wicked workes 36 Beholde we are in bondage this day and so is the lande that thou gauest vnto our fathers to eate the fruites and goodnesse thereof beholde there are we bondmen 37 And great is the increase of it vnto the kinges whom thou hast set ouer vs because of our sinnes and they haue dominion ouer our bodies and cattaile euen as they wyll them selues and we are in great trouble 38 Now because of all this make we a sure couenaunt and write it our princes leuites and priestes seale vnto it The .x. Chapter 1 The names of them that sealed the couenaunt betweene God and the people 1 THe sealers were Nehemiah that is Athirsatha the sonne of Hachaliah and Sedecias ' 2 Seraiah Azariah ' Irmeiah ' 3 Pashur Amariah ' Malachiiah ' 4 Hattus Sebeniah Malluch ' 5 Harim Meremoth Obadiah ' 6 Daniel Ginethon Baruch ' 7 Mesullam Abiiah Miiamin ' 8 Maaziah Bilgai Semaiah these ' were priestes 9 The Leuites were Iesua the sonne of Azaniah Bennui among the children of Henadad and Cadmiel ' 10 And their brethren Sebaniah Hodiiah ' Celita Pelaiah Hanan ' 11 Micha Rehob Hasabiah ' 12 Zacchur Serebiah Sebaniah ' 13 Hodiiah Bani Beninu 14 The heads of the people were Pharos the captayne of Moab Elam Zatthu Bani ' 15 Bunni Azgad Bebai ' 16 Adomiah Biguai Adin ' 17 Ater Hizciiah Azur ' 18 Hoditah Hasum Besai ' 19 Hariph Anathoth Nebai ' 20 Magpias Mesullam Hezir ' 21 Mesesabel Sadoc Iaddua ' 22 Phelatia Hanan Anaaia ' 23 Hosea Hanania Hasub ' 24 Halohes Phaleha Sobek ' 25 Rehum Hasebna Maasia ' 26 Ahia Aanan and Anan ' 27 Malluch Harim and Baana 28 And the other people the priestes Leuites porters singers Nethinims and all they that had separated them selues from the people of the landes vnto the law of God with their wyues their sonnes and their daughters as many as could vnderstand 29 And their lordes that had rule of thē receaued it for their brethren And they came to sweare to binde them selues with an oth to walke in gods lawe which was geuen by Moyses the seruaunt of God and that they would obserue and do according vnto all the commaundementes iudgementes and statutes of the Lorde our God 30 And that we woulde not geue our daughters vnto the people of the lande neither to take their daughters for our sonnes 31 And if the people of the land brought ware on the Sabbath and all maner vitailes to sell that we would not take it of them on the Sabbath and on the holy dayes and that we would let the seuenth yere be free and the debtes of euery person 32 And we decreed a statute vpon our selues to geue yerely the third part of a sicle to the ministration in the house of our God 33 To the shewe bread to the dayly meate offering to the dayly burnt offering of the Sabbathes of the new Moones and feaste dayes and to the thinges that were sanctified to the offringes of attonement to reconsile Israel withal and to all the busines in the house of our God 34 And we cast the lot among the priestes Leuites and the people for the offering of the wood to be brought vnto the house of our God from yere to yere after the houses of our fathers that it might be brent at times appoynted vpon the aulter of the Lorde God as it is written in the lawe 35 And to bring the first fruites of our land and the firstlinges of our fruites of all trees yere by yere vnto the house of the Lorde 36 And the first borne of our sonnes and of our cattel as it is written in the law and the firstlinges of our oxen and of our sheepe whiche we shoulde bring to the house of our God vnto the priestes that minister in the house of our God 37 And that we shoulde bring the first fruites of our dough and our heaue offeringes and the fruites of all maner of trees of wine also and of oyle vnto the priestes to the chestes of the house of our God and the tythes of our lande vnto the Leuites that the Leuites might haue the tythes in all the cities of our ministration 38 And the priest the sonne of Aaron shal be with the Leuites when the Leuites take tythes so that the Leuites shall bring vp the tythes of their tythes vnto the house of our God to the store houses and to the treasure houses 39 For the children of Israel and the children of Leui shall bring vp the heaue offeringes of the corne wine and oyle vnto the store houses there as are the vessels of the sanctuarie and the priestes that minister and the porters and singers and we will not forsake the house of our God The .xi. Chapter 1 Who dwelled in Hierusalem after it was buylded 21 And who in the cities of Iuda 1 ANd the rulers of the people dwelt at Hierusalem The other people also cast lottes that among ten one part should go to Hierusalem into the holy citie to dwell and nyne partes to be in the cities 2 And the people thanked all the men that were willing to dwel at Hierusalē 3 These are the heades of the prouince that dwelt in Hierusalem and in the cities of Iuda euery one in his possession and in their cities they of Israel the priestes Leuites the Nethinims the children of Solomons seruauntes 4 And at Hierusalem dwelt certayne of the children of Iuda and of Beniamin Of the children of Iuda Athaiah the sonne of Vzzia the sonne of Zacharia the sonne of Amaria the sonne of Saphatia the sonne of Mahalaleel of the children of Phares 5 And Maasia the sonne of Baruch the sonne of Chol Hosa the sonne of Hasaia the sonne of Adaia the sonne of Ioiarib the sonne of Zacharia the sonne of Siloni 6 All these were the children of Phares that dwelt at Hierusalem euen foure hundred three score and eyght valiaunt men 7 These are the children of Beniamin Salu the sonne of Mesullam the sonne of Ioed the sonne of Pedaia the sonne of Colaia the sonne of Masia the sonne of Ithiel the sonne of Isai 8 And after hym Gabai Sellai nine hundred and twentie and eyght 9 And Ioel the sonne of Zichri had the ouersight of them and Iuda the sonne of Senua was the second ouer the citie 10 Of the priestes Iedaiah the sonne of Ioiarib Iachin 11 Saraiah the sonne of Helkia the sonne of Mesullam the sonne of Zadoc the sonne of Meraioth the sonne of Achitob was chiefe in the house of God 12 And their brethren that dyd the worke in the temple eyght hundred and twentie and two And Adaia the sonne of Ieroham the sonne of Pelaliah the sonne of Amzi the sonne of Zachari the sonne of Phashur the sonne of Malchia 13 And his brethren chiefe among the fathers two hundred and fourtie two And Amasai the sonne of Azrael the sonne of Ahasai the sonne of
