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EZRA
CHAPTER
1
1
Now in the first yeere of Cyrus King of Persia, (that the word of the Lord by
the mouth of Ieremiah, might be fulfilled) ye Lord stirred vp the spirit of
Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdome,
and put it also in writing, saying;
2 Thus sayth Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heauen hath giuen mee all the
kingdomes of the earth, and he hath charged me to build him an house at
Ierusalem, which is in Iudah.
3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him goe
vp to Ierusalem, which is in Iudah, and build the house of the Lord God of
Israel (He is the God) which is in Ierusalem.
4 And whosoeuer remaineth in any place where hee soiourneth, let the men of his
place helpe him with siluer, and with golde, and with goods, and with beasts,
besides the free-will offering for the house of God that is in Ierusalem.
5 Then rose vp the chiefe of the fathers of Iudah and Beniamin, and the Priests,
and the Leuites, with all them whose spirit God had raised to goe vp, to build
the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem.
6 And all they that were about them, strengthened their hands with vessels of
siluer, with golde, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things;
besides all that was willingly offered.
7 Also Cyrus the king brought foorth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which
Nebuchadnezzar had brought foorth out of Ierusalem, and had put them in the
house of his gods:
8 Euen those did Cyrus king of Persia bring foorth, by the hand of Mithredath
the treasurer, and numbred them vnto Sheshbazzar the Prince of Iudah.
9 And this is the number of them: thirtie chargers of golde, a thousand chargers
of siluer, nine and twentie kniues:
10 Thirtie basins of golde: siluer basins of a second sort, foure hundred and
ten: and other vessels a thousand.
11 All the vessels of golde and of siluer, were fiue thousand and foure hundred.
All these did Sheshbazzar bring vp with them of the captiuitie, that were
brought vp from Babylon vnto Ierusalem.
CHAPTER
2
1 Now these are the children of the prouince, that went vp out of the captiuitie,
of those which had beene caried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon
had caried away vnto Babylon, and came againe vnto Ierusalem and Iudah, euery
one vnto his citie;
2 Which came with Zerubbabel, Ieshua, Nehemiah, Saraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai,
Bilshan, Mispar, Biguai, Rehum, Baanah: The number of the men of the people of
Israel.
3 The children of Parosh, two thousand, an hundred seuentie and two.
4 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seuentie and two.
5 The children of Arah, seuen hundred, seuentie and fiue.
6 The children of Pahath-Moab, of the children of Ieshua and Ioab, two thousand,
eight hundred and twelue.
7 The children of Elam, a thousand, two hundred fiftie and foure.
8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred fourtie and fiue.
9 The children of Zaccai, seuen hundred and threescore.
10 The children of Bani, sixe hundred, fourtie and two.
11 The children of Bebai, sixe hundred, twentie and three.
12 The children of Azgad, a thousand, two hundred, twentie and two.
13 The children of Adonikam, sixe hundred, sixtie and sixe.
14 The children of Biguai, two thousand fiftie and sixe.
15 The children of Adin, foure hundred, fiftie and foure.
16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninetie and eight.
17 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.
18 The children of Iorah, an hundred and twelue.
19 The children of Hashum, two hundred twentie and three.
20 The children of Gibbar, ninetie and fiue.
21 The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twentie and three.
22 The children of Netophah, fiftie and sixe.
23 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twentie and eight.
24 The children of Azmaueth, fortie and two.
25 The children of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seuen hundred, and
fourtie and three.
26 The children of Ramah and Gaba, sixe hundred, twentie and one.
27 The men of Michmas, an hundred, twentie and two.
28 The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred, twentie and three.
29 The children of Nebo, fiftie and two.
30 The children of Magbish, an hundred fiftie and sixe.
31 The children of the other Elam, a thousand, two hundred, fiftie and foure.
32 The children of Harim, three hundred and twentie.
33 The children of Lod Hadid, and Ono, seuen hundred, twentie and fiue.
34 The children of Iericho, three hundred fourtie and fiue.
35 The children of Senaah, three thousand and sixe hundred and thirtie.
36 The Priests. The children of Iedaiah, of the house of Ieshua, nine hundred,
seuentie and three.
37 The children of Immer, a thousand, fiftie and two.
38 The children of Pashur, a thousand, two hundred, fourtie and seuen.
39 The children of Harim, a thousand and seuenteene.
40 The Leuites. The children of Ieshua, and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodauia,
seuentie and foure.
