THE BOOKE OF NEHEMIAS. which also is called: THE SECOND OF ESDRAS. Chap. I. Nehemias hearing the miserable state of his countrie men in Iurie, 4. lamenteth, fasteth, and prayeth God for their relief. ^note

1   The wordes of ^note Nehemias the sonne of Helchias. And it came to passe in the moneth of Casleu, the twenteth yeare, and I was in Susis the castel.

2   And Hanani one of my brethren came, him selfe and men of Iuda, and I asked them of the Iewes, that remayned, and were left aliue of the captiuitie, and of Ierusalem.

3   And they sayd to me: They that remayned, and are left of the captiuitie there in the prouince, are in great affliction, and in reproche: and the wal of Ierusalem is broken downe, and the gates therof are burnt with fire.

4   And when I had heard these maner of wordes, I sate, and wept, and mourned many dayes: and fasted, and prayed before the face of the God of heauen.

5   And I sayd: I besech thee Lord God of heauen, strong, great, and terrible, which keepest couenant & mercie with them that loue thee, and keepe thy c&obar;mandmentes:

6   let thine eares be harkning, and thine eyes open, to heare the prayer of thy seruant, which I pray before thee this day, night & day for the children of Israel thy seruantes: and I confesse for the sinnes of the children of Israel, in which they haue sinned to thee: I & my fathers house haue sinned,

7   we haue bene seduced with vanitie, and haue not kept thy commandments, and cerimonies and iudgement, which thou hast commanded to Moyses thy seruant.

8   Remember the word, that thou didst command vnto Moyses thy seruant, saying: When you shal transgresse, I will depresse you into peoples:

9   and if you returne to me, and keepe my precepts, and doe them, although you shal be led away to the vttermost partes of heauen, thence wil I gather you, and bring you backe into the place, which I haue chosen that my name should dwel there.

10   And they are thy seruantes, and thy people: whom thou hast redemed in thy great strength, and in thy mighty hand.

11   I besech thee Lord, let thine eare be attent to the prayer of thy seruant, and

Nehemias. to the prayer of thy seruants, which will feare thy name: and direct thy seruant this day, and giue him mercy before this man. for I was the kings cupbearer Chap. II. Nehemias obtaining commi&esset;ion from king Artaxerxes cometh to Ierusalem: 11. secretty vieweth the broken walles, and ruines of the citie, 17. and exhorteth al the Iewes to the reedifying therof.

1   And it came to passe in the moneth of Nisan, the twentith yeare of Artaxerxes the king: and there was wine before him, and I lifted vp the wine, and gaue to the king: and I was as it were languishing before his face.

2   And the king sayd to me: Why is thy countenance sad, whereas I doe not see thee sicke? this is not without cause, but some euil I know not what, is in thy hart. And I was very much and excedingly afrayd:

3   and I sayd to the king: O king for euer mayst thou liue: why should not my countenance be heauie, because the citie of the house of the sepulchres of my fathers is desolate, and the gates therof are burnt with fire?

4   And the king sayd to me: For what thing makest thou request? And I prayed the God of heauen,

5   and I sayd to the king: If it seme good to the king, and if thy seruant do please before thy face, thou send me into Iewrie to the citie of the sepulchre of my father, and I wil build it.

6   And the king sayd to me, and the Queene that sate by him: Vnto what time wil thy iourney be, and when wilt thou returne? And it pleased before the king, and he sent me: and I appoynted him a time.

7   And I sayd to the king: If it seme good to the king, let him geue me letters to the gouernours of the country beyond the Riuer, that they conduct me, til I come into Iewrie:

8   and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the kings' forest, to geue me timber that I may couer the gates of the towre of the house, and the walles of the citie, and the house that I shal enter into. And the king gaue according to the good hand of my God with me.

9   And I came to the dukes of the countrie beyond the Riuer, and gaue them the kings letters. And the king had sent with me captaynes of soldiers, and horsemen.

10   And Sanaballat an Horonite, and Tobias a seruant an Ammonite heard it, and ^note were greiued with great affliction, that a man was come, which sought the prosperitie of the children of Israel.

11   And I came to Ierusalem and was there

Nehemias. three dayes.

12   and I arose in the night, I and a few men with me, and I told not anie man what God had put in my hart to doe in Ierusalem, and there was no beast with me, but the beast wheron I sate.

13   And I went out by the gate of the valley by night, and before the fountayne of the dragon, and to the gate of the dung, and I viewed the wal of Ierusalem broken downe, and the gates therof consumed with fire.

14   And I passed to the gate of the fountayne, and to the kinges conduite, and there was no place for the beast where on I sat, to passe.

15   And I went vp by the torrent in the night, and viewed the wal, and going backe I came to the gate of the valley, and returned.

16   But the magistrastes knew not whither I went, or what I did: yea and to the Iewes, and the Priestes, and the nobles, and the magistrates, and the rest that did the worke vntil then I had shewed nothing.

17   And I sayd to them: You know the affliction wherin we are, because Ierusalem is made desolate, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire: Come, and let vs build the walles of Ierusalem, and let vs be no longer a reproch.

18   And I shewed them ^note the hand of my God, that it was good with me, and the kings wordes, which he had spoken to me, and I sayd: Let vs rise, and let vs build. And their handes were incouraged in good.

19   But Sanaballat the Horonite, and Tobias the seruant an Ammanite, and Gosem an Arabian heard of it, and they scorned vs, and despysed vs, and sayd: What is this thing, that you doe? Why do you rebel against the king?

20   And I answered them, and sayd to them: The God of heauen he helpeth vs, and we are his seruants: let vs rise and build: but you haue no part, nor iustice, nor memorie in Ierusalem. Chap. III. The High Priest and others beginne to repaire Ierusalem streingthning it with an vttermost, ^note 19. middle, 28. and innermost wall with towres and gates.

1   And Eliasib the high Priest arose, and his bretheren the Priestes: and they built the gate of the flocke: they sanctified it, and set the doores therof, and vnto the towre of an hundred cubites they ^note sanctified it, vnto the towre of Hananeel.

2   And besides him did the men of Iericho build, and besides him built Zachur the sonne of Amri.

3   But the fishgate the children of Asnaa did builde: they couered it,

Nehemias. and set vp the doores therof, and the lockes, and barres. And besides them built Marimuth the sonne of Vrias the sonne of Accas.

4   And besides him built Mosollam the sonne of Bazachias, the sonne of Merezebel, and besides them built Sadoc the sonne of Baana.

5   And beside them builded the Thecuenes: but their great men did not put vnder their neckes in the worke of their Lord.

6   And Ioiada the sonne of Phasea, and Mosollam the sonne of Besodia built the oldgate couered it, and set vp the doores therof, and the lockes, and barres.

7   And beside them built Meltias a Gabaonite, and Iadon a Meronathite, men of Gabaon and Maspha, for the duke that was in the country beyond the Riuer.

8   And beside him built Eziel the sonne of Araia a goldsmith: and beside him built Ananias the sonne of a Pigmentarie: and they leift Ierusalem vnto the wal of the broder streate.

9   And beside him built Raphaia the sonne of Hur, prince of the streate of Ierusalem.

10   And beside them Iedaia the sonne of Haromaph against his house: and beside him built Hattus the sonne of Hasebomia.

11   The halfe part of the streate built Melchias the sonne of Herem, and Hasub the sonne of Phahath Moab, and the towre of the fornaces.

12   And beside him built Sellum the sonne of Alohes prince of the halfe part of the streate of Ierusalem, he and his daughters.