inheritaunce in the inheritaunce of them 10 And the third lot arose for the childrē of Zabulon throughout their kynreds And the coastes of their inheritaunce came to Sarid 11 And went vp westward euen to Maralah and reached to Dabbaseth came thence to the riuer that lyeth before Iokneam 12 And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunne risyng vnto the border of Chisloth Thabor then goeth out to Dabereth and goeth vp to Iaphia 13 And from thence goeth along eastward to Gethah Hepher to Itthah Kazin and goeth to Remmon and turneth to Neah 14 And compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon and endeth in the valey of Iephthahel 15 And Katath Nahalol Simeon Iedalah and Bethlehem twelue cities with their villages 16 This is the inheritaunce of the children of Zabulon throughout their kynredes and these are the cities with their villages 17 And the fourth lot came out to Isachar euen for the children of Isachar by their kinreds 18 And their coast was Iesraelah Casuloth ' and Sunem ' 19 Hapharaim Sion and Anaharath ' 20 Harabith Kision and Abez ' 21 Rameth Enganim Enhadah and ' Bethphazez ' 22 And his coast reacheth to Thabor Sahazimah and Bethsames and endeth at Iordane syxteene cities with their villages 23 This is the inheritaunce of the tribe of the children of Isachar by their kinreds and these are the cities with their villages 24 And y e fyfth lot came out for the tribe ' of the children of Aser by their kinreds ' 25 And their coast was Helkath Hali ' Beten and Achsap ' 26 Alamelech Amaad and Miseal and came to Carmel westwarde and to Sihor Libanath 27 And turneth toward the sunne rising to Bethdagon and commeth to Zabulon and to the valley of Iephthahel towarde the north side of Bethemek Neiel and goeth out on the lefte side of Cabul 28 And to Hebron Rohob Hammon ' and Kanah euen vnto great Sidon ' 29 And then the coast turneth to Ramah to the strong citie of Zor and turneth to Hozah endeth at the sea by the possession of Achzibah 30 Amah also and Aphek and Rohob twentie and two cities with their villages 31 This is the inheritaunce of the children of Aser by their kinreds these are the cities with their villages 32 And the syxth lot came out to the children of Nephthali euen to the childrē of Nephthali by their kinredes 33 And their coast was from Heleph ' and from Elon to Zaenanim Adami ' children of Iuda and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon these cities by name 10 Which the children of Aaron being of the kynredes of the Caathites and of the childrē of Leui obtained for theirs was the first lotte 11 And they gaue them Kiriath Arba of the father of Enac which is Hebron in the hyll countrey of Iuda with the suburbes of the same rounde about it 12 But the lande that pertayned to the citie and the villages therof gaue they to Caleb the sonne of Iephune to be his possession 13 And thus they gaue to the childrē of Aaron the priest a citie to the which the slayer myght flee euen Hebron with her suburbes and Libna with her suburbes 14 And Iathir with her suburbes and Estemoa with he suburbes 15 Holon with her suburbes Dabir with her suburbes 16 Ain with her suburbes Iuttah with her suburbes Bethsames with her suburbes nine cities out of those two tribes 17 And out of the tribe of Beniamin they gaue Gibeon with her suburbes Gabae with her suburbes 18 Anatoth with her suburbes Almon with her suburbes foure cities 19 All these cities of the children of Aaron priestes were thirteene cities with their suburbes 20 And the kynredes of the children of Caath that were Leuites that is to say the other children of Caath had cities geuen them for their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim 21 For they gaue them the citie that the slear might flee vnto Sichem with her suburbes in mount Ephraim and Gazer with her suburbes 22 And Cibraim with her suburbes and Bethhoron with her suburbes foure cities 23 And out of y e tribe of Dan Elthee with her suburbes Gabethon with her suburbes 24 And Aialō with her suburbes Gathremon with her suburbes foure cities 25 And out of the halfe tribe of Manasses Thanach with her suburbes Gathremon with her suburbes two cities 26. All the cities for the other kynredes of the children of Caath were ten with their suburbes 27 And vnto the childrē of Gerson which were of the kynredes of the Leuites they gaue out of the other halfe tribe of Manasses the citie of refuge for y e slear Golan in Basan with her suburbes Beestherah with her suburbes two cities 28 And out of the tribe of Isachar Kision with her suburbes and Dabereh with her suburbes 29 And Iarmuth with her suburbes Enganim with her suburbes foure cities 30 And out of the tribe of Aser Misal with her suburbes Abdō with her suburbes 31 Helcath with her suburbes and Rohob with her suburbes foure cities 32 And out of the tribe of Nephthali the citie for the slear to flee vnto Kedes in Galilee with her suburbes Hamothdor with her