41 The singers. The children of Asaph, an hundred twentie and eight.
42 The children of the porters. The children of Shallum, the children of Ater,
the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the
children of Shobai, in all, an hundred thirtie and nine.
43 The Nethinims. The children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of
Tabbaoth,
44 The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
45 The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
46 The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan.
47 The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
48 The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
49 The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
50 The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephushim,
51 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
52 The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
53 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,
54 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
55 The children of Solomons seruants. The children of Sotai, the children of
Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
56 The children of Iaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
57 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth
of Zebaim, the children of Ami.
58 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomons seruants, were three hundred
ninetie and two.
59 And these were they which went vp from Tel-melah, Tel-Harfa, Cherub, Addan,
and Immer: but they could not shewe their fathers house, and their seed, whether
they were of Israel.
60 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda: sixe
hundred fiftie and two.
61 And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of
Koz, the children of Barzillai, (which tooke a wife of the daughters of
Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.)
62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogie, but
they were not found: therefore were they as polluted, put from the priesthood.
63 And the Tirshatha said vnto them, that they should not eate of the most holy
things, till there stood vp a priest with Urim & with Thummim.
64 The whole Congregation together, was fourtie and two thousand, three hundred
and threescore:
65 Beside their seruants and their maids, of whom there were seuen thousand,
three hundred thirtie and seuen: and there were among them two hundred singing
men, and singing women.
66 Their horses were seuen hundred, thirtie and sixe: their mules, two hundred
fourtie and fiue:
67 Their camels, foure hundred, thirty and fiue: their asses, sixe thousand,
seuen hundred and twentie.
68 And some of the chiefe of the fathers, when they came to the house of the
Lord which is at Ierusalem, offered freely for the house of God, to set it vp in
his place:
69 They gaue after their abilitie, vnto the treasure of the worke, threescore
and one thousand drammes of golde, and fiue thousand pound of siluer, and one
hundred priests garments.
70 So the priests and the Leuites, and some of the people, and the singers, and
the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their
cities.
CHAPTER
3
1 And when the seuenth moneth was come, and the children of Israel were in the
cities: the people gathered themselues together, as one man to Ierusalem.
2 Then stood vp Ieshua the sonne of Iozadak, & his brethren the priests, and
Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the Altar of
the God of Israel, to offer burnt offrings thereon, as it is written in the law
of Moses the man of God.
3 And they set the altar vpon his bases, (for feare was vpon them, because of
the people of those countreys) and they offered burnt offerings thereon vnto the
Lord, euen burnt offerings, morning and euening.
4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offred the
dayly burnt offrings, by number, according to the custome, as the duetie of
euery day required:
5 And afterward offered the continuall burnt offering, both of the new moones,
and of all the set feasts of the Lord, that were consecrated, and of euery one
that willingly offred, offered a free will offering vnto the Lord.
6 From the first day of the seuenth moneth, began they to offer burnt offerings
vnto the Lord: but the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.
7 They gaue money also vnto the masons, and to the carpenters, and meate, and
drinke, and oyle, vnto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring Cedar trees
from Lebanon to the sea of Ioppa: according to the grant that they had of Cyrus
king of Persia.
8 Now in the second yere of their coming vnto the house of God at Ierusalem, in
the second moneth, began Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel, and Ieshua the sonne
of Iozadak, and the remnant of their brethren, the Priests and the Leuites, and
all they that were come out of the captiuitie vnto Ierusalem: and appointed the
Leuites, from twentie yeeres olde and vpward, to set forward the worke of the
house of the Lord.
9 Then stood Ieshua, with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sonnes, the
sonnes of Iudah together, to set forward the workemen in the house of God: the
sonnes of Henadad, with their sonnes and their brethren the Leuites.
10 And when the builders laide the foundation of the Temple of the Lord, they
set the Priests in their apparell with Trumpets, and the Leuites the sonnes of
Asaph, with Cymbales, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of Dauid king of
Israel.
11 And they sung together by course, in praising, and giuing thanks vnto the
Lord; Because hee is good, for his mercy endureth for euer towards Israel. And
all the people shouted with a great shoute, when they praised the Lord; because
the foundation of the house of the Lord was laide.
