A Short Introduction
1 Esdras,
written around 150–100 BCE, is a Greek reworking of parts of Ezra-Nehemiah,
with some additional content. It focuses on the restoration of the Temple in
Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile and highlights key events like King
Josiah’s reforms, the return of the exiles under Zerubbabel, and the rebuilding
of the Temple. A unique section is the “Three Bodyguards’ Debate,” where young
courtiers argue over what is strongest—wine, the king, women, or truth—with
truth declared the ultimate victor. The book reinforces themes of God’s
faithfulness, the power of wisdom, and the importance of temple worship.
---
CHAPTER 1
1 And
Josias held the feast of the passover in Jerusalem unto his Lord, and offered
the passover the fourteenth day of the first month;
2 Having
set the priests according to their daily courses, being arrayed in long
garments, in the temple of the Lord.
3 And he
spake unto the Levites, the holy ministers of Israel, that they should hallow
themselves unto the Lord, to set the holy ark of the Lord in the house that
king Solomon the son of David had built:
4 And
said, Ye shall no more bear the ark upon your shoulders: now therefore serve
the Lord your God, and minister unto his people Israel, and prepare you after
your families and kindreds,
5 According
as David the king of Israel prescribed, and according to the magnificence of
Solomon his son: and standing in the temple according to the several dignity of
the families of you the Levites, who minister in the presence of your brethren
the children of Israel,
6 Offer
the passover in order, and make ready the sacrifices for your brethren, and
keep the passover according to the commandment of the Lord, which was given
unto Moses.
7 And unto
the people that was found there Josias gave thirty thousand lambs and kids, and
three thousand calves: these things were given of the king’s allowance,
according as he promised, to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites.
8 And
Helkias, Zacharias, and Syelus, the governors of the temple, gave to the
priests for the passover two thousand and six hundred sheep, and three hundred
calves.
9 And
Jeconias, and Samaias, and Nathanael his brother, and Assabias, and Ochiel, and
Joram, captains over thousands, gave to the Levites for the passover five
thousand sheep, and seven hundred calves.
10 And
when these things were done, the priests and Levites, having the unleavened
bread, stood in very comely order according to the kindreds,
11 And
according to the several dignities of the fathers, before the people, to offer
to the Lord, as it is written in the book of Moses: and thus did they in the
morning.
12 And
they roasted the passover with fire, as appertaineth: as for the sacrifices,
they sod them in brass pots and pans with a good savour,
13 And set
them before all the people: and afterward they prepared for themselves, and for
the priests their brethren, the sons of Aaron.
14 For the
priests offered the fat until night: and the Levites prepared for themselves,
and the priests their brethren, the sons of Aaron.
15 The
holy singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their order, according to the
appointment of David, to wit, Asaph, Zacharias, and Jeduthun, who was of the
king’s retinue.
16 Moreover
the porters were at every gate; it was not lawful for any to go from his
ordinary service: for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.
17 Thus
were the things that belonged to the sacrifices of the Lord accomplished in
that day, that they might hold the passover,
18 And
offer sacrifices upon the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of
king Josias.
19 So the
children of Israel which were present held the passover at that time, and the
feast of sweet bread seven days.
20 And
such a passover was not kept in Israel since the time of the prophet Samuel.
21 Yea, all
the kings of Israel held not such a passover as Josias, and the priests, and
the Levites, and the Jews, held with all Israel that were found dwelling at
Jerusalem.
22 In the
eighteenth year of the reign of Josias was this passover kept.
23 And the
works or Josias were upright before his Lord with an heart full of godliness.
24 As for
the things that came to pass in his time, they were written in former times,
concerning those that sinned, and did wickedly against the Lord above all
people and kingdoms, and how they grieved him exceedingly, so that the words of
the Lord rose up against Israel.
25 Now
after all these acts of Josias it came to pass, that Pharaoh the king of Egypt
came to raise war at Carchamis upon Euphrates: and Josias went out against him.
26 But the
king of Egypt sent to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, O king of
Judea?
27 I am
not sent out from the Lord God against thee; for my war is upon Euphrates: and
now the Lord is with me, yea, the Lord is with me hasting me forward: depart from
me, and be not against the Lord.
28 Howbeit
Josias did not turn back his chariot from him, but undertook to fight with him,
not regarding the words of the prophet Jeremy spoken by the mouth of the Lord:
29 But
joined battle with him in the plain of Magiddo, and the princes came against
king Josias.
30 Then
said the king unto his servants, Carry me away out of the battle; for I am very
weak. And immediately his servants took him away out of the battle.
31 Then
gat he up upon his second chariot; and being brought back to Jerusalem died,
and was buried in his father’s sepulchre.
32 And in
all Jewry they mourned for Josias, yea, Jeremy the prophet lamented for Josias,
and the chief men with the women made lamentation for him unto this day: and
this was given out for an ordinance to be done continually in all the nation of
Israel.
33 These
things are written in the book of the stories of the kings of Judah, and every
one of the acts that Josias did, and his glory, and his understanding in the
law of the Lord, and the things that he had done before, and the things now
recited, are reported in the book of the kings of Israel and Judea.
34 And the
people took Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king instead of Josias his
father, when he was twenty and three years old.
35 And he
reigned in Judea and in Jerusalem three months: and then the king of Egypt
deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem.
36 And he
set a tax upon the land of an hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.
37 The
king of Egypt also made king Joacim his brother king of Judea and Jerusalem.
38 And he
bound Joacim and the nobles: but Zaraces his brother he apprehended, and
brought him out of Egypt.
39 Five
and twenty years old was Joacim when he was made king in the land of Judea and
Jerusalem; and he did evil before the Lord.
40 Wherefore
against him Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came up, and bound him with a
chain of brass, and carried him into Babylon.
41 Nabuchodonosor
also took of the holy vessels of the Lord, and carried them away, and set them
in his own temple at Babylon.
42 But
those things that are recorded of him, and of his uncleaness and impiety, are
written in the chronicles of the kings.
43 And
Joacim his son reigned in his stead: he was made king being eighteen years old;
44 And
reigned but three months and ten days in Jerusalem; and did evil before the
Lord.
45 So
after a year Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be brought into Babylon with
the holy vessels of the Lord;
46 And
made Zedechias king of Judea and Jerusalem, when he was one and twenty years
old; and he reigned eleven years:
47 And he
did evil also in the sight of the Lord, and cared not for the words that were
spoken unto him by the prophet Jeremy from the mouth of the Lord.
48 And
after that king Nabuchodonosor had made him to swear by the name of the Lord,
he forswore himself, and rebelled; and hardening his neck, his heart, he
transgressed the laws of the Lord God of Israel.
49 The
governors also of the people and of the priests did many things against the laws,
and passed all the pollutions of all nations, and defiled the temple of the
Lord, which was sanctified in Jerusalem.
50 Nevertheless
the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to call them back, because he
spared them and his tabernacle also.
