1

1 Now in the After he and Darius had won Babylon. first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the Who promised deliverance to them after 70 years were past, (Jer_25:12). mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the That is, moved him and gave him heart. spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying, The Argument - As the Lord is always merciful to his Church, and does not punish them, but so that they should see their own miseries, and be exercised under the cross, that they might contemn the world, and aspire to the heavens: so after he had visited the Jews, and kept them in bondage 70 years in a strange country among infidels and idolaters, he remembered his tender mercies and their infirmities, and therefore for his own sake raised up a deliverer, and moved both the heart of the chief ruler to pity them, and also by him punished those who had kept them in slavery. Nonetheless, lest they should grow into a contempt of God's great benefits, he keeps them still in exercise, and raises domestic enemies, who try as much as they can to hinder their worthy enterprises: yet by the exhortation of the prophet they went forward little by little till their work was finished. The author of this book was Ezra, who was a priest and scribe of the Law, as in (Ezr_7:6). He returned to Jerusalem the sixth year of Darius, who succeeded Cyrus, that is, about fifty years after the first return under Zerubbabel, when the temple was built. He brought with him a great company and much treasure, with letters to the king's officers for all things needed for the temple: and at his coming he fixed that which was amiss, and set things in order.

2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me For he was chief monarch and had many nations under his dominion, which this heathen king confesses to have received from the living God. all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah.

3 Who is he among you of all his people with whome his God is? let him goe vp to Ierusalem which is in Iudah, and buylde the house of the Lorde God of Israel: he is the God, which is in Ierusalem.

4 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, If any through poverty were not able to return, the king's commission was that he should be furnished with all he needed. let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, Which they themselves should send for the repairing of the temple. beside the freewill offering for the house of God that [is] in Jerusalem.

5 Then the chiefe fathers of Iudah & Beniamin, & the Priests & Leuites rose vp, with al them whose spirit God had raysed to goe vp, to builde the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem.

6 And all The Babylonians and Chaldeans gave them these presents: thus rather than have the children of God be in need, he would stir the heart of the infidels to help them. they that [were] about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all [that] was willingly offered.

7 Also the King Cyrus brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of Ierusalem, and had put them in the house of his god.

8 Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto So the Chaldeans called Zerubbabel who was the chief governor, so that the preeminence still remained in the house of David. Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.

9 And this [is] the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty Which served to kill the beasts that were offered in sacrifice. knives,

10 Thirtie boules of gold, and of siluer boules of the second sort, foure hundreth and tenne, and of other vessels, a thousand.

11 All the vessels of gold and of silver [were] five thousand and four hundred. All [these] did Sheshbazzar bring up With the Jews who had been kept captive in Babylon. with [them of] the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.

2

1 Now these [are] the children Meaning Judea, which was a province that is, a country which was in subjection. of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;

2 Which came with Zerubbabel was chief captain and Joshua the high priest: but Nehemiah a man of great authority did not come now, but came after 64 years. Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, This was not the Mordecai who was Esther's kinsman. Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number Meaning, of the common people. of the men of the people of Israel:

3 The sonnes of Parosh, two thousand, an hudreth seuentie and two:

4 The sonnes of Shephatiah, three hundreth, seuentie and two:

5 The sonnes of Arah, seuen hundreth, and seuentie and fiue:

6 The sonnes of Pahath Moab, of the sonnes of Ieshua and Ioab, two thousand, eight hundreth and twelue:

7 The sonnes of Elam, a thousande, two hundreth and foure and fiftie:

8 The sonnes of Zattu, nine hundreth and fiue and fourtie:

9 The sonnes of Zaccai, seuen hundreth and threescore:

10 The sonnes of Bani, sixe hundreth and two and fourtie:

11 The sonnes of Bebai, sixe hundreth, and three and twentie:

12 The sonnes of Azgad a thousand, two hundreth and two and twentie:

13 The sonnes of Adonikam, sixe hundreth, three score and sixe:

14 The sonnes of Biguai, two thousand, & sixe and fiftie:

15 The sonnes of Adin, foure hundreth and foure and fiftie:

16 The children of Ater of Who were of the posterity of Hezekiah. Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

17 The sonnes of Bezai, three hundreth and three and twentie:

18 The sonnes of Iorah, an hudreth & twelue:

19 The sonnes of Hasshum, two hundreth and three and twentie:

20 The sonnes of Gibbar, ninetie and fiue:

21 That is inhabitants, for so this word {(some)} signifies when it is joined with the names of places.The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three.

