THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. THE SECOND STATESMAN OF THAT NAME. AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. Nehemiah flourished about 446 B.C.
have sinned. We have offended ^ lakalraf; against You, and not obeyed the commands, and Institutions, and T happened in the month of 1 Decrees, which You commanded to I Nisan, in the twentieth year Your servant Moses. Remember 8 (of Arthakshasta) when I was at the now the promise You communi 2 Palace of Shush an, Hanani, one of cated to Your servant Moses, saying, my relatives, and another man came ' If you abandon them, I will scatter from Judah and Jerusalem from the you amongst the Nations ; but if you 9 Jews who had escaped, who were return to Me, and guard My Com left behind from the Captivity and mands, and practise them, although 3 were in Jerusalem, and they told me you may be scattered to the extent that the remnant who were left there of the skies, I will collect you from out of the Captivity in that Province, thence, and bring you to the place were in great distress, and contempt, where I have chosen that My Name and the walls of Jerusalem were should dwell.' And these are Your JO broken, and its gates had been burnt servants, and Your People whom You with fire redeemed by Your Great Power, and strong hand! ALMIGHTY! I now n ^tr-Irettttah/* flrausr far Israel. entreat You let Your ears attend to 4 When I heard their account of the prayer of Your servant, and to this, I sat and wept, and was de the prayers of Your servants who pressed for some time, and then I delight in and reverence Your NAME, fasted and prayed before the GOD and I pray You to give Your servant 5 OF THE HEAVENS, and I exclaimed; success to-day, and grant him favour " EVER-LIVING GOD of the Heavens before this man." —the GREAT GOD, and Terrible, I was then butler to the king. Who remembers the Covenant, and shows kindness to those who love %\t |litt« VJBIIJJS brity gUfcnttaJr. 6 Him, and obey His commands,—let It was in the month of Nisan, in 2 Your ears now listen, and Your eyes the twentieth year of King Arthak open to receive the prayer of Your shasta, when he was at wine, that I servant, which I pray before You, carried the wine, and gave it to the from day to day, and night to night, King, but my face was sad before an account of the children of Israel him, so the King asked me, " Why is 2 Your servant, who have sinned against your face sad, when you are not ill ? You;—and I and my father's family That can be nothing except sorrow at heart!" 1 NOTE.—Ch. 1, v. 1. The month should be Then I was very much afraid, but 3 replied to the King; " May the King Nisan, ]D\J. not VbOD. Kislu, see Ch. a, live for ever!—Why should not my v. 1. In the-Hebrew alphabet the slip of a face be sad, when the town of the pen in copying makes the difference. The tombs of my fathers is ashes, and its opening of Nehemiah seems to intimate that gates consumed by fire ? " a revolt of the pagan colonists had occurred between 457 and 446 B.C., in which Jerusalem When the King answered, " What 4 was burnt and the Second Ezra was slain.— do you ask for?" !•'. F. So I prayed to the GOD OF THE 925 2-5 NEHEMIAH. 3-S
5 HEAVENS and said to the king, "If what I had done; nor had I informed it seems good to the king, and if your the Jews, or the Priests, or the Depu servant has favour before you, it is to ties, or the nobles, and the rest, what send me to Judea to the burial town I had done. I said, however, to them, 17 of my fathers,—and I will rebuild it." " You see the misery that we are in. 6 The King then asked me—and the —How Jerusalem is ashes, and its Queen sat beside him—" How long gates burnt with fire. Let us go and will you be gone ? and when will you rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, when return ? " we shall no longer be an object of contempt." I also explained to them 18 H)ft fling makes Htm (Babernor laf the beneficent hand of the EVER- LIVING that was with me, as well as Jerusalem. the promises of the King which he Thus it pleased the King, and he had promised me, when they replied, sent me, and I fixed a time with him, "We will arise and rebuild"; and 7 and said to the king, " If it is pleasing they invigorated their hands for good. to the king, let them give me letters ~ But when Sanballat the Horonite, 19 to the Governors of the Over-river, and Tobiah his slave, the Amonite, so that they may allow me to proceed and Geshem, the Arabian, heard it, 8 until I arrive at Judea. And letters they laughed at, and jeered about us, to Asaph, the Keeper of the King's and asked " What is this business that Paradises,1 that he may give me you are doing? Are you going to timber to construct the Gates of rebel against the king ? " the Burial-place belonging to the spot, and for the walls of the town, I, however, replied to them, and 20 said: " The GOD OF THE HEAVENS and for the house I am going to." has given us prosperity, so we rise The King consequently gave me up and build;—but you have no them by the good influence of GOD share in it, nor right, nor traditions 9 upon me, and I proceeded to the in Jerusalem." Governors of the Over-river, and gave them the letters of the king. The %\ft HUlla of Jerusalem xlekuilt. King had also sent with me Officers of the Army and cavalry. Aliashib the High Priest, and his 8 relatives the Priests accordingly arose xo But when Sanballat the Horonite, and built the Sheep Gate, conse and Tobiah his slave, the Amonite, crated, and set up its doors, and heard the affair, it grieved them very consecrated from the Tower of greatly, that a man should come to Hamah to the Tower of Hananal. try to benefit the Children of Israel. And the men of Jeriko