Apocrypha. CHAP. VIII. Apocrypha. 30 of the sons of Pharez, Zacharias, and with him were counted an hundred and fifty 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 Artaxerxes 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 Artaxerxes: 29 of the sons of Phinees, Gerson of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael: of the sons of David, Lettus the son of Sechenias 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 Josaphius, 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, Jeuel, 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 Annuus, 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 sixty 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 Je rusalem. 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, Le- || vites 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 Apocrypha, 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 com mandments 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 ini quity: 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 Zion, that Apocrypha. CHAP. IX. 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. CHAP. IX. Аростурка. 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 Juda 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 wiyes, thereby to increase the sins of Israel. 8 And now by confession 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 to1 Esdras assembleth all the people: 10 they prom-gether, and had strange wives, there were ise to put away their strange wives. 40 The found; law of Moses is read and declared. TH HEN Esdras, rising from the court of the temple, went to the chamber of Joanan the son of Eliasib, 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 Арестурва. II. ESDRAS. 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, Ismael, 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 Bebai; 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 Math- || anias, and Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas. 32 And of the sons of Annas; Elionas, and Aseas, and Melchius, and Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus. 33 And of the sons of Asom; Altaneus, and Matthias, and Bannaia, Eliphalat, and Manasses, and Semci. 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. $7 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 : CHAP. I. Apocrypha. 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 the 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 all 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, Sabatteas, Auteas, Maianeas, and Calitas, Azarias, 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 rothing; 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. II. ESDRAS. 1 Esdras is commanded to reprove the people. 24 God threateneth to cast them off. THE second book of the prophet Esdras, the son of Saraias, the son of Azarias, the son of Helchias, the son of Sadamias, the son of Sadoc, the son of Achitob, 2 The son of Achias, the son of Phinees, the son of Heli, the son of Amarias, the son of Aziei, the son of Marimoth, the son of Arna, the son of Ozias, the son of Borith, the son of Abisei, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar, 3 The son of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi; which was captive in the land of the Medes, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of the Persians. 4 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 5 Go thy way, and shew my people their sinful deeds, and their children their wickedness which they have done against me; that they may tell their children's children: 6 Because the sins of their fathers are increased in them: for they have forgotten me, and have offered unto strange gods. 7 Am not I even he that brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage? But they have provoked me unto wrath, and despised my counsels. 8 Pull thou off then the hair of thy head, and cast all evil upon them, for they have not been obedient unto my law, but it is a rebellious people. 9 How long shall I forbear them unto whom I have done so much good? 10 Many kings have I destroyed for their sakes; Pharaoh with his servants, and all his power have I smitten down. 11 All the nations have I destroyed before them, and in the east I have scattered the people of two provinces, even of Tyrus and Sidon, and have slain all their enemies. 12 Speak thou therefore unto them, saying, thus saith the Lord, 13 I led you through the sea, and in the beginning gave you a large and safe passage: I gave you Moses for a leader, and Aaron for a priest. 14 gave you light in a pillar of fire, and great wonders have I done among you; yet have ye forgotten me, saith the Lord. 15 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, The quails were as a token to you; I gave you tents for your safeguard: nevertheless, ye murmured there, 16 And triumphed not in my name for the destruction of your enemies, but ever to this day do ye yet murmur. 17 Where are the benefits that I have done for you? When ye were hungry and thirsty in the wilderness, did ye not cry unto me, 18 Saying, Why hast thou brought us into this wilderness to kill us? It had been better for us to have served the Egyptians, than to die in this wilderness. 19 Then had I pity upon your mournings, and gave you manna to eat; so ye did eat angels' bread. 20 When ye were thirsty, did I not cleave the rock, and waters flowed out to your fill? For the heat I covered you with the leaves of the trees. 21 I divided among you a fruitful land; || Apocrypha. I cast out the Canaanites, the Pherezites, and the Philistines, before you: what shall I yet do more for you? saith the Lord. 22 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, When ye were in the wilderness, in the river of the Amorites, being athirst, and blaspheming my name, 23 I gave you not fire for your blasphemies, but cast a tree in the water, and made the river sweet, 24 What shall I do unto thee, O Jacob? Thou Juda wouldest not obey me: I will turn me to other nations, and unto those will I give my name, that they may keep my statutes. 25 Seeing ye have forsaken me, I will forsake you also; when ye desire me to be gracious unto you, I shall have no mercy upon you. 26 Whensoever ye shall call upon me, I will not hear you: for ye have defiled your hands with blood, and your feet are swift to commit manslaughter. 27 Ye have not as it were forsaken me, but your own selves, saith the Lord. 28 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, Have I not prayed you as a father his sons, as a mother her daughters, and a nurse her young babes, 29 That ye would be my people, and I should be your God; that ye would be my children, and I should be your father? 30 I gathered you together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings: but now, what shall I do unto you? I will cast you out from my face. 31 When ye offer unto me, I will turn my face from you: for your solemn feast days, your new moons, and your circumcisions, have I forsaken. 32 I sent unto you my servants the prophets, whom ye have taken and slain, and torn their bodies in pieces, whose blood I will require of your hands, saith the Lord. 33 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, Your house is desolate, I will cast you out as the wind doth stubble. 34 And your children shall not be fruitful; for they have despised my commandment, and done the thing that is evil before me. 35 Your houses will I give to a people that shall come; which not having herd of me yet shall believe me: to whom I have shewed no signs, yet they shall do that I have commanded them. 36 They have seen no prophets, yet they shall call their sins to remembrance, and acknowledge them. 37 I take to witness the grace of the people to come, whose little ones rejoice in gladness and though they have not seen me with bodily eyes, yet in spirit they believe the thing that I say. 38 And now, brother, behold what glory; and see the people that come from the east: |