Cyrus's proclamation.

Who returned from Babylon. and of his princes; all thefe he brought to Ba. bylon.

Chap. 1. himfelt before Jeremiah the prophet Speaking from the mouth of the LORD.

13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him (wear by God. but he tiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Ifrael.

14 Moreover all the chief of the priests and the people tranfgreffed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and poiluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jeruialem.

15 And the LORD God of their fathers fent to them by his meffengers, rising up betimes, and fending; because he had companion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

16 Bur they mocked the meifengers of God, and defpiled his words, and miluted his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arofe against his people, till there was no remedy.

17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chalices, who flew their young men with the fword in the houfe of their fanctuary, and had no compartion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that ftooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.

18 And all the veffels of the houfe of God, great and fmall, and the treasures of the houfe of the LORD, and the treasures of the king,

1 E Z

CHAP. I.

The proclamation of Cyrus for the building of the temple. 5 The people provide for their return. Cyrus reftoreth the vefels of the temple to Shefpbazzar.

N

WOW in the first year of Cyrus king of Perfia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD tirred up the fpirit of Cyrus king of Perfia, that he made a proclamation through. out all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, faying,

2 Thus faith Cyrus king of Perfia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the king. doms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an houfe at Jerufalem, which is in Judah.

3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerufalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Ifrael (he is the God,) which is in Jerufalem.

4 And whofoever remaineth in any place where he fojourneth, let the men of his place help him with filver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beafts, befides the free-will-of fering for the house of God that is in Jerufalem.

5 Then rofe up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whofe fpirit God had raifed to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerufalem.

6 And all they that were about them ftrengthened their hands with veffels of filver, with gold, with goods, and with beafts, and with precious things, befides all that was willingly offered.

7Alfo Cyrus the king brought forth the vef. fels of the houfe of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerufalem

19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerufalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with hire, and destroyed all the gooily vedels thereof.

20 And them that had escaped from the fword carried he away to Babylon; where they were fervants to him and his fons, until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:

21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her fabbaths: for as long as the lay defo late the kept fabbath, to fulfil threefcore and ten years.

22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Perfia, that the word of the LORD, spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD tirred up the fpirit of Cyrus king of Perfia, that he made a proclamation through. out all his kingdom, and put it alfo in writing, taying,

23 Thus faith Cyrus king of Perfia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an houfe in Jerufalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.

1 The number that returned. 62 Of the pries which could not fbew their pedigree.

Nvince that went up out of the captivity,

OW these are the children of the pro

of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerufalem and Judah, every one unto his city;

2 Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bil. fhan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Ifrael:

3 The children of Paroih, two thousand an hundred feventy and two.

4 The children of Shephatiah, three hun. dred feventy and two.

5 The children of Arah, seven hundred fe. venty and five.

6 The children of Pahath-moab, of the chil. dren of Jeshua and Joab, two thoufand eight hundred and twelve.

7 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

The number and oblations of those

who returned from Babylon. 44 The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,

EZRA. 8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.

9 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.

10 The children of Bani, fix hundred forty and two.

II The children of Bebai, fix hundred twenty and three.

12 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hun ired twenty and two.

13 The chiliren of Adonikam, fix hundred fixty and fix.

14 The children of Bigvai, two thouiand fifty and fix.

15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.

16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninefy and eight.

17 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.

18 The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve.

19 The children of Hafhum, two hundred twenty and three.

20 The children of Gibbar, ninety and five. 21 The children of Beth-lehem, an hundred twenty and three.

22 The men of Netophah, fifty and fix. 23 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and cight.

24 The children of Azmaveth, forty and two. 25 The children of Kirjat-arim, Chephirah and Beeroth, feven hundred and forty and

three.

26 The children of Ramah and Gaba, fix hundred twenty and one.

27 The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.

28 The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.

20 The children of Nebo, fifty and two. 30 The children of Magbith, an hundred fif. ty and six.

31 The children of the other Elam, a thoufand two hundred fifty and tour.

32 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

33 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, feven hundred twenty and five.

