said the king unto his servants, Carry me away out of the battle; for I am very weak. And immediately his servants carried him away out of the host. 31 Then gat he up upon his second chariot; and being brought back to Jerusalem he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his fathers. 32 And in all Jewry they mourned for Josias; Lam. 4. 20. 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. w For ver. 1-4. 34 And the people took 1Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king instead of Josias his father, when he was &2 Chr. 36. twenty and three years old. 35 And he reigned in 2Judah 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 one talent of gold. 37 The king of Egypt also made king Joakim his brother king of Judæa and Jerusalem. 38 And Joakim bound the nobles: but Zarakes his brother he apprehended, and brought him up out of Egypt. * For ver. 23. 36-24.6 5-8. 39 Five and twenty years old was Joakim when he began to reign in Judæa and Jerusalem; and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. 40 And against him Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came up, and bound him with a chain of brass, and carried him unto Babylon. 41 Nabuchodonosor also took of the holy vessels of the Lord, and carried them away, and set them up vin his own temple at Babylon. 42 But Cp. ver. 54. 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 he was a eighteen years old; 44 and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem; and did that which was evil before the Lord. Dan. 1. 2. 2 For ver. 43-58, see 2 Chr. 36.9-21. Cp. 2 Kin. 24. 8-25. 21. a 2 Kin. 24. 8. that were spoken by Jeremy the prophet ch. 6. 16. 12 Kin. 25. 10. Jer. 25. 11 & 29. 10. h Cp. Lev. 26. 34, 35. In the first year of Cyrus king For ver. 2 of the Persians, that the word of the 45 So after a year Nabuchodonosor 2 Chr. 36. 9 sent and caused him to be brought unto (for mg.). Babylon with the holy vessels of the Lord; 46 and made Sedekias king of Judæa and Jerusalem, when he was one and twenty years old; and he reigned eleven years: 47band he also did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and cared not for the words Lord by the mouth of Jeremy might b Jer. 52. 1, 2. © Jer. 37. 2. 1-15, ch. 1. Dan. 1. 2. Cp. ch. 4. 44. in his own place help each one with gold, and with silver, 7 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. 8 Then the chief of the families of Judah and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up; the priests also, and the Levites, and all they whose spirit the Lord had stirred to go up, to build the house for the Lord which is in Jerusalem. 9 And they that dwelt round about them helped them in all things with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many gifts that were vowed of a great number whose minds were stirred up thereto. 10 King Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels ch. 1. 41,54. of the Lord, which Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem, and had set up in his temple of idols. II Now when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them forth, he delivered them to Mithradates his treasurer, 12 and by him they were delivered to 1k Sanabassar the governor of Judæa. 13 And this was the number of them: A thousand golden cups, a thousand cups of silver, censers of silver twenty nine, vials of gold thirty, and of silver m two thousand four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand. 14 So all the vessels of gold and of silver were brought up, even five thousand four hundred threescore and nine, 15 and were carried back by Sanabassar, together with them of the captivity, from Babylon to Jerusalem. * Cp. ch, 6. 18, 20 & Ezra 1. 8. Cp. Ezra 1. 9. m Cp. Ezra 1. 10. " Cp. Ezra 1. 11. • For ver. 16-30, 7-24. P Ezra 4. 9 (for mg.). 160 But in the time of Artaxerxes king see Ezra 4. of the Persians Belemus, and Mithradates, and Tabellius, and 2p Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and 8p Samellius the scribe, with the others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote unto him against them that dwelt in Judæa and ch, 4. 48 & 6. 29 & 7.1 & 8. 67. 2 Macc. 3. 5, al. Jerusalem the letter following: 17 To king Artaxerxes our lord, Thy servants, Rathumus the 4 storywriter, and Samellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges that are in 2 ver. 24, 27. Colesyria and Phoenicia. 18 Be it now known to our lord the king, that the Jews that are come up from you to us, being come unto Jerusalem, do build that rebellious and wicked city, and do repair the marketplaces and the walls of it, and do lay the foundation of a temple. 