said the king unto his servants, Carry me away out of the battle; for I am very weak. And immediately his servants carried him away out of the host. 31 Then gat he up upon his second chariot; and being brought back to Jerusalem he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his fathers. 32 And in all Jewry they mourned for Josias; Lam. 4. 20. and Jeremy the prophet lamented for Josias, and the chief men with the women made lamentation for him, unto this day and this was given out for an ordinance to be done continually in all the nation of Israel. 33 These things are written in the book of the histories of the kings of Judæa, and every one of the acts that Josias did, and his glory, and his understanding in the law of the Lord, and the things that he had done before, and the things now recited, are reported in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. to For ver. 1-4. 34 w And the people took 1Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king instead of Josias his father, when he was &2 Chr. 36 twenty and three years old. 35 And he reigned in Judah and in Jerusalem three months: and then the king of Egypt deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem. 36 And he set a tax upon the people of a hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold. 37 The king of Egypt also made king Joakim his brother king of Judæa and Jerusalem. 38 And Joakim bound the nobles: but Zarakes his brother he apprehended, and brought him up out of Egypt. Dan. 1. 2. Cp. ver. 54. For ver. 43-58, see 2 Chr. 36. 9-21. Cp 2 Kin. 24. 8-25. 21. 42 Kin. 24. 8. (for mig.). Jer. 52. 1, 39 Five and twenty years old was Joakim when he began to reign in Judæa and Jerusalem; and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. 40 And against him Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came up, and bound him with a chain of brass, and carried him unto Babylon. 41 Nabuchodonosor also took of the holy vessels of the Lord, and carried them away, and set them up vin his own temple at Babylon. 42 But those things that are reported of him, and of his uncleanness and impiety, are written in the chronicles of the kings. 43 And Joakim his son reigned in his stead: for when he was made king he was a eighteen years old; 44 and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem; and did that which was evil before the Lord. that were spoken by Jeremy the prophet 2 ch. 6. 16. 12 Kin. 25. 10. i 1-15, see Ezra ch. 1. Cp. 2 Chr 36. 22, 23. In the first year of Cyrus king For ver. of the Persians, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremy might be accomplished, 2 the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians, and he made proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing, 3 saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians; The Lord of Israel, the Most High Lord, hath made me king of the whole world, 4 and commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem that is in Judæa. 5 If therefore there be any of you that are of his people, let the Lord, even his Lord, be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judæa, and build the house of the Lord of Israel: he is the Lord that dwelleth in Jerusalem. 6Of such therefore as dwell in divers places, let them that are 1 Another reading is, Jeconias. ? Another reading is, Israel. Another reading is, eight. Another reading is, even above all. Another reading is, the arks of the Lord. Another reading is, let his Lord be de 45 So after a year Nabuchodonosor 2 Chr. 36.9 sent and caused him to be brought unto Babylon with the holy vessels of the Lord; 46 and made Sedekias king of Judæa and Jerusalem, when he was one and twenty years old; and he reigned eleven years: 47band he also did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and cared not for the words 2. Jer. 37. 2. P See Gen. 2.24. Cp. Gen. 29. 20. Cp. Prov. 2. 18 & 5. 5 & 7. 26, 27 & Ecclus. 9. 8. darkness; and when he hath stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love. 25P Wherefore a man loveth his wife better than father or mother. 26 Yea, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and 9 become bondmen for their sakes. 27 Many also have perished, have stumbled, and sinned, for women. 28 And now do ye not believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regions fear to touch him? 29 Yet did I see him and Apame the king's concubine, the daughter of the illustrious Bartacus, sitting at the right hand of the king, 30 and taking the crown from the king's head, and setting it upon her own head; yea, she struck the king with her left Cp. ver. 19. hand: 31 and therewithal the king gaped and gazed upon her with open mouth: if she laughed upon him, he laughed also: but if she took any displeasure at him, he was fain to flatter, that she might be reconciled to him again. 320 sirs, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus? Cp. Neh. 2.6 & Ps. 45. 9. 5, 6. & Rom. 1. 20. Cp. John 14. 6. 1 Cp. Ps. 14 33 Then the king and the nobles looked one upon another: so he began to speak concerning truth. 