11 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia , in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah , the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia , so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom , and also put it in writing , saying : 2 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia , 'The Lord , the God of heaven , has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem , which is in Judah . 3 'Whoever there is among you of all His people , may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord , the God of Israel ; He is the God who is in Jerusalem . 4 'Every survivor , at whatever e place he may [1]live , let the men of [2]that place support him with silver and gold , with goods and cattle , together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem .' "
5 Then the heads of fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose , even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem . 6 All those about them [3] encouraged e them with articles of silver , with gold , with goods , with cattle and with valuables , aside from all that was given as a freewill offering . 7 Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the Lord , which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods ; 8 and Cyrus , king of Persia , had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer , and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar , the prince of Judah . 9 Now this was their number : 30 gold dishes , 1,000 silver dishes , 29 e [4]duplicates ; 10 30 gold bowls , 410 e e silver bowls of a second kind and 1,000 other articles . 11 All the articles of gold and silver numbered 5,400 e e e . Sheshbazzar brought them all up with the exiles who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem .
21 Now these are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon , and returned to Jerusalem and Judah , each to his city . 2 [5]These came with Zerubbabel , Jeshua , Nehemiah , Seraiah , Reelaiah , Mordecai , Bilshan , Mispar , Bigvai , Rehum and Baanah . The number of the men of the people of Israel : 3 the sons of Parosh , 2,172 e e e ; 4 the sons of Shephatiah , 372 e e e ; 5 the sons of Arah , 775 e e e ; 6 the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab , 2,812 e e e e ; 7 the sons of Elam , 1,254 e e e ; 8 the sons of Zattu , 945 e e e ; 9 the sons of Zaccai , 760 e e ; 10 the sons of Bani , 642 e e e ; 11 the sons of Bebai , 623 e e e ; 12 the sons of Azgad , 1,222 e e e ; 13 the sons of Adonikam , 666 e e ; 14 the sons of Bigvai , 2,056 e ; 15 the sons of Adin , 454 e e e ; 16 the sons of Ater of Hezekiah , 98 e ; 17 the sons of Bezai , 323 e e e ; 18 the sons of Jorah , 112 e e ; 19 the sons of Hashum , 223 e e ; 20 the sons of Gibbar , 95 e ; 21 the men of Bethlehem , 123 e e ; 22 the men of Netophah , 56 ; 23 the men of Anathoth , 128 e e ; 24 the sons of Azmaveth , 42 e ; 25 the sons of Kiriath-arim , Chephirah and Beeroth , 743 e e e ; 26 the sons of Ramah and Geba , 621 e e e ; 27 the men of Michmas , 122 e e ; 28 the men of Bethel and Ai , 223 e e ; 29 the sons of Nebo , 52 e ; 30 the sons of Magbish , 156 e ; 31 the sons of the other Elam , 1,254 e e e ; 32 the sons of Harim , 320 e e ; 33 the sons of Lod , Hadid and Ono , 725 e e e ; 34 the men of Jericho , 345 e e e ; 35 the sons of Senaah , 3,630 e e e .
36 The priests : the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua , 973 e e e ; 37 the sons of Immer , 1,052 e e ; 38 the sons of Pashhur , 1,247 e e e ; 39 the sons of Harim , 1,017 e e . 40 The Levites : the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel , of the sons of Hodaviah , 74 e . 41 The singers : the sons of Asaph , 128 e e . 42 The sons of the gatekeepers : the sons of Shallum , the sons of Ater , the sons of Talmon , the sons of Akkub , the sons of Hatita , the sons of Shobai , in all 139 e e . 43 The temple servants : the sons of Ziha , the sons of Hasupha , the sons of Tabbaoth , 44 the sons of Keros , the sons of Siaha , the sons of Padon , 45 the sons of Lebanah , the sons of Hagabah , the sons of Akkub , 46 the sons of Hagab , the sons of Shalmai , the sons of Hanan , 47 the sons of Giddel , the sons of Gahar , the sons of Reaiah , 48 the sons of Rezin , the sons of Nekoda , the sons of Gazzam , 49 the sons of Uzza , the sons of Paseah , the sons of Besai , 50 the sons of Asnah , the sons of Meunim , the sons of Nephisim , 51 the sons of Bakbuk , the sons of Hakupha , the sons of Harhur , 52 the sons of Bazluth , the sons of Mehida , the sons of Harsha , 53 the sons of Barkos , the sons of Sisera , the sons of Temah , 54 the sons of Neziah , the sons of Hatipha . 55 The sons of Solomon's servants : the sons of Sotai , the sons of Hassophereth , the sons of Peruda , 56 the sons of Jaalah , the sons of Darkon , the sons of Giddel , 57 the sons of Shephatiah , the sons of Hattil , the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim , the sons of Ami . 58 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were 392 e e e . 59 Now these are those who came up from Tel-melah , Tel-harsha , Cherub , Addan and Immer , but they were not able to give evidence of their fathers' households and their descendants , whether they were of Israel : 60 the sons of Delaiah , the sons of Tobiah , the sons of Nekoda , 652 e e e . 61 Of the sons of the priests : the sons of Habaiah , the sons of Hakkoz , the sons of Barzillai , who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite , and he was called by their name . 62 These searched among their ancestral registration e , but they could not be located ; therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood . 63 The governor said to them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim .
64 The whole assembly numbered 42,360 e e e e e , 65 besides e their male and female servants e who numbered 7,337 e e e e e ; and they had 200 singing men and women. 66 Their horses were 736 e e ; their mules , 245 e e ; 67 their camels , 435 e e e ; their donkeys , 6,720 e e e e . 68 Some of the heads of fathers' households, when they arrived at the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem , offered willingly for the house of God to restore it on its foundation . 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work 61,000 e e gold drachmas and 5,000 e silver minas and 100 priestly garments . 70 Now the priests and the Levites , some of the people , the singers , the gatekeepers and the temple servants lived in their cities , and all Israel in their cities .
23 Then the soldiers , when they had crucified Jesus , took His outer garments and made four parts , a part to every soldier and also the tunic ; now the tunic was seamless , woven in one piece . 24 So they said to one another , " Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be"; this was to fulfill the Scripture : "THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS ." 25 Therefore the soldiers did these things . But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother , and His mother's sister , Mary the wife of Clopas , and Mary Magdalene . 26 When Jesus then saw His mother , and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby , He said to His mother , " Woman , behold , your son !" 27 Then He said to the disciple , "Behold , your mother !" From that hour the disciple took her into his own household. 28 After this , Jesus , knowing that all things had already been accomplished , to fulfill the Scripture , said , " I am thirsty ." 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth . 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine , He said , " It is finished !" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit .
31 Then the Jews , because it was the day of preparation , so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day ), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken , and that they might be taken away . 32 So the soldiers came , and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; 33 but coming to Jesus , when they saw that He was already dead , they did not break His legs . 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear , and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified , and his testimony is true ; and he knows that he is telling the truth , so that you also may believe . 36 For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture , " NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN ." 37 And again another Scripture says , " THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED ."
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea , being a disciple of Jesus , but a secret one for fear of the Jews , asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus ; and Pilate granted permission . So he came and took away His body . 39 Nicodemus , who had first come to Him by night , also came , bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes , about a hundred pounds weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices , as is the burial custom of the Jews . 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden , and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid . 42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation , since the tomb was nearby , they laid Jesus there .
(Read John 19:19-30)
Here are some remarkable circumstances of Jesus' death, more fully related than before. Pilate would not gratify the chief priests by allowing the writing to be altered; which was doubtless owing to a secret power of God upon his heart, that this statement of our Lord's character and authority might continue. Many things done by the Roman soldiers were fulfilments of the prophecies of the Old Testament. All things therein written shall be fulfilled. Christ tenderly provided for his mother at his death. Sometimes, when God removes one comfort from us, he raises up another for us, where we looked not for it. Christ's example teaches all men to honour their parents in life and death; to provide for their wants, and to promote their comfort by every means in their power. Especially observe the dying word wherewith Jesus breathed out his soul. It is finished; that is, the counsels of the Father concerning his sufferings were now fulfilled. It is finished; all the types and prophecies of the Old Testament, which pointed at the sufferings of the Messiah, were accomplished. It is finished; the ceremonial law is abolished; the substance is now come, and all the shadows are done away. It is finished; an end is made of transgression by bringing in an everlasting righteousness. His sufferings were now finished, both those of his soul, and those of his body. It is finished; the work of man's redemption and salvation is now completed. His life was not taken from him by force, but freely given up.
(Read John 19:31-37)
A trial was made whether Jesus was dead. He died in less time than persons crucified commonly did. It showed that he had laid down his life of himself. The spear broke up the very fountains of life; no human body could survive such a wound. But its being so solemnly attested, shows there was something peculiar in it. The blood and water that flowed out, signified those two great benefits which all believers partake of through Christ, justification and sanctification; blood for atonement, water for purification. They both flow from the pierced side of our Redeemer. To Christ crucified we owe merit for our justification, and Spirit and grace for our sanctification. Let this silence the fears of weak Christians, and encourage their hopes; there came both water and blood out of Jesus' pierced side, both to justify and sanctify them. The Scripture was fulfilled, in Pilate's not allowing his legs to be broken, Exodus 12:46. May we ever look to Him, whom, by our sins, we have ignorantly and heedlessly pierced, nay, sometimes against convictions and mercies; and who shed from his wounded side both water and blood, that we might be justified and sanctified in his name.
(Read John 19:38-42)
Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Christ in secret. Disciples should openly own themselves; yet some, who in lesser trials have been fearful, in greater have been courageous. When God has work to do, he can find out such as are proper to do it. The embalming was done by Nicodemus, a secret friend to Christ, though not his constant follower. That grace which at first is like a bruised reed, may afterward resemble a strong cedar. Hereby these two rich men showed the value they had for Christ's person and doctrine, and that it was not lessened by the reproach of the cross. We must do our duty as the present day and opportunity are, and leave it to God to fulfil his promises in his own way and his own time. The grave of Jesus was appointed with the wicked, as was the case of those who suffered as criminals; but he was with the rich in his death, as prophesied, Isaiah 53:9; these two circumstances it was very unlikely should ever be united in the same person. He was buried in a new sepulchre; therefore it could not be said that it was not he, but some other that rose. We also are here taught not to be particular as to the place of our burial. He was buried in the sepulchre next at hand. Here is the Sun of Righteousness set for a while, to rise again in greater glory, and then to set no more.
