poured out upon us, becaufe our fathers have 2 And he fet the priests in their charge, not kept the word of the LORD, to do after and encouraged them to the fervice of the all that is written in this book. houfe of the LORD, 22 And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetefs, the wife of Shallum, the fon of 'Tikvath, the fon of Hafrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now the dwelt in Jerufalem in the college; and they fpake to her to that effect. 23 And the answered them, Thus faith the LORD God of Ifrael, Tell ye the man that fent you to me, 24 Thus faith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curfes that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah: 15 Because they have forfaken me, and have burned incenfe to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath fhall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched. 26 And as for the king of Judah, who fent you to enquire of the LORD, fo fhall ye fay unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Ifrael, concerning the words which thou haft heard, 27 Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyfelf before God when thou heardeft his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledit thyself before me, and didit rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee alfo, faith the LORD. 28 Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither thall thine eyes fee all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the fame. So they brought the king word again. 29 Then the king fent and gathered together all the elders of Jadah and Jerufalem. 30 And the king went up into the houfe of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerufalem, and the pricfts, and the Levites, and all the people, great and fmall: and he read in their ears aff the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD. 31 And the king ftood in his place, and made a covenant Before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his teftimonies, and his ftatutes, with all his heart, and with all his foul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book. 32 And he caufed all that were prefent in Jerufalem and Benjamin to ftand to it. And the anhabitants of Jerufalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33 And Jofiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Ifrael, and made all that were prefent in Ifrael to ferve, even to ferve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers. CHAP. XXXV. Josiah keepeth a solemn passover: 22 he, provoking Pharaoh-necho, is flain at Megiddo. Moreover, Jofiah kept a paffover unto the in Jerufalem: and they killed the padover on the fourteenth day of the firit month. P2 3 And faid unto the Levites, that taught all Ifrael, which were holy unto the LORA Put the holy ark in the house which S mon, the son of David king of Ifrael,d build it shall not be a burden upon yar fhoulders: ferve now the LORD your G and his people Ifrael, 4 And prepare yourselver by the houses of your fathers, after your courfes, according to the writing of David king of Ifracl, and according to the writing of Solomon his fos, 5 And stand in the holy place, according t the divifions of the families of the fathers your brethren the people, and after the de vifion of the families of the Levites; 6 So kill the pallover, and fanctify your felves, and prepare your brethren, that the may do according to the word of the Los by the hand of Mofes. 7 And Jofiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the pallove offerings, for all that were prefent, to the number of thirty thoufand, and three the fand bullocks: thefe were of the kings stance. 8 And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priefts and to the Levite Hilkiah, and Zechariah, and Jehiel, ruler the house of God, gave unto the pricfts for the paffover-offerings two thousand and fix dred fmall cattle, and three hundred axes. 9 Conaniah alfo, and Shemaiah and Neth neel his brethren, and Hathabiah, and Jeha and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave t the Levites, for paffover-offerings, five the fand fmall cattle, and five hundred axea 10 So the fervice was prepared, and th priefts flood in their place, and the Levite in their courfes, according to the king commandment. 11 And they killed the paffover, and t priefts fprinkled the blood from their hand and the Levites flayed them. 12 And they removed the burst-offering that they might give according to the vifions of the families of the people, to unto the LORD, as it is written in the has of Mofes, and fo did they with the oxes 13 And they roafted the paffover fire, according to the ordinance: b other holy offerings fod they in pots, an caldrons, and in pans, and divided fpeedily among all the people. 14 And afterward they made ready them felves, and for the pricfits: becau priefts the fons of Aaron tere buffed in fering of burnt-offerings and the fat night; therefore the Levites prepared themselves, and for the pricfts the fath Aaron. 15 And the fingers, the fons of Afaph, in their place, according to the comm ment of David, and Afaph, and Heina, Jeduthun the kings feer; and the p waited at every gate: they might not part from their fervice; for their brea the Levites prepared for them 16 So all the fervice of the LORD WEL pared the fame day, to keep the pa and to offer burnt-offerings upon the (35-7) of the Loan, according to the command- 19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jofiah was this paflover kept. 20 After all this, when Jofiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemith by Euphrates: and Jofiah went out againft him. 11 But he sent ambaffadors to him, faying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah! I come not against thee this day, but paint the houfe wherewith I have war; for God commanded me to make hafte: forhear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not. 22 Nevertheless, Jofiah would not turn his face from him, but difguifed himself, that She might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. 