24 If anyone disobeys the laws of your God or the laws of the empire, he is to be punished promptly: by death, by fine, by exile, or by some other punishment.”
25 Ezra said, “Praise the Lord, the Lord alone! He has made the emperor willing to restore the glory of the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.
26 By God's grace, I have won the respect of the emperor, his counselors, all his Friends, and all his powerful officials.
27 The Lord my God has given me courage, and I have been able to persuade many men to return with me.”
28 This is the list of the leaders of the clans and families who had been in exile in Babylonia and returned with Ezra to Jerusalem when Artaxerxes was emperor:
29-40 Gershom, of the clan of PhinehasGamael, of the clan of IthamarHattush son of Shecaniah, of the clan of DavidZechariah, of the clan of Parosh, with 150 men of his clan (there were records of their family line)Eliehoenai son of Zechariah, of the clan of Pahath Moab, with 200 menShecaniah son of Jehaziel, of the clan of Zattu, with 300 menEbed son of Jonathan, of the clan of Adin, with 250 menJeshaiah son of Gotholiah, of the clan of Elam, with 70 menZeraiah son of Michael, of the clan of Shephatiah, with 70 menObadiah son of Jehiel, of the clan of Joab, with 212 menShelomith son of Josiphiah, of the clan of Bani, with 160 menZechariah son of Bebai, of the clan of Bebai, with 28 menJohanan son of Hakkatan, of the clan of Azgad, with 110 menEliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, of the clan of Adonikam, with 70 men (they returned at a later date)Uthai son of Istalcurus, of the clan of Bigvai, with 70 men
41 I assembled the entire group at Theras River, and we camped there for three days. I inspected them