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The Second Book of Esdras the Prophet

or the book of Nehemiah

From the Hebrew: Esdras means "help"
and Nehemiah means "Jehovah comforts"

 

Chapters 1-7 | 8-end | Next Book


 

Chapter 8

      Now when the seventh month drew nye, and the children of Israel were in their cities, all the people gathered themselves together as one man upon the street before the Watergate, and said unto Esdras the scribe, that he should fetch the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord commanded to Israel. And Esdras the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and of all that could understand it, upon the first day of the seventh month. And read therein in the street that is before the Watergate, from the morning until the noon day before the men and the women, and such as could understand it: and the ears of all the people were inclined unto the book of the law. And Esdras the scribe stood upon an high pulpit of wood, which they had made for the preaching, and beside him stood Mathathiah, Sema, Ananiah, Uriah, Helkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand: and on his left hand stood Phadaiah, Misael, Melchiah, Hasum, Hasebadanah, Zachary, and Mosolam.
      And Esdras opened the book before all the people, for he stood above all the people. And when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Esdras praised the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with their hands up, and bowed themselves, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. And Jesua, and Baani, and Serabiah, Jami, Acuba, Sebathai, Hodaiah, Maasiah, Celita, Azariah, Jozabed, Hanan, Phalaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to give heed unto the law, and the people stood in their place. And they read in the book in the law of God distinctly and plainly, so that men understood the thing that was read. And Nehemiah ( which is Harthirsatha ) and Esdras the priest and scribe, and the Levites that caused the people to take heed, said unto all the people: this day is holy unto the Lord your God: be not ye sorry therefore, and weep not. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
      Therefore said he unto them: Go your way, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part unto them also that have not prepared themselves: for this day is holy unto our Lord: be not ye sorry therefore: for the joy of the Lord is your strength. And the Levites stilled all the people, and said: hold your peace, for the day is holy, vex not yourselves. And all the people went their way to eat and to drink, and to send part unto other, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
      And on the next day were gathered together the chief of the fathers among all the people and the priests and Levites, unto Esdras the scribe, that he should teach them the words of the law. And they found written in the law how that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month. And so they caused it be declared and proclaimed in all their cities, and at Jerusalem, saying: go up unto the mount and fetch Olive branches, and Pine branches, Myrtle branches, Palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
      And the people went up, and set them, and made them booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street by the Watergate, and in the street by port Ephraim. And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity, made booths, and dwelt therein. For since the time of Jesua the son of Nun unto this day, had not the children of Israel done so, and there was very great gladness. And every day from the first day unto the last, read he in the book of the law of God. And seven days held they the feast, and on the eighth day the gathering together, according unto the manner.

 

 

 

