The. holie. Bible. conteynyng the olde Testament and the newe.

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The. holie. Bible. conteynyng the olde Testament and the newe.
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[Imprinted at London :: In povvles Churchyarde by Richarde Iugge, printer to the Queenes Maiestie,
[1568]]
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"The. holie. Bible. conteynyng the olde Testament and the newe." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A10708.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 20, 2025.

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❧The seconde booke of Esdras, other∣wyse called the booke of Nehemia.

The first Chapter.

1 Nehemia bewayleth the calamitie of Hierusalem. 5 He confesseth the sinnes of the people, and prayeth God for them.

[unspec A] 1 THe wordes of Ne∣hemia the sonne of Hachalia. In the moneth Chi∣sleu, in the twen∣tie yere, as I was in the castell at Susan,

2 Came Hanani, one of my brethren, he and the men of Iuda: and I asked them howe the Iewes dyd that were deliuered and es∣caped from the captiuitie, and howe it went at Hierusalem.

3 And they sayde vnto me: The rem∣naunt that are left of the captiuitie there in the lande, are in great affliction and rebuke: * 1.1 the wall of Hierusalem also is broken downe, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire.

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4 And when I hearde these wordes, I sat downe and wept, and mourned cer∣tayne dayes, and fasted and prayed be∣fore the God of heauen,

5 And sayde: O Lorde God of heauen, thou great and terrible God, * 1.2thou that kepest couenaunt and mercie for them that loue thee & obserue thy commaun∣dementes:

6 Let thyne eares hearken I beseche thee, and let thyne eyes be open, that thou mayest heare the prayer of thy ser∣uaunt, whiche I pray nowe before thee day and night for the children of Israel thy seruauntes, and knowledge the sinnes of the children of Israel which we haue sinned against thee: I and my fathers house haue sinned,

[unspec B] 7 We haue greeuously sinned against thee, and haue not kept thy commaun∣dementes, statutes, and iudgementes, whiche thou commaundedst thy ser∣uaunt Moyses.

8 I beseche thee call to remembraunce the worde that thou commaundedst thy seruaunt Moyses, and saydest, Ye will transgresse, and * 1.3 I will scatter you a∣brode among the nations:

9 But if ye turne vnto me, and kepe my commaundementes, & do them: though ye were cast out vnto the vttermost part of heauen, yet wil I gather you from thence, and will bring you vnto the place that I haue chosen, to set my name there.

10 They are thy seruauntes and thy peo∣ple, whom thou hast deliuered through thy great power, and in thy mightie hande.

11 O Lorde I besech thee, let thyne eare hearken to the prayer of thy seruaunt, and to the prayer of thy seruauntes, whose desire is to feare thy name: and let thy seruaunt prosper this day, and graunt him mercie in the sight of this man. For I was the kinges butler.

The .ii. Chapter.

1 After Nehemia had obteyned letters of Artaxerxes, 11 He came to Hierusalem, 17 and buylded the walles.

[unspec A] 1 IT came to passe, that in the moneth * Nisan in the twentith yere of king Arthaxerxes, the wine stoode before him: and I toke vp the wine, and gaue it vnto the king: And I had not ben before hea∣uy in his presence.

2 And the king sayde vnto me: Why lokest thou so sadly, seyng thou art not sicke? It is nothing els, but that thou art hea∣uy hearted. And I was sore afrayde,

3 And sayde vnto the king, God saue the king for euer: Howe shoulde I not loke sadly, when the citie and place of my fa∣thers burials lye waste, and the gates therof are consumed with fire?

4 And the king sayde vnto me: What is then thy request? I made my prayer al∣so to the God of heauen,

5 And sayd vnto the king: If it please the king, and if thy seruaunt haue founde fa∣uour in thy sight, sende me vnto Iuda vnto the citie of my fathers burialles, that I may buylde it.

6 And the king sayd vnto me (the queene his wyfe sitting by him:) Howe long shal thy iourney continue, and when wilt thou come againe? And it pleased the king to sende me, and I set him a time,

7 And sayde vnto the king: If it please [unspec B] the king, let hym geue me letters to the captaynes whiche are beyonde the wa∣ter, that they may conuay me ouer, till I come into Iuda:

8 And letters vnto Asaph the lorde of the kinges wood, that he may geue me tim∣ber to make beames for the gates of the palace which is harde by the house, and for the walles of the citie, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king gaue me according to the hande of my God which was good vpon me.

9 And when I came to the captaynes be∣yonde the water, I gaue them the kinges letters: And the king had sent captaynes of the armie and horsemen with me.

10 Sanaballat also the Horonite, and To∣bia a seruaunt the Ammonite hearde of it, & it greeued them sore, that there was come a man which sought the wealth of the children of Israel.

11 And I came to Hierusalem, and was there three dayes.

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12 And I gat me vp in the night season, and a fewe men with me, neither tolde I any man what God had geuen me in my heart to do at Hierusalem: and there was not one beast with me, saue it that I rode vpon.

13 And I departed in the night by the val∣ley port, before the dragon well, and to the doung port, & considered the walles of Hierusalem howe they were broken downe, and the portes therof consumed with the fire.

[unspec B] 14 And I went ouer vnto the well port, and to the kinges “ 1.4 conduite, and there was no roome for the beast that was vnder me to passe.

15 Then went I on in the night by the brooke side, and considered the wall, and turned backe, and came home againe by the valley port.

16 And the rulers knewe not whyther I went or what I dyd: neither dyd I as yet tel it vnto the Iewes, to the priestes, to the noble men, to the rulers, and to the other that laboured in the worke.

17 Afterwarde sayde I vnto them: Ye see the miserie that we are in, howe Hieru∣salem lyeth waste, and howe the gates thereof are burnt with fire: come there∣fore, and let vs buylde vp the wall of Hierusalem, and that we be no more a rebuke.

18 Then I tolde them of the hand of my God that it was gratious ouer me, and the kinges wordes that he had spoken vnto me: And they sayde, Let vs get vp and buylde. And they strengthed their handes to good.

19 But when Sanaballat the Horonite, and Tobia the seruaunt an Ammonite, and Gesem the Arabian hearde it, they laughed vs to scorne, & despised vs, and sayde: What is this that ye do? Will ye fall away from the king?

20 Then aunswered I them, and sayde: The God of heauen, he it is that hath graunted vs prosperitie, and we his ser∣uauntes will get vp and buylde: As for you, ye haue no portion, nor right, nor re∣membraunce in Hierusalem.

The .iii. Chapter.

The number of them that buylded the walles.

[unspec A]

1 AND Eliasib the hye priest gat him vp with his brethrē the priestes, and they buylded the sheepe gate: they re∣paired it, and set vp the doores of it: euen vnto the towre Mea repaired they it, and vn∣to the * 1.5 towre of Hananeel.

2 Next vnto him also buylded the men of Iericho: And beside him buylded Sa∣chur the sonne of Amri.

3 But the fishe port did the children of As∣naa buyld, which also layed the beames therof, and set on the doores, lockes, and barres of it.

4 And next vnto them buylded Mere∣moth the sonne of Vria, the sonne of Ha∣koz: and next vnto them buylded Mesul∣lam the sonne of Berachia, the sonne of Mesesabel: and next vnto them buylded Zadoc the sonne of Baana.

5 And next vnto hym buylded they of Thekoa: But the great men that were among them put not their neckes to the worke of their Lorde.

6 The olde gate buylded Iehoiada the sonne of Paseah, & Mesullam the sonne of Besodia, they layed the beames ther∣of, and set on the doores, lockes, & barres of it.

7

Next vnto them buylded Melatiah of [unspec B] Gibeon, and Iadon of Merona, men of Gibeon and of Mispah, vnto the throne of the duke [which was] beyond the riuer.

