xxiii. 21; 2 That is, the Nethinim. See Num. iii. 9. I. ESDRAS. selves, and for the priests their bre15 thren, the sons of Aaron. The holy singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their order, according to the appointment of David, to wit, Asaph, Zacharias, and Eddínus, who was 4 Another 16 of the king's retinue. Moreover the reading porters were at every gate; none is, were. had need to depart from his daily course for their brethren the Le17 vites prepared for them. Thus were the things that belonged to the sacrifices of the Lord accomplished in that day, in holding the passover, 18 and offering sacrifices upon the altar of the Lord, according to the 19 commandment of king Josias. So the children of Israel which were present at that time held the passover, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. And such a passover was not held in Israel since the time of the prophet Samuel. 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 present in their dwelling place at Jerusalem. 22 In the eighteenth year of the reign 20 21 of Josias was this passover held. 23 And the works of Josias were up 12 Kings 1 AND Josias held the passover in 3 Jehiel, 2 Chr. XXXV. 8. right before his Lord with a heart 24 full of godliness. Moreover the things that came to pass in his days have been written in times past, concerning those that sinned, and did wickedly against the Lord above every people and kingdom, and how they grieved him exceedingly, so that the words of the Lord were confirmed against Israel. 5 Or, sensibly Jud. xvi. 17. 62 Chr. XXXV. 20, 25 6 Now after all these acts of Josias the king of Egypt sent to him, say- 30 *B chariot from him. 1 2 Kings xxiii. 30; 2 Chr. xxxvi. 1. 2 Another reading is, Jeconias. 3 Another reading is, Israel. 42 Chr. xxxvi. 4, 5. 5 Another reading is, eight. upon his second chariot; and being brought back to Jerusalem he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of 32 his fathers. And in all Jewry they mourned for Josias; and Jeremy the prophet lamented for Josias, and the chief men with the women made lamentation for him, unto this day and this was given out for an ordinance to be done continually in all the nation of Israel. 33 These things are written in the book of the histories of the kings of Judæa, 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 Judah. 34 And the people took 2Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king instead of Josias his father, when he was twenty and three 35 years old. And he reigned in 3 Judah 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 people of a hundred talents of silver and 37 one talent of gold. The king of Egypt also made king Joakim his brother king of Judæa and Jeru38 salem. And Joakim bound the nobles: but Zarakes his brother he apprehended, and brought him up out of Egypt. 39 Five and twenty years old was 4 Joakim when he began to reign in Judæa and Jerusalem; and he did that which was evil in the sight 40 of the Lord. And against him Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came up, and bound him with a chain of brass, and carried him 41 unto Babylon." Nabuchodonosor also took of the holy vessels of the Lord, and carried them away, and set them up in his own temple at 42 Babylon. But those things that are reported of him, and of his uncleanness and impiety, are written in the chronicles of the kings. 43 And Joakim his son reigned in his stead for when he was made king 44 he was 5 eighteen years old; and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem; and did that which was evil before the Lord. 45 So after a year Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be brought unto Babylon with the holy vessels 46 of the Lord; and made Sedekias king of Judæa and Jerusalem, when he was one and twenty years old; 47 and he reigned eleven years: and he also did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and cared not for the words that were spoken by Jeremy the prophet from the 48 mouth of the Lord. And after that king Nabuchodonosor had made him to swear by the name of the Lord, he forswore himself, and rebelled; and hardening his neck, and his heart, he transgressed the laws of the Lord, the God of 49 Israel. Moreover the governors of the people and of the priests did many things wickedly, 6 and passed 6 Another all the pollutions of all nations, reading and defiled the temple of the Lord, is, even which was sanctified in Jerusalem. above all. And the God of their fathers sent 50 54 by his messenger to call them back, because he had compassion on them 51 and on his dwelling place. But they mocked his messengers; and in the day when the Lord spake unto them, they scoffed at his pro52 phets: so far forth, that he, being wroth with his people for their great ungodliness, commanded to bring up the kings of the Chal53 deans against them; who slew their young men with the sword, round about their holy temple, and spared neither young man nor maid, old man nor child; but he delivered all into their hands. And they took all the holy vessels of the Lord, both great and small, with 7 the vessels of the ark of the Lord, and the king's treasures, and carried them away unto Babylon. And they burnt the house of the Lord, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem, and burnt the towers thereof with fire; and as for her glorious things, they never ceased till they had brought them all to nought and the people that were not slain with the sword he carried 57 unto Babylon: and they were servants unto him and to his children, till the Persians reigned, to fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremy: Until the land hath enjoyed her sabbaths, the whole time of her desolation shall she keep sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 55 56 58 7 Another reading is, the arks of the Lord. 82 Chr. xxxvi. 