The building is renewed.

B. C. 522.

+ Chald. by me a decree is set.

+ Chald, lifted up itself.

1 Kin. 4. 21. Ps. 72, 8.

Gen. 15. 18. Josh, 1. 4.

EZRA.

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

20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries (beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.

21 + Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not +Chald. Make builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.

a decree.

+ Chald, by arm and power.

520.

520. a Hag. 1. 1. b Zech. 1. 1.

a chỉ 3, 2.

d ver. 6. ch. 6. 6.

e ver. 9.

fver. 10.

Chald., that build this building?

g See ch. 7, 6, 28.

P3. 33. 18. h eh, 6, 6. 519.

i ch. 4. 9.

+ Chald.
in the midst
whereof.

+ Chald. stones of rolling.

k ver. 3, 4.

22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease † by force and power.

24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

CHAPTER V.

1 Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by Haggai and
Zechariah, set forward the building of the temple.
3 Tatnai and Shethar-boznai could not hinder the
Jews. 6 Their letter to Darius against the Jews.
TH
THEN the prophets, "Haggai the proph-

et, and Zechariah the son of Iddo,
prophesied unto the Jews that were in Ju-
dah and Jerusalem in the name of the God
of Israel, even unto them.
2 Then rose up

Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak,
and began to build the house of God which
is at Jerusalem: and with them were the
prophets of God helping them.

Letter to Darius.

14 And the vessels also of gold and sil- | pch. 1. 7, 8. & ver 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 unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; 15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his 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.

17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, tlet there be search made in the king's ch. 6. 1, 2. treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

CHAPTER VI.

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 Darius the king made a decree,

"and search was made in the house of the trolls, where the treasures were laid

3 At the same time came to them dTat-
nai, governor on this side the river, and
Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and
said thus unto them, "Who hath command-up in Babylon.
ed you to build this house, and to make up
this wall?

4 Then said we unto them after this man-
ner, What are the names of the men † that
make this building?

5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius and then they returned hanswer by letter concerning this matter.

6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, i and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.

9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up 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

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

3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, the same Cyrus the king made a decrec concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

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

519.

a ch, 5. 17.
+ Chald.
books.

+ Chald. made
to descend.
| Or, Ecba-

tana, or, in
a coffer.

1 Kin. 6. 36.

c ch. 1.7, 8. & 5. 14.

5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the templo which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the† Chald. go. temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

6 dNow therefore, Tatnai, governor be- | d ch. 5. 3. yond the river, Shethar-boznai, and †your † Chald. their companions the Apharsachites, which are societies, 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 his
place.

8 Moreover I make a decree what yo+Chald.by me
shall do to the elders of these Jews for the a decree is
building of this house of God: that of the
made.

The temple finished.

to cease.

EZRA.

B. C. 519. king's goods, even of the tribute beyond
the river, forthwith expenses be given unto
+ Chald, made these men, that they be not 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 which are at
Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day
without fail:

e ch. 7. 23.
Jer. 29. 7.
† Chald,
of rest.

f 1 Tim. 2. 1,2.

+ Chald, let him be destroyed.

g Dan, 2, 5, & 3.29.

h1 Kings 9. 3.

i ch. 5. 1, 2.

† Chald. decree.

ch. 1. 1. & 5. 13. ver. 3.

ch. 4. 24. m ch. 7. 1.

515.

+Chald. the
sons of the
transporta-
tion.

n 1 Kin. 8. 63.
2 Chr. 7. 5.
a ch. 8. 35.

p 1 Chr. 24. 1. 1 Chr. 23. 6.

+ Chald. according to the writing. r Num. 3.6.& 8.9.

s Ex. 12. 6.

t 2 Chr. 30. 15. u 2 Chr. 35.11.

x ch. 9. 11.

2 Chr. 30. 21. & 35. 17.

10 That they may offer sacrifices tof sweet
savours unto the God of heaven, and ƒ pray
for the life of the king, and of his sons.
11 Also I have made a decrce, that whoso-
ever shall alter this word, let timber be
pulled down from his house, and being set
up, let him be hanged thereon; and let
his house be made a dunghill for this.

12 And the God that hath caused his
hname to dwell there destroy all kings and
people, that shall put to their hand to alter
and to destroy this house of God which is
at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a de-
cree; let it be done with speed.

Ezra goeth up to Jerusalem.

the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, B. C. 457. the son of Hilkiah,

2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, b1 Chr. 6. 14. the son of Abitub,

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 Phinchas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:

6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, daccording to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

c ver. 11, 12, 21.

d ver. 9.
ch. 8. 22, 31.
e ch. 8. 1.

7 And there went up some of the children
of Israel, and of the priests, and the Lef Sec ch, 8.15,
vites, and the singers, and the porters, and
&c.
the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the sev-
enth 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 began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, haccording to the good hand of his God upon him.

13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the
river, Shethar-boznai, and their compan-
ions, according to that which Darius the
king had sent, so they did speedily.
14 i And the elders of the Jews builded,
and they prospered through the prophesying
of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son
of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it,
according to the commandment of the God
of Israel, and according to the commandments.
ment of Cyrus, and (Darius, and "Artax-
erxes king of Persia.

