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The law is read.

NEHEMIAH. The people are comforted.

65 And the Tirshatna said unto them, sight of all the people; (for he was above that they should not eat of the most holy all the people;) and when he opened it, all things, till there stood up a priest with the people stood up: Urim and Thummim.

6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great

66 The whole congregation together God. And all the people answered, Amen, was forty and two thousand three hundred Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they and threescore. bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

67 Besides their man-servants and their maid-servants, of whom there were seven 7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, thousand three hundred thirty and seven: Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaand they had two hundred forty and five seiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, singing-men and singing-women. Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the peo68 Their horses, seven hundred thirty ple to understand the law: and the people and six their mules, two hundred forty stood in their place.

and five: 8 So they read in the book in the law of 69 Their camels, four hundred thirty God distinctly, and gave the sense, and and five: six thousand seven hundred and caused them to understand the reading. twenty asses. 9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tir70Ť And some of the chief of the fathers shatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave the Levites that taught the people, said to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, unto all the people, This day is holy unto fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests' the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. garments. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty 10 Then he said unto them, Go your thousand drams of gold, and two thousand way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and and two hundred pounds of silver. send portions unto them for whom nothing 72 And that which the rest of the peo-is prepared: for this day is holy unto our ple gave was twenty thousand drams of LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, the LORD is your strength.

and threescore and seven priests' garments. 11 So the Levites stilled all the people, 73 So the priests, and the Levites, and saying, Hold your peace, for the day is the porters, and the singers, and some of holy; neither be ye grieved.

the people, and the Nethinims, and all

12 And all the people went their way to Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when eat, and to drink, and to send portions, the seventh month came, the children of and to make great mirth, because they had Israel were in their cities. understood the words that were declared unto them.

CHAP. VIII.

AND all the people gathered them. 1.34 And on the second day were ga

street that was before the water-gate; and all the people, the priests, and the Levites, they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the book of the law of Moses, which the the words of the law. LORD had commanded to Israel.

14 And they found written in the law

2 And Ezra the priest brought the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, before the congregation both of men and that the children of Israel should dwell in women, and all that could hear with un-booths in the feast of the seventh month: derstanding, upon the first day of the 15 And that they should publish and

seventh month.

proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusa3 And he read therein before the street lem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and that was before the water-gate from the fetch olive-branches, and pine-branches, morning until mid-day, before the men and and myrtle-branches, and palm-branches, the women, and those that could under- and branches of thick trees, to make booths, stand; and the ears of all the people were as it is written. attentive unto the book of the law.

16 So the people went forth, and

4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pul-orought them, and made themselves booths, pit of wood, which they had made for the every one upon the roof of his house, and purpose; and beside him stood Matti- in their courts, and in the courts of the house thiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uri- of God, and in the street of the water-gate, jah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, 17 And all the congregation of them that and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, were come again out of the captivity made and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5 And Ezra opened the book in the

booths, and sat under the booths; for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done

A solemn fast.

CHAP. IX.

Confession of the Levites. so. And there was very great gladness. ja pillar of fire, to give them light in the way 18 Also day by day, from the first day wherein they should go.

unto the last day, he read in the book of 13 Thou camest down also upon mount the law of God. And they kept the feast Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, seven days; and on the eighth day was a and gavest them right judgments, and true ⚫ solemn assembly, according unto the laws, good statutes and commandments: 14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them pre

manner.

OW

CHAP. IX.

Now in the twenty and fourth day of cepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of

this month the children of Israel Moses thy servant: were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.

15 Andgavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water 2 And the seed of Israel separated them- for them out of the rock for their thirst, and selves from all strangers, and stood and con- promisedst them that they should go in to fessed their sins, and the iniquities of their possess the land which thou hadst sworn to fathers.

give them.

16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and 17 And refused to obey, neither were worshipped the LORD their God. mindful of thy wonders that thou didst

4 Then stood up upon the stairs, of among them; but hardened their necks, the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, and in their rebellion appointed a captain Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and to return to their bondage: but thou art a Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto God ready to pardon, gracious and mercithe LORD their God. ful, slow to anger, and of great kindness,

5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kad- and forsookest them not. miel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodi- 18 Yea, when they had made them a jah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand molten calf, and said, This is thy God that up and bless the LORD your God for ever brought thee up out of Egypt, and had and ever: and blessed be thy glorious wrought great provocations; name, which is exalted above all blessing 19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies and praise. forsookest them not in the wilderness: the 6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou pillar of the cloud departed not from them hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, by day, to lead them in the way; neither with all their host, the earth, and all things the pillar of fire by night, to shew them that are therein, the seas, and all that is light, and the way wherein they should go. therein, and thou preservest them all; and 20 Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to the host of heaven worshippeth thee. instruct them, and withheldest not thy 7 Thou art the LORD the God, who manna from their mouth, and gavest them didst choose Abram, and broughtest him water for their thirst. forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest 21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain him the name of Abraham; them in the wilderness, so that they lacked 8 And foundest his heart faithful before nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and thee, and madest a covenant with him to their feet swelled not.

give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, 22 Moreover, thou gavest them kingthe Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous:

doms and nations, and didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

9 And didst see the affliction of our 23 Their children also multipliedst thou fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them the Red sea; into the land, concerning which thou hadst 10 And shewedst signs and wonders promised to their fathers, that they should upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and go in to possess it.

on all the people of his land: for thou knew- 24 So the children went in and possessest that they dealt proudly against them. So ed the land, and thou subduedst before them didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day. the inhabitants of the land, the Canaan11 And thou didst divide the sea before ites, and gavest them into their hands, with them, so that they went through the midst their kings, and the people of the land, that of the sea on the dry land; and their per- they might do with them as they would. secutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a 25 And they took strong cities, and a stone into the mighty waters. fat land, and possessed houses full of all 12 Moreover, thou leddest them in the goods, wells digged, vineyards and oliveday by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by yards, and fruit-trees in abundance: so

