Dwellers in Jerusalem NEHEMIAH. and other cities. 15 Also of the Levites: Shemaah, thereof. And they dwelt from Beer the son of Hashub, the son of Azri sheba unto the valley of Hinnom. kam,the son of Hashabrah, the son of 31 The children also of Benjamin Bunni; 'from Geba dwelt at Michinash, and Aijah, and Beth-el, and in their villa 16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the over-[ges, sight of the outward business of the house of God. 32′ And at Anathoth, Nob, Anamah 17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabili, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanks-men. giving in prayer; and Bakbukiah the 36 And of the Levites were divisions second among his brethren, and Abda in Judah, and in Benjamiu. the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. CHAP. XII. 18 Ali the Levites in the holy city NOW these are the priests and the were two hundred fourscore and four. 19 Moreover, the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were a hundred seventy and Zerub babel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amarial, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, 5 Minmin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests, and of their brethren, m the days of Jeshua. 8Moreover the Levites: Jeshua,1 Bin nui, Kadmiel, Sherebiab, Judah, and Mattaniah,which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Vani, then brethren, were over against them in watches. 23 For it was the king's command-the ment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. 10 ¶ And Jeshua begat Joiakim,Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Elia shib begat Joinda, 11. And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua. 24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judab, was at the king's hand 12 And in the days of Jolakin were in all matters concerning the people. priests, the chief of the fathers: of 25 And for the villages, with their Serariah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hafields, some of the children of Judah naiah ; dwelt at Kirjath-arba, and in the vil nges thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof, 26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladab, and at Beth-pelet, 27 And at Hazar-sbual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof, 28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof, 20 And at Es-cimmon,and at Zareal, Jarmuth. Adullam, and in their ish, and the fields 13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jebohanan; 14 Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Sheba niab, Joseph; 15 Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginne thon, Meshuilam; 17 Of Abijah, Zicbri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; 18 Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shema jah, Jehonathan ; 19 And of Jojarib, Mattenni; of Je daiah, Uzzi; 20 Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok,Eber; Dedication of the walls, CHAP. Xit. Offices of the priests 21 Of Hilkiab, Hashabiah; of Jedai-with trumpets; namely, Zechariah ab, and Nethancel. the son of Jonathan, the son of She22 ¶ The Levites in the days of Elia-maiah, the son of Mattaniab, the son shib,Joiada,and Johanan,and Jaddua, of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the were recorded chief of the fathers; son of Asaph: also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the Chronicles, even until the days of Johanan, the son of Eliashib. 36 And his brethren, Shemaiali, and Azarcel, Milalai, Gilalai, Naai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them. 24 And the chief of the Levites: Ha- 37 And at the fountain-gate, which shubiah,Sherebíah, and Jeshua the son was over against them, they went up of Kadmiel, with their brethren over by the stairs of the city of David, at against them, to praise and to give the going up of the wall, above the thanks, according to the command-house of David, even unto the waterment of David the man of God, ward gate eastward. over against ward. 33 And the other company of them 25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Oba-that gave thanks went over against diah, Meshullum, Talmon, Akkub, them, and I after them, and the half were porters keeping the ward at the of the people upon the wall, from be thresholds of the gates. yond the tower of the furnaces even 26 These were in the days of Joiakim unto the broad wall; the son of Jeshua,the son of Jozadak, 39 And from above the gate of Eand in the days of Nehemiah the gov-phraim, and above the old gate, and ernor, and of Ezra the priest, the above the fish-gate, and the tower of scribe. Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, 27 ¶ And at the dedication of the even unto the sheep-gate: and they wall of Jerusalem they sought the Le-stood still ia the prison gate. vites out of all their places, to bring 40 So stood the two companies of them to Jerusalem,to keep the dedica- them that gave thanks in the house of tion with gladness, both with thanks.God, and I, and the half of the rulers givings, and with singing, with cym with me: bals, psaiteries, and with harps. 41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maa 28 And the sons of the singers gath-seiah, Miniacin, Michaiah, Elioenai, ered themselves together, both out of Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumthe plain country round about Jerusa-pets: Jem, and from the villages of Netho- 42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, phathi: and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehoha20 Also from the house of Gilgal, nan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and and out of the fields of Geba and Az- Ezer. And the singers sang loud, mayeth for the singers had builded with Jezrahiah their overseer. them villages round about Jerusalem 43 Also that day they offered great 30 And the priests and the Levites sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had purified themselves, and purified the made them rejoice with great joy: the people, and the gates, and the wall. wives also and the children rejoiced · so that the joy of Jerusalem was heara even afar off. 31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate. 32 And after them went Hoshaiah, ram, 34 Judah, and Benjamia, and She mmiah, and Jeremiah, 35 And certain of the priests' sons 44 T And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures,for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. 45 And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according Divers abuses NEHEMIAH. reformed by Nehemiah, to the cominandment of David,and of [tions of the Levites had not been giv Solomon his son. en them: for the Levites and the sing 46 For in the days of David anders, that did the work, were fled eveAsaph of old there were chief of the ry one to his field. singers, and songs of praise and 11 Then contended I with the rulers, thanksgiving unto God. and said, Why is the house of God 47 And all Israel in the days of Ze-forsaken? And I gathered them togeth rubbabel, and in the days of Nehemi-fer, and set them in their place. ab, gave the portions of the singers 12 Then brought all Judah the tithe and the porters, every day his portion of the corn and the new wire and the and they sanctified holy things unto oil unto the treasuries. the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron. CHAP. XII. ON 12 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, N that day they read in the book Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanof Moses in the audience of the an the son of Zaccur, the son of Mat people; and therein was found writ-taniah: for they were counted faithten, that the Ammonite and the Mo-ful, and their office was to distribute abite should not come into the congre unto their brethren. gation of God for ever; 2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Baaain against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. 4 ¶ And before this, Eliashib the riest, having the oversight of the hamber of the house of our God,was allied unto Tobiah: . 