Distribution of the People. NEHEMIAH, XII. 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 Of the priests: c Jedaiah the 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 e Ezr.2.1,2. f c.10.2-8. Priests and Levites that returned. and at Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their vil lages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beer-sheba a unto the valley b of Hinnom. 31 The children also of Benjamin 1 from Geba 2 dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Beth-el, and in their villages, 32 And at Anathoth, Nob, aniah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, & Ono, the valley d of craftsmen, 36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin. CHAP. XII. work of the house, were eight hundred 3 or, Meiicu,NOW e these are the priests and the Le ver.14. 4 or, Sheba twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of 13 And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, 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 2 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, 4 had the oversight k of the outward l business of the house of God. ver.14. 8 17 And Mattaniah m the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was 1 or, Sallai, the principal to begin then thanksgiving ver.20. in prayer; o and Bakbukiah, the second h Ezr.3.2, among his brethren, and Abda the son Joshua. of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Hag.1.1. Jeduthun. 3 Zec.3.1. dolim. i.e. the psalms of thanksgiving. 18 All the Levites in the holy p city 2 or, Haggewere two hundred fourscore and four. 19 Moreover, the porters, Akkub, Tal- i c.11.17. mon, and their brethren that kept 5 the gates, qwere an hundred seventy and two. 20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests and the Levites were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance. 4 were over. 21 Butr the Nethinims dwelt in 6 Ophel: k 1Ch.26.20. and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethi- l Ac.6.2,3. nims. m c.12.8. 22 The overseer also of the Levites at n ICh.16.4. Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, o Ph.4.6. the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, p ver.1. the singers were over the business of the 5 at the gates. nouse of God. q Ps.84.10. 25.4-6. 23 For s it was the king's commandment r c.3.26. 7.20,&c. 7 or, to a sure ordinance. Ge.38.30, Zarah. 25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt atKirjath-arba, w & in the villages thereof, and u 1Ch.18.17. at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and v 1Ch.9.14, at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof, &c. 26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and w Jos.14.15. at Beth-phelet, x 1Ch.23, & 25, & 26. y Ezr.3.11. 27 And at Hazar-shual, and at Beersheba, 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, 338 vites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Sera iah, f Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, 3 Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum,5 Meremoth, 5 Miamin,8 Maadiah,9 Bilgah, 7 Sallu, 1 Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests, and of their brethren, in the days of Jeshua. h 8 Moreover, the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah,i which was over 3 the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their bre thren, were over against them in the watches. 10 And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joi akim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashit 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 Se raiah, Meraiah: of Jeremiah, Hananiab: 13 Of Ezra, Meshullam: of Amariah, Jehohanan : 14 Of Melicu, Jonathan: of Shebaniah Joseph : 15 Of Harim, Adna: of Meraioth, Hel kai: 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 Je daiah, Uzzi: 20 Of Sallai, Kallai: of Amok, Eber: 21 Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah: of Jedaiah, Nethaneel. 22 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. 23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written v in the book of the Chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. 24 And the chief of the Levites: Ha shabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the sou of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward y over against ward. 25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were or, treasu-porters, keeping the ward at the 8 thresh ries, or, holds of the gates. assemblies. 26 These were in the days of Joiakim Dedication of the Wall. NEHEMIAH, XIII. the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and B. C. 445. Levites that 9 waited. m the days of Nehemiah a the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the b scribe. 9 stood. 27 And at the dedication c of the wall a c.8.9. of Jerusalem they sought the Levites b Ezr.7.6,11. out of all their places, to bring them to c Ps.30. title. Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with d1Ch.25&26. gladness, both f with thanksgivings, and e 2Ch.29.30. with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, f 1Ch.25.6. and 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 ; 2Ch.5.13. 2 there was 29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: hDe.31.11,12. for the singers had builded them villages 2Ki.23.2. round about Jerusalem. c.8.3,8. 30 And the priests and the Levites puri-3 ears. fied themselves, and purified i the people, He.5.1,3. and the gates, and the wall. j De.23.3,4. 31 Then I brought up the princes of k Mat.25.40. Judah upon the wall, and appointed two ver.38,40. great companiesof them that gave thanks, m Nu.22.5. whereof lone went on the right hand upon n c.3.13. he wall, toward n the dung-gate: o Nu.24.10. 32 And after them went Hoshaiah, and De.23.5. half of the princes of Judah, Jos.24.9,10. 33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, Mi.6.5. 34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shema-p c.9.2. iah, and Jeremiah; being set 35 And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; q 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, Gilaiai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments t of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them. over. q Nu.10.2,8. 5 the com mandment of the Levites. Nu.18.21,24 t 1Ch.23.5. 37 And at the fountain-gate, u which was u c.3.15,&c. over against them, they went up by the v c.5.14. stairs of the city of David, at the going up at the end of the wall, above the house of David, of days. even unto the water-gate eastward. 7 or, I ear38 And the other w company of them nestly rethat gave thanks went over against them, quested. and I after them, and the half of the peo- w ver.31. ple upon the wall, from beyond the tower x2Ki.14.13. of the furnaces even unto the broad wall; c.8.16. 