law. 2 Heb. stood. chijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. And 43 they offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy; and the women also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. And on that day were men appointed over 44 the chambers for the treasures, for the heave offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to the fields of Heb. of the the cities, the portions 'appointed by the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that 'waited. And they kept the ward of their God, and the 45 ward of the purification, and so did the singers and the porters, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. For in the 46 days of David and Asaph of old 'there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. And all Israel in the 47 days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, as every day required: and they sanctified for the Levites; and the Levites sanctified for the sons of Aaron. 3 Another reading is, there were chiefs. On that day they read in the book of Moses 13 in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God for ever; because they met not the children of 2 Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. And 3 it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who 4 was appointed over the 'chambers of the house 1 Heb. 5 of our God, being allied unto Tobiah, had chamber. prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the heave offerings 6 for the priests. But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went unto the king, and after certain days asked I leave of the 7 king: and I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of 8 the house of God. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff 9 of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meal offerings and the frank10 incense. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, that did the 11 work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the 'rulers, and said, Why is 2 Or, deputies the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the wine and the oil unto the treasuries. 13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah : for they were counted faithful, and their business 14 was to distribute unto their brethren. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my 'good deeds that I have done for kindnesses. 3 Heb. corn the house of my God, and for the observances thereof. In those days saw I in Judah some treading 15 winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in 1 Or, heaps of 'sheaves, and lading asses therewith; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. There 16 dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought in fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles 17 of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God 18 bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. And it came to pass that, 19 when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. So the merchants and sellers of all kind of 20 ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and said unto 21 Ileb. before. them, Why lodge ye 'about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should 22 purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy 3 Heb. had made to dwell with them. mercy. In those days also saw I the Jews that 'had 23 24 married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language 25 of each people. And I contended with them, and 'cursed them, and smote certain of them, 1Or, reviled and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did strange women cause to 27 sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in 28 marrying strange women? And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horon29 ite therefore I chased him from me. Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the 30 priesthood, and of the Levites. Thus cleansed I them from 'all strangers, and appointed wards or, every for the priests and for the Levites, every one in 31 his work; and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. Heb. for the defilings of thing strange 1 Or, Xerxes Heb. Ahashverosh, 2 Or, castle 1 THE BOOK OF ESTHER. Now it came to pass in the days of 1 Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces :) that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus 2 sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, in the third year of his 3 reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him: when he shewed the riches 4 of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. And when these days 5 were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace; there 6 Or, fine cloth, were hangings of 'white cloth, of 'green, and of white and blue blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble. And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, 7 (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the Heb. hand. bounty of the king. And the drinking was 8 according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of 4 Or, cotton Or, of por phyry, and white marble, and alabaster, and stone of blue colour 6 |