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Before Chzil 623.

Kings 23.21. Chr. 35. 3.

I, fchiel, Chr. 3568.

APOCRYPHA.

¶ I. ES DRAS.

CHAP. I.

I Fofias his charge to the priests and Levites. 7 Agreat passover is kept. 32 His death is much lamented. 34 His fucceffors. 53 The temple, city, and people are deftroyed. 56 The reft are carried unto Babylon.

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ND Jofias held the feast of the paffover in Jerufalem unto his Lord, and offered the paffover the fourteenth day of the first month, 2 Having fet the priefts according to their daily courses, being arayed in long garments, in the temple of the Lord.

3 And he fpake unto the Levites the holy ministers of Ifrael, that they fhould hallow themselves unto the Lord, to set the holy ark of the Lord in the house that king Solomon the fon of David had built :

4 And faid, Ye fhall no more bear the ark upon your fhoulders: now therefore serve the Lord your God, and minifter unto his people Ifrael, and prepare you after your families and kindreds,

:

5 According as David the king of Ifrael prefcribed, and according to the magnificence of Solomon his fon and standing in the temple according to the feveral dignity of the families of you the Levites, who minifter in the prefence of your brethren the children of Ifrael,

6 Offer the paffover in order, and make ready the facrifices for your brethren, and keep the paffover according to the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto Moses.

7 And unto the people that was found re, Jofias gave thirty thousand lambs, and

and three thousand calves: these things re giver of the kings allowance, according as he pronto 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 paffover, two thoufand and fix undred sheep, and three hundred calves

9 And Jeconias, and Samaias, and Nathanael his brother, and Affabias, and Ochiel, and Joram, captains over thousands, gave to the Levites for the paffoyer, five thousand I, five hun fheep and † seven hundred calves.

calves,

ht. 3 5.9.

10 And when these things were done, the priests and Levites having the unleavened bread, flood in very comely order according to the kindreds,

II And according to the feveral dignities of the fathers before the people, to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the book of Mofes : Chr. 35.12b and thus did they in the morning.

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xod. 12.8.

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12 And they rofted the paffover with fire, as appertaineth: as for the facrifices, they

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15 The holy fingers alfo, the fons of Afaph, were in their order, according to the appointment of David, to wit, Afaph, Za-2 Ch.35616 charias, and Jeduthun, who was of the of David and kings retinue.

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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 facrifices of the Lord accomplished in that day, that they might hold the paffover,

18 And offer facrifices upon the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of king Jofias.

19 So the children of Ifrael which were prefent, held the paffover at that time, and the feast of sweet bread seven days.

20 And fuch à paffover was not kept in If rael fince the time of the prophet Samuel.

21 Yea, all the kings of Ifrael held not fuch a paffover as Jofias, and the priests and the Levites, and the Jews held with all Ifrael that were found dwelling at Jerufalem.

22 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jofias was this paffover kept.

23 And the works of Jofias were upright before his Lord, with an heart full of godlinefs.

Asaph. 2 Chr. 35.156 the kings feet.

24 As for the things that came to pass in his time, they were written in former times, concerning thofe that finned, and * did wickedly * Or, were ne against the Lord above all people and king- sedly. doms, and how they grieved him † exceeding tor, infibly. ly, fo that the words of the Lord rose up against Ifrael.

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25 f Now after all thefe acts of Jofias, it 2 Chr. 3 §. 26. came to pass that Pharaoh the king of Egypt came to raife war at Carchamis upon Euphrates and Jofias went out against him.

26 But the king of Egypt fent to him, him, faying, What have I to do with thee, O king of Judea ?

27 I am not fent 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 hafting me forward: depart from me, and be not against the Lord.

28 Howbeit Jofias did not turn back his chariot from him, but undertook to fight with him, not regarding the words of the prophet Jeremy, fpoken by the mouth of the Lord :

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Before 29 But joyned battle with him in the plain of Magiddo, and the princes came against Chait king Jofias. 610. 30 Then faid the king unto his fervants, Carry me away out of the battle; for I am very weak and immediately his fervants took him away out of the battle.

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31 Then gat he up upon his fecond chariot, and being brought back to Jerufalem, died, and was buried in his fathers fepulchre.

32 And in all Jewry they mourned for Jofias, yea, Jeremy the prophet lamented for Jofias, 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 Ifrael.

33 These things are written in the book of the ftories of the kings of Judah, and every one of the acts that Jolias 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 Ifrael and Judea.