34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.

35 The children of Senaah, three thousand and fix hundred and thirty.

30 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of jethua, nine hundred feventy and three.

37 The children of Immer, a thoufand fifty

and two.

38 The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and feven.

39 The children of Harim, a thoufand and feventeen.

40 The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, feventy and four.

41 The fingers: the children of Afaph, an hundred twenty and eight.

42 The children of the porters. the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.

43 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hafupha, the children of Tab. bauth,

45 The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,

46 The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,

47 The children of Gidel, the children of Gahar, the chil iren or Keaiah,

48 The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the cinl tren orazzam,

49 The children of Uzza, the children of Pafcah, the children of Befai,

5 The children of Alnan, the children of Mehunim, the children or Nephuim,

51 The children of Bak buk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,

52 The children of Bazlath, the children of Mehrta, the children of Hartha,

53 The chil tren of Barkos, the children of Sifera, the children of Thamah,

54 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

55 The children of Solomon's fervants : the children of Solai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,

56 The chil tren of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,

57 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Ze. baim, the children of Ami.

$8 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's fervants, were three hundred ninety and two.

59 And thefe were they which went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harfa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not fhew their father's houfe, and their feed, whether they were of frael.

60 The children or Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, fix hundred fifty and two.

61 And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai: which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:

62 Thefe fought their regifter among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as pol luted, put from the priesthood.

63 And the Tirthatha faid unto them, that they should not eat of the moit holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

64 The whole congregation together was forty and two thoufand three hundred and threefcore.

65 Besides their fervants and their maids, of whom there were feven thousand three hundred thirty and feven: and there were among them two hundred finging men and finging women.

66 Their horfes were feven hundred thirty and fix; their mules, two hundred forty and five;

67 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their atles, fix thousand feven hundred and twenty.

68 And fome of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the houfe of the LORD which is at Jerufalem, offered freely for the house of God to fet it up in his place:

69 They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threefcore and one thou fand drams of gold, and five thousand pounds

The altar is fet up. 4 Offerings frequented. The building bindered. The letter to Ar 8 Tre foundations of the temple aid.

when was

and the children of Ifrael were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Terufalem.

2 Then ftood up leihua the fon of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the fon of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Ifrael, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Mofes the man of God.

3 Aal they fet the altar upon his bafes; for fear cras upon them becaufe of the eople of thofe countries: and they offered burnt-offer ings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt-offerings morning and evening.

4 They kept alfo the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;

5 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the fet feats of the LORD that were confecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a tree will-odering unto the LORD.

6 From the first day of the feventh month began they to offer burnt-offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.

7 They gave money alfo unto the mafons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the fea of Jop, a, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.

8 Now in the fecond year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerufalem, in the fecond month, began Zerubbabel the fon of Shealtiel, and Jefhua the fon of Jozidak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerufalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and up. ward, to fet forward the work of the houfe of the LORD.

9 Then flood Jefhua with his fons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his fons, the fons of Judah, together, to fet forward the workmen in the houfe of God: the fons of Henalad, with their fons and their brethren the Levites.

10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they fet the pricfts in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the fons of Afaph with cymbals, to praife the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Ifrael.

11 And they fang together by courfe in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; becaufe he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Ifrael. And all the people fhouted with a great thout when they praifed the LORD, because the foundation of the houfe of the LORD was laid.

12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had feen the first houfe, when the foundation of this houfe was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many thout ed aloud for joy.

taxerxes: 17 his decree.

Now when the adverfries of Judah and

Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Ifrael;

2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and faid unto them, Let us build with you; for we feek your God as ye dɔ; and we do facrifice unto him fince the days of Efar-haddon king of Affur, which brought us up hither.

3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the reft of the chief of the fathers of Ifrael, faid unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an houfe unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Ift: el, as king Cyrus the king of Perfia hath commanded us.