8

Next vnto him buylded Vzziel the sonn of Harhaiah of the goldesmythes: Next vnto hym also buylded Hananiah the sonne of Harakahim, and they repaired Hierusalem vnto the brode wall.

9

Next vnto them buylded Raphaiah the sonne of Hur, the ruler of the halfe part of Hierusalem.

10

Next vnto him buylded Iedaia the sonne of Harumaph ouer against his house: and next vnto him buylded Hat∣tus the sonne of Hasabnia.

11

But Melchia the sonne of Harim, and Hasub the sonne of the captayne of Mo∣ab buylded the other peece, and the towre beside the fornaces.

12

Next vnto hym buylded Sallum〈…〉〈…〉 sonne of Hallohes, the ruler of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 part of Hierusalem, he & his dau••••••••••

Page clvj

13 The valley gate buylded Hanun, and the citezins of Zanoa: They buylded it, and set on the doores, lockes, and barres thereof, and a thousande cubites on the wall, vnto the doung port.

[unspec C]

14 But the doung port buylded Melchiah the sonne of Rechab, the ruler of the fourth part of Beth acharem: he repai∣red it, and set on the doores, lockes, and barres thereof.

15 But the wel gate repaired Sallum the sonne of Cholhosah, the ruler of the fourth part of Mispah: He buylded it, and couered it, and set on the doores, lockes and barres thereof: and the wall vnto the poole Siloah by the kinges garden, and vnto the steppes that go downe from the citie of Dauid.

16 After him buylded Nehemiah the sonne of Asook, the ruler of the halfe parte of Bethzur, vntill the other side ouer a∣gainst the sepulchres of Dauid, and to the poole that was repaired, and vnto the house of the mightie.

17 After him buylded the Leuites, Re∣hum the sonne of Bani: and next vnto him buylded Hasabia the ruler of the halfe part of Keilah in his quarter.

18 After him buylded their brethren Ba∣uai the sonne of Henadad the ruler of the halfe part of Keilah.

19 And after him buylded Ezer the sonne of Iesua the ruler of Mispah the other peece, harde ouer against the goyng vp to the house of ordinaunce [that was] in the corner.

20 Againe, after him brake foorth Baruch the sonne of Zachai of indignation, and repaired the other peece from the tur∣ning corner, vnto the doore of the house [unspec D] of Eliasib the hie priest.

21 After him also buylded Merimoth the sonne of Vria, the sonne of Haccos, the o∣ther peece, from the doore of the house of Eliasib, euen as long as the house of Eli∣asib extended.

22 After him buylded the priestes, the' men of the playne.'

23

After him buylded Beniamin and Ha∣sub ouer against their house: and after him wrought Asaria the sonne of Maa¦sia the sonne of Anania by his house.

24

After hym also buylded Bennui the sonne of Henadad the other peece, from the house of Azaria vnto the turning [of the wall] and vnto the corner.

25

After him buylded Pala the sonne of Vsai, ouer against the corner and the high towre whiche lyeth out ouer from the kinges house, that was beside the court of the prison: After him Phadaia the sonne of Pharos.

26

As for the Nethinims they dwelt in the strong hold vnto the water gate to∣ward the east, and to the towre that lyeth out.

27

After him buylded they of Thekua the other peece ouer against the great towre that lyeth outwarde, vnto the wall of the strong holde. [unspec E]

28

But from aboue the horse gate foorth buylded the priestes, euery one ouer a∣gainst his house.

29

And after them buylded Zadoc the sonne of Immer ouer against his house: After him buylded also Semeia ye sonne of Sechania the keper of the east gate.

30

After him buylded Hanania the sonne of Selemia, and Hanun the sonne of Zalaph the sixt, the other peece: And af∣ter him buylded Mesullam the sonne of Barachia ouer against his store house.

31

After him buylded Melchia the gold∣smithes sonne vnto the house of the Ni∣thinims and of the marchauntes, ouer against the gate Mephkad, and to the parlour in the corner.

32

And betweene the parlour of the corner vnto the sheepegate, buylded the golde∣smithes, and the marchauntes,

The .iiii. Chapter.

7 The buylding of Hierusalem is hindred, 15 But God breaketh their enterprise. 17 The Iewes buylde with one hande, and holde their weapon in the other.

[unspec A] 1 BVt when Sanaballat hearde that we buyl∣ded the wall, he was wroth in him selfe, and toke great indigna∣tion, and mocked the Iewes:

2 And sayde before his brethren and the souldiers of Samaria: what do these impotent Iewes? “ 1.6 will the [heathen] suf∣fer them? shall they offer? shal they per∣fourme it in one day? shal they make the stones whole againe that are brought to dust and brent?

3 And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside

Page [unnumbered]

him, and sayde: Though they buyld, yet if a foxe go vp, he shall breake downe their stony wall.

4 Heare O thou our God, for we are des∣pised, turne their shame vpon their owne head, & geue them ouer into * 1.7 des∣pising in the lande of their captiuitie.

5 Couer not their wickednesse, and let not their sinne be put out in thy presence: for they haue prouoked the buylders.

6 And so buylded we the wall, and it was ioyned whole together vnto the halfe heyght thereof: And the people were minded to labour.

[illustration]

[unspec B] 7 But when Sanaballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, Ammonites, and As∣dodites, heard that the walles of Hieru∣salem were made vp, & that the breaches began to be stopped, they were very wroth,

8 And conspired all together to come and fight against Hierusalem, and to make an hinderaunce therin.

9 Neuerthelesse, we made our prayer vn∣to our God, and set watchmen by them day and night, because of them.

10 And Iuda sayde: The strength of the bearers is feeble, and there is yet much more morter, and we are not able to buylde on the wall.

11 And our aduersaries sayde: They shall not knowe, neither see, till we come in the middes among them, and slay them, and cause the worke to ceasse.

12 But when the Iewes which dwelt be∣side them, came, they told vs as good as ten times, that in all places where ye go vnto, they are appoynted to fal vpon vs.

13 Therefore set I the people after their kinredes, with their swordes, speares, and bowes, beneath in the lowe places behinde the wall vpon the toppes of the stones.

14 And I loked, and gat me vp, and sayde [unspec C] vnto the chiefe men, to the rulers, and to the other people, Be not ye afrayde of them: but * 1.8 thinke rather vpon the great Lorde whiche ought to be feared, and fight for your brethrē, your sonnes, your daughters, your wiues, & your houses.

15 Neuerthelesse, when our enemies heard that we had gotten worde of it, God brought their counsell to naught: and we turned all againe to the wall, euery one vnto his labour.

16 And from that time foorth, the halfe part of the young men dyd the labour, and the other halfe part of them helde the speares, shieldes, bowes, and brest∣plates: and the rulers stoode behinde all the house of Iuda.

17 They which buylded on the wall and they that bare burthens, and those that laded them, with one hande did euery one his worke, and with the other helde his weapon.

18 For euery one that buylded had his sword girded by his thingh, and so buyl∣ded they: And he that blewe the trum∣pet was beside me.

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19 And I saide vnto the principall men, to the rulers, and to the other people: The worke is great and large, & we are [unspec D] seperated vpon the wall one farre from another.

20 Loke in what place therefore ye heare the noyse of the trumpet, resort ye thi∣ther vnto vs, * 1.9 and our God shall fight for vs:

21 And we wil be labouring in the worke. And the halfe part of them helde their speares from the morning spring, tyll the starres came foorth.

22 And at the same time saide I vnto the people: Let euery one with his seruaūt lodge within Hierusalem, that in the night season we may watch, and labour on the day time.

23 As for me and my brethren, my ser¦uauntes, and the men of the watch which folowed me, we put neuer of our clothes, saue onely because of the was∣shing.

¶The .v. Chapter.

1 The people are oppressed and in necessitie. 7 Nehemia remedieth it. 15 He tooke not the portion of others that had ruled before, lest he shoulde greeue the people.

