of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and
used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he
wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
33:7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house
of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this
house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of
Israel, will I put my name for ever:
33:8 Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the
land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take
heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law
and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
33:9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and
to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the
children of Israel.
33:10 And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would
not hearken.
33:11 Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of
the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him
with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
33:12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and
humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
33:13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his
supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then
Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.
33:14 Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the
west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish
gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height,
and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.
33:15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house
of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the
house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
33:16 And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon
peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the
LORD God of Israel.
33:17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places,
yet unto the LORD their God only.
33:18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God,
and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God
of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.
33:19 His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his
sins, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and
set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are
written among the sayings of the seers.
33:20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own
house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
33:21 Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and
reigned two years in Jerusalem.
33:22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did
Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images
which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
33:23 And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father
had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
33:24 And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own
house.
33:25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired
against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king
in his stead.
34:1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
in Jerusalem one and thirty years.
34:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and
walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the
right hand, nor to the left.
34:3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he
began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year
he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the
groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.
34:4 And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the
images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and
the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made
dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed
unto them.
34:5 And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and
cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
34:6 And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon,
even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.
34:7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had
beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols
throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
34:8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the
land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah
the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to
repair the house of the LORD his God.
34:9 And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the
money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that
kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of
all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they
returned to Jerusalem.
34:10 And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight
of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought
in the house of the LORD, to repair and amend the house:
34:11 Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn
stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings
of Judah had destroyed.
34:12 And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them
were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and
Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it
forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments
of musick.
34:13 Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of
all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites
there were scribes, and officers, and porters.
34:14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the
house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the
LORD given by Moses.
34:15 And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found
the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the
book to Shaphan.
34:16 And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king
word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do
it.
34:17 And they have gathered together the money that was found in the
house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers,
and to the hand of the workmen.
34:18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest
hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
34:19 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law,
that he rent his clothes.
34:20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and
Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of
the king's, saying,
34:21 Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in
Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for
great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our
fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is
written in this book.
34:22 And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah
the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of
Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the
college:) and they spake to her to that effect.
34:23 And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye
the man that sent you to me,
34:24 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place,
and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written
in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:
34:25 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other
gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their
hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall
not be quenched.
34:26 And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD,
so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning
the words which thou hast heard;
34:27 Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself
before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against
the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend
thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the
LORD.
34:28 Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be
gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the
evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the
same. So they brought the king word again.
34:29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah
and Jerusalem.
34:30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men
of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the
Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears
all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of
the LORD.
34:31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the
LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his
testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his
soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this
book.
34:32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to
stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the
covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
34:33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries
that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present
in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days
they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.
35:1 Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and
they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
35:2 And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the
service of the house of the LORD,
35:3 And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy
unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of
David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your
shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,
35:4 And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your
courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according
to the writing of Solomon his son.
35:5 And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the
families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the
division of the families of the Levites.
35:6 So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your
brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand
of Moses.
35:7 And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all
for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of
thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king's
substance.
35:8 And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and
to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of
God, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and
six hundred small cattle and three hundred oxen.
35:9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and
Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the
Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five
hundred oxen.
35:10 So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place,
and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment.
35:11 And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood
from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.
35:12 And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give
according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto
the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with
the oxen.
35:13 And they roasted the passover with fire according to the
ordinance: but the other holy offerings sod they in pots, and in
caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people.
35:14 And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests:
because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt
offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for
themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.
35:15 And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according
to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the
king's seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart
from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.
35:16 So all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep
the passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of the LORD,
according to the commandment of king Josiah.
35:17 And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at
that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
35:18 And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the
days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep
such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and
all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem.
35:19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover
kept.
35:20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of
Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went
out against him.
35:21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with
thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against
the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste:
forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy
thee not.
35:22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but
disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto
the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the
valley of Megiddo.
35:23 And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his
servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
35:24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him
in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem,
and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And
all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
35:25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the
singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and
made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the
lamentations.
35:26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to
that which was written in the law of the LORD,
35:27 And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the
book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
36:1 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and
made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem.
36:2 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and
he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
36:3 And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the
land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
36:4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and
Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his
brother, and carried him to Egypt.