built from the 2 n I, however, went to Jerusalem and side of it; and next to them Zikri- 12 was there three days; bi t had risen ben-Amri built. And the sons of 3 in the night, and a few men with me, Hasenah built the Fish Gate and set and had informed no man what GOD up the doors, with its bolts and bad put into my heart to do for Jeru bars. And Merimoth-ben-Auriah- 4 salem,—and I had no animal with ben-Akakoz repaired their side; and me, except the animal I rode upon, next to them Meshalum-ben-Bere- 13 and at night I went out by the Valley kiah-ben-Meshabzabel repaired; and 5 Gate, opposite the Snakes' Well, and next to them, the Thakoites re on to the Dung Gate, and I saw the paired, but their gentry did not walls of Jerusalem that were shat bring their necks to the work of tered and broken and its Gates con- their Master. And Jorada-ben-Pask, 6 14 sumed by fire. From there I passed and Meshulam - ben - Basodiah, re to the Well Gate, and the King's paired the Old Gate; they built it Reservoir, but there was not a place and set up its doors, and bolts and 15 for my animal to pass through. I bars. And next to them Melatiah, 7 afterwards went and viewed by night the Gibanite, and Jadon the Mero- along the brook, and surveyed the thonite, men of Gibaon and Mizpha, shattered wall,—thence I turned and Presidents of the Over-river Court, entered by the Vale Gate, and came repaired, and next to them Uziel- 8 16 back. But the Deputy Governors ben-Harakiah, and the Goldsmiths did not know that I had gone, or repaired; and next to them Hana- niah, head of the Apothecaries, and 1 set Jerusalem free to the breadth of NOTE.—Parks or Forests. 92b 3—9 NEHEMIAH. 3-38 9 the wall! And beside them, Rephiah- site the Corner and the tower that ben-Hur the Governor of half the projects from the Higher Royal 10 district of Jerusalem repaired; And Palace where the Guards' Barracks next to them Jediah-ben-Harumaf are. After him, Pediah-ben-Parash, repaired, and all before his house; with the Attendants who were 26 and next to him Hatorh-ben-Has- lodged on the Hill, opposite the 11 habniah. Next from there Malkiah- Water Gate, towards the East, where ben-Harim repaired; and Hashub- the Tower projects. After them, the 27 ben-Pathakh-Moab repaired to the Thakoites repaired another length, 12 Foundry Tower; And next to them from opposite the Great Projecting Shalem-ben-Halukash, Governor of Tower to the wall of the Hill. From 28 half of the district of Jerusalem, re the Horse Gate, the Priests each paired, joined with his daughters; repaired opposite his house. After 29 13 Hanan and the people of Zanoh them, Zadok - ben - Amer, repaired repaired the Valley Gate; they built opposite his house. And after him, it, and set up its doors, and bolts and Shemaiah-ben-Shakniah the Keeper bars, besides building a thousand of the East Gate repaired. And then 30 cubits of wall, as far as the Dung Hananiah-ben-Shalamiah repaired; 14 Gate; And Mikiah-ben-Rekab, the and Kanun-ben-Zalaf, the Shishite, Governor of the District of Beth- another portion; after him, Mesha- Nakerim, repaired the Dung Gate. lam-ben-Barakaih repaired opposite He built it, and set up the doors, his lodgings. After him Malkiah- 31 15 bolts, and bars. And Shalum-ben- ben-Azrofi repaider as far as the Kolhozah, Governor of the District House of the Attendants, and of the of Mitzfa, repaired the Well Gate. Merchants opposite the Guards'Gate, He built it, roofed, and set up the and as far as the ascent of the Corner. doors, bolts, and bars, with the wall And between the ascent of the Corner, 3a of the pool of Shilah, to the King's and the Sheep Gate, the Goldsmiths Garden, and as far as the Stairs and Merchants repaired. going up to the City of David. 16 After him, Nehemiah-ben-Azebuk, Governor of half the District of Beth Sf&nhaUai'x fmg al tljt fUstoraUrm Zoar, repaired to opposite the Tomb of i!;* tffltall. of David, and as far as the Reservoir he made, and to the Barracks of the (Ch. 4, A.V., v. 1. 17 Guards. After him, the Levites, But when Sanballat heard that we 33 Rehum-ben-Bami, repaired at that had rebuilt the wall, he was furious. side, and Shebiah the Governor of He insulted and laughed at the Jews, the half-district of Qailah with its and asked of his companions and the 34 18 district. After him, his relatives the garrison at Shameron, enquiring; Beni Bani, and Benhadad, Governor " What would these beggarly Jews 19 of half the district of Qailah. Next do ? Would they fortify themselves ? to him Azer-ben-Jeshua, Governor Would they sacrifice? Can they in of Mizfah, repaired another opposite a day revive the stones from the the ascent to the Arsenal corner. heaps of dust into which they were 20 After him, Baruk-ben-Zabi energeti burnt?" cally repaired another length from And Tobiah the Amonite supported 35 the Corner to the entry of the House him and said ; " Why if a fox assails 21 of Allshah the High Priest. And what they build,—it could break the after him, Merimoth-ben-Auriah- wall they have built ? " ben-Akutz, another length from the " Hear, our GOD, how they insult us! 36 entry of the House of Alishib to the and return their contempt on their extent of the residence of Alishib. own heads, and deliver them to be 22 And after him, the Priests of the plundered in a land of captivity, and 37 Circuit repaired. And after them, do not cover up their villainy nor Benjamin and Hashub, opposite their blot out their sins from before You, 23 houses. After them Azriah-ben- for they have jeered in the presence Mashiah-ben-Ananiah, at the side of of the builders." 24 his house. After them, Binni-Ben- We, however, rebuilt the walls,— 38 hadad another length from the resi and the wall joined to its half, for dence of Aziriah, to the Corner and the heart of the People was in the 25 the turning. Palal-ben-Auzi oppo work. 4—i NEHEMIAH. 5-9
