The altar of God is set up. B. C. about 536. Neh. 7. 70. EZRA. gether was forty and two thousand 65 Besides their servants and their 67 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty. 68 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place: 69 They gave after their ability unto 1 Chr. 26. 20. the "treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests' garments. 1 ch. 6. 16, 17. Neb. 7. 73. 19r, Joshua, Hag. 1. 1. & 22 Zech. L robabel, Matt 1. 12. Lake 3. 27. a Matt. 1. 12. 70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities. CHAPTER III. The building of the temple. 7 They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia. i B. C. about 536. men. Or, workh1 Kings 5. 6, 9. 2 Chr. 2. 10. Acts 12. 20. 535. Acts 9. 36. 8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Je-12 Chr. 2. 16. rusalem, in the second month, began k ch. 6. 3. 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 Le-11 Chr. 23. 24, vites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD. 27. m ch. 2. 40. 9 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, Or, Hodaviah, ch. 2. 40. to set forward the workmen in the + Heb, as one. house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites. 10 And when the builders laid the The altar is set up, and the sacrifices renewed. 8 The with trumpets, and the Levites the foundation of the temple is laid. 6, 42. AND when the seventh month was the LORD, after the ordinance of Da-1 Chr. 6. S1. 2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Cared Zo- and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in Lake 3. 27, the law of Moses the man of God. 3 And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon Nam 23.3,4. unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening. 11 PAnd they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for 91 Chr. 16.34. his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 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, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. CHAPTER IV. The adversaries endeavour to hinder the building of See Hag.2.3. 6 From the first day of the seventh NOW when the adversaries of a See ver. 7, month began they to offer burnt of temple of the ferings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. LORD not yet founded The work opposed. B. C. 535. b 2 Kings 17. 24, 32, 33. & 19. 37. ver. 10. B. C. 522. 14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's + Chald, we dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; are salted with the salt of the palace. and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. 15 That search may be made in the 3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and book of the records of thy fathers: so the rest of the chief of the fathers of shalt thou find in the book of the Israel, said unto them, Ye have noth- records, and know that this city is a ing to do with us to build a house un-rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings to our God; but we ourselves togeth- and provinces, and that they have er will build unto the LORD God of moved sedition within the same of †Chald. made. d ch. 1. 1, 2, 3. Israel, as king Cyrus the king of old time: for which cause was this+Chald. in the midst thereof. Persia hath commanded us. city destroyed. e Neh. 2. 20. 534. e ch. 3. 3. 529. verosh. с 4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5 And 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 Ahasuerus, +Heb. Ahash in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest +Chald. soci- of their companions; 'the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, f 2 Kings 17. 30, 31. about 678. g ver. 1. h So ver. 11, 17, & ch. 7. 12. +Chald. Chee neth. 522. Or, finished. +Chald. sewed together. 108 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, hand at such a time. 11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time. 12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined 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 i toll, tribute, and custom, and so Or, strength. thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. † Chald. give. í ch. 7. 24. me a decree is set. 18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. 19 And I commanded, and search + Chald. by hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. k Chald. lifted up itself. 21. Ps. 72. 8. 1 Gen. 15. 18. Josh. 1. 4. 20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the 1 Kings 4 river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. 21 Give ye now commandment to + Chald. Make cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. 22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? a decree. 23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force + Chald. by and power. arm and power. 520. a Hag. 1. 1. b Zech. 1. L The work is resumed. B. C. 520. ⚫ ch. 3. 2 ⚫ ver. 9. f ver. 10. с the name of the God of Israel, even | uchadnezzar took out of the temple | B. C. 536. 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 helping them. d 3 At the same time came to them 4 ver. 6. ch. 6. Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, e Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? 4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? 5 But the 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. +Chald. that build this building? See ch. 7.6, 2. Pa. 33. 18. b ch 6. 6. q Hag. 1. 14. & 15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place. 16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the ch. 3. 8, 10. house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is ch. 6. 15. not finished. 17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, 'let there be search made in the king's 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. CHAPTER VI. The decree of Cyrus being found, Darius maketh a we went into the province of Judea, Ter to the house of the great God, which +Chald. stones is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. I ver. 3, 4 t ch. 6. 1, 2 519. a ch. 5. 17. THEN Darius the king made a de- Chald. books. to descend. na, or, in a coffer. 2 And there was found at "Achme- || Or, Ecbata- 9 Then asked we those elders, and 10 We asked their names also, to 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 great king 11 Kings 6. 1. of Israel builded 1and set up. The temple is finished. B. C. 519. +Chald. by me a decree is made. which are beyond the river, be ye far | dred lambs; and for a sin offering for B. C. 515. from thence: all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build 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 +Chald. made these men, that they be not thindered. to cease. 12 And the God that hath caused h1 Kings 9.3. 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 Jerusalem. i ch. 5. 1, 2. + Chald, de cree. k ch. 1. 1. & 5. 13. ver. 3. 515. 1 ch. 4. 24. m ch. 7. 1. + Chald. the sons of the transportation. a 1 Kings 8. 63. 2Chr.7.5. a ch. 8. 95. 19 And the children of the captiv- Num. 3. 6. & ity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and "killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. Ex. 12. 6. 2 Chr, 30, 15. 2 Chr. $5. 11. 21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness ch. 9. 11. of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, 22 And kept they feast of unleaven- Ex. 12. 15 ed bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. CHAPTER VII. Ezra goeth up to Jerusalem. 11 The gracious commission of Artaxerxes to him. 27 Ezra blesseth God for his favour. I Darius have made a decree; let it NOW after these things, in the be done with speed. 13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. 14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of 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. k 15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16 ¶ And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept n the dedication of this house of God with joy, 17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hun reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest : C 6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, accord-d ing to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. & 13. 6. 2 Prov. 21. 1. 29.2 Chr. S 11. ch. 1. 1. & ver. 6, &c. 457. a Neh. 2. 1. 1 Chr. 6. 14. e ver. 11, 12, 21. ver. 9, ch. 8. 22, 31. e ch. 8. 1. 7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, f See ch. 8. 15, and the porters, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For upon the first day of the first & c. 5 ch. 2. 43. & 8. 20. about 457. The gracious commission B. C. about 457. + Heb. was the founda tion of the hver. 6. Neh. EZRA. speedily, of Artaxerxes to Ezra. month began he to go up from Baby- | en, shall require of you, it be done 10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes Det $10 and judgments. N 3. 1-8. Mai 2. 7. Ez. 26. 7. Dan. 2. 37. Or, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe 11 ¶ Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. 12 Artaxerxes, 'king of kings, "unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of of the late of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. the God of halten, peace, &c. ch. 4. 10. +Chald from before the AT 4. a Esth. 1. 14. 2 Chr. 6. 2. P. 135. 21. 7 ch. 8. 25. B. C. about 457. 22 Unto a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred † measures of + Chald. cors. wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred 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 against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 Also we certify you, that, touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinim, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them. + Heb. Whatsoever is of the decree. t Ex. 18. 21, 22. Deut. 16. 13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his 25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom priests and Levites, in my realm, of thy God, that is in thine hand, which are minded of their own free-set magistrates and judges, which will to go up to Jerusalem, go with may judge all the people that are thee. beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and "teach yeu ver. 10. them that know them not. 14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his "seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand; 15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16 P And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of 42 Chr. 29. 6, the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem: 17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 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 God. 19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure-house. 21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heav-fifty. a See ch. 5, 5. & ver. 6, 9. & ch. 8. 18. a 1 Chr. 3. 22. b ch. 2. 3. |