{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/apo/1esdr.htm","path":"chr/apo/1esdr.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/apo/1esdr.htm","text":"1Esdr 1\nAnd Josias held the feast of the passover in Jerusalem unto his Lord,\nand offered the passover the fourteenth day of the first month;\n2\nHaving set the priests according to their daily courses,\nbeing arrayed in long garments, in the temple of the Lord.\n3\nAnd he spake unto the Levites, the holy ministers of Israel,\nthat they should hallow themselves unto the Lord, to set\nthe holy ark of the Lord in the house that king Solomon\nthe son of David had built:\n4\nAnd said, Ye shall no more bear the ark upon your shoulders:\nnow therefore serve the Lord your God, and minister unto his\npeople Israel, and prepare you after your families and kindreds,\n5\nAccording as David the king of Israel prescribed,\nand according to the magnificence of Solomon his son:\nand standing in the temple according to the several dignity\nof the families of you the Levites, who minister in the presence\nof your brethren the children of Israel,\n6\nOffer the passover in order, and make ready the sacrifices\nfor your brethren, and keep the passover according to the\ncommandment of the Lord, which was given unto Moses.\n7\nAnd unto the people that was found there Josias gave\nthirty thousand lambs and kids, and three thousand calves:\nthese things were given of the king's allowance,\naccording as he promised, to the people, to the priests,\nand to the Levites.\n8\nAnd Helkias, Zacharias, and Syelus, the governors of the temple,\ngave to the priests for the passover two thousand and six hundred sheep,\nand three hundred calves.\n9\nAnd Jeconias, and Samaias, and Nathanael his brother, and Assabias,\nand Ochiel, and Joram, captains over thousands, gave to the Levites\nfor the passover five thousand sheep, and seven hundred calves.\n10\nAnd when these things were done, the priests and Levites,\nhaving the unleavened bread, stood in very comely order\naccording to the kindreds,\n11\nAnd according to the several dignities of the fathers,\nbefore the people, to offer to the Lord, as it is written\nin the book of Moses: and thus did they in the morning.\n12\nAnd they roasted the passover with fire, as appertaineth:\nas for the sacrifices, they sod them in brass pots and pans\nwith a good savour,\n13\nAnd set them before all the people: and afterward they prepared\nfor themselves, and for the priests their brethren, the sons of Aaron.\n14\nFor the priests offered the fat until night: and the Levites\nprepared for themselves, and the priests their brethren,\nthe sons of Aaron.\n15\nThe holy singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their order,\naccording to the appointment of David, to wit, Asaph, Zacharias,\nand Jeduthun, who was of the king's retinue.\n16\nMoreover the porters were at every gate; it was not lawful\nfor any to go from his ordinary service: for their brethren\nthe Levites prepared for them.\n17\nThus were the things that belonged to the sacrifices\nof the Lord accomplished in that day, that they might\nhold the passover,\n18\nAnd offer sacrifices upon the altar of the Lord,\naccording to the commandment of king Josias.\n19\nSo the children of Israel which were present held the\npassover at that time, and the feast of sweet bread seven days.\n20\nAnd such a passover was not kept in Israel since\nthe time of the prophet Samuel.\n21\nYea, all the kings of Israel held not such a passover as Josias,\nand the priests, and the Levites, and the Jews, held with all Israel\nthat were found dwelling at Jerusalem.\n22\nIn the eighteenth year of the reign of Josias was this passover kept.\n23\nAnd the works or Josias were upright before his Lord\nwith an heart full of godliness.\n24\nAs for the things that came to pass in his time, they were written\nin former times, concerning those that sinned, and did wickedly against\nthe Lord above all people and kingdoms, and how they grieved him exceedingly,\nso that the words of the Lord rose up against Israel.\n25\nNow after all these acts of Josias it came to pass,\nthat Pharaoh the king of Egypt came to raise war at Carchamis\nupon Euphrates: and Josias went out against him.\n26\nBut the king of Egypt sent to him, saying,\nWhat have I to do with thee, O king of Judea?\n27\nI am not sent out from the Lord God against thee; for my war\nis upon Euphrates: and now the Lord is with me, yea, the Lord is\nwith me hasting me forward: depart from me, and be not against the Lord.\n28\nHowbeit Josias did not turn back his chariot from him,\nbut undertook to fight with him, not regarding the words\nof the prophet Jeremy spoken by the mouth of the Lord:\n29\nBut joined battle with him in the plain of Magiddo,\nand the princes came against king Josias.\n30\nThen said the king unto his servants, Carry me away out of\nthe battle; for I am very weak. And immediately his servants\ntook him away out of the battle.\n31\nThen gat he up upon his second chariot; and being brought\nback to Jerusalem died, and was buried in his father's sepulchre.\n32\nAnd in all Jewry they mourned for Josias, yea, Jeremy the prophet\nlamented for Josias, and the chief men with the women made lamentation\nfor him unto this day: and this was given out for an ordinance\nto be done continually in all the nation of Israel.\n33\nThese things are written in the book of the stories of the\nkings of Judah, and every one of the acts that Josias did,\nand his glory, and his understanding in the law of the Lord,\nand the things that he had done before, and the things now recited,\nare reported in the book of the kings of Israel and Judea.\n34\nAnd the people took Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king\ninstead of Josias his father, when he was twenty and three years old.\n35\nAnd he reigned in Judea and in Jerusalem three months: and\nthen the king of Egypt deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem.\n36\nAnd he set a tax upon the land of an hundred talents\nof silver and one talent of gold.\n37\nThe king of Egypt also made king Joacim his brother king\nof Judea and Jerusalem.\n38\nAnd he bound Joacim and the nobles: but Zaraces his brother\nhe apprehended, and brought him out of Egypt.\n39\nFive and twenty years old was Joacim when he was made king in the land\nof Judea and Jerusalem; and he did evil before the Lord.\n40\nWherefore against him Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came up,\nand bound him with a chain of brass, and carried him into Babylon.\n41\nNabuchodonosor also took of the holy vessels of the Lord,\nand carried them away, and set them in his own temple at Babylon.\n42\nBut those things that are recorded of him, and of his uncleaness and impiety,\nare written in the chronicles of the kings.\n43\nAnd Joacim his son reigned in his stead:\nhe was made king being eighteen years old;\n44\nAnd reigned but three months and ten days in Jerusalem;\nand did evil before the Lord.\n45\nSo after a year Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be\nbrought into Babylon with the holy vessels of the Lord;\n46\nAnd made Zedechias king of Judea and Jerusalem, when he was\none and twenty years old; and he reigned eleven years:\n47\nAnd he did evil also in the sight of the Lord, and cared not\nfor the words that were spoken unto him by the prophet Jeremy\nfrom the mouth of the Lord.\n48\nAnd after that king Nabuchodonosor had made him to swear\nby the name of the Lord, he forswore himself, and rebelled;\nand hardening his neck, his heart, he transgressed the laws\nof the Lord God of Israel.\n49\nThe governors also of the people and of the priests did many things\nagainst the laws, and passed all the pollutions of all nations,\nand defiled the temple of the Lord, which was sanctified in Jerusalem.\n50\nNevertheless the God of their fathers sent by his messenger\nto call them back, because he spared them and his tabernacle also.\n51\nBut they had his messengers in derision; and, look, when the\nLord spake unto them, they made a sport of his prophets:\n52\nSo far forth, that he, being wroth with his people for their great ungodliness,\ncommanded the kings of the Chaldees to come up against them;\n53\nWho slew their young men with the sword, yea, even within the compass\nof their holy temple, and spared neither young man nor maid,\nold man nor child, among them; for he delivered all into their hands.