[unspec A] 1 ANd there arose a great complaynt of the peo∣ple and their wyues a∣gainst their brethrē the Iewes.

2 For there were some that saide, Our sonnes and daughters and we are very many: therefore wyll we take corne for them, that we may eate and liue.

3 Some also there were that saide: Let vs set our landes, vineyardes, and hou∣ses to pledge, and take vp corne in the dearth.

4 But some there were that saide: We haue borowed money for the kinges tri∣bute, and that vpon our landes & vine∣yardes.

5 And now our fleshe is as the fleshe of our brethren, and our children as their children: and loe we bring into subiecti∣on our sonnes and our daughters as seruauntes, and some of our daughters are subdued vnto bondage alredie, and no strength is there in our handes to redeeme them, and other men haue our landes and vineyardes.

6 And when I heard their complaynt and such wordes, it displeased me sore.

[unspec B] 7 And I aduised so in my minde, that I rebuked the counsellers and the rulers, and saide vnto them: Euery one of you layeth great burdens vpon his brother. And I brought a great congregation a∣gainst them,

8 And saide vnto them: We after our ha∣bilitie haue redeemed our brethren the Iewes, which were solde vnto the heathen: And wyll you sell your brethrē againe, and shall they be solde vnto vs? Then held they their peace, and coulde finde nothing to aunswere.

9 And [Nehemia] saide, It is not good that ye do: Ought ye not to walke in the feare of our God, because of the rebuke of the heathen that are our enemies?

10 I and my brethren, and my seruauntes, do lende them money and corne: I pray you let vs leaue of this burden.

11 Therefore this same day I pray you see that ye restore them their landes a∣gaine, their vineyardes, olyue gardens, and their houses, and remit the hun∣dred parte of the money, of the corne, wine, and oyle that ye haue exacted of them.

12 Then saide they: We wyll restore them againe, & wyll require nothing of them, and wyll do as thou hast spoken. And I called the priestes, and tooke an oth of them that they should do so.

13 And I shooke my lappe and saide: [unspec C] God shake out euery man after the same maner from his house & laboure that maintaineth not this worde, euen thus be he shaken out, and voyde. And all the congregation saide, Amen, and praysed the Lorde: And the people did according to this promise.

14 And from the time foorth that the king committed vnto me to be captayne of them that were in the lande of Iuda, euen from the twentie yere, vnto the thirtie & two yere of king Artaxerxes, that is twelue yeres, I with my brethrē liued not of such sustinaunce as was ge∣uen to a captayne.

15 For the olde captaynes that were be∣fore me, had ben chargeable vnto the people, and had taken of them bread &

Page [unnumbered]

wine, beside fouretie sicles of siluer, yea and their seruauntes had oppressed the people: But so did not I, and that be∣cause of the feare of God.

16 * 1.10But I laboured also in the worke vpon the wall, and we bought no lande: and all my seruauntes came thither to∣gether vnto the worke.

17 Moreouer, there were at my table an hundred and fiftie of the Iewes and ru∣lers, which came vnto me from among the heathen that are about vs.

18 And there was prepared for me dayly an oxe and sixe chosen sheepe, and birdes were prepared for me: and euer once in ten dayes wine for all in aboundance: Yet required not I the * 1.11 liuing of a cap∣tayne, for the bondage was greeuous vnto the people.

19 * 1.12Thinke vpon me my God vnto the best, according to all that I haue done for this people.

The .vj. Chapter.

8 Nehemia aunswereth with great wysdome and zeale to his aduersarie. 11 He is not discouraged by the false prophetes.

[unspec A] 1 AND when Sanabal∣lat, Tobia, and Gesem the Arabian, and the other of our enemies, heard that I had buil∣ded the wall, and that there were no mo * 1.13 gappes therein: (howebeit at the same time had I not hanged the doores vpon the gates,)

2 Sanaballat and Gesem sent vnto me, saying: Come, that we may meete & take counsel together in the villages that are in the playne of the citie Ono. Neuer∣thelesse, they thought to do me euill.

3 And I sent messengers vnto them, saying: I haue a great businesse to do, and I can not come downe: Why should the worke ceasse, whilest I leaue it and come downe to you?

4 Howbeit, they sent vnto me as good as foure times after the same maner: And I gaue them the same aunswere.

5 Then sent Sanaballat his seruaunt a∣gaine vnto me the fift time, with an o∣pen letter in his hande,

6 Wherein was written: It is tolde the heathen, and Gesem hath saide it, that thou and the Iewes thinke to rebel: for the which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayst be their king, according to these wordes:

[unspec B] 7 And hast ordayned the prophetes to preache of thee at Hierusalem, and to say, He is king of Iuda. And now shall this come to the kinges eares: come now therefore, and let vs take our coun∣sell together.

8 And I sent vnto him, saying: There is no such thing done as thou sayest, for thou fainest them out of thyne owne heart.

9 For they were all minded to make vs afrayde, saying, They shall withdrawe their handes from their worke, that it shall not be finished: Nowe therefore strengthen thou my hande.

10 And I came vnto the house of Sema∣ia the sonne of Delaia, the sonne of Me∣hetabeel, & he had shut him selfe within, and saide: Let vs come together in the house of God, euen vnto the middest of the temple, & shut the doores of the tem∣ple, for they wyll come to slay thee, yea euen in the night wyll they come to put thee to death.

11 And I saide: should any such man as I flee? Who is, that being as I am, wyll go into the temple to saue his life? I wil not go in.

12 And loe, I perceaued that God hath not sent him, but that he pronounced this prophecie against me: For Tobia and Sanaballat had hired him for mo∣ney.

13 Therfore was he hyred, that through [unspec C] feare I should so do, & sinne, that they might haue an euill report of me to lay to my charge.

14 My God, thinke thou vpon Tobia and Sanaballat according vnto these their workes, and on the prophetisse Noadia, and the other prophetes that would haue put me in feare.

15 And the wall was finished on the twentie and fifth day of the moneth E∣lul, in fiftie and two dayes.

16 And when all our enemies hearde thereof, all the heathen that was about vs were afrayd, and their courage fay∣led them: For they perceaued that this worke came of our God.

Page clviij

17 And at the same time were there ma∣ny of the chiefe of Iuda whose letters wente vnto Tobia, and againe from Tobia vnto them.

18 For there were many in Iuda that were sworne vnto him: for he was the sonne in lawe of Sechania, the sonne of Arah, and his sonne Iehonathan had the daughter of Mesullam the sonne of Barachia,

19 And they spake good of him before me, and tolde him my wordes: and Tobia sent letters to put me in feare.

¶The .vii. Chapter.

1 After the wall once builded, is the watch appoynted. 6 They that returned from the captiuitie are numbred.

[unspec A] 1 NOw when the wall was builded, I han∣ged on the * 1.14 doores al∣so, and the porters, sin∣gers, and Leuites, were appoynted:

2 And I commaun∣ded my brother Hanani, and Hanania the * 1.15 ruler of the castle at Hierusalem, (for he was a faithfull man, and feared God more then did many other)

3 And saide vnto them: Let not the gates of Hierusalem be opened vntil the sunne be whot: and while they stand by, let them shut the doores & barre them. And we appoynted certaine citezins of Hierusalem to be watchmen, euery one to keepe his watch, and euery one to be ouer against his house.

4 As for the citie, it was large of roome, and great, but the people were fewe therein, and the houses were not buil∣ded.

5 And God gaue me in myne heart that I gathered together the principal men, and the officers, & the people, to * 1.16 num∣ber them: and I founde a register of the number of them * 1.17 which came vp * 1.18 be∣fore, and founde written therein,

6 These are the sonnes of the * 1.19 lande that went vp from the captiuitie that was caried away, whom Nabuchodo∣nosor the king of Babylon had brought away, and came againe to Hierusalem and Iuda, euery one vnto his citie.