13   And the gate of the valley built Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoe: they built it, and sette vp the dores therof, and the lockes, and barres, and a thousand cubites in the wal vnto the gate of the dunghil.

14   And the gate of the dunghil built Melchias the sonne of Rechab, the prince of the streate of Bethacaram: he built it, and sette vp the dores therof, and the lockes, and barres.

15   And the gate of the fountayne Sellum builded the sonne of Colhoza, prince of the village of Maspha: he built it, and couered it, and set vp the doores therof, & the lockes, & barres, and the walles of the poole of Siloe vnto the kings gard&ebar;, and vnto the steppes that goe downe from the citie of Dauid.

16   After him built Nehemias the sonne of Azboc prince of the halfe part of the streate of Bethsur, as far as ouer against the sepulchre of Dauid, and vnto the poole, that is built with great worke, and vnto the house of the valiants.

17   After him the Leuites builded, Rehum the sonne of Benni. After him built Hasebias prince of the halfe part of the streate of Ceila in his streate.

18   After him built their bretheren Bauai the

Nehemias. sonne of Enadad, prince of the halfe part of Ceila.

19   And beside him built Azer the sonne of Iosue, the prince of Maspha the second measure, against the visiting of the most sure corner.

20   After him in the mount built Baruch the sonne of Zachai the second measure, from the corner vnto the gate of the house of Eliasib the high Priest.

21   After him built Merimuth the sonne of Vrias the sonne of Haccus, the sec&obar;d measure, from the gate of the house of Eliasib, as far as the house of Eliasib extended.

22   And after him built the Priests, men of the champayne of Iordan.

23   After him built Beniamin & Hasub against their house: & after him built Azarias the sonne of Masias the sonne of Ananias against his house.

24   After him built Bennui the sonne of Hanadad the second measure, from the house of Azarias vnto the bending, and vnto the corner.

25   Phalel the sonne of Ozi against the bending and the towre, which appeareth from out of the kings high house, that is, in the court of the prison: after him Phadaia the sonne of Pharos.

26   And the Nathineites dwelt in Ophel, as far as ouer against the gate of waters toward the East, and the towre that stoode out.

27   After him the Thecuenes builded the second measure ouer against, from the great and eminent towre vnto the wall of the temple.

28   And vpward to the gate of horses the Priestes built, euery man against his house.

29   After them built Sadoc the sonne of Emmer against his house. And after him built Semaia the sonne of Sechenias, keeper of the East gate.

30   After him built Hanania the sonne of Selemia, and Hanun the sonne of Seleph the sixth, the second measure: after him built Mosollam the sonne of Barachias, against his treasurie. After him Melchias a goldsmith sonne vnto the house of the Natheneites, and of them that sold old stuffe against the iudgement gate, and vnto the vpper chamber of the corner.

31   And within the vpper chamber of the corner in the gate of the flocke, the goldsmithes and marchants builded. Chap. IIII. Notwithstanding the enimies rage and oppose against the building of walles, 4. the Iewes build with one hand, and hold their swordes in the other. Nehemias encorageth them, and the worke proceedeth.

1   And it came to passe, when Sanaballat had heard that we builded the wal, he was very angrie: and being

moued excedingly he scorned the Iewes.

2   and sayd before his bretheren, and the multitude of the Samaritanes: What doe ^notethe sillie Iewes? Wil the gentiles let them alone? Shal they sacrifice and accomplish in one day? Why, are they able to build vp the stones out of the heapes of dust, that are burnt?

3   Yea Tobias also the Ammanite his neighbour sayd: Let them build: if a fox come vp, he shal leape ouer their stone wal.

4   Heare our God, because we are had in dispise: turne the reproch vpon their head, and giue them into dispite in a Land of captiuitie.

5   Couer not their iniquitie, and let not their sinne be put out before thy face, because they haue mocked thy builders.

6   Therfore we built the wal, and ioyned together the whole vnto the halfe part: and the hart of the people was prouoked to worke.

7   And it came to passe, when Sanaballat had heard, and Tobias, and the Arabians, and the Ammanites, and the Azotians, that the breach of the wal of Ierusalem was closed vp, and the gates began to be stopped, they were wrath excedingly.

8   And they were al assembled together, to come, and to fight against Ierusalem, and to prepare embushments.

9   And we prayed our God, and set watchmen vpon the wal day and night against them.

10   And Iudas sayd: The strength of him that carrieth is weakened, & the morter is very much, and we shal not be able to build the wal.

11   And our enimies sayd: Let them not know, and let them be ignorant, til we come into the midest of them, and kil them, and make their worke to cease.

12   And it came to passe, the Iewes that dwelt beside them, coming and telling vs ten times, out of al places from whence they came to vs,

13   I sette the people in a place behind the wal round about in order, with their swordes, and speares, and bowes.

14   And I looked and rose vp: & I sayd to the princes and magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: Be not afrayd at their face: Remember our Lord great and terrible, and fight for your bretheren, your sonnes, and your daughters, and your wiues, and your houses.

15   And it came to passe, when our enimies had heard that it was told vs, God defeted their counsel. And we returned al to the walles, euery man to his worke.

16   And it came to passe from that day, the halfe part of their yongmen did the worke, and halfe was ready to battel, and speares, & sheilds, and bowes, and cotes of mayle, and the princes behind them in al the house of Iuda

17   of

Nehemias. them that built in the wal, and that carried burdens, and that laded them: with one of his hands he did the worke, & with the other he held a sword:

18   for euery one of the builders was girded with a sword about his reynes. And they builded, and sounded with the trumpet nere me.

19   And I sayd to the princes, and to the magistrates, & to the rest of the common people: The worke is great and broad, and we are seperated in the wal one far from an other:

20   in what place soeuer you shal heare the sound of the trumpet, thither runne together vnto vs: our God wil fight for vs.

21   And let vs our selues doe the worke: and let the halfe part of vs hold speares from the rysing of the morning, til the starres appeare.

22   At that time also I sayd to the people: Let euery man with his seruant tarry in the middes of Ierusalem, and let there be courses among vs by day and night to worke.

23   And I and my bretheren, and my seruants, and the watchmen, that were behinde me, did not put of our clothes: euery man was made bare only to washing. Chap. V. Nehemias blameth couetous richmen, for oppre&esset;ing the poore. 14. himselfe geueth largely of his owne to the needie.

1   And there was ^note a great crie of the people, and of their wiues against their brethren the Iewes.

2   And there were that said. Our sonnes and our daughters are verie manie: let vs take corne for the price of them, and let vs eate, and liue.

3   And there were that sayd: Let vs pledge our fieldes, and vineyardes, and our houses, and let vs take corne in famine.

4   And others sayd: Let vs borow money for the kings tributes, and let vs giue our fields and vineyardes,

5   and now as the flesh of our bretheren, so is our flesh: and as their children so also our children. behold we subdew our sonnes, and our daughters into bondage, and our daughters there are bondwemen, neither haue we wherewith they may be redemed, and our fieldes and our vineyardes other men doe possesse.

6   And I was exceding angrie, when I had heard their crie according to these wordes.

7   And my hart thought with my selfe: and I rebuked the princes and magistrates, and sayd to them: Do you euery one exact vsuries of your brethen? and I gathered against them a great assemblie,

8   and I sayd to them: We as you know, haue redemed our bretheren the

Nehemias. Iewes, that were sold to the gentiles, according to our abilitie: and wil you therfore sel your bretheren, and shal we redeme them? And they held their peace, neither did they find what to answer.

9   And I sayd to them: The thing is not good, which you doe: why walke you not in the feare of our God, lest we be vpbrayded with al the gentiles our enimies? ^note

10   I also and my bretheren, and my seruantes, haue lent money and corne to very manie: let vs not aske this againe in common, let vs remitte them the debt, that is dewe to vs.