12 But many of the Priests and Leuites, and chiefe of the fathers, who were
ancient men, that had seene the first house; when the foundation of this house
was laide before their eyes, wept with a loude voice, and many shouted aloude
for ioy:
13 So that the people could not discerne the noyse of the shout of ioy, from the
noyse of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loude shout,
and the noyse was heard afarre off.
CHAPTER
4
1 Now when the aduersaries of Iudah and Beniamin, heard that the children of the
captiuitie builded the Temple vnto the Lord God of Israel:
2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chiefe of the fathers, and said vnto
them, Let vs build with you, for wee seeke your God, as yee doe, and we doe
sacrifice vnto him, since the dayes of Esar-Haddon king of Assur, which brought
vs vp hither.
3 But Zerubbabel and Ieshua, and the rest of the chiefe of the fathers of
Israel, said vnto them, You haue nothing to doe with vs, to build an house vnto
our God, but we our selues together will build vnto the Lord God of Israel, as
king Cyrus the King of Persia hath commanded vs.
4 Then the people of the land weakened the handes of the people of Iudah, and
troubled them in building,
5 And hired counsellers against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the dayes
of Cyrus king of Persia, euen vntill the reigne of Darius king of Persia.
6 And in the reigne of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reigne, wrote they
vnto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Iudah and Ierusalem.
7 And in the dayes of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest
of their companions, vnto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the
letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
8 Rehum the Chancellour, and Shimshai the Scribe, wrote a letter against
Ierusalem, to Artaxerxes the king, in this sort:
9 Then, wrote Rehum the Chancellour, and Shimshai the Scribe, and the rest of
their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathkites, the Tarpelites, the
Apharsites, the Archeuites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehauites, and
the Elamites,
10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought ouer,
and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the Riuer,
and at such a time.
11 This is the copy of the Letter, that they sent vnto him, euen vnto Artaxerxes
the king: Thy seruants on this side the Riuer, and at such a time,
12 Be it knowen vnto the king, that the Iewes which came vp from thee to vs, are
come vnto Ierusalem, building the rebellious and the bad citie, and haue set vp
the walles thereof, and ioyned the foundations.
13 Be it knowen now vnto the king, that if this city be builded, and the wals
set vp againe, then will they not pay tolle, tribute, and custome, and so thou
shalt endammage the reuenue of the kings.
14 Now because we haue maintenance from the Kings palace, and it was not meete
for vs to see the kings dishonour: therefore haue we sent, and certified the
king,
15 That search may be made in the booke of the Records of thy fathers: so shalt
thou finde in the booke of the Records, and know, that this City is a rebellious
city, and hurtfull vnto Kings and prouinces, and that they haue moued sedition
within the same of olde time: for which cause was this citie destroyed.
16 We certifie the king, that if this citie be builded againe, & the walles
thereof set vp: by this meanes, thou shalt haue no portion on this side the
Riuer.
17 Then sent the king an answere vnto Rehum the Chancellour, and to Shimshai the
scribe, and to the rest of their companions, that dwell in Samaria, and vnto the
rest beyond the Riuer, Peace, and at such a time.
18 The letter, which ye sent vnto vs, hath bene plainly read before me.
19 And I commaunded, and search hath bene made, and it is found, that this citie
of old time hath made insurrection against Kings, and that rebellion &
sedition haue bene made therein.
20 There haue bene mighty Kings also ouer Ierusalem, which haue ruled ouer all
countreys beyond the Riuer, and tolle, tribute, and custome, was payd vnto them.
21 Giue ye now commandement, to cause these men to cease, and that this citie be
not builded, vntill another commandement shall be giuen from me.
22 Take heed now that ye faile not to doe this: why should damage grow to the
hurt of the kings?
23 Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes letter was read before Rehum and
Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went vp in haste to Ierusalem,
vnto the Iewes, and made them to cease, by force and power.
24 Then ceased the woorke of the house of the God, which is at Ierusalem. So it
ceased, vnto the second yeere of the reigne of Darius king of Persia.
CHAPTER
5
1 Then the Prophets, Haggai the Prophet, and Zechariah the sonne of Iddo,
prophesied vnto the Iewes that were in Iudah and Ierusalem, in the Name of the
God of Israel, euen vnto them.
2 Then rose vp Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel, and Ieshua the sonne of
Iozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Ierusalem: and with
them were the Prophets of God helping them.
3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, gouernour on this side the Riuer, and
Shethar-Boznai, and their companions, and said thus vnto them; Who hath
commaunded you to build this house, and to make vp this wall?
