First book of Esdras
1 Esdras
chapter 1
1:1 And Josias held the
feast of the passover in Jerusalem unto his Lord, and offered the passover the
fourteenth day of the first month;
1:2 Having set the priests
according to their daily courses, being arrayed in long garments, in the temple
of the Lord.
1:3 And he spake unto
the Levites, the holy ministers of Israel, that they should hallow themselves
unto the Lord, to set the holy ark of the Lord in the house that king Solomon
the son of David had built:
1:4 And said, Ye shall
no more bear the ark upon your shoulders: now therefore serve the Lord your
God, and minister unto his people Israel, and prepare you after your families
and kindreds,
1:5 According as David
the king of Israel prescribed, and according to the magnificence of Solomon
his son: and standing in the temple according to the several dignity of the
families of you the Levites, who minister in the presence of your brethren the
children of Israel,
1:6 Offer the passover
in order, and make ready the sacrifices for your brethren, and keep the passover
according to the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto Moses.
1:7 And unto the people
that was found there Josias gave thirty thousand lambs and kids, and three thousand
calves: these things were given of the king's allowance, according as he promised,
to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites.
1:8 And Helkias, Zacharias,
and Syelus, the governors of the temple, gave to the priests for the passover
two thousand and six hundred sheep, and three hundred calves.
1:9 And Jeconias, and
Samaias, and Nathanael his brother, and Assabias, and Ochiel, and Joram, captains
over thousands, gave to the Levites for the passover five thousand sheep, and
seven hundred calves.
1:10 And when these things
were done, the priests and Levites, having the unleavened bread, stood in very
comely order according to the kindreds,
1:11 And according to
the several dignities of the fathers, before the people, to offer to the Lord,
as it is written in the book of Moses: and thus did they in the morning.
1:12 And they roasted
the passover with fire, as appertaineth: as for the sacrifices, they sod them
in brass pots and pans with a good savour,
1:13 And set them before
all the people: and afterward they prepared for themselves, and for the priests
their brethren, the sons of Aaron.
1:14 For the priests
offered the fat until night: and the Levites prepared for themselves, and the
priests their brethren, the sons of Aaron.
1:15 The holy singers
also, the sons of Asaph, were in their order, according to the appointment of
David, to wit, Asaph, Zacharias, and Jeduthun, who was of the king's retinue.
1:16 Moreover the porters
were at every gate; it was not lawful for any to go from his ordinary service:
for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.
1:17 Thus were the things
that belonged to the sacrifices of the Lord accomplished in that day, that they
might hold the passover,
1:18 And offer sacrifices
upon the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of king Josias.
1:19 So the children
of Israel which were present held the passover at that time, and the feast of
sweet bread seven days.
1:20 And such a passover
was not kept in Israel since the time of the prophet Samuel.
1:21 Yea, all the kings
of Israel held not such a passover as Josias, and the priests, and the Levites,
and the Jews, held with all Israel that were found dwelling at Jerusalem.
1:22 In the eighteenth
year of the reign of Josias was this passover kept.
1:23 And the works or
Josias were upright before his Lord with an heart full of godliness.
1:24 As for the things
that came to pass in his time, they were written in former times, concerning
those that sinned, and did wickedly against the Lord above all people and kingdoms,
and how they grieved him exceedingly, so that the words of the Lord rose up
against Israel.
1:25 Now after all these
acts of Josias it came to pass, that Pharaoh the king of Egypt came to raise
war at Carchamis upon Euphrates: and Josias went out against him.
1:26 But the king of
Egypt sent to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, O king of Judea?
1:27 I am not sent out
from the Lord God against thee; for my war is upon Euphrates: and now the Lord
is with me, yea, the Lord is with me hasting me forward: depart from me, and
be not against the Lord.
1:28 Howbeit Josias did
not turn back his chariot from him, but undertook to fight with him, not regarding
the words of the prophet Jeremy spoken by the mouth of the Lord:
1:29 But joined battle
with him in the plain of Magiddo, and the princes came against king Josias.
1:30 Then said the king
unto his servants, Carry me away out of the battle; for I am very weak. And
immediately his servants took him away out of the battle.
1:31 Then gat he up upon
his second chariot; and being brought back to Jerusalem died, and was buried
in his father's sepulchre.
1:32 And in all Jewry
they mourned for Josias, yea, Jeremy the prophet lamented for Josias, and the
chief men with the women made lamentation for him unto this day: and this was
given out for an ordinance to be done continually in all the nation of Israel.
1:33 These things are
written in the book of the stories of the kings of Judah, and every one of the
acts that Josias did, and his glory, and his understanding in the law of the
Lord, and the things that he had done before, and the things now recited, are
reported in the book of the kings of Israel and Judea.
1:34 And the people took
Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king instead of Josias his father, when
he was twenty and three years old.
1:35 And he reigned in
Judea and in Jerusalem three months: and then the king of Egypt deposed him
from reigning in Jerusalem.
1:36 And he set a tax
upon the land of an hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.
1:37 The king of Egypt
also made king Joacim his brother king of Judea and Jerusalem.
1:38 And he bound Joacim
and the nobles: but Zaraces his brother he apprehended, and brought him out
of Egypt.
1:39 Five and twenty
years old was Joacim when he was made king in the land of Judea and Jerusalem;
and he did evil before the Lord.
1:40 Wherefore against
him Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came up, and bound him with a chain of
brass, and carried him into Babylon.
1:41 Nabuchodonosor also
took of the holy vessels of the Lord, and carried them away, and set them in
his own temple at Babylon.
1:42 But those things
that are recorded of him, and of his uncleaness and impiety, are written in
the chronicles of the kings.
1:43 And Joacim his son
reigned in his stead: he was made king being eighteen years old;
1:44 And reigned but
three months and ten days in Jerusalem; and did evil before the Lord.
1:45 So after a year
Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be brought into Babylon with the holy
vessels of the Lord;
1:46 And made Zedechias
king of Judea and Jerusalem, when he was one and twenty years old; and he reigned
eleven years:
1:47 And he did evil
also in the sight of the Lord, and cared not for the words that were spoken
unto him by the prophet Jeremy from the mouth of the Lord.
1:48 And after that king
Nabuchodonosor had made him to swear by the name of the Lord, he forswore himself,
and rebelled; and hardening his neck, his heart, he transgressed the laws of
the Lord God of Israel.
1:49 The governors also
of the people and of the priests did many things against the laws, and passed
all the pollutions of all nations, and defiled the temple of the Lord, which
was sanctified in Jerusalem.
1:50 Nevertheless the
God of their fathers sent by his messenger to call them back, because he spared
them and his tabernacle also.
1:51 But they had his
messengers in derision; and, look, when the Lord spake unto them, they made
a sport of his prophets:
1:52 So far forth, that
he, being wroth with his people for their great ungodliness, commanded the kings
of the Chaldees to come up against them;
1:53 Who slew their young
men with the sword, yea, even within the compass of their holy temple, and spared
neither young man nor maid, old man nor child, among them; for he delivered
all into their hands.
1:54 And they took all
the holy vessels of the Lord, both great and small, with the vessels of the
ark of God, and the king's treasures, and carried them away into Babylon.
