work of rebuilding {the temple}. The messages that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo preached encouraged them greatly. The people worked until they completed {the temple}, just as their God had commanded them to do, and just as the Persian kings Cyrus and Darius had decreed, and as the Persian king Artaxerxes {would decree later}.
How did Haggai and Zechariah assist the Jewish elders in the work of rebuilding the temple?
Haggai and Zechariah prophesied and this helped the elders of the Jews prosper in their work of rebuilding the temple.
Ezra 6:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:15ULT:
And this house was done by day three of the month of Adar, which was year six of the reign of Darius the king.
UST:
The people finished building this temple on the third day of the month of Adar, during the sixth year that King Darius ruled {the kingdom of Persia}.
When was the work of rebuilding the temple completed?
The work of rebuilding the temple was completed on day three of the month of Adar in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
Ezra 6:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:16ULT:
And the sons of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the sons of the exile performed the dedication of this house of God with joy.
UST:
Then the people of Israel, {that is,} the priests, the Levites, and everyone else who had returned from Babylonia, joyfully dedicated this temple to God.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 6:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:17ULT:
And they offered for the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and 12 bucks of goats for a sin offering for all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
UST:
During the ceremony to dedicate this temple to God, they sacrificed 100 young bulls, 200 rams, and 400 lambs. They also sacrificed 12 male goats as an offering so that God would forgive the sins of all the people, because that was how many tribes there were in Israel.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 6:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:18ULT:
And they caused the priests to stand in their divisions, and the Levites in their sections, for the service of the God who is in Jerusalem, according to the writing of the book of Moses.
UST:
Then the Jewish leaders divided the priests and Levites into groups that would take turns serving in the temple of God in Jerusalem. They did this according to what Moses had written {many years previously} in the law.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 6:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:19ULT:
So the sons of the exile performed the Passover on day 14 of the first month.
UST:
On the fourteenth day of the first month, the Jews who had returned from Babylonia celebrated the Passover Festival.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 6:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:20ULT:
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves as one, all of them were pure. And they slaughtered the Passover for all the sons of the exile, and for their brothers, the priests, and for themselves.
UST:
{To qualify themselves for offering the sacrifices,} all the priests and Levites had already purified themselves by performing the proper rituals. Then they slaughtered the lambs for the benefit of everyone who had returned from Babylonia, for the other priests, and for themselves.
For whom did the priests and Levites slaughter the Passover lamb?
The priests and Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the sons of the exile, and for their brothers, the priests, and for themselves.
Ezra 6:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:21ULT:
And the sons of Israel ate, the ones who had returned from the exile and every one who separated himself to them from the uncleanness of the nations of the land in order to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel.
UST:
All of the Israelite people celebrated the Passover. This included the Israelites who had returned from Babylonia and the people who had separated themselves from the people of the area around them who worshiped other gods. They separated themselves from those people and joined the Israelites so that they could worship Yahweh, the God whom the Israelite people worshiped.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 6:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 6:22ULT:
Then they performed the Festival of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, because Yahweh had caused them to be joyful, and had caused the heart of the king of Assyria to turn toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
UST:
Then for the next seven days, they joyfully celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread. They were joyful because Yahweh had caused the king of Assyria to be favorable to them. As a result, the king had helped them to rebuild the temple of God, the God whom Israel worshiped.
Why did the Jews joyfully celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
The Jews joyfully celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread because Yahweh had caused them to be joyful, and had caused the heart of the king of Assyria to turn toward them, to strengthen their hands in their work of rebuilding the house of God.
Ezra 7
Ezra 7:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:1ULT:
Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes, the king of Persia: Ezra (the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
UST:
Many years later, during the time when Artaxerxes was the king of Persia, {there was a man named} Ezra{. He} was a descendant of Seraiah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:2ULT:
the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
UST:
Hilkiah was the son of Shallum, who was the son of Zadok, who was a descendant of Ahitub,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:3ULT:
the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
UST:
who was a descendant of Amariah, who was the son of Azariah, who was a descendant of Meraioth,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:4ULT:
the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
UST:
who was the son of Zerahiah, who was the son of Uzzi, who was the son of Bukki,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:5ULT:
the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the head priest),
UST:
who was the son of Abishua, who was the son of Phinehas, who was the son of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron, the {first} Supreme Priest.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:6ULT:
this Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses that Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given. And the king granted to him all his request according to the hand of Yahweh his God upon him.
UST:
This man Ezra knew the laws of Moses very well. Those were the laws that Yahweh had given to the people who worship him, the Israelite people. {Ezra asked the king for many things and} the king gave Ezra everything that he asked for because Yahweh, the God whom Ezra worshiped, caused all of it to go well for him. Then Ezra traveled from Babylon {to Jerusalem}.
What was Ezra’s occupation?
He was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses.
Ezra 7:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:7ULT:
And some from the sons of Israel and from the priests, and the Levites, and the ones who sang, and the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in year seven of Artaxerxes the king.
