covenant.

iah, Malchijah,

aniah, Malluch, oth, Obadiah, hon, Baruch,

Dijah, Mijamin,

CHAP. XI.

ai, Shemaiah: these were the

s: both Jeshua the son of Azate sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; hren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kean,

Who dwelt in Jerusalem

138 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure-house.

39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers. and we will not forsake the house of our God.

A

CHAP. XI.

Names of the dwellers in Jerusalem. ND the rulers of the people dwelt at Jeru salem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.

2 And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. 31 Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants. 4 And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of

of the people, the priests, the the children of Perez;

1, Baanah.

the singers, the Nethinims, 5 And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of d separated themselves from Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaids unto the law of God, their ah, the son of Jojarib, the son of Zechariah, the ad their daughters, every one son of Shiloni.

and having understanding; 6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem their brethren, their nobles, were four hundred threescore and eight valiant curse, and into an oath, to men.

which was given by Moses 7 And these are the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the and to observe and do all son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of of the LORD Our Lord, and Pedaiah, the son of Kclaiah, the son of Maaseiah, is statutes;

the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah.

ould not give our daughters 8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred e land, nor take their daugh

twenty and eight.

9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer، and Judah the son of Senuah was second over

e of the land bring ware or Sabbath day to sell, that we the city.

them on the sabbath, or on 10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, hat we would leave the se- Jachin.

exaction of every debt. 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Merdinances for us, to charge shullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the the third part of a shekel son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God. house of our God; 12 And their brethren that did the work of the

ead, and for the continual house were eight hundred twenty and two: and r the continual buint-offer- Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, of the new-moons, for the the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son ne holy things, and for the of Pashur, the son of Malchiah,

e an atonement for Israel, 13 And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two of the house of our God. hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of lots among the priests, the Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshille. ople, for the wood-offering, moth, the son of Immer,

House of our God, after the 14 And their brethren, mighty men of valour, a at times appointed year by hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer the altar of the LORD our was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men in the law:

ase of the LORD:

15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of

first-fruits of our ground, Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashaall fruit of all trees, ycar biah, the son of Bunni;* 16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief n of our sons, and of our of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward n in the law, and the first- business of the house of God.

d of our flocks, to bring to unto the priests that minisar God.

17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the uld bring the first-fruits of second among his brethren, and Abda the son of ferings, and the fruit of all Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun wine and of oil, unto the 18 All the Levites in the holy city were two

Ce

20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, 22 The Levites in the day and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, da, and Johanan, and Jade

23 The sons of Levi, the ch were written in the book of t until the days of Johanan th 24 And the chief of the L Sherebiah, and Jeshua the so their brethren over against to give thanks, according to th David the man of God, ward 25 Mattaniah, and Bakbuk shullam, Talmon, Akkub, w. the ward at the thresholds of 26 These were in the days of

27 And at the dedication c

salem, they sought the Levi places, to bring them to Jeru dedication with gladness, be vings, and with singing, wit ries, and with harps.

28 And the sons of the singe

selves together, both out of round about Jerusalem, and. f Netophathi;

29 Also from the house of Gi fields of Geba and Azmaveth: builded them villages round a

30 And the priests and the themselves, and purified the gates, and the wall.

31 Then I brought up the prin the wall, and appointed two them that gave thanks, wherec right hand upon the wall towa 32 And after them went Hos the princes of Judah,

33 And Azariah, Ezra, and 34 Judah, and Benjamin, an Jeremiah,

35 And certain of the priests of pets; namely, Zechariah the so son of Shemaiah, the son of Ma Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, 36 And his brethren, Shemai Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethane nani, with the musical instrun man of God, and Ezra the scr

37 And at the fountain-gate, against them, they went up by city of David, at the going up the house of David, even unt eastward.

38 And the other company thanks went over against them, and the half of the people up beyond the tower of the furna broad wall;

above the old gate, and above

the tower of Hananeel, and the even unto the sheep-gate: an in the prison-gate.

40 So stood the two companies

thanks in the house of God, ar of the rulers with me:

41 And the priests; Eliakim,

min, Michaiah, Elíoenai, Zech

42 And Maaseiah, and Shema

and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and

Elam, and Ezer. And the singe
Jezrahiah their overseer.

-egulations. The violation of the sabbath. wives also and the children rejoic- for they were counted faithful; and their office e joy of Jerusalem was heard even was to distribute unto their brethren. 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, hat time were some appointed over and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the treasures, for the offerings, for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof. mits, and for the tithes, to gather 15 1 In those days saw I in Judah some treadof the fields of the cities the por- ing wine-presses on the sabbath, and bringing in v for the priests and Levites: for sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, for the priests and for the Levites and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.

the singers and the porters kept eir God, and the ward of the puriHing to the commandment of David, n his son.

days of David and Asaph of old
f of the singers, and songs of praise Jerusalem.
ng unto God.

