Priests and Levites that returned. NEHEMIAH, XII. Dedication of the wall. they dwelt from Beer-sheba" unto the val- B. C. 445. them, to praise and to give thanks acley of Hinnom. cording to the commandment of David the man of God, ward a over against ward. TOW these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah,, j Jeremiah, Ezra, a Ge.26.33. Am.8.14. b Jos.15.8. 2 Ki.23.10. Je.32.35. c1 Ch.23, & 25, & 26. 1 or, of. d Ezr.3.11. 2 or, to. 3 or, treasuries, or, assemblies. e1 Ch.4.14. f c.8.9. g Ezr.7.6,11. Ezr.2.1,2. Ps.30, tille. j c.10.2-8. 4 or, Melicu, ver. 14. 1 Ch.25.6. 2 Ch.5.13. 5 or, Shebaniah, ver.14. 6 or, Harim, 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their breth-11 or, Sallai, ren, were over against them in the watches. 10 And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada, 11 And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua. 12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah: of Jeremiah, Hananiah: 13 Of Ezra, Meshullam: of Amariah, Jehohanan: 14 Of Melicu, Jonathan: of Shebaniah, Joseph: 15 Of Harim, Adna: of Meraioth, Helkai: 16 Of Iddo, Zechariah: of Ginnethon, Meshullam: 17 Of Abijah, Zichri: of Miniamin of Moadiah, Piltai: 18 Of Bilgah, Shammua: of Shemaiah, s 1 ch.23.5. Jehonathan: 19 And of Joiarib, Mattenai: of Jedaiah, t c.3.15, &c. Uzzi: 20 Of Sallai, Kallai: of Amok, Eber: 21 Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah: of Jedaiah, Nethaneel. 22 The Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers; also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The sons of Levi the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the Chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. 24 And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against 40 So stood the two companies of them B. C. 445. that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me: 41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their 3 overseer. b 2 3 or, I earn- quested. made their heard. Ps.81.1. 93.4-6. e Ezr.3.13. 44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for dc.13.12,13. the offerings, for the first-fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, out of the fields of the cities, the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: 5 for Judah rejoic-s ed for the priests and for the Levites that 7 waited. 4 i.e. appoint for the joy of Judah. ed by the law. 6 standing. or, store houses, Ch.25,26. ƒ c.12.44. h Ac.6.3. 10 it was upon them. He.6.10. Nu.18.21,26. 12 i.e. set Abuses rectified. lem: for " in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained 2 I leave of the king. 1 7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me sore; Therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat-offering and the frankincense. 10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers that did the work were fled every one to his field. 11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them in their place. 12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn, and the new wine, and the oil, unto the treasuries. 47 And all Israel, in the days of Zerub-i Ps.122.6-9. babel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave 11 kindnesses. ing this, and wipe not out my 11 good deeds the portions of the singers and the porters that I have done for the house of my God, 12 sanctievery day his portion; and they and for the 13 offices thereof. fied holy things unto the Levites, and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron. CHAP. XIII. 13 or, observa- tions. On that day 14they read' in the book of 15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the sabbath, 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 victuals. 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbathday? 18 Did not your fathers thus, tand did not our God bring all this evil upon and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the us, 4 And before this, Eliashib the 16 priest, 6 But in all this time was not I at Jerusa 17.the com- wo Nu.18.21, 408 19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark beforev the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no Charge respecting the Sabbath. ESTHER, I. burden be brought in on the sabbath- B. C. 434. day. 20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. a 1 Ki.11.1, &c. b 1 Ki.3.13. 2 Ch.9.22. 1 before. Dismissal of strange wives. your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon a king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was be 21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye1 about the wall? c 2 Sa.12.24. loved of his God, and God made him king do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more 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 Eliashib the high priest, was son-inlaw to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, because 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. Remem ber m me, O my God, for good. The Book of ESTHER. B. C. 521. a Hab.2.15. Da.9.1. it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus,' (this is Ahasuerus which Ezr.4.6. reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over an 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 d the palace, 3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast & unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him; 4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom, and the honour of his excellent majesty, many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. 4 5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace; 6 Where were white, green, and 5 hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds *. were of gold and silver, upon a pavement 6 of red, and blue, and white, and black marble. blue c c.8.9. Da.6.1. d Ne.1.1. € 2 Sa.13.28. Ec.10.19. c.2.18. Mar.6.21. h c.7.9. or, eunuchs. 2 good of countenance, 1 Sa.25.3. 3which was by the hand of his eunuchs. i Je.10.7. 5 found. c.8.15. Eze.23.41. Am.6.4. 6 or, of por phyre, and marble, and alabaster, and stone of blue colour. Ezr.7.14. m 2 Ki.25.19. 8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel; " for 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 made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. 10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven 1 chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven' princes of Persia and Media, which m saw the of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from to do.king's face, and which sat the first in the Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? 16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. publish it according to the language of AFTER these things when the wrath his pee of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what i was decreed against her. 2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, 13 unto the custody of 14 Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them: 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen " instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king, and hel did so. ple. i Is.57.9. Pr.7.17. c.1.19,20. k Ge.34.19. De.21.14. Is.62.4,5. ! Is.43.1. 13 hand. 14 or, Hegai, ver.8. m Mat.20.16. 22.14. n Ca.6.9. 8.10. Ac.7.10. 410 Mordecai and Esther's affinity. 5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, a 6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And he 2 brought up Hadassah (that is Esther) his uncle's daughter; for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was 3 fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. b 8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for d purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house to know 11 how Esther did, and what should become of her. 12 Now, when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women,) Esther chosen queen. ESTHER, IV. in the sight of all them that looked upon B. C. 519. her. 16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. b a c.9.24. 1 or, kindness. c Ezr.4.13. 18 Then the king made a great feast c.1.3. unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a 3 release to 3 rest. the provinces, and gave gifts" according to the state of the king. 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate. d Ne.8.12. 5 to destroy e c.3.2. 6 weigh. 20 Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up Ge.41.42. with him. Ep.6.1-3. c.8.2,8. 7or,oppressor, c.7.6. or, Big thana, 9 threshold. c.8.9, &c. 10 or, secre- c.6.1,2. j 1 Ki.21.8. k Nu.24.7. Haman's malignant proposal Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. 7 In the first month, (that is the month Nisan,) in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur," that is, the lot, before Haman, from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is the month Adar. 8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people, neither keep they the king's laws, therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. enemy. 11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. 12 Then were the king's 10 scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded, unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province, according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. 13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. 14 The copy of the writing, for a commandment to be given in every province, was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. 15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment; and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed. W CHAP. IV. HEN Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes," and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; t 2 And came even before the king's gate: |