$anb
18 Of the Beni Adonikam; Six ®f th* ICrnitM. 43 hundred and sixty-seven. 667 Of the Beni Bigvi; Two " Of the Beni Jeshua of Kad- 19 miel, of the Beni Hodeiah; thousand and sixty-seven. 2,067 Seventy-four. 74 20 Of the Beni Adin ; Six.hun dred and fifty-five. 655 <8f ilje &ma*rs. 44 21 Of the Beni Atar of Heze- kiah; Ninety-eight. 98 "Of the Beni Asaph; One 22 Of the Beni Hashani; Three hundred and forty-eight. 148 hundred and twenty-eight. 328 23 Of the Beni Bezi; Three Of ilyc g00rk**0*rs. 45 hundred and twenty-four. 324 " Of the Beni Shalum ; of the 24 Of the Beni Harif; One hun Beni Atai; of the Beni Talmon; dred and twelve. 112 of the Beni Akub ; of the Beni 25 Of the Beni Gibean ; Ninety- Hatita; of the Beni Shobi; five. 95 One hundred and thirty-eight. 138 26 Of the men of Bethlehem and Netofah; One hundred <©f the ^Utrnoants. 46 and eighty-eight. 188 " Of the Beni Zika; of the Beni 27 Of the men of Anathoth; Hasufa; of the Beni Tabaoth; of One hundred and twenty- the Beni Kiros; of the Beni Sia; of 47 eight, 128 the Beni Padon; of the Beni Lebana; 48 28 Of the Men of Beth-arma- of the Beni Hagaba; of the Beni veth; Forty-two. 42 Salmi; of the Beni Hanan; of the 49 29 Of the men Kiriath-yarim, Beni Gidel; of the Beni Gahar; of 50 Kefirah, and Beeroth; Seven the Beni Raiha ; of the Beni Rezin ; hundred and forty-three. 743 of the Beni Nekoda; of the Beni 51 30 Of the Men of Ramah and Gazam; of the Beni Auza; of the Gaba; Six hundred and twenty- Beni Pasah; of the Beni Besi; of 52 one. 621 the Beni Maunim; of the Beni 31 Of the Men of Mikmas ; One Nefishesim; of the Beni Bakbuk; of 53 hundred and twenty-two. 122 the Beni Hakufa; oftheBeniHarkur; 32 Of the Men of Bethel and of the Beni Bazlith; of the Beni 54 Ai; One hundred and twenty- Mekida ; of the Beni Harsha ; of the 55 three. 123 Beni Barkos; of the Beni Sisera; of 33 Of the Men of Lower Nebo; the Beni Temah ; of the BeniNeziah ; 56 fifty-two. 52 of the Beni Hatifa. . . A 34 Of the Beni Akud-Elam; One thousand two hundred and 62 "Of the Beni Delaiah; of "Ezra the Priest consequently 2 the Beni Tobiah; of the Beni brought the Law to the Meeting both Nekoda; Six hundred and of the men and the women, for all forty-two. 642 intelligently to hear it, on the first 63 3Vtt& of iln» |Jrirjf*. day of the seventh month, and read it 3 in the Square which is opposite the " Of the Beni Hobiah; of the Beni Water Gate from dawn until mid-day, Hakoz; of the Beni Barzilai; who before the men and women, and the took a wife from the daughters of intelligent, and the whole of the Barzilai the Giladite, so were called people listened to the Book of the 64 by his name; these sought for their Law. Ezra, however, stood to read 4 Register with those who had a genea the book, on a platform of wood that logy, but could not find it, so were had been made for him and Mathiah 65 excluded from the Priesthood, and for the purpose, and Shema, and the Governor ordered them not to Aniah, and Auriah, and Hilfiah, and eat of the most sacred things until a Masiah stood beside him, on his right, Priest was appointed with Urim and and on his left Pediah, and Mishal, Thumim. and Malkiah, and Hasham, and 66 " The whole Collection was Hashbadanah, Zekeriah, and Mesh- altogether,—-Forty-two thou- 42,360 alum. Then Ezra opened the Book 5 sand three hundred and sixty, in the sight of all the People,—for he 67 besides their men and women was above all the people,—and when servants, of whom there were he opened it, all the People stood up. Seven thousand three hundred 7,337 Ezra first blessed the GREAT EVER- 6 and thirty-seven; and two hun LIVING GOD :— dred and forty-five men and 245 women singers. "And all the People responded Total 49,942 ' Amen! Amen! * with a lifting up of their right hands, and bowed and 68 "They had seven hundred and did reverence to the EVER-LIVING thirty-six horses; two hundred and with their face earthwards. Then 7 69 forty-five mules, six thousand seven Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherabiah, hundred and twenty asses. Jamin, Akub, Shabthi, Hodiah, Ma 70 " And the whole of the Heads of siah, Kalita, Azriah, Jozabad, Hanan, Houses subscribed to the work;— Piliah, and the Levites, translated " The Governor gave to the Trea the Law to the People, while the sury, a thousand Darics in gold; people stood up. fifty basons; five hundred and thirty " And they read from the Book of 8 Priests' robes. the LAW of GOD with an Inter 71 " And the Heads of Houses gave preter, who translated the meaning, to the Treasury of the work;—Twenty so that they might understand what thousand Darics of gold; and two was read. thousand two hundred pounds weight 1 72 of silver; and what the rest of the "Thus Nehemiah, who was the 9 People gave was twenty thousand Governor, and Ezra the Priest, read, Darics of gold; and two thousand and the Levites who translated to the pounds of silver; and sixty-seven People, said to all the People, Priests' robes. "' This day is holy to your EVER- LIVING GOD !—Do not be depressed, 73 " Thus the Priests and Levites, and and do hot weep,'—for all the people Singers, and some of the Attendants, were weeping as they heard the and of all the People, settled in their words of the Law,—' but,' he said to 10 villages, by the arrival of the seventh them, 'go, eat the best and drink month, along with the Children of the sweetest, and send some thing to Israel in those villages. those who have nothing ready, for H«tr vSjra ftzaa ifr* fCahj anir the day is sacred to our MASTER ; JUalnraa if. 8 "All the People afterwards col lected as one man, to the Square 1 NOTE.