[unspec B] 7 They which came with Zorobabel are these: Iesua, Nehemia, Asariah, Raamia, Nahamani, Mardochee, Bel∣san, Mesperath, Beguai, Nahum, and Baanah. This is the number of the men of the people of Israel:

8 The children of Pharaos, were two thousand an hundred seuentie and two.

9 The children of Saphatia, three hun∣dred seuentie and two.'

10 The children of Arah, sixe hundred' fiftie and two.'

11

The children of the captayne of Moab among the children of Iesua & Ioab, two thousand eyght hundred and eight∣teene.

12 The children of Elam, a thousand two' hundred fiftie and foure.'

13 The children of Zathua, eyght hun∣dred' fouretie and fiue.' [unspec C]

14 The children of Zachai, seuen hun∣dred' and threescore.'

15 The children of Bannui, sixe hundred' fouretie and eyght.'

16 The children of Bebai, sixe hundred' twentie and eyght.'

17 The children of Asgad, two thousand' three hundred twentie and two.'

18 The children of Adonicam, sixe hun∣dred' threescore and seuen.'

19 The children of Beguai, two thou∣sand' threescore and seuen.'

20 The children of Adin, sixe hundred [unspec D] fiftie and fiue.'

21 The children of Ater of Hezekia, nine∣tie and eyght.'

22 The children of Hasem, three hundred twentie and eyght.'

23 The children of Bezai, three hundred twentie and foure.'

24 The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelue.'

25 The children of Gibeon, ninetie and' fiue.'

26 The men of Bethlehem and Netho∣phah,' an hundred fourescore and eyght.'

27 The men of Anathoth, an hundred' twentie and eyght.'

28 The men of Bethasmaueth, fouretie' and two.'

29

The men of Kariathiarim, Cep and Beeroth, seuen hundred four and three.

Page [unnumbered]

'30 The men of Ramah and Geba, sixe 'hundred twentie and one.

'31 The men of Michmas, an hundred 'twentie and two.

'32 The men of Bethel and Ai, an hun∣dred 'twentie and three.

'33 The men of the other Nebo, fiftie and 'two.

[unspec F] '34 The childrē of the other Elam, a thou∣sand 'two hundred fiftie and foure.

'35 The children of Harim, three hundred 'and twentie.

'36 The children of Iericho, three hun∣dred 'fourtie and fiue.

'37 The children of Lodhadid and Ono, 'seuen hundred twentie and one.

'38 The children of Senaa, three thou∣sand 'nine hundred and thirtie.

39 The priestes: The children of Ieda∣ia, of the house of Iesua, nine hundred seuentie and three.

'40 The children of Immer, a thousand 'fiftie and two.

'41 The children of Phashur, a thousand 'two hundred fourtie and seuen.

'42 The children of Harim, a thousand 'and seuenteene.

43 The Leuites: The children of Iesua of Cadmiel and of the children of Hodi∣iah, seuentie and foure.

'44 The singers: The children of Asaph, 'an hundred fourtie and eyght.

45 The porters: The childrē of Sallum, the children of Ater, the children of Tal∣mon, the children of Accub, the chil∣dren of Hatita, the children of Sobai, [altogether] an hundred thirtie & eyght.

46 The Nethinims: The children of Si∣ha, [unspec G] the children of Hasupha, the children of Tebbaoth,

'47 The children of Ceros, the children of 'Sia, the children of Phadon,

'48 The children of Lebanah, the children 'of Hagaba, the children of Salmai,

'49 The children of Hanan, the children of 'Giddel, the children of Gaher,

'50 The children of Reaiah, the children of 'Resin, the children of Necodah,

'51 The children of Gazzam, the children 'of Vzza, the children of Phasea,

'52 The children of Besai, the children of 'Meunim, the children of Nephussim,

'53 The children of Bacbuc, the children 'of Hacupha, the children of Harhur,

'54 The children of Baslith, the children 'of Mehida, the children of Harsa,

'55 The children of Barcos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,

56 The children of Nesiah, the children' of Hatipha,

57

The childrē of Solomons seruaūtes, the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Pharida,

58 The children of Iaala, the children of' Darcon, the children of Giddel,'

59

The children of Sephatiath, the chil∣drē of Hattil, the children of Phochereth of Sabaim, the children of Amon.

60

All these Nethinims and the children of Solomons seruauntes, were three hundred ninetie and two.

61

And these went vp also from Thel∣mela: Thelharsa, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their fathers house, nor their seede, and that they were of Israel.

62

The children of Dalaiah, the children of Tobia, and the children of Neco∣da, sixe hundred fourtie and two.

63

And of the priestes: the children of Ha∣baiah, the children of Haccos, the childrē of Barzillai, which toke one of ye daugh∣ters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wyfe, and was named after their name.

64

These sought their writing in the re∣gister of their generation, but they were not founde: therfore they were put from the priesthood.* 1.20

65 And Athirsatha saide vnto them that they shoulde not eate of the most holy, tyll there came vp a priest which should were Vrim and Thummim.

66 And so the whole congregation toge∣ther, was fourtie and two thousande three hundred and threescore,

67 Beside their seruauntes and maydens, of whom there were seuen thousand three hundred thirtie and seuen: And they had two hundred fourtie and fiue singing men and women.

68 Their horses seuen hundred thirtie and sixe: and their Mules two hundred fourtie and fiue:

69 The Camels foure hundred thirtie and fiue: sixe thousand seuen hundred and twentie Asses.

70 And certaine of the auncient fathers gaue vnto the worke: Athirsatha gaue to the treasure a thousand “ 1.21 peeces of golde, fiftie basons, fiue hundred and thirtie priestes garmentes.

71 And some of the chiefe fathers gaue vnto the treasure of the worke, twentie thousand peeces of gold, & two thousand

Page clix

and two hundred pounde of siluer.

72 And the other people gaue twentie thousand peeces of golde, and two thou∣sand pound of siluer, and threescore and seuen priestes garmentes.

73 And the priestes and Leuites, the por∣ters, and the singers, and the other of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities: And whē the seuenth moneth came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

The .viij. Chapter.

2 Esdras gathereth together the people, and readeth to them the law. 12 They re∣ioyce in Israel for the knowledge of the word of God. 15 They keep the feaste of tabernacles or boothes,

[unspec A] 1 ANd all * 1.22 the people ga∣thered them selues to∣gether as one man, in the streete that was before the water gate, and they saide vnto Esdras the scribe, that he should fetch * 1.23 the booke of the law of Moyses, which the Lorde commaun∣ded to Israel.

2 And Esdras the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men & women, and all that could vnderstand did hearken vnto it vpon the first day of the seuenth moneth.

3 And he read therein in the streete that was before the water gate, from the morning vntill the noone day, before men and women that did hearken to it: and the eares of all the people were in∣clined vnto the booke of the law.

4 And Esdras the scribe stoode vpon a pulpet of wood which they had made for the preaching, and beside him stoode Mathathia, Sema, & Anaiah, Vriah, Helkia, & Maaseiah, on his right hande: and on his left hand stoode Pedaia, Mi∣sael, & Melchia, & Hasum, Hasabadana, Zachari, and Mesullam.

5 And Esdras opened the booke before all the people, (for he stoode aboue al the people:) and when he opened it, all the people stoode vp.

6 And Esdras praysed the Lorde the great God: And all the people aunswe∣red, Amen, Amē, lifting vp their handes, and bowed them selues and worship∣ped the Lord falling downe vpon their faces to the grounde.

[unspec B] 7 And Iesua, Bani, Serebiah, Iamin, Accub, Sebbethai, Hodaia, Maasia, Ce∣lita, Azariah, Iozabad, Hanan, Pela∣iah, & the Leuites caused the people to geue heede vnto the law: and the people stoode in their place.

