16 Then sent I for Eli-e´zer, for A´ri-el, for Shemai´ah, and for Elna´than, and for Jarib, and for Elna´than, and for Nathan, and for Zechari´ah, and for Meshul´lam, chief men; also for Joi´arib, and for Elna´than, men of understanding.
17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphi´a, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Neth´inim, at the place Casiphi´a, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
18 And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebi´ah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
19 and Hashabi´ah, and with him Jeshai´ah of the sons of Mera´ri, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
20 also of the Neth´inim, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Neth´inim: all of them were expressed by name.
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Aha´va, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.