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The Levites confession of God's

NEHEMIAHT

goodness and their wickedness 6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast people of the land, that they might do with them made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all as they would.

their host, the earth, and all things that are 25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digthou preservest them all; and the host of hea-ged, vineyards and olive-yards, and fruit-trees ven worshippeth thee. in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled,

7 Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the great goodness.

Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; 26 Nevertheless, they were disobedient, and re8 And foundest his heart faithful before thee, belled against thee, and cast thy law behind their and madest a covenant with him to give the land backs, and slew thy prophets which testificd of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and against them to turn them to thec, and they the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Gir-wrought great provocations. gashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast 27 Therefore thou deliveredst them into the performed thy words; for thou art righteous: hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in

9 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea; thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and ac10 And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pha-cording to thy manifold mercies thou gavest raol, and on all his servants, and on all the peo-them saviours, who saved them out of the hand ple of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt of their enemies.

proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a 28 But after they had rest, they did evil again name, as it is this day. before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the

11 And thou didst divide the sea before them, hand of their enemies, so that they had the doso that they went through the midst of the sea on minion over them: yet when they returned and the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heainto the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters. ven; and many times didst thou deliver them 12 Moreover, thou leddest them in the day by a according to thy mercies; cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of 29 And testifiedst against them, that thou might fire, to give them light in the way wherein they est bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt should go. proudly, and hearkened not unto thy command13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, ments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withthem right judgments, and true laws, good sta- drew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and tutes and commandments: would not hear.

14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant: 15 And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.

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

17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, siow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

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

31 Nevertheless, for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God. 32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day. 33 Howbeit, thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:

18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, 34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearof Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; kened unto thy commandments and thy testimo19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest nies, wherewith thou didst testify against them. them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud 35 For they have not served thee in their kingdeparted not from them by day, to lead them in dom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them, and in the large and fat land which thou them light, and the way wherein they should go. gavest before them, neither turned they from 20 Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct their wicked works." them, and withheldest not thy manna from their 36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat 21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their we are servants in it: clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not. 37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings 22 Moreover, thou gavest them kingdoms and whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: nations, and didst divide them into corners: so also they have dominion over our bodies, and they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king great distress. of Bashan.

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38 And because of all this we make a sure co23 Their children also multipliedst thou as the venant and write it; and our princes, Levites, stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the and priests, seal unto it. land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

24 So the children went in and possessed the

CHAP. X.

The obligations of the covenant.

land, and thou subduedst before them the inha Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah the

bitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest kijah,

Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zid

them into their hands, with their kings, and the 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

The points of the covenant.
3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abijali, Mijamín,

CHAP. XI

8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.

Who dwelt in Jerusalem 38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure-house.

39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the 9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Aza-new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where niah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests 10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Ke- that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.

lita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,

12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

13 Hodijali, Bani, Beninu.

CHAP. XI.

Names of the dwellers in Jerusalem.

14 The chief of the people: Parosh, Pahath AND the rulers of the people dwelt at Jeru

Moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
24 Hallohesh, Pilela, Shobek,

25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

salem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jérusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.

2 And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. 3 Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants. i4 And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariahı, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez;

28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, 5 And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of and all they that had separated themselves from Cot-hozeh, the son of Ilazaiah, the son of Adajthe people of the lands unto the law of God, their ah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one son of Shiloni.

having knowledge, and having understanding; 6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem 29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, were four hundred threescore and eight vaiiant and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to men.

walk in God's law, which was given by Moses 7 And these are the sons of Benjamin ; Sallu the the servant of God, and to observe and do all son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, his judgments and his statutes; the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah.

30 And that we would not give our daughters 8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred unto the people of the land, nor take their daugh- twenty and eight. ters for our sons:

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

31 And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we the city. would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on 10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, the holy day and that we would leave the se-Jachin.

venth year, and the exaction of every debt. 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Me32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge shullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God. for the service of the house of our God; 12 And their brethren that did the work of the

33 For the shew-bread, and for the continual house were eight hundred twenty and two: and meat-offering, and for the continual burnt-offer-Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, ing, of the sabbaths, of the new-inoons, for the the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the of Pashur, the son of Malchiah, sin-offerings to make an atonement for Israel, 13 Aud his brethren, chief of the fathers, two and for all the work of the house of our God. hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of 34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of MeshilleLevites, and the people, for the wood-offering, moth, the son of Immer, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:

14 And their brethren, mighty men of valour, a hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men. 15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hasha

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

16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief 36 Also the first-born of our sons, and of our of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward cattle, as it is written in the law, and the first-business of the house of God.

lings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to 17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of the house of our God, unto the priests that minis- Zabdi, the son of Asaph,was the principal to begin ter in the house of our God.

