The inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah; Athaiah] CHAPTER XII. and of the other cities. 211 Bu the Nethinims dwelt in 445. 445. the son of Uzziah, the son of Ze- CHRIST CHRIST Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were chariah, the son of Amariah, the over the Nethinims. son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of g Pe-g Gen. 38. 29, Pharez. rez; 5 And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni. 6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men. 7 And these are the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah. 8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight. 9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city. 10 h Of the priests: Jedaiah the h 1 Chr. 9. son of Joiarib, Jachin. 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God. 12 And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah, 13 And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azarcel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men. 15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, † had the oversight of i the outward business of the house of God. 17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 10, &c. Or, the Heb. were over il Chr. 26. 29. 18 All the Levites in k the holy k ver. 1. city were two hundred fourscore and four. 19 Moreover, the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that il See ch. 3. 26. Or, the tower. m See Ezra 6. 8, 9. & 7. 20, &c. nance. In Gen. 38. 30, Zarah. o 1 Chr. 18. 17. & 23. 28. p Josh. 14. 15. Or, of Geba. Or, to Michmash. q 1 Chr. 4. 14. cir. 536. a Ezra 2. 1, 2. b See ch. 10. 2,-8. Or, Melicu, ver. 14. niah, ver. 14. 22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God. 23 For mit was the king's commandment concerning them, that Il a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. 24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of n Zerah the son of Judah, was o at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people. 25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at p Kirjath-arba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof, 26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-phelet, 27 And at Hazar-shual, and at Beer-sheba, and in the villages thereof, 28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof, 29 And at En-rimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom. 31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Beth-el, and in their villages, 32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, and Ono, a the valley of craftsmen. 36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin. CHAPTER XII. 1 The priests, 8 and the Levites, which came up with Zerubbabel. 10 The succession of high priests. 22 Certain chief Levites. 27 The solemnity of the dedication of the walls. 44 The offices of priests and Levites appointed in the temple. Or, Sheba- NOW these are the a priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: b Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Or, Harim, ver. 15. Or, Meraioth, ver. 15. Or, Ginnethon, ver. 16. c Luke 1. 5. Or, Miniamin, ver. 17. Or, Moadiah, ver. kept the gates, were an hundred + Heb. at the 17. seventy and two. 20 1 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance. gates. Or, Sallai, ver. 20. d Ezra 3. 2. Hag. 1. 1. le ch. 11. 17. The succession of high priests. over the thanksgiving, he and his! brethren. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches. 10 And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada, 11 And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua. 12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam ; 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, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel. 22 1 The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian. NEHEMIAH. Before CHRIST cir. 536. That is, the psalms of thanksgiving. f1 Chr. 9. 23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the f Chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eli- 14, &c. ashib. 24 And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise Before The dedication of the wall vites purified themselves, and puri. CHRIST fied the people, and the gates, and the wall. 445. n See ver. 38. o ch. 2. 13. & 3. 13. p Num. 10. 12, 8. 31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof a one went on the right hand upon the wall o toward the dung-gate: 32 And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah, 33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, 34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, 35 And certain of the priests' sons P with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph : 36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, q 1 Chr. 23. with q the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them. 5. r ch. 2. 14. & 3. 15. s ch. 3. 15. t ch. 3. 26. & 8, 1, 3, 16. u See ver. 31. x ch. 3. 11. y ch. 3. 8. z 2 Kin. 14. a ch. 3. 6. b ch. 3. 3. 37 And at the fountain-gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the twater-gate eastward. 38 u 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 y the broad wall; 39 z And from above the gate of 13. ch. 8. 16. Ephraim, and above a the old gate, and above b the fish-gate, c and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto d the sheepgate and they stood still in e the prison-gate. c ch. 3. 1. d ch. 3. 32. and to give thanks, & according to g 1 Chr. 23, e Jer. 32. 2. the commandment of David the & 25, & 26. man of God, h ward over against h Ezra 3. 11. ward. 25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates. 26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe. 27 T And at 1 the dedication of 11. the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites out of all their places, Ps. 30, title. 11 to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, m both m 1 Chr. 25. with thanksgivings, and with sing- 6. 