22 The men of Netophah, sixe and fiftie:

23 The men of Anothoth, an hundreth and eight and twentie:

24 The sonnes of Azmaueth, two & fourtie:

25 The sonnes of Kiriath-arim, of Chephirah, and Beeroth, seuen hundreth & three & fourtie:

26 The sonnes of Haramah and Gaba, six hundreth, and one and twentie:

27 The men of Michmas, an hundreth & two and twentie:

28 The sonnes of Beth-el & Ai, two hundreth, and three and twentie:

29 The sonnes of Nebo, two and fiftie:

30 The sonnes of Magbish, an hundreth and sixe and fiftie:

31 The sonnes of the other Elam, a thousand, and two hundreth, and foure and fiftie:

32 The sonnes of Harim, three hundreth and twentie:

33 The sonnes of Lod-hadid, and Ono, seuen hundreth, and fiue and twentie:

34 The sonnes of Iericho, three hundreth and fiue and fourtie:

35 The sonnes of Senaah, three thousand, sixe hundreth and thirtie.

36 The Before he has declared the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and now comes to the tribe of Levi and begins at the priests. priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.

37 The sonnes of Immer, a thousand and two and fiftie:

38 The sonnes of Pashur, a thousand, two hundreth and seuen and fourtie:

39 The sonnes of Harim, a thousande and seuenteene.

40 The Leuites: the sonnes of Ieshua, and Kadmiel of the sonnes of Hodauiah, seuentie and foure.

41 The Singers: the sonnes of Asaph, an hundreth and eight and twentie.

42 The sonnes of the porters: the sonnes of Shallum, the sonnes of Ater, the sonnes of Talmon, the sonnes of Akkub, the sonnes of Hatita, the sonnes of Shobai: all were an hundreth and nine and thirtie.

43 The So called because they were given to the temple, to cut wood and bear water for the use of the sacrifices and came of the Gibeonites who were appointed to this use by Joshua, (Jos_9:23). Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

44 The sonnes of Keros, the sonnes of Siaha, the sonnes of Padon,

45 The sonnes of Lebanah, the sonnes of Hagabah, the sonnes of Akkub,

46 The sonnes of Hagab, the sonnes of Shamlai, the sonnes of Hanan,

47 The sonnes of Giddel, the sonnes of Gahar, the sonnes of Reaiah,

48 The sonnes of Rezin, the sonnes of Nekoda, the sonnes of Gazzam,

49 The sonnes of Vzza, the sonnes of Paseah, the sonnes of Besai,

50 The sonnes of Asnah, the sonnes of Meunim, the sonnes of Nephusim,

51 The sonnes of Bakbuk, the sonnes of Hakupa, the sonnes of Harhur,

52 The sonnes of Bazluth, the sonnes of Mehida, the sonnes of Harsha,

53 The sonnes of Barcos, the sonnes of Sisara, the sonnes of Thamah,

54 The sonnes of Neziah, the sonnes of Hatipha,

55 The children of Solomon's Which came of them that Solomon had appointed for the work of the temple. servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,

56 The sonnes of Iaalah, the sonnes of Darkon, the sonnes of Giddel,

57 The sonnes of Shephatiah, the sonnes of Hattil, the sonnes of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the sonnes of Ami.

58 All the Nethinims, and the sonnes of Salomons seruants were three hundreth ninetie & two.

59 And these went vp from Telmelah, and from Telharsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they could not discerne their fathers house and their seede, whether they were of Israel.

60 The sonnes of Delaiah, the sonnes of Tobiah, the sonnes of Nekoda, six hundreth and two and fiftie.

61 And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of He is mentioned in (2Sa_17:27, 2Sa_19:31) and because the priest's office was held in contempt these would have changed their estate by their name, and so by God's just judgment lost both the estimation of the world and the dignity of their office. Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:

62 These sought their writing of the genealogies, but they were not founde: therefore were they put from the Priesthood.

63 And the This is a Chaldee name, and signifies him who has authority over others. Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Read (Exo_28:30). Urim and with Thummim.