1:55 As for the house
of the Lord, they burnt it, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem, and set fire
upon her towers:
1:56 And as for her glorious
things, they never ceased till they had consumed and brought them all to nought:
and the people that were not slain with the sword he carried unto Babylon:
1:57 Who became servants
to him and his children, till the Persians reigned, to fulfil the word of the
Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremy:
1:58 Until the land had
enjoyed her sabbaths, the whole time of her desolation shall she rest, until
the full term of seventy years.
chapter 2
2:1 In the first year of
Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of the Lord might be accomplished,
that he had promised by the mouth of Jeremy;
2:2 The Lord raised up
the spirit of Cyrus the king of the Persians, and he made proclamation through
all his kingdom, and also by writing,
2:3 Saying, Thus saith
Cyrus king of the Persians; The Lord of Israel, the most high Lord, hath made
me king of the whole world,
2:4 And commanded me to
build him an house at Jerusalem in Jewry.
2:5 If therefore there
be any of you that are of his people, let the Lord, even his Lord, be with him,
and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judea, and build the house of the
Lord of Israel: for he is the Lord that dwelleth in Jerusalem.
2:6 Whosoever then dwell
in the places about, let them help him, those, I say, that are his neighbours,
with gold, and with silver,
2:7 With gifts, with horses,
and with cattle, and other things, which have been set forth by vow, for the
temple of the Lord at Jerusalem.
2:8 Then the chief of
the families of Judea and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up; the priests also,
and the Levites, and all they whose mind the Lord had moved to go up, and to
build an house for the Lord at Jerusalem,
2:9 And they that dwelt
round about them, and helped them in all things with silver and gold, with horses
and cattle, and with very many free gifts of a great number whose minds were
stirred up thereto.
2:10 King Cyrus also
brought forth the holy vessels, which Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem,
and had set up in his temple of idols.
2:11 Now when Cyrus king
of the Persians had brought them forth, he delivered them to Mithridates his
treasurer:
2:12 And by him they
were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of Judea.
2:13 And this was the
number of them; A thousand golden cups, and a thousand of silver, censers of
silver twenty nine, vials of gold thirty, and of silver two thousand four hundred
and ten, and a thousand other vessels.
2:14 So all the vessels
of gold and of silver, which were carried away, were five thousand four hundred
threescore and nine.
2:15 These were brought
back by Sanabassar, together with them of the captivity, from Babylon to Jerusalem.
2:16 But in the time
of Artexerxes king of the Persians Belemus, and Mithridates, and Tabellius,
and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Semellius the secretary, with others that
were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote unto
him against them that dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem these letters following;
2:17 To king Artexerxes
our lord, Thy servants, Rathumus the storywriter, and Semellius the scribe,
and the rest of their council, and the judges that are in Celosyria and Phenice.
2:18 Be it now known
to the lord king, that the Jews that are up from you to us, being come into
Jerusalem, that rebellious and wicked city, do build the marketplaces, and repair
the walls of it and do lay the foundation of the temple.
2:19 Now if this city
and the walls thereof be made up again, they will not only refuse to give tribute,
but also rebel against kings.
2:20 And forasmuch as
the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it meet not to
neglect such a matter,
2:21 But to speak unto
our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be thy pleasure it may be sought
out in the books of thy fathers:
2:22 And thou shalt find
in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and shalt understand
that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities:
2:23 And that the Jews
were rebellious, and raised always wars therein; for the which cause even this
city was made desolate.
2:24 Wherefore now we
do declare unto thee, O lord the king, that if this city be built again, and
the walls thereof set up anew, thou shalt from henceforth have no passage into
Celosyria and Phenice.
2:25 Then the king wrote
back again to Rathumus the storywriter, to Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe,
and to the rest that were in commission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and
Phenice, after this manner;
2:26 I have read the
epistle which ye have sent unto me: therefore I commanded to make diligent search,
and it hath been found that that city was from the beginning practising against
kings;
2:27 And the men therein
were given to rebellion and war: and that mighty kings and fierce were in Jerusalem,
who reigned and exacted tributes in Celosyria and Phenice.
2:28 Now therefore I
have commanded to hinder those men from building the city, and heed to be taken
that there be no more done in it;
2:29 And that those wicked
workers proceed no further to the annoyance of kings,
2:30 Then king Artexerxes
his letters being read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest that
were in commission with them, removing in haste toward Jerusalem with a troop
of horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the builders;
and the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of
the reign of Darius king of the Persians.
chapter 3
3:1 Now when Darius reigned,
he made a great feast unto all his subjects, and unto all his household, and
unto all the princes of Media and Persia,
3:2 And to all the governors
and captains and lieutenants that were under him, from India unto Ethiopia,
of an hundred twenty and seven provinces.
3:3 And when they had
eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were gone home, then Darius the king
went into his bedchamber, and slept, and soon after awaked.
3:4 Then three young men,
that were of the guard that kept the king's body, spake one to another;
3:5 Let every one of us
speak a sentence: he that shall overcome, and whose sentence shall seem wiser
than the others, unto him shall the king Darius give great gifts, and great
things in token of victory:
3:6 As, to be clothed
in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep upon gold, and a chariot with bridles
of gold, and an headtire of fine linen, and a chain about his neck:
3:7 And he shall sit next
to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be called Darius his cousin.
3:8 And then every one
wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it under king Darius his pillow;
3:9 And said that, when
the king is risen, some will give him the writings; and of whose side the king
and the three princes of Persia shall judge that his sentence is the wisest,
to him shall the victory be given, as was appointed.
3:10 The first wrote,
Wine is the strongest.
3:11 The second wrote,
The king is strongest.
3:12 The third wrote,
Women are strongest: but above all things Truth beareth away the victory.
3:13 Now when the king
was risen up, they took their writings, and delivered them unto him, and so
he read them:
3:14 And sending forth
he called all the princes of Persia and Media, and the governors, and the captains,
and the lieutenants, and the chief officers;
3:15 And sat him down
in the royal seat of judgment; and the writings were read before them.
3:16 And he said, Call
the young men, and they shall declare their own sentences. So they were called,
and came in.
3:17 And he said unto
them, Declare unto us your mind concerning the writings. Then began the first,
who had spoken of the strength of wine;
3:18 And he said thus,
O ye men, how exceeding strong is wine! it causeth all men to err that drink
it:
3:19 It maketh the mind
of the king and of the fatherless child to be all one; of the bondman and of
the freeman, of the poor man and of the rich:
3:20 It turneth also
every thought into jollity and mirth, so that a man remembereth neither sorrow
nor debt:
3:21 And it maketh every
heart rich, so that a man remembereth neither king nor governor; and it maketh
to speak all things by talents:
3:22 And when they are
in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and brethren, and a little
after draw out swords:
3:23 But when they are
from the wine, they remember not what they have done.
3:24 O ye men, is not
wine the strongest, that enforceth to do thus? And when he had so spoken, he
held his peace.
chapter 4
4:1 Then the second, that
had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say,
4:2 O ye men, do not men
excel in strength that bear rule over sea and land and all things in them?
4:3 But yet the king is
more mighty: for he is lord of all these things, and hath dominion over them;
and whatsoever he commandeth them they do.
4:4 If he bid them make
war the one against the other, they do it: if he send them out against the enemies,
they go, and break down mountains walls and towers.