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof. 15 T In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the sabbatb, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath-day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold 5 And he had prepared for him a victuals. great chamber, where aforetime they 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also Jaid the meat-offerings, the frankin-therein, which brought fish, and all cense, and the vessels, and the tithes manner of ware, and sold on the sab of the corn, the new wine, and the bath unto the children of Judah, and oil, which was commanded to be given Ţin Jerusalem. to the Levites, and the singers, and 17 Then I contended with the nobles the porters; and the offerings of the of Judalı, and said unto them, What priests. evil thing is this that ye do, and pro 6 But in all this time was not I at Je-fane the sabbath-day? rusalem: for in the two and thirtieth 18 Did not your fathers thus, and did year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon not our God bring all this evil upon came unto the king, and after cer- us, and upon this city? yet ye bring tain days obtained 1 leave of the king more wrath upon Israel by profaning 7 And I came to Jerusalem, and un-the sabbath. derstood of the evil that Eliashib did 19 And it came to pass that when the jor Tobiah, in preparing him a cham-gates of Jerusalem began to be dark Der in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. before the sabbath, 1 commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till af ter the sabbath: and some of my ser 9 Then I commanded, and they vants set I at the gates, that there cleansed the chambers: and thither should no burden be brought in on the brought I again the vessels of the sabbath-day. house of God, with the meat-offering 20 So the merchants and sellers of all and the frankincense. kind of ware lodged without Jerusa 10 T And I perceived that the por-[lem once or twice. 21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the subbath, 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath-day, Remember me, O iny God, concerning This also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. 23 T In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab : 24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. 25 And 1 contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. royul feast. 26 Did not Solon on aing of Israel sin by these things? yet among many na tions was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. 27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God, in marrying strange wives? 28. And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliasbib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased bim from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, be cause they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. 30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; 31 And for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Re nember me, O my God, for good. ¶ The Book of ESTHER. CHAP. I. Now it came to pass in the days of gold and silver upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black Ahasuerus, this is Ahasuerus marble. which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces:) 2. That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, 3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and us servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him : 7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. S And the drinking teas according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure. 9 Also Vashti the queen inade a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. 10 T On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biz. 5 And when these days were expired, tha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, the king made a feast unto all the peo-Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chainple that were present in Shushan the berlains that served in the presence of palace, both unto great and small, sev-Ahasuerus the king, en days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace ; 4 When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom, and the honour of mis excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days. 11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to 6 Where were white, green, and blue show the people and the princes her hangings, fastened with cords of nine beauty: for she was fair to look ou linen and purple to silver rings and 12 But the queen Vashti refused to pillars of marble: the beds were of [cone at the king's commaudmen? ky Fashti's disobedience. ESTHER. Esther mage queen. his chamberlains: therefore was the own house, and that a should be pubking very wroth, and bis anger burned lished according to the language of every people. in him. 13 T Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment: CHAP. II. peased, he remembered Vashti, and 14 And the next unto him was Car-|what she had done, and what was deshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, creed against her. Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the 2 Then said the king's servants that seven princes of Persia and Media, ministered unto him, Let there be fair which saw the king's face, and which young virgins sought for the king: sat the first in the kingdom ;) 3 And let the king appoint officers in 15 What shall we do unto the queen all the provinces of his kingdom, that Vashti according to law, because she they may gather together all the fun hath not performed the commandment young virgins unto Shushan the palof the king Ahasuerus by the cham-ace, to the house of the women, uuto berlains? the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them: 16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king ouly, but also to all the prices, and to 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth all the people that are in all the prov-the king be queen instead of Vashti. inces of the king Ahasuerus. And the thing pleased the king; and 17 For this deed of the queen shall he did so. come abroad unto all women, so that! 6 T Now in Shushan the palace there they shall despise their husbands in was a certain Jew, whose name was their eyes, when it shall be reported, Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of The king Ahasuerus commanded Vash- Shimgi, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; the queen to be brought in before G Who had been carried away from him, but she came not. Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconial: king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. 7 And he brought up Hadassah (that is Esther,) his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daugh 19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandmant from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes,that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more ter. before king Ahasuerus; and let the S So it came to pass, when the king give her royal estate unto another king's commandment and his decree that is better than she. was heard, and when many maidens 20. And when the king's decree which were gathered together unto Shushan he shall make shall be published the palace, to the custody of Hegai, throughout all his empire, (for it is that Esther was brought also unto the great,) all the wives shall give to king's house, to the custody of Hegai, their husbands honour, both to great keeper of the women. and small. 21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: 9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for puri fication, with such things as belonged 22 For he sent letters into all the to her, and seven maidens, which were king's provinces, into every province meet to be given her, out of the king's according to the writing thereof, and house: and he preferred her and her to every people after their language, maids unto the best place of the house that every man should bear rule in his of the women. |