UST:
Many Israelite people came with Ezra to Jerusalem, including some priests, some Levites, some musicians, some gatekeepers, and some {of the descendants of} men who worked in the temple. That was during the seventh year that Artaxerxes was the king of Persia.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:8ULT:
And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
UST:
Ezra {and the group with him} arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year that Artaxerxes was king.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:9ULT:
For on the first of the first month was the beginning of the ascent from Babylon. And on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
UST:
Consider this: They started out from Babylon on the first day of the first month. They arrived safely in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month of that year. God certainly acted very kindly toward them.
Why did Ezra arrive in Jerusalem safely after a long journey from Babylon?
Ezra arrived in Jerusalem safely after a long journey from Babylon because the good hand of his God was on him.
Ezra 7:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:10ULT:
For Ezra had made his heart firm to seek the law of Yahweh, and to do it, and to teach statute and ordinance in Israel.
UST:
{God made Ezra’s journey successful} because Ezra had devoted himself to studying the laws of Yahweh and understanding how to obey them. He had also devoted himself to teach everything in those laws to the Israelite people.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:11ULT:
Now this is a copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commandments of Yahweh and his statutes for Israel:
UST:
King Artaxerxes gave a letter to Ezra the priest and scribe who studied what Yahweh had commanded in the law that Yahweh had given to Israel. This is what the letter said:
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:12ULT:
“Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven: Peace. And now:
UST:
“This letter is from Artaxerxes, the greatest of the kings. I am giving it to Ezra the priest, who has carefully studied the law that the God who is in heaven gave {to the Israelite people}. Greetings. This is what I want you to know:
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:13ULT:
from me is set a decree that everyone in my kingdom who freely offers to go to Jerusalem with you, from the people ‘Israel’ and its priests and the Levites, may go.
UST:
I am commanding that any of the Israelite people in my kingdom may go with you to Jerusalem if they want to go. That includes priests and Levites.
Who was allowed to go to Jerusalem with Ezra?
King Artaxerxes made a decree that everyone in his kingdom who freely offered to go to Jerusalem with Ezra from the people Israel and from the priests and Levites could go with Ezra.
Ezra 7:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:14ULT:
Because it was sent from before the king and his seven counselors to inquire about Judah and about Jerusalem by the law of your God which is in your hand,
UST:
I, the king, and my seven advisors are sending you to investigate whether the people of Judah and Jerusalem are following the law of your God that you carry.
Why did the king and his seven counselors send the Israelites back to Jerusalem?
The king and his seven counselors sent the Israelites back to Jerusalem to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem and to bring the silver and gold that the king and his counselors had freely offered and to bring all the silver and gold that they found in all the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests.
Ezra 7:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:15ULT:
and to bring silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
UST:
We are also telling you to take with you the silver and gold that I and my advisors will give to you. We give it freely to the God of Israel who has a temple in Jerusalem.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:16ULT:
with all the silver and the gold that you find in all the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests who freely give for the house of God, which is in Jerusalem:
UST:
You should also take any silver and gold that {the people in} the entire province of Babylonia may give to you. Add that to the money that the Israelite people and the priests freely give for you to use at the temple of their God in Jerusalem.
Why did the king and his seven counselors send the Israelites back to Jerusalem?
The king and his seven counselors sent the Israelites back to Jerusalem to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem and to bring the silver and gold that the king and his counselors had freely offered and to bring all the silver and gold that they found in all the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests.
Ezra 7:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:17ULT:
therefore, diligently you shall buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, and their grain offerings and their drink offerings; and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God, which is in Jerusalem.
UST:
Then carefully use this money to buy the bulls, rams, and lambs that the priests will burn on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem. Also buy the grain and wine that go with these offerings.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:18ULT:
And you may do whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, according to the will of your God.
UST:
If there is any silver or gold left over {after you buy all of those things}, you and your companions may use it to buy whatever you think that your God wants you to buy.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:19ULT:
And the vessels that were given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem.
UST:
We have also given to you some {valuable} containers for the priests to use in the temple of your God. Take all of them to your God in Jerusalem.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:20ULT:
And the rest of what is needed for the house of your God that falls to you to give, you may give from the house of the treasures of the king.
UST:
If you need to supply any other things for the temple of your God, I permit you to get the money {to pay for those things} from the royal treasury.
How were the Jews to pay for additional things they might need for the house of God?
King Artaxerxes decreed that the Jews should take anything else that they needed for the house of their God from Artaxerxes’ treasury.
Ezra 7:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:21ULT:
And from me myself, Artaxerxes the king, is set a decree for all the treasurers who are in Beyond-the-River: that all that Ezra (the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven) may ask of you, let it be done diligently;
UST:
And I, King Artaxerxes, personally command this to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River: Ezra is a priest who has carefully studied the laws of the God who is in heaven. If there is anything that he requests, give it to him quickly.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:22ULT:
as much as 100 silver kikkars, and as much as 100 cors of wheat, and as much as 100 baths of wine, and as much as 100 baths of oil, and salt which is not written.
UST:
Give him up to three and one-third metric tons of silver, up to 500 bushels of wheat, up to two and one-fifth kiloliters of wine, up to the same amount of olive oil, and all the salt that he requests.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:23ULT:
Everything that is from the decree of the God of heaven shall be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons?
UST:
Be sure that you provide everything that the God who is in heaven requires for his temple. We certainly do not want this God to be angry with me or with my descendants{, who will later be kings, because I did not provide what he required}.
