The names of thofe that dwelt in Before Chrift 445. Or, the Jon of Haggedolim. + Heb. were over. + Heb. at the gates. a See Chap. 3. 26. Or, the tower. NEHEMIAH. 6 All the fons of Perez that dwelt at Jerufalem, were four hundred threefcore and eight valiant men. 7 And these are the fons of Benjamin; Sallu the fon of Mefhullam, the fon of Joed, the for of Pedaiah, the fon of Kolaiah, the fon of Maafeiah, the fon of Ithiel, the fon of Jesaiah. 8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight. 9 And Joel the fon of Zichri was their overfeer and Judah the son of Senuah, was second over the city. 10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin. 1 Seraiah the fon of Hilkiah, the fon of Mefhullam, the fon of Zadok, the fon of Meraioth, the fon 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 fon of Jeroham, the fon of Pelaiah, the son of Amzi, the fon of Zechariah, the fon of Pafhur, the fon of Malchiah, 13 And his brethren chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amafhai, the fon of Azareel, the fon of Ahafai, the fon of Mefhillemoth, the fon of Immer, 14 And their brethren mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overfeer was Zabdiel, the fon of one of the great men. 15 Alfo of the Levites: Shemaiah the fon of Hafhub, the fon of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni. 16 And Shabbethai, and Jozabad of the chief of the Levites, + had the overfight of the outward bufinefs of the house of God. 17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the fon of Zabdi, the fon of Afaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer and Bakbukiah the fecond among his brethren, and Abda the fon of Shammua, the fon of Galal, the fon of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city, were two hundred fourfcore and four. 19 Moreover, the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept † the gates, were an hundred seventy and two. 20 And the refidue of Ifrael, of the priests and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance. 21 But the Nethinims dwelt in || Ophel: and Ziha, and Gifpa, were over the Nethinims. 22 The overfeer alfo of the Levites at Jerufalem was Uzzi the fon of Bani, the fon of Hafhabiah, the fon of Mattaniah, the fon of Micha. Of the fons of Afaph, the fingers were over the bufinefs of the house of God. 23 For it was the king's commandment conOr, a fure cerning them, that a certain portion should be for the fingers, due for every day. ordinance. 24 And Pethahiah the fon of Mefhezabeel, of the children of Zerah the fon of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people. b Jerufalem and other cities. 25 And for the villages, with their fields, fome Before of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjath-arba, Chrift 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-fhual, and at Beer-fheba, 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 Lachith and the fields thereof, at Azekah and in the villages thereof. And they dweit from Beerfheba, unto the valley of Hinnom. 445. 31 The children alfo of Benjamin | from Ge- Or, of 11 ba, dwelt || at Michmash, and Aija, and Beth-el, Geba. and in their villages, 32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 And of the Levites, were divifions in Judah, and in Benjamin. CHAP. XII. || Or, to Michma 1 The priests, 8 and the Levites which came up with Zerubbabel. 10 The fucceffion of high priests. 22 Certain chief Levites. 27 The folemnity of the dedication of the walls. 44 The offices of priests and Levites appointed in the temple. NOW these are the priests and the Levites Ezra. 2. a I. that went up with Zerubbabel the fon of 1. Shealtiel, and Jefhua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattuth, 3 Shechaniah, || Rehum, || Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, 5 Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, [Or, Melica, Ver. 14. || Or, Stowmah, Ver. 14. 7 || Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were Or, the chief of the priests, and of their brethren, in the days of Jeshua. Ver. 15. Meraisik, Ver. 15. 8 Moreover the Levites: Jefhua, Binnui, Or, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. Or, Or, Mi 9 Alfo Bakbukiah, and Unni, their brethren, Ver. 16. were over against them in the watches. 10 And Jefhua begat Joiakim, Joiakim alfo niamin, begat Eliafhib, and Eliafhib begat Joiada, ||Or, And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan Media, begat Jaddua. Ver. 17. Ver. 17. 12 And in the days of Joiakim, were priefts, Or, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; Sallai, of Jeremiah, Hananiah;1 13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jeho hanan; 14 Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Jofeph; 15 Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Mefhullam; 17 Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; 18 Of Ver. 20. That is, the plaims of thanking. The dedication of the walls. Before Chrift 445. Chap. xii, xiii. 19 And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, 20 Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 Of Hilkiah, Hafhabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel. 22 The Levites in the days of Eliafhib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: alio the priests, to the reign of Darius the Perfian. 23 The fons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, Chron. were written in the book of the chronicles, 9. 14, &c. even until the days of Johanan the fon of Eliafhib. 