340 sirs, are not women strong? great is the earth, high "Cp. Ps. 19. is the heaven, "swift is the sun in his course, for he compasseth the heavens round about, and fetcheth his course again to his own place in one day. Cp. Wis- 35 Is he not great that maketh these dom 13. 4,5 things? therefore great is wtruth, and stronger than all things. 36 All the earth calleth upon truth, and the heaven blesseth her: all works shake and tremble, but with her is no unrighteous thing. 37 Wine is unrighteous, the king is unrighteous, women are unrighteous, all the children of men are unrighteous, and unrighteous are all such their works; and there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also they shall perish. 38 But truth abideth, and is strong for ever; she liveth and conquereth for evermore. 39 With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she doeth the things that are just, and See Deut. refraineth from all unrighteous and wicked things; and all men do well like of her works. 40 Neither in her judgement is any unrighteousness; and she Cp. 1 Chr. is a the strength, and the kingdom, and the power, and the majesty, of all ages. Blessed be the God of truth. 41 And with that he held his tongue. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great is truth, and strong above all things. & 53. 1 & 2 Esd. 8. 35 & Rom. 3. 10. See 2 Esd. 3. 20-22. Cp. John 8. 44 & 1 John 2. 4. 10. 17. 29. 11. Ps. 31. 5. Cp. Deut. 32. 4 & Jer. 10. 10. ch. 1. 41 & 2. 10 & 6. 18, 19. Cp. ver. 50 & Ezek. 25 12 thou didst vow to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy king. dom, 44 and to send away all the vessels that were taken out of Jerusalem, which ver. 57. Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and vowed to send them again thither. 45 Thou didst also vow to build up the temple, which the Ps. 137. 7. Edomites burned when Judæa was made desolate by the Chaldeans. 46 And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of thee, and this is the princely liberality that shall proceed from thee: I pray therefore Cp.ver. 42. that thou make good the vow, the performance whereof thou hast vowed to the King of heaven with thine own mouth. & 35. 5 & Amos 1. 11. See Obad. 10-15. ver. 58. Dan. 4. 37, Tobit 13. 7, 11. 17. j Judith 1. 7. 5 & Obad. 13. 47 Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him unto all the treasurers and governors and captains and satraps, that they should safely bring on their way both him, and all those that should go up with him to build Jerusalem. 48 He wrote letters also unto all the governors that were in Colesyria and Phoenicia, See ch. 2. and unto them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from J Libanus unto Jerusalem, and that they should*ch. 5. 55. Ezra 3. 7. build the city with him. 49 Moreover See Judg. he wrote for all the Jews that should go 9. 15. out of his realm up into Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no governor, no satrap, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their doors; 50 and that all the country which they occupied should be free to them without tribute; and that the Edomites shouldCp. ver. 45 & Ezek. 36. give over the villages of the Jews which then they held: 51 and that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the building of the temple, until the time that it were built; 52 and other ten talents yearly, for burnt offerings to be presented upon the altar mevery Cp. ch. 5. day, as they had a commandment to offer seventeen: 53 and that all they that should come from Babylonia to build the city should have their freedom, as well they as their posterity, and all the priests that came. 54 He wrote also to give them their charges, and the priests' vestments wherein they minister; 55 and for the Levites he wrote that their charges should be given them until the day that the house were finished, and Jerusalem builded up. 56 And he commanded to give to all that kept the city lands and wages. 57 He sent away also all the vessels from Babylon, that Cyrus had set "See ver. 44. apart; and all that Cyrus had given in commandment, the same charged he also to be done, and sent unto Jerusalem. 51. 58 Now when this young man was Cp. ch. 3. 4. gone forth, he lifted up his face to Esth. 1.6. Gen. 41. 42. Dan. 5. 7. #ch. 4. 42. 10. 89. in gold, and to sleep upon gold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and a headtire of fine linen, and ya chain about his neck: 7 and he shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be called Darius his cousin. 8 And then Cp.Macc. they wrote every one his sentence, and set to their seals, and laid the writing under king Darius his pillow, 9 and said, When the king is risen, some shall give him the writing; and of whose side the king and the three princes of Persia shall judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him shall the victory be given, as it is written. 10 The first wrote, Wine is the strongest. 11 The second wrote, The king is strongest. 12 The third wrote, Women are strongest: but above all things Truth beareth away the victory. ⚫ver. 2. Cp. Prov. 20. 1 & Hos. 4. 11. See Prov. 23.29-33. 15 & Prov. 31. 6,7 & Eccles. 8. 12, 14. 5. 19. and if he send them out against the enemies, they go, and overcome mountains, walls, and towers. 