51 But
they had his messengers in derision; and, look, when the Lord spake unto them,
they made a sport of his prophets:
52 So far
forth, that he, being wroth with his people for their great ungodliness,
commanded the kings of the Chaldees to come up against them;
53 Who
slew their young men with the sword, yea, even within the compass of their holy
temple, and spared neither young man nor maid, old man nor child, among them;
for he delivered all into their hands.
54 And
they took all the holy vessels of the Lord, both great and small, with the
vessels of the ark of God, and the king’s treasures, and carried them away into
Babylon.
55 As for
the house of the Lord, they burnt it, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem,
and set fire upon her towers:
56 And as
for her glorious things, they never ceased till they had consumed and brought
them all to nought: and the people that were not slain with the sword he
carried unto Babylon:
57 Who
became servants to him and his children, till the Persians reigned, to fulfil
the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremy:
58 Until
the land had enjoyed her sabbaths, the whole time of her desolation shall she
rest, until the full term of seventy years.
CHAPTER 2
1 In the
first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of the Lord might be
accomplished, that he had promised by the mouth of Jeremy;
2 The Lord
raised up the spirit of Cyrus the king of the Persians, and he made
proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing,
3 Saying,
Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians; The Lord of Israel, the most high Lord,
hath made me king of the whole world,
4 And
commanded me to build him an house at Jerusalem in Jewry.
5 If
therefore there be any of you that are of his people, let the Lord, even his
Lord, be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judea, and build
the house of the Lord of Israel: for he is the Lord that dwelleth in Jerusalem.
6 Whosoever
then dwell in the places about, let them help him, those, I say, that are his
neighbours, with gold, and with silver,
7 With
gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other things, which have been set
forth by vow, for the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem.
8 Then the
chief of the families of Judea and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up; the
priests also, and the Levites, and all they whose mind the Lord had moved to go
up, and to build an house for the Lord at Jerusalem,
9 And they
that dwelt round about them, and helped them in all things with silver and
gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many free gifts of a great number
whose minds were stirred up thereto.
10 King
Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels, which Nabuchodonosor had carried
away from Jerusalem, and had set up in his temple of idols.
11 Now
when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them forth, he delivered them to
Mithridates his treasurer:
12 And by
him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of Judea.
13 And
this was the number of them; A thousand golden cups, and a thousand of silver,
censers of silver twenty nine, vials of gold thirty, and of silver two thousand
four hundred and ten, and a thousand other vessels.
14 So all
the vessels of gold and of silver, which were carried away, were five thousand
four hundred threescore and nine.
15 These
were brought back by Sanabassar, together with them of the captivity, from
Babylon to Jerusalem.
16 But in
the time of Artexerxes king of the Persians Belemus, and Mithridates, and
Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Semellius the secretary, with
others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places,
wrote unto him against them that dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem these letters
following;
17 To king
Artexerxes our lord, Thy servants, Rathumus the storywriter, and Semellius the
scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges that are in Celosyria and
Phenice.
18 Be it
now known to the lord king, that the Jews that are up from you to us, being
come into Jerusalem, that rebellious and wicked city, do build the
marketplaces, and repair the walls of it and do lay the foundation of the
temple.
19 Now if
this city and the walls thereof be made up again, they will not only refuse to
give tribute, but also rebel against kings.
20 And
forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it
meet not to neglect such a matter,
21 But to
speak unto our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be thy pleasure it may
be sought out in the books of thy fathers:
22 And
thou shalt find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and
shalt understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and
cities:
23 And
that the Jews were rebellious, and raised always wars therein; for the which
cause even this city was made desolate.
24 Wherefore
now we do declare unto thee, O lord the king, that if this city be built again,
and the walls thereof set up anew, thou shalt from henceforth have no passage
into Celosyria and Phenice.
25 Then
the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter, to Beeltethmus, to
Semellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and dwellers in
Samaria and Syria and Phenice, after this manner;
26 I have
read the epistle which ye have sent unto me: therefore I commanded to make
diligent search, and it hath been found that that city was from the beginning
practising against kings;
27 And the
men therein were given to rebellion and war: and that mighty kings and fierce
were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tributes in Celosyria and Phenice.
28 Now
therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from building the city, and heed
to be taken that there be no more done in it;
29 And
that those wicked workers proceed no further to the annoyance of kings,
30 Then
king Artexerxes his letters being read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and
the rest that were in commission with them, removing in haste toward Jerusalem
with a troop of horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to
hinder the builders; and the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until
the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.
CHAPTER 3
1 Now when
Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto all his subjects, and unto all his
household, and unto all the princes of Media and Persia,
2 And to
all the governors and captains and lieutenants that were under him, from India
unto Ethiopia, of an hundred twenty and seven provinces.
3 And when
they had eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were gone home, then Darius the
king went into his bedchamber, and slept, and soon after awaked.
4 Then
three young men, that were of the guard that kept the king’s body, spake one to
another;
5 Let
every one of us speak a sentence: he that shall overcome, and whose sentence
shall seem wiser than the others, unto him shall the king Darius give great
gifts, and great things in token of victory:
6 As, to
be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep upon gold, and a chariot
with bridles of gold, and an headtire of fine linen, and a chain about his
neck:
7 And he
shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be called Darius his
cousin.
8 And then
every one wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it under king Darius his
pillow;
9 And said
that, when the king is risen, some will give him the writings; and of whose
side the king and the three princes of Persia shall judge that his sentence is
the wisest, to him shall the victory be given, as was appointed.
10 The
first wrote, Wine is the strongest.
11 The
second wrote, The king is strongest.
12 The
third wrote, Women are strongest: but above all things Truth beareth away the
victory.
13 Now
when the king was risen up, they took their writings, and delivered them unto
him, and so he read them:
14 And
sending forth he called all the princes of Persia and Media, and the governors,
and the captains, and the lieutenants, and the chief officers;
15 And sat
him down in the royal seat of judgment; and the writings were read before them.
16 And he
said, Call the young men, and they shall declare their own sentences. So they
were called, and came in.
17 And he
said unto them, Declare unto us your mind concerning the writings. Then began
the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine;
18 And he
said thus, O ye men, how exceeding strong is wine! it causeth all men to err
that drink it:
19 It
maketh the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to be all one; of the
bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man and of the rich:
20 It
turneth also every thought into jollity and mirth, so that a man remembereth
neither sorrow nor debt:
21 And it
maketh every heart rich, so that a man remembereth neither king nor governor;
and it maketh to speak all things by talents:
22 And
when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and
brethren, and a little after draw out swords:
23 But
when they are from the wine, they remember not what they have done.
24 O ye men, is not wine the strongest, that enforceth to do thus? And when he had so spoken, he held his peace.
CHAPTER 4
1 Then the
second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say,
2 O ye
men, do not men excel in strength that bear rule over sea and land and all
things in them?
3 But yet
the king is more mighty: for he is lord of all these things, and hath dominion
over them; and whatsoever he commandeth them they do.