17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, mel in the days of Zerubbabel, and and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ehemiah, gavethe portions of the ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

e porters, every day his portion: 18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our fied holy things unto the Levites; God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this s sanctified them unto the chil-city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by

CHAP. ХИΙ.

h's zeal and reformation.

they read in the book of Moses in e of the people; and therein was hat the Ammonite and the Mocome into the congregation of

met not the children of Israel with water, but hired Balaam mat he should curse them: howned the curse into a blessing. to pass, when they had heard ey separated from Israel all the

19 And it came to pass, that, when the gates of
Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I
commanded that the gates should be shut, and
charged that they should not be opened till after
the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at
the gates, that there should no burden be brought
in on the sabbath day.

20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of
ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
21 Then I testified against them, and said unto
them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so
again, I will lay hands on you. From that time
forth came they no more on the sabbath.
22 And I commanded the Levites, that they should
cleanse themselves, and that they should come and

this, Eliashib the priest, having
the chamber of the house of our keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Re-
unto Tobiah:
member me, O my God, concerning this also, and
epared for him a great chamber, spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
they laid the meat-offerings, the 23 In those days also saw 1 Jews that had mar-
the vessels, and the tithes of ried wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
wine, and the oil, (which was 24 And their children spake half in the speech of
given to the Levites, and the sing- Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' lan-
5,) and the offerings of the priests. guage, but according to the language of each people.
time was not I at Jerusalem: 25 And I contended with them, and cursed them,
d thirtieth year of Artaxerxes and smote certain of them, and plucked off their
Came I unto the king, and after hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye
Ened I leave of the king:
shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor
Jerusalem, and understood of take their daughters unto your sons, or for your-
hib did for Tobiah, in preparing selves.

the courts of the house of God. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these ne sore: therefore I cast forth all things? yet among many nations was there no ff of Tobiah out of the chamber. king like him, who was beloved of his God, and anded, and they cleansed the God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless ither brought I again the ves- even him did outlandish women cause to sin. of God, with the meat-offering 27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

nse.

eived that the portions of the een given them: for the Levites at did the work, were fled every

ed I with the rulers, and said, f God forsaken? And1 gather

28 And one of the sons of Jciada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of

and set them in their place. the priesthood, and of the Levites.

all Judah the tithe of the corn 30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and and the oil unto the treasuries. appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, reasurers over the treasuries, every one in his business;

est, and Zadok the scribe; and 31 And for the wood-offering, at times appointlaiah: and next to them was ed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: God, for good.

Vashti's disobedience. unto all his princes and his servants; the power ces, into every province accor of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of thereof, and to every people ar the provinces, being before him: that every man should bea 4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious king-house; and that it should be dom and the honour of his excellent majesty many ding to the language of every days, even a hundred and fourscore days.

5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;

3 Where were white, green, and blue hangings, fistened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black marble.

CHAP. II.
Esther chosen q

A FTER these things, wher
Ahasuerus was appease
Vashti, and what she had de
decreed against her.

2 Then said the king's serva unto him, Let there be fair yo for the king:

3 And let the king appoint of

vinces of his kingdom, that th

7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, gether all the fair young virg (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and the palace, to the house of the royal wine in abundance, according to the state custody of Hege the king's ch of the king.

8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

of the women; and let their t tion be given them:

4 And let the maiden which

be queen instead of Vashti pleased the king; and he did

5 Now in Shushan the pala

9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to tain Jew, whose name was M king Ahasuerus.

Jair, the son of Shimei, the se

6 Who had been carried awa with the captivity which had with Jeconiah king of Judah,

nezzar the king of Babylon ha

11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king 7 And he brought up Hadassal with the crown royal, to shew the people and the his uncle's daughter: for she princes her beauty for she was fair to look on. nor mother, and the maid wa. 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the ful; whom Mordecai, when king's commandment by his chamberlains: there- mother were dead, took for hi fore was the king very wroth, and his anger 81 So it came to pass, when burned in him. mandment and his decree was 13 Then the king said to the wise men, which many maidens were gathered t knew the times, (for so was the king's manner shan the palace, to the custo toward all that knew law and judgment: Esther was brought also unto 14 And the next unto him was Carshena, She- to the custody of Hegai, keeper thar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and 9 And the maiden pleased him Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Me-ed kindness of him; and he s dia, which saw the king's face, and which sat her things for purification, wit the first in the kingdom;) belonged to her, and seven mai 15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti- meet to be given her, out of t according to law, because she hath not per- and he preferred her and her ma formed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus place of the house of the wome by the chamberlains ?