36:5 Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and
he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in
the sight of the LORD his God.
36:6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him
in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.
36:7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD
to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.
36:8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which
he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the
book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in
his stead.
36:9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which
was evil in the sight of the LORD.
36:10 And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and
brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the
LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.
36:11 Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and
reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
36:12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God,
and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the
mouth of the LORD.
36:13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him
swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from
turning unto the LORD God of Israel.
36:14 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people,
transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and
polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.
36:15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers,
rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people,
and on his dwelling place:
36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and
misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his
people, till there was no remedy.
36:17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew
their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had
no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for
age: he gave them all into his hand.
36:18 And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the
treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and
of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.
36:19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of
Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed
all the goodly vessels thereof.
36:20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to
Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of
the kingdom of Persia:
36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the
land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept
sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
36:22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of
the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD
stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a
proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing,
saying,
36:23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth
hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build
him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of
all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.
Ezra
Chapter
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the
LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up
the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation
throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
1:2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given
me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an
house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
1:3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and
let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of
the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
1:4 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the
men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods,
and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that
is in Jerusalem.
1:5 Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the
priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to
go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.
1:6 And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with
vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with
precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.
1:7 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the
LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had
put them in the house of his gods;
1:8 Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of
Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince
of Judah.
1:9 And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand
chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,
1:10 Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred
and ten, and other vessels a thousand.
1:11 All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four
hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity
that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.
2:1 Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the
captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the
king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto
Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;
2:2 Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah,
Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men
of the people of Israel:
2:3 The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.
2:4 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
2:5 The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.
2:6 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two
thousand eight hundred and twelve.
2:7 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
2:8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.
2:9 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
2:10 The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.
2:11 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.
2:12 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.
2:13 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.
2:14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.
2:15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.
2:16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
2:17 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.
2:18 The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve.
2:19 The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.
2:20 The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.
2:21 The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three.
2:22 The men of Netophah, fifty and six.
2:23 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
2:24 The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.
2:25 The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred
and forty and three.
2:26 The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.
2:27 The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.
2:28 The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.
2:29 The children of Nebo, fifty and two.
2:30 The children of Magbish, an hundred fifty and six.
2:31 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and
four.
2:32 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
2:33 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five.
2:34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
2:35 The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.
2:36 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine
hundred seventy and three.
2:37 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
2:38 The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
2:39 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
2:40 The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of
Hodaviah, seventy and four.
2:41 The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.
2:42 The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children
of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of
Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.
2:43 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the
children of Tabbaoth,
2:44 The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of
Padon,
2:45 The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of
Akkub,
2:46 The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of
Hanan,
2:47 The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of
Reaiah,
2:48 The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of
Gazzam,
2:49 The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of
Besai,
2:50 The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of
Nephusim,
2:51 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of
Harhur,
2:52 The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of
Harsha,
2:53 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of
Thamah,
2:54 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
2:55 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the
children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
2:56 The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of
Giddel,
2:57 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of
Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.
2:58 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were
three hundred ninety and two.
2:59 And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub,
Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and
their seed, whether they were of Israel:
2:60 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of
Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.
2:61 And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the
children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the
daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:
2:62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by
genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted,
put from the priesthood.
2:63 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the
most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with
Thummim.
2:64 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three
hundred and threescore,
2:65 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven
thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two
hundred singing men and singing women.
2:66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two
hundred forty and five;
2:67 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six
thousand seven hundred and twenty.
2:68 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house
of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God
to set it up in his place:
2:69 They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work
threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of
silver, and one hundred priests' garments.
2:70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the
singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and
all Israel in their cities.
3:1 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were
in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to
Jerusalem.
3:2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the
priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and
builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings
thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
3:3 And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them
because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt
offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and
evening.
3:4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and
offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as
the duty of every day required;
3:5 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new
moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and
of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.
3:6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt
offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD
was not yet laid.
3:7 They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and
meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to
bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the
grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
3:8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at
Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,
and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the
priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the
captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years
old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.
3:9 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his
sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the
house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren
the Levites.
3:10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the
LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the
Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the
ordinance of David king of Israel.