4 If he
bid them make war the one against the other, they do it: if he send them out
against the enemies, they go, and break down mountains walls and towers.
5 They
slay and are slain, and transgress not the king’s commandment: if they get the
victory, they bring all to the king, as well the spoil, as all things else.
6 Likewise
for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do with wars, but use
husbundry, when they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring it
to the king, and compel one another to pay tribute unto the king.
7 And yet
he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare,
they spare;
8 If he
command to smite, they smite; if he command to make desolate, they make
desolate; if he command to build, they build;
9 If he
command to cut down, they cut down; if he command to plant, they plant.
10 So all
his people and his armies obey him: furthermore he lieth down, he eateth and
drinketh, and taketh his rest:
11 And
these keep watch round about him, neither may any one depart, and do his own
business, neither disobey they him in any thing.
12 O ye
men, how should not the king be mightiest, when in such sort he is obeyed? And
he held his tongue.
13 Then
the third, who had spoken of women, and of the truth, (this was Zorobabel)
began to speak.
14 O ye
men, it is not the great king, nor the multitude of men, neither is it wine,
that excelleth; who is it then that ruleth them, or hath the lordship over
them? are they not women?
15 Women
have borne the king and all the people that bear rule by sea and land.
16 Even of
them came they: and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards, from
whence the wine cometh.
17 These
also make garments for men; these bring glory unto men; and without women
cannot men be.
18 Yea,
and if men have gathered together gold and silver, or any other goodly thing,
do they not love a woman which is comely in favour and beauty?
19 And
letting all those things go, do they not gape, and even with open mouth fix
their eyes fast on her; and have not all men more desire unto her than unto
silver or gold, or any goodly thing whatsoever?
20 A man
leaveth his own father that brought him up, and his own country, and cleaveth
unto his wife.
21 He
sticketh not to spend his life with his wife. and remembereth neither father,
nor mother, nor country.
22 By this
also ye must know that women have dominion over you: do ye not labour and toil,
and give and bring all to the woman?
23 Yea, a
man taketh his sword, and goeth his way to rob and to steal, to sail upon the
sea and upon rivers;
24 And
looketh upon a lion, and goeth in the darkness; and when he hath stolen,
spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love.
25 Wherefore
a man loveth his wife better than father or mother.
26 Yea,
many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become servants
for their sakes.
27 Many
also have perished, have erred, and sinned, for women.
28 And now
do ye not believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regions
fear to touch him?
29 Yet did
I see him and Apame the king’s concubine, the daughter of the admirable
Bartacus, sitting at the right hand of the king,
30 And
taking the crown from the king’s head, and setting it upon her own head; she
also struck the king with her left hand.
31 And yet
for all this the king gaped and gazed upon her with open mouth: if she laughed
upon him, he laughed also: but if she took any displeasure at him, the king was
fain to flatter, that she might be reconciled to him again.
32 O ye
men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus?
33 Then
the king and the princes looked one upon another: so he began to speak of the
truth.
34 O ye
men, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the heaven, swift is the
sun in his course, for he compasseth the heavens round about, and fetcheth his
course again to his own place in one day.
35 Is he
not great that maketh these things? therefore great is the truth, and stronger
than all things.
36 All the
earth crieth upon the truth, and the heaven blesseth it: all works shake and
tremble at it, and with it is no unrighteous thing.
37 Wine is
wicked, the king is wicked, women are wicked, all the children of men are
wicked, and such are all their wicked works; and there is no truth in them; in
their unrighteousness also they shall perish.
38 As for
the truth, it endureth, and is alwaYs strong; it liveth and conquereth for
evermore.
39 With her
there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she doeth the things that are
just, and refraineth from all unjust and wicked things; and all men do well
like of her works.
40 Neither
in her judgment is any unrighteousness; and she is the strength, kingdom,
power, and majesty, of all ages. Blessed be the God of truth.
41 And
with that he held his peace. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great
is Truth, and mighty above all things.
42 Then
said the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt more than is appointed in the
writing, and we will give it thee, because thou art found wisest; and thou
shalt sit next me, and shalt be called my cousin.
43 Then
said he unto the king, Remember thy vow, which thou hast vowed to build
Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy kingdom,
44 And to
send away all the vessels that were taken away out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus
set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and to send them again thither.
45 Thou
also hast vowed to build up the temple, which the Edomites burned when Judea
was made desolate by the Chaldees.
46 And
now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of thee,
and this is the princely liberality proceeding from thyself: I desire therefore
that thou make good the vow, the performance whereof with thine own mouth thou
hast vowed to the King of heaven.
47 Then
Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him unto all
the treasurers and lieutenants and captains and governors, that they should
safely convey on their way both him, and all those that go up with him to build
Jerusalem.
48 He
wrote letters also unto the lieutenants that were in Celosyria and Phenice, and
unto them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from Libanus unto
Jerusalem, and that they should build the city with him.
49 Moreover
he wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm up into Jewry, concerning
their freedom, that no officer, no ruler, no lieutenant, nor treasurer, should
forcibly enter into their doors;
50 And
that all the country which they hold should be free without tribute; and that
the Edomites should give over the villages of the Jews which then they held:
51 Yea,
that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the building of the temple,
until the time that it were built;
52 And
other ten talents yearly, to maintain the burnt offerings upon the altar every
day, as they had a commandment to offer seventeen:
53 And
that all they that went from Babylon to build the city should have free
liberty, as well they as their posterity, and all the priests that went away.
54 He
wrote also concerning. the charges, and the priests’ vestments wherein they
minister;
55 And
likewise for the charges of the Levites, to be given them until the day that
the house were finished, and Jerusalem builded up.
56 And he
commanded to give to all that kept the city pensions and wages.
57 He sent
away also all the vessels from Babylon, that Cyrus had set apart; and all that
Cyrus had given in commandment, the same charged he also to be done, and sent
unto Jerusalem.
58 Now
when this young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to heaven toward
Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven,
59 And
said, From thee cometh victory, from thee cometh wisdom, and thine is the
glory, and I am thy servant.
60 Blessed
art thou, who hast given me wisdom: for to thee I give thanks, O Lord of our
fathers.
61 And so
he took the letters, and went out, and came unto Babylon, and told it all his
brethren.
62 And
they praised the God of their fathers, because he had given them freedom and
liberty
63 To go
up, and to build Jerusalem, and the temple which is called by his name: and
they feasted with instruments of musick and gladness seven days.
CHAPTER 5
1 After
this were the principal men of the families chosen according to their tribes,
to go up with their wives and sons and daughters, with their menservants and
maidservants, and their cattle.
2 And
Darius sent with them a thousand horsemen, till they had brought them back to
Jerusalem safely, and with musical [instruments] tabrets and flutes.
3 And all
their brethren played, and he made them go up together with them.
4 And
these are the names of the men which went up, according to their families among
their tribes, after their several heads.