23 And the archers fhot at king, Jofiah; and the king faid to his fervants, Have me way; for I am fore wounded. 24 His fervants, therefore, took him out of ut chariot, and put him in the fecond chazion that he had; and they brought him to Keralalem, and he died, and was buried in of the fepulchres of his fathers: and all adab and Jerufalem mourned for Jofiah. 21 And Jeremiah lamented for Jofiah; all the finging-men and the fingingwonen (pake of Jofiah in their lamentations this day, and made them an ordinance in rael: and, behold, they are written in the mentations. 26 Now the reft of the acts of Jofiah, and godnefs, according to that which was ritten in the law of the LORD, 27 And his deeds, firft and laft, behold, ey are written in the book of the kings rael and Judah. CHAP. XXXVI. Fleshaz, fucceeding, is depofed by Pharaoh. Jehoiakim, reigning ill, is carried into Ba. 9 Jehoiackin fucceedeth, 11 Zedeahs evil reign. Hen the people of the land took Jehoahaz, the fon of Jofiah, and made him in his fathers ftead in Jerufalem. Jehrahas cas twenty and three years when he began to reign; and he reigned ree months in Jerufalem." 3 And the king of Egypt put him down at 1 Jehoiakim was twenty and five years eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did the which was evil in the fight of the LORD his God. 6 Againft him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar alfo carried off the veffels of the houfe of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Ifrael and Judah and Jehoiachin his fon reigned in his ftead. 9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerufalem: and he did that which was evil in the fight of the LORD. 10 And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar fent and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly veffels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his bre ther king over Judah and Jerufalem. JI Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign; and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 And he did that which was evil in the fight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet, fpeaking from the mouth of the LORD. 13 And he also rebelled againft king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him fwear by God: but he ftiffened his neck, and hardened his heart, from turning unto the LORD God of Ifrael. 14. Moreover, all the chief of the priests and the people tranfgreffed very much, after all the abominations of the heathen, and polluted the houfe of the LORD, which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. 15 And the LORD God of their fathers fent to them by his meffengers, rifing up betimes, and fending; becanfe he had compallion on his people, and on his dweiling-place: 16 But they mocked the mediengers of God, and defpifed his words, and miffed his pro phets, until the wrath of the LORD arofe againtt his people, till there was no remedy. 17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who flew their young men with the fword in the houfe of their fanctuary, and had no compaffion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stoop ed for age: he gave them all into his hand. 18 And all the veffels of the house of God, great and fmall, and the treasures of the houfe of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. 19 And they burnt the houfe of God, and brake down the wall of Jerufalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with hre, and destroyed all the goodly veffels thereof. 20 And thera that had efcaped from the fword carried he away to Babylon, where they were fervants to him and his fons, until the reign of the kingdom of Persia; 21 To fulfil the word of the LORD, by the month of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her fabbaths: for as long as the lay defolate the kept fabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 22 Now, in the first year of Cyrus king of Perfia, (that the word of the LORD fpoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished,) the LORD itirred up the fpirit of Cyrus king of Perfia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it alfo in writing, faying, СНАР. 1. 23 Thus faith Cyrus king of Perfia, A the kingdoms of the earth hath the Loa God of heaven given me; and he hath charg ed me to build him an houfe in Jerusalem, which is in Judah:, who is there among pa of all his people? the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up. ¶ EZRA. 1 The proclamation of Cyrus for the building of the temple. 5 The people provided for their return. 7 Cyrus reftoreth the veffels of the temple to Shefħbazzar. N "OW, in the first year of Cyrus king of Perfia (that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled,) the LORD ftirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Perfia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it allo in writing, faying, 2 Thus faith Cyrus king of Perfia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an houfe at Jerufalem, which is in Judah: 3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerufalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Ifrael (he is the God) which is in Jerufalem. 4 And whofoever remaineth in any place where he fojourneth, let the men of his place help him with filver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beafts, befides the free-will offering for the house of God that & in Jerufalem. 5 Then rofe up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whofe fpirit God had raised to go up to build the heufe of the LORD which is in Jerufalem. 6 And all they that were about them ftrengthened their hands with veffels of filver, with gold, with goods, and with beafts, and with precious things, befides all that was willingly offered. 7 Allo Cyrus the king brought forth the veffels of the houfe of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerufalem, and had put them in the houfe of his gods; 8 Even thofe did Cyrus king of Perfia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treafurer, and numbered them unto Shefhbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of filver, nine and twenty knives, 10 Thirty bafons of gold, filver bafons of a fecond fort four hundred and ten, and other veffels a thoufand. 