22, 23; Ezra i. 1, 2 In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremy 2 might be accomplished, the Lord &c. stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians, and he made proclamation through all his kingdom, 3 and also by writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians; The Lord of Israel, the Most High Lord, hath made me king of the 4 whole world, and commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem 5 that is in Judæa. If therefore there be any of you that are of his people, 9 let the Lord, even his 9 Another Lord, be with him, and let him go reading, up to Jerusalem that is in Judæa, is, let his and build the house of the Lord Lord be of Israel: he is the Lord that 6 dwelleth in Jerusalem. Of such therefore as dwell in divers places, let them that are in his own place help each one with gold, and with 7 silver, with gifts, with horses also and cattle, beside the other things which have been added by vow for the temple of the Lord which is in Jerusalem. &c. 1 Another 2 Ezra iv. 7. 3 Rehum. 4 Shimshai. 5 Or, recorder 8 24 26 Then the chief of the families of 16 2 But in the time of Artaxerxes rebellious, and raised always wars therein of old time; for the which cause even this city was laid waste. Wherefore now we do declare unto thee, O lord the king, that if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up anew, thou shalt from henceforth have no passage 25 into Coelesyria and Phoenicia. Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter, and Beeltethmus, and Samellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and dwelt in Samaria and Syria and Phoenicia, after this manner: I have read the epistle which ye have sent unto me: therefore I commanded to make search, and it hath been found that that city of old time hath made insurrection against kings; and the men were given to rebellion and war therein and that mighty kings and fierce were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tribute in Coelesyria and Phoenicia. Now therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from building the city, and heed to be taken that there be nothing done contrary to 29 this order; and that those wicked doings proceed no further to the 30 annoyance of kings. Then king Artaxerxes his letters being read, Rathumus, and Samellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with them, removing in haste unto Jerusalem with horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the builders; and the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians. 28 3 Now king Darius made a great feast unto all his subjects, and unto all that were born in his house, and unto all the princes of 2 Media and of Persia, and to all the satraps and captains and governors that were under him, from India unto Ethiopia, in the hundred twenty and seven pro8 vinces. And when they had eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were gone home, then Darius the king went into his bedchamber, and slept, and awaked out of his sleep. 4 Then the three young men of the body-guard, that kept the king's 5 person, spake one to another: Let every one of us say one thing which shall be strongest: and he whose sentence shall seem wiser than the others, unto him shall Darius the king give great gifts, and great 6 honours in token of victory; as, to be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep upon gold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and a headtire of fine linen, and 7 a chain about his neck: and he shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall 8 be called Darius his cousin. And then they wrote every one his sentence, and set to their seals, and laid the writing under king Darius 9 his pillow, and said, When the king is risen, some shall give him the writing; 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 it is written. 10 The first wrote, Wine is the strong11 est. The second wrote, The king is 12 strongest. 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 the writing, and gave it 14 unto him, and so he read it: and sending forth he called all the princes of Persia and of Media, and the satraps, and the captains, and the governors, and the chief officers; 15 and sat him down in the royal seat of judgement; and the writing was 16 read before them. And he said, Call the young men, and they shall explain their own sentences. So 17 they were called, and came in. And they said unto them, Declare unto us your mind concerning the things ye have written. Then began the first, who had 18 spoken of the strength of wine, and said thus, O sirs, how exceeding strong is wine! it causeth all men 19 to err that drink it: 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 20 poor man and of the rich: 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 satrap; and it maketh to 22 speak all things by talents: and when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and brethren, and a little after 23 draw their swords: but when they awake from their wine, they remember not what they have done. 24 O sirs, is not wine the strongest, seeing that it enforceth to do thus? And when he had so spoken, he held his peace. 4 Then the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to 2 say, O sirs, do not men excel in strength, that bear rule over the sea and land, and all things in them? 8 But yet is the king stronger: and he is their lord, and hath dominion over them; and in whatsoever he commandeth them they obey him. 4 If he bid them make war the one against the other, they do it: and if he send them out against the enemies, they go, and overcome 5 mountains, walls, and towers. 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 11 6 all things else. 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 7 to pay tribute unto the king. And he is 1 but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to and alone 8 spare, they spare; if he command to smite, they smite; if he command to make desolate, they make desolate; if he command to build, they 9 build; if he command to cut down, they cut down; if he command to 10 plant, they plant. So all his people and his armies obey him: furthermore he lieth down, he eateth and drinketh, and taketh his rest: and these keep watch round about him, neither may any one depart, and do his own business, neither disobey they him in any 12 thing. O sirs, how should not the king be strongest, seeing that in such sort he is obeyed? And he held his peace. 