Why did Artaxerxes say that the treasurers should do exactly what the God of Heaven decreed regarding the temple?
King Artaxerxes said that the treasurers should do exactly what the God of Heaven decreed regarding the temple so that God’s wrath would not come against the kingdom of Artaxerxes and his sons.
Ezra 7:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:24ULT:
And to you is made known that there is no authority to set tax, tribute, or custom upon all the priests, and the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, the temple servants, and the servants of that house of God.
UST:
By means of this letter, I also prohibit you from collecting tax payments of any kind from any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, or any men who work in the temple. They are exempt from taxes {because} they serve in the temple of this God.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:25ULT:
And as for you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in Beyond-the-River, all who know the laws of your God. And you shall teach those who do not know.
UST:
Now I will address you, Ezra. The God whom you worship has made you wise. Therefore, I want you to appoint men who can settle disputes between people and interpret God’s laws for all {of the Jews} in the province west of the Euphrates River. They must do this for all of those who know the laws of this God, and all of you must teach God’s laws to those who do not know them.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:26ULT:
And everyone who will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, judgment shall be exacted from him diligently, whether for death, whether for banishment, whether for confiscation of goods, or for imprisonment.”
UST:
{You and the men whom you appoint} must make sure to severely punish everyone who does not obey my law or the law of the God whom you worship. You may decide whether to execute them or to send them out of the country or to take away all of their property or to put them in prison.”
What did King Artaxerxes decree should be done to every person who did not obey the law of Ezra’s God and the law of the king?
Artaxerxes decreed that whoever would not obey the law of Ezra’s God and the law of the king should be punished diligently, either by death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or by imprisonment.
Ezra 7:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:27ULT:
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who gave according to this in the heart of the king, to glorify the house of Yahweh, which is in Jerusalem,
UST:
{When I, Ezra, read this letter, I said,} “Praise Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors worshiped! He has caused the king to want to honor his temple in Jerusalem.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 7:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 7:28ULT:
and caused covenant faithfulness to extend to me before the face of the king, and his counselors, and before all the mighty officials of the king. And as for me, I gained strength according to the hand of Yahweh my God upon me, and I gathered from Israel heads to go up with me.
UST:
God also acted very kindly to me by causing the king and his advisors and all of his powerful officials to want to help me. When I saw how Yahweh, the God whom I worship, was making all of my plans succeed, I boldly asked some of the Israelite leaders to go {to Jerusalem} with me.”
What caused Ezra to be strengthened?
Ezra was strengthened because he realized that the hand of Yahweh his God was on him to help him.
Ezra 8
Ezra 8:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:1ULT:
Now these are the heads of their fathers and their enrollment by genealogy, the ones who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:
UST:
“This is a list of the names of the clan leaders, along with the names of their clans, who traveled {to Jerusalem} with me from Babylonia when Artaxerxes was king {of Persia}:
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:2ULT:
From the sons of Phinehas: Gershom.
From the sons of Ithamar: Daniel.
From the sons of David: Hattush,
UST:
Gershom from the clan descended from {Aaron’s grandson} Phinehas.
Daniel from the clan descended from {Aaron’s son} Ithamar.
Hattush from the clan descended from {King} David.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:3ULT:
from the sons of Shecaniah.
From the sons of Parosh: Zechariah, and with him were 150 males enrolled by genealogy.
UST:
{Hattush was also} a descendant of Shecaniah.
Zechariah and 150 other men from the clan descended from Parosh.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:4ULT:
From the sons of Pahath-Moab: Eliehoenai, the son of Zerahiah, and with him were 200 males.
UST:
Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah and 200 other men from the clan descended from Pahath-Moab.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:5ULT:
From the sons of … Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel, and with him were 300 males.
UST:
Shecaniah son of Jahaziel and 300 other men from the clan descended from {Zattu}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:6ULT:
And from the sons of Adin: Ebed, the son of Jonathan, and with him were 50 males.
UST:
Ebed son of Jonathan and 50 other men from the clan descended from Adin.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:7ULT:
And from the sons of Elam: Jeshaiah, the son of Athaliah, and with him were 70 males.
UST:
Jeshaiah son of Athaliah and 70 other men from the clan descended from Elam.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:8ULT:
And from the sons of Shephatiah: Zebadiah, the son of Michael, and with him were 80 males.
UST:
Zebadiah son of Michael and 80 other men from the clan descended from Shephatiah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:9ULT:
From the sons of Joab: Obadiah, the son of Jehiel, and with him were 218 males.
UST:
Obadiah son of Jehiel and 218 other men from the clan descended from Joab.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:10ULT:
And from the sons of … Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah, and with him were 160 males.
UST:
Shelomith son of Josiphiah and 160 other men from the clan descended from {Bani}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:11ULT:
And from the sons of Bebai: Zechariah, the son of Bebai, and with him were 28 males.
UST:
Zechariah son of Bebai and 28 other men from the clan descended from {another man whose name was} Bebai.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:12ULT:
And from the sons of Azgad: Johanan, the son of Hakkatan, and with him were 110 males.
UST:
Johanan son of Hakkatan and 110 other men from the clan descended from Azgad.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:13ULT:
And from the last sons of Adonikam, and these were their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them were 60 males.
