the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine, and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers, of the houfe of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the fame Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. 38 And the prieft, the fon of Aaron, fhall be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites fhall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the houfe of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure houfe. 39 For the children of Ifracl, and the children of Levi, fhall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil unto the chambers where are the veffels of the fanc tuary, and the priests that minifter, and the porters, and the fingers: and we will not forfake the houfe of our God." CHAP. XI. The rulers, voluntary men, and the tenth man chofen by lat, drvell at Jerufalem: 3 a catalogue of their names. 13 And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amathai, the fon of Azareel, the fon of Ahafai, the fon of Mefhillemoth, the fon of Immer, 14 And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overfeer was Zabdiel, the fon of one of the great men. 15 Alfo of the Levites: Shemaiah, the fon of Hafhub, the fon of Azrikam, the fon of Hafhabiah, the fon of Bunni. 16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the overfight of the outward bufinefs of the houfe of God. 17 And Mattaniah, the ion of Micha, the fon of Zabdi, the fon of Afaph, was the prin cipal, to begin the thankfgiving in prayer; and Bakbuklah, the fecond among his brethren, and Abda, the fon of Shammua, the fon of Galal, the fon of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites, in the holy city, were two hundred fourfcore and four. 19 Moreover, the porters, Akkuh, Tal were an hundred feventy and two. And the rulers of the people oven at lemon, and their brethren that kept the gates, rufalem: the reft of the people alfo cait lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerufalem the holy city and nine parts to dwell in other cities. 2 And the people bleffed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerufalem. 3 Now thefe are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerufalem, but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his pof seifion in their cities,) to quit, Ifrael, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomons fervants. 4 And at Jerufalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin of the children of Judah; Athaiah, the fon of Uzziah, the fon of Zechariah, the fon of Amariah, the fon of Shephatiah, the fon of Mahalalcel, of the children of Perez; 5 And Maafeiah, the son of Baruch, the fon of Col-hozch; the fon of Hazaiah, the fon of Adaiah, the fon of Jolarib, the fon of Zechariah, the fon of Shiloni. 6 All the fons of Perez, that dwelt at Jerufalem, were four hundred threefcore and eight vallant men. 7 And thefe are the fons of Benjamin; Sallu, the fon of Mehullam, the fon of Joed, the fon of Pedaiah, the fon of Kolalah, the fon of Maafciah, the fon of Ithiel, the fon of Jefaiah. 8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight. 9 And Joel, the fon of Zichri, was their overfeer: and Judah, the fon of Senuah tuas fecond over the city. 10 Of the pricfts; Jedaiah, the fan of Joiarib, Jachin. 11 Seraiah, the fon of Hilkiah, the fon of Mefbullam, the fon of Zadok, the fon of Meraioth, the fon of Ahitub, Teas the ruler of the house of God. 12 And their brethren, that did the work of the houfe, terer eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah, the fon of Jeroham, the fan of Pelaliah, the fon of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the fon of Pafhur, the fon of Malchiah, 20 And the refidue of Ifrael, of the priests and the Levites, were in all the cities of Ju dah, every one in his inheritance. 21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel : and Ziha and Gifpa vere over the Nethi nims. 22 The overfeer alfo of the Levites at Jerufalem was Uzzi, the fon of Bani, the fon of Hafhabiah, the fon of Mattaniah, the fon of Micha: of the fons of Afaph, the fing ers were over the bufinefs of the house of God. 23 For it was the kings commandment concerning them, that a certain portion fhould be for the fingers, due for every day. 24 And Pethahiah, the fon of Mefhezabeel, of the children of Zerah, the fon of Judah, was at the kings hand in all matters concerning the people. 25 And for the villages, with their fields, fome of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjath-arba, and in the villages thereof and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof. 16 And at Jefhua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-phelet, 27 And at Hazar-fhual, and at Beer-sheba, and in the villages thereof, 28 And at Ziklag, and at Nekonah, and in the villages thereof, 19 And at En-rimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth, 30 Zannah, Addullam, and in their villages at Lachith, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley. of Hinnom. 31 The children alfo of Benjamin from Geba dwell at Michmash, and Aija, and Beth-el, and in their villages. 32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 And of the Levites were divifions in Judah, and in Benjamin. CHAP. XII. The priests which came up with Zerubbabel, 10 the fucceffion of the high priests. Nthat went up with Zerubbabel, the ion Tow thete are the priests and the Levites of Shealtiel, and Jefhua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattufh, 5 Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, and Joiario, Jedaiah, 7 Sanu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiali. Thefe were the chief of the priests, and of their brethren in the days of Jethua. 8 Moreover the Levites: Jefhna, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. 