suburbes and Carthan with her suburbes three cities 33 All the cities of y e Gersonites throughout their kynredes were thirteene cities with their suburbes 34 And vnto the other kynredes of the children of Merari the rest of the Leuites they gaue out of the tribe of Zabulon Iecnam with her suburbes and Cartha with her suburbes 35 Dimnah with her suburbes and Nahalal with her suburbes foure cities 36 And out of the tribe of Rubē Bezer with her suburbes and Iahasa with her suburbes 37 Kedmoth with her suburbes and Mephaath with her suburbes foure cities 38 And out of the tribe of Gad they gaue the citie for the slear to flee vnto Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbes and Mahanaim with her suburbes 39 Hesbon with suburbes and Iaser with her suburbes foure cities in all 40 So that all the cities of the children of Merari throughout their kinredes which were the rest of the kynredes of the Leuites were by their lot twelue cities 41 And all the cities that the Leuites had among the possession of the children of Israel were .xlviii. with their suburbes 42 And these cities lay euery one seuerally hauing their suburbes rounde about them throughout al the said cities 43 And the Lorde gaue vnto Israel all the lande which he sware to geue vnto their fathers And they conquered it dwelt therin 44 And the Lord gaue them rest rounde about according to all that he sware vnto their fathers and there stoode not a man of all their enemies before them The Lorde also deliuered all their enemies into their handes 45 There scaped nothing of al the good thinges which the Lord had sayd vnto y e house of Israel but all came to passe The
Leui concerning their fathers 20 The sonne of Gersom was Libni whose sonne was Iahath his sonne Zemma 21 And his sonne Ioah and his sonne Iddo and his sonne Zerah and his sonne Ieathrai 22 The sonnes of Caath Aminadab and ' his sonne Korah and his sonne Assir ' 23 And his sonne Elcana and his sonne ' Ebiasaph and his sonne Assir ' 24 And Thahath was his sonne and Vriel his sonne and Vzzia his sonne and Saul was his sonne 25 The sonnes of Elcana Amasai and Ahimoth ' 26 And Elcana The sonnes of Elcana ' Zophai whose sonne was Nahath ' 27 And his sonne Eliab and Ieroham ' his sonne and Elcana his sonne ' 28 And the sonnes of Samuel the eldest ' Vasni and Abia. ' 29 The sonnes of Merari Mahali his sonne Libni and his sonne Simhi and his sonne Vzza 30 And his sonne Simha and his sonne ' Haggia and his sonne Asaia ' 31 And these be they whom Dauid set for to sing in the house of the Lorde after that the arke had rest 32 And they ministred before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing vntill Solomon had buylt the house of the Lorde in Hierusalem and then they wayted on their offices according to the order of them 33 These are they that wayted with their children of the sonnes of Caath Heman a singer whiche was the sonne of Ioel the sonne of Samuel 34 The sonne of Elcana the sonne of Ieroham the sonne of Eliel the sonne of Thoah 35 The sonne of Zuph the sonne of Elcana ' the sonne of Mahath y e sonne of Amasai ' 36 The sonne of Elcana the sonne of Ioel the sonne of Azaria the sonne of Zephania 37 The sonne of Thahath the sonne of Assyr the sonne of Ebiasaph the sonne of Korah 38 The sonne of Izahar the sonne of Caath the sonne of Leui the sonne of Israel 39 And his brother Asaph stoode on his right hande and Asaph was the sonne of Barachia the sonne of Simha ' 40 The sonne of Michael the sonne of ' Baasa the sonne of Melchia ' 41 The sonne of Athan the sonne of Zarah ' the sonne of Adaia ' 42 The sonne of Ethan the sonne of Zimma ' the sonne of Simhi ' 43 The sonne of Iahath the sonne of ' Gersom the sonne of Leui. 44 And their brethren the sonnes of Merari stoode on the left hand euen Ethan the sonne of Kisi the sonne of Abdi the sonne of Maluch ' 45 The sonne of Hazabia the sonne of Amazia ' the sonne of Helkia ' 46 The sonne of Amzi the sonne of Bani ' the sonne of Samer 47 The sonne of Mahli the sonne of Musi the sonne of Merari the sonne of Leui. 48 Their brethren also the Leuites were appoynted vnto all maner of seruice of the tabernacle of the house of God 49 But Aaron and his sonnes burnt incense vpon the aulter of burnt offering and on the aulter of incense and were appoynted for all that was to do in the place most holy and to make an attonement for them of Israel according to all that Moyses the seruaunt of God had commaunded 50 These are the sonnes of Aaron Eleazar his sonne whose sonne was Phinehes and his sonne Abisua ' 51 And his sonne Bocci whose sonne was ' Vzzi and his sonne Zerahiah 52 And the sonne of him Maraioth and his sonne Amaria and the sonne of him Ahitob ' 53 And Zadoc his sonne and Ahimaaz ' his sonne 54 And these are the dwelling places of them througout their townes coastes euen of the sonnes of Aaron throughout the kinredes of the Caathites for so the lot fell for them 55 And they gaue them Hebron in the land of Iuda and the suburbes thereof rounde about it 56 But the fieldes of the citie and the villages pertayning thereto they gaue to Caleb the sonne of Iephune 57 And to the sonnes of Aaron they gaue the cities of refuge euen Hebron and Libna with their suburbes Iathir and Esthemoa with their suburbes 58 And Hilen with her suburbes and Dabir ' with her suburbes ' 59 Asan and her suburbes Bethsemes ' and her suburbes ' 60 And out of the tribe of Beniamin Geba and her suburbes Alemeth and her suburbes Anathoth and her suburbes all their cities throughout their kinredes were thirteene 61 And vnto the sonnes of Caath the remnaunt of the kynrede of the tribe were cities geuen out of the halfe tribe of Manasse by lot