39 And from above the gate of x Ephra- y Je.32.2. im, and above the old gate, and above the 8 standing. fish-gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and 9 made their the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep- voice to be gate: and they stood still in the y prison- heard. gate. z Ps.81.1. 40 So stood the two companies of them 98.4-C. that gave thanks in the house of God, and 1 or, storeI, and the half of the rulers with me: houses, 41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Mal.3.10. Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zecha- a c. 12.44. riah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; ver.5. 42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and b Ezr.3.13. Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and 2 at their Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And hand. the singers 9 sang loud, z with Jezrahiah c c.13.12,13. their overseer. d Ac.6.3. 43 Also that day they offered great sacri- 1Ti.3.10. fices, and rejoiced; for God had made them 3 it was upon rejoice with great joy: the wives also and them. the children rejoiced; so that the joy of e Ps. 122.6-9. Jerusalem was heard b even afar off. He.6.10. Abuses rectified. 45 And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment d of David, and of Solomon his son. 46 For in the days of David and e Asaph, of old, there were chief of 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; g and they 1 sanctified holy things unto the Levites, and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron. CHAP. XIII. ON that day 2 they read / in the book of Moses in the3 audience of the people;& thereinj was found written, that the Am monite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; 2 Because k they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired m Balaam against them, that he should curse them; howbeit o our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separatedp from Israel all the mixed multitude. 4 And before this, Eliashib the 4 priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: 5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where r aforetime they laid the meat-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, (5 which was commanded s to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters,) and the of ferings of the priests. 6 But in all this time was not I at Jeru. salem: for v in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and 6 after certain days obtained I leave of the king. 7 And I came to Jerusalem, and under stood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me sore; Therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat-offering 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 his field. 11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God for. saken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn, and the new wine, and the oil, unto the 1 treasuries. 13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, a Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe; and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and 2 next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful; d and 3 their of fice was to distribute unto their brethren. 14 Remember e me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my 5 good God, and for the 7 offices thereof. 339 44 And at that time were some appoint-4i.e.appointed over the chambers e for the treasures, ed bythe law. for the offerings, for the first-fruits, and 5 kindnesses. for the tithes, to gather into them, out of 6 for the joy the fields of the cities, the portions 4 of of Judah. the law for the priests and Levites: 6 for 7 or, observa-deeds that I have done for the house of my Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the tions. Charge respecting the Sabbath. NEHEMIAH, XIII. B. C. 434. 15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the b sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; a ver. 14,31. as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all b Ex.20.10. manner of burdens, which c they brought 1 or, multiinto Jerusalem on the sabbath-day and tude. I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. 16 There awelt 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 Then ƒ I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath-day? 3 4 c c.10.31. 2 made to dwell with them. d Ezr.9.2. they discerned not to speak. people and people. e ver.11,17. 5 or, reviled, Ps.15.4. ver.11. Pr.28.4. g Ezr.10.5. 19 And it came to pass, that when the c.10.29,30. gates of Jerusalem began to be dark be-h Je.17.21-23. fore m the sabbath, I commanded that 1Ki.11.1.&c. the gates should be shut, and charged k 1Ki.3.13. that they should not be opened till after 2Ch.9.22. the sabbath and some of my servants 2Sa. 12.24. set I at the gates, that there should no m Le.23.32. burden be brought in on the sabbath-n c.12.10,22. 18 Did not your fathers thus, h and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring f more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. day. Dismissal of strange Wives. me, a O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the 1 greatness of thy mercy. 23 In those days also saw I Jews that had 2 married wives d of Ashdod, of Am. inon, and of Moab : 24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and 3 could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of 4 each people. 25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear g by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon i king of Israel sin by these things? yet k among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless, even him did outlandish women cause to sin. 27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? 28 And one of the sons of Joiada, n the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son. in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. 29 Remember o them, O my God, 6 because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant p of the priesthood, and of the Levites. 30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards q of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; 31 And for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Re members me, O my God, for good. CHAP. I. The Book of ESTHER. NOW it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus,c (this is Ahasuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over dan hundred and seven and twenty provinces,) 2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his king-e Ne.1.1. dom, which was in Shushan e the palace,f Ge.40.20. 