9 Alfo Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches. to And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim al10 begat Eliahib. and Eliathib begat Joiada, 11 And Joada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua. 12 And in the days of Joiakim were priefts, the chief of the fathers: of Scraiah, Meraiah: of Jeremiah, Hananiah: 13 Of Ezra, Methullam of Amariah, Jehohanan: 14 Of Melicu, Jonathan: of Shebaniah, Jofeph: 15 Of Harim, Adua: of Meraioth, Helkai: 16 Of Iddo, Zechariah: of Ginnethon, Mefhullam: 17 Of Abijah, Zichri: of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai: 18 Of Bilgah, Shammua: of Shemaiah, Jehonathan: 19 And of Joiarib, Mattenai: of Jedaiah, Uzzi: 20 Of Sallai, Kallai: Of Amok, Eber: 21 Of Hilkiah, Hathabiali: of Jedaiah, Nethaneel. 22 The Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers, alfo the pricfts, to the reign of Darius the Perfian. 23 The tons of Levi, the chief of the fathers were written in the book of the Chro nicles, even until the days of Johanan, the fon of Eliathib. 24 And the chief of the Levites: Hafhabiah, Sherebiah, and Jefhua, the fon of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praife and to give thanks according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over againfl ward. 25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Mefhullam, Talmon, Akkub zuere porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates. 26 Theie teerein the days of Joiakim, the fon of Jefhua, the fon of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest the fcribe.. 27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerufalem they fought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladnefs, both with thanksgivings, and with finging, with cymbals, pfalteries and with harps. 28 And the fons of the fingers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerufalem, and from the villages of Netophathi; 29 Alla from the houfe of Gilgal, and out the fingers had builded them villages round of the house of Geba, and Azmaveth: for about Jerufalem. 30 And the priefts and the Levites purified themfelves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall. 31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great Companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall, toward the dung-gate; 32 And after them went Hothaiah, and half of the princes of Judah. 33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Mefhullam, 31 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah; 35 And certain of the pricfts fons with trompets; namely, Zechariah, the fon of Jonathan, the fon of Shemaiah, the fon of Mattaniah, the fon of Michaiah, the fon of Zaccur, the fon of Afaph; 36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milala, Gilalai, Maai, Nethancel, and Judah, Hanani, with the mufical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the fcribe before them. 37 And at the fountain-gate, which was over against them, they went up by the tairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the houfe of David, even unto the water-gate eaft-ward. 38 And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall; 39 And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fishgate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the fheep-gate; and they flood ftill in the prifon-gate. 40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the houfe of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me: 41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maafeial, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah with trumpets; 42 And Maafeiah, and Shemaiali, and Elcazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijab, and Elam, and Ezer: and the fingers fang loud, with Jezrahiah their overfeer. 43 Allo that day they offered great facritices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives alfo and the children rejoiced; fo that the joy of Jefalem was heard even afar off. 44 And at that time werefome appointed over the chambers for the treafures, for the offerings for the firft-fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priefts and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the pricfts and for the Levites that waited. 45 And both the fingers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification according to the commandment of David and of Solomon his fon. 46 For in the days of David and Afaph, of old, there were chief of the fingers, and fongs of praife and thankfgiving unto God. 47 And all Ifracl, in the days of Zerubba- bringing in fhcaves, and lading affes; as alfo wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerufalem on the fabbath day: and I tetined against them in the day wherein they told victuals. bel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the fingers and the porters every day his portion: and they fanctified holy things unto the Levites, and the Levites fanctified them unto the children of Aaron. CHAP. XIII. Upon the reading of the late separation is made from the mixed multitude. 10 Nahemiah reformeth the offices in the house of God. N that day they read in the book of Moles in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite thould not come into the congregation of God for ever. 2 Because they met not the children of Ifrael with bread and with water, but hired Balaam againit them, that he thould curie them; howbeit, our God turned the curfe into a blefing. 3 Now, it came to pafs, when they had heard the law, that they leparated from Ifrael all the mixed multitude.. 4. And before this Eliathib the priest, having the overfight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: 5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincenfe, and the veffels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, (which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the fingers, and the porters,) and the offerings of the priests. 