3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto
the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward
Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised
the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
3:12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who
were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of
this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many
shouted aloud for joy:
3:13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy
from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with
a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the
children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of
Israel;
4:2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and
said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do;
and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur,
which brought us up hither.
4:3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers
of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an
house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD
God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
4:4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of
Judah, and troubled them in building,
4:5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all
the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of
Persia.
4:6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote
they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and
Jerusalem.
4:7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and
the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the
writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted
in the Syrian tongue.
4:8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against
Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
4:9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the
rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the
Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the
Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
4:10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper
brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on
this side the river, and at such a time.
4:11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto
Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at
such a time.
4:12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to
us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city,
and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
4:13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and
the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and
custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
4:14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was
not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and
certified the king;
4:15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers:
so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city
is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that
they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause
was this city destroyed.
4:16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the
walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this
side the river.
4:17 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to
Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in
Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
4:18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
4:19 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that
this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that
rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
4:20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled
over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was
paid unto them.
4:21 Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this
city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
4:22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow
to the hurt of the kings?
4:23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum,
and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to
Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
4:24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So
it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
5:1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of
Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the
name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
5:2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of
Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and
with them were the prophets of God helping them.
5:3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the
river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said thus unto them,
Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
5:4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the
men that make this building?
5:5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they
could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then
they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
5:6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river,
and Shetharboznai and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on
this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
5:7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius
the king, all peace.
5:8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea,
to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and
timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth
in their hands.
5:9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded
you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
5:10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the
names of the men that were the chief of them.
5:11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of
the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these
many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.
5:12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto
wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon,
the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into
Babylon.
5:13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king
Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
5:14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought
them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of
the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was
Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
5:15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the
temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his
place.
5:16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the
house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now
hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
5:17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search
made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it
be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of
God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning
this matter.
6:1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house
of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
6:2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the
province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:
6:3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a
decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be
builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the
foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore
cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
6:4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let
the expenses be given out of the king's house:
6:5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God,
which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem,
and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple
which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the
house of God.
6:6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and
your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far
from thence:
6:7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the
Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.
6:8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these
Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods,
even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto
these men, that they be not hindered.
6:9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and
lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine,
and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at
Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:
6:10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of
heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
6:11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word,
let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be
hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
6:12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all
kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy
this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree;
let it be done with speed.
6:13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and
their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so
they did speedily.
6:14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the
prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And
they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God
of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and
Artaxerxes king of Persia.
6:15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar,
which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
6:16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the
rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house
of God with joy.
6:17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred
bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering
for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes
of Israel.
6:18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in
their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is
written in the book of Moses.
6:19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the
fourteenth day of the first month.
6:20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them
were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the
captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
6:21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity,
and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness
of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,
6:22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the
LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria
unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God,
the God of Israel.
7:1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia,
Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
7:2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
7:3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
7:4 The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
7:5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son
of Aaron the chief priest:
7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law
of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted
him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
7:7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the
priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the
Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
7:8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the
seventh year of the king.
7:9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from
Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem,
according to the good hand of his God upon him.
7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to
do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
7:11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave
unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the
commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the
law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
7:13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his
priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill
to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
7:14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven
counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the
law of thy God which is in thine hand;
7:15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his
counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation
is in Jerusalem,
7:16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the
province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of
the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in
Jerusalem:
7:17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams,
lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer
them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
7:18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do
with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your
God.
7:19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house
of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
7:20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God,
which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's
treasure house.
7:21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the
treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest,
the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be
done speedily,
7:22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of
wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil,
and salt without prescribing how much.
7:23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently
done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath
against the realm of the king and his sons?
7:24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites,
singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall
not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
7:25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand,
set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are
beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye
them that know them not.
7:26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the
king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto
death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to
imprisonment.
7:27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing
as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is
in Jerusalem:
7:28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his
counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was
strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered
together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
8:1 These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy
of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes
the king.
8:2 Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of
the sons of David; Hattush.
8:3 Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and
with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.
8:4 Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with
him two hundred males.
8:5 Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three
hundred males.
8:6 Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him
fifty males.
8:7 And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him
seventy males.
8:8 And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with
him fourscore males.
8:9 Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two
hundred and eighteen males.
8:10 And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an
hundred and threescore males.