\n54\nAnd they took all the holy vessels of the Lord,\nboth great and small, with the vessels of the ark of God,\nand the king's treasures, and carried them away into Babylon.\n55\nAs for the house of the Lord, they burnt it, and brake down\nthe walls of Jerusalem, and set fire upon her towers:\n56\nAnd as for her glorious things, they never ceased till they\nhad consumed and brought them all to nought: and the people\nthat were not slain with the sword he carried unto Babylon:\n57\nWho became servants to him and his children, till the Persians reigned,\nto fulfil the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremy:\n58\nUntil the land had enjoyed her sabbaths, the whole time of her\ndesolation shall she rest, until the full term of seventy years.\n1Esdr 2\nIn the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the\nword of the Lord might be accomplished, that he had promised by\nthe mouth of Jeremy;\n2\nThe Lord raised up the spirit of Cyrus the king of the\nPersians, and he made proclamation through all his kingdom, and\nalso by writing,\n3\nSaying, Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians; The Lord of\nIsrael, the most high Lord, hath made me king of the whole\nworld,\n4\nAnd commanded me to build him an house at Jerusalem in Jewry.\n5\nIf therefore there be any of you that are of his people, let\nthe Lord, even his Lord, be with him, and let him go up to\nJerusalem that is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of\nIsrael: for he is the Lord that dwelleth in Jerusalem.\n6\nWhosoever then dwell in the places about, let them help him,\nthose, I say, that are his neighbours, with gold, and with\nsilver,\n7\nWith gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other things,\nwhich have been set forth by vow, for the temple of the Lord at\nJerusalem.\n8\nThen the chief of the families of Judea and of the tribe of\nBenjamin stood up; the priests also, and the Levites, and all\nthey whose mind the Lord had moved to go up, and to build an\nhouse for the Lord at Jerusalem,\n9\nAnd they that dwelt round about them, and helped them in all\nthings with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with\nvery many free gifts of a great number whose minds were stirred\nup thereto.\n10\nKing Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels, which\nNabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem, and had set up\nin his temple of idols.\n11\nNow when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them forth,\nhe delivered them to Mithridates his treasurer:\n12\nAnd by him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of\nJudea.\n13\nAnd this was the number of them; A thousand golden cups, and\na thousand of silver, censers of silver twenty nine, vials of\ngold thirty, and of silver two thousand four hundred and ten,\nand a thousand other vessels.\n14\nSo all the vessels of gold and of silver, which were carried\naway, were five thousand four hundred threescore and nine.\n15\nThese were brought back by Sanabassar, together with them of\nthe captivity, from Babylon to Jerusalem.\n16\nBut in the time of Artexerxes king of the Persians Belemus,\nand Mithridates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus,\nand Semellius the secretary, with others that were in commission\nwith them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote unto him\nagainst them that dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem these letters\nfollowing;\n17\nTo king Artexerxes our lord, Thy servants, Rathumus the\nstorywriter, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest of their\ncouncil, and the judges that are in Celosyria and Phenice.\n18\nBe it now known to the lord king, that the Jews that are up\nfrom you to us, being come into Jerusalem, that rebellious and\nwicked city, do build the marketplaces, and repair the walls of\nit and do lay the foundation of the temple.\n19\nNow if this city and the walls thereof be made up again, they\nwill not only refuse to give tribute, but also rebel against\nkings.\n20\nAnd forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now\nin hand, we think it meet not to neglect such a matter,\n21\nBut to speak unto our lord the king, to the intent that, if\nit be thy pleasure it may be sought out in the books of thy\nfathers:\n22\nAnd thou shalt find in the chronicles what is written\nconcerning these things, and shalt understand that that city was\nrebellious, troubling both kings and cities:\n23\nAnd that the Jews were rebellious, and raised always wars\ntherein; for the which cause even this city was made desolate.\n24\nWherefore now we do declare unto thee, O lord the king, that\nif this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up anew,\nthou shalt from henceforth have no passage into Celosyria and\nPhenice.\n25\nThen the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter,\nto Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and to the rest that\nwere in commission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and\nPhenice, after this manner;\n26\nI have read the epistle which ye have sent unto me: therefore\nI commanded to make diligent search, and it hath been found that\nthat city was from the beginning practising against kings;\n27\nAnd the men therein were given to rebellion and war: and that\nmighty kings and fierce were in Jerusalem, who reigned and\nexacted tributes in Celosyria and Phenice.\n28\nNow therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from\nbuilding the city, and heed to be taken that there be no more\ndone in it;\n29\nAnd that those wicked workers proceed no further to the\nannoyance of kings,\n30\nThen king Artexerxes his letters being read, Rathumus, and\nSemellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with\nthem, removing in haste toward Jerusalem with a troop of\nhorsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to\nhinder the builders; and the building of the temple in Jerusalem\nceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the\nPersians.\n1Esdr 3\nNow when Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto all his\nsubjects, and unto all his household, and unto all the princes\nof Media and Persia,\n2\nAnd to all the governors and captains and lieutenants that\nwere under him, from India unto Ethiopia, of an hundred twenty\nand seven provinces.\n3\nAnd when they had eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were\ngone home, then Darius the king went into his bedchamber, and\nslept, and soon after awaked.\n4\nThen three young men, that were of the guard that kept the\nking's body, spake one to another;\n5\nLet every one of us speak a sentence: he that shall overcome,\nand whose sentence shall seem wiser than the others, unto him\nshall the king Darius give great gifts, and great things in\ntoken of victory:\n6\nAs, to be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep\nupon gold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and an headtire\nof fine linen, and a chain about his neck:\n7\nAnd he shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and\nshall be called Darius his cousin.\n8\nAnd then every one wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it\nunder king Darius his pillow;\n9\nAnd said that, when the king is risen, some will give him the\nwritings; and of whose side the king and the three princes of\nPersia shall judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him shall\nthe victory be given, as was appointed.\n10\nThe first wrote, Wine is the strongest.\n11\nThe second wrote, The king is strongest.\n12\nThe third wrote, Women are strongest: but above all things\nTruth beareth away the victory.\n13\nNow when the king was risen up, they took their writings, and\ndelivered them unto him, and so he read them:\n14\nAnd sending forth he called all the princes of Persia and\nMedia, and the governors, and the captains, and the lieutenants,\nand the chief officers;\n15\nAnd sat him down in the royal seat of judgment; and the\nwritings were read before them.\n16\nAnd he said, Call the young men, and they shall declare their\nown sentences. So they were called, and came in.