The Holy Bible

Part 25 out of 74

31:7. In the third month they began to lay the foundations of the
heaps, and in the seventh month, they finished them.

31:8. And when Ezechias and his princes came in, they saw the heaps,
and they blessed the Lord and the people of Israel.

31:9. And Ezechias asked the priests and the Levites, why the heaps lay
so.

31:10. Azarias the chief priest of the race of Sadoc answered him,
saying: Since the firstfruits began to be offered in the house of the
Lord, we have eaten, and have been filled, and abundance is left,
because the Lord hath blessed his people: and of that which is left is
this great store which thou seest.

31:11. Then Ezechias commanded to prepare storehouses in the house of
the Lord. And when they had done so,

31:12. They brought in faithfully both the firstfruits, and the tithes,
and all they had vowed. And the overseer of them was Chonenias the
Levite, and Semei his brother was the second,

31:13. And after him Jehiel, and Azarias, and Nahath, and Asael, and
Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Jesmachias, and Mahath, and
Banaias, overseers under the hand of Chonenias, and Semei his brother,
by the commandment of Ezechias the king, and Azarias the high priest of
the house of God, to whom all things appertained.

31:14. But Core the son of Jemna the Levite, the porter of the east
gate, was overseer of the things which were freely offered to the Lord,
and of the firstfruits and the things dedicated for the holy of holies.

31:15. And under his charge were Eden, and Benjamin, Jesue, and
Semeias, and Amarias, and Sechenias, in the cities of the priests, to
distribute faithfully portions to their brethren, both little and
great:

31:16. Besides the males from three years old and upward, to all that
went into the temple of the Lord, and whatsoever there was need of in
the ministry, and their offices according to their courses, day by day.

31:17. To the priests by their families, and to the Levites from the
twentieth year and upward, by their classes and companies.

31:18. And to all the multitude, both to their wives, and to their
children of both sexes, victuals were given faithfully out of the
things that had been sanctified.

31:19. Also of the sons of Aaron who were in the fields and in the
suburbs of each city, there were men appointed, to distribute portions
to all the males, among the priests and the Levites.

31:20. So Ezechias did all things which we have said in all Juda, and
wrought that which was good, and right, and truth, before the Lord his
God,

31:21. In all the service of the house of the Lord according to the law
and the ceremonies, desiring to seek his God with all his heart, and he
did it and prospered.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 32

Sennacherib invadeth Juda: his army is destroyed by an angel. Ezechias
recovereth from his sickness: his other acts.

32:1. After these things, and this truth, Sennacherib king of the
Assyrians came and entered into Juda, and besieged the fenced cities,
desiring to take them.

32:2. And when Ezechias saw that Sennacherib was come, and that the whole
force of the war was turning against Jerusalem,

32:3. He took counsel with the princes, and the most valiant men, to stop
up the heads of the springs, that were without the city: and as they
were all of this mind,

32:4. He gathered together a very great multitude, and they stopped up
all the springs, and the brook, that ran through the midst of the land,
saying: Lest the kings of the Assyrians should come, and find abundance
of water.

32:5. He built up also with great diligence all the wall that had been
broken down, and built towers upon it, and another wall without: and he
repaired Mello in the city of David, and made all sorts of arms and
shields:

32:6. And he appointed captains of the soldiers of the army: and he
called them all together in the street of the gate of the city, and spoke
to their heart, saying:

32:7. Behave like men, and take courage: be not afraid nor dismayed for
the king of the Assyrians, nor for all the multitude that is with him:
for there are many more with us than with him.

32:8. For with him is an arm of flesh: with us the Lord our God, who is
our helper, and fighteth for us. And the people were encouraged with
these words of Ezechias king of Juda.

32:9. After this, Sennacherib king of the Assyrians sent his servants to
Jerusalem, (for he with all his army was besieging Lachis,) to Ezechias
king of Juda, and to all the people that were in the city, saying:

32:10. Thus saith Sennacherib king of the Assyrians: In whom do you
trust, that you sit still besieged in Jerusalem?

32:11. Doth not Ezechias deceive you, to give you up to die by hunger and
thirst, affirming that the Lord your God shall deliver you from the hand
of the king of the Assyrians?

32:12. Is it not this same Ezechias, that hath destroyed his high places,
and his altars, and commanded Juda and Jerusalem, saying: You shall
worship before one altar, and upon it you shall burn incense?

32:13. Know you not what I and my fathers have done to all the people of
the lands? have the gods of any nations and lands been able to deliver
their country out of my hand?

32:14. Who is there among all the gods of the nations, which my fathers
have destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your
God should be able to deliver you out of this hand?

32:15. Therefore let not Ezechias deceive you, nor delude you with a vain
persuasion, and do not believe him. For if no god of all the nations and
kingdoms, could deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of
my fathers, consequently neither shall your God be able to deliver you
out of my hand.

32:16. And many other things did his servants speak against the Lord God,
and against Ezechias his servant.

32:17. He wrote also letters full of blasphemy against the Lord the God
of Israel, and he spoke against him: As the gods of other nations could
not deliver their people out of my hand, so neither can the God of
Ezechias deliver his people out of this hand.

32:18. Moreover he cried out with a loud voice, in the Jews' tongue, to
the people that sat on the walls of Jerusalem, that he might frighten
them, and take the city.

32:19. And he spoke against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of
the people of the earth, the works of the hands of men.

32:20. And Ezechias the king, and Isaias the prophet the son of Amos,
prayed against this blasphemy, and cried out to heaven.

32:21. And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the stout men and the
warriors, and the captains of the army of the king of the Assyrians: and
he returned with disgrace into his own country. And when he was come
into the house of his god, his sons that came out of his bowels, slew him
with the sword.

32:22. And the Lord saved Ezechias and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out
of the hand of Sennacherib king of the Assyrians, and out of the hand of
all, and gave them treasures on every side.

32:23. Many also brought victims, and sacrifices to the Lord to
Jerusalem, and presents to Ezechias king of Juda: and he was magnified
thenceforth in the sight of all nations.

32:24. In those days Ezechias was sick even to death, and he prayed to
the Lord: and he heard him, and gave him a sign.

32:25. But he did not render again according to the benefits which he had
received, for his heart was lifted up: and wrath was enkindled against
him, and against Juda and Jerusalem.

32:26. And he humbled himself afterwards, because his heart had been
lifted up, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and therefore the
wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Ezechias.

32:27. And Ezechias was rich, and very glorious, and he gathered himself
great treasures of silver and of gold, and of precious stones, of spices,
and of arms, of all kinds, and of vessels of great price.

32:28. Storehouses also of corn, of wine, and of oil, and stalls for all
beasts, and folds for cattle.

32:29. And he built himself cities: for he had flocks of sheep, and
herds without number, for the Lord had given him very much substance.

32:30. This same Ezechias was, he that stopped the upper source of the
waters of Gihon, and turned them away underneath toward the west of the
city of David: in all his works he did prosperously what he would.

32:31. But yet in the embassy of the princes of Babylon, that were sent
to him, to inquire of the wonder that had happened upon the earth, God
left him that he might be tempted, and all things might be made known
that were in his heart.

32:32. Now the rest of the acts of Ezechias, and of his mercies are
written in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel.

32:33. And Ezechias slept with his fathers, and they buried him above the
sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Juda, and all the inhabitants
of Jerusalem celebrated his funeral: and Manasses his son reigned in his
stead.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 33

Manasses for his manifold wickedness is led captive to Babylon: he
repenteth, and is restored to his kingdom, and destroyeth idolatry: his
successor Amon is slain by his servants.

33:1. Manasses was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.

33:2. And he did evil before the Lord, according to all the
abominations of the nations, which the Lord cast out before the
children of Israel:

33:3. And he turned, and built again the high places which Ezechias his
father had destroyed: and he built altars to Baalim, and made groves,
and he adored all the host of heaven, and worshipped them.

The host of heaven. . .The sun, moon, and stars.

33:4. He built also altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord
had said: In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.

33:5. And he built them for all the host of heaven in the two courts of
the house of the Lord.

33:6. And he made his sons to pass through the fire in the valley of
Benennom: he observed dreams, followed divinations, gave himself up to
magic arts, had with him magicians, and enchanters: and he wrought many
evils before the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

33:7. He set also a graven, and a molten statue 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 out of all the tribes of Israel, will
I put my name for ever.