24 And the chief of the Levites: Hafhabiah, Sherebiah, and Jefhua the fon of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praife and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward. 25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Mefhullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping Or, trea- the ward, at the | thresholds of the gates. furies, or, 26 These were in the days of Joiakim the fon ajemblies. of Jefhua, the fon of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the fcribe. 27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerufalem, they fought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerufalem, to keep the dedication with gladnefs, both with thankf givings, and with finging with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. 28 And the fons of the fingers gathered themfelves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerufalem, and from the villages of Netophathi, 29 Alfo from the houfe of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba, and Azmaveth: for the fingers had builded them villages round about Jerufalem. 30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall. 31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate: 32 And after them went Hofhaiah, and half 33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, 35 And certain of the priests fons with trum- Afaph; The offices of the priests and Levites. 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 houfe of David, even unto the water-gate eastward. 38 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 the broad wall; 39 And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the filh-gate, and the tower of Hananec, and the tower of Meah, even unto the theep-gate; and they stood ftill in the prifon-gate. 40 So ftood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the houfe of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me: 41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maafeiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah with trumpets; Before Chrift 445. 42 And Maafeiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the fingers + fang loud, † Heb. with Jezrahiah their overfeer. + 43 Alfo that day they offered great facrifices, heard. and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced fo that the joy of Jerufalem was heard even afar off. 44¶ And at that time were fome appointed over the chambers for the treafures, for the offerings, for the firft-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. appointed by the law. + Heb. for 45 And both the fingers and the porters kept the joy of the ward of their God, and the ward of the puri- Judah. fication, according to the commandment of Da- † Heb. vid, and of Solomon his fon: ibat flood. 46 For in the days of David & and Afaph, of 1 Chron. 25, & 26. old, there were chief of the fingers, and fongs of a Chron. praise and thanksgiving unto God. 25. 1, &c. 47 And all Ifrael in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the fingers, and the porters, every day his That is, portion and they fanctified holy things unto fet apart. the Levites, and the Levites fanctified them e unto the children of Aaron. CHAP. XIII. Upon the reading of the law, feparation is made eNumb. 18.26. that day + they read in the book of Mo- + Heb. On of Montre 36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the mufical inftruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them. fes, in the + audience of the people; and there was therein was found written, a that the Ammonite read. and the Moabite fhould not come into the con- + Heb.ears. gregation of God for ever; à Deut. 23. 3. 2 Because they met not the children of Ifrael with bread and with water, but hired Ba- b Numb. laam against them, that he should curfe them: 22. 5. Bb 4 howbeit, Josh. 24. 9. by Nehemiah. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Ju- Before dah, and faid unto them, What evil thing is this Chrift that ye do, and profane the fabbath-day? cir. 434 Divers abufes reformed NEHEMIAH. Before howbeit, our God turned the curfe into a blefChrift fing. 445. 3 Now it came to pass when they had heard the law, that they feparated from Ifrael all the mixed multitude. + Heb. be 4 And before this, Eliafhib the priest, + having jet over. ing the overfight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: 5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat-offerings, the frankincenfe, and the veffels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil (+ which was commanded to be given to the Lement of the Vites, and the fingers, and the porters) and the offerings of the priests. + Heb. the command Levites. cir. 434. + Heb. at the end of days. Or, I carniftly requefied. + Heb. franding. Or, fore boufes. + Heb. at their band. † Heb. it was upon them. © Ver. 22. + Heb. kindnefes. Or, obfervations. 6 But in all this time was not I at Jerufalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, came I unto the king, and † after certain days obtained I leave of the king: 7 And I came to Jerufalem, and underfood of the evil that Eliafhib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me fore: therefore I caft forth all the houshold-stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the veffels 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 fingers that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and faid, Why is the boufe of God forfaken? and I gathered them together, and fet them in their + place. 12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn, and the new 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 fon of Zaccur, the fon of Mattaniah for they were counted faithful, and + their office was to distribute unto their brethren. c 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my + good deeds that I have done for the houfe of my God, and for the offices thereof. 