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the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the
second among his brethren, and Abda the son of
Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
18 All the Levites in the holy city were two
hundred fourscore and four.
19 Moreover, the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and
their brethren that kept the gates, were a hun-
Idred seventy and two.

289

The succession of high priests.

NEHEMIAH.

Certain chief Levites 20 ¶ And the residue of Israel, of the priests, 22 ¶ The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiaand the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, da, and Johauan, and Jaddua, were recorded every one in his inheritance. chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign

21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha of Darius the Persian. and Gispa were over the Nethinims.

23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, 22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem were written in the book of the Chronicles, even was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the 24 And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, sons of Asaph, the singers were over the busi- Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with ness of the house of God. their brethren over against them, to praise and 23 For it was the king's commandment con- to give thanks, according to the commandment of cerning them, that a certain portion should be David the man of God, ward over against ward. for the singers, due for every day 25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Me24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of shullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the the ward at the thresholds of the gates. king's hand in all matters concerning the people. 26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of 25 And for the villages, with their fields, some Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatli-arba, Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the scribe.

the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the 27 ¶ And at the dedication of the wall of Jeru villages thereof, salem, they sought the Levites out of all their 26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the phelet,

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

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

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

at

30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beer-sheba unto the valley of innom.

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

32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah,
and in Benjamin.

CHAP. XII.

Dedication of the wall, &e. NOW these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,

5 Mianiin, Maadiah, Bilgah,

6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,

7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

8 Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattanial, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unui, their brethren, were over against them in the watches.

10 T And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada, 11 And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.

12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;

130f Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;

dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalte ries, and with harps.

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

29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba aud Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem. 30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung-gate: 32 And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,

33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, 34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,

35 And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph: 36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azaracl, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, flanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them. 37 And at the fountain-gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water-gate eastward.

38 And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;

39 And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish-gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meal, even unto the sheep-gate: and they stood still in the prison-gate.

40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and 1, and the half

of the rulers with me:

41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hana

17 Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadi-niah, with trumpets; ah, Piltai;

18 Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, JehoDathan;

19 And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber: 210fHilkiali, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.

42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elain, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezraliah their overseer.

43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with

Nehemiah s regulations.

CHAP. XIU The violation of the sabbathgreat joy: the wives also and the children rejoic- for they were counted faithful; and their office ed: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even was to distribute unto their brethren. afar off. 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, 44 T And at that time were some appointed over and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof. for the first-fruits, and for the tithes, to gather 15 ¶ In those days saw I in Judah some treadinto them out of the fields of the cities the por- ing wine-presses on the sabbath, and bringing in tions of the law for the priests and Levites: for sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, Judali rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they that waited. brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and 45 And both the singers and the porters kept 1 testified against them in the day wherein they the ward of their God, and the ward of the puri-sold victuals.

fication, according to the commandment of David, 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which and of Solomon his son. brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on 46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise Jerusalem. and thanksgiving unto God.

17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and and said unto them, What evil thing is this that in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the ye do, and profane the sabbath day? singers and the porters, every day his portion: 18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this and the Levites sanctified them unto the chil-city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by dren of Aaron. profaning the sabbath.

CHAP. XIII.

the people; and therein was

19 And it came to pass, that, when the gates of Nehemiah's zeal and reformation. Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, f that day they read in the book of Moses in commanded that the gates should be shut, and they should not be opened till after found written, that the Ammonite and the Mo-the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at abite should not come into the congregation of the gates, that there should no burden be brought God for ever; in on the sabbath day.

2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit, our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

4 1 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah :

20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. 21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. 22And I commanded the Levites, that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and 5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. where aforetime they laid the meat-offerings, the 23 In those days also saw 1 Jews that had marfrankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of ried wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: tl:e corn, the new wine, and the oil, (which was 24 And their children spake half in the speech of commanded to be given to the Levites, andthesing- Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' laners.and the porters,) and the offerings of the priests.guage, but accordingto the languageof each people. 6 But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: 25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes and smote certain of them, and plucked off their king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye certain days obtained I leave of the king; shall not give your daughters into their sons, nor 7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourthe evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing selves.

him a chainber in the courts of the house of God. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these 8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all things? yet among many nations was there no the household-stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. king like him, who was beloved of his God, and 9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless chanıbers: and thither brought I again the ves-even him did outlandish women cause to sin. sels of the house of God, with the meat-offering 27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this and the frankincense. great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

10 1 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

28 And one of the sons of Jóiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the lloronite: therefore I chased him from me. 11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, 29 Remember them, O my God, because they Why is the house of God forsaken? And1 gather-have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of ed them together, and set them in their place. the priesthood, and of the Levites.