5 The
priests, the sons of Phinees the son of Aaron: Jesus the son of Josedec, the
son of Saraias, and Joacim the son of Zorobabel, the son of Salathiel, of the
house of David, out of the kindred of Phares, of the tribe of Judah;
6 Who
spake wise sentences before Darius the king of Persia in the second year of his
reign, in the month Nisan, which is the first month.
7 And
these are they of Jewry that came up from the captivity, where they dwelt as
strangers, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away unto
Babylon.
8 And they
returned unto Jerusalem, and to the other parts of Jewry, every man to his own
city, who came with Zorobabel, with Jesus, Nehemias, and Zacharias, and
Reesaias, Enenius, Mardocheus. Beelsarus, Aspharasus, Reelius, Roimus, and
Baana, their guides.
9 The
number of them of the nation, and their governors, sons of Phoros, two thousand
an hundred seventy and two; the sons of Saphat, four hundred seventy and two:
10 The
sons of Ares, seven hundred fifty and six:
11 The
sons of Phaath Moab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve:
12 The
sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four: the sons of Zathul, nine
hundred forty and five: the sons of Corbe, seven hundred and five: the sons of
Bani, six hundred forty and eight:
13 The
sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three: the sons of Sadas, three thousand
two hundred twenty and two:
14 The
sons of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and seven: the sons of Bagoi, two thousand
sixty and six: the sons of Adin, four hundred fifty and four:
15 The
sons of Aterezias, ninety and two: the sons of Ceilan and Azetas threescore and
seven: the sons of Azuran, four hundred thirty and two:
16 The
sons of Ananias, an hundred and one: the sons of Arom, thirty two: and the sons
of Bassa, three hundred twenty and three: the sons of Azephurith, an hundred
and two:
17 The
sons of Meterus, three thousand and five: the sons of Bethlomon, an hundred
twenty and three:
18 They of
Netophah, fifty and five: they of Anathoth, an hundred fifty and eight: they of
Bethsamos, forty and two:
19 They of
Kiriathiarius, twenty and five: they of Caphira and Beroth, seven hundred forty
and three: they of Pira, seven hundred:
20 They of
Chadias and Ammidoi, four hundred twenty and two: they of Cirama and Gabdes,
six hundred twenty and one:
21 They of
Macalon, an hundred twenty and two: they of Betolius, fifty and two: the sons
of Nephis, an hundred fifty and six:
22 The
sons of Calamolalus and Onus, seven hundred twenty and five: the sons of Jerechus,
two hundred forty and five:
23 The
sons of Annas, three thousand three hundred and thirty.
24 The
priests: the sons of Jeddu, the son of Jesus among the sons of Sanasib, nine
hundred seventy and two: the sons of Meruth, a thousand fifty and two:
25 The
sons of Phassaron, a thousand forty and seven: the sons of Carme, a thousand
and seventeen.
26 The
Levites: the sons of Jessue, and Cadmiel, and Banuas, and Sudias, seventy and
four.
27 The
holy singers: the sons of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.
28 The
porters: the sons of Salum, the sons of Jatal, the sons of Talmon, the sons of
Dacobi, the sons of Teta, the sons of Sami, in all an hundred thirty and nine.
29 The
servants of the temple: the sons of Esau, the sons of Asipha, the sons of
Tabaoth, the sons of Ceras, the sons of Sud, the sons of Phaleas, the sons of
Labana, the sons of Graba,
30 The
sons of Acua, the sons of Uta, the sons of Cetab, the sons of Agaba, the sons
of Subai, the sons of Anan, the sons of Cathua, the sons of Geddur,
31 The
sons of Airus, the sons of Daisan, the sons of Noeba, the sons of Chaseba, the
sons of Gazera, the sons of Azia, the sons of Phinees, the sons of Azare, the
sons of Bastai, the sons of Asana, the sons of Meani, the sons of Naphisi, the
sons of Acub, the sons of Acipha, the sons of Assur, the sons of Pharacim, the
sons of Basaloth,
32 The
sons of Meeda, the sons of Coutha, the sons of Charea, the sons of Charcus, the
sons of Aserer, the sons of Thomoi, the sons of Nasith, the sons of Atipha.
33 The
sons of the servants of Solomon: the sons of Azaphion, the sons of Pharira, the
sons of Jeeli, the sons of Lozon, the sons of Israel, the sons of Sapheth,
34 The
sons of Hagia, the sons of Pharacareth, the sons of Sabi, the sons of Sarothie,
the sons of Masias, the sons of Gar, the sons of Addus, the sons of Suba, the
sons of Apherra, the sons of Barodis, the sons of Sabat, the sons of Allom.
35 All the
ministers of the temple, and the sons of the servants of Solomon, were three
hundred seventy and two.
36 These came
up from Thermeleth and Thelersas, Charaathalar leading them, and Aalar;
37 Neither
could they shew their families, nor their stock, how they were of Israel: the
sons of Ladan, the son of Ban, the sons of Necodan, six hundred fifty and two.
38 And of
the priests that usurped the office of the priesthood, and were not found: the
sons of Obdia, the sons of Accoz, the sons of Addus, who married Augia one of
the daughters of Barzelus, and was named after his name.
39 And
when the description of the kindred of these men was sought in the register,
and was not found, they were removed from executing the office of the
priesthood:
40 For
unto them said Nehemias and Atharias, that they should not be partakers of the
holy things, till there arose up an high priest clothed with doctrine and
truth.
41 So of
Israel, from them of twelve years old and upward, they were all in number forty
thousand, beside menservants and womenservants two thousand three hundred and
sixty.
42 Their
menservants and handmaids were seven thousand three hundred forty and seven:
the singing men and singing women, two hundred forty and five:
43 Four
hundred thirty and five camels, seven thousand thirty and six horses, two
hundred forty and five mules, five thousand five hundred twenty and five beasts
used to the yoke.
44 And
certain of the chief of their families, when they came to the temple of God
that is in Jerusalem, vowed to set up the house again in his own place
according to their ability,
45 And to
give into the holy treasury of the works a thousand pounds of gold, five
thousand of silver, and an hundred priestly vestments.
46 And so
dwelt the priests and the Levites and the people in Jerusalem, and in the
country, the singers also and the porters; and all Israel in their villages.
47 But when
the seventh month was at hand, and when the children of Israel were every man
in his own place, they came all together with one consent into the open place
of the first gate which is toward the east.
48 Then
stood up Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren the priests and Zorobabel
the son of Salathiel, and his brethren, and made ready the altar of the God of
Israel,
49 To
offer burnt sacrifices upon it, according as it is expressly commanded in the
book of Moses the man of God.
50 And
there were gathered unto them out of the other nations of the land, and they
erected the altar upon his own place, because all the nations of the land were
at enmity with them, and oppressed them; and they offered sacrifices according
to the time, and burnt offerings to the Lord both morning and evening.