33:8. And I will not make the foot of Israel to be removed out of the
land which I have delivered to their fathers: yet so if they will take
heed to do what I have commanded them, and all the law, and the
ceremonies, and judgments by the hand of Moses.

33:9. So Manasses seduced Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to do
evil beyond all the nations, which the Lord had destroyed before the
face of the children of Israel.

33:10. And the Lord spoke to his people, and they would not hearken.

33:11. Therefore he brought upon them the captains of he army of the
king of the Assyrians: and they took Manasses, and carried him bound
with chains and fetters to Babylon.

33:12. And after that he was in distress he prayed to the Lord his God:
and did penance exceedingly before the God of his fathers.

33:13. And he entreated him, and besought him earnestly: and he heard
his prayer, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom, and
Manasses knew that the Lord was God.

33:14. After this he built a wall without the city of David, on the
west side of Gihon in the valley, from the entering in of the gate
round about to Ophel, and raised it up to a great height: and he
appointed captains of the army in all the fenced cities of Juda:

33:15. And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house
of the Lord: the altars also which he had made in the mount of the
house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and he cast them all out of the
city.

33:16. And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed upon it
victims, and peace offerings, and praise: and he commanded Juda to
serve the Lord the God of Israel.

33:17. Nevertheless the people still sacrificed in the high places to
the Lord their God.

33:18. But the rest of the acts of Manasses, and his prayer to his God,
and the words of the seers that spoke to him in the name of the Lord
the God of Israel, are contained in the words of the kings of Israel.

33:19. His prayer also, and his being heard and all his sins, and
contempt, and places wherein he built high places, and set up groves,
and statues before he did penance, are written in the words of Hozai.

33:20. And Manasses slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his
house: and his son Amon reigned in his stead.

33:21. Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned two years in Jerusalem.

33:22. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasses his father
had done: he sacrificed to all the idols which Manasses his father had
made, and served them.

33:23. And he did not humble himself before the lord, as Manasses his
father had humbled himself, but committed far greater sin.

33:24. And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own
house.

33:25. But the rest of the multitude of the people slew them that had
killed Amon, and made Josias his son king in his stead.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 34

Josias destroyeth idolatry, repaireth the temple, and reneweth the
covenant between God and the people.

34:1. Josias was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
one and thirty years in Jerusalem.

34:2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and
walked in the ways of David his father: he declined not, neither to the
right hand, nor to the left.

34:3. And in the eighth year of his reign, when he was yet a boy, he
began to seek the God of his father David: and in the twelfth year
after he began to reign, he cleansed Juda and Jerusalem from the high
places, and the groves, and the idols, and the graven things.

34:4. And they broke down before him the altars of Baalim, and
demolished the idols that had been set upon them: and he cut down the
groves and the graven things, and broke them in pieces: and strewed the
fragments upon the graves of them that had sacrificed to them.

34:5. And he burnt the bones of the priests on the altars of the idols,
and he cleansed Juda and Jerusalem.

34:6. And in the cities of Manasses, and of Ephraim, and of Simeon,
even to Nephtali he demolished all.

34:7. And when he had destroyed the altars, and the groves, and had
broken the idols in pieces, and had demolished all profane temples
throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

34:8. Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the
land, and the temple of the Lord, he sent Saphan the son of Elselias,
and Maasias the governor of the city, Joha the son of Joachaz the
recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.

34:9. And they came to Helcias the high priest: and received of him the
money which had been brought into the house of the Lord, and which the
Levites and porters had gathered together from Manasses, and Ephraim,
and all the remnant of Israel, and from all Juda, and Benjamin, and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem,

34:10. Which they delivered into the hands of them that were over the
workmen in the house of the Lord, to repair the temple, and mend all
that was weak.

34:11. But they gave it to the artificers, and to the masons, to buy
stones out of the quarries, and timber for the couplings of the
building, and to rafter the houses, which the kings of Juda had
destroyed.

34:12. And they did all faithfully. Now the overseers of the workmen
were Jahath and Abdias of the sons of Merari, Zacharias and Mosollam of
the sons of Caath, who hastened the work: all Levites skilful to play
on instruments.

34:13. But over them that carried burdens for divers uses, were
scribes, and masters of the number of the Levites, and porters.

34:14. Now when they carried out the money that had been brought into
the temple of the Lord, Helcias the priest found the book of the law of
the Lord, by the hand of Moses.

34:15. And he said to Saphan the scribe: I have found the book of the
law in the house of the Lord: and he delivered it to him.

34:16. But he carried the book to the king, and told him, saying: Lo,
all that thou hast committed to thy servants, is accomplished.

34:17. They have gathered together the silver that was found in the
house of the Lord: and it is given to the overseers of the artificers,
and of the workmen, for divers works.

34:18. Moreover Helcias the priest gave me this book. And he read it
before the king.

34:19. And when he had heard the words of the law, he rent his
garments:

34:20. And he commanded Helcias, and Ahicam the son of Saphan, and
Abdon the son of Micha, and Saphan the scribe, and Asaa the king's
servant, saying:

34:21. Go, and pray to the Lord for me, and for the remnant of Israel,
and Juda, concerning all the words of this book, which is found: for
the great wrath of the Lord hath fallen upon us, because our fathers
have not kept the words of the Lord, to do all things that are written
in this book.

34:22. And Helcias and they that were sent with him by the king, went
to Olda the prophetess, the wife of Sellum the son of Thecuath, the son
of Hasra keeper of the wardrobe: who dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second
part: and they spoke to her the words above mentioned.

34:23. And she answered them: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel:
Tell the man that sent you to me:

34:24. Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring evils upon this place,
and upon the inhabitants thereof, and all the curses that are written
in this book which they read before the king of Juda.

34:25. Because they have forsaken me, and have sacrificed to strange
gods, to provoke me to wrath with all the works of their hands,
therefore my wrath shall fail upon this place, and shall not be
quenched.

34:26. But as to the king of Juda that sent you to beseech the Lord,
thus shall you say to him: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel:
Because thou hast heard the words of this book,

34:27. And thy heart was softened, and thou hast humbled thyself in the
sight of God for the things that are spoken against this place, and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, and reverencing my face, hast rent thy
garments, and wept before me: I also have heard thee, saith the Lord.

34:28. For now I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be
brought to thy tomb in peace: and thy eyes shall not see all the evil
that I will bring upon this place, and the inhabitants thereof. They
therefore reported to the king all that she had said.

34:29. And he called together all the ancients of Juda and Jerusalem.

34:30. And went up to the house of the Lord, and all the men of Juda,
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites, and all
the people from the least to the greatest. And the king read in their
hearing, in the house of the Lord, all the words of the book.

34:31. And standing up in his tribunal, he made a covenant before the
Lord to walk after him, and keep his commandments, and testimonies, and
justifications with all his heart, and with all his soul, and to do the
things that were written in that book which he had read.

34:32. And he adjured all that were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to
do the same: and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the
covenant of the Lord the God of their fathers.

34:33. And Josias took away all the abominations out of all the
countries of the children of Israel and made all that were left in
Israel, to serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived they departed
not from the Lord the God of their fathers.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 35

Josias celebrateth a most solemn pasch. He is slain by the king of
Egypt.

35:1. And Josias kept a phase to the Lord in Jerusalem, and it was
sacrificed on the fourteenth day of the first month.

35:2. And he set the priests in their offices, and exhorted them to
minister in the house of the Lord.

35:3. And he spoke to the Levites, by whose instruction all Israel was
sanctified to the Lord, saying: Put the ark in the sanctuary of the
temple, which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built: for you
shall carry it no more: but minister now to the Lord your God, and to
his people Israel.

35:4. And prepare yourselves by your houses, and families according to
your courses, as David king of Israel commanded, and Solomon his son
hath written.

35:5. And serve ye in the sanctuary by the families and companies of
Levi.

35:6. And being sanctified kill the phase, and prepare your brethren,
that they may do according to the words which the Lord spoke by the
hand of Moses.

35:7. And Josias gave to all the people that were found there in the
solemnity of the phase, of lambs and of kids of the flocks, and of
other small cattle thirty thousand, and of oxen three thousand, all
these were of the king's substance.