15¶ In those days faw I in Judah fome treading wine-preffes on the fabbath, and bringing in fheaves, and lading affes; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerufalem on the fabbath-day: and I teftified against them in the day wherein they fold victuals. 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and fold on the fabbath unto the children of Judah and in Jerufalem. 18 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 Ifrael by profaning the fabbath. 19 And it came to pafs, that when the gates of Jerufalem began to be dark before the fabbath, I commanded that the gates thould be fhut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the fabbath: and fome of my fervants fet I at the gates, that there fhould no burden be brought in on the fabbath-day. 20 So the merchants, and fellers of all kind of ware, lodged without Jerufalem once or twice. 21 Then I teftified against them, and faid unto them, Why lodge ye † about the wall? if ye do t Heb. o again, I will lay hands on you. From that time before the forth came they no more on the fabbath. wall? 22 And I commanded the Levites, that they should cleanse themselves, and that they fhould come and keep the gates, to fanctify the fabbathday. Remember me, O my God, concerning this alfo, and spare me according to the || greatness of || Or, multhy mercy. titude. 23. In those days alfo faw I Jews that + had t Heb. married wives of Afhdod, of Ammon, and of Moab : bad made to drwell with them. 24 And their children fpake half in the fpeech of Afhdod, and + could not fpeak in the Jews + Heb. they language, but according to the language † of difcerned not to speak. each people. + Heb. of 25 And I contended with them, and curfed people and them, and fmote certain of them, and plucked people. off their hair, and made them fwear by God, I Or, reJaying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto viled them their fons, nor take their daughters unto your fons, or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Ifrael fin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Ifrael: never- & 1 Kings theless, even him did outlandish women cause to 11. 1, &c.` fin. 27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God, in marrying ftrange wives? 28 And one of the fons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was fon-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chafed him from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, + because + Heb. for they have defiled the priesthood, and the cove- the defilings nant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. 30 Thus cleansed I them from all ftrangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; 31 And for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the firft-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. The Before cir. 521. eir. 519. + Heb. found. | Or, violet. Or, of porphyre, and marble, and alabafter, and Aone of blue colour. wine of the 1 Or, eunuchs. +Heb. good of counte nance. 519. + Heb. which was by the band of his eunuchs. • Ezra 7. 14. ¶ The Book of ESTHER. CHAP. I. 1 Abafuerus maketh royal feafts. 10 Vashti fent for, refufeth to come. 13 Ahasuerus by the counfel of Memucan, maketh the decree of mens fovereignty. OW it came to pafs in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and feven and twenty provinces) N 2 That in those days, when the king Ahafuerus fat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, 3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feaft unto all his princes, and his fervants; the power of Perfia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him. 4 When he fhewed the riches of his glorious kingdom, and the honour of his excellent majefty, many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. 5 And when thefe days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were + prefent in Shufhan the palace, both unto great and fmall, feven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace; 6 Where were white, green, and blue hangings, faftened with cords of fine linen, and purple, to filver rings, and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold, and filver, upon a pavement || of red, and blue, and white, and black marble." 7 And they gave them drink in veffels of gold (the veffels being diverfe one from another) and royal wine in abundance, † according to the ftate of the king. 8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for fo the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure. 9 Alfo Vashti the queen made a feast for the women, in the royal houfe which belonged to king Ahasuerus. 10 ¶ On the feventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the feven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king, with the crown royal, to fhew the people and the princes her beauty: for fhe was + fair to look on. 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment + by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. 13 Then the king faid to the wife-men, which knew the times (for fo was the king's manner towards all that knew law and judgement: 14 And the next unto him was Carthena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarthith, Meres, Marfena, and Memucan, the feven princes of Perfia and Media, which faw the king's face, and which fat the firft in the kingdom) 19 + If it please the king, let there go a royal † Heb. If it commandment + from him, and let it be writ- the king. ten among the laws of the Perfians and the + Heb. from Medes, + that it be not altered, that Vashti come before him. no more before king Ahafuerus, and let the king † Heb. that give her royal estate + unto another that is better it pass not than fhe. + Heb. unto nion. away. 20 And when the king's decree which he ber compafhall make, fhall be publifhed throughout all his empire (for it is great) all the wives fhall give to their husbands honour, both to great and fmall. 