15 I gathered them to the river that runs to ^zAhava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there ^anone of the sons of Levi. 16 Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and ^bMeshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of insight, 17 and sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brothers and¹ the temple servants at the place Casiphia, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God. 18 And ^cby the good hand of our God on us, they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of ^dMahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah with his sons and kinsmen, 18; 19 also ^eHashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of ^fthe sons of Merari, with his kinsmen and their sons, 20; 20 ^gbesides 220 of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all ^hmentioned by name.

21 ⁱThen I proclaimed a fast there, at the river ^jAhava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, ^kto seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, ^l“The hand of our God is for good on ^mall who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.