8 And they read in the booke of the lawe of God distinctly, and gaue the sense, and caused them to vnderstand the reading.

9 And Nehemia which is Athirsatha, and Esdras the priest and scribe, and the Leuites that caused the people to take heede, said vnto al the people, This day is holy vnto the Lorde your God, be not ye sory, and weepe not: For all the people wept when they heard the wordes of the lawe.

10 And he saide vnto them: * 1.24 Go your way, and eate the fat, and drinke the sweete, and send part vnto them also that haue not prepared for them selues, for this day is holy vnto our Lorde: be not ye sory therefore, for the ioy of the Lorde is your strength.

11 And the Leuites stilled all the people, and saide: Holde your peace, for the day is holy, be not sad therefore.

12 And all the people went their way to eate, and to drinke, & to sende part vnto other, and to make great mirth, because they had vnderstand the wordes that were declared vnto them.

13 And on the next day were gathered to∣gether [unspec C] the chiefe fathers among all the people, and the priestes, and leuites, vnto Esdras the scribe, that they might vn∣derstand the wordes of the law.

14 And they founde written in the lawe * 1.25 which the Lorde had commaunded by Moyses, that the children of Israel should dwell in boothes in the feast of the seuenth moneth:

15 And that they should cause it to be de∣clared and proclaymed in all their cities, and throughout Hierusalem, saying: Go foorth vnto the mount and fetch O∣lyue braūches, Pine braunches, Myrtel braunches, Palme braunches, & braun∣ches of the thicke tree, to make boothes, as it is written.

16 And so the people went foorth, and fet

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them and made them boothes, euery one vpon the roofe of his house, and in their courtes, and in the courtes of the house of God, and in the streete by the water gate, and in the streete of the port of Ephraim.

17 And all the congregation of them that were come againe out of the captiuitie, made boothes, & sat vnder the boothes: for since the time of Iosua the sonne of Nun, vnto this day, had not the children of Israel done so: And there was very great gladnesse.

18 And euery day from the first day vnto the last, read Esdras in the booke of the lawe of God: And seuen dayes held they the feaste, and on the eyght day they gathered together, according vnto the maner.

¶The .ix. Chapter.

1 The people repent, and forsake their straunge wyues. 5 The Leuites exhort them to prayse God, 6 declaring his wonders. 26 and their ingratitude, 30 and Gods great mercies toward them.

[unspec A] 1 IN the twentie and fourth day of this mo∣neth, came the children of Israel together a∣gaine, with * 1.26 fasting, and sackeclothes, and earth vpon them,

2 And they that were of the seede of Isra∣el, were separated from all the straunge children, and stoode & knowledged their sinnes, & the wickednes of their fathers:

3 And stoode vp in their place, & read in the booke of the law of the Lorde their God foure times on the day, and they knowledged and worshipped the Lord their God foure times on the day.

4 Then stoode vp vpon the stayres of the Leuites, Iesua, Bani, Cadmiel, Saba∣niah, Bunni, Serebiah, Bani, and Cha∣nani, and cryed loude vnto the Lorde their God:

5 And the Leuites, Iesua, and Cadmi∣el, Bani, and Hasabnia, Serebiah, and Hodia, Sebania, and Phathahia, sayde: Stand vp, and prayse the Lorde your God for euer, and let thankes be geuē vnto the name of thy glory, which excel∣leth all thankes geuing and prayse.

6 Thou art Lorde alone, thou hast made heauen and the heauen of all hea∣uens with all their hoast, the earth and all thinges that are therein, the sea & all that is therin, & thou preseruest them al, & the hoast of heauen worshippeth thee.

[unspec B] 7 Thou art, O Lorde, the God that hast chosen Abraham, and broughtest him out of Vr in Chaldea, * and calledst him Abraham:

8 And foundest his heart faithfull be∣fore thee, * 1.27 & madest a couenaunt with him, to geue vnto his seede the lande of the Chanaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Pherezites, Iebusites, and Gergesites, and hast made good thy wordes: for thou art righteous,

9 * 1.28And hast considered the miserie of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their complaynt by the red sea:

10 And shewed tokens and wonders vp∣on Pharao and all his seruauntes, and on all the people of his lande: For thou knowest that they were presumptuous and cruell against them: and so madest thou thee a name as it is this day.

11 And the [red] sea diddest thou deuide in sunder before them, so that they went through the middest of the sea “ 1.29 drye shod: and their persecuters threwest thou into the deepe, as a stone in the mightie waters:

12 And leddest them on the day time in a cloudie piller, and on the night season in a piller of fyre, to shewe them light in the way that they went.

13 * 1.30Thou camest downe also vpon [unspec C] mount Sinai, and spakest vnto them from heauen, and gauest them right iudgementes, true lawes, good com∣maundementes and statutes:

14 And declaredst vnto them thy holy Sabbath, and commaundedst them pre∣ceptes, ordinaunces, and lawes, by the hande of Moyses thy seruaunt:

15 And * 1.31 gauest them bread from heauen when they were hungry, and * 1.32 brough∣test foorth water for them out of the rocke when they were thirstye, and promysedst them that they should go in and take possession of the lande ouer which thou haddest lyft vp thyne hand for to geue them.

16 But they and our fathers were proud

Page clx

and hardnecked, so that they folowed not thy commaundementes:

17 And woulde not obey, neither were mindeful of the wonders that thou did∣dest for thē: but hardened their neckes, and had in their heades to returne to their bondage by their rebellion: But thou O God of mercies, gracious, and full of compassion, of long suffering, and of great mercie, yet forsookest them not.

18 Moreouer, when they had made them a moulten calfe, and saide. This is thy God that brought thee out of the lande of Egypt, and did blasphemies:

[unspec D] 19 Yet forsookest thou them not in the wildernesse, according to thy great mer∣cies: * 1.33 And the cloudy piller departed not from them on the day time to leade thē the way, neither the piller of fire in the night season, to shewe them light in the way by which they should go.

20 And thou gauest them thy good spirite to enfourme them, * 1.34 and withheldest not thy Manna from their mouth, * 1.35 and ga∣uest them water when they were thir∣stie.

21 Fourtie yeres long didst thou feede them in the wildernesse, so that they lacked nothing: * 1.36 their clothes waxed not olde, and their feete swelled not,

22 And thou gauest them kingdomes and nations, and scatteredst them into corners: so they possessed * 1.37 the lande of Schon and the lande of the king of He∣sebon, and the lande of Og king of Ba∣san.

23 And their children multipliedst thou as the starres of heauen, and brough∣test them into the lande whereof thou haddest spoken to their fathers, that they should go into it, and haue it in pos∣session.

24 And the children went in, and posses∣sed the lande, * 1.38 and thou subduedst be∣fore them the inhabiters of the lande, euen the Chanaanites, and gauest them into their handes, with their kinges and the people of the lande, that they might do with them what they would.

25 And they wanne their strong cities, [unspec E] and a fat lande, and toke possession of houses that were full of all maner of goodes, welles digged out, vineyards, oliue gardens * 1.39, & many fruiteful trees: and they did eate, and were filled, and be∣came fat, and liued in pleasure through thy great goodnesse.

26 Neuerthelesse, they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behinde their backes, & * 1.40 slue their prophetes. * 1.41 which exhorted them ear∣nestly that they might bring them a∣gaine vnto thee, and did great blasphe∣mies.

27 Therefore thou gauest them ouer in∣to the hand of their enemies that vexed them: And in the time of their trouble whē they cryed vnto thee thou heardest them from heauen, and through thy great mercie thou gauest them sauiours which helped them out of the hande of their enemies.