6 But in all this time was not I at Jernfalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained 1 leave of the king. 7 And I came to Jerufalem, and underftood of the evil that Eliafhib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the houfe of God. 8 And it grieved me fore; therefore I caft forth all the houthold-ftuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I commanded, and they cleanfed the chambers; and thither brought I again the veffels of the houfe of God, with the meat-offering and the frankincenfe. : 10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them for the Levites and the fingers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. 11 Then contended I with the rulers, and faid, Why is the houfe of God forfaken? And 1 gathered them together, and fet them in their place. 12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn, and the new wine, and the oil, unto the treafuries. 13 And I made treafurers over the treafuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the fcribe; and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan, the fon of Zaccur, the fon of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful; and their office was to diftribute unto their brethren. 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the houfe of my God, and for the offices thereof. 15 In those days faw 1 in Judah some reading wine-prefes on the fabbath, and 16 There dwelt men of Tyre alfo therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and fold on the fabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerufalem. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and faid unto them, What evil thing i this that ye de, and profane the fabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon ifrael by profaning the fabbath. 19 And it came to pafs, that when the gates of Jerufalem began to be dark before the fabbath, I commanded that the gates fhould be thut, and charged that they thould not be opened till after the fabbath: and fome of my fervants fet I at the gates, that there fhould no burden be brought in, on the fabbath-day. 20 So the merchants and fellers of all kind of ware, lodged without Jerufalem once or twice." 21 Then I teftified against them, and faid unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall f if ye do fa again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the fabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites, that they thould cleanfe themfelves, and that they thould come and keep the gates, to fanctify the fabbath-day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this alfo, and ipare me according to the greatnels of thy mercy. 23 In thofe days aifo faw I jews that had married wives of Afhdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: 24 And their children fpake half in the fpeech of Athdod, and could not fpeak in the Jews language, but according to the language of each people. 25 And I contended with them, and curfed them, and note certain of them, and plucked off their hair and made them fwear by God, ying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their fons, nor take their daughters unto your fons, or for yourselves. 26. Did not Solomon king of Ifrael fin by thefe things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Ifrael: nevertheless, even him did outlandith women caufe to fin. 27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to tranfgrefs against our God, in marrying ftrange wives? 28 And one of the fons of Joiada, the fon of Ellashib the high pricit, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chafed him from me. 29 Remember them Omy God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. 30 Flus cleanfed them from all trangers and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his bufinefs; 31 And for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the firit-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. CHAP. 1. Ahasuerus maketh royal feafts. 10 Vahti fent jor, refufeth to come. N OW it came to pafs, in the days of Ahainerus, (this is Ahafuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, ever an hundred and feven and twenty provinces,) 2 That in those days, when the king Ahafuerus. fat on the throne of his kingdom, which reas in Shuthan the palace, 3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feaft unto all his princes, and his fervants; the power of Perfia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him; 4 When he fhewed the riches of his glorious kingdom, and the honour of his excel lent majcity, many days, even an hundred and fourfcore days. 5 And when thefe days were expired, the king made a feat unto all the people that were prefent in Shuthan the palace, both unto great and fail, feven days, in the court of the garden of the kings palace, 6 Where were white, green, and blue hangings, fattened with cords of fine linen and purple to filver rings, and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and filver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black marble. 7 And they gave them drink in vellels of gold, (the veffels being diverfe one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the ftate of the king. 8 And the drinking wa none did compel: for forthcording to thelaw; had appoint cd to all the officers of his houfe, that they fhould do according to every mans pleasure. 9 Alfo Fathti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal houfe which belonged to king Ahafuerus. 10 On the feventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he comimanded Mchuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the feven chainberlains that ferved in the prefence of Ahafuerus the king, 11 To bring Vahti the queen before the king, with the crown royal, to fhew the people and the princes her beauty; for he was fair to look on. 12 But the queen Vashti refufed to come at the kings commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him." 13. Then the king faid to the wife men which knew the times, (for fo was the kings manner toward all that knew law and judgment; 14 And the next unto him was Carthena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarthith, Meres, Marfena, and Memucan, the feven princes of Perfia and Media, which faw the kings face, and which fat the first in the kingdom,) 15 What thall we do unto the queen Vahti according to law, because he hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahafuerus by the chainberlains? 