—Ch. 8, v. 9. This Nehemiah men tioned here was not the writer of the history opposite the WaterGate.and requested so called, but another former Governor of the Ezra the Scholar to produce the Book same name (see the Book of Ezra, Ch. 2, v. 2), of the Laws of Moses, which the LORD accompanying Zerubbabel 91 years before communicated to Israel. —F.F. 932 8-n NEHEMIAH. 9-7 so do not grieve, for to rejoice in the Gate. All the company of those who W EVER-LIVING will strengthen you.' had returned from the Captivity also II " The Levites also comforted all made tents and resided in the tents, the people by saying ' Go S for to-day although the Children of Israel had is sacred to the EVER-LIVING, SO do not done so since the times of Joshua not be in grief.' the son of Nun, till that day, and 12 " So all the People went to eat and they enjoyed themselves very greatly. drink, and to send presents, and to " They also read in the Book of the 18 make plenty of pleasure, because they Law of GOD day by day, from the understood what had been said to first day, to the last day, for they them. kept the feast for seven days, and on 13 " But, the day after the Heads of the eighth day they closed it, accord Houses of all the People with the ing to the decree. Priests and the Levites collected to " Afterwards, on the twenty-fourth 0 Ezra the Scholar, to examine the day of that month, the Children of 14 records of the Law, and found written Israel met to fast with sackcloth and in the Law which the EVER-LIVING earth upon them, when all of the race communicated by means of Moses, of Israel separated themselves from that the Children of Israel should all the sons of foreigners, and they reside in tents in the seventh month. stood up and confessed about their They consequently proclaimed, and sins, and the faults of their forefathers. passed the proclamation to all the They also stood up at the Place and villages, and to Jerusalem to order; read in the Book of the Laws of their '"Go out to the hills and bring EVER-LIVING GOD a quarter of the branches of Olive, and branches of day, and they confessed in sackcloth good trees, and branches of Myrtle, to their EVER-LIVING GOD for a and branches of Palms, and branches quarter. of brushwood, to make tents as it is "Then the Levites Jeshua and written.' Bani, Kadmial, Shebaniah, Buni, 16 " The people consequently went Sharbiah, Bani, Kanani arose and out, and made themselves tents, each cried to their EVER-LIVING GOD with for his family, in their courts, and a loud voice, and the Levites Jeshua, in the courts of the House of GOD, and Kadmial, Bani and Hashabiah, and in the Square of the Water Gate, Shanbnah, Hodiah, Pethakaiah rose and in the Square of the Ephraim on the platform and said; ' Stand up!' ^tttfrtnt. STANZA I. " Thank your EVER-LIVING GOD For ever and ever; And bless His Glorious name!— And exalt beyond all blessing and praise! STANZA 2. " You are alone the LIFE, Who made the skies, and Heaven of Heavens, And all their host! The Earth, and all upon it, The Seas, and all they contain, And You gave life to them all, And the host of Heavens all bow To You! 3 7 "You are the LORD GOD who name Father-of-Nations, and found chose Abram, and brought him from his heart faithful before You, and Aur1 of the Kasdim, and made his made a Covenant with him, to give 1 NOTE.—Ch. 9, v. 7, Heb. AUR signified Abram for refusing their idolatry, is the true "Fire," and is so interpreted by the Rabbis, reading.—F. F. but by us usually taken for the name of an 2 NOTE. — Ch. 9, v. 7. Abr-ah-am unknown City or Town. I confess to a leaning "Father of Nations," in Heb. Except by a towards thinking the Hebrew tradition that it translation the force of the words is lost means " A Fire " into which the Kasdim threw —F. F. QTO. 9-8 NEHEMIAH. 9-30 8 the country of the Cananite, the and did not withhold Your Mana from Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizite, and their mouth, and gave them water the Ghergashite, to his race and You when thirsty, and provided for them 21 fulfilled Your promise,—for You are forty years in the Desert! They just. were not destitute. Their clothing 9 " You also saw the sufferings of our was not in rags, and their feet were forefathers amongst the Mitzeraim, not swollen. You afterwards gave 22 and heard their shrieks at the Red them Kingdoms and Peoples, and 10 Sea, and produced portents and distributed portions to them, so they terrors against Pharaoh and all his seized the country of Sihon and the Ministers, and all the people of his country of the King of Heshton, and country, because they had been cruel •the country of Og, King of Bashan, against them ;—so made Yourself a while You increased their children 23 11 NAME on that day, when the sea like the stars of the skies, and they divided before them, and they passed arrived at the land which You had through the midst of the sea, on the promised to their forefathers to bring dry, and You flung their pursuers into them to possess; and their children 21 the deeps, like a stone in the mighty advanced and seized the country, for waters! You subdued the Cananite inhabi 12 " Then You led them by a Pillar tants of the land before them, and of Cloud by day, and by a Pillar of gave them to their power, and they Fire by night, to light them on the did whatever they desired with the 13 way they had to march, and de kings and peoples of the country. scended upon Mount Sinai, and spoke " ' They also captured the fortified 25 with them from the skies; and gave towns, and the fertile lands, and them Just Decrees, and True Laws, seized houses full of furniture, wells Institutions, and Beneficial Com- dug