64 The whole Congregation together was two and fourtie thousande, three hundreth and threescore,

65 Beside their seruants and their maydes: of whome were seuen thousande, three hundreth & seuen and thirtie: and among them were two hundreth singing men and singing women.

66 Their horses were seuen hundreth, & sixe and thirtie: their mules, two hundreth and fiue and fourtie:

67 Their camels foure hundreth, and fiue and thirtie: their asses, sixe thousand, seuen hundreth and twentie.

68 And certeine of the chiefe fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord, which was in Ierusalem, they offred willingly for the house of God, to set it vp vpon his fundation.

69 They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand Which in our money amounts to 24,826 pounds, 13 shillings and 4 pence, valuing the french crown at 6 shillings and 4 pence for the dram is the eighth part of an ounce, and the ounce the eighth part of a mark. drams of gold, and five thousand Which are called «mina» and contain 2 marks apiece, so 50,000 minas make 55,000 franks which in our money amounts to 69,666 pounds, 13 shillings and 4 pence so that the whole sum was 94,493 pounds, 6 shillings, and 8 pence. pounds of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.

70 So the Priests and the Leuites, and a certeine of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

3

1 And when the Called Tishri which had part of September and part of October. seventh month was come, and the children of Israel [were] in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the Meaning nephew, for he was the son of Pedaiah, (1Ch_3:19). son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as [it is] written in the law of Moses the man of God.

3 And they set the altar upon In the place where Solomon had placed it. his bases; for fear [was] upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, [even] burnt offerings morning and evening.

4 They kept also the feast of the Tabernacles, as it is written, and the burnt offring dayly, by nomber according to the custome day by day,

5 And afterward [offered] That is, after the feast of tabernacles. the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.

6 From the first day of the seuenth moneth began they to offer burnt offrings vnto the Lord: but the foundation of the Temple of the Lorde was not layed.

7 They gaue money also vnto the masons, and to the workemen, and meat and drinke, & oyle vnto them of Zidon and of Tyrus, to bring them cedar wood from Lebanon to the sea vnto Iapho, according to the graunt that they had of Cyrus King of Persia.

8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the Which contains part of April and part of May, for in the mean season they had provided for things needed for the work. second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.

9 Then stood Jeshua They gave them exhortations and encouraged every man forward in the work. [with] his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, [with] their sons and their brethren the Levites.

10 And when the builders layed the foundation of the Temple of the Lorde, they appoynted the Priestes in their apparel with trumpets, and the Leuites the sonnes of Asaph with cymbales, to prayse the Lord, after the ordinance of Dauid King of Israel.

11 Thus they sang when they gaue prayse, and when they gaue thankes vnto the Lorde, For he is good, for his mercie endureth for euer toward Israel; all the people shouted with a great shoute, when they praysed the Lorde, because the foundation of the house of the Lorde was layed.

12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, [who were] ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, Because they saw that it was not nearly as glorious as the temple Solomon had built, nonetheless Aggeus comforted them and prophesied that it would be more beautiful than the first, meaning the spiritual temple, they who are the members of Christ's body. wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

13 So that the people coulde not discerne the sound of the shoute for ioy, from the noyse of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loude crie, & the noyse was heard farre off.

4

1 Now when Meaning, the inhabitants of Samaria, whom the king of Assyria had placed in the place of the ten tribes, (2Ki_17:24, 2Ki_19:37). They professed God but worshipped idols and therefore were the greatest enemies to the true servants of God. the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

2 And they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chiefe fathers, and sayd vnto them, We wil builde with you: for we seeke the Lord your God as ye do, and we haue sacrificed vnto him since the time of Esar Haddon king of Asshur, which brought vs vp hither.

3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; For they knew their pretence, that is to erect idolatry instead of true religion. but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

4 Wherefore the people of the land discouraged the people of Iudah, and troubled them in buylding,

5 And They bribed the governors under the king to hinder their work, thus they that hinder cannot understand that God would be purely served. hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 And in the reign of He was also called Artaxerxes which is a Persian name, some think it was Cambises Cyrus' son, or Darius, as in (Ezr_4:5). Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they [unto him] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 And in the days of Called Artaxerxes, which signifies in the Persian tongue an excellent warrior. Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto 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 chancelour, and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Ierusalem to Artahshashte the King, in this sort.