8:11 And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him
twenty and eight males.
8:12 And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him
an hundred and ten males.
8:13 And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet,
Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.
8:14 Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them
seventy males.
8:15 And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava;
and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the
priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
8:16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan,
and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and
for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of
understanding.
8:17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place
Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his
brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring
unto us ministers for the house of our God.
8:18 And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of
understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel;
and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
8:19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his
brethren and their sons, twenty;
8:20 Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for
the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of
them were expressed by name.
8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we
might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for
us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
8:22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and
horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken
unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good
that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that
forsake him.
8:23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of
us.
8:24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah,
Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
8:25 And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels,
even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his
counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
8:26 I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of
silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred
talents;
8:27 Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of
fine copper, precious as gold.
8:28 And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are
holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the
LORD God of your fathers.
8:29 Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of
the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at
Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.
8:30 So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and
the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of
our God.
8:31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the
first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us,
and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in
wait by the way.
8:32 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
8:33 Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels
weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah
the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them
was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;
8:34 By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was
written at that time.
8:35 Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were
come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of
Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and
seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt
offering unto the LORD.
8:36 And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's
lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they
furthered the people, and the house of God.
9:1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The
people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated
themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their
abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the
Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
9:2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their
sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of
those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in
this trespass.
9:3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and
plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
9:4 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of
the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been
carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
9:5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and
having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread
out my hands unto the LORD my God,
9:6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to
thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our
trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
9:7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto
this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests,
been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to
captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
9:8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our
God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy
place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving
in our bondage.
9:9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our
bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of
Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to
repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in
Jerusalem.
9:10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have
forsaken thy commandments,
9:11 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The
land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the
filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which
have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.
9:12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take
their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for
ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it
for an inheritance to your children for ever.
9:13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our
great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our
iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
9:14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with
the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us
till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor
escaping?
9:15 O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet
escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our
trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.
10:1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and
casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him
out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children:
for the people wept very sore.
10:2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered
and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken
strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel
concerning this thing.
10:3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all
the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my
lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let
it be done according to the law.
10:4 Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with
thee: be of good courage, and do it.
10:5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all
Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they
sware.
10:6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the
chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did
eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the
transgression of them that had been carried away.
10:7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all
the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves
together unto Jerusalem;
10:8 And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to
the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be
forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had
been carried away.
10:9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together
unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the
twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the
house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
10:10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have
transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of
Israel.
10:11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers,
and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the
land, and from the strange wives.
10:12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As
thou hast said, so must we do.
10:13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are
not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for
we are many that have transgressed in this thing.
10:14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them
which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times,
and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until
the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.
10:15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah
were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite
helped them.
10:16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest,
with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and
all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first
day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
10:17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives
by the first day of the first month.
10:18 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken
strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his
brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
10:19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives;
and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.
10:20 And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
10:21 And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and
Jehiel, and Uzziah.
10:22 And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel,
Jozabad, and Elasah.
10:23 Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same
is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
10:24 Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and
Telem, and Uri.
10:25 Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and
Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
10:26 And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and
Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.
10:27 And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and
Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
10:28 Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and
Athlai.
10:29 And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub,
and Sheal, and Ramoth.
10:30 And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah,
Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
10:31 And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah,
Shimeon,
10:32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
10:33 Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet,
Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
10:34 Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
10:35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
10:36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
10:37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
10:38 And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
10:39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
10:40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
10:41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
10:42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
10:43 Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and
Joel, Benaiah.
10:44 All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by
whom they had children.
Nehemiah
Chapter
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in
the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the
palace,
1:2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah;
and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left
of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
1:3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity
there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of
Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with
fire.
1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and
wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of
heaven,
1:5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and
terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and
observe his commandments:
1:6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou
mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day
and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins
of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and
my father's house have sinned.
1:7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the
commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou
commandedst thy servant Moses.
1:8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant
Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the
nations:
1:9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them;
though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven,
yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place
that I have chosen to set my name there.
1:10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed
by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
1:11 O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the
prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to
fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant
him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
2:1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of
Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine,
and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his
presence.
2:2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing
thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was
very sore afraid,
2:3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not
my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers'
sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
2:4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I
prayed to the God of heaven.
