show their fathers' house, and their 12 seed, whether they were of Israel:

60 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.

61 ¶ And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai: who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their

name:

62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore 13 were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.

Before CHRIST, 536.

12 or,
pedigree.

2 Sam. 17.
27.

13 Heb.

they were polluted from the priesthood. 14 or, gov ernor.

Ex. 28. 30.

m 1 Chr. 26.

63 And the 14 Tirshatha said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy 20. things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

64 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hun-2 dred and sixty,

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

66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;

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

68 T And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in its place:

69 They gave after their ability to the treasure of the work sixty and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests garments. 70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

CHAP. III.

1 The altar is set up. 4 Offerings frequented. 7 Workmen prepared. The foundation of the temple laid in great joy and mourning.

ΑΝ

1 or,

3

Joshua,
Hag. 1.1.
Called,,
Zorobabel,
Mat. 1. 12.
& Luke 3.

27.

Mat. 1. 12.
& Luke 3.

27. called
Salathiel.

Deut. 12.

5.

Ex. 23. 16. Num. 29. 12, &c.

Heb. the matter of the day in his day.

Heb. the temple of

the LORD as not yet founded.

5 or,

ing to the custom, 3 as the duty of every day required;

5 And afterward offered the continual burnt-offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a free-will-offering to the LORD.

6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt-offerings to the LORD. But 4 the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid,

7 They gave money also to the masons, and to the 5 carpenters; and provisions, and drink, and oil, to them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.

8 T Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.

9 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, 7 together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.

10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks to the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the founworkmen.dation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the priests and LeActs 9. 36. vites and chief of the fathers, old men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

ND when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel 6 or, Howere in the cities, the people assembled daviah, themselves as one man at Jerusalem.

c. 2. 40.

2 Then stood up 1 Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and 2 Zerubbabel the son of a Shealtiel, 7 Heb. and his brethren, and built the altar of as one. the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings on it as it is b written in the law of Moses the man of God.

3 And they set the altar upon its bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt-offerings on it to the LORD, even burnt-offerings morning and evening.

4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and d offered the daily burnt-offerings by number, accord

1 Chr. 6.
31, & 16. 7.1
& 25. 1.

1 Heb. the

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

CHAP. IV.

The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the temple with the Jews, endeavor to hinder it. 7 Their letter to Arta. zerres. 17 The decree of Artaxerxes. 23 The building is hindered.

Jons of the N and Benjamin heard that 1 the children of the captivity were building the temple to the LORD God of Israel;

OW when the adversaries of Judah

transpor.
tation.

2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said to

city shall be built again, and its walls set up, by this means thou wilt have no portion on this side of the river.

17 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their is companions that dwell in Samaria, and to the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.

18 The letter which ye sent to us hath been plainly read before me.

19 And I 16 commanded, and search secretary.hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath 17 made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it.

15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so wilt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, the midst of nai, governor on this side of the river,

was written thus; To Darius the king,| all peace.

Before CHRIST, 519.

8 Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is built with 3 great stones, and timber is laid in 3 Chal. the walls, and this work proceedeth rap rolling. stones of idly, and prospereth in their hands.

9 Then we asked those elders, and c 1 Kings said to them thus, Who commanded you 6. 1. to build this house, and to erect these walls?

10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them. 11 And thus they returned us answer, saying We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was erected these many years which a great king of Israel built set up.

ago,

and

d 2 Kings
24. 2. &
25, 8.

c. 1. 1.

fc. 1. 7. S.

& 6. 5.

4 or,

deputy.

2 Chal.
made to de-
scend.
3 or,
Ecbatana,
or, in a cof-
fer.

12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of a Nebuchad-1 Chal. books. nezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. 13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. 14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he 4 Chal. go. had made 4 governor;

5 Chal. their

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

16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.

6 Chal.
by me a

cree is

made. *

7 Chal.

made to
cease.

17 Now therefore, if it seemeth good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us con- 8 Chal. of cerning this matter.

CHAP. VI.

1 Darius finding the decree of Cyrus, maketh
a new decree for the advancement of the
building. 13 By the help of the enemies,
and the directions of the prophets, the temple
is finished. 16 The feast of the dedication
is kept, 19 and the passover.

THEN
HEN Darius the king made a de-
cree, and search was made in the
house of the 1 rolls, where the treasures
were 2 laid up in Babylon.

2 And there was found at 3 Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and in it was a record thus written:

3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusa-l

rest.

9 Chal. let

lem, Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations of it be strongly laid; the hight of it sixty cubits, and the breadth of it sixty cubits;

4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:

5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and 4 brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to its place, and place them in the house of God.

6 Now therefore, Tatnai governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and 5 your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the 'river, be ye far from thence:

7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews, and the elders of the Jews, build this house of God in its place.

8 Moreover, 6 I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given to these men, that they be not 7 hindered.

9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt-offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given to them day by day without fail:

10 That they may offer sacrifices 8 of sweet savors to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his

sons.

11 Also I have made a decree, that de-whoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, 9 let him be hanged upon it; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.

12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall attempt to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.

13 Then Tatnai governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.

14 And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophehim be de-sying of Haggai the prophet and Zechastroyed. riah the son of Iddo. And they built, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the 10 commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

10 Chal.
decree.

15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of in the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,

17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, who is at Jerusalcm; 12 as it is written in the book of Moses.

19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.

20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and they killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

Before
CHRIST,

457

11 Chal. the
sons of the

transpor.
tation.

12 Chal. ac.
cording to
the writing.

and to teach in Israel statutes and judg

ments.

11 ¶ Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the seribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, 2 To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, who are disposed of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.

14 Forasmuch as thou art sent 3 by the king, and by his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand;

15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have

21 And the children of Israel, who a Num. 3. 6. freely offered to the God of Israel, whose

had returned from captivity, and all & 8.9.
such as had separated themselves to them
from the filthiness of the heathen of the
land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did
eat,

22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. CHAP. VII.

1 Ezra goeth up to Jerusalem. 11 The gra cious commission of Artaxerxes to him. 27 He blesseth God for his favor.

1 Heb. was
the founda
tion of the
going up.

habitation is in Jerusalem,

16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the free-will-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem :

17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

18 And whatever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and gold, that do after

Now after these king of Persia, Ezra 2 or, To Ez- the will of your God.
TOW these things, in the reign

the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah,
the son of Hilkiah,

2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

4 The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:

rathe
priest, a
perfect
scribe of
the law of
the God of
heaven,
peace, &c.

3 Chal. from
before the
king.

19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.

20 And whatever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure-house.

21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the river, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you,

6 This Ezra went from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had a Esth. 1. 14. it be done speedily, given and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

7 And there went some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

9 For upon the first day of the first month he began to go 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.

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it,

b c. 8. 25.

22 To a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred 4 measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

23 5 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done 4 Chal. cors. for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

s

Heb. What ever is of the decree.

24 Also we certify you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom upon them.

25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thy hand, set magis

27¶ Blessed be the LORD God of our rooting out. and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam,

4 Of the sons of Pahath-moab; Eli 3 or, pitched. because we had spoken to the king, say