4 Then said wee vnto them after this maner, What are the names of the men that
make this building?
5 But the eye of their God was vpon the Elders of the Iewes, that they could not
cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned
answere by letter concerning this matter.
6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, gouernour on this side the Riuer, and
Shethar-Boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side
the Riuer, sent vnto Darius the King:
7 They sent a letter vnto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king,
all peace.
8 Be it knowen vnto the king, that we went into the prouince of Iudea, to the
house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, & timber is
laied in the wals, and this worke goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
9 Then asked we those Elders, and said vnto them thus, Who commanded you to
build this house, and to make vp these walles?
10 We asked their names also, to certifie thee, that we might write the names of
the men that were the chiefe of them.
11 And thus they returned vs answere, saying, We are the seruants of the God of
heauen and earth, and build the house that was builded these many yeeres agoe,
which a great King of Israel builded, and set vp.
12 But after that our fathers had prouoked the God of heauen vnto wrath: he gaue
them into the hande of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Caldean, who
destroyed this house, and caried the people away into Babylon.
13 But in the first yere of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made
a decree to build this house of God.
14 And the vessels also of golde and siluer of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar tooke out of the Temple that was in Ierusalem, and brought them
into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of
Babylon, and they were deliuered vnto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whome he
had made gouernour:
15 And said vnto him, Take these vessels, goe, carie them into the temple that
is in Ierusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God,
which is in Ierusalem. And since that time, euen vntill now, hath it bin in
building, & yet it is not finished.
17 Now therefore, if it seeme good to the king, let there be search made in the
kings treasure house which is there at Babylon, whether it be so that a decree
was made of Cyrus the king, to build this house of God at Ierusalem: and let the
king send his pleasure to vs concerning this matter.
CHAPTER
6
1 Then Darius the King made a decree, and search was made in the house of the
rolles, where the treasures were laide vp in Babylon.
2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the prouince of the
Medes, a rolle, and therein was a record thus written:
3 In the first yeere of Cyrus the king, the same Cyrus the king made a decree
concerning the house of God at Ierusalem: Let the house be builded, the place
where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof of be strongly
laid, the height therof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore
cubites:
4 With three rowes of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the
expences bee giuen out of the kings house.
5 And also let the golden, and siluer vessels of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar tooke foorth out of the temple which is at Ierusalem, and brought
vnto Babylon, be restored, and brought againe vnto the temple which is at
Ierusalem, euery one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
6 Now therefore Tatnai, gouernour beyond the riuer, Shethar-Boznai, and your
companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the riuer, be ye farre from
thence:
7 Let the worke of this house of God alone, let the gouernour of the Iewes, and
the elders of the Iewes, build this house of God in his place.
8 Moreouer I make a decree, what ye shall doe to the Elders of these Iewes, for
the building of this house of God: that of the kings goods, euen of the tribute
beyond the riuer, forthwith expences be giuen vnto these men, that they be not
hindered.
9 And that which they haue need of, both yong bullocks, and rammes, and lambes,
for the burnt offerings of the God of heauen, wheat, salt, wine, and oyle,
according to the appoyment of the priests which are at Ierusalem, let it be
giuen them, day by day without faile:
10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet sauours vnto the God of heauen, and
pray for the life of the king, and of his sonnes.
11 Also I haue made a decree, that whosoeuer shall alter this word, let timber
be pulled down from his house, and being set vp, let him bee hanged thereon, and
let his house bee made a doung hill for this.
12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there, destroy all kings and
people that shall put to their hand, to alter and to destroy this house of God
which is at Ierusalem. I Darius haue made a decree, let it be done with speed.
13 Then Tatnai gouernour on this side the riuer, Shethar-Boznai, & their
companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did
speedily.
14 And the elders of the Iewes builded, and they prospered, through the
prophecying of Haggai the Prophet, and Zechariah the sonne of Iddo, and they
builded, and finished it, according to the commandement of the God of Israel,
and according to the commandement of Cyrus and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of
Persia.
15 And this honse was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in
the sixt yere of the reigne of Darius the king.
16 And the children of Israel, the Priests and the Leuites, and the rest of the
children of the captiuitie, kept the dedicatio of this house of God, with ioy,
17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God, an hundred bullockes, two
hundred rammes, foure hundred lambes; and for a sinne offering for all Israel,
twelue hee goates, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18 And they set the Priests in their diuisions, and the Leuites in their
courses, for the seruice of God, which is at Ierusalem, as it is written in the
booke of Moses.