\n17\nAnd he said unto them, Declare unto us your mind concerning\nthe writings. Then began the first, who had spoken of the\nstrength of wine;\n18\nAnd he said thus, O ye men, how exceeding strong is wine! it\ncauseth all men to err that drink it:\n19\nIt maketh the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to\nbe all one; of the bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man\nand of the rich:\n20\nIt turneth also every thought into jollity and mirth, so that\na man remembereth neither sorrow nor debt:\n21\nAnd it maketh every heart rich, so that a man remembereth\nneither king nor governor; and it maketh to speak all things by\ntalents:\n22\nAnd when they are in their cups, they forget their love both\nto friends and brethren, and a little after draw out swords:\n23\nBut when they are from the wine, they remember not what they\nhave done.\n24\nO ye men, is not wine the strongest, that enforceth to do\nthus? And when he had so spoken, he held his peace.\n1Esdr 4\nThen the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king,\nbegan to say,\n2\nO ye men, do not men excel in strength that bear rule over\nsea and land and all things in them?\n3\nBut yet the king is more mighty: for he is lord of all these\nthings, and hath dominion over them; and whatsoever he\ncommandeth them they do.\n4\nIf he bid them make war the one against the other, they do\nit: if he send them out against the enemies, they go, and break\ndown mountains walls and towers.\n5\nThey slay and are slain, and transgress not the king's\ncommandment: if they get the victory, they bring all to the\nking, as well the spoil, as all things else.\n6\nLikewise for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do\nwith wars, but use husbundry, when they have reaped again that\nwhich they had sown, they bring it to the king, and compel one\nanother to pay tribute unto the king.\n7\nAnd yet he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill;\nif he command to spare, they spare;\n8\nIf he command to smite, they smite; if he command to make\ndesolate, they make desolate; if he command to build, they\nbuild;\n9\nIf he command to cut down, they cut down; if he command to\nplant, they plant.\n10\nSo all his people and his armies obey him: furthermore he\nlieth down, he eateth and drinketh, and taketh his rest:\n11\nAnd these keep watch round about him, neither may any one\ndepart, and do his own business, neither disobey they him in any\nthing.\n12\nO ye men, how should not the king be mightiest, when in such\nsort he is obeyed? And he held his tongue.\n13\nThen the third, who had spoken of women, and of the truth,\n(this was Zorobabel) began to speak.\n14\nO ye men, it is not the great king, nor the multitude of men,\nneither is it wine, that excelleth; who is it then that ruleth\nthem, or hath the lordship over them? are they not women?\n15\nWomen have borne the king and all the people that bear rule\nby sea and land.\n16\nEven of them came they: and they nourished them up that\nplanted the vineyards, from whence the wine cometh.\n17\nThese also make garments for men; these bring glory unto men;\nand without women cannot men be.\n18\nYea, and if men have gathered together gold and silver, or\nany other goodly thing, do they not love a woman which is comely\nin favour and beauty?\n19\nAnd letting all those things go, do they not gape, and even\nwith open mouth fix their eyes fast on her; and have not all men\nmore desire unto her than unto silver or gold, or any goodly\nthing whatsoever?\n20\nA man leaveth his own father that brought him up, and his own\ncountry, and cleaveth unto his wife.\n21\nHe sticketh not to spend his life with his wife. and\nremembereth neither father, nor mother, nor country.\n22\nBy this also ye must know that women have dominion over you:\ndo ye not labour and toil, and give and bring all to the woman?\n23\nYea, a man taketh his sword, and goeth his way to rob and to\nsteal, to sail upon the sea and upon rivers;\n24\nAnd looketh upon a lion, and goeth in the darkness; and when\nhe hath stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love.\n25\nWherefore a man loveth his wife better than father or mother.\n26\nYea, many there be that have run out of their wits for women,\nand become servants for their sakes.\n27\nMany also have perished, have erred, and sinned, for women.\n28\nAnd now do ye not believe me? is not the king great in his\npower? do not all regions fear to touch him?\n29\nYet did I see him and Apame the king's concubine, the\ndaughter of the admirable Bartacus, sitting at the right hand of\nthe king,\n30\nAnd taking the crown from the king's head, and setting it\nupon her own head; she also struck the king with her left hand.\n31\nAnd yet for all this the king gaped and gazed upon her with\nopen mouth: if she laughed upon him, he laughed also: but if she\ntook any displeasure at him, the king was fain to flatter, that\nshe might be reconciled to him again.\n32\nO ye men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing\nthey do thus?\n33\nThen the king and the princes looked one upon another: so he\nbegan to speak of the truth.\n34\nO ye men, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is\nthe heaven, swift is the sun in his course, for he compasseth\nthe heavens round about, and fetcheth his course again to his\nown place in one day.\n35\nIs he not great that maketh these things? therefore great is\nthe truth, and stronger than all things.\n36\nAll the earth crieth upon the truth, and the heaven blesseth\nit: all works shake and tremble at it, and with it is no\nunrighteous thing.\n37\nWine is wicked, the king is wicked, women are wicked, all the\nchildren of men are wicked, and such are all their wicked works;\nand there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also\nthey shall perish.\n38\nAs for the truth, it endureth, and is alwaYs strong; it\nliveth and conquereth for evermore.\n39\nWith her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she\ndoeth the things that are just, and refraineth from all unjust\nand wicked things; and all men do well like of her works.\n40\nNeither in her judgment is any unrighteousness; and she is\nthe strength, kingdom, power, and majesty, of all ages. Blessed\nbe the God of truth.\n41\nAnd with that he held his peace. And all the people then\nshouted, and said, Great is Truth, and mighty above all things.\n42\nThen said the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt more than is\nappointed in the writing, and we will give it thee, because thou\nart found wisest; and thou shalt sit next me, and shalt be\ncalled my cousin.\n43\nThen said he unto the king, Remember thy vow, which thou hast\nvowed to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy\nkingdom,\n44\nAnd to send away all the vessels that were taken away out of\nJerusalem, which Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy\nBabylon, and to send them again thither.\n45\nThou also hast vowed to build up the temple, which the\nEdomites burned when Judea was made desolate by the Chaldees.\n46\nAnd now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and\nwhich I desire of thee, and this is the princely liberality\nproceeding from thyself: I desire therefore that thou make good\nthe vow, the performance whereof with thine own mouth thou hast\nvowed to the King of heaven.\n47\nThen Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote\nletters for him unto all the treasurers and lieutenants and\ncaptains and governors, that they should safely convey on their\nway both him, and all those that go up with him to build\nJerusalem.\n48\nHe wrote letters also unto the lieutenants that were in\nCelosyria and Phenice, and unto them in Libanus, that they\nshould bring cedar wood from Libanus unto Jerusalem, and that\nthey should build the city with him.\n49\nMoreover he wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm\nup into Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no\nruler, no lieutenant, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into\ntheir doors;\n50\nAnd that all the country which they hold should be free\nwithout tribute; and that the Edomites should give over the\nvillages of the Jews which then they held:\n51\nYea, that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the\nbuilding of the temple, until the time that it were built;\n52\nAnd other ten talents yearly, to maintain the burnt offerings\nupon the altar every day, as they had a commandment to offer\nseventeen:\n53\nAnd that all they that went from Babylon to build the city\nshould have free liberty, as well they as their posterity, and\nall the priests that went away.\n54\nHe wrote also concerning. the charges, and the priests'\nvestments wherein they minister;\n55\nAnd likewise for the charges of the Levites, to be given them\nuntil the day that the house were finished, and Jerusalem\nbuilded up.