28 But when they came to rest, they tur∣ned backe againe to do euill before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hande of their enemies, so that they had the dominion ouer them: And when they conuerted, & cryed vnto thee, thou hear∣dest them from heauen, and many times hast thou deliuered them accor∣ding to thy great mercie,

29 And “ 1.42 testifiedst vnto them, that thou mightest bring them againe vnto thy lawe: Notwithstanding, they were proude, and hearkened not vnto thy commaundementes, but sinned * 1.43 in thy lawes, * 1.44 which if a man do, he shall lyue in them: and turned the shoulder away, and were stiffenecked, and would not heare.

30 Yet many yeres diddest thou for∣beare them, and * 1.45 testifiedst vnto them through thy spirite, euen by the hand of thy prophetes, and yet would they not heare: therefore gauest thou them in∣to [unspec F] the hand of the nations of the landes.

31 And for thy great mercies sake, thou hast not vtterly consumed them, neither forsaken them: for thou art a gratious and mercifull God.

32 * 1.46Now therfore our God, thou great God mightie and terrible, thou that ke∣pest couenaunt and mercie, regarde not a litle al the trauaile that hath come vn∣to vs, and our kinges, our princes, our priestes, our prophetes, and our fathers, and all the people since the time of the kinges of Assur▪ vnto this day.

33 And truely thou art iust in al that thou hast brought vpon vs, for thou hast done right: As for vs, we haue ben vngodly,

34 And our kinges, and our princes, our priestes, and our fathers, haue not done

Page [unnumbered]

thy lawe, nor regarded thy commaun∣dementes, and thy * 1.47 earnest exhortati∣ons, wherewith thou hast * 1.48 exhorted them,

35 And they haue not serued thee in their kingdome, and in thy great goodnesse that thou gauest them, and in the large and * 1.49 plenteous lande which thou ga∣uest before them, and haue not conuer∣ted from their wicked workes.

36 Beholde, we are in bondage this day, and so is the lande that thou gauest vn∣to our fathers to eate the fruites and goodnesse thereof, beholde there are we bondmen.

37 And great is the increase of it vnto the kinges whom thou hast set ouer vs be∣cause of our sinnes, and they haue domi∣nion ouer our bodies and cattaile, euen as they wyll them selues: and we are in great trouble.

38 Now because of all this make we a sure couenaunt and write it, & our prin∣ces, leuites, and priestes, seale vnto it.

The .x. Chapter.

1 The names of them that sealed the couenaunt betweene God and the people.

[unspec A]

1 THe sealers were,* 1.50 Nehe∣miah [that is] Athirsa∣tha the sonne of Hacha∣liah, and Sedecias,

'2 Seraiah, Azariah, 'Irmeiah,

'3 Pashur, Amariah, 'Malachiiah,

'4 Hattus, Sebeniah, Malluch,

'5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

'6 Daniel, Ginethon, Baruch,

[unspec B] '7 Mesullam, Abiiah, Miiamin,

'8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Semaiah: these 'were priestes.

9 The Leuites were, Iesua the sonne of Azaniah, Bennui among the children of Henadad, and Cadmiel.

'10 And their brethren, Sebaniah, Hodi∣iah, 'Celita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

'11 Micha, Rehob, Hasabiah,

'12 Zacchur, Serebiah, Sebaniah,

'13 Hodiiah, Bani, Beninu.

14 The heads of the people were, Pha∣ros the captayne of Moab, Elam, Zat∣thu, Bani,

[unspec C] '15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai.

'16 Adomiah, Biguai, Adin,

'17 Ater, Hizciiah, Azur,

'18 Hoditah, Hasum, Besai,

'19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai.

'20 Magpias, Mesullam, Hezir,

'21 Mesesabel, Sadoc, Iaddua,

'22 Phelatia, Hanan, Anaaia,

'23 Hosea, Hanania, Hasub.

'24 Halohes, Phaleha, Sobek,

'25 Rehum, Hasebna, Maasia,

'26 Ahia, Aanan, and Anan,

* 1.51'27 Malluch, Harim, and Baana:

28 And the other people, the priestes, Le∣uites, porters, singers, Nethinims, and all they that had separated them selues from the people of the landes vnto the law of God, with their wyues, their sonnes, and their daughters, & as many as could vnderstand, [unspec D]

29 And their lordes that had rule of thē, receaued it for their brethren: * 1.52 And they came to sweare, & to binde them selues with an oth to walke in gods lawe, which was geuen by Moyses the ser∣uaunt of God, and that they would ob∣serue and do according vnto all the com∣maundementes, iudgementes, and sta∣tutes of the Lorde our God:

30 * 1.53And that we woulde not geue our daughters vnto the people of the lande, neither to take their daughters for our sonnes.

31 * 1.54And if the people of the land brought ware on the Sabbath, and all maner vitailes to sell, that we would not take it of them on the Sabbath and on the holy dayes, * 1.55 and that we would let the seuenth yere be free, and the debtes of euery person.

32 And we decreed a statute vpon our selues, to geue yerely the third part of a sicle to the ministration in the house of our God,

33 To the shewe bread, to the dayly meate [unspec E] offering, to the dayly burnt offering, of the Sabbathes, of the new Moones, and feaste dayes, and to the thinges that were sanctified, & to the offringes of attonement, to reconsile Israel with∣al, and to all the busines in the house of our God.

34 And we cast the lot among the priestes, Leuites, and the people, for the offering of the wood, to be brought vnto the house of our God from yere to yere, af∣ter the houses of our fathers, that it

Page [unnumbered]

might be brent at times appoynted vpon the aulter of the Lorde God, as it is written in the lawe:

35 And to bring the first fruites of our land, and the firstlinges of our fruites of all trees yere by yere vnto the house of the Lorde.

36 And the first borne of our sonnes, and of our cattel, (as it is written in the law) and the firstlinges of our oxen and of our sheepe, whiche we shoulde bring to the house of our God vnto the priestes that minister in the house of our God.

37 And that we shoulde bring the first fruites of our dough and our heaue of∣feringes, and the fruites of all maner of trees, of wine also and of oyle, vnto the priestes to the * 1.56 chestes of the house of our God, and the tythes of our lande vnto the Leuites, that the Leuites might haue the tythes in all the cities of our ministration.

38 And the priest the sonne of Aaron shal∣be with the Leuites when the Leuites take tythes: so that the Leuites shall bring vp the tythes of their tythes vnto the house of our God, to the store houses and to the treasure houses.

39 For the children of Israel and the chil∣dren of Leui shall bring vp the heaue offeringes of the corne, wine, and oyle, [unspec F] vnto the store houses, there as are the vessels of the sanctuarie and the priestes that minister, and the porters and sin∣gers, and we will not forsake the house of our God.

The .xi. Chapter.

1 Who dwelled in Hierusalem after it was buylded. 21 And who in the cities of Iuda.

[unspec A] 1 ANd the rulers of the people dwelt at Hieru∣salem: The other peo∣ple also cast lottes, that among ten one part should go to Hie∣rusalem into the holy citie to dwell, and nyne partes to be in the cities.

2 And the people thanked all the men that were willing to dwel at Hierusalē.

3 These are the heades of the prouince that dwelt in Hierusalem, and in the ci∣ties of Iuda, euery one in his posses∣sion, and in their cities: they of Israel, the priestes, Leuites, the Nethinims, & the children of Solomons seruauntes.

4 And at Hierusalem dwelt certayne of the children of Iuda, and of Beniamin: Of the children of Iuda, Athaiah, the sonne of Vzzia, the sonne of Zacharia, the sonne of Amaria, the sonne of Sa∣phatia, the sonne of Mahalaleel, of the children of Phares.

5 And Maasia the sonne of Baruch, the sonne of Chol Hosa, the sonne of Hasaia, the sonne of Adaia, the sonne of Ioia∣rib, the sonne of Zacharia, the sonne of Siloni.

