Ezra 8:20-22

Christian Standard Bible

²⁰ There were also 220 of the temple servants,^(A) who had been appointed by David and the leaders for the work of the Levites. All were identified by name.

Preparing to Return

²¹ I proclaimed a fast^(B) by the Ahava River,^[a] so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us, our dependents, and all our possessions. ²² I did this because I was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and cavalry to protect us from enemies during the journey, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek him, but his fierce anger is against all who abandon him.”^(C)