13 14 Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of truth, (this was Zorobabel) began to speak. O sirs, is not the king great, and men are many, and wine is strong? who is it then that ruleth them, or hath the lordship over them? are they not 15 women? Women have borne the king and all the people that bear 16 rule by sea and land. Even of them came they: and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards, from whence the wine 17 cometh. These also make garments for men; these bring glory unto men; and without women cannot 18 men be. Yea, and if men have gathered together gold and silver and every other goodly thing, 2 and see a woman which is comely in 19 favour and beauty, they let all those things go, and gape after her, and even with open mouth fix their eyes fast on her; and have all more desire unto her than unto gold or silver, or any goodly thing whatso20 ever. A man leaveth his own father that brought him up, and his own country, and cleaveth unto his wife. 21 And with his wife he endeth his days, and remembereth neither father, nor mother, nor country. 22 By this also ye must know that women have dominion over you: do ye not labour and toil, and give 23 and bring all to women? Yea, a man taketh his sword, and goeth forth to make outroads, and to rob and to steal, and to sail upon the 24 sea and upon rivers; and looketh upon a lion, and walketh in the darkness; and when he hath stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it 25 to his love. Wherefore a man loveth his wife better than father or mo26 ther. Yea, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become bondmen for their sakes. 27 Many also have perished, have stum 1 Or, one 2 Another reading d love &c. they not 1 Another reading is, him. 28 bled, and sinned, for women. And now do ye not believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not 29 all regions fear to touch him? Yet did I see him and Apame the king's concubine, the daughter of the illustrious Bartacus, sitting at the right 30 hand of the king, and taking the crown from the king's head, and setting it upon her own head; yea, she struck the king with her left 31 hand and therewithal the king gaped and gazed upon her with open mouth: if she laughed upon him, he laughed also: but if she took any displeasure at him, he was fain to flatter, that she might 32 be reconciled to him again. O sirs, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus? 33 Then the king and the nobles looked one upon another: so he began 34 to speak concerning truth. O sirs, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the heaven, swift is the sun in his course, for he compasseth the heavens round about, and fetcheth his course again to his 35 own place in one day. Is he not great that maketh these things? therefore great is truth, and strong36 er than all things. All the earth calleth upon truth, and the heaven blesseth her: all works shake and tremble, but with 1 her is no 37 unrighteous thing. Wine is unrighteous, the king is unrighteous, women are unrighteous, all the children of men are unrighteous, and unrighteous are all such their works; and there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also 38 they shall perish. But truth abideth, and is strong for ever; she liveth and conquereth for ever39 more. With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she doeth the things that are just, and refraineth from all unrighteous and wicked things; and all men do well 40 like of her works. Neither in her judgement is any unrighteousness; and she is the strength, and the kingdom, and the power, and the majesty, of all ages. Blessed be 41 the God of truth. And with that he held his tongue. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great is truth, and strong above all things. 42 Then said the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt more than is appointed in writing, and we will give it thee, inasmuch as thou art found wisest; and thou shalt sit next me, and shalt be called my cousin. 43 Then said he unto the king, Remember thy vow, which thou didst vow to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy kingdom, 44 and to send away all the vessels that were taken out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and vowed to send them again thither. 45 Thou didst also vow to build up the temple, which the Edomites burned when Judæa was made deso46 late by the Chaldeans. And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of thee, and this is the princely liberality that shall proceed from thee: I pray therefore that thou make good the vow, the performance whereof thou hast vowed to the King of heaven with thine own mouth. 47 49 50 Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him unto all the treasurers and governors and captains and satraps, that they should safely bring on their way both him, and all those that should go up with him to 48 build Jerusalem. He wrote letters also unto all the governors that were in Colesyria and Phoenicia, and unto them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from Libanus unto Jerusalem, and that they should build the city with him. Moreover he wrote for all the Jews that should go out of his realm up into Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no governor, no satrap, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their doors; and that all the country which they occupied should be free to them without tribute; and that the Edomites should give over the villages of the Jews which 51 then they held: and that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the building of the temple, until the time that it were built; and other ten talents yearly, for burnt offerings to be presented upon the altar every day, as they had a commandment to offer seventeen: 53 and that all they that should come from Babylonia to build the city should have their freedom, as well they as their posterity, and all the 54 priests that came. He wrote also to give them their charges, and the priests' vestments wherein they mi55 nister; and for the Levites he wrote that their charges should be given them until the day that the house were finished, and Jerusalem builded up. And he commanded to give to all that kept the city lands and 57 wages. He sent away also all the vessels from Babylon, that Cyrus had set apart; and all that Cyrus had given in commandment, the same charged he also to be done, and sent unto Jerusalem. 52 56 |