UST:
Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah and 60 other men from the clan descended from Adonikam. They were the last three leaders from the clan descended from Adonikam {that had not returned earlier with Zerubbabel}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:14ULT:
And from the sons of Bigvai: Uthai and Zaccur, and with him were 70 males.
UST:
Uthai and Zaccur and 70 other men from the clan descended from Bigvai.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:15ULT:
And I gathered them to the river, the one that goes to Ahava, and we encamped there three days. And I examined the people and the priests, but I did not find there any from the sons of Levi.
UST:
{This is an account of how we traveled to Jerusalem.} I gathered together all of these Israelites at the canal that goes from Babylon to Ahava. We set up our tents and stayed there for three days. {During that time} I interviewed the people and the priests and discovered that there were no Levites among us.
When Ezra examined the people and the priests by the river that flowed to Ahava, what could Ezra not find?
When Ezra examined the people and the priests by the river that flowed to Ahava, he could not find any descendants of Levi.
Ezra 8:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:16ULT:
Then I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, the heads; and for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
UST:
So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, {another man named} Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were all leaders of the people. I also summoned Joiarib and {a third man named} Elnathan, who were wise.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:17ULT:
And I commanded them to go to Iddo, the head at the place Kasiphia. And I put in their mouth words to speak to Iddo and his brothers, the temple servants in the place Kasiphia, to bring to us those who minister for the house of our God.
UST:
I sent them all to Iddo, a Levite leader who was living in a place called Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and to his fellow Levites, the {descendants of} temple workers whom he oversaw there. I wanted them to send us some men who would {go with us to} work in the temple of our God.
Why did Ezra send men to go to Iddo and his brothers?
Ezra sent men to Iddo and his brothers because he wanted Iddo and his brothers to send him Levites who could minister in the house of God.
Ezra 8:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:18ULT:
And according to the good hand of our God upon us, they brought to us: a man of insight from the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, even Sherebiah, and his sons and his brothers were 18;
UST:
Because God acted kindly toward us, they brought us a very wise man named Sherebiah and 18 of his sons and other relatives. He was a descendant of Mahli, who was a grandson of Levi, the son of Israel.
How did Ezra describe Sherebiah?
Ezra described Sherebiah as a man of insight.
Ezra 8:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:19ULT:
and Hashabiah, and with him, Jeshaiah, from the sons of Merari, whose brothers and their sons were 20;
UST:
{They} also {sent to us} Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah, and 20 of his brothers and their sons. Both men were descendants of Merari {the son of Levi}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:20ULT:
and 220 temple servants from the temple servants whom David with the officials had given for the service of the Levites. All of them were designated by names.
UST:
They also sent 220 other men to work in the temple. King David and his officials had appointed the ancestors of these men to assist the Levites. I listed the names of all of these men.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:21ULT:
Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, to afflict ourselves before the face of our God to seek from him a straight way for us, and for our children, and for all our property.
UST:
There alongside the Ahava Canal, I announced a time for all of us to abstain from eating food {and to pray}. {I told them that this was a time} to humble ourselves in the presence of our God and to pray that God would protect us, our children, and our possessions while we traveled.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:22ULT:
For I was ashamed to ask from the king an army and horsemen to help us from an enemy on the way. For we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is for good upon all those who seek him, but his might and his nose are against all those who forsake him.”
UST:
Previously we had told the king that our God takes care of all those who truly trust in him, but that he powerfully punishes everyone who refuses to obey him. So I would have been ashamed to ask the king to send soldiers and men riding on horses to protect us from our enemies while we were traveling along the road.
Why did Ezra not ask the king for an army or horsemen to protect the Jews against their enemies as they traveled to Jerusalem?
Ezra did not ask the king for an army or horsemen to protect the Jews against their enemies as they traveled because he was ashamed to ask since the Jews had told the king that the hand of their God is for good upon all those who seek him, and that God’s might and nose are against all who forsake him.
Ezra 8:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:23ULT:
So we fasted and sought from our God concerning this, and he was entreated by us.
UST:
So we abstained from eating food and we asked our God to protect us. We prayed to him, and he answered our prayer.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:24ULT:
Then I separated 12 from the leaders of the priests to Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and with them ten from their brothers.
UST:
I chose 12 of the leaders of the priests and brought them together with Sherebiah and Hashabiah and ten of the other Levites.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:25ULT:
And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering of the house of our God that the king, and his counselors, and his officials, and all Israel (the ones who were found) had offered.
UST:
I assigned to each of them a portion of the gifts of silver and gold and the other valuable items {to transport to Jerusalem}. These were the items that the king and his advisors and other officials, and the Israelite people who were living in Babylonia, had contributed for the temple of our God.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:26ULT:
And I weighed out to their hand 650 kikkars of silver, and vessels of silver of 100 kikkars, 100 kikkars of gold,
UST:
As I gave these various items to those men, I weighed each of the items. This was the total: about 21 and one half metric tons of silver, items made from silver that altogether weighed three and one third metric tons, three and one third metric tons of gold,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:27ULT:
and 20 bowls of gold of 1000 darics, and two good, gleaming vessels of bronze, precious as gold.