4:5 They slay and are
slain, and transgress not the king's commandment: if they get the victory, they
bring all to the king, as well the spoil, as all things else.
4:6 Likewise for those
that are no soldiers, and have not to do with wars, but use husbundry, when
they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring it to the king,
and compel one another to pay tribute unto the king.
4:7 And yet he is but
one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare, they spare;
4:8 If he command to smite,
they smite; if he command to make desolate, they make desolate; if he command
to build, they build;
4:9 If he command to cut
down, they cut down; if he command to plant, they plant.
4:10 So all his people
and his armies obey him: furthermore he lieth down, he eateth and drinketh,
and taketh his rest:
4:11 And these keep watch
round about him, neither may any one depart, and do his own business, neither
disobey they him in any thing.
4:12 O ye men, how should
not the king be mightiest, when in such sort he is obeyed? And he held his tongue.
4:13 Then the third,
who had spoken of women, and of the truth, (this was Zorobabel) began to speak.
4:14 O ye men, it is
not the great king, nor the multitude of men, neither is it wine, that excelleth;
who is it then that ruleth them, or hath the lordship over them? are they not
women?
4:15 Women have borne
the king and all the people that bear rule by sea and land.
4:16 Even of them came
they: and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards, from whence the
wine cometh.
4:17 These also make
garments for men; these bring glory unto men; and without women cannot men be.
4:18 Yea, and if men
have gathered together gold and silver, or any other goodly thing, do they not
love a woman which is comely in favour and beauty?
4:19 And letting all
those things go, do they not gape, and even with open mouth fix their eyes fast
on her; and have not all men more desire unto her than unto silver or gold,
or any goodly thing whatsoever?
4:20 A man leaveth his
own father that brought him up, and his own country, and cleaveth unto his wife.
4:21 He sticketh not
to spend his life with his wife. and remembereth neither father, nor mother,
nor country.
4:22 By this also ye
must know that women have dominion over you: do ye not labour and toil, and
give and bring all to the woman?
4:23 Yea, a man taketh
his sword, and goeth his way to rob and to steal, to sail upon the sea and upon
rivers;
4:24 And looketh upon
a lion, and goeth in the darkness; and when he hath stolen, spoiled, and robbed,
he bringeth it to his love.
4:25 Wherefore a man
loveth his wife better than father or mother.
4:26 Yea, many there
be that have run out of their wits for women, and become servants for their
sakes.
4:27 Many also have perished,
have erred, and sinned, for women.
4:28 And now do ye not
believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regions fear to touch
him?
4:29 Yet did I see him
and Apame the king's concubine, the daughter of the admirable Bartacus, sitting
at the right hand of the king,
4:30 And taking the crown
from the king's head, and setting it upon her own head; she also struck the
king with her left hand.
4:31 And yet for all
this the king gaped and gazed upon her with open mouth: if she laughed upon
him, he laughed also: but if she took any displeasure at him, the king was fain
to flatter, that she might be reconciled to him again.
4:32 O ye men, how can
it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus?
4:33 Then the king and
the princes looked one upon another: so he began to speak of the truth.
4:34 O ye men, are not
women strong? great is the earth, high is the heaven, swift is the sun in his
course, for he compasseth the heavens round about, and fetcheth his course again
to his own place in one day.
4:35 Is he not great
that maketh these things? therefore great is the truth, and stronger than all
things.
4:36 All the earth crieth
upon the truth, and the heaven blesseth it: all works shake and tremble at it,
and with it is no unrighteous thing.
4:37 Wine is wicked,
the king is wicked, women are wicked, all the children of men are wicked, and
such are all their wicked works; and there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness
also they shall perish.
4:38 As for the truth,
it endureth, and is alwaYs strong; it liveth and conquereth for evermore.
4:39 With her there is
no accepting of persons or rewards; but she doeth the things that are just,
and refraineth from all unjust and wicked things; and all men do well like of
her works.
4:40 Neither in her judgment
is any unrighteousness; and she is the strength, kingdom, power, and majesty,
of all ages. Blessed be the God of truth.
4:41 And with that he
held his peace. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great is Truth, and
mighty above all things.
4:42 Then said the king
unto him, Ask what thou wilt more than is appointed in the writing, and we will
give it thee, because thou art found wisest; and thou shalt sit next me, and
shalt be called my cousin.
4:43 Then said he unto
the king, Remember thy vow, which thou hast vowed to build Jerusalem, in the
day when thou camest to thy kingdom,
4:44 And to send away
all the vessels that were taken away out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus set apart,
when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and to send them again thither.
4:45 Thou also hast vowed
to build up the temple, which the Edomites burned when Judea was made desolate
by the Chaldees.
4:46 And now, O lord
the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of thee, and this
is the princely liberality proceeding from thyself: I desire therefore that
thou make good the vow, the performance whereof with thine own mouth thou hast
vowed to the King of heaven.
4:47 Then Darius the
king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him unto all the treasurers
and lieutenants and captains and governors, that they should safely convey on
their way both him, and all those that go up with him to build Jerusalem.
4:48 He wrote letters
also unto the lieutenants that were in Celosyria and Phenice, and unto them
in Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from Libanus unto Jerusalem, and
that they should build the city with him.
4:49 Moreover he wrote
for all the Jews that went out of his realm up into Jewry, concerning their
freedom, that no officer, no ruler, no lieutenant, nor treasurer, should forcibly
enter into their doors;
4:50 And that all the
country which they hold should be free without tribute; and that the Edomites
should give over the villages of the Jews which then they held:
4:51 Yea, that there
should be yearly given twenty talents to the building of the temple, until the
time that it were built;
4:52 And other ten talents
yearly, to maintain the burnt offerings upon the altar every day, as they had
a commandment to offer seventeen:
4:53 And that all they
that went from Babylon to build the city should have free liberty, as well they
as their posterity, and all the priests that went away.
4:54 He wrote also concerning.
the charges, and the priests' vestments wherein they minister;
4:55 And likewise for
the charges of the Levites, to be given them until the day that the house were
finished, and Jerusalem builded up.
4:56 And he commanded
to give to all that kept the city pensions and wages.
4:57 He sent away also
all the vessels from Babylon, that Cyrus had set apart; and all that Cyrus had
given in commandment, the same charged he also to be done, and sent unto Jerusalem.
4:58 Now when this young
man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to heaven toward Jerusalem, and praised
the King of heaven,
4:59 And said, From thee
cometh victory, from thee cometh wisdom, and thine is the glory, and I am thy
servant.
4:60 Blessed art thou,
who hast given me wisdom: for to thee I give thanks, O Lord of our fathers.
4:61 And so he took the
letters, and went out, and came unto Babylon, and told it all his brethren.
4:62 And they praised
the God of their fathers, because he had given them freedom and liberty
4:63 To go up, and to
build Jerusalem, and the temple which is called by his name: and they feasted
with instruments of musick and gladness seven days.
chapter 5
5:1 After this were the
principal men of the families chosen according to their tribes, to go up with
their wives and sons and daughters, with their menservants and maidservants,
and their cattle.
5:2 And Darius sent with
them a thousand horsemen, till they had brought them back to Jerusalem safely,
and with musical [instruments] tabrets and flutes.