9 Then [wrote] Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the These were people whom the Assyrians placed in Samaria instead of the ten tribes. Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, [and] the Elamites,

10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Some think it was not Sennacherib, but rather Salmanasar. Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest [that are] on this side the That is, Euphrates, and he means in respect to Babel that they dwelt beyond it. river, and Or Cheeneth, who were a certain people who envied the Jews. at such a time.

11 This is the copie of the letter that they sent vnto King Artahshashte, Thy servants the men beyond the Riuer & Cheeneth, salute thee.

12 Be it knowen vnto the King that ye Iewes, which came vp from thee to vs, are come vnto Ierusalem (a citie rebellious and wicked) and buylde, and lay the foundations of the walles, and haue ioyned the foundations.

13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up [again, then] will they not pay toll, tribute, and Meaning, the gifts that are wont to be given to kings when they pass by any country. custom, and [so] thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.

14 Nowe therefore because wee haue bene brought vp in the Kings palace, it was not meete for vs to see the Kings dishonour: for this cause haue we sent and certified the King,

15 That one may searche in the booke of the Chronicles of thy fathers, and thou shalt finde in the booke of the Chronicles, & perceiue that this citie is rebellious & noysome vnto Kings & prouinces, & that they haue moued sedition of olde time, for the which cause this citie was destroyed.

16 Wee certifie the King therefore, that if this citie be buylded, and the foundation of the walles layd, by this meanes the portion beyonde the Riuer shal not be thine.

17 [Then] sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and [to] Shimshai the scribe, and [to] the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and [unto] the rest beyond the river, Or Shalom, salvation or greeting. Peace, and Or, Cheeth, also called Cheeneth as in (Ezr_4:10). at such a time.

18 The letter which yee sent vnto vs, hath bene openly read before me,

19 And I haue commanded & they haue searched, and founde, that this citie of olde time hath made insurrection against kings, & hath rebelled, and rebellion hath bene committed therein.

20 There haue bene mightie kings also ouer Ierusalem, which haue ruled ouer all beyonde the Riuer, and tolle, tribute, and custome was giuen vnto them.

21 Make ye now a decree, that those men may cease, and that the citie be not buylt, till I haue giuen another commandement.

22 Take heede nowe that ye fayle not to doe this: why should domage grow to hurt the King?

23 When the copie of king Artahshashtes letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went vp in all the haste to Ierusalem vnto the Iewes, & caused them to cease by force and power.

24 Then Not altogether for the prophets exhorted them to continue but they used less diligence because of the troubles. ceased the work of the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

5

1 Then Haggai a Prophet & Zechariah the sonne of Iddo a Prophet prophecied vnto the Iewes that were in Iudah, and Ierusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, euen vnto them.

2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem: and with them [were] the prophets of God Who encouraged them to go forward, and cursed them because they were more careful to build their own houses, than zealous to build the temple of God. helping them.

3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, which was captaine beyonde the Riuer, and Shether-boznai and their companions, and sayd thus vnto them, Who hath giuen you commaundement to buylde this house, and to lay the foundations of these walles?

4 That is, the enemies asked this, as in (Ezr_5:10).Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

5 But the His favour and the spirit of strength. eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this [matter].

6 The copie of the letter, that Tatnai captaine beyond the Riuer, and Shether-boznai and his companions, Apharsechaie, (which were beyond the Riuer) sent vnto King Darius.

7 They sent a letter vnto him, wherein it was written thus, Vnto Darivs 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, & beames are layde in the walles, and this worke is wrought speedily, and prospereth in their hands.

9 Then asked we those Elders, and sayd vnto them thus, Who hath giuen you commandement to buylde this house, and to lay the foundation of these walles?

10 We asked their names also, that we might certifie thee, & that we might write the names of the men that were their rulers.

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

12 But after that our fathers had prouoked the God of heauen vnto wrath, he gaue them ouer into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel the Caldean, & he destroyed this house, & caryed the people away captiue vnto Babel.

13 But in the Read (Ezr_1:1,2). first year 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 gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that [was] in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto [one], whose name [was] Read (Ezr_1:8). Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

15 And he sayde vnto him, Take these vessels and goe thy way, and put them in the Temple that is in Ierusalem, and let the house of God be buylt in his place.