12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn 30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, 13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, every one in his business;

Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe; and 31 And for the wood-offering, at times appointof the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was ed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: God, for good.

The Book of ESTHER.

CHAP. I.

Ahasuerus' royal feasts.

[dred and seven and twenty provinces :) 2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus OW it came to pass in the days of Aha- sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in suerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reign- Shushan the palace.

No

ed from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hun- 3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast

Fashti's disobedience.

ESTUER

A new queen to be chosen unto all his princes and his servants; the power ces, into every province according to the writing of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of thereof, and to every people after their language, the provinces, being before him: that every man should bear rule in his own 4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious king-house; and that it should be published accordom and the honour of his excellent majesty many ding to the language of every people. days, even a hundred and fourscore days.

CHAP. II.
Esther chosen queen.

5 And when these days were expired, the king| made a feast unto all the people that were pre- Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered FTER things, when the wrath of king sent in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of Vashti, and what she had done, and what was the king's palace; decreed against her.

6 Where were white, green, and blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purpie to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black marble.

2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather to7 And they gave them drink iu vessels of gold, gether all the fair young virgins unto Shushan (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and the palace, to the house of the women, unto the royal wine in abundance, according to the state custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the king. of the women; and let their things for purifica

8 And the drinking was according to the law;tion be given them: none did compel: for so the king had appointed 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king to all the officers of his house, that they should be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing do according to every man's pleasure. pleased the king; and he did so.

9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the 5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a cerwomen in the royal house which belonged to tain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of king Ahasuerus. Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Ben10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the jamite; king was merry with wine, he commanded Me- 6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem human, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, with the captivity which had been carried away Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadserved in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, nezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king 7 And he brought up Hadassali, (that is, Esther,) with the crown royal, to shew the people and the his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. nor mother, and the maid was fair and beauti12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the ful; whom Mordecai, when her father, and king's commandment by his chamberlains: there-mother were dead, took for his own daughter. fore was the king very wroth, and his anger 8 1 So it came to pass, when the king's comburned in him. mandment and his decree was heard, and when 13 Then the king said to the wise men, which many maidens were gathered together unto Shuknew the times, (for so was the king's manner shan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that toward all that knew law and judgment: Esther was brought also unto the king's house,

14 And the next unto him was Carshena, She-to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. thar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and 9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtain Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Me-ed kindness of him; and he speedily gave her dia, which saw the king's face, and which sat her things for purification, with such things as the first in the kingdom;) belonged to her, and seven maidens which were 15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti ac- meet to be given her, out of the king's house: cording to law, because she hath not per- and he preferred her and her maids unto the best formed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus place of the house of the women. by the chamberlains ?

10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.

16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the and to all the people that are in all the provinces court of the women's house, to know how Esther of the king Ahasuerus. did, and what should become of her.

17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad 12 Now when every maid's turn was come to unto all women, so that they shall despise their go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, twelve months, according to the manner of the The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen women, (for so were the days of their purifito be brought in before him, but she came not. cations accomplished, to wit, six months with 18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, say this day unto all the king's princes, which and with other things for the purifying of the wohave heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall men ;) there arise too much contempt and wrath.

13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; 19 Ifit please the king, let there go a royal com-whatsoever she desired was given her to go with mandment from him, and let it be written among her out of the house of the women unto the the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it king's house.

be not altered, That Vashti come no more before 14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal she returned into the second house of the woestate unto another that is better than she. men, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's 20 And when the king's decree which he shall chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she make shall be published throughout all his em- came in unto the king no more, except the king depire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to lighted in her, and that she were called by name. their husbands honour, both to great and small. 15 ¶ Now when the turn of Esther, the daugh21 And the saying pleased the king and the ter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had princes; and the king did according to the word taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unof Memucan: to the king, she required nothing but what Hegal 22 For he sent letters into all the king's provin-[the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the wo

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