Nehemiah

NEHEMIAS.

  1. The words of Nehemias, son of Chelkia.

2 In the month Chaseleu of the twentieth year, when I was at Susanabira, Anani,«one of my brethren, came with certain men of Juda, and I inquired of them concerning the remnant

3 who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem ; and they informed me that the remnant of the captivity who were left, were in that country in great affliction and reproach ; and that the walls of Jerusalem continued demolished, and that

4 the gates thereof were burned with fire. Upon hearing this report, I sat down and wept and mourned some days, fasting

5 and praying before the God of heaven, and I said, I beseech, thee, O Lord, God of heaven, the Mighty, the Great and the Awful, who keepest thy covenant and thy mercy with them

6 who love thee and keep thy commandments, let thine ear, I beseech thee, be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayst hear the prayer of thy servant which I now make before thee day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and plead for their sins which we have committed against thee.

7 Both I and my father’s house have sinned against thee. We have broken covenant with thee, and have not kept the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou

8 gavest in charge to thy servant Moses. Remember, I beseech thee, the word which thou didst give in charge to Moses thy servant, saying, When you break covenant with me, and I

9 scatter you among the nations; if you then return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersion may be to the farthest part of heaven, thence I will gather them and bring them to the place which I have chosen for

10 my name to dwell there. Now they are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy great power, and

11 with thy strong hand. Turn not away, I beseech thee, O Lord. But let thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy children, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I beseech thee, thy servant this day, and grant him favour in the sight of this man.

  1. Now I was the king’s butler, and in the month Nisan of the twentieth year of king Arthasastha,the wine being before me, I took the wine, and when I had given it to the king (now there

2 was none besides me in waiting) the king said to me, Why is thy countenance sad, and thou not at thine ease? this is nothing but grief of heart. At this I was greatly terrified and said to

3 the king, Let the king live forever! Why should not my countenance be sad, seeing the city, the house of my father’s sepulchre, is in a state of desolation, and the gates thereof burned

4 with fire? Thereupon the king said to me, For what dost thou make request ? And when I had prayed to the God of heaven,

5 I said to the king, If it seemeth good to the king, and if thy servant shall find favour in thy sight, that thou wouldst send me to Juda to the city of the sepulchres of my fathers, and let

6 me rebuild it. Upon this the king said to me (now his concubine was sitting by him) For how long shall thy journey be,

7 and when wilt thou return ? So the king being pleased to send me, I set him a time and said to the king, If it seemeth good to the king, let him give me letters to the governors beyond the river, that they may conduct me on in my journey till I come

8 to Juda ; and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may supply me with timber to cover the gates and for

9 the wall of the city, and for a house to which I may go. So the king gave me, as the hand of God was favourable, and I came to the governors beyond the river, and delivered them the king’s letters.

10 Now the king sent with me captains of the army and horsemen. But when Sanaballat the Aronite and Tobia the servant, the Ammonite, heard this, it grieved them that a man was come to promote the welfare of the children of Israel.

11 Now when I came to Jerusalem and had been there three <lays, I arose by night, I and a few men with me, but I did not tell a man what God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem;

13 and there was not a beast with me but that on which I rode ; and I went out at the gate Golela on to the mouth of the well of fig trees, and on to the dung gate, tracing the wall of Jerusalem which had been demolished, and the gates of which

14 were burned with fire. Then I passed on to the gate of Ain

15 and to the king’s pool. But there being no place for the beast under me to pass, I continued going up by night along the wall of the valley. And having hastily traced the wall, and

16 come to the valley gate, I returned. Now the watchmen did not know why I went nor what I was doing; for I had not yet told the Jews, nor the priests, nor the nobles, nor the officers of

17 the army, nor the rest who were to do the work. Then I said to them, You see the distress in which we are! How Jerusalem is a waste, and the gates thereof have been given to the flames. Come, let us build up the wall of Jerusalem that we

18 may no longer be a reproach. And when I told them of the good hand of God which was upon me, and the words which the king spoke to me, and said, Let us arise and build; their

19 hands were strengthened for this good work. But when Sana- ballat the Aronite, and Tobia the servant the Ammonite and Gesem the Arab heard, they laughed at us, and came to us and said, What is this which you are doing? Are you going to rebel against the king? In reply to which I said, The God of heaven will prosper us, as we his servants are pure and will go on with the building; but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem.

III. So Eliasub the high priest arose with his brethren the priests, and having built the sheep gate, they consecrated it and set up the gates thereof. They consecrated as far as the tower of the hundred, and to the tower of Anameel, even to

2 the work performed by the chiefs of the children of Jericho and to the work performed by the children of Zakchur son

3 of Amari. And the fish gate was built by the sons of Asana. Having covered it, they covered also the doors thereof and

4 the locks and bars thereof. And next to them the chief of the children of Ramoth son of Ouria, son of Akkos, continued on the work. And next to them Mosollam son of Barachias, sou of Mazebel continued it on. And next to them it was continu-

5 ed on by Sadok son of Baana. And next to them the Thekoites continued it, but their nobles did not put their neck to their

6 work. And Joida son of Phasek and Mesulam son of Basodia repaired the gate Jasanai. They covered it and set up the

7 doors thereof, and the locks and the bars thereof. And next to them Maltias the Gabaonite and Evaron the Meronothite, the cliiefs of Gabaon and Maspha continued the repairs to the

8 throne of the governor on this side the river. And next to him Oziel son of Arachias with the gold smiths continued the repairs, and next to them Ananias a chief of the apothecaries fortified, and they left Jerusalem behind them to the broad wall.

9 And next to them the fortifications were carried on by Raphaia son of Sur, the chief of one half of the environs of Jerusalem.