2 Chr. 5. ing, with cymbals, psalteries, and 13. & 7. 6. with harps. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi; 29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem. 30 And the priests and the Le .Heb. made to be heard their voice f2 Chr. 13. 11, 12. ch. 13. 5, 12, 13. That is, appointed by the law. + Heb. for the joy of Judah. + Heb. that stood. 40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me: 41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Eliocnai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers † sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. 43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy the wives also and the children rejoiced so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. 44 Tf And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the first-fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: † for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites † that waited. 45 And both the singers and the 445. porters kept the ward of their God, | Before and the ward of the purification, CHRIST g according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. g 1 Chr. 25, 46 For in the days of David hand & 26. Asaph of old there were chief of h Chr. 25. the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: i and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; k and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron. CHAPTER XIII. 1 Upon the reading of the law separation is made from the mixed multitude. 4 Nehemiah at his return causeth the chambers to be cleansed. 10 He reformeth the offices in the house of God. 15 The violation of the sabbath, 23 and the marriages with strange wives. ON that day at they read in the book of Moses in the † audience of the people; and therein was found written, b that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; 2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: d howbeit, our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, e that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. 4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: 1, &c. 2 Chr. 29. 30. Num. 18. 21, 24. That is, set apart. k Num. 18. 26. Before CHRIST cir. 434. ver. 17, 25. Prov. 28. 4. lo ch. 10. 39. Heb. standing. p ch. 10. 38, 39. & 12. 44. Or, storehouses. certain abuses. 11 Then n contended I with the rulers, and said, o Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their † place. 12 P Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the || treasuries. 13 q And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe; and of the a ch. 12. 44. Levites, Pedaiah: and next to 2 Chr. 31. 12. + Heb. at them was Hanan the son of Zactheir hand. cur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted r faithful; and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. r ch. 7. 2. 1 Cor. 4. 2. + Heb. it was upon them. s ver. 22, 31. ch. 5. 19. + Heb. kind nesses. Or, obser vations. t Ex. 20. 10. 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my † good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof. 15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses ton the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manu Jer. 17. 21, ner of burdens, " which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. 22. ch. 10. 31. x ver. 11. y Jer. 17. 21, + Heb. being 22, 23. 5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime f ch. 12. 44. they laid the meat-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the now wine, and the oil, (†g which was com- Heb. the manded to be given to the Levites, commandand the singers, and the porters,)ment of the and the offerings of the priests. Levites. 6 But in ail this time was not Ig Num. 18. 21, 24. at Jerusalem. h for in the two and h ch. 5. 14. thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of cir. 434. Babylon came I unto the king, and fafter certain days || obtained I leave of the king: 7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in i preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. + Heb. at the end of days. Or, I earnestly requested. i ver. 1, 5. 8 And it grieved me soe: therefore I cast forth all the householdstuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thi-k 2 Chr. 29. ther brought I again the vessels of 5, 15, 16, 18. the house of God, with the meatoffering and the frankincense. 10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to m his field. Mal. 3. 8. m Num 35. 2. z Lev. 23. 32. 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 x Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? 18 y Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. 19 And it came to pass, that, when the gates of Jerusalem z began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the a Jer. 17. 21, sabbath: a and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. Vashti refuseth to come, † could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language † of each people. 25 And I e contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them fswear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. 26 g Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet h among many nations was there no king like him, i who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: k nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. 27 Shall we then hearken unto ESTHER. Before + Heb. they them. f Ezra 10. 5. I Kin. 11. 1 Ezra 10. 2. when sent for by the king. you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? 28 And one of the sons m of m ch. 12. 10, Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high 22. priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. n ch. 6. 14. the defilings. r ch. 10. 34. 29 n Remember them, O my God, t because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. all strangers, and a appointed the 13. 