[28] The priests repaired above the horse-gate, every man over against his own house. [29] And after him Sadduc the son of Emmer repaired opposite his own house: and after him repaired Samaea son of Sechenia, guard of the east-gate. [30] After him repaired Anania son of Selemia, and Anom, the sixth son of Seleph, another portion: after him Mesulam the son of Barachia repaired over against his treasury. [31] After him repaired Melchia the son of Sarephi as far as the house of the Nathinim, and the chapmen over against the gate of Maphecad, and as far as the steps of the corner. [32] And between that and the sheep-gate the smiths and chapmen repaired.
Chapter 4
[1] Now it came to pass, when Sanaballat heard that we were building the wall, that it was grievous to him, and he was very angry, and railed against the Jews. [2] And he said before his brethren (that is the army of the Samaritans) Is it true that these Jews are building their city? do they indeed offer sacrifices? will they prevail? and will they this day restore the stones, after they have been burnt and made a heap of rubbish? [3] And Tobias the Ammanite came near to him, and said to them, Do they sacrifice or eat in their place? shall not a fox go up and pull down their wall of stones?
[4] Hear, O our God, for we have become a scorn; and return thou their reproach upon their head, and make them a scorn in a land of captivity, [5] and do not cover their iniquity. [6]
[7] But it came to pass, when Sanaballat and Tobia, and the Arabians, and the Ammanites, heard that the building of the walls of Jerusalem was advancing, and that the breaches began to be stopped, that it appeared very grievous to them. [8] And all of them assembled together, to come to fight against Jerusalem, and to destroy it utterly. [9] So we prayed to our God and set watchmen against them day and night, because of them. [10] And Juda said, The strength of the enemies is broken, yet there is much rubbish, and we shall not be able to build the wall. [11] And they that afflicted us said, They shall not know, and they shall not see, until we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
[12] And it came to pass, when the Jews who lived near them came, that they said to us, They are coming up against us from every quarter. [13] So I set men in the lowest part of the place behind the wall in the lurking-places, I even set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. [14] And I looked, and arose, and said to the nobles, and to the captains, and to the rest of the people, Be not afraid of them: remember our great and terrible God, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
[15] And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was made known to us, and God had frustrated their counsel, that we all returned to the wall, every man to his work. [16] And it came to pass from that day that half of them that had been driven forth, wrought the work, and half of them kept guard; and there were spears, and shields, and bows, and breast-plates, and rulers behind the whole house of Juda, [17] even of them that were building the wall: — and those who carried the burdens were under arms: each with one hand wrought his work, and with the other held his dart. [18] And the builders wrought each man having his sword girt upon his loins, and so they built: and the trumpeter with his trumpet next to him. [19] And I said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and abundant, and we are dispersed upon the wall, each at a great distance from his brother. [20] In whatsoever place ye shall hear the sound of the cornet, thither gather yourselves together to us; and our God shall fight for us.
[21] So we continued labouring at the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared. [22] And at that time I said to the people, Lodge ye every man with his servant in the midst of Jerusalem, and let the night be a watch-time to you, and the day a work-time. [23] And I was there, and the watchmen behind me, and there was not a man of us that put off his garments.
Chapter 5
[1] And the cry of the people and their wives was great against their brethren the Jews. [2] And some said, We are numerous with our sons and our daughters; so we will take corn, and eat, and live. [3] And some said, As to our fields and vineyards and houses, let us pledge them, and we will take corn, and eat. [4] And some said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tributes: — our fields, and our vineyards, and houses are pledged. [5] And now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children are as their children: yet, behold, we are reducing our sons and our daughters to slavery, and some of our daughters are enslaved: and there is no power of our hands, for our fields and our vineyards belong to the nobles.
[6] And I was much grieved as I heard their cry and these words. [7] And my heart took counsel within me, and I contended against the nobles, and the princes, and I said to them, Should every man demand of his brother what ye demand? And I appointed against them a great assembly, [8] and I said to them, We of our free-will have redeemed our brethren the Jews that were sold to the Gentiles; and do ye sell your brethren? and shall they be delivered to us? And they were silent, and found no answer. [9] And I said, The thing which ye do is not good; ye will not so walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the Gentiles our enemies. [10] Both my brethren, and my acquaintances, and I, have lent them money and corn: let us now leave off this exaction. [11] Restore to them, I pray, as at this day, their fields, and their vineyards, and their olive-yards, and their houses, and bring forth to them corn and wine and oil of the money. [12] And they said, We will restore, and we will not exact of them; we will do thus as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and bound them by oath to do according to this word.
[13] And I shook out my garment, and said, So may God shake out every man who shall not keep to this word, from his house, and from his labours, he shall be even thus shaken out, as an outcast and empty. And all the congregation said, Amen, and they praised the Lord: and the people did this thing.