6 All these were the children of Phares that dwelt at Hierusalem, euen foure hundred three score and eyght valiaunt men.

[unspec B] 7 These are the children of Beniamin: Salu the sonne of Mesullam, the sonne of Ioed, the sonne of Pedaia, the sonne of Colaia, the sonne of Masia, the sonne of Ithiel, the sonne of Isai.

8 And after hym Gabai, Sellai, nine hun∣dred and twentie and eyght.

9 And Ioel the sonne of Zichri had the ouersight of them: and Iuda the sonne of Senua was the second ouer the citie.

10 * 1.57Of the priestes: Iedaiah the sonne of Ioiarib, Iachin,

11 Saraiah the sonne of Helkia, the sonne of Mesullam, the sonne of Zadoc, the sonne of Meraioth, the sonne of Achitob, was chiefe in the house of God,

12 And their brethren that dyd the worke in the temple, eyght hundred and twen∣tie and two: And Adaia the sonne of Ieroham, the sonne of Pelaliah, the sonne of Amzi, the sonne of Zachari, the sonne of Phashur, the sonne of Malchia,

13 And his brethren chiefe among the fa∣thers, two hundred and fourtie & two: And Amasai the sonne of Azrael, the sonne of Ahasai, the sonne of Mosele∣moth, the sonne of Immer,

14 And their brethren valiaunt men, an [unspec C] hundred and twentie and eyght: And their ouersear was Zabdiel a sonne of one of the great men.

15 * 1.58Of the Leuites: Semeia the sonne of Hasub, the sonne of Azarikam, the sonne of Hasabia, the sonne of Buni,

16 And Sabathai, and Iosabad of the

Page [unnumbered]

chiefe of the Leuites, had the ouer∣sight of the outwarde businesse of the house of God.

17 And Mathania, the sonne of Micha, the sonne of Zabdi, the sonne of Asaph, was the principall to begin the thankes∣geuing and prayer: and Bacbucia the seconde among his brethren, and Abda the sonne of Sammua, the sonne of Ga∣lal, the sonne of Ieduthun.

18 All the Leuites in the holy citie, were two hundred foure score and foure.

19 * 1.59And the porters Accub and Talmon, and their brethren that kept the portes, were an hundred and seuentie and two.

20 As for the residue of Israel, of the priestes and Leuites, they were in al the cities of Iuda, euery one in his inheri∣taunce.

[unspec D] 21 And the Nethinims dwelt “ 1.60in Ophel, and Ziha and Gispa were set ouer the Nethinims.

22 The ouersear of the Leuites at Hieru∣salem was Vzzi, the sonne of Bani, the sonne of Hasabia, the sonne of Mattha∣nia, the sonne of Micha: Of the children of Asaph, singers were ouer the busines in the house of God:

23 For it was the kinges commaundement concerning them, that the singers should deale faythfully euery day, as was ac∣cording.

24 And Pathaia the sonne of Me••••daze of the children of Zerah the sonne of Iuda, was “ 1.61 next the king in al matters concerning the people.

25 And in the villages in their landes, some of the children of Iuda that were with∣out in the townes of their land dwelt at Kiriath arba, and in the villages ther∣of: and in Dibon and in the villages therof, and at Iecabzeel and in the vil∣lages therof:

26 At Iesua, Moladath, Bethphale:

27 In * 1.62 the towne of Sual, Beerseba, and in the villages therof:

28 At Siklag, and Moconah, and the villages therof:

29 And at En rimmon, Zarah, Ierimuth,

30 Zonoa, Odollam, & in their villages, at Lachis, and in the fieldes therof: at Aseka, and in the villages thereof, and they dwelt from Beerseba vnto the val∣ley of Hinnom.

31 The children also of Beniamin from Geba, dwelt at Machmas, Aia, Bethel, and in their villages,

32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

33 Hazor, Ramah, Gethaim,

34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballath,

35 Lod, and Ono, in the carpenters val∣ley.

36 And the Leuites had possession both in Iuda and in Beniamin.

The xii. Chapter.

1 The priestes and Leuites, whiche came with Zorobabel vnto Hierusalem are num∣bred. 27 and the wall is dedicated.

[unspec A] 1 THese are the priestes and Leuites that went vp with Zoro∣babel the sonne of Sa∣lathiel: and with Ie∣sua, Saraia, Ieremia, and Esdras,

2 Amaria, Malluch, Hattus,

3 Sechania, Rehum, Merimoth,

4 Iddo, Genthon, Abia,

5 Miamin, Madaia, Belga,

6 Semaia, Ioiarib, Iedaia,

7 Salu, Amok, Helkia, and Iedaia: These were the heades among the priestes and their brethren in the dayes of Iesua.

8 The Leuites were these: Iesua, Ben∣nui, Cadmiel, Sarebia, Iuda, and Ma∣thania, whiche was ouer [the office] of thankesgeuing, he and his brethren.

9 Bacbucio, and Hanni, and their bre∣thren, [unspec B] were about them in the watches.

10 Iesua begat Ioakim, Ioakim also begat Eliasib, and Eliasib begat Ioiada:

11 Ioiada begat Ionathan, and Iona∣than begat Iaddua.

12 In the dayes of Ioakim were these the chiefe fathers among the priestes: vnder Saraia, Maraia: vnder Iere∣mi, Hanania:

13 Vnder Esdras, Mesullam: vnder Ama∣ria, Iehoanan:

14 Vnder Milico, Ionathan: vnder Se¦bania, Ioseph:

15 Vnder Horim, Adna: vnder Maraioth, Helka:

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•••• Vnder Iddo, Zacharie: vnder Ge¦thon, Mesullam:

17 Vnder Abia, Zichri: vnder Munamin, and Moadia, Piltai:

18 Vnder Belga, Sammua: vnder Se¦maia, Iehonathan:

9 Vnder Ioiarib, Mathena: vnder Ia∣daia, Vzzi:

20 Vnder Selai, Kellai: vnder Amok, Eber:

[unspec D] 21 Vnder Helchia, Hasabia: vnder Ia∣daia, Nathanael.

22 And in the time of Eliasib, Ioiada, Io∣hanan, and Iadua, were the chiefe fa∣thers among the Leuites & the priestes written, in the raigne of Darius the Persian.

23 The children of Leui the principall fa∣thers, were written in the cronicles, vn∣till the time of Ionathan the sonne of Eliasib.

24 And these were the chiefe among the Leuites: Hasabia, Serebia, and Iesua the sonne of Cadmiel, and their brethren * 1.63 in their presence, to geue prayse and thankes, according as Dauid the man of God had ordeyned it, one watch ouer a∣gainst another.

25 Mathania, Bacbukia, Obadia, Mesul∣lam, Talmon, and Accub, were porters * 1.64 in the watch at the thresholdes of the gates.

26 These were in the dayes of Ioiakim the sonne of Iesua, the sonne of Iose∣dec, and in the dayes of Nehemia the captayne, & of the priest Esdras the scribe.

27 And in the dedication of the wall at Hierusalem they sought the Leuites out of all their places, that they might be brought to Hierusalem, to kepe the dedi∣cation and gladnesse with thankesge∣uinges, & singing, with cymbales, * 1.65 psal∣teries, and harpes.

[unspec E] 28 And the children of the singers gathe∣red them selues together from euery side, out of the playne countrey about Hierusalem, and from the villages of Nethophathi,

29 From the house of Gilgal, and out of the countreys of Geba, and Asmaueth: for the singers had buylded them vil∣lages round about Hierusalem.

30 And the priestes and Leuites were pu∣rified, & clensed the people, & the gates, and the wall.

31 And I brought the princes of Iuda vpon the wall, and appoynted two great quyers of men to geue thankes, whiche went on the right hande of the wall to∣warde the doung gate.

