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
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Chapter 1
These are the acts of Nehemiah
the son of *Hachalia. It fortuned in the month *Casleu, in the
twentieth year, that I was in the castle at Susan: and Hanani, one
of my brethren, came with certain men of Judah, and I asked them how
the Jews did that were delivered and escaped from the captivity, and
how it went at Jerusalem. And they said unto me: The remnant of the
captivity that are in the land in great misfortune and rebuke. The
walls of Jerusalem are broken down, and the gates thereof are burned
with fire.
When I heard these words, I sat me down and wept, and mourned
two days, and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven and said:
O' Lord God of heaven, thou great and terrible God, thou that
keepest covenant and mercy for them that love thee and observe thy
commandments: Let thine ears hearken, and thine eyes open, that thou
mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray now before thee
day and night for the children of Israel thy servants, and knowledge
the sins of the children of Israel, which we have committed against
thee.
And I and my fathers house have sinned also. We have been
corrupt unto thee, in that we have not kept the commandments,
statutes, and laws, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. Yet
call to remembrance the word that thou commandedst thy servant
Moses, and saidest: If ye transgress, then I will scatter you abroad
among the nations. But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments
and do them: though yee were cast out unto the uttermost part of the
heaven yet will I gather you from thence, and will bring you from
thence, even unto the place, that I have chosen for my name to dwell
there. They are thy servants, and thy people whom thou hast
delivered through thy great power and mighty hand. O' Lord, let
thine ears hearken to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer
of thy servants, whos desire is to fear thy name, and let thy
servant prosper this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this
man. For I was the kings butler.
*Hachalia = otherwise Helchiah *Casleu =The month Casleu ( as the
Jews call it ) is to us November with part of December added
thereto. MN
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Chapter 2
In the month Nisan in the
twentieth year of the reign of king Artaxerses, when the wine stood
before him, I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king and I was
heavy in his presence. Then said the king unto me: Why lookest thou
so sadly? Thou art not sick, that is not the matter, but thou art
heavy hearted. Nevertheless I was sore afraid and said unto the
king: God save the kings life forever, should I not look sadly? The
city of my fathers burial lieth waste and the gates thereof are
consumed with fire. Then said the king unto me: what is then thy
request? Then made I my prayer to the God of heaven, and said unto
the king: If it please the king, and if thy servant be favored in
thy sight. I be seek thee send me in to Judah unto the city of my
fathers burial, that I may build it.
And the king said unto me, and so did the queen that sat by
him: how long shall thy journey continue, and when wilt thou come
again? And it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time, and
said unto the king: if it please the king, let him give me letters
to the captains beyond the water, that they may convey me over, till
I come into Judah: And letters unto Asaph the Lord of the kings
wood, that he may give me wood for beams to the gates of the palace,
which are hard on the house and hard on the walls of the city, and
for the house that I shall enter into. And the king gave me
according to the good hand of God upon me: And when I came to the
captains beyond the water, I gave them the kings letters. And the
king sent captains and horsemen with me.
But when Sanabalat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant of the
Ammonites heard that, it grieved them sore, that there was come a
man which sought the wealth of the children of Israel. And when I
came to Jerusalem, and had been there three days, I gat me up in the
night season, and a few men with me: for I told no man what God had
given me in my heart to do at Jerusalem: and there was not one beast
with me, save it that I rode upon. And I rode up by night unto
valley port before the Dragon well, and to the Dongeport, and
considered the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down, and the
ports thereof consumed with the fire. And I went over unto the
wellport, and to the kings *condite, and there was no room for my
beast, that it could go under me. Then went I on in the night by the
brook side, and considered the wall, and turned back and came home
again to the valley port.
And the rulers knew not whither I went or what I did: for
hither to had I not told the Jews and the priests, the counselors
and the rulers, and the other that did labor in the work. And I said
I unto them: Ye see the misery that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth
waste, and how the gates thereof are burned with fire, come let us
build up the walls of Jerusalem, that we be no more a rebuke. And I
told them of the good hand of my God which was upon me: and the
kings words that he had spoken unto me. And they said: then let us
get up, and build: and their hands were strengthened to good.
But when Sanabalat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant the
Ammonites, and Gesem the Arabian heard it, they laughed us to scorn,
and despised us, and said: what is this that ye do? Will ye fall
away again from the king? Then answered I them, and said: the God of
heaven he it is that causeth us to prosper: and we be his servants.
Let us get up and build. As for you, ye have no portion, nor right,
nor remembrance in Jerusalem.
*condite=conduit for water RN
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Chapter 3
And Eliasib the high priest gat
him up with his brethren the priests, and builded the Sheepgate.