2:5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant
have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah,
unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.
2:6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how
long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the
king to send me; and I set him a time.
2:7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be
given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over
till I come into Judah;
2:8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may
give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which
appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the
house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the
good hand of my God upon me.
2:9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the
king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen
with me.
2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite,
heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to
seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
2:11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
2:12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told
I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither
was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
2:13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the
dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem,
which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
2:14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool:
but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
2:15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and
turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
2:16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had
I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor
to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
2:17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how
Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come,
and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a
reproach.
2:18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as
also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us
rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the
Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn,
and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel
against the king?
2:20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he
will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye
have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
3:1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests,
and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the
doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the
tower of Hananeel.
3:2 And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them
builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
3:3 But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the
beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the
bars thereof.
3:4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of
Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son
of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.
3:5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not
their necks to the work of their LORD.
3:6 Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and
Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up
the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
3:7 And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the
Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the
governor on this side the river.
3:8 Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the
goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the
apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
3:9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of
the half part of Jerusalem.
3:10 And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over
against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of
Hashabniah.
3:11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab,
repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
3:12 And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler
of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
3:13 The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they
built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars
thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.
3:14 But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of
part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the
locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
3:15 But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh,
the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the
doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of
the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go
down from the city of David.
3:16 After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half
part of Bethzur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David,
and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty.
3:17 After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto
him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his
part.
3:18 After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the
ruler of the half part of Keilah.
3:19 And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of
Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the
turning of the wall.
3:20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other
piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of
Eliashib the high priest.
3:21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz
another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of
the house of Eliashib.
3:22 And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
3:23 After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house.
After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his
house.
3:24 After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from
the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.
3:25 Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and
the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the
court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.
3:26 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against
the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
3:27 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the
great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
3:28 From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over
against his house.
3:29 After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house.
After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of
the east gate.
3:30 After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the
sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son
of Berechiah over against his chamber.
3:31 After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of
the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and
to the going up of the corner.
3:32 And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired
the goldsmiths and the merchants.
4:1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the
wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
4:2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said,
What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they
sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones
out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
4:3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which
they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
4:4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon
their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
4:5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out
from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the
builders.
4:6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the
half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
4:7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the
Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of
Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then
they were very wroth,
4:8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against
Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
4:9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch
against them day and night, because of them.
4:10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed,
and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
4:11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we
come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to
cease.
4:12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came,
they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto
us they will be upon you.
4:13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the
higher places, I even set the people after their families with their
swords, their spears, and their bows.
4:14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the
rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them:
remember the LORD, which is great and terrible, and fight for your
brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
4:15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto
us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of
us to the wall, every one unto his work.
4:16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my
servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the
spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers
were behind all the house of Judah.
4:17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with
those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work,
and with the other hand held a weapon.
4:18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and
so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
4:19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of
the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the
wall, one far from another.
4:20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye
thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
4:21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from
the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
4:22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one
with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a
guard to us, and labour on the day.
4:23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the
guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that
every one put them off for washing.
5:1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against
their brethren the Jews.
5:2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many:
therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
5:3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands,
vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
5:4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's
tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5:5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as
their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our
daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto
bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other
men have our lands and vineyards.
5:6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
5:7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the
rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother.
And I set a great assembly against them.
5:8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our
brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even
sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their
peace, and found nothing to answer.
5:9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the
fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
5:10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them
money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
5:11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their
vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part
of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of
them.
5:12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of
them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took
an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
5:13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his
house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus
be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and
praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
5:14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in
the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and
thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my
brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
5:15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable
unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty
shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people:
but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
5:16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we
any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
5:17 Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews
and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that
are about us.
5:18 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice
sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of
all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the
governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
5:19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done
for this people.
6:1 Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the
Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall,
and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had
not set up the doors upon the gates;)
6:2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet
together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they
thought to do me mischief.
6:3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so
that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it,
and come down to you?
6:4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered
them after the same manner.
6:5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth
time with an open letter in his hand;
6:6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu
saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou
buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these
words.
6:7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at
Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be
reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and
let us take counsel together.
6:8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou
sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
6:9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened
from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my
hands.
