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diff --git a/old/1drvb10.txt b/old/1drvb10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f5f904 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1drvb10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,59173 @@ +Project Gutenberg Holy Bible, Douay-Rheims Version, O.T. Part 1 + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This etext was prepared by Dennis McCarthy, Atlanta, Georgia +and Tad Book, student, Pontifical North American College, Rome. + + + + + +THE HOLY BIBLE + + + + +Translated from the Latin Vulgate + + +Diligently Compared with the Hebrew, Greek, +and Other Editions in Divers Languages + + +THE OLD TESTAMENT +First Published by the English College at Douay +A.D. 1609 & 1610 + +and + +THE NEW TESTAMENT +First Published by the English College at Rheims +A.D. 1582 + + +With Annotations + + +The Whole Revised and Diligently Compared with +the Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard Challoner +A.D. 1749-1752 + + + +VOLUME I: THE FIRST PART OF THE OLD TESTAMENT + + + + +CREDITS + + +Without the assistance of many individuals and groups, this text of the +Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible would not be available for the +Project Gutenberg collection. Our most grateful and sincere thanks goes +to those at 'Catholic Software' who have provided the electronic plain +texts of the 73 books of the Bible. 'Catholic Software' also produces a +Douay Bible program on CD-ROM that features a fully searchable Douay- +Rheims Bible, footnotes, Latin text and dictionary, topical index, maps, +Biblical art gallery, and other features. For more information of this +and many other products contact: + +Catholic Software +Box 1914 +Murray, KY 42071 +(502) 753-8198 +http://www.catholicity.com/market/CSoftware/ +waubrey@aol.com + +Additional production assistance has been provided by volunteers from +the Atlanta Council of the Knights of Columbus. Tad Book compiled and +reformatted the texts to Project Gutenberg standards. Dennis McCarthy +assisted Mr. Book and transcribed selections from the first editions +included as appendices. + + + + +HISTORY + + +This three volume e-text set comes from multiple editions of Challoner's +revised Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible. The division of the Old +Testaments into two parts follows the two tome format of the 1609/1610 +printing of the Old Testament. In 1568 English exiles, many from +Oxford, established the English College of Douay (Douai/Doway), Flanders, +under William (later Cardinal) Allen. In October, 1578, Gregory Martin +began the work of preparing an English translation of the Bible for +Catholic readers, the first such translation into Modern English. +Assisting were William Allen, Richard Bristow, Thomas Worthington, and +William Reynolds who revised, criticized, and corrected Dr. Martin's +work. The college published the New Testament at Rheims (Reims/Rhemes), +France, in 1582 through John Fogny with a preface and explanatory notes, +authored chiefly by Bristol, Allen, and Worthington. Later the Old +Testament was published at Douay in two parts (1609 and 1610) by Laurence +Kellam through the efforts of Dr. Worthington, then superior of the +seminary. The translation had been prepared before the appearance of the +New Testament, but the publication was delayed due to financial +difficulties. The religious and scholarly adherence to the Latin Vulgate +text led to the less elegant and idiomatic words and phrases often found +in the translation. In some instances where no English word conveyed the +full meaning of the Latin, a Latin word was Anglicized and its meaning +defined in a glossary. Although ridiculed by critics, many of these +words later found common usage in the English language. Spellings of +proper names and the numbering of the Psalms are adopted from the Latin +Vulgate. + +In 1749 Dr. Richard Challoner began a major revision of the Douay and +Rheims texts, the spellings and phrasing of which had become increasingly +archaic in the almost two centuries since the translations were first +produced. He modernized the diction and introduced a more fluid style, +while faithfully maintaining the accuracy of Dr. Martin's texts. This +revision became the 'de facto' standard text for English speaking +Catholics until the twentieth century. It is still highly regarded by +many for its style, although it is now rarely used for liturgical +purposes. The notes included in this electronic edition are generally +attributed to Bishop Challoner. + +The 1610 printing of the second tome of the Old Testament includes an +appendix containing the non-canonical books 'Prayer of Manasses,' 'Third +Booke of Esdras,' and 'Fourth Booke of Esdras.' While not part of +Challoner's revision, the 1610 texts are placed in the appendices of +Vol. II of this e-text set. Also included are the original texts of two +short books, 'The Prophecie of Abdias' (Vol. II) and 'The Catholike +Epistle of Iude the Apostle' (Vol. III), to give the reader a sense of +the language of the first editions in comparison to the Challoner +revision. Further background on the Douay-Rheims version may be found in +a selection from the preface to the 1582 edition and the original +glossary included in the appendices of Vol. III. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +The First Part of the Old Testament + + Book of Genesis + Book of Exodus + Book of Leviticus + Book of Numbers + Book of Deuteronomy + Book of Josue + Book of Judges + Book of Ruth + First Book of Samuel, alias 1 Kings + Second Book of Samuel, alias 2 Kings + Third Book of Kings + Fourth Book of Kings + First Book of Paralipomenon + Second Book of Paralipomenon + First Book of Esdras + Book of Nehemias, alias 2 Esdras + Book of Tobias + Book of Judith + Book of Esther + Book of Job + + + + + +THE BOOK OF GENESIS + + + +This book is so called from its treating of the GENERATION, that is, of +the creation and the beginning of the world. The Hebrews call it +BERESITH, from the Word with which it begins. It contains not only the +history of the Creation of the world; but also an account of its +progress during the space of 2369 years, that is, until the death of +JOSEPH. + + + +Genesis Chapter 1 + + +God createth Heaven and Earth, and all things therein, in six days. + +1:1. In the beginning God created heaven, and earth. + +1:2. And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face +of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters. + +1:3. And God said: Be light made. And light was made. + +1:4. And God saw the light that it was good; and he divided the light +from the darkness. + +1:5. And he called the light Day, and the darkness Night; and there was +evening and morning one day. + +1:6. And God said: Let there be a firmament made amidst the waters: and +let it divide the waters from the waters. + +A firmament. . .By this name is here understood the whole space between +the earth, and the highest stars. The lower part of which divideth the +waters that are upon the earth, from those that are above in the +clouds. + +1:7. And God made a firmament, and divided the waters that were under +the firmament, from those that were above the firmament, and it was so. + +1:8. And God called the firmament, Heaven; and the evening and morning +were the second day. + +1:9. God also said; Let the waters that are under the heaven, be +gathered together into one place: and let the dry land appear. And it +was so done. + +1:10. And God called the dry land, Earth; and the gathering together of +the waters, he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. + +1:11. And he said: let the earth bring forth green herb, and such as +may seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after its kind, which may +have seed in itself upon the earth. And it was so done. + +1:12. And the earth brought forth the green herb, and such as yieldeth +seed according to its kind, and the tree that beareth fruit, having +seed each one according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. + +1:13. And the evening and the morning were the third day. + +1:14. And God said: Let there be lights made in the firmament of +heaven, to divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and +for seasons, and for days and years: + +1:15. To shine in the firmament of heaven, and to give light upon the +earth, and it was so done. + +1:16. And God made two great lights: a greater light to rule the day; +and a lesser light to rule the night: and the stars. + +Two great lights. . .God created on the first day, light, which being +moved from east to west, by its rising and setting, made morning and +evening. But on the fourth day he ordered and distributed this light, +and made the sun, moon, and stars. The moon, though much less than the +stars, is here called a great light, from its giving a far greater +light to the earth than any of them. + +1:17. And he set them in the firmament of heaven to shine upon the +earth. + +1:18. And to rule the day and the night, and to divide the light and +the darkness. And God saw that it was good. + +1:19. And the evening and morning were the fourth day. + +1:20. God also said: let the waters bring forth the creeping creature +having life, and the fowl that may fly over the earth under the +firmament of heaven. + +1:21. And God created the great whales, and every living and moving +creature, which the waters brought forth, according to their kinds, and +every winged fowl according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. + +1:22. And he blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the +waters of the sea: and let the birds be multiplied upon the earth. + +1:23. And the evening and morning were the fifth day. + +1:24. And God said: Let the earth bring forth the living creature in +its kind, cattle and creeping things, and beasts of the earth, +according to their kinds. And it was so done. + +1:25. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, +and cattle, and every thing that creepeth on the earth after its kind. +And God saw that it was good. + +1:26. And he said: Let us make man to our image and likeness: and let +him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, +and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that +moveth upon the earth. + +Let us make man to our image. . .This image of God in man, is not in the +body, but in the soul; which is a spiritual substance, endued with +understanding and free will. God speaketh here in the plural number, to +insinuate the plurality of persons in the Deity. + +1:27. And God created man to his own image: to the image of God he +created him: male and female he created them. + +1:28. And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the +earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the +fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth. + +Increase and multiply. . .This is not a precept, as some Protestant +controvertists would have it, but a blessing, rendering them fruitful; +for God had said the same words to the fishes, and birds, (ver. 22) who +were incapable of receiving a precept. + +1:29. And God said: Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed +upon the earth, and all trees that have in themselves seed of their own +kind, to be your meat: + +1:30. And to all beasts of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and +to all that move upon the earth, and wherein there is life, that they +may have to feed upon. And it was so done. + +1:31. And God saw all the things that he had made, and they were very +good. And the evening and morning were the sixth day. + + + +Genesis Chapter 2 + + +God resteth on the seventh day and blesseth it. The earthly paradise, +in which God placeth man. He commandeth him not to eat of the tree of +knowledge. And formeth a woman of his rib. + +2:1. So the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the furniture +of them. + +2:2. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made: and +he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. + +He rested, etc. . .That is, he ceased to make or create any new kinds of +things. Though, as our Lord tells us, John 5.17, "He still worketh", +viz., by conserving and governing all things, and creating souls. + +2:3. And he blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because in it +he had rested from all his work which God created and made. + +2:4. These are the generations of the heaven and the earth, when they +were created, in the day that the Lord God made the heaven and the +earth: + +2:5. And every plant of the field before it sprung up in the earth, and +every herb of the ground before it grew: for the Lord God had not +rained upon the earth; and there was not a man to till the earth. + +2:6. But a spring rose out of the earth, watering all the surface of +the earth. + +2:7. And the Lord God formed man of the slime of the earth: and +breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living +soul. + +2:8. And the Lord God had planted a paradise of pleasure from the +beginning: wherein he placed man whom he had formed. + +2:9. And the Lord God brought forth of the ground all manner of trees, +fair to behold, and pleasant to eat of: the tree of life also in the +midst of paradise: and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. + +The tree of life. . .So called because it had that quality, that by +eating of the fruit of it, man would have been preserved in a constant +state of health, vigour, and strength, and would not have died at all. +The tree of knowledge. . .To which the deceitful serpent falsely +attributed the power of imparting a superior kind of knowledge, beyond +that which God was pleased to give. + +2:10. And a river went out of the place of pleasure to water paradise, +which from thence is divided into four heads. + +2:11. The name of the one is Phison: that is it which compasseth all +the land of Hevilath, where gold groweth. + +2:12. And the gold of that land is very good: there is found bdellium, +and the onyx stone. + +2:13. And the name of the second river is Gehon: the same is it that +compasseth all the land of Ethiopia. + +2:14. And the name of the third river is Tigris: the same passeth along +by the Assyrians. And the fourth river is Euphrates. + +2:15. And the Lord God took man, and put him into the paradise of +pleasure, to dress it, and to keep it. + +2:16. And he commanded him, saying: Of every tree of paradise thou +shalt eat: + +2:17. But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not +eat. For in what day soever thou shalt eat of it, thou shalt die the +death. + +2:18. And the Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone: let us +make him a help like unto himself. + +2:19. And the Lord God having formed out of the ground all the beasts +of the earth, and all the fowls of the air, brought them to Adam to see +what he would call them: for whatsoever Adam called any living creature +the same is its name. + +2:20. And Adam called all the beasts by their names, and all the fowls +of the air, and all the cattle of the field: but for Adam there was not +found a helper like himself. + +2:21. Then the Lord God cast a deep sleep upon Adam: and when he was +fast asleep, he took one of his ribs, and filled up flesh for it. + +2:22. And the Lord God built the rib which he took from Adam into a +woman: and brought her to Adam. + +2:23. And Adam said: This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my +flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. + +2:24. Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave +to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh. + +2:25. And they were both naked: to wit, Adam and his wife: and were not +ashamed. + + + +Genesis Chapter 3 + + +The serpent's craft. The fall of our first parents. Their punishment. +The promise of a Redeemer. + +3:1. Now the serpent was more subtle than any of the beasts of the +earth which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman: Why hath +God commanded you, that you should not eat of every tree of paradise? + +3:2. And the woman answered him, saying: Of the fruit of the trees that +are in paradise we do eat: + +3:3. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of paradise, +God hath commanded us that we should not eat; and that we should not +touch it, lest perhaps we die. + +3:4. And the serpent said to the woman: No, you shall not die the +death. + +3:5. For God doth know that in what day soever you shall eat thereof, +your eyes shall be opened: and you shall be as Gods, knowing good and +evil. + +3:6. And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat, and fair to the +eyes, and delightful to behold: and she took of the fruit thereof, and +did eat, and gave to her husband, who did eat. + +3:7. And the eyes of them both were opened: and when they perceived +themselves to be naked, they sewed together fig leaves, and made +themselves aprons. + +And the eyes, etc. . .Not that they were blind before, (for the woman +saw that the tree was fair to the eyes, ver. 6.) nor yet that their +eyes were opened to any more perfect knowledge of good; but only to the +unhappy experience of having lost the good of original grace and +innocence, and incurred the dreadful evil of sin. From whence followed +a shame of their being naked; which they minded not before; because +being now stript of original grace, they quickly began to be subject to +the shameful rebellions of the flesh. + +3:8. And when they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in paradise +at the afternoon air, Adam and his wife hid themselves from the face of +the Lord God, amidst the trees of paradise. + +3:9. And the Lord God called Adam, and said to him: Where art thou? + +3:10. And he said: I heard thy voice in paradise; and I was afraid, +because I was naked, and I hid myself. + +3:11. And he said to him: And who hath told thee that thou wast naked, +but that thou hast eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou +shouldst not eat? + +3:12. And Adam said: The woman, whom thou gavest me to be my companion, +gave me of the tree, and I did eat. + +3:13. And the Lord God said to the woman: Why hast thou done this? And +she answered: The serpent deceived me, and I did eat. + +3:14. And the Lord God said to the serpent: Because thou hast done this +thing, thou art cursed among all cattle, and beasts of the earth: upon +thy breast shalt thou go, and earth shalt thou eat all the days of thy +life. + +3:15. I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and +her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her +heel. + +She shall crush. . .Ipsa, the woman; so divers of the fathers read this +place, conformably to the Latin: others read it ipsum, viz., the seed. +The sense is the same: for it is by her seed, Jesus Christ, that the +woman crushes the serpent's head. + +3:16. To the woman also he said: I will multiply thy sorrows, and thy +conceptions: in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children, and thou shalt +be under thy husband's power, and he shall have dominion over thee. + +3:17. And to Adam he said: Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of +thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee, that +thou shouldst not eat, cursed is the earth in thy work: with labour and +toil shalt thou eat thereof all the days of thy life. + +3:18. Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt +eat the herbs of the earth. + +3:19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to +the earth out of which thou wast taken: for dust thou art, and into +dust thou shalt return. + +3:20. And Adam called the name of his wife Eve: because she was the +mother of all the living. + +3:21. And the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments of skins, +and clothed them. + +3:22. And he said: Behold Adam is become as one of us, knowing good and +evil: now therefore lest perhaps he put forth his hand and take also of +the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever. + +Behold Adam, etc. . .This was spoken by way of reproaching him with his +pride, in affecting a knowledge that might make him like to God. + +3:23. And the Lord God sent him out of the paradise of pleasure, to +till the earth from which he was taken. + +3:24. And he cast out Adam: and placed before the paradise of pleasure +Cherubims, and a flaming sword, turning every way, to keep the way of +the tree of life. + + + +Genesis Chapter 4 + + +The history of Cain and Abel. + +4:1. And Adam knew Eve his wife; who conceived and brought forth Cain, +saying: I have gotten a man through God. + +4:2. And again she brought forth his brother Abel. And Abel was a +shepherd, and Cain a husbandman. + +4:3. And it came to pass after many days, that Cain offered, of the +fruits of the earth, gifts to the Lord. + +4:4. Abel also offered of the firstlings of his flock, and of their +fat: and the Lord had respect to Abel, and to his offerings. + +Had respect. . .That is, shewed his acceptance of his sacrifice (as +coming from a heart full of devotion): and that, as we may suppose, by +some visible token, such as sending fire from heaven upon his +offerings. + +4:5. But to Cain and his offerings he had no respect: and Cain was +exceeding angry, and his countenance fell. + +4:6. And the Lord said to him: Why art thou angry? and why is thy +countenance fallen? + +4:7. If thou do well, shalt thou not receive? but if ill, shall not sin +forthwith be present at the door? but the lust thereof shall be under +thee, and thou shalt have dominion over it. + +4:8. And Cain said to Abel his brother: Let us go forth abroad. And +when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and +slew him. + +4:9. And the Lord said to Cain: Where is thy brother Abel? And he +answered: I know not: am I my brother's keeper? + +4:10. And he said to him: What hast thou done? the voice of thy +brother's blood crieth to me from the earth. + +4:11. Now therefore cursed shalt thou be upon the earth, which hath +opened her mouth and received the blood of thy brother at thy hand. + +4:12. When thou shalt till it, it shall not yield to thee its fruit: a +fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be upon the earth. + +4:13. And Cain said to the Lord: My iniquity is greater than that I may +deserve pardon. + +4:14. Behold thou dost cast me out this day from the face of the earth, +and from thy face I shall be hid, and I shall be a vagabond and a +fugitive on the earth: every one therefore that findeth me, shall kill +me. + +Every one that findeth me shall kill me. . .His guilty conscience made +him fear his own brothers and nephews; of whom, by this time, there +might be a good number upon the earth; which had now endured near 130 +years; as may be gathered from Gen. 5.3, compared with chap. 4.25, +though in the compendious account given in the scriptures, only Cain +and Abel are mentioned. + +4:15. And the Lord said to him: No, it shall not so be: but whosoever +shall kill Cain, shall be punished sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark +upon Cain, that whosoever found him should not kill him. + +Set a mark, etc. . .The more common opinion of the interpreters of holy +writ supposes this mark to have been a trembling of the body; or a +horror and consternation in his countenance. + +4:16. And Cain went out from the face of the Lord, and dwelt as a +fugitive on the earth at the east side of Eden. + +4:17. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived, and brought forth +Henoch: and he built a city, and called the name thereof by the name of +his son Henoch. + +His wife. . .She was a daughter of Adam, and Cain's own sister; God +dispensing with such marriages in the beginning of the world, as +mankind could not otherwise be propagated. He built a city, viz. . .In +process of time, when his race was multiplied, so as to be numerous +enough to people it. For in the many hundred years he lived, his race +might be multiplied even to millions. + +4:18. And Henoch begot Irad, and Irad begot Maviael, and Maviael begot +Mathusael, and Mathusael begot Lamech, + +4:19. Who took two wives: the name of the one was Ada, and the name of +the other Sella. + +4:20. And Ada brought forth Jabel: who was the father of such as dwell +in tents, and of herdsmen. + +4:21. And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of them that +play upon the harp and the organs. + +4:22. Sella also brought forth Tubalcain, who was a hammerer and +artificer in every work of brass and iron. And the sister of Tubalcain +was Noema. + +4:23. And Lamech said to his wives Ada and Sella: Hear my voice, ye +wives of Lamech, hearken to my speech: for I have slain a man to the +wounding of myself, and a stripling to my own bruising. + +I have slain a man, etc. . .It is the tradition of the Hebrews, that +Lamech in hunting slew Cain, mistaking him for a wild beast; and that +having discovered what he had done, he beat so unmercifully the youth, +by whom he was led into that mistake, that he died of the blows. + +4:24. Sevenfold vengeance shall be taken for Cain: but for Lamech +seventy times sevenfold. + +4:25. Adam also knew his wife again: and she brought forth a son, and +called his name Seth, saying: God hath given me another seed for Abel, +whom Cain slew. + +4:26. But to Seth also was born a son, whom he called Enos: this man +began to call upon the name of the Lord. + +Began to call upon, etc. . .Not that Adam and Seth had not called upon +God, before the birth of Enos; but that Enos used more solemnity in the +worship and invocation of God. + + + +Genesis Chapter 5 + + +The genealogy, age, and death of the Patriarchs, from Adam to Noe. The +translation of Henoch. + +5:1. This is the book of the generation of Adam. In the day that God +created man, he made him to the likeness of God. + +5:2. He created them male and female; and blessed them: and called +their name Adam, in the day when they were created. + +5:3. And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begot a son to his +own image and likeness, and called his name Seth. + +5:4. And the days of Adam, after he begot Seth, were eight hundred +years: and he begot sons and daughters. + +5:5. And all the time that Adam lived, came to nine hundred and thirty +years, and he died. + +5:6. Seth also lived a hundred and five years, and begot Enos. + +5:7. And Seth lived after he begot Enos, eight hundred and seven years, +and begot sons and daughters. + +5:8. And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and +he died. + +5:9. And Enos lived ninety years, and begot Cainan. + +5:10. After whose birth he lived eight hundred and fifteen years, and +begot sons and daughters. + +5:11. And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years, and he +died. + +5:12. And Cainan lived seventy years, and begot Malaleel. + +5:13. And Cainan lived after he begot Malaleel, eight hundred and forty +years, and begot sons and daughters. + +5:14. And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and +he died. + +5:15. And Malaleel lived sixty-five years and begot Jared. + +5:16. And Malaleel lived after he begot Jared, eight hundred and thirty +years, and begot sons and daughters. + +5:17. And all the days of Malaleel were eight hundred and ninety-five +years, and he died. + +5:18. And Jared lived a hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Henoch. + +5:19. And Jared lived after he begot Henoch, eight hundred years, and +begot sons and daughters. + +5:20. And all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, +and he died. + +5:21. And Henoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Mathusala. + +5:22. And Henoch walked with God: and lived after he begot Mathusala, +three hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. + +5:23. And all the days of Henoch were three hundred and sixty-five +years. + +5:24. And he walked with God, and was seen no more: because God took +him. + +5:25. And Mathusala lived a hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot +Lamech. + +5:26. And Mathlusala lived after he begot Lamech, seven hundred and +eighty-two years, and begot sons and daughters. + +5:27. And all the days of Mathusala were nine hundred and sixty-nine +years, and he died. + +5:28. And Lamech lived a hundred and eighty-two years, and begot a son. + +5:29. And he called his name Noe, saying: This same shall comfort us +from the works and labours of our hands on the earth, which the Lord +hath cursed. + +5:30. And Lamech lived after he begot Noe, five hundred and ninety-five +years, and begot sons and daughters. + +5:31. And all the days of Lamech came to seven hundred and +seventy-seven years, and he died. And Noe, when he was five hundred +years old, begot Sem, Cham, and Japheth. + + + +Genesis Chapter 6 + + +Man's sin is the cause of the deluge. Noe is commanded to build the +ark. + +6:1. And after that men began to be multiplied upon the earth, and +daughters were born to them, + +6:2. The sons of God seeing the daughters of men, that they were fair, +took to themselves wives of all which they chose. + +The sons of God. . .The descendants of Seth and Enos are here called +sons of God from their religion and piety: whereas the ungodly race of +Cain, who by their carnal affections lay grovelling upon the earth, are +called the children of men. The unhappy consequence of the former +marrying with the latter, ought to be a warning to Christians to be +very circumspect in their marriages; and not to suffer themselves to be +determined in their choice by their carnal passion, to the prejudice of +virtue or religion. + +6:3. And God said: My spirit shall not remain in man for ever, because +he is flesh, and his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. + +His days shall be, etc. . .The meaning is, that man's days, which before +the flood were usually 900 years, should now be reduced to 120 years. +Or rather, that God would allow men this term of 120 years, for their +repentance and conversion, before he would send the deluge. + +6:4. Now giants were upon the earth in those days. For after the sons +of God went in to the daughters of men, and they brought forth +children, these are the mighty men of old, men of renown. + +Giants. . .It is likely the generality of men before the flood were of a +gigantic stature in comparison with what men now are. But these here +spoken of are called giants, as being not only tall in stature, but +violent and savage in their dispositions, and mere monsters of cruelty +and lust. + +6:5. And God seeing that the wickedness of men was great on the earth, +and that all the thought of their heart was bent upon evil at all +times, + +6:6. It repented him that he had made man on the earth. And being +touched inwardly with sorrow of heart, + +It repented him, etc. . .God, who is unchangeable, is not capable of +repentance, grief, or any other passion. But these expressions are used +to declare the enormity of the sins of men, which was so provoking as +to determine their Creator to destroy these his creatures, whom before +he had so much favoured. + +6:7. He said: I will destroy man, whom I have created, from the face of +the earth, from man even to beasts, from the creeping thing even to the +fowls of the air, for it repenteth me that I have made them. + +6:8. But Noe found grace before the Lord. + +6:9. These are the generations of Noe: Noe was a just and perfect man +in his generations, he walked with God. + +6:10. And he begot three sons, Sem, Cham, and Japheth. + +6:11. And the earth was corrupted before God, and was filled with +iniquity. + +6:12. And when God had seen that the earth was corrupted (for all flesh +had corrupted its way upon the earth), + +6:13. He said to Noe: The end of all flesh is come before me, the earth +is filled with iniquity through them, and I will destroy them with the +earth. + +6:14. Make thee an ark of timber planks: thou shalt make little rooms +in the ark, and thou shalt pitch it within and without. + +6:15. And thus shalt thou make it. The length of the ark shall be three +hundred cubits: the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it +thirty cubits. + +Three hundred cubits, etc. . .The ark, according to the dimensions here +set down, contained four hundred and fifty thousand square cubits; +which was more than enough to contain all the kinds of living +creatures, with all necessary provisions: even supposing the cubits +here spoken of to have been only a foot and a half each, which was the +least kind of cubits. + +6:16. Thou shalt make a window in the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou +finish the top of it: and the door of the ark thou shalt set in the +side: with lower, middle chambers, and third stories shalt thou make +it. + +6:17. Behold, I will bring the waters of a great flood upon the earth, +to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life under heaven. All +things that are in the earth shall be consumed. + +6:18. And I will establish my covenant with thee, and thou shalt enter +into the ark, thou and thy sons, and thy wife, and the wives of thy +sons with thee. + +6:19. And of every living creature of all flesh, thou shalt bring two +of a sort into the ark, that they may live with thee: of the male sex, +and the female. + +6:20. Of fowls according to their kind, and of beasts in their kind, +and of every thing that creepeth on the earth according to its kind: +two of every sort shall go in with thee, that they may live. + +6:21. Thou shalt take unto thee of all food that may be eaten, and thou +shalt lay it up with thee: and it shall be food for thee and them. + +6:22. And Noe did all things which God commanded him. + + + +Genesis Chapter 7 + + +Noe with his family go into the ark. The deluge overflows the earth. + +7:1. And the Lord said to him: Go in, thou and all thy house, into the +ark: for thee I have seen just before me in this generation. + +7:2. Of all clean beasts take seven and seven, the male and the female. + +Of all clean. . .The distinction of clean and unclean beasts appears to +have been made before the law of Moses, which was not promulgated till +the year of the world 2514. + +7:3. But of the beasts that are unclean two and two, the male and the +female. Of the fowls also of the air seven and seven, the male and the +female: that seed may be saved upon the face of the whole earth. + +7:4. For yet a while, and after seven days, I will rain upon the earth +forty days and forty nights: and I will destroy every substance that I +have made, from the face of the earth. + +7:5. And Noe did all things which the Lord had commanded him. + +7:6. And he was six hundred years old, when the waters of the flood +overflowed the earth. + +7:7. And Noe went in and his sons, his wife and the wives of his sons +with him into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. + +7:8. And of beasts clean and unclean, and of fowls, and of every thing +that moveth upon the earth, + +7:9. Two and two went in to Noe into the ark, male and female, as the +Lord had commanded Noe. + +7:10. And after the seven days were passed, the waters of the flood +overflowed the earth. + +7:11. In the six hundredth year of the life of Noe, in the second +month, in the seventeenth day of the month, all the fountains of the +great deep were broken up, and the floodgates of heaven were opened: + +7:12. And the rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights. + +7:13. In the selfsame day Noe, and Sem, and Cham, and Japheth, his +sons: his wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, went into +the ark. + +7:14. They and every beast according to its kind, and all the cattle in +their kind, and every thing that moveth upon the earth, according to +its kind, and every fowl according to its kind, all birds, and all that +fly, + +7:15. Went in to Noe into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein +was the breath of life. + +7:16. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as +God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in on the outside. + +7:17. And the flood was forty days upon the earth: and the waters +increased, and lifted up the ark on high from the earth. + +7:18. For they overflowed exceedingly: and filled all on the face of +the earth: and the ark was carried upon the waters. + +7:19. And the waters prevailed beyond measure upon the earth: and all +the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered. + +7:20. The water was fifteen cubits higher than the mountains which it +covered. + +7:21. And all flesh was destroyed that moved upon the earth, both of +fowl and of cattle, and of beasts, and of all creeping things that +creep upon the earth: and all men. + +7:22. And all things wherein there is the breath of life on the earth, +died. + +7:23. And he destroyed all the substance that was upon the earth, from +man even to beast, and the creeping things and fowls of the air: and +they were destroyed from the earth: and Noe only remained, and they +that were with him in the ark. + +7:24. And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days. + + + +Genesis Chapter 8 + + +The deluge ceaseth. Noe goeth out of the ark, and offereth a sacrifice. +God's covenant to him. + +8:1. And God remembered Noe, and all the living creatures, and all the +cattle which were with him in the ark, and brought a wind upon the +earth, and the waters were abated: + +8:2. The fountains also of the deep, and the floodgates of heaven, were +shut up, and the rain from heaven was restrained. + +8:3. And the waters returned from off the earth going and coming: and +they began to be abated after a hundred and fifty days. + +8:4. And the ark rested in the seventh month, the seven and twentieth +day of the month, upon the mountains of Armenia. + +8:5. And the waters were going and decreasing until the tenth month: +for in the tenth month, the first day of the month, the tops of the +mountains appeared. + +8:6. And after that forty days were passed, Noe opening the window of +the ark, which he had made, sent forth a raven: + +8:7. Which went forth and did not return, till the waters were dried up +upon the earth. + +Did not return. . .The raven did not return into the ark; but (as it may +be gathered from the Hebrew) went to and fro; sometimes going to the +mountains, where it found carcasses to feed on: and other times +returning, to rest upon the top of the ark. + +8:8. He sent forth also a dove after him, to see if the waters had now +ceased upon the face of the earth. + +8:9. But she not finding where her foot might rest, returned to him +into the ark: for the waters were upon the whole earth: and he put +forth his hand, and caught her, and brought her into the ark. + +8:10. And having waited yet seven other days, he again sent forth the +dove out of the ark. + +8:11. And she came to him in the evening carrying a bough of an olive +tree, with green leaves, in her mouth. Noe therefore understood that +the waters were ceased upon the earth. + +8:12. And he stayed yet other seven days: and he sent forth the dove, +which returned not any more unto him. + +8:13. Therefore in the six hundredth and first year, the first month, +the first day of the month, the waters were lessened upon the earth, +and Noe opening the covering of the ark, looked, and saw that the face +of the earth was dried. + +8:14. In the second month, the seven and twentieth day of the month, +the earth was dried. + +8:15. And God spoke to Noe, saying: + +8:16. Go out of the ark, thou and thy wife, thy sons and the wives of +thy sons with thee. + +8:17. All living things that are with thee of all flesh, as well in +fowls as in beasts, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, +bring out with thee, and go ye upon the earth: increase and multiply +upon it. + +8:18. So Noe went out, he and his sons: his wife, and the wives of his +sons with him. + +8:19. And all living things, and cattle, and creeping things that creep +upon the earth, according to their kinds went out of the ark. + +8:20. And Noe built an altar unto the Lord: and taking of all cattle +and fowls that were clean, offered holocausts upon the altar. + +Holocausts,. . .or whole burnt offerings. In which the whole victim was +consumed by fire upon God's altar, and no part was reserved for the use +of priest or people. + +8:21. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and said: I will no more +curse the earth for the sake of man: for the imagination and thought of +man's heart are prone to evil from his youth: therefore I will no more +destroy every living soul as I have done. + +Smelled, etc. . .A figurative expression, denoting that God was well +pleased with the sacrifices which his servant offered. + +8:22. All the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, +summer and winter, night and day, shall not cease. + + + +Genesis Chapter 9 + + +God blesseth Noe: forbiddeth blood, and promiseth never more to destroy +the world by water. The blessing of Sem and Japheth. + +9:1. And God blessed Noe and his sons. And he said to them: Increase, +and multiply, and fill the earth. + +9:2. And let the fear and dread of you be upon all the beasts of the +earth, and upon all the fowls of the air, and all that move upon the +earth: all the fishes of the sea are delivered into your hand. + +9:3. And every thing that moveth, and liveth shall be meat for you: +even as the green herbs have I delivered them all to you: + +9:4. Saving that flesh with blood you shall not eat. + +9:5. For I will require the blood of your lives at the hand of every +beast, and at the hand of man, at the hand of every man, and of his +brother, will I require the life of man. + +9:6. Whosoever shall shed man's blood, his blood shall be shed: for man +was made to the image of God. + +9:7. But increase you and multiply, and go upon the earth and fill it. + +9:8. Thus also said God to Noe, and to his sons with him: + +9:9. Behold I will establish my covenant with you, and with your seed +after you: + +9:10. And with every living soul that is with you, as well in all +birds, as in cattle and beasts of the earth, that are come forth out of +the ark, and in all the beasts of the earth. + +9:11. I will establish my covenant with you, and all flesh shall be no +more destroyed with the waters of a flood, neither shall there be from +henceforth a flood to waste the earth. + +9:12. And God said: This is the sign of the covenant which I give +between me and you, and to every living soul that is with you, for +perpetual generations. + +9:13. I will set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be the sign of a +covenant between me and between the earth. + +9:14. And when I shall cover the sky with clouds, my bow shall appear +in the clouds: + +9:15. And I will remember my covenant with you, and with every living +soul that beareth flesh: and there shall no more be waters of a flood +to destroy all flesh. + +9:16. And the bow shall be in the clouds, and I shall see it, and shall +remember the everlasting covenant, that was made between God and every +living soul of all flesh which is upon the earth. + +9:17. And God said to Noe: This shall be the sign of the covenant, +which I have established, between me and all flesh upon the earth. + +9:18. And the sons of Noe, who came out of the ark, were Sem, Cham, and +Japheth: and Cham is the father of Chanaan. + +9:19. These three are the sons of Noe: and from these was all mankind +spread over the whole earth. + +9:20. And Noe a husbandman began to till the ground, and planted a +vineyard. + +9:21. And drinking of the wine was made drunk, and was uncovered in his +tent. + +Drunk. . .Noe by the judgment of the fathers was not guilty of sin, in +being overcome by wine: because he knew not the strength of it. + +9:22. Which when Cham the father of Chanaan had seen, to wit, that his +father's nakedness was uncovered, he told it to his two brethren +without. + +9:23. But Sem and Japheth put a cloak upon their shoulders, and going +backward, covered the nakedness of their father: and their faces were +turned away, and they saw not their father's nakedness. + +Covered the nakedness. . .Thus, as St. Gregory takes notice L. 35; +Moral. c. 22, we ought to cover the nakedness, that is, the sins, of +our spiritual parents and superiors. + +9:24. And Noe awaking from the wine, when he had learned what his +younger son had done to him, + +9:25. He said: Cursed be Chanaan, a servant of servants shall he be +unto his brethren. + +Cursed be Chanaan. . .The curses, as well as the blessings, of the +patriarchs, were prophetical: And this in particular is here recorded +by Moses, for the children of Israel, who were to possess the land of +Chanaan. But why should Chanaan be cursed for his father's faults? The +Hebrews answer, that he being then a boy, was the first that saw his +grandfather's nakedness, and told his father Cham of it; and joined +with him in laughing at it: which drew upon him, rather than upon the +rest of the children of Cham, this prophetical curse. + +9:26. And he said: Blessed be the Lord God of Sem, be Chanaan his +servant. + +9:27. May God enlarge Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Sem, +and Chanaan be his servant. + +9:28. And Noe lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. + +9:29. And all his days were in the whole nine hundred and fifty years: +and he died. + + + +Genesis Chapter 10 + + +The genealogy of the children of Noe, by whom the world was peopled +after the flood. + +10:1. These are the generations of the sons of Noe: Sem, Cham, and +Japheth: and unto them sons were born after the flood. + +10:2. The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and +Thubal, and Mosoch, and Thiras. + +10:3. And the sons of Gomer: Ascenez and Riphath and Thogorma. + +10:4. And the sons of Javan: Elisa and Tharsis, Cetthim and Dodanim. + +10:5. By these were divided the islands of the Gentiles in their lands, +every one according to his tongue and their families in their nations. + +The islands. . .So the Hebrews called all the remote countries, to which +they went by ships from Judea, to Greece, Italy, Spain, etc. + +10:6. And the Sons of Cham: Chus, and Mesram, and Phuth, and Chanaan. + +10:7. And the sons of Chus: Saba, and Hevila, and Sabatha, and Regma, +and Sabatacha. The sons of Regma: Saba, and Dadan. + +10:8. Now Chus begot Nemrod: he began to be mighty on the earth. + +10:9. And he was a stout hunter before the Lord. Hence came a proverb: +Even as Nemrod the stout hunter before the Lord. + +A stout hunter. . .Not of beasts but of men: whom by violence and +tyranny he brought under his dominion. And such he was, not only in the +opinion of men, but before the Lord, that is, in his sight who cannot +be deceived. + +10:10. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babylon, and Arach, and +Achad, and Chalanne in the land of Sennaar. + +10:11. Out of that land came forth Assur, and built Ninive, and the +streets of the city, and Chale. + +10:12. Resen also between Ninive and Chale: this is the great city. + +10:13. And Mesraim begot Ludim, and Anamim and Laabim, Nephthuim. + +10:14. And Phetrusim, and Chasluim; of whom came forth the Philistines, +and the Capthorim. + +10:15. And Chanaan begot Sidon his firstborn, the Hethite, + +10:16. And the Jebusite, and the Amorrhite, and the Gergesite. + +10:17. The Hevite and Aracite: the Sinite, + +10:18. And the Aradian, the Samarite, and the Hamathite: and afterwards +the families of the Chanaanites were spread abroad. + +10:19. And the limits of Chanaan were from Sidon as one comes to Gerara +even to Gaza, until thou enter Sodom and Gomorrha, and Adama, and +Seboim even to Lesa. + +10:20. These are the children of Cham in their kindreds and tongues, +and generations, and lands, and nations. + +10:21. Of Sem also the father of all the children of Heber, the elder +brother of Japheth, sons were born. + +10:22. The sons of Sem: Elam and Assur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and +Aram. + +10:23. The sons of Aram: Us, and Hull, and Gether; and Mes. + +10:24. But Arphaxad begot Sale, of whom was born Heber. + +10:25. And to Heber were born two sons: the name of the one was Phaleg, +because in his days was the earth divided: and his brother's name +Jectan. + +10:26. Which Jectan begot Elmodad, and Saleph, and Asarmoth, Jare, + +10:27. And Aduram, and Uzal, and Decla, + +10:28. And Ebal, and Abimael, Saba, + +10:29. And Ophir, and Hevila, and Jobab. All these were the sons of +Jectan. + +10:30. And their dwelling was from Messa as we go on as far as Sephar, +a mountain in the east. + +10:31. These are the children of Sem according to their kindreds and +tongues, and countries in their nations. + +10:32. These are the families of Noe, according to their people and +nations. By these were the nations divided on the earth after the +flood. + + + +Genesis Chapter 11 + + +The tower of Babel. The confusion of tongues. The genealogy of Sem down +to Abram. + +11:1. And the earth was of one tongue, and of the same speech. + +11:2. And when they removed from the east, they found a plain in the +land of Sennaar, and dwelt in it. + +11:3. And each one said to his neighbour: Come let us make brick, and +bake them with fire. And they had brick instead of stones, and slime +instead of mortar: + +11:4. And they said: Come, let us make a city and a tower, the top +whereof may reach to heaven; and let us make our name famous before we +be scattered abroad into all lands. + +11:5. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the +children of Adam were building. + +11:6. And he said: Behold, it is one people, and all have one tongue: +and they have begun to do this, neither will they leave off from their +designs, till they accomplish them in deed. + +11:7. Come ye, therefore, let us go down, and there confound their +tongue, that they may not understand one another's speech. + +11:8. And so the Lord scattered them from that place into all lands, +and they ceased to build the city. + +11:9. And therefore the name thereof was called Babel, because there +the language of the whole earth was confounded: and from thence the +Lord scattered them abroad upon the face of all countries. + +Babel. . .That is, confusion. + +11:10. These are the generations of Sem: Sem was a hundred years old +when he begot Arphaxad, two years after the flood. + +11:11. And Sem lived after he begot Arphaxad, five hundred years, and +begot sons and daughters. + +11:12. And Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Sale. + +11:13. And Arphaxad lived after he begot Sale, three hundred and three +years, and begot sons and daughters. + +11:14. Sale also lived thirty years, and begot Heber. + +11:15. And Sale lived after he begot Heber, four hundred and three +years: and begot sons and daughters. + +11:16. And Heber lived thirty-four years, and begot Phaleg. + +11:17. And Heber lived after he begot Phaleg, four hundred and thirty +years: and begot sons and daughters. + +11:18. Phaleg also lived thirty years, and begot Reu. + +11:19. And Phaleg lived after he begot Reu, two hundred and nine years, +and begot sons and daughters. + +11:20. And Reu lived thirty-two years, and begot Sarug. + +11:21. And Reu lived after he begot Sarug, two hundred and seven years, +and begot sons and daughters. + +11:22. And Sarug lived thirty years, and begot Nachor. + +11:23. And Sarug lived after he begot Nachor, two hundred years, and +begot sons and daughters. + +11:24. And Nachor lived nine and twenty years, and begot Thare. + +11:25. And Nachor lived after he begot Thare, a hundred and nineteen +years, and begot sons and daughters. + +11:26. And Thare lived seventy years, and begot Abram, and Nachor, and +Aran. + +11:27. And these are the generations of Thare: Thare begot Abram, +Nachor, and Aran. And Aran begot Lot. + +11:28. And Aran died before Thare his father, in the land of his +nativity in Ur of the Chaldees. + +11:29. And Abram and Nachor married wives: the name of Abram's wife was +Sarai: and the name of Nachor's wife, Melcha, the daughter of Aran, +father of Melcha and father of Jescha. + +11:30. And Sarai was barren, and had no children. + +11:31. And Thare took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Aran, his son's +son, and Sarai his daughter in law, the wife of Abram his son, and +brought them out of Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Chanaan: +and they came as far as Haran, and dwelt there. + +11:32. And the days of Thare were two hundred and five years, and he +died in Haran. + + + +Genesis Chapter 12 + + +The call of Abram, and the promise made to him. He sojourneth in +Chanaan, and then by occasion of a famine, goeth down to Egypt. + +12:1. And the Lord said to Abram: Go forth out of thy country, and from +thy kindred, and out of thy father's house, and come into the land +which I shall shew thee. + +12:2. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, +and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed. + +12:3. I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse +thee, and IN THEE shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. + +12:4. So Abram went out as the Lord had commanded him, and Lot went +with him: Abram was seventy-five years old when he went forth from +Haran. + +12:5. And he took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all +the substance which they had gathered, and the souls which they had +gotten in Haran: and they went out to go into the land of Chanaan. And +when they were come into it, + +12:6. Abram passed through the country unto the place of Sichem, as far +as the noble vale: now the Chanaanite was at that time in the land. + +12:7. And the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him: To thy seed will +I give this land. And he built there an altar to the Lord, who had +appeared to him. + +12:8. And passing on from thence to a mountain, that was on the east +side of Bethel, he there pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, +and Hai on the east: he built there also an altar to the Lord, and +called upon his name. + +12:9. And Abram went forward, going and proceeding on to the south. + +12:10. And there came a famine in the country: and Abram went down into +Egypt, to sojourn there: for the famine was very grievous in the land. + +12:11. And when he was near to enter into Egypt, he said to Sarai his +wife: I know that thou art a beautiful woman: + +12:12. And that when the Egyptians shall see thee, they will say: She +is his wife: and they will kill me, and keep thee. + +12:13. Say, therefore, I pray thee, that thou art my sister: that I may +be well used for thee, and that my soul may live for thy sake. + +My sister. . .This was no lie; because she was his niece, being daughter +to his brother Aran, and therefore, in the style of the Hebrews, she +might truly be called his sister, as Lot is called Abram's brother, +Gen. 14.14. See Gen. 20.12. + +12:14. And when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians saw the woman +that she was very beautiful. + +12:15. And the princes told Pharao, and praised her before him: and the +woman was taken into the house of Pharao. + +12:16. And they used Abram well for her sake. And he had sheep and oxen +and he asses, and men servants, and maid servants, and she asses, and +camels. + +12:17. But the Lord scourged Pharao and his house with most grievous +stripes for Sarai, Abram's wife. + +12:18. And Pharao called Abram, and said to him: What is this that thou +hast done to me? Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? + +12:19. For what cause didst thou say, she was thy sister, that I might +take her to my wife? Now therefore there is thy wife, take her, and go +thy way. + +12:20. And Pharao gave his men orders concerning Abram: and they led +him away and his wife, and all that he had. + + + +Genesis Chapter 13 + + +Abram and Lot part from each other. God's promise to Abram. + +13:1. And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he +had, and Lot with him into the south. + +13:2. And he was very rich in possession of gold and silver. + +13:3. And he returned by the way, that he came, from the south to +Bethel, to the place where before he had pitched his tent between +Bethel and Hai, + +13:4. In the place of the altar which he had made before, and there he +called upon the name of the Lord. + +13:5. But Lot also, who was with Abram, had flocks of sheep, and herds +of beasts, and tents. + +13:6. Neither was the land able to bear them, that they might dwell +together: for their substance was great, and they could not dwell +together. + +13:7. Whereupon also there arose a strife between the herdsmen of Abram +and of Lot. And at that time the Chanaanite and the Pherezite dwelled +in that country. + +13:8. Abram therefore said to Lot: Let there be no quarrel, I beseech +thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen: +for we are brethren. + +13:9. Behold the whole land is before thee: depart from me, I pray +thee: if thou wilt go to the left hand, I will take the right: if thou +choose the right hand, I will pass to the left. + +13:10. And Lot lifting up his eyes, saw all the country about the +Jordan, which was watered throughout, before the Lord destroyed Sodom +and Gomorrha, as the paradise of the Lord, and like Egypt as one comes +to Segor. + +13:11. And Lot chose to himself the country about the Jordan, and he +departed from the east: and they were separated one brother from the +other. + +13:12. Abram dwelt in the land of Chanaan: and Lot abode in the towns, +that were about the Jordan, and dwelt in Sodom. + +13:13. And the men of Sodom were very wicked, and sinners before the +face of the Lord beyond measure. + +13:14. And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him: +Lift up thy eyes, and look from the place wherein thou now art, to the +north and to the south, to the east and to the west. + +13:15. All the land which thou seest, I will give to thee, and to thy +seed for ever. + +13:16. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: if any man be +able to number the dust of the earth, he shall be able to number thy +seed also. + +13:17. Arise and walk through the land in the length, and the breadth +thereof: for I will give it to thee. + +13:18. So Abram removing his tent, came, and dwelt by the vale of +Mambre, which is in Hebron: and he built there an altar to the Lord. + + + +Genesis Chapter 14 + + +The expedition of the four kings; the victory of Abram; he is blessed +by Melchisedech. + +14:1. And it came to pass at that time, that Amraphel, king of Sennaar, +and Arioch, king of Pontus, and Chodorlahomor, king of the Elamites, +and Thadal, king of nations, + +14:2. Made war against Bara, king of Sodom, and against Bersa, king of +Gomorrha, and against Sennaab, king of Adama, and against Semeber, king +of Seboim, and against the king of Bala, which is Segor. + +14:3. All these came together into the woodland vale, which now is the +salt sea. + +14:4. For they had served Chodorlahomor twelve years, and in the +thirteenth year they revolted from him. + +14:5. And in the fourteenth year came Chodorlahomor, and the kings that +were with him: and they smote the Raphaim in Astarothcarnaim, and the +Zuzim with them, and the Emim in Save of Cariathaim. + +14:6. And the Chorreans in the mountains of Seir, even to the plains of +Pharan, which is in the wilderness. + +14:7. And they returned, and came to the fountain of Misphat, the same +is Cades: and they smote all the country of the Amalecites, and the +Amorrhean that dwelt in Asasonthamar. + +14:8. And the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrha, and the king of +Adama, and the king of Seboim, and the king of Bala, which is Segor, +went out: and they set themselves against them in battle array, in the +woodland vale: + +14:9. To wit, against Chodorlahomor king of the Elamites, and Thadal +king of nations, and Amraphel king of Sennaar, and Arioch king of +Pontus: four kings against five. + +14:10. Now the woodland vale had many pits of slime. And the king of +Sodom, and the king of Gomorrha turned their backs, and were overthrown +there: and they that remained, fled to the mountain. + +Of slime. Bituminis. . .This was a kind of pitch, which served for +mortar in the building of Babel, Gen. 11.3, and was used by Noe in +pitching the ark. + +14:11. And they took all the substance of the Sodomites, and +Gomorrhites, and all their victuals, and went their way: + +14:12. And Lot also, the son of Abram's brother, who dwelt in Sodom, +and his substance. + +14:13. And behold one, that had escaped, told Abram the Hebrew, who +dwelt in the vale of Mambre the Amorrhite, the brother of Escol, and +the brother of Aner: for these had made a league with Abram. + +14:14. Which when Abram had heard, to wit, that his brother Lot was +taken, he numbered of the servants born in his house, three hundred and +eighteen, well appointed: and pursued them to Dan. + +14:15. And dividing his company, he rushed upon them in the night, and +defeated them: and pursued them as far as Hoba, which is on the left +hand of Damascus. + +14:16. And he brought back all the substance, and Lot his brother, with +his substance, the women also, and the people. + +14:17. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after he returned +from the slaughter of Chodorlahomor, and of the kings that were with +him in the vale of Save, which is the king's vale. + +14:18. But Melchisedech, the king of Salem, bringing forth bread and +wine, for he was the priest of the most high God, + +14:19. Blessed him, and said: Blessed be Abram by the most high God, +who created heaven and earth. + +14:20. And blessed be the most high God, by whose protection, the +enemies are in thy hands. And he gave him the tithes of all. + +14:21. And the king of Sodom said to Abram: Give me the persons, and +the rest take to thyself. + +14:22. And he answered him: I lift up my hand to the Lord God the most +high, the possessor of heaven and earth, + +14:23. That from the very woof thread unto the shoe latchet, I will not +take of any things that are thine, lest thou say: I have enriched +Abram. + +14:24. Except such things as the young men have eaten, and the shares +of the men that came with me, Aner, Escol, and Mambre: these shall take +their shares. + + + +Genesis Chapter 15 + + +God promiseth seed to Abram. His faith, sacrifice and vision. + +15:1. Now when these things were done, the word of the Lord came to +Abram by a vision, saying: Fear not, Abram, I am thy protector, and thy +reward exceeding great. + +15:2. And Abram said: Lord God, what wilt thou give me? I shall go +without children: and the son of the steward of my house is this +Damascus Eliezer. + +15:3. And Abram added: But to me thou hast not given seed: and lo my +servant born in my house, shall be my heir. + +15:4. And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying : He +shall not be thy heir: but he that shall come out of thy bowels, him +shalt thou have for thy heir. + +15:5. And he brought him forth abroad, and said to him: Look up to +heaven and number the stars if thou canst. And he said to him: So shall +thy seed be. + +15:6. Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice. + +15:7. And he said to him: I am the Lord who brought thee out from Ur of +the Chaldees, to give thee this land, and that thou mightest possess +it. + +15:8. But he said: Lord God, whereby may I know that I shall possess +it? + +15:9. And the Lord answered, and said: Take me a cow of three years +old, and a she-goat of three years. and a ram of three years, a turtle +also, and a pigeon. + +15:10. And he took all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid +the two pieces of each one against the other: but the birds he divided +not. + +15:11. And the fowls came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them +away. + +15:12. And when the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and +a great and darksome horror seized upon him. + +15:13. And it was said unto him: Know thou beforehand that thy seed +shall be a stranger in a land not their own, and they shall bring them +under bondage, and afflict them four hundred years. + +15:14. But I will judge the nation which they shall serve, and after +this they shall come out with great substance. + +15:15. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace, and be buried in a +good old age. + +15:16. But in the fourth generation they shall return hither: for as +yet the iniquities of the Amorrhites are not at the full until this +present time. + +15:17. And when the sun was set, there arose a dark mist, and there +appeared a smoking furnace, and a lamp of fire passing between those +divisions. + +15:18. That day God made a covenant with Abram, saying: To thy seed +will I give this land, from the river to Egypt even to the great river +Euphrates. + +15:19. The Cineans, and Cenezites, the Cedmonites, + +15:20. And the Hethites, and the Pherezites, the Raphaim also, + +15:21. And the Amorrhites, and the Chanaanites, and the Gergesites, and +the Jebusites. + + + +Genesis Chapter 16 + + +Abram marrieth Agar, who bringeth forth Ismael. + +16:1. Now Sarai, the wife of Abram, had brought forth no children: but +having a handmaid, an Egyptian, named Agar, + +16:2. She said to her husband: Behold, the Lord hath restrained me from +bearing: go in unto my handmaid, it may be I may have children of her +at least. And when he agreed to her request, + +16:3. She took Agar the Egyptian her handmaid, ten years after they +first dwelt in the land of Chanaan, and gave her to her husband to +wife. + +To wife. . .Plurality of wives, though contrary to the primitive +institution of marriage, Gen. 2.24, was by divine dispensation allowed +to the patriarchs: which allowance seems to have continued during the +time of the law of Moses. But Christ our Lord reduced marriage to its +primitive institution. Matt. 19. + +16:4. And he went in to her. But she perceiving that she was with +child, despised her mistress. + +16:5. And Sarai said to Abram: Thou dost unjustly with me: I gave my +handmaid into thy bosom, and she perceiving herself to be with child, +despiseth me. The Lord judge between me and thee. + +16:6. And Abram made answer, and said to her: Behold thy handmaid is in +thy own hand, use her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai afflicted +her, she ran away. + +16:7. And the angel of the Lord having found her, by a fountain of +water in the wilderness, which is in the way to Sur in the desert, + +16:8. He said to her: Agar, handmaid of Sarai, whence comest thou? and +whither goest thou? And she answered: I flee from the face of Sarai, my +mistress. + +16:9. And the angel of the Lord said to her: Return to thy mistress, +and humble thyself under her hand. + +16:10. And again he said: I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, and it +shall not be numbered for multitude. + +16:11. And again: Behold, said he, thou art with child, and thou shalt +bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Ismael, because the +Lord hath heard thy affliction. + +16:12. He shall be a wild man: his hand will be against all men, and +all men's hands against him: and he shall pitch his tents over against +all his brethren. + +16:13. And she called the name of the Lord that spoke unto her: Thou +the God who hast seen me. For she said: Verily, here have I seen the +hinder parts of him that seeth me. + +16:14. Therefore she called that well, the well of him that liveth and +seeth me. The same is between Cades and Barad. + +16:15. And Agar brought forth a son to Abram: who called his name +Ismael. + +16:16. Abram was four score and six years old when Agar brought him +forth Ismael. + + + +Genesis Chapter 17 + + +The Covenant of circumcision. + +17:1. And after he began to be ninety and nine years old, the Lord +appeared to him: and said unto him: I am the Almighty God: walk before +me, and be perfect. + +17:2. And I will make my covenant between me and thee: and I will +multiply thee exceedingly. + +17:3. Abram fell flat on his face. + +17:4. And God said to him: I am, and my covenant is with thee, and thou +shalt be a father of many nations. + +17:5. Neither shall thy name be called any more Abram: but thou shalt +be called Abraham: because I have made thee a father of many nations. + +Abram. . .in the Hebrew, signifies a high father: but Abraham, the +father of the multitude; Sarai signifies my Lady, but Sara absolutely +Lady. + +17:6. And I will make thee increase exceedingly, and I will make +nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. + +17:7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and between +thy seed after thee in their generations, by a perpetual covenant: to +be a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee. + +17:8. And I will give to thee, and to thy seed, the land of thy +sojournment, all the land of Chanaan, for a perpetual possession, and I +will be their God. + +17:9. Again God said to Abraham: And thou therefore shalt keep my +covenant, and thy seed after thee in their generations. + +17:10. This is my covenant which you shall observe between me and you, +and thy seed after thee: All the male-kind of you shall be circumcised. + +17:11. And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, that it may +be for a sign of the covenant between me and you. + +17:12. An infant of eight days old shall be circumcised among you, +every manchild in your generations: he that is born in the house, as +well as the bought servant, shall be circumcised, and whosoever is not +of your stock: + +17:13. And my covenant shall be in your flesh for a perpetual covenant. + +17:14. The male whose flesh of his foreskin shall not be circumcised, +that soul shall be destroyed out of his people: because he hath broken +my covenant. + +17:15. God said also to Abraham: Sarai thy wife thou shalt not call +Sarai, but Sara. + +17:16. And I will bless her, and of her I will give thee a son, whom I +will bless, and he shall become nations, and kings of people shall +spring from him. + +17:17. Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, saying in his heart: +Shall a son, thinkest thou, be born to him that is a hundred years old? +and shall Sara that is ninety years old bring forth? + +17:18. And he said to God: O that Ismael may live before thee. + +17:19. And God said to Abraham: Sara thy wife shall bear thee a son, +and thou shalt call his name Isaac, and I will establish my covenant +with him for a perpetual covenant, and with his seed after him. + +17:20. And as for Ismael I have also heard thee. Behold, I will bless +him, and increase, and multiply him exceedingly: he shall beget twelve +chiefs, and I will make him a great nation. + +17:21. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sara shall +bring forth to thee at this time in the next year. + +17:22. And when he had left off speaking with him, God went up from +Abraham. + +17:23. And Abraham took Ismael his son, and all that were born in his +house: and all whom he had bought, every male among the men of his +house: and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin forthwith the +very same day, as God had commanded him. + +17:24. Abraham was ninety and nine years old, when he circumcised the +flesh of his foreskin. + +17:25. And Ismael his son was full thirteen years old at the time of +his circumcision. + +17:26. The self-same day was Abraham circumcised and Ismael his son. + +17:27. And all the men of his house, as well they that were born in his +house, as the bought servants and strangers, were circumcised with him. + + + +Genesis Chapter 18 + + +Angels are entertained by Abraham. They foretell the birth of Isaac. +Abraham's prayer for the men of Sodom. + +18:1. And the Lord appeared to him in the vale of Mambre as he was +sitting at the door of his tent, in the very heat of the day. + +18:2. And when he had lifted up his eyes, there appeared to him three +men standing near to him: and as soon as he saw them, he ran to meet +them from the door of his tent, and adored down to the ground. + +18:3. And he said: Lord, if I have found favour in thy sight, pass not +away from thy servant. + +18:4. But I will fetch a little water, and wash ye your feet, and rest +ye under the tree. + +18:5. And I will set a morsel of bread, and strengthen ye your heart, +afterwards you shall pass on: for therefore are you come aside to your +servant. And they said: Do as thou hast spoken. + +18:6. Abraham made haste into the tent to Sara, and said to her: Make +haste, temper together three measures of flour, and make cakes upon the +hearth. + +18:7. And he himself ran to the herd, and took from thence a calf, very +tender and very good, and gave it to a young man, who made haste and +boiled it. + +18:8. He took also butter and milk, and the calf which he had boiled, +and set before them: but he stood by them under the tree. + +18:9. And when they had eaten, they said to him: Where is Sara thy +wife? He answered: Lo she is in the tent. + +18:10. And he said to him: I will return and come to thee at this time, +life accompanying, and Sara, thy wife, shall have a son. Which when +Sara heard, she laughed behind the door of the tent. + +18:11. Now they were both old, and far advanced in years, and it had +ceased to be with Sara after the manner of women. + +18:12. And she laughed secretly, saying: After I am grown old, and my +lord is an old man, shall I give myself to pleasure? + +18:13. And the Lord said to Abraham: Why did Sara laugh, saying: Shall +I, who am an old woman, bear a child indeed? + +18:14. Is there any thing hard to God? According to appointment I will +return to thee at this same time, life accompanying, and Sara shall +have a son. + +18:15. Sara denied, saying: I did not laugh: for she was afraid. But +the Lord said: Nay; but thou didst laugh. + +18:16. And when the men rose up from thence, they turned their eyes +towards Sodom: and Abraham walked with them, bringing them on the way. + +18:17. And the Lord said: Can I hide from Abraham what I am about to +do: + +18:18. Seeing he shall become a great and mighty nation, and in him all +the nations of the earth shall be blessed? + +18:19. For I know that he will command his children, and his household +after him, to keep the way of the Lord, and do judgment and justice: +that for Abraham's sake, the Lord may bring to effect all the things he +hath spoken unto him. + +18:20. And the Lord said: The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is multiplied, +and their sin is become exceedingly grievous. + +18:21. I will go down and see whether they have done according to the +cry that is come to me; or whether it be not so, that I may know. + +I will go down, etc. . .The Lord here accommodates his discourse to the +way of speaking and acting amongst men; for he knoweth all things, and +needeth not to go anywhere for information. Note here, that two of the +three angels went away immediately for Sodom; whilst the third, who +represented the Lord, remained with Abraham. + +18:22. And they turned themselves from thence, and went their way to +Sodom: but Abraham as yet stood before the Lord. + +18:23. And drawing nigh, he said: Wilt thou destroy the just with the +wicked? + +18:24. If there be fifty just men in the city, shall they perish +withal? and wilt thou not spare that place for the sake of the fifty +just, if they be therein? + +18:25. Far be it from thee to do this thing, and to slay the just with +the wicked, and for the just to be in like case as the wicked; this is +not beseeming thee: thou who judgest all the earth, wilt not make this +judgment. + +18:26. And the Lord said to him: If I find in Sodom fifty just within +the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake. + +18:27. And Abraham answered, and said: Seeing I have once begun, I will +speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes. + +18:28. What if there be five less than fifty just persons? wilt thou +for five and forty destroy the whole city: And he said: I will not +destroy it, if I find five and forty. + +18:29. And again he said to him: But if forty be found there, what wilt +thou do? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of forty. + +18:30. Lord, saith he, be not angry, I beseech thee, if I speak: What +if thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will not do it, if I +find thirty there. + +18:31. Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord: +What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the +sake of twenty. + +18:32. I beseech thee, saith he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak yet +once more: What if ten shall be found there? And he said: I will not +destroy it for the sake of ten. + +18:33. And the Lord departed, after he had left speaking to Abraham: +and Abraham returned to his place. + + + +Genesis Chapter 19 + + +Lot, entertaining Angels in his house, is delivered from Sodom, which +is destroyed: his wife for looking back is turned into a statue of +salt. + +19:1. And the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was +sitting in the gate of the city. And seeing them, he rose up and went +to meet them: and worshipped prostrate to the ground. + +19:2. And said: I beseech you, my lords, turn in to the house of your +servant, and lodge there: wash your feet, and in the morning you shall +go on your way. And they said: No, but we will abide in the street. + +19:3. He pressed them very much to turn in unto him: and when they were +come into his house, he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, +and they ate: + +19:4. But before they went to bed, the men of the city beset the house, +both young and old, all the people together. + +19:5. And they called Lot, and said to him: Where are the men that came +in to thee at night? bring them out hither, that we may know them: + +19:6. Lot went out to them, and shut the door after him, and said: + +19:7. Do not so, I beseech you, my brethren, do not commit this evil. + +19:8. I have two daughters who, as yet, have not known man; I will +bring them out to you, and abuse you them as it shall please you, so +that you do no evil to these men, because they are come in under the +shadow of my roof. + +19:9. But they said: Get thee back thither. And again: Thou camest in, +said they, as a stranger, was it to be a judge? therefore we will +afflict thee more than them. And they pressed very violently upon Lot: +and they were even at the point of breaking open the doors. + +19:10. And behold the men put out their hand, and drew in Lot unto +them, and shut the door. + +19:11. And them, that were without, they struck with blindness from the +least to the greatest, so that they could not find the door. + +19:12. And they said to Lot: Hast thou here any of thine? son in law, +or sons, or daughters, all that are thine bring them out of this city: + +19:13. For we will destroy this place, because their cry is grown loud +before the Lord, who hath sent us to destroy them. + +19:14. So Lot went out, and spoke to his sons in law that were to have +his daughters, and said: Arise: get you out of this place, because the +Lord will destroy this city. And he seemed to them to speak as it were +in jest. + +19:15. And when it was morning, the angels pressed him, saying: Arise, +take thy wife, and the two daughters that thou hast: lest thou also +perish in the wickedness of the city. + +19:16. And as he lingered, they took his hand, and the hand of his +wife, and of his two daughters, because the Lord spared him. + +19:17. And they brought him forth, and set him without the city: and +there they spoke to him, saying: Save thy life: look not back, neither +stay thou in all the country about: but save thy self in the mountain, +lest thou be also consumed. + +19:18. And Lot said to them: I beseech thee, my Lord, + +19:19. Because thy servant hath found grace before thee, and thou hast +magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewn to me, in saving my life, +and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil seize me, and I +die. + +19:20. There is this city here at hand, to which I may flee, it is a +little one, and I shall be saved in it: is it not a little one, and my +soul shall live? + +19:21. And he said to him: Behold also in this, I have heard thy +prayers, not to destroy the city for which thou hast spoken. + +19:22. Make haste, and be saved there: because I cannot do any thing +till thou go in thither. Therefore the name of that city was called +Segor. + +Segor. . .That is, a little one. + +19:23. The sun was risen upon the earth, and Lot entered into Segor. + +19:24. And the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrha brimstone and fire +from the Lord out of heaven. + +19:25. And he destroyed these cities, and all the country about, all +the inhabitants of the cities, and all things that spring from the +earth. + +19:26. And his wife looking behind her, was turned into a statue of +salt. + +And his wife. . .As a standing memorial to the servants of God to +proceed in virtue, and not to look back to vice or its allurements. + +19:27. And Abraham got up early in the morning, and in the place where +he had stood before with the Lord: + +19:28. He looked towards Sodom and Gomorrha, and the whole land of that +country: and he saw the ashes rise up from the earth as the smoke of a +furnace. + +19:29. Now when God destroyed the cities of that country, remembering +Abraham, he delivered Lot out of the destruction of the cities wherein +he had dwelt. + +19:30. And Lot went up out of Segor, and abode in the mountain, and his +two daughters with him (for he was afraid to stay in Segor) and he +dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters with him. + +19:31. And the elder said to the younger: Our father is old, and there +is no man left on the earth, to come in unto us after the manner of the +whole earth. + +19:32. Come, let us make him drunk with wine, and let us lie with him, +that we may preserve seed of our father. + +19:33. And they made their father drink wine that night: and the elder +went in, and lay with her father: but he perceived not, neither when +his daughter lay down, nor when she rose up. + +19:34. And the next day the elder said to the younger: Behold I lay +last night with my father, let us make him drink wine also to night, +and thou shalt lie with him, that we may save seed of our father. + +19:35. They made their father drink wine that night also, and the +younger daughter went in, and lay with him: and neither then did he +perceive when she lay down, nor when she rose up. + +19:36. So the two daughters of Lot were with child by their father. + +19:37. And the elder bore a son, and she called his name Moab: he is +the father of the Moabites unto this day. + +19:38. The younger also bore a son, and she called his name Ammon; that +is, the son of my people: he is the father of the Ammonites unto this +day. + + + +Genesis Chapter 20 + + +Abraham sojourned in Gerara: Sara is taken into king Abimelech's house, +but by God's commandment is restored untouched. + +20:1. Abraham removed from thence to the south country, and dwelt +between Cades and Sur, and sojourned in Gerara. + +20:2. And he said of Sara his wife: She is my sister. So Abimelech the +king of Gerara sent, and took her. + +20:3. And God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and he said to +him: Lo thou shalt die for the woman that thou hast taken: for she hath +a husband. + +20:4. Now Abimelech had not touched her, and he said: Lord, wilt thou +slay a nation that is ignorant and just? + +20:5. Did not he say to me: She is my sister: and she say, He is my +brother? in the simplicity of my heart, and cleanness of my hands have +I done this. + +20:6. And God said to him: And I know that thou didst it with a sincere +heart: and therefore I withheld thee from sinning against me, and I +suffered thee not to touch her. + +20:7. Now therefore restore the man his wife, for he is a prophet: and +he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: but if thou wilt not +restore her, know that thou shalt surely die, thou and all that are +thine. + +20:8. And Abimelech forthwith rising up in the night, called all his +servants: and spoke all these words in their hearing, and all the men +were exceedingly afraid. + +20:9. And Abimelech called also for Abraham, and said to him: What hast +thou done to us? what have we offended thee in, that thou hast brought +upon me and upon my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done to us what thou +oughtest not to do. + +20:10. And again he expostulated with him, and said: What sawest thou, +that thou hast done this? + +20:11. Abraham answered: I thought with myself, saying: Perhaps there +is not the fear of God in this place: and they will kill me for the +sake of my wife: + +20:12. Howbeit, otherwise also she is truly my sister, the daughter of +my father, and not the daughter of my mother, and I took her to wife. + +20:13. And after God brought me out of my father's house, I said to +her: Thou shalt do me this kindness: In every place, to which we shall +come, thou shalt say that I am thy brother. + +20:14. And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and servants and handmaids, +and gave to Abraham: and restored to him Sara his wife, + +20:15. And said: The land is before you, dwell wheresoever it shall +please thee. + +20:16. And to Sara he said: Behold I have given thy brother a thousand +pieces of silver, this shall serve thee for a covering of thy eyes to +all that are with thee, and whithersoever thou shalt go: and remember +thou wast taken. + +20:17. And when Abraham prayed, God healed Abimelech and his wife, and +his handmaids, and they bore children: + +20:18. For the Lord had closed up every womb of the house of Abimelech, +on account of Sara, Abraham's wife. + + + +Genesis Chapter 21 + + +Isaac is born. Agar and Ismael are cast forth. + +21:1. And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what +he had spoken. + +21:2. And she conceived and bore a son in her old age, at the time that +God had foretold her. + +21:3. And Abraham called the name of his son, whom Sara bore him, +Isaac. + +Isaac. . .This word signifies laughter. + +21:4. And he circumcised him the eighth day, as God had commanded him, + +21:5. When he was a hundred years old: for at this age of his father, +was Isaac born. + +21:6. And Sara said: God hath made a laughter for me: whosoever shall +hear of it will laugh with me. + +21:7. And again she said: Who would believe that Abraham should hear +that Sara gave suck to a son, whom she bore to him in his old age? + +21:8. And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great +feast on the day of his weaning. + +21:9. And when Sara had seen the son of Agar, the Egyptian, playing +with Isaac, her son, she said to Abraham: + +21:10. Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of the +bondwoman shall not be heir with my son Isaac. + +21:11. Abraham took this grievously for his son. + +21:12. And God said to him: Let it not seem grievous to thee for the +boy, and for thy bondwoman: in all that Sara hath said to thee, hearken +to her voice: for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. + +21:13. But I will make the son also of the bondwoman a great nation, +because he is thy seed. + +21:14. So Abraham rose up in the morning, and taking bread and a bottle +of water, put it upon her shoulder, and delivered the boy, and sent her +away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Bersabee. + +21:15. And when the water in the bottle was spent, she cast the boy +under one of the trees that were there. + +21:16. And she went her way, and sat over against him a great way off, +as far as a bow can carry, for she said: I will not see the boy die: +and sitting over against, she lifted up her voice and wept. + +21:17. And God heard the voice of the boy: and an angel of God called +to Agar from heaven, saying: What art thou doing, Agar? fear not; for +God hath heard the voice of the boy, from the place wherein he is. + +21:18. Arise, take up the boy, and hold him by the hand, for I will +make him a great nation. + +21:19. And God opened her eyes: and she saw a well of water, and went +and filled the bottle, and gave the boy to drink. + +21:20. And God was with him: and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, +and became a young man, an archer. + +21:21. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Pharan, and his mother took a +wife for him out of the land of Egypt. + +21:22. At the same time Abimelech, and Phicol the general of his army, +said to Abraham: God is with thee in all that thou dost. + +21:23. Swear therefore by God, that thou wilt not hurt me, nor my +posterity, nor my stock: but according to the kindness that I have done +to thee, thou shalt do to me, and to the land wherein thou hast lived a +stranger. + +21:24. And Abraham said: I will swear. + +21:25. And he reproved Abimelech for a well of water, which his +servants had taken away by force. + +21:26. And Abimelech answered: I knew not who did this thing: and thou +didst not tell me, and I heard not of it till today. + +21:27. Then Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Abimelech: +and both of them made a league. + +21:28. And Abraham set apart seven ewelambs of the flock. + +21:29. And Abimelech said to him: What mean these seven ewelambs which +thou hast set apart? + +21:30. But he said: Thou shalt take seven ewelambs at my hand: that +they may be a testimony for me, that I dug this well. + +21:31. Therefore that place was called Bersabee; because there both of +them did swear. + +Bersabee. . .That is, the well of oath. + +21:32. And they made a league for the well of oath. + +21:33. And Abimelech and Phicol, the general of his army, arose and +returned to the land of the Palestines. But Abraham planted a grove in +Bersabee, and there called upon the name of the Lord God eternal. + +21:34. And he was a sojourner in the land of the Palestines many days. + + + +Genesis Chapter 22 + + +The faith and obedience of Abraham is proved in his readiness to +sacrifice his son Isaac. He is stayed from the act by an angel. Former +promises are renewed to him. His brother Nachor's issue. + +22:1. After these things, God tempted Abraham, and said to him: +Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am. + +God tempted, etc. . .God tempteth no man to evil, James 1.13; but by +trial and experiment maketh known to the world, and to ourselves, what +we are, as here by this trial the singular faith and obedience of +Abraham was made manifest. + +22:2. He said to him: Take thy only begotten son Isaac, whom thou +lovest, and go into the land of vision; and there thou shalt offer him +for an holocaust upon one of the mountains which I will shew thee. + +22:3. So Abraham rising up in the night, saddled his ass, and took with +him two young men, and Isaac his son: and when he had cut wood for the +holocaust, he went his way to the place which God had commanded him. + +22:4. And on the third day, lifting up his eyes, he saw the place afar +off. + +22:5. And he said to his young men: Stay you here with the ass; I and +the boy will go with speed as far as yonder, and after we have +worshipped, will return to you. + +22:6. And he took the wood for the holocaust, and laid it upon Isaac +his son; and he himself carried in his hands fire and a sword. And as +they two went on together, + +22:7. Isaac said to his father: My father. And he answered: What wilt +thou, son? Behold, saith he, fire and wood: where is the victim for the +holocaust? + +22:8. And Abraham said: God will provide himself a victim for an +holocaust, my son. So they went on together. + +22:9. And they came to the place which God had shewn him, where he +built an altar, and laid the wood in order upon it; and when he had +bound Isaac his son, he laid him on the altar upon the pile of wood. + +22:10. And he put forth his hand, and took the sword, to sacrifice his +son. + +22:11. And behold, an angel of the Lord from heaven called to him, +saying: Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am. + +22:12. And he said to him: Lay not thy hand upon the boy, neither do +thou any thing to him: now I know that thou fearest God, and hast not +spared thy only begotten son for my sake. + +22:13. Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw behind his back a ram, +amongst the briers, sticking fast by the horns, which he took and +offered for a holocaust instead of his son. + +22:14. And he called the name of that place, The Lord seeth. Whereupon, +even to this day, it is said: In the mountain the Lord will see. + +22:15. And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from +heaven, saying: + +22:16. By my own self have I sworn, saith the Lord: because thou hast +done this thing, and hast not spared thy only begotten son for my sake: + +22:17. I will bless thee, and I will multiply thy seed as the stars of +heaven, and as the sand that is by the sea shore; thy seed shall +possess the gates of their enemies. + +22:18. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, +because thou hast obeyed my voice. + +22:19. Abraham returned to his young men, and they went to Bersabee +together, and he dwelt there. + +22:20. After these things, it was told Abraham, that Melcha also had +borne children to Nachor his brother. + +22:21. Hus, the firstborn, and Buz, his brother, and Camuel the father +of the Syrians, + +22:22. And Cased, and Azau, and Pheldas, and Jedlaph, + +22:23. And Bathuel, of whom was born Rebecca: these eight did Melcha +bear to Nachor, Abraham's brother. + +22:24. And his concubine, named Roma, bore Tabee, and Gaham, and Tahas, +and Maacha. + + + +Genesis Chapter 23 + + +Sara's death and burial in the field bought of Ephron. + +23:1. And Sara lived a hundred and twenty-seven years. + +23:2. And she died in the city of Arbee which is Hebron, in the land of +Chanaan: and Abraham came to mourn and weep for her. + +23:3. And after he rose up from the funeral obsequies, he spoke to the +children of Heth, saying: + +23:4. I am a stranger and sojourner among you: give me the right of a +burying place with you, that I may bury my dead. + +23:5. The children of Heth answered, saying: + +23:6. My lord, hear us, thou art a prince of God among us: bury thy +dead in our principal sepulchres: and no man shall have power to hinder +thee from burying thy dead in his sepulchre. + +23:7. Abraham rose up, and bowed down to the people of the land, to +wit, the children of Heth: + +Bowed down to the people. . .Adoravit, literally adored. But this word +here, as well as in many other places in the Latin scriptures, is used +to signify only an inferior honour and reverence paid to men, expressed +by a bowing down of the body. + +23:8. And said to them: If it please your soul that I should bury my +dead, hear me, and intercede for me to Ephron the son of Seor. + +23:9. That he may give me the double cave, which he hath in the end of +his field: For as much money as it is worth he shall give it me before +you, for a possession of a burying place. + +23:10. Now Ephron dwelt in the midst of the children of Heth. And +Ephron made answer to Abraham in the hearing of all that went in at the +gate of the city, saying: + +23:11. Let it not be so, my lord, but do thou rather hearken to what I +say: The field I deliver to thee, and the cave that is therein; in the +presence of the children of my people, bury thy dead. + +23:12. Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. + +23:13. And he spoke to Ephron, in the presence of the people: I beseech +thee to hear me: I will give money for the field; take it, and so will +I bury my dead in it. + +23:14. And Ephron answered: + +23:15. My lord, hear me. The ground which thou desirest, is worth four +hundred sicles of silver: this is the price between me and thee: but +what is this? bury thy dead. + +23:16. And when Abraham had heard this, he weighed out the money that +Ephron had asked, in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred +sicles of silver, of common current money. + +23:17. And the field that before was Ephron's, wherein was the double +cave, looking towards Mambre, both it and the cave, and all the trees +thereof, in all its limits round about, + +23:18. Was made sure to Abraham for a possession, in the sight of the +children of Heth, and of all that went in at the gate of his city. + +23:19. And so Abraham buried Sara, his wife, in the double cave of the +field, that looked towards Mambre, this is Hebron in the land of +Chanaan. + +23:20. And the field was made sure to Abraham, and the cave that was in +it, for a possession to bury in, by the children of Heth. + + + +Genesis Chapter 24 + + +Abraham's servant, sent by him into Mesopotamia, bringeth from thence +Rebecca, who is married to Isaac. + +24:1. Now Abraham was old, and advanced in age; and the Lord had +blessed him in all things. + +24:2. And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was ruler over +all he had: Put thy hand under my thigh, + +24:3. That I may make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and +earth, that thou take not a wife for my son, of the daughters of the +Chanaanites, among whom I dwell: + +24:4. But that thou go to my own country and kindred, and take a wife +from thence for my son Isaac. + +24:5. The servant answered: If the woman will not come with me into +this land, must I bring thy son back again to the place from whence +thou camest out? + +24:6. And Abraham said: Beware thou never bring my son back again +thither. + +24:7. The Lord God of heaven, who took me out of my father's house, and +out of my native country, who spoke to me, and swore to me, saying: To +thy seed will I give this land: he will send his angel before thee, and +thou shalt take from thence a wife for my son. + +He will send his angel before thee. . .This shows that the Hebrews +believed that God gave them guardian angels for their protection. + +24:8. But if the woman will not follow thee, thou shalt not be bound by +the oath: only bring not my son back thither again. + +24:9. The servant, therefore, put his hand under the thigh of Abraham, +his lord, and swore to him upon his word. + +24:10. And he took ten camels of his master's herd, and departed, +carrying something of all his goods with him, and he set forward and +went on to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nachor. + +24:11. And when he had made the camels lie down without the town, near +a well of water, in the evening, at the time when women are wont to +come out to draw water, he said: + +24:12. O Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, meet me today, I beseech +thee, and shew kindness to my master, Abraham. + +24:13. Behold, I stand nigh the spring of water, and the daughters of +the inhabitants of this city will come out to draw water: + +24:14. Now, therefore, the maid to whom I shall say: Let down thy +pitcher that I may drink: and she shall answer, Drink, and I will give +thy camels drink also: let it be the same whom thou hast provided for +thy servant Isaac: and by this, I shall understand that thou hast shewn +kindness to my master. + +24:15. He had not yet ended these words within himself, and behold +Rebecca came out, the daughter of Bathuel, son of Melcha, wife to +Nachor the brother of Abraham, having a pitcher on her shoulder: + +24:16. An exceeding comely maid, and a most beautiful virgin, and not +known to man: and she went down to the spring, and filled her pitcher, +and was coming back. + +24:17. And the servant ran to meet her, and said: Give me a little +water to drink of thy pitcher. + +24:18. And she answered: Drink, my lord. And quickly she let down the +pitcher upon her arm, and gave him drink. + +24:19. And when he had drunk, she said: I will draw water for thy +camels also, till they all drink. + +24:20. And pouring out the pitcher into the troughs, she ran back to +the well to draw water; and having drawn, she gave to all the camels. + +24:21. But he musing, beheld her with silence, desirous to know whether +the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not. + +24:22. And after that the camels had drunk, the man took out golden +earrings, weighing two sicles; and as many bracelets, of ten sicles +weight. + +24:23. And he said to her: Whose daughter art thou? tell me: is there +any place in thy father's house to lodge? + +24:24. And she answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of +Melcha, whom she bore to Nachor. + +24:25. And she said, moreover, to him: We have good store of both straw +and hay, and a large place to lodge in. + +24:26. The man bowed himself down, and adored the Lord, + +24:27. Saying: Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath +not taken away his mercy and truth from my master, and hath brought me +the straight way into the house of my master's brother. + +24:28. Then the maid ran, and told in her mother's house all that she +had heard. + +24:29. And Rebecca had a brother, named Laban, who went out in haste to +the man, to the well. + +24:30. And when he had seen the earrings and bracelets in his sister's +hands, and had heard all that she related, saying, Thus and thus the +man spoke to me: he came to the man who stood by the camels, and near +to the spring of water, + +24:31. And said to him: Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; why standest +thou without? I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels. + +24:32. And he brought him into his lodging; and he unharnessed the +camels, and gave straw and hay, and water to wash his feet, and the +feet of the men that were come with him. + +24:33. And bread was set before him. But he said: I will not eat, till +I tell my message. He answered him: Speak. + +24:34. And he said: I am the servant of Abraham: + +24:35. And the Lord hath blessed my master wonderfully, and he is +become great: and he hath given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, +men servants and women servants, camels and asses. + +24:36. And Sara, my master's wife, hath borne my master a son in her +old age, and he hath given him all that he had. + +24:37. And my master made me swear, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife +for my son of the Chanaanites, in whose land I dwell: + +24:38. But thou shalt go to my father's house, and shalt take a wife of +my own kindred for my son: + +24:39. But I answered my master: What if the woman will not come with +me? + +24:40. The Lord, said he, in whose sight I walk, will send his angel +with thee, and will direct thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my +son of my own kindred, and of my father's house. + +24:41. But thou shalt be clear from my curse, when thou shalt come to +my kindred, if they will not give thee one. + +24:42. And I came today to the well of water, and said: O Lord God of +my master, Abraham, if thou hast prospered my way, wherein I now walk, + +24:43. Behold, I stand by the well of water, and the virgin, that shall +come out to draw water, who shall hear me say: Give me a little water +to drink of thy pitcher: + +24:44. And shall say to me: Both drink thou, and I will also draw for +thy camels: let the same be the woman, whom the Lord hath prepared for +my master's son. + +24:45. And whilst I pondered these things secretly with myself, Rebecca +appeared, coming with a pitcher, which she carried on her shoulder: and +she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her: Give me a +little to drink. + +24:46. And she speedily let down the pitcher from her shoulder, and +said to me: Both drink thou, and to thy camels I will give drink. I +drank, and she watered the camels. + +24:47. And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? And she +answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Nachor, whom Melcha +bore to him. So I put earrings on her to adorn her face, and I put +bracelets on her hands. + +24:48. And falling down, I adored the Lord, blessing the Lord God of my +master, Abraham, who hath brought me the straight way to take the +daughter of my master's brother for his son. + +24:49. Wherefore, if you do according to mercy and truth with my +master, tell me: but if it please you otherwise, tell me that also, +that I may go to the right hand, or to the left. + +24:50. And Laban and Bathuel answered: The word hath proceeded from the +Lord: we cannot speak any other thing to thee but his pleasure. + +24:51. Behold, Rebecca is before thee, take her and go thy way, and let +her be the wife of thy master's son, as the Lord hath spoken. + +24:52. Which when Abraham's servant heard, falling down to the ground, +he adored the Lord. + +24:53. And bringing forth vessels of silver and gold, and garments, he +gave them to Rebecca, for a present. He offered gifts also to her +brothers, and to her mother. + +24:54. And a banquet was made, and they ate and drank together, and +lodged there. And in the morning, the servant arose, and said: Let me +depart, that I may go to my master. + +24:55. And her brother and mother answered: Let the maid stay, at +least, ten days with us, and afterwards she shall depart. + +24:56. Stay me not, said he, because the Lord hath prospered my way: +send me away, that I may go to my master. + +24:57. And they said: Let us call the maid, and ask her will. + +Let us call the maid, and ask her will. . .Not as to her marriage, as +she had already consented, but of her quitting her parents and going to +her husband. + +24:58. And they called her, and when she was come, they asked: Wilt +thou go with this man? She said: I will go. + +24:59. So they sent her away, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and +his company. + +24:60. Wishing prosperity to their sister, and saying: Thou art our +sister, mayst thou increase to thousands of thousands; and may thy seed +possess the gates of their enemies. + +24:61. So Rebecca and her maids, being set upon camels, followed the +man: who with speed returned to his master. + +24:62. At the same time, Isaac was walking along the way to the well +which is called Of the living and the seeing: for he dwelt in the south +country: + +24:63. And he was gone forth to meditate in the field, the day being +now well spent: and when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels +coming afar off. + +24:64. Rebecca also, when she saw Isaac, lighted off the camel, + +24:65. And said to the servant: Who is that man who cometh towards us +along the field? And he said to her: That man is my master. But she +quickly took her cloak, and covered herself. + +24:66. And the servant told Isaac all that he had done. + +24:67. Who brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, and took her +to wife: and he loved her so much, that it moderated the sorrow which +was occasioned by his mother's death. + + + +Genesis Chapter 25 + + +Abraham's children by Cetura; his death and that of Ismael. Isaac hath +Esau and Jacob twins. Esau selleth his first birthright to Jacob. + +25:1. And Abraham married another wife named Cetura: + +25:2. Who bore him Zamram, and Jecsan, and Madan, and Madian, and +Jesboc, and Sue. + +25:3. Jecsan also begot Saba, and Dadan. The children of Dadan were +Assurim, and Latusim, and Loomim. + +25:4. But of Madian was born Epha, and Opher, and Henoch, and Abida, +and Eldaa: all these were the children of Cetura. + +25:5. And Abraham gave all his possessions to Isaac: + +25:6. And to the children of the concubines he gave gifts, and +separated them from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, to the east +country. + +Concubines. . .Agar and Cetura are here called concubines, (though they +were lawful wives, and in other places are so called,) because they +were of an inferior degree, and such in scripture are usually called +concubines. + +25:7. And the days of Abraham's life were a hundred and seventy-five +years. + +25:8. And decaying he died in a good old age, and having lived a long +time, and being full of days: and was gathered to his people. + +25:9. And Isaac and Ismael his sons buried him in the double cave, +which was situated in the field of Ephron the son of Seor the Hethite, +over against Mambre, + +25:10. Which he had bought of the children of Heth: there was he +buried, and Sara his wife. + +25:11. And after his death, God blessed Isaac his son, who dwelt by the +well named Of the living and seeing. + +25:12. These are the generations of Ismael the son of Abraham, whom +Agar the Egyptian, Sara's servant, bore unto him: + +25:13. And these are the names of his children according to their +calling and generations. The firstborn of Ismael was Nabajoth, then +Cedar, and Adbeel, and Mabsam, + +25:14. And Masma, and Duma, and Massa, + +25:15. Hadar, and Thema, and Jethur, and Naphis, and Cedma. + +25:16. These are the sons of Ismael: and these are their names by their +castles and towns, twelve princes of their tribes. + +25:17. And the years of Ismael's life were a hundred and thirty-seven, +and decaying he died, and was gathered unto his people. + +25:18. And he dwelt from Hevila as far as Sur, which looketh towards +Egypt, to them that go towards the Assyrians. He died in the presence +of all his brethren. + +25:19. These also are the generations of Isaac the son of Abraham: +Abraham begot Isaac: + +25:20. Who when he was forty years old, took to wife Rebecca the +daughter of Bathuel the Syrian of Mesopotamia, sister to Laban. + +25:21. And Isaac besought the Lord for his wife, because she was +barren: and he heard him, and made Rebecca to conceive. + +25:22. But the children struggled in her womb, and she said: If it were +to be so with me, what need was there to conceive? And she went to +consult the Lord. + +25:23. And he answering, said: Two nations are in thy womb, and two +peoples shall be divided out of thy womb, and one people shall overcome +the other, and the elder shall serve the younger. + +25:24. And when her time was come to be delivered, behold twins were +found in her womb. + +25:25. He that came forth first was red, and hairy like a skin: and his +name was called Esau. Immediately the other coming forth, held his +brother's foot in his hand: and therefore he was called Jacob. + +25:26. Isaac was threescore years old when the children were born unto +him. + +25:27. And when they were grown up, Esau became a skilful hunter, and a +husbandman: but Jacob, a plain man, dwelt in tents. + +25:28. Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his hunting: and Rebecca +loved Jacob. + +25:29. And Jacob boiled pottage: to whom Esau, coming faint out of the +field, + +25:30. Said: Give me of this red pottage, for I am exceeding faint. For +which reason his name was called Edom. + +25:31. And Jacob said to him: Sell me thy first birthright. + +25:32. He answered: Lo I die, what will the first birthright avail me? + +25:33. Jacob said: Swear therefore to me. Esau swore to him, and sold +his first birthright. + +25:34. And so taking bread and the pottage of lentils, he ate, and +drank, and went on his way; making little account of having sold his +first birthright. + + + +Genesis Chapter 26 + + +Isaac sojourneth in Gerara, where God reneweth to him the promise made +to Abraham. King Abimelech maketh league with him. + +26:1. And when a famine came in the land, after that barrenness which +had happened in the days of Abraham, Isaac went to Abimelech, king of +the Palestines, to Gerara. + +26:2. And the Lord appeared to him, and said: Go not down into Egypt, +but stay in the land that I shall tell thee. + +26:3. And sojourn in it, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee: +for to thee and to thy seed I will give all these countries, to fulfil +the oath which I swore to Abraham thy father. + +26:4. And I will multiply thy seed like the stars of heaven: and I will +give to thy posterity all these countries: and in thy seed shall all +the nations of the earth be blessed. + +26:5. Because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my precepts and +commandments, and observed my ceremonies and laws. + +26:6. So Isaac abode in Gerara. + +26:7. And when he was asked by the men of that place, concerning his +wife, he answered: She is my sister: for he was afraid to confess that +she was his wife, thinking lest perhaps they would kill him because of +her beauty. + +26:8. And when very many days were passed, and he abode there, +Abimelech, king of the Palestines, looking out through a window, saw +him playing with Rebecca, his wife. + +26:9. And calling for him, he said: It is evident she is thy wife: why +didst thou feign her to be thy sister? He answered: I feared lest I +should die for her sake. + +26:10. And Abimelech said: Why hast thou deceived us? Some man of the +people might have lain with thy wife, and thou hadst brought upon us a +great sin. And he commanded all the people, saying: + +26:11. He that shall touch this man's wife, shall surely be put to +death. + +26:12. And Isaac sowed in that land, and he found that same year a +hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. + +26:13. And the man was enriched, and he went on prospering and +increasing, till he became exceeding great. + +26:14. And he had possessions of sheep and of herds, and a very great +family. Wherefore the Palestines envying him, + +26:15. Stopped up at that time all the wells, that the servants of his +father, Abraham, had digged, filling them up with earth: + +26:16. Insomuch that Abimelech himself said to Isaac: Depart from us, +for thou art become much mightier than we. + +26:17. So he departed, and came to the torrent of Gerara, to dwell +there: + +26:18. And he digged again other wells, which the servants of his +father, Abraham, had digged, and which, after his death, the +Philistines had of old stopped up: and he called them by the same +names, by which his father before had called them. + +26:19. And they digged in the torrent, and found living water: + +Torrent. . .That is, a channel where sometimes a torrent or violent +stream had run. + +26:20. But there also the herdsmen of Gerara strove against the +herdsmen of Isaac, saying: It is our water. Wherefore he called the +name of the well, on occasion of that which had happened, Calumny. + +26:21. And they digged also another; and for that they quarrelled +likewise, and he called the name of it, Enmity. + +26:22. Going forward from thence, he digged another well, for which +they contended not; therefore he called the name thereof, Latitude, +saying: Now hath the Lord given us room, and made us to increase upon +the earth. + +Latitude. . .That is, wideness, or room. + +26:23. And he went up from that place to Bersabee, + +26:24. Where the Lord appeared to him that same night, saying: I am the +God of Abraham thy father, do not fear, for I am with thee: I will +bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. + +26:25. And he built there an altar: and called upon the name of the +Lord, and pitched his tent; and commanded his servants to dig a well. + +26:26. To which place when Abimelech, and Ochozath his friend, and +Phicol chief captain of his soldiers, came from Gerara, + +26:27. Isaac said to them: Why are ye come to me, a man whom you hate, +and have thrust out from you? + +26:28. And they answered: We saw that the Lord is with thee, and +therefore we said: Let there be an oath between us, and let us make a +covenant, + +26:29. That thou do us no harm, as we on our part have touched nothing +of thine, nor have done any thing to hurt thee; but with peace have +sent thee away, increased with the blessing of the Lord. + +26:30. And he made them a feast, and after they had eaten and drunk: + +26:31. Arising in the morning, they swore one to another: and Isaac +sent them away peaceably to their own home. + +26:32. And behold, the same day the servants of Isaac came, telling him +of a well which they had digged, and saying: We have found water. + +26:33. Whereupon he called it Abundance: and the name of the city was +called Bersabee, even to this day. + +26:34. And Esau being forty years old, married wives, Judith, the +daughter of Beeri, the Hethite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon, of +the same place. + +26:35. And they both offended the mind of Isaac and Rebecca. + + + +Genesis Chapter 27 + + +Jacob, by him mother's counsel, obtaineth his father's blessing instead +of Esau. And by her is advised to fly to his uncle Laban. + +27:1. Now Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, and he could not see: +and he called Esau, his elder son, and said to him: My son? And he +answered: Here I am. + +27:2. And his father said to him, Thou seest that I am old, and know +not the day of my death. + +27:3. Take thy arms, thy quiver, and bow, and go abroad; and when thou +hast taken something by hunting, + +27:4. Make me a savoury meat thereof, as thou knowest I like, and bring +it that I may eat: and my soul may bless thee, before I die. + +27:5. And when Rebecca had heard this, and he was gone into the field +to fulfil his father's commandment, + +27:6. She said to her son Jacob: I heard thy father talking with Esau, +thy brother, and saying to him: + +27:7. Bring me of thy hunting, and make me meats that I may eat, and +bless thee in the sight of the Lord, before I die. + +27:8. Now therefore, my son, follow my counsel: + +27:9. And go thy way to the flock, bring me two kids of the best, that +I may make of them meat for thy father, such as he gladly eateth. + +27:10. Which when thou hast brought in, and he hath eaten, he may bless +thee before he die. + +27:11. And he answered her: Thou knowest that Esau, my brother, is a +hairy man, and I am smooth: + +27:12. If my father should feel me, and perceive it, I fear lest he +will think I would have mocked him, and I shall bring upon me a curse +instead of a blessing. + +27:13. And his mother said to him: Upon me be this curse, my son: only +hear thou my voice, and go, fetch me the things which I have said. + +27:14. He went, and brought, and gave them to his mother. She dressed +meats, such as she knew his father liked. + +27:15. And she put on him very good garments of Esau, which she had at +home with her: + +27:16. And the little skins of the kids she put about his hands, and +covered the bare of his neck. + +27:17. And she gave him the savoury meat, and delivered him bread that +she had baked. + +27:18. Which when he had carried in, he said: My father? But he +answered: I hear. Who art thou, my son? + +27:19. And Jacob said: I am Esau, thy firstborn: I have done as thou +didst command me: arise, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may +bless me. + +I am Esau thy firstborn. . .St. Augustine (L. Contra mendacium, c. 10), +treating at large upon this place, excuseth Jacob from a lie, because +this whole passage was mysterious, as relating to the preference which +was afterwards to be given to the Gentiles before the carnal Jews, +which Jacob by prophetic light might understand. So far is certain, +that the first birthright, both by divine election and by Esau's free +cession belonged to Jacob: so that if there were any lie in the case, +it could be no more than an officious and venial one. + +27:20. And Isaac said to his son: How couldst thou find it so quickly, +my son? He answered: It was the will of God, that what I sought came +quickly in my way: + +27:21. And Isaac said: Come hither, that I may feel thee, my son, and +may prove whether thou be my son Esau, or no. + +27:22. He came near to his father, and when he had felt him, Isaac +said: The voice indeed is the voice of Jacob; but the hands, are the +hands of Esau. + +27:23. And he knew him not, because his hairy hands made him like to +the elder. Then blessing him, + +27:24. He said: Art thou my son Esau? He answered: I am. + +27:25. Then he said: Bring me the meats of thy hunting, my son, that my +soul may bless thee. And when they were brought, and he had eaten, he +offered him wine also, which after he had drunk, + +27:26. He said to him: Come near me, and give me a kiss, my son. + +27:27. He came near, and kissed him. And immediately as he smelled the +fragrant smell of his garments, blessing him, he said: Behold, the +smell of my son is as the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord +hath blessed. + +27:28. God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the +earth, abundance of corn and wine. + +27:29. And let peoples serve thee, and tribes worship thee: be thou +lord of thy brethren, and let thy mother's children bow down before +thee. Cursed be he that curseth thee: and let him that blesseth thee be +filled with blessings. + +27:30. Isaac had scarce ended his words, when, Jacob being now gone out +abroad, Esau came, + +27:31. And brought in to his father meats, made of what he had taken in +hunting, saying: Arise, my father, and eat of thy son's venison; that +thy soul may bless me. + +27:32. And Isaac said to him: Why! who art thou? He answered: I am thy +firstborn son, Esau. + +27:33. Isaac was struck with fear, and astonished exceedingly; and +wondering beyond what can be believed, said: Who is he then that even +now brought me venison that he had taken, and I ate of all before thou +camest? and I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed. + +27:34. Esau having heard his father's words, roared out with a great +cry; and, being in a consternation, said: Bless me also, my father. + +27:35. And he said: Thy brother came deceitfully and got thy blessing. + +27:36. But he said again: Rightly is his name called Jacob; for he hath +supplanted me lo this second time: My birthright he took away before, +and now this second time he hath stolen away my blessing. And again he +said to his father: Hast thou not reserved me also a blessing? + +Jacob. . .That is, a supplanter. + +27:37. Isaac answered: I have appointed him thy lord, and have made all +his brethren his servants: I have established him with corn and wine, +and after this, what shall I do more for thee, my son? + +27:38. And Esau said to him: Hast thou only one blessing, father? I +beseech thee bless me also. And when he wept with a loud cry, + +27:39. Isaac being moved, said to him: In the fat of the earth, and in +the dew of heaven from above, + +27:40. Shall thy blessing be. Thou shalt live by the sword, and shalt +serve thy brother: and the time shall come, when thou shalt shake off +and loose his yoke from thy neck. + +27:41. Esau therefore always hated Jacob, for the blessing wherewith +his father had blessed him; and he said in his heart: The days will +come of the mourning for my father, and I will kill my brother Jacob. + +27:42. These things were told to Rebecca: and she sent and called +Jacob, her son, and said to him: Behold Esau, thy brother, threateneth +to kill thee. + +27:43. Now therefore, my son, hear my voice, arise and flee to Laban, +my brother, to Haran: + +27:44. And thou shalt dwell with him a few days, till the wrath of thy +brother be assuaged, + +27:45. And his indignation cease, and he forget the things thou hast +done to him: afterwards I will send, and bring thee from thence hither. +Why shall I be deprived of both my sons in one day? + +27:46. And Rebecca said to Isaac: I am weary of my life, because of the +daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the stock of this land, I +choose not to live. + + + +Genesis Chapter 28 + + +Jacob's journey to Mesopotamia: his vision and vow. + +28:1. And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, saying: +Take not a wife of the stock of Chanaan: + +28:2. But go, and take a journey to Mesopotamia of Syria, to the house +of Bathuel, thy mother's father, and take thee a wife thence of the +daughters of Laban, thy uncle. + +28:3. And God almighty bless thee, and make thee to increase and +multiply thee: that thou mayst be a multitude of people. + +28:4. And give the blessings of Araham to thee, and to thy seed after +thee: that thou mayst possess the land of thy sojournment, which he +promised to thy grandfather. + +28:5. And when Isaac had sent him away, he took his journey and went to +Mesopotamia of Syria, to Laban, the son of Bathuel, the Syrian, brother +to Rebecca, his mother. + +28:6. And Esau seeing that his father had blessed Jacob, and had sent +him into Mesopotamia of Syria, to marry a wife thence; and that after +the blessing he had charged him, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife of +the daughters of Chanaan: + +28:7. And that Jacob obeying his parents, was gone into Syria: + +28:8. Experiencing also, that his father was not well pleased with the +daughters of Chanaan: + +28:9. He went to Ismael, and took to wife, besides them he had before, +Maheleth, the daughter of Ismael, Abraham's son, the sister of +Nabajoth. + +28:10. But Jacob being departed from Bersabee, went on to Haran. + +28:11. And when he was come to a certain place, and would rest in it +after sunset, he took of the stones that lay there, and putting under +his head, slept in the same place. + +28:12. And he saw in his sleep a ladder standing upon the earth, and +the top thereof touching heaven: the angels also of God ascending and +descending by it. + +28:13. And the Lord leaning upon the ladder saying to him: I am the +Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: The land, wherein +thou sleepest, I will give to thee and to thy seed. + +28:14. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth: thou shalt +spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to +the south: and IN THEE and thy seed, all the tribes of the earth SHALL +BE BLESSED. + +28:15. And I will be thy keeper whithersoever thou goest, and will +bring thee back into this land: neither will I leave thee, till I shall +have accomplished all that I have said. + +28:16. And when Jacob awaked out of sleep, he said: Indeed the Lord is +in this place, and I knew it not. + +28:17. And trembling, he said: How terrible is this place? this is no +other but the house of God, and the gate of heaven. + +28:18. And Jacob arising in the morning, took the stone which he had +laid under his head, and set it up for a title, pouring oil upon the +top of it. + +28:19. And he called the name of the city Bethel, which before was +called Luza. + +Bethel. . .This name signifies the house of God. + +28:20. And he made a vow, saying: If God shall be with me, and shall +keep me in the way, by which I walk, and shall give me bread to eat, +and raiment to put on, + +28:21. And I shall return prosperously to my father's house: the Lord +shall be my God: + +28:22. And this stone, which I have set up for a title, shall be called +the house of God: and of all things that thou shalt give to me, I will +offer tithes to thee. + + + +Genesis Chapter 29 + + +Jacob serveth Laban seven years for Rachel: but is deceived with Lia: +he afterwards marrieth Rachel. Lia bears him four sons. + +29:1. Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east +country. + +29:2. And he saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying +by it: for the beasts were watered out of it, and the mouth thereof was +closed with a great stone. + +29:3. And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to +roll away the stone, and after the sheep were watered, to put it on the +mouth of the well again. + +29:4. And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They +answered: Of Haran. + +29:5. And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban, the son of Nachor? +They said: We know him. + +29:6. He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold, +Rachel, his daughter, cometh with his flock. + +29:7. And Jacob said: There is yet much day remaining, neither is it +time to bring the flocks into the folds again: first give the sheep +drink, and so lead them back to feed. + +29:8. They answered: We cannot, till all the cattle be gathered +together, and we remove the stone from the well's mouth, that we may +water the flocks. + +29:9. They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father's +sheep; for she fed the flock. + +29:10. And when Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin german, +and that they were the sheep of Laban, his uncle: he removed the stone +wherewith the well was closed. + +29:11. And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his +voice wept. + +29:12. And he told her that he was her father's brother, and the son of +Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father. + +29:13. Who, when he heard that Jacob his sister's son was come, ran +forth to meet him: and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought +him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his journey, + +29:14. He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days +of one month were expired, + +29:15. He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me +without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have. + +29:16. Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia; and the +younger was called Rachel. + +29:17. But Lia was blear-eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a +beautiful countenance. + +29:18. And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven +years for Rachel, thy younger daughter. + +29:19. Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to +another man; stay with me. + +29:20. So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a +few days, because of the greatness of his love. + +29:21. And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is +fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. + +29:22. And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the +feast, made the marriage. + +29:23. And at night he brought in Lia, his daughter, to him, + +29:24. Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had +gone in to her according to custom, when morning was come he saw it was +Lia. + +29:25. And he said to his father-in-law: What is it that thou didst +mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me? + +29:26. Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the +younger in marriage first. + +29:27. Make up the week of days of this match: and I will give thee her +also, for the service that thou shalt render me other seven years. + +29:28. He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he +married Rachel: + +29:29. To whom her father gave Bala, for her servant. + +29:30. And having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he +preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him +other seven years. + +29:31. And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but +her sister remained barren. + +29:32. And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, +saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me. + +29:33. And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the +Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she +called his name Simeon. + +29:34. And she conceived the third time, and bore another son, and +said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne +him three sons: and therefore she called his name Levi. + +29:35. The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said: Now will +I praise the Lord: and for this she called him Juda. And she left +bearing. + + + +Genesis Chapter 30 + + +Rachel, being barren, delivereth her handmaid to Jacob; she beareth two +sons. Lia ceasing to bear, giveth also her handmaid, and she beareth +two more. Then Lia beareth other two sons and one daughter. Rachel +beareth Joseph. Jacob, desirous to return home, is hired to stay for a +certain part of the flock's increase, whereby he becometh exceeding +rich. + +30:1. And Rachel seeing herself without children, envied her sister, +and said to her husband: Give me children, otherwise I shall die. + +30:2. And Jacob being angry with her, answered: Am I as God, who hath +deprived thee of the fruit of thy womb? + +30:3. But she said: I have here my servant Bala: go in unto her, that +she may bear upon my knees, and I may have children by her. + +30:4. And she gave him Bala in marriage: who, + +30:5. When her husband had gone in unto her, conceived and bore a son. + +30:6. And Rachel said: The Lord hath judged for me, and hath heard my +voice, giving me a son; and therefore she called his name Dan. + +30:7. And again Bala conceived, and bore another, + +30:8. For whom Rachel said: God hath compared me with my sister, and I +have prevailed: and she called him Nephthali. + +30:9. Lia perceiving that she had left of bearing, gave Zelpha, her +handmaid, to her husband. + +30:10. And when she had conceived, and brought forth a son, + +30:11. She said: Happily. And therefore called his name Gad. + +30:12. Zelpha also bore another. + +30:13. And Lia said: This is for my happiness: for women will call me +blessed. Therefore she called him Aser. + +30:14. And Ruben going out in the time of the wheat harvest into the +field, found mandrakes: which he brought to his mother Lia. And Rachel +said: Give me part of thy son's mandrakes. + +30:15. She answered: Dost thou think it a small matter, that thou hast +taken my husband from me, unless thou take also my son's mandrakes? +Rachel said: He shall sleep with thee this night, for thy son's +mandrakes. + +30:16. And when Jacob returned at even from the field, Lia went out to +meet him, and said: Thou shalt come in unto me, because I have hired +thee for my son's mandrakes. And he slept with her that night. + +30:17. And God heard her prayers; and she conceived: and bore a fifth +son: + +30:18. And said: God hath given me a reward, because I gave my handmaid +to my husband. And she called his name Issachar. + +30:19. And Lia conceived again, and bore the sixth son, + +30:20. And said: God hath endowed me with a good dowry; this turn also +my husband will be with me, because I have borne him six sons: and +therefore she called his name Zabulon. + +30:21. After whom she bore a daughter, named Dina. + +30:22. The Lord also remembering Rachel, heard her, and opened her +womb. + +30:23. And she conceived, and bore a son, saying: God hath taken away +my reproach. + +30:24. And she called his name Joseph: saying: The Lord give me also +another son. + +30:25. And when Joseph was born, Jacob said to his father-in-law: Send +me away, that I may return into my country, and to my land. + +30:26. Give me my wives, and my children, for whom I have served thee, +that I may depart: thou knowest the service that I have rendered thee. + +30:27. Laban said to him: Let me find favour in thy sight: I have +learned, by experience, that God hath blessed me for thy sake. + +30:28. Appoint thy wages which I shall give thee. + +30:29. But he answered: Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how +great thy possession hath been in my hands. + +30:30. Thou hadst but little before I came to thee, and now thou art +become rich: and the Lord hath blessed thee at my coming. It is +reasonable, therefore, that I should now provide also for my own house. + +30:31. And Laban said: What shall I give thee? But he said: I require +nothing; but if thou wilt do what I demand, I will feed and keep thy +sheep again. + +30:32. Go round through all thy flocks, and separate all the sheep of +divers colours, and speckled; and all that is brown and spotted, and of +divers colours, as well among the sheep as among the goats, shall be my +wages. + +30:33. And my justice shall answer for me tomorrow before thee, when +the time of the bargain shall come; and all that is not of divers +colours, and spotted, and brown, as well among the sheep as among the +goats, shall accuse me of theft. + +30:34. And Laban said: I like well what thou demandest. + +30:35. And he separated the same day the she-goats, and the sheep, and +the he-goats, and the rams of divers colours, and spotted; and all the +flock of one colour, that is, of white and black fleece, he delivered +into the hands of his sons. + +30:36. And he set the space of three days journey betwixt himself and +his son-in-law, who fed the rest of his flock. + +30:37. And Jacob took green rods of poplar, and of almond, and of +plane-trees, and pilled them in part: so when the bark was taken off, +in the parts that were pilled, there appeared whiteness: but the parts +that were whole, remained green: and by this means the colour was +divers. + +30:38. And he put them in the troughs, where the water was poured out; +that when the flocks should come to drink, they might have the rods +before their eyes, and in the sight of them might conceive. + +30:39. And it came to pass, that in the very heat of coition, the sheep +beheld the rods, and brought forth spotted, and of divers colours, and +speckled. + +30:40. And Jacob separated the flock, and put the rods in the troughs +before the eyes of the rams; and all the white and the black were +Laban's, and the rest were Jacob's, when the flocks were separated one +from the other. + +30:41. So when the ewes went first to ram, Jacob put the rods in the +troughs of water before the eyes of the rams, and of the ewes, that +they might conceive while they were looking upon them. + +30:42. But when the later coming was, and the last conceiving, he did +not put them. And those that were lateward, became Laban's; and they of +the first time, Jacob's. + +30:43. And the man was enriched exceedingly, and he had many flocks, +maid-servants and men-servants, camels and asses. + + + +Genesis Chapter 31 + + +Jacob's departure: he is pursued and overtaken by Laban. They make a +covenant. + +31:1. But after that he had heard the words of the sons of Laban, +saying: Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's, and being +enriched by his substance is become great. + +31:2. And perceiving also, that Laban's countenance was not towards him +as yesterday and the other day. + +31:3. Especially the Lord saying to him: Return into the land of thy +fathers and to thy kindred, and I will be with thee. + +31:4. He sent, and called Rachel and Lia into the field, where he fed +the flocks, + +31:5. And said to them: I see your father's countenance is not towards +me as yesterday and the other day: but the God of my father hath been +with me. + +31:6. And you know that I have served your father to the uttermost of +my power. + +31:7. Yea your father hath also overreached me, and hath changed my +wages ten times: and yet God hath not suffered him to hurt me. + +31:8. If at any time, he said: The speckled shall be thy wages: all the +sheep brought forth speckled: but when he said on the contrary: Thou +shalt take all the white one for thy wages: all the flocks brought +forth white ones. + +31:9. And God hath taken your father's substance, and given it to me. + +31:10. For after the time came of the ewes conceiving, I lifted up my +eyes, and saw in my sleep, that the males which leaped upon the females +were of divers colours, and spotted, and speckled. + +31:11. And the angel of God said to me in my sleep: Jacob. And I +answered: Here I am. + +31:12. And he said: Lift up thy eyes, and see that all the males +leaping upon the females, are of divers colours, spotted and speckled. +For I have seen all that Laban hath done to thee. + +31:13. I am the God of Bethel, where thou didst anoint the stone, and +make a vow to me. Now therefore arise, and go out of this land, and +return into thy native country. + +31:14. And Rachel and Lia answered: Have we any thing left among the +goods and inheritance of our father's house? + +31:15. Hath he not counted us as strangers, and sold us, and eaten up +the price of us? + +31:16. But God hath taken our father's riches, and delivered them to +us, and to our children: wherefore, do all that God hath commanded +thee. + +31:17. Then Jacob rose up, and having set his children and wives upon +camels, went his way. + +31:18. And he took all his substance, and flocks, and whatsoever he had +gotten in Mesopotamia, and went forward to Isaac, his father, to the +land of Chanaan. + +31:19. At that time Laban was gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole +away her father's idols. + +Her father's idols. . .By this it appears that Laban was an idolater; +and some of the fathers are of opinion that Rachel stole away these +idols to withdraw him from idolatry, removing the occasion of his sin. + +31:20. And Jacob would not confess to his father-in-law that he was +flying away. + +31:21. And when he was gone, together with all that belonged to him, +and having passed the river, was going on towards mount Galaad, + +31:22. It was told Laban on the third day, that Jacob fled. + +31:23. And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven +days; and overtook him in the mount of Galaad. + +31:24. And he saw in a dream God, saying to him: Take heed thou speak +not any thing harshly against Jacob. + +31:25. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain: and when he, +with his brethren, had overtaken him, he pitched his tent in the same +mount of Galaad. + +31:26. And he said to Jacob: Why hast thou done thus, to carry away, +without my knowledge, my daughters as captives taken with the sword? + +31:27. Why wouldst thou run away privately, and not acquaint me, that I +might have brought thee on the way with joy, and with songs, and with +timbrels, and with harps? + +31:28. Thou hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and daughters; thou +hast done foolishly; and now indeed, + +31:29. It is in my power to return thee evil; but the God of your +father said to me yesterday: Take heed thou speak not any thing harshly +against Jacob. + +31:30. Suppose thou didst desire to go to thy friends, and hadst a +longing after thy father's house: why hast thou stolen away my gods? + +31:31. Jacob answered: That I departed unknown to thee, it was for fear +lest thou wouldst take away thy daughters by force. + +31:32. But, whereas, thou chargest me with theft: with whomsoever thou +shalt find thy gods, let him be slain before our brethren. Search, and +if thou find any of thy things with me, take them away. Now when he +said this, he knew not that Rachel had stolen the idols. + +31:33. So Laban went into the tent of Jacob, and of Lia, and of both +the handmaids, and found them not. And when he was entered into +Rachel's tent, + +31:34. She, in haste, hid the idols under the camel's furniture, and +sat upon them: and when he had searched all the tent, and found +nothing, + +31:35. She said: Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise up before +thee, because it has now happened to me according to the custom of +women. So his careful search was in vain. + +31:36. And Jacob being angry, said in a chiding manner: For what fault +of mine, and for what offence on my part hast thou so hotly pursued me, + +31:37. And searched all my household stuff? What hast thou found of all +the substance of thy house? lay it here before my brethren, and thy +brethren, and let them judge between me and thee. + +31:38. Have I, therefore, been with thee twenty years? thy ewes and +goats were not barren, the rams of thy flocks I did not eat: + +31:39. Neither did I shew thee that which the beast had torn; I made +good all the damage: whatsoever was lost by theft, thou didst exact it +of me: + +31:40. Day and night was I parched with heat, and with frost, and sleep +departed from my eyes. + +31:41. And in this manner have I served thee in thy house twenty years, +fourteen for thy daughters, and six for thy flocks: thou hast changed +also my wages ten times. + +31:42. Unless the God of my father, Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had +stood by me, peradventure now thou hadst sent me away naked: God beheld +my affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesterday. + +31:43. Laban answered him: The daughters are mine, and the children, +and thy flocks, and all things that thou seest are mine: what can I do +to my children, and grandchildren? + +31:44. Come, therefore, let us enter into a league; that it may be for +a testimony between me and thee. + +31:45. And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a title. + +31:46. And he said to his brethren: Bring hither stones. And they, +gathering stones together, made a heap, and they ate upon it. + +31:47. And Laban called it, The witness heap; and Jacob, The hillock of +testimony: each of them according to the propriety of his language. + +31:48. And Laban said: This heap shall be a witness between me and thee +this day, and therefore the name thereof was called Galaad, that is, +The witness heap. + +31:49. The Lord behold and judge between us, when we shall be gone one +from the other. + +31:50. If thou afflict my daughters, and if thou bring in other wives +over them: none is witness of our speech but God, who is present and +beholdeth. + +31:51. And he said again to Jacob: Behold this heap, and the stone +which I have set up between me and thee, + +31:52. Shall be a witness: this heap, I say, and the stone, be they for +a testimony, if either I shall pass beyond it going towards thee, or +thou shalt pass beyond it thinking harm to me. + +31:53. The God of Abraham, and the God of Nachor, the God of their +father, judge between us. And Jacob swore by the fear of his father +Isaac: + +31:54. And after he had offered sacrifices in the mountain, he called +his brethren to eat bread. And when they had eaten, they lodged there: + +31:55. But Laban arose in the night, and kissed his sons and daughters, +and blessed them: and returned to his place. + + + +Genesis Chapter 32 + + +Jacob's vision of angels; his message and presents to Esau; his +wrestling with an angel. + +32:1. Jacob also went on the journey he had begun: and the angels of +God met him. + +32:2. And when he saw them, he said: These are the camps of God, and he +called the name of that place Mahanaim, that is, Camps. + +32:3. And he sent messengers before him to Esau, his brother, to the +land of Seir, to the country of Edom: + +32:4. And he commanded them, saying: Thus shall ye speak to my lord +Esau: Thus saith thy brother Jacob: I have sojourned with Laban, and +have been with him until this day: + +32:5. I have oxen, and asses, and sheep, and menservants, and +womenservants: and now I send a message to my lord, that I may find +favour in thy sight. + +32:6. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying: We came to Esau, +thy brother, and behold he cometh with speed to meet thee with four +hundred men. + +32:7. Then Jacob was greatly afraid; and in his fear divided the people +that was with him, and the flocks, and the sheep, and the oxen, and the +camels, into two companies, + +32:8. Saying: If Esau come to one company, and destroy it, the other +company that is left, shall escape. + +32:9. And Jacob said: O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father +Isaac: O Lord who saidst to me, Return to thy land, and to the place of +thy birth, and I will do well for thee. + +32:10. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, and of thy +truth which thou hast fulfilled to thy servant. With my staff I passed +over this Jordan; and now I return with two companies. + +32:11. Deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am greatly +afraid of him; lest perhaps he come, and kill the mother with the +children. + +32:12. Thou didst say, that thou wouldst do well by me, and multiply my +seed like the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. + +32:13. And when he had slept there that night, he set apart, of the +things which he had, presents for his brother Esau, + +32:14. Two hundred she-goats, twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes, and +twenty rams, + +32:15. Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and twenty +bulls, twenty she-asses, and ten of their foals. + +32:16. And he sent them by the hands of his servants, every drove by +itself, and he said to his servants: Go before me, and let there be a +space between drove and drove. + +32:17. And he commanded the first, saying: If thou meet my brother +Esau, and he ask thee: Whose art thou? or whither goest thou? or whose +are these before thee? + +32:18. Thou shalt answer: Thy servant Jacob's: he hath sent them as a +present to my lord Esau; and he cometh after us. + +32:19. In like manner he commanded the second, and the third, and all +that followed the droves, saying: Speak ye the same words to Esau, when +ye find him. + +32:20. And ye shall add: Thy servant Jacob himself also followeth after +us; for he said: I will appease him with the presents that go before, +and afterwards I will see him, perhaps he will be gracious to me. + +32:21. So the presents went before him, but himself lodged that night +in the camp. + +32:22. And rising early, he took his two wives and his two handmaids, +with his eleven sons, and passed over the ford of Jaboc. + +32:23. And when all things were brought over that belonged to him, + +32:24. He remained alone; and behold, a man wrestled with him till +morning. + +A man, etc. . .This was an angel in human shape, as we learn from Osee +12.4. He is called God, ver. 28 and 30, because he represented the +person of the Son of God. This wrestling, in which Jacob, assisted by +God, was a match for an angel, was so ordered (ver. 28,) that he might +learn by this experiment of the divine assistance, that neither Esau, +nor any other man, should have power to hurt him.