5:3 And all their brethren
played, and he made them go up together with them.
5:4 And these are the
names of the men which went up, according to their families among their tribes,
after their several heads.
5:5 The priests, the sons
of Phinees the son of Aaron: Jesus the son of Josedec, the son of Saraias, and
Joacim the son of Zorobabel, the son of Salathiel, of the house of David, out
of the kindred of Phares, of the tribe of Judah;
5:6 Who spake wise sentences
before Darius the king of Persia in the second year of his reign, in the month
Nisan, which is the first month.
5:7 And these are they
of Jewry that came up from the captivity, where they dwelt as strangers, whom
Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon.
5:8 And they returned
unto Jerusalem, and to the other parts of Jewry, every man to his own city,
who came with Zorobabel, with Jesus, Nehemias, and Zacharias, and Reesaias,
Enenius, Mardocheus. Beelsarus, Aspharasus, Reelius, Roimus, and Baana, their
guides.
5:9 The number of them
of the nation, and their governors, sons of Phoros, two thousand an hundred
seventy and two; the sons of Saphat, four hundred seventy and two:
5:10 The sons of Ares,
seven hundred fifty and six:
5:11 The sons of Phaath
Moab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve:
5:12 The sons of Elam,
a thousand two hundred fifty and four: the sons of Zathul, nine hundred forty
and five: the sons of Corbe, seven hundred and five: the sons of Bani, six hundred
forty and eight:
5:13 The sons of Bebai,
six hundred twenty and three: the sons of Sadas, three thousand two hundred
twenty and two:
5:14 The sons of Adonikam,
six hundred sixty and seven: the sons of Bagoi, two thousand sixty and six:
the sons of Adin, four hundred fifty and four:
5:15 The sons of Aterezias,
ninety and two: the sons of Ceilan and Azetas threescore and seven: the sons
of Azuran, four hundred thirty and two:
5:16 The sons of Ananias,
an hundred and one: the sons of Arom, thirty two: and the sons of Bassa, three
hundred twenty and three: the sons of Azephurith, an hundred and two:
5:17 The sons of Meterus,
three thousand and five: the sons of Bethlomon, an hundred twenty and three:
5:18 They of Netophah,
fifty and five: they of Anathoth, an hundred fifty and eight: they of Bethsamos,
forty and two:
5:19 They of Kiriathiarius,
twenty and five: they of Caphira and Beroth, seven hundred forty and three:
they of Pira, seven hundred:
5:20 They of Chadias
and Ammidoi, four hundred twenty and two: they of Cirama and Gabdes, six hundred
twenty and one:
5:21 They of Macalon,
an hundred twenty and two: they of Betolius, fifty and two: the sons of Nephis,
an hundred fifty and six:
5:22 The sons of Calamolalus
and Onus, seven hundred twenty and five: the sons of Jerechus, two hundred forty
and five:
5:23 The sons of Annas,
three thousand three hundred and thirty.
5:24 The priests: the
sons of Jeddu, the son of Jesus among the sons of Sanasib, nine hundred seventy
and two: the sons of Meruth, a thousand fifty and two:
5:25 The sons of Phassaron,
a thousand forty and seven: the sons of Carme, a thousand and seventeen.
5:26 The Levites: the
sons of Jessue, and Cadmiel, and Banuas, and Sudias, seventy and four.
5:27 The holy singers:
the sons of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.
5:28 The porters: the
sons of Salum, the sons of Jatal, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Dacobi, the
sons of Teta, the sons of Sami, in all an hundred thirty and nine.
5:29 The servants of
the temple: the sons of Esau, the sons of Asipha, the sons of Tabaoth, the sons
of Ceras, the sons of Sud, the sons of Phaleas, the sons of Labana, the sons
of Graba,
5:30 The sons of Acua,
the sons of Uta, the sons of Cetab, the sons of Agaba, the sons of Subai, the
sons of Anan, the sons of Cathua, the sons of Geddur,
5:31 The sons of Airus,
the sons of Daisan, the sons of Noeba, the sons of Chaseba, the sons of Gazera,
the sons of Azia, the sons of Phinees, the sons of Azare, the sons of Bastai,
the sons of Asana, the sons of Meani, the sons of Naphisi, the sons of Acub,
the sons of Acipha, the sons of Assur, the sons of Pharacim, the sons of Basaloth,
5:32 The sons of Meeda,
the sons of Coutha, the sons of Charea, the sons of Charcus, the sons of Aserer,
the sons of Thomoi, the sons of Nasith, the sons of Atipha.
5:33 The sons of the
servants of Solomon: the sons of Azaphion, the sons of Pharira, the sons of
Jeeli, the sons of Lozon, the sons of Israel, the sons of Sapheth,
5:34 The sons of Hagia,
the sons of Pharacareth, the sons of Sabi, the sons of Sarothie, the sons of
Masias, the sons of Gar, the sons of Addus, the sons of Suba, the sons of Apherra,
the sons of Barodis, the sons of Sabat, the sons of Allom.
5:35 All the ministers
of the temple, and the sons of the servants of Solomon, were three hundred seventy
and two.
5:36 These came up from
Thermeleth and Thelersas, Charaathalar leading them, and Aalar;
5:37 Neither could they
shew their families, nor their stock, how they were of Israel: the sons of Ladan,
the son of Ban, the sons of Necodan, six hundred fifty and two.
5:38 And of the priests
that usurped the office of the priesthood, and were not found: the sons of Obdia,
the sons of Accoz, the sons of Addus, who married Augia one of the daughters
of Barzelus, and was named after his name.
5:39 And when the description
of the kindred of these men was sought in the register, and was not found, they
were removed from executing the office of the priesthood:
5:40 For unto them said
Nehemias and Atharias, that they should not be partakers of the holy things,
till there arose up an high priest clothed with doctrine and truth.
5:41 So of Israel, from
them of twelve years old and upward, they were all in number forty thousand,
beside menservants and womenservants two thousand three hundred and sixty.
5:42 Their menservants
and handmaids were seven thousand three hundred forty and seven: the singing
men and singing women, two hundred forty and five:
5:43 Four hundred thirty
and five camels, seven thousand thirty and six horses, two hundred forty and
five mules, five thousand five hundred twenty and five beasts used to the yoke.
5:44 And certain of the
chief of their families, when they came to the temple of God that is in Jerusalem,
vowed to set up the house again in his own place according to their ability,
5:45 And to give into
the holy treasury of the works a thousand pounds of gold, five thousand of silver,
and an hundred priestly vestments.
5:46 And so dwelt the
priests and the Levites and the people in Jerusalem, and in the country, the
singers also and the porters; and all Israel in their villages.
5:47 But when the seventh
month was at hand, and when the children of Israel were every man in his own
place, they came all together with one consent into the open place of the first
gate which is toward the east.
5:48 Then stood up Jesus
the son of Josedec, and his brethren the priests and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel,
and his brethren, and made ready the altar of the God of Israel,
5:49 To offer burnt sacrifices
upon it, according as it is expressly commanded in the book of Moses the man
of God.
5:50 And there were gathered
unto them out of the other nations of the land, and they erected the altar upon
his own place, because all the nations of the land were at enmity with them,
and oppressed them; and they offered sacrifices according to the time, and burnt
offerings to the Lord both morning and evening.