19 And the children of the captiuitie kept the Passeouer, vpon the fourteenth
day of the first moneth:
20 For the Priestes and the Leuites were purified together, all of them were
pure, and killed the Passeouer for all the children of the captiuitie, and for
their brethren the Priests, and for themselues.
21 And the children of Israel, which were come againe out of captiuitie, and all
such as had separated themselues vnto them, from the filthinesse of the heathen
of the land, to seeke the Lord God of Israel, did eate,
22 And kept the feast of vnleauened bread seuen dayes, with ioy: for the Lord
had made them ioyfull, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria vnto them, to
strengthen their handes in the worke of the house of God, the God of Israel.
CHAPTER
7
1 Now after these things, in the reigne of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the
son of Seraiah, the sonne of Azariah, the sonne of Hilkiah,
2 The sonne of Shallum, the sonne of Zadok, the sonne of Ahitub,
3 The sonne of Amariah, the sonne of Azariah, the sonne of Meraioth,
4 The sonne of Zeraiah, the sonne of Uzzi, the sonne of Bukki,
5 The sonne of Abishua, the sonne of Phinehas, the sonne of Eleazar, the sonne
of Aaron the chiefe Priest:
6 This Ezra went vp from Babylon, and hee was a ready Scribe in the law of
Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had giuen: and the king granted him all his
request, according to the hand of the Lord his God vpon him.
7 And there went vp some of the children of Israel, and of the Priests, and the
Leuites, and the Singers, and the Porters, and the Nethinims, vnto Ierusalem, in
the seuenth yeere of Artaxerxes the king.
8 And he came to Ierusalem in the fifth moneth, which was in the seuenth yeere
of the king.
9 For vpon the first day of the first moneth, began he to go vp fro Babylon, and
on the first day of the fifth moneth, came he to Ierusalem, according to the
good hand of his God vpon him.
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seeke the Law of the Lord, and to doe it,
and to teach in Israel, Statutes and Iudgements.
11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gaue vnto Ezra
the Priest, the Scribe, euen a Scribe of the words of the commandements of the
Lord, and of his Statutes to Israel.
12 Artaxerxes king of kings, Unto Ezra the Priest, a Scribe of the Law of the
God of heauen, Perfect peace, and at such a time.
13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his Priests,
and Leuites in my Realme, which are minded of their owne free-will to goe vp to
Ierusalem, goe with thee.
14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seuen counsellers, to
enquire concerning Iudah and Ierusalem, according to the Lawe of thy God, which
is in thine hand;
15 And to cary the siluer and gold, which the king and his counsellers haue
freely offered vnto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Ierusalem.
16 And all the siluer and gold, that thou canst find in all the prouince of
Babylon, with the free-will offering of the people, and of the priests, offering
willingly for the house of their God, which is in Ierusalem:
17 That thou maiest buy speedily with this money, bullockes, rammes, lambes,
with their meate offerings, and their drinke offerings, and offer them vpon the
altar of the house of your God, which is in Ierusalem.
18 And whatsoeuer shall seeme good to thee, and to thy brethren, to doe with the
rest of the siluer and gold; that doe, after the will of your God.
19 The vessels also that are giuen thee, for the seruice of the house of thy
God, those deliuer thou before the God of Ierusalem.
20 And whatsoeuer more shall be needfull for the house of thy God, which thou
shalt haue occasion to bestowe; bestowe it out of the kings treasure house.
21 And I, euen I Artaxerxes the king, doe make a decree to all the treasurers
which are beyond the riuer, that whatsoeuer Ezra the priest, the scribe of the
law of the God of heauen, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
22 Unto an hundred talents of siluer, and to an hundred measures of wheate, and
to an hundred bathes of wine, and to an hundred bathes of oyle, and salt,
without prescribing how much.
23 Whatsoeuer is commanded by the God of heauen, let it be diligently done, for
the house of the God of heauen: for why should there be wrath against the realme
of the king and his sonnes?
24 Also we certifie you, that touching any of the priests, and Leuites, singers,
porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawfull
to impose tolle, tribute, or custome vpon them.
25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdome of thy God, that is in thine hand, set
magistrates and iudges, which may iudge all the people, that are beyond the
riuer, all such as know the lawes of thy God, and teach yee them that knowe them
not.