11   Restore ye to them their fieldes this day, and their vineyards, and their oliuets, and their houses: yea the hundreth part also of money, corne, wine and oyle, which you were wont to exact of them, giue it rather for them.

12   And they sayd: We wil restore, and we wil secke nothing of them: and we wil do so as thou speakest. And I called the Priestes, and adiured them, to do according to that which I had sayd.

13   Moreouer I shooke my bosome, and sayd: God so shake euery man, that shal not accomplish this word, out of his house, and out of his labours, so be he shaken out, and made emptie. And al the multitude sayd: Amen. And they praysed God. And the people did as it was sayd.

14   And from that day, wherin the king commended me to the duke in the land of Iuda, from the twenteth yeare til the two & thirteth yeare of Artaxerxes the king for twelue yearees, I and my bretheren did not eate the yearly allowance, that was dewe to the dukes.

15   But the former dukes, that had bene before me, burdened the people, and tooke of them in bread, and wine, and money euery day fourtie sicles: yea and their officers oppressed the people. But I did not so for the feare of God.

16   Yea I builded rather in the worke of the wal, and field I bought not, and al my seruantes were gathered together to the worke.

17   Tke Iewes also and the magistrates an hundred fiftie men, and they that came to vs out of the nations, that were round about vs were at the table.

18   And there was prepared for me day by day one oxe, six chosen rammes, beside foules, and within ten dayes diuers wines, & many other things did I giue. Moreouer also the yearly allowance of my dukedome I sought not, for the people was very much empouerished.

19    ^noteRemember me my God to good, according to al things, which I haue done to this people

Nehemias. Chap. VI. The enemies guilfully offer to make league with the Iewes 3. but Nehemias procedeth in building the walles: 16. and al bordering nations feare them.

1   And it came to passe, when Sanaballat had heard, and Tobias, and Gossem the Arabian, and the rest of our enimies, that I did build the wal, and there was no breach remayning in it (how beit at that time I had not put the doores in the gates)

2   Sanaballat and Gossem sent to me, saying: Come, and ^note let vs make a league together in the villages, in the field of Ono: But they thought to doe me euil.

3   I sent therfore messengers to them, saying: I am doing a great worke, and I can not goe downe, lest perhaps it be neglected when I shal come, and descend to you.

4   But they sent to me according to this word, foure times: and I answered them according to the former word.

5   And Sanaballat sent his seruant to me the fifth time according to the former word, and he had a letter in his hand written in this maner: Among the Gentiles it is heard, and Gossem hath sayd, that thou and the Iewes meane to rebel, and therfore thou buildest the wal, and wil aduance thy selfe king ouer them: for which cause

7   thou hast sette vp prophettes also, which should preach of thee in Ierusalem, saying: There is a king in Iurie: The king wil heare of these thinges: therfore come now, that we may take counsel together.

8   And I sent to them, saying: It is not done according to these words, which thou speakest: for thou framest these things of thine owne hart.

9   For al these terrified vs, thinking that our hands would cease from the worke, and we would leaue of. For which cause I did the more strengthen my hands:

10   and I entred into the house of Samaia the sonne of Dalaia the sonne of Metabeel secretly. who sayd: Let vs consult with our selues in the house of God in the middes of the temple: and Let vs shutte the doores of the temple because they wil come to kil thee, and in the night they wil come to slea thee.

11   And I sayd: Doth any man that is like vnto me flee? and who being as I am, wil goe into the temple, and liue? I wil not goe in.

12   And I vnderstood that God had not sent him, but as it were prophicying he had spoken to me, and Tobias, and Sanaballat had hyred him.

13   For he had taken a price, that I being terrified should do it, and sinne, and they might haue

Nehemias. some euil to vpbraid me withal.

14   Remember me Lord for Tobias and Sanaballat, according to such their workes. Yea and Noadias the prophete, and the rest of the prophetes that terrified me

15   But the wal was finished the fiue and twenteth day of the moneth of Elul, in two and fiftie dayes.

16   It came to passe therfore when al our enimies had heard it, that al nations which were round about vs, feared, & were dismayed within them selues, and knew that this worke was done of God.

17   But in those dayes also many letters of the principal Iewes were sent to Tobias, and from Tobias there came to them.

18   For there were many in Iurie sworne vnto him, because he was the sonne in law of Sechenias the sonne of Area, and Iohanan his sonne had taken the daughter of Mosollam the sonne of Barachias.

19   Yea and they praysed him before me, and they reported my words vnto him: and Tobias sent letters to terrifie me. Chap. VII. Nehemias appointeth watchmen in Ierusalem, 5. and calling the people together reciteth the number of those, which came frrst from Babylon. 68. likewise of their cattel, 70. and the giftes of certaine chiefe men towards the reparations.

1   And after the wal was built, & I had put on the doores, and numbred the porters, and singing men, and Leuites:

2   I commanded Hanani my brother, and Hananias prince of the house of Ierusalem (for he semed as it were a true man, and one that feared God aboue the rest)

3   and I sayd to them: Let not the gates of Ierusalem be opened vntil the heate of the sunne. And when they yet stood by, the gates were shut, and barred: and I sette ^note watchmen of the inhabitants of Ierusalem, euery one by their courses, and euery man against his house.

4   And the citie was exceding large and great, and the people few in the middes therof, & there were no houses built.

5   But God gaue me in my hart, and I assembled the princes and magistrates, and common people, that I might number them: and I found a booke of the number of them, that came vp first, and there was found written in it:

6   These are the children of the prouince, which came vp from the captiuitie of them that were transported, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had transported, and returned into Iurie, euery one into his owne citie.

7   They

Nehemias. that came with Zorobabel, Iosue, Nehemias, Azarias, Rahamias, Nahamani, Mardochæus, Belsam, Mespharath, Begoai, Nahum, Baana. The number of the men of the people of Israel.

8   The children of Pharos, two thousand an hundred seuenty two.

9   The children of Saphatia, three hundred seuentie two.

10   The children of Area, six hundred fiftie two.

11   The children of Phahathmoab of the children of Iosue and Ioab, two thousand eight hundred eightene.

12   The children of Aelam, a thousand two hundred fiftie foure

13   The children Zethua, eight hundred fourtie fiue.

14   The childeren of Zachai, seuen hundred sixtie.

15   The childeren of Bannui, six hundred fourtie eight.

16   The children of Bebai, six hundred twentie eight.

17   The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twentie two.

18   The childeren of Adonicam, six hundred sixtie seuen.

19   The children of Beguai, two thousand sixtie seuen.

20   The childeren of Adin, six hundred fiftie fiue.

21   The childeren of Ater, childeren of Hezecias ninetie eight.

22   The childeren of Hasem, three hundred twentie eight

23   The children of Besai, three hundred twentie foure.

24   The children of Hareph, an hundred twelue

25   The children of Gabaon, nyntie fiue.

26   The childeren of Betlehem, and Nerupha, an hundred eightie eight.

27   The men of Anathoth, an hundred twentie eight.

28   The men of Bethazmoth, fourtie two.

29   The men of Cariathiarim, Cephira, and Beroth seuen hundred fourtie three.

30   The men of Rama and Geba, six hundred twentie one.

31   The men of Machmas, an hundred twentie two.

32   The men of Bethel and Hai, an hundred twentie three.

33   The men of an other Nebo, fiftie two.

34   The men of an other Aelam, a thousand, two hundred fiftie foure.

35   The childeren of Harem, three hundred twentie.

36    The childeren of Iericho, three hundred fourtie fiue.

37   The childeren of Lod Hadid and Ono, seuen hundred twentie one.

38   The childeren of Senaa, three thousand nine hundred thirtiie.

39   The Priests: The children of Idaia in the house of Iosue, nine hundred three.

40   The childeren of Emmer, a thousand fiftie two.

41   The childeren of Phashur, a thousand two hundred fourtie seuen.

42   The children of Arem, a thousand seuentene. The Leuites:

43   The children of Iosue & Cedmiel, the children

44   of Cenia, seuentie foure: The singing men:

45   the childeren of Asaph, an hundred fourtie eight.