euen ten cities 62 And the sonnes of Gersom throughout their kinredes had out of the tribe of Isachar out of the tribe of Aser out of the tribe of Nephthali and out of the tribe Manassein Basan thirteene cities 63 And vnto the sonnes of Merari were geuen by lot throughout their kinredes out of the tribe of Ruben and out of the tribe of Gad and out of the tribe of Zabulon twelue cities 64 And the children of Israel gaue the' Leuites cities with their suburbes ' 65 And that by lot out of the tribe of the children of Iuda and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon and out of the tribe of the children of Beniamin these cities whiche they called by their names 66 And they that were of the kinredes of the sonnes of Caath had cities their coastes out of the tribe of Ephraim 67 And they gaue vnto them cities of refuge Sichem in mount Ephraim and her suburbes Gaser and her suburbes 68 Iocmeam and her suburbes Bethhoron ' and her suburbes ' 69 Aialon and her suburbes Geth Rimmon ' and her suburbes ' 70 And out of the halfe tribe of Manasse Auer and her suburbes and Bileam and her suburbes for the kinred of the remnaunt of the sonnes of Caath 71 And vnto the sonnes of Gersom were geuen out of the kinred of the halfe tribe of Manasse Golon in Basan and her suburbes and Assharoth and her suburbes 72 Out of the tribe of Isachar Kedes and her suburbes Dabrath and her suburbes ' 73 Ramoth also and her suburbes Anem ' and her Suburbes ' 74 And out of Aser Masal and her suburbes ' Abdon and her suburbes ' 75 Hukock and her suburbes Rehob ' and her suburbes 76 Out of the tribe of Nephthali Kedes in Galilea and her suburbes Hammon and her suburbes Kiriathaim and her suburbes 77 And vnto the rest of the children of Merari were geuen out of the tribe of Zabulon Rimmon and her suburbes Thabor and her suburbes 78 And on the other syde Iordane by Iericho euen on the east syde of Iordane were geuen them out of the tribe of Ruben Bezer in the wildernesse with her suburbes Iahzah with her suburbes 79 Kedemoth also with her suburbes ' Mephaath with her suburbes ' 80 Out of the tribe of Gad Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbes Mahanaim with her suburbes 81 Hesbon with her suburbes and Iazer ' with her suburbes ' ' The vii Chapter ' The genealogie of Isachar Beniamin 13 Nephthali 14 Manasses 20 Ephraim
offer passouer vnto the Lorde God of Israel 2 And the king helde a counsell with his lordes and all the congregation of Hierusalem to kepe the feast of passouer in the second moneth 3 For they coulde not kepe it at that time because the priestes were not sanctified sufficiently neither was the people gathered together to Hierusalem 4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation 5 And they decreed that it shoulde be proclaymed throughout all Israel from Beerseba to Dan that they shoulde come holde the feast of Passouer vnto the Lord God of Israel at Hierusalem For they had not done it of a great season as it was written 6 So the postes went with letters of the king and of his lordes throughout all Israel Iuda and at the commaundement of the king they sayde Ye children of Israel turne againe vnto the Lorde God of Abraham Isahac and Israel and he wyll returne to the remnaunt that are escaped of you out of the hande of the kinges of the Assyrians 7 And be not ye lyke your fathers and your brethren which trespassed against the Lorde God of their fathers which gaue them vp to be destroyed as ye see 8 And now be not ye stiffe necked lyke as were your fathers but yeelde your selues vnto the Lord and enter into his holy place which he hath sanctified for euer and serue the Lord your God and the fiercenesse of his wrath shall turne away from you 9 For if ye turne againe vnto the Lorde then shall your brethren and your children finde compassion in the presence of them that toke them captiue and they shall come againe vnto this lande For the Lorde your God is gratious and mercifull and wyll not turne away his face from you if ye conuert vnto him 10 And so the postes went from citie to citie in the lande of Ephraim Manasse euen vnto Zabulon but they laughed them to scorne and mocked them 11 Neuerthelesse yet diuers of Aser Manasse and of Zabulon submitted them selues and came to Hierusalem 12 And the hande of God was in Iuda and he gaue them one heart to do the commaundement of the king and of the rulers according to the worde of the Lorde 13 And there assembled to Hierusalem much people and there was present a mightie great congregation to hold the feast of sweete bread in the second moneth 14 And they arose and remoued the aulters that were in Hierusalem And all the aulters for incense did they away and cast them into the brooke Cedron 15 And they slue Passouer the foureteenth day of the second moneth And the priestes and Leuites which were ashamed sanctified them selues and brought in the burnt offringes into the house of the Lorde 16 And they stoode in their office after their maner and according to the lawe of Moyses the man of God And the priestes sprinckled the blood which they receaued of the hande of the Leuites 17 For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified and therefore the Leuites had the charge of the killing of the Passouer for euery one that was not cleane to sanctifie him vnto the Lorde 18 For many of the people and very many out of Ephraim Manasse Isachar and Zabulon ▪ were not clensed and yet did eate Passour against the lawe appoynted but Hezekia prayed for them saying The good Lorde be mercifull toward euery one 19 That prepareth his heart to seeke the Lorde God the God of his fathers though he be not clensed accordyng to the