6:10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the
son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in
the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the
temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they
come to slay thee.
6:11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that,
being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go
in.
6:12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he
pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired
him.
6:13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and
sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might
reproach me.
6:14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these
their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the
prophets, that would have put me in fear.
6:15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month
Elul, in fifty and two days.
6:16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and
all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast
down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of
our God.
6:17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto
Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
6:18 For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son
in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the
daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
6:19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words
to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
7:1 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the
doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,
7:2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace,
charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above
many.
7:3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until
the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and
bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one
in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.
7:4 Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein,
and the houses were not builded.
7:5 And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and
the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy.
And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the
first, and found written therein,
7:6 These are the children of the province, that went up out of the
captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the
king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to
Judah, every one unto his city;
7:7 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah,
Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The
number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this;
7:8 The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.
7:9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
7:10 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.
7:11 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two
thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.
7:12 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
7:13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.
7:14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
7:15 The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.
7:16 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.
7:17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.
7:18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.
7:19 The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.
7:20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.
7:21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
7:22 The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.
7:23 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.
7:24 The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.
7:25 The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.
7:26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.
7:27 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
7:28 The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two.
7:29 The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred
forty and three.
7:30 The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.
7:31 The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two.
7:32 The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.
7:33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.
7:34 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and
four.
7:35 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
7:36 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
7:37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one.
7:38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
7:39 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine
hundred seventy and three.
7:40 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
7:41 The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
7:42 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
7:43 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the
children of Hodevah, seventy and four.
7:44 The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight.
7:45 The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the
children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the
children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight.
7:46 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the
children of Tabbaoth,
7:47 The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
7:48 The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of
Shalmai,
7:49 The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of
Gahar,
7:50 The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of
Nekoda,
7:51 The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of
Phaseah,
7:52 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of
Nephishesim,
7:53 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of
Harhur,
7:54 The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of
Harsha,
7:55 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of
Tamah,
7:56 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
7:57 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the
children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,
7:58 The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of
Giddel,
7:59 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of
Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon.
7:60 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were
three hundred ninety and two.
7:61 And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha,
Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house,
nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.
7:62 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of
Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.
7:63 And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz,
the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai
the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.
7:64 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by
genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put
from the priesthood.
7:65 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the
most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.
7:66 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three
hundred and threescore,
7:67 Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were
seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred
forty and five singing men and singing women.
7:68 Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two
hundred forty and five:
7:69 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven
hundred and twenty asses.
7:70 And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The
Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons,
five hundred and thirty priests' garments.
7:71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the
work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred
pound of silver.
7:72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand
drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and
seven priests' garments.
7:73 So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers,
and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in
their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel
were in their cities.
8:1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the
street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the
scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had
commanded to Israel.
8:2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of
men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the
first day of the seventh month.
8:3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate
from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those
that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive
unto the book of the law.
8:4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made
for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah,
and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his
left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and
Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
8:5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was
above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:
8:6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people
answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their
heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
8:7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai,
Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the
Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood
in their place.
8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the
sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
8:9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the
scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the
people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep.
For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the
sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for
this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the
LORD is your strength.
8:11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for
the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.
8:12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send
portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words
that were declared unto them.
8:13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the
fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the
scribe, even to understand the words of the law.
8:14 And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by
Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast
of the seventh month:
8:15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and
in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches,
and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches
of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
8:16 So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves
booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and
in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate,
and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
8:17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the
captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of
Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done
so. And there was very great gladness.
8:18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in
the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on
the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.
9:1 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of
Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon
them.
9:2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and
stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
9:3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of
the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part
they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.
9:4 Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani,
Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with
a loud voice unto the LORD their God.
9:5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah,
Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD
your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is
exalted above all blessing and praise.
9:6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven
of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are
therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them
all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
9:7 Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest
him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;
9:8 And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant
with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites,
and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it,
I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art
righteous:
9:9 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest
their cry by the Red sea;
9:10 And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his
servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they
dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this
day.
9:11 And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went
through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou
threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.
9:12 Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in
the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein
they should go.
9:13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from
heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes
and commandments:
9:14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them
precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:
9:15 And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest
forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst
them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn
to give them.