3 In the third year of his reign, he made c.2.18. Mar.6.21. a feast funto all his princes and his ser- 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 9 i 2 3 or, viclet, 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 Memnucan 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 that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti 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 4 please the king, let there go a royal commandment 5 from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not al tered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto 8 another that is better than she. 20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, i both to great and small. 21 And the saying 2 pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: 5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were 2 present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of theking's palace; 6 Where were white, green, and 3 blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine, linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds g were of gold and silver, upon a pavement 6 of red, and blue, and white, and black marble. 8 her com7 And they gave them drink in vessels panion. of gold, (the vessels being diverse one wine of the from another,) and 9 royal wine in abun- kingdom. dance, according to the I state of the king. hand. 8 And the drinking was according to h Hab.2.15. the law; none did compel; h for the king Ep.5.33. had appointed to all the officers of his Col.3.18. house, that they should do according to was good in every man's pleasure. the eyes of. 9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast k c.8.9. for the women in the royal house which 2Sa.13.28. belonged to king Ahasuerus. m Ec.10.19. 10 On the seventh day, when the heart n c.7.9. of the king was merry m with wine, he o Ep.5.22-24. commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbo- ITi.2.12. na, n Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and 3or, eunuchs. Carcas, the seven 3 chamberlains that serv-4 one should ed in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, publish it 11 To bring Vashti the queen before according to the king, with the crown royal, to shew the language the people and the princes her beauty of his people. for she was 5 fair to look on. good of countenance her. 1Sa.25.3. p c.1.19,20. 6 which was by the hand of his eunuchs. q Je. 10.7. 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment 6 by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. 13 Then the king said to the wise q men, which knew r the times, (for so was the King manner towards all that knew law and judgment; 14 Ar the next unto him was Carshena,r ICh.12.32. 22 For he sent letters k into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule o in his own house; and that it should be published according to the language of every people. CHAP. II. AFTER these things when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what p was decreed against 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 the women, unto the custody of 8 Hege the king's chamber lain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them. 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth 341 6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity d which had d 2Ki24.14,15 been carried away with 2 Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the e c.3.2. king of Babylon had carried away. 4 2 or, Jehoia 7 And he 3 brought up Hadassah (that chin, is Esther) his uncle's daughter; for she 2Ki.24.6. had neither father nor mother, and the f Ep.6.1-3. maid was 4 fair and beautiful; whom 3 nourished, Mordecai, when her father and mother Eph.6.4. were dead, took for his own daughter. fair of 8 So it came to pass, when the king's form, and commandment and his decree was heard, good of and when many maidens were gathered counte together gunto Shushan the palace, to the nance. custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought 5 or, Bigalso unto the king's house, to the custody thana, of Hegai, keeper of the women. c.6.2. 9 And the maiden pleased him, and she 6 threshold. obtained kindness i of him; and he speed-g ver.3. ily gave her her things for k purifica-h c.6.1.2. tion, with such things as belonged to i Ps. 106.46. her, and seven maidens, which were meetk ver.3,12. to be given her, out of the king's house: her portion. and he preferred her and her maids unto 8 changed. the best place of the house of the women. Nu.24.7. 10 Esther had not shewed her people 1Sa. 15.8,33. nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her m that she should not shew it. m ver.20. 17 And the king loved Esther above all 4 or, kindthe women, and she obtained grace and favour 4 in 5 his sight more than all the 5 before virgins; so that he set the royal crown! him. Haman's malignant Proposal. Jupon her head, and made her queen in stead of Vashti. 18 Then the king made a great b feast anto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a 1 release to the provinces, and gave gifts caccord ing to the state of the king. 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat e in the king's gate. 20 Esther had not yet shewed her kin dred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her for f Esther did the com mandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. 21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, 5 Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the 6 door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 22 And the thing was known to Morde cai, who h told it unto Esther the queen, and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. 23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the Chroni cles before the king. CHAP. III. AFTER these things did king Aha suerus promote Haman the son o Hammedatha the Agagite, land advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. 2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed n and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him: but Mordecai bowed not, o nor did him reverence. 3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's p commandment? 4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, r nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of s wrath. 6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: where. fore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. 7 In the first month, (that is the month. Nisan,) in the twelfth year of king Aha suerus, they cast Pur, w that is, the lot, before Haman, from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is the month Adar. 8 And Haman said unto king Ahasue rus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and y their laws are diverse from all people, neither keep they the king's laws, therefore it is not for 1 the king's profit to suffer them. 9 If it please the king, let it be written that 2 they may be destroyed; and I will pay 3 ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it intr the king' treasuries. |