UST:
20 gold bowls that altogether weighed about eight and one-half kilograms, and two items made of beautiful polished bronze that were as valuable as ones made of gold.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:28ULT:
And I said to them, “You are holy to Yahweh, and the vessels are holy. And the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Yahweh, the God of your fathers.
UST:
I said to those priests and Levites, ‘I have set you apart from the others to serve Yahweh in a special way. The people have also set apart these valuable things for only him. The people also gave the silver and the gold voluntarily as an offering to Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors worshiped.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:29ULT:
Watch and keep until you weigh them out before the face of the leaders of the priests and the Levites and the leaders of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Yahweh.”
UST:
So guard them carefully. When we arrive in Jerusalem, weigh them out where the leading priests and Levites and the other leaders of the Israelite clans can see them. {They will then put them} in the storerooms in the temple of Yahweh.’
How long were the twelve men to watch over the gold and silver?
The twelve men were to watch over the gold and silver until they weighed them out before the face of the leaders of the priests and the Levites and the leaders of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Yahweh.
Ezra 8:30
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:30ULT:
So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.
UST:
So these priests and Levites said that they would be responsible to transport all of the {gifts of} silver and gold and other valuable items to the temple of our God in Jerusalem.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:31
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:31ULT:
Then we set out from the river Ahava on day 12 of the first month to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the palm of the enemy and ambush on the way.
UST:
On the twelfth day of the first month, we left the Ahava Canal and started to travel to Jerusalem. Our God took care of us, and while we traveled, he prevented any enemies from attacking or robbing us.
How did Ezra say that God’s hand was upon him and the rest of the Jews as they traveled to Jerusalem?
Ezra said that the hand of God was on him and his fellow Jews in that God protected them from the hand of their enemies and from ambush as they traveled to Jerusalem.
Ezra 8:32
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:32ULT:
So we came to Jerusalem, and we stayed there three days.
UST:
After we arrived in Jerusalem, we rested for three days.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:33
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:33ULT:
And on the fourth day, the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed out: in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the priest, and with him was Eleazar, the son of Phinehas (and with them were Jozabad, the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah, the son of Binnui, the Levites);
UST:
Then on the fourth day we went to the temple of our God. There the priests and Levites weighed out the silver and gold and the other items and gave them to the leaders there. The leaders there were two priests, Meremoth the son of Uriah and Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and two Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:34
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:34ULT:
by number and weight of everything. And all the weight was written at that time.
UST:
They counted everything, and wrote down how much each item weighed, and wrote a description of each one as they received it.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:35
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:35ULT:
The ones who had come from the captivity, the sons of the exile, offered burnt up offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, 12 male goats of a sin offering. The whole was a burnt up offering to Yahweh.
UST:
The Babylonian soldiers had captured our ancestors and taken them away to Babylon, but now we who are their descendants have safely returned {to Israel}. So we offered sacrifices of burnt offerings to our God: 12 bulls, {one} for {each of the 12 tribes of} the Israelite people, 96 rams, and 77 lambs. We also sacrificed 12 male goats to atone for the sins {that all of the Israelite people had committed}. We offered all of these sacrifices to Yahweh by putting them on the fire {of the altar}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 8:36
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 8:36ULT:
And they gave the laws of the king to the satraps of the king and the governors of Beyond-the-River. And they lifted the people and the house of God.
UST:
Some of us who had returned from Babylonia took the letter that the king had given to us to the governors of the king’s provinces and to the officials of the province west of the Euphrates River. {After they read the letter,} they did what the king commanded for us {Israelite} people and for the temple of God.”
To whom were the king’s decrees given?
The king’s decrees were given to the satraps of the king and the governors of Beyond-the-River.
Ezra 9
Ezra 9:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:1ULT:
Now as soon as these things were finished, the leaders came to me, saying, “The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands according to their abominations, of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, the Ammonite, the Moabite, the Egyptian, and the Amorite.
UST:
“After that, {some of} the {Jewish} leaders came to me and said, ‘Many Israelites and {even some} priests and Levites have not kept themselves from doing what the other people who are living in this land do. They are doing the same disgusting things that those people do. Those people are from the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 9:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:2ULT:
For they have lifted from their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so they have mixed the seed of holiness with the peoples of the lands. And the hand of the leaders and the rulers has been first in this unfaithfulness.”
UST:
Specifically, some Israelite men have married women from these groups, and they have allowed their sons to do the same thing. So they are making us, God’s sacred people, to be no longer distinct from the other groups that live here. In fact, some of our leaders and officials have been the first ones to betray God in this way!’
In what way did the people of Israel not separate themselves from the people of other lands?
The people of Israel did not separate themselves from the people of other lands in that they married non-Israelites and allowed their sons to marry non-Israelites.
Ezra 9:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:3ULT:
And as soon as I heard this matter, I tore my garment and my robe. And I pulled out some from the hair of my head and my beard, and I sat down appalled.
UST:
When I heard that, {I was so sad and angry that} I tore my clothes and my robe. I even pulled out some hair from my head and my beard. Then I sat down. I was very dismayed.
How did Ezra respond to the people’s unfaithfulness?
Ezra tore his garment and his robe and pulled out some of the hair of his head and beard, and sat down appalled.
Ezra 9:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:4ULT:
And all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles were gathered to me. And I was sitting appalled until the offering of the evening.