They repaired it, and set up the doors of it: even unto the tower of
Meah repaired they it, namely unto the tower of Hananeel. Next unto
him builded the men of Jericho. And beside him builded Sachur the
son of Amri. But the fish port did the children of Asanah build,
they covered it and set on the doors, locks and bars of it. Next
unto him builded Marimoth the son of Uriah the son of Nakoz. Next
unto him builded Mosolam the son of Barachiah the son of Mesesabeel.
Next unto him builded Zadoc the son of Baana. Next unto him builded
they of Thekua. But their great men put not their necks to the
service of their Lord.
The old gate builded Jehoiadah the son of Paseah, and Mosolam
the son of Besodiah, they covered it, and set on the doors, locks
and bars of it. Next unto them builded Malatiah the Gabaon, and
Jadon the Merano, men of Gibeon and of Mazphah for the seat of the
captain on this side the water. Next unto him builded Usiel the son
of Harhaiah the goldsmith. Next unto him builded Hananiah the *Apotecaris
son and they repaired Jerusalem unto the broad wall. Next unto him
builded Raphaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half quarter of
Jerusalem. Next unto him builded Jedaiah the son of Haremaph over
against his house. Next unto him builded Hatus the son of Hasaboniah.
But Melchia the son of Harim, and Hasub the son of Pahath Moab
builded the other piece, and the tower beside the furnace. Next unto
him builded Selum the son of Halohes the ruler of the half quarter
of Jerusalem, and his daughters.
The valley gate builded Hanun, and the citizens of Zanoah.
They builded it, and set on the doors, locks and bars thereof, and a
thousand cubits on the wall, unto the Dongeport. But the Dongport
builded Melchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the fourth part of
the vineyards: he builded it, and set on the doors, locks and bars
thereof. But the Wellgate builded Selum the son of Cholhosah, the
ruler of the fourth part of Masphah, He builded it, covered it, and
set on the doors, locks, and bars thereof, and the wall unto the
pool of Siloah by the kings garden, unto the steps that go down from
the city of David. After him builded Nehemiah the son of Asbok, the
ruler of the half quarter of Bethzur, until the other side over
against the sepulchers of David, and to the pool Asuia and unto the
house of the mighty.
After him builded the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next
unto him builded Hashabiah the ruler of the half quarter at Keilah
in his quarter. After him builded their brethren, Bavai the son of
Henadad, the ruler of the half quarter of Keilah. After him builded
Ezer the son of Jesua, the ruler of Masphah the other piece hard
over against the harness corner. After him builded Baruch the son of
Zabai the other piece worshipfully and costly, from the corner unto
the door of the house of Eliasib the high priest. After him builded
Marimuth the son of Uriah the son of Hacos the other piece, from the
door of the house of Eliasib even as long as the house of Eliasib
extended. And after him builded the priests, the men of the country.
After him builded Benjamin and Hasub over against their house. After
them Asariah the son of Maasiah the son of Ananiah next to his
house. After him builded Benui the son of Henadad the other piece
from the house of Asariah unto the turning, and unto the corner.
After him builded Phalel the son of Usai over against the
corner and the high tower, which lieth out over from the kings
house, beside the court of the prison. After him Phadaiah the son of
Pharos ( as for the Nethinims they dwelt in Ophel, unto the
Watergate, toward the east where the tower that lieth out ). After
him builded they of Thekua the other piece over against the great
tower, that lieth outward, and unto the wall of Ophel.
But from the Horsegate forth builded the priests, every one
over against his house. After them builded Zadok the son of Emer
over against his house. After him builded Semeiah the son of
Sechaniah the keeper of the east gate. After him builded Hananiah
the son of Selemiah, and Hanun the son of Zalaph the sixth, that
other peace. After him builded Mosolam the son of Barachiah over
against his chest. After him builded Melchiah the goldsmiths son,
until the house of the Nethinims, and of the merchants over against
counsel gate, and to the parlor in the corner unto the Sheepgate
builded the goldsmiths and the merchants.
*Apotecaris = (preparer of medicine) some read Naracaim (unknown) MN
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Chapter 4
But when Sanabalat heard that we
builded the wall, he was wroth and took great indignation and mocked
the Jews and said before his brethren and the host of Samaria: What
do the impotent Jews? shall they be thus *suffered shall they offer?
shall they perform it in one day? shall they make the stones whole
again that are brought to dust, and are burnt? And Tobiah the
Ammonite beside him said: Let them build on, if a fox go up, he
shall break down their stoney wall. Hear O' thou our God, how we are
despised, turn their shame upon their own head, that thou mayest
give them over to despising in the land of their captivity. Cover
not their wickedness, and put not out their sin from thy presence:
for they have provoked the builders. Yet builded we the wall, and
joined it whole together, unto the half height. And the people were
well minded to labor.
