NEHEMIAH, V.

B. C. 445.

He armeth the labourers. remember the LORD, which is great p and terrible, and fight a for your brethren, your sons, and your p De. 10. 17. daughters, your wives, and your houses.

15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought,r that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.

17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.s

18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded 7 by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

Ps.66.3,5.
Na. 1.6,7.

9 2Sa. 10.12.

r Job 5.12.
Ps.33.10.

t

La.3.37,38.

1Co. 16.13.

Phi. 1.28.

on his loins.

Ex. 14.14,

25. De.1.30. Zec. 14.3.

u 1Co. 15. 10.

8 or, every
one went
with his
weapon

for water,
Ju.5.11.

He rebuketh the usurers.

4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

5 Yet now our flesh c is as the flesh of our brethren, our children; as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters dare brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, e every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.

8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemedƒ our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will you even sell your brethren? or (CHAP. 5.) shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found a Is.5.7. nothing to answer.

De. 15.7.

19 T And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest b Le.25.35-39. of the people. The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. 20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort c Is.58.7. ve thither unto us: our God t shall d Ex.21.7. fight for us.

21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.

my heart
consulted
in me,
Ps.4.4.

e Ex.22.25.
Ps. 15. 1,5.
Eze.22.12.

22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour f on the day.

23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.

CHAPTER V. The Jews complain of their debt and bondage.

ND there was a great cry a of

A the people and of their wives

against their brethren the Jews.

Le.25.48.

ver. 15.
h 2Sa. 12. 14.

Ro.2.24.
1 Pe.2.12.

i 2Ki.23.2,3.
Ezr. 10.5.
Je.34.8,9.
k Mat.10.14.

Ac. 13.51.
18.6.

2 empty, or,
void.

De.27. 15,&c.

2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. 3 Some also there were that said, m 2Ki.23.3. We have mortgaged b our lands, n ch.13.6. vineyards, and houses, that we o ICo.9.4,15. might buy corn, because of the dearth.

9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fearg of our God because of the reproach h of the heathen our enemies?

10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive-yards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and i took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. 13 Also I shook k my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and 2 emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And m the people did according to this promise.

14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth n year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not o eaten the bread of the governor.

Stratagem of Sanballat.

NEHEMIAH, VI, VII. 15 But the former governors that B. C. 445. had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken

2Co. 11.9.
12.13.

of them bread and wine, beside P Pr.16.6.
forty shekels of silver; yea, even
their servants bare rule over the
people but p so did not I, because
of the fear g of God.

q ver.9.

r ver. 14, 15.

16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land and all my servants were & Ps.37.21,26. gathered thither unto the work.

17 Moreover there were at my tablet ch.13.22. an hundred and fifty of the Jews Ps.40.17. and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen u Mat.25.40.

that are about us.

18 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were pre-a pared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine; yet for all this required not I the bread r of the governor, because s the bondage was heavy upon this people. 19 Think t upon me, my God, for good, according u to all that I have done for this people.

CHAPTER VI. Sanballat practiseth by craft to terrify Nehemiah.

Mar.9.41.

(CHAP. 6.)

ch.2.10, 19.
4.1,7.

1 or, Gashmu,
ver.6.

b Pr.26.24,

25.

c ch.11.35.
1Ch.8.12.

d Ps.37.12,32.

Je.20.10.

NOW it came to pass, when San-
hallat, a and Tobiah, and 1 Ge- e Pr.14.15.
shem the Arabian, and the rest of
our enemies, heard that I had build-
ed the wall, and that there was no
breach left therein; (though at that
time I had not set up the doors
upon the gates ;)

2 or,Geshem,

ver.1.

Ps.71.1.

2 That Sanballat and Geshem b sent unto me, saying, Come, let us g 1Sa.30.6. meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono.c But they d thought to do me mischief.

3 And I sent messengers unto i them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? 4 Yet they sent unto me four times

h Job 24.16.

Ps. 11.1.

112.6.8.

Lu. 13.31

33. Ac.20.24.

21.13.

The wall is finished.

8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.

9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now, therefore, O God,g strengthen my hands.

10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the nignth will they come to slay thee. 11 And I said, Should i such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13 Therefore k was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report,that they might reproach me.

14 My God, think m thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to phetess Noahdiah, and the rest of these their works, and on the prothe prophets, that would have put

after this sort; ande I answered k Eze. 13. 17, nobles of Judah 3 sent many letters

them after the same manner.
5 Then sent Sanballat his servant
unto me in like manner the fifth
time with an open letter in his hand;
6 Wherein was written, It is f re-
ported among the heathen, and
2 Gashmu saith it, that thou and
the Jews think to rebel: for which
cause thou buildest the wall, that
thou mayest be their king, accord-
ing to these words.

&c.

l Ja.4.17.
m ch. 13.29.
Ps.36.11,12.

n Ps. 126.2.

unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.

18 For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of MeshulAc.5.38,39. lam the son of Berechiah. 3 multiplied their letters passing to 7 And thou hast also appointed Tobiah. prophets to preach of thee at Jeru-4 or, matters. salem, saying, There is a king in Judah and now shall it be report- (CHAP. 7.) ed to the king according to these a ch.6.1. words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my 4 words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. CHAPTER VII.