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

33 And Asaria, Esdras, and Mesullam,

34 Iuda, Beniamin, Semeia, & Iereim,

35 And certayne of the priestes children, with trumpettes: namely Zacharie the sonne of Ionathan, the sonne of Se∣meia, the sonne of Mathania, the sonne of Michaia, the sonne of Zaccur, the sonne of Asaph,

36 And his brethren, Semeia, Asarael, [unspec F] Melalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nathanael, and Iuda, and Hanani, with the musicall in∣strumentes of Dauid the man of God: And Esdras the scribe went before them.

37 And beside the wel gate, they went vp ouer against them vpon the steppes of the citie of Dauid at the goyng vp of the wall, beyonde the house of Dauid, vnto the water gate eastwarde.

38 The other quyer of them that gaue thankes went ouer against them, and I after them, and the halfe part of the people vpon the wall beyond the for¦nace gate, vntill the brode wall,

39 And beyonde the port of Ephraim, and beyonde the old gate, beyonde the fishe gate, and the towre of Hanancel, & the towre of Mea, euen vnto the sheepe gate and they stoode still in the “ 1.66 prison gate,

40 And so stoode the two quyers of them that gaue thankes in the house of God, and I, & the halfe of the rulers with me.

41 And the priestes, namely Eliakim, Maasia, Miniamin, Michaia, Elionai, Zachari, & Hanania, with trumpettes:

42 And Maasia, Semeia, Eleaser, Vzzi, Iehohanan, Melchiah, Elam, & Ezer: And the singers sange loude, hauing Iesrahiah for their ouersear.

43 And the same day they offered great [unspec G] sacrifices, and reioyced: for God had ge∣uen them great gladnesse, so that both the wiues & children were ioyfull, & the mirth of Hierusalē was hearde farre of.

44 At the same time were the men ap∣poynted ouer the treasure houses, wher∣in were the heaue offeringes, the first∣linges, and the tythes, that they shoulde gather them out of the fieldes about the cities, to distribute them vnto the priestes and Leuites according to the lawe: for Iuda was glad of the priestes and Leuites that serued.

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•••• And there stoode and wayted vpon the office of their God, whiche is a pure of¦fice, both the singers and porters, after the commaundement of Dauid, and of Solomon his sonne:

46 * 1.67For in the time of Dauid and Asaph, of olde were the chiefe singers founded & the songes of prayse and thankesgeuing vnto God.

47 In the time of Zorobabel and Nehe¦mia, did all they of Israel geue portions vnto the singers and porters euery day his portion: and they gaue tythes vnto the Leuites, & the Leuites gaue tythes againe vnto the children of Aaron.

The .xiii. Chapter.

1 The lawe is read. They separate from them all straungers. 15 Nehemia reproueth▪ them that breake the Sabbath▪ An ordinaunce to serue God.

[unspec A] 1 ANd that day dyd they read in the booke of Moyses in the audi∣ence of the people, and therein was founde written, * 1.68 that the Am∣monites, & Moabites shoulde neuer come into the congrega∣tion of God,

2 Because they met not the children of Is∣rael with bread and water, * 1.69but hired Balaam against them that he should curse them: and our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3 Nowe when they had hearde the law, they separated from Israel euery one that had mixt him selfe therin.

4 And before this had the priest Elia∣sib the ouersight of the treasurie of the house of our God, and he was kyns¦man vnto Tobia,

And had made hym a great chamber, and there had they afore time layed the offringes, frankencence, vessels, and the tythes of corne, wine, and oyle according to the commaundementes geuen to the Leuites, singers and porters, and the heaue offringes of the priestes.

But in all this time was not I at Hie∣rusalem: for in the two and thirtie yere of Artaxeres king of Babylon, came I vnto the king, & after certayne dayes obtayned I licence of the king to come to Hierusalem.

[unspec B] 7 And I gat knowledge of the euyll that Eliasib dyd for Tobia, in that he had made hym a chamber in the court of the house of God,

8 And it greeued me sore: therefore I cast foorth all the vessels of the house of To∣bia out of the chamber:

And commaunded them to clense the chambers, and thyther brought I a∣gaine the vessels of the house of God, with the meate offring, and the incense.

10 And I perceaued that the portions of the Leuites had not ben geuen them, and that euery one was fled to his land, euen the Leuites and singers that exe∣cuted the worke.

11 Then reproued I the rulers, and sayd; Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

12 Then brought all Iuda the tythes of corne, and wine, and oyle, vnto the trea∣sure.

13 And I made treasures ouer the trea∣sure, euen Selemiah the priest, and Za∣doc the scribe, and of the Leuites, Pha∣daa: and vnder their hand was Hanan the sonne of Zacur, the sonne of Matha∣nia: for they were counted faythful, and their office was to distribute [the por∣tions] vnto their brethren.

14 Thinke vpon me O my God herein, [unspec C] and wype not out my * 1.70 mercie that I haue shewed on the house of my God, and on the offices therof.

15 And the same time sawe I in Iuda some treading wine presses on the Sab¦bath, and bringing in sheues, and which laded asses also with wine, grapes, and figges, and all burthens, and brought them into Hierusalem vpon the Sab¦bath day: And I rebuked them earnest∣ly the same day that they solde the vit∣tayles.

16 There dwelt men of Tyre also there¦in, which brought fish and all maner of ware, and solde on the Sabbath vnto the childrē of Iuda, euen in Hierusalem.

17 Then reproued I the rulers in Iuda, & sayd vnto them: What euyl thing is this that ye do, & breake the Sabbath day?

18 Dyd not your fathers euen thus, and our God brought all this plague vpon vs, and vpon this citie? And ye make the wrath more yet vpon Israel, in that ye breake the Sabbath?

Page [unnumbered]

19 And when the pos of Hierusalem be¦gan to be darke in the euening before the Sabbath, I commaunded to shut the gates▪ and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my seruauntes set I at the gates, that there shoulde no burthen be brought in on the Sabbath day.

20 Then remayned the chapmen and marchauntes once or twyse ouer night without Hierusalem with all maner of wares.

[unspec D] 21 Then reproued I them sore, and sayde vnto them: Why tary ye all night about the wall? If ye do it once againe, I will lay handes vpon you: From that time foorth came they no more on the Sab∣bath.

22 And I said vnto the Leuites, that they should clense them selues, and that they shoulde come and kepe the gates, to ha∣lowe the Sabboth day: Thinke vpon me O my God concerning this also, and spare me, according to thy great mercie.

23 In those dayes also sawe I Iewes that maried wyues of Asdod, of Am∣mon, and of Moab,

24 And their children spake halfe in the speach of Asdod, and could not speake in the Iewes language, but according to the language of the one people and of the other people.

25 Then I reproued them, and cursed them, and smote certayne men of them, and made them bare: and toke an oth of them by God, Ye shall not geue your daughters vnto their sonnes, neither shall ye take their daughters vnto your sonnes, or for your selues.

26 * 1.71Dyd not Solomon the king of Israel sinne by these thinges? and yet among many heathen was there no king like him, which was deare vnto his God, & God made hym king ouer all Israel: and * 1.72yet neuerthelesse outlandishe wo∣men caused him to sinne.

27 Shall we then obey vnto you to do al this great euyll, and to transgresse a∣gainst our God, and marie straunge wyues?

28 And one of the children of Iehoiada the sonne of Eliasib the hye priest, was the sonne in law of Sanaballat the Ho∣ronite: but I chased him from me.

29 O my God, thinke thou vpon them that defile the presthod, and the couenaunt of the presthod and of the Leuites.

30 Thus clensed I them from all such as were outlandishe, and appoynted the courses of the priestes and Leuites, eue∣ry one in his office:

31 And to offer the wood at times ap∣poynted, and the first fruites: Thinke thou vpon me O my God for the best.

The ende of the seconde booke of Esdras, otherwyse called the booke of Nehemia.

Notes

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