10 Esther had not shewed he

16 And Memucan answered before the king and kindred for Mordecai had cha the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done should not shew it. wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, 11 And Mordecai walked ever and to all the people that are in all the provinces court of the women's house, to k of the king Ahasuerus.

did, and what should become o 17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad 12 11 Now when every maid's t unto all women, so that they shall despise their go in to king Ahasuerus, after th husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, twelve months, according to the The king Ahasueruscommanded Vashti the queen women, (for so were the days to be brought in before him, but she came not. cations accomplished, to wit, s 18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media oil of myrrh, and six months wit say this day unto all the king's princes, which and with other things for the puri have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall men;)

there arise too much contempt and wrath.

13 Then thus came every maide 19 If it please the king, let there go a royal com- whatsoever she desired was given mandment from him, and let it be written among her out of the house of the w the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it king's house. odio st be not altered, That Vashti come no more before 14 In the evening she went, and king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal she returned into the second ho estate unto another that is better than she. men, to the custody of Shaashg

20 And when the king's decree which he shall

make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small. 21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

chamberlain, which kept the co came in unto the king no more, exc lighted in her, and that she were 151 Now when the turn of Esth ter of Abihail the uncle of Morc taken her for his daughter, was co to the king, she required nothing

ned queen. CHAP. III, IV. Ahasuerus' decree against the Jews. ed. And Esther obtained favour is given to thee, the people also, to do with them all them that looked upon her. as it seemeth good to thee.

was taken unto king Ahasuerus 12 Then were the king's scribes called on the royal in the tenth month, which is thirteenth day of the first month, and there was eth, in the seventh year of his reign. written according to all that Haman had com ng loved Esther above all the wo-manded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the obtained grace and favour in his governors that were over every province, and to an all the virgins; so that he set the rulers of every people of every province, acn upon her head, and made her cording to the writing thereof, and to every peo of Vashti. ple after their language; in the name of king King made a great feast unto all Ahasuerus was it written, and scaled with the I his servants, even Esther's feast; king's ring. release to the provinces, and gave 13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the to the state of the king. king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause The virgins were gathered together to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little chil e, then Mordecai sat in the king's dren and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the not yet shewed her kindred, nor month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. Mordecai had charged her for 14 The copy of the writing for a commandment commandment of Mordecai, like to be given in every province was published unas brought up with him. to all people, that they should be ready against

days, while Mordecai sat in the that day.

of the king's chamberlains, Big- 15 The posts went out, being hastened by the h, of those which kept the door, king's commandment, and the decree was given sought to lay hand on the king in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan ag was known to Mordecai, who was perplexed. her the queen; and Esther certiereof in Mordecai's name. Inquisition was made of the mat1 out; therefore they were both : and it was written in the book s before the king.

Mordecai's advice to Esther.

WHEN Mordecai perceived all that was done,

Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 2 And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

eks the Jews' destruction. things did king Ahasuerus proin the son of Hammedatha the 3 Andin every province whithersoever the king's Avanced him, and set his seat commandment and his decree came, there was nces that were with him. great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, Ing's servants that were in the and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in ed, and reverenced Haman; for sackcloth and ashes. Ommanded concerning him. But 4 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains not, nor did him reverence. came and told it her. Then was the queen exg's servants which were in the ceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe anto Mordecai, Why transgress- Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from 's commandment ? him: but he received it not.

to pass, when they spake daily 5 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's hearkened not unto them, that chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend n, to see whether Mordecai's upon her, and gave him a commandment to Morand: for he had told them that decai, to know what it was, and why it was.

man saw that Mordecai bowed everence, then was Haman full

6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai, unto the street of the city, which was before the king'sgate. 7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money at scorn to lay hands on Morde- that Haman had promised to pay to the king's y had shewed him the people of treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. efore Haman sought to destroy 8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of Dere throughout the whole king- the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy s, even the people of Mordecai. them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it month (that is, the month Ni-unto her, and to charge her that she should go in h year of king Ahasuerus, they unto the king, to make supplication unto him, the lot, before Haman from and to make request before him for her people. from month to month, to the 9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words at is, the month Adar.

id unto king Ahasuerus, There 10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave e scattered abroad and disper-him commandment unto Mordecai; ople in all the provinces of thy 11 All the king's servants, and the people of the ir laws are diverse from all king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whe ep they the king's laws: there-ther man or woman, shall come unto the king he king's profit to suffer them. into the inner court, who is not called, there is e king, let it be written that one law of his to put him to death, except such troyed and I will pay ten to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepf silver to the hands of those tre, that he may live: but I have not been called ge of the business, to bring it to come in unto the king these thirty days. asuries.

took his ring from his hand, aman the son of Hammedatha

12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. 13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.