2Chr.1.12. THE BOOK OF ESTHER. CHAPTER I. Before Before the officers of his house, that they Ahasuerus maketh royal feasts. 10 CHRIST CHRIST should do according to every man's 13 cir. 521. cir. 519. Vashti, sent for, refuseth to come, Ahasuerus, by the counsel of Memucan, maketh the decree of men's sovereignty. NOW it came to pass in the days of a Ahasuerus, (this is a Ezra 4. 6. Ahasuerus which reigned b from Dan. 9. 1. India even unto Ethiopia, cover b ch. 8. 9. an hundred and seven and twenty provinces :) c Dan. 6. 1. 2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus d sat on the throned 1 Kings 1. of his kingdom, which was in e Shu-46. shan the palace, i ch. 7. 9. pleasure. 9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the roya. house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. 10 On the seventh day, when h 2 Sam. 13. h the heart of the king was merry 28. with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, i Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, Or, eu e Neh. 1. 1. nuchs. 3 In the third year of his reign, cir. 519. he f made a feast unto all his princes f Gen. 40. 20. and his servants; the power of ch. 2. 18. Persia and Media, the nobles and Mark 6. 21. princes of the provinces, being before him: 4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. 5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were † present + Heb. in Shushan the palace, both unto found. great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace; 6 Where were white, green, and blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: g the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement || of red, and blue, and white, and black marble. 7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and troyal wine in abundance, taccording to the state of the king. 8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel for so the king had appointed to all Or, violet. 8. Ezek. 23. blue colour. + Heb. ac- + Heb. good nance. 11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment Heb. which by his chamberlains: therefore was by the was the king very wroth, and his hand of his anger burned in him. eunuchs. k Jer. 10. 7. m Ezra 7. 14. + Heb. What 13 Then the king said to the k wise men, 1 which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judg ment: 14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the m seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;), 15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? 16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people 432 A new queen to be chosen. that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, b 2 Kin. 24. 36. 10, 20. Jer. 24. 1. 6 6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity so that they shall o despise their o Eph. 5. 33. 14, 15. 2 Chr. which had been carried away with husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahacommanded Vashti suerus the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. 18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which, have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. 19 † If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate † unto another that is better than she. Heb. If it be good with the king. before him. Heb. that it pass not away, ch. 8. 8. Dan. 6. 8, + Heb. from 12, 15. her compa 20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be pub-nion. lished throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall P give to their husbands honour, both to great and small. 21 And the saying † pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Me mucan: Or, Jehoiachin, 2 Kin. 24. 6. +Heb. nou rished. Eph. 6. 4. c ver. 15. + Heb. fair of form, and good of countenance. d ver. 3. e ver. 3, 12. + Heb. her p Eph. 5. 33. portions. Col. 3. 18. Pet. 3. 1. good in the + Heb. was eyes of the king. 22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, a into every pro-q ch. 8. 9. vince according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should r bear rule in his own house; and that it should be published according to the language of every people. CHAPTER II. 1 Out of the choice of virgins a queen is to be chosen. 5 Mordecai the nursing father of Esther. 8 Esther is preferred by Hegai before the rest. 12 The manner of purification, and going in to the king. 15 Esther best pleasing the king is made queen. 21 Mordecai discovering a treason is recorded in the Chronicles. AFTER these things, when the + Heb. he changed her. f ver. 20. r Eph. 5. 22, + Heb. to 1 Tim. 2. 12. 518. wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and a what a ch. 1. 19, was decreed against her. 2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought 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 unto Shushan the palace, to the house of 20. the women, † unto the custody of Heb. unto Hege the king's chamberlain, the hand. keeper of the women; and let Or, Hegai, their things for purification be given them: 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. 5 1 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of T ver. 8. 19 know the peace. cir. 515. cir. 515. g ver. 7. Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And he brought up Hadassah, (that is, Esther,) chis uncle's daughter for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was † fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. 8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her e things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and the preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 10 f Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her. 12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women ;) 13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. 14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name. 15 ¶ Now when the turn of Esther, g the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. 16 So Esther was taken unto king 433 |