35:8. And his princes willingly offered what they had vowed, both to
the people and to the priests and the Levites. Moreover Helcias, and
Zacharias, and Jahiel rulers of the house of the Lord, gave to the
priests to keep the phase two thousand six hundred small cattle, and
three hundred oxen.

35:9. And Chonenias, and Semeias and Nathanael, his brethren, and
Hasabias, and Jehiel, and Jozabad princes of the Levites, gave to the
rest of the Levites to celebrate the phase five thousand small cattle,
and five hundred oxen.

35:10. And the ministry was prepared, and the priests stood in their
office: the Levites also in their companies, according to the king's
commandment.

35:11. And the phase was immolated: and the priests sprinkled the blood
with their hand, and the Levites flayed the holocausts:

35:12. And they separated them, to give them by the houses and families
of every one, and to be offered to the Lord, as it is written in the
book of Moses, and with the oxen they did in like manner.

35:13. And they roasted the phase with fire, according to that which is
written in the law: but the victims of peace offerings they boiled in
caldrons, and kettles, and pots, and they distributed them speedily
among all the people.

35:14. And afterwards they made ready for themselves, and for the
priests: for the priests were busied in offering of holocausts and the
fat until night, wherefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for
the priests the sons of Aaron last.

35:15. And the singers the sons of Asaph stood in their order,
according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and
Idithun, the prophets of the king: and the porters kept guard at every
gate, so as not to depart one moment from their service, and therefore
their brethren the Levites prepared meats for them.

35:16. So all the service of the Lord was duly accomplished that day,
both in keeping the phase and offering holocausts upon the altar of the
Lord, according to the commandment of king Josias.

35:17. And the children of Israel that were found there, kept the phase
at that time, and the feast of unleavened seven days.

35:18. There was no phase like to this in Israel, from the days of
Samuel the prophet: neither did any of all the kings of Israel keep
such a phase as Josias kept, with the priests, and the Levites, and all
Juda, and Israel that were found, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

35:19. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josias was this phase
celebrated.

35:20. After that Josias had repaired the temple, Nechao king of Egypt
came up to fight in Charcamis by the Euphrates: and Josias went out to
meet him.

35:21. But he sent messengers to him, saying: What have I to do with
thee, O king of Juda? I come not against thee this day, but I fight
against another house, to which God hath commanded me to go in haste:
forbear to do against God, who is with me, lest he kill thee.

35:22. Josias would not return, but prepared to fight against him, and
hearkened not to the words of Nechao from the mouth of God, but went to
fight in the field of Mageddo.

35:23. And there he was wounded by the archers, and he said to his
servants: Carry me out of the battle, for I am grievously wounded.

35:24. And they removed him from the chariot into another, that
followed him after the manner of kings, and they carried him away to
Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in the monument of his fathers,
and all Juda and Jerusalem mourned for him,

35:25. Particularly Jeremias: whose lamentations for Josias all the
singing men and singing women repeat unto this day, and it became like
a law in Israel: Behold it is found written in the Lamentations.

35:26. Now the rest of the acts of Josias and of his mercies, according
to what was commanded by the law of the Lord:

35:27. And his works first and last, are written in the book of the
kings of Juda and Israel.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 36

The reigns of Joachaz, Joakim, Joachin, and Sedecias: the captivity of
Babylon released at length by Cyrus.

36:1. Then the people of the land took Joachaz the son of Josias, and
made him king instead of his father in Jerusalem.

36:2. Joachaz was three and twenty years old when he began to reign,
and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.

36:3. And the king of Egypt came to Jerusalem, and deposed him, and
condemned the land in a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of
gold.

36:4. And he made Eliakim his brother king in his stead, over Juda and
Jerusalem: and he turned his name to Joakim: but he took Joachaz with
him and carried him away into Egypt.

36:5. Joakim was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and
he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did evil before the Lord
his God.

36:6. Against him came up Nabuchodonosor king of the Chaldeans, and led
him bound in chains into Babylon.

36:7. And he carried also thither the vessels of the Lord, and put them
in his temple.

36:8. But the rest of the acts of Joakim, and his abominations, which
he wrought, and the things that were found in him, are contained in the
book of the kings of Juda and Israel. And Joachin his son reigned in
his stead.

36:9. Joachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did evil in the
sight of the Lord.

Eight years old. . .He was associated by his father to the kingdom, when
he was but eight years old; but after his father's death, when he
reigned alone, he was eighteen years old. 4 Kings 24.8.

36:10. And at the return of the year, king Nabuchodonosor sent, and
brought him to Babylon, carrying away at the same time the most
precious vessels of the house of the Lord: and he made Sedecias his
uncle king over Juda and Jerusalem.

36:11. Sedecias was one and twenty years old when he began to reign:
and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.

36:12. And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God, and did not
reverence the face of Jeremias the prophet speaking to him from the
mouth of the Lord.

36:13. He also revolted from king Nabuchodonosor, who had made him
swear by God: and he hardened his neck and his heart, from returning to
the Lord the God of Israel.

36:14. Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people wickedly
transgressed according to all the abominations of the Gentiles: and
they defiled the house of the Lord, which he had sanctified to himself
in Jerusalem.

36:15. And the Lord the God of their fathers sent to them, by the hand
of his messengers, rising early, and daily admonishing them: because he
spared his people and his dwelling place.

36:16. But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words,
and misused the prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his
people, and there was no remedy.

36:17. For he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, and he slew
their young men with the sword in the house of his sanctuary, he had no
compassion on young man, or maiden, old man or even him that stooped
for age, but he delivered them all into his hands.

36:18. And all the vessels of the house of Lord, great and small, and
the treasures of the temple and of the king, and of the princes he
carried away to Babylon.

36:19. And the enemies set fire to the house of God, and broke down the
wall of Jerusalem, burnt all the towers, and what soever was precious
they destroyed.

36:20. Whosoever escaped the sword, was led into Babylon, and there
served the king and his sons, till the reign of the king of Persia,

36:21. That the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremias might be
fulfilled, and the land might keep her sabbaths: for all the days of
the desolation she kept a sabbath, till the seventy years were expired.

36:22. But in the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, to fulfil
the word of the Lord, which he had spoken by the mouth of Jeremias, the
Lord stirred up the heart of Cyrus, king of the Persians: who commanded
it to be proclaimed through all his kingdom, and by writing also,
saying:

36:23. Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians: All the kingdoms of the
earth hath the Lord the God of heaven given to me, and he hath charged
me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea: who is there
among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him
go up.

THE FIRST BOOK OF ESDRAS

This Book taketh its name from the writer: who was a holy priest, and
doctor of the law. He is called by the Hebrews, Ezra.

1 Esdras Chapter 1

Cyrus king of Persia releaseth God's people from their captivity, with
license to return and build the temple in Jerusalem: and restoreth the
holy vessels which Nabuchodonosor had taken from thence.

1:1. In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of
the Lord by the mouth of Jeremias might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred
up the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians: and he made a proclamation
throughout all his kingdom, and in writing also, saying:

1:2. Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians: The Lord the God of heaven
hath given to me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he hath charged me
to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea.

1:3. Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him. Let
him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judea, and build the house of the
Lord the God of Israel: he is the God that is in Jerusalem.

1:4. And let all the rest in all places wheresoever they dwell, help
him every man from his place, with silver and gold, and goods, and
cattle, besides that which they offer freely to the temple of God,
which is in Jerusalem.

1:5. Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Juda and Benjamin, and
the priests, and Levites, and every one whose spirit God had raised up,
to go up to build the temple of the Lord, which was in Jerusalem.

1:6. And all they that were round about, helped their hands with
vessels of silver, and gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with
furniture, besides what they had offered on their own accord.

1:7. And king Cyrus brought forth vessels of the temple of the Lord,
which Nabuchodonosor had taken from Jerusalem, and had put them in the
temple of his god.

1:8. Now Cyrus king of Persia brought them forth by the hand of
Mithridates the son of Gazabar, and numbered them to Sassabasar the
prince of Juda.

1:9. And this is the number of them: thirty bowls of gold, a thousand
bowls of silver, nine and twenty knives, thirty cups of gold,

1:10. Silver cups of a second sort, four hundred and ten: other vessels
a thousand.

1:11. All the vessels of gold and silver, five thousand four hundred:
all these Sassabasar brought with them that came up from the captivity
of Babylon to Jerusalem.