5:51 Also they held the
feast of tabernacles, as it is commanded in the law, and offered sacrifices
daily, as was meet:
5:52 And after that,
the continual oblations, and the sacrifice of the sabbaths, and of the new moons,
and of all holy feasts.
5:53 And all they that
had made any vow to God began to offer sacrifices to God from the first day
of the seventh month, although the temple of the Lord was not yet built.
5:54 And they gave unto
the masons and carpenters money, meat, and drink, with cheerfulness.
5:55 Unto them of Zidon
also and Tyre they gave carrs, that they should bring cedar trees from Libanus,
which should be brought by floats to the haven of Joppa, according as it was
commanded them by Cyrus king of the Persians.
5:56 And in the second
year and second month after his coming to the temple of God at Jerusalem began
Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec, and their brethren,
and the priests, and the Levites, and all they that were come unto Jerusalem
out of the captivity:
5:57 And they laid the
foundation of the house of God in the first day of the second month, in the
second year after they were come to Jewry and Jerusalem.
5:58 And they appointed
the Levites from twenty years old over the works of the Lord. Then stood up
Jesus, and his sons and brethren, and Cadmiel his brother, and the sons of Madiabun,
with the sons of Joda the son of Eliadun, with their sons and brethren, all
Levites, with one accord setters forward of the business, labouring to advance
the works in the house of God. So the workmen built the temple of the Lord.
5:59 And the priests
stood arrayed in their vestments with musical instruments and trumpets; and
the Levites the sons of Asaph had cymbals,
5:60 Singing songs of
thanksgiving, and praising the Lord, according as David the king of Israel had
ordained.
5:61 And they sung with
loud voices songs to the praise of the Lord, because his mercy and glory is
for ever in all Israel.
5:62 And all the people
sounded trumpets, and shouted with a loud voice, singing songs of thanksgiving
unto the Lord for the rearing up of the house of the Lord.
5:63 Also of the priests
and Levites, and of the chief of their families, the ancients who had seen the
former house came to the building of this with weeping and great crying.
5:64 But many with trumpets
and joy shouted with loud voice,
5:65 Insomuch that the
trumpets might not be heard for the weeping of the people: yet the multitude
sounded marvellously, so that it was heard afar off.
5:66 Wherefore when the
enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin heard it, they came to know what
that noise of trumpets should mean.
5:67 And they perceived
that they that were of the captivity did build the temple unto the Lord God
of Israel.
5:68 So they went to
Zorobabel and Jesus, and to the chief of the families, and said unto them, We
will build together with you.
5:69 For we likewise,
as ye, do obey your Lord, and do sacrifice unto him from the days of Azbazareth
the king of the Assyrians, who brought us hither.
5:70 Then Zorobabel and
Jesus and the chief of the families of Israel said unto them, It is not for
us and you to build together an house unto the Lord our God.
5:71 We ourselves alone
will build unto the Lord of Israel, according as Cyrus the king of the Persians
hath commanded us.
5:72 But the heathen
of the land lying heavy upon the inhabitants of Judea, and holding them strait,
hindered their building;
5:73 And by their secret
plots, and popular persuasions and commotions, they hindered the finishing of
the building all the time that king Cyrus lived: so they were hindered from
building for the space of two years, until the reign of Darius.
chapter 6
6:1 Now in the second year
of the reign of Darius Aggeus and Zacharias the son of Addo, the prophets, prophesied
unto the Jews in Jewry and Jerusalem in the name of the Lord God of Israel,
which was upon them.
6:2 Then stood up Zorobabel
the son of Salatiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec, and began to build the house
of the Lord at Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with them, and helping
them.
6:3 At the same time came
unto them Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice, with Sathrabuzanes and
his companions, and said unto them,
6:4 By whose appointment
do ye build this house and this roof, and perform all the other things? and
who are the workmen that perform these things?
6:5 Nevertheless the elders
of the Jews obtained favour, because the Lord had visited the captivity;
6:6 And they were not
hindered from building, until such time as signification was given unto Darius
concerning them, and an answer received.
6:7 The copy of the letters
which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, with their
companions, rulers in Syria and Phenice, wrote and sent unto Darius; To king
Darius, greeting:
6:8 Let all things be
known unto our lord the king, that being come into the country of Judea, and
entered into the city of Jerusalem we found in the city of Jerusalem the ancients
of the Jews that were of the captivity
6:9 Building an house
unto the Lord, great and new, of hewn and costly stones, and the timber already
laid upon the walls.
6:10 And those works
are done with great speed, and the work goeth on prosperously in their hands,
and with all glory and diligence is it made.
6:11 Then asked we these
elders, saying, By whose commandment build ye this house, and lay the foundations
of these works?
6:12 Therefore to the
intent that we might give knowledge unto thee by writing, we demanded of them
who were the chief doers, and we required of them the names in writing of their
principal men.
6:13 So they gave us
this answer, We are the servants of the Lord which made heaven and earth.
6:14 And as for this
house, it was builded many years ago by a king of Israel great and strong, and
was finished.
6:15 But when our fathers
provoked God unto wrath, and sinned against the Lord of Israel which is in heaven,
he gave them over into the power of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, of the Chaldees;
6:16 Who pulled down
the house, and burned it, and carried away the people captives unto Babylon.
6:17 But in the first
year that king Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylon Cyrus the king wrote
to build up this house.
6:18 And the holy vessels
of gold and of silver, that Nabuchodonosor had carried away out of the house
at Jerusalem, and had set them in his own temple those Cyrus the king brought
forth again out of the temple at Babylon, and they were delivered to Zorobabel
and to Sanabassarus the ruler,
6:19 With commandment
that he should carry away the same vessels, and put them in the temple at Jerusalem;
and that the temple of the Lord should be built in his place.
6:20 Then the same Sanabassarus,
being come hither, laid the foundations of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem;
and from that time to this being still a building, it is not yet fully ended.
6:21 Now therefore, if
it seem good unto the king, let search be made among the records of king Cyrus:
6:22 And if it be found
that the building of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem hath been done with
the consent of king Cyrus, and if our lord the king be so minded, let him signify
unto us thereof.
6:23 Then commanded king
Darius to seek among the records at Babylon: and so at Ecbatane the palace,
which is in the country of Media, there was found a roll wherein these things
were recorded.
6:24 In the first year
of the reign of Cyrus king Cyrus commanded that the house of the Lord at Jerusalem
should be built again, where they do sacrifice with continual fire:
6:25 Whose height shall
be sixty cubits and the breadth sixty cubits, with three rows of hewn stones,
and one row of new wood of that country; and the expences thereof to be given
out of the house of king Cyrus:
6:26 And that the holy
vessels of the house of the Lord, both of gold and silver, that Nabuchodonosor
took out of the house at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, should be restored
to the house at Jerusalem, and be set in the place where they were before.
6:27 And also he commanded
that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, and their
companions, and those which were appointed rulers in Syria and Phenice, should
be careful not to meddle with the place, but suffer Zorobabel, the servant of
the Lord, and governor of Judea, and the elders of the Jews, to build the house
of the Lord in that place.
