Ezra 8:21-32

21Then I proclaimed 1a fast there at 2the river of Ahava, to 3humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a 4safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. 22For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to 5protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “6The hand of our God is 7favorably disposed to all who seek Him, but 8His power and His anger are against all those who 9abandon Him.” 23So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He 1011listened to our pleading.

24Then I selected twelve of the leading priests: 12Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and with them ten of their brothers; 25and I 13weighed out to them 14the silver, the gold, and the utensils, the offering for the house of our God which the king, 15his counselors, his officials, and all Israel who were present there had contributed. 2616So I weighed into their hands 17650 talents of silver, and silver utensils worth 18a hundred talents, and a hundred gold talents, 27and twenty gold bowls worth a thousand 19darics, and two utensils of fine shiny bronze, precious as gold. 28Then I said to them, “20You are holy to the Lord, and the 21utensils are holy; and the silver and the gold are a 22voluntary offering to the Lord God of your fathers. 29Watch and keep them 23until you weigh them before the leading priests, the Levites, and the leaders of the fathers’ households of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord.” 30So the priests and the Levites 24accepted the weight of silver and gold and the utensils, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

31Then we journeyed from 25the river Ahava on 26the twelfth of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and 27the hand of our God was upon us, and He rescued us from the hand of the enemy and the ambushes by the road. 3228So we came to Jerusalem and remained there for three days.