purification of the sanctuarie 20 And the Lorde heard Hezekia and healed the people 21 And the children of Israel that were present at Hierusalem held the feast of sweete bread seuen dayes with great gladnes and the Leuites the priestes praysed the Lorde day by day singing with loude instrumentes vnto the lord 22 And Hezekia spake comfortablie vnto all the Leuites that had good knowledge to sing vnto the Lorde and they did eate throughout that feast seuen dayes long and offered peace offringes and thanked the Lorde God of their fathers 23 And the whole assemblie toke counsel to do so other seuen dayes they helde those seuen dayes with gladnesse 24 For Hezekia king of Iuda did geue to the congregation a thousand young oxen and seuen thousand sheepe And the lordes gaue out to the congregation a thousand oxen ten thousand sheepe and a great number of the priestes were sanctified 25 And all the congregation of Iuda with the priestes Leuites and all the congregation that came out of Israel the straungers that came out of the lande of Israel that dwelt in Iuda reioyced 26 And there was great gladnesse in Hierusalem For since the time of Solomon the sonne of Dauid king of Israel there was no such ioy in Hierusalem 27 And the priestes and the Leuites arose and blessed the people and their voyce was heard of the Lorde and their prayer came vp vnto heauen his holy dwelling place ¶ The .xxxi. Chapter 1 The people destroy idolatrie 2 Hezekia appoynteth priestes and Leuites 4 and prouideth for their liuing 13 He ordayneth ouerseers to destribute to euery one his portion 1 AND when all these thinges were finished all they of Israel that were present in the cities of Iuda went out and brake the images and cut downe the idol groues and all to brake the high places and aulters throughout al Iuda and Beniamin in Ephraim also and Manasse vntil they had vtterly destroyed them all And all the children of Israel returned euery man to his possessions and to their owne cities 2 And Hezekia appoynted sundry companies of the priestes and Leuites after the diuersitie of their ministrations euery man according to his office both priestes and Leuites for the burnt offering and peace offringes to minister and to geue thankes and praise in the gates of the hoast of the Lorde 3 And the kinges portion of his substaunce that he gaue were dayly burnt offringes in the morning and euening and burnt offringes for the Sabbath dayes newe moones solempe feastes according as it is written in the lawe of the Lorde 4 And he bade the people that dwelt in Hierusalem to geue a parte to the priestes and Leuites that they might substancially applie them selues to the lawe of the Lorde 5 And assoone as the kinges commaundement came abrode the children of Israel brought aboūdance of first fruites of corne wine oyle hony and of all maner of fruites of the fielde the tythes of all maner of thinges brought they in plenteously 6 And the children of Israel and Iuda that dwelt in the cities of Iuda they also brought in the tithes of oxen and sheepe other holy tithes which were consecrate vnto the Lorde their God they did offer and brought them all by heapes 7 In the third moneth they began to lay the heapes in maner of a foundation and finished them in the
seuenth moneth 8 And when Hezekia and the lordes came and sawe the heapes they blessed the Lorde and his people Israel 9 And Hezekia questioned with the priestes and the Leuites concerning the heapes 10 And Azaria the chiefe priest of the house of Zadoc aunswered him and saide Since the people began to bryng the heaue offringes into the house of the Lorde we also haue had inough to eate there remayned so much for the Lorde hath blessed his people and this heape is left 11 And Hezekia bade prepare the chambers in the house of the Lord And they did prepare them 12 And caried in the first fruites the tithes and the dedicate thinges faithfully ouer which Chonaniahu the Leuite had the rule and Semei his brother next to him 13 And Iehiel Azariahu Nahath Asael Ierimoth Iosabad Eliel Iesmachiahu Mahath and Banaiahu were ouerseres ordayned by Chonaniahu Semei his brother was an officer of Hezekia the king Azariahu was the ruler of the house of God 14 And Core the sonne of Imna the Leuite and porter of the east doore had the ouersight of the thinges that were offered of a free wyll vnto God were geuen in maner seuerally vnto the lord and ouer the thinges most holy 15 And vnder his hand were Eden Miniamin Iesua Semeiahu Amariahu and Sechaniahu in the cities of the priestes appoynted of their fidelitie to geue to their brethren their portions aswell to the small as to the great 16 Beside their generation beyng males from three yeres old and vpwarde euen vnto euery one that entereth into the house of the Lord they should geue day by day for their ministration and for their geuing attendaunce and for their diuers waytinges by course 17 Both to the generation of the priestes and Leuites throughout the housholde of their fathers from twentie yeres and aboue to wayte when their courses came 18 And to the families of all their babes wyues sonnes and daughters through all the congregation For vpon the fidelitie of them were the holy thinges bestowed 19 And to the children of Aaron the priestes whiche were in the fieldes and suburbes of their cities citie by citie the men whose names were expressed afore shoulde geue portions euen to all the males among the priestes and to all the Leuites according to their number 20 And of this maner did Hezekia throughout all Iuda wrought it that is good and right and true before the Lorde his God 21 And in al the workes that he began for seruice of the house of God