\n56\nAnd he commanded to give to all that kept the city pensions\nand wages.\n57\nHe sent away also all the vessels from Babylon, that Cyrus\nhad set apart; and all that Cyrus had given in commandment, the\nsame charged he also to be done, and sent unto Jerusalem.\n58\nNow when this young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face\nto heaven toward Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven,\n59\nAnd said, From thee cometh victory, from thee cometh wisdom,\nand thine is the glory, and I am thy servant.\n60\nBlessed art thou, who hast given me wisdom: for to thee I\ngive thanks, O Lord of our fathers.\n61\nAnd so he took the letters, and went out, and came unto\nBabylon, and told it all his brethren.\n62\nAnd they praised the God of their fathers, because he had\ngiven them freedom and liberty\n63\nTo go up, and to build Jerusalem, and the temple which is\ncalled by his name: and they feasted with instruments of musick\nand gladness seven days.\n1Esdr 5\nAfter this were the principal men of the families chosen\naccording to their tribes, to go up with their wives and sons\nand daughters, with their menservants and maidservants, and\ntheir cattle.\n2\nAnd Darius sent with them a thousand horsemen, till they had\nbrought them back to Jerusalem safely, and with musical\n[instruments] tabrets and flutes.\n3\nAnd all their brethren played, and he made them go up\ntogether with them.\n4\nAnd these are the names of the men which went up, according\nto their families among their tribes, after their several heads.\n5\nThe priests, the sons of Phinees the son of Aaron: Jesus the\nson of Josedec, the son of Saraias, and Joacim the son of\nZorobabel, the son of Salathiel, of the house of David, out of\nthe kindred of Phares, of the tribe of Judah;\n6\nWho spake wise sentences before Darius the king of Persia in\nthe second year of his reign, in the month Nisan, which is the\nfirst month.\n7\nAnd these are they of Jewry that came up from the captivity,\nwhere they dwelt as strangers, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of\nBabylon had carried away unto Babylon.\n8\nAnd they returned unto Jerusalem, and to the other parts of\nJewry, every man to his own city, who came with Zorobabel, with\nJesus, Nehemias, and Zacharias, and Reesaias, Enenius,\nMardocheus. Beelsarus, Aspharasus, Reelius, Roimus, and Baana,\ntheir guides.\n9\nThe number of them of the nation, and their governors, sons\nof Phoros, two thousand an hundred seventy and two; the sons of\nSaphat, four hundred seventy and two:\n10\nThe sons of Ares, seven hundred fifty and six:\n11\nThe sons of Phaath Moab, two thousand eight hundred and\ntwelve:\n12\nThe sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four: the\nsons of Zathul, nine hundred forty and five: the sons of Corbe,\nseven hundred and five: the sons of Bani, six hundred forty and\neight:\n13\nThe sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three: the sons of\nSadas, three thousand two hundred twenty and two:\n14\nThe sons of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and seven: the sons\nof Bagoi, two thousand sixty and six: the sons of Adin, four\nhundred fifty and four:\n15\nThe sons of Aterezias, ninety and two: the sons of Ceilan and\nAzetas threescore and seven: the sons of Azuran, four hundred\nthirty and two:\n16\nThe sons of Ananias, an hundred and one: the sons of Arom,\nthirty two: and the sons of Bassa, three hundred twenty and\nthree: the sons of Azephurith, an hundred and two:\n17\nThe sons of Meterus, three thousand and five: the sons of\nBethlomon, an hundred twenty and three:\n18\nThey of Netophah, fifty and five: they of Anathoth, an\nhundred fifty and eight: they of Bethsamos, forty and two:\n19\nThey of Kiriathiarius, twenty and five: they of Caphira and\nBeroth, seven hundred forty and three: they of Pira, seven\nhundred:\n20\nThey of Chadias and Ammidoi, four hundred twenty and two:\nthey of Cirama and Gabdes, six hundred twenty and one:\n21\nThey of Macalon, an hundred twenty and two: they of Betolius,\nfifty and two: the sons of Nephis, an hundred fifty and six:\n22\nThe sons of Calamolalus and Onus, seven hundred twenty and\nfive: the sons of Jerechus, two hundred forty and five:\n23\nThe sons of Annas, three thousand three hundred and thirty.\n24\nThe priests: the sons of Jeddu, the son of Jesus among the\nsons of Sanasib, nine hundred seventy and two: the sons of\nMeruth, a thousand fifty and two:\n25\nThe sons of Phassaron, a thousand forty and seven: the sons\nof Carme, a thousand and seventeen.\n26\nThe Levites: the sons of Jessue, and Cadmiel, and Banuas, and\nSudias, seventy and four.\n27\nThe holy singers: the sons of Asaph, an hundred twenty and\neight.\n28\nThe porters: the sons of Salum, the sons of Jatal, the sons\nof Talmon, the sons of Dacobi, the sons of Teta, the sons of\nSami, in all an hundred thirty and nine.\n29\nThe servants of the temple: the sons of Esau, the sons of\nAsipha, the sons of Tabaoth, the sons of Ceras, the sons of Sud,\nthe sons of Phaleas, the sons of Labana, the sons of Graba,\n30\nThe sons of Acua, the sons of Uta, the sons of Cetab, the\nsons of Agaba, the sons of Subai, the sons of Anan, the sons of\nCathua, the sons of Geddur,\n31\nThe sons of Airus, the sons of Daisan, the sons of Noeba, the\nsons of Chaseba, the sons of Gazera, the sons of Azia, the sons\nof Phinees, the sons of Azare, the sons of Bastai, the sons of\nAsana, the sons of Meani, the sons of Naphisi, the sons of Acub,\nthe sons of Acipha, the sons of Assur, the sons of Pharacim, the\nsons of Basaloth,\n32\nThe sons of Meeda, the sons of Coutha, the sons of Charea,\nthe sons of Charcus, the sons of Aserer, the sons of Thomoi, the\nsons of Nasith, the sons of Atipha.\n33\nThe sons of the servants of Solomon: the sons of Azaphion,\nthe sons of Pharira, the sons of Jeeli, the sons of Lozon, the\nsons of Israel, the sons of Sapheth,\n34\nThe sons of Hagia, the sons of Pharacareth, the sons of\nSabi, the sons of Sarothie, the sons of Masias, the sons of Gar,\nthe sons of Addus, the sons of Suba, the sons of Apherra, the\nsons of Barodis, the sons of Sabat, the sons of Allom.\n35\nAll the ministers of the temple, and the sons of the servants\nof Solomon, were three hundred seventy and two.\n36\nThese came up from Thermeleth and Thelersas, Charaathalar\nleading them, and Aalar;\n37\nNeither could they shew their families, nor their stock, how\nthey were of Israel: the sons of Ladan, the son of Ban, the sons\nof Necodan, six hundred fifty and two.\n38\nAnd of the priests that usurped the office of the priesthood,\nand were not found: the sons of Obdia, the sons of Accoz, the\nsons of Addus, who married Augia one of the daughters of\nBarzelus, and was named after his name.\n39\nAnd when the description of the kindred of these men was\nsought in the register, and was not found, they were removed\nfrom executing the office of the priesthood:\n40\nFor unto them said Nehemias and Atharias, that they should\nnot be partakers of the holy things, till there arose up an high\npriest clothed with doctrine and truth.\n41\nSo of Israel, from them of twelve years old and upward, they\nwere all in number forty thousand, beside menservants and\nwomenservants two thousand three hundred and sixty.\n42\nTheir menservants and handmaids were seven thousand three\nhundred forty and seven: the singing men and singing women, two\nhundred forty and five:\n43\nFour hundred thirty and five camels, seven thousand thirty\nand six horses, two hundred forty and five mules, five thousand\nfive hundred twenty and five beasts used to the yoke.\n44\nAnd certain of the chief of their families, when they came to\nthe temple of God that is in Jerusalem, vowed to set up the\nhouse again in his own place according to their ability,\n45\nAnd to give into the holy treasury of the works a thousand\npounds of gold, five thousand of silver, and an hundred priestly\nvestments.\n46\nAnd so dwelt the priests and the Levites and the people in\nJerusalem, and in the country, the singers also and the porters;\nand all Israel in their villages.\n47\nBut when the seventh month was at hand, and when the children\nof Israel were every man in his own place, they came all\ntogether with one consent into the open place of the first gate\nwhich is toward the east.