16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar & layde the foundation of the house of God, which is in Ierusalem, and since that time euen vntill nowe, hath it bene in buylding, yet is it not finished.

17 Now therefore, if [it seem] good to the king, let there be search made in the king's Meaning in the library or places where lay the register or record of times. 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 Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

6

1 Then King Darius gaue commandement, & they made search in the librarie of the treasures, which were there layd vp in Babel.

2 And there was found at In which were the acts of the kings of the Medes and Persians. Achmetha, in the palace that [is] in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein [was] a record thus written:

3 In the first yeere of King Cyrus, King Cyrus made a decree for the house of God in Ierusalem, Let the house be buylt, euen the place where they offred sacrifices, and let the walles thereof be ioyned together: let the height thereof be three score cubites, and the breadth thereof three score cubites,

4 Three orders of great stones, & one order of timber, and let the expenses be giuen of the Kings house.

5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which [is] at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and Meaning Zerubbabel to whom he gives charge. brought again unto the temple which [is] at Jerusalem, [every one] to his place, and place [them] in the house of God.

6 Now [therefore], Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which [are] beyond the river, be ye far Meddle not with them neither hinder them. from thence:

7 Suffer ye the worke of this house of God, that the captaine of the Iewes and the Elders of the Iewes may buylde this house of God in his place.

8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, [even] of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be For lack of money. not hindered.

9 And that which they shall haue neede of, let it be giuen vnto them day by day, whether it be yong bullockes, or rammes, or lambes for the burnt offrings of the God of heauen, wheate, salt, wine, and oyle, according to the appoyntment of the Priestes that are in Ierusalem, that there bee no fault,

10 That they may haue to offer sweete odours vnto the God of heauen, and praye for the Kings life, and for his sonnes.

11 And I haue made a decree, that whosoeuer shall alter this sentence, the wood shall be pulled downe from his house, and shall be set vp, and he shalbe hanged thereon, & his house shalbe made a dunghill for this.

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

13 Then Tatnai the captaine beyond the Riuer, and Shethar Boznai & their companions, according to that which Darius had sent, so they did speedily.

14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Whom God stirs up to assure them that he would give their work good success. Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished [it], according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month This is the twelfth month and contains part of February and part of March. Adar, which was in The 42nd year after their first return. the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

16 And the children of Israel, the Priestes, and the Leuites, and the residue of the children of the captiuitie kept the dedication of this house of God with ioy,

17 And offred at the dedication of this house of God an hundreth bullockes, two hundreth rams, foure hundreth lambes, and twelue goates, for the sinne of all Israel, according to the nomber of the tribes of Israel.

18 And they set the Priests in their order, and the Leuites in their courses ouer the seruice of God in Ierusalem, as it is written in the booke of Moses.

19 And the childre of the captiuitie kept the Passeouer on ye fourtenth day of the first moneth.

20 (For the Priests and the Leuites were purified altogether) and they killed the Passeouer for all the children of the captiuitie, & for their brethren the Priests, and for themselues.

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

22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Meaning Darius who was king of the Medes, Persians and Assyrians. Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

7

1 Now after these things, in the reign of The Hebrews write that many of the kings of Persia were called by this name, as Pharaoh was a common name to the kings of Egypt and Caesar to the Romans emperors. Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son 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 Vzzi, the sonne of Bukki,

5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Ezra traces his family till he comes to Aaron, to prove that he came from him. Aaron the chief priest:

6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he [was] a ready He shows here what a scribe is, who had charge to write the law and to expound it. Whom Mark calls a scribe, (Mar_12:28), Matthew and Luke called a lawyer or doctor of the law, (Mat_22:35; Luk_10:25). scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

7 And there went vp certaine 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 yere of King Artahshashte.

8 And he came to Jerusalem in the That contained part of July and part of August. fifth month, which [was] in the seventh year Of king Darius. of the king.

9 For vpon the first day of the first moneth began he to goe vp from Babel, and on the first day of the fift moneth came he to Ierusalem, according to the good hande of his God that was vpon him.

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seeke the Lawe of the Lord, and to doe it, and to teach the precepts and iudgements in Israel.

