AND Josias held the feast of the passover in Jerusalem unto his Lord, and offer2 Kings 23. ed the passover the fourteenth day of the first 2Chron. 33. month; 21. 1, &c. 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 5 According as David the king 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, CHRIST and Joram, captains over thousands, gave to Before the Levites for the passover five thousand cir. 623. sheep, and || seven hundred calves. || Or, five calves, 10 And when these things were done, the hundred priests and Levites, having the unleavened 2 Chron. 35. bread, stood in very comely order according to the kindreds, : 11 And according to the several dignities b roasted the passover with fire, as appertaineth: as for the sacrifices, 13 And set them before all the people: 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 2 Chron. Jeduthun, who was of the king's retinue. d e d 35. 15, of David and Asaph. e the king's 16 Moreover the porters were at every gate; Chron. it was not lawful for any to go from his 3. 15, ordinary service: for their brethren the Levites seer. 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. Apocrypha. CHRIST 35 And he reigned in Judea and in Jeru-Before salem three months: and then the king cir. 610. 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. 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: 37 The king of Egypt also made king Joacim his brother king of Judea and Je 29 But joined battle with him in the plain of Magiddo, and the princes came against king Josias. cir. 610. rusalem. 38 And he bound Joacim and the nobles: but Zaraces his brother he apprehended, and brought him out of Egypt. 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. h h2 Chron. 39 Five and twenty years old was Jo- cir. 610. acim when he was made king in the land of 36, 4, 5, Judea and Jerusalem; and he did evil before the Lord. 31 Then gat he up upon his second chariot; and being brought back to Jerusalem died, and was buried in his father's sepulchre. Jehoiakim, or, Eliakim. 40 Wherefore against him Nabuchodo- cir. 606. nosor 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. 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. 2 Kings 23. 2 Chron. 35. 1. 42 But those things that are recorded of him, and of his uncleanness and impiety, are written in the chronicles of the kings. 43 And Joacim his son reigned in his cir. 599. stead: he was made king being eighteen years old; 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. g 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; 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. 46 And made Zedechias king of Judea and Jerusalem, when he was one and twenty years old; and he reigned eleven years: &c. 599. 47 And he did evil also in the sight of Jer. 52. 2, 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, and 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. 593. CHAP. II. Apocrypha. Before 50 Nevertheless the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to call them back, because he spared them and his tabernacle also. CHRIST 593. cir. 588. 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 cir. 536. * 2 Chron. 36. 22, 23. Ezra 1. 1, &c. CHAP. II. 1 Cyrus is moved by God to build the temple, 5 and giveth leave to the Jews to return and contribute to it: 11 he delivereth again the vessels which had been taken thence. 25 Artaxerxes forbiddeth the Jews to build any more. IN a N 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. Apocrypha. are Before CHRIST 5 If therefore there be any of you that 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 Or, this. 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 +Heb. suhmany free gifts of a great number whose minds Ezra 1. 6. 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: stance. 12 And by him they were delivered to † Sa-Gr. Shashnabassar the governor of Judea. bazar: the first part of A the word is corruptly word going Ezra 1. 8. joined to the 13 And this was the number of them; thousand golden cups, and a thousand of silver, † censers of silver twenty nine, vials before, of gold thirty, and of silver two thousand Heb. four hundred and ten, and a thousand other vessels. b 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. Ezra 1.9. knives, Ezra 1. 10, but four hun dred and ten. Ezra 1.11, but five thou sand four hundred. 16¶But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, Belemus, and Mithridates, and Tabellius, and † Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, Bahumus, and Semellius the secretary, with others name which that were in commission with them, dwelling butan epithet in Samaria and other places, wrote unto him to the foragainst them that dwelt in Judea and Jerusa- Ezra 4. 9. lem these letters following; 17 To king Artaxerxes 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. followeth, is mer, + Shimshui, Ezra 4. 8. Apocrypha. CHRIST I. ESDRAS. Before 18 Be it now known to the lord the king, cir. 522. that the Jews that are come 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: Apocrypha. CHRIST ple in Jerusalem ceased until the second Before year of the reign of Darius king of the Per- cir. 520. sians. 4 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. CHAP. III. Three strive to excel each other in wise speeches. 9 They refer themselves to the judgment of the king. 18 The first declareth the strength of wine. NOW when Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto all his subjects, and unto all his houshold, 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. 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; 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. 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; 4 T Then three young men that were of the guard that kept the king's body, spake one to another; 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 Phe nice. 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: 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. 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; 30 Then king Artaxerxes his letters being read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with them, removing in haste toward Jerusalem Or, a great with a troop of horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the builders; and the building of the tem number of soldiers. 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. est. 10 The first wrote, Wine is the strong 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 gover |