16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vaihti the queen hath shot done wrong to the king only but alfo to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahafuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen thall come abroad unto all women, to that they shall defpite their husbands in their eyes, when it thall be reported, The king Ahauerus commanded Vahti the queen to be brought in before him, but the came not. 18 Likewife fhall the ladies of Perfia and Media fay this day unto all the kings princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus fhall there arife too much contempt and wrath. 19 If it pleafe the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Perfians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vahti come no more before king Ahafuerus; and let the king give her royal eftate unto another that is better than flie. 20 And when the kings decree which he fhall make, fhall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great, all the wives fhall give to their hufbands honour, both to great and finall. 21 And the faying pleafed the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan 22 For he fent letters into all the kings 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 houle; and that it should be published according to the language of every people. CHAP. II. Out of the choice of virgins a queen to be chofen. After thefe things, when the wrath of king Ahafuerus was appeafed, he remembered Vathti, and what the had done, and what was decreed againft her.. 2 Then faid the kings fervants that minittered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins fought for the king: 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins into Shufhan the palace, to the houfe of the wo men, unto the custody of Hege the kings chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them: 4 And let the maiden which pleafeth the king be queen instead of Vathti. And the thing pleafed the king, and he did fo. 5 Note, in Shuthan the palace there was a certain Jew, whofe name was Mordecai, the fon of Jair, the fon of Shimei, the fon of Kith, a Benjamite, 6 Who had been carried away from Jerufalem, with the captivity which had been carried away with Jechoniah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And he brought up Hadaflah (that is Efther) his uncles daughter; for the had neither father nor mother, and the maid ras fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai (when her father and mother were dead) took for his own daughter. 8 So it came to pafs, when the kings commandment and his decree was heard and when many maidens were gathered to- 9 And the maiden pleated him, and the 10 Efther had not thewed her people, nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that the should not thew it. 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the womens houfe, to know how Efther did, and what thould become of her. 12 Now, when every inaids turn was come to go in to king Ahafuerus, after that the had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for fo were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, fix months with oil of myrrh, and fix months with fweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women,) 13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatfoever the defired was given her, to go with her out of the honte of the women unto the kings houfe. 14 In the evening the went, and on the morrow the returned into the fecond houfe of the women, to the custody of Shaafhgaz the kings chamberlain, which kept the concubines: the came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that the were called by name. 15 Now, when the turn of Efther, the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, (who had taken her for his daughter,) was come to go in unto the king, the required nothing but what Hegal the kings chamberlain, the keeper of the women appointed and Either obtained favour in the fight of all them that looked upon her. 16 So Efther was taken unto king Ahafuerus into his houfe royal in the tenth month, (which is the month Tebeth,) in the feventh year of his reign. 17 And the king loved Efther above all the women, and the obtained grace and favour In his fight, more than all the virgins: fo that he fet the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen inftead of Vafhti. 18 Then the king made a great feaft unto all his princes and his fervants, even Eithers fealt: and he made a releafe to the provinces, and gave gifts according to the state of the king. 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the fecond time, then Mordecal, lat in the kings gate. 20 Either had not yet thewed her kindred, nor her people, as Mordecal bad charged her: for Efter did the commandment of Mordecal, like as when the was brought up with him. at in thofe days (while Mordecal fat in the kings gate) two of the kings chamber lains, Bigthan and Terein, of thofe which kept the door, were wroth, and fought to lay hand on the king Alafuerus, cai, who told it unto Either the jaeen, and matter, it was found out: therefore they Haman advanced by the king, and defpifed by datha the Agagite, and advanced hiin, and the kings gate, bowed and reverenced Ha- the kings gate, faid unto Mordecai, Why them, that they told Haman, to fee whether bowed not, nor did him reverence, then 6 And he thought fcorn to lay hands on Nifan,) in the twelfth year of king Ahafuerus. and difperfed among the people in all the that they may be deftroyed: and I will pay hand, and gave it unto Haman, the fon of the thirteenth day of the firit month, and |