Study Desk

And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Iudah dwelt at Kiriath-arba, and in the villages thereof; and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Iekabzeel, and in the villages thereof:

Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba, and Azmaueth: for the Singers had builded them villages round about Ierusalem.

Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and reioyced; for God had made them reioyce with great ioy: the wiues also and the children reioyced: so that the ioy of Ierusalem was heard euen afarre off.

And at that time were some appointed ouer the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Leuites: for Iudah reioyced for the Priests, & for the Leuites that waited.

For in the dayes of Dauid and Asaph of old, there were chiefe of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiuing vnto God.

On that day they read in the booke of Moses in the audience of the people, and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the Congregation of God for euer,

And hee had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offrings, the frankincense and the vessels, and the tithes of the corne, the new wine, and the oile, which was commanded to be giuen to the Leuites, and the singers, and the porters, and the offerings of the priests.

But in all this time was not I at Ierusalem: for in the two and thirtieth yeere of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, came I vnto the king, and after certaine dayes, obtained I leaue of the King:

And I came to Ierusalem, and vnderstood of the euil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

And I perceiued that the portions of the Leuites had not beene giuen them: for the Leuites and the singers that did the worke, were fled euery one to his field.

And I made treasurers ouer the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Leuites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the sonne of Zaccur, the sonne of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithfull, and their office was to distribute vnto their brethren.

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds, that I haue done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certeine of them, and pluckt off their haire, and made them sweare by God, saying, Yee shall not giue your daughters vnto their sonnes, nor take their daughters vnto your sonnes, or for your selues.

And for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

And the drinking was according to the law, none did compell: for the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should doe according to euery mans pleasure.

Also Uasthi the Queene made a feast for the women, in the royall house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

To bring Uasthi the Queene before the king, with the Crowne royall, to shew the people, and the Princes her beautie: for she was faire to looke on.

Then the king saide to the wise men, which knew the times (for so was the Kings maner towards all that knew law, and iudgement:

For this deed of the queene shall come abroad vnto all women, so that they shal despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall bee reported; The king Ahasuerus commanded Uasthi the queene to be brought in before him, but she came not.

And when the kings decree, which he shal make, shalbe published throughout all his empire, (for it is great:) all the wiues shall giue to their husbands honour, both to great and small.