THE BOOK OF 1 1 Cyrus's Proclamation concerning the Temple. The Temple Treasures restored Now in the first year of 1 Cyrus | vah, which Nebuchadnezzar had king of Persia, that the word of brought forth out of Jerusalem, Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah and had put in the house of his might be accomplished, Jehovah gods; 8 even those did Cyrus king stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of of Persia, so that he made a procla- Mithredath the treasurer, and nummation throughout all his kingdom, bered them unto Sheshbazzar, the and put it also in writing, saying, prince of Judah. 9 And this is the 2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, number of them: thirty platters of All the kingdoms of the earth hath gold, a thousand platters of silver, Jehovah, the God of heaven, given nine and twenty knives, 10 thirty me; and he hath charged me to bowls of gold, silver bowls of a secbuild him a house in Jerusalem, ond sort four hundred and ten, and which is in Judah. 3 Whosoever other vessels a thousand. 11 All there is among you of all his people, the vessels of gold and of silver were his God be with him, and let him go five thousand and four hundred. up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, and build the house of Jehovah, the when they of the captivity were God of Israel (he is God), which is brought up from Babylon unto in Jerusalem. 4 And whosoever is Jerusalem. left, in any place where he sojourn Now these are the children of eth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, besides the freewill-offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem. 5 Then rose up the heads of fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up to build the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem. 6 And all they that were round about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered. 7 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of JehoHab. Coresh. he is the God who is in Jerusalem the province, that went up out of the captivity of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and that returned unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; 2 who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, 5 Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, 7 Rehum, Baanah. 6 The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3 The children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred seventy and two. 4 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. 5 The children of 3 Heb. Nebuchadnezzor. List of those who returned from Babylon Arah, seven hundred seventy and 4 In Neh. 7. 28, Beth-azmaveth. 5 In Neh. 7. 29, Kiriath-jearim. forty and five. 35 The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty. 36 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. 37 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. 38 The children of Pashhur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. 39 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. 40 The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of 6 Hodaviah, seventy and four. 41 The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight. 42 The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all a hundred thirty and nine. 43 The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 44 the children of Keros, the children of 7 Siaha, the children of Padon, 45 the children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub, 46 the children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of Hanan, 47 the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, 48 the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, 49 the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, 50 the children of Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephisim, 51 the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 52 the children of 10 Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 53 the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah, 54 the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 55 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the In ch. 3. 9, Judah. In Neh. 7. 43, Hoderah. 7 In Neh. 7. 47, Sia. 8 In Neh. 7. 48, Salmai. 9 Another reading is, Nephusim. In Neh. 7. 52, Nephushesim. 10 In Neh. 7. 54, Bazlith. The Number of those who returned. Sacrificial Worship resumed children of Hassophereth, the Jerusalem, offered willingly for the children of 2 Peruda, 56 the chil- house of God to set it up in its dren of Jaalah, the children of Dar- place: 69 they gave after their kon, the children of Giddel, 57 the ability into the treasury of the children of Shephatiah, the children work threescore and one thousand of Hattil, the children of Pochereth- darics of gold, and five thousand hazzebaim, the children of 3 Ami. pounds of silver, and one hundred 58 All the Nethinim, and the chil- priests' garments. dren of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two. 4 59 And these were they that went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub Addan, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers' houses, and their seed, whether they were of Israel: 60 the children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two. 61 And of the children of the priests: the children of 5 Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name. 62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. 63 And the governor said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim. 64 The whole assembly together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, 65 besides their men-servants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven and they had two hundred singing men and singing women. 66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five; 67 their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty. 68 And some of the heads of fathers' houses, when they came to the house of Jehovah which is in 1 In Neh. 7. 57, Sophereth. 2 In Neh. 7. 57, Perida. In Neh. 7. 59, Amon. Neh. 7. 61, Addon. were polluted from the priesthood. 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. 3 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 son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burntofferings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. 3 And they set the altar upon its base; for fear was upon them because of the peoples of the countries: and they offered burntofferings thereon unto Jehovah, even burnt-offerings morning and evening. 4 And they kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burntofferings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required; 5 and afterward the continual burnt-offering, and the offerings of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of Jehovah that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill-offering unto Jehovah. 6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah: but the foundation of the temple of Jehovah was not yet laid. 7 They gave money also unto the And when the seventh month masons, and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, unto them of Sidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, unto Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia. 7 Heb. maneh. 8 Or, in its place 9 Or, hewers 4 Rebuilding of the Temple begun. 8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity into Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of Jehovah. Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of 2Judah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites. 10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Jehovah, after the order of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang one to another in praising and giving thanks unto Jehovah, saying, For he is good, for his lovingkindness endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Jehovah, because the foundation of the house of Jehovah was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, the old men that had seen 5 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. Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple unto Jehovah, the God of Israel; 2 then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads 1 Or, set forward the work 2 In ch. 2. 40, Hodaviah. 4 3 Heb. as one. 4 According to some MSS., the priests stood. 3 Or, the first house standing on its foundation, when this house was before their eyes Adversaries write to Artaxerxes. of fathers' houses, and said unto them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as ye do; and we sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up hither. 3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us in building a house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. 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, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 And in the days of 9 Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the 10 Syrian character, and set forth in the 10 Syrian tongue. 8 11 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: 9 then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites, 10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, and set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth. 11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto Artaxerxes the king: Thy servants the men beyond the River, and so forth. 12 Be it 6 Another reading is, yet we do not sacrifice since &c. 7 Or, terrified' 8 Or, Yerres Heb. Ahashverosh. 9 Heb. Artahshashta. 10 Or, Aramaic 11 Ch. 4. 8-6. 18 is in Aramaic. The King orders the Work to cease. Work of building the Temple resumed known unto the king, that the Jews | Artaxerxes' letter was read before that came up from thee are come to Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, us unto Jerusalem; they are build- and their companions, they went in ing the rebellious and the bad city, haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and have finished the walls, and re- and made them to cease by force paired the foundations. 13 Be it and power. 24 Then ceased the known now unto the king, that, if work of the house of God which is this city be builded, and the walls at Jerusalem; and it ceased until finished, they will not pay tribute, the second year of the reign of custom, or toll, and in the end it Darius king of Persia. will be hurtful unto the kings. 14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not meet for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king; 15 that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou 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 have moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste. 16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, by this means thou shalt have no portion beyond the River. 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 in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. 18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been 2 plainly read before me. 19 And I decreed, and search 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. 20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid unto them. 21 Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me. 22 And take heed that ye be not slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 23 Then when the copy of king 3 5 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel prophesied they unto 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, helping them. 3 At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall? 4 Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were that were making this building. 5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, till the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it. 6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent unto Darius the king; 7 they sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all peace. 8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goeth on with diligence and prospereth in their hands. 9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, 3 Or, which was upon them |