out, vineyards, oliveyards, and 14 mandments. You also made known fruit trees, in plenty, and they ate, to them Your Holy Sabbath, and and were full, and fat, and luxuriated Commandments, and Institutions, on Your benefactions. Then they 26 and Laws, instructing them by means revolted from You, and flung Your of Moses Your servant. Laws away,—following the Heathen, 15 " Then You gave them bread from —and slew your Preachers who in the skies, when hungry, and brought structed them to return to You, and water from the rock for them when committed great outrages. You con- 27 they thirsted, and commanded them sequently gave them to the hand of to advance to seize the country which their oppressors, who oppressed You had raised Your hand to give to them, but in the period of oppression them. they cried to You, and You heard 16 " But they, and our fathers, were them from the heavens, and from haughty, and stiffened their neck, Your great mercies gave them and would not listen to Your instruc- Deliverers who delivered them from 17 tions; but refused to obey, and would the power of their oppressors. not remember the wonders You had "' But when they had rest, they 28 done for them, but stiffened their did wrong before You, so You aban neck, and in rebellion appointed a doned them to the hand of their Leader to restore them to their enemies who persecuted them—and slavery.— again they returned and cried, and " But You are a GOD of forgive You heard them from the heavens,— nesses,—kindness and pity,—slow to saved, and rescued them frequently, anger, and plentiful in mercy,—so in accordance with Your many 18 did not forsake them.—Although they mercies, and instructed them to con- 29 made for themselves a cast metal duct themselves according to Your Calf, and said ' This is your GOD who laws, but they were haughty and brought you up from Mitzeraim,' and would not listen to your Commands 19 offered many insults. Yet You in Your and Decrees, sinning against what a many mercies did not abandon them man ought to practise, and live in. in the Desert; You did not take away But they set a perverse shoulder and the Pillar of Cloud from them by a stiff neck and would not obey! day, but led them in the way they Yet for many years You held out 30 20 ought to march. You also gave Your Your hand to them, and taught them beneficent spirit to instruct them, Your spirit by means of Your 934 9-3i NEHEMIAH. IO—28 Preachers, but they would not listen; fathers have not practised Your laws, —so You delivered them to the and have not attended to Your Com power of the people of the countries. mandments, and the instructions 31 Yet, owing to Your great mercies, which You taught to them. For 35 You did not entirely destroy them, they did not serve You in their nor desert them ;—for You are a kind reigns, and the plentiful prosperity 32 and merciful GOD. Therefore now, You gave them, and in the rich and our GOD ,—the GREAT, MIGHTY, and fertile country that You gave to their TERRIBLE GOD, who keeps his Bene faces; nor did they turn from their ficent Covenant, — let not all the wickedness.—Therefore we are slaves 36 trouble that we and our kings, and to-day, and the land that was given princes, and priests, and our to our forefathers, that they might preachers, and fathers, and all Your eat its fruits and its products,—we People, have met, be little before are slaves upon it! Yet it produced 37 You, from the days of the kings of much for the k; ags You have set 33 Ashur to this day, although You are over us for our si as, and they control right in all You have brought upon our bodies, and our cattle, at their us, for You have practised TRUTH, pleasure, while we are in great 34 but we FALSEHOOD. And our kings, distress. our princes, our priests, and our (536 B.C.) tlb* fltople Heinrtt I0 ib* |f«l» oi (Sob bjt a Sioltvxn #aii0ital JUL 1) "Consequently on account of this, we have made an Agreement, and our 2 Nobles, Levites, and Priests have sealed it, and the signatories are:— NEHEMIAH, the GOVERNOR, the son of Halkiah; and Zedekiah; Shebaniah; Barukh; 3 Seriah; Maluk: Meshalum; 7 Azeriah; 5 Harim; Abiah; Jeremiah; Meremoth; Miyamin; Pashur; Abadiah; Maziah; 8 Amariah; 6 Daniel; Bilgal; Malkiah; Ginethon; Shemiah. 4 Hatush; 9 The following were for the Priests, and for the Levites. Jeshua - ben - Aza- Hodiah; Sakur; 12 niah; Kelita; Sherebiah; Binni; of the Beni Piliah; Shebaniah; Hadad; Hanan; Hodiah; 13 10 Kadmiel;—and their 11 Mika; Bani; relatives. Rehob; Bennin; Shebaniah; Hashabiah; 14 For the Chiefs of the People; Parosh; Hasheim; Hananiah; Pahath-moab; Bezai; Hashub; Alam; 19 Harif; Alohesh; 24 Zatu; Anathoth; Pilha; Bani: Nobi; Shobek; 15 Buni: 20 Magpiash; Rehum; 25 Azgad; Meshulam; Hashabnah; Bebai; Hezer; Masiah; 26 16 Adoniah; 21 Meshezabel; and Ahiah; Bigvai; Zadok; Hanan; 27 Adni; Jadua; Anan; 17 Ater; 22 Pelatiah; Maluk; Hezekiah; Hanan; Harim; 28 Azur; Amaiah ; Banah; 18 Hodiah; 23 Hoshea; 935 10—29 NEHEMIAH. 