to stay the building

whom the great and noble Asnap-another commandment shall be per brought over, and set in the given from me. cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.

11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.

22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

23 1 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.

12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us, are come unto Jerusa- 24 Then ceased the work of the lem, building the rebellious and house of God which is at Jerusa the bad city, and have set up the lem. So it ceased unto the second walls thereof, and joined the foun-year of the reign of Darius king of dations.

13 Be it known now unto the king, that if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then

Persia.

CHAP. V.

The Building again set forward.
HEN the prophets, Haggai the

son of Iddo, prophesied unto the of the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of

custom, and so thou shalt endamage the kings. 14 Now because we have main-Israel, even unto them. tenance from the king's palace, 2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;

15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.

16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the

walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.

17 T Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.

18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before

son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?

4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.

61 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands,

9 Then asked we those elders. and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? 10 We asked their names also,

EZRA,

in the Jews' favour Decree of Darius to certify thee, that we might write dations thereof be strongly laid the names of the men that were the height thereof threescore cu bits, and the breadth thereof threethe chief of them. score cubits;

11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.

12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber. and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:

5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jeru salem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boz nai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:

14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of 8 Moreover, I make a decree Babylon, and they were delivered what ye shall do to the elders of unto one, whose name was Shesh- these Jews for the building of this bazzar, whom he had made gover-house of God: that of the king" nor;

7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews, and the elders of the Jews, build this house of God in his place.

15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.

goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.

9 And that which they have neod of, both young bullocks, and 16 Then came the same Shesh-rams, and lambs, for the burntbazzar, and laid the foundation of offerings of the God of heaven, the house of God which is in Jeru- wheat, salt, wine, and oil, accordsalem: and since that time even ing to the appointment of the until now hath it been in building, priests which are at Jerusalem, let and yet it is not finished. it be given them day by day without fail:

17 Now, therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be 10 That they may offer sacri search made in the king's treasure-fices of sweet savours unto the house, which is there at Babylon, God of heaven, and pray for the whether it be so, that a decree was life of the king, and of his sons. made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

CHAP. VI.
Darius's Decree in the Jews' fa-

vour.

THEN Darius the king made a

11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill

for this.

12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.

decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: 13 1 Then Tatnai, governor on 3 In the first year of Cyrus the this side the river, Shethar-boznai, king, the same Cyrus the king made and their companions, according a decree concerning the house of to that which Darius the king had God at Jerusalem, Let the house sent, so they did speedily. be builded, the place where they 14 And the elders of the Jews offered sacrifices, and let the foun-builded, and they prospered

through the prophesying of Hag- of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the chief priest: 6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

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

16 T And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest 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 a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sinoffering for all Israel, twelve hegoats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.

19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover 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 passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,

22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them Joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unte Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

8 And he came to Jerusalem 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 first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

11 T Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, Unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own free will to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand;

15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his Counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habita

tion is in Jerusalem.

16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:

17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings, and offer

Ezra's gracious commission. EZRA, The companions of Ezra. them upon the altar of the house | I gathered together out of Israel of your God which is in Jerusa- chief men to go up with me. lem.

18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.

19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.

20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure-house.

21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

22 Unto a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thy hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them

not.

26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

27 1 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:

28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was trengthened as the hand of the ORD my God was upon me, and

458

CHAP. VIII.

Ezra's Companions from Babylon. HESE are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.

2 Of the sons of Phinehas; Ger shom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush,

3 Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males a hundred and fifty.

4 Of the sons of Pahath-moab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.

5 Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.

6 Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.

7 And of the sons of Elam; Je shaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.

8 And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with bim fourscore males.

9 Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel,, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.

10 And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and threescore males.

11 And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.

12 And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred and ten males.

13 And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these. Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.

14 Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.

15 And I gathered them toge gether to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joinrib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.

17 And I sent them with com mandment unto Iddo the chief at

CHAP. IX. He cometh to Jerusalem the place Casiphia, and I told, of the priests and the Levites, and them what they should say unto chief of the fathers of Israel, at JeIddo, and to his brethren the Ne-rusalem, in the chambers of the thinims, at the place Casiphia, house of the LORD. that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.

18 And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eigh

29 Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them, before the chief