19 Now if this city be builded and the walls thereof be finished, they will not only refuse to give tribute, but will even stand up against kings. 20 And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it meet not to neglect such a matter, 21 but to speak unto our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be thy 1 Another reading is, Samanassar. pleasure, search may be made in the books of thy fathers: 22 and thou shalt find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and shalt understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities: 23 and that the Jews were rebellious, and raised always wars therein of old time; for the which cause even this city was laid waste. 24 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 into Colesyria and Phoenicia. 25 Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter, and Beeltethmus, and P Samellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and dwelt in Samaria and Syria and Phoenicia, after this manner: 26 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; 27 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 a Coelesyria and Phoenicia. 28 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 this order; 29 and that those wicked doings proceed no further to the annoyance of kings. 30 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. 3 I Now king Darius made a great feast unto all his subjects, and unto rch. 5. 6. & ver. 14. * See Esth. 1. 1. all that were born in his house, sand unto all the princes of 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 provinces. 3" And when they had eaten and drunken, "Cp.Judith 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 person, spake one to another: 5 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 Dartus the king give great gifts, and great honours in token of victory: 6 as, to be clothed in purple, wto drink 2 Rehum. 12. 1. "Dan. 5. 29. 1 Macc. 10. 20. w Esth. 1. 7. 1 Mace. 11. 58. Esth. 1. 6. Gen. 41. 42. Dan. 5. 7. 2 ch. 4. 42. Cp. 1 Macc. 10. 89. ver. 2. b Cp. Prov. 20. 1 & Hos. 4. 11. See Prov. 23. 29-33. 15 Cp. Ps. 104. & Prov. 31. in gold, and to sleep upon gold, and a 13 Now when the king was risen up, 8. 12, 14. 5. 19. and if he send them out against the 2. 13, 19. 13 Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of truth, (this was iZoro-ch. 5. 5. Cp. Ezra 3. babel) began to speak. 14 O sirs, is not the king great, and men are many, and Then began the first, who had spoken wine is strong? who is it then that of the strength of wine, 18 and said thus, ruleth them, or hath the lordship over O sirs, how exceeding strong is wine! them? are they not women? 15 Women bit causeth all men to err that drink it: have borne the king and all the people & Isai. 28.7 19 it maketh the mind of the king and that bear rule by sea and land. 16 Even of the fatherless child to be all one; of of them came they: and they nourished the bondman and of the freeman, of the them up that planted the vineyards, from poor man and of the rich: 20cit turneth whence the wine cometh. 173 These also Prov. 31. also every thought into jollity and mirth, make garments for men; these bring so that a man remembereth neither sor-glory unto men; and without women row nor debt: 21 and it maketh every heart rich, so that a man remembereth neither king nor satrap; and it maketh to speak all things by talents: 22d and when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and brethren, and a little after draw their swords: 23 but when they awake from their wine, e 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. 6,7 & Eccles. 10. 19. d Cp. Ecclus. 31. 29. e Cp. Prov. 23. 35. 26 & 9. 2. Then the second, that had spoken 4 of the strength of the king, began to say, 20 sirs, do not men excel in Cp. Gen. 1. strength, that bear rule over the sea and land, and all things in them? 3 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. 4If he bid them make war the one against the other, they do it: 1 Or, one and alone Cp. ver. 31. Cp. Ecclus. 36. 22. " See Gen. 2. 24. cannot men be. 18 Yea, and if men ? See Gen. 2. 24. Cp. Gen. 29. 20. * Cp. Prov. 2. 18 & 5.5 & 7. 26, 27 & Ecclus. 9. 8. darkness; and when he hath stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love. 25P Wherefore a man loveth his wife better than father or mother. 26 Yea, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and a become bondmen for their sakes. 27" Many also have perished, have stumbled, and sinned, for women. 28 And now do ye not believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regions fear to touch him? 29 Yet did I see him and Apame the king's concubine, the daughter of the illustrious Bartacus, sitting at the right hand of the king, 30 and taking the crown from the king's head, and setting it upon her own head; yea, she struck the king with her left Cp. ver. 19. hand: 31 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 be reconciled to him again. 