1 Esdras Chapter 2

The number of them that returned to Judea: their oblations.

2:1. Now these are the children of the province, that went out of the
captivity, which Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away to
Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Juda, every man to his city.

2:2. Who came with Zorobabel, Josue, Nehemia, Saraia, Rahelaia,
Mardochai, Belsan, Mesphar, Beguai, Rehum, Baana. The number of the men
of the people of Israel:

2:3. The children of Pharos two thousand one hundred seventy-two.

2:4. The children of Sephatia, three hundred seventy-two.

2:5. The children of Area, seven hundred seventy-five.

2:6. The children of Phahath Moab, of the children of Josue: Joab, Two
thousand eight hundred twelve.

2:7. The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty-four.

2:8. The children of Zethua, nine hundred forty-five.

2:9. The children of Zachai, seven hundred sixty.

2:10. The children of Bani, six hundred forty-two.

2:11. The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three.

2:12. The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty-two.

2:13. The children of Adonicam, six hundred sixty-six.

2:14. The children of Beguai, two thousand fifty-six.

2:15. The children of Adin, four hundred fifty-four.

2:16. The children of Ather, who were of Ezechias, ninety-eight.

2:17. The children of Besai, three hundred and twenty-three.

2:18. The children of Jora, a hundred and twelve.

2:19. The children of Hasum, two hundred twenty-three.

2:20. The children of Gebbar, ninety-five.

2:21. The children of Bethlehem, a hundred twenty-three.

2:22. The men of Netupha, fifty-six.

2:23. The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty-eight.

2:24. The children of Azmaveth, forty-two.

2:25. The children of Cariathiarim, Cephira, and Beroth, seven hundred
forty-three.

2:26. The children of Rama and Gabaa, six hundred twenty-one.

2:27. The men of Machmas, a hundred twenty-two.

2:28. The men of Bethel and Hai, two hundred twenty-three.

2:29. The children of Nebo, fifty-two.

2:30. The children of Megbis, a hundred fifty-six.

2:31. The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred
fifty-five.

2:32. The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

2:33. The children of Lod, Hadid and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five.

2:34. The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.

2:35. The children of Senaa, three thousand six hundred thirty.

2:36. The priests: the children of Jadaia of the house of Josue, nine
hundred seventy-three.

2:37. The children of Emmer, a thousand fifty-two.

2:38. The children of Pheshur, a thousand two hundred forty-seven.

2:39. The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

2:40. The Levites: the children of Josue and of Cedmihel, the children
of Odovia, seventy-four.

2:41. The singing men: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty-eight.

2:42. The children of the porters: the children of Sellum, the children
of Ater, the children of Telmon, the children of Accub, the children of
Hatita, the children of Sobai: in all a hundred thirty-nine.

2:43. The Nathinites: the children of Siha, the children of Hasupha,
the children of Tabbaoth,

2:44. The children of Ceros, the children of Sia, the children of
Phadon,

2:45. The children of Lebana, the children of Hegaba, the children of
Accub,

2:46. The children of Hagab, the children of Semlai, the children of
Hanan,

2:47. The children of Gaddel, the children of Gaher, the children of
Raaia,

2:48. The children of Rasin, the children of Necoda, the children of
Gazam,

2:49. The children of Asa, the children of Phasea, the children of
Besee,

2:50. The children of Asena, the children of Munim, the children of
Nephusim,

2:51. The children of Bacbuc, the children of Hacupha, the children of
Harhur,

2:52. The children of Besluth, the children of Mahida, the children of
Harsa,

2:53. The children of Bercos, the children of Sisara, the children of
Thema,

2:54. The children of Nasia, the children of Hatipha,

2:55. The children of the servants of Solomon, the children of Sotai,
the children of Sopheret, the children of Pharuda,

2:56. The children of Jala, the children of Dercon, the children of
Geddel,

2:57. The children of Saphatia, the children of Hatil, the children of
Phochereth, which were of Asebaim, the children of Ami,

2:58. All the Nathinites, and the children of the servants of Solomon,
three hundred ninety-two.

2:59. And these are they that came up from Thelmela, Thelharsa, Cherub,
and Adon, and Emer. And they could not shew the house of their fathers
and their seed, whether they were of Israel.

2:60. The children of Dalaia, the children of Tobia, the children of
Necoda, six hundred fifty-two.

2:61. And of the children of the priests: the children of Hobia, the
children of Accos, the children of Berzellai, who took a wife of the
daughters of Berzellai, the Galaadite, and was called by their name:

2:62. These sought the writing of their genealogy, and found it not,
and they were cast out of the priesthood.

2:63. And Athersatha said to them, that they should not eat of the holy
of holies, till there arose a priest learned and perfect.

2:64. All the multitudes as one man, were forty-two thousand three
hundred and sixty:

Forty-two thousand, etc. . .Those who are reckoned up above of the
tribes of Juda, Benjamin, and Levi, fall short of this number. The
rest, who must be taken in to make up the whole sum, were of the other
tribes.

2:65. Besides their menservants, and womenservants, of whom there were
seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven: and among them singing
men, and singing women two hundred.

2:66. Their horses seven hundred thirty-six, their mules two hundred
forty-five,

2:67. Their camels four hundred thirty-five, their asses six thousand
seven hundred and twenty.

2:68. And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the
temple of the Lord, which is in Jerusalem, offered freely to the house
of the Lord to build it in its place.

2:69. According to their ability, they gave towards the expenses of the
work, sixty-one thousand solids of gold, five thousand pounds of
silver, and a hundred garments for the priests.

2:70. So the priests and the Levites, and some of the people, and the
singing men, and the porters, and the Nathinites dwelt in their cities,
and all Israel in their cities.

1 Esdras Chapter 3

An altar is built for sacrifice, the feast of tabernacles is solemnly
celebrated, and the foundations of the temple are laid.

3:1. And now the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel
were in their cities: and the people gathered themselves together as
one man to Jerusalem.

3:2. And Josue the son of Josedec rose up, and his brethren the
priests, and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and his brethren, and they
built the altar of the God of Israel that they might offer holocausts
upon it, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.

Josue. . .or Jesus (Jeshua) the son of Josedec; he was the high priest,
at that time.

3:3. And they set the altar of God upon its bases, while the people of
the lands round about put them in fear, and they offered upon it a
holocaust to the Lord morning and evening.

3:4. And they kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and
offered the holocaust every day orderly according to the commandment,
the duty of the day in its day.

3:5. And afterwards the continual holocaust, both on the new moons, and
on all the solemnities of the Lord, that were consecrated, and on all
in which a freewill offering was made to the Lord.

3:6. From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer
holocausts to the Lord: but the temple of God was not yet founded.

3:7. And they gave money to hewers of stones and to masons: and meat
and drink, and oil to the Sidonians and Tyrians, to bring cedar trees
from Libanus to the sea of Joppe, according to the orders which Cyrus
king of the Persians had given them.

3:8. And in the second year of their coming to the temple of God in
Jerusalem, the second month, Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Josue
the son of Josedec, and the rest of their brethren the priests, and the
Levites, and all that were come from the captivity to Jerusalem began,
and they appointed Levites from twenty years old and upward, to hasten
forward the work of the Lord.

3:9. Then Josue and his sons and his brethren, Cedmihel, and his sons,
and the children of Juda, as one man, stood to hasten them that did the
work in the temple of God: the sons of Henadad, and their sons, and
their brethren the Levites.

3:10. And when the masons laid the foundations of the temple of the
Lord, the priests stood in their ornaments with trumpets: and the
Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise God by the hands of
David king of Israel.

3:11. And they sung together hymns, and praise to the Lord: because he
is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Israel. And all the
people shouted with a great shout, praising the Lord, because the
foundations of the temple of the Lord were laid.

3:12. But many of the priests and the Levites, and the chief of the
fathers and the ancients that had seen the former temple; when they had
the foundation of this temple before their eyes, wept with a loud
voice: and many shouting for joy, lifted up their voice.

3:13. So that one could not distinguish the voice of the shout of joy,
from the noise of the weeping of the people: for one with another the
people shouted with a loud shout, and the voice was heard afar off.

1 Esdras Chapter 4

The Samaritans by their letter to the king hinder the building.