But when Sanabalat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and
Ammonites, and Asdodits heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made
up, and that they had begun to stop up the gaps they were very
wroth, and conspired all together to come and fight against
Jerusalem, and to make a hinderance therein. Nevertheless we made
our prayer unto our God, and set watchmen upon the wall day and
night over against them. And Judah said: the strength of the bearers
is too feeble, and there is too much dust, we are not able to build
the wall. And our adversaries thought: they shall not know neither
see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and hinder
the work. But when the Jews that dwelt beside them, came out of all
the places where they dwelt about us, and told us as good as ten
times, then set I the people after their kindreds with their swords,
spears, and bows beneath in the low places behind the wall, and
looked, and gat me up, and said unto the chief men and rulers, and
to the other people: Be not ye afraid of them think yee upon the
great Lord which ought to be feared and fight for your brethren,
sons, daughters, wives, and your houses. Nevertheless when our
enemies heard that we had gotten word of it, God brought their
counsel to nought, and we turned again to the wall, every one unto
his labor. And from that time forth it came to pass, that the half
part of the young men did the labor, and the other half part held
spears, shields, bows, and breastplates: and the rulers stood behind
all the house of Judah, which builded on the wall, and bare burdens,
from those that *laded them. With one hand did they the work, and
with the other held they their weapon. And everyone that builded,
had his sword girded by his side, and so builded they. And the
trumpeters stood beside me.
And I said unto the principal men, and rulers, and to the
other people: the work is great and large, and we are separated upon
the wall one far from another. Look in what place now ye hear the
noise of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us. Our God shall fight
for us, and we will be laboring in the work. And the half of them
held the spears from the morning spring, till the stars came forth.
And at the same time said I unto the people: every one abide with
his servant at Jerusalem, that in the night season we may give
attendance to the watch, and to labor on the day time. As for me and
my brethren, and my servants, and the men of the watch behind me, we
put never off our clothes, so much as to wash ourselves.
*suffered (allowed/tolerated?) *laded = To load with or as if
with cargo (baggage). To place (something) as a load for or as if
for shipment (sent to one place or the other). weigh down. To take
up or remove (water) with a ladle or dipper.
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Chapter 5
And there arose a great
complaint of the people, and of their wives against their brethren
the Jews. And there were some that said: our sons and daughters are
too many, let us take corn for them to eat, that we may live. Some
said: Let us set our lands, vineyards, and houses, to pledge, and
take up corn in the darth. But some said: let us borrow money of the
kings tribute for our lands and vineyards. Now are our brethrens
bodies as our own bodies and their children as our children: else
should we subdue our sons and daughters into bondage, and some of
our daughters are subdued already, *and no strength is there in our
hands, and other men shall have our lands and vineyards.
But when I heard their complaint and such words, it
displeased me sore, and I advised so in my mind, that I rebuked the
counselors, the rulers, and said unto them: Will ye require *usury
one of another? And I brought a great congregation against them and
said unto them: We ( after our ability ) have bought our brethren
the Jews, which were sold unto the Heathen. And will ye sell your
brethren, whom we have bought unto us? Then held they their peace,
and could find nothing to answer.
Also I said: It is not good that ye do. Ought ye not to walk
in the fear of God because of the rebuke of the Heathen our enemies?
I and my brethren, and my servants have lent them money and corn:
but as for usury, let us leave it. Therefore this same day see that
ye restore them their lands again, their vineyards, oil gardens, and
houses, and the hundred part of the money of the corn, wine, and
oil, that ye have won of them. Then said they: We will restore them
again and will require nothing of them and will do as thou hast
spoken. And I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that
they should do so. And I shook my lap, and said: God shake out every
man after the same manner from his house and from his labor, that
maintaineth not this word: even thus be he shaken out, and void. And
all the congregation said: Amen, and praised the Lord. And the
people did so.
And from that time forth it was committed unto me to be a
captain in the land of Juda, namely from the twentieth year even
unto the two and thirtieth year of king Arthaxerses ( that is twelve
years ) I and my brethren lived not of such sustenance as was given
to a captain: For the old captains that were before me, had been
chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine,
and forty sicles of silver: yee and their servants had *oppressed
the people. But so did not I, and that because of the fear of God. I
labored also in the work upon the wall, and bought no land. And all
my servants came thither together unto the work. Moreover there were
at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, which came
unto me, from among the Heathen, that are about us. And there was
prepared me daily an ox, and six chosen sheep, and birds, and ever
once in ten days a great sum of wine. Yet required not I the living
of a captain for the bondage was grievous unto the people. Think
upon me my God unto the best, according to all that I have done for
this people.