UST:
Many of the Jews still respected God’s commandment {not to marry foreign women}, and they were upset and afraid because some of those who had returned from Babylonia had disobeyed it. They gathered around me as I sat there dismayed until the time of the evening sacrifice.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 9:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:5ULT:
And at the offering of the evening I arose from my humiliation, and when I tore my garment and my robe. And I knelt down on my knees, and spread out my palms to Yahweh my God.
UST:
When it was time to offer the evening sacrifice, I stopped sitting there, silently showing how ashamed and sad I felt. Still wearing those torn clothes, I got on my knees and opened my hands {in prayer} to Yahweh, my God,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 9:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:6ULT:
And I said, “My God, I am ashamed and humiliated to raise my face to you, my God. For our iniquities have multiplied to above the head, and our guilt has grown up as far as to the heavens.
UST:
and this is what I prayed: ‘God, I belong to you. Yet I am very ashamed even to approach you in prayer. This is because the sins that we Israelites have committed are very bad. It is as though our sins are so many that they have risen up in a heap that is higher than our heads. We are so guilty for committing those sins that it is as though the heap of them has risen all the way up to you in heaven.
Why was Ezra too ashamed and disgraced to raise his face to Yahweh?
Ezra was too ashamed and disgraced to raise his face to Yahweh because his people’s iniquity and guilt were great.
Ezra 9:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:7ULT:
From the days of our fathers until this day we are in great guilt. And in our iniquities, we ourselves, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands by sword, by captivity, and by plunder, and by shame of face, as this day.
UST:
Since the time of our ancestors until now, we{, the Jewish people,} have been very guilty of sinning {against you}. That is the reason why you, God, allowed {the armies of} the kings of other lands to do whatever they wanted to do with our people and with our kings and our priests. They killed {many of} them, they captured {many of} them, they robbed {many of} them, and they caused them all to be disgraced, just as we are today.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 9:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:8ULT:
But now, according to a little moment, favor has come from with Yahweh our God to leave for us survivors and to give to us a peg in his holy place, for our God to brighten our eyes and to give us a little reviving in our slavery.
UST:
But for just a little while now, Yahweh our God, you have been kind to us. You have allowed some of us to survive. You have given us a secure home in your sacred place. You have made us joyful and given us some freedom, even though the Persian king is still our master.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 9:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:9ULT:
For we are slaves, yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery. But he has extended to us covenant faithfulness before the face of the kings of Persia to give to us reviving, to raise up the house of our God and to cause its ruins to stand, and to give to us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
UST:
Yes, we are like slaves, but even so, you have not abandoned us. Instead, you have caused the kings of Persia to act very kindly toward us. They have given us some freedom and allowed us to rebuild your temple, which had been destroyed. They have allowed us to live safely here in the province of Judah and the city of Jerusalem.
What did God extend to the Jewish people in their effort to build God’s house?
God extended covenant faithfulness to the Jewish people in their effort to build his house.
Ezra 9:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:10ULT:
So now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments,
UST:
Our God, there is nothing that we can say now to defend ourselves after all {of the sinful things that we have done}. We have continued to disobey your commands.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 9:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:11ULT:
which you commanded by the hand of your servants, the prophets, saying, ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land of impurity by the impurity of the peoples of the lands, by their abominations that have filled it from mouth to mouth with their uncleanness.
UST:
They are the commands that you gave to your servants, the prophets, to tell to us. They told us that it was as though the land that we would occupy was a filthy land because the people who live there do disgusting things. They said that those people continually do shameful things, making it seem like the land is full of filth from one end to the other.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 9:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:12ULT:
So now, neither give your daughters to their sons nor lift their daughters for your sons, nor shall you seek their peace or their good until eternity, so that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and cause your sons to inherit it until eternity.’
UST:
{They said,} “Therefore do not allow your daughters to marry their sons! Do not allow your sons to marry their daughters! Do not ever try to cause things to go well for those people! If you obey these instructions, your nation will be strong. You will enjoy the good crops that grow on the land, and the land will belong to your descendants forever.”
Why did God not want the Israelites to intermarry with the people of the land?
God did not want the Israelites to intermarry with the people of the land because the people had made the land impure by their impure behavior and by doing things that were an abomination to God.
Ezra 9:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:13ULT:
Yet after all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and because of our great guilt (although you, our God, you have restrained it to lower than our iniquities, and you have given to us a survival such as this),
UST:
But you punished us because we became very guilty for doing wicked things. Still, you, our God, have not punished us as much as we deserve for you to punish us. I say this because you have allowed this group of us to survive.
What did God hold back?
God held himself back from fully judging the Jewish people as their sins deserved and he graciously allowed them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
Ezra 9:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:14ULT:
should we return to breaking your commandments and to intermarrying with the peoples of these abominations? Would you not be angry with us as far as completion, so that there is neither remnant nor survivors?
UST:
However, some of us are again disobeying your commands. Some of us have married women from the people groups that do those detestable things. If we continue to do that, you will be so angry with us that you will destroy us completely, leaving none of us to survive!
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 9:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 9:15ULT:
Yahweh, the God of Israel, you are righteous, for we are left as survivors, as this day. Behold us, before your face in our guilt, for there is none to stand before your face on account of this.”