6:28 I have commanded
also to have it built up whole again; and that they look diligently to help
those that be of the captivity of the Jews, till the house of the Lord be finished:
6:29 And out of the tribute
of Celosyria and Phenice a portion carefully to be given these men for the sacrifices
of the Lord, that is, to Zorobabel the governor, for bullocks, and rams, and
lambs;
6:30 And also corn, salt,
wine, and oil, and that continually every year without further question, according
as the priests that be in Jerusalem shall signify to be daily spent:
6:31 That offerings may
be made to the most high God for the king and for his children, and that they
may pray for their lives.
6:32 And he commanded
that whosoever should transgress, yea, or make light of any thing afore spoken
or written, out of his own house should a tree be taken, and he thereon be hanged,
and all his goods seized for the king.
6:33 The Lord therefore,
whose name is there called upon, utterly destroy every king and nation, that
stretcheth out his hand to hinder or endamage that house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
6:34 I Darius the king
have ordained that according unto these things it be done with diligence.
chapter 7
7:1 Then Sisinnes the governor
of Celosyria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions following
the commandments of king Darius,
7:2 Did very carefully
oversee the holy works, assisting the ancients of the Jews and governors of
the temple.
7:3 And so the holy works
prospered, when Aggeus and Zacharias the prophets prophesied.
7:4 And they finished
these things by the commandment of the Lord God of Israel, and with the consent
of Cyrus, Darius, and Artexerxes, kings of Persia.
7:5 And thus was the holy
house finished in the three and twentieth day of the month Adar, in the sixth
year of Darius king of the Persians
7:6 And the children of
Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and others that were of the captivity,
that were added unto them, did according to the things written in the book of
Moses.
7:7 And to the dedication
of the temple of the Lord they offered an hundred bullocks two hundred rams,
four hundred lambs;
7:8 And twelve goats for
the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the chief of the tribes of
Israel.
7:9 The priests also and
the Levites stood arrayed in their vestments, according to their kindreds, in
the service of the Lord God of Israel, according to the book of Moses: and the
porters at every gate.
7:10 And the children
of Israel that were of the captivity held the passover the fourteenth day of
the first month, after that the priests and the Levites were sanctified.
7:11 They that were of
the captivity were not all sanctified together: but the Levites were all sanctified
together.
7:12 And so they offered
the passover for all them of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests,
and for themselves.
7:13 And the children
of Israel that came out of the captivity did eat, even all they that had separated
themselves from the abominations of the people of the land, and sought the Lord.
7:14 And they kept the
feast of unleavened bread seven days, making merry before the Lord,
7:15 For that he had
turned the counsel of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands
in the works of the Lord God of Israel.
chapter 8
8:1 And after these things,
when Artexerxes the king of the Persians reigned came Esdras the son of Saraias,
the son of Ezerias, the son of Helchiah, the son of Salum,
8:2 The son of Sadduc,
the son of Achitob, the son of Amarias, the son of Ezias, the son of Meremoth,
the son of Zaraias, the son of Savias, the son of Boccas, the son of Abisum,
the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest.
8:3 This Esdras went up
from Babylon, as a scribe, being very ready in the law of Moses, that was given
by the God of Israel.
8:4 And the king did him
honour: for he found grace in his sight in all his requests.
8:5 There went up with
him also certain of the children of Israel, of the priest of the Levites, of
the holy singers, porters, and ministers of the temple, unto Jerusalem,
8:6 In the seventh year
of the reign of Artexerxes, in the fifth month, this was the king's seventh
year; for they went from Babylon in the first day of the first month, and came
to Jerusalem, according to the prosperous journey which the Lord gave them.
8:7 For Esdras had very
great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the law and commandments of the Lord,
but taught all Israel the ordinances and judgments.
8:8 Now the copy of the
commission, which was written from Artexerxes the king, and came to Esdras the
priest and reader of the law of the Lord, is this that followeth;
8:9 King Artexerxes unto
Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord sendeth greeting:
8:10 Having determined
to deal graciously, I have given order, that such of the nation of the Jews,
and of the priests and Levites being within our realm, as are willing and desirous
should go with thee unto Jerusalem.
8:11 As many therefore
as have a mind thereunto, let them depart with thee, as it hath seemed good
both to me and my seven friends the counsellors;
8:12 That they may look
unto the affairs of Judea and Jerusalem, agreeably to that which is in the law
of the Lord;
8:13 And carry the gifts
unto the Lord of Israel to Jerusalem, which I and my friends have vowed, and
all the gold and silver that in the country of Babylon can be found, to the
Lord in Jerusalem,
8:14 With that also which
is given of the people for the temple of the Lord their God at Jerusalem: and
that silver and gold may be collected for bullocks, rams, and lambs, and things
thereunto appertaining;
8:15 To the end that
they may offer sacrifices unto the Lord upon the altar of the Lord their God,
which is in Jerusalem.
8:16 And whatsoever thou
and thy brethren will do with the silver and gold, that do, according to the
will of thy God.
8:17 And the holy vessels
of the Lord, which are given thee for the use of the temple of thy God, which
is in Jerusalem, thou shalt set before thy God in Jerusalem.
8:18 And whatsoever thing
else thou shalt remember for the use of the temple of thy God, thou shalt give
it out of the king's treasury.
8:19 And I king Artexerxes
have also commanded the keepers of the treasures in Syria and Phenice, that
whatsoever Esdras the priest and the reader of the law of the most high God
shall send for, they should give it him with speed,
8:20 To the sum of an
hundred talents of silver, likewise also of wheat even to an hundred cors, and
an hundred pieces of wine, and other things in abundance.
8:21 Let all things be
performed after the law of God diligently unto the most high God, that wrath
come not upon the kingdom of the king and his sons.
8:22 I command you also,
that ye require no tax, nor any other imposition, of any of the priests, or
Levites, or holy singers, or porters, or ministers of the temple, or of any
that have doings in this temple, and that no man have authority to impose any
thing upon them.
8:23 And thou, Esdras,
according to the wisdom of God ordain judges and justices, that they may judge
in all Syria and Phenice all those that know the law of thy God; and those that
know it not thou shalt teach.
8:24 And whosoever shall
transgress the law of thy God, and of the king, shall be punished diligently,
whether it be by death, or other punishment, by penalty of money, or by imprisonment.
8:25 Then said Esdras
the scribe, Blessed be the only Lord God of my fathers, who hath put these things
into the heart of the king, to glorify his house that is in Jerusalem:
8:26 And hath honoured
me in the sight of the king, and his counsellors, and all his friends and nobles.
8:27 Therefore was I
encouraged by the help of the Lord my God, and gathered together men of Israel
to go up with me.