10 And next to them Jedaia son of Eromaph fortified over against

11 his house. And Attuth son of Asabania fortified next to him. And the next who fortified was Melchias son of Eram, then Asub son of Phaath-moab; and they continued on to the tow-

12 er of Thanurim. And next to him the fortifications were continued by Sallum son of Alices, the chief of the half of the en-

13 virons of Jerusalem—by him and his daughters. The gate of the valley was secured by Anun and the inhabitants of Zano. They built it and set up the doors thereof, and the locks and the bars thereof, and built a thousand cubits of the wall even to

14 the dung gate. And the dung gate was secured by Melchia son of Rechab, chief of the Bethakcharim ward—by him and his sons. They covered it and set up the doors thereof, and the

15 gates and the bars thereof. And the gate of the fountain was secured by Solomon son of Choleze, a chief of a part of Maspha. He rebuilded and covered it, and set up the doors and the bars thereof, and built the wall of the pool of poppies by the king’s garden, continuing it on to the stairs coming down

16 from the city of David, And after him Nehemias son of Aza- buch, chief of the half of Bethsur ward, continued the fortifications to the garden of David’s sepulchre and to the artificial

17 pool and to Bethaggarim. And after him the fortifications were continued by the Levites, by Raum son of Bani, and next to

18 him by Asabia chief of the half of Keila ward, m his ward; and after him by their brethren, Benei son of Enadad, chief of

19 the half of Keila ward; and next to him Azur son of Jesus, the chief of Masphai repaired one curtain of the tower of Ascent

20 which united them at the corner; and after him Barach son of Zabu, repaired the other curtain from the corner to the door

21 of Betheliasub which belonged to the chief priest; and after him Meramoth son of Ouria son of Akkos, another piece from

22 the door of Betheliasub to the termination of that house. And after him the priests, the men of Ekkechar continued the re-

23 pairs; After him Benjamin repaired, and Asub over against their house; And after him Azarias son of Maasias son of

24 Anania, repaired adjoining to his house. After him Bani son of Adad, repaired the next curtain from Bethazaria to the cor-

25 ner; but as far as the curve over against the corner, including the tower projecting from the king’s house above the court of the guard house, was the work of Phalach son of Euzai; and

26 after him was Phadaia son of Phoros, and the Nathanims who dwelt at Ophal, even to the garden of the water gate eastward,

27 and they had also the tower which projecteth outwards; and after him the Thekoites had the curtain over against the great

28 projecting tower and onward to the wall of Ophla. Above the horse gate the priests repaired every man over against his

29 house: and after them Sadduk son of Emmer repaired over against his house; and after him repaired Samaia, son of Se-

30 chenia, the keeper of the eastern gate; and after him Anania, son of Selemia, and Anom the sixth son of Seleph had the next curtain; and after him Mesulam, son of Barachia had

31 over against his treasury office; and after him Melchia son of Sarephi had as far as Bethan-nathanim; and the haberdashers were over against the Maphekad and as far as the ascent of the

32 curve; and the brasiers and the haberdashers had between that and the sheep gate.

  1. Now when Sanaballat heard that we were building the

2 wall it appeared evil to him and he was much incensed, and railed against the Jews, and said before his brethren, Is the ar- my of Somoron reduced to this, that these Jews are building their city? They are indeed offering sacrifice; but can drey

3 prevail? Can they heal the stones after being burned to a heap of dust? Thereupon Tobias the Ammonite came near him and said to them, Can they either sacrifice or eat in that place of theirs? Cannot a fox go up and demolish their stone walls?

4 Hear, O our God, how we are made a laughing stock, and turn

5 their reproach back on their own head, and make them an object of derision in a land of captivity, and cover not their iniquity.

7 But when Sanaballat and Tobias, and the Arabs and the Ammonites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem advanced in height, and that the breaches began to be stopped, it appeared

8 to them very vexatious, and they all assembled together to come

9 and attack Jerusalem, and lay it waste. Upon this we prayed to our God, and posted our guards against them day and night

10 for fear of them, though Juda said, Were the power of these enemies broken, there is so much rubbish that we cannot re-

11 build the wall; and they who afflicted us said, They shall not know nor see till we are in the midst of them, and slay them,

12 and cause the work to cease. And when the Jews who dwelt

13 near them came and told us, They are coming against us from all quarters, I then posted, for the lowest parts of the place in the fortified posts behind the Avail, the spear men and bow men; and stationed the people with their swords by communities;

14 and having taken a view, I arose and said to the nobles, and to the officers, and to the rest of the people, Be not afraid of them. Remember our God who is great and terrible; and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your

15 houses. And when our enemies heard that we had got intelligence ; and God had frustrated their designs, we all returned to

16 the wall, every man to his work. And from that day one half of them who had been drawn off carried on the work, and the other half was kept ready with spears and shields, and bows and breast plates; and the chiefs were behind all the house of

17 Juda who were building the wall. And they who were employed in carrying burdens were armed. With one hand they did

18 their work, and with the other grasped a javelin. And the builders had every man his sword girded on his loins while they were building. And near every chief was a trumpeter with

19 a horn. And I said to the nobles and to the chiefs, and to the rest of the people, The work is extensive and large, and we are

20 scattered on the wall, one chief far from another. In what place

VOL. II. OO

soever you hear the sound of the trumpet, thither you must

21 assemble to us, and our God will fight for us. So while we were carrying on the work, one half of them held their spears

22 from break of day till the stars appeared. And at that time I said to the people, let every man with his youths, lodge in Jerusalem, and let the night be devoted to watching and the

23 day to work. Now I myself mounted guard, and the men on duty attended me, and not a man of us put off our clothes.