11 All the veffels of gold and of filver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Shehbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from on unto Jerufalem. CHAP. II. Baby 1 The number that rerned. 62 of the priests which could not sher their pedigree, Now there are the children of the pro vince that went up out of the captivity, of thofe which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylif had carried away unto Babylon, and camp again unto Jerufalem and Judah, every act unto his city: 2 Which came with Zerubbabel: Jefu Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, B than, Mifpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. T number of the men of the people of Urael. 3 The children of Paroth, two thouard an hundred feventy and two. 4 The children of Shephatiah, three huny dred feventy and two. 5 The children of Arah, feven hundred feventy and five. 6 The children of Pahath-Moab, of th children of Jethua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve. The children of Elam, a thousand tw hundred fifty and four. 8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five. The children of Zaccal, feven hundred and threefcore. 10 The children of Bani, fix hundred forty and two. II The children of Bebai, fix hundred twenty and three. 12 The children of Azgad, a thoufară two hundred twenty and two. 13 The children of Adonikam, fix hundni fixty and fix. 14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and fix. 15 The children of Adin, four hundre fifty and four. 16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. 17 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three. 18 The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve. 19 The children of Hashum, two hundreć twenty and three. 20 The children of Gibbar, ninety and fire. 21 The children of Beth-ichem, anhus dred twenty and three. 22 The men of Netophah, fifty and fix. 23. The men of Anathoth, an hundre. twenty and eight. 24 The children of Azmaveth, forty and tw 25 The children of Kirjath-arim, Chephy rah and Beeroth, feven hundred and fires and three. 26 The children of Ramah and Gabs, fix hundred twenty and one. 27 The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two. 28 The men of Beth-el and Ai, twa bar dred twenty and three. 29 The children of Nebo, fifty and twe 30 The children of Magbith, an in fifty and fix. eventeen. 40 7 The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Radmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, eventy and four. 41 The fingers: the children of Afaph, an hundred twenty and eight. 4: The children of the porters: the chiltres of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Tahnon: the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shoal, in all, an hundred thirty and nine. 41 The Nethinims: the children of Zithe children of Hafupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 44 The children of Keros, the children of Hala, the children of Padon, 4 The children of Lebanah, the children Hagabah, the children of Akkub, 46 The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmal, the children of Hanan, 47 The children of Giddel, the children Gabar, the children of Reaiah, 48 The children of Rezin, the children of Bekoda, the children of Gazzam, 61 And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; (which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillaithe GileadIte, and was called after their name;) 62 Thefe fought their register among thofe that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the pricithood. 63 And the Tirthatha faid unto them, that they should not eat of the moti holy things, till there ftood up a prieft with Úrim and with Thummim. 67 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five, their affes, fix thoufand feven hundred and twenty. 68 And fome of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the houfe of the LORD, which is at Jerufalem, offered freely for the houfe of God to fet it up in his place: 69 They gave after their ability, unto the treafure of the work, threefcore and one thoufand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of filver, and one hundred prieits garments. 70 So the priefts, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the fingers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Ifrael in their cities. CHAP. III. r The altar is fet up. 4 Offerings frequented. 8 The foundations of the temple laid. to The children of Uzza, the children of ANd when the seventh month was come Fafeah, the children of Befai, fo The children of Afnal, the children of Mehanim, the children of Nephufim, 31 The children of Bakbuk, the children 551 The children of Solomons fervants: 16 The children of Jaalah, the children of Balon, the children of Gidde, 17 The children of Shephatiah, the chil. Tren of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Zebaim, the children of Ami. 58 All the Nethinims, and the children of Salomons fervants, were three hundred nineby and two. 59 And there were they which went up or Tel-melah, Tel-harfa, Cherub, Addan, d lamer; but they could not thew their athers life, and their feed, whether they of Ifrael. Go The children of Delaiah, the children Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, fix hunfifty and two. and the children of Ifrael were in the cities, the people gathered themfelves together as one man to Jerufalem. 2 Then stood up Jefhua, the fon of Jozadak, and his brethren the pricits, and Zerubbabel, the fon of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Ifracl, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Mofes the man of God. 3 And they fet the altar upon his bafes : (for fear was upon them because of the people of thofe countries,) and they offered burnt-offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt-offerings morning and evening. 