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from Lebanon to the sea at Joppa, according to the license of Cyrus king of Persia to them.

8. Now in the second year of their abode at Je rusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jozadak, with the rest of their brethren the priests and Levites, with all who were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the Eternal's house. 9. So Jeshua, with his sons and brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Ju- | dah, stood together, to preside over the workmen, with the sons of Henadad, their sons and brethren the Levites. 10. And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple, they set the priests in their robes with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Eternal, after the ordinance of David. 11. Who replied to one another by course, in praising and giving thanks to the Eternal; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever to Israel. And all the people shouted with a loud noise in praising the Eternal, for the foundation of his house being laid. 12.But many of the priests, Levites, and chief fathers, who were old, and had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid, wept aloud, and many shouted aloud for joy. 13. So the people could not distinguish the noise of joy from that of weeping, though they shouted so loud that the noise was heard afar off

CHAP. IV.

THE BUILDING HINDERED.

BUT the (Samaritans), adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, hearing that the captives builded the temple to the Eternal God of Israel, 2. They came to Zerubbabel, and the chief fathers, and said to them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God as ye do, to whom we sacrifice since the days of Esarbaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up hither;

3. But Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the rest of the chief fathers of Israel, said to them, Ye have nothing to. do with us to build a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to the Eternal God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia commanded us. 4. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of those of Judah, and troubled them in building. 5. And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus and Cambyses, kings of Persia, even until the reign of Darius Hystaspis, king of Persia. 6. And in the beginning of Ahasuerus' reign, they wrote him an accusation against Judah's and Jerusalem's inhabitants.

7. And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, wrote him a letter, in the (Samaritan) Syrian, and interpreted it in the Syrian tongue. 8. Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, wrote also a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king, in this sort. 9. With the rest of their companions; Dinaites, the Apharsathshites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, 10. With the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and placed in the ci ties of Samaria, and the rest on this side the Euphrates.

11. This is the copy of the letter: Thy servants the men on this side the river, at this time, 12. Make it known to the king, that the Jews who came from thee to us, are building the rebellious and bad city, having founded and fabricated the walls. 13. Be it known also to the king, that if this city be built, and the walls erected again, they will not pay taxes, toll, tribute, and custom, whereby thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. 14. Now, because we have maintenance from the king's palace, it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore we sent and certified the king, 15. That

the book of the records of thy fathers may be searched, where thou shalt find and know that this is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they raised sedition within it of old, for which it was destroyed. 16. We certify the king, that if this city be builded again, and its walls reared, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.

17. Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions in Samaria, and to the rest beyond the river, saying, Peace be to you at this time. 18. The letter which ye sent to us hath been plainly read before me. 19. And I commanded to search, and it is found, that this city of old made insurrection against kings, with rebellion and sedition. 20. There were mighty kings also in Jerusalem, who ruled over all countries beyond the river; and taxes, tribute, and custom, was paid to them. 21. Order now these men to cease from building this city, till another order is given by me. 22. Fail not to do this; why should damage encrease to the hurt of kings?

23. Now, when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, with their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem, and made the Jews cease by force and power. 24. Then the work of God's house ceased, till the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

CHAP. V.

ZERUBBABEL AND JOSHUA FORWARD THE BUILDING.

THEN the prophets, Haggai, and Zechariah, Iddo's son, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of Israel's God. 2. Then Zerubbabel, Shealtiel's son, and Jeshua, Jozadak's son, began to build God's house; whom God's prophets assisted.

3. Then came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, saying, Who commanded you to build this house, and these walls; 4. Then we told them the mens' names that build? 5. But God regarded the Jews elders, so they could not cause them cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they brought back a letter concerning it.

6. The copy of the letter that Tatnai, the governor, Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, on this side the river, sent to king Darius, 7. To king Darius, be all peace. 8. Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the Great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber laid in the walls, and this work proceeds fast, and prospers in their hands. 9. Then we asked those elders, Who commanded you to build this house, and erect these walls? 10. We asked their names also, that we might write the chief of them, to certify thee. 11. And they answered us, thus, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and rebuild the house that was built many years ago, by a great king of Israel. 12. But after our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he delivered them to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people to Babylon. 13. But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, he made a decree to build this house of God. 14. The golden and silver vessels of God's house, which Nebuchadnezzar carried from the temple in Jerusalem, to his temple of Babylon, king Cyrus delivered to Sheshbazzar, his deputy; 15. Saying, Carry these vessels for the temple at Jerusalem, and let God's house be builded in its place. 16. Then came Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of God's house in Jerusalem; and since that time until now it hath been in building, and yet it is not finished. 17. Now, therefore, if the king please, let the king's

treasure-house at Babylon be searched, if a decree was made by king Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

CHAP. VI.

THE TEMPLE IS FINISHED.

THEN king Darius ordered to search the library, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2. And there was found (in a chest) at Achmetha, the palace for the province of the Medes, a roll, in which was a record thus written: 3. In the first year of king Cyrus, he ordered thus; Let God's house at Jerusalem be builded, where they offered sacrifices, and its foundations be strongly laid; let its height and its breadth be sixty cubits each; 4. With three rows of marble stones, and a row of new timber within; and let the expences be given out of the king's house. 5. Let also the golden and silver vessels of God's house, which Nebuchadnezzar brought from the temple at Jerusalem to Babylon, be returned to the temple at Jerusalem, each to its place, in God's house. 6. Now, therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, be far from thence; 7. Let the work of God's house alone; let the governor, and the elders of the Jews, build this house of God in its place. 8. Moreover, I or der that to the elders of these Jews, for building this house of God, the expences be speedily given, out of the king's riches, even of the tribute beyond the river, to these men, that they be not stopt. 9. And what they need, as bullocks, rams, and lambs, for the God of heaven's holocausts, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the priests' appointments at Jerusalem, let it be given them daily without fail; 10. To offer sacrifices of sweet savours to the God

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