34 8 And the people took Joachaz the fon of Jofias, and made him king in ftead of Jofias his father, when he was twenty and three years old.

35 Ånd he reigned in Judea and in Jerufalem three months: and then the king of Egypt depofed him from reigning in Jerufalem.

36 And he fet a tax upon the land of an hundred talents of filver, and one talent of gold.

37 The king of Egypt alfo made king Joacim his brother, king of Judea and Jerufalem. 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 wash Joacim when he was made king in the land of Judea and Jerufalem, and he did evil before the Lord.

40 Wherefore against him Nabuchodonofor the king of Babylon came up, and bound him with a chain of brafs, and carried him unto Babylon.

41 Nabuchodonofor alfo took of the holy veffels of the Lord, and carried them away, and fet them in his own temple at Babylon.

42 But those things that are recorded of him, and of his uncleannefs, and impiety, are written in the chronicles of the kings.

43 And Joacim his fon reigned in his ftead: he was made king being eighteen years old;

44 And reigned but three months and ten days in Jerufalem, and did evil before the Lord.

45 So after a year Nabuchodonofor fent and caused him to be brought into Babylon, with the holy veffels of the Lord,

46 And made Zedechias king of Judea and Jerufalem, when he was one and twenty years old, and he reigned eleven years:

47 And he did evil alfo in the fight 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 Nabuchodonofor had made him to fwear by the name of the Lord, he forfwore himself, and rebelled, and hardning his neck, and his heart, he tranf

Apocrypha.

greffed the laws of the Lord God of Ifrael. Before 49 The governors also of the people and Chait of the priests did many things against the laws, and paffed all the pollutions of all nations, and defiled the temple of the Lord, which was fanctified in Jerufalem.

50 Nevertheless, the God of their fathers fent by his messenger to call them back, because he spared them and his tabernacle also.

51 But they had his messengers in derifion; and look when the Lord fpake unto them, they made a fport 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 flew their young men with the fword, 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 veffels of the Lord, both great and small, with the vessels of the ark of God, and the kings treasures, and carried them away into Babylon.

593.

590.

55 As for the houfe of the Lord, they 588. burnt it, brake down the walls of Jerufalem, fet fire upon her towers:

56 And as for her glorious things, they never ceafed till they had confumed and brought them all to nought: and the people that were not flain with the fword, he carried unto Babylon :

57 Who became fervants to him and his children, till the Perfians reigned, to fulfil the word of the Lord fpoken by the mouth Jer. 25.11. of Jeremy:

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58 Until the land had enjoyed her fabbaths, the whole time of her defolation fhall she treft ‡01, kerp fabu until the full term of feventy years.

CHA P.

II.

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2 The Lord raised up the spirit of Cyrus the king of the Perfians, and he made proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing,

3 Saying, Thus faith Cyrus king of the Perfians, The Lord of Ifrael the most high Lord, hath made me king of the whole world,

4 And commanded me to build him an house at Jerufalem in Jewry.

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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 Jerufalem that is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of Ifrael: for* he is the Lord that *Or, this dwelleth in Jerufalem.

6 Whofoever then dwell in the places about, let them help him (thofe, I fay, that are his neighbours) with gold and with filver,

7 With gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other things, which have been set forth by

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efore vow, for the temple of the Lord at Jerufalem. heilt 8 ¶ Then the chief of the families of Judea, and of the tribes of Benjamin stood 36. the priests alfo and the Levites, and all they whofe mind the Lord had moved to go up, and to build an house for the Lord at Jerufalem,

9 And they that dwelt round about them, and helped them in all things with filver b. fubftance, and gold, with † horfes and cattle, and with very many free gifts of a great number whose minds were stirred up thereto.

1. 6.

Shashbazar:

10 King Cyrus alfo brought forth the holy veffels which Nabuchodonofor had carried away from Jerufalem, and had fet up in his temple of idols.

11 Now when Cyrus king of the Perfians had brought them forth, he delivered them to Mithridates his treasurer:

12 And by him they were delivered to ‡ corruptly Sanabaffar the governor of Judea.

-At part of the

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to the word before,

1. 8.

13 And this was the number of them, A thousand golden cups, and a thousand of b. knives, filver, cenfers of filver twenty nine, vials of gold thirty, and of filver two thousand our hundred four hundred and ten, and a thousand other

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veffels.

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So all the veffels of gold and of filver, which were carried away, were five thouve thousand fand four hundred threefcore and nine.