--It was also +spiritual, as appeareth by his earnest prayer, urging and at last +obtaining the angel's blessing. + +32:25. And when he saw that he could not overcome him, he touched the +sinew of his thigh, and forthwith it shrank. + +32:26. And he said to him: Let me go, for it is break of day. He +answered: I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. + +32:27. And he said: What is thy name? He answered: Jacob. + +32:28. But he said: Thy name shall not be called Jacob, but Israel; for +if thou hast been strong against God, how much more shalt thou prevail +against men? + +32:29. Jacob asked him: Tell me by what name art thou called? He +answered: Why dost thou ask my name? And he blessed him in the same +place. + +32:30. And Jacob called the name of the place Phanuel, saying: I have +seen God face to face, and my soul has been saved. + +Phanuel. . .This word signifies the face of God, or the sight, or seeing +of God. + +32:31. And immediately the sun rose upon him, after he was past +Phanuel; but he halted on his foot. + +32:32. Therefore the children of Israel, unto this day, eat not the +sinew, that shrank in Jacob's thigh: because he touched the sinew of +his thigh and it shrank. + + + +Genesis Chapter 33 + + +Jacob and Esau meet: Jacob goeth to Salem, where he raiseth an altar. + +33:1. And Jacob lifting up his eyes, saw Esau coming, and with him four +hundred men: and he divided the children of Lia and of Rachel, and of +the two handmaids. + +33:2. And he put both the handmaids and their children foremost: and +Lia and her children in the second place: and Rachel and Joseph last. + +33:3. And he went forward and bowed down with his face to the ground +seven times, until his brother came near. + +33:4. Then Esau ran to meet his brother, and embraced him: and clasping +him fast about the neck, and kissing him, wept. + +33:5. And lifting up his eyes, he saw the women and their children, and +said: What mean these? And do they belong to thee? He answered: They +are the children which God hath given to me, thy servant. + +33:6. Then the handmaids and their children came near and bowed +themselves. + +33:7. Lia also, with her children, came near and bowed down in like +manner; and last of all, Joseph and Rachel bowed down. + +33:8. And Esau said: What are the droves that I met? He answered: That +I might find favour before my lord. + +33:9. But he said: I have plenty, my brother, keep what is thine for +thyself. + +33:10. And Jacob said: Do not so I beseech thee, but if I have found +favour in thy eyes, receive a little present at my hands: for I have +seen thy face, as if I should have seen the countenance of God: be +gracious to me, + +33:11. And take the blessing which I have brought thee, and which God +hath given me, who giveth all things. He took it with much ado at his +brother's earnest pressing him, + +33:12. And said: Let us go on together, and I will accompany thee in +thy journey. + +33:13. And Jacob said: My lord, thou knowest that I have with me tender +children, and sheep, and kine with young: which if I should cause to be +overdriven, in one day all the flocks will die. + +33:14. May it please my lord to go before his servant: and I will +follow softly after him, as I shall see my children to be able, until I +come to my lord in Seir. + +33:15. Esau answered: I beseech thee, that some of the people, at +least, who are with me, may stay to accompany thee in the way. And he +said: There is no necessity: I want nothing else but only to find +favour, my lord, in thy sight. + +33:16. So Esau returned that day, the way that he came, to Seir. + +33:17. And Jacob came to Socoth: where having built a house, and +pitched tents, he called the name of the place Socoth, that is, Tents. + +33:18. And he passed over to Salem, a city of the Sichemites, which is +in the land of Chanaan, after he returned from Mesopotamia of Syria: +and he dwelt by the town. + +33:19. And he bought that part of the field, in which he pitched his +tents, of the children of Hemor, the father of Sichem, for a hundred +lambs. + +33:20. And raising an altar there, he invoked upon it the most mighty +God of Israel. + + + +Genesis Chapter 34 + + +Dina is ravished, for which the Sichemites are destroyed. + +34:1. And Dina the daughter of Lia went out to see the women of that +country. + +34:2. And when Sichem the son of Hemor the Hevite, the prince of that +land, saw her, he was in love with her: and took her away, and lay with +her, ravishing the virgin. + +34:3. And his soul was fast knit unto her; and whereas she was sad, he +comforted her with sweet words. + +34:4. And going to Hemor his father, he said: Get me this damsel to +wife. + +34:5. But when Jacob had heard this, his sons being absent, and +employed in feeding the cattle, he held his peace till they came back. + +34:6. And when Hemor the father of Sichem was come out to speak to +Jacob, + +34:7. Behold his sons came from the field: and hearing what had passed, +they were exceeding angry, because he had done a foul thing in Israel, +and committed an unlawful act, in ravishing Jacob's daughter. + +34:8. And Hemor spoke to them: The soul of my son Sichem has a longing +for your daughter: give her him to wife: + +34:9. And let us contract marriages one with another: give us your +daughters, and take you our daughters. + +34:10. And dwell with us: the land is at your command, till, trade, and +possess it. + +34:11. Sichem also said to her father and to her brethren: Let me find +favour in your sight, and whatsoever you shall appoint I will give: + +34:12. Raise the dowry, and ask gifts, and I will gladly give what you +shall demand: only give me this damsel to wife. + +34:13. The sons of Jacob answered Sichem and his father deceitfully, +being enraged at the deflowering of their sister: + +Deceitfully. . .The sons of Jacob, on this occasion, were guilty of a +grievous sin, as well by falsely pretending religion, as by excess of +revenge: though otherwise their zeal against so foul a crime was +commendable. + +34:14. We cannot do what you demand, nor give our sister to one that is +uncircumcised; which with us is unlawful and abominable. + +34:15. But in this we may be allied with you, if you will be like us, +and all the male sex among you be circumcised: + +34:16. Then will we mutually give and take your daughters, and ours; +and we will dwell with you, and will be one people: + +34:17. But if you will not be circumcised, we will take our daughter +and depart. + +34:18. Their offer pleased Hemor, and Sichem, his son: + +34:19. And the young man made no delay, but forthwith fulfilled what +was required: for he loved the damsel exceedingly, and he was the +greatest man in all his father's house. + +34:20. And going into the gate of the city, they spoke to the people: + +34:21. These men are peaceable, and are willing to dwell with us: let +them trade in the land, and till it, which being large and wide wanteth +men to till it: we shall take their daughters for wives, and we will +give them ours. + +34:22. One thing there is for which so great a good is deferred: We +must circumcise every male among us, following the manner of the +nation. + +34:23. And their substance, and cattle, and all that they possess, +shall be ours; only in this let us condescend, and by dwelling +together, we shall make one people. + +34:24. And they all agreed, and circumcised all the males. + +34:25. And behold the third day, when the pain of the wound was +greatest: two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, the brothers of +Dina, taking their swords, entered boldly into the city and slew all +the men. + +34:26. And they killed also Hemor and Sichem, and took away their +sister Dina out of Sichem's house. + +34:27. And when they were gone out, the other sons of Jacob came upon +the slain; and plundered the city in revenge of the rape. + +34:28. And they took their sheep, and their herds, and their asses, +wasting all they had in their houses and in their fields. + +34:29. And their children and wives they took captive. + +34:30. And when they had boldly perpetrated these things, Jacob said to +Simeon and Levi: You have troubled me, and made me hateful to the +Chanaanites and Pherezites, the inhabitants of this land. We are few: +they will gather themselves together and kill me; and both I, and my +house shall be destroyed. + +34:31. They answered: Should they abuse our sister as a strumpet? + + + +Genesis Chapter 35 + + +Jacob purgeth his family from idols: goeth by God's commandment to +Bethel, and there buildeth an altar. God appearing again to Jacob +blesseth him, and changeth his name into Israel. Rachel dieth in +childbirth. Isaac also dieth. + +35:1. In the mean time God said to Jacob: Arise and go up to Bethel, +and dwell there, and make there an altar to God, who appeared to thee +when thou didst flee from Esau, thy brother. + +35:2. And Jacob having called together all his household, said: Cast +away the strange gods that are among you, and be cleansed, and change +your garments. + +35:3. Arise, and let us go up to Bethel, that we may make there an +altar to God; who heard me in the day of my affliction, and accompained +me in my journey. + +35:4. So they gave him all the strange gods they had, and the earrings +which were in their ears: and he buried them under the turpentine tree, +that is behind the city of Sichem. + +35:5. And when they were departed, the terror of God fell upon all the +cities round about, and they durst not pursue after them as they went +away. + +35:6. And Jacob came to Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan, surnamed +Bethel: he and all the people that were with him. + +35:7. And he built there an altar, and called the name of that place, +The house of God: for there God appeared to him when he fled from his +brother. + +35:8. At the same time Debora, the nurse of Rebecca, died, and was +buried at the foot of Bethel, under an oak, and the name of that place +was called, The oak of weeping. + +35:9. And God appeared again to Jacob, after he returned from +Mesopotamia of Syria, and he blessed him, + +35:10. Saying: Thou shalt not be called any more Jacob, but Israel +shall be thy name. And he called him Israel. + +Israel. . .This name signifieth one that prevaileth with God. + +35:11. And said to him: I am God almighty, increase thou and be +multiplied. Nations and peoples of nations shall be from thee, and +kings shall come out of thy loins. + +35:12. And the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to +thee, and to thy seed after thee. + +35:13. And he departed from him. + +35:14. But he set up a monument of stone, in the place where God had +spoken to him: pouring drink-offerings upon it, and pouring oil +thereon: + +35:15. And calling the name of that place Bethel. + +35:16. And going forth from thence, he came in the spring time to the +land which leadeth to Ephrata: wherein when Rachel was in travail, + +35:17. By reason of her hard labour, she began to be in danger, and the +midwife said to her: Fear not, for thou shalt have this son also. + +35:18. And when her soul was departing for pain, and death was now at +hand, she called the name of her son Benoni, that is, the son of my +pain: but his father called him Benjamin, that is, the son of the right +hand. + +35:19. So Rachel died, and was buried in the highway that leadeth to +Ephrata, this is Bethlehem. + +35:20. And Jacob erected a pillar over her sepulchre: this is the +pillar of Rachel's monument, to this day. + +35:21. Departing thence, he pitched his tent beyond the Flock tower. + +35:22. And when he dwelt in that country, Ruben went, and slept with +Bala the concubine of his father: which he was not ignorant of. Now the +sons of Jacob were twelve. + +The concubine. . .She was his lawful wife; but, according to the style +of the Hebrews, is called concubine, because of her servile extraction. + +35:23. The sons of Lia: Ruben the first born, and Simeon, and Levi, and +Juda, and Issachar, and Zabulon. + +35:24. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. + +35:25. The sons of Bala, Rachel's handmaid: Dan and Nephthali. + +35:26. The sons of Zelpha, Lia's handmaid: Gad and Aser: these are the +sons of Jacob, that were born to him in Mesopotamia of Syria. + +35:27. And he came to Isaac his father in Mambre, the city of Arbee, +this is Hebron: wherein Abraham and Isaac sojourned. + +35:28. And the days of Isaac were a hundred and eighty years. + +35:29. And being spent with age he died, and was gathered to his +people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried +him. + + + +Genesis Chapter 36 + + +Esau with his wives and children parteth from Jacob. An account of his +descendants, and of the first kings of Edom. + +36:1. And these are the generations of Esau, the same is Edom. + +36:2. Esau took wives of the daughters of Chanaan: Ada the daughter of +Elon the Hethite, and Oolibama the daughter of Ana, the daughter of +Sebeon the Hevite: + +Ada. . .These wives of Esau are called by other names, Gen. 26. But it +was very common amongst the ancients for the same persons to have two +names, as Esau himself was also called Edom. + +36:3. And Basemath, the daughter of Ismael, sister of Nabajoth. + +36:4. And Ada bore Eliphaz: Basemath bore Rahuel. + +36:5. Oolibama bore Jehus, and Ihelon, and Core. These are the sons of +Esau, that were born to him in the land of Chanaan. + +36:6. And Esau took his wives, and his sons and daughters, and every +soul of his house, and his substance, and cattle, and all that he was +able to acquire in the land of Chanaan: and went into another country, +and departed from his brother Jacob. + +36:7. For they were exceeding rich, and could not dwell together: +neither was the land in which they sojourned able to bear them, for the +multitude of their flocks. + +36:8. And Esau dwelt in mount Seir: he is Edom. + +36:9. And these are the generations of Esau, the father of Edom, in +mount Seir. + +36:10. And these the names of his sons: Eliphaz the son of Ada, the +wife of Esau: and Rahuel, the son of Basemath, his wife. + +36:11. And Eliphaz had sons: Theman, Omar, Sepho, and Gatham and Cenez. + +36:12. And Thamna was the concubine of Eliphaz, the son of Esau: and +she bore him Amalech. These are the sons of Ada, the wife of Esau. + +36:13. And the sons of Rahuel were Nahath and Zara, Samma and Meza. +These were the sons of Basemath, the wife of Esau. + +36:14. And these were the sons of Oolibama, the daughter of Ana, the +daughter of Sebeon, the wife of Esau, whom she bore to him, Jehus, and +Ihelon, and Core. + +36:15. These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz, the +firstborn of Esau: duke Theman, duke Omar, duke Sepho, duke Cenez, + +36:16. Duke Core, duke Gatham, duke Amalech: these are the sons of +Eliphaz, in the land of Edom, and these the sons of Ada. + +36:17. And these were the sons of Rahuel, the son of Esau: duke Nahath, +duke Zara, duke Samma, duke Meza. And these are the dukes of Rahuel, in +the land of Edom: these the sons of Basemath, the wife of Esau. + +36:18. And these the sons of Oolibama, the wife of Esau: duke Jehus, +duke Ihelon, duke Core. These are the dukes of Oolibama, the daughter +of Ana, and wife of Esau. + +36:19. These are the sons of Esau, and these the dukes of them: the +same is Edom. + +36:20. These are the sons of Seir, the Horrite, the inhabitants of the +land: Lotan, and Sobal, and Sebeon, and Ana, + +36:21. And Dison, and Eser, and Disan. These are dukes of the Horrites, +the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom. + +36:22. And Lotan had sons: Hori and Heman. And the sister of Lotan was +Thamna. + +36:23. And these the sons of Sobal: Alvan, and Manahat, and Ebal, and +Sepho, and Onam. + +36:24. And these the sons of Sebeon: Aia and Ana. This is Ana that +found the hot waters in the wilderness, when he fed the asses of +Sebeon, his father: + +36:25. And he had a son Dison, and a daughter Oolibama. + +36:26. And these were the sons of Dison: Hamdan, and Eseban, and +Jethram, and Charan. + +36:27. These also were the sons of Eser: Balaan, and Zavan, and Acan. + +36:28. And Dison had sons: Hus and Aram. + +36:29. These were dukes of the Horrites: duke Lotan, duke Sobal, duke +Sebeon, duke Ana, + +36:30. Duke Dison, duke Eser, duke Disan: these were dukes of the +Horrites that ruled in the land of Seir. + +36:31. And the kings that ruled in the land of Edom, before the +children of Israel had a king, were these: + +36:32. Bela the son of Beor, and the name of his city Denaba. + +36:33. And Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zara, of Bosra, reigned in +his stead. + +36:34. And when Jobab was dead, Husam, of the land of the Themanites, +reigned in his stead. + +36:35. And after his death, Adad, the son of Badad, reigned in his +stead, who defeated the Madianites in the country of Boab; and the name +of his city was Avith. + +36:36. And when Adad was dead, there reigned in his stead, Semla, of +Masreca. + +36:37. And he being dead, Saul, of the river Rohoboth, reigned in his +stead. + +36:38. And when he also was dead, Balanan, the son of Achobor, +succeeded to the kingdom. + +36:39. This man also being dead, Adar reigned in his place; and the +name of his city was Phau: and his wife was called Meetabel, the +daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezaab. + +36:40. And these are the names of the dukes of Esau in their kindreds, +and places, and callings: duke Thamna, duke Alva, duke Jetheth, + +36:41. Duke Oolibama, duke Ela, duke Phinon, + +36:42. Duke Cenez, duke Theman, duke Mabsar, + +36:43. Duke Magdiel, duke Hiram: these are the dukes of Edom dwelling +in the land of their government; the same is Esau, the father of the +Edomites. + + + +Genesis Chapter 37 + + +Joseph's dreams: he is sold by his brethren, and carried into Egypt. + +37:1. And Jacob dwelt in the land of Chanaan, wherein his father +sojourned. + +37:2. And these are his generations: Joseph, when he was sixteen years +old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, being but a boy: and he +was with the sons of Bala and of Zelpha his father's wives: and he +accused his brethren to his father of a most wicked crime. + +37:3. Now Israel loved Joseph above all his sons, because he had him in +his old age: and he made him a coat of divers colours. + +37:4. And his brethren seeing that he was loved by his father, more +than all his sons, hated hem, and could not speak peaceably to him. + +37:5. Now it fell out also that he told his brethren a dream, that he +had dreamed: which occasioned them to hate him the more. + +A dream. . .These dreams of Joseph were prophetical, and sent from God; +as were also those which he interpreted, Gen. 40. and 41.; otherwise +generally speaking, the observing of dreams is condemned in the +Scripture, as superstitious and sinful. See Deut. 18.10; Eccli. 34.2,3. + +37:6. And he said to them: Hear my dream which I dreamed. + +37:7. I thought we were binding sheaves in the field: and my sheaf +arose as it were, and stood, and your sheaves standing about bowed down +before my sheaf. + +37:8. His brethren answered: Shalt thou be our king? or shall we be +subject to thy dominion? Therefore this matter of his dreams and words +ministered nourishment to their envy and hatred. + +37:9. He dreamed also another dream, which he told his brethren, +saying: I saw in a dream, as it were the sun, and the moon, and eleven +stars worshipping me. + +37:10. And when he had told this to his father, and brethren, his +father rebuked him and said: What meaneth this dream that thou hast +dreamed? shall I and thy mother, and thy brethren worship thee upon the +earth? + +Worship. . .This word is not used here to signify divine worship, but an +inferior veneration, expressed by the bowing of the body, and that, +according to the manner of the eastern nations, down to the ground. + +37:11. His brethren therefore envied him: but his father considered the +thing with himself. + +37:12. And when his brethren abode in Sechem, feeding their father's +flocks, + +37:13. Israel said to him: Thy brethren feed the sheep in Sichem: come, +I will send thee to them. And when he answered: + +37:14. I am ready: he said to him: Go, and see if all things be well +with thy brethren, and the cattle: and bring me word again what is +doing. So being sent from the vale of Hebron, he came to Sichem: + +37:15. And a man found him there wandering in the field, and asked what +he sought. + +37:16. But he answered: I seek my brethren, tell me where they feed the +flocks. + +37:17. And the man said to him: They are departed from this place: for +I heard them say: Let us go to Dothain. And Joseph went forward after +his brethren, and found them in Dothain. + +37:18. And when they saw him afar off, before he came nigh them, they +thought to kill him: + +37:19. And said one to another: Behold the dreamer cometh. + +37:20. Come, let us kill him, and cast him into some old pit: and we +will say: Some evil beast hath devoured him: and then it shall appear +what his dreams avail him: + +37:21. And Ruben hearing this, endeavoured to deliver him out of their +hands, and said: + +37:22. Do not take away his life, nor shed his blood: but cast him into +this pit, that is in the wilderness, and keep your hands harmless: now +he said this, being desirous to deliver him out of their hands and to +restore him to his father. + +37:23. And as soon as he came to his brethren, they forthwith stript +him of his outside coat, that was of divers colours: + +37:24. And cast him into an old pit where there was not water. + +37:25. And sitting down to eat bread, they saw some Ismaelites on their +way coming from Galaad, with their camels, carrying spices, and balm, +and myrrh to Egypt. + +37:26. And Juda said to his brethren: What will it profit us to kill +our brother, and conceal his blood? + +37:27. It is better that he be sold to the Ismaelites, and that our +hands be not defiled: for he is our brother and our flesh. His brethren +agreed to his words. + +37:28. And when the Madianite merchants passed by, they drew him out of +the pit, and sold him to the Ismaelites, for twenty pieces of silver: +and they led him into Egypt. + +37:29. And Ruben returning to the pit, found not the boy: + +37:30. And rending his garments he went to his brethren, and said: The +boy doth not appear, and whither shall I go? + +37:31. And they took his coat, and dipped it in the blood of a kid, +which they had killed: + +37:32. Sending some to carry it to their father, and to say: This we +have found: see whether it be thy son's coat, or not. + +37:33. And the father acknowledging it, said: It is my son's coat, an +evil wild beast hath eaten him, a beast hath devoured Joseph. + +37:34. And tearing his garments, he put on sackcloth, mourning for his +son a long time. + +37:35. And all his children being gathered together to comfort their +father in his sorrow, he would not receive comfort, but said: I will go +down to my son into hell, mourning. And whilst he continued weeping, + +Into hell. . .That is, into limbo, the place where the souls of the just +were received before the death of our Redeemer. For allowing that the +word hell sometimes is taken for the grave, it cannot be so taken in +this place; since Jacob did not believe his son to be in the grave, +(whom he supposed to be devoured by a wild beast,) and therefore could +not mean to go down to him thither: but certainly meant the place of +rest where he believed his soul to be. + +37:36. The Madianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Putiphar, an eunuch of +Pharao, captain of the soldiers. + +An eunuch. . .This word sometimes signifies a chamberlain, courtier, or +officer of the king: and so it is taken in this place. + + + +Genesis Chapter 38 + + +The sons of Juda: the death of Her and Onan: the birth of Phares and +Zara. + +38:1. At that time Juda went down from his brethren, and turned in to a +certain Odollamite, named Hiras. + +38:2. And he saw there the daughter of a man of Chanaan, called Sue: +and taking her to wife, he went in unto her. + +38:3. And she conceived, and bore a son, and called his name Her. + +38:4. And conceiving again, she bore a son, and called him Onan. + +38:5. She bore also a third: whom she called Sela. After whose birth, +she ceased to bear any more. + +38:6. And Juda took a wife for Her, his first born, whose name was +Thamar. + +38:7. And Her, the first born of Juda, was wicked in the sight of the +Lord: and was slain by him. + +38:8. Juda, therefore, said to Onan his son: Go in to thy brother's +wife and marry her, that thou mayst raise seed to thy brother. + +38:9. He knowing that the children should not be his, when he went in +to his brother's wife, he spilled his seed upon the ground, lest +children should be born in his brother's name. + +38:10. And therefore the Lord slew him, because he did a detestable +thing: + +38:11. Wherefore Juda said to Thamar his daughter-in-law: Remain a +widow in thy father's house, till Sela my son grow up: for he was +afraid lest he also might die, as his brethren did. She went her way, +and dwelt in her father's house. + +38:12. And after many days were past: the daughter of Sue the wife of +Juda died: and when he had taken comfort after his mourning, he went up +to Thamnas, to the shearers of his sheep, he and Hiras the Odollamite, +the shepherd of his flock. + +38:13. And it was told Thamar that her father-in-law was come up to +Thamnas to shear his sheep. + +38:14. And she put off the garments of her widowhood, and took a veil: +and changing her dress, sat in the cross way, that leadeth to Thamnas: +because Sela was grown up, and she had not been married to him. + +38:15. When Juda saw her, he thought she was a harlot: for she had +covered her face, lest she should be known. + +38:16. And going to her, he said: Suffer me to lie with thee: for he +knew her not to be his daughter-in-law. And she answered: What wilt +thou give me to enjoy my company? + +38:17. He said: I will send thee a kid out of the flock. And when she +said again: I will suffer what thou wilt, if thou give me a pledge, +till thou send what thou promisest. + +38:18. Juda said: What wilt thou have for a pledge? She answered: Thy +ring and bracelet, and the staff which thou holdest in thy hand. The +woman therefore at one copulation conceived. + +38:19. And she arose and went her way: and putting off the apparel +which she had taken, put on the garments of her widowhood. + +38:20. And Juda sent a kid by his shepherd, the Odollamite, that he +might receive the pledge again, which he had given to the woman: but +he, not finding her, + +38:21. Asked the men of that place: Where is the woman that sat in the +cross way? And when they all made answer: There was no harlot in this +place, + +38:22. He returned to Juda, and said to him: I have not found her; +moreover, the men of that place said to me, that there never sat a +harlot there. + +38:23. Juda said: Let her take it to herself, surely she cannot charge +us with a lie, I sent the kid which I promised: and thou didst not find +her. + +38:24. And behold, after three months, they told Juda, saying: Thamar, +thy daughter-in-law, hath played the harlot, and she appeareth to have +a big belly. And Juda said: Bring her out that she may be burnt. + +38:25. But when she was led to execution, she sent to her father in +law, saying: By the man, to whom these things belong, I am with child. +See whose ring, and bracelet, and staff this is. + +38:26. But he acknowledging the gifts, said: She is juster than I: +because I did not give her to Sela, my son. However he knew her no +more. + +38:27. And when she was ready to be brought to bed, there appeared +twins in her womb: and in the very delivery of the infants, one put +forth a hand, whereon the midwife tied a scarlet thread, saying: + +38:28. This shall come forth the first. + +38:29. But he drawing back his hand, the other came forth: and the +woman said: Why is the partition divided for thee? and therefore called +his name Phares. + +Phares. . .That is, a breach or division. + +38:30. Afterwards his brother came out, on whose hand was the scarlet +thread: and she called his name Zara. + + + +Genesis Chapter 39 + + +Joseph hath charge of his master's house: rejecteth his mistress's +solicitations: is falsely accused by her, and cast into prison, where +he hath the charge of all the prisoners. + +39:1. And Joseph was brought into Egypt, and Putiphar, an eunuch of +Pharao, chief captain of the army, an Egyptian, bought him of the +Ismaelites, by whom he was brought. + +39:2. And the Lord was with him, and he was a prosperous man in all +things: and he dwelt in his master's house: + +39:3. Who knew very well that the Lord was with him, and made all that +he did to prosper in his hand. + +39:4. And Joseph found favour in the sight of his master, and +ministered to him: and being set over all by him, he governed the house +committed to him, and all things that were delivered to him: + +39:5. And the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian for Joseph's sake, +and multiplied all his substance, both at home and in the fields. + +39:6. Neither knew he any other thing, but the bread which he ate. And +Joseph was of a beautiful countenance, and comely to behold. + +39:7. And after many days, his mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and +said: Lie with me. + +39:8. But he in no wise consenting to that wicked act said to her: +Behold, my master hath delivered all things to me, and knoweth not what +he hath in his own house: + +39:9. Neither is there any thing which is not in my power, or that he +hath not delivered to me, but thee, who art his wife; how then can I do +this wicked thing, and sin against my God? + +39:10. With such words as these day by day, both the woman was +importunate with the young man, and he refused the adultery. + +39:11. Now it happened on a certain day, that Joseph went into the +house, and was doing some business, without any man with him: + +39:12. And she catching the skirt of his garment, said: Lie with me. +But he leaving the garment in her hand, fled, and went out. + +39:13. And when the woman saw the garment in her hands, and herself +disregarded, + +39:14. She called to her the men of her house, and said to them: See, +he hath brought in a Hebrew, to abuse us: he came in to me, to lie with +me; and when I cried out, + +39:15. And he heard my voice, he left the garment that I held, and got +him out. + +39:16. For a proof therefore of her fidelity, she kept the garment, and +shewed it to her husband when he returned home: + +A proof of her fidelity. . .or an argument to gain credit, argumentum +fidei. + +39:17. And said: The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought, came to me +to abuse me. + +39:18. And when he heard me cry, he left the garment which I held, and +fled out. + +39:19. His master hearing these things, and giving too much credit to +his wife's words, was very angry, + +39:20. And cast Joseph into the prison, where the king's prisoners were +kept, and he was there shut up. + +39:21. But the Lord was with Joseph, and having mercy upon him gave him +favour in the sight of the chief keeper of the prison: + +39:22. Who delivered into his hand all the prisoners that were kept in +custody: and whatsoever was done, was under him. + +39:23. Neither did he himself know any thing, having committed all +things to him: for the Lord was with him, and made all that he did to +prosper. + + + +Genesis Chapter 40 + + +Joseph interpreteth the dreams of two of Pharao's servants in prison: +the event declareth the interpretations to be true, but Joseph is +forgotten. + +40:1. After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the +baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord. + +40:2. And Pharao being angry with them, (now the one was chief butler, +the other chief baker,) + +40:3. He sent them to the prison of the commander of the soldiers, in +which Joseph also was prisoner. + +40:4. But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, and he +served them. Some little time passed, and they were kept in custody. + +40:5. And they both dreamed a dream the same night, according to the +interpretation agreeing to themselves: + +40:6. And when Joseph was come into them in the morning, and saw them +sad, + +40:7. He asked them, saying: Why is your countenance sadder today than +usual? + +40:8. They answered: We have dreamed a dream, and there is nobody to +interpret it to us. And Joseph said to them: Doth not interpretation +belong to God? Tell me what you have dreamed: + +Doth not interpretation belong to God?. . .When dreams are from God, as +these were, the interpretation of them is a gift of God. But the +generality of dreams are not of this sort; but either proceed from the +natural complexions and dispositions of persons, or the roving of their +imaginations in the day on such objects as they are much affected with, +or from their mind being disturbed with cares and troubles, and +oppressed with bodily infirmities: or they are suggested by evil +spirits, to flatter, or to terrify weak minds, in order to gain belief, +and so draw them into error or superstition; or at least to trouble +them in their sleep, whom they cannot move when they are awake: so that +the general rule, with regard to dreams, is not to observe them, nor to +give any credit to them. + +40:9. The chief butler first told his dream: I saw before me a vine, + +40:10. On which were three branches, which by little and little sent +out buds, and after the blossoms brought forth ripe grapes: + +40:11. And the cup of Pharao was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and +pressed them into the cup which I held, and I gave the cup to Pharao. + +40:12. Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The +three branches, are yet three days: + +40:13. After which Pharao will remember thy service, and will restore +thee to thy former place: and thou shalt present him the cup according +to thy office, as before thou was wont to do. + +40:14. Only remember me when it shall be well with thee, and do me this +kindness: to put Pharao in mind to take me out of this prison: + +40:15. For I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here +without any fault was cast into the dungeon. + +40:16. The chief baker seeing that he had wisely interpreted the dream, +said: I also dreamed a dream, That I had three baskets of meal upon my +head: + +40:17. And that in one basket which was uppermost, I carried all meats +that are made by the art of baking, and that the birds ate out of it. + +40:18. Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The +three baskets, are yet three days: + +40:19. After which Pharao will take thy head from thee, and hang thee +on a cross, and the birds shall tear thy flesh. + +40:20. The third day after this was the birthday of Pharao: and he made +a great feast for his servants, and at the banquet remembered the chief +butler, and the chief baker. + +40:21. And he restored the one to his place, to present him the cup: + +40:22. The other he hanged on a gibbet, that the truth of the +interpreter might be shewn. + +40:23. But the chief butler, when things prospered with him, forgot his +interpreter. + + + +Genesis Chapter 41 + + +Joseph interpreteth the two dreams of Pharao: he is made ruler over all +Egypt. + +41:1. After two years Pharao had a dream. He thought he stood by the +river, + +41:2. Out of which came up seven kine, very beautiful and fat: and they +fed in marshy places. + +41:3. Other seven also came up out of the river, ill-favoured, and lean +fleshed: and they fed on the very bank of the river, in green places: + +41:4. And they devoured them, whose bodies were very beautiful and well +conditioned. So Pharao awoke. + +41:5. He slept again, and dreamed another dream: Seven ears of corn +came up upon one stalk full and fair: + +41:6. Then seven other ears sprung up thin and blasted, + +41:7. And devoured all the beauty of the former. Pharao awaked after +his rest: + +41:8. And when morning was come, being struck with fear, he sent to all +the interpreters of Egypt, and to all the wise men: and they being +called for, he told them his dream, and there was not any one that +could interpret it. + +41:9. Then at length the chief butler remembering, said: I confess my +sin: + +41:10. The king being angry with his servants, commanded me and the +chief baker to be cast into the prison of the captain of the soldiers. + +41:11. Where in one night both of us dreamed a dream foreboding things +to come. + +41:12. There was there a young man a Hebrew, servant to the same +captain of the soldiers: to whom we told our dreams, + +41:13. And we heard what afterwards the event of the thing proved to be +so. For I was restored to my office: and he was hanged upon a gibbet. + +41:14. Forthwith at the king's command Joseph was brought out of the +prison, and they shaved him: and changing his apparel brought him in to +him. + +41:15. And he said to him: I have dreamed dreams, and there is no one +that can expound them: Now I have heard that thou art very wise at +interpreting them: + +41:16. Joseph answered: Without me, God shall give Pharao a prosperous +answer. + +41:17. So Pharao told what he had dreamed: Methought I stood upon the +bank of the river, + +41:18. And seven kine came up out of the river, exceeding beautiful and +full of flesh: and they grazed on green places in a marshy pasture. + +41:19. And behold, there followed these, other seven kine, so very +ill-favoured and lean, that I never saw the like in the land of Egypt: + +41:20. And they devoured and consumed the former, + +41:21. And yet gave no mark of their being full: but were as lean and +ill-favoured as before. I awoke, and then fell asleep again, + +41:22. And dreamed a dream: Seven ears of corn grew up upon one stalk, +full and very fair. + +41:23. Other seven also thin and blasted, sprung of the stalk: + +41:24. And they devoured the beauty of the former: I told this dream to +the conjecturers, and there is no man that can expound it. + +41:25. Joseph answered: The king's dream is one: God hath shewn to +Pharao what he is about to do. + +41:26. The seven beautiful kine, and the seven full ears, are seven +years of plenty: and both contain the same meaning of the dream. + +41:27. And the seven lean and thin kine that came up after them, and +the seven thin ears that were blasted with the burning wind, are seven +years of famine to come: + +41:28. Which shall be fulfilled in this order. + +41:29. Behold, there shall come seven years of great plenty in the +whole land of Egypt: + +41:30. After which shall follow other seven years of so great scarcity, +that all the abundance before shall be forgotten: for the famine shall +consume all the land, + +41:31. And the greatness of the scarcity shall destroy the greatness of +the plenty. + +41:32. And for that thou didst see the second time a dream pertaining +to the same thing: it is a token of the certainty, and that the word of +God cometh to pass, and is fulfilled speedily. + +41:33. Now therefore let the king provide a wise and industrious man, +and make him ruler over the land of Egypt: + +41:34. That he may appoint overseers over all the countries: and gather +into barns the fifth part of the fruits, during the seven fruitful +years, + +41:35. That shall now presently ensue: and let all the corn be laid up, +under Pharao's hands, and be reserved in the cities. + +41:36. And let it be in readiness, against the famine of seven years to +come, which shall oppress Egypt, and the land shall not be consumed +with scarcity. + +41:37. The counsel pleased Pharao, and all his servants. + +41:38. And he said to them: Can we find such another man, that is full +of the spirit of God? + +41:39. He said therefore to Joseph: Seeing God hath shewn thee all that +thou hast said, can I find one wiser and one like unto thee? + +41:40. Thou shalt be over my house, and at the commandment of thy mouth +all the people shall obey: only in the kingly throne will I be above +thee. + +41:41. And again Pharao said to Joseph: Behold, I have appointed thee +over the whole land of Egypt. + +41:42. And he took his ring from his own hand, and gave it into his +hand: and he put upon him a robe of silk, and put a chain of gold about +his neck. + +41:43. And he made him go up into his second chariot, the crier +proclaiming that all should bow their knee before him, and that they +should know he was made governor over the whole land of Egypt. + +41:44. And the king said to Joseph: I am Pharao: without thy +commandment no man shall move hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. + +41:45. And he turned his name, and called him in the Egyptian tongue +the saviour of the world. And he gave him to wife Aseneth, the daughter +of Putiphare, priest of Heliopolis. Then Joseph went out to the land of +Egypt. + +The saviour of the world. . .Zaphnah paaneah. + +41:46. (Now he was thirty years old when he stood before king Pharao), +and he went round all the countries of Egypt. + +41:47. And the fruitfulness of the seven years came: and the corn being +bound up into sheaves, was gathered together into the barns of Egypt. + +41:48. And all the abundance of grain was laid up in every city. + +41:49. And there was so great abundance of wheat, that it was equal to +the sand of the sea, and the plenty exceeded measure. + +41:50. And before the famine came, Joseph had two sons born: whom +Aseneth, the daughter of Putiphare, priest of Heliopolis, bore unto +him. + +41:51. And he called the name of the firstborn Manasses, saying: God +hath made me to forget all my labours, and my father's house. + +Manasses. . .That is, oblivion, or forgetting. + +41:52. And he named the second Ephraim, saying: God hath made me to +grow in the land of my poverty. + +Ephraim. . .That is, fruitful, or growing. + +41:53. Now when the seven years of plenty that had been in Egypt were +passed: + +41:54. The seven years of scarcity, which Joseph had foretold, began to +come: and the famine prevailed in the whole world, but there was bread +in all the land of Egypt. + +41:55. And when there also they began to be famished, the people cried +to Pharao, for food. And he said to them: Go to Joseph: and do all +that he shall say to you. + +41:56. And the famine increased daily in all the land: and Joseph +opened all the barns, and sold to the Egyptians: for the famine had +oppressed them also. + +41:57. And all provinces came into Egypt, to buy food, and to seek some +relief of their want. + + + +Genesis Chapter 42 + + +Jacob sendeth his ten sons to buy corn in Egypt. Their treatment by +Joseph. + +42:1. And Jacob hearing that food was sold in Egypt, said to his sons: +Why are ye careless? + +42:2. I have heard that wheat is sold in Egypt: Go ye down, and buy us +necessaries, that we may live, and not be consumed with want. + +42:3. So the ten brethren of Joseph went down, to buy corn in Egypt: + +42:4. Whilst Benjamin was kept at home by Jacob, who said to his +brethren: Lest perhaps he take any harm in the journey. + +42:5. And they entered into the land of Egypt with others that went to +buy. For the famine was in the land of Chanaan. + +42:6. And Joseph was governor in the land of Egypt, and corn was sold +by his direction to the people. And when his brethren had bowed down to +him, + +42:7. And he knew them, he spoke as it were to strangers, somewhat +roughly, asking them: Whence came you? They answered: From the land of +Chanaan, to buy necessaries of life. + +42:8. And though he knew his brethren, he was not known by them. + +42:9. And remembering the dreams, which formerly he had dreamed, he +said to them: You are spies. You are come to view the weaker parts of +the land. + +You are spies. . .This he said by way of examining them, to see what +they would answer. + +42:10. But they said: It is not so, my lord; but thy servants are come +to buy food. + +42:11. We are all the sons of one man: we are come as peaceable men, +neither do thy servants go about any evil. + +42:12. And he answered them: It is otherwise: you are come to consider +the unfenced parts of this land. + +42:13. But they said: We thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of +one man in the land of Chanaan: the youngest is with our father, the +other is not living. + +42:14. He saith, This is it that I said: You are spies. + +42:15. I shall now presently try what you are: by the health of Pharao, +you shall not depart hence, until your youngest brother come. + +42:16. Send one of you to fetch him: and you shall be in prison, till +what you have said be proved, whether it be true or false: or else by +the health of Pharao you are spies. + +Or else by the health of Pharao you are spies. . .That is, if these +things you say be proved false, you are to be held for spies for your +lying, and shall be treated as such. Joseph dealt in this manner with +his brethren, to bring them by the means of affliction to a sense of +their former sin, and a sincere repentance for it. + +42:17. So he put them in prison three days. + +42:18. And the third day he brought them out of prison, and said: Do as +I have said, and you shall live: for I fear God. + +42:19. If you be peaceable men, let one of your brethren be bound in +prison: and go ye your ways, and carry the corn that you have bought, +unto your houses. + +42:20. And bring your youngest brother to me, that I may find your +words to be true, and you may not die. They did as he had said. + +42:21. And they talked one to another: We deserve to suffer these +things, because we have sinned against our brother, seeing the anguish +of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear: therefore is +this affliction come upon us. + +42:22. And Ruben, one of them, said: Did not I say to you: Do not sin +against the boy; and you would not hear me? Behold his blood is +required. + +42:23. And they knew not that Joseph understood, because he spoke to +them by an interpreter. + +42:24. And he turned himself away a little while, and wept: and +returning, he spoke to them. + +42:25. And taking Simeon, and binding him in their presence, he +commanded his servants to fill their sacks with wheat, and to put every +man's money again in their sacks, and to give them besides provisions +for the way: and they did so. + +42:26. But they having loaded their asses with the corn went their way. + +42:27. And one of them opening his sack, to give his beast provender in +the inn, saw the money in the sack's mouth, + +42:28. And said to his brethren: My money is given me again; behold it +is in the sack. And they were astonished, and troubled, and said to one +another: What is this that God hath done unto us? + +42:29. And they came to Jacob their father in the land of Chanaan, and +they told him all things that had befallen them, saying: + +42:30. The lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us to be +spies of the country. + +42:31. And we answered him: We are peaceable men, and we mean no plot. + +42:32. We are twelve brethren born of one father: one is not living, +the youngest is with our father in the land of Chanaan. + +42:33. And he said to us: Hereby shall I know that you are peaceable +men: Leave one of your brethren with me, and take ye necessary +provision for your houses, and go your ways, + +42:34. And bring your youngest brother to me, that I may know you are +not spies: and you may receive this man again, that is kept in prison: +and afterwards may have leave to buy what you will. + +42:35. When they had told this, they poured out their corn, and every +man found his money tied in the mouth of his sack: and all being +astonished together, + +42:36. Their father Jacob said: You have made me to be without +children: Joseph is not living, Simeon is kept in bonds, and Benjamin +you will take away: all these evils are fallen upon me. + +42:37. And Ruben answered him: Kill my two sons, if I bring him not +again to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will restore him to +thee. + +42:38. But he said: My son shall not go down with you: his brother is +dead, and he is left alone: if any mischief befall him in the land to +which you go, you will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to hell. + +To hell. . .That is, to that place, where the souls then remained, as +above, chapter 37. ver. 35. + + + +Genesis Chapter 43 + + +The sons of Jacob go again into Egypt with Benjamin. They are +entertained by Joseph. + +43:1. In the mean time the famine was heavy upon all the land. + +43:2. And when they had eaten up all the corn, which they had brought +out of Egypt, Jacob said to his sons: Go again, and buy us a little +food. + +43:3. Juda answered: The man declared unto us with the attestation of +an oath, saying: You shall not see my face, unless you bring your +youngest brother with you. + +43:4. If therefore thou wilt send him with us, we will set out +together, and will buy necessaries for thee. + +43:5. But if thou wilt not, we will not go: for the man, as we have +often said, declared unto us, saying: You shall not see my face without +your youngest brother. + +43:6. Israel said to them: You have done this for my misery, in that +you told him you had also another brother. + +43:7. But they answered: The man asked us in order concerning our +kindred: if our father lived: if we had a brother: and we answered him +regularly, according to what he demanded: could we know that he would +say: Bring hither your brother with you? + +43:8. And Juda said to his father: Send the boy with me, that we may +set forward, and may live: lest both we and our children perish. + +43:9. I take the boy upon me, require him at my hand: unless I bring +him again, and restore him to thee, I will be guilty of sin against +thee for ever. + +43:10. If delay had not been made, we had been here again the second +time. + +43:11. Then Israel said to them: If it must needs be so, do what you +will: take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry +down presents to the man, a little balm, and honey, and storax, myrrh, +turpentine, and almonds. + +Balm. . .Literally rosin, resinae; but here by that name is meant balm. + +43:12. And take with you double money, and carry back what you found in +your sacks, lest perhaps it was done by mistake. + +43:13. And take also your brother, and go to the man. + +43:14. And may my almighty God make him favourable to you: and send +back with you your brother, whom he keepeth, and this Benjamin: and as +for me I shall be desolate without children. + +43:15. So the men took the presents, and double money, and Benjamin: +and went down into Egypt, and stood before Joseph. + +43:16. And when he had seen them, and Benjamin with them, he commanded +the steward of his house, saying: Bring in the men into the house, and +kill victims, and prepare a feast: because they shall eat with me at +noon. + +43:17. He did as he was commanded, and brought the men into the house. + +43:18. And they being much afraid, said there one to another: Because +of the money, which we carried back the first time in our sacks, we are +brought in: that he may bring upon us a false accusation, and by +violence make slaves of us and our asses. + +43:19. Wherefore, going up to the steward of the house, at the door, + +43:20. They said: Sir, we desire thee to hear us. We came down once +before to buy food: + +43:21. And when we had bought, and were come to the inn, we opened our +sacks, and found our money in the mouths of the sacks: which we have +now brought again in the same weight. + +43:22. And we have brought other money besides, to buy what we want: we +cannot tell who put it in our bags. + +43:23. But he answered: Peace be with you, fear not: your God, and the +God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks. For the +money, which you gave me, I have for good. And he brought Simeon out to +them. + +43:24. And having brought them into the house, he fetched water, and +they washed their feet, and he gave provender to their asses. + +43:25. But they made ready the presents, against Joseph came at noon: +for they had heard that they should eat bread there. + +43:26. Then Joseph came in to his house, and they offered him the +presents, holding them in their hands; and they bowed down with their +face to the ground. + +43:27. But he courteously saluting them again, asked them, saying: Is +the old man your father in health, of whom you told me? Is he yet +living? + +43:28. And they answered: Thy servant our father, is in health; he is +yet living. And bowing themselves, they made obeisance to him. + +43:29. And Joseph lifting up his eyes, saw Benjamin, his brother by the +same mother, and said: Is this your young brother, of whom you told me? +And he said: God be gracious to thee, my son. + +43:30. And he made haste, because his heart was moved upon his brother, +and tears gushed out: and going into his chamber, he wept. + +43:31. And when he had washed his face, coming out again, he refrained +himself, and said: Set bread on the table. + +43:32. And when it was set on, for Joseph apart, and for his brethren +apart, for the Egyptians also that ate with him apart, (for it is +unlawful for the Egyptians to eat with the Hebrews, and they think such +a feast profane): + +43:33. They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, +and the youngest according to his age. And they wondered very much; + +43:34. Taking the messes which they received of him: and the greater +mess came to Benjamin, so that it exceeded by five parts. And they +drank, and were merry with him. + + + +Genesis Chapter 44 + + +Joseph's contrivance to stop his brethren. The humble supplication of +Juda. + +44:1. And Joseph commanded the steward of his house, saying: Fill their +sacks with corn, as much as they can hold: and put the money of every +one in the top of his sack. + +44:2. And in the mouth of the younger's sack put my silver cup, and the +price which he gave for the wheat. And it was so done. + +44:3. And when the morning arose, they were sent away with their asses. + +44:4. And when they were now departed out of the city, and had gone +forward a little way: Joseph sending for the steward of his house, +said: Arise, and pursue after the men: and when thou hast overtaken +them, say to them: Why have you returned evil for good? + +44:5. The cup which you have stolen, is that in which my lord drinketh, +and in which he is wont to divine: you have done a very evil thing. + +44:6. He did as he had commanded him. And having overtaken them, he +spoke to them the same words. + +44:7. And they answered: Why doth our lord speak so, as though thy +servants had committed so heinous a fact? + +44:8. The money, that we found in the top of our sacks, we brought back +to thee from the land of Chanaan: how then should it be that we should +steal out of thy lord's house, gold or silver? + +44:9. With whomsoever of thy servants shall be found that which thou +seekest, let him die, and we will be the bondmen of my lord. + +44:10. And he said to them: Let it be according to your sentence: with +whomsoever it shall be found, let him be my servant, and you shall be +blameless. + +44:11. Then they speedily took down their sacks to the ground, and +every man opened his sack. + +44:12. Which when he had searched, beginning at the eldest, and ending +at the youngest, he found the cup in Benjamin's sack. + +44:13. Then they rent their garments, and loading their asses again, +returned into the town. + +44:14. And Juda at the head of his brethren went in to Joseph (for he +was not yet gone out of the place) and they all together fell down +before him on the ground. + +44:15. And he said to them: Why would you do so? know you not that +there is no one like me in the science of divining. + +The science of divining. . .He speaks of himself according to what he +was esteemed in that kingdom. And indeed, he being truly a prophet, +knew more without comparison than any of the Egyptian sorcerers. + +44:16. And Juda said to him: What shall we answer my lord? or what +shall we say, or be able justly to allege? God hath found out the +iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are all bondmen to my lord, both +we, and he with whom the cup was found. + +44:17. Joseph answered: God forbid that I should do so: he that stole +the cup, he shall be my bondman: and go you away free to your father. + +44:18. Then Juda coming nearer, said boldly: I beseech thee, my lord, +let thy servant speak a word in thy ears, and be not angry with thy +servant: for after Pharao thou art. + +44:19. My lord. Thou didst ask thy servants the first time: Have you a +father or a brother. + +44:20. And we answered thee, my lord: We have a father an old man, and +a young boy, that was born in his old age; whose brother by the mother +is dead; and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him +tenderly. + +44:21. And thou saidst to thy servants: Bring him hither to me, and I +will set my eyes on him. + +44:22. We suggested to my lord: The boy cannot leave his father: for if +he leave him, he will die. + +44:23. And thou saidst to thy servants: Except your youngest brother +come with you, you shall see my face no more. + +44:24. Therefore when we were gone up to thy servant our father, we +told him all that my lord had said. + +44:25. And our father said: Go again, and buy us a little wheat. + +44:26. And we said to him: We cannot go: if our youngest brother go +down with us, we will set out together: otherwise, without him we dare +not see the man's face. + +44:27. Whereunto he answered: You know that my wife bore me two. + +44:28. One went out, and you said: A beast devoured him; and hitherto +he appeareth not. + +44:29. If you take this also, and any thing befall him in the way, you +will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow unto hell. + +44:30. Therefore, if I shall go to thy servant, our father, and the boy +be wanting, (whereas his life dependeth upon the life of him,) + +44:31. And he shall see that he is not with us, he will die, and thy +servants shall bring down his grey hairs with sorrow unto hell. + +His gray hairs. . .That is, his person, now far advanced in years.--With +sorrow unto hell. . .The Hebrew word for hell is here sheol, the Greek +hades: it is not taken for the hell of the damned; but for that place +of souls below where the servants of God were kept before the coming of +Christ. Which place, both in the Scripture and in the creed, is named +hell. + +44:32. Let me be thy proper servant, who took him into my trust, and +promised, saying: If I bring him not again, I will be guilty of sin +against my father for ever. + +44:33. Therefore I, thy servant, will stay instead of the boy in the +service of my lord, and let the boy go up with his brethren. + +44:34. For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I be a +witness of the calamity that will oppress my father. + + + +Genesis Chapter 45 + + +Joseph maketh himself known to his brethren: and sendeth for his +father. + +45:1. Joseph could no longer refrain himself before many that stood by: +whereupon he commanded that all should go out, and no stranger be +present at their knowing one another. + +45:2. And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians, and +all the house of Pharao heard. + +45:3. And he said to his brethren: I am Joseph: Is my father yet +living? His brethren could not answer him, being struck with exceeding +great fear. + +45:4. And he said mildly to them: Come nearer to me. And when they were +come near him, he said: I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into +Egypt. + +45:5. Be not afraid, and let it not seem to you a hard case that you +sold me into these countries: for God sent me before you into Egypt for +your preservation. + +45:6. For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, +and five years more remain, wherein there can be neither ploughing nor +reaping. + +45:7. And God sent me before, that you may be preserved upon the earth, +and may have food to live. + +45:8. Not by your counsel was I sent hither, but by the will of God: +who hath made me as it were a father to Pharao, and lord of his whole +house, and governor in all the land of Egypt. + +45:9. Make haste, and go ye up to my father, and say to him: Thus saith +thy son Joseph: God hath made me lord of the whole land of Egypt; come +down to me, linger not. + +45:10. And thou shalt dwell in the land of Gessen: and thou shalt be +near me, thou and thy sons, and thy sons' sons, thy sheep, and thy +herds, and all things that thou hast. + +45:11. And there I will feed thee, (for there are yet five years of +famine remaining) lest both thou perish, and thy house, and all things +that thou hast. + +45:12. Behold, your eyes, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, see that +it is my mouth that speaketh to you. + +45:13. You shall tell my father of all my glory, and all things that +you have seen in Egypt: make haste and bring him to me. + +45:14. And falling upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, he embraced +him and wept: and Benjamin in like manner wept also on his neck. + +45:15. And Joseph kissed all his brethren, and wept upon every one of +them: after which they were emboldened to speak to him. + +45:16. And it was heard, and the fame was spread abroad in the king's +court: The brethren of Joseph are come; and Pharao with all his family +was glad. + +45:17. And he spoke to Joseph that he should give orders to his +brethren, saying: Load your beasts, and go into the land of Chanaan, + +45:18. And bring away from thence your father and kindred, and come to +me; and I will give you all the good things of Egypt, that you may eat +the marrow of the land. + +45:19. Give orders also that they take wagons out of the land of Egypt, +for the carriage of their children and their wives; and say: Take up +your father, and make haste to come with all speed: + +45:20. And leave nothing of your household stuff; for all the riches of +Egypt shall be yours. + +45:21. And the sons of Israel did as they were bid. And Joseph gave +them wagons according to Pharao's commandment: and provisions for the +way. + +45:22. He ordered also to be brought out for every one of them two +robes: but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, with +five robes of the best: + +45:23. Sending to his father as much money and raiment; adding besides, +ten he-asses, to carry off all the riches of Egypt, and as many +she-asses, carrying wheat and bread for the journey. + +45:24. So he sent away his brethren, and at their departing said to +them: Be not angry in the way. + +45:25. And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of +Chanaan, to their father Jacob. + +45:26. And they told him, saying: Joseph, thy son, is living; and he is +ruler in all the land of Egypt. Which when Jacob heard, he awaked as it +were out of a deep sleep, yet did not believe them. + +45:27. They, on the other side, told the whole order of the thing. And +when he saw the wagons, and all that he had sent, his spirit revived, + +45:28. And he said: It is enough for me if Joseph, my son, be yet +living: I will go and see him before I die. + + + +Genesis Chapter 46 + + +Israel, warranted by a vision from God, goeth down into Egypt with all +his family. + +46:1. And Israel taking his journey, with all that he had, came to the +well of the oath, and killing victims there to the God of his father +Isaac, + +The well of the oath. . .Bersabee. + +46:2. He heard him, by a vision in the night, calling him, and saying +to him: Jacob, Jacob. And he answered him: Lo, here I am. + +46:3. God said to him: I am the most mighty God of thy father; fear +not, go down into Egypt, for I will make a great nation of thee there. + +46:4. I will go down with thee thither, and will bring thee back again +from thence: Joseph also shall put his hands upon thy eyes. + +46:5. And Jacob rose up from the well of the oath: and his sons took +him up, with their children and wives in the wagons, which Pharao had +sent to carry the old man, + +46:6. And all that he had in the land of Chanaan: and he came into +Egypt with all his seed; + +46:7. His sons, and grandsons, daughters, and all his offspring +together. + +46:8. And these are the names of the children of Israel, that entered +into Egypt, he and his children. His firstborn Ruben, + +46:9. The sons of Ruben: Henoch and Phallu, and Hesron and Charmi. + +46:10. The sons of Simeon: Jamuel and Jamin and Ahod, and Jachin and +Sohar, and Saul, the son of a woman of Chanaan. + +46:11. The sons of Levi: Gerson and Caath, and Merari. + +46:12. The sons of Juda: Her and Onan, and Sela, and Phares and Zara. +And Her and Onan died in the land of Chanaan. And sons were born to +Phares: Hesron and Hamul. + +46:13. The sons of Issachar: Thola and Phua, and Job and Semron. + +46:14. The sons of Zabulon: Sared, and Elon, and Jahelel. + +46:15. These are the sons of Lia, whom she bore in Mesopotamia of +Syria, with Dina, his daughter. All the souls of her sons and +daughters, thirty-three. + +46:16. The sons of Gad: Sephion and Haggi, and Suni and Esebon, and +Heri and Arodi, and Areli. + +46:17. The sons of Aser: Jamne and Jesua, and Jessuri and Beria, and +Sara their sister. The sons of Beria: Heber and Melchiel. + +46:18. These are the sons of Zelpha, whom Laban gave to Lia, his +daughter. And these she bore to Jacob, sixteen souls. + +46:19. The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife: Joseph and Benjamin. + +46:20. And sons were born to Joseph, in the land of Egypt, whom +Aseneth, the daughter of Putiphare, priest of Heliopolis, bore him: +Manasses and Ephraim. + +46:21. The sons of Benjamin: Bela and Bechor, and Asbel and Gera, and +Naaman and Echi, and Ross and Mophim, and Ophim and Ared. + +46:22. These are the sons of Rachel, whom she bore to Jacob: all the +souls, fourteen. + +46:23. The sons of Dan: Husim. + +46:24. The sons of Nephthali: Jaziel and Guni, and Jeser and Sallem. + +46:25. These are the sons of Bala, whom Laban gave to Rachel, his +daughter: and these she bore to Jacob: all the souls, seven. + +46:26. All the souls that went with Jacob into Egypt, and that came out +of his thigh, besides his sons' wives, sixty-six. + +46:27. And the sons of Joseph, that were born to him in the land of +Egypt, two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, that entered +into Egypt, were seventy. + +46:28. And he sent Juda before him to Joseph, to tell him; and that he +should meet him in Gessen. + +46:29. And when he was come thither, Joseph made ready his chariot, and +went up to meet his father in the same place: and seeing him, he fell +upon his neck, and embracing him, wept. + +46:30. And the father said to Joseph: Now shall I die with joy, because +I have seen thy face, and leave thee alive. + +46:31. And Joseph said to his brethren, and to all his father's house: +I will go up, and will tell Pharao, and will say to him: My brethren, +and my father's house, that were in the land of Chanaan, are come to +me: + +46:32. And the men are shepherds, and their occupation is to feed +cattle; their flocks, and herds, and all they have, they have brought +with them. + +46:33. And when he shall call you, and shall say: What is your +occupation? + +46:34. You shall answer: We, thy servants, are shepherds, from our +infancy until now, both we and our fathers. And this you shall say, +that you may dwell in the land of Gessen, because the Egyptians have +all shepherds in abomination. + + + +Genesis Chapter 47 + + +Jacob and his sons are presented before Pharao: he giveth them the land +of Gessen. The famine forceth the Egyptians to sell all their +possessions to the king. + +47:1. Then Joseph went in and told Pharao, saying: My father and +brethren, their sheep and their herds, and all that they possess, are +come out of the land of Chanaan: and behold they stay in the land of +Gessen. + +47:2. Five men also, the last of his brethren, he presented before the +king: + +The last. . .xtremos. Some interpret this word of the chiefest, and most +rightly: but Joseph seems rather to have chosen out such as had the +meanest appearance, that Pharao might not think of employing them at +court, with danger of their morals and religion. + +47:3. And he asked them: What is your occupation? They answered: We, +thy servants, are shepherds, both we and our fathers. + +47:4. We are come to sojourn in thy land, because there is no grass for +the flocks of thy servants, the famine being very grievous in the land +of Chanaan: and we pray thee to give orders that we thy servants may be +in the land of Gessen. + +47:5. The king therefore said to Joseph: Thy father and thy brethren +are come to thee. + +47:6. The land of Egypt is before thee: and make them dwell in the best +place, and give them the land of Gessen. And if thou knowest that there +are industrious men among them, make them rulers over my cattle. + +47:7. After this Joseph brought in his father to the king, and +presented him before him: and he blessed him. + +47:8. And being asked by him: How many are the days of the years of thy +life? + +47:9. He answered: The days of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty +years, few, and evil, and they are not come up to the days of the +pilgrimage of my fathers. + +47:10. And blessing the king, he went out. + +47:11. But Joseph gave a possession to his father and his brethren in +Egypt, in the best place of the land, in Ramesses, as Pharao had +commanded. + +47:12. And he nourished them, and all his father's house, allowing food +to every one. + +47:13. For in the whole world there was want of bread, and a famine had +oppressed the land, more especially of Egypt and Chanaan; + +47:14. Out of which he gathered up all the money for the corn which +they bought, and brought it in to the king's treasure. + +47:15. And when the buyers wanted money, all Egypt came to Joseph, +saying: Give us bread: why should we die in thy presence, having now no +money? + +47:16. And he answered them: Bring me your cattle, and for them I will +give you food, if you have no money. + +47:17. And when they had brought them, he gave them food in exchange +for their horses, and sheep, and oxen, and asses: and he maintained +them that year for the exchange of their cattle. + +47:18. And they came the second year, and said to him: We will not hide +from our lord, how that our money is spent, and our cattle also are +gone: neither art thou ignorant that we have nothing now left but our +bodies and our lands. + +47:19. Why therefore shall we die before thy eyes? we will be thine, +both we and our lands: buy us to be the king's servants, and give us +seed, lest for want of tillers the land be turned into a wilderness. + +47:20. So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt, every man selling his +possessions, because of the greatness of the famine. And he brought it +into Pharao's hands: + +47:21. And all its people from one end of the borders of Egypt, even to +the other end thereof, + +47:22. Except the land of the priests, which had been given them by the +king: to whom also a certain allowance of food was given out of the +public stores, and therefore they were not forced to sell their +possessions. + +47:23. Then Joseph said to the people: Behold, as you see, both you and +your lands belong to Pharao; take seed and sow the fields, + +47:24. That you may have corn. The fifth part you shall give to the +king; the other four you shall have for seed, and for food for your +families and children. + +47:25. And they answered: our life is in thy hand; only let my lord +look favourably upon us, and we will gladly serve the king. + +47:26. From that time unto this day, in the whole land of Egypt, the +fifth part is paid to the kings, and it is become as a law, except the +land of the priests, which was free from this covenant. + +47:27. So Israel dwelt in Egypt, that is, in the land of Gessen, and +possessed it; and grew, and was multiplied exceedingly. + +47:28. And he lived in it seventeen years: and all the days of his life +came to a hundred and forty-seven years. + +47:29. And when he saw that the day of his death drew nigh, he called +his son Joseph, and said to him: If I have found favour in thy sight, +put thy hand under my thigh; and thou shalt shew me this kindness and +truth, not to bury me in Egypt. + +47:30. But I will sleep with my fathers, and thou shalt take me away +out of this land, and bury me in the burying place of my ancestors. And +Joseph answered him: I will do what thou hast commanded. + +47:31. And he said: Swear then to me. And as he was swearing, Israel +adored God, turning to the bed's head. + +To the bed's head. . .St. Paul, Heb. 11.21, following the Greek +translation of the Septuagint, reads adored the top of his rod. Where +note, that the same word in the Hebrew, according to the different +pointing of it, signifies both a bed and a rod. And to verify both +these sentences, we must understand that Jacob leaning on Joseph's rod +adored, turning towards the head of his bed: which adoration, inasmuch +as it was referred to God, was an absolute and sovereign worship: but +inasmuch as it was referred to the rod of Joseph, as a figure of the +sceptre, that is, of the royal dignity of Christ, was only an inferior +and relative honour. + + + +Genesis Chapter 48 + + +Joseph visiteth his father in his sickness, who adopteth his two sons +Manasses and Ephraim, and blesseth them, preferring the younger before +the elder. + +48:1. After these things, it was told Joseph that his father was sick; +and he set out to go to him, taking his two sons Manasses and Ephraim. + +48:2. And it was told the old man: Behold thy son Joseph cometh to +thee. And being strengthened, he sat on his bed. + +48:3. And when Joseph was come in to him, he said: God almighty +appeared to me at Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan, and he blessed +me, + +48:4. And said: I will cause thee to increase and multiply, and I will +make of thee a multitude of people: and I will give this land to thee, +and to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. + +48:5. So thy two sons, who were born to thee in the land of Egypt +before I came hither to thee, shall be mine: Ephraim and Manasses shall +be reputed to me as Ruben and Simeon. + +48:6. But the rest whom thou shalt have after them, shall be thine, and +shall be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions. + +48:7. For, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died from me in the +land of Chanaan in the very journey, and it was spring time: and I was +going to Ephrata, and I buried her near the way of Ephrata, which by +another name is called Bethlehem. + +48:8. Then seeing his sons, he said to him: Who are these? + +48:9. He answered: They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this +place. And he said: Bring them to me, that I may bless them. + +48:10. For Israel's eyes were dim by reason of his great age, and he +could not see clearly. And when they were brought to him, he kissed and +embraced them, + +48:11. And said to his son: I am not deprived of seeing thee; moreover +God hath shewn me thy seed. + +48:12. And when Joseph had taken them from his father's lap, he bowed +down with his face to the ground. + +48:13. And he set Ephraim on his right hand, that is, towards the left +hand of Israel; but Manasses on his left hand, to wit, towards his +father's right hand, and brought them near to him. + +48:14. But he, stretching forth his right hand, put it upon the head of +Ephraim, the younger brother; and the left upon the head of Manasses, +who was the elder, changing his hands. + +48:15. And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and said: God, in whose +sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, God that feedeth me from my +youth until this day: + +48:16. The angel that delivereth me from all evils, bless these boys: +and let my name be called upon them, and the names of my fathers +Abraham and Isaac; and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth. + +48:17. And Joseph seeing that his father had put his right hand upon +the head of Ephraim, was much displeased: and taking his father's hand, +he tried to lift it from Ephraim's head, and to remove it to the head +of Manasses. + +48:18. And he said to his father: It should not be so, my father; for +this is the firstborn, put thy right hand upon his head. + +48:19. But he refusing, said: I know, my son, I know: and this also +shall become a people, and shall be multiplied; but his younger brother +shall be greater than he; and his seed shall grow into nations. + +48:20. And he blessed them at that time, saying: In thee shall Israel +be blessed, and it shall be said: God do to thee as to Ephraim, and as +to Manasses. And he set Ephraim before Manasses. + +48:21. And he said to Joseph, his son: Behold I die, and God will be +with you, and will bring you back into the land of your fathers. + +48:22. I give thee a portion above thy brethren, which I took out of +the hand of the Amorrhite with my sword and bow. + + + +Genesis