  1. Now there was a great cry of the people and their wives,

2 against their brethren the Jews. There were some who said, We with our sons and our daughters are many, therefore we

3 will take corn that we may eat and live. There were others who said, As for our fields and our vineyards and our houses, let us

4 mortgage them that we may get corn and eat. There were others who said, We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tribute,

5 andpledgedourfieldsandourvineyardsandourhouses, andnow ourflesh is the same as that of our brethren, our sons the same as. theirs, yet behold we are subjecting our sons and our daughters to be slaves, nay, some of our daughters are already subjected to bondage, and we have no means to redeem them, for our no-

6 bles have got our fields and our vineyards. Upon hearing their

7 cry and these speeches, I was exceedingly grieved. And having consulted in my own mind, I chid the nobles and the chiefs, and said to them, Would any man exact of his brother what you exact? Then having assembled a great meeting

8 against them, I said to them, We with our free will offerings have purchased our brethren the Jews who were sold to the nations; and are you going to sell your brethren that they

9 may be sold to us ? And when they held their peace and found no answer, I said, This thing which you do is not good. It is not in this manner that you are in the fear of our God to avoid

10 the reproach of the nations, our enemies. My brethren and my acquaintances, and I myself, have lent them money and provisions. Let us I pray you relinquish our demands for this.

11 Restore to them, I beseech you, this very day their fields, and their vineyards, and their olive yards, and their houses ; and abate the price at which you have sold to each other corn and

12 wine and oil. Thereupon they said, We will restore, and require nothing of them. We will do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests and having caused them to swear that they would

13 do according to this decree, I shook my lap and said, So may God shake every man who will not perform this promise, out of his house and from his labour, and let them be shaken out and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen; and praised the Lord, and the people executed the decree.

14 From the day I was appointed to be their govenior in the land of Juda—from the twentieth to the thirty second year of Arthasastha—for twelve years, I and my brethren did not

15 eat the daily allowance which was their due—those daily allowances with which they who were before me had loaded them, and which they had exacted from them in bread and wine, to the amount at least of forty didrachms of silver. They indeed who had been displaced, tyrannised over the people;

16 but as’for me 1 did not do so ; because I feared God. Even in the work of the wall, I did not domineer over them; nor did I purchase a field: and all who were employed with me

17 there in the work, even a hundred and fifty chief men of the Jews, besides those who came to us, from the nations around

18 us, were at my table. And the daily provisions for my table, was one ox, six choice sheep, and a kid for myself; and every ten days wine in plenty for all. Yet for all this I did not demand the daily allowance of bread, because the bondage was heavy

19 upon the people. Remember me, O my God, for good, for all I have done for this people. .

  1. Now when Sanaballat and Tobias and Gesam the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no opening left therein; (at that time I had not fixed up the doors in the gates,) Sanaballat and Gesam

2 sent to me saying, Come let us have a meeting at the villages

3 in the plain of Ono, intending to do me some mischief. Upon which I sent messengers to them saying, I am engaged in a great work, and cannot go down, lest the work should stop.

4 Soon as I have completed it, I will go down to you. Again they sent to me to the same effect, and I returned them the same answer.

5 Then Sanaballat sent his servant to me with an open letter

6 in his hand, in which was written, ” It is reported among the nations that thou and the Jews intend to rebel; that for this purpose thou art rebuilding the wall; and that thou art to be

7 their king: and besides this that thou hast set up prophets for thyself that thou mayst make thyself king in Jerusalem over Juda. Now these reports will be told to the king, now

8 therefore come and let us consult together.” In reply to which I sent to him saying, There is no foundation for the reports as thou mentionest them, for thou thyself feignest them out of thine o\vn heart.

9 Because all were trying to terrify us saying, Their hands must be weakened from this work, so that it may not be accomplished, therefore on this occasion I strengthened my hands.

10 So when I \vent to the house of Semei, son of Dalaia, son of

11 Metabaal, he became enrapt and said, “Let us repair to the . house of God—into the midst thereof—and shut the doors

12 thereof—for they are coming by night to kill us.” But-1 said, What sort of a man must he be who would go into the house of God to save his life ! And upon inquiry I found that God had not sent him, and that his prophecy was a contrivance

13 against me; and that Tobias and Sanaballat had hired a multitude against me, that I might be frightened, and act in this manner, and take a wrong step, and fall into disrepute, that

14 they might reproach me. Remember, O God, Tobias and Sanaballat, according to these doings of theirs; and Noa- dias the prophet, and the rest of the prophets, who tried to terrify me.

15 Now the wall was finished on the five and twentieth day

16 of the month Elul, in fifty two days. And when all our enemies heard; all the nations around us were terrified, and great fear fell upon them ; for they saw plainly that the perfecting

17 of this work was of our God. In those days many of the nobles of Juda sent letters to Tobias, and received letters from

18 him. For many in Juda were affined to him, for he was the son in law of Sechenias, son of Erae, and his son Jonan had married a daughter of Mesulam, son of Barachias, and they

19 kept on, telling me what he said and conveying to him what I said. And Tobias sent letters to frighten me.

VII. Now when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors,

2 and the keepers were reviewed and the musicians and the Le- vites, I gave a charge to my brother Ananias, and to Ananias chief of Bira in Jerusalem ; for he was a man of truth, and

3 feared God above many; and I said to them, The gates of Jerusalem must not be opened till sunrise. And when the watch is set, let the doors be shut and well bolted, and appoint guards of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every man in his ward,

4 and every man over against his house. As the city was of large- extent, and the people therein few, and the houses were not re-

5 built, God put it into my heart, and I had collected the nobles and the chiefs, and the people into classes, having found a book of the enrollment of those who first came up, in which I

C found written : ” Now these are the children of the province who came up from the captivity—from the distant abode to which Nabuchodonosar the king of Babylon had sent them,

7 and who returned, every man to his city, with Zorobabel and Jesus, and Nehemias, Azarias and Reelma, Naemani, Morde- cai, Balsan, Maspharuth, Esdra, Baguia, Inaum, Baana, Mas- phar, head men of the people of Israel.