320 sirs, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus? Cp. Neh. 2. 6 & Ps. 45. 9. 5, 6, "Cp. Wis & Rom. 1. 20. 10 Cp. John 14. 6. 1 33 Then the king and the nobles looked one upon another: so he began to speak concerning truth. 340 sirs, are not women strong? great is the earth, high "Cp. Ps. 19. is the heaven, "swift is the sun in his course, for he compasseth the heavens round about, and fetcheth his course again to his own place in one day. 35 Is he not great that maketh these dom 18. 4,5 things? therefore great is wtruth, and stronger than all things. 36 All the earth calleth upon truth, and the heaven blesseth her: all works shake and tremble, but with 1her is no unrighteous thing. 37 Wine is unrighteous, the king is unrighteous, women are unrighteous, Cp. Ps. 14. 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 they shall perish. 38 But truth abideth, and is strong for ever; she liveth and conquereth for evermore. 39 With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she doeth the things that are just, and See Deut. refraineth from all unrighteous and wicked things; and all men do well like of her works. 40 Neither in her judgement is any unrighteousness; and she Cp. 1 Chr. is a the strength, and the kingdom, and the power, and the majesty, of all ages. Blessed be the God of truth. 41 And with that he held his tongue. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great is truth, and strong above all things. & 53. 1 & 2 Esd. 8. 35 & Rom. 3. 10. See 2 Esd. 3. 20-22. Cp. John 8. 44 & 1 John 2. 4. 10. 17. 29. 11. Ps. 31. 5. Cp. Deut. 32.4 & Jer. 10. 10. ch. 1. 41 & 2. 10 & 6. 18, 19. Cp. ver. 50 & Ezek. 25. 12 thou didst vow to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy king. dom, 44 and to send away all the vessels that were taken out of Jerusalem, which ver. 57. 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 Ps. 137. 7. Edomites burned when Judæa was made desolate by the Chaldeans. 46 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 Cp. ver. 42. that thou make good the vow, the performance whereof thou hast vowed to the King of heaven with thine own mouth. & 35. 5 & Amos 1. 11. See Obad. 10-15. h ver. 58. Dan. 4. 37. Tobit 13. 7, 11. 17. j Judith 1. 7. ch. 5. 55. Ezra 3. 7. See Judg. 9. 15. Cp. ver. 45 & Ezek. 36. 5 & Obad. 13. 47 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 build Jerusalem. 48 He wrote letters also unto all the governors that were in Colesyria and Phoenicia, i See ch. 2. and unto them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from j Libanus unto Jerusalem, and that they should build the city with him. 49 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; 50 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 then they held: 51 and that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the building of the temple, until the time that it were built; 52 and other ten talents yearly, for burnt offerings to be presented upon the altar mevery 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 priests that came. 54 He wrote also to give them their charges, and the priests' vestments wherein they minister; 55 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. 56 And he commanded to give to all that kept the city lands and wages. 57 He sent away also all the vessels from Babylon, that Cyrus had set "See ver. 44. apart; and all that Cyrus had given in commandment, the same charged he also to be done, and sent unto Jerusalem. 58 Now when this young man was Cp. ch. 3. 4. gone forth, he lifted up his face to 1 Another reading is, him. y For ver. 58-62, laid the foundation of the temple of God on the new moon of the second month, in the second year after they were come to Jewry and Jerusalem. 58y And they appointed the Levites from 58-ra a twenty years old over the works of the 8-11. * See ver. 5. a ver. 2. ch. 4. 63. b For ver. 63-65, see Ezra 3. 12, 13. For ver. 66-73, see Ezra 4. 1-5. d Cp. Ezra 4. 2. Lord. Then stood up Jesus, and his sons and brethren, and Kadmiel his brother, and the sons of Jesus, Emadabun, and the sons of Joda the son of Iliadun, and their sons and brethren, all the Levites, with one accord setters forward of the business, labouring to advance the works in the house of God. So the builders builded the temple of the Lord. 59 And the priests stood arrayed in their vestments with musical instruments and trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with their cymbals, 60 singing songs of thanksgiving, and praising the Lord, after the order of David king of Israel. 