The names of those that NEHEMIAH. 33 Howbeit, thou art juft in all that is brought upon us; for thou hart done right, but we have done wickedly 34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments, and thy teftimonies, wherewith thou didit teftify againft them. 35 For they have not ferved thee in their Kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavert them, and in the large and fat land which thou gaveft before them, neither turned they from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are fervants this day; and for the land that thou gayeft unto our fathers, to eat fruit thereof, and the good thereof, be hold, we are fervants in it. 37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the Zings whom thou haft fet over us because of our fins: alfo they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great diftrefs. 38 And because of all this, we make a fure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, feal unto it. CHAP. X. The names of them that fealed the covenant. No kijah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pahur, Amariah, Maichijah, 4 Hattufh, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Methullam, Abijah, Mijamin, Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priefts. 9 And the evites: both Jeshua the fon of Azaniah; Binnui of the fons of Henadad, Kadmiel; 10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kalita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11 Micha, Rehob, Hafhabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13 Holijah, Bani, Beninu. Sealed the covenant. 30 And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our fons: 31 And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the fabbath day to fell, that we would not buy it of them on the fab bath, or on the holy day; and that we would leave the feventh year, and the exaction of every debt. 32 Alfo we made ordinances, for us to charge ourfelves yearly with the third part of a thekel, for the fervice of the houfe of our God; 33 For the fhewbread, and for the continual meat-offering, and for the continual burntoffering, of the fabbaths, of the new moons, for the fet tearts, and for the holy things, and for the Gin-offerings, to make an atonement for Ifrael, and for all the work of the house of our God. 34 And we caft the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood-of fering, to bring it into the houfe of our God; after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed, year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law: 35 And to bring the first fruits cf our ground, and the firit fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD: 36 Alfo the firstborn of our fons, and of our cattle, (as it is written in the law,) and the firftlings of our herds, and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the prieits that minifter in the house of our God: 37 And tha' we should bring the firft fruits of our cough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the houfe of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the fame Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our til lage. 38 And the prieft the fon of Aaron shall be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes; and the Levites fhall bring up the 14 The chief of the people; Paroh, Pahath- tithe of the tithes unto the houfe of our moab, Elam, Zatthu, Rani, 15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 27 Mand the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the fingers, the Nethinims, and all they that had feparated them felves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their fons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having unde ta ding; 29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curfe, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Mofes the fervant of God, and to obferve and do all the commandments of the LORD our LORD, and his judgments and his ftatutes: God, to the chambers, into the treasure houfe. 39 For the children of Ifrael and the chil dren of Levi thall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the cham bers where are the veffels of the fanctuary, and the priests that minifter, and the porters, and the fingers and we will not forfake the houfe of our God. Chap. xii. Those who dwelt at Jerufalem. .4 And at Jerusalem dvelt certain of the children of Judah, and or the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athajah the fon of Uzziah, the fon of Zechariah, the fon of Amariah, the fon of Shephatiah, the fon of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez ; 5 And Maafejah the fon of Baruch, the for of Col-hozeh, the fon of Hazaiah, the fon of Adaiah, the fon of Joiarib, the fon of Zechariah, the fon of Shiloni. 6 All the fons of Perez that dwelt at Jerufalem were four hundred threefcore and eight valiant men. 7 And these are the fons of Benjamin; Sallu the fon of Methullam, the fon of Joed, the fon of Pedaiah, the fon of Kolaiah, the fon of Maafeiah, the fon of Ithiel, the fon of Jefaiah. 8 And after him Gabbal, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight. 9 And Joel the fon of Zichri was their overfeer and Judah the son of Senuah was fecond over the city. To Of the priefts: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin. 11 Seraiah the fon of Hilkiah, the fon of Mefhullam, the fon of Zadok, the fon of Meraioth, the fon of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God. 12 And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the fon of Jeroham, the fon of Pelaliah, the fon of Amzi, the fon of Ze chariah, the fon of Pathur, the fon of Malchiah, And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amathai the fon of Azareel, the fon of Ahafai, the fon of Methillemoth, the fon of Immer, 14 And their brethren, mighty men of va lour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overfeer was Zabdiel, the fon of one of the great men. 15 Allo of the Levites: Shemaiah the fon of Hamub, the fon of Azrikam, the fon of Hashabiah, the fon of Bunni. 