46   The porters: The childeren of Sellum, the

Nehemias. childeren of Ater, the childeren of Telmon, the childeren of Accub, the childeren of Hatita, the childeren of Sobai: an hundred thirtie eight.

47   The Nathineites: The childeren of Soha, the childeren of Hasupha, the childeren of Tebbaath,

48   the childeren of Ceros, the childeren of Siaa, the childeren of Phadon, the childeren of Lebana, the childeren of Haguba, the childeren of Seimai,

49   the childeren of Hanan, the childeren of Geddel, the childeren of Gaher,

50   the childeren of Raaia, the childeren of Rasin, the childeren of Necoda,

51   the childeren of Gesem, the childeren of Aza, the childeren of Phasea,

52   the childeren of Besai, the childeren of Munim, the childeren of Nephussim,

53   the childeren of Bacbuc, the childeren of Hacupha, the childeren of Harur,

54   the childeren of Besloth, the childeren of Mahida, the childeren of Harsa,

55   the childeren of Bercos, the childeren of Sisara, the childeren of Thema,

56   the childeren of Nasia, the childeren of Hatipha,

57   the childeren of the seruantes of Salomon, the childeren of Sotai, the childeren of Sophereth, the childeren of Pharida,

58   the childeren of Iahala, the childeren of Darcon, the childeren of Ieddel,

59   the childeren of Saphia, the childeren of Hatil, the chideren of Phohereth, who was borne vnto Sabaim, the sonne of Amon.

60   Al Natheneites, and the childeren of the seruantes of Salomon, three hundred nyntie two.

61   But these be they which came vp from Thelmela, Thelharsa, Cherub, Addon, and Emmer: and could not shew the house of their fathers, and their seed, whether they were of Israel.

62   The children of Dalaia, the childeren of Tobia, the childeren of Necoda, six hundred fourtie two.

63   And of the Priests, the childeren of Habia, the childeren of Accos, the childeren of Berzellai, who tooke a wife of the daughters of Berzellai a Galeadite, and he was called by their name.

64   These sought their writing in the register, and found it not: & they were cast out of the Priesthood.

65   And Athersatha said to them, that they should not eate of the Holies of holies, vntil there stood vp a Priest learned and cunning.

66   Al the multitude as it were one man fourtie two thousand three hundred sixtie,

67   beside their men seruants and wemen seruantes, which were seuen thousand three hundred thirtie seuen: and among them singing men, & singing wemen, two hundred fourtie fiue.

68   Their horses, two hundred fourtie six their mules two hundred fourtie fiue,

69   their camels, foure

Nehemias. hundred thirtie fiue, asses six thousand seu&ebar; hundred twentie. Hitherto is reported what was written in the Register. From this place forward goeth on in order the historie of Nehemias. [Subnote: S. Ierom here noteth wh&ebar;ce he receiued eech part of this booke, which is al Canonical Scripture being al alike so declared by the Church.]

70   And certaine of the princes of families gaue vnto the worke. Athersatha gaue into the treasure of gold a thousand drachmas, phials fiftie, tunikes for Priestes fiue hundred thirtie.

71   And of the princes of families there gaue into the treasure of the worke of gold, twentie thousand drachmas, and of siluer two thousand two hundred pound.

72   And that which the rest of the people gaue, of gold twentie thousand drachmas, and of siluer two thousand pound, and tunikes for Priestes sixtie seuen.

73   And the Priestes and Leuites, and porters, and singing men, and the rest of the common people, and the Nathineites, and al Israel dwelt in their cities. And the seuenth moneth was come: and the childeren of Israel were in their cities. Chap. VIII ^note Esdras readeth the law before the people. 9. Nehemias conforteth them. 13. They celebrate the feast of tabernacles seuen dayes: 13. & of collection the eight day.

1   And al the people was gathered togethor as it were one man to the streate, which is before the water and they sayd to Esdras the scribe, that he should bring the booke of the law of Moyses, which our Lord had commanded Israel.

2   Esdras therfore the priest ^note brought the law before the multitude of men and wemen, and al that could vnderstand, in the first day of the seuenth moneth.

3   And he read it playnly in the streate that was before the water gate, from morning vntil midday, in the presence of the men, and wemen, and of these that vnderstood: and the eares of al the people were attent to the booke.

4   And Esdaas the scribe stood vpon a steppe of wood, which he made to speake vpon: and there stood by him Mathathias, and Semeia, and Ania, and Vria, and Helcia, and Maasia, on his right hand: and on the left: Phadaia, Misael, and Melchia, and Hasum, and Hasbadana, Zacharia, and Mosollam.

5   And Esdras opened the booke before al the people: for he appeared aboue al the people: and when he had opened it, al the people stood.

6   And Esdras blessed our Lord the great God: and al the people answred: Amen, amen: lifting vp their handes, and they bowed, and adored God flatte on the earth.

7   Moerouer Iosue, & Bani, and Serebia, Iamin, Accub, Septhai, Odia,

Nehemias. Maasia, Celita, Azarias, Iozabed, Hanan, Phalia: Leuites made silence in the people to heare the law: and the people stoode in their degree.

8   And they read in the booke of the law of God distinctly and playnly, for to vnderstand: and they vnderstood when it was read.

9   And Nehemias said (the same is ^note Athersatha) and Esdras the Priest and scribe, and the Leuites interpreting to al the people: It is a day sanctified to the Lord our God, mourne ye not, and weepe not. For al the people wept, when they heard the wordes of the law.

10   And he said to them: Goe, eate fat thinges, and drinck the sweete wine, and send portions to them, that haue not prepared for them selues: because it is the holie day of our Lord, and be not sade: for the ioy of our Lord is our strength.

11   And the Leuites made silence in al the people, saying: Hold your peace, because the day is holie, and be not sorowful.

12   Therefore al the people went to eate and drinck, and to send portions, and to make great ioy: because they vnderstood the wordes, that he had taught them.

13   And in the second day were gathered the princes of the families of al the people, the Priests and Leuites to Esdras the scribe, that he should interpret vnto them the wordes of the law.

14   And they found written in the law, that our Lord commanded in the hand of Moyses, that the children of Israel should dwel in tabernacles, on the solemne day, the seuenth moneth:

15   and that they should proclame and publish a voice in al their cities, and in Ierusalem, saying: Goe ye forth into the mount, and fetch branches of the oliue tree, and branches of the most fayre tree, branches of the mirtle tree, and boughes of the palme trees, and branches of the thicke leaued tree, that tabernacles may be made, as it is written.

16   And the people went forth, and brought. And they made them selues tabernacles euery man in his house toppe, and in his courtes, and in the courtes of the house of God, and in the streate of the water gate, and in the streate of the gate of Ephraim

17   Therefore al the church of them, that were returned from the captiuitie, made tabernacles, and dwelt in tabernacles. For from the daies of Iosue the sonne of Nun the children of Israel had not done it in such sort, vntil that day: and there was exceeding great ioy.