8 The children of Pharos, two thousand a hundred and seventy two;

9 The children of Saphatia, three hundred and seventy two ;

10 The children of Era, six hundred and fifty two ;

11 The children of Phaath-moab, descendants of Jesu and Joab, two thousand six hundred and eighteen ;

12 The children of Ailam, a thousand two hundred and fifty four;

13 The children of Zathuia, eight hundred and forty five;

14 The children of Zakchu, seven hundred and sixty ;

15 The children of Banui, six hundred and forty eight;

16 The children of Bebi, six hundred and twenty eight; . ,

17 The children of Esgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty two;

18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty seven;

19 The children of Bagoi, two thousand and sixty seven;

20 The children of Edin, six hundred and fifty five;

21 The children of Ater, descendants of Ezekias, ninety eight;

22 The children of Esam, three hundred and twenty eight;

23 The children of Besei, three hundred and twenty four;

24 The children of Ariph, a hundred and twelve ;

The children of Asen, two hundred and twenty three;

25 . The children of Gabaon, ninety five;

26 The children of Baithalem, a hundred and twenty three; The children of Atopha, fifty six;

27 The children of Anathoth, a hundred and twenty eight;

28 The men of Bethasmoth, forty two;

29 The men of Kariathiarim, Kaphira and Beroth, seven hundred and forty three;

30 The men of Arama and Gabaa, six hundred and twenty;

31 The men of Machemas, a hundred and twenty two ;

32 The men of Baithel and Ai, a hundred and twenty three;

33 The men of Nabia, a hundred and fifty two.

34 The men of Elamaar, a thousand two hundred and fifty two;

35 The children of Eram, three hundred and twenty ;

36 The children of Jericho, three hundred and forty five;

37 The children of Lodadid and Ono, seven hundred and twenty one;

38 The children of Sanana, three thousand nine hundred and thirty;

39 The Priests. The children of Jodae, for the house of Jesus, nine hundred and seventy three;

40 The children of Emmer, a thousand and fifty two;

41 The children of Phaseur, a thousand two hundred and forty seven;

42 The children of Eram, a thousand and seventeen;

43 The Levites. The children of Jesus and Kadmiel, descendants of Ouduia, seventy four.

44 The musicians, the children of Asaph, a hundred and eighty eight.

45 The keepers of the gates, the Salumites, the Aterites, the Telmonites, the Akubites, the Atites, the Sabites, a hundred and thirty eight.

46 The Nathxnims, The Seas’, the Asphas’, the Tabaoths’, the Kiras’, the Asuias’, the Phadons’, the Labana’s, the Aga- bas’, the Selmeis’, the Anans’, the Gadels’, the Gaars’, the

50 Raaias’, the Rassons’, the Nekodas’, the Gersams’, the Ozis’, the Pheses’, the Besis’, the Meinons’, the Nephosasis’, the Bakbuks’, the Achiphas’, the Aroers’, the Basaloths’, the Midas’, the Adasons’, the Barkoues’, the Sisaraths’, the Themas’,

55 the Nisias’, the Atiphas’. The children of Solomon’s servants, the Suteis’, the Sapharats’, the Pheridas’, the Jelels’, the Dor- kons’,the Gadaels’, the Saphatias’, the Ettels’, the Phakaraths’, the Sabaims’, the Etnims’, all these Nathinims and the children of Solomon’s servants, three hundred and ninety two.

61 These also came up from Thelmeleth, Thelaresa, Charub, Eron, Jemer, but could not shew the houses of their families,

62 nor their seed, whether they are of Israel, namely, the children of Dalaia, the children of Tobia, the children of Ne-

63 koda, six hundred and forty two. And of the priests: the children of Ebia, the children of Akos, the children of Ber- zelli, (for they had married some of the daughters of Ber-

64 zelli, the Galaadite, and were called by their names)—these sought the register of their genealogy, but it could not be found.

65 Though they were related to the priesthood, yet the Athersas- tha ordered, that they should not eat of the most holy meats,

66 until a priest should arise with the Manifestation. The whole congregation was about forty two thousand three hundred and sixty, exclusive of their men servants and maid servants, the number of whom was seven thousand three hundred and thirty seven, and the choristers of both sexes, two hundred and forty- five. Their asses were two thousand seven hundred.

70 As some of the heads of the families had given for the work—to Nehemias, for the treasury, a thousand pieces of

71 gold, fifty cups, and thirty vestures for the priests; the other heads of the families gave for the treasures of the work, twenty thousand pieces of gold, and two thousand three hundred

72 mnas of silver ; and the rest of the people gave twenty thousand pieces of gold, and two thousand two hundred mnas

73 of silver, and sixty seven vestures for the priests. Now the priests and the Levites, and the keepers of the gates and the musicians, and some of the people, and the Nathinims, and all

VIII. Israel, had taken up their abode in their cities; but when the seventh month was come, the sons of Israel who were in their cities, and all the people, assembled like one man, in the street which is before the water gate, and spoke to Es- dras the scribe to bring out the book of the law of Moses,

2 which the Lord had enjoined on Israel. So Esdras the priest, brought out the law before the congregation, consisting of men and women, even all who had understanding, to hear it, on the first day of the seventh month, and read therein from sun ris-

3 ing to mid day, before the men and the women, even all who were capable of understanding. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

4 Now Esdras the scribe stood on a wooden scaffold, and there stood near him Matthathias and Samaias and Ananias and Ourias and Chelkia and Maasia on his right; and on his left, Phadaias and Misael and Melchias and Asom and Asa-

5 badma and Zacharias and Mesollom. And Esdras opened the book in the presence of all the people, for he was above them.

