18. Due to the fact that the good hand of our God was on us, they brought us a skilled man, from the descendants of Mahli the son of Levi son of Israel. This man was Sherebiah, who was accompanied by his sons and brothers, 18 men,
19. and Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 men,
20. and some of the temple servants that David and his officials had established for the work of the Levites – 220 of them. They were all designated by name.
21. I called for a fast there by the Ahava Canal, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from him a safe journey for us, our children, and all our property.
22. I was embarrassed to request soldiers and horsemen from the king to protect us from the enemy along the way, because we had said to the king, “The good hand of our God is on everyone who is seeking him, but his great anger is against everyone who forsakes him.”
23. So we fasted and prayed to our God about this, and he answered us.
24. Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, together with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers,
25. and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels intended for the temple of our God – items that the king, his advisers, his officials, and all Israel who were present had contributed.
26. I weighed out to them 650 talents of silver, silver vessels worth 100 talents, 100 talents of gold,