21. Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.
22. For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, "The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him."
23. So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty.
24. Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and with them ten of their brothers;
25. and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold and the utensils, the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes and all Israel present there had offered.
26. Thus I weighed into their hands 650 talents of silver, and silver utensils worth 100 talents, and 100 gold talents,