26 And whosoeuer will not doe the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let
iudgement be executed speedily vpon him, whether it be vnto death, or to
banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this,
in the kings heart, to beautifie the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem:
28 And hath extended mercy vnto me, before the king and his counsellers, and
before all the kings mighty princes, and I was strengthned as the hand of the
Lord my God was vpon me, and I gathered together out of Israel, chiefe men to
goe vp with me.
CHAPTER
8
1 These are now the chiefe of their fathers, and this is the genealogie of them
that went vp with mee from Babylon, in the reigne of Artaxerxes the king.
2 Of the sonnes of Phinehas, Gershom: of the sonnes of Ithamar, Daniel: of the
sonnes of Dauid, Hattush.
3 Of the sonnes of Shechaniah, of the sonnes of Pharosh, Zechariah, and with him
were reckoned, by genealogie of the males, an hundred and fiftie.
4 Of the sonnes of Pahath Moab, Elihoenai the sonne of Zerahiah: and with him,
two hundred males.
5 Of the sonnes of Shechaniah, the sonne of Iahaziel, and with him three hundred
males.
6 Of the sonnes also of Adin, Ebed the sonne of Ionathan, and with him fiftie
males.
7 And of the sonnes of Elam, Ieshaiah the sonne of Athaliah, and with him
seuentie males.
8 And of the sonnes of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the sonne of Michael, and with him
fourescore males.
9 Of the sonnes of Ioab, Obadiah the sonne of Iehiel: and with him two hundred
and eighteene males.
10 And of the sonnes of Shelomith, the sonne of Iosiphiah, and with him an
hundred and threescore males.
11 And of the sonnes of Bebai, Zechariah the sonne of Bebai, and with him twenty
and eight males.
12 And of the sonnes of Azgad, Iohanan the sonne of Hakkatan, and with him an
hundred and ten males.
13 And of the last sonnes of Adonikam, whose names are these: Eliphelet, Iehiel,
and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.
14 Of the sonnes also of Biguai, Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seuentie
males.
15 And I gathered them together to the riuer, that runneth to Ahaua, and there
abode wee in tents three dayes: and I viewed the people, and the Priests, and
found there none of the sonnes of Leui.
16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for
Iarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam,
chiefe men; also for Iarib, and for Elnathan, men of vnderstanding.
17 And I sent them with commandement vnto Iddo the chiefe at the place Casiphia,
and I told them what they should say vnto Iddo, and to his brethren the
Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring vnto vs ministers for
the house of our God.
18 And by the good hand of our God vpon vs, they brought vs a man of
vnderstanding, of the sonnes of Mahli the sonne of Leui, the sonne of Israel,
and Sherebiah, with his sonnes, and his brethren, eighteene.
19 And Hashabiah, and with him Ieshaiah of the sonnes of Merari, his brethren,
and their sonnes, twentie.
20 Also of the Nethinims, whom Dauid, and the Princes had appointed for the
seruice of the Leuites, two hundred and twentie Nethinims: all of them were
expressed by name.
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the riuer Ahaua, that we might afflict our
selues before our God, to seeke of him a right way for vs, and for our little
ones, and for all our substance.
22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of souldiers and horsmen, to
helpe vs against the enemie in the way: because wee had spoken vnto the king,
saying, The hand of our God is vpon all them for good, that seeke him, but his
power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
23 So we fasted, and besought our God for this, and hee was intreated of vs.
24 Then I separated twelue of the chiefe of the Priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah,
and ten of their brethren with them,
25 And weighed vnto them the siluer and the gold, and the vessels, euen the
offering of the house of our God, which the king and his counsellours, and his
lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
26 I euen weighed vnto their hand, sixe hundred and fifty talents of siluer, and
siluer vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents:
27 Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drammes, and two vessels of fine
copper, precious as gold.
28 And I said vnto them, Yee are holy vnto the Lord, the vessels are holy also,
and the siluer and the gold are a free-will offring vnto the Lord God of your
fathers.
29 Watch ye, and keepe them, vntill yee weigh them before the chiefe of the
Priests, and the Leuites, and chiefe of the fathers of Israel at Ierusalem, in
the chambers of the house of the Lord.
30 So tooke the Priests and the Leuites the weight of the siluer and the gold,
and the vessels, to bring them to Ierusalem, vnto the house of our God.
