21 At the Ahava Canal I called for a fast so we could confess our sins before God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, along with all our possessions. 22 I had been reluctant to ask the king to give us a military escort to protect us from enemies on the way. We had told the king, "Our gracious God takes care of everyone who follows him, but shows his anger against anyone who abandons him." 23 So we fasted and asked God to protect us, and he answered our prayers.
31 On the twelfth day of the first month, we left the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem, and our God was with us to protect us from enemy ambushes along the way.