16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, bad the overfight of the outward búfinefs of the house of God. 17 And Mattaniah the fon of Micha, the fon of Zabdi, the fon of Afaph, was the principal, to begin the thanksgiving in prayer and Bakbukiah the fecond among his brethren, and Abda the fon of Shammua, the fon of Galal, the fon of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred tourfcore and four. 19 Moreover, the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred feventy and two. 20 And the refidue of Ifracl, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of judah, every one in his inheritance. 21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gifpa were over the Nethinims. 22 The overfeer ako of the Levites at Jerufalem was Uzzi the fon of Bani, the fon of Hahabiah, the fon of Mattanah, the fon of Micha. Of the fons of Aaph, the fing ers were over the business of the houfe of God. 23 For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should The inhabitants of the cities. be for the fingers, due for every day. 24 And Pethahiah the fon of Methezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people. 25 And for the villages, with their fields, Some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjath. arba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof, 26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-phelet, 27 And at Hazar-fhual, and at Beer-fheha, and in the villages thereof, 28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof, 29 And at En-rimmon, and at Zareal, and at Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachith, and the fields thereof, at Azekal and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom. 31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmath, and Aiju, and at Beth-et, and in their villages, 32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftf men. 36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin. CHAP. XII. 1 The priests which came up with Zerubbabel. 10 The fucceffion of the high pricfts. N that went up with Zerubbabel the fon of O W there are the priests and the Levites Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, Thefs 5 Miamin, Miadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, jedaiah. were the chief of the prieffs, and of their brethren, in the days of jethua. 8 Moreover, the Levites: Jehua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. 9 Alfo Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches. 10 And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim alfo begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada, II And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jad lua. 12 And in the days of Joiakim were priets, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Je hohanan; 14 Of Melicu, Jonathas; of Shebaniah, Jofeph; 15 Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Mefhullam; 17 Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Mo adiah, Piltai; 18 Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Je honathan; 19 And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber. The fucceffion of the high priefs. NEHEMIAH, 21 Of Hilkiah, Hafhabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel. 22 The Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joia ia, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: alio the priests, to the reig of Darius the Perfian. 23 The fons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the fon of Elia hib. 24 And the chief of the Levites: Hafhabiah, Sherebiah, and Jefhua tre fon or Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward. 25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Mefhullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keep ing the ward at the thresholds of the gates. 26 There were in the days of Joiakim the fon of jethua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the pricit, the fcribe. 27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they fought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerufalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with finging, with cym. bals, pfalteries, and with harps. 28 And the fons of the tingers gathered themfelves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerufalem, and from the villages of Netophathi; 29 Alfo from the houfe of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba, and Azmaveth: for the Singers had builded them villages round about Jerufalem. 30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall. 31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dang gate; 32 And after them went Hofhaiah, and half the princes of Judah, 33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, 34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, 35 And certain of the pricfts fons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the fon of Jonathan, the fon of Shemaiah, the fon of attaniah, the fon of Michaiah, the fon of Zaccur, the fon of Ataph: 36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the mufical inftruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the fcribe before them. 37 And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the ftairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate caftward. 38 And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall; 39. And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the theep gate: and they od till in the prison gate. The dedication of the wall. 40 So flood the twmpanies of them that gave thanks in the hoe of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me: 41 And the priens; Eliakim, Maafeiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets: 42 And Maafciah, and Shemaiah, and Fleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehchanan, and Malchijah, and Flam, and i zer: and the fingers fang loud, with Jezrahiah their overfeer. 