Preparing to Return
21 I proclaimed a fast 8:21 Is 58:3–8 by the Ahava River, 8:21 Or Canal, also in v. 31 so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us, our dependents, and all our possessions. 22 I did this because I was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and cavalry to protect us from enemies during the journey, since we had told him, "The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek him, but his fierce anger is against all who abandon him." 8:22 Dt 31:6,1723 So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and he was receptive to our prayer.
Arrival in Jerusalem
31 We set out from the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. We were strengthened by our God, 8:31 Lit The hand of our God was on us, 8:31 Ezr 7:9; Neh 2:18 and he kept us from the grasp of the enemy and from ambush along the way. 8:31 Ezr 8:21–22