half of the rulers. 41. And the priests: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42. And Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer; and the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. 43. That day also they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced; for God made them rejoice greatly: even the wives and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

44. At that time some were appointed over the chambers for the treasures, the offerings, the first fruits, and tythes, to gather into them, out of the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. 45. Both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God's temple, and that for the purification, according to the command of David, and Solomon his son. 46. For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47. And all Israel, in the days of Zerubbabel, and of Nehemiah, gave the portions to the singers and the porters every day its portion; and they gave the holy things to the Levites, which the Levites gave to Aaron's posterity, the priests.

CHAP. XIII.

THE EFFECTS OF READING THE LAW.

On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people, wherein it was found written, that the Ammonite and Moabite should never have citizenship; 2. Because they met not the Israelites with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them; but our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3. Now having heard the law, they separated all the mixed people from Israel,

4. But before this Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of our God's house, being allied to Tobiah; 5. Had prepared for him a great chamber, where they laid formerly the meat-offerings, frankincense, and vessels, with the tithes of the corn, new wine, and oil, (which was ordered for the Levites, the singers, and the door-keepers,) and the heave-offerings of the priests. 6. But in all that time I was not at Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, I came to the king, and after certain days I obtained leave of him; 7. Then I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing hin a chamber in the courts of God's house. 8. For it grieved me sore; therefore I cast all Tobiah's household stuff out of the chamber. 9. Then I commanded to cleanse the chambers; and I brought back the vessels of God's house, with the meat offerings and the frankincense.

10. Then I perceived that the Levites portions. were not given them; for they and the singers that did the work were gone every one to his field. 11. Then I rebuked the rulers, saying, Why is the house of God forsaken? And having gathered them, I set them in their place. 12. Then all Judah brought the tithe of corn, and new wine, and oil, to the treasuries. 13. I also made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe; and Pedaiah of the Levites; and next to them was Hanaan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful; and their office was to distribute to their brethren. 14. Remember me, O my God, for this, and blot not out my good deeds which I did for the house of my God, and for the offices of it.

15. In those days I saw in Judah some treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and lading asses, and bringing in sheaves, as also wine, grapes, and figs,

and all kinds of burdens, into Jerusalem: and I tes tified against them in the day they sold victuals. 16. The men of Tyre also dwelt therein, who brought fish, and all kinds of ware, and sold on the sabbath day to the people of Judah, even in Jerusa lem. 17. Then I chid the nobles of Judah, saying, Why do ye this evil in profaning the sabbath? 18. Your fathers did thus, and our God brought all this affliction on us, and on this city: yet ye bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath. 19. And when it began to be dark before the sabbath, I com. manded the gates to be shut, and charged that they be not opened till after the sabbath; and some of my servants I set at the gates, that no burden be brought in on the sabbath. 20. So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of ware, lodged without (the gates of) Jerusalem once or twice (on the sabbath). 21. Then I testified against them, saying, Why lodge ye before the wall? if ye do so again, I will apprehend you. After that they came no more on the sabbath. 22. And I commanded the Levites to cleanse themselves, aud come to keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath. Remember me, O my God, for this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

23. In those days also I saw Jews having wives of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab; 24. And their children spake half in the Ashdod tongue, and could not speak the Jews language, but partly that of each people, 25. Then I chode them and excommunicated some, and smote some of them, and plucked off their hair, disgracing them as criminals, and made them swear solemnly, saying, Ye shall not intermarry with them. 26. Did not Solomon sin thereby? yet among many nations there was no king like him, beloved of God, who made him king over all Israel; yet even him did outlandish women cause to sin. 27. Shall we then suffer you to do all this

great evil, to transgress against our God, in marrying strange wives? 28. And one of Joiada's sons, son of Eliashib the high priest, being son-in-law to Sanballat the Hornite, I chased from me. 29. Remember them, O my God, for polluting the priesthood, and the covenant thereof and of the Levites.

30. Thus I cleansed them from all strangers and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, each to his business; 31. And for the wood-offerings in its appointed times, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

ESTHER.

CHAP. I.

AHASUERUS MAKES ROYAL FEASTS.

In the days of Ahasuerus, (who reigned from Indis

even to Ethiopia, over an hundred and twenty-seven provinces), 2. When he sat on the throne of his kingdom, in the palace in Shushan. 3. In the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and servants; the chieftains of Persia and Media, the nobles and Princes of the provinces being before him; 4. When he shewed the glorious riches of his kingdom, and the excellent greatness of his honour, during an hundred and eighty days. 5. Which being expired, he made a feast to all the people at Shushan in the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the palace garden, 6. Where were white, green, and blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen, and purple to silver rings and marble pillars; the couches being of gold and silver, upon a pavement of porphyry marble, alabaster, and blue coloured stone. 7. And they drunk in golden cups, (of different kinds), royal wine abundantly, according to the king's state. 8. But according to the law, none pressed to drink; for the king appointed all the officers of his house, to do as every man pleased. 9. Vashti the queen also made a feast for the women in the royal house belonging to the king.

10. On the seventh day, when his heart was merry