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
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 hun-
dred 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 divi-
sions, and the Levites in their courses, for
the service of God, which is at Jerusalem;
+'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 "killed the passover for all the children
of the captivity, and for their brethren the
priests, and for themselves.

21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from y Ex. 12. 15. & the filthiness of the heathen of the land, 13. 6. 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 unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

z Prov. 21. 1. a 2 Kin.23.29. 2 Chr. 33. 11. ch.1.1.& ver. 6, &c.

457.

a Neh. 2. 1.

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to i seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judg

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

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto 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, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

14 Forasmuch as thou art sent t of the king, and of his "seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;

16. And all the silver and gold that thou | pch. 8. 25. canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the q1 Chr.29.6,9. house of their God which is in Jerusalem: 17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their "ment offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.

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 whatsoever more shall be necdful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.

And I, even I Artaxerxes king, do

Now after these things, in the reign of 214d, cree to all the treasurers which

a

Num. 15. 413.

8 Deut. 12. 5, 11.

The companions of Ezra,

B. C. about 457.

+Chald. cors.

†Heb. Whatsoever is of the decree,

are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra | the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and
the priest, the scribe of the law of the God | eight males.
of heaven, shall require of you, it be done
speedily,

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

23 + Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

24 Also we certify you, that, touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinim, 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 Ex.18.21,22. God, that is in thine hand, tset magistrates Deut. 16. 18. and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and "teach ye them that know them not.

u ver. 10.

2 Chr. 17. 7. Mal. 2. 7. Matt. 23.2,3.

+ Chald, to rooting out, 1 Chr. 29.10. y ch. 6. 22.

z ch. 9. 9.

a Sce ch. 5. 5. & ver. 6, 9. & ch. 8. 18.

457.

26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. 27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:

28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as "the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with

me.

CHAPTER VIII.

13 And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males. 14 Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males. 15. And I gathered them together to the | river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I view- | || Or, pitched. ed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.

17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and † I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and. to his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. 18 And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen ;

19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty ;.

21 ¶ Then I ƒ proclaimed a fast there, at | ƒ 2 Chr. 20. 3.
the river of Ahava, that we might afflict
right way for us, and for our little ones,
ourselves before our God, to seek of him a
and for all our substance.

1 The companions of Ezra, who returned from
Babylon, 15 He sendeth to Iddo for ministers
for the temple. 21 He keepeth a fust. 24 He
committeth the treasures to the custody of the
22 For I was ashamed to require of the
priests. 31 From Ahava they come to Jerusalem.king a band of soldiers and horsemen to
33 The treasure is weighed in the temple. 36 The help us against the enemy in the way: be-
cause we had spoken unto the king, saying,
The band of our God is upon all them for
good that seek him; but his power and his
wrath is against all them that "forsake
him.

commission is delivered.

THE

HESE are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.

2 Of the sons of Phinchas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons a1 Chr. 3. 22. of David; "Hattush.

b ch. 2. 3.

3 Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males a hundred and fifty.

4 Of the sons of Pahath-moab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.

5 Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. 6 Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.

7 And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. 8 And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.

9. Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eightcen males.

10 And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and threescore males.

11 And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah

23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us. 24 ¶ Then I separated twelve of the chief o1 Chr. 5. 20. of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them, 25 And weighed unto them "the silver, and pch. 7. 15, 16. the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:

26 I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels a hundred talents, and of gold a hundred talents;

27 Also twenty basins of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of † fine copper, precious as gold.

EZRA.

The names of those who

B. C. 457.

i Deut. 9. 18.

† Heb. devoted.

I See 1 Sam. 12. 18.

† Heb, the showers.

NEHEMIAH.

6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.

7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;

8 And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.

9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.

10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and † have taken strange wives, to increase the treshave brought Pass of Israel.

† Heb, hava caused to dwell, or,

back.

I Josh. 7. 19.

11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his Prov. 28. 13. pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

m ver, 3.

Or, we have greatly of fended in this thing.

n2 Chr. 30.8. || Or, till this matter be dispatched. †Heb. stood.

456.

12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.

13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.

14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities como at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until "the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.

15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah † were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.

16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.

18 And among the sons of the priests

|

|

had married strange wives.

there were found that had taken strange
wives: namely, of the sons, of Jeshua the
son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maa-
seiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Geda-
liah.

19 And they gave their hands that they
would put away their wives; and being
Pguilty, they offered a ram of the flock for
their trespass.

20 And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.

21 And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.

22 And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

23 Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

24 of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri. 25 Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiali.

26 And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.

27 Ánd of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.

28 Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

29 And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam,
Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal,
and Ramoth.

30 And of the sons of Pahath-moab; Adna,
and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah,
Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
31 And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer,
Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33 Of the sons of Hashum;. Mattenai,
Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Ma-
nasseb, and Shimei.

34 Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram,
and Uel,

35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,

36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
38 And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,

39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Ada-
iah,

B. C. 456.

o 2 Kin.10.15. 1 Chr. 29. 24. 2 Chr. 30. 8. p Lev. 6. 4, 6.

|| Or, Mab-: nadebai, according to some copies.