4 They kept alfo the feaft of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burntofferings, by number, according to the cuttom, as the duty of every day required; 5 And afterward offered the continual burntoffering, both of the new-moons, and of all the fet featts of the LORD that were confe crated, and of every one that willingly offered a free-will offering unto the LORD. 6 From the firtt day of the feventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the Lonp: but the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. 7 They gave money alfo unto the mafons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to thean of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the fea of Joppa: according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Perfia. 8. Now, in the fecond year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerufalem, in the fecond month began Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel and Jehua, the fon of Joza dak, and the remnant of their brethren the priefts and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerufalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to fet forward the work of the houfe of the LORD. 9 Then stood Jeshua, with his fons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his fons, the fons of Judah, together, to fet forward the workmen in the house of God; the fons of Henadad, with their fons and their brethren the Levites. 10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they fet the prieits in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the fons of Afaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Ifrael. 11 And they fung together by courfe, in praifing and giving thanks unto the LORD: because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Ifrael. And all the people thouted with a great fhout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the houfe of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers who were ancient inen, that had feen the first houfe, when the foundation of this houfe was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many houted aloud for joy; 13 So that the people could not difcern the noife of the thout of joy from the noife of the weeping of the people: for the people fhouted with a loud fhout, and the noife was heard afar off CHA P. IV. The building hindered. 7 The letter to Artaxerxes 17 his decree. Now, when the adverfaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Ifrael, 2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and faid unto them, Let us build with you; for we feek your God as ye do ; and we do facrifice unto him, fince the days of Efar-hadden king of Ashur, which brought us up hither. 3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the reft of the chief of the fathers of Ifrael, faid unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an houfe unto our God; but we our selves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus, the king of Perfia, hath commanded us. 4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and trou bled them in building; 5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Perfia, even until the reign of Darius king of Perfia. 6 And in the reign of Ahafuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accufation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, 7¶ And in the days of Artaxerxes WTON Biihlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the r of their companions, unto Artaxerxes King of Pertia; and the writing of the letter written in the Syrian tongue, and interpre ted in the Syrian tongue. 8 Rehum the chancellor, and Shirathal the fcribe, wrote a letter against Jerufalem t Artaxerxes the king, in this fort: 9 Then wrote Rehum the chanceller, and Shimfhai the scribe, and the refl of the companions: the Dinaites, the Apharfath chites, the Tarpelites, the Aphariites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Sufanchite the Dehavites, and the Elamites, 10 And the reft of the nations whom the great and noble Afnapper brought over, and fet in the cities of Samaria, and the reft th are on this fide the river, and at fuch a time 11 This is the copy of the letter that they fent unto him, even unto Artaxerxo the king; Thy fervants, the men on this fide the river, and at fuch a time. 12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews, which came up from thee to us, are come unto Jerufalem, building the rebellio and the bad city, and have fet up the walla thereof, and joined the foundations. 13 Be it known now unto the king, tha if this city be builded, and the wall fetop again, then will they not pay tall, tribute and cuftom, and fe thou shalt endamage that revenue of the kings. 14 Now, because we have maintenance from the kings palace, and it was not melt for us to fee the kings difhonour, therefore have we fent and certified the king. 15 That fearch may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: fo thalt that find in the book of the records, and know, that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they hast moved fedition within the fame of cld time; for which caufe was this city deftroyed. 16 We certify the king, that if this city be builded again, and the walls theretf fet up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this fide the river. 17 Then fent the king an answer ucts Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimthai the fcribe, and to the rest of their companies that dwell in Samaria, and who the rent yond the river, Peace, and at fuch a time. 18 The letter which ye fent unsə an bath been plainly read before me, 19 And I commanded, and fearch bath been made, and it is found, that this ch of old time hath made infurrection apare kings, and that rebellion and fedition hare been made therein. 20 There have been mighty kinga alfr over Jerufalem, which have ruled over al countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute. and cuftom, was paid unto them, 21 Give ye now commandment to cruis these men to ceafe, and that this city be n puilded, until another commandment fht.. be given from me. 22 Take heed now that ye fail not to ¿ this: why fhould damage grow to the ber of the kings? 23 Now, when the copy of king Ar taxerxes letter was read before Rehum, and |