22. I was ashamed to ask the king for an armed escort with cavalry to help us against an enemy attack on the way. We had already told the king, “Our God works things out for the good of everyone who dedicates his life to serving him, but his power and his anger oppose everyone who abandons him.”
23. So we fasted and asked our God for a safe journey, and he answered our prayer.
24. Then I selected 12 leaders from the priests—Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and 10 of their relatives.
25. I weighed for them the silver, the gold, and the utensils. ⌊These were⌋ the contributions that the king, his advisers, his officials, and all the Israelites had contributed for our God’s temple.
26. I weighed ⌊the contributions⌋ for them to guard: about 24 tons of silver, 100 silver utensils weighing 150 pounds apiece, 7,500 pounds of gold,
27. 20 gold bowls weighing 18 pounds apiece, and two utensils of fine polished bronze that were as precious as gold.
28. I told them, “You and the utensils are holy to the Lord. The silver and gold are freewill offerings to the Lord God of your ancestors.