6 And when he opened it all the prophets stood up. Then Esdras blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered and said, Amen, with uplifted hands. Then they bowed down

7 and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. And Jesus and Banaias and Sarabias proceeded to instruct the peo-

8 pic in the law, and the people kept their station. And when they had read in the book of the law of God, Esdras taught and enforced it with a knowledge of the Lord, so that the peo-

9 pie gained understanding by the reading. Then spake Nehe- mias—when Esdras the priest and scribe and the Levites and they who instructed the people, had said to all the people, This day is holy to the Lord our God, mourn not nor weep (for all the people wept when they heard the words of the law) then he

10 said to them, Go, eat dainty meats, and drink sweet wine and send portions to them who have none, for this day is holy to the Lord; and do not despond; for the Lord is our strength.

11 And the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace

12 for this is a holy day and do not despond. So all the people went away to eat and drink, and send portions and make great joy, because they had gained knowledge by the words which were explained to them.

13 And on the second day, when the heads of the families with all the people and the priests and the Levites, were assembled before Esdras the scribe, to attend to all the words of

14 the law, they found it written in the law which the Lord had given in charge to Moses, That the Israelites should dwell in

15 booths at the festival in the seventh month, and that they shoukl sound trumpets in all their cities and in Jerusalem. Whereupon Esdras said, Go out to the mountains and bring in olive branches, and branches of cypress trees and myrtle branches and palm branches, and the branches of every bushy tree to

16 make booths according to what is written. Accordingly the people went out and brought them, and made for themselves booths, every man on his house top, and in their court yards, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the streets of the

17 city, even to the gate of Ephraim. And when all the congregation—all who had returned from captivity, had made themselves booths and sat therein, because the- Israelites had not done so from the days of Joshua son of Nave even to that day,

18 the joy was great. So he read in the book of the law of God, day by day, from the first day to the last. And when they had kept the festival for seven days, on the eighth they kept the .exod according to custom.

  1. And on the twenty fourth day of the same month, the children of Israel were assembled, fasting, and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads, and having separated themselves from every stranger, they stood and confessed their sins and

3 the iniquities of their fathers. When they had stood in their place and had the book of the law of the Lord their God read to them, and had made confession to the Lord and worshipped

4 the Lord their God; then Jesus stood on the step of the Le- vites with the sons of Kadmiel, Sechenia son of Sarabia, the sons of Choneni: and when they had cried with a loud voice

5 to the Lord their God, and the Levites, Jesus and Kadmiel said, Arise, bless ye the Lord our God; from everlasting to everlasting let them bless thy glorious name, and exalt it with all blessing and praise, then Esdras said, ” Thou art thyself the

6 only Lord. Thou hast made the heaven and the heaven of heaven with all their host, the earth and all the things therein, the seas and all which are in them; and thou quickenest them

7 all; and the armies of heaven worship thee. Thou art the Lord God. Having made choice of Abram, thou didst lead him out from the country of the Chaldees and give him the name

8 of Abraham. And finding his heart faithful before thee, thou madest a covenant with him, to give him the land of the Chananites and the Chettites and the Amorites and the Phere- zites and the Jebusites and the Gergasites, even to his seed, and hast performed thy words, for thou art righteous.

9 ” Thou didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and 10 didst hear their cry at the Red sea; and having shewn signs

VOL. II. P p

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and wonders in Egypt on Pharao and on all his servants and on all his people, because thou knewest that they had behaved proudly against them, and made thyself a name as at this day,

11 thou didst cleave the sea before them, and they passed through the midst of the sea on dry ground, but those who were pursuing thou didst cast into the deep like a stone in boisterous

12 water. With a pillar of cloud thou didst guide them by day ; and by night with a pillar of fire, to illumine the way for them

13 in which they should go: thou earnest down also on mount Sina and didst speak to them from heaven, and give them right judgments and laws of truth and statutes and good command-

14 ments. Thou madest known to them thy holy sabbaths and didst prescribe for them commandments and statutes and a law by the ministry of thy servant Moses.

15 ” Thou gavest them also bread from heaven for their food, and didst bring water for them out of a rock for their thirst, ordering them to go in and take possession of the land which thou

16 hadst stretched forth thy hand to give them. But they, even our fathers, behaved proudly and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments.

17 ” Though they refused to go in, and were unmindful of thy wonders which thou hadst done among them—though they hardened their neck, and set up a head to return to their bondage in Egypt, yet thou who art a God merciful and gracious, long suffering and of great kindness, didst not forsake

18 them utterly. Even before this, though they made themselves a molten calf and said, These are the gods which brought us

19 up out of Egypt, and committed great provocations; yet thou through thy manifold mercies didst not leave them in the wilderness. Thou didst not withdraw from them by day the pillar of a cloud which was to guide them in the way, nor the pillar of fire, at night, which was to illumine the way for them in

20 which they should go; but gavest thy good spirit to instruct them; and not withholding thy manna from their mouth, thou

21 gavest them water when they were athirst. Thus didst thou sustain them forty years in the wilderness, not suffering them to want any thing. Their clothes did not wear out, nor were

22 their feet galled. Then thou gavest them kingdoms, and didst divide peoples among them; so they took possession of the land of Seon king of Esebon, and of the land of Og king of