51 Also
they held the feast of tabernacles, as it is commanded in the law, and offered
sacrifices daily, as was meet:
52 And
after that, the continual oblations, and the sacrifice of the sabbaths, and of
the new moons, and of all holy feasts.
53 And all
they that had made any vow to God began to offer sacrifices to God from the
first day of the seventh month, although the temple of the Lord was not yet
built.
54 And
they gave unto the masons and carpenters money, meat, and drink, with
cheerfulness.
55 Unto
them of Zidon also and Tyre they gave carrs, that they should bring cedar trees
from Libanus, which should be brought by floats to the haven of Joppa,
according as it was commanded them by Cyrus king of the Persians.
56 And in
the second year and second month after his coming to the temple of God at
Jerusalem began Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec,
and their brethren, and the priests, and the Levites, and all they that were
come unto Jerusalem out of the captivity:
57 And
they laid the foundation of the house of God in the first day of the second
month, in the second year after they were come to Jewry and Jerusalem.
58 And
they appointed the Levites from twenty years old over the works of the Lord.
Then stood up Jesus, and his sons and brethren, and Cadmiel his brother, and
the sons of Madiabun, with the sons of Joda the son of Eliadun, with their sons
and brethren, all Levites, with one accord setters forward of the business,
labouring to advance the works in the house of God. So the workmen built the
temple of the Lord.
59 And the
priests stood arrayed in their vestments with musical instruments and trumpets;
and the Levites the sons of Asaph had cymbals,
60 Singing
songs of thanksgiving, and praising the Lord, according as David the king of
Israel had ordained.
61 And
they sung with loud voices songs to the praise of the Lord, because his mercy and
glory is for ever in all Israel.
62 And all
the people sounded trumpets, and shouted with a loud voice, singing songs of
thanksgiving unto the Lord for the rearing up of the house of the Lord.
63 Also of
the priests and Levites, and of the chief of their families, the ancients who
had seen the former house came to the building of this with weeping and great
crying.
64 But
many with trumpets and joy shouted with loud voice,
65 Insomuch
that the trumpets might not be heard for the weeping of the people: yet the
multitude sounded marvellously, so that it was heard afar off.
66 Wherefore
when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin heard it, they came to know
what that noise of trumpets should mean.
67 And
they perceived that they that were of the captivity did build the temple unto
the Lord God of Israel.
68 So they
went to Zorobabel and Jesus, and to the chief of the families, and said unto
them, We will build together with you.
69 For we
likewise, as ye, do obey your Lord, and do sacrifice unto him from the days of
Azbazareth the king of the Assyrians, who brought us hither.
70 Then
Zorobabel and Jesus and the chief of the families of Israel said unto them, It
is not for us and you to build together an house unto the Lord our God.
71 We
ourselves alone will build unto the Lord of Israel, according as Cyrus the king
of the Persians hath commanded us.
72 But the
heathen of the land lying heavy upon the inhabitants of Judea, and holding them
strait, hindered their building;
73 And by
their secret plots, and popular persuasions and commotions, they hindered the
finishing of the building all the time that king Cyrus lived: so they were
hindered from building for the space of two years, until the reign of Darius.
CHAPTER 6
1 Now in
the second year of the reign of Darius Aggeus and Zacharias the son of Addo,
the prophets, prophesied unto the Jews in Jewry and Jerusalem in the name of
the Lord God of Israel, which was upon them.
2 Then
stood up Zorobabel the son of Salatiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec, and began
to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being
with them, and helping them.
3 At the
same time came unto them Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice, with
Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and said unto them,
4 By whose
appointment do ye build this house and this roof, and perform all the other
things? and who are the workmen that perform these things?
5 Nevertheless
the elders of the Jews obtained favour, because the Lord had visited the
captivity;
6 And they
were not hindered from building, until such time as signification was given
unto Darius concerning them, and an answer received.
7 The copy
of the letters which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phenice, and
Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, rulers in Syria and Phenice, wrote and
sent unto Darius; To king Darius, greeting:
8 Let all
things be known unto our lord the king, that being come into the country of
Judea, and entered into the city of Jerusalem we found in the city of Jerusalem
the ancients of the Jews that were of the captivity
9 Building
an house unto the Lord, great and new, of hewn and costly stones, and the
timber already laid upon the walls.
10 And
those works are done with great speed, and the work goeth on prosperously in
their hands, and with all glory and diligence is it made.
11 Then
asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build ye this house, and
lay the foundations of these works?
12 Therefore
to the intent that we might give knowledge unto thee by writing, we demanded of
them who were the chief doers, and we required of them the names in writing of
their principal men.
13 So they
gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord which made heaven and
earth.
14 And as
for this house, it was builded many years ago by a king of Israel great and
strong, and was finished.
15 But
when our fathers provoked God unto wrath, and sinned against the Lord of Israel
which is in heaven, he gave them over into the power of Nabuchodonosor king of
Babylon, of the Chaldees;
16 Who
pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried away the people captives unto
Babylon.
17 But in
the first year that king Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylon Cyrus the
king wrote to build up this house.
18 And the
holy vessels of gold and of silver, that Nabuchodonosor had carried away out of
the house at Jerusalem, and had set them in his own temple those Cyrus the king
brought forth again out of the temple at Babylon, and they were delivered to
Zorobabel and to Sanabassarus the ruler,
19 With
commandment that he should carry away the same vessels, and put them in the
temple at Jerusalem; and that the temple of the Lord should be built in his
place.
20 Then
the same Sanabassarus, being come hither, laid the foundations of the house of
the Lord at Jerusalem; and from that time to this being still a building, it is
not yet fully ended.
21 Now
therefore, if it seem good unto the king, let search be made among the records
of king Cyrus:
22 And if
it be found that the building of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem hath been
done with the consent of king Cyrus, and if our lord the king be so minded, let
him signify unto us thereof.
23 Then
commanded king Darius to seek among the records at Babylon: and so at Ecbatane
the palace, which is in the country of Media, there was found a roll wherein
these things were recorded.
24 In the
first year of the reign of Cyrus king Cyrus commanded that the house of the
Lord at Jerusalem should be built again, where they do sacrifice with continual
fire:
25 Whose
height shall be sixty cubits and the breadth sixty cubits, with three rows of
hewn stones, and one row of new wood of that country; and the expences thereof
to be given out of the house of king Cyrus:
26 And
that the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both of gold and silver, that
Nabuchodonosor took out of the house at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon,
should be restored to the house at Jerusalem, and be set in the place where
they were before.
27 And
also he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice, and
Sathrabuzanes, and their companions, and those which were appointed rulers in
Syria and Phenice, should be careful not to meddle with the place, but suffer
Zorobabel, the servant of the Lord, and governor of Judea, and the elders of
the Jews, to build the house of the Lord in that place.