A confession of disobedience. NEHEMIAH. Those who sealed the covenant. they did eat, and were filled, and became thereof, behold, we are servants in it: fat, and delighted themselves in thy great 37 And it yieldeth much increase unto goodness. the kings whom thou hast set over us be

26 Nevertheless, they were disobedient, cause of our sins: also they have dominion and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law over our bodies, and over our cattle, at behind their backs, and slew thy prophets their pleasure, and we are in great distress. . which testified against them to turn them to 38 And because of all this we make a thee, and they wrought great provocations. sure covenant and write it; and our princes, 27 Therefore thou deliveredst them into Levites, and priests, seal unto it. the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: CHAP. X.

and in the time of their trouble, when they

cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. 28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies;

29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

30 Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.

31 Nevertheless, for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.

Now the T irshatha, the son of Hacha

TOW those that sealed were, Nehemi

liah, and Zidkijah,

2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.

9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;

10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu,

14 The chief of the people: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani, 15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur, 18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai, 19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub, 24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek, 25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, 28 And the rest of the people, the and on our priests, and on our prophets, priests, the Levites, the porters, the singand on our fathers, and on all thy people, ers, the Nethinims, and all they that had since the time of the kings of Assyria unto separated themselves from the people of this day. the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;

33 Howbeit, thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:

34 Neither have our kings, our princes, 29 They clave to their brethren, their our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nobles, and entered into a curse, and into nor hearkened unto thy commandments an oath, to walk in God's law, which was and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst given by Moses the servant of God, and to testify against them observe and do all the commandments of

35 For they have not served thee in their the LORD our Lord, and his judgments kingdom, and in thy great goodness that and his statutes; thou gavest them, and in the large and fat 30 And that we would not give our land which thou gavest before them, nei-daughters unto the people of the land, nor ther turned they from their wicked works. take their daughters for our sons:

36 Behold, we are servants this day, and 31 And if the people of the land bring for the land that thou gavest unto our fa-ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to thers to eat the fruit thereof and the good sell, that we would not buy it of them on

A catalogue of the names of

CHAP. XI.

those who dwelt at Jerusalem.

the sabbath or on the holy day: and that ims, and the children of Solomon's servants. we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;

4 And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the

33 For the shew-bread, and for the children of Perez ; continual meat-offering, and for the conti- 5 And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the nual burnt-offering, of the sabbaths, of son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the the new-moons, for the set feasts, and for son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son the holy things, and for the sin-offerings to of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni. make an atonement for Israel, and for all 6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at the work of the house of our God. Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.

34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for 7 And these are the sons of Benjamin; the wood-offering, to bring it into the house Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of of our God, after the houses of our fathers, Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiat times appointed year by year, to burn ah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it the son of Jesaiah.

is written in the law:

35 And to bring the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:

36 Also the first-born of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God.

8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.

9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.

11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God.

37 And that we should bring the first- 12 And their brethren that did the work fruits of our dough, and our offerings, and of the house were eight hundred twenty the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the the house of our God; and the tithes of son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the our ground unto the Levites, that the same son of Malchiah, Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

13 And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes and the Levites shall bring up the 14 And their brethren, mighty men of tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, valour, a hundred twenty and eight: and to the chambers, into the treasure-house. their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one 39 For the children of Israel and the of the great men.

children of Levi shall bring the offering of 15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the the comm, of the new wine, and the oil, son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the unto the chambers, where are the vessels son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; of the sanctuary, and the priests that minis- 16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of ter, and the porters, and the singers: and the chief of the Levites, had the oversight we will not forsake the house of our God. of the outward business of the house of God. CHAP. XI.

17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the

AND the rulers of the people dwelt at son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the Jerusalem: the rest of the people al- principal to begin the thanksgiving in so cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in prayer; and Bakbukiah the second among Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts his brethren, and Abda the son of Shamto dwell in other cities.. mua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

2 And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.

19 Moreover, the porters, Akkub, Tal3 Now these are the chief of the pro- mon, and their brethren that kept the vince that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the gates, were a hundred seventy and two. cities of Judah dwelt every one in his 20 And the residue of Israel, of the possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, were in all the priests, and the Le vites, and the Nethin cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.

Names of the priests

NEHEMIAH. who came up with Zerubbabel.

21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: 11 And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Joand Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethi- nathan begat Jaddua.

nims.

12 And in the days of Joiakim were 22 The overseer also of the Levites at Je- priests, the chief of the fathers: of Serairusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son ah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers Jehobanan; were over the business of the houseof God.

13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah,

14 Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah,

23 For it was the king's commandment Joseph; concerning them, that a certain portion 15 Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, should be for the singers, due for every day. Helkai;

24 And Pethahiah the son of Mesheza- 16 Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, beel, of the children of Zerah the son of Meshullam; Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.

25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjath-arba,and in the villages thereof,and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof, 26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-phelet,

27 And at Hazar-shual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,

28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,

29 And at En-rimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,

17 Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;

18 Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;

19 And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;

20 Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.

22 The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian.

23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their vil- fathers, were written in the book of the lages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Chronicles, even until the days of Johanan Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And the son of Eliashib. they dwelt from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom.

31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Beth-el, and in their villages.

32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of crafts

men.

36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.

CHAP. XII.

24 And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.

25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates.

26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and

Now these are the priests and the Le-of Ezra the priest, the scribe.

vites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, 5 Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;

8 Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Bin- 29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and nui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mat-out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: taniah, which was over the thanksgiving, for the singers had builded them villages he and his brethren. round about Jerusalem.

9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches. 10 And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,

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

31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two

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