23 Basan. And having multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, thou broughtest them into the land which thou hadst

24 promised their fathers; and they took possession of it. But when thou hadst subdued before them the inhabitants of the land of the Chananites, and delivered them into their hands—both the kings and the people of the land, to do with them as

25 they thought fit; and they had taken lofty cities, and got possession of houses filled with all good things, of cisterns ready hewn out of stone, of vineyards and oliveyards, and all sorts of fruit trees in abundance, and had eaten and were filled, and be-

26 came fat, they rioted on thy great bounty, and turned and apostatised from thee, and cast thy law behind their backs: Nay, they slew thy prophets who testified against them to turn

27 them to thee; and committed great provocations. Therefore thou didst deliver them into the hand of their enemies, who afflicted them. But when, in the time of their distress they cried to thee, thou from heaven didst hear, and in thy tender mercies which are great, thou didst send them deliverers, and save

28 them out of the hand of them who were afflicting them. Yet soon as they had rest, they returned to do evil in thy sight, therefore thou didst leave them in the hand of their enemies,

29 who exercised dominion over them. But again when they cried to thee, thou from heaven didst hearken, and in the multitude of thy tender mercies didst deliver them, and admonish them to return to thy law. When they hearkened not, but transgressed thy commandments and thy judgments, (which if a

30 man practise he shall live thereby) and turned back rebelliously, and hardened their neck, and would not hear, and thou hadst borne with them many years, and testified against them by thy Spirit—by the ministry of thy prophets; and they did not give

31 ear, though thou didst deliver them into the hands of the people of the land, yet in the multitude of thy tender mercies thon didst not give them up to utter destruction, nor quite forsake them.

32 ” Seeing thou art mighty and merciful, and tenderly compassionate ; now therefore, O our God, the Mighty, the Great, the Powerful and the Awful, who keenest thy covenant and thy mercy, let not all the trouble be accounted light in thy sight.

which hath come upon us, and our kings, and our chiefs, and our priests, and our prophets, and our fathers, and on all thy people from the days of the kings of Assur even to this day.

33 Thou indeed art righteous in all that have come upon us. For

34 thou hast acted with truth; but we have sinned greatly. Our kings, and our chiefs, and our priests, and our fathers, have not kept thy law, nor hearkened to thy commandments and

35 thy testimonies which thou hast testified against them. Even in thine own kingdom, and during that abundant bounty of thine which thou didst bestow on them, and in this extensive and rich country which thou gavest before them, they have not served

36 ttiee, nor turned away from their wicked devices. Behold we are now slaves, and as for this land which thou gavest to our

37 fathers to eat the fruits thereof, and the good things thereof, behold we are slaves in it; and its abundant fruits belong to those kings whom for our sins thou hast set over us, and who have dominion over our bodies, and who can do with our cat-

38 tie what they please, so that we are in great affliction. In a due sense, therefore, of all these things we pledge our faith, we by writing, and our chiefs, our Levites, and our priests by seal-

  1. ing—(now they who sealed were Nehemias the Artasastha, son ofAchelia, and Sedekias son of Araia, andAzaria andJeremia, Phasur, Amaria, Melchia, Attus, Sebani, Maluch, Irani, Me- ramoth, Abdia, Daniel, Gannathon, Baruch, Mosulam, Abia, Mi- 9 amin, Maasia, Belgai, Samaia: And these priests and Levites, Jesus son of Azania, Banaiu, ofthesonsofEnadad,Kadmieland his brethren, Sabania, Oduia, Kalitan, Phelia, Anon, Mic/ta, Rohob, Asebias, Zakchur, Sarabia, Sebania, Odum, sons ofJBa- nuai; the chiefs of the people, Pharos, Phaath-moab, Elam, Zat~ thuia, sons ofBani, Asgad, Bebai, Adania, Bagoi, Edin, Ater, Ezekia, Azur, Oduia, Esam, Besi, Ariph, Anathoth, Nobdi, Megaphes, Mesullam, Ezir, Mesozebel, Saduk, Jeddua, Phal- tia, Anan, Anaia, Osee, Anania, Asub, Aloes, Phalai, Sobek, Reum, Essabana, Maasia andAia, Ainan, Eram, Maluch, Eram, JBaana: and the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the keepers of the gates, the musicians, the Nathinims, and every one who came from among the people of the land to the law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, every one who had knowledge and understanding, were urgent with their brethren, and

4

bound themselves with an oath, entering into a curse and an oath)

29 that we will walk in the law of God, which was given by the ministry of Moses the servant of God, to keep and to do all the commandments of the Lord and his judgments and his sta-

30 tutes; and that we will not give our daughters to the people of the land; nor will we take their daughters for our sons,

31 and that with regard to the people of the country who bring wares or any thing to sell on the sabbath day, we will not buy

32 of them on the sabbath, or on a holy day: and that every seventh year we will remit every demand of what kind soever: and that we will confirm, the commands upon us to give every year a third of a didrachm for the service of the house of our

33 God, for the presence loaves and the sacrifice of the daily oblation and for the whole burnt offering of every day, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the festivals and for the holy things, namely, the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel,

34 and for the works of the house of our God: and that we the priests and the Levites and the people who have cast lots touching the bringing of wood, will bring it for the house of our God, for the house of our families, at the set times and seasons yearly, to be burned on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is

35 written in the law: and that we will bring the first fruits of our land, and the first fruits of every fruit tree yearly to the house

36 of the Lord, and do, with regard to the first born of our sons and our cattle, as it is written in the law; that we will bring the firstlings of our herds and our flocks to the house of our God for the priests, who minister in the house of our God:

37 and that we will bring the dedications of our corn including the fruit of trees, and of wine and oil to the stores of the house of God for the priests; and the tythe of our land for the Levites. But the Levites themselves shall receive the ty thes

38 in all the cities of our bondage; and the priest, the son of Aaron, shall share with the Levite in the Levite’s tythe; and the Levites shall carry the tythe of their tythe to the house of

39 oufGod—to the store houses for the house of our God—because the children of Israel including the children of Levi are to carry the dedications of their corn, their wine and their oil to these treasuries, and the holy vessels and the priests and the ministering servants and the keepers of the gates and the musicians are to be there, therefore we will not forsake the house of our God.”