Chapter 9

      In the four and twenty of this month came the children of Israel together with fasting, and sackclothes, and earth upon them, and separated the seed of Israel from all the strange children and stood and knowledged their sins, and the wickedness of their fathers, and stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God four times on the day, and they knowledged, and worshipped the Lord their God four times on the day. And the Levites stood on high, namely Jesua, and Bani, Cadmiel, Sabaniah, Buni, Sarebiah, Bani, and Chanani, and cried loud unto the Lord their God. And the Levites, Jeshua, and Cadmiel, Bani, Hasabniah, Serebiah, Hodjah, Sebaniah, and Pathahiah, said: Stand up praise the Lord your God forever: and let thanks be given unto the name of thy glory, which exceedeth all thanksgiving and praise. Lord, thou alone hast made heaven, and the heaven of all heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is therein, the sea and all that is therein: thou givest life unto all, and the host of heaven bow themselves unto thee. Thou art the Lord the God, that hast chosen Abram, and broughtest him out of Ur in Chaldea, and called him Abraham and foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give unto his seed the land of the Cananites, Hethites, Amorites, Pheresites, Jebusites, and Gergasites, and hast made good thy words: for thou art righteous and hast considered the misery of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their complaint by the reed sea, and showed tokens and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they presumptuous and cruel against them, and so madest thou thee a name as it is this day. And the reed sea didst thou divide insunder before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea dry shoed: and their persecutors threw thou into the deep as a stone, in that mighty waters, and leddest them on the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.
      Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest unto them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, true laws good commandments and statutes, and declared unto them thy holy Sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, ordinances, and laws, by Moses thy servant: and gavest them bread from heaven when they were hungry, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock when they were thirsty: and promised them, that they should go in, and take possession of the land, over which thou hadst lift up thine hand for to give them.
      But our fathers were proud, and hard necked, so they followed not the commandments, and refused to hear, and were not mindful of the wonders that thou didst for them: but became obstinate and heady in so much that they turned back to their bondage in their disobedience. But thou my God forgavest, and was gracious, merciful, patient, and of great goodness, and forsook them not. And though they made a molten calf, ( and said: This is thy God, that brought thee out of the land of Egypt ) and did great blasphemies, yet forsookest them not in the wilderness, according to thy great mercy. And the cloudy pillar departed not from them on the day time to lead them the way, neither the pillar of fire in the night season, to show them light in the way that they went.
      And thou gavest them thy good spirit to enform them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water when they were thirsty. Forty years long madest thou provision for them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing: their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not. And thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and partest them according to their portions, so that they possessed the land of Sehon king of Hesebon, and the land of Og king of Basan. And their children multiplied thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land whereof thou hadst spoken unto their fathers, that they should go in to it, and have it in possession.
      And the children went in, and possessed the land, and thou subdued before them the inhabitantors of the land, even the Cananites, and gavest them into their hand, and their kings and the people of the land, that they might do with them what they would. And they won their strong cities, and a fat land, and took possession of houses that were full of all manner goods, wells digged out, vineyards, olivegardens, and many fruitful trees: and they ate and were filled, and became fat, and lived in wealth through thy great goodness. Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets, which exhorted them so earnestly, that they should convert unto thee, and did great blasphemes. Therefore gavest thou them over in to the hand of their enemies that vexed them.
      And in the time of their trouble they cried unto thee, and thou heardest them from heaven and through thy great mercy thou gavest them saviours, which helped them out of the hand of their enemies. But when they came to rest, they turned back again to do evil before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them. So they converted, and cried unto thee, and thou heardest them from heaven; and many times hast thou delivered them according to thy great mercy, and testified unto them, that they should turn again unto thy law.
      Notwithstanding they were proud, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned in thy laws, ( which a man should do and live in them ) and turned the shoulder away, and were stiffnecked, and would not hear. And many years didst thou forbear them, and testified unto them through thy spirit, even by the office of thy prophets, and yet would they not hear. Therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the nations in the lands. But for thy great mercies sake thou hast not utterly consumed them, neither forsaken them: for thou art a gracious and merciful God.
      Now our God, thou great God, mighty and terrible, thou that keepest covenant and mercy, regard not a little all the travail that hath happened unto us, and our kings, princes, priests, prophets, fathers and all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assur unto this day. Thou art righteous in all that thou hast brought upon us: for thou hast done right. As for us, we have been ungodly, and our kings, princes, priests, and fathers have not done after thy law, nor regarded thy commandments, and thy earnest exhortations wherewith thou hast exhorted them, and have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goods that thou gavest them, and in the large and plenteous land which thou gavest them, and have not converted from their wicked works. Behold, therefore are we in bondage this day: yee even in the land that thou gavest unto our fathers, to enjoy the fruits and goods thereof, behold, there are we bondsmen. And great is the increase of it unto the kings, whom thou hast set over us because of our sins, and they have dominion over our bodies, and cattle, and we are in great trouble. And in all of this we make a sure covenant, and write it, and let our princes, Levites, and priests seal it.

 

 

 