18   And he reade in the booke of the law of God day by day, from the first day til the last, and they made the solemnitie seuen dayes, & in the eight day a collect according to the rite.

Nehemias. Chap. IX. ^note The people repenting in fasting and sakcloth, put away their wiues of strange nations. 5. Esdras confesseth Gods benefites, and the peoples ingratitude. 32. prayeth for them, and maketh league with God.

1   And in the foure and twenteth day of the moneth the children of Israel came together in fasting and sackeclothes, and earth vpon them.

2   And the seede of the children of Israel was ^note seperated from euerie strange childe: and they stood, and confessed their sinnes, and the iniquities of their fathers.

3   And they rose vp to stand: and they read in the volume of the law of our Lord their God, foure times in a day, and foure times they confessed, and adored our Lord their God.

4   And there arose vpon the steppe of the Leuites Iosue, and Bani, Cedmihel, Sabania, Bonni, Sarebias, Bani, and Chanani: and they cried with a lowde voice to our Lord their God.

5   And the Leuites Iosue and Cedmihel, Bonni, Hasebnia, Serebia, Odaia, Sebnia, and Phathahia, said: Arise, Blesse our Lord your God from eternitie to eternitie: and let them blesse the high name of thy glorie in al blessing & praise.

6   Thou the same o Lord, alone thou hast made heauen, & al the host therof: the earth & al thinges that are in it: the seas and al thinges that are therin: and thou dost giue life to al these thinges, and the host of heau&ebar; adoreth thee.

7   Thou the same o Lord God, which didst choose Abram, & broughtest him out of the fire of the Chaldees, and gauest him the ^note name Abraham.

8   And thou didst finde his hart faithful before thee: and thou madest a couenante with him, that thou wouldest geue him the land of the Chananite, of the Hetheite, and of the Amorrheite, and of the Pherezeite, and of the Iebuseite, & of the Gergeseite, to geue vnto his seede: and thou hast fulfilled thy wordes, because thou art iust.

9   And thou sawest the affliction of ourfathers in Ægypt: & their crie thou didst heare vpon the Read sea.

10   And thou gauest signes & wonders in Pharao, and in al his seruants, and in al the people of his land: for thou didst know that they had done proudly against them: and thou madest thyself a name, as also at this day.

11   And thou didst diuide the sea before them, and they passed througth the midst of the sea in drie land: but their persecutors thou threwest into the depth, as a stone into the rough waters.

12   And in a piller of a cloude thou wast their leader by day, and in a piller of fire

by night, that the way might appeare to them, by the which they went.

13   To mount Sinai also thou didst descend, and spakest with them from heauen, and thou gauest them right iudgements, and the law of truth, ceremonies, and good preceptes.

14   Thy sanctified Sabbath thou didst shew them, and the commandements, and ceremonies, and the law thou didst command them in the hand of Moyses thy seruant.

15   Bread also from heauen thou gauest them in their hunger, and water out of the rocke thou didst bring forth to them thirsting, and thou saidest to them that they should enter in, and possesse the land, vpon which thou didst lift vp thy hand to diliuer it them.

16   But they and our fathers did proudly, and hardned their neckes and heard not thy c&obar;mandements.

17   And they ^note would not heare, and they remembred not thy merueylous workes which thou hast done to them. And they hardned their neckes, and gaue the head to returne to their seruitude, as it were by contention. But thou a propitious God, and gratious, and merciful, long suffering and of much compassion, didst not forsake them.

18   Yea and when they had made to them selues a molten calfe, and had said: This is thy God, which brought thee out of Ægypt: and they did great blasphemies.

19   But thou in thy manie mercies didst not leaue them in the desert: the piller of the cloude departed not from them by day to lead them into the way, and the piller of fire by night to shew them the way by which they should goe.

20   And thou gauest them thy good spirite, which should teach them, and thy Manna thou didst not withhold from their mouth, and thou gauest them water in thirst.

21   Fourtie yeares didst thou feede them in the desert, and nothing was wanting to them, their garmentes waxed not old, and their feete not worne.

22   And thou gauest them kingdomes, and peoples, and didst part lottes vnto them: and they possessed the land of Sehon, and the land of the king Hesebon, and the land of Og the king of Basan.

23   And thou didst multiplie their children as the starres of heauen, & brought them to the land wherof thou hadst said to their fathers, that they should enter and possesse it.

24   And the children came, and possessed the land, and thou didst humble before them the inhabiters of the land, the Chananeites, and gauest them into their hand, and their kinges, and the peoples of the land, that they might doe to them as it pleased them.

25   They therfore tooke the

Nehemias. fensed cities and fatte ground, and possessed houses ful of al goodes: cesternes made by others, vineyardes, and oliuetes, & manie trees that bare fruite: and they did eate, and were filled, and became fatte, and abounded with delicious thinges in thy great goodnes.

26   But they prouoked thee to wrath, & departed from thee, and threw thy law behind their backes: & they killed thy prophetes, which admonished them ernestly to returne to thee: and they did great blasphemies.

27   And thou gauest them into the handes of their enemies, and they afflicted them. And in the time of their tribulation they cried to thee, & thou from heauen didst heare, and according to thy manie c&obar;passions gauest them sauiours, that should saue them from the hand of their enemies.

28   And when they had rested, they returned to do euil in thy sight: & thou didst leaue them in the hand of their enemies, and they possessed them. And they returned, & cried to thee: & thou heardest from heauen, and deliueredst th&ebar; in thy mercies, manie times.

29   And thou didst admonish them that they should returne to thy law. But they did proudly, & heard not thy c&obar;mandmentes, and sinned in thy iudgementes, which a man should do, and shal liue in them, and they gaue the reuolting shoulder, and hardned their necke, neither did they heare.

30   And thou didst prolong manie yeares ouer them, and didst testefie to charge them in thy spirit by the hand of thy Prophetes: and they heard not, and thou didst deliuer them into the hand of the peoples of the nations.

31   But in thy very many mercies thou madest them not into consumption, neither didst thou forsake them: because a God of compassions and gratious art thou.

32   Now therfore O our God, great, strong, and terrible, keeping couenant and mercie, turne not away from thy face al the labour, which hath found vs, our Kinges, and our Princes, and our Priests, and our Prophetes, and our fathers, and al the people from the daies of the king of Assur, vntil this day.

33   And thou art iust in al thinges, that haue come vpon vs: because thou hast done truth, but we haue done wickedly.

34   Our Kinges, our Princes, our Priestes, and our fathers haue not done thy law, and haue not attended thy commandmentes, and thy testimonies which thou hast testified among them.

35   And they in their reignes, and in thy manifold goodnes, which thou gauest them, and in the land most large and fatte, which thou didst deliuer in their

Nehemias. sight, serued not thee, nor returned from their most wicked deuises.

36   Behold we our selues this day are bondmen: and the land, which thou gauest our fathers, that they should eate the bread therof, and the good thinges that are therof, and our selues are seruantes in it.

37   And the fruites therof are multiplied to the kinges, whom thon hast sette ouer vs for our sinnes, and they haue dominion ouer our bodies, and ouer our beastes, according to their wil, and we are in great tribulation.

38   Therfore vpon al these thinges we our selues make a couenant, and write, and our Princes, our Leuites, and our Priestes signe it. Chap X. Manie, in name of al, subscribe to the couenant made with God. 30. Namely not to marrie with strangers, 31. to keepe the Sabbath day, and the seuenth yeare. 32. To pay oblations, 35. First fruites, 38. and Tithes.