\n48\nThen stood up Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren the\npriests and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and his brethren,\nand made ready the altar of the God of Israel,\n49\nTo offer burnt sacrifices upon it, according as it is\nexpressly commanded in the book of Moses the man of God.\n50\nAnd there were gathered unto them out of the other nations of\nthe land, and they erected the altar upon his own place, because\nall the nations of the land were at enmity with them, and\noppressed them; and they offered sacrifices according to the\ntime, and burnt offerings to the Lord both morning and evening.\n51\nAlso they held the feast of tabernacles, as it is commanded\nin the law, and offered sacrifices daily, as was meet:\n52\nAnd after that, the continual oblations, and the sacrifice of\nthe sabbaths, and of the new moons, and of all holy feasts.\n53\nAnd all they that had made any vow to God began to offer\nsacrifices to God from the first day of the seventh month,\nalthough the temple of the Lord was not yet built.\n54\nAnd they gave unto the masons and carpenters money, meat, and\ndrink, with cheerfulness.\n55\nUnto them of Zidon also and Tyre they gave carrs, that they\nshould bring cedar trees from Libanus, which should be brought\nby floats to the haven of Joppa, according as it was commanded\nthem by Cyrus king of the Persians.\n56\nAnd in the second year and second month after his coming to\nthe temple of God at Jerusalem began Zorobabel the son of\nSalathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec, and their brethren, and\nthe priests, and the Levites, and all they that were come unto\nJerusalem out of the captivity:\n57\nAnd they laid the foundation of the house of God in the first\nday of the second month, in the second year after they were come\nto Jewry and Jerusalem.\n58\nAnd they appointed the Levites from twenty years old over the\nworks of the Lord. Then stood up Jesus, and his sons and\nbrethren, and Cadmiel his brother, and the sons of Madiabun,\nwith the sons of Joda the son of Eliadun, with their sons and\nbrethren, all Levites, with one accord setters forward of the\nbusiness, labouring to advance the works in the house of God. So\nthe workmen built the temple of the Lord.\n59\nAnd the priests stood arrayed in their vestments with musical\ninstruments and trumpets; and the Levites the sons of Asaph had\ncymbals,\n60\nSinging songs of thanksgiving, and praising the Lord,\naccording as David the king of Israel had ordained.\n61\nAnd they sung with loud voices songs to the praise of the\nLord, because his mercy and glory is for ever in all Israel.\n62\nAnd all the people sounded trumpets, and shouted with a loud\nvoice, singing songs of thanksgiving unto the Lord for the\nrearing up of the house of the Lord.\n63\nAlso of the priests and Levites, and of the chief of their\nfamilies, the ancients who had seen the former house came to the\nbuilding of this with weeping and great crying.\n64\nBut many with trumpets and joy shouted with loud voice,\n65\nInsomuch that the trumpets might not be heard for the weeping\nof the people: yet the multitude sounded marvellously, so that\nit was heard afar off.\n66\nWherefore when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin\nheard it, they came to know what that noise of trumpets should\nmean.\n67\nAnd they perceived that they that were of the captivity did\nbuild the temple unto the Lord God of Israel.\n68\nSo they went to Zorobabel and Jesus, and to the chief of the\nfamilies, and said unto them, We will build together with you.\n69\nFor we likewise, as ye, do obey your Lord, and do sacrifice\nunto him from the days of Azbazareth the king of the Assyrians,\nwho brought us hither.\n70\nThen Zorobabel and Jesus and the chief of the families of\nIsrael said unto them, It is not for us and you to build\ntogether an house unto the Lord our God.\n71\nWe ourselves alone will build unto the Lord of Israel,\naccording as Cyrus the king of the Persians hath commanded us.\n72\nBut the heathen of the land lying heavy upon the inhabitants\nof Judea, and holding them strait, hindered their building;\n73\nAnd by their secret plots, and popular persuasions and\ncommotions, they hindered the finishing of the building all the\ntime that king Cyrus lived: so they were hindered from building\nfor the space of two years, until the reign of Darius.\n1Esdr 6\nNow in the second year of the reign of Darius Aggeus and\nZacharias the son of Addo, the prophets, prophesied unto the\nJews in Jewry and Jerusalem in the name of the Lord God of\nIsrael, which was upon them.\n2\nThen stood up Zorobabel the son of Salatiel, and Jesus the\nson of Josedec, and began to build the house of the Lord at\nJerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with them, and helping\nthem.\n3\nAt the same time came unto them Sisinnes the governor of\nSyria and Phenice, with Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and\nsaid unto them,\n4\nBy whose appointment do ye build this house and this roof,\nand perform all the other things? and who are the workmen that\nperform these things?\n5\nNevertheless the elders of the Jews obtained favour, because\nthe Lord had visited the captivity;\n6\nAnd they were not hindered from building, until such time as\nsignification was given unto Darius concerning them, and an\nanswer received.\n7\nThe copy of the letters which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and\nPhenice, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, rulers in\nSyria and Phenice, wrote and sent unto Darius; To king Darius,\ngreeting:\n8\nLet all things be known unto our lord the king, that being\ncome into the country of Judea, and entered into the city of\nJerusalem we found in the city of Jerusalem the ancients of the\nJews that were of the captivity\n9\nBuilding an house unto the Lord, great and new, of hewn and\ncostly stones, and the timber already laid upon the walls.\n10\nAnd those works are done with great speed, and the work goeth\non prosperously in their hands, and with all glory and diligence\nis it made.\n11\nThen asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment\nbuild ye this house, and lay the foundations of these works?\n12\nTherefore to the intent that we might give knowledge unto\nthee by writing, we demanded of them who were the chief doers,\nand we required of them the names in writing of their principal\nmen.\n13\nSo they gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord\nwhich made heaven and earth.\n14\nAnd as for this house, it was builded many years ago by a\nking of Israel great and strong, and was finished.\n15\nBut when our fathers provoked God unto wrath, and sinned\nagainst the Lord of Israel which is in heaven, he gave them over\ninto the power of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, of the\nChaldees;\n16\nWho pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried away\nthe people captives unto Babylon.\n17\nBut in the first year that king Cyrus reigned over the\ncountry of Babylon Cyrus the king wrote to build up this house.\n18\nAnd the holy vessels of gold and of silver, that\nNabuchodonosor had carried away out of the house at Jerusalem,\nand had set them in his own temple those Cyrus the king brought\nforth again out of the temple at Babylon, and they were\ndelivered to Zorobabel and to Sanabassarus the ruler,\n19\nWith commandment that he should carry away the same vessels,\nand put them in the temple at Jerusalem; and that the temple of\nthe Lord should be built in his place.\n20\nThen the same Sanabassarus, being come hither, laid the\nfoundations of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem; and from that\ntime to this being still a building, it is not yet fully ended.\n21\nNow therefore, if it seem good unto the king, let search be\nmade among the records of king Cyrus:\n22\nAnd if it be found that the building of the house of the Lord\nat Jerusalem hath been done with the consent of king Cyrus, and\nif our lord the king be so minded, let him signify unto us\nthereof.\n23\nThen commanded king Darius to seek among the records at\nBabylon: and so at Ecbatane the palace, which is in the country\nof Media, there was found a roll wherein these things were\nrecorded.