for the lawe for the commaundementes he sought his God and that did he with all his heart and prospered The .xxxii. Chapter 1 Sennacherib inuadeth Iuda 3 Hezekia prepareth for the warre 7 He exhorteth the people to put their trust in the Lorde 9 Sennacherib blasphemeth God 20 Hezekia prayeth 21 The angell destroyeth the Assyrians and the king is slayne 25 Hezekia is not thankefull toward the Lorde 33 His death 1 AFter that these deedes were faythfully done Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came and entred into Iuda compassed the strong cities and thought to winne them for him selfe 2 And so when Hezekia sawe that Sennacherib was come and that he was purposed to fight against Hierusalem 3 He toke counsell with his lordes and men of might to stop the water of the fountaynes without the citie And they dyd helpe him 4 For there gathered many of the people together and stopt all the welles and the broke that ran through the middes of the land saying Why shall the kinges of the Assyrians come and finde much water 5 And Hezekia went to lustyly and buylt vp the wall where it was broken and made ordinaunce vpon the towres and to the other wall without and repaired Millo in the citie of Dauid and made many dartes and shieldes 6 And he set captaynes of warre ouer the people and gathered them together to him in the large streete of the gate of the citie and spake gentylly to them saying 7 Plucke vp your heartes and be strong be not afrayde nor discouraged for the king of the Assyrians for all the multitude that he hath with hym for there be mo with vs then with hym 8 With him is an arme of flesh but with vs is the Lord our God for to helpe vs and to fight our battayles And the people toke a courage through the wordes of Hezekia king of Iuda 9 After this did Sennacherib king of the Assyrians send of his seruauntes to Hierusalem but he him selfe remayned beside Lachis hauing all his power with him vnto Hezekia king of Iuda and vnto all Iuda that were at Hierusalem saying 10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of the Assyrians wherin do ye trust O ye that dwell in Hierusalem which is besieged 11 Doth not Hezekia entice you to geue ouer your selues vnto death hunger and thirst saying The Lord our God shall ryd vs out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians 12 Hath not the same Hezekia put downe his hye places and his aulters commaunded Iuda and Hierusalem saying Ye shall worship before one aulter and burne incense vpon the same 13 Knowe ye not what I and my fathers haue done vnto the people of all landes Were the gods of the people of other landes able or mightie to saue their landes out of my hande 14 Which of all the gods of those nations that my fathers destroyed could deliuer his people out of my hande And shall your God be able to deliuer you out of my hande 15 Wherfore nowe let not Hezekia deceaue you nor persuade you of this fassion nor yet beleue him For as no god among all nations and kingdomes was able to rid his people out of my hand and out of the hand of my fathers Howe much lesse shall your gods be able to kepe you out of my hande 16 And yet mo thinges did his seruauntes speake against the Lorde God and against his seruaunt Hezekia 17 And Sennacherib also wrote a letter to rayle on the Lord God of Israel and spake against him saying As the gods of the nations of other landes haue not ben able to deliuer their people out of my hande euen so shal not the God of Hezekia deliuer his people out of my hande 18 And they cried with a loude voyce in the Iewes speach vnto the people of Hierusalem that were on the wall to feare them and to make them faynt hearted and that they might so take the citie 19 And they spake against the God of Hierusalem as against the gods of the nations of the earth whiche were the workes of the handes of men 20 But Hezekia the king and the prophet Esai the sonne of Amos prayed against that blasphemie and cried vp to heauen 21 And the Lord sent an angel which destroyed all the men of warre and the lordes and captaynes of the hoast of the king of the Assyrians that he turned his face
and dyd according to his desire yea made an oth that he should neuer do him harme all the dayes of his lyfe 72 So he restored vnto him all the prisoners that he had taken out of the lande of Iuda and then turned and went his way into his owne land neither proceeded he any further to come vnto the borders of Iuda 73 Thus Israel had no more warre and Ionathas dwelt at Machmas and began there to gouerne the people and destroyed the vngodly men out of Israel The .x. Chapter 4 Demetrius desireth to haue peace with Ionathas 48 Alexander moueth warre against Demetrius 50 Demetrius is slayne 51 The friendship of Ptolomeus and Alexander 1 IN the hundred and threescore yere came Alexander the sonne of noble Antiochus and toke Ptolomais whose citizines receaued him and there he raygned 2 When Demetrius heard therof he gathered an exceeding great hoast and went foorth against him to fight 3 Wherfore Demetrius sent letters vnto Ionathas with louing wordes and praysed him greatly 4 For he sayde We will first make peace with him before he bynde him selfe with Alexander against vs 5 Els he shall remember the euyl that we haue done against him his brother and his people 6 And so he gaue Ionathas leaue to gatheran hoast to make weapons to be confederat with him and commaunded the pledges that were in the castle to be deliuered vnto him 7 Then came Ionathas to Hierusalem and read the letters in the audience of al the people and of them that were in the castle 8 And therefore were they sore afrayde because they hearde that the king had geuen him licence