[14] From the day that he charged me to be their ruler in the land of Juda, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Arthasastha, twelve years, I and my brethren ate not provision extorted from them. [15] But as for the former acts of extortion wherein those who were before me oppressed them, they even took of them their last money, forty didrachms for bread and wine; and the very outcasts of them exercised authority over the people: but I did not so, because of the fear of God. [16] Also in the work of the wall I treated them not with rigor, I bought not land: and all that were gathered together came thither to the work. [17] And the Jews, to the number of a hundred and fifty men, besides those coming to us from the nations round about, were at my table. [18] And there came to me for one day one calf, and I had six choice sheep and a goat; and every ten days wine in abundance of all sorts: yet with these I required not the bread of extortion, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
[19] Remember me, O God, for good, in all that I have done to this people.
Chapter 6
[1] Now it came to pass, when Sanaballat, and Tobias, and Gesam the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no opening left therein; (but hitherto I had not set up the doors on the gates;) [2] that Sanaballat and Gesam sent to me, saying, Come and let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they were plotting to do me mischief. [3] So I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, and I shall not be able to come down, lest the work should cease: as soon as I shall have finished it, I will come down to you. [4] And they sent to me again to this effect; and I sent them word accordingly.
[5] Then Sanaballat sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. [6] And in it was written, It has been reported among the Gentiles that thou and the Jews are planning to revolt: therefore thou art building the wall, and thou wilt be a king to them. [7] And moreover thou has appointed prophets to thyself, that thou mightest dwell in Jerusalem as a king over Juda: and now these words will be reported to the king. Now then, come, let us take counsel together. [8] And I sent to him, sa
ying, It has not happened according to these words, even as thou sayest, for thou framest them falsely out of thy heart. [9] For all were trying to alarm us, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from this work, and it shall not be done. Now therefore I have strengthened my hands.
[10] And I came into the house of Semei the son of Dalaia the Son of Metabeel, and he was shut up; and he said, Let us assemble together in the house of God, in the midst of it, and let us shut the doors of it; for they are coming by night to slay thee. [11] And I said, Who is the man that shall enter into the house, that he may live? [12] And I observed, and, behold, God had not sent him, for the prophecy was a fable devised against me: [13] and Tobias and Sanaballat had hired against me a multitude, that I might be frightened, and do this, and sin, and become to them an ill name, that they might reproach me.
[14] Remember, O God, Tobias and Sanaballat, according to these their deeds, and the prophetess Noadia, and the rest of the prophets who tried to alarm me. [15] So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. [16] And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard of it, that all the nations round about us feared, and great alarm fell upon them, and they knew that it was of our God that this work should be finished.
[17] And in those days letters came to Tobias from many nobles of Juda, and those of Tobias came to them. [18] For many in Juda were bound to him by oath, because he was son-in-law of Sechenias the son of Herae; and Jonan his son had taken the daughter of Mesulam the son of Barachia to wife. [19] And they reported his words to me, and carried out my words to him: and Tobias sent letters to terrify me.
Chapter 7
[1] And it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, [2] that I gave charge to Ananias my brother, and Ananias the ruler of the palace, over Jerusalem: for he was a true man, and one that feared God beyond many. [3] And I said to them, The gates of Jerusalem shall not be opened till sunrise; and while they are still watching, let the doors be shut, and bolted; and set watches of them that dwell in Jerusalem, every man at his post, and every man over against his house.
[4] Now the city was wide and large; and the people were few in it, and the houses were not built. [5] And God put it into my heart, and I gathered the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, into companies: and I found a register of the company that came up first, and I found written in it as follows:
[6] Now these are the children of the country, that came up from captivity, of the number which Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon carried away, and they returned to Jerusalem and to Juda, every man to his city; [7] with Zorobabel, and Jesus, and Neemia, Azaria, and Reelma, Naemani, Mardochaeus, Balsan, Maspharath, Esdra, Boguia, Inaum, Baana, Masphar, men of the people of Israel.
[8] The children of Phoros, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two.
[9] The children of Saphatia, three hundred and seventy-two.
[10] The children of Era, six hundred and fifty-two.
[11] The children of Phaath Moab, with the children of Jesus and Joab, two thousand six hundred and eighteen.
[12] The children of Ælam, a thousand two hundred and fifty-four.
[13] The children of Zathuia, eight hundred and forty-five.
[14] The children of Zacchu, seven hundred and sixty.
[15] The children of Banui, six hundred and forty-eight.
[16] The children of Bebi, six hundred and twenty-eight.
[17] The children of Asgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two.
[18] The children of Adonicam, six hundred and sixty-seven.
[19] The children of Bagoi, two thousand and sixty-seven.
[20] The children of Edin, six hundred and fifty-five.
[21] The children of Ater, the son of Ezekias, ninety-eight.
[22] The children of Esam, three hundred and twenty-eight.
[23] The children of Besei, three hundred and twenty-four.
[24] The children of Ariph, a hundred and twelve: the children of Asen, two hundred and twenty-three.
[25] The children of Gabaon, ninety-five.