11- 29 "And for the rest of the People, " We also cast lots about the Gift of 35 the Priests, the Levites, the Temple Wood for the Priests and Levites, wardens, the Singers, the Timbrel- which the people were to bring to players; and all the remainder of the House of our GOD, from the the Native population under the Heads of Ancestral Families at fixed Laws of GOD, their wives, sons and times, year by year, to be burnt on daughters, who were come to an the Altar of our EVER-LIVING GOD, 30 age able to understand, declared for as written in the Law. themselves by their representatives "Also to bring the first-fruits of 36 and gentry, to come to GOD, and our ground, and the first product of swore to walk in the Laws of GOD, all fruit-trees, year by year to the which He had given by means of House of our GOD ; Moses the Servant of GOD, and to "Also the firstborn of our children, 37 guard and practise all the Commands and cattle as written in the Law; and of our ALMIGHTY LORD, with His to bring the firstborn of our herds 31 Decrees, and Institutions. Also that and our flocks to the House of our we would not give our daughters to GOD, to the Priests who serve in the the People of the Country, and not House of our GOD. take their daughters for our sons. " And that the first part of our 38 32 And that if the population of the harvest and fruit of all trees; and of Country brought merchandize or any wine, and oil, should be brought to wares to sell on the Sabbath day, not the Priests who reside at the House to buy of them on the Sabbath, or of our GOD; with the tythe of our upon a Holy Day; and to release on grounds to the Levites;—and that the Seventh year, and the interest on those Levites should tythe all the all loans. profit of our labours. But that a priest a Descendant of Aaron should 39 be with the Levites, when the Levites 31 %tmoht It***. QaopUa. tythed, and that the Levites should 33 We also imposed upon ourselves as take up a tythe of their Tythe to the a law, to give the thir of a Shekel a House of our EVER-LIVING GOD, to year to the service of the House of the Treasury Chamber. But that the 34 our GOD, for the Show-bread; and Children of Israel, and the Children 40 for the Perpetual Offering, and the of Levi should bring the presenta Perpetual Burnt - offering of the tions of the Corn, the Wine, and the Sabbaths; of the Months; and of Oil, to where the Sacred Vessels are, the Public Meetings; and for the and the Priests, the Ministers, the Sanctifications and the Sin-offering Singers, and Guardians;—and that to expiate about Israel, and all the we would not forsake the House of services of the House of our GOD. our GOD." END OF THB FIRST EXTRACT FROM THB ROLL OF EZRA, (440 B.C.) RESUMPTION OF THE SECOND NEHEMIAH'S NARRATIVE. 31 donzctiotitm toxotxtb to Mtcnvt ®Irs (Sntxison oi £txnstdtm. n ^ovulation fox $tvuxe.hm. Now these are the Chiefs of the 11 The gentry of the people stayed in Garrison who stayed in Jerusalem,— Jerusalem, and the rest of the people (while in the villages of Judea each threw lots to send one from ten to man of Israel resided on his own reside in Jerusalem, the Holy City, estate, in their towns;)—with the and nine to go out to the villages, Priests, and Levites, and attendants, a and the People thanked all the men and the descendants of the ser who were willing to stay in Jerusalem, vants of Solomon. But some of the 936 11-5 NEHEMIAH. 12-4 children of Judah and the children were two hundred and eighty- of Benjamin stayed in Jerusalem. four. Of the Children of Judah;—Athiah- And the Doorkeepers were Akub, 19 ben - Haziah ; - ben- Zakeriah, - ben- Talmon, and their company in the Amariah, - Shefatiah,-ben-Malaliah,- Guards of the Gates,—one hundred 5 ben-Faretz. And Masiah-ben-Baruk- and seventy-two. ben - Kalkaziah - ben - Haziah, - ben And the rest of Israel, with their 20 Adiah - ben - Jozarib - ben-Zakeriah,- Priests, and Levites were in all the 6 ben-Hashibari. All descendants of towns of Judea, each on his own Faretz. They stayed in Jerusalem. estate. And the Assistants resided 21 Four hundred and sixty soldiers. in Afel; and Ziha, and Ghishfa, 7 And these were of the Beni- were over the attendants. Benjamin;— But the Commander of the Levites 22 Sala- ben - Shulam,-ben-Joad,-ben- in Jerusalem was Azi-ben-Bani-ben- Padiah, - ben - Koliah, - ben-Masiah,- Hashbiah - ben - Mathaniah, - ben - 8 ben-Aithial.-ben-Jeshiah,—and along Mika, from the Beni Asaf, of the with him, as defenders of the towers, Singers, for the performances in the nine hundred and twenty-eight, over House of GOD ; for the king had com- 23 whom Joal - ben - Zikri was Cora- manded about them and arranged 9 mander, and Judah-ben-Haseniah the Daily Course for the Singers; as Lieutenant over the City. and Pathakiah-ben-Meshazabal, of 24 io From the Priests; — the Beni Zarakh,-ben-Judah,—was Jadiah - ben - Joiarib,-ben - Jakin, appointed on the part of the King, to 11 Seriah,-ben - Hilfia,-ben-Meshalum,- superintend affairs for the People. ben - Zadok,-ben-Merioth,-ben -Akhi- 12 tub.wasGovernoroftheHouseofGOD, lU-pnrmiatttttt: ®ifr«r ®it«s. and the associates who did the work at Now about the walled towns in 25 the House of GOD were eight hundred the country;— and twenty-two, and Odiah-ben- Some of the Children of Judah Jeroham,-ben - Pelaliah,-ben-Anatzi,- settled in Krith-arba ; and its ben - Zakeriah, - ben - Pashkur, - ben- villages ; and in Dibon, and its 13 Malekiah, and his brother, were villages ; and Ikbezal, and its towns; Chiefs of the fatherhoods, with two and in Jeshua, and Moliah, and Beth- 26 14 hundred and forty-two, and one fiat; and in Khatzer-Shoal, and 27 hundred and twenty-eight of their Barsheba, and its villages; and in 28 relatives, as soldiers. Over whom Ziklag, and Makona, and its Zabdial was Commander. villages ; and in Ani-rimon, and 29 15 And from the Levites;— Zaraha, and Jermoth ; Zanokh, 30 Shemiah - ben - Khashub, - ben - Aulam, and their towns; Lakish, Azrikam, -ben-Hashabiah-ben - Bani, and its fields ; Azekah, and its 16 —with Shabthi and Jozabad, of the villages;—Thus they settled from Levitical Chiefs, over the outer busi Barsheba to the Valley of Hinom. ness of the House of the LORD. And the Beni Benjamin from Gaba 31 17 And Mathniah - ben - Mika, -ben- Mikmash, Aia, and Bethel, and its Zabdi, - ben - Asaf, who was Chief villages; Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah; 32 leader of praise and prayer, with Hazar, Rama, Githim ; Hadid, 33 Bakbakiah as his Assistant, with Zeboim, Niblat; Lod, and Auno;— 34 their company. And Abda - ben - Ghikrashim ; with a portion of the 35 Shamna,-ben-Galal-ben-Jadithem. Levites for the districts of Judah and 36 18 All the Levites in the Holy City Benjamin. THE SECOND EXTRACT FROM THE ROLL OF ZERUBBABEL GIVEN IN THE BOOK OF EZRA. (536 B.C.) €op% o£ llnj IFhii oi Zerubabel - ben - Shalthial, and Jeshua, Seriah, Jeremiah, and EZRA ; ^xu&is attir ffobiRs. " Ameriah, Maluk, Hatush; She- 2 12 "The following are the Priests kaniah, Rehum, Memoth ; Adua, 3 and Levites who went up with Ghenthoi, Abiah; Mamin, Madiah, 4 027 12-3 NEHEMIAH. 