UST:
Yahweh, God of Israel, you always do the right thing! Because of that, you have continually allowed some of us to survive, just as you have done with this group now. But we acknowledge that we are guilty of disobeying you and so because of what we have done, we do not deserve even to pray to you.’”
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10
Ezra 10:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:1ULT:
And when Ezra prayed, and when he confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the face of the house of God, an extremely great assembly from Israel, men and women and children, gathered to him. Indeed the people wept an abundant weeping.
UST:
Ezra prostrated himself on the ground in front of the temple as he cried and prayed {to God}. He was confessing {to God the sins that the people had committed}. While he was doing that, a very large crowd of Israelites gathered around him, consisting of men, women, and children. They all cried very, very much {because they had sinned against God}.
What did Ezra do as he prayed and confessed?
As Ezra prayed and confessed, he wept and threw himself down before God’s house.
Ezra 10:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:2ULT:
Then Shecaniah, the son of Jehiel, from the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, “We ourselves have acted unfaithfully against our God and have caused foreign women from the peoples of the land to dwell. But now, there is hope for Israel concerning this.
UST:
Then Shecaniah, the son of Jehiel from the clan of Elam, spoke. He said this to Ezra: “We have disobeyed our God. Some of us have married women who are not Israelites. They come from the other people groups that live around us. But we can still hope {that Yahweh will be merciful to} us Israelite people.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:3ULT:
So now, let us cut a covenant with our God to cause all the women to go out, and the ones who were born from them, by the counsel of my lord and the ones who tremble at the commandment of our God. And let it be done according to the law.
UST:
Here is what I suggest. We should do what God told us to do in his laws. We should make an agreement with our God that we will divorce our foreign wives and send them away with their children. We will do everything according to what you, sir, and the others who greatly respect what our God has commanded, tell us to do.
What covenant did Shekaniah say the Israelites should make?
Shekaniah said that they should make a covenant with their God to send away all the foreign women and their children.
Ezra 10:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:4ULT:
Arise, for the matter is on you, and we are with you. Be strong and do.”
UST:
Since you are our leader, get going, and be courageous, and do {what is necessary to fix this problem}. We will do whatever you say.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:5ULT:
And Ezra arose and caused the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel to swear an oath to do according to this word. So they swore an oath.
UST:
So Ezra acted {to fix the problem}. He demanded that all of the Israelite people, including the leaders of the priests and the Levites, solemnly declare that they would do what Shekaniah said that they should do. So they all solemnly promised {to do that}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:6ULT:
And Ezra rose up from before the face of the house of God, and he went to the chamber of Jehohanan, the son of Eliashib. And he went there. He did not eat bread and he did not drink water, but was mourning on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
UST:
Then Ezra went away from in front of the temple and went to the room where Jehohanan the grandson of Eliashib lived. Ezra continued to grieve because some of the Israelites who had returned from Babylonia had not faithfully obeyed God’s laws. So while he was there, he did not eat or drink anything.
Why did Ezra not eat any bread or drink any water?
Ezra did not eat any bread or drink any water because he was mourning the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
Ezra 10:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:7ULT:
And they caused a sound to pass throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the sons of the exile to gather to Jerusalem.
UST:
Then the leaders sent a message to all the people in the province of Judan and the city of Jerusalem. They told them that all the Jews who had returned from Babylonia had to come to Jerusalem immediately.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:8ULT:
And for all who did not come in three days according to the counsel of the leaders and the elders, all his property would be devoted to the ban. And he himself would be separated from the assembly of the exiles.
UST:
The leaders announced the following penalties for anyone who did not arrive within three days. They would take away all the property belonging to that person, and they would banish that person from the community of Israelites.
What was to happen to any Israelite who did not come to Jerusalem within three days?
Any Israelite who did not come to Jerusalem within three days was to have all his property devoted to the ban and was to be separated from the assembly of the exiles.
Ezra 10:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:9ULT:
So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered to Jerusalem in three days. It was the ninth month, on 20 in the month. And all the people sat in the open place of the house of God, trembling on account of the matter and because of the rains.
UST:
So within three days, by the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the men from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem. They were sitting in the courtyard in front of the temple. They were trembling because it was raining hard and {because they were worried that they would be punished} for what they had done.
What two things caused the people who stood in the open place of God’s house to tremble?
All the people who stood in the open place of God’s house trembled on account of the matter and because of the rains.
Ezra 10:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:10ULT:
And Ezra the priest rose up and said to them, “You yourselves have acted unfaithfully and have caused foreign wives to dwell, to add to the guilt of Israel.
UST:
Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “Some of you have sinned very badly {against God}. Specifically, you have married women who are not Israelites. By doing that, you have made us Israelite people more guilty than we were before.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:11ULT:
But now, give praise to Yahweh, the God of your fathers, and do his will, and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.”
UST:
So now, confess your sin to Yahweh, the God whom your ancestors worshiped, and do what he commands. {That is,} separate yourselves from the people of other nations by divorcing your foreign wives.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:12ULT:
Then all the assembly answered and said in a loud voice, “Thus, according to your word, it is on us to do.
UST:
The whole group answered, shouting loudly, “Yes, we must do what you have said.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:13ULT:
However, the people are many, and the time is rain showers and there is no strength to stand in the outdoors. And the work is neither for one day nor for two, for we have done much to rebel in this matter.