8:28 And these are the
chief according to their families and several dignities, that went up with me
from Babylon in the reign of king Artexerxes:
8:29 Of the sons of Phinees,
Gerson: of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael: of the sons of David, Lettus the son
of Sechenias:
8:30 Of the sons of Pharez,
Zacharias; and with him were counted an hundred and fifty men:
8:31 Of the sons of Pahath
Moab, Eliaonias, the son of Zaraias, and with him two hundred men:
8:32 Of the sons of Zathoe,
Sechenias the son of Jezelus, and with him three hundred men: of the sons of
Adin, Obeth the son of Jonathan, and with him two hundred and fifty men:
8:33 Of the sons of Elam,
Josias son of Gotholias, and with him seventy men:
8:34 Of the sons of Saphatias,
Zaraias son of Michael, and with him threescore and ten men:
8:35 Of the sons of Joab,
Abadias son of Jezelus, and with him two hundred and twelve men:
8:36 Of the sons of Banid,
Assalimoth son of Josaphias, and with him an hundred and threescore men:
8:37 Of the sons of Babi,
Zacharias son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight men:
8:38 Of the sons of Astath,
Johannes son of Acatan, and with him an hundred and ten men:
8:39 Of the sons of Adonikam
the last, and these are the names of them, Eliphalet, Jewel, and Samaias, and
with them seventy men:
8:40 Of the sons of Bago,
Uthi the son of Istalcurus, and with him seventy men.
8:41 And these I gathered
together to the river called Theras, where we pitched our tents three days:
and then I surveyed them.
8:42 But when I had found
there none of the priests and Levites,
8:43 Then sent I unto
Eleazar, and Iduel, and Masman,
8:44 And Alnathan, and
Mamaias, and Joribas, and Nathan, Eunatan, Zacharias, and Mosollamon, principal
men and learned.
8:45 And I bade them
that they should go unto Saddeus the captain, who was in the place of the treasury:
8:46 And commanded them
that they should speak unto Daddeus, and to his brethren, and to the treasurers
in that place, to send us such men as might execute the priests' office in the
house of the Lord.
8:47 And by the mighty
hand of our Lord they brought unto us skilful men of the sons of Moli the son
of Levi, the son of Israel, Asebebia, and his sons, and his brethren, who were
eighteen.
8:48 And Asebia, and
Annus, and Osaias his brother, of the sons of Channuneus, and their sons, were
twenty men.
8:49 And of the servants
of the temple whom David had ordained, and the principal men for the service
of the Levites to wit, the servants of the temple two hundred and twenty, the
catalogue of whose names were shewed.
8:50 And there I vowed
a fast unto the young men before our Lord, to desire of him a prosperous journey
both for us and them that were with us, for our children, and for the cattle:
8:51 For I was ashamed
to ask the king footmen, and horsemen, and conduct for safeguard against our
adversaries.
8:52 For we had said
unto the king, that the power of the Lord our God should be with them that seek
him, to support them in all ways.
8:53 And again we besought
our Lord as touching these things, and found him favourable unto us.
8:54 Then I separated
twelve of the chief of the priests, Esebrias, and Assanias, and ten men of their
brethren with them:
8:55 And I weighed them
the gold, and the silver, and the holy vessels of the house of our Lord, which
the king, and his council, and the princes, and all Israel, had given.
8:56 And when I had weighed
it, I delivered unto them six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver
vessels of an hundred talents, and an hundred talents of gold,
8:57 And twenty golden
vessels, and twelve vessels of brass, even of fine brass, glittering like gold.
8:58 And I said unto
them, Both ye are holy unto the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the gold
and the silver is a vow unto the Lord, the Lord of our fathers.
8:59 Watch ye, and keep
them till ye deliver them to the chief of the priests and Levites, and to the
principal men of the families of Israel, in Jerusalem, into the chambers of
the house of our God.
8:60 So the priests and
the Levites, who had received the silver and the gold and the vessels, brought
them unto Jerusalem, into the temple of the Lord.
8:61 And from the river
Theras we departed the twelfth day of the first month, and came to Jerusalem
by the mighty hand of our Lord, which was with us: and from the beginning of
our journey the Lord delivered us from every enemy, and so we came to Jerusalem.
8:62 And when we had
been there three days, the gold and silver that was weighed was delivered in
the house of our Lord on the fourth day unto Marmoth the priest the son of Iri.
8:63 And with him was
Eleazar the son of Phinees, and with them were Josabad the son of Jesu and Moeth
the son of Sabban, Levites: all was delivered them by number and weight.
8:64 And all the weight
of them was written up the same hour.
8:65 Moreover they that
were come out of the captivity offered sacrifice unto the Lord God of Israel,
even twelve bullocks for all Israel, fourscore and sixteen rams,
8:66 Threescore and twelve
lambs, goats for a peace offering, twelve; all of them a sacrifice to the Lord.
8:67 And they delivered
the king's commandments unto the king's stewards' and to the governors of Celosyria
and Phenice; and they honoured the people and the temple of God.
8:68 Now when these things
were done, the rulers came unto me, and said,
8:69 The nation of Israel,
the princes, the priests and Levites, have not put away from them the strange
people of the land, nor the pollutions of the Gentiles to wit, of the Canaanites,
Hittites, Pheresites, Jebusites, and the Moabites, Egyptians, and Edomites.
8:70 For both they and
their sons have married with their daughters, and the holy seed is mixed with
the strange people of the land; and from the beginning of this matter the rulers
and the great men have been partakers of this iniquity.
8:71 And as soon as I
had heard these things, I rent my clothes, and the holy garment, and pulled
off the hair from off my head and beard, and sat me down sad and very heavy.
8:72 So all they that
were then moved at the word of the Lord God of Israel assembled unto me, whilst
I mourned for the iniquity: but I sat still full of heaviness until the evening
sacrifice.
8:73 Then rising up from
the fast with my clothes and the holy garment rent, and bowing my knees, and
stretching forth my hands unto the Lord,
8:74 I said, O Lord,
I am confounded and ashamed before thy face;
8:75 For our sins are
multiplied above our heads, and our ignorances have reached up unto heaven.
8:76 For ever since the
time of our fathers we have been and are in great sin, even unto this day.
8:77 And for our sins
and our fathers' we with our brethren and our kings and our priests were given
up unto the kings of the earth, to the sword, and to captivity, and for a prey
with shame, unto this day.
8:78 And now in some
measure hath mercy been shewed unto us from thee, O Lord, that there should
be left us a root and a name in the place of thy sanctuary;
8:79 And to discover
unto us a light in the house of the Lord our God, and to give us food in the
time of our servitude.
8:80 Yea, when we were
in bondage, we were not forsaken of our Lord; but he made us gracious before
the kings of Persia, so that they gave us food;
8:81 Yea, and honoured
the temple of our Lord, and raised up the desolate Sion, that they have given
us a sure abiding in Jewry and Jerusalem.
8:82 And now, O Lord,
what shall we say, having these things? for we have transgressed thy commandments,
which thou gavest by the hand of thy servants the prophets, saying,
8:83 That the land, which
ye enter into to possess as an heritage, is a land polluted with the pollutions
of the strangers of the land, and they have filled it with their uncleanness.
8:84 Therefore now shall
ye not join your daughters unto their sons, neither shall ye take their daughters
unto your sons.
8:85 Moreover ye shall
never seek to have peace with them, that ye may be strong, and eat the good
things of the land, and that ye may leave the inheritance of the land unto your
children for evermore.
8:86 And all that is
befallen is done unto us for our wicked works and great sins; for thou, O Lord,
didst make our sins light,
8:87 And didst give unto
us such a root: but we have turned back again to transgress thy law, and to
mingle ourselves with the uncleanness of the nations of the land.
8:88 Mightest not thou
be angry with us to destroy us, till thou hadst left us neither root, seed,
nor name?
8:89 O Lord of Israel,
thou art true: for we are left a root this day.