11 And this is the copie of the letter that King Artahshashte gaue vnto Ezra the Priest & scribe, euen a writer of the words of the commadements of ye Lord, & of his statutes ouer Israel.

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect [peace], and Some take this for the name of a people, some for time or continuance, meaning that the king wished him long life. at such a time.

13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and [of] his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill Who still remained in Babylon and had not returned with Zerubbabel. to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to To examine who lived according to the law. enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which [is] in Of which you are an expert. thine hand;

15 And to carry the siluer and the gold, which the King & his cousellers willingly offer vnto the God of Israel (whose habitation is in Ierusalem)

16 And all the siluer and gold that thou canst finde in all the prouince of Babel, with the free offring of the people, and that which the Priestes offer willingly to the house of their God which is in Ierusalem,

17 That thou mayest bye speedily with this siluer, bullocks, rammes, lambes, with their meate offrings and their drinke offrings: and thou shalt offer them vpon the altar of the house of your God, which is in Ierusalem.

18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your As you know best may serve to God's glory. God.

19 And the vessels that are giuen thee for the seruice of the house of thy God, those deliuer thou before God in Ierusalem.

20 And the residue that shall be needeful for the house of thy God, which shall be meete for thee to bestowe, thou shalt bestowe it out of the Kings treasure house,

21 And I, [even] I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which [are] beyond Which was the Euphrates river and they were beyond it in respect to Babylon. the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred Read (1Ki_7:26; 2Ch_2:10). baths of oil, and salt without prescribing [how much].

23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath This declares that the fear of God's judgment causes him to use this liberality, and not the love that he bore for God's glory or affection for his people. against the realm of the king and his sons?

24 And we certifie you, that vpon any of the Priestes, Leuites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or Ministers in this house of God, there shall no gouernour laye vpon them tolle, tribute nor custome.

25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that [is] in thine hand, He gave Ezra full authority to restore all things according to the word of God, and to punish them who resisted and would not obey. set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that [are] beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know [them] not.

26 And whosoeuer will not doe the Lawe of thy God, and the Kings lawe, let him haue iudgement without delay, whether it be vnto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

27 Thus Ezra gave thanks to God for giving him success in his business with the king.Blessed [be] the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put [such a thing] as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which [is] in Jerusalem:

28 And hath enclined mercy toward me, before the King and his counsellers, and before all the Kings mightie Princes: and I was comforted by the hand of the Lord my God which was vpon me, and I gathered the chiefe of Israel to goe vp with me.

8

1 These [are] now the chief of their fathers, and [this is] the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Read (Ezr. 7:1-28). 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 the count of the males, an hundreth and fiftie.

4 Of the sonnes of Pahath Moab, Elihoenai, the sonne of Zerahiah, and with him two hundreth males.

5 Of the sonnes of Shechaniah, the sonne of Iahaziel, and with him three hundreth males.

6 And of the sonnes 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 hundreth and eighteene males.

10 And of the sonnes of Shelomith the sonne of Iosiphiah, & with him an hundreth and threescore males.

11 And of the sonnes of Bebai, Zechariah the sonne of Bebai, and with him eight and twentie males.

12 And of the sonnes of Azgad, Iohanan the sonne of Hakkatan, and with him an hundreth and ten males.

13 And of the That came to go with Ezra. last sons of Adonikam, whose names [are] these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.

14 And of the sonnes of Biguai, Vthai, and Zabbud, and with them seuentie males.

15 And I gathered them together to the To that place of Euphrates, where the Ahava river enters it. river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

16 Therefore sent I to Eliezer, to Ariel, to Shemeiah, and to Elnathan, and to Iarib, and to Elnathan, and to Nathan, and to Zechariah, and to Meshullam the chiefe, and to Ioiarib and to Elnathan, men of vnderstanding,

17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the He was the chief teacher of the law to the Levites. chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, [and] to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.

18 So by the good hande of our God which was vpon vs, they brought vs a man of vnderstanding of the sonnes of Mahali the sonne of Leui the sonne of Israel, and Sherebiah with his sonnes and his brethren, euen eighteene.

19 Also Hashabiah, and with him Ieshaiah of the sonnes of Merari, with his brethren, and their sonnes twentie.

20 And of the Nethinims, whom Dauid had set, and the Princes for the seruice of the Leuites, two hundreth and twentie of the Nethinims, which all were named by name.