UST:
{Then one of them said,} “But we are a very large group, and it is raining hard. We cannot continue to stand outside in this rain. Also, since many of us have committed this sin, it will take a long time to make things right again.
Why did the Israelites want more time to send away the foreign women?
The Israelites wanted more time to send away the foreign women because the people were many, they had done much to rebel in this matter, and therefore, it would take them more than a day or two to complete the process. It was the rainy season, and they did not have the strength needed to stand in the outdoors to complete the process.
Ezra 10:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:14ULT:
Let our leaders stand for all the assembly. And let all who are in our cities, the ones who have caused foreign women to dwell, come at appointed times, and with them the elders of city by city and its magistrates, until the burning of the nose of our God is turned back from us as far as it concerns this matter.”
UST:
So please allow our leaders to decide what we should all do. Tell everyone in each city who has married a woman who is not an Israelite to come at a time that you decide. They should each come with the elders and judges from their own city. If we do that, our God will stop being angry with us because of what we have done.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:15ULT:
Only Jonathan, the son of Asahel, and Jahzeiah, the son of Tikvah, stood against this. And Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.
UST:
{Within the crowd,} Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah said that they disagreed with this plan. Then Meshullam and Shabbethai, a descendant of Levi, said that they agreed with Jonathan and Jahzeiah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:16ULT:
So the sons of the exile did thus, and men (the heads of the fathers by the house of their fathers, and all of them by names) were separated to Ezra the priest. And they sat down on day one of the tenth month to seek out the matter.
UST:
But {they were the only ones who opposed the plan; all of} the others who had returned from Babylonia said that they would do it. So Ezra the priest chose men who were leaders from each of the clans and wrote down their names. On the first day of the tenth month these men met to investigate the matter.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:17ULT:
And they finished with all the men, the ones who had caused foreign women to dwell, by day one of the first month.
UST:
By the first day of the first month {of the next year} they had finished determining which men had married women who were not Israelites.
How long did it take to search out the matter of Israelite men who had taken foreign women as wives?
It took from day one of the tenth month until day one of the first month of the following year to search out the matter fully.
Ezra 10:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:18ULT:
And some were found from the sons of the priests who had caused foreign women to dwell: from the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
UST:
They determined that some of the descendants of the priests had married foreign women. These included some descendants of Joshua the son of Jozadak and of his brothers. Their names were Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:19ULT:
So they gave their hand to cause their wives to go out, and, being guilty ones, a ram of the flock for their guilt.
UST:
They solemnly promised to divorce their wives and they each offered a ram as a sacrifice to atone for their sins.
What did the Israelite men who were guilty of taking foreign women as wives do?
The guilty Israelite men promised to send away their foreign wives, and they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt.
Ezra 10:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:20ULT:
And from the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
UST:
In the clan of Immer there were Hanani and Zebadiah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:21ULT:
And from the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.
UST:
In the clan of Harim there were Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:22ULT:
And from the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
UST:
In the clan of Pashhur there were Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:23ULT:
And from the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
UST:
The Levites who had married foreign women were Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (whose other name was Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:24ULT:
And from the singers: Eliashib. And from the gatekeepers: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
UST:
There was Eliashib the musician. Among the temple guards there were Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:25ULT:
And these were from Israel. From the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, and Izziah, and Malkijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malkijah, and Benaiah.
UST:
This is a list of the names of the other Israelites {who had married foreign wives}:
In the clan of Parosh there were Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:26ULT:
And from the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah.
UST:
In the clan of Elam there were Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:27ULT:
And from the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
UST:
In the clan of Zattu there were Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:28ULT:
And from the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
UST:
In the clan of Bebai there were Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:29ULT:
And from the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluk, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeremoth.
UST:
In the clan of Bani there were Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal Jeremoth.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:30
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:30ULT:
And from the sons of Pahath-Moab: Adna, and Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
UST:
In the clan of Pahath-Moab there were Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:31
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:31ULT:
And from the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
UST:
In the clan of Harim there were Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:32
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:32ULT:
Benjamin, Malluk, Shemariah.
UST:
Benjamin, Malluk, and Shemariah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:33
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:33ULT:
From the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
UST:
In the clan of Hashum there were Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:34
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:34ULT:
From the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
UST:
In the clan of Bani there were Maadai, Amram, Uel,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:35
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:35ULT:
Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi,
UST:
Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:36
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:36ULT:
Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
UST:
Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:37
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:37ULT:
Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu,
UST:
Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:38
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:38ULT:
and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
UST:
In the clan of Binnui there were Shimei,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:39
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:39ULT:
and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
UST:
Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:40
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:40ULT:
Maknadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
UST:
Maknadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:41
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:41ULT:
Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
UST:
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:42
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:42ULT:
Shallum, Amariah, Joseph.
UST:
Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:43
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:43ULT:
From the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, and Joel, Benaiah.
UST:
In the clan of Nebo there were Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Ezra 10:44
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Ezra 10:44ULT:
All of these had lifted foreign women. And there were women among them, and they bore sons.
UST:
All of those men had married women who were not Israelites. Some of those women had borne children{, so when the men sent the women away, they also sent their children with them}.
(There are no questions for this verse)