61 And they sang aloud, praising the Lord in songs of thanksgiving, because his goodness and his glory are for ever in all Israel. 62 And all the people sounded trumpets, and shouted with a loud voice, singing songs of thanksgiving unto the Lord for the rearing up of the house of the Lord. 63 Also of the priests the Levites, and of the heads of their families, the ancients who had seen the former house came to the building of this with lamentation and great weeping. 64 But many with trumpets and joy shouted with loud voice, 65 insomuch that the people heard not the trumpets for the weeping of the people: for the multitude sounded marvellously, so that it was heard afar off. 66 c Wherefore when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin heard it, they came to know what that noise of trumpets should mean. 67 And they perceived that they that were of the captivity did build the temple unto the Lord, the God of Israel. 68 So they went to Zorobabel and Jesus, and to the chief men of the families, and said unto them, We will build together with you. 69 For we likewise, as ye, do obey your Lord, and do sacrifice unto him from the days of 1d Asbasareth the king of the Assyrians, who brought us hither. 70 Then Zorobabel and Jesus and the chief men of the families of Israel said unto them, It is not for you to build the house unto the Lord our God. 71 We ourselves alone will build unto the Lord of Israel, according as Cyrus the king of the Persians hath commanded us. 72 But the heathen of the land lying heavy upon the inhabitants of Judæa, and holding them strait, hindered their building; 73 and 4by their secret plots, and popular persuasions and commotions, they hindered the finishing of the building all the time that king Cyrus lived: so they were hindered from building for the space of two years, until the reign of Darius. Now ein the second year Ezra 4. 24. 1-22, see Ezra ch. 5. reign of Darius,conds end of the Fara 4 rias the son of 5 Addo, the prophets, prophesied unto the Jews in Jewry and Jerusalem; in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, prophesied they unto them. 2 Then stood up Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedek, and began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with them, and helping them. 39 At the same time came unto Cp. Ezra them Sisinnes the governor of Syriac. ch. 2. and Phoenicia, with 7Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and said unto them, 4By whose appointment do ye build this house and this roof, and perform all the other things? and who are the builders that perform these things? 5 Nevertheless the elders of the Jews obtained favour, because the Lord had visited the captivity; 6 and they were not hindered from building, until such time as communication was made unto Darius concerning them, and his answer signified. 17. ¿Cp. Luke 1. 68. Rest of Esth. 16. 1. 1 Macc. 10. 25 & 11. 32. 2 Macc. 11. 34. Acts 15. 23 & 23. 26. Cp. Ezra 5. 7. 7 The copy of the letter which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, the rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, wrote and sent unto Darius; 8 To king Darius, greeting: Let all things be knownch. 8. 9. unto our lord the king, that being come into the country of Judæa, and entered into the city of Jerusalem, we found in the city of Jerusalem the elders of the Jews that were of the captivity 9 building a house unto the Lord, great and new, of hewn and costly stones, with timber laid in the walls. 10 And those works are done with great speed, and the work goeth on prosperously in their hands, and with all glory and diligence is it accomplished. Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build ye this house, and lay the foundations of these works? 12 Therefore, to the intent that we might give knowledge unto thee by writing who were the chief doers, we questioned them, and we required of them the names in writing of their principal men. 13 So they gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord which made heaven and earth. 14 And as for this house, it was builded many years ago by a king of Israel great and strong, and was finished. 15 But when our fathers sinned against the Lord of Israel which is in heaven, and provoked him unto wrath, he gave Cp. Heb. them over into the hands of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, king of the 3 Or, besieging them 5 Iddo. Another 1 Another reading is, Asbacaphath. 2 Another reading is, for us and you. 4 Another reading is, leading the people astray in counsel, and raising commotions, reading is, Eddin. 6 Tattenai. 7 Shethar-bozenai. 3. 16. |