8:90 Behold, now are
we before thee in our iniquities, for we cannot stand any longer by reason of
these things before thee.
8:91 And as Esdras in
his prayer made his confession, weeping, and lying flat upon the ground before
the temple, there gathered unto him from Jerusalem a very great multitude of
men and women and children: for there was great weeping among the multitude.
8:92 Then Jechonias the
son of Jeelus, one of the sons of Israel, called out, and said, O Esdras, we
have sinned against the Lord God, we have married strange women of the nations
of the land, and now is all Israel aloft.
8:93 Let us make an oath
to the Lord, that we will put away all our wives, which we have taken of the
heathen, with their children,
8:94 Like as thou hast
decreed, and as many as do obey the law of the Lord.
8:95 Arise and put in
execution: for to thee doth this matter appertain, and we will be with thee:
do valiantly.
8:96 So Esdras arose,
and took an oath of the chief of the priests and Levites of all Israel to do
after these things; and so they sware.
chapter 9
9:1 Then Esdras rising from
the court of the temple went to the chamber of Joanan the son of Eliasib,
9:2 And remained there,
and did eat no meat nor drink water, mourning for the great iniquities of the
multitude.
9:3 And there was a proclamation
in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them that were of the captivity, that they
should be gathered together at Jerusalem:
9:4 And that whosoever
met not there within two or three days according as the elders that bare rule
appointed, their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple, and himself
cast out from them that were of the captivity.
9:5 And in three days
were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem
the twentieth day of the ninth month.
9:6 And all the multitude
sat trembling in the broad court of the temple because of the present foul weather.
9:7 So Esdras arose up,
and said unto them, Ye have transgressed the law in marrying strange wives,
thereby to increase the sins of Israel.
9:8 And now by confessing
give glory unto the Lord God of our fathers,
9:9 And do his will, and
separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the strange women.
9:10 Then cried the whole
multitude, and said with a loud voice, Like as thou hast spoken, so will we
do.
9:11 But forasmuch as
the people are many, and it is foul weather, so that we cannot stand without,
and this is not a work of a day or two, seeing our sin in these things is spread
far:
9:12 Therefore let the
rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that have
strange wives come at the time appointed,
9:13 And with them the
rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of the Lord from
us for this matter.
9:14 Then Jonathan the
son of Azael and Ezechias the son of Theocanus accordingly took this matter
upon them: and Mosollam and Levis and Sabbatheus helped them.
9:15 And they that were
of the captivity did according to all these things.
9:16 And Esdras the priest
chose unto him the principal men of their families, all by name: and in the
first day of the tenth month they sat together to examine the matter.
9:17 So their cause that
held strange wives was brought to an end in the first day of the first month.
9:18 And of the priests
that were come together, and had strange wives, there were found:
9:19 Of the sons of Jesus
the son of Josedec, and his brethren; Matthelas and Eleazar, and Joribus and
Joadanus.
9:20 And they gave their
hands to put away their wives and to offer rams to make reconcilement for their
errors.
9:21 And of the sons
of Emmer; Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Eanes, and Sameius, and Hiereel, and Azarias.
9:22 And of the sons
of Phaisur; Elionas, Massias Israel, and Nathanael, and Ocidelus and Talsas.
9:23 And of the Levites;
Jozabad, and Semis, and Colius, who was called Calitas, and Patheus, and Judas,
and Jonas.
9:24 Of the holy singers;
Eleazurus, Bacchurus.
9:25 Of the porters;
Sallumus, and Tolbanes.
9:26 Of them of Israel,
of the sons of Phoros; Hiermas, and Eddias, and Melchias, and Maelus, and Eleazar,
and Asibias, and Baanias.
9:27 Of the sons of Ela;
Matthanias, Zacharias, and Hierielus, and Hieremoth, and Aedias.
9:28 And of the sons
of Zamoth; Eliadas, Elisimus, Othonias, Jarimoth, and Sabatus, and Sardeus.
9:29 Of the sons of Babai;
Johannes, and Ananias and Josabad, and Amatheis.
9:30 Of the sons of Mani;
Olamus, Mamuchus, Jedeus, Jasubus, Jasael, and Hieremoth.
9:31 And of the sons
of Addi; Naathus, and Moosias, Lacunus, and Naidus, and Mathanias, and Sesthel,
Balnuus, and Manasseas.
9:32 And of the sons
of Annas; Elionas and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus.
9:33 And of the sons
of Asom; Altaneus, and Matthias, and Baanaia, Eliphalet, and Manasses, and Semei.
9:34 And of the sons
of Maani; Jeremias, Momdis, Omaerus, Juel, Mabdai, and Pelias, and Anos, Carabasion,
and Enasibus, and Mamnitanaimus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Samis, Selemias, Nathanias:
and of the sons of Ozora; Sesis, Esril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zambis, Josephus.
9:35 And of the sons
of Ethma; Mazitias, Zabadaias, Edes, Juel, Banaias.
9:36 All these had taken
strange wives, and they put them away with their children.
9:37 And the priests
and Levites, and they that were of Israel, dwelt in Jerusalem, and in the country,
in the first day of the seventh month: so the children of Israel were in their
habitations.
9:38 And the whole multitude
came together with one accord into the broad place of the holy porch toward
the east:
9:39 And they spake unto
Esdras the priest and reader, that he would bring the law of Moses, that was
given of the Lord God of Israel.
9:40 So Esdras the chief
priest brought the law unto the whole multitude from man to woman, and to all
the priests, to hear law in the first day of the seventh month.
9:41 And he read in the
broad court before the holy porch from morning unto midday, before both men
and women; and the multitude gave heed unto the law.
9:42 And Esdras the priest
and reader of the law stood up upon a pulpit of wood, which was made for that
purpose.
9:43 And there stood
up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias, Ezecias, Balasamus, upon
the right hand:
9:44 And upon his left
hand stood Phaldaius, Misael, Melchias, Lothasubus, and Nabarias.
9:45 Then took Esdras
the book of the law before the multitude: for he sat honourably in the first
place in the sight of them all.
9:46 And when he opened
the law, they stood all straight up. So Esdras blessed the Lord God most High,
the God of hosts, Almighty.
9:47 And all the people
answered, Amen; and lifting up their hands they fell to the ground, and worshipped
the Lord.
9:48 Also Jesus, Anus,
Sarabias, Adinus, Jacubus, Sabateas, Auteas, Maianeas, and Calitas, Asrias,
and Joazabdus, and Ananias, Biatas, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord,
making them withal to understand it.
9:49 Then spake Attharates
unto Esdras the chief priest. and reader, and to the Levites that taught the
multitude, even to all, saying,
9:50 This day is holy
unto the Lord; (for they all wept when they heard the law:)
9:51 Go then, and eat
the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part to them that have nothing;
9:52 For this day is
holy unto the Lord: and be not sorrowful; for the Lord will bring you to honour.
9:53 So the Levites published
all things to the people, saying, This day is holy to the Lord; be not sorrowful.
9:54 Then went they their
way, every one to eat and drink, and make merry, and to give part to them that
had nothing, and to make great cheer;
9:55 Because they understood
the words wherein they were instructed, and for the which they had been assembled.
- 0
- Published in Apochrypha Books
- Written by LC Geerts