  1. Now the chiefs of the people dwelt at Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one of every ten to dwell

2 in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine parts in their cities. And the people blessed all those men who were of their own accord

3 willing to dwell in Jerusalem. Now these are chiefs of the country who dwelt in Jerusalem and the cities of Juda. There dwelt every man in his possession hi their cities, Israel, the priests and the Levites and the Nathinims and the children of

4 Solomon’s servants : and there dwelt in Jerusalem some of the sons of Juda and some of the sons of Benjamin—of the sons of Juda, Athaia, son Azia, son Zacharia, son Samaria, son

5 Saphatia, son Maleleel; and of the sons of Phares also, Maasia, son Baruch, son Chalaza, son Ozia, son Adah, son Joarib,

6 the son of Zacharias, the son of the Selonite—all these sons of Phares who dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred and

7 sixty eight men of array. And these were the sons of Benjamin, Selo, son Mesulom, son Joad, son Phadaia, son Choleia,

8 son Maasias, son Ethiel, son Jesia, and after him, Gebe, Sele,

9 nine hundred and twenty eight, and Joel -son of Zechri was overseer over them, and Juda son of Asana for the city was

10 second. Of the priests, Jadia son of Joarid, Jachin, Saraia, son Alchia, son Mesulam, son Sadduk, son Marioth, son Aitoth

11 were over against the house of God, and their brethren who

12 did the work of the house were eight hundred and twenty twoj and Adaia a son of Jeroam who was the son of Pliulatia son of

13 Amasi, son Zacharias, son Phasur, son Melchia and his brethren, heads of families, two hundred and forty two; and Amasia son of Esdriel who was the son of Mesarimith, son of

14 Emmer and his brethren fit to be mustered, a hundred and twenty eight, and their overseer was Badiel one of the nobles.

15 And of the Levites, Samaia son of Esrikam, Matthanias son of

16 Micha and Jobed, son of Samue, two hundred and eighty 19 four. And the keeper of the gates, Akub, Telamin and their 22 brethren, a hundred and seventy two. And the overseer of

the Levites son Bani, son Ozi, son Asabia, son Micha of the sons of Asaph the musicians attended over against the work of the house of God, for it was the king’s command to them. 24 And Phathaia son of Baseza was the king’s minister for all

25 matters with the people. And for their villages in the fields some of the sons of Juda dwelt at Kariatharbok and at Jesou

30 and at Bersabee. And their villages were Lachis and its fields, and they encamped at Bersabee. And the sons of Benjamin

36 were from Gabaa to Mackmas, and of the Levites, some were with Juda and some with Benjamin.

XII. Now these are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zorobabel son of Salathiel and Jesus, Saraia, Jercmia, 7 Esdra, Amaria, Maluch, Sechenia, these were the chiefs of the priests; and their brethren in the clays of Jesus, namely, the Levites, were Jesu, Banui, Kadmiel, Sarabaia, Jodae, Mattha- nia. He was superintendant, and their brethren were for the courses. And Jesus begot Joakim and Joakim begot Eliasib and Eliasib begot Jodac, and Jodae begot Jonathan, and Jonathan begot Jadu. And in the days of Joakim his brethren the priests, the chiefs of the families were for Saraia, Amaria; for Jeremia, Anania; for Esdra, Mesulam; for Amaria, Joanan; for Amatuch, Jonathan ; for Sechenia, Joseph; for Are, Mannas ; for Marioth, Elkai; for Adadai, Zacharia; for Ga- nathoth, Mesolam; for Abia, Zechri; for Miamin, Maadai; for Pheleti; for Balgas, Samue; for Semia, Jonathan; for Joa- rib, Matthanai; for Edio, Ozi; for Salai, Kallai; for Amek,

22 Abed; for Elkia, Asabias ; for Jediu, Nathaniel. And in the days of Eliasib, these Levites, Joada and Joa, and Joanan and Idua were enrolled chiefs of the families, and they were the

23 priests in the reign of Darius the Persian. Now the Levites enrolled as heads of the families in the book of Chronicles,

24 continued till the days of Joanan son of Elisue. And these were the chiefs of the Levites, Asabia and Sarabia and Jesu, and the sons of Kadmiel and their brethren, were over against them for the hymn, to sing praises according to the command of David the man of God course for course.

25 When I had collected the keepers of the gates in the days of Joakim, son of Jesus, son of Josedek, even in the days of Nehe- mias, when Esdras was the priest and scribe, at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites in all their places to bring them to Jerusalem, to make the dedication with joyful

88 thanksgivings and with songs, accompanied with cymbals and psalteries and kinyras; and the sons of the musicians were assembled at Jerusalem from the neighbourhood around, both

29 from the villages and the fields. For the musicians at Jerusa-

30 lem had built villages for themselves. And the priests and the Levites having purified themselves, purified also the people,

31 and the keepers of the gates and the wall. Then they brought up the chiefs of Juda upon the wall, and having appointed two great companies for the songs of praise, they proceeded on

32 from the right upon the wall of the dung gate; and after

33 them went Osaia and half of the chiefs of Juda, namely, Aza- rias and Esdras, and Mesolam and Juda, and Benjamin and

34 Samaias, and Jeremia and some of the sons of the priests, with

35 trumpets, Zacharias, son Jonathan, son Samaia, son Mattha-

36 nia, son Michaia, son Zakchur, son Asaph and his brethren, Samaia and Oziel, Gelol, Jama, Aia, Nathaniel and Juda, Anani, to sing praises in the songs of David, the man of God.