1   And the subscribers were Nehemias, Athersatha the sonne of Hachelai, and Sedecias,

2   Saraias, Azarias, Ieremias,

3   Pheshur, Amarias, Melchias,

4   Hattus, Sebenia, Melluch,

5   Harem, Merimuth, Obdias,

6   Daniel, Genthon, Baruch,

7   Mosollam, Abia, Miamin,

8   Maazia, Belgai, Semeia: these were Priestes.

9   Moreouer Leuites, Iosue the sonne of Azanias, Bennui of the children of Henadad, Cedmihel,

10   And their bretheren, Sebenia, Odaia, Celita, Phalaia, Hanan,

11   Micha, Rohob, Hasebia,

12   Zachur, Serebia, Sabania,

13   Odaia, Bani, Baninu.

14   The heades of the people, Pharos, Phahathmoab, Aelam, Zethu, Bani,

15   Bonni, Azgad, Bebai.

16   Adonia, Begoai, Adin,

17   Ater, Hezecia, Azur,

18   Odaia, Hasum, Besai,

19   Hareph, Anathoth, Nebai.

20   Megphias, Mosollam, Hazir,

21   Mezsibel, Sadoc, Iedua.

22   Pheltia, Hanan, Anai

23   Osee, Hanania, Hasub,

24   Alohes, Phalea, Sobec,

25   Rehum, Hasebna, Maasia,

26   Echaia, Hanan, Anan,

27   Melluch, Haran, Baana:

28   And the rest of the people, Priestes, Leuites, Porteres, and singing men, Nathineites, and al that seperated them selues from the peoples of the landes to the law of God, their wiues, their sonnes, and their daughters.

29   Al that could vnderstand promising for their bretheren, their princes, and they that came to promise, and sweare that they would walke in the law of God, which he gaue in the hand of Moyses the seruant of God, that they would do & kepe al the

Nehemias. c&obar;mandments of the Lord our God, and his iudgementes and his ceremonies.

30   And that we would not geue ^note our daughters to the people of the land, and their daughters we would not take to our s&obar;nes.

31   The peoples of the land, which bring in things to sel, & al thinges to be vsed, to sel them on the Sabbath day, we wil not take it of them in the Sabbath, and in the sanctified day. And we wil let passe the seuenth yeare, and the exaction of euerie hand.

32   And we wil ordayne preceptes vpon our selues, to giue the third part of a sicle euerie yeare to the worke of the house of our God,

33   to the loaues of proposition, and to the continual sacrifice, and for a continual holocaust in the Sabbathes, in the Calendes, in the Solemnities, and in the sanctified, and for sinne: that propitiation may be made for Israel, and vnto al vse of the house of our God.

34   We therfore did cast lotes concerning the oblation of wood betwen the Priestes, and the Leuites, and the people, that it should be brought into the house of our God by the houses of our fathers at set times, from yeare to yeare: that it might burne vpon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law of Moyses:

35   And that we would bring the first borne of our land, and the first fruites of al the fruite of euerie tree, from yeare to yeare, in the house of our Lord.

36   and the first fruites of our sonnes, and of our cattel, as it is written in the law, and the first fruites of our oxen, and of our sheepe, that they might be offered in the house of our God, to the Priestes which minister in the house of our God.

37   And the first fruites of our meates, and of our libamentes, and the fruites of euerie tree, of vintage also and of oyle we wil bring to the Priestes, vnto the treasurie of our God, and the tenth part of our land to the Leuites. The Leuites them selues shal receiue the tithes out of al the cities of our works.

38   And the Priest the sonne of Aaron shalbe with the Leuites in the tythes of the Leuites, and the Leuites shal offer the tenth part of their tythe in the house of our God, to the treasurie in the treasure house.

39   For the children of Israel and the children of Leui shal carie to the treasurie the first fruites of corne, of wine, and of oyle: and the sanctified vessels shal be there, and the Priestes, and singing men, and porters, and ministers, and we wil not leaue the house of our God. Chap. XI. New inhabitantes of Ierusalem are recited. 20. likwise who dwelt in other cities of Iuda.

Nehemias.

1   And the princes of the people dwelt in Ierusalem: but the rest of the people cast lottes, to take ^note one part of ten that should dwel in Ierusalem the holie citie, and nine partes in the cities.

2   And the people blessed al the men that had ^note voluntarily offered them selues to dwel in Ierusalem.

3   These therfore are the princes of the prouince, which dwelt in Ierusalem, and in the cities of Iuda. And euerie one dwelt in his possession, in their cities, Israel, the Priestes, the Leuites, the Nathineites, and the children of the seruants of Salomon.

4   And in Ierusalem there dwelt of the children of Iuda, and of the children of Beniamin: of the children of Iuda, Athaias the sonne of Aziam, the sonne of Zacharias, the sonne of Amarias, the sonne of Saphatias, the sonne of Malaleel: of the children of Phares,

5   Maasia the sonne of Baruch, the sonne of Cholhoza, the sonne of Hazia, the sonne of Adaia, the sonne of Ioiarib, the sonne of Zacharias, the sonne of a Silonite.

6   Al these the childeren of Phares, which dwelt in Ierusalem, foure hundred sixtie eight, valiant men.

7   And these are the childeren of Beniamin: Sellum the sonne of Mosollam, the sonne of Ioed, the sonne of Phadaia, the sonne of Colaia, the sonne of Masia, the sonne of Etheel, the sonne of Isaia,

8   and after him Gebbai, Sellai, nine hundred twentie eight,

9   and Ioel the sonne of Zechri the ouerseer of them, and Iudas the sonne of Senua second ouer the citie.

10   And of the Priestes, Idaia the sonne of Ioarib, Iachim,

11   Saraia the sonne of Helcias, the sonne of Mosollam, the sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Meraioth, the sonne of Achitob the prince of the house of God,

12   and their bretheren that doe the workes of the temple: eight hundred twentie two. And Adaia the sonne of Ieroham, the sonne of Phelelia, the sonne of Amsi, the sonne of Zacharias, the sonne of Pheshur, the sonne of Melchias,

13   and his bretheren the princes of the fathers: two hundred fourtie two. And Amassai the sonne of Azreel, the sonne of Ahazi, the sonne of Mosolamoth, the sonne of Emmer,

14   and their bretheren exceding mightie: an hundred twentie eight, and their ouerseer Zabdiel sonne of the mightie ones.

15   And of the Leuites Semeia the sonne of Hasub, the sonne of Azaricam, the sonne of Hasabia, the sonne of Boni,

16   and Sabathai and Iozabed, ouer al the workes, that were without the house of God, of the princes of the Leuites.

17   And Mathania the sonne of Micha, the sonne of

Nehemias. Zebedei, the sonne of Asaph prince to prayse, and to confesse in prayer, and Becbecia second of his bretheren, and Abda the sonne of Samua, the sonne of Galal, the sonne of Idithum.

18   Al the Leuites in the holie citie two hundred eightie foure.

19   And the porters, Accub, Telmon, and their bretheren, which kept the dores: an hundred seuentie two.

20   And the rest of Israel the Priestes and the Leuites in al the cities of Iuda, euerie man in his possession.

21   And the Nathineites, that dwelt in Ophel, and Siaha, and Gaspha of the Nathineites.

22   And the ouerseer of the Leuites in Ierusalem, Azzi the sonne of Bani, the sonne of Hasabia, the sonne of Mathania, the sonne of Micha. Of the childeren of Asaph, the singing men in the ministerie of the house of God.

23   For the kings commandment was vpon them, and an order among the singing men day by day.

24   And Phathahia the sonne of Mesezebel of the children of Zara the sonne of Iuda in the hand of the king, according to euerie word of the people,

25   and in the houses through al their countries. Of the children of Iuda there dwelt in Cariatharbe, & in her daughters: and in Dibon, and in her daughters, and in Cabseel, and in the villages thereof,

26   and in Iesue, and in Molada, and in Bethphaleth,

27   and in Hasersual, and in Bersabee, & in her daughters.

