Ezra 8:15-23

15Now I assembled them at 1the river that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days; and when I paid close attention to the people and the priests, I 2did not find any Levites there. 16So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, 3leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, teachers. 17And I sent them to Iddo the 4leading man at the place called Casiphia; and I 5told them what to say to 6Iddo and his brothers, 7the temple servants at the place Casiphia, that is, to bring ministers to us for the house of our God. 188And as the good hand of our God was upon us, they brought us a 9man of insight from the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, and his sons and brothers, eighteen men; 19and Hashabiah and 10Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, twenty men; 20and 220 of 11the temple servants, whom David and the officials had provided for the service of the Levites, all of them designated by name.

21Then I proclaimed 12a fast there at 13the river of Ahava, to 14humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a 15safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. 22For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to 16protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “17The hand of our God is 18favorably disposed to all who seek Him, but 19His power and His anger are against all those who 20abandon Him.” 23So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He 2122listened to our pleading.