Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Nehemiah+001   Nehemiah In the fifth century BC, many Judeans were returning from exile to the southern part of the land of Israel. They faced great difficulties: their capital city and temple had been destroyed, foreigners had moved in, and they were no longer ruled by their own king. But the […]

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ezra+010   CHAPTER 10 (ESV)   1 While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. 2 And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of […]

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ezra+009   CHAPTER 9 (ESV)   1 After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, […]

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ezra+008     CHAPTER 8 (ESV)   15 I gathered them to the river that runs to Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there none of the sons of Levi. 16 Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, […]

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ezra+007   CHAPTER 7 (ESV)   1 Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah … 5 son of Aaron the chief priest— 6 this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, […]