9:16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks,
and hearkened not to thy commandments,
9:17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou
didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion
appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready
to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness,
and forsookest them not.
9:18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy
God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great
provocations;
9:19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the
wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to
lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them
light, and the way wherein they should go.
9:20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest
not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.
9:21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that
they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled
not.
9:22 Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide
them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of
the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
9:23 Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and
broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to
their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.
9:24 So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst
before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them
into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that
they might do with them as they would.
9:25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses
full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit
trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat,
and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.
9:26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and
cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified
against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
9:27 Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who
vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee,
thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies
thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their
enemies.
9:28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore
leftest thou them in the land of their enemies, so that they had the
dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou
heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them
according to thy mercies;
9:29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again
unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy
commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he
shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck,
and would not hear.
9:30 Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against
them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear:
therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.
9:31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly
consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful
God.
9:32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible
God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little
before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and
on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy
people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
9:33 Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast
done right, but we have done wickedly:
9:34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers,
kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies,
wherewith thou didst testify against them.
9:35 For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great
goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou
gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.
9:36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest
unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold,
we are servants in it:
9:37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set
over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies,
and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.
9:38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and
our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.
10:1 Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of
Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
10:2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
10:3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
10:4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
10:5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
10:6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
10:7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
10:8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
10:9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons
of Henadad, Kadmiel;
10:10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
10:11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
10:12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
10:13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
10:14 The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
10:15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
10:16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
10:17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
10:18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
10:19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
10:20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
10:21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
10:22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
10:23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
10:24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
10:25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
10:26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
10:27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
10:28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters,
the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves
from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their
sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having
understanding;
10:29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a
curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses
the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the
LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;
10:30 And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the
land, not take their daughters for our sons:
10:31 And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the
sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or
on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the
exaction of every debt.
10:32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with
the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;
10:33 For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for
the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the
set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make
an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
10:34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the
people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house 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:
10:35 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of
all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:
10:36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is
written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks,
to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the
house of our God:
10:37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our
offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil,
unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the
tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have
the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
10:38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when
the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the
tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure
house.
10:39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring
the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the
chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that
minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the
house of our God.
11:1 And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the
people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the
holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.
11:2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered
themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
11:3 Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem:
but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their
cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims,
and the children of Solomon's servants.
11:4 And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the
children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of
Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah,
the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez;
11:5 And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of
Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah,
the son of Shiloni.
11:6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred
threescore and eight valiant men.
11:7 And these are the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the
son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of
Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah.
11:8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.
11:9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of
Senuah was second over the city.
11:10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.
11:11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of
Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the
house of God.
11:12 And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight
hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of
Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the
son of Malchiah.
11:13 And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two:
and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of
Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
11:14 And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and
eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.
11:15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of
Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
11:16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the
oversight of the outward business of the house of God.
11:17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of
Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and
Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua,
the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
11:18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and
four.
11:19 Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept
the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.
11:20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were
in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
11:21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the
Nethinims.
11:22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of
Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of
the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of
God.
11:23 For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain
portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
11:24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the
son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the
people.
11:25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of
Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon,
and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages
thereof,
11:26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,
11:27 And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,
11:28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,
11:29 And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,
11:30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields
thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from
Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.
11:31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and
Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages.
11:32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
11:33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
11:34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
11:35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
11:36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.
12:1 Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
12:2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
12:3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
12:4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,
12:5 Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
12:6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
12:7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests
and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
12:8 Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah,
and Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
12:9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in
the watches.
12:10 And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and
Eliashib begat Joiada,
12:11 And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.
12:12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers:
of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
12:13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
12:14 Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
12:15 Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;
12:16 Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
12:17 Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai:
12:18 Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
12:19 And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
12:20 Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
12:21 Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.
12:22 The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and
Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the
reign of Darius the Persian.
12:23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the
book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of
Eliashib.
12:24 And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the
son of 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.
12:25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were
porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates.
12:26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of
Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the
priest, the scribe.
12:27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the
Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the
dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing,
with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.
12:28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out
of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of
Netophathi;
12:29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and
Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about
Jerusalem.
12:30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified
the people, and the gates, and the wall.