Chapter 10

      These sealers were: Nehemiah, ( that is ) Hathirsatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zedekiah, Saraiah, Asariah, Jeremy, Phashur, Amariah, Malchiah, Hatus, Sebaniah, Malluch, Harim, Merimoth, Obadiah, Daniel Jenthon, Baruch, Mosolam, Abiah, Miamin, Maasiah, Belgai and Semeiah: these were the priests. The Levites were: Jesua the son of Azariah, Benui among the children of Henadad and Cadmiel. And their brethren: Sechaniah, Hodiah, Celita, Phalaiah, Hanan, Micha, Rehob, Hasabiah, Sachur, Serebiah, Sabaniah, Hodiah, Bani and Baninu. The heads of the people were: Phares, Pahath Moab, Elam, Zathua, Bani, Boni, Asgad, Bebai, Adoniah, Begoai, Adin, Ater, Hezekiah, Asur, Hodiah, Hasum, Bezai, Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, Magphias, Mosolam, Hesir, Mesesabel, Zadoc, Jaddua, Phalatia, Hanan, Anaiah, Hosea, Hananiah, Hasub, Halohes, Phaleha, Sobek, Rehum, Hasabnah, Maasiah, Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
      And the other people, the priests, the Levites, Porters, singers, Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people in the lands unto the law of God, with their wives sons, and daughters, as many as could understand it, and their lords that had rule of them, received it for their brethren.
      And they came to sware, and to bind themselves with an oath to walk in Gods law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, that they would observe and do according unto all the commandments of the Lord our God: and that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, neither to take their daughters for our sons. And if the people of the land brought ware on the sabbath, and all manner of vitals to sell, that we would not take it of them on the sabbath and on the holy days. And that we would let the seventh year be free concerning all manner of charge.
      And we decreed a statute upon ourselves, to give yearly the third part of a sickle to the ministration in the house of our God, namely to the showbread, to the daily meatoffering, to the daily burntoffering of the sabbaths, of the new moons and feast days, and to the things that were sanctified, and to the sinofferings, to reconcile Israel with all, and to all the business in the house of our God.
      And we cast the lot among the priests, Levites and the people, for offering of the wood to be brought unto the house of our God from year to year, after the houses of our fathers that it might be burnt at times appointed, upon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law: and yearly to bring the firstlings of our fruits of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the Lord: and the firstlings of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law: and the firstlings of our oxen and of our sheep, that we should bring all this to the house of our God: and we should bring the firstlings of our dough, and our heaveofferings, and the fruits of all manner of trees, of wine also and of oil, unto the priests to the chests the house of our God. And the tithes of our land unto the Levites, that they might have the tithes in all the cities of our ministration.
      And the priest the son of Aaron shall with the Levites have also of the tithes of the Levites, so that the Levites shall bring up the tithes of their tithes unto the house of our God to the chest in the treasure house. For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring up the heaveofferings of the corn, wine, and the oil unto the chests. And there shall be the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and singers, that we forsake not the house of our God.

 

 

 

Chapter 11

      And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem. But the other people cast lots therefore, so that among ten one part went to Jerusalem into the holy city to dwell, and nine parts in the cities. And the people thanked all the men that were willingly to dwell at Jerusalem.
      These are the heads of the land that dwelt in Jerusalem and the cities of Judah. And every one dwelt in his possession, and in their cities of Israel, the priests, Levites, the Nethinims, and the children of Solomons servants. 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 Usiah, the son of Zachary, the son of Amariah, the son of Saphatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Phares. And Maasiah the son of Baruch, the son of Cal Hose, the son of Hasaia, the son of Adaia, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zachary, the son of Siloni. All the children of Phares that dwelt at Jerusalem, were four hundred and eight and threescore valiant men.
      These are the children of Ben Jamin: Sallu the son of Mesullam, the son of Joeb, the son of Phadaiah, the son of Colaiah, the son of Masiah, the son of Jthiel, the son of Jsaiah. And after him Abai, Selar, nine hundred and eight and twenty. And Joel the son of Zechri had the over sight of them: and Judah the son of Senuah over the second part of the city.
      Of the priests there dwelt: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin. Saraiah the son of Helkiah the son of Mosolam, the son of Zadoc, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitob, was prince in the house of God: and his brethren that performed the work in the house: of whom there were *822. And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Plalaliel, the son of Amazi, the son of Zachary, the son of Phashur, the son of Melchiah, and his brethren, chief among the fathers: of whom there were two hundred and two and forty. And Amashai the son of Asarael, the son of Ahasai, the son of Mosolamoth, the son of Emer: and his brethren were valiant men, of whom there were an hundred and eight and twenty. And their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of *Hagdolim.
      Of the Levites: Semeiah the son of Hasub, the son of Aserikam, the son of Hasabiah, the son of Boni: and Sabathai and Josabad, of the chief of the Levites, in the outward business of the house of God. And Mathaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, which was the principal to begin the thanksgiving unto prayer. And *bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Sammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jduthun. All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and four and fourscore. And the porters, Acub, Talmon, and their brethren that keep the ports, were an hundred and two and seventy. As for the residue of Israel, the priests, and Levites, they were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
      And the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gaspha belonged to the Nethinims. The overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem, was Usi the son of Baani, the son of Hasabiah, the son of Mathaniah, the son of Micha.
      Of the children of Asaph, there were singers about the business in the house of God: For it was the kings commandment concerning them, that the singers should deal faithfully every day as according was.
       And Pathaiah the son of Mesesabel, of the children of Zarah the son of Judah, next the king in all matters concerning the people and their villages, throughout all their regions. And the children of Judah that were without in the towns of their land, dwelt some at Kariath Arbe, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof: and at Cabzeel, and in the villages thereof: And at Jesua, Moladah, Bethphaiet, Hazersual, Bersabe, and in their villages: And at Sikelag, and Moconah, and in their villages: And at Enremon, Zarah, Jerimuth, Zonoah, Odollam, and in their villages: At Lachis, and in the fields thereof: At Asekah, and in the villages thereof: And dwelt from Bersabe unto the valley of Hennom.
      The children of Benjamin of Gaba, dwelt at Machmas, and Aia, Bethel, and in their villages. And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, Hazor, Ramah, Gethaim, Hadid, Zeboim, Nabalat, Lod, and Ono and in the carpenters valley. And certain of the Levites that had portions in Judah, dwelt in Ben Jamin.


