45 I told them to go to Iddo, the chief official at the treasury,
46 and ask him, his associates, and the treasury officials to send us priests to serve in the Temple of our Lord.
47 With God's help they sent us some able men: Sherebiah, a Levite from the clan of Mahli, with eighteen of his sons and relatives,
48 and Hashabiah, Annunus, and his brother Jeshaiah of the clan of Hananiah, with twenty of their sons.
49 There were also 220 Temple workmen whose ancestors had been designated by King David and his officials to assist the Levites. They were all listed in the register by name.
50 There by the River Theras I made a vow that the young men should fast in the presence of our Lord and ask him for a safe journey for us, our children, and our animals.
51 I would have been ashamed to ask the emperor for infantry and cavalry to accompany us and protect us from our enemies,