28 I have
commanded also to have it built up whole again; and that they look diligently
to help those that be of the captivity of the Jews, till the house of the Lord
be finished:
29 And out
of the tribute of Celosyria and Phenice a portion carefully to be given these
men for the sacrifices of the Lord, that is, to Zorobabel the governor, for
bullocks, and rams, and lambs;
30 And
also corn, salt, wine, and oil, and that continually every year without further
question, according as the priests that be in Jerusalem shall signify to be
daily spent:
31 That
offerings may be made to the most high God for the king and for his children,
and that they may pray for their lives.
32 And he
commanded that whosoever should transgress, yea, or make light of any thing
afore spoken or written, out of his own house should a tree be taken, and he
thereon be hanged, and all his goods seized for the king.
33 The
Lord therefore, whose name is there called upon, utterly destroy every king and
nation, that stretcheth out his hand to hinder or endamage that house of the
Lord in Jerusalem.
34 I
Darius the king have ordained that according unto these things it be done with
diligence.
CHAPTER 7
1 Then
Sisinnes the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, with their
companions following the commandments of king Darius,
2 Did very
carefully oversee the holy works, assisting the ancients of the Jews and
governors of the temple.
3 And so
the holy works prospered, when Aggeus and Zacharias the prophets prophesied.
4 And they
finished these things by the commandment of the Lord God of Israel, and with
the consent of Cyrus, Darius, and Artexerxes, kings of Persia.
5 And thus
was the holy house finished in the three and twentieth day of the month Adar,
in the sixth year of Darius king of the Persians
6 And the
children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and others that were of the
captivity, that were added unto them, did according to the things written in
the book of Moses.
7 And to
the dedication of the temple of the Lord they offered an hundred bullocks two
hundred rams, four hundred lambs;
8 And
twelve goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the chief of
the tribes of Israel.
9 The
priests also and the Levites stood arrayed in their vestments, according to
their kindreds, in the service of the Lord God of Israel, according to the book
of Moses: and the porters at every gate.
10 And the
children of Israel that were of the captivity held the passover the fourteenth
day of the first month, after that the priests and the Levites were sanctified.
11 They
that were of the captivity were not all sanctified together: but the Levites
were all sanctified together.
12 And so
they offered the passover for all them of the captivity, and for their brethren
the priests, and for themselves.
13 And the
children of Israel that came out of the captivity did eat, even all they that
had separated themselves from the abominations of the people of the land, and
sought the Lord.
14 And
they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days, making merry before the
Lord,
15 For
that he had turned the counsel of the king of Assyria toward them, to
strengthen their hands in the works of the Lord God of Israel.
CHAPTER 8
1 And
after these things, when Artexerxes the king of the Persians reigned came
Esdras the son of Saraias, the son of Ezerias, the son of Helchiah, the son of
Salum,
2 The son
of Sadduc, the son of Achitob, the son of Amarias, the son of Ezias, the son of
Meremoth, the son of Zaraias, the son of Savias, the son of Boccas, the son of
Abisum, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief
priest.
3 This
Esdras went up from Babylon, as a scribe, being very ready in the law of Moses,
that was given by the God of Israel.
4 And the
king did him honour: for he found grace in his sight in all his requests.
5 There
went up with him also certain of the children of Israel, of the priest of the
Levites, of the holy singers, porters, and ministers of the temple, unto
Jerusalem,
6 In the
seventh year of the reign of Artexerxes, in the fifth month, this was the
king’s seventh year; for they went from Babylon in the first day of the first
month, and came to Jerusalem, according to the prosperous journey which the
Lord gave them.
7 For
Esdras had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the law and
commandments of the Lord, but taught all Israel the ordinances and judgments.
8 Now the
copy of the commission, which was written from Artexerxes the king, and came to
Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord, is this that followeth;
9 King
Artexerxes unto Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord sendeth
greeting:
10 Having
determined to deal graciously, I have given order, that such of the nation of
the Jews, and of the priests and Levites being within our realm, as are willing
and desirous should go with thee unto Jerusalem.
11 As many
therefore as have a mind thereunto, let them depart with thee, as it hath
seemed good both to me and my seven friends the counsellors;
12 That
they may look unto the affairs of Judea and Jerusalem, agreeably to that which
is in the law of the Lord;
13 And
carry the gifts unto the Lord of Israel to Jerusalem, which I and my friends
have vowed, and all the gold and silver that in the country of Babylon can be
found, to the Lord in Jerusalem,
14 With
that also which is given of the people for the temple of the Lord their God at
Jerusalem: and that silver and gold may be collected for bullocks, rams, and
lambs, and things thereunto appertaining;
15 To the
end that they may offer sacrifices unto the Lord upon the altar of the Lord
their God, which is in Jerusalem.
16 And
whatsoever thou and thy brethren will do with the silver and gold, that do,
according to the will of thy God.
17 And the
holy vessels of the Lord, which are given thee for the use of the temple of thy
God, which is in Jerusalem, thou shalt set before thy God in Jerusalem.
18 And
whatsoever thing else thou shalt remember for the use of the temple of thy God,
thou shalt give it out of the king’s treasury.
19 And I
king Artexerxes have also commanded the keepers of the treasures in Syria and
Phenice, that whatsoever Esdras the priest and the reader of the law of the
most high God shall send for, they should give it him with speed,
20 To the
sum of an hundred talents of silver, likewise also of wheat even to an hundred
cors, and an hundred pieces of wine, and other things in abundance.
21 Let all
things be performed after the law of God diligently unto the most high God,
that wrath come not upon the kingdom of the king and his sons.
22 I
command you also, that ye require no tax, nor any other imposition, of any of
the priests, or Levites, or holy singers, or porters, or ministers of the
temple, or of any that have doings in this temple, and that no man have
authority to impose any thing upon them.
23 And
thou, Esdras, according to the wisdom of God ordain judges and justices, that
they may judge in all Syria and Phenice all those that know the law of thy God;
and those that know it not thou shalt teach.
24 And
whosoever shall transgress the law of thy God, and of the king, shall be
punished diligently, whether it be by death, or other punishment, by penalty of
money, or by imprisonment.
25 Then
said Esdras the scribe, Blessed be the only Lord God of my fathers, who hath
put these things into the heart of the king, to glorify his house that is in
Jerusalem:
26 And
hath honoured me in the sight of the king, and his counsellors, and all his
friends and nobles.
27 Therefore
was I encouraged by the help of the Lord my God, and gathered together men of
Israel to go up with me.