12-37 5 Biluah ; Shemiah and Joyarib, and Sali, Kali, and Amok-abd, and 20 6 Jediah; Salu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jadiah; Kilkiah, Hashabiah, and Jedaiah, 21 7 —These were from the Chiefs of the Nethanal, Levites from the days of 22 Priests, and their associates from the Alishab.—Joyada and Jokanan, and days of Joshua. Jadua, were inscribed as Chiefs of 8 " Then the Levites :— Fatherhoods; and Priests in the " Jeshua.Benni.Kadmial, Sherbiah, reign of Dariush, the Persian. Judah, Mathaniah, who was leader " The Chiefs of the Fatherhoods 23 of thanksgiving, and his associates. of the Beni Levi, inscribed in the 24 9 Beside Bakbakiah, and Ano, with record of the Events of the Times, their associates in command of the up to the days of Johanan-ben- Guards. Aliashib, as Chiefs of the Levites:— xr " Joiada had begot Jonothan, and r. Jonothan begot Jadua, and Jadua (Rfyiti (Kljumtm. 12 begot Joiakim, and from the days of Joiakim there were Priests, Chiefs of "Hashabiah, Sherabiah, and Fatherhoods, up to Sheriah, Meriah, Jeshua-ben-Kadmial, and their con nected associates, were to lead the 13 and Jeremiah, Hananiah, and EZRA, Meshulam, and Amariah, Jonothan; Choir, (as by command of David the 14 and with Malaki, Jonothan, and MAN of GOD), in response after 15 Shebaniah, Joseph, and Haram, response. 16 Adna, and Merioth, Haliki, and Adia, Zekeriah, and Ginothan, Meshulam, ®Ih* GCIitef §uaru**»m. 17 and Abiah, Zikri, and Minimin, and " Mathaniah, and Bakbukiah, 25 18 Moadiah, Plati, and Bilga, Shemnah, Abdiah, Meshulam, Talmon, Akub, 19 and Shemiah—Jonothan; and with were doorkeepers who kept guard Joyarib, Mathin, and Jadiah, Azi, at the Gates of the Treasury." (440B.C.) THE SECOND NEHEMIAH'S NARRATIVE RESUMED.1 26 The following relates to the times Then I led the Nobles of Judah on 31 of Joyakim-ben-Jeshua,-ben-Jozadak, to the Walls, and arranged them in and the times of NEHEMIAH the two great divisions, and marched to Governor and EZRA the Priest and the right upon the Wall to the Dung Scholar. Gate. And Hoshiah, and half the 32 27 When the Walls of Jerusalem were Nobles of Judah marched after them, dedicated they sought the Levites with Azariah, Ezra, and Meshulam, 33 from all their homes, and brought Judah, and Benjamin, and Meshiah, 34. them to Jerusalem to make the and Jeremiah. dedication, with rejoicing and thanks Next, some of the Sons of the 35 and singing, with cymbals, lutes, and Priests with trumpets and Zekeriah- 28 harps. They consequently collected ben -Jonathan, - ben - Meshiah, - ben- the descendants of the Singers from Mathaniah,-ben-Mikiah,- ben-Zahur, the district surrounding Jerusalem, -ben-Asaf, with his companions 36 ' 29 and from the towns in Nitof, and Shemiah, and Azral, Milali, Galali, from Beth-Gilgal,and from the plains Mai, Nethanal and Judah, Hanani, of Geba, and Hazmavoth,—for those with at their head all the musical towns had been built for the Singers instruments of DAVID the Man of around Jerusalem. GOD, and EZRA the Scholar. They 37 30 The Priests were also purified, with ascended by the Well Gate arid after the Levites. They also purified the wards up the stairs of the City of People, and the Gates, and the Walls. David, by the stairs of the wall, up l NOTE.—Ch. 12, v. 26. The reader must of Ezra," ch. 2, v. 2. NEHEMIAH the GOVER not confuse the NEHEMIAH and EZRA men NOR, and his associate here recorded as tioned here with the NEHEMIAH of Zerub- "EZRA the PRIEST," lived about 100 years babel's Restoration, recorded in the " Book after the time of Zerubbabel.—F. F. 938 12-38 NEHEM1AH. 13—14 to the Palace of David, as far as the gregation of GOD for ever 1 Because 2 38 Water Gate on the east While the they did not meet the Children of second procession marched to meet Israel with bread and water, and had them ;—and I after it with half of the hired Balam to curse them, but GOD People upon the wall, up to the turned the Curse into a Blessing." Foundry Tower, the whole extent of Consequently when they heard that 3 39 the wall. Thence above the Ephraim Law, they separated all the half- Gate, and to the Old Gate, and to the breeds from Israel. But before that 4 Fish Gate, and the Tower of Hananal, Aliashib, the Priest, the Chamber and the Tower of Hamah, and on to lain of the House of our GOD, being the Sheep Gate, and halted at the related to Tobiah, had made him a 5 Guards' Gate. great residence where formerly were 40 There both the Bands halted at stored the meal-offerings, and frank the House of GOD, and I, and half incense, and the vessels, and tythes, 41 of the Representatives with me, and of corn, and wine, and oil, ordered the Priests Aliakim, Masiah, Mini- for the Levites, and Choristers, and mam, Mikiah, Aliazer, Zekeriah, Doorkeepers, as well as the presents 42 Hanani, with trumpets; and Masiah, for the Priests. But during all this 6 and Shemiah, and Aliazer, and Azi, I was not at Jerusalem ; for in the and Johanan, and Malkiah, and thirty-second year of Arthakshasta, Ailim, and Azer, and the Choristers King of Babel, I went to the King— singing loud under their leader but at the expiration of a period, I Izrakhiah. requested from the King, and pro- 7 43 On the second day they sacrificed ceeded to Jerusalem, and understood the wrong that Aliashib had done for great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for GOD the sake of Tobiah, by making him a made them glad with great delight. residence in the Courts of the House The women also and the children of GOD, which provoked me greatly. 