31 Then wee departed from the riuer of Ahaua, on the twelfth day of the first
moneth, to goe vnto Ierusalem; and the hand of our God was vpon vs, and hee
deliuered vs from the hand of the enemie, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
32 And we came to Ierusalem, and abode there three dayes.
33 Now on the fourth day was the siluer and the gold, and the vessels weighed in
the house of our God, by the hand of Meremoth the sonne of Uriah the Priest, and
with him was Eleazar the sonne of Phinehas, and with them was Iozabad the sonne
of Ieshua, and Noadiah the sonne of Binnui, Leuites:
34 By number, and by weight of uery one: and all the weight was written at that
time.
35 Also the children of those that had bene caried away which were come out of
the captiuitie, offered burnt offrings vnto the God of Israel, twelue bullocks
for all Israel, ninetie and sixe rammes, seuentie and seuen lambes, twelue hee
goates for a sinne offering: All this was a burnt offering vnto the Lord.
36 And they deliuered the Kings commissions vnto the kings lieuteuants, and to
the gouernours on this side the riuer, and they furthered the people, and the
house of God.
CHAPTER
9
1 Nowe when these things were done, the Princes came to me, saying, The people
of Israel, and the priests and the Leuites, haue not separated themselues from
the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, euen of the
Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Iebusites, the Ammonites, the
Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2 For they haue taken of their daughters for themselues, and for their sonnes:
so that the holy seed haue mingled themselues with the people of those lands,
yea the hand of the princes and rulers hath bin chiefe in this trespasse.
3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and pluckt off
the haire of my head, and of my beard, and sate downe astonied.
4 Then were assembled vnto me euery one that trembled at the words of the God of
Israel, because of the transgression of those that had bene caried away, and I
sate astonied, vntill the euening sacrifice.
5 And at the euening sacrifice, I arose vp from my heauinesse, and hauing rent
my garment and my mantle, I fell vpon my knees, and spread out my hands vnto the
Lord my God,
6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed, and blush to lift vp my face to thee, my
God: for our iniquities are increased ouer our head, and our trespasse is growen
vp vnto the heauens.
7 Since the dayes of our fathers, haue wee beene in a great trespasse vnto this
day, & for our iniquities haue we, our kings and our priests, bin deliuered
into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captiuitie, and to a
spoile, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
8 And now for a litle space grace hath bene shewed from the Lord our God, to
leaue vs a remnant to escape, and to giue vs a naile in his holy place, that our
God may lighten our eyes, and giue vs a litle reuiuing in our bondage:
9 For wee were bondmen, yet our God hath not forsaken vs in our bondage, but
hath extended mercie vnto vs in the sight of the kings of Persia, to giue vs a
reuiuing to set vp the house of our God, and to repaire the desolations thereof,
and to giue vs a wall in Iudah and in Ierusalem.
10 And now, O our God, what shal we say after this? for we haue forsaken thy
commandements,
11 Which thou hast commanded by thy seruants the prophets, saying, The land vnto
which ye go to possesse it, is an vncleane land, with the filthinesse of the
people of the lands, with their abominations, which haue filled it from one end
to another, with their vncleannesse.
12 Nowe therefore giue not your daughters vnto their sonnes, neither take their
daughters vnto your sonnes, nor seeke their peace or their wealth for euer: that
ye may bee strong, and eate the good of the land, and leaue it for an
inheritance to your children for euer.
13 And after all that is come vpon vs, for our euill deeds, and for our great
trespasse, seeing that thou, our God, hast punished vs lesse, then our
iniquities deserue, and hast giuen vs such deliuerance as this:
14 Should wee againe breake thy commandements, and ioyne in affinitie with the
people of these abominations? wouldest thou not be angry with vs, til thou
haddest consumed vs, so that there should be no remnant, nor escaping?
15 O Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous, for wee remaine yet escaped, as it
is this day: Behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for wee can not stand
before thee, because of this.
CHAPTER
10
1 Now when Ezra had praised, and when he had confessed, weeping, and casting
himselfe downe before the house of God, there assembled vnto him out of Israel,
a very great congregation of men, and women, and children: for the people wept
very sore.
2 And Shechaniah the sonne of Iehiel, one of the sonnes of Elam, answered and
said vnto Ezra, Wee haue trespassed against our God, and haue taken strange
wiues, of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning
this thing.