28 And
these are the chief according to their families and several dignities, that
went up with me from Babylon in the reign of king Artexerxes:
29 Of the
sons of Phinees, Gerson: of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael: of the sons of David,
Lettus the son of Sechenias:
30 Of the
sons of Pharez, Zacharias; and with him were counted an hundred and fifty men:
31 Of the
sons of Pahath Moab, Eliaonias, the son of Zaraias, and with him two hundred
men:
32 Of the
sons of Zathoe, Sechenias the son of Jezelus, and with him three hundred men:
of the sons of Adin, Obeth the son of Jonathan, and with him two hundred and
fifty men:
33 Of the
sons of Elam, Josias son of Gotholias, and with him seventy men:
34 Of the
sons of Saphatias, Zaraias son of Michael, and with him threescore and ten men:
35 Of the
sons of Joab, Abadias son of Jezelus, and with him two hundred and twelve men:
36 Of the
sons of Banid, Assalimoth son of Josaphias, and with him an hundred and
threescore men:
37 Of the
sons of Babi, Zacharias son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight men:
38 Of the
sons of Astath, Johannes son of Acatan, and with him an hundred and ten men:
39 Of the
sons of Adonikam the last, and these are the names of them, Eliphalet, Jewel,
and Samaias, and with them seventy men:
40 Of the
sons of Bago, Uthi the son of Istalcurus, and with him seventy men.
41 And
these I gathered together to the river called Theras, where we pitched our
tents three days: and then I surveyed them.
42 But
when I had found there none of the priests and Levites,
43 Then
sent I unto Eleazar, and Iduel, and Masman,
44 And
Alnathan, and Mamaias, and Joribas, and Nathan, Eunatan, Zacharias, and
Mosollamon, principal men and learned.
45 And I
bade them that they should go unto Saddeus the captain, who was in the place of
the treasury:
46 And
commanded them that they should speak unto Daddeus, and to his brethren, and to
the treasurers in that place, to send us such men as might execute the priests’
office in the house of the Lord.
47 And by
the mighty hand of our Lord they brought unto us skilful men of the sons of
Moli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, Asebebia, and his sons, and his
brethren, who were eighteen.
48 And
Asebia, and Annus, and Osaias his brother, of the sons of Channuneus, and their
sons, were twenty men.
49 And of
the servants of the temple whom David had ordained, and the principal men for
the service of the Levites to wit, the servants of the temple two hundred and
twenty, the catalogue of whose names were shewed.
50 And
there I vowed a fast unto the young men before our Lord, to desire of him a
prosperous journey both for us and them that were with us, for our children,
and for the cattle:
51 For I
was ashamed to ask the king footmen, and horsemen, and conduct for safeguard
against our adversaries.
52 For we
had said unto the king, that the power of the Lord our God should be with them
that seek him, to support them in all ways.
53 And
again we besought our Lord as touching these things, and found him favourable
unto us.
54 Then I
separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Esebrias, and Assanias, and ten
men of their brethren with them:
55 And I
weighed them the gold, and the silver, and the holy vessels of the house of our
Lord, which the king, and his council, and the princes, and all Israel, had
given.
56 And when
I had weighed it, I delivered unto them six hundred and fifty talents of
silver, and silver vessels of an hundred talents, and an hundred talents of
gold,
57 And
twenty golden vessels, and twelve vessels of brass, even of fine brass,
glittering like gold.
58 And I
said unto them, Both ye are holy unto the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and
the gold and the silver is a vow unto the Lord, the Lord of our fathers.
59 Watch
ye, and keep them till ye deliver them to the chief of the priests and Levites,
and to the principal men of the families of Israel, in Jerusalem, into the
chambers of the house of our God.
60 So the
priests and the Levites, who had received the silver and the gold and the
vessels, brought them unto Jerusalem, into the temple of the Lord.
61 And
from the river Theras we departed the twelfth day of the first month, and came
to Jerusalem by the mighty hand of our Lord, which was with us: and from the
beginning of our journey the Lord delivered us from every enemy, and so we came
to Jerusalem.
62 And
when we had been there three days, the gold and silver that was weighed was
delivered in the house of our Lord on the fourth day unto Marmoth the priest
the son of Iri.
63 And
with him was Eleazar the son of Phinees, and with them were Josabad the son of
Jesu and Moeth the son of Sabban, Levites: all was delivered them by number and
weight.
64 And all
the weight of them was written up the same hour.
65 Moreover
they that were come out of the captivity offered sacrifice unto the Lord God of
Israel, even twelve bullocks for all Israel, fourscore and sixteen rams,
66 Threescore
and twelve lambs, goats for a peace offering, twelve; all of them a sacrifice
to the Lord.
67 And
they delivered the king’s commandments unto the king’s stewards’ and to the
governors of Celosyria and Phenice; and they honoured the people and the temple
of God.
68 Now
when these things were done, the rulers came unto me, and said,
69 The
nation of Israel, the princes, the priests and Levites, have not put away from
them the strange people of the land, nor the pollutions of the Gentiles to wit,
of the Canaanites, Hittites, Pheresites, Jebusites, and the Moabites,
Egyptians, and Edomites.
70 For
both they and their sons have married with their daughters, and the holy seed
is mixed with the strange people of the land; and from the beginning of this
matter the rulers and the great men have been partakers of this iniquity.
71 And as
soon as I had heard these things, I rent my clothes, and the holy garment, and
pulled off the hair from off my head and beard, and sat me down sad and very
heavy.
72 So all
they that were then moved at the word of the Lord God of Israel assembled unto
me, whilst I mourned for the iniquity: but I sat still full of heaviness until
the evening sacrifice.
73 Then rising
up from the fast with my clothes and the holy garment rent, and bowing my
knees, and stretching forth my hands unto the Lord,
74 I said,
O Lord, I am confounded and ashamed before thy face;
75 For our
sins are multiplied above our heads, and our ignorances have reached up unto
heaven.
76 For
ever since the time of our fathers we have been and are in great sin, even unto
this day.
77 And for
our sins and our fathers’ we with our brethren and our kings and our priests
were given up unto the kings of the earth, to the sword, and to captivity, and
for a prey with shame, unto this day.
78 And now
in some measure hath mercy been shewed unto us from thee, O Lord, that there
should be left us a root and a name in the place of thy sanctuary;
79 And to
discover unto us a light in the house of the Lord our God, and to give us food
in the time of our servitude.
80 Yea,
when we were in bondage, we were not forsaken of our Lord; but he made us
gracious before the kings of Persia, so that they gave us food;
81 Yea, and
honoured the temple of our Lord, and raised up the desolate Sion, that they
have given us a sure abiding in Jewry and Jerusalem.
82 And
now, O Lord, what shall we say, having these things? for we have transgressed
thy commandments, which thou gavest by the hand of thy servants the prophets,
saying,
83 That
the land, which ye enter into to possess as an heritage, is a land polluted
with the pollutions of the strangers of the land, and they have filled it with
their uncleanness.
84 Therefore
now shall ye not join your daughters unto their sons, neither shall ye take
their daughters unto your sons.
85 Moreover
ye shall never seek to have peace with them, that ye may be strong, and eat the
good things of the land, and that ye may leave the inheritance of the land unto
your children for evermore.
86 And all
that is befallen is done unto us for our wicked works and great sins; for thou,
O Lord, didst make our sins light,
87 And
didst give unto us such a root: but we have turned back again to transgress thy
law, and to mingle ourselves with the uncleanness of the nations of the land.