A register of those who returned from
Babylon,

NOW it came to pass, when the

wall was built, and I had set up the a doors, and the porters and

Register of those who

NEHEMIAH, VII. the singers and the Levites were B. C. 445. appointed,

2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for b he was a faithful man, and feared c God above many.

3 And 1 said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.

b Ac.6.3,5.

c Ex. 18.21.

broad in
spaces.

d Ezr.7.27.

4 Now the city was large and e 1Ch.9.1,&c. great; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not ƒ Ezr.2.1. builded.

16.

5 And my God put d into mine heart to gather together the nobles, g 2Ki.24.14and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a registere of h Hag.1.1. the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,

returned from Babylon.

19 The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.

20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.

21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

22 The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.

23 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.

24 The children of 4 Hariph, an hundred and twelve.

25 The children of 5 Gibeon, ninety and five.

26 The men of Beth-lehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.

27 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.

28 The men of 6 Beth-azmaveth, forty and two.

29 The men of 7 Kirjath-jearim, Chephirah,and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.

30 The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one. 31 The men of Michmas, an hun2 or, Seraiah, dred and twenty and two.

Ezr.2.2.

6 These ƒ are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been 3 or, Bani. carried away, whom g Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;

7 Who came with Zerubbabel, h Jeshua, Nehemiah, 2 Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum,

4

or, Jorah.

32 The men of Beth-el and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.

33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.

34 The children of the other Elam,i a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

35 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

36 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.

37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and

Baanah. The number, I say, of the 5 or, Gibbar. Ono,seven hundred twenty and one. men of the people of Israel, was this:

veth.

8 The children of Parosh, two 6 or, Armathousand an hundred seventy and two.

9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. 10 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.

or, Kir-
jath-arim.

11 The children of Pahath-moab, i ver. 12. of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.

k 1Ch.21.7,

&c.

12 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 13 The children of Zattu, eight 1 1Ch.9.12. hundred forty and five.

14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.

15 The children of 3 Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.

16 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.

8 or, Hada-
viah,
Ezr.2.40,
or, Judah,

Ezr.3.9.

17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty 9 or, Siaha.

and two.

18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.

38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty. 39 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, k of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. 40 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.

41 The children of Pashur, la thousand two hundred forty and seven. 42 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

43 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel,and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four. 44 The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight. 45 T 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, an hundred thirty and eight.

46 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hushupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

47 The children of Keros, the children of 9 Sia, the children of Padon, 48 The children of Lebana, the

hundred forty and five :

50 The children of Reaiah, the 11 or, Nephu- thirty and six: their mules, two children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,

51 The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,

52 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of 11 Nephishesim,

53 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,

sim.

12 or, Baz

luth.
13 or, Peruda,

14 or, Ami.

m Ezr.2.59.

15 or, Addan.

54 The children of 12 Bazlith, the 16 or, pedichildren of Mehida, the children gree. of Harsha.

55 The children of Barkos, then 2Sa. 17.27. children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,

19.31-39. IKI.2.7.

56 The children of Neziah, the o Mat.22.11children of Hatipha.

13.

57 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the p Mat.25.11, children of Sophereth, the children

of 13 Perida,

12.

69 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.

70 And 18 some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha u gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.

71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.

72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments.

73 So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and v when the se17 or, gover Israel were in their cities. venth month came, the children of

Le.4.3.

58 The children of Jaala, the child-q ch. 13.29. ren of Darkon, the children of Giddel,

59 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of 14 Amon.

60 All the Nethinims, and the

nor,
ch.8.9.

r Le.7.19,20.

CHAPTER VIII.

The religious manner of reading and hearing the law.

children of Solomon's' servants, 3 Ex.23.30. ANDa all the people gathered

18 part.

u ch.8.9.

v Ezr.3, 1.

(CHAP. 8.)

were three hundred ninety and two. t Is. 14.1,2.
61 And these m were they which
went up also from Tel-melah. Tel-
haresha, Cherub, 15 Addon, and
Immer: but they could not show
their father's house, nor their 16
seed, whether they were of Israel.
62 The children of Delaiah, the
children of Tobiah, the children of
Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.
63 T And of the priests: the child-
ren of Habaiah, the children of
Koz, the children of Barzillai, n
which took one of the daughters
of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife,
and was called after their name.
64 These sought o their register
among those that were reckoned by d Ac. 15.21.
genealogy, but it was not p found:
therefore were they, as polluted, g1 understood
put from the priesthood."
in hearing.

themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water-gate; b and they spake unto Ezra the scribe, c to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation d both of men and women, and all that 1 could hear with understanding, upone the first day of the seventh month.

3 And he read therein before the street that was before the watergate from the 2 morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a 3 pulpit of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchish,

66 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand f Lu.4.16,&c. and Hashum, and Hashbadana,

three hundred and threescore,

67 Beside their man-servantst and their maid-servants, of whom there

A eyes.

Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5 And Ezra opened f the book in the 4 sight of all the people;

(for

NEHEMIAH, IX.

branches, and palm-branches, and m Re.5.11-13. the Chaldees, and gavest him the