28   and in Siceleg, and in Mochona, and in her daughters,

29   and in Remmon, and in Saraa, and in Ierimuth,

30   Zanoa, Odcllam, and in their townes, Lachis and in her countries, Azeca, and in her daughters. And they abode in Bersabee vnto the vale of Ennom.

31   And the childeren of Beniamin, of Geba, Mecmas, and Hai, and Bethhel, and her daughters,

32   in Anathoth, Nob, Anania,

33   Asor, Rama, Gethaim,

34   Hadid, Seboim, and Neballac, Lod,

35   and Ono the valley of artificers.

36   And of the Leuites were portions of Iuda and Beniamin. Chap. XII The names and offices of Priestes, and Leuites, which came with Zorobabel and Iosue to Ierusalem 27. with great solemnitie of thanksgeuing. 31 watchmen are appoynted on the new walles. 45. and Keperes of the holy treasure.

1   And these are the Priestes and Leuites, that came vp with Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iosue: Saraia, Ieremias, ^note Esdras,

2   Amaria, Melluch, Hartus.

3   Sebenias,

Nehemias. Rheum, Merimuth,

4   Addo Genthon, Abia,

5   Miamin, Madia, Belga,

6   Semeia, and Ioiarib, Idaia, Sellum, Amoc, Helcias,

7   Idaia. These are the Princes of the Priestes, and their bretheren in the daies of Iosue.

8   Moreouer the Leuites, Iesua, Bennui, Cedmihel, Sarebia, Iuda, Mathanias, ouer the hymnes they & their bretheren:

9   And Becbecia, and Hannia and their bretheren euerie one in his office.

10   And ^note Iosue begatte Ioacim, and Ioacim begate Eilasib, and Eliasib begate Ioiada,

11   and Ioiada begate Ionathan, and Ionathan begate Ieddoa.

12   And in the daies of Ioacim the Priestes and Princes of the families were. Of Saraia, Maraia: Of Ieremias, Hanania:

13   Of Esdras, Mosellam: and of Amaria, Iohanan:

14   Of Milicho, Ionathan: of Sebenia, Ioseph:

15   Of Haram, Edna: Of Maraioth, Helci:

16   Of Adaia, Zacharia: Of Genthon, Mosollam,

17   Of Abia, Zechri: Of Miamin and Moadia, Phelti:

18   Of Belga, Sammua: of Semaia, Ionathan:

19   Of Ioiarib, Mathanai: of Iodaia, Azzi:

20   Of Sellai, Sellai: Of Amoc, Heber:

21   Of Helcias, Hasebia: Of Idaia, Nathanael.

22   The Leuites in the daies of Eliasib, and Ioaiada, and Iohanan, and Ieddoa, written Princes of the families, and the Priestes in the reigne of Darius the Persian.

23   The children of Leui, Princes of the families, written in the booke of Cronicles of daies, and vnto the daies of Ionathan the sonne of Eilasib.

24   And the Princes of the Leuites, Hasebia, Serebia, and Iosue the sonne of Cedmihel: & their bretheren by their courses, to praise and confesse according to the precept of Dauid the man of God, and to waite equally in order.

25   Mathania, and Becbecia, Obedia, and Mosollam, Telmon, Accub, keepers of the gates and of the entrances before the gates.

26   These were in the daies of Ioacim the sonne of Iosue, the sonne Iosedec, and in the daies of Nehemias the duke, and of Esdras the Priest, and Scribe.

27   And in the dedication of the wal of Ierusalem they sought Leuites out of al other places, to bring them into Ierusalem, and to make the dedication and ioy in geuing of thankes, and songue, and in cimbales, psalteries. and harpes.

28   And the children of the singing men were gathered together out of the champaine about Ierusalem, and out of the townes Nethuphati,

29   and from the house of Galgal, and from the countries of Geba and Azmaueth: because the singing men did build them selues villages round about Ierusalem.

30   And the Priestes and Leuites were cleansed, and

Nehemias. they cleansed the people, and the gates, and the wall.

31   And I made the Princes of Iuda, goe vp vpon the wal, and I sette two great quyers of them that should praise. And they went on the right hand vpon the wal to the gate of the dunghil.

32   And after them went Osaias, and the halfe part of the princes of Iuda,

33   and Azarias, Esdras, and Mosollam, Iudas, and Beiamin, and Semeia, and Ieremias.

34   And of the childeren of the Priestes with trumpetes, Zacharias the sonne of Ionathan, the sonne of Semeia, the sonne of Nathania, the sonne of michaia, the sonne Zechur, the sonne Asaph,

35   and his bretheren Semeia, and Azareel, Malalai, Galalai, Maai, Nathanael, and Iudas, and Hanani, with the instrumentes of the songe of Dauid the man of God: and Esdras the scribe before them in the gate of the fountayne.

36   And against them there went vp in the stayers of the citie of Dauid, in the rising of the wal aboue the house of Dauid, and vnto the gate of waters toward the East.

37   And the second quyer of thankes geuers went on the contrarie side, and I after it, and the halfe part of the people vpon the wal, and aboue the tower of the fornaces, & vnto the brodest wal,

38   and aboue the gate of Ephraim, and aboue the old gate, and aboue the gate of fishes and the towre of Hananeel, aud the towre of Emath, and vnto the gate of the flocke: and they stood in the gate of the watch,

39   and there stood two quyers of them that praysed in the house of God, and I, and the halfe part of the magistrates with me.

40   And the Priestes, Eliachim, Maasia, Miamin, Michea, Elioenai, Zacharia, Hanania with trumpettes,

41   & Maasia, and Semeia, and Eleazar, and Azzi, and Iohanan, and Melchia, and Aelam, and Ezer. And the singing men sang alowd, and Iezraia the ouerseer:

42   and they immolated in that day great victimes, and reioyced: for God bad made them ioyful with great ioy: yea their wiues also and childeren reioyced, and the ioy of Ierusalem was heard far of.

43   They numbered also in that day, men ouer the storehouses of the treasure, for the libamentes, and for the first fruites, and for the tythes, that the princes of the citie might bring in by them in the honour of thankesgiuing, Priestes and Leuites: because Iuda was made ioyful, in the Priestes & Leuites standing by.

44   And they kept the watch of their God, and the obseruance of expiation, and the singing men, and the porters, according to the precept of Dauid, and of Salomon his sonne,

45   because in

Nehemias. the daies of Dauid, and Asaph from the beginning there were princes appoynted of the singing men in song praysing, and confessing to God.

46   And al Israel, in the daies of Zorobabel, and in the daies of Nehemias gaue portions to the singing men, and to the porters day by day, and they ^note sanctified the Leuites, and the Leuites sanctified the children of Aaron. Chap. XIII. ^note The law is read, 3. strange wemen are dismissed. 5. Faultes in distribution of the treasure are amended, 10. and due portions geuen to the Leuites. 15. Breakers of the Sabbath are corrected, 23. and those which maried wemen of strange nations.

1   And in that day there was read in the volume of Moyses the people hearing it: and there was found written in it, that the Ammonites and the Moabites should not enter into the Church of God for euer: ^note

2   for that they mette not the children of Israel with bread and water: and they hyred against them Balaam, to curse them: and our God turned the cursing into blessing.

3   And it came to passe, when they had heard the law, they seperated euerie stranger from Israel.

4   And ouer this thing was Eliasib the Priest, who had bene made ouerseer in the treasurie of the house of our God, and neere akinne to ^note Tobias.