8 rejoiced, and the delight of Jerusalem I consequently removed all the furni was reported afar. ture from the residence of Tobiah, tlrrnsuries ^nnmttfrb: iov *(l* from his lodging to the street. Sample. (434 B.C.) Informs d$tnm» in lit* 44 At the same period men wjere appointed over the Treasures, the 3\flrminiafrnii0tt oi iln* (Bnliarnntant. Presentations, the First-fruits and Then I commanded, and they 9 the Tythes, to collect them from the purified the Chambers, and I placed fields and villages the legal portions there the vessels of the House of for the Priests and Levites, for Judea GOD, with the meal and incense. I 10 was glad of the Appointment of the also ascertained that the allowance 45 Priests and Levites, who guarded the of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the Ordinances of GOD, and the Ordi Choristers who should have done nances of purity, with the Singers, the work had fled each to his village. and Doorkeepers, as David, and I therefore summoned my Deputies, n 46 Solomon his son ordered. For and demanded; "Why have you formerly, from the days of David neglected the House of GOD?"— there were Chief Choristers, who sang Then I collected them and fixed 47 praises to GOD. Consequently all them in their places, when all Judea 12 Israel in the times of Zerubabel, and brought the tythe of corn, and wine, in the times of NEHEMIAH paid the and oil, to the stores. I also ap- 13 Singers and the Doorkeepers a daily pointed Store - keepers over the salary, and consecrated the Levites, Stores;—Shelmiah, the Priest, and and the Levites consecrated the Zadok the Secretary, and Padiah, Descendants of Aaron. for the Levites, and as assistants, Hanan,-ben-Zakur,-ben-Mathaniah, %\)t ft*rtatttjj oi i\)t f afo ftestottir —for they were trustworthy,—and Bttir ^Result*. their duty was to pay out to their 13 At the same period the Law of associates. Moses was read in the hearing of the Remember me, my GOD, about 14 People, and there was found written this, and blot not out the affection I in it " that an Amonite or Moabite have shown to the House of GOD and should not be included in the con its ordinances. 939 13~i5 NEHEMIAH. 13-3i &ttbbal\) ©Iisr-rhaiiott dcnforwu*. (434 B.C.) gXixeb fjHrtrmucB 15 At this time I saw in Judea tread ing of winepresses on the Sabbath, In this period, also, I observed the 23 and some who carried sheaves and Jews who lived with Ashdodite, loads upon asses; as well as wine, Amonite, and Moabite women, the 24 grapes, and figs and various loads speech of whose children was half which they brought to Jerusalem. Ashdodish, and they were not able 16 The Tzurites also who resided there to talk Judith,—but like a dialect of brought fish, and various mer the two people. I therefore found 25 chandize, and sold it on the Sab fault with them, and blamed and bath to the Children of Judah, and flogged those men, and pulled out 17 in Jerusalem. I consequently re their hair, and swore to them by GOD, proved the gentry of Judea, and " You should not give your daughters demanded of them," What vile thing to their sons, nor take any of their is this that you are doing ? and daughters for your own sons, or for 18 defiling the Day of Rest? Was not yourselves. Was it not in this way 26 that Solomon king of Israel sinned ? this what your fathers did, in con Yet in many Nations there has not sequence of which GOD brought all been a king like him who loved his this suffering upon us, and upon this GOD, SO that GOD made him king City ? And would you renew the over all Israel, but these foreign anger upon Israel, by profaning the n women made him sin. So should 27 Sabbath ? we listen to you to commit this 19 So when the Gates of Jerusalem great wrong against our GOD, of living were closed before the approach of with foreign wives ? " the Sabbath, I commanded that they should fasten the doors, and ordered And although one of the sons of 28 them not to be opened until after the Joiada,—Aliashib, the High Priest, Sabbath, and I placed my soldiers at was son-in-law to Sanballat, the the Gate so that no loads might be Horonite, yet I drove him from me. 20 brought in upon the Sabbath. Conse Remember them, my GOD, for their 29 quently the hawkers and merchants pollutions of the Priesthood, and the had to stay outside Jerusalem a few Priestly and Levitical Covenants. 21 times. I also spoke to and asked Thus I purified them from all 3c them, " Why are you staying near strangers, and I established rules for the walls? If you do so again, I the Priests and Levites, each in his shall arrest you after this time. own work, and for the supply of wood 31 —You must not come on the at stated times, and the first-fruits. Remember me, my GOD, with Sabbath." 1 22 I also commanded the Levites, beneficence. . . . who were of the ordained, and they became keepers of the Gates, so as 1 NOTE.-—Ch. 13, v. 31. As with Ezra, thi autobiography would appear to be only a to sanctify the Sabbath. part of a longer history, for the final result Remember me, my GOD, and have of his re-organization of the Jewish State is mercy on me in Your great kind not given, or even when his Governorship ness. ended.—F. F END OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAII. 940