88 Mightest
not thou be angry with us to destroy us, till thou hadst left us neither root,
seed, nor name?
89 O Lord
of Israel, thou art true: for we are left a root this day.
90 Behold,
now are we before thee in our iniquities, for we cannot stand any longer by
reason of these things before thee.
91 And as
Esdras in his prayer made his confession, weeping, and lying flat upon the
ground before the temple, there gathered unto him from Jerusalem a very great
multitude of men and women and children: for there was great weeping among the
multitude.
92 Then
Jechonias the son of Jeelus, one of the sons of Israel, called out, and said, O
Esdras, we have sinned against the Lord God, we have married strange women of
the nations of the land, and now is all Israel aloft.
93 Let us
make an oath to the Lord, that we will put away all our wives, which we have
taken of the heathen, with their children,
94 Like as
thou hast decreed, and as many as do obey the law of the Lord.
95 Arise
and put in execution: for to thee doth this matter appertain, and we will be
with thee: do valiantly.
96 So
Esdras arose, and took an oath of the chief of the priests and Levites of all
Israel to do after these things; and so they sware.
CHAPTER 9
1 Then
Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber of Joanan the
son of Eliasib,
2 And
remained there, and did eat no meat nor drink water, mourning for the great
iniquities of the multitude.
3 And
there was a proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them that were of
the captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem:
4 And that
whosoever met not there within two or three days according as the elders that
bare rule appointed, their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple,
and himself cast out from them that were of the captivity.
5 And in
three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together
at Jerusalem the twentieth day of the ninth month.
6 And all
the multitude sat trembling in the broad court of the temple because of the
present foul weather.
7 So
Esdras arose up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed the law in marrying
strange wives, thereby to increase the sins of Israel.
8 And now
by confessing give glory unto the Lord God of our fathers,
9 And do
his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the
strange women.
10 Then
cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, Like as thou hast
spoken, so will we do.
11 But
forasmuch as the people are many, and it is foul weather, so that we cannot
stand without, and this is not a work of a day or two, seeing our sin in these
things is spread far:
12 Therefore
let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that
have strange wives come at the time appointed,
13 And
with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of
the Lord from us for this matter.
14 Then
Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezechias the son of Theocanus accordingly took
this matter upon them: and Mosollam and Levis and Sabbatheus helped them.
15 And
they that were of the captivity did according to all these things.
16 And
Esdras the priest chose unto him the principal men of their families, all by
name: and in the first day of the tenth month they sat together to examine the
matter.
17 So
their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end in the first day of
the first month.
18 And of
the priests that were come together, and had strange wives, there were found:
19 Of the
sons of Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren; Matthelas and Eleazar, and
Joribus and Joadanus.
20 And
they gave their hands to put away their wives and to offer rams to make
reconcilement for their errors.
21 And of
the sons of Emmer; Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Eanes, and Sameius, and Hiereel,
and Azarias.
22 And of
the sons of Phaisur; Elionas, Massias Israel, and Nathanael, and Ocidelus and
Talsas.
23 And of
the Levites; Jozabad, and Semis, and Colius, who was called Calitas, and
Patheus, and Judas, and Jonas.
24 Of the
holy singers; Eleazurus, Bacchurus.
25 Of the
porters; Sallumus, and Tolbanes.
26 Of them
of Israel, of the sons of Phoros; Hiermas, and Eddias, and Melchias, and
Maelus, and Eleazar, and Asibias, and Baanias.
27 Of the
sons of Ela; Matthanias, Zacharias, and Hierielus, and Hieremoth, and Aedias.
28 And of
the sons of Zamoth; Eliadas, Elisimus, Othonias, Jarimoth, and Sabatus, and
Sardeus.
29 Of the
sons of Babai; Johannes, and Ananias and Josabad, and Amatheis.
30 Of the
sons of Mani; Olamus, Mamuchus, Jedeus, Jasubus, Jasael, and Hieremoth.
31 And of
the sons of Addi; Naathus, and Moosias, Lacunus, and Naidus, and Mathanias, and
Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas.
32 And of
the sons of Annas; Elionas and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, and Simon
Chosameus.
33 And of
the sons of Asom; Altaneus, and Matthias, and Baanaia, Eliphalet, and Manasses,
and Semei.
34 And of
the sons of Maani; Jeremias, Momdis, Omaerus, Juel, Mabdai, and Pelias, and
Anos, Carabasion, and Enasibus, and Mamnitanaimus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali,
Samis, Selemias, Nathanias: and of the sons of Ozora; Sesis, Esril, Azaelus,
Samatus, Zambis, Josephus.
35 And of
the sons of Ethma; Mazitias, Zabadaias, Edes, Juel, Banaias.
36 All
these had taken strange wives, and they put them away with their children.
37 And the
priests and Levites, and they that were of Israel, dwelt in Jerusalem, and in
the country, in the first day of the seventh month: so the children of Israel
were in their habitations.
38 And the
whole multitude came together with one accord into the broad place of the holy
porch toward the east:
39 And
they spake unto Esdras the priest and reader, that he would bring the law of
Moses, that was given of the Lord God of Israel.
40 So
Esdras the chief priest brought the law unto the whole multitude from man to
woman, and to all the priests, to hear law in the first day of the seventh
month.
41 And he
read in the broad court before the holy porch from morning unto midday, before
both men and women; and the multitude gave heed unto the law.
42 And
Esdras the priest and reader of the law stood up upon a pulpit of wood, which
was made for that purpose.
43 And
there stood up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias, Ezecias,
Balasamus, upon the right hand:
44 And
upon his left hand stood Phaldaius, Misael, Melchias, Lothasubus, and Nabarias.
45 Then
took Esdras the book of the law before the multitude: for he sat honourably in
the first place in the sight of them all.
46 And
when he opened the law, they stood all straight up. So Esdras blessed the Lord
God most High, the God of hosts, Almighty.
47 And all
the people answered, Amen; and lifting up their hands they fell to the ground,
and worshipped the Lord.
48 Also
Jesus, Anus, Sarabias, Adinus, Jacubus, Sabateas, Auteas, Maianeas, and
Calitas, Asrias, and Joazabdus, and Ananias, Biatas, the Levites, taught the
law of the Lord, making them withal to understand it.
49 Then
spake Attharates unto Esdras the chief priest. and reader, and to the Levites
that taught the multitude, even to all, saying,
50 This
day is holy unto the Lord; (for they all wept when they heard the law:)
51 Go
then, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part to them that have
nothing;
52 For
this day is holy unto the Lord: and be not sorrowful; for the Lord will bring
you to honour.
53 So the
Levites published all things to the people, saying, This day is holy to the
Lord; be not sorrowful.
54 Then
went they their way, every one to eat and drink, and make merry, and to give
part to them that had nothing, and to make great cheer;
55 Because
they understood the words wherein they were instructed, and for the which they
had been assembled.
Here ends
the 1 Esdras.
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