30 And that we would not give our Daughters unto the People of the Land, nor take their Daughters for our Sons. 31 And if the People of the Land bring Ware or any Victuals on the Sabbath Day, to fell, that we would not buy it of them on the Sabbath, or on the Holy-day and that we would leave the feventh Year, and the Exaction of every Debt. 32 Alfo we made Ordinances for us to charge ourselves yearly with a third part of the Shekel, for the Service of the Houfe of our GOD. 33 For the Shew-bread, and for the continual Meat-offering, and for the continual Burnt-offering of the Sabbaths, of the New-moons, for the Set-feafts, and for the Holythings, and for the Sin-offerings, to make an Atonement for Ifracl, and for all the Work of the Houfe of our GOD. 34 And we caft the Lots among the Priefts, the Levites, and the People for the Wood-offering, to bring it into the Houfe of our GOD, after the Houfe 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: 35 And to bring the First-Fruits of our Ground, and the Firft-fruits of all Fruit of all Trees, Year by Year, unto the Houfe of the LORD: 36 Alfo the Firft-born of our Sons, and of our Cattle (as it is written in the Law) and the Firstlings of our Herds, and of our Flocks, to bring to the Houfe of our GOD, unto the Priefts that minifter in the Houfe of our GoD: 37 And that we fhould bring the first Fruits of our Dough, and our Offerings, and the Fruit of all manner of Trees, of Wine, and of Oyl, unto the Priests, to the Chambers of the Houfe of our GoD, and the Tithes of our Ground unto the Levites, that the fame Levites might have the Tithes, in all the Cities of our Tillage. 38 And the Prieft the Son of Aaron, fhall be with the Levites when the Levites take Tithes: and the Levites fhall bring up the Tithe of the Tithes unto the Houfe of our GOD, to the Chambers, into the Treafure-houfe. 39 For the Children of Ifracl, and the Children of Levi, fhall bring the Offering of the Corn of the new Wine, and the Oyl, unto the Chambers, where are the Veffels of the Sanctuary, and the Priefts that minifter, and the Porters, and the Singers: and we will not forfake the House of our God. CHAP. The Rulers, voluntary Men, and the Tenth Man chosen by Lot, dwell at Jerufalem. 3 A Catalogue of their Names. CHA P. XII. The Priests, 8 And the Levites which came up with Zerubbabel. 10 The Succeffion of High Priests. 1 Upon the reading of the Law, Separation is made from the mixed Multitude. 4 Nehemiah at his Return caufeth the Chambers to be cleanfed. 10 He reformeth the Offices in the Houfe of God. 15 The Violation of the Sabbath, 23 And the Marriages with frange Wives. Ver. 1 ON N that Day they read in the Book of Mofes in the Audience of the People; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite fhould not come into the Congregation of GOD for ever. 2 Because they met not the Children of Ifrael with Bread and with Water, but hired Balaam against them, that he fhould curfe them: Howbeit our GoD turned the Curfe into a Blefling. 3 Now it came to pafs when they had heard the Law, that they feparated from Ifrael all the mixed Multitude. 4 And before this, Eliafhib the Prieft having the Overfight of the Chamber of the Houfe of our GoD, was allied unto Tobiah. 5 And he had prepared for him a great Chamber, where aforetime they laid the Meat-offerings, the Frankincente, and the Veffels, and the Tithes of the Corn, the new Wine, and the Oyl (which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the Singers, and the Porters) and the Offerings of the Pricfts. 6 But in all this Time was not I at Jerufalem: for in the two and thirtieth Year of Artaxerxes King of Babylon, came I unto the King, and after certain Days obtained I Leave of the King. 7 And I came to Jerufalem, and understood of the Evil that that Eliafhib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a Chamber in the Courts of the Houfe of GOD. 8 And it grieved me fore, therefore I caft forth all the Houfhold Stuff of Tobiah out of the Chamber. 9 Then I commanded, and they cleanfed the Chambers: and thither brought I again the Veffels of the House of GOD, with the Meat-offering and the Frankincense. 10 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. II Then contended I with the Rulers, and faid, Why is the House of GOD forfaken? and I gathered them together, and fet them in their Place. 