Ezra 8 (résumé): 2nd returning exiles from Babylon

Now Ezra listed the heads of the families which returned with him from exile in Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes. They assembled at the Ahava canal and camped there for 3 days. Then Ezra noted a lack of Levites so he made a call-up to rectify this. Then Ezra proclaimed a fast to ask of God a safe journey as the Jews travelled without armed escort whilst trusting in God. Then Ezra entrusted to the leading priests all the silver and gold for the temple, and the entourage left the Ahava canal and arrived in Jerusalem where they rested for 3 days. After resting all the silver and gold was duly accounted for and the exiles that had returned sacrificed 12 bulls, 96 rams, 77 male lambs and 12 male goats.