43 Alfo that day they offered great facrifices, and rejoicea: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives alfo and the children rejoiced: fo that the joy of Jerufalem was heard even afar off. 44 And at that time were fome appointed over the chamber for the treasures, for the of ferings, for the frit fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the prieits and Levites: for Judan rejoiced for the pries, and for the Levites that waited. 45 And both the fingers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the command. ment of David, and of Solomon his fon. 46 For in the days of David and Afaph of old there were chiet of the fingers, and fongs of praife and thank giving unto God. 47 And all Ifrael in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the fingers and the porters every day his portion: and they fanétified holy things unto the Levites, and the Levites fanctified them unto the children of Aaron. CHAP. XIII. 1 Upon the reading of the law feparation is made from the mixed multitude. 10 Nebemiab reformeth the offices in the house of God. OM that day they read in the book of Mofes in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Am. monite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; 2 Becaule they met not the children of Ifrael with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curfe them howbeit, our God turned the curfe into a blething. 3 Now it came to pafs, when they had heard the law, that they feparated from Ifrael all the mixed multitude. 4 And before this Elathib the priest, having the overnight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah : 5 And he had prepared for him a great cham ber, where aforetime they laid the meat-offerings, the frankincenfe, and the veffels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Le. vites, and the fingers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. But in all this time was not I at Jerufalem : for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and atter certain days obtained I leave of the king: 7 And I came to Jerufalem, and understood of the evil that Eliahib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me fore: therefore I caft forth all the household fluff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I commande, and they cleanfed the Divers abuses reformed Chap. 1. the chambers: and thither brought I again the veifels of the house of God, with the meatoffering and the trankincenfe. To And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the fingers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. 11 Then contended I with the rulers, and faid, Why is the house of God forfaken? And I gathered them together, and fet them in twir place. 12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. 13 And I made treasurers over the treafuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the feribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the fon of Zaccur, the fon of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to diftribute unto their brethren. 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wife not out my good deeds that I have done for the houfe of my God, and for the offices thereof. 15 In thofe days faw I in Judah fome treading wine pretes on the fabbath, and bringing in theaves, and lading affes; as alfo wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerufalem on the fabbath day: and I teftified against them in the day wherein they fold victuals. 16 There dwelt men of Tyre alfo therein, which brought fith, and all manner of ware, and fold on the fabbath unto the children of Ju dah, and in Jerufalem. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judat, and faid unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the fabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city yet ye bring more wrath upon Ifrael by profaning the fabbath. 19 And it came to pafs, that when the gates of Jerufalem began to be dark before the fabbath, I commanded that the gates fhould be fhut, and charged that they fhould not be opened till after the fabbath: and fame of my fervants fet 1 at the gates, that there fhould no burden be brought in on the fabbath day. by Nehemiab. 20 So the merchants, and fellers of all kind of ware, lodged without Jerufalem once or twice. 21 Then I teftified against them, and faid unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the fab. bath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to fanctify the fabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this alfo, and fpare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. 23 In thofe days alfo faw I Jews that had married wives of Afhdod, of Ammen, and of Moab: 24 And their children fpake half in the fpeech of Athdod, and could not speak in the Jews language, but according to the language of each people. 25 And I contended with them, and curfert them, and fmote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them fwear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters into their fons, nor take their daughters unto your fons, or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Ifrael fin by thefe things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all If rael: neverthelefs, even him did outlandish women caufe to fin. 27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to tranfgrefs againfi our God in marrying strange wives? 28 And one of the fons of Joiada, the fen of Eliashib the high priest, was fon-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chafed him from me. 2) Remember them, O my God, becaufe they have den led the priesthood, and the covenant of the pricithood, and of the Le vites. 30 Thus cleaned I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; 31 And for the wood-offering, at times ap. pointed, and for the first-truits. Remember me, O my God, for good. I The Book of E SI HER. CHAP. 1. ■ Abafuerus maketh royal feafls. 