4:1. Now the enemies of Juda and Benjamin heard that the children of
the captivity were building a temple to the Lord the God of Israel.

4:2. And they came to Zorobabel, and the chief of the fathers, and said
to them: Let us build with you, for we seek your God as ye do: behold
we have sacrificed to him, since the days of Asor Haddan king of
Assyria, who brought us hither.

4:3. But Zorobabel, and Josue, and the rest of the chief of the fathers
of Israel said to them: You have nothing to do with us to build a house
to our God, but we ourselves alone will build to the Lord our God, as
Cyrus king of the Persians hath commanded us.

4:4. Then the people of the land hindered the hands of the people of
Juda, and troubled them in building.

4:5. And they hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their design
all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius
king of the Persians.

4:6. And in the reign of Assuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they
wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Juda and Jerusalem.

Assuerus. . .Otherwise called Cambyses the son and successor of Cyrus.
He is also in the following verse named Artaxerxes, a name common to
almost all the kings of Persia.

4:7. And in the days of Artaxerxes, Beselam, Mithridates, and Thabeel,
and the rest that were in the council wrote to Artaxerxes king of the
Persians: and the letter of accusation was written in Syrian, and was
read in the Syrian tongue.

4:8. Reum Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe wrote a letter from Jerusalem
to king Artaxerxes, in this manner:

4:9. Reum Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe and the rest of their
counsellors, the Dinites, and the Apharsathacites, the Therphalites,
the Apharsites, the Erchuites, the Babylonians, the Susanechites, the
Dievites, and the Elamites,

4:10. And the rest of the nations, whom the great and glorious
Asenaphar brought over: and made to dwell in the cities of Samaria and
in the rest of the countries of this side of the river in peace.

4:11. (This is the copy of the letter, which they sent to him:) To
Artaxerxes the king, thy servants, the men that are on this side of the
river, send greeting.

4:12. Be it known to the king, that the Jews, who came up from thee to
us, are come to Jerusalem a rebellious and wicked city, which they are
building, setting up the ramparts thereof and repairing the walls.

4:13. And now be it known to the king, that if this city be built up,
and the walls thereof repaired, they will not pay tribute nor toll, nor
yearly revenues, and this loss will fall upon the kings.

4:14. But we remembering the salt that we have eaten in the palace, and
because we count it a crime to see the king wronged, have therefore
sent and certified the king,

4:15. That search may be made in the books of the histories of thy
fathers, and thou shalt find written in the records: and shalt know
that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to the kings and
provinces, and that wars were raised therein of old time: for which
cause also the city was destroyed.

4:16. We certify the king, that if this city be built, and the walls
thereof repaired, thou shalt have no possession on this side of the
river.

4:17. The king sent word to Reum Beelteem and Samsai the scribe, and to
the rest that were in their council, inhabitants of Samaria, and to the
rest beyond the river, sending greeting and peace.

4:18. The accusation, which you have sent to 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 rebelled against kings, and seditions and
wars have been raised therein.

4:20. For there have been powerful kings in Jerusalem, who have had
dominion over all the country that is beyond the river: and have
received tribute, and toll and revenues.

4:21. Now therefore hear the sentence: Hinder those men, that this city
be not built, till further orders be given by me.

4:22. See that you be not negligent in executing this, lest by little
and little the evil grow to the hurt of the kings.

4:23. Now the copy of the edict of king Artaxerxes was read before Reum
Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe, and their counsellors: and they went
up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and hindered them with arm and
power.

4:24. Then the work of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem was
interrupted, and ceased till the second year of the reign of Darius
king of the Persians.

1 Esdras Chapter 5

By the exhortation of Aggeus, and Zacharias, the people proceed in
building the temple. Which their enemies strive in vain to hinder.

5:1. Now Aggeus the prophet, and Zacharias the son of Addo, prophesied
to the Jews that were in Judea and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of
Israel.

5:2. Then rose up Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Josue the son of
Josedec, and began to build the temple of God in Jerusalem, and with
them were the prophets of God helping them.

5:3. And at the same time came to them Thathanai, who was governor
beyond the river, and Stharbuzanai, and their counsellors: and said
thus to them: Who hath given you counsel to build this house, and to
repair the walls thereof?

5:4. In answer to which we gave them the names of the men who were the
promoters of that building.

5:5. But the eye of their God was upon the ancients of the Jews, and
they could not hinder them. And it was agreed that the matter should be
referred to Darius, and then they should give satisfaction concerning
that accusation.

5:6. The copy of the letter that Thathanai governor of the country
beyond the river, and Stharbuzanai, and his counsellors the
Arphasachites, who dwelt beyond the river, sent to Darius the king.

5:7. The letter which they sent him, was written thus: To Darius the
king all peace.

5:8. Be it known to the king, that we went to the province of Judea, to
the house of the great God, which they are building with unpolished
stones, and timber is laid in the walls: and this work is carried on
diligently and advanceth in their hands.

5:9. And we asked those ancients, and said to them thus: Who hath given
you authority to build this house, and to repair these walls?

5:10. We asked also of them their names, that we might give thee
notice: and we have written the names of the men that are the chief
among them.

5:11. And they answered us in these words, saying: We are the servants
of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building a temple that was
built these many years ago, and which a great king of Israel built and
set up.

5:12. But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to
wrath, he delivered them into the hands of Nabuchodonosor the king of
Babylon the Chaldean: and he destroyed this house, and carried away the
people to Babylon.

5:13. But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, king Cyrus
set forth a decree, that this house of God should be built.

5:14. And the vessels also of gold and silver of the temple of God,
which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the temple, that was in
Jerusalem, and had brought them to the temple of Babylon, king Cyrus
brought out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one
Sassabasar, whom also he appointed governor,

5:15. And said to him: Take these vessels, and go, and put them in the
temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its
place.

5:16. Then came this same Sassabasar, and laid the foundations of the
temple of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it is in
building, and is not yet finished.

5:17. Now therefore if it seem good to the king, let him search in the
king's library, which is in Babylon, whether it hath been decreed by
Cyrus the king, that the house of God in Jerusalem should be built, and
let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

1 Esdras Chapter 6

King Darius favoureth the building and contributeth to it.

6:1. Then king Darius gave orders, and they searched in the library of
the books that were laid up in Babylon,

6:2. And there was found in Ecbatana, which is a castle in the province
of Media, a book in which this record was written.

6:3. In the first year of Cyrus the king: Cyrus the king decreed, that
the house of God should be built, which is in Jerusalem, in the place
where they may offer sacrifices, and that they lay the foundations that
may support the height of threescore cubits, and the breadth of
threescore cubits,

6:4. Three rows of unpolished stones, and so rows of new timber: and
the charges shall be given out of the king's house.

6:5. And also let the golden and silver vessels of the temple of God,
which Nabuchodonosor took out of the temple of Jerusalem, and brought
to Babylon, be restored, and carried back to the temple of Jerusalem to
their place, which also were placed in the temple of God.

6:6. Now therefore Thathanai, governor of the country beyond the river,
Stharbuzanai, and your counsellors the Apharsachites, who are beyond
the river, depart far from them,

6:7. And let that temple of God be built by the governor of the Jews,
and by their ancients, that they may build that house of God in its
place.

6:8. I also have commanded what must be done by those ancients of the
Jews, that the house of God may be built, to wit, that of the king's
chest, that is, of the tribute that is paid out of the country beyond
the river, the charges be diligently given to those men, lest the work
be hindered.

6:9. And if it shall be necessary, let calves also, and lambs, and
kids, for holocausts to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil,
according to the custom of the priests that are in Jerusalem, be given
them day by day, that there be no complaint in any thing.

6:10. And let them offer oblations to the God of heaven, and pray for
the life of the king, and of his children.

6:11. And I have made a decree: That if any whosoever, shall alter this
commandment, a beam be taken from his house, and set up, and he be
nailed upon it, and his house be confiscated.

6:12. And may the God, that hath caused his name to dwell there,
destroy all kingdoms, and the people that shall put out their hand to
resist, and to destroy the house of God, that is in Jerusalem. I Darius
have made the decree, which I will have diligently complied with.

6:13. So then Thathanai, governor of the country beyond the river, and
Stharbuzanai, and his counsellors diligently executed what Darius the
king had commanded.