5 They slay and are slain, and transgress not the king's commandment: if they get the victory, they bring all to the king, as well the spoil, as all things else. 67 Like- Cp. 1 Sam. wise for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do with wars, but use husbandry, when they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring it to the king, and compel one another to pay tribute unto the king. 7 And he is but one man: hif he command to Cp. Dan. kill, they kill; if he command to spare, they spare; 8 if he command to smite, they smite; if he command to make desolate, they make desolate; if he command to build, they build; 9 if he command to cut down, they cut down; 13 Now when the king was risen up, if he command to plant, they plant. they took the writing, and gave it unto 10 So all his people and his armies obey him, and so he read it: 14 and sending him: furthermore he lieth down, he forth he called all the princes of Persia eateth and drinketh, and taketh his and of Media, a and the satraps, and the rest: and these keep watch round captains, and the governors, and the about him, neither may any one depart, chief officers; 15 and sat him down in and do his own business, neither disobey the royal seat of judgement; and the they him in anything. 120 sirs, how writing was read before them. 16 And should not the king be strongest, seeing he said, Call the young men, and they that in such sort he is obeyed? And he shall explain their own sentences. So held his peace. they were called, and came in. 17 And they said unto them, Declare unto us your mind concerning the things ye have written. Then began the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine, 18 and said thus, O sirs, how exceeding strong is wine! bit causeth all men to err that drink it: Isal. 28.7 19 it maketh the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to be all one; of the bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man and of the rich: zocit turneth Cp. Ps. 104. also every thought into jollity and mirth, so that a man remembereth neither sorrow nor debt: 21 and it maketh every heart rich, so that a man remembereth neither king nor satrap; and it maketh to speak all things by talents: azd and when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and brethren, and a little after draw their swords: 23 but when they awake from their wine, ethey remember not what they have done. 240 sirs, is not wine the strongest, seeing that it enforceth to do thus? And when he had so spoken, he held his peace. 10. 19. d Cp. Ecclus. 31. 29. Cp. Prov. 23. 35. 26 & 9. 2. Then the second, that had spoken 4 of the strength of the king, began to say, 20 sirs, do not men excel in Cp. Gen. 1. strength, that bear rule over the sea and land, and all things in them? 3 But yet is the king stronger: and he is their lord, and hath dominion over them; and in whatsoever he commandeth them they obey him. 4If he bid them make war the one against the other, they do it: 1 Or, one and alone Cp. Ezra 3. 2 13, 19. 13 Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of truth, (this was Zoro-ch. 5. 5. babel) began to speak. 14 O sirs, is not the king great, and men are many, and wine is strong? who is it then that ruleth them, or hath the lordship over them? are they not women? 15 Women have borne the king and all the people that bear rule by sea and land. 16 Even of them came they: and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards, from whence the wine cometh. 173 These also Prov. 31. make garments for men; these bring glory unto men; and without women cannot men be. 18 Yea, and if men have gathered together gold and. silver and every other goodly thing, and see a woman which is comely in favour and beauty, 19 they let all those things go, and gape after her, and even with open mouth fix their eyes fast on her; and have all more desire unto her than unto gold or silver, or any goodly thing whatsoever. 20 m A man leaveth his own father that brought him up, and his own country, and cleaveth unto his wife. ax And with his wife he endeth his days, and remembereth neither father, nor mother, nor country. 22 By this also ye must know that women have dominion over you: do ye not labour and toil, and give and bring all to women? 23 Yea, a man taketh his sword, and goeth forth to make outroads," Cp. Prov. and to rob and to steal, and to sail upon the sea and upon rivers; 24" and looketh upon a lion, and walketh in the P See Gen. 2. 24. 1 Cp. Gen. 29, 20. Cp. Prov. 2. 18 & 5.5 & 7. 26, 27 & Ecclus. 9.8. darkness; and when he hath stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love. 25 Wherefore a man loveth his wife better than father or mother. 26 Yea, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become bondmen for their sakes. 27 Many also have perished, have stumbled, and sinned, for women. 28 And now do ye not believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regions fear to touch him? 29 Yet did I see him and Apame the king's concubine, the daughter of the illustrious Bartacus, sitting at the right hand of the king, 30 and taking the crown from the king's head, and setting it upon her own head; yea, she struck the king with her left Cp. ver. 19. hand: 31 and therewithal the king gaped and gazed upon her with open mouth: if she laughed upon him, he laughed also: but if she took any displeasure at him, he was fain to flatter, that she might be reconciled to him again. 