The great passover kept by Josiah. APOCRYPHA I. ESDRAS CHAPTER 1. 1 Josias his charge to the priests and Levites. ple, gave to the priests for the pass- 9 And Jeconias, and Samaias, 7 Jeconiah, and Nathanael his brother, and "As- & Shemaiah, AND 'Josias held the feast of sabias, and 10 Ochiel, and "Joram. "Hashabiah, the passover in Jerusalem captains over thousands, gave to 10 Jeiel, unto his Lord, and offered the the Levites for the passover five 11 Jozabad, passover the fourteenth day of the thousand sheep, and seven hunfirst month; dred calves. 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 ark upon your shoulders: now therefore serve the Lord your God, and minister unto his people Israel, and prepare you after your families and kindreds, 5 According as David the king of Israel prescribed, and according to the magnificence of Solomon his son and standing in the temple according to the several dignity of the families of you the Levites, who minister in the presence of your brethren the children of Israel, 6 Offer the passover in order, and make ready the sacrifices for your brethren, and keep the pass over 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. 10 And when these things were done, the priests and Levites, having the unleavened bread, stood in very comely order according to the kindreds, 12 11 And according to the several dignities of the fathers, before 12 divisions the people, to offer to the Lord, by fathers' as it is written in the book of houses, Moses and thus did they in the morning. : : 12 And they roasted the passover with fire, as appertaineth as for the sacrifices, they sod them in 13 boiled brass pots and pans with a good savour, 13 And set them before all the people: and afterward they prepared for themselves, and for the priests their brethren, the sons of Aaron. 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 Jeduthun, who was of the king's retinue. 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 sacrifices of the Lord accomplished in that day, that they might hold the passover, 18 And offer sacrifices upon the Josiah killed at Megiddo. 1 unleavened 2 Carchemish 3* Judah? I. ESDRAS, 1. altar of the Lord, according to the : Nebuchadnezzar spoileth the temple. made lamentation for him unto 1 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. 23 And the works of Josias were upright before his Lord with an heart full of godliness. 24 As for the things that came to pass in his time, they were written in former times, concerning those that sinned, and did wickedly against the Lord above all people and kingdoms, and how they grieved him exceedingly, so that the words of the Lord rose up against Israel. 25 Now after all these acts of Josias it came to pass, that Pharaoh the king of Egypt came to raise war at Carchamis upon Euphrates and Josias went out against him. 26 But the king of Egypt sent to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, O king of Judea? my 27, I am not sent out from the 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. 34 And the people took Joachaz 7† Jehoahaz the son of Josias, and made him king instead of Josias his father, when he was twenty and three years old. 35 And he reigned in Judea and in Jerusalem three months: and then the king 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. 8 37 The king of Egypt also made king Joacim his brother king of 8 Jehoiakim Judea and Jerusalem. 8 38 And he bound Joacim and he apprehended, and brought him 8Joacim when he was made king in 40 Wherefore against him "Nabu- 9* Nebu- 41 Nabuchodonosor also took of 4 Jeremiah Jeremy spoken by the mouth of 5 Megiddo, 6 Judah the Lord: 29 But joined battle with him in the plain of Magiddo, and the princes came against king Josias. 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. 31 Then gat he up upon his second chariot; and being brought back to Jerusalem died, and was buried in his father's sepulchre. 32 And in all Jewry they mourned for Josias, yea, Jeremy the prophet lamented for Josias, and the chief men with the women *So throughout this book. 43 And Joacim his son reigned in his stead he was made king being eighteen years old; 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; 46 And made 1o Zedechias king of 10 Zedekiah Judea and Jerusalem, when he was 47 And he did evil also in the *So throughout this book. The captivity of the people.. 1 the Lord, the God I. ESDRAS, 2. him by the prophet Jeremy from the mouth of the Lord. Cyrus alloweth them to return. the Lord might be accomplished, that he had promised by the mouth of Jeremy; 48 And after that king Nabuchodonosor had made him to swear by 2 The Lord raised up the spirit stirred the name of the Lord, he foreswore of Cyrus the king of the Persians, himself, and rebelled; and harden- and he made proclamation through ing his neck, and his heart, he trans- all his kingdom, and also by writ gressed the laws of the Lord God ing Saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Israel. 49 The governors also of the people and of the priests did many 2even above things against the laws, and passed all the pollutions of all nations, and defiled the temple of the Lord, which was sanctified in Jerusalem. 50 Nevertheless the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to call them back, because he spared them and his tabernacle also. 3 Chaldeans 4 keep sabbath, 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 the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremy: 58 Until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths, the whole time of her desolation shall she 'rest, until the full term of seventy years. CHAPTER 2. 