* After the Hebrew some read: and we have not wherewith to redeem
them. MN
*usury = The practice of lending money and charging the borrower
interest (or being involved in it) RN *kjv = bare rule over the
people ( by their own lips ) RN
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Chapter 6
And when Sanabalat, Tobiah, and
Gesem the Arabian, and the other of our enemies, heard that I had
builded the wall, and that there were no more gaps therein (howbeit
at the same time had I not hanged the doors upon the gates)
Sanabalat and Gesem sent unto me, saying: come and let us meet
together* in the villages upon the plain of the city Ono.
Nevertheless they thought to do me evil. Notwithstanding I sent
messengers unto them, saying: I have a great business to do, I
cannot come down. The work should stand still, if I were negligent,
and came down to you. Howbeit they sent unto me as good as four
times after the same manner. And I gave the same answer. Then sent
Sanabalat his servant unto me the fifth time, with an open letter in
his hand, wherein was written: it is told the Heathen, and Gesem
hath saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which
cause thou buildest the wall, and wilt be their King in these
matters, and thou hast ordained the Prophets to preach of thee at
Jerusalem, and to say: He is King of Judah.
Now this shall come to the kings ears: come now therefore,
and let us take counsel together. Nevertheless I sent unto him
saying: there is no such thing done as thou sayest: thou hast
feigned it out of thine own heart. For they were all minded to make
us afraid and thought: They shall withdraw their hands from the
work, that they shall not labor. Howbeit I strengthen my hand the
more. And I came unto the house of Semaiah the son of Delaiah the
son of Mehetabeel, and he had shut himself within, and said: let us
come together in to the house of God, even unto the middest of the
temple, and shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay
thee, yee even in the night will they come to put you to death. But
I said: should such man as I flee? *Who is that, being as I am, that
will go in to the temple, to save his life? I will not go in.
For I perceived, that God had not sent him: Yet spake he
prophecy upon me, nevertheless Tobiah and Sanabalat had hired him
for money. That through fear I should do so, and sin: that they
might have an evil report of me. My God think thou upon Tobiah and
Sanabalat according to these their works, and of the Prophet Noadiah
and the other Prophets, that would have put me in fear.
And the wall was finished on the five and twentieth day of the
month *Elul, in two and fifty days. And when all our enemies heard
thereof, all the Heathen that were about us, were afraid and their
courage failed them: for they perceived, that this work came of God.
And at the same time were there many of the chief of Juda, whos
letters went unto Tobiah, and from Tobiah them, ( for there were
many in Judah that were sworn unto him: for he was the son in law of
Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Johanan had the daughter of
Mosolam the son of Barachiah and they spake good of him before me,
and told him my words ) and Tobiah sent letters, to put me in fear.
* After the Greek some read Lepharim MN See also that Ono = power
and wealth and from "foreign" origin; god given. This word Lepharim
is not found in current Hebrew or Greek sources, however a close
similitude "lehabin" means "fire" RN
*See, Christ speaks of the temple being within, that Nehemiah will
not enter into this temple "made with mans hands" to save his life.
such as it is today. Our heart has forever been the focus of God. RN
*Elul is compared to our July with part of August joined thereto, it
was their first month in order. MN
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Chapter 7
Now when we had builded the wall
I hanged on the doors, and the porters, singers and Levites were
appointed. And I commanded my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler
of the palace at Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared
God more than did many other, and I said unto them: let not the
gates of Jerusalem be opened until *the son be known. and while they
are yet standing in the watch, the doors shall be shut and barred.
And there were certain citizens of Jerusalem appointed to be
watchmen every one in his watch, and about his house. As for the
city, it was large of room, and great, but the people were few
therein, and the houses were not builded.
And my God gave me in my heart, that I gathered together the
principal men and the people to number them. And I found *a register
of the number of them, which came up afore out of the captivity: and
found written therein: * These are the sons of the land that went up
from the captivity of the carrying away,( whom Nabuchodonosor the
king of Babylon had brought away ) and came again to Jerusalem and
Judah, every one unto his city, which came with Zorobabel, Jesua,
Nehemiah, Asariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mardochee, Belsan, Mesparath,
Begvai, Nahum, Baanah.