320 sirs, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus? Cp. Neh. 2.6 & Ps. 45. 9. "Cp. Ps. 19. 5, 6. "Cp. Wis & Rom. 1. 20. * Cp. John 14. 6. 1 33 Then the king and the nobles looked one upon another: so he began to speak concerning truth. 340 sirs, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the heaven, "swift is the sun in his course, for he compasseth the heavens round about, and fetcheth his course again to his own place in one day. 35 Is he not great that maketh these dom 13. 4,5 things? therefore great is wtruth, and stronger than all things. 36 All the earth calleth upon truth, and the heaven blesseth her: all works shake and tremble, but with her is no unrighteous thing. 37 Wine is unrighteous, the king is unrighteous, women are unrighteous, Cp. Ps. 14. all the children of men are unrighteous, and unrighteous are all such their works; and there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also they shall perish. 38 But truth abideth, and is strong for ever; she liveth and conquereth for evermore. 39 With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she doeth the things that are just, and See Deut. refraineth from all unrighteous and wicked things; and all men do well like of her works. 40 Neither in her judgement is any unrighteousness; and she is a the strength, and the kingdom, and the power, and the majesty, of all ages. Blessed be the God of truth. 41 And with that he held his tongue. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great is truth, and strong above all things. & 53. 1 & 2 Esd. 8. 35 & Rom. 3. 10. See 2 Esd. 3. 20-22. Cp. John 8.44 & 1 John 2. 4. 10. 17. Cp. 1 Chr. 29. 11. Ps. 31. 5. Cp. Deut. 32. 4 & Jer. 10. 10. * Cp. chỉ 3. 5-7. d ch. 3. 7. e ch. 1. 41 & 2. 10 & 6. 18, 19. Cp. ver. 50 & Ezek. 25. 12 thou didst vow to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy king. dom, 44 and to send away all the vessels that were taken out of Jerusalem, which ver. 57. Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and vowed to send them again thither. 45 Thou didst also vow to build up the temple, which the Ps. 137. 7. Edomites burned when Judea was made desolate by the Chaldeans. 46 And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of thee, and this is the princely liberality 9 that shall proceed from thee: I pray therefore Cp.ver. 42. that thou make good the vow, the performance whereof thou hast vowed to the King of heaven with thine own mouth. & 35, 5 & Amos 1. 11. See Obad. 10-15. h ver. 58. Dan. 4. 37. Tobit 13. 7, 47 Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him unto all the treasurers and governors and captains and satraps, that they should safely bring on their way both him, and all those that should go up with him to build Jerusalem. 48 He wrote letters also unto all the governors that were in Colesyria and Phoenicia, See ch. 2. and unto them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from J Libanus unto Jerusalem, and that they should build the city with him. 49 Moreover he wrote for all the Jews that should go out of his realm up into Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no governor, no satrap, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their doors; 50 and that all the country which they occupied should be free to them without tribute; and that the Edomites shouldCp. ver. 45 give over the villages of the Jews which then they held: 51 and that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the building of the temple, until the time that it were built; 52 and other ten talents yearly, for burnt offerings to be presented upon the altar meveryTM Cp. ch. 5. day, as they had a commandment to offer seventeen: 53 and that all they that should come from Babylonia to build the city should have their freedom, as well they as their posterity, and all the priests that came. 54 He wrote also to give them their charges, and the priests' vestments wherein they minister; 55 and for the Levites he wrote that their charges should be given them until the day that the house were finished, and Jerusalem builded up. 56 And he commanded to give to all that kept the city lands and wages. 57 He sent away also all the vessels from Babylon, that Cyrus had set apart; and all that Cyrus had given in commandment, the same charged he also to be done, and sent unto Jerusalem. 51. "See ver. 44. 43 Then said the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt more than is appointed in writing, and we will give it thee, inasmuch as thou art found wisest; and thou shalt sit next me, and shalt be called my cousin. 43 Then said he unto 58 Now when this young man was Cp. ch. 3. 4. the king, Remember thy vow, which gone forth, he lifted up his face to For ver. 58-62, see Ezra 3. 8-11. * See ver. 5. a ver. 2. ch. 4. 63. For ver. 63-65, see Ezra 3. 12, 13. For ver. 66-73, see Ezra 4. 1-5. d Cp. Ezra 4.2. laid the foundation of the temple of God on the new moon of the second month, in the second year after they were come to Jewry and Jerusalem. 