1 Cyrus is moved by God to build the temple, 5 and gireth 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 the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of *So throughout this book. 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. 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 Jerusalem that is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of Israel: for he is the Lord that dwelleth 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 many free gifts of a great number whose minds 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 + Mithre his treasurer: 7 12 And by him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of Judea. 13 And this was the number of them; A thousand golden cups, and a thousand of silver, censers of silver twenty nine, vials of gold thirty, and of silver two thousand four hundred and ten, and a thousand other vessels. 14 So all the vessels of gold and of silver, which were carried away, were five thousand four hundred threescore and nine. † In Ezra i. 8. dath The rebuilding hindered. 1 Sheshbazzar, 2 Mithredath, 3 Tabeel, 4 Rehum the chancellor, 5 Shimshai the scribe, 6 commissioned 7 Rehum the recorder, 8 ColeSyria and Phoenicia. 9 Rehum the recorder and chancellor, 5 Shimshai 1 15 These were brought back by | I commanded to make diligent Sanabassar, together with them search, and it hath been found of the captivity, from Babylon to that that city was from the beJerusalem. ginning 12 practising against kings; 12 making 27 And the men therein were insurrection given to rebellion and war: and that mighty kings and fierce were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tributes in Celosyria and Phenice. 3 6 16 But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians Belemus, and "Mithridates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Semellius the secretary, with others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote unto him against them that dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem these letters following; 8 17 To king Artaxerxes our lord, Thy servants, Rathumus the story-writer, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges that are in Celosyria 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 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: 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. 25 Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter, to Beeltethmus, to Semel lius the scribe, and to the rest that in commission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and Phenice, after this manner; were 10 9 11 the scribe, 10 commissioned, 26 I have read the epistle which 11 Phoenicia, ye have sent unto me: therefore * So throughout this book. 2 And to all the 14 governors and captains and lieutenants that were under him, from India unto Ethiopia, 16 of an hundred twenty and 16 in the seven provinces, 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. 4 Then three young men, that were of the guard that kept the king's body, spake one to another; 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: 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. The strength of wine. 1 I. ESDRAS, 4. 8 And then every one wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it under king Darius his pillow; 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. 10 The first wrote, Wine is the strongest. 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 governors, and the cap2 governors, tains, and the lieutenants, and the chief officers; satraps, 3 Sirs, 4 reckon 15 And sat him down in the royal seat of judgment; and the writings were read before them. 16 And he said, Call the young men, and they shall 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 first, who had spoken of the strength of wine; 18 And he said thus, 3 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 bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man and of the rich. 20 It turneth also every thought into jollity and mirth, so that a man remembereth neither sorrow nor debt: 21 And it maketh every heart rich, so that a man remembereth neither king nor governor; and it maketh to speak all things by talents: 4 1 CHAPTER 4. The power of a king The second declareth the power of a king. 13 The third the force of women, 33 and of truth. 41 The third is judged to be wisest, 47 and obtaineth letters of the king to build Jerusalem. 58 He praiseth God, and sheweth his brethren what he had done. TH HEN the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say, 2O ye men, do not men excel & Sirs, in strength, that bear rule over sea and land, and all things in them? 3 But yet the king is more mighty: for he is lord of all these things, and hath dominion over them; and whatsoever 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 slay and are slain, and transgress not the king's commandment: if they get the victory, they bring all to the king, as well the spoil, as all things else. 6 Likewise for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do with wars, but use husbandry, when they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring it to the king, and compel one another to pay tribute unto the king. 7 And yet he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare, they spare; 8 If he command to smite, they smite; if he command to make desolate, they make desolate; 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 rest: 11 And these keep watch round about him, neither may any one depart, and do his own business, neither disobey they him in any thing. 12 O ye men, how should not the king be mightiest, when in such sort 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 Zerub to speak. 3 14 O ye men, it is not the great king, nor the multitude of men, neither is it wine, that excelleth; *So throughout this book. babel |