6:14. And the ancients of the Jews built, and prospered according to
the prophecy of Aggeus the prophet, and of Zacharias the son of Addo:
and they built and finished, by the commandment of the God of Israel,
and by the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes kings of
the Persians.

6:15. And they were finishing this house of God, until the third day of
the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of king
Darius.

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 the house
of God with joy.

6:17. And they offered at the dedication of the house of God, a hundred
calves, 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 over the works of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in
the book of Moses.

6:19. And the children of Israel of the captivity kept the phase, on
the fourteenth day of the first month.

6:20. For all the priests and the Levites were purified as one man: all
were clean to kill the phase for all the children of the captivity, and
for their brethren the priests, and themselves.

6:21. And the children of Israel that were returned from captivity, and
all that had separated themselves from the filthiness of the nations of
the earth to them, to seek the Lord the God of Israel, did eat.

6:22. And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy,
for the Lord had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king
of Assyria to them, that he should help their hands in the work of the
house of the Lord the God of Israel.

1 Esdras Chapter 7

Esdras goeth up to Jerusalem to teach, and assist the people, with a
gracious decree of Artaxerxes.

7:1. Now after these things in the reign of Artaxerxes king of the
Persians, Esdras the son of Saraias, the son of Azarias, the son of
Helcias,

7:2. The son of Sellum, the son of Sadoc, the son of Achitob,

7:3. The son of Amarias, the son of Azarias, the son of Maraioth,

7:4. The son of Zarahias, the son of Ozi, the son of Bocci,

7:5. The son of Abisue, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar, the son
of Aaron, the priest from the beginning.

7:6. This Esdras went up from Babylon, and he was a ready scribe in the
law of Moses, which the Lord God had given to Israel: 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
children of the priests, and of the children of the Levites, and of the
singing men, and of the porters, and of the Nathinites to Jerusalem in
the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

7:8. And they came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, in the seventh year
of the king.

7:9. For upon the first day of the first month he began to go up from
Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem
according to the good hand of his God upon him.

7:10. For Esdras had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord,
and to do and to teach in Israel the commandments and judgment.

7:11. And this is the copy of the letter of the edict, which king
Artaxerxes gave to Esdras the priest, the scribe instructed in the
words and commandments of the Lord, and his ceremonies in Israel.

7:12. Artaxerxes king of kings to Esdras the priest, the most learned
scribe of the law of the God of heaven, greeting.

7:13. It is decreed by me, that all they of the people of Israel, and
of the priests and of the Levites in my realm, that are minded to go
into Jerusalem, should go with thee.

7:14. For thou art sent from before the king, and his seven
counsellors, to visit Judea and Jerusalem according to the law of thy
God, which is in thy hand.

7:15. And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his
counsellors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose tabernacle
is in Jerusalem.

7:16. And all the silver and gold that thou shalt find in all the
province of Babylon, and that the people is willing to offer, and that
the priests shall offer of their own accord to the house of their God,
which is in Jerusalem,

7:17. Take freely, and buy diligently with this money, calves, rams,
lambs, with the sacrifices and libations of them, and offer them upon
the altar of the temple of your God, that is in Jerusalem.

7:18. And if it seem good to thee, and to thy brethren to do any thing
with the rest of the silver and gold, do it according to the will of
your God.

7:19. The vessels also, that are given thee for the sacrifice of the
house of thy God, deliver thou in the sight of God in Jerusalem.

7:20. And whatsoever more there shall be need of for the house of thy
God, how much soever thou shalt have occasion to spend, it shall be
given out of the treasury, and the king's exchequer, and by me.

7:21. I Artaxerxes the king have ordered and decreed to all the keepers
of the public chest, that are beyond the river, that whatsoever Esdras
the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require
of you, you give it without delay,

7:22. Unto a hundred talents of silver, and unto a hundred cores of
wheat, and unto a hundred bates of wine, and unto a hundred bates of
oil, and salt without measure.

7:23. All that belongeth to the rites of the God of heaven, let it be
given diligently in the house of the God of heaven: lest his wrath
should be enkindled against the realm of the king, and of his sons.

7:24. We give you also to understand concerning all the priests, and
the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nathinites, and
ministers of the house of this God, that you have no authority to
impose toll or tribute, or custom upon them.

7:25. And thou Esdras according to the wisdom of thy God, which is in
thy hand, appoint judges and magistrates, that may judge all the
people, that is beyond the river, that is, for them who know the law of
thy God, yea and the ignorant teach ye freely.

7:26. And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the
king diligently, judgment shall be executed upon him, either unto
death, or unto banishment, or to the confiscation of goods, or at least
to prison.

7:27. Blessed be the Lord the God of our fathers, who hath put this in
the king's heart, to glorify the house of the Lord, which is in
Jerusalem,

7:28. And hath inclined his mercy toward me before the king and his
counsellors, and all the mighty princes of the king: and I being
strengthened by the hand of the Lord my God, which was upon me,
gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

1 Esdras Chapter 8

The companions of Esdras. The fast which he appointed. They bring the
holy vessels into the temple.

8:1. Now these are the chief of families, and the genealogy of them,
who came up with me from Babylon in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.

8:2. Of the sons of Phinees, Gersom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of
the sons of David, Hattus.

8:3. Of the sons of Sechenias, the son of Pharos, Zacharias, and with
him were numbered a hundred and fifty men.

8:4. Of the sons of Phahath Moab, Eleoenai the son of Zareha, and with
him two hundred men.

8:5. Of the sons of Sechenias, the son of Ezechiel, and with him three
hundred men.

8:6. Of the sons of Adan, Abed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty
men.

8:7. Of the sons of Alam, Isaias the son of Athalias, and with him
seventy men.

8:8. Of the sons of Saphatia: Zebodia the son of Michael, and with him
eighty men.

8:9. Of the sons of Joab, Obedia the son of Jahiel, and with him two
hundred and eighteen men.

8:10. Of the sons of Selomith, the son of Josphia, and with him a
hundred and sixty men.

8:11. Of the sons of Bebai, Zacharias the son of Bebai: and with him
eight and twenty men.

8:12. Of the sons of Azgad, Joanan the son of Eccetan, and with him a
hundred and ten men.

8:13. Of the sons of Adonicam, who were the last: and these are their
names: Eliphelet, and Jehiel, and Samaias, and with them sixty men.

8:14. Of the sons of Begui, Uthai and Zachur, and with them seventy
men.

8:15. And I gathered them together to the river, which runneth down to
Ahava, and we stayed there three days: and I sought among the people
and among the priests for the sons of Levi, and found none there.

8:16. So I sent Eliezer, and Ariel, and Semeias, and Elnathan, and
Jarib, and another Elnathan, and Nathan, and Zacharias, and Mosollam,
chief men: and Joiarib, and Elnathan, wise men.

8:17. And I sent them to Eddo, who is chief in the place of Chasphia,
and I put in their mouth the words that they should speak to Eddo, and
his brethren the Nathinites in the place of Chasphia, that they should
bring us ministers of the house of our God.

8:18. And by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a most
learned man of the sons of Moholi the son of Levi the son of Israel,
and Sarabias and his sons, and his brethren eighteen,

8:19. And Hasabias, and with him Isaias of the sons of Merari, and his
brethren, and his sons twenty.

8:20. And of the Nathinites, whom David, and the princes gave for the
service of the Levites, Nathinites two hundred and twenty: all these
were called by their names.

8:21. And I proclaimed there a fast by the river Ahava, that we might
afflict ourselves before the Lord our God, and might ask of him a right
way for us and for our children, and for all our substance.

And I proclaimed a fast. . .It is not enough to part from Babylon, that
is, figuratively from sin, but we must also do works of penance; and
therefore Esdras here proclaimed an extraordinary fast to those that
were come from captivity. This shews that fasting was commanded and
practised from the earliest times.

8:22. For I was ashamed to ask the king for aid and for horsemen, to
defend us from the enemy in the way: because we had said to the king:
The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him in goodness: and his
power and strength, and wrath upon all them that forsake him.

8:23. And we fasted, and besought our God for this: and it fell out
prosperously unto us.

8:24. And I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sarabias, and
Hasabias, and with them ten of their brethren,

8:25. And I weighed unto them the silver and gold, and the vessels
consecrated for the house of our God, which the king and his
counsellors, and his princes, and all Israel, that were found had
offered.