12 Then brought all Judah the Tithe of the Corn, and the new Wine, and the Oyl, unto the Treasuries. 13 And I made Treasurers over the Treafuries, Shelemiah the Prieft, and Zadok the Scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the Son of Zaccur, the Son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their Office was to distribute to their Brethren. 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good Deeds that I have done for the House of my GOD. 15 In those Days faw I in Judah fome treading Winepreffes on the Sabbath, and bringing in Sheaves, and lading Afles; as alfo Wine, Grapes and Figgs, and all manner of Burdens, which they brought into Jerufalem on the Sabbathday: and I testified against them in the Day wherein they fold Victuals. 16 There dwelt Men of Tyre alfo therein, which brought Fish, and all manner of Ware, and fold on the Sabbath unto the Children of Judah, and in Jerufalem. 17 Then I contended with the Nobles of Judah, and faid unto them, What evil Thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath-day? 18 Did not your Fathers thus, and did not our GoD bring all this Evil upon us, and upon this City? yet ye bring more Wrath upon Ifrael by profaning the Sabbath. 19 And it came to pafs, that when the Gates of Jerufalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the Gates fhould be fhut, and charged that they fhould not be opened till after the Sabbath: and fome of my Servants fet I at the Gates, that there fhould no Burthen be brought in on the Sabbath Day. 20 So the Merchants and Sellers of all kinds of Ware, lodged without Jerufalem once or twice. 21 Then I teftified against them, and faid 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. 22 And I commanded the Levites, that they fhould cleanse themselves, and that they fhould come and keep the Gates, to fanctify the Sabbath-day. Remember me, O my GoD, concerning this alfo, and fpare me according to the Greatnefs of thy Mercy. 23 And in thofe Days alfo faw I Jews that had married Wives of Afhdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: 24 And their Children fpake half in the Speech of Afhdod, and could not fpeak in the Jews Language, but according to the Language of each People. 25 And I contended with them, and curfed them, and fmote certain of them, and pluckt off their Hair, and made them fwear by GOD, faying, Ye fhall not give your Daughters unto their Sons, nor take their Daughters unto your Sons, or for your felves. 26 Did not Solomon King of Ifrael fin by thefe Things? yet among many Nations was there no King like him, who was beloved of his GOD, and GOD made him King over all Ifrael, neverthelefs even him did outlandish Women cause to fin. 27 Shall we then hearken unto you, to do all this great Evil, to tranfgrefs again!t our GOD, in marrying strange Wives? 28 And one of the Sons of Joiada, the Son of Eliashib the High Prieft, was Son in Law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chafed him from me. 29 Remember them, O my GOD, because they have defiled the Priefthood, and the Covenant of the Priesthood, and of the Levites. Thus cleanfed I them from all Strangers, and appointed the Wards of the Pricfts and the Levites, every one in his Bufinefs. 31 And for the Wood-offering, at Times appointed, and for the first Fruits. Remember me, O my GoD, for Good. ABSTRACT DANIEL ABSTRACT OF THE Book of ESTHER. T The PREFACE. HE following Story may be ftyl'd a facred Drama: The Actors are five Perfons of very different Qualities, and acting very different Parts. In the Story of Vafhti is feen the Folly of an imperious Woman facrificing her Royal Dignity to her Pride and Infolence. In Queen Efther is feen the Picture of a most beautiful Woman, endued with the greatest Piety and Wisdom, which fhe expreffed in preferving her People from utter Destruction; and this fhe refolutely attempted, even at the Hazard of her own Life, faying, If I PERISH, I PERISH. In the Story of Mordecai, is found the Character of a most steady and refolved Virtue, expofing himself to the utmoft Danger, rather than violate the Law of his GOD. In the History of Haman is found the Character of a Pppp inoft |