4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpofe, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 And in the reign of Ahafuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accufation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerufalem.

7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Biihlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Perfia, and the writing of the letter was writ ten in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.

8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimthai the fcribe wrote a letter againit Jerufalem to Artaxerxes the king, in this fort:

9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimfhai the fcribe, and the rest of their com panions; the Dinaites, the Apharfathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharfites, the Arche vites, the Babylonians, the Sufanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,

10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Afnappar brought over, and fet in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this fide the river, and at fuch a time.

11 ¶This is the copy of the letter that they fent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy fervants, the men on this fide the river, and at such a time.

12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerufalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have fet up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.

13 Be it known now unto the king, that if this city be builded, and the walls fet up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and cuf tom, and thou thalt endamage the revenue of the kings.

14 Now becaufe we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to fee the king's dishonour, therefore have we fent and certified the king;

15 That fearch may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: fo fhalt thou find

The temple finished.

Chap. vii. fufalem, and brought unto Babylon, be reRored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerufalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Aphariachites, which are beyond the river, be ye tar from thence:

7 Let the work of this houfe of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this houfe of God in hiplace.

8 Moreover I make a decree what ye fhall do to the elders of these Jews for the building

of this house of God: that of the king's goods,

even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expences be given unto thefe men, that they be not hindered.

9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt-offerings of the God of neaven, wheat, falt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerufalem, let it be given them day by day without rail: 10 That they may offer facrifices of fweet favours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his fons.

11 Alfo I have made a decree, that whofoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his houfe, and being fet up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.

12 And the God that hath caufed his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people that fhall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this houfe of God which is at Jerufa.em. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.

13 Then Tatnai, governor on this fide the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had fent, fo they did fpeedily.

14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they profpered through the prophefying of Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the fon of Iddo. And they builded and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Ifrael, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

15 And this houfe was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the fixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

16 And the children of Ifrael, the priests, and the Levites, and the reft of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,

17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs: and for a fin-offering for all Ifrael, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of If rael.

18 And they fet the priests in their divifions, and the Levites in their courfes, for the fervice of God which is at Jerufalem; as it is written in the book of Mofes,

19 And the children of the captivity kept the paffover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.

20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the paffover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the pricits, and for themselves.

Artaxerxes's commiffion to Ezra.

21 And the children of Ifrael, which were come again out of captivity, and all fuch as had feparated themfelves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to feek the LORD God of Ifrael, did eat,

22 And kept the teait of unleavened bread feven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Affyria unto them, to strengthen their han is in the work of the house of God, the CHAP. VII.

God of Ifrael.

1 Ezra goeth up to ferufalem. 11 The com mil on of Artaxerxes. 27 God praifed.

Artaxerxes king of Pernia, Ezra, the fon OW after thefe things, in the reign of of seraiah, the fon of Azariah, the fon of Hilkiah,

2 The fon of shallum, the fon of Zadok, the fon of Ahitub,

3 The fon of Amariah, the fon of Azariah, the fon of Meraioth,

4 The fon of Zerahiah, the fon of Uzzi, the fon of Bukki,

5 The fon of Abithua, the fon of Phinehas, the fon of Eleazar, the fon of Aaron the chief priest:

6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready fcribe in the law of Mofes, which the LORD God of Ifrael had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

7 And there went up fome of the children of Ifrael, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the fingers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerufalem, in, the feventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

8 And he came to Jerufalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the firit day of the fifth month came he to Jeru falem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to feek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Ifrael ftatutes and judgments.

II Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the fcribe, even a fcribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his itatutes to Ifrael.

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a fcribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at fuch a time.

13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Ifrael, and o, his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minned of their own freewill to go up to Jerufalem, go with thee.

14 Forafmuch as thou art fent of the king and of his even counfellers, to enquire con cerning Judah and Jerufalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;

15 And to carry the filver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Ifrael, whofe habitation is in Jerufalem.

16 And all the filver and gold that thou canft find in al! the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the

houfe