to gather an hoast 9 Thus were the pledges deliuered vnto Ionathas which restored them to their parentes 10 Ionathas also dwelt at Hierusalem and began to buylde vp and to repayre the citie 11 Commaunding the workmen to wall it and the mount Sion rounde about with free stone to be a strong hold and so they did 12 As for the heathen that were in the castles whiche Bacchides had made vp they fled 13 So that euery man left the place and went into his owne countrey 14 Only at Bethsura remayned certayne of the Iewes whiche had forsaken the lawe and commaundementes of God for Bethsura was their refuge 15 Nowe when king Alexander heard of the promises that Demetrius had made vnto Ionathas and when it was tolde him of the battayles and noble actes which he and his brethren had done and of the great trauayles that they had taken 16 He sayde Where shall we finde such a man well we wil make him our friend and be confederat with hym 17 Vpon this he wrote a letter vnto him with these wordes 18 King Alexander saluteth his brother Ionathas 19 We haue hearde of thee that thou art a valiaunt man and meete to be our friende 20 Wherfore this day we ordayne thee to be the hye priest of thy people and to be called the kinges friende Vpon this he sent hym a purple clothing a crowne of gold that thou mayest consider what is for our profite and kepe friendship towarde vs. 21 So in the seuenth moneth of the hundred and threescore yere vpon the solempne feast day of the tabernacles Ionathas put the holy rayment vpon him then gathered he an hoast and prepared many weapons 22 Whiche when Demetrius hearde he was marueylous sory 23 And sayde Alas what haue we done that Alexander hath preuented vs in getting the friendship of the Iewes for his owne defence 24 Yet will I wryte louingly vnto them also yea and promise them dignities and rewardes that they may be of my syde 25 Wherevpon he wrote vnto them these wordes King Demetrius sendeth greeting vnto the people of the Iewes 26 Whereas ye haue kept your couenaunt toward vs and continued in our friendship not inclining to our enemies we were glad when we hearde therof 27 Wherfore remayne still and be faythfull to vs and we shall well recompence you for the thinges that ye haue done on our partie 28 We shal releasse you of many charges and geue you rewardes 29 And now I discharge you and all the Iewes from tributes I forgeue you the customes of salt and releasse you of the crowne taxes of the thirde part of seede 30 And halfe the fruite of trees whiche is myne owne duetie I do releasse them from this day foorth so that they shall not be taken of the lande of Iuda nor of the three cities which are added therunto out of Samaria and Galilee from this day foorth for euermore 31 Hierusalem also with all thinges belonging therto shal be holy and free yea the tythes and tributes shall pertayne vnto it 32 As for the power of the castle whiche is at Hierusalem I remit and geue it vnto the hygh priest that he may set in it such men as he shall choose to kepe it 33 I freely deliuer all the Iewes that are prisoners throughout all my realme so that euery one of them shal be free from paying any tribute yea euen of their cattell 34 All the solempne feastes Sabbathes newe moones the dayes appoynted the three dayes before and after the feast shal be free for all the Iewes in my realme 35 So that in them no man shall haue power to do any thing or to vexe any of them in any maner of cause 36 There shall thirtie thousand also of the Iewes be written vp in the kinges hoast and haue their wages payed as all other men of warre of the kinges should haue and of them shal be ordeyned certayne to kepe the kinges strong holdes 37 Yea and some of them shal be set ouer the kinges secret affaires and their gouernours and princes shal be of them selues and lyue after their owne lawes as the king hath commaunded in the lande of Iuda 38 And the three cities that are fallen vnto Iurie from the countrey of Samaria shal be taken as Iurie and be vnder one neither be subiect to any straunge lord but to the hie priest 39 As for Ptolomais and the land pertayning therto I geue it vnto the sanctuarie at Hierusalem for the necessarie expences of the holy thinges 40 Moreouer I will geue euery yere fyfteene thousande sicles of siluer of the kinges reuenues out of the places appertayning vnto me 41 And all the ouerplus which they haue not payed for thinges due as they dyd in the former yeres from hence foorth they shall geue it towarde the workes of the temple 42 And besides this the fyue thousande sicles of siluer which they receaued yerely of the account appoynted for the interteynement of the sanctuarie these yeres passed euen these thinges shal be releassed because they appertaine to the priestes that minister 43 Item whosoeuer they be that flee vnto the temple at Hierusalem or within the liberties therof where as they are fallen into the kinges daunger for any maner of businesse they shal be pardoned and al the goodes that they haue in