\n24\nIn the first year of the reign of Cyrus king Cyrus commanded\nthat the house of the Lord at Jerusalem should be built again,\nwhere they do sacrifice with continual fire:\n25\nWhose height shall be sixty cubits and the breadth sixty\ncubits, with three rows of hewn stones, and one row of new wood\nof that country; and the expences thereof to be given out of the\nhouse of king Cyrus:\n26\nAnd that the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both of\ngold and silver, that Nabuchodonosor took out of the house at\nJerusalem, and brought to Babylon, should be restored to the\nhouse at Jerusalem, and be set in the place where they were\nbefore.\n27\nAnd also he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and\nPhenice, and Sathrabuzanes, and their companions, and those\nwhich were appointed rulers in Syria and Phenice, should be\ncareful not to meddle with the place, but suffer Zorobabel, the\nservant of the Lord, and governor of Judea, and the elders of\nthe Jews, to build the house of the Lord in that place.\n28\nI have commanded also to have it built up whole again; and\nthat they look diligently to help those that be of the captivity\nof the Jews, till the house of the Lord be finished:\n29\nAnd out of the tribute of Celosyria and Phenice a portion\ncarefully to be given these men for the sacrifices of the Lord,\nthat is, to Zorobabel the governor, for bullocks, and rams, and\nlambs;\n30\nAnd also corn, salt, wine, and oil, and that continually\nevery year without further question, according as the priests\nthat be in Jerusalem shall signify to be daily spent:\n31\nThat offerings may be made to the most high God for the king\nand for his children, and that they may pray for their lives.\n32\nAnd he commanded that whosoever should transgress, yea, or\nmake light of any thing afore spoken or written, out of his own\nhouse should a tree be taken, and he thereon be hanged, and all\nhis goods seized for the king.\n33\nThe Lord therefore, whose name is there called upon, utterly\ndestroy every king and nation, that stretcheth out his hand to\nhinder or endamage that house of the Lord in Jerusalem.\n34\nI Darius the king have ordained that according unto these\nthings it be done with diligence.\n1Esdr 7\nThen Sisinnes the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, and\nSathrabuzanes, with their companions following the commandments\nof king Darius,\n2\nDid very carefully oversee the holy works, assisting the\nancients of the Jews and governors of the temple.\n3\nAnd so the holy works prospered, when Aggeus and Zacharias\nthe prophets prophesied.\n4\nAnd they finished these things by the commandment of the Lord\nGod of Israel, and with the consent of Cyrus, Darius, and\nArtexerxes, kings of Persia.\n5\nAnd thus was the holy house finished in the three and\ntwentieth day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of Darius\nking of the Persians\n6\nAnd the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and\nothers that were of the captivity, that were added unto them,\ndid according to the things written in the book of Moses.\n7\nAnd to the dedication of the temple of the Lord they offered\nan hundred bullocks two hundred rams, four hundred lambs;\n8\nAnd twelve goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the\nnumber of the chief of the tribes of Israel.\n9\nThe priests also and the Levites stood arrayed in their\nvestments, according to their kindreds, in the service of the\nLord God of Israel, according to the book of Moses: and the\nporters at every gate.\n10\nAnd the children of Israel that were of the captivity held\nthe passover the fourteenth day of the first month, after that\nthe priests and the Levites were sanctified.\n11\nThey that were of the captivity were not all sanctified\ntogether: but the Levites were all sanctified together.\n12\nAnd so they offered the passover for all them of the\ncaptivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for\nthemselves.\n13\nAnd the children of Israel that came out of the captivity did\neat, even all they that had separated themselves from the\nabominations of the people of the land, and sought the Lord.\n14\nAnd they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days,\nmaking merry before the Lord,\n15\nFor that he had turned the counsel of the king of Assyria\ntoward them, to strengthen their hands in the works of the Lord\nGod of Israel.\n1Esdr 8\nAnd after these things, when Artexerxes the king of the\nPersians reigned came Esdras the son of Saraias, the son of\nEzerias, the son of Helchiah, the son of Salum,\n2\nThe son of Sadduc, the son of Achitob, the son of Amarias,\nthe son of Ezias, the son of Meremoth, the son of Zaraias, the\nson of Savias, the son of Boccas, the son of Abisum, the son of\nPhinees, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest.\n3\nThis Esdras went up from Babylon, as a scribe, being very\nready in the law of Moses, that was given by the God of Israel.\n4\nAnd the king did him honour: for he found grace in his sight\nin all his requests.\n5\nThere went up with him also certain of the children of\nIsrael, of the priest of the Levites, of the holy singers,\nporters, and ministers of the temple, unto Jerusalem,\n6\nIn the seventh year of the reign of Artexerxes, in the fifth\nmonth, this was the king's seventh year; for they went from\nBabylon in the first day of the first month, and came to\nJerusalem, according to the prosperous journey which the Lord\ngave them.\n7\nFor Esdras had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing\nof the law and commandments of the Lord, but taught all Israel\nthe ordinances and judgments.\n8\nNow the copy of the commission, which was written from\nArtexerxes the king, and came to Esdras the priest and reader of\nthe law of the Lord, is this that followeth;\n9\nKing Artexerxes unto Esdras the priest and reader of the law\nof the Lord sendeth greeting:\n10\nHaving determined to deal graciously, I have given order,\nthat such of the nation of the Jews, and of the priests and\nLevites being within our realm, as are willing and desirous\nshould go with thee unto Jerusalem.\n11\nAs many therefore as have a mind thereunto, let them depart\nwith thee, as it hath seemed good both to me and my seven\nfriends the counsellors;\n12\nThat they may look unto the affairs of Judea and Jerusalem,\nagreeably to that which is in the law of the Lord;\n13\nAnd carry the gifts unto the Lord of Israel to Jerusalem,\nwhich I and my friends have vowed, and all the gold and silver\nthat in the country of Babylon can be found, to the Lord in\nJerusalem,\n14\nWith that also which is given of the people for the temple of\nthe Lord their God at Jerusalem: and that silver and gold may be\ncollected for bullocks, rams, and lambs, and things thereunto\nappertaining;\n15\nTo the end that they may offer sacrifices unto the Lord upon\nthe altar of the Lord their God, which is in Jerusalem.\n16\nAnd whatsoever thou and thy brethren will do with the silver\nand gold, that do, according to the will of thy God.\n17\nAnd the holy vessels of the Lord, which are given thee for\nthe use of the temple of thy God, which is in Jerusalem, thou\nshalt set before thy God in Jerusalem.\n18\nAnd whatsoever thing else thou shalt remember for the use of\nthe temple of thy God, thou shalt give it out of the king's\ntreasury.\n19\nAnd I king Artexerxes have also commanded the keepers of the\ntreasures in Syria and Phenice, that whatsoever Esdras the\npriest and the reader of the law of the most high God shall send\nfor, they should give it him with speed,\n20\nTo the sum of an hundred talents of silver, likewise also of\nwheat even to an hundred cors, and an hundred pieces of wine,\nand other things in abundance.\n21\nLet all things be performed after the law of God diligently\nunto the most high God, that wrath come not upon the kingdom of\nthe king and his sons.\n22\nI command you also, that ye require no tax, nor any other\nimposition, of any of the priests, or Levites, or holy singers,\nor porters, or ministers of the temple, or of any that have\ndoings in this temple, and that no man have authority to impose\nany thing upon them.\n23\nAnd thou, Esdras, according to the wisdom of God ordain\njudges and justices, that they may judge in all Syria and\nPhenice all those that know the law of thy God; and those that\nknow it not thou shalt teach.\n24\nAnd whosoever shall transgress the law of thy God, and of the\nking, shall be punished diligently, whether it be by death, or\nother punishment, by penalty of money, or by imprisonment.\n25\nThen said Esdras the scribe, Blessed be the only Lord God of\nmy fathers, who hath put these things into the heart of the\nking, to glorify his house that is in Jerusalem:\n26\nAnd hath honoured me in the sight of the king, and his\ncounsellors, and all his friends and nobles.