8:26. And I weighed to their hands six hundred and fifty talents of
silver, and a hundred vessels of silver, and a hundred talents of gold,

8:27. And twenty cups of gold, of a thousand solids, and two vessels of
the best shining brass, beautiful as gold.

8:28. And I said to them: You are the holy ones of the Lord, and the
vessels are holy, and the silver and gold, that is freely offered to
the Lord the God of our fathers.

8:29. Watch ye and keep them, till you deliver them by weight before
the chief of the priests, and of the Levites, and the heads of the
families of Israel in Jerusalem, into the treasure of the house of the
Lord.

8:30. And the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver
and gold, and the vessels, to carry them to Jerusalem to the house of
our God.

8:31. Then we set forward from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of
the first month to go to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon
us, and 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 we stayed there three days.

8:33. And on the fourth day the silver and the gold, and the vessels
were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of
Urias the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinees, and with
them Jozabad the son of Josue, and Noadaia the son of Benoi, Levites.

8:34. According to the number and weight of everything: and all the
weight was written at that time.

8:35. Moreover the children of them that had been carried away that
were come out of the captivity, offered holocausts to the God of
Israel, twelve calves for all the people of Israel, ninety-six rams,
seventy-seven lambs, and twelve he goats for sin: all for a holocaust
to the Lord.

8:36. And they gave the king's edicts to the lords that were from the
king's court, and the governors beyond the river, and they furthered
the people and the house of God.

1 Esdras Chapter 9

Esdras mourneth for the transgression of the people: his confession and
prayer.

9:1. And after these things were accomplished, the princes came to me,
saying: The people of Israel, and the priests and Levites have not
separated themselves from the people of the lands, and from their
abominations, namely, of the Chanaanites, and the Hethites, and the
Pherezites, and the Jebusites, and the Ammonites, and the Moabites, and
the Egyptians, and the Amorrhites.

This shows how sinful it is to intermarry with those that the Church
forbids us, on account of the danger of perversion and falling off from
the true faith.

9:2. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for
their sons, and they have mingled the holy seed with the people of the
lands. And the hand of the princes and magistrates hath been first in
this transgression.

9:3. And when I had heard this word, I rent my mantle and my coat, and
plucked off the hairs of my head and my beard, and I sat down mourning.

9:4. And there were assembled to me all that feared the God of Israel,
because of the transgression of those that were come from the
captivity, and I sat sorrowful, until the evening sacrifice.

9:5. And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my affliction, and
having rent my mantle and my garment, I fell upon my knees, and spread
out my hands to the Lord my God,

9:6. And said: My God I am confounded and ashamed to lift up my face to
thee: for our iniquities are multiplied over our heads, and our sins
are grown up even unto heaven,

9:7. From the days of our fathers: and we ourselves also have sinned
grievously unto this day, and for our iniquities we and our kings, and
our priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the
lands, and to the sword, and to captivity, and to spoil, and to
confusion of face, as it is at this day.

9:8. And now as a little, and for a moment has our prayer been made
before the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant, and give us a pin in
his holy place, and that our God would enlighten our eyes, and would
give us a little life in our bondage.

A pin. . .or nail, here signifies a small settlement or holding; which
Esdras begs for, to preserve even a part of the people, who, by their
great iniquity had incurred the anger of God.

9:9. For we are bondmen, and in our bondage our God hath not forsaken
us, but hath extended mercy upon us before the king of the Persians, to
give us life, and to set up the house of our God, and to rebuild the
desolations thereof, and to give us a fence in Juda and 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 the hand of thy servants the
prophets, saying: The land which you go to possess, is an unclean land,
according to the uncleanness of the people, and of other lands, with
their abominations, who have filled it from mouth to mouth with their
filth.

9:12. Now therefore give not your daughters to their sons, and take not
their daughters for your sons, and seek not their peace, nor their
prosperity for ever: that you may be strengthened, and may eat the good
things of the land, and may have your children your heirs for ever.

9:13. And after all that is come upon us, for our most wicked deeds,
and our great sin, seeing that thou our God hast saved us from our
iniquity, and hast given us a deliverance as at this day,

9:14. That we should not turn away, nor break thy commandments, nor
join in marriage with the people of these abominations. Art thou angry
with us unto utter destruction, not to leave us a remnant to be saved?

9:15. O Lord God of Israel, thou art just: for we remain yet to be
saved as at this day. Behold we are before thee in our sin, for there
can be no standing before thee in this matter.

1 Esdras Chapter 10

Order is given for discharging strange women: the names of the guilty.

10:1. Now when Esdras was thus praying, and beseeching, and weeping,
and lying before the temple of God, there was gathered to him of Israel
an exceeding great assembly of men and women and children, and the
people wept with much lamentation.

10:2. And Sechenias the son of Jehiel of the sons of Elam answered, and
said to Esdras: We have sinned against our God, and have taken strange
wives of the people of the land: and now if there be repentance in
Israel concerning this,

10:3. Let us make a covenant with the Lord our God, to put away all the
wives, and such as are born of them, according to the will of the Lord,
and of them that fear the commandment of the Lord our God: let it be
done according to the law.

10:4. Arise, it is thy part to give orders, and we will be with thee:
take courage, and do it.

10:5. So Esdras arose, and made the chiefs of the priests and of the
Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this
word, and they swore.

10:6. And Esdras rose up from before the house of God, and went to the
chamber of Johanan the son of Eliasib, and entered in thither: he ate
no bread, and drank no water: for he mourned for the transgression of
them that were come out of the captivity.

10:7. And proclamation was made in Juda and Jerusalem to all the
children of the captivity, that they should assemble together into
Jerusalem.

10:8. And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to
the counsel of the princes and the ancients, all his substance should
be taken away, and he should be cast out of the company of them that
were returned from captivity.

10:9. Then all the men of Juda, and Benjamin gathered themselves
together to Jerusalem within three days, in the ninth month, the
twentieth day of the month: and all the people sat in the street of the
house of God, trembling because of the sin, and the rain.

10:10. And Esdras the priest stood up, and said to them: You have
transgressed, and taken strange wives, to add to the sins of Israel.

10:11. And now make confession to the Lord the God of your fathers, and
do his pleasure, and separate yourselves from the people of the land,
and from your strange wives.

10:12. And all the multitude answered and said with a loud voice:
According to thy word unto us, so be it done.

10:13. But as the people are many, and it is time of rain, and we are
not able to stand without, and it is not a work of one day or two, (for
we have exceedingly sinned in this matter,)

10:14. Let rulers be appointed in all the multitude: and in all our
cities, let them that have taken strange wives come at the times
appointed, and with them the ancients and the judges of every city,
until the wrath of our God be turned away from us for this sin.

10:15. Then Jonathan the son of Azahel, and Jaasia the son of Thecua
were appointed over this, and Mesollam and Sebethai, Levites, helped
them:

10:16. And the children of the captivity did so. And Esdras the priest,
and the men heads of the families in the houses of their fathers, and
all by their names, went 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 there were found among the sons of the priests that had
taken strange wives: Of the sons of Josue the son of Josedec, and his
brethren, Maasia, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Godolia.

10:19. And they gave their hands to put away their wives, and to offer
for their offence a ram of the flock.

10:20. And of the sons of Emmer, Hanani, and Zebedia.

10:21. And of the sons of Harim, Maasia, and Elia, and Semeia, and
Jehiel, and Ozias.

10:22. And of the sons of Pheshur, Elioenai, Maasia, Ismael, Nathanael,
Jozabed, and Elasa.

10:23. And of the sons of the Levites, Jozabed, and Semei, and Celaia,
the same is Calita, Phataia, Juda, and Eliezer.

10:24. And of the singing men, Elisiab: and of the porters, Sellum, and
Telem, and Uri.

10:25. And of Israel, of the sons of Pharos, Remeia, and Jezia, and
Melchia, and Miamin, and Eliezer, and Melchia, and Banea.

10:26. And of the sons of Elam, Mathania, Zacharias, and Jehiel, and
Abdi, and Jerimoth, and Elia.

10:27. And of the sons of Zethua, Elioenai, Eliasib, Mathania,
Jerimuth, and Zabad, and Aziaza.

10:28. And of the sons of Babai, Johanan, Hanania, Zabbai, Athalai:

10:29. And of the sons of Bani, Mosollam, and Melluch, and Adaia,
Jasub, and Saal, and Ramoth.