21 And the faying + pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan. 22 For he fent letters 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 in his own houfe, and + that it should be published according to the language of every people. CHA P. II. 1 Out of the choice of virgins, a queen is to be chofen. 5 Mordecai the nurfing father of Ether. 8 Efther is preferred by Hegai before the rest. 12 The manner of purification, and going in to the king. 15 Efther beft pleasing the king, is made queen. 21 Mordecai difcovering a treafon, is recorded in the chronicles. Fter these things, when the wrath of king Ahafuerus was appealed, he remembered Vashti, and what the had done, and what was decreed against her. 2 Then faid the king's fervants, that miniftered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins fought for the king. Heb. was good in the eyes of the king. Heb. that one should publish it according to the language of his people. 518. Before berlain, keeper of the women; and let their things Chrift for purification be given them. 518. * 2 Kings 24. 15. 36. 10. Jer. 24. 1. + Heb. nourifbed. 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vahti. And the thing pleafed the king, and he did fo. 5 ¶ Now in Shuthan the palace, there was a certain Jew, whofe name was Mordecai, the fon of Jair, the fon of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite: 6 Who had been carried away from Jerufalem, with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And he + brought up Hadaffah (that is Efther) his uncle's daughter; for the had neither father nor mother, and the maid was + Heb. fair + fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her of form, and father and mother were dead, took for his own good of coun- daughter. tenance. + Heb. her portions. + Heb. he changed her. + Heb. to know the peace. cir. 515. cir. 515. 8 So it came to pafs, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shufhan the palace, to the cuftody of Hegai, that Efther was brought alfo unto the king's houfe, to the cuftody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9 And the maiden pleafed him, and she obtained kindness of him, and be speedily gave her her things for purification, with fuch things as belonged to her, and feven maidens which were meet to be given her, out of the king's houfe: and the preferred her and her maids, unto the beft place of the house of the women. 10 Efther had not fhewed her people, nor her kindred for Mordecai had charged her, that he fhould not fhew it. 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the womens house, † to know how Either did, and what should become of her. 12 Now when every maid's turn was come, to go in to king Ahafuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women (for fo were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, fix months with oil of myrrh, and fix months with fweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women) 13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever the defired was given her, to go with her out of the house of the women, unto the king's house. 14 In the evening fhe went, and on the morrow the returned into the fecond house of the women, to the cuftody of Shaafhgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: the came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that he were called by name. 15¶ Now when the turn of Efther, the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai (who had taken her for his daughter) was come to go in unto the king, the required nothing, but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women appointed. And Efther obtained and made queen. favour in the fight of all them that looked upon Before her. Chrift 16 So Efther was taken unto king Ahafuerus, cir. 515. into his houfe royal, in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 And the king loved Efther above all the women, and the obtained grace and || favour | Or, kind+ in his fight, more than all the virgins; fo that nefs. he fet the royal crown upon her head, and made t Heb. be fore bim. her queen instead of Vaihti. 18 Then the king made a great feaft unto cir. 514. all his princes and his fervants, even Either's feaft; and he made a + releafe to the pro- † Heb. ref. vinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the fecond time, then Mordecai fat in the king's gate. 20 Ether had not yet fhewed her kindred, nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her for Efther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when the was brought up with him. 21 In thofe days, while Mordecai fat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, || Bigthan and Terefh, of thofe which kept + the Or, Bigdoor, were wroth, and fought to lay hand on the thana, Chap. 6. 2. king Ahafuerus. + Heb. the 22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, threbeld. who told it unto Either the queen, and Efther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. 23. And when inquifition 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 chronicles before the king. CHA P. III. 3 Then the king's fervants which were in the king's gate, faid unto Mordecai, Why tranfgreffeft thou the king's commandment? 4 Now it came to pafs, when they fpake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to fee whether Mordecai his matters would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman faw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 6 And he thought fcorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had fhewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman fought to |