3 Now therefore let vs make a couenant with our God, to put away all the wiues,
& such as are borne of them, according to the counsell of my lord, and of
those that tremble at the commandement of our God, and lee it be done according
to the Law.
4 Arise, for this matter belongeth vnto thee, wee also will be with thee: be of
good courage, and doe it.
5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefe Priests, the Leuites, and all Israel to
sweare, that they should doe according to this word: and they sware.
6 Then Ezra rose vp from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of
Iohanan, the sonne of Eliashib: and when hee came thither, hee did eate no
bread, nor drinke water: for hee mourned because of the transgression of them
that had bene caried away.
7 And they made Proclamation throughout Iudah and Ierusalem, vnto all the
children of the captiuitie, that they should gather themselues together vnto
Ierusalem;
8 And that whosoeuer would not come within three dayes, according to the
counsell of the Princes, and the Elders, all his substance should be forfeited,
and himselfe separated from the congregation of those that had beene caried
away.
9 Then all the men of Iudah and Beniamin, gathered themselues together vnto
Ierusalem, within three dayes: it was the ninth moneth, on the twentieth day of
the moneth, and all the people sate in the streete of the house of God,
trembling because of this matter, and for the great raine.
10 And Ezra the Priest stood vp, and said vnto them, Yee haue transgressed, and
haue taken strange wiues, to encrease the trespasse of Israel.
11 Now therefore make confession vnto the Lord God of your fathers, and doe his
pleasure: and separate your selues from the people of the land, and from the
strange wiues.
12 Then all the congregation answered, and said with a loude voice, As thou hast
said, so must we doe:
13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much raine, and we are not able
to stand without; neither is this a worke of one day or two: for wee are many
that haue transgressed in this thing.
14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which haue
taken strange wiues in our cities, come at appointed times, & with them the
Elders of euery citie, and the Iudges thereof; vntill the fierce wrath of our
God for this matter, be turned from vs.
15 Onely Ionathan the sonne of Asahel, and Iahaziah the sonne of Tikuah, were
employed about this matter: and Meshullam, and Shabbethai the Leuite, helped
them.
16 And the children of the captiuitie did so: and Ezra the Priest, with certaine
chiefe of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by
their names, were separated, and sate downe in the first day of the tenth moneth
to examine the matter.
17 And they made an ende, with all the men that had taken strange wiues, by the
first day of the first moneth.
18 And among the sonnes of the Priestes, there were found that had taken strange
wiues: namely, of the sons of Ieshua the sonne of Iozadak, and his brethren,
Maasiah, and Eliezer, and Iarib, and Gedaliah.
19 And they gaue their hands, that they would put away their wiues: and being
guiltie, they offered a ramme of the flocke for their trespasse.
20 And of the sonnes of Immer, Hanani, and Zebadiah:
21 And of the sonnes of Harim, Maasiah, and Eliiah, and Shemaiah, and Iehiel,
and Uzziah.
22 And of the sonnes of Pashur: Elioenai, Maasiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Iozabad
and Elasah.
23 Also of the Leuites: Iozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same is Kelitah)
Pethahiah, Iudah, and Eliezer.
24 Of the singers also, Eliashib; and of the porters, Shallum, and Telem, and
Uri.
25 Moreouer of Israel, of the sonnes of Parosh, Ramiah, and Iesiah, and Malchiah,
and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchiiah, and Benaiah.
26 And of the sonnes of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Iehiel, and Abdi, and
Ieremoth, and Eliah.
27 And of the sonnes of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Ieremoth, and
Zabad, and Aziza.
28 Of the sonnes also of Bebai: Iehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, & Athlai.
29 And of the sonnes of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Iashub, and Sheal,
and Ramoth.
30 And of the sonnes of Pahath Moab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maasiah,
Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
31 And of the sonnes of Harim: Eliezer, Ishiiah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32 Beniamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33 Of the sonnes of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattatha, Zabad, Eliphelet, Ieremai,
Manasseh, and Shimei.
34 Of the sonnes of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
35 Benaiah, Bedaiah, Chelluh,
36 Uaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Iaasau,
38 And Bani, and Bennui, Shimei,
39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42 Shallum, Amariah, and Ioseph.
43 Of the sonnes of Nebo, Iehiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iadau, and Ioel,
Benaiah.
44 All these had taken strange wiues: and some of them had wiues, by whom they
had children.
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