Ezra 8:15-23

15Now I assembledH6908 these exiles atH413 the canalH5104 that flowsH935 toH413 AhavaH163, and we campedH2583 thereH8033 threeH7969 daysH3117. And when I searchedH995 among the peopleH5971 and priestsH3548, I foundH4672 noH3808 LevitesH1121H3881 thereH8033.

16Then I summonedH7971 the leadersH7218: EliezerH461, ArielH740, ShemaiahH8098, ElnathanH494,1 JaribH3402, ElnathanH494, NathanH5416, ZechariahH2148, and MeshullamH4918, as well as the teachersH995 JoiaribH3114 and ElnathanH494. 17And I sentH3318 themH853 toH5921 IddoH112, the leaderH7218 at CasiphiaH3703H4725H7760H6310, with a messageH1697H1696 forH413 himH112 and his kinsmenH251, the temple servantsH54142 at CasiphiaH3703H4725, that they should bringH935 to us ministersH8334 for the houseH1004 of our GodH430.

18And since the graciousH2896 handH3027 of our GodH430 was upon usH5921, they broughtH935 us SherebiahH8274—a manH376 of insightH7922 from the descendantsH1121 of MahliH4249 sonH1121 of LeviH3881, the sonH1121 of IsraelH3478—along with his sonsH1121 and brothersH251, 18H8083 menH6240; 19alsoH853 HashabiahH2811, together withH854 JeshaiahH3470, from the descendantsH1121 of MerariH4847, and his brothersH251 and their sonsH1121, 20 menH6242. 20They also brought 220H3967H6242 ofH4480 the temple servantsH5411, allH3605 designatedH5344 by nameH8034. DavidH1732 and the officialsH8269 had appointedH5414 them to assistH5656 the LevitesH3881.

21And there byH5921 the AhavaH163 CanalH5104 I proclaimedH7121H8033 a fastH6685, so that we might humbleH6031 ourselves beforeH6440 our GodH430 and ask Him forH1245H4480 a safeH3477 journeyH1870 for us and our childrenH2945, with allH3605 our possessionsH7399. 22ForH3588 I was ashamedH954 to ask the kingH4428 forH7592 an escort of soldiersH2428 and horsemenH6571 to protect usH5826 fromH4480 our enemiesH341 on the roadH1870, sinceH3588 we had told himH559H4428, “The handH3027 of our GodH430 is graciousH2896 toH5921 allH3605 who seek HimH1245, but His greatH5797 angerH639 is againstH5921 allH3605 who forsake HimH5800.”

23So we fastedH6684 and petitionedH1245 our GodH430 aboutH5921 thisH2063, and He granted our requestH6279.