\n27\nTherefore was I encouraged by the help of the Lord my God,\nand gathered together men of Israel to go up with me.\n28\nAnd these are the chief according to their families and several\ndignities, that went up with me from Babylon in the reign of\nking Artexerxes:\n29\nOf the sons of Phinees, Gerson: of the sons of Ithamar,\nGamael: of the sons of David, Lettus the son of Sechenias:\n30\nOf the sons of Pharez, Zacharias; and with him were counted\nan hundred and fifty men:\n31\nOf the sons of Pahath Moab, Eliaonias, the son of Zaraias,\nand with him two hundred men:\n32\nOf the sons of Zathoe, Sechenias the son of Jezelus, and with\nhim three hundred men: of the sons of Adin, Obeth the son of\nJonathan, and with him two hundred and fifty men:\n33\nOf the sons of Elam, Josias son of Gotholias, and with him\nseventy men:\n34\nOf the sons of Saphatias, Zaraias son of Michael, and with\nhim threescore and ten men:\n35\nOf the sons of Joab, Abadias son of Jezelus, and with him two\nhundred and twelve men:\n36\nOf the sons of Banid, Assalimoth son of Josaphias, and with\nhim an hundred and threescore men:\n37\nOf the sons of Babi, Zacharias son of Bebai, and with him\ntwenty and eight men:\n38\nOf the sons of Astath, Johannes son of Acatan, and with him\nan hundred and ten men:\n39\nOf the sons of Adonikam the last, and these are the names of\nthem, Eliphalet, Jewel, and Samaias, and with them seventy men:\n40\nOf the sons of Bago, Uthi the son of Istalcurus, and with him\nseventy men.\n41\nAnd these I gathered together to the river called Theras,\nwhere we pitched our tents three days: and then I surveyed them.\n42\nBut when I had found there none of the priests and Levites,\n43\nThen sent I unto Eleazar, and Iduel, and Masman,\n44\nAnd Alnathan, and Mamaias, and Joribas, and Nathan, Eunatan,\nZacharias, and Mosollamon, principal men and learned.\n45\nAnd I bade them that they should go unto Saddeus the captain,\nwho was in the place of the treasury:\n46\nAnd commanded them that they should speak unto Daddeus, and\nto his brethren, and to the treasurers in that place, to send us\nsuch men as might execute the priests' office in the house of\nthe Lord.\n47\nAnd by the mighty hand of our Lord they brought unto us\nskilful men of the sons of Moli the son of Levi, the son of\nIsrael, Asebebia, and his sons, and his brethren, who were\neighteen.\n48\nAnd Asebia, and Annus, and Osaias his brother, of the sons\nof Channuneus, and their sons, were twenty men.\n49\nAnd of the servants of the temple whom David had ordained,\nand the principal men for the service of the Levites to wit, the\nservants of the temple two hundred and twenty, the catalogue of\nwhose names were shewed.\n50\nAnd there I vowed a fast unto the young men before our Lord,\nto desire of him a prosperous journey both for us and them that\nwere with us, for our children, and for the cattle:\n51\nFor I was ashamed to ask the king footmen, and horsemen, and\nconduct for safeguard against our adversaries.\n52\nFor we had said unto the king, that the power of the Lord our\nGod should be with them that seek him, to support them in all\nways.\n53\nAnd again we besought our Lord as touching these things, and\nfound him favourable unto us.\n54\nThen I separated twelve of the chief of the priests,\nEsebrias, and Assanias, and ten men of their brethren with them:\n55\nAnd I weighed them the gold, and the silver, and the holy\nvessels of the house of our Lord, which the king, and his\ncouncil, and the princes, and all Israel, had given.\n56\nAnd when I had weighed it, I delivered unto them six hundred\nand fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels of an hundred\ntalents, and an hundred talents of gold,\n57\nAnd twenty golden vessels, and twelve vessels of brass, even\nof fine brass, glittering like gold.\n58\nAnd I said unto them, Both ye are holy unto the Lord, and the\nvessels are holy, and the gold and the silver is a vow unto the\nLord, the Lord of our fathers.\n59\nWatch ye, and keep them till ye deliver them to the chief of\nthe priests and Levites, and to the principal men of the\nfamilies of Israel, in Jerusalem, into the chambers of the house\nof our God.\n60\nSo the priests and the Levites, who had received the silver\nand the gold and the vessels, brought them unto Jerusalem, into\nthe temple of the Lord.\n61\nAnd from the river Theras we departed the twelfth day of the\nfirst month, and came to Jerusalem by the mighty hand of our\nLord, which was with us: and from the beginning of our journey\nthe Lord delivered us from every enemy, and so we came to\nJerusalem.\n62\nAnd when we had been there three days, the gold and silver\nthat was weighed was delivered in the house of our Lord on the\nfourth day unto Marmoth the priest the son of Iri.\n63\nAnd with him was Eleazar the son of Phinees, and with them\nwere Josabad the son of Jesu and Moeth the son of Sabban,\nLevites: all was delivered them by number and weight.\n64\nAnd all the weight of them was written up the same hour.\n65\nMoreover they that were come out of the captivity offered\nsacrifice unto the Lord God of Israel, even twelve bullocks for\nall Israel, fourscore and sixteen rams,\n66\nThreescore and twelve lambs, goats for a peace offering,\ntwelve; all of them a sacrifice to the Lord.\n67\nAnd they delivered the king's commandments unto the king's\nstewards' and to the governors of Celosyria and Phenice; and\nthey honoured the people and the temple of God.\n68\nNow when these things were done, the rulers came unto me, and\nsaid,\n69\nThe nation of Israel, the princes, the priests and Levites,\nhave not put away from them the strange people of the land, nor\nthe pollutions of the Gentiles to wit, of the Canaanites,\nHittites, Pheresites, Jebusites, and the Moabites, Egyptians,\nand Edomites.\n70\nFor both they and their sons have married with their\ndaughters, and the holy seed is mixed with the strange people of\nthe land; and from the beginning of this matter the rulers and\nthe great men have been partakers of this iniquity.\n71\nAnd as soon as I had heard these things, I rent my clothes,\nand the holy garment, and pulled off the hair from off my head\nand beard, and sat me down sad and very heavy.\n72\nSo all they that were then moved at the word of the Lord God\nof Israel assembled unto me, whilst I mourned for the iniquity:\nbut I sat still full of heaviness until the evening sacrifice.\n73\nThen rising up from the fast with my clothes and the holy\ngarment rent, and bowing my knees, and stretching forth my hands\nunto the Lord,\n74\nI said, O Lord, I am confounded and ashamed before thy face;\n75\nFor our sins are multiplied above our heads, and our\nignorances have reached up unto heaven.\n76\nFor ever since the time of our fathers we have been and are\nin great sin, even unto this day.\n77\nAnd for our sins and our fathers' we with our brethren and\nour kings and our priests were given up unto the kings of the\nearth, to the sword, and to captivity, and for a prey with\nshame, unto this day.\n78\nAnd now in some measure hath mercy been shewed unto us from\nthee, O Lord, that there should be left us a root and a name in\nthe place of thy sanctuary;\n79\nAnd to discover unto us a light in the house of the Lord our\nGod, and to give us food in the time of our servitude.\n80\nYea, when we were in bondage, we were not forsaken of our\nLord; but he made us gracious before the kings of Persia, so\nthat they gave us food;\n81\nYea, and honoured the temple of our Lord, and raised up the\ndesolate Sion, that they have given us a sure abiding in Jewry\nand Jerusalem.\n82\nAnd now, O Lord, what shall we say, having these things? for\nwe have transgressed thy commandments, which thou gavest by the\nhand of thy servants the prophets, saying,\n83\nThat the land, which ye enter into to possess as an heritage,\nis a land polluted with the pollutions of the strangers of the\nland, and they have filled it with their uncleanness.\n84\nTherefore now shall ye not join your daughters unto their\nsons, neither shall ye take their daughters unto your sons.\n85\nMoreover ye shall never seek to have peace with them, that ye\nmay be strong, and eat the good things of the land, and that ye\nmay leave the inheritance of the land unto your children for\nevermore.