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I assembled the entire group at Theras River, and we camped there for three days. I inspected them
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and found that there were no priests or Levites in the group,
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so I sent a message to ten of the leaders who were competent men: Eliezer, Iduel, Maasmas, Elnathan, Shemaiah, Jarib, Nathan, Elnathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
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I told them to go to Iddo, the chief official at the treasury,
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and ask him, his associates, and the treasury officials to send us priests to serve in the Temple of our Lord.
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With God's help, they sent us some able men: Sherebiah, a Levite from the clan of Mahli, with eighteen of his sons and relatives,
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and Hashabiah, Annunus, and his brother Jeshaiah of the clan of Hananiah, with twenty of their sons.
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There were also 220 Temple workmen whose ancestors had been designated by King David and his officials to assist the Levites. They were all listed in the register by name.
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There by Theras River I made a vow that the young men should fast in the presence of our Lord and ask him for a safe journey for us, our children, and our animals.