12:31 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 dung gate:
12:32 And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
12:33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
12:34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
12:35 And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah
the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son
of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph:
12:36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai,
Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the
man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.
12:37 And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went
up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall,
above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.
12:38 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;
12:39 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 sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.
12:40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house
of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:
12:41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai,
Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
12:42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan,
and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with
Jezrahiah their overseer.
12:43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God
had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children
rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
12:44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the
treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes,
to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the
law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and
for the Levites that waited.
12:45 And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God,
and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David,
and of Solomon his son.
12:46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the
singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
12:47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of
Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day
his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the
Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.
13:1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the
people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite
should not come into the congregation of God for ever;
13:2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with
water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit
our God turned the curse into a blessing.
13:3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they
separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
13:4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the
chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
13:5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they
laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the
tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be
given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the
offerings of the priests.
13:6 But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and
thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and
after certain days obtained I leave of the king:
13:7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib
did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of
God.
13:8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household
stuff to Tobiah out of the chamber.
13:9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither
brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering
and the frankincense.
13:10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been
given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were
fled every one to his field.
13:11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of
God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
13:12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and
the oil unto the treasuries.
13:13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest,
and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was
Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted
faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
13:14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good
deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices
thereof.
13:15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the
sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine,
grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into
Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day
wherein they sold victuals.
13:16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all
manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and
in Jerusalem.
13:17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them,
What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
13:18 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 Israel by
profaning the sabbath.
13:19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be
dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and
charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some
of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be
brought in on the sabbath day.
13:20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without
Jerusalem once or twice.
13:21 Then I testified against them, and said 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 sabbath.
13:22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves,
and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath
day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according
to the greatness of thy mercy.
13:23 In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of
Ammon, and of Moab:
13:24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could
not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each
people.
13:25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of
them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye
shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters
unto your sons, or for yourselves.
13:26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many
nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God
made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish
women cause to sin.
13:27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to
transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
13:28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high
priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him
from me.
13:29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood,
and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
13:30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards
of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
13:31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the
firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
Esther
Chapter
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1:1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus
which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven
and twenty provinces:)
1:2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his
kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
1:3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes
and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes
of the provinces, being before him:
1:4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of
his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
1:5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the
people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and
small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;
1:6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of
fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds
were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white,
and black, marble.
1:7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being
diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the
state of the king.
1:8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so
the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they
should do according to every man's pleasure.
1:9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house
which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
1:10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine,
he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and
Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus
the king,
1:11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to
shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
1:12 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.
1:13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so
was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
1:14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish,
Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media,
which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
1:15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because
she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the
chamberlains?
1:16 And Memucan answered 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
Ahasuerus.
1:17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so
that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be
reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in
before him, but she came not.
1:18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all
the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus
shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
1:19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him,
and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that
it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and
let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
1:20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published
throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give
to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
1:21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did
according to the word of Memucan:
1:22 For he sent 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 should bear rule in his own house, and
that it should be published according to the language of every people.
2:1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased,
he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed
against her.
2:2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be
fair young virgins sought for the king:
2:3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his
kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto
Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege
the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for
purification be given them:
2:4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of
Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
2:5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was
Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a
Benjamite;
2:6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which
had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar
the king of Babylon had carried away.
2:7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter:
for she 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 daughter.
2:8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was
heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the
palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the
king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
2:9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he
speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as
belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out
of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best
place of the house of the women.
2:10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had
charged her that she should not shew it.
2:11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's
house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
2:12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus,
after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the
women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to
wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and
with other things for the purifying of the women;)
2:13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired
was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the
king's house.
2:14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the
second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's
chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no
more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by
name.
2:15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of
Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the
king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the
keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight
of all them that looked upon her.
2:16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the
tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his
reign.
2:17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained
grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set
the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
2:18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his
servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces,
and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
2:19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then
Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
2:20 Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai
had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as
when she was brought up with him.
2:21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the
king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door,
were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
2:22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the
queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
2:23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out;
therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the
book of the chronicles before the king.
3:1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of
Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the
princes that were with him.
3:2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed,
and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But
Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
3:3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto
Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?