\n86\nAnd all that is befallen is done unto us for our wicked works\nand great sins; for thou, O Lord, didst make our sins light,\n87\nAnd didst give unto us such a root: but we have turned back\nagain to transgress thy law, and to mingle ourselves with the\nuncleanness of the nations of the land.\n88\nMightest not thou be angry with us to destroy us, till thou\nhadst left us neither root, seed, nor name?\n89\nO Lord of Israel, thou art true: for we are left a root this\nday.\n90\nBehold, now are we before thee in our iniquities, for we\ncannot stand any longer by reason of these things before thee.\n91\nAnd as Esdras in his prayer made his confession, weeping, and\nlying flat upon the ground before the temple, there gathered\nunto him from Jerusalem a very great multitude of men and women\nand children: for there was great weeping among the multitude.\n92\nThen Jechonias the son of Jeelus, one of the sons of Israel,\ncalled out, and said, O Esdras, we have sinned against the Lord\nGod, we have married strange women of the nations of the land,\nand now is all Israel aloft.\n93\nLet us make an oath to the Lord, that we will put away all\nour wives, which we have taken of the heathen, with their\nchildren,\n94\nLike as thou hast decreed, and as many as do obey the law of\nthe Lord.\n95\nArise and put in execution: for to thee doth this matter\nappertain, and we will be with thee: do valiantly.\n96\nSo Esdras arose, and took an oath of the chief of the priests\nand Levites of all Israel to do after these things; and so they\nsware.\n1Esdr 9\nThen Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the\nchamber of Joanan the son of Eliasib,\n2\nAnd remained there, and did eat no meat nor drink water,\nmourning for the great iniquities of the multitude.\n3\nAnd there was a proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to\nall them that were of the captivity, that they should be\ngathered together at Jerusalem:\n4\nAnd that whosoever met not there within two or three days\naccording as the elders that bare rule appointed, their cattle\nshould be seized to the use of the temple, and himself cast out\nfrom them that were of the captivity.\n5\nAnd in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and\nBenjamin gathered together at Jerusalem the twentieth day of the\nninth month.\n6\nAnd all the multitude sat trembling in the broad court of the\ntemple because of the present foul weather.\n7\nSo Esdras arose up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed\nthe law in marrying strange wives, thereby to increase the sins\nof Israel.\n8\nAnd now by confessing give glory unto the Lord God of our\nfathers,\n9\nAnd do his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of\nthe land, and from the strange women.\n10\nThen cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice,\nLike as thou hast spoken, so will we do.\n11\nBut forasmuch as the people are many, and it is foul weather,\nso that we cannot stand without, and this is not a work of a day\nor two, seeing our sin in these things is spread far:\n12\nTherefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all\nthem of our habitations that have strange wives come at the time\nappointed,\n13\nAnd with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we\nturn away the wrath of the Lord from us for this matter.\n14\nThen Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezechias the son of\nTheocanus accordingly took this matter upon them: and Mosollam\nand Levis and Sabbatheus helped them.\n15\nAnd they that were of the captivity did according to all\nthese things.\n16\nAnd Esdras the priest chose unto him the principal men of\ntheir families, all by name: and in the first day of the tenth\nmonth they sat together to examine the matter.\n17\nSo their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end\nin the first day of the first month.\n18\nAnd of the priests that were come together, and had strange\nwives, there were found:\n19\nOf the sons of Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren;\nMatthelas and Eleazar, and Joribus and Joadanus.\n20\nAnd they gave their hands to put away their wives and to\noffer rams to make reconcilement for their errors.\n21\nAnd of the sons of Emmer; Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Eanes,\nand Sameius, and Hiereel, and Azarias.\n22\nAnd of the sons of Phaisur; Elionas, Massias Israel, and\nNathanael, and Ocidelus and Talsas.\n23\nAnd of the Levites; Jozabad, and Semis, and Colius, who was\ncalled Calitas, and Patheus, and Judas, and Jonas.\n24\nOf the holy singers; Eleazurus, Bacchurus.\n25\nOf the porters; Sallumus, and Tolbanes.\n26\nOf them of Israel, of the sons of Phoros; Hiermas, and\nEddias, and Melchias, and Maelus, and Eleazar, and Asibias, and\nBaanias.\n27\nOf the sons of Ela; Matthanias, Zacharias, and Hierielus, and\nHieremoth, and Aedias.\n28\nAnd of the sons of Zamoth; Eliadas, Elisimus, Othonias,\nJarimoth, and Sabatus, and Sardeus.\n29\nOf the sons of Babai; Johannes, and Ananias and Josabad, and\nAmatheis.\n30\nOf the sons of Mani; Olamus, Mamuchus, Jedeus, Jasubus,\nJasael, and Hieremoth.\n31\nAnd of the sons of Addi; Naathus, and Moosias, Lacunus, and\nNaidus, and Mathanias, and Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas.\n32\nAnd of the sons of Annas; Elionas and Aseas, and Melchias,\nand Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus.\n33\nAnd of the sons of Asom; Altaneus, and Matthias, and Baanaia,\nEliphalet, and Manasses, and Semei.\n34\nAnd of the sons of Maani; Jeremias, Momdis, Omaerus, Juel,\nMabdai, and Pelias, and Anos, Carabasion, and Enasibus, and\nMamnitanaimus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Samis, Selemias,\nNathanias: and of the sons of Ozora; Sesis, Esril, Azaelus,\nSamatus, Zambis, Josephus.\n35\nAnd of the sons of Ethma; Mazitias, Zabadaias, Edes, Juel,\nBanaias.\n36\nAll these had taken strange wives, and they put them away\nwith their children.\n37\nAnd the priests and Levites, and they that were of Israel,\ndwelt in Jerusalem, and in the country, in the first day of the\nseventh month: so the children of Israel were in their\nhabitations.\n38\nAnd the whole multitude came together with one accord into\nthe broad place of the holy porch toward the east:\n39\nAnd they spake unto Esdras the priest and reader, that he\nwould bring the law of Moses, that was given of the Lord God of\nIsrael.\n40\nSo Esdras the chief priest brought the law unto the whole\nmultitude from man to woman, and to all the priests, to hear law\nin the first day of the seventh month.\n41\nAnd he read in the broad court before the holy porch from\nmorning unto midday, before both men and women; and the\nmultitude gave heed unto the law.\n42\nAnd Esdras the priest and reader of the law stood up upon a\npulpit of wood, which was made for that purpose.\n43\nAnd there stood up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias,\nAzarias, Urias, Ezecias, Balasamus, upon the right hand:\n44\nAnd upon his left hand stood Phaldaius, Misael, Melchias,\nLothasubus, and Nabarias.\n45\nThen took Esdras the book of the law before the multitude:\nfor he sat honourably in the first place in the sight of them\nall.\n46\nAnd when he opened the law, they stood all straight up. So\nEsdras blessed the Lord God most High, the God of hosts,\nAlmighty.\n47\nAnd all the people answered, Amen; and lifting up their hands\nthey fell to the ground, and worshipped the Lord.\n48\nAlso Jesus, Anus, Sarabias, Adinus, Jacubus, Sabateas,\nAuteas, Maianeas, and Calitas, Asrias, and Joazabdus, and\nAnanias, Biatas, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord, making\nthem withal to understand it.\n49\nThen spake Attharates unto Esdras the chief priest. and\nreader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude, even to\nall, saying,\n50\nThis day is holy unto the Lord; (for they all wept when they\nheard the law:)\n51\nGo then, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part\nto them that have nothing;\n52\nFor this day is holy unto the Lord: and be not sorrowful; for\nthe Lord will bring you to honour.\n53\nSo the Levites published all things to the people, saying,\nThis day is holy to the Lord; be not sorrowful.\n54\nThen went they their way, every one to eat and drink, and\nmake merry, and to give part to them that had nothing, and to\nmake great cheer;\n55\nBecause they understood the words wherein they were\ninstructed, and for the which they had been assembled.","title":"The First Book of Esdras","type":"page"}