counted his sonnes and 〈◊〉 wicâ— from 〈◊〉 tabernacle of tâ—e Lorde â—d all Is◠〈◊〉 this horâ— plague “ Or gouerned Or to crye oâ—t (k) Whiche is by interpretation no glory or whereâ— the glory (a) Which was their chiefe Idoll and from the â—uell downe 〈◊〉 like a â—ne and vpward like a man (b) Proceedyng from one superstition to another (c) This is a lamentable blindnes they cleane sâ—ll to that idol whiche lyeth vpon the grounde loke a blocke and is not able to helpe neither them nor hym selfe (d) Affliction worketh not lyke effect in the wicked in the godly In the one grudge and desperation in the other repentaunce and reconciliation (a) For that you haue presumed to carrie it away fro Israel (b) Were they are forced to knowledge the true lyuing God his mightie hand and yet because of their idolatry haue not the grace to conuert and worship him (c) The wicked attribute almost all thinges to fortune and chaunce Whereas in dede there â—s nothing done without gods prouidence decree (d) For the 〈◊〉 â—f the 〈◊〉 To witte the men of Bethsâ—emes which were Isralites f Meaning the golden emerodes and the golden 〈◊〉 (g) These were the fiue principall cities of the Philistines which were not al conquered vnto the tâ—me of DaÌ„d (h) For it was not lawfull to 〈◊〉 other to touch or to see into it saue onely to Aaron and his sonnes Num. 4 b. (i) For what people will receaue it to he thus plaged by receauing thereof (a) A citie in the tribe of Iuda called 〈◊〉 kiriath â—eaâ— Iosu 13. ii Reg. vi a. (b) Repented them of their sinnes sought after the Lorde Iâ—s xxiiii a. Dâ—ut vi c. Mâ—th iiii b (c) For Siloh was nowe desolate because the philistines had taken thenâ—s the arke (d) After the exposition of some of the learned it meaneth that they wept before the lorde Eccl xlvi b. (e) Now thei haue learned not to trust in them selues but in God to seke help not at y e arke but at his hâ—nd alone Iosua xxii ii f (f) Whiche was a great rocke ouer against Mispah (g) Meaning the Philiâ—tines (h) which was not contrary to the lawe for â—s yet a certaine place was not appoynted (a) Because he wâ—s not able to trauel and take the paynes in his olde age (b) Who was also called Vâ—shâ— 1. Chro. 6. b. (c) That is they obserued not the iustice equitie vpryghtnes and godlynes of their father Deut. xvii c i. Reg xii c. Osee xiii c. Actes xiii d Deut. xvii c (d) Excepte such as shall haue y e feare of God befâ—re their eyes â–ª wyll folow his statutes and lawes as Dauid SalomoÌ„ Ezeckias and Iosias iii. Re. xxâ— Because you repent not for your sâ—nnes This Abiel in the 2. of the Chro. 8. is called Ner. b That is both valiant and riche Where was Ramath Zoâ— the citie of Samuel Or Virâ— (d) Whiche is about fiue pence (e) Because he sawe gods wil reuealed vnto him by his diuine spirite and for that he forsawe thinges to come (f) That is a feast after the offering (g) That is geue thankes distribute the meate according to the custome h That is â–ª vpon the affliction and oppression of mâ— people (i) Wherin they seeke helpe deliueraunce at me k That is al that thou desirest to knowe (l) Whom God hath chosen to be their king m 〈…〉 feast wâ— n That is â–ª y e sholder with the rest which the priest had for his famine in all peace offerynges Leuit. â—â— o That both by the assemblyng of the people and by the meate prepared for thee â–ª thou myghtâ— vnderstande that I knewe of thy coÌ„ming (p) For â—er the maner it was flat that men myght walke together vpon it (q) That is Gods commaundement as concerning thee (a) Here begynneth the vse of annoyntyng of kyngs with oyle by gods coÌ„maundement Act. xiii d. (b) That is the chyldren of Israel which only he would possesse as his inheritaunce (c) Of whom Beniamin the yongest sonne of Iacob was borne of the which y e tribe of Beniamin wherof kyng Saul was â—are their name “ Or oke “ Heb. Theâ— wyll aske thee a peece (d) Whiche was in the citie Kiriathiarun where the arke was Chapt. vii a. i. Re. xii b. “ Heb. shulder He gaue him suche vertues as were meete for a king i. Re. xi b. f That is he praysed God together with them and dyd sing songes to his laude and prayse i. Re. xix d. g Meaning that prophecie coÌ„meth not by succession but is geuen to whom it pleaseth God h Noting therby hâ— that cometh from lowe degree sodenly to honor (i) That is by casting of lot (k) As though he were vnworthy and vnwilling “ Heb. â—et the king lyue (l) As it is writen Deut. 17. c. (m) Both to auoyde seditioÌ„ and to wiâ— them by patience (a) For feare of whom Israel asked a king (b) No reasonable condition can satisfie a tyrant and therfore gods wrath is not farre froÌ„ him (c) God gaue him the spirite of strength courage to go against this tyrant (d) He ioyneth Samuel with him for more authoritie for he him selfe was not yet approued of al “ Hebr. As one man (e) Marning Saul and Samuel (f) That is to the Ammonites dissemblng that they had hope of ayde (g) By this victorie the Lord wonne the heartes of the people to Saul (h) He woulde beginne his kingdome with clementie as a vertue meete for a prince (i) In signe of thankes geuing for the victorie (a) I haue grauÌ„ted your petition (b) To gouerne you in peace and warre (c) That is Saul (d) God would that this confession shoulde be a paterne for all them that haue any office (e) That is exalted them and indued them with his spirit to deliuer you Gen. xlvi a. Exod. ii d. Exod. iii. b. Iud â–ª iiii a. That is captayne of Iabins hoast king of Hazor Iud. xiii a. â—d iâ— b. (g) That is Samson Iud. xiii d. Iud. xi a. i. Re. vii b. Iud. xiii d. Iud. xi a. i. Re. vii b. Iud. xiii d. Iud. xi a. i. Re. vii b. (h) Ye shal be preserued as they that folowe the Lordes will (i) That is your gouernours (k) In that you haue forsaken him who hath all power in his hand for a mortal man (l) For with the lorde there is mercie and forgeuenes of sinnes in store for such as wil repent (m) Of his free mercy not of your merites and therfore he will not forsake you n Vnfainedly and without hipocrisie (a) Whyles these thinges were done (c) Kiriathiarim where the arke was Chap. 10. a. (d) That euery man should prepare him self to warre (e) Whiche is Bethel and of the prophetes called Bethauen because of the idolatrie committed there (f) Where the two tribes the halfe remayned (g) Thinking that the absence of the prophet was a â—igne