[26] The children of Baethalem, a hundred and twenty-three: the children of Atopha, fifty-six.
[27] The children of Anathoth, a hundred and twenty-eight.
[28] The men of Bethasmoth, forty-two.
[29] The men of Cariatharim, Caphira, and Beroth, seven hundred and forty-three.
[30] The men of Arama and Gabaa, six hundred and twenty.
[31] The men of Machemas, a hundred and twenty-two.
[32] The men of Baethel and Ai, a hundred and twenty-three.
[33] The men of Nabia, a hundred an fifty-two.
[34] The men of Elamaar, one thousand two hundred and fifty-two.
[35] The children of Eram, three hundred and twenty.
[36] The children of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five.
[37] The children of Lodadid and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one.
[38] The children of Sanana, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
[39] The priests; the sons of Jodae, pertaining to the house of Jesus, nine hundred and seventy-three.
[40] The children of Emmer, one thousand and fifty-two.
[41] The children of Phaseur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven.
[42] The children of Eram, a thousand and seventeen.
[43] The Levites; the children of Jesus the son of Cadmiel, with the children of Uduia, seventy-four.
[44] The singers; the children of Asaph, a hundred and forty-eight.
[45] The porters; the children of Salum, the children of Ater, the children of Telmon, the children of Acub, the children of Atita, the children of Sabi, a hundred and thirty-eight.
[46] The Nathinim; the children of Sea, the children of Aspha, the children of Tabaoth, [47] the children of Kiras, the children of Asuia, the children of Phadon, [48] the children of Labana, the children of Agaba, the children of Selmei, [49] the children of Anan, the children of Gadel, the children of Gaar, [50] the children of Raaia, the children of Rasson, the children of Necoda, [51] the children of Gezam, the children of Ozi, the children of Phese, [52] the children of Besi, the children of Meinon, the children of Nephosasi, [53] the children of Bacbuc, the children of Achipha, the children of Arur, [54] the children of Basaloth, the children of Mida, the children of Adasan, [55] the children of Barcue, the children of Sisarath, the children of Thema, [56] the children of Nisia, the children of Atipha. [57] The children of the servants of Solomon; the children of Sutei, the children of Sapharat, the children of Pherida, [58] the children of Jelel, the children of Dorcon, the children of Gadael, [59] the children of Saphatia, the children of Ettel, the children of Phacarath, the children of Sabaim, the children of Emim. [60] All the Nathinim, and children of the servants of Solomon, were three hundred and ninety-two.
[61] And these went up from Thelmeleth, Thelaresa, Charub, Eron, Jemer: but they could not declare the houses of their families, or their seed, whether they were of Israel. [62] The children of Dalaia, the children of Tobia, the children of Necoda, six hundred and forty-two.
[63] And of the priests; the children of Ebia, the children of Acos, the children of Berzelli, for they took wives of the daughters of Berzelli the Galaadite, and they were called by their name. [64] These sought the pedigree of their company, and it was not found, and they were removed as polluted from the priesthood. [65] And the Athersastha said, that they should not eat of the most holy things, until a priest should stand up to give light.
[66] And all the congregation was about forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, [67] besides their men-servants and their maid-servants: these were seven thousand three hundred and thirty seven: and the singing-men and singing-women, two hundred and forty-five. [68] 69 Two thousand seven hundred asses.
[70] And part of the heads of families gave into the treasury to Neemias for the work a thousand pieces of gold, fifty bowls, and thirty priests’ garments. [71]
And some of the heads of families gave into the treasuries of the work, twenty thousand pieces of gold, and two thousand three hundred pounds of silver. [72] And the rest of the people gave twenty thousand pieces of gold, and two thousand two hundred pounds of silver, and sixty-seven priests’ garments.
[73] And the priests, and Levites, and porters, and singers, and some of the people, and the Nathinim, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities.
Chapter 8
[1] And the seventh month arrived, and the children of Israel were settled in their cities; and all the people were gathered as one man to the broad place before the water-gate, and they told Esdras the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord commanded Israel. [2] So Esdras the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and every one who had understanding was present to hearken, on the first day of the seventh month. [3] And he read in it from the time of sun-rise to the middle of the day, before the men and the women; and they understood it, and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. [4] And Esdras the scribe stood on a wooden stage, and there stood next to him Mattathias, and Samaeas, and Ananias, and Urias, and Chelcia, and Massia, on his right hand; and on his left Phadaeas, and Misael, and Melchias, and Asom, and Asabadma, and Zacharias, and Mesollam. [5] And Esdras opened the book before all the people, for he was above the people; and it came to pass when he had opened it, that all the people stood. [6] And Esdras blessed the Lord, the great God: and all the people answered, and said, Amen, lifting up their hands: and they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their face to the ground. [7] And Jesus and Banaias and Sarabias instructed the people in the law, and the people stood in their place. [8] And they read in the book of the law of God, and Esdras taught, and instructed them distinctly in the knowledge of the Lord, and the people understood the law in the reading.
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