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15 These were brought back by Sanabaffar, together with them of the captivity, from Babylon to Jerufalem.

16 But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Perfians, Belemus, and Mithridates, and Tabellius, and † Rathumus, Beeltethmus, and

Semellius the fecretary, with others that were in commiffion with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote unto him against them that dwelt in Judea and Jerufalem, thefe letters following;

17 To king Artaxerxes our lord thy fervants Rathumus the ftory-writer, and Semellius the fcribe, and the rest of their counsel, and the judges that are in Celofyria and Phenice.

18 Be it now known to the lord the king, that the Jews that are come up from you to us, being come into Jerufalem (that rebellious and wicked city) do build the market-places, 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 refufe to give tribute, but also rebel against kings.

20 And forafmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it meet not to neglect fuch a matter,

21 But to speak unto our lord the king, to the intent, that if it be thy pleasure, it may be fought out in the books of thy fathers:

22 And thou fhalt find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and fhalt 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 defolate.

24 Wherefore now we do declare unto thee, (O lord the king) that if this city be built again, and the walls thereof fet up anew,

Apocrypha.

thou shalt from henceforth have no passage Biføjt into Celofyria and Phenice. Chait 25 Then the king wrote back again to Ráthumus the ftory-writer, to Beeltethmus, to 5226 Semellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commiffion, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria, and Phenice, after this manner;

26 I have read the epiftle which ye have fent unto me: therefore I commanded to make diligent fearch, and it hath been found, that that city was from the beginning, practifing against kings.

27 And the men therein were given to res bellion, and war, and that mighty kings and fierce were in Jerufalem, who reigned and ex acted tributes in Celofyria 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.

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Ow when Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto all his fubjects, and unto all his houfhold, and unto all the princes of Media and Perfia,

2 And to all the governors and captains, and lieutenants that were under him, from India unto Ethiopia, of an hundred twenty and feven provinces.

3 And when they had eaten and drunken, and being fatisfied were gone home, then Darius the king went into his bed-chamber, and flept, and foon after awaked.

4 Then three young men that were of the guard, that kept the kings body, fpake one to another,

5 Let every one of us speak a sentence : he that shall overcome, and whofe sentence shall feem wiser than the others, unto him fhall 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 fleep upon gold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and an head-tire of fine linen, and a chain about his neck :

7 And he fhall fit next to Darius, because of his wisdom,and fhall be called Darius his coufin

8 And then every one wrote his fentence, fealed it, and laid it under king Darius his pillow,

9 And faid, that when the king is rifen,fome will give him the writings, and of whose fide the king and the three princes of Perfia fhall judge, that his fentence is the wifeft, to him fhall the victory be given, as was appointed. A 2

10 The

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Apocrypha.

• Or, council.

I. Efdras.

10 The first wrote, Wine is the strongest. II The fecond wrote, The king is the ftrongest.

12 The third wrote, Women are ftrongeft, but above all things, truth beareth away the victory.

13 Now when the king was rifen up, they took their writings and delivered them unto him, and fo he read them.

14 And fending forth, he called all the princes of Perfia and Media, and the governors, and the captains, and the lieutenants, and the chief officers,

15 And fat him down in the* royal feat of judgment, and the writings were read before them:

16 And he said, Call the young men, and they fhall 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 firft, who had spoken of the ftrength 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 bond-man and of the free-man, of the poor man and of the rich :

20 It turneth alfo every thought into jollity and mirth,, so that a man remembreth neither forrow nor debt :

21 And it maketh every heart rich, fo that a man remembreth 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 fwords:

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 fo fpoken, he held his peace.

CHAP. IV.

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Hen the fecond that had spoken of the

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Tftrength of the king, began to fay,

2 O ye men, do not men excel in strength, Or have the that * bear rule over fea and land, and all things in them?

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3 But yet the king is more mighty for he is lord of all thefe things, and hath dominion over them, and whatfoever 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 flay and are flain, and tranfgrefs not the kings commandment : if they get the victory, they bring all to the king, as well the fpoil, as all things elfe.

6 Likewife for thofe that are no foldiers, and have not to do with wars, but ufe hus

Apocrypha.

bandry, when they have reaped again that which they had fown, they bring it to the king, and compel one another to pay tribute unto the king.

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7 And yet he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to fpare, they spare:

8 If he command to fmite, they smite; if he command to make defolate, they make defolate; 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 reft:

II And these keep [watch] round about him, neither † may any one depart, and do † Or, can, his own business, neither difobey they him in any thing.