10 Vahti Ahasuerus, (this is Ahafuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and feven and twenty provinces :) 2 That in thofe days, when the king Ahafuerus fat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shuthan the palace, 3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feait unto all his princes, and his fervants; the power of Perfia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him: 4 When he thewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and four !core days. 5 And when thefe days were expired, the king made a teait unto all the people that were prefent in Shuthan the palace, botn unto great and malt, feven days, in the court of the gar den of the king's palace; 6 Where were white, green, and blue, hang. ings, tattened with cords of fine linen and purple to filver rings, and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and filver, upon a pavement or red, and blue, and white, and black mar. ble. And they gave them drink in veffels of 7 gold, (the velfels being diverie one from ano ther,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the fate of the king: 8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compei: for fo the king bad ap. pointed to all the officers of his house, that they hould do according to every man's pleasure, 9 Alla PO Fafoti's Sifabedience. ESTHER. 9 Alfo Vahti the queen made a feat for the women in the royal houte which belonged to king Ahafuerus. 10 On the feventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he command. ed Mehuman, Bizcha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the feven chamberlains that ferved in the prefence of Ahafuerus the king, 11 To bring Vahti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to fhew the people and the princes her beauty: for the was fair to look on. 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. 13 Then the king faid to the wife men, which knew the times, (for fo was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judg. ment: 14 And the next unto him was Carfhena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarthith, Meres, Marfena, and Memucan, the feven princes of Perfia and Media, which faw the king's face, and which fat the first in the kingdom;) 15 What shall we do unto the queen Vaihti according to law, because the hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahafuerus by the chamberlains? 16 And Memucan anfwered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahaiuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen fhall come abroad unto all women, fo that they shall de fpife their husbands in their eyes, when it thall be reported, The king Ahafuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. 18 Likewife thall the ladies of Perfia and Media fay this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus fhall there arife too much contempt and wrath. 19 If it pleafe the king, let there go a royal commandnient from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Perfians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vahti come no more before king Ahafuerus; and let the king give her royal eftate unto another that is better than the. 20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives fhall give to their husbands honour, both to great and fmall. 21 And the faying pleafed the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: 22 For he fent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man fhould bear rule in his own house, and that if fhould De published according to the language of every people. CHA P. II. Out of the choice ofvirgins a queen to be chofer. Aking Afterus was appealed, he reFTER thefe things, when the wrath of embered Vashti, and what he had done, and what was decreed againit her. a Then faid the king's fervants that mi Eber made queen. niflered unto him, Let there be fair young vir. gins fought for the king: 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may ga. ther together all the tair young virgins unto Shuthan the palace, to the houfe of the women, unto the cuftody of Hege the king's chamber. lain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given then.: 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen inftead of vahti. And the thing pleated the king; and he did fo. 5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whofe name was Mordecai, the fon of Jair, the fon of Shimei, the ica of Kith, 3 Benjamite; 6 Who had been carried away from Je rufalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And he brought up Hadaffah, that is Eft her, his uncle's daughter: for the had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful: whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daugh. ter. 8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shuihan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Either was brought also unto the king's houfe, to the custody of Hegai, keepcr of the women. 9 And the maiden pleafed him, and the obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with fuch things as belonged to her, and feven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's houfe: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 10 Efther had not fhewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that fire thould not thew it. 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's houte, to know how Efther did, and what should become of her. 12 Now when every maid's men was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for fo were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, ix months with oil of myrrh, and fix months with fweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) 13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatfoever the defired was given her to go with her out of the houfe of the women unto the king's houfe. 14 In the evening the went, and on the morrow the returned into the fecond houfe of the women, to the cuftody of Shaathgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the con cubines: fhe came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that the were called by name. 15. Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keepgo in unto the king, the required nothing but er of the women, appointed. And Efther ob tained favour in the fight of all them that look. ed upon her. |