37 And Esdras the scribe was before those at the gate, to sing praises over against these. And they went up the stairs of the city of David, by the ascent of the wall above the house of David, and on to the water gate of Ephraim, and over the fish gate, and by the tower of Anameel, and on to the sheep

42 gate. And the musicians were heard though they were hid

43 from view. And on that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced. Because God had given them great joy, therefore their wives and their children rejoiced, and the joy of Jerusalem was heard at a great distance.

44 And on that day they appointed chief men over the store houses for the treasures, the dedications, and the tythes, and what were collected therein for the chiefs of the cities, and assigned portions for the priests and the Levites. For Juda rejoiced at the attendance of the priests and the Levites, as they kept the watches of their God and the watches of purification;

45 and at the attendance of the musicians and the keepers of the gates, as they were instituted by the command of David and his

46 son Solomon. Because in the days of David at the institution, Asaph was the first of them who sung hymns and praises to

47 God, therefore in the days of Zorobabel and in the days of Ne- hemias, all Israel continued the giving daily portions to the musicians and to the keepers of the gates, dedicating them to the Levites, and the Levites dedicating them to the sons of Aaron.

XIII. On reading that day in the book of Moses in the audi- ‘ ence of the people, it was found written therein, that the Am- monites and the Moabites should not enter into the congregation of God forever; because they did not meet the Israelites with bread and water; but hired Balaam against them to curse

3 them; but our God turned the curse into a blessing. And when they heard the law, they separated from Israel all the

4 mixed multitude. Now before this, Eliasib the priest, made his dwelling in a store house of the house of our God. Having

5 an affinity with Tobias, he had fitted up for himself a large store house in which they formerly stored up the sacrifice and the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tythe of the corn, and the wine and the oil, the allotment of the Levites and the musicians, and the keepers of the gates, and the oblations.

6 which belonged to the priest. But during all that time I was , not at Jerusalem. For in the thirty second year of Arthasastha

7 king of Babylon, I went to the king. And at the end of the year, having obtained the king’s leave, I came to Jerusalem. When I was informed of the wickedness which Eliasib had committed for the sake of Tobias, in fitting up for him a trea-

8 sure house in the court of the house of God, it grieved me exceedingly ; therefore I threw all the furniture of Tobias out of

9 the treasure house. And when by my orders they had purified the rooms, I caused to be brought there again the utensils of

10 the house of God, and the sacrifice and the incense. And when I understood that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; and that the Levites and the musicians who were employed in the service had fled, e.very man to his field,

111 quarrelled with the officers and said, Why is the house of

12 God forsaken ? Then I brought them together and set them in their station; and all Juda brought in the tythe of the corn, and the wine, and the oil into the treasuries, under the charge of Selemia the priest, and Sadok the scribe, and Phadaia, one

13 of the Levites, who had for assistants Anan, son Zakchur, son Mathanias, because they were accounted faithful. And it was their business to make distribution among their brethren.

Vol. ri. q.q

14 Remember me, O God, for this; and let not the observance I have paid to the house of the Lord God be blotted out.

15 In those days I saw in Juda some treading wine presses on the sabbath day, and some carrying sheaves, and loading their asses with wine and grapes and figs, and all kinds of burdens, and bringing them to Jerusalem on the sabbath day. Whereupon I testified against them, touching the day of their selling.

16 Some also dwelt there who brought fish, and sold all sorts of wares on the sabbath, to the children of Juda, even in Jerusa-

17 lem. Upon this I chid the freemen of Juda, and said to them,

18 What evil is this which you do in profaning the sabbath ? Did not your fathers do so, and did not our God bring upon them and upon us, and upon this city, all these evils? And are you bringing more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath ?

19 And when the gates of Jerusalem were set up, I ordered them to be shut before the sabbath, and gave a charge that they should not be opened till after the sabbath; and I stationed some of my servants at the gates that no burdens might be

20 brought in on the sabbath day. Upon this they all lodged and carried on their traffick without Jerusalem once or twice.

21 Then I testified against them and said to them, Why do you lodge before the walls ? If you do so any more I will lay hands

22 on you. From that time they did not come on the sabbath. Then I ordered the Levites who were sanctified and come to guard the gates, to keep holy the sabbath day. For these things remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to thy abundant mercy.

23 In those days also I saw the Jews who had married wives

24 of Azotus, of Ammon, and of Moab, and their children spoke

25 half in the dialect of Azotus, and did not know how to speak the Jewish language; and I quarrelled with them, and reproached them, and smote some men among them, and caused some of them to be shaved, and adjured them by God, saying, You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take

26 any of their daughters for your sons. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by doing so ? Though among many nations there was not a king like him ? Though he was beloved by God, and God had made him king over all Israel, yet strange women

27 led him astray. Let us not therefore hear of your committing all this iniquity, breaking covenant with our God, and marry-

28 ing strange women. And one of the sons of Joada the son of Elisub the high priest, being the son in law of Sanaballat the Ouranite, I drove him from me.

29 Put them in mind, O God, of their near relation to the

30 priesthood, and of the covenant of the priesthood. As for the Levites I purified them from all connexion with strangers, and appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites, every man according to his business, and the offering of the wood carriers at stated periods, and at the festivals.

Remember me O God, for good.