<t /><n id="1" /><p class="bodytext">These are the people<n id="2" /> of the province who were going up,<n id="3" /> from the captives of the exile whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile in Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem<n id="4" /> and Judah, each to his own city.

The priests and the Levites had purified themselves, every last one,<n id="1" /> and they all were ceremonially pure. They sacrificed the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their colleagues<n id="2" /> the priests, and for themselves.

The Israelites who were returning from the exile ate it, along with all those who had joined them<n id="1" /> in separating themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to seek the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel.

When the builders established the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple, the priests, ceremonially attired and with their clarions,<n id="1" /> and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with their cymbals, stood to praise the <sc>Lordsc> according to the instructions left by<n id="2" /> King David of Israel.<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">The exiles who were returning from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel &#8211; twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs, along with twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the <sc>Lordsc>.

So the exiles proceeded accordingly. Ezra the priest separated out<n id="1" /> by name men who were leaders in their family groups.<n id="2" /> They sat down to consider this matter on the first day of the tenth month,