This is the number of the men of the people of Israel. The
children of Pharos, two thousand, an hundred, and two and seventy:
the children of Saphatiah, three hundred and two and seventy: The
children of Arah, six hundred and two and fifty. The children of
Pahath Moab among the children of Jesua Joab, two thousand and eight
hundred and eighteen. The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred
and four and fifty. The children of Zethua, eight hundred and five
and forty. The children of Sacai, seven hundred and threescore: The
children of Bani, six hundred and eight and forty. The children of
Bebai, six hundred and eight and twenty. The children of Asgad, two
thousand, three hundred and two and twenty. The children of Adonikam,
six hundred and seven and threescore. The children of Bigoai, two
thousand, and seven and threescore. The children of Adin, six
hundred, and five and fifty. The children of Ater of Hezekiah, eight
and ninety. The children of Hasum, three hundred eight and twenty.
The children of Bezai, three hundred and four and twenty. The
children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve. The children of Gabaon,
five and ninety. The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred and
eight and fourscore. The men of Anathoth, an hundred and eight and
twenty. The men of Beth Asmoth, two and forty. The men of Kariath
Jarim, Cephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and three and forty of
Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and
three. The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred and one and twenty.
The men of Machmas, an hundred and two and twenty. The men of Bethel
and Ai, an hundred and three and twenty. The men of the other Nebo,
an hundred and two and fifty: The children of the other Elam, a
thousand, two hundred and four and fifty. The children of Harim,
three hundred and twenty. The children of Jericho: three hundred and
five and forty. The children of Lodhadid and Ono, seven hundred and
one and twenty. The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred
and thirty.
The priests. The children of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua,
nine hundred and three and seventy: The children of Emer, a
thousand, and two and fifty. The children of Phashur, a thousand,
two hundred and seven and forty: The children of Harim, a thousand
and seventeen.
The Levites. the children of Jeshua of Cadmiel, among the
children of Hoduah, four and seventy. The singers. the children of
Asaph, an hundred and eight and forty. The porters: The children of
Selum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of
Akub, the children of Hatita, the children of Sobai, all together an
hundred and eight and thirty.
The Nethinims, the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha,
the children of Tabaoth, The children of Ceros, the children of Sia,
the children of Phadon, The children of Lebanah, the children of
Hagaba, the children of Salmai, the children of Hanan, The children
of Gidel, the children of Gaher, the children of Reaia, The children
of Razin, the children of Necoda, the children of Gasem, The
children of Usa, the children of Phaseah, the children of Besai, the
children of Meunim, the children of Nephusasim, The children of
Bacbuc, the children of Hacupha, the children of Harhur, The
children of Bezlith, the children of Mahida, the children of Harsa,
The children of Bercos, the children of Sissera, the children of
Thamah, The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
The children of Solomons servants, the children of Sotai, the
children of Sophereth, the children of Pherida, The children of
Jaala, the children of Darcon, the children of Gidel, The children
of Saphatiah, the children of Natil, the children of Pochereth of
Zabaim, the children of Amon. All the Nethinims, and the children of
Solomons servants, were all together three hundred and two and
ninety.
And these went up also, Thel Melah, Tel Harsa, Cherub, Adon,
and Emer: but they could not show their fathers house, nor their
seed, whether they were of Israel. The children of Dalaiah, the
children of Tobiah, the children of Necoda, six hundred and two and
forty. And of the children of the priests. The children of Hobaiah,
the children of Hacos, the children of Bersilai, which took one of
the daughters of Bersilai the Galaadite to wife, and was named after
their name. These sought the register of their generation and when
they found it not, they were put from the priesthood. And the
Hathirsatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most
holy, till there came up a Priest with light and perfectness.
The whole congregation as one man, was two and forty thousand,
three hundred and threescore, Beside their servants and maidens, of
whom there were seven thousand, three hundred and seven and thirty.
And they had two hundred and seven and forty singing men and women,
seven hundred and six and thirty horses, two hundred and five and
forty Mules, four hundred and five and thirty Camels, and six
thousand, seven hundred and twenty Asses.
And certain of the ancient fathers gave unto the work.
Nathirsatha gave to the treasure a thousand drames, fifty basens,
five hundred and thirty priests garments. And some of the chief
fathers gave unto the treasure of the work, twenty thousand and two
hundred pound of silver. And the other people gave twenty thousand
drams, and two thousand pound of silver, and seven and three score
priests garments. And the priests and Levites, the Porters, the
singers, and the other of the people, and the Nethinims, and all
Israel, dwelt in their cities.
*the son be known = this is our Lord Christ. the exact original text
"is the sonne be whote" where sonne is "son" and whote is to "know"
from wote Deut 33 RN
* some read the book of Genealogy
* 1 Esdras 2 MN
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