*822 for some reason a numeral is used here instead of a written number *Hagdolim for some reason the KJV leaves out this name and only uses:"one of the great men". RN *bakbukiah this is a small case "b" RN. Note in Apocalypse the "choir"

 

 

 

Chapter 12

      These are the priests and Levites that went up with Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and with Jesua: Seraiah, Jeremy, Esdras, Amariah, Meluch, Hatus, Sechaniah, Rehum, Merimoth, Ado, Genthoi, Abiah, Miamin, Maadiah, Belgah, Semaiah, and Joiarib, Jadaiah, Salu, Amok, Helkiah, Jadaiah. These were the heads among the priests and their brethren in the time of Jesua. The Levites were these: Jesua, Bennui, Cadmiel, Sarabiah, Judah, and Mathaniah, over the office of thanksgiving, they and their brethren: Also Bacbukiah and Uni, and their brethren, were about them in the watches.
      Jesua begat Joakim, Joakim begat Eliasib, and Eliasib begat Joiada. Joiada begat Jonathan, Jonathan begat Jadua. And in the time of Joakim were these the chief fathers among the priests: under Saraiah, Maraiah; under Jeremy, Hananiah, under Esdras, Mosolam, under Amariah, Jehoanan, under Milico, Jonathan, under Sebaniah, Joseph, under Harim, Edna, under Maraioth, Helcai, under Adia, Zachary, under Genthon, Mosolam, under Abia, Zechri, under Miniamin and Moadia Peltai, under Belgah, Samua, under Semeiah, Jehonathan, under Joiarib, Mathnai, under Jadaiah, Usi, under Selai, Kelai, under Amok, Eber, under Helchiah, Hasabiah, under Jadaiah, Nathanael.
      And in the time of Eliasib. Joiada, Johanan and Jadua, were the chief fathers among the Levites, and the priests written under the reign of Darius the Persian. The children of Levi the principal fathers were written in the Chronicles, until the time of Jonathan the son of Eliasib. And these were the chief among the Levites, Hasabiah, Serebiah and Jesua the son of Cadmiel, and their brethren over against them, to give praise and thanks, according as David the man of God had ordained it, one watch over against another. Mathania, Balbukiah, Obadiah, Mosolam, Talmon, and Abub were porters in the watch at the thresholds of the gates. These were in the time of Joiakim the son of Jesua the son of Josedec, and in the time of Nehemiah the captain and of the priest Esdras the scribe.
      And in the dedication of the wall at Jerusalem, were the Levites sought out of all their places, that they might be brought to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication and gladness, with thanksgivings, with singing, with cymbals, Psalteries, and harps. And the children of the singers gathered themselves together from the plain country about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Nethophathi and from the house of Galgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Asmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages about Jerusalem. And the priests and Levites purified themselves, and cleansed the people, the gates and the wall.
      And I caused the princes of Juda upon the wall, and appointed two great choirs of thanksgiving, which went on the right hand of the wall toward the Dunggate, and after them went Hosaiah, and half of the princes of Juda, and Asaria, Esdras, Mosolam, Judah, Ben Jamin, and Semeiah, and Jeremy: and certain of the priests children with trumpets, namely Zachary the son of Jonathan, the son of Semeiah, the son of Mathaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zecur, the son of Asaph, and his brethren, Semeiah, and Asarael, Melalai, Galalai, Maai, Nathanael, and Juda, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God.
      And Esdras the scribe before them, toward the Wellgate, and they went up over against them upon the steps of the city of David at the going up of the wall to the house of David, unto the Watergate Eastward.
      The other choir of thanksgiving went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, toward the Furnacegate upward, until the broad wall, and to the port of Ephraim, and to the Oldgate, and to the Fishgate, and to the tower of Hananeel, and to the tower of Meah, until the Sheepgate. And in the prison gate they stood still, and so stood the two choirs of thanksgiving of the house of God, and I and the half of the rulers with me, and the priests, namely Eliakim, Maasiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zachary, and Hananiah, with trumpets, and Maasiah, Semeiah, Eleasar, Ursi, Jehoanan, Melchiah, Elam, and Ser. And the singers sang loud, and Jestahiah was the overseer.
      And the same day were great sacrifices offered, and they rejoiced: for God had given them great gladness, so that both the wives and children were joyful, and the mirth of Jerusalem was heard afar off.
      At the same time were there men appointed over the treasure chests (wherein were the Heaveofferings, the firstlings and the tithes ) that they should gather them out of the fields about the cities, to distribute them unto the priests and Levites according to the law: for Judah was glad of the priests, and Levites, that they stood and waited upon the office of their God, and the office of purification. And the singers and porters stood after the commandment of David and of Solomon his son: for in the time of David and Asaph, were the chief singers founded, and the songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. In the time of Zorobabel, and Nehemiah, did all Israel, give portions unto the singers and porters, every day his portion, and they gave things hallowed unto the Levites, and the Levites gave things that were sanctified, unto the children of Aaron.

