CHRIST 1 The proclamation of Cyrus for the building of the temple. 5 The people provide for the return. 7 Cyrus restoreth the vessels 23. Jer. 25. 12. & 29.10. of the temple to Sheshbazzar. TOW in the first year of Cyrus Mithredath the treasurer, and Before CHRIST about 536. 9 And this is the number of See ch. 5. 14. them: thirty chargers of gold, a Nking of Persia, that the word thousand chargers of silver, nine 2 Chr. 36.22, of the LORD aby the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of beh. 5 13. 14. Cyrus king of Persia, that he +made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, † Heb. caused a voice to pass. 2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath 18. 44. 28. & charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 45. 1, 13. d Dan. 6. 26. ↑ Heb. lift him up. * Phil. 2. 13. I That is, c 3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. 4 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place thelp him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, besides the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. 5 Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit eGod had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. 6 And all they that were about them strengthened their hands helped them. with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered. fch. 5. 14. & 6.5. € 2 Kings 24 13. 2 Chr. 36. 7. 7 ¶ fAlso Cyrus the king 13 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six. 14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six. 15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four. 16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. 17 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three. 18 The children of hundred and twelve. Jorah, a people who returned Before 38 The children of h Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and CHRIST seven. 39 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. about 536. h 1 Chr. 9. 12. il Chr. 24. 8. 40 The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy Or, Judah, and four. 41 The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight. 42 The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all a hundred thirty and nine. ch. 3.9. called also Hodevah, Neh. 7. 43. 43 The Nethinim: the chil-1 Chr. 9. 2. dren of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 44 The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children Or, Sia. of Padon, 45 The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub, 46 The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the chil-Or dren of Hanan, 47 The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, 48 The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, 49 The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, 50 The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim, 51 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, Shamlai. 1 Or, Nephishesim. Bazlith, 52 The children of Bazluth, Or, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 53 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah, 54 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. Neh. 7. 54. t Neli. 7. 70. 62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: Ptherefore † were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. 63 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with r Urim and with Thummim. S 64 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and three score, 65 Besides their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women. 66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five; 67 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty. 68 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place: 69 They gave after their ability 1 Chr. 26. 20. unto the "treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests' garments. The altar is set up. 70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities. CHAPTER III. The altar is set up. 4 Offerings frequented. 7 Workmen prepared. 8 The foundations of the temple are laid in great joy and mourning. A ND when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of a Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt of ferings thereon, as it is bwritten Matt. 1. 12. in the law of Moses the man of Joshua, Hag. 1. 1. & 2.2. Zech. 3. 1. I Called Zorobabel, Matt. 1. 12. Luke 3.27. & Luke 3. 27, called Salathiel. God. 3 And they set the altar upon b Deut. 12. 5. his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening. 4. Num. 28. 3, 17. Zech. 14. 16, 17. 4 They kept also the feast of Neh. 8. 14, tabernacles, as it is written, and foffered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, tas the duty of every day &c. required; Ex. 23. 16. f Num. 29. 12, ↑ Heb. the matter of the day in his day. Num. 28, 3, 11, 19, 26. & 29. 2, 8, 13. 5 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the Ex. 29, 38. set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD. 6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. tHeb. the temple of the LORD was not yet founded. workmen. h1 Kings 5.6, 9. 7 They gave money also unto the masons, and to the Icarpen-or,, ters; and hmeat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant 2 Chr. 2. 16. that they had of Cyrus king of Persia. 8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the 2 Chr. 2. 10. Acts 12. 20. Acts 9. 36. k ch. 6. 3. 535. The foundations of the temple laid. Before 535. EZRA. hither. about 678. The adversaries endeavour son of Jozadak, and the remnant | sacrifice unto him since the Before CHRIST of their brethren the priests and days of Esar-haddon king of CHRIST the Levites, and all they that Assur, which brought us up were come out of the captivity 11 Chr. 23. 24, unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD. 27. a See ver. 7, 8, 9. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. CHAPTER IV. 1 The adversaries, being not accepted in the a adversaries c b 2 Kings 17. Neh. 2. 20. 3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as dking Cyrus the king of dch. 1. 1, 2, 3. Persia hath commanded us. 4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 534. e ch. 3, 3. 529. Ahashverosh. 6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, Heb. wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 522. in peace. 7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithre-1or, dath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artax- + Heb.. erxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. 8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the Iscribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: societies. 1Or, secretary. f 2 Kings 17. 30, 31. 9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their compan-+ Chald. ions; the Dinaites, the Aphar- societies. sathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, 10's And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, hand tat such a time. 11 This is the copy of the let Now when the advenjamin ter that they sent unto him, even heard that the children of the transporta captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; † Heb. the sons of the tion. 2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy 12 Be it known unto the king, about 678. ver. 1. h So ver. 11, † Chald. Cheeneth. 522. The building is renewed. Before Iset up the walls thereof, and | before Rehum, and Shimshai the CHRIST +joined the foundations. 522. 1Or. finished. † Chald. sewed together. 13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, Chald. give. and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. i ch. 7. 24. 1 Or, strength. † Chald. we are salted with the salt of the pal 14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; 15 That search may be made in Before CHRIST 522. scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease tby force and Chald. power. 24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. CHAPTER V. 1 Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by Haggai and Zechariah, set forward the building of the temple. 3 Tatnai and Shethar-boznai could not hinder the Jews. 6 Their letter to Darius against the Jews. HIEN the prophets, a Haggai by arm and power. 520. 320. the book of the records of thy the prophet, and bZechariah Hag. 1. 1. fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. 16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river. 17 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. 18 The letter which ye unto us hath been plainly before me. sent read 19 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. 20 There have been mighty kings also Over Jerusalem, k1 Kings 4.21. Which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. Ps. 70 8. 1 Gen. 15. 18. Jush. 1. 4. † Chald. Make a decree. 21 † Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. 22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read 3 At the same time came to | 4 fThen said we unto them fver. 10. Chald. that build this building? See ch. 7. 6, 28. P's. 33. 18. 5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned hanswer by letter concerning this heh. 6. 6. matter. 519. 6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and ich. 4. 9. his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king: 7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace. 8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid † Chald. in the midst when cof. Chald. rolling. stones of |