58 And Levites tweard they appointed the works of the Lord. Then stood up Jesus, and his sons and brethren, and Kadmiel his brother, and the sons of Jesus, Emadabun, and the sons of Joda the son of Iliadun, and their sons and brethren, all the Levites, with one accord setters forward of the business, labouring to advance the works in the house of God. So the builders builded the temple of the Lord. 59 And the priests stood arrayed in their vestments with musical instruments and trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with their cymbals, 60 singing songs of thanksgiving, and praising the Lord, after the order of David king of Israel. 61 And they sang aloud, praising the Lord in songs of thanksgiving, because his goodness and his glory are for ever in all Israel. 62 And all the people sounded trumpets, and shouted with a loud voice, singing songs of thanksgiving unto the Lord for the rearing up of the house of the Lord. 636 Also of the priests the Levites, and of the heads of their families, the ancients who had seen the former house came to the building of this with lamentation and great weeping. 64 But many with trumpets and joy shouted with loud voice, 65 insomuch that the people heard not the trumpets for the weeping of the people: for the multitude sounded marvellously, so that it was heard afar off. 66 c Wherefore when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin heard it, they came to know what that noise of trumpets should mean. 67 And they perceived that they that were of the captivity did build the temple unto the Lord, the God of Israel. 68 So they went to Zorobabel and Jesus, and to the chief men of the families, and said unto them, We will build together with you. 69 For we likewise, as ye, do obey your Lord, and do sacrifice unto him from the days of 1d Asbasareth the king of the Assyrians, who brought us hither. 70 Then Zorobabel and Jesus and the chief men of the families of Israel said unto them, It is not 2 for you to build the house unto the Lord our God. 71 We ourselves alone will build unto the Lord of Israel, according as Cyrus the king of the Persians hath commanded us. 72 But the heathen of the land lying heavy upon the inhabitants of Judæa, and holding them strait, hindered their building; 73 and 4by their secret plots, and popular persuasions and commotions, they hindered the finishing of the building all the time that king Cyrus lived: so they were hindered from building for the space of two years, until the reign of Darius. Ezra 24 1-22, see Ezra ch. 5. Now in the second year of the reign of Darius, / Aggies and Zachara 4. rias the son of 5 Addo, the prophets, prophesied unto the Jews in Jewry and Jerusalem; in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, prophesied they unto them. Then stood up Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedek, and began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with them, and helping them. 39At the same time came unto them Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, with Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and said unto them, 4By whose appointment do ye build this house and this roof, and perform all the other things? and who are the builders that perform these things? 5 Nevertheless the elders of the Jews obtained favour, because the Lord had 7 visited the captivity; 6 and they were not hindered from building, until such time as communication was made unto Darius concerning them, and his answer signified. h Cp. Ezra Cp. ch. 2. 5. 3. 17. Cp. Luke 1. 68. Rest of Esth. 16. 1. 1 Macc. 10. 25 & 11. 32. 2 Macc. 11. 34. Acts 15. 23 & 23. 26. Cp. Ezra 5. 7. 7 The copy of the letter which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, the rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, wrote and sent unto Darius; 8 To king Darius, greeting: Let all things be knownch. 89. unto our lord the king, that being come into the country of Judæa, and entered into the city of Jerusalem, we found in the city of Jerusalem the elders of the Jews that were of the captivity 9 building a house unto the Lord, great and new, of hewn and costly stones, with timber laid in the walls. 10 And those works are done with great speed, and the work goeth on prosperously in their hands, and with all glory and diligence is it accomplished. Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build ye this house, and lay the foundations of these works? 12 Therefore, to the intent that we might give knowledge unto thee by writing who were the chief doers, we questioned them, and we required of them the names in writing of their principal men. 13 So they gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord which made heaven and earth. 14 And as for this house, it was builded many years ago by a king of Israel great and strong, and was finished. 15 But when our fathers sinned against the Lord of Israel which is in heaven, and provoked him unto wrath, he gave them over into the hands of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, king of the 1 Another reading is, Asbacaphath. 2 Another reading is, for us and you. 3 Or, besieging them Iddo. Another * Cp. Heb. 3.16. |