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict He shows that the purpose of fasting is to humble the body to the spirit, which must proceed from the heart that is touched, or else it is hypocrisy. ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

22 For I was He thought it better to commit himself to the protection of God, than by seeking these ordinary means to give others a reason to think that he doubted God's power. ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God [is] upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath [is] against all them that forsake him.

23 So we fasted, aud besought our God for this: and he was intreated of vs.

24 Then I separated twelue of the chiefe of the Priests, Sherebiah, and Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,

25 And weighed them the siluer and the gold, and the vessels, euen the offring of ye house of our God, which the King and his counselers, and his Princes, & all Israel that were present had offred.

26 I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty Read (1Ki_9:14). talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, [and] of gold an hundred talents;

27 Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand Read (Ezr_2:69). drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.

28 And I said vnto them, Ye are consecrate vnto the Lord, and the vessels are consecrate, and the gold and the siluer are freely offred vnto the Lord God of your fathers.

29 Watch ye, and keepe them vntill ye weigh them before the chiefe Priestes and the Leuites, and the chiefe fathers of Israel in Ierusalem in the chambers of the house of the Lord.

30 So the Priests and the Leuites receiued the weight of the siluer and of the golde, and of the vessels to bring them to Ierusalem, vnto the house of our God.

31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth [day] of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in This declared that their journey was full of danger and yet God delivered them according to their prayer. wait by the way.

32 And we came to Ierusalem, & abode there three dayes.

33 Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him [was] Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them [was] Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, This was a token of a good conscience and of his integrity that he would have witnesses of his fidelity. Levites;

34 By number and by weight of euery one, and all the weight was written at the same time.

35 Also the children of the captiuitie, which were come out of captiuitie, offred burnt offrings vnto the God of Israel, twelue bullockes for all Israel, ninetie and sixe rammes, seuentie and seuen lambes, and twelue hee goates for sinne: all was a burnt offring of the Lord.

36 And they deliuered the Kings commission vnto the Kings officers, and to the captaines beyond the Riuer: and they promoted the people, and the house of God.

9

1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not From the time they came home under Zerubbabel until the coming of Ezra, they had degenerated contrary to the law of God, and married where it was not lawful, (Deu_7:3). separated themselves from the people of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of [those] lands: yea, the hand of the That is, the governors are the chief beginners of it. princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down As one doubting whether God would continue his benefits toward us, or else destroy what he had begun. astonied.

4 And there assembled vnto me all that feared the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of them of the captiuitie; I sate downe astonied vntil the euening sacrifice.

5 And at the euening sacrifice I arose vp fro mine heauinesse, and when I had rent my clothes and my garment, I fell vpon my knees, and spred out mine hands vnto the Lord my God,

6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased That is, we are drowned in sin. over [our] head, and our trespass is grown up unto the They so exceed that they cannot grow greater. heavens.

7 From the dayes of our fathers haue we bin in a great trespasse vnto this day, and for our iniquities haue we, our Kings, & our Priestes bene deliuered into the hand of the kings of the lands, vnto the sword, into captiuitie, into a spoyle, and into confusion of face, as appeareth this day.

8 And now for a little space grace hath been [shewed] from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a In giving us a resting place it is a comparison taken from them that still remain in a place who strike nails to hang things on, (Isa_22:23). nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

9 For though we were bondmen, yet our God hath not forsaken vs in our bondage, but hath enclined mercy vnto vs in the sight of the Kings of Persia, to giue vs life, & to erect the house of our God, & to redresse the places thereof, and to giue vs a wall in Iudah and in Ierusalem.

10 And nowe, 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 whereunto ye go to possesse it, is an vncleane land, because of the filthines of the people of the lands, which by their abominations, & by their vncleannes haue filled it from corner to corner.

12 Now therfore shal ye not giue your daughters vnto their sonnes, neither shall ye take their daughters vnto your sonnes, nor seeke their peace nor wealth for euer, that yee may be strong and eate the goodnes of the lande, and leaue it for an inheritance to your sonnes for euer.

13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our Has not utterly cast us down and destroyed us for our sins, (Deu_28:13). iniquities [deserve], and hast given us [such] deliverance as this;

14 Should we returne to breake thy commadements, and ioyne in affinitie with the people of such abominations? wouldest not thou be angrie towarde vs till thou haddest consumed vs, so that there should be no remnant nor any escaping?