12 O ye men, how fhould not the king be mightiest, when in fuch fort 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 that excelleth; who is it then that ruleth Heb. i them, or hath the lordship over them? are they not women?

15 Women have born 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 Thefe alfo 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 filver, or any other goodly thing, do they not love a woman which is comely in favour and beauty?

force

19 And letting all thofe things go, do they not gape, and even with open mouth fix their eyes faft on her; and have not all men more defire unto her, than unto filver 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 sticks not to fpend his life with his wife, and remembreth neither father nor mother, nor country.

22 By this alfo you 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 fword, and goeth his way to rob, and to steal, to fail upon the fea, 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.

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Apocrypha.

Chap. iv.

28 And now do ye not believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regions fear to touch him?

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29 Yet did I fee him and Apame the kings concubine, the daughter of the admirable Jofeph An- Bartacus, fitting at the right hand of the king,

ziq. lib. 11. cap. 4. Rabfaces Tho mafius,

= Or, hereat.

30 And taking the crown from the kings head, and fetting it upon her own head; the alfo ftruck the king with her left hand.

31 And yet ‡ for all this the king gaped and gazed upon her with open mouth if the laughed upon him, he laughed also: but if fhe took any difspleasure at him, the king Or, be friends was fain to flatter, that fhe might* be reconciled to him again.

with him.

Or, praifith

e truth, hanafius.

32 O ye men, how can it be but women fhould be ftrong, feeing they do thus?

33 Then the king and the princes looked one upon another: fo he began to fpeak of the

truth.

34 Oye men, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the heaven, fwift is the fun in his courfe, for he compaffeth 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 † calleth upon the truth, and the heaven bleffeth it, all works fhake 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 fuch 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 ftrong, it liveth and conquereth for

evermore.

39 With her there is no accepting of perfons, or rewards, but the doth the things that are juft, 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 ftrength, kingdom, power, and majefty of all ages. Bleffed be the God of truth.

41 And with that he held his peace: and all the people then shouted, and faid, Great is truth, and mighty above all things.

42 Then faid the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt more than is appointed in the writing, and we will give it thee, becaufe thou art found wifeft, and thou fhalt fit next me, and fhalt be called my coufin.

43 Then faid he unto the king, Remember thy vow which thou haft vowed, to build Jerufalem in the day when thou camest to thy kingdom,

44 And to fend away all the veffels that were taken away out of Jerufalem, which Cyrus fet apart, when he vowed to deftroy Babylon, and to fend them again thither. 45 Thou alfo haft vowed to build up the 1.137.7. temple which the Edomites burnt when Judea was made defolate by the Chaldees.

5. 25. 12.

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46 And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I defire of thee,

Apocrypha.

and this is the princely liberality proceeding from thy felf: I defire therefore that thou make good the vow, the performance whereof with thine own mouth thou haft vowed to the king of heaven.

47 Then Darius the king ftood up and kif fed him, and wrote letters for him unto all the treasurers, and lieutenants, and captains, and governors, that they fhould fafely convey on their way both him, and all those that go up with him to build Jerufalem.

48 He wrote letters alfo unto the lieutenants that were in Celofyria, and Phenice, and unto them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar-wood from Libanus unto Jerufalem, and that they fhould 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, fhould Or, fowards forcibly enter into their doors;

50 And that all the country which they hold, fhould be free without tribute; and that the Edomites fhould give over the villages of the Jews which then they held :

51 Yea, that there fhould 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, fhould have free liberty as well they as their posterity, and all the priests that went away.

54 He wrote alfo concerning the charges, and the priests vestments wherein they minifter;

55 And likewife for the charges of the Levites, to be given them, until the day that the house were finished, and Jerufalem builded up.

56 And he commanded to give to all that kept the city,* penfions and wages.

*Or, portioni

57 He fent away alfo all the veffels from of land Babylon that Cyrus had set apart, and all that Cyrus had given in commandment, the fame charged he also to be done, and sent unto Jerufalem.

58 Now when this young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to heaven, toward Jerufalem, and praised the King of heaven,

59 And faid, From thee cometh victory, from thee cometh wifdom, and thine is the glory, and I am thy fervant.

60 Bleffed art thou who haft given me wifdom: for to thee I give thanks, O Lord of our fathers.

61 And fo 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 Jerufalem, and the temple which is called by his name: and they feafted with inftruments of mufick and gladness seven days.

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