 

 

 

Chapter 13

      And what time as the book of Moses was read in the ears of the people there was found written therein, that the Ammonites and the Moabites should never come into the congregation of God, because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water, and hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: nevertheless our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now when they heard the Law, they separated from Israel everyone that had mixed himself therein. And before this had the Priest Eliasib delivered the chest of the house of our God unto his kinsman Tobiah: for he had made him a great chest, and there had they afore time layed the meatofferings, frankincense, vessel, and the tithes of corn, wine and oil ( according to the commandment given to the Levites, singers and porters ) and the heaveofferings of the priests.
      But in all this was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Arthaxerses king of Babilon, came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I license of the king to come to Jerusalem. And I gat knowledge of the evil that Eliasib did unto Tobiah, in that he made him a chest in the court of the house of God, and it grieved me sore, and I cast forth all the vessels of the house of Tobiah out of the chest, and commanded them to cleanse the chest. And thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, the meatoffering and the incense.
      And I perceived, that the portions of the Levites were not given them, for the which cause the Levites and singers were fled, everyone to his land for to work. Then reproved I the rulers, and said: Why forsake we the house of God? But I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Judah the tithes of corn and wine and oil unto the treasury. And I made treasurers over the treasure, even Selemiah the priest, and Zadoc the scribe, and of the Levites, Phedaiah, and under their hand Hanan the son of Zacur, the son of Mathaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. Think upon me, O' my God here in, and wipe not out my mercy, that I have showed on the house of my God, and on the officers thereof.
      At the same time saw I some treading wine presses on the Sabbath and bringing in clusters, and asses ladened with wine, grapes, figs, and bringing all manner of burdens unto Jerusalem, upon the Sabbath day. And I rebuked them earnestly the same day that they sold the vitals. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish and all manner of ware, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah and Jerusalem. Then reproved I the rulers in Judah, and said unto them: What evil thing is this that ye do, and break the Sabbath day? Did not our fathers even thus, and our God brought all this plague upon us and upon this city? And ye make the wrath more yet upon Israel, in that ye break the Sabbath.
      And it fortuned, that when the porters of Jerusalem made shadow before the Sabbath, I commanded to shut the gates, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day. Then remained the *chapmen and the merchants once or twice over night without Jerusalem with all manner of wares. Then reproved I them sore, and said unto them: Why tarry ye all night about the wall? If ye do it once again, I will lay hands upon you. From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath. And I said unto the Levites which were clean, to hallow the Sabbath day. Think upon me ( O' my God ) concerning this also, and spare me according to thy great of thy mercy.
       And at the same time saw I Jews, that had married wives of Asdod, Ammon, and of Moab: and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews language, but by the tongue mighty a man perceive every people. And I reproved them, and cursed them, and smote certain men of them, and plucked them up, and took an oath of them by God: Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, neither shall ye take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Salomon the king of Israel sin therein? and yet among many Heathen was there no king like him, and he was dear unto his God, and God made him king over all Israel, and yet nevertheless outlandish women caused him to sin? And shall we then obey unto you, to do all this great evil, and to transgress against our God, and marry strange wives?
      And one of the children of Jehoiada, the son of Eliasib the high priest, had made a contract with Sanabalat the Horonite: but I chased him from me. O' my God, think thou upon them that are quite of the priesthood, and have defiled the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites. Thus cleansed I them from all such as were outlandish, and appointed the courses of the priests and Levites, every one to his office, and to offer the wood at times appointed, and the firstfruits. Think thou upon me, ( O' my God ) for the best.

 

*chapmen =from the root "cheap man" peddler, dealer.

 

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