15 O LORD God of Israel, thou [art] righteous: for we He shows that God is just in punishing his people, and yet merciful in preserving a residue in whom he shows favour. remain yet escaped, as [it is] this day: behold, we [are] before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.

10

1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had He confessed his sins, and the sins of the people. confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.

2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, [one] of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is Meaning, that God would receive them in mercy. hope in Israel concerning this thing.

3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away Who are strangers and married contrary to the law of God. all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

4 Arise; for [this] matter Because God has given you authority and learning to persuade the people in this and to command them. [belongeth] unto thee: we also [will be] with thee: be of good courage, and do [it].

5 Then arose Ezra, and caused the chiefe Priestes, the Leuites, and all Israel, to sweare that they would doe according to this worde. So they sware.

6 And Ezra rose vp from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Iohanan the sonne of Eliashib: he went euen thither, but he did eate neither bread, nor drunke water: for he mourned, because of the transgression of them of the captiuitie.

7 And they caused a proclamation to goe throughout Iudah and Ierusalem, vnto all them of the captiuitie, that they should assemble themselues vnto Ierusalem.

8 And whosoeuer woulde not come within three dayes according to the counsel of the Princes & Elders, all his substance should be forfait, & he should be separate from the Congregation of them of the captiuitie.

9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It [was] the Which contained part of November and part of December. ninth month, on the twentieth [day] of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of [this] matter, and for the great For the season was given to rain and so the weather was more sharp and cold and also their conscience touched them. rain.

10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to You have laid one sin on another. increase the trespass of Israel.

11 Now therefore Read (Jos_7:19). make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

12 And all the Congregation answered, and sayd with a loude voyce, So will we do according to thy wordes vnto vs.

13 But the people are many, and it is a raynie weather, and we are not able to stande without, neither is it the worke of one day or two: for we are many that haue offended in this thing.

14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, Let them be appointed to examine this matter. and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.

15 Then were appoynted Ionathan the sonne of Asah-el, & Iahaziah the sonne of Tikuah ouer this matter, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Leuites helped them.

16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, [with] certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by [their] names, They went to the chief cities to sit on this matter which took three months to finish. were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

17 And vntill the first day of the first moneth they were finishing the businesse with al the men that had taken strange wiues.

18 And of the sonnes of the Priests there were men founde, that had taken strange wiues, to wit, of the sonnes of Ieshua, the sonne of Iozadak, & of his brethren, Maaseiah, Aeliezer, and Iarib and Gedaliah.

19 And they gave As a token that they would keep their promise and do it. their hands that they would put away their wives; and [being] guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their trespass.

20 And of the sonnes of Immer, Honani, and Zebadiah.

21 And of the sonnes of Harim, Maaseiah, & Eliiah, and Shemaiah, and Iehiel, and Vzziah.

22 And of ye sonnes of Pashur, Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Iozabad, and Elasah.

23 And of the Leuites, Iozabad and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (which is Kelitah) Pethahiah, Iudah and Eliezer.

24 And of the singers, Eliashib; of the porters, Shallum, and Telem, and Vri.

25 Moreover of Meaning of the common people: for before he spoke of the priests and Levites. Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, 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 Ierimoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.

28 And of the sonnes of Bebai, Iehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai.

29 And of the sonnes of Bani, Meshullam, Malluch, & Adaiah, Iashub, and Sheal, Ieramoth.

30 And of the sonnes of Pahath Moab, Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.

31 And of the sonnes of Harim, Eliezer, Ishiiah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

32 Beniamin, Malluch, Shamariah.

33 Of the sonnes of Hashum, Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Ieremai, Manasseh, Shimei.

34 Of the sonnes of Bani, Maadai, Amram, and Vel,

35 Banaiah, Bediah, Chelluh,

36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Iaasau,

38 And Banni, and Bennui, Shimei,

39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,

40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

42 Shallum, Amariah, Ioseph.

43 Of the sonnes of Nebo, Ieiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iadau, and Ioel, Benaiah.

44 All these had taken strange wives: and [some] of them had wives by whom they had Who also were made illegitimate because the marriage was unlawful. children.