10:30. And of the sons of Phahath, Moab, Edna, and Chalal, Banaias, and
Maasias, Mathanias, Beseleel, Bennui, and Manasse.

10:31. And of the sons of Herem, Eliezer, Josue, Melchias, Semeias,
Simeon,

10:32. Benjamin, Maloch, Samarias.

10:33. And of the sons of Hasom, Mathanai, Mathatha, Zabad, Eliphelet,
Jermai, Manasse, Semei.

10:34. Of the sons of Bani, Maaddi, Amram, and Uel,

10:35. Baneas, and Badaias, Cheliau,

10:36. Vania, Marimuth, and Eliasib,

10:37. Mathanias, Mathania, and Jasi,

10:38. And Bani, and Bennui, Semei,

10:39. And Salmias, and Nathan, and Adaias,

10:40. And Mechnedebai, Sisai, Sarai,

10:41. Ezrel, and Selemiau, Semeria,

10:42. Sellum, Amaria, Joseph.

10:43. Of the sons of Nebo, Jehiel, Mathathias, Zabad, Zabina, Jeddu,
and Joel, and Banaia.

10:44. All these had taken strange wives, and there were among them
women that had borne children.

THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAS, WHICH IS CALLED THE SECOND OF ESDRAS

This Book takes its name from the writer, who was cupbearer to
Artaxerxes (surnamed Longimanus) king of Persia, and was sent by him
with a commission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. It is also called
the second book of Esdras; because it is a continuation of the history,
begun by Esdras, of the state of the people of God after their return
from captivity.

2 Esdras Chapter 1

Nehemias hearing the miserable state of his countrymen in Judea,
lamenteth, fasteth, and prayeth to God for their relief.

1:1. The words of Nehemias the son of Helchias. And it came to pass in
the month of Casleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in the castle of
Susa,

1:2. That Hanani one of my brethren came, he and some men of Juda; and
I asked them concerning the Jews, that remained and were left of the
captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

1:3. And they said to me: They that have remained, and are left of the
captivity there in the province, are in great affliction, and reproach:
and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates thereof are
burnt with fire.

1:4. And when I had heard these words, I sat down, and wept, and
mourned for many days: and I fasted, and prayed before the face of the
God of heaven.

1:5. And I said: I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, strong, great,
and terrible, who keepest covenant and mercy with those that love thee,
and keep thy commandments:

1:6. Let thy ears be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer
of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, night and day, for the
children of Israel thy servants: and I confess the sins of the children
of Israel, by which they have sinned against thee: I and my father's
house have sinned.

1:7. We have been seduced by vanity, and have not kept thy
commandments, and ceremonies and judgments, which thou hast commanded
thy servant Moses.

1:8. Remember the word that thou commandedst to Moses thy servant,
saying: If you shall transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the
nations:

1:9. But if you return to me, and keep my commandments, and do them,
though you should be led away to the uttermost parts of the world, I
will gather you from thence, and bring you back to the place which I
have chosen for my name to dwell there.

1:10. And these are thy servants, and thy people: whom thou hast
redeemed by thy great strength, and by thy mighty hand.

1:11. I beseech thee, O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of
thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy
name: and direct thy servant this day, and give him mercy before this
man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

2 Esdras Chapter 2

Nehemias with commission from king Artaxerxes cometh to Jerusalem: and
exhorteth the Jews to rebuild the walls.

2:1. And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year
of Artaxerxes the king: that wine was before him, and I took up the
wine, and gave it to the king: and I was as one languishing away before
his face.

2:2. And the king said to me: Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou
dost not appear to be sick? this is not without cause, but some evil, I
know not what, is in thy heart. And I was seized with an exceeding
great fear:

2:3. And I said to the king: O king, live for ever: why should not my
countenance be sorrowful, seeing the city of the place of the
sepulchres of my fathers is desolate, and the gates thereof are burnt
with fire?

2:4. Then the king said to me: For what dost thou make request? And I
prayed to the God of heaven,

2:5. And I said to the king: If it seem good to the king, and if thy
servant hath found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldst send me into
Judea to the city of the sepulchre of my father, and I will build it.

2:6. And the king said to me, and the queen that sat by him: For how
long shall thy journey be, and when wilt thou return? And it pleased
the king, and he sent me: and I fixed him a time.

2:7. And I said to the king: If it seem good to the king, let him give
me letters to the governors of the country beyond the river, that they
convey me over, till I come into Judea:

2:8. And a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, to give me
timber that I may cover the gates of the tower of the house, and the
walls of the city, and the house that I shall enter into. And the king
gave me according to the good hand of my God with me.

2:9. And I came to the governors of the country beyond the river, and
gave them the king's letters. And the king had sent with me captains of
soldiers, and horsemen.

2:10. And Sanaballat the Horonite, and Tobias the servant, the
Ammonite, heard it, and it grieved them exceedingly, that a man was
come, who sought the prosperity of the children of Israel.

2:11. And I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

2:12. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me, and I told
not any man what God had put in my heart to do in Jerusalem, and there
was no beast with me, but the beast that I rode upon.

2:13. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, and before the
dragon fountain, and to the dung gate, and I viewed the wall of
Jerusalem which was broken down, and the gates thereof which were
consumed with fire.

2:14. And I passed to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's
aqueduct, and there was no place for the beast on which I rode to pass.

2:15. And I went up in the night by the torrent, and viewed the wall,
and going back I came to the gate of the valley, and returned.

2:16. But the magistrates knew not whither I went, or what I did:
neither had I as yet told any thing to the Jews, or to the priests, or
to the nobles, or to the magistrates, or to the rest that did the work.

2:17. Then I said to them: You know the affliction wherein we are,
because Jerusalem is desolate, and the gates thereof are consumed with
fire: come, and let us build up the walls of Jerusalem, and let us be
no longer a reproach.

2:18. And I shewed them how the hand of my God was good with me, and
the king's words, which he had spoken to me, and I said: Let us rise
up, and build. And their hands were strengthened in good.

2:19. But Sanaballat the Horonite, and Tobias the servant, the
Ammonite, and Gossem the Arabian heard of it, and they scoffed at us,
and despised us, and said: What is this thing that you do? are you
going to rebel against the king?

2:20. And I answered them, and said to them: The God of heaven he
helpeth us, and we are his servants: let us rise up and build: but you
have no part, nor justice, nor remembrance in Jerusalem.

2 Esdras Chapter 3

They begin to build the walls: the names and order of the builders.

3:1. Then Eliasib the high priest arose, and his brethren the priests,
and they built the flock gate: they sanctified it, and set up the doors
thereof, even unto the tower of a hundred cubits they sanctified it
unto the tower of Hananeel.

3:2. And next to him the men of Jericho built: and next to them built
Zachur the son of Amri.

3:3. But the fish gate the sons of Asnaa built: they covered it, and
set up the doors thereof, and the locks, and the bars. And next to them
built Marimuth the son of Urias the son of Accus.

4. And next to him built Mosollam the son of Barachias, the son of
Merezebel, and next to them built Sadoc the son of Baana.

5. And next to them the Thecuites built: but their great men did not
put their necks to the work of their Lord.

3:6. And Joiada the son of Phasea, and Mosollam the son of Besodia
built the old gate: they covered it and set up the doors thereof, and
the locks, and the bars.

3:7. And next to them built Meltias the Gabaonite, and Jadon the
Meronathite, the men of Gabaon and Maspha, for the governor that was in
the country beyond the river.

3:8. And next to him built Eziel the son of Araia the goldsmith: and
next to him built Ananias the son of the perfumer: and they left
Jerusalem unto the wall of the broad street.

3:9. And next to him built Raphaia the son of Hur, lord of the street
of Jerusalem.

3:10. And next to him Jedaia the son of Haromaph over against his own
house: and next to him built Hattus the son of Hasebonia.

3:11. Melchias the son of Herem, and Hasub the son of Phahath Moab,
built half the street, and the tower of the furnaces.

3:12. And next to him built Sellum the son of Alohes, lord of half the
street of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.

3:13. And the gate of the valley Hanun built, and the inhabitants of
Zanoe: they built it, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks, and
the bars, and a thousand cubits in the wall unto the gate of the

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