5   He therfore made to himselfe a great treasurie, and they were there before him laying vp giftes, and frankincense, and vesseles, and the tythe of corne, of wine, and of oyle, the portions of the Leuites, and of the singing men, and of the porters, and the first fruites of the Priestes.

6   But in al these things I was not in Ierusalem, because in the two and thirteth yeare of Artaxerxes the king of Babylon I came to the king, and in the end of certaine dayes I desired the king.

7   And I came to Ierusalem, and I vnderstood the euil, that Eliasib had done to Tobias, to make him a treasure in the entrances of the house of God.

8   And it semed to me exceding euil. And I threw forth the vessels of the house of Tobias out of the treasurie:

9   and I commanded and they clensed the treasurie: and I brought thither againe the vessels of the house of God, the sacrifice, and the frankincense.

10   And I knew that the portion of the Leuites had not bene geuen: and that euerie man was fled into his countrie of the Leuites, and the singing men, and of them that ministred:

11   and I pleaded the matter against the magistrates,

Nehemias. and said: Why haue we forsaken the house of God? And I assembled them, and I made them to stand in their standings.

12   And al Iuda caried the tythe of the corne, wine, and oyle into the store houses.

13   And we appoynted ouer the storehouses Selemias Priest, and Sadoc scribe, and Phadaia of the Leuites, and next to them Hanan the sonne of Zachur, the sonne of Mathania: because they were approued faithful, and to them were committed the portions of the bretheren.

14   Remember me my God for this thing, and wipe not out my mercies, which I haue done in the house of my God, and in his ceremonies.

15   In those daies I saw them in Iuda treading the presses on the Sabbath, carying heapes, and loding vpon asses wine, and grapes, and figges, and al maner of burthen, and bringing it into Ierusalem on the Sabbath day. And I charged them, that they should sel on a day that it was lawful to sel in.

16   And the Tyrians dwelt in it, bringing fishes, and al thinges to sel: and they sold on the Sabbathes to the children of Iuda in Ierusalem.

17   And I rebuked the Princes of Iuda, and said to them: What is this euil thing, that you doe, and prophane the day of the Sabbath?

18   Why did not our fathers these thinges, and our God brought vpon vs al this euil. and vpon this citie? And you adde wrath vpon Israel in violating the Sabbath.

19   And it came to passe, when the gates of Ierusalem had rested on the Sabbath day, I spake: and they shut the gates, and I commanded them that they should not open them til after the Sabbath: and of my seruantes I appoynted ouer the gates, that none should bring in burdens in the Sabbath day.

20   And the merchantes, and they that sold al merchandise, taried without Ierusalem once and againe.

21   And I charged them, and I said to them: Why tarie you ouer against the wal? if you shal doe so the second time, I wil lay my hand vpon you. Therfore from that time they came not on the Sabbath.

22   I spake also to the Leuites that they should be cleansed, and should come to keepe the gates, and to sanctifie the day of the Sabbath: therfore for this also remember me my God, & spare me according to the multitude of thy mercies.

23   But in those daies also I saw the Iewes marying wiues wemen of Azotus, and of Ammon, and of Moab.

24   And their children spake, the halfe part the Azotian tongue, and they could not speake the Iewes language, and they spake according to the language of the people

Nehemias. and people.

25   And I rebuked them, and cursed them. And I beate of them some men, and shaued them bald, and adiured them by God, that they should not geue their daughters to their sonnes, nor take their daughters for their sonnes, & for themselues, saying:

26   Did not Salomon the king of Israel sinne in this kind of thing? and surely in manie nations, there was not a king like to him, & he was beloued of his God, and God sette him king ouer al Israel: him therfore also foren wemen brought to sinne.

27   And shal we also being disobedient persons doe al this great euil, to transgresse against our God, and to marie foren wemen?

28   And Sanaballat the Horonite was sonne in law to one of the sonnes of Ioiada, the sonne of Eliasib the high Priest, whom I draue from me.

29   Remember o Lord my God against them, that pollute the Priesthood, and the right of Priestes and Leuites.

30   Therfore I separared from them al strangers, and I appoynted the courses of the Priestes and Leuites, euerie man in his ministerie:

31   and in the oblation of woode at times appoynted, and in the first fruites: ^noteRemember me my God vnto good. Amen. THE THIRD, AND FOVRTH BOOKES OF ESDRAS, WITH THE PRAYER OF MANASSES, folow after the MACHABEES.

ANNOTATIONS. Concerning the bookes of TOBIAS, IVDITH, WISDOM, ECCLESIASTICVS, and MACHABEES. ^note

Protestantes and other Sectaries of this time denie these bookes to be diuine Scripture, because they are not in the Iewes Canon, nor were accepted for canonical in the primitiue Church. ^note But in deede the chiefe cause is, for that some thinges in these bookes, are so manifest against their opinions, that they haue no other answere, but to reiect their authoritie. An old shift noted and refuted by S. Augustin touching, the Booke of VVisdome, which some refused, pretending that it was not canonical, but in deede because it conuinced their errors. For otherwise who seeth not, that the Canon of the Church of Christ is of more authority with al true Christians, then the Canon of the Iewes? ^note And that the Church of Christ numbreth these Bookes amongst others of diuine and infallible authoritie, is euident by the testimonie and diffinition, not only of later general Councels; of Trent, Sess. 4. and Florence Instructione Armenorum, of Pope Innocentius, Epist ad Exuperium, and Gelasius, Decreto de libris sacris; but also the Councel of Carthage. An. Dom. 419. S. Augustin lib. 2 Doct. Christ. cap. 8. Isidorus lib. 6. Etymol. cap. 1. Cassidorus lib. 1. Diuinarum Lectionum. Rabanus, lib. 2. de Institutione Clericorum, and others testifie the same, as we shal further note seuerally of euerie booke, in their particular places. And for so much as our aduersaries acknowlege these Bookes to be Holie, and worthie to be read in the Church, but not sufficient to proue, and confirme poinres of faith: the studious reader may consider that the Councel of Carthage calleth them Canonical, and Diuine, which sheweth that they are of infallible authoritie. For a Canon is an assured rule and warrant of direction, whereby (sayth S. Augustin lib. 11. contra Faustum. cap. 5. et lib. 2. contra Cresconium. cap. 32.) the infirmitie of our defect in knowlege is guided, and by which rule other bookes are likewise knowne to be Gods word. ^note His reason is, because we haue no other assurance that the bookes of Moyses, the foure Gospels, and other bookes are the true word of God, but by the Canon of the Church. ^note VVherevpon the same great Doctor vttered that famous saying: that he vvould not beleue the Gospel, except the authoritie of the Catholique Church moued him thervnto. contra. Epist. Fundamenti. ca. 5.

True it is that some Catholique Doctors doubted whether these bookes were Canonical or no, because the Church had not then declared that they were; but since the Churches declaration no Catholique doubteth. ^note So S. Ierom testifieth, that the Booke of Iudith (among the rest) semed to him not canonical, til the Councel of Nice declared it to be. Likewise the Epistle to the Hebrewes, the Epistle of S. Iames, the second of S. Peter, the second and third of S. Iohn, S. Iudes Epistle, and the Apocalyps were sometimes doubted of, yet were afterwardes declared to be Canonical. And most Protestantes, namely English admitte them al, as the assured word of God, though they were not alwaies so reputed by al, bur as S. Ierome affirmeth of S. Iames Epistle, Paulatim tempore procedente meruit authoritatem. By litle and litle in processe of time merited authoritie.

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