Chapter 49 + + +Jacob's prophetical blessings of his twelve sons: his death. + +49:1. And Jacob called his sons, and said to them: Gather yourselves +together, that I may tell you the things that shall befall you in the +last days. + +49:2. Gather yourselves together, and hear, O ye sons of Jacob, hearken +to Israel, your father: + +49:3. Ruben, my firstborn, thou art my strength, and the beginning of +my sorrow; excelling in gifts, greater in command. + +My strength, etc. . .He calls him his strength, as being born whilst his +father was in his full strength and vigour: he calls him the beginning +of his sorrow, because cares and sorrows usually come on with the birth +of children. Excelling in gifts, etc., because the firstborn had a +title to a double portion, and to have the command over his brethren, +which Ruben forfeited by his sin; being poured out as water, that is, +spilt and lost. + +49:4. Thou art poured out as water, grow thou not; because thou wentest +up to thy father's bed, and didst defile his couch. + +Grow thou not. . .This was not meant by way of a curse or imprecation; +but by way of a prophecy foretelling that the tribe of Ruben should not +inherit the pre-eminences usually annexed to the first birthright, +viz., the double portion, the being prince or lord over the other +brethren, and the priesthood: of which the double portion was given to +Joseph, the princely office to Juda, and the priesthood to Levi. + +49:5. Simeon and Levi brethren: vessels of iniquity waging war. + +49:6. Let not my soul go into their counsel, nor my glory be in their +assembly: because in their fury they slew a man, and in their self-will +they undermined a wall. + +Slew a man,. . .viz., Sichem the son of Hemor, with all his people, Gen. +34.; mystically and prophetically it alludes to Christ, whom their +posterity, viz., the priests and the scribes, put to death. + +49:7. Cursed be their fury, because it was stubborn: and their wrath, +because it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and will scatter +them in Israel. + +49:8. Juda, thee shall thy brethren praise: thy hand shall be on the +necks of thy enemies; the sons of thy father shall bow down to thee. + +49:9. Juda is a lion's whelp: to the prey, my son, thou art gone up: +resting thou hast couched as a lion, and as a lioness, who shall rouse +him? + +A lion's whelp, etc. . .This blessing of Juda foretelleth the strength +of his tribe, the fertility of his inheritance; and principally that +the sceptre and legislative power should not be utterly taken away from +his race till about the time of the coming of Christ: as in effect it +never was: which is a demonstration against the modern Jews, that the +Messiah is long since come; for the sceptre has long since been utterly +taken away from Juda. + +49:10. The sceptre shall not be taken away from Juda, nor a ruler from +his thigh, till he come that is to be sent, and he shall be the +expectation of nations. + +49:11. Tying his foal to the vineyard, and his ass, O my son, to the +vine. He shall wash his robe in wine, and his garment in the blood of +the grape. + +49:12. His eyes are more beautiful than wine, and his teeth whiter than +milk. + +49:13. Zabulon shall dwell on the seashore, and in the road of ships, +reaching as far as Sidon. + +49:14. Issachar shall be a strong ass, lying down between the borders. + +49:15. He saw rest that it was good: and the land that it was +excellent: and he bowed his shoulder to carry, and became a servant +under tribute. + +49:16. Dan shall judge his people like another tribe in Israel. + +Dan shall judge, etc. . .This was verified in Samson, who was of the +tribe of Dan, and began to deliver Israel. Judges 13.5. But as this +deliverance was but temporal and very imperfect, the holy patriarch +(ver. 18) aspires after another kind of deliverer, saying: I will look +for thy salvation, O Lord. + +49:17. Let Dan be a snake in the way, a serpent in the path, that +biteth the horse's heels, that his rider may fall backward. + +49:18. I will look for thy salvation, O Lord. + +49:19. Gad, being girded, shall fight before him: and he himself shall +be girded backward. + +Gad being girded, etc. . .It seems to allude to the tribe of Gad; when +after they had received for their lot the land of Galaad, they marched +in arms before the rest of the Israelites, to the conquest of the land +of Chanaan: from whence they afterwards returned loaded with spoils. +See Jos. 4. and 12. + +49:20. Aser, his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield dainties to +kings. + +49:21. Nephthali, a hart let loose, and giving words of beauty. + +49:22. Joseph is a growing son, a growing son and comely to behold: the +daughters run to and fro upon the wall; + +Run to and fro, etc. . .To behold his beauty; whilst his envious +brethren turned their darts against him, etc. + +49:23. But they that held darts, provoked him, and quarrelled with him, +and envied him. + +49:24. His bow rested upon the strong, and the bands of his arms and +his hands were loosed, by the hands of the mighty one of Jacob: thence +he came forth a pastor, the stone of Israel. + +His bow rested upon the strong, etc. . .That is, upon God, who was his +strength: who also loosed his bands, and brought him out of prison to +be the pastor, that is, the feeder and ruler of Egypt, and the stone, +that is, the rock and support of Israel. + +49:25. The God of thy father shall be thy helper, and the Almighty +shall bless thee with the blessings of heaven above, with the blessings +of the deep that lieth beneath, with the blessings of the breasts and +of the womb. + +49:26. The blessings of thy father are strengthened with the blessings +of his fathers: until the desire of the everlasting hills should come: +may they be upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the Nazarite +among his brethren. + +The blessings of thy father, etc. . .That is, thy father's blessings are +made more prevalent and effectual in thy regard, by the additional +strength they receive from his inheriting the blessings of his +progenitors Abraham and Isaac. The desire of the everlasting hills, +etc. . .These blessings all looked forward towards Christ, called the +desire of the everlasting hills, as being longed for, as it were, by +the whole creation. Mystically, the patriarchs and prophets are called +the everlasting hills, by reason of the eminence of their wisdom and +holiness. The Nazarite. . .This word signifies one separated; and agrees +to Joseph, as being separated from, and more eminent than, his +brethren. As the ancient Nazarites were so called from their being set +aside for God, and vowed to him. + +49:27. Benjamin a ravenous wolf, in the morning shall eat the prey, and +in the evening shall divide the spoil. + +49:28. All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: these things their +father spoke to them, and he blessed every one with their proper +blessings. + +49:29. And he charged them, saying: I am now going to be gathered to my +people: bury me with my fathers in the double cave, which is in the +field of Ephron the Hethite, + +To be gathered to my people. . .That is, I am going to die, and so to +follow my ancestors that are gone before me, and to join their company +in another world. + +49:30. Over against Mambre, in the land of Chanaan, which Abraham +bought together with the field, of Ephron the Hethite, for a possession +to bury in. + +49:31. There they buried him, and Sara his wife: there was Isaac buried +with Rebecca, his wife: there also Lia doth lie buried. + +49:32. And when he had ended the commandments, wherewith he instructed +his sons, he drew up his feet upon the bed, and died: and he was +gathered to his people. + + + +Genesis Chapter 50 + + +The mourning for Jacob, and his interment. Joseph's kindness towards +his brethren. His death. + +50:1. And when Joseph saw this, he fell upon his father's face, weeping +and kissing him. + +50:2. And he commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his +father. + +50:3. And while they were fulfilling his commands, there passed forty +days: for this was the manner with bodies that were embalmed, and Egypt +mourned for him seventy days. + +50:4. And the time of the mourning being expired, Joseph spoke to the +family of Pharao: If I have found favour in your sight, speak in the +ears of Pharao: + +50:5. For my father made me swear to him, saying: Behold I die; thou +shalt bury me in my sepulchre which I have digged for myself in the +land of Chanaan. So I will go up and bury my father, and return. + +50:6. And Pharao said to him: Go up and bury thy father according as he +made thee swear. + +50:7. So he went up, and there went with him all the ancients of +Pharao's house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt. + +50:8. And the house of Joseph with his brethren, except their children, +and their flocks and herds, which they left in the land of Gessen. + +50:9. He had also in his train chariots and horsemen: and it was a +great company. + +50:10. And they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is situated +beyond the Jordan: where celebrating the exequies with a great and +vehement lamentation, they spent full seven days. + +50:11. And when the inhabitants of Chanaan saw this, they said: This is +a great mourning to the Egyptians. And therefore the name of that place +was called, The mourning of Egypt. + +50:12. So the sons of Jacob did as he had commanded them. + +50:13. And carrying him into the land of Chanaan, they buried him in +the double cave, which Abraham had bought together with the field for a +possession of a burying place, of Ehpron, the Hethite, over against +Mambre. + +50:14. And Joseph returned into Egypt with his brethren, and all that +were in his company, after he had buried his father. + +50:15. Now he being dead, his brethren were afraid, and talked one with +another: Lest perhaps he should remember the wrong he suffered, and +requite us all the evil that we did to him. + +50:16. And they sent a message to him, saying: Thy father commanded us +before he died, + +50:17. That we should say thus much to thee from him: I beseech thee to +forget the wickedness of thy brethren, and the sin and malice they +practised against thee: we also pray thee, to forgive the servants of +the God of thy father this wickedness. And when Joseph heard this, he +wept. + +50:18. And his brethren came to him; and worshipping prostrate on the +ground, they said: We are thy servants. + +50:19. And he answered them: Fear not: can we resist the will of God? + +50:20. You thought evil against me: but God turned it into good, that +he might exalt me, as at present you see, and might save many people. + +50:21. Fear not: I will feed you and your children. And he comforted +them, and spoke gently and mildly. + +50:22. And he dwelt in Egypt with all his father's house; and lived a +hundred and ten years. And he saw the children of Ephraim to the third +generation. The children also of Machir, the sons of Manasses, were +born on Joseph's knees. + +50:23. After which he told his brethren: God will visit you after my +death, and will make you go up out of this land, to the land which he +swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. + +50:24. And he made them swear to him, saying: God will visit you, carry +my bones with you out of this place: + +50:25. And he died, being a hundred and ten years old. And being +embalmed, he was laid in a coffin in Egypt. + + + + +THE BOOK OF EXODUS + + + +The Second Book of Moses is called EXODUS, from the Greek word EXODOS, +which signifies going out: because it contains the history of the going +out of the children of Israel out of Egypt. The Hebrews, from the words +with which it begins, call it VEELLE SEMOTH: These are the names. It +contains transactions for 145 years; that is, from the death of Joseph +to the erecting of the tabernacle. + + + +Exodus Chapter 1 + + +The Israelites are multiplied in Egypt. They are oppressed by a new +king, who commandeth all their male children to be killed. + +1:1. These are the names of the children of Israel, that went into +Egypt with Jacob: they went in every man with his household: + +1:2. Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda, + +1:3. Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin, + +1:4. Dan, and Nephthali, Gad and Aser. + +1:5. And all the souls that came out of Jacob's thigh, were seventy: +but Joseph was in Egypt. + +1:6. After he was dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation, + +1:7. The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, +and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land. + +1:8. In the mean time there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not +Joseph: + +1:9. And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of +Israel are numerous and stronger than we. + +1:10. Come let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply: and if any +war shall rise against us, join with our enemies, and having overcome +us, depart out of the land. + +1:11. Therefore he set over them masters of the works, to afflict them +with burdens: and they built for Pharao cities of tabernacles, Phithom, +and Ramesses. + +Of tabernacles. . .Or, of storehouses. + +1:12. But the more they oppressed them, the more they were multiplied +and increased. + +1:13. And the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, and afflicted +them and mocked them: + +1:14. And they made their life bitter with hard works in clay and +brick, and with all manner of service, wherewith they were overcharged +in the works of the earth. + +1:15. And the king of Egypt spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews: of +whom one was called Sephora, the other Phua, + +1:16. Commanding them: When you shall do the office of midwives to the +Hebrew women, and the time of delivery is come: if it be a man child, +kill it: if a woman, keep it alive. + +1:17. But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt +had commanded, but saved the men children. + +1:18: And the king called for them and said: What is it that you meant +to do, that you would save the men children? + +1:19. They answered: The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: +for they themselves are skilful in the office of a midwife; and they +are delivered before we come to them. + +1:20. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people +multiplied and grew exceedingly strong. + +1:21. And because the midwives feared God, he built them houses. + +Because the midwives feared God, etc. . .The midwives were rewarded, not +for their lie, which was a venial sin; but for their fear of God, and +their humanity: but this reward was only temporal, in building them +houses, that is, in establishing and enriching their families. + +1:22. Pharao therefore charged all his people, saying: Whatsoever shall +be born of the male sex, ye shall cast into the river: whatsoever of +the female, ye shall save alive. + + + +Exodus Chapter 2 + + +Moses is born and exposed on the bank of the river; where he is taken +up by the daughter of Pharao, and adopted for her son. He killeth an +Egyptian, and fleeth into Madian; where he marrieth a wife. + +2:1. After this there went a man of the house of Levi; and took a wife +of his own kindred. + +2:2. And she conceived, and bore a son: and seeing him a goodly child, +hid him three months. + +2:3. And when she could hide him no longer, she took a basket made of +bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and pitch: and put the little babe +therein, and laid him in the sedges by the river's brink, + +2:4. His sister standing afar off, and taking notice what would be +done. + +2:5. And behold the daughter of Pharao came down to wash herself in the +river: and her maids walked by the river's brink. And when she saw the +basket in the sedges she sent one of her maids for it: and when it was +brought, + +2:6. She opened it, and seeing within it an infant crying, having +compassion on it, she said: This is one of the babes of the Hebrews. + +2:7. And the child's sister said to her: Shall I go, and call to thee a +Hebrew woman, to nurse the babe? + +2:8. She answered: Go. The maid went and called her mother. + +2:9. And Pharao's daughter said to her: Take this child, and nurse him +for me: I will give thee thy wages. The woman took and nursed the +child: and when he was grown up, she delivered him to Pharao's +daughter. + +2:10. And she adopted him for a son, and called him Moses, saying: +Because I took him out of the water. + +Moses. . .Or Moyses, in the Egyptian tongue, signifies one taken or +saved out of the water. + +2:11. In those days, after Moses was grown up, he went out to his +brethren: and saw their affliction, and an Egyptian striking one of the +Hebrews, his brethren. + +2:12. And when he had looked about this way and that way, and saw no +one there, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. + +He slew the Egyptian. . .This he did by a particular inspiration of God; +as a prelude to his delivering the people from their oppression and +bondage. He thought, says St. Stephen, Acts 7.25, that his brethren +understood that God by his hand would save them. But such particular +and extraordinary examples are not to be imitated. + +2:13. And going out the next day, he saw two Hebrews quarrelling: and +he said to him that did the wrong: Why strikest thou thy neighbour? + +2:14. But he answered: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge over +us? wilt thou kill me, as thou didst yesterday kill the Egyptian? Moses +feared, and said: How is this come to be known? + +2:15. And Pharao heard of this word, and sought to kill Moses: but he +fled from his sight, and abode in the land of Madian, and he sat down +by a well. + +Madian. . .A city and country of Arabia, which took its name from Madian +the son of Abraham, by Cetura, and was peopled by his posterity. + +2:16. And the priest of Madian had seven daughters, who came to draw +water: and when the troughs were filled, desired to water their +father's flocks. + +2:17. And the shepherds came and drove them away: and Moses arose, and +defending the maids, watered their sheep. + +2:18: And when they returned to Raguel their father, he said to them: +Why are ye come sooner than usual? + +Raguel. . .He had two names, being also called Jethro, as appears from +the first verse of the following chapter. + +2:19. They answered: A man of Egypt delivered us from the hands of the +shepherds: and he drew water also with us, and gave the sheep to drink. + +2:20. But he said: Where is he? why have you let the man go? call him +that he may eat bread. + +2:21. And Moses swore that he would dwell with him. And he took Sephora +his daughter to wife: + +2:22. And she bore him a son, whom he called Gersam, saying: I have +been a stranger in a foreign country. And she bore another, whom he +called Eliezer, saying: For the God of my father, my helper, hath +delivered me out of the hand of Pharao. + +Gersam. . .Or Gershom. This name signifies a stranger there: as Eliezer +signifies the help of God. + +2:23. Now after a long time the king of Egypt died: and the children of +Israel groaning, cried out because of the works: and their cry went up +unto God from the works. + +2:24. And he heard their groaning, and remembered the covenant which he +made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. + +2:25. And the Lord looked upon the children of Israel, and he knew +them. + +Knew them. . .That is, he had respect to them, he cast a merciful eye +upon them. + + + +Exodus Chapter 3 + + +God appeareth to Moses in a bush, and sendeth him to deliver Israel. + +3:1. Now Moses fed the sheep of Jethro, his father in law, the priest +of Madian: and he drove the flock to the inner parts of the desert, and +came to the mountain of God, Horeb. + +3:2. And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst +of a bush: and he saw that the bush was on fire, and was not burnt. + +The Lord appeared. . .That is, an angel representing God, and speaking +in his name. + +3:3. And Moses said: I will go, and see this great sight, why the bush +is not burnt. + +3:4. And when the Lord saw that he went forward to see, he called to +him out of the midst of the bush. and said: Moses, Moses. And he +answered: Here I am. + +3:5. And he said: Come not nigh hither, put off the shoes from thy +feet; for the place, whereon thou standest, is holy ground. + +3:6. And he said: I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the +God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses hid his face: for he durst +not look at God. + +3:7. And the Lord said to him: I have seen the affliction of my people +in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because of the rigour of them that +are over the works; + +3:8. And knowing their sorrow, I am come down to deliver them out of +the hands of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land into a +good and spacious land, into a land that floweth with milk and honey, +to the places of the Chanaanite, and Hethite, and Amorrhite, and +Pherezite, and Hevite, and Jebusite. + +3:9. For the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have +seen their affliction, wherewith they are oppressed by the Egyptians. + +3:10. But come, and I will send thee to Pharao, that thou mayst bring +forth my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. + +3:11. And Moses said to God: Who am I that I should go to Pharao, and +should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? + +3:12. And he said to him: I will be with thee; and this thou shalt have +for a sign that I have sent thee: When thou shalt have brought my +people out of Egypt, thou shalt offer sacrifice to God upon this +mountain. + +3:13. Moses said to God: Lo, I shall go to the children of Israel, and +say to them: The God of your fathers hath sent me to you. If they shall +say to me: What is his name? What shall I say to them? + +3:14. God said to Moses: I AM WHO AM. He said: Thus shalt thou say to +the children of Israel: HE WHO IS, hath sent me to you. + +I am who am. . .That is, I am being itself, eternal, self-existent, +independent, infinite; without beginning, end, or change; and the +source of all other beings. + +3:15. And God said again to Moses: Thus shalt thou say to the children +of Israel: The Lord God of your fathers the God of Abraham, the God of +Isaac, and the God of Jacob hath sent me to you; this is my name for +ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. + +3:16. Go and gather together the ancients of Israel, and thou shalt say +to them: The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of +Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared to me, saying: Visiting I +have visited you; and I have seen all that hath befallen you in Egypt. + +3:17. And I have said the word to bring you forth out of the affliction +of Egypt, into the land of the Chanaanite, and Hethite, and Amorrhite, +and Pherezite, and Hevite, and Jebusite, to a land that floweth with +milk and honey. + +3:18: And they shall hear thy voice; and thou shalt go in, thou and the +ancients of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and thou shalt say to him: +The Lord God of the Hebrews hath called us; we will go three days' +journey into the wilderness, to sacrifice unto the Lord our God. + +3:19. But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, but by a +mighty hand. + +3:20. For I will stretch forth my hand, and will strike Egypt with all +my wonders which I will do in the midst of them: after these he will +let you go. + +3:21. And I will give favour to this people, in the sight of the +Egyptians: and when you go forth, you shall not depart empty: + +3:22. But every woman shall ask of her neighbour, and of her that is in +her house, vessels of silver and of gold, and raiment: and you shall +put them on your sons and daughters, and shall spoil Egypt. + +Shall spoil, etc. . .That is, you shall strip, and take away the goods +of the Egyptians. This was not authorizing theft or injustice; but was +a just disposal made by Him, who is the great lord and master of all +things, in order to pay the children of Israel some part of what was +due to them from the Egyptians for their labours. + + + +Exodus Chapter 4 + + +Moses is empowered to confirm his mission with miracles: his brother +Aaron is appointed to assist him. + +4:1. Moses answered, and said: They will not believe me, nor hear my +voice, but they will say: The Lord hath not appeared to thee. + +4:2. Then he said to him: What is that thou holdest in thy hand? He +answered: A rod. + +4:3. And the Lord said: Cast it down upon the ground. He cast it down, +and it was turned into a serpent, so that Moses fled from it. + +4:4. And the Lord said: Put out thy hand, and take it by the tail. He +put forth his hand, and took hold of it, and it was turned into a rod. + +4:5. That they may believe, saith he, that the Lord God of their +fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, +hath appeared to thee. + +4:6. And the Lord said again: Put thy hand into thy bosom. And when he +had put it into his bosom, he brought it forth leprous as snow. + +4:7. And he said: Put back thy hand into thy bosom. He put it back, and +brought it out again, and it was like the other flesh. + +4:8. If they will not believe thee, saith he, nor hear the voice of the +former sign, they will believe the word of the latter sign. + +4:9. But if they will not even believe these two signs, nor hear thy +voice: take of the river water, and pour it out upon the dry land, and +whatsoever thou drawest out of the river, shall be turned into blood. + +4:10. Moses said: I beseech thee, Lord, I am not eloquent from +yesterday and the day before; and since thou hast spoken to thy +servant, I have more impediment and slowness of tongue. + +4:11. The Lord said to him: Who made man's mouth? or who made the dumb +and the deaf, the seeing and the blind? did not I? + +4:12. Go therefore, and I will be in thy mouth; and I will teach thee +what thou shalt speak. + +4:13. But he said: I beseech thee, Lord, send whom thou wilt send. + +4:14. The Lord being angry at Moses, said: Aaron the Levite is thy +brother, I know that he is eloquent: behold he cometh forth to meet +thee, and seeing thee, shall be glad at heart. + +4:15. Speak to him, and put my words in his mouth: and I will be in thy +mouth, and in his month, and will shew you what you must do. + +4:16. He shall speak in thy stead to the people, and shall be thy +mouth: but thou shalt be to him in those things that pertain to God. + +4:17. And take this rod in thy hand. wherewith thou shalt do the signs. + +4:18: Moses went his way, and returned to Jethro his father in law, and +said to him; I will go and return to my brethren into Egypt, that I may +see if they be yet alive. And Jethro said to him: Go in peace. + +4:19. And the Lord said to Moses, in Madian: Go, and return into Egypt; +for they are all dead that sought thy life. + +4:20. Moses therefore took his wife, and his sons, and set them upon an +ass; and returned into Egypt, carrying the rod of God in his hand. + +4:21. And the Lord said to him as he was returning into Egypt: See that +thou do all the wonders before Pharao, which I have put in thy hand: I +shall harden his heart, and he will not let the people go. + +I shall harden, etc. . .Not by being the efficient cause of his sin; but +by withdrawing from him, for his just punishment, the dew of grace that +might have softened his heart; and so suffering him to grow harder and +harder. + +4:22. And thou shalt say to him: Thus saith the Lord: Israel is my son, +my firstborn. + +4:23. I have said to thee: Let my son go, that he may serve me, and +thou wouldst not let him go: behold I will kill thy son, thy firstborn. + +4:24. And when he was in his journey, in the inn, the Lord met him, and +would have killed him. + +The Lord met him, and would have killed him. . .This was an angel +representing the Lord, who treated Moses in this manner, for having +neglected the circumcision of his younger son; which his wife +understanding, circumcised her child upon the spot, upon which the +angel let Moses go. + +4:25. Immediately Sephora took a very sharp stone, and circumcised the +foreskin of her son, and touched his feet, and said: A bloody spouse +art thou to me. + +4:26. And he let him go after she had said: A bloody spouse art thou to +me, because of the circumcision. + +4:27. And the Lord said to Aaron: Go into the desert to meet Moses. And +he went forth to meet him in the mountain of God, and kissed him. + +4:28. And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord, by which he had +sent him, and the signs that he had commanded. + +4:29. And they came together, and they assembled all the ancients of +the children of Israel. + +4:30. And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had said to Moses: +and he wrought the signs before the people. + +4:31. And the people believed. And they heard that the Lord had visited +the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction: +and falling down they adored. + + + +Exodus Chapter 5 + + +Pharao refuseth to let the people go. They are more oppressed. + +5:1. After these things, Moses and Aaron went in, and said to Pharao: +Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Let my people go, that they may +sacrifice to me in the desert. + +5:2. But he answered: Who is the Lord, that I should hear his voice, +and let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. + +5:3. And they said: The God of the Hebrews hath called us, to go three +days' journey into the wilderness, and to sacrifice to the Lord our +God; lest a pestilence or the sword fall upon us. + +5:4. The king of Egypt said to them: Why do you Moses and Aaron draw +off the people from their works? Get you gone to your burdens. + +5:5. And Pharao said: The people of the land are numerous; you see that +the multitude is increased; how much more if you give them rest from +their works? + +5:6. Therefore he commanded the same day the overseers of the works, +and the task-masters of the people, saying: + +5:7. You shall give straw no more to the people to make brick, as +before; but let them go and gather straw. + +5:8. And you shall lay upon them the task of bricks, which they did +before; neither shall you diminish any thing thereof, for they are +idle, and therefore they cry. saying: Let us go and sacrifice to our +God. + +5:9. Let them be oppressed with works, and let them fulfil them; that +they may not regard lying words. + +5:10. And the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters, went out and +said to the people: Thus saith Pharao: I allow you no straw; + +5:11. Go, and gather it where you can find it; neither shall any thing +of your work be diminished. + +5:12. And the people was scattered through all the land of Egypt to +gather straw. + +5:13. And the overseers of the works pressed them, saying: Fulfil your +work every day, as before ye were wont to do, when straw was given you. + +5:14. And they that were over the works of the children of Israel, were +scourged by Pharao's taskmasters, saying: Why have you not made up the +task of bricks, both yesterday and to day, as before? + +5:15. And the officers of the children of Israel came, and cried out to +Pharao, saying: Why dealest thou so with thy servants? + +5:16. Straw is not given us, and bricks are required of us as before; +behold we, thy servants, are beaten with whips, and thy people is +unjustly dealt withal. + +5:17. And he said: You are idle, and therefore you say: Let us go and +sacrifice to the Lord. + +5:18: Go therefore and work: straw shall not be given you, and you +shall deliver the accustomed number of bricks. + +5:19. And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in +evil case, because it was said to them: There shall not a whit be +diminished of the bricks for every day. + +5:20. And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood over against them as they +came out from Pharao: + +5:21. And they said to them: The Lord see and judge, because you have, +made our savour to stink before Pharao and his servants, and you have +given him a sword, to kill us. + +5:22. And Moses returned to the Lord, and said: Lord, why hast thou +afflicted this people? wherefore hast thou sent me? + +5:23. For since the time that I went in to Pharao to speak in thy name, +he hath afflicted thy people: and thou hast not delivered them. + + + +Exodus Chapter 6 + + +God reneweth his promise. The genealogies of Ruben, Simon and Levi, +down to Moses and Aaron. + +6;1. And the Lord said to Moses: Now thou shalt see what I will do to +Pharao: for by a mighty hand shall he let them go, and with a strong +hand shall he cast them out of his land. + +6:2. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: I am the Lord + +6:3. That appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, by the name of +God Almighty: and my name ADONAI I did not shew them. + +My name Adonai. . .The name, which is in the Hebrew text, is that most +proper name of God, which signifieth his eternal, self-existent being, +Ex. 3.14, which the Jews out of reverence never pronounce; but, instead +of it, whenever it occurs in the Bible, they read Adonai, which +signifies the Lord; and, therefore, they put the points or vowels, +which belong to the name Adonai, to the four letters of that other +ineffable name Jod, He, Vau, He. Hence some moderns have framed the +name Jehovah, unknown to all the ancients, whether Jews or Christians; +for the true pronunciation of the name, which is in the Hebrew text, by +long disuse, is now quite lost. + +6:4. And I made a covenant with them, to give them the land of Chanaan, +the land of their pilgrimage wherein they were strangers. + +6:5. I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, wherewith the +Egyptians have oppressed them: and I have remembered my covenant. + +6:6. Therefore say to the children of Israel: I am the Lord who will +bring you out from the work-prison of the Egyptians, and will deliver +you from bondage: and redeem you with a high arm, and great judgments. + +6:7. And I will take you to myself for my people, I will be your God: +and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out +from the work-prison of the Egyptians: + +6:8. And brought you into the land, concerning which I lifted up my +hand to give it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: and I will give it you to +possess: I am the Lord. + +6:9. And Moses told all this to the children of Israel: but they did +not hearken to him, for anguish of spirit, and most painful work. + +6:10. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +6:11. Go in, and speak to Pharao king of Egypt, that he let the +children of Israel go out of his land. + +6:12. Moses answered before the Lord: Behold the children of Israel do +not hearken to me: and how will Pharao hear me, especially as I am of +uncircumcised lips? + +Uncircumcised lips. . .So he calls the defect he had in his words, or +utterance. + +6:13. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and he gave them a charge +unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharao the king of Egypt, that +they should bring forth the children of Israel out of the land of +Egypt. + +6:14. These are the heads of their houses by their families. The sons +of Ruben the firstborn of Israel: Henoch and Phallu, Hesron and Charmi. + +6:15. These are the kindreds of Ruben. The sons of Simeon, Jamuel and +Jamin, and Ahod, and Jachin, and Soar, and Saul the son of a +Chanaanitess: these are the families of Simeon. + +6:16. And these are the names of the sons of Levi by their kindreds: +Gerson, and Caath, and Merari. And the years of the life of Levi were a +hundred and thirty-seven. + +6:17. The sons of Gerson: Lobni and Semei, by their kindreds. + +6:18: The sons of Caath: Amram, and Isaar, and Hebron and Oziel. And +the years of Caath's life, were a hundred and thirty-three. + +6:19. The sons of Merari: Moholi and Musi. These are the kindreds of +Levi by their families. + +6:20. And Amram took to wife Jochabed his aunt by the father's side: +and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of Amram's life, were a +hundred and thirty-seven. + +6:21. The sons also of Isaar: Core, and Nepheg, and Zechri. + +6:22. The sons also of Oziel: Mizael, and Elizaphan, and Sethri. + +6:23. And Aaron took to wife Elizabeth the daughter of Aminadab, sister +of Nahason, who bore him Nadab, and Abiu, and Eleazar, and Ithamar. + +6:24. The sons also of Core: Aser, and Elcana, and Abiasaph. These are +the kindreds of the Corites. + +6:25. But Eleazar the son of Aaron took a wife of the daughters of +Phutiel: and she bore him Phinees. These are the heads of the Levitical +families by their kindreds. + +6:26. These are Aaron and Moses, whom the Lord commanded to bring forth +the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their companies. + +6:27. These are they that speak to Pharao, king of Egypt, in order to +bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and +Aaron, + +6:28. In the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt. + +6:29. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: I am the Lord; speak thou to +Pharao, king of Egypt, all that I say to thee. + +6:30. And Moses said before the Lord: Lo I am of uncircumcised lips, +how will Pharao hear me? + + + +Exodus Chapter 7 + + +Moses and Aaron go into Pharao: they turn the rod into a serpent; and +the waters of Egypt into blood, which was the first plague. The +magicians do the like, and Pharao's heart is hardened. + +7:1. And the Lord said to Moses: Behold, I have appointed thee the god +of Pharao; and Aaron, thy brother, shall be thy prophet. + +The god of Pharao. . .Viz., to be his judge; and to exercise a divine +power, as God's instrument, over him and his people. + +7:2. Thou shalt speak to him all that I command thee; and he shall +speak to Pharao, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. + +7:3. But I shall harden his heart, and shall multiply my signs and +wonders in the land of Egypt. + +I shall harden, etc. . .not by being the efficient cause of his hardness +of heart, but by permitting it; and by withdrawing grace from him, in +punishment of his malice; which alone was the proper cause of his being +hardened. + +7:4. And he will not hear you: and I will lay my hand upon Egypt, and +will bring forth my army and my people, the children of Israel, out of +the land of Egypt, by very great judgments. + +7:5. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, who have +stretched forth my hand upon Egypt, and have brought forth the children +of Israel out of the midst of them. + +7:6. And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord had commanded; so did they. + +7:7. And Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three, when they +spoke to Pharao. + +7:8. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: + +7:9. When Pharao shall say to you, Shew signs; thou shalt say to Aaron: +Take thy rod, and cast it down before Pharao, and it shall be turned +into a serpent. + +7:10. So Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharao, and did as the Lord had +commanded. And Aaron took the rod before Pharao and his servants, and +it was turned into a serpent. + +7:11. And Pharao called the wise men and the magicians; and they also +by Egyptian enchantments and certain secrets, did in like manner. + +Magicians. . .Jannes, and Mambres, or Jambres, 2 Tim. 3.8. + +7:12. And they every one cast down their rods, and they were turned +into serpents: but Aaron's rod devoured their rods. + +7:13. And Pharao's heart was hardened, and he did not hearken to them, +as the Lord had commanded. + +7:14. And the Lord said to Moses: Pharao's heart is hardened, he will +not let the people go. + +7:15. Go to him in the morning, behold he will go out to the waters: +and thou shalt stand to meet him on the ' bank of the river: and thou +shalt take in thy hand the rod that was turned into a serpent. + +7:16. And thou shalt say to him: The Lord God of the Hebrews sent me to +thee, saying: Let my people go to sacrifice to me in the desert: and +hitherto thou wouldst not hear. + +7:17. Thus therefore saith the Lord: In this thou shalt know that I am +the Lord: behold I will strike with the rod, that is in my hand, the +water of the river, and it shall be turned into blood. + +7:18: And the fishes that are in the river, shall die, and the waters +shall be corrupted, and the Egyptians shall be afflicted when they +drink the water of the river. + +7:19. The Lord also said to Moses: Say to Aaron, Take thy rod; and +stretch forth thy hand upon the waters of Egypt, and upon their rivers, +and streams and pools, and all the ponds of waters, that they may be +turned into blood: and let blood be in all the land of Egypt, both in +vessels of wood and of stone. + +7:20. And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord had commanded: and lifting up +the rod, he struck the water of the river before Pharao and his +servants: and it was turned into blood. + +7:21. And the fishes that were in the river died; and the river +corrupted, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river, +and there was blood in all the land of Egypt. + +7:22. And the magicians of the Egyptians with their enchantments did in +like manner; and Pharao's heart was hardened, neither did he hear them, +as the Lord had commanded. + +7:23. And he turned himself away, and went into his house, neither did +he set his heart to it this time also. + +7:24. And all the Egyptians dug round about the river for water to +drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river. + +7:25. And seven days were fully ended, after that the Lord struck the +river. + + + +Exodus Chapter 8 + + +The second plague is of frogs: Pharao promiseth to let the Israelites +go, but breaketh his promise. The third plague is of sciniphs. The +fourth is of flies. Pharao again promiseth to dismiss the people, but +doth it not. + +8:1. And the Lord said to Moses: Go in to Pharao, and thou shalt say to +him: Thus saith the Lord: Let my people go to sacrifice to me. + +8:2. But if thou wilt not let them go, behold I will strike all thy +coasts with frogs. + +8:3. And the river shall bring forth an abundance of frogs; which shall +come up and enter into thy house, and thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, +and into the houses of thy servants, and to thy people, and into thy +ovens, and into the remains of thy meats: + +8:4. And the frogs shall come in to thee, and to thy people, and to all +thy servants. + +8:5. And the Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Stretch forth thy hand +upon the streams, and upon the rivers and the pools, and bring forth +frogs upon the land of Egypt. + +8:6. And Aaron stretched forth his hand upon the waters of Egypt, and +the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. + +8:7. And the magicians also, by their enchantments, did in like manner, +and they brought forth frogs upon the land of Egypt. + +8:8. But Pharao called Moses and Aaron, and said to them: Pray ye to +the Lord to take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will +let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord. + +Pray ye to the Lord, etc. . .By this it appears, that though the +magicians, by the help of the devil, could bring frogs, yet they could +not take them away: God being pleased to abridge in this the power of +Satan. So we see they could not afterwards produce the lesser insects; +and in this restraint of the power of the devil, were forced to +acknowledge the finger of God. + +8:9. And Moses said to Pharao: Set me a time when I shall pray for +thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, that the frogs may be +driven away from thee and from thy house, and from thy servants, and +from thy people; and may remain only in the river. + +8:10. And he answered: To morrow. But he said: I will do according to +thy word; that thou mayest know that there is none like to the Lord our +God. + +8:11. And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy house, and +from thy servants, and from thy people; and shall remain only in the +river. + +8:12. And Moses and Aaron went forth from Pharao: and Moses cried to +the Lord for the promise, which he had made to Pharao concerning the +frogs. + +8:13. And the Lord did according to the word of Moses: and the frogs +died out of the houses, and out of the villages, and out of the fields: + +8:14. And they gathered them together into immense heaps, and the land +was corrupted. + +8:15. And Pharao seeing that rest was given, hardened his own heart, +and did not hear them, as the Lord had commanded. + +Pharao hardened his own heart. . .By this we see that Pharao was himself +the efficient cause of his heart being hardened, and not God.--See the +same repeated in ver. 32. Pharao hardened his heart at this time also: +likewise chap. 9.7, 35, and chap. 13.15. + +8:16. And the Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Stretch forth thy rod, +and strike the dust of the earth; and may there be sciniphs in all the +land of Egypt. + +Sciniphs. . .Or Cinifs, Hebrew Chinnim, small flying insects, very +troublesome both to men and beast. + +8:17. And they did so. And Aaron stretched forth his hand, holding the +rod; and he struck the dust of the earth, and there came sciniphs on +men and on beasts: all the dust of the earth was turned into sciniphs +through all the land of Egypt. + +8:18: And the magicians with their enchantments practised in like +manner, to bring forth sciniphs, and they could not: and there were +sciniphs as well on men as on beasts. + +8:19. And the magicians said to Pharao: This is the finger of God. And +Pharao's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them, as the +Lord had commanded. + +8:20. The Lord also said to Moses: Arise early, and stand before +Pharao; for he will go forth to the waters: and thou shalt say to him: +Thus saith the Lord: Let my people go to sacrifice to me. + +8:21. But if thou wilt not let them go, behold I will send in upon +thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy houses, all kind of flies: +and the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with flies of divers +kinds, and the whole land wherein they shall be. + +8:22. And I will make the land of Gessen wonderful in that day, so that +flies shall not be there: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord in the +midst of the earth. + +8:23. And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to +morrow shall this sign be. + +8:24. And the Lord did so. And there came a very grievous swarm of +flies into the houses of Pharao and of his servants, and into all the +land of Egypt: and the land was corrupted by this kind of flies. + +8:25. And Pharao called Moses and Aaron, and said to them: Go and +sacrifice to your God in this land. + +8:26. And Moses said: It cannot be so: for we shall sacrifice the +abominations of the Egyptians to the Lord our God: now if we kill those +things which the Egyptians worship, in their presence, they will stone +us. + +The abominations, etc. . .That is, the things they worship for Gods: +oxen, rams, etc. It is the usual style of the scriptures to call all +idols and false gods, abominations, to signify how much the people of +God ought to detest and abhor them. + +8:27. We will go three days' journey into the wilderness; and we will +sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us. + +8:28. And Pharao said: I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord your +God in the wilderness, but go no farther: pray for me. + +8:29. And Moses said: I will go out from thee, and will pray to the +Lord: and the flies shall depart from Pharao, and from his servants, +and from his people to morrow: but do not deceive any more, in not +letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord. + +8:30. So Moses went out from Pharao, and prayed to the Lord. + +8:31. And he did according to his word: and he took away the flies from +Pharao, and from his servants, and from his people: there was not left +so much as one. + +8:32. And Pharao's heart was hardened, so that neither this time would +he let the people go. + + + +Exodus Chapter 9 + + +The fifth plague is a murrain among the cattle. The sixth, of boils in +men and beasts. The seventh, of hail. Pharao promiseth again to let the +people go, and breaketh his word. + +9:1. And the Lord said to Moses: Go in to Pharao, and speak to him: +Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews: Let my people go to sacrifice +to me. + +9:2. But if thou refuse, and withhold them still: + +9:3. Behold my hand shall be upon thy fields; and a very grievous +murrain upon thy horses, and asses, and camels, and oxen, and sheep. + +9:4. And the Lord will make a wonderful difference between the +possessions of Israel and the possessions of the Egyptians, that +nothing at all shall die of those things that belong to the children of +Israel. + +9:5. And the Lord appointed a time, saying: To morrow will the Lord do +this thing in the land. + +9:6. The Lord therefore did this thing the next day: and all the beasts +of the Egyptians died, but of the beasts of the children of Israel +there died not one. + +All the beasts. . .That is, many of all kinds. + +9:7. And Pharao sent to see; and there was not any thing dead of that +which Israel possessed. And Pharao's heart was hardened, and he did not +let the people go. + +9:8. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: Take to you handfuls of +ashes out of the chimney, and let Moses sprinkle it in the air in the +presence of Pharao. + +9:9. And be there dust upon all the land of Egypt: for there shall be +boils and swelling blains both in men and beasts, in the whole land of +Egypt. + +9:10. And they took ashes out of the chimney, and stood before Pharao, +and Moses sprinkled it in the air; and there came boils with swelling +blains in men and beasts. + +9:11. Neither could the magicians stand before Moses, for the boils +that were upon them, and in all the land of Egypt. + +9:12. And the Lord hardened Pharao's heart, and he hearkened not unto +them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses. + +Hardened, etc. . .See the annotations above, chap. 4.21, chap. 7.3, and +chap. 8.15. + +9:13. And the Lord said to Moses: Arise in the morning, and stand +before Pharao, and thou shalt say to him: Thus saith the Lord, the God +of the Hebrews: Let my people go to sacrifice to me. + +9:14. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thy heart, and +upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayst know that there +is none like me in all the earth. + +9:15. For now I will stretch out my hand to strike thee, and thy +people, with pestilence, and thou shalt perish from the earth. + +9:16. And therefore have I raised thee, that I may shew my power in +thee, and my name may be spoken of throughout all the earth. + +9:17. Dost thou yet hold back my people; and wilt thou not let them go? + +9:18: Behold I will cause it to rain to morrow at this same hour, an +exceeding great hail; such as hath not been in Egypt from the day that +it was founded, until this present time. + +9:19. Send therefore now presently, and gather together thy cattle, and +all that thou hast in the field; for men and beasts, and all things +that shall be found abroad, and not gathered together out of the fields +which the hail shall fall upon, shall die. + +9:20. He that feared the word of the Lord among Pharao's servants, made +his servants and his cattle flee into houses: + +9:21. But he that regarded not the word of the Lord, left his servants, +and his cattle in the fields. + +9:22. And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch forth thy hand towards +heaven, that there may be hail in the whole land of Egypt upon men, and +upon beasts, and upon every herb of the field in the land of Egypt. + +9:23. And Moses stretched forth his rod towards heaven, and the Lord +sent thunder and hail, and lightnings running along the ground: and the +Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. + +9:24. And the hail and fire mixt with it drove on together: and it was +of so great bigness, as never before was seen in the whole land of +Egypt since that nation was founded. + +9:25. And the hail destroyed through all the land of Egypt all things +that were in the fields, both man and beast: and the hail smote every +herb of the field, and it broke every tree of the country. + +9:26. Only in the land of Gessen, where the children of Israel were, +the hail fell not. + +9:27. And Pharao sent and called Moses and Aaron, saying to them: I +have sinned this time also, the Lord is just: I and my people, are +wicked. + +9:28. Pray ye to the Lord that the thunderings of God and the hail may +cease: that I may let you go, and that ye may stay here no longer. + +9:29. Moses said: As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will stretch +forth my hands to the Lord, and the thunders shall cease, and the hail +shall be no more: that thou mayst know that the earth is the Lord's: + +9:30. But I know that neither thou, nor thy servants do yet fear the +Lord God. + +9:31. The flax therefore, and the barley were hurt, because the barley +was green, and the flax was now bolled; + +9:32. But the wheat, and other winter corn were not hurt, because they +were lateward. + +9:33. And when Moses was gone from Pharao out of the city, he stretched +forth his hands to the Lord: and the thunders and the hail ceased, +neither did there drop any more rain upon the earth. + +9:34. And Pharao seeing that the rain, and the hail, and the thunders +were ceased, increased his sin: + +9:35. And his heart was hardened, and the heart of his servants, and it +was made exceeding hard: neither did he let the children of Israel go, +as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses. + + + +Exodus Chapter 10 + + +The eighth plague of the locusts. The ninth, of darkness: Pharao is +still hardened. + +10:1. And the Lord said to Moses: Go in to Pharao; for I have hardened +his heart, and the heart of his servants: that I may work these my +signs in him, + +10:2. And thou mayst tell in the ears of thy sons, and of thy +grandsons, how often I have plagued the Egyptians, and wrought my signs +amongst them: and you may know that I am the Lord. + +10:3. Therefore Moses and Aaron went in to Pharao, and said to him: +Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews: How long refusest thou to +submit to me? let my people go, to sacrifice to me. + +10:4. But if thou resist, and wilt not let them go, behold I will bring +in to-morrow the locusts into thy coasts; + +10:5. To cover the face of the earth, that nothing thereof may appear, +but that which the hail hath left may be eaten: for they shall feed +upon all the trees that spring in the fields. + +10:6. And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of thy servants, +and of all the Egyptians: such a number as thy fathers have not seen, +nor thy grandfathers, from the time they were first upon the earth, +until this present day. And he turned himself away, and went forth from +Pharao. + +10:7. And Pharao's servants said to him: How long shall we endure this +scandal? Iet the men go to sacrifice to the Lord their God. Dost thou +not see that Egypt is undone? + +10:8. And they called back Moses, and Aaron, to Pharao; and he said to +them: Go, sacrifice to the Lord your God: who are they that shall go? + +10:9. Moses said: We will go with our young and old, with our sons and +daughters, with our sheep and herds: for it is the solemnity of the +Lord our God. + +10:10. And Pharao answered: So be the Lord with you, as I shall let you +and your children go: who can doubt but that you intend some great +evil? + +10:11. It shall not be so. but go ye men only, and sacrifice to the +Lord: for this yourselves also desired. And immediately they were cast +out from Pharao's presence. + +10:12. And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch forth thy hand upon the land +of Egypt unto the locust, that it come upon it, and devour every herb +that is left after the hail. + +10:13. And Moses stretched forth his rod upon the land of Egypt: and +the Lord brought a burning wind all that day, and night; and when it +was morning, the burning wind raised the locusts. + +10:14. And they came up over the whole land of Egypt; and rested in all +the coasts of the Egyptians, innumerable, the like as had not been +before that time, nor shall be hereafter. + +10:15. And they covered the whole face of the earth, wasting all +things. And the grass of the earth was devoured, and what fruits soever +were on the trees, which the hail had left; and there remained not any +thing that was green on the trees, or in the herbs of the earth, in all +Egypt. + +10:16. Wherefore Pharao in haste called Moses and Aaron, and said to +them: I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. + +10:17. But now forgive me my sin this time also, and pray to the Lord +your God, that he take away from me this death. + +10:18: And Moses going forth from the presence of Pharao, prayed to the +Lord: + +10:19. And he made a very strong wind to blow from the west, and it +took the locusts and cast them into the Red Sea: there remained not so +much as one in all the coasts of Egypt. + +10:20. And the Lord hardened Pharao's heart, neither did he let the +children of Israel go. + +10:21. And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch out thy hand towards heaven: +and may there be darkness upon the land of Egypt so thick that it may +be felt. + +Darkness upon the land of Egypt, so thick that it may be felt. . .By +means of the gross exhalations, which were to cause and accompany the +darkness. + +10:22. And Moses stretched forth his hand towards heaven: and there +came horrible darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. + +10:23. No man saw his brother, nor moved himself out of the place where +he was: but wheresoever the children of Israel dwelt, there was light. + +10:24. And Pharao called Moses and Aaron, and said to them: Go, +sacrifice to the Lord: let your sheep only, and herds remain, let your +children go with you. + +10:25. Moses said: Thou shalt give us also sacrifices and +burnt-offerings, to the Lord our God. + +10:26. All the flocks shall go with us; there shall not a hoof remain +of them: for they are necessary for the service of the Lord our God: +especially as we know not what must be offered, till we come to the +very place. + +10:27. And the Lord hardened Pharao's heart, and he would not let them +go. + +10:28. And Pharao said to Moses: Get thee from me, and beware thou see +not my face any more: in what day soever thou shalt come in my sight, +thou shalt die. + +10:29. Moses answered: So shall it be as thou hast spoken, I will not +see thy face anymore. + + + +Exodus Chapter 11 + + +Pharao and his people are threatened with the death of their firstborn. + +11:1. And the Lord said to Moses: Yet one plague more will I bring upon +Pharao and Egypt, and after that he shall let you go, and thrust you +out. + +11:2. Therefore thou shalt tell all the people, that every man ask of +his friend, and every woman of her neighbour, vessels of silver and of +gold. + +11:3. And the Lord will give favour to his people in the sight of the +Egyptians. And Moses was a very great man in the land of Egypt, in the +sight of Pharao's servants, and of all the people. + +11:4. And he said: Thus saith the Lord: At midnight I will enter into +Egypt: + +11:5. And every firstborn in the land of the Egyptians shall die, from +the firstborn of Pharao who sitteth on his throne, even to the +firstborn of the handmaid that is at the mill, and all the firstborn of +beasts. + +11:6. And there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as +neither hath been before, nor shall be hereafter. + +11:7. But with all the children of Israel there shall not a dog make +the least noise, from man even to beast; that you may know how +wonderful a difference the Lord maketh between the Egyptians and +Israel. + +11:8. And all these thy servants shall come down to me, and shall +worship me, saying: Go forth thou, and all the people that is under +thee: after that we will go out. + +11:9. And he went out from Pharao exceeding angry. But the Lord said to +Moses: Pharao will not hear you, that many signs may be done in the +land of Egypt. + +11:10. And Moses and Aaron did all the wonders that are written, before +Pharao. And the Lord hardened Pharao's heart, neither did he let the +children of Israel go out of his land. + +The Lord hardened, etc. . .See the annotations above, chap. 4.21, and +chap. 7.3. + + + +Exodus Chapter 12 + + +The manner of preparing, and eating the paschal lamb: the firstborn of +Egypt are all slain: the Israelites depart. + +12:1. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: + +12:2. This month shall be to you the beginning of months; it shall be +the first in the months of the year. + +12:3. Speak ye to the whole assembly of the children of Israel, and say +to them: On the tenth day of this month let every man take a lamb by +their families and houses. + +12:4. But if the number be less than may suffice to eat the lamb, he +shall take unto him his neighbour that joineth to his house, according +to the number of souls which may be enough to eat the lamb. + +12:5. And it shall be a lamb without blemish, a male, of one year; +according to which rite also you shall take a kid. + +A kid. . .The phase might be performed, either with a lamb or with a +kid: and all the same rites and ceremonies were to be used with the one +as with the other. + +12:6. And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; and +the whole multitude of the children of Israel shall sacrifice it in the +evening. + +12:7. And they shall take of the blood thereof, and put it upon both +the side posts, and on the upper door posts of the houses, wherein they +shall eat it. + +12:8. And they shall eat the flesh that night roasted at the fire, and +unleavened bread with wild lettuce. + +12:9. You shall not eat thereof any thing raw, nor boiled in water, but +only roasted at the fire; you shall eat the head with the feet and +entrails thereof. + +12:10. Neither shall there remain any thing of it until morning. If +there be any thing left, you shall burn it with fire. + +12:11. And thus you shall eat it: you shall gird your reins, and you +shall have shoes on your feet, holding staves in your hands, and you +shall eat in haste; for it is the Phase (that is the Passage) of the +Lord. + +12:12. And I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and will +kill every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast: and +against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments; I am the Lord. + +12:13. And the blood shall be unto you for a sign in the houses where +you shall be; and I shall see the blood, and shall pass over you; and +the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I shall strike +the land of Egypt. + +12:14. And this day shall be for a memorial to you; and you shall keep +it a feast to the Lord in your generations, with an everlasting +observance. + +12:15. Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread: in the first day +there shall be no leaven in your houses; whosoever shall eat any thing +leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall +perish out of Israel. + +12:16. The first day shall be holy and solemn, and the seventh day +shall be kept with the like solemnity: you shall do no work in them, +except those things that belong to eating. + +12:17. And you shall observe the feast of the unleavened bread: for in +this same day I will bring forth your army out of the land of Egypt, +and you shall keep this day in your generations by a perpetual +observance. + +12:18: The first month, the fourteenth day of the month, in the +evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth +day of the same month, in the evening. + +Unleavened bread. . .By this it appears, that our Saviour made use of +unleavened bread, in the institution of the blessed sacrament, which +was on the evening of the paschal solemnity, at which time there was no +leavened bread to be found in Israel. + +12:19. Seven days there shall not be found any leaven in your houses: +he that shall eat leavened bread, his soul shall perish out of the +assembly of Israel, whether he be a stranger or born in the land. + +12:20. You shall not eat any thing leavened: in all your habitations +you shall eat unleavened bread. + +12:21. And Moses called all the ancients of the children of Israel, and +said to them: Go take a lamb by your families, and sacrifice the Phase. + +12:22. And dip a bunch of hyssop in the blood that is at the door, and +sprinkle the transom of the door therewith, and both the door cheeks: +let none of you go out of the door of his house till morning. + +Sprinkle, etc. . .This sprinkling the doors of the Israelites with the +blood of the paschal lamb, in order to their being delivered from the +sword of the destroying angel, was a lively figure of our redemption by +the blood of Christ. + +12:23. For the Lord will pass through striking the Egyptians: and when +he shall see the blood on the transom, and on both the posts, he will +pass over the door of the house, and not suffer the destroyer to come +into your houses and to hurt you. + +12:24. Thou shalt keep this thing as a law for thee and thy children +for ever. + +12:25. And when you have entered into the land which the Lord will give +you, as he hath promised, you shall observe these ceremonies. + +12:26. And when your children shall say to you: What is the meaning of +this service? + +12:27. You shall say to them: It is the victim of the passage of the +Lord, when he passed over the houses of the children of Israel in +Egypt, striking the Egyptians, and saving our houses. And the people +bowing themselves, adored. + +12:28. And the children of Israel going forth, did as the Lord had +commanded Moses and Aaron. + +12:29. And it came to pass at midnight, the Lord slew every firstborn +in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharao, who sat on his +throne, unto the firstborn of the captive woman that was in the prison, +and all the firstborn of cattle. + +12:30. And Pharao arose in the night, and all his servants, and all +Egypt: and there arose a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house +wherein there lay not one dead. + +12:31. And Pharao calling Moses and Aaron, in the night, said: Arise +and go forth from among my people, you and the children of Israel: go, +sacrifice to the Lord as you say. + +12:32. Your sheep and herds take along with you, as you demanded, and +departing bless me. + +12:33. And the Egyptians pressed the people to go forth out of the land +speedily, saying: We shall all die. + +12:34. The people therefore took dough before it was leavened; and +tying it in their cloaks, put it on their shoulders. + +12:35. And the children of Israel did as Moses had commanded: and they +asked of the Egyptians vessels of silver and gold, and very much +raiment. + +12:36. And the Lord gave favour to the people in the sight of the +Egyptians, so that they lent unto them: and they stripped the +Egyptians. + +12:37. And the children of Israel set forward from Ramesse to Socoth, +being about six hundred thousand men on foot, beside children. + +12:38. And a mixed multitude, without number, went up also with them, +sheep and herds, and beasts of divers kinds, exceeding many. + +12:39. And they baked the meal, which a little before they had brought +out of Egypt in dough: and they made hearth cakes unleavened: for it +could not be leavened, the Egyptians pressing them to depart, and not +suffering them to make any stay; neither did they think of preparing +any meat. + +12:40. And the abode of the children of Israel that they made in Egypt, +was four hundred and thirty years. + +12:41. Which being expired, the same day all the army of the Lord went +forth out of the land of Egypt. + +12:42. This is the observable night of the Lord, when he brought them +forth out of the land of Egypt: this night all the children of Israel +must observe in their generations. + +12:43. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: This is the service of the +Phase; no foreigner shall eat of it. + +12:44. But every bought servant shall be circumcised, and so shall eat. + +12:45. The stranger and the hireling shall not eat thereof. + +12:46. In one house shall it be eaten, neither shall you carry forth of +the flesh thereof out of the house, neither shall you break a bone +thereof. + +12:47. All the assembly of the children of Israel shall keep it. + +12:48. And if any stranger be willing to dwell among you, and to keep +the Phase of the Lord, all his males shall first be circumcised, and +then shall he celebrate it according to the manner: and he shall be as +he that is born in the land: but if any man be uncircumcised, he shall +not eat thereof. + +12:49. The same law shall be to him that is born in the land, and to +the proselyte that sojourneth with you. + +12:50. And all the children of Israel did as the Lord had commanded +Moses and Aaron. + +12:51. And the same day the Lord brought forth the children of Israel +out of the land of Egypt by their companies. + + + +Exodus Chapter 13 + + +The paschal solemnity is to be observed; and the firstborn are to be +consecrated to God. The people are conducted through the desert by a +pillar of fire in the night, and a cloud in the day. + +13:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +13:2. Sanctify unto me every firstborn that openeth the womb among the +children of Israel, as well of men as of beasts: for they are all mine. + +Sanctify unto me every firstborn. . .Sanctification in this place means +that the firstborn males of the Hebrews should be deputed to the +ministry in the divine worship; and the firstborn of beasts to be given +for a sacrifice. + +13:3. And Moses said to the people: Remember this day in which you came +forth out of Egypt, and out of the house of bondage, for with a strong +hand hath the Lord brought you forth out of this place: that you eat no +leavened bread. + +13:4. This day you go forth in the month of new corn. + +13:5. And when the Lord shall have brought thee into the land of the +Chanaanite, and the Hethite, and the Amorrhite, and the Hevite, and the +Jebusite, which he swore to thy fathers that he would give thee, a land +that floweth with milk and honey, thou shalt celebrate this manner of +sacred rites in this month. + +13:6. Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh +day shall be the solemnity of the Lord. + +13:7. Unleavened bread shall you eat seven days: there shall not be +seen any thing leavened with thee, nor in all thy coasts. + +13:8. And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying: This is what the +Lord did to me when I came forth out of Egypt. + +13:9. And it shall be as a sign in thy hand, and as a memorial before +thy eyes; and that the law of the Lord be always in thy mouth, for with +a strong hand the Lord hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt. + +13:10. Thou shalt keep this observance at the set time from days to +days. + +13:11. And when the Lord shall have brought thee into the land of the +Chanaanite, as he swore to thee and thy fathers, and shall give it +thee: + +13:12. Thou shalt set apart all that openeth the womb for the Lord, and +all that is first brought forth of thy cattle: whatsoever thou shalt +have of the male sex, thou shalt consecrate to the Lord. + +13:13. The firstborn of an ass thou shalt change for a sheep: and if +thou do not redeem it, thou shalt kill it. And every firstborn of men +thou shalt redeem with a price. + +13:14. And when thy son shall ask thee to morrow, saying: What is this? +thou shalt answer him: With a strong hand did the Lord bring us forth +out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. + +13:15. For when Pharao was hardened, and would not let us go, the Lord +slew every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of man to +the firstborn of beasts: therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that +openeth the womb of the male sex, and all the firstborn of my sons I +redeem. + +13:16. And it shall be as a sign in thy hand, and as a thing hung +between thy eyes, for a remembrance: because the Lord hath brought us +forth out of Egypt by a strong hand. + +13:17. And when Pharao had sent out the people, the Lord led them not +by the way of the land of the Philistines, which is near; thinking lest +perhaps they would repent, if they should see wars arise against them, +and would return into Egypt. + +13:18: But he led them about by the way of the desert, which is by the +Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of +Egypt. + +13:19. And Moses took Joseph's bones with him: because he had adjured +the children of Israel, saying: God shall visit you, carry out my bones +from hence with you. + +13:20. And marching from Socoth, they encamped in Etham, in the utmost +coasts of the wilderness. + +13:21. And the Lord went before them to shew the way, by day in a +pillar of a cloud, and by night in a pillar of fire; that he might be +the guide of their journey at both times. + +13:22. There never failed the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the +pillar of fire by night, before the people. + + + +Exodus Chapter 14 + + +Pharao pursueth the children of Israel. They murmur against Moses, but +are encouraged by him, and pass through the Red Sea. Pharao and his +army following them are drowned. + +14:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +14:2. Speak to the children of Israel: Let them turn and encamp over +against Phihahiroth, which is between Magdal and the sea over against +Beelsephon: you shall encamp before it upon the sea. + +14:3. And Pharao will say of the children of Israel: They are +straitened in the land, the desert hath shut them in. + +14:4. And I shall harden his heart and he will pursue you: and I shall +be glorified in Pharao, and in all his army: and the Egyptians shall +know that I am the Lord. And they did so. + +14:5. And it was told the king of the Egyptians that the people was +fled: and the heart of Pharao and of his servants was changed with +regard to the people, and they said: What meant we to do, that we let +Israel go from serving us? + +14:6. So he made ready his chariot, and took all his people with him. + +14:7. And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots +that were in Egypt: and the captains of the whole army. + +14:8. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharao, king of Egypt, and he +pursued the children of Israel; but they were gone forth in a mighty +hand. + +14:9. And when the Egyptians followed the steps of them who were gone +before, they found them encamped at the sea side: all Pharao's horse +and chariots and the whole army were in Phihahiroth, before Beelsephon. + +14:10. And when Pharao drew near, the children of Israel lifting up +their eyes, saw the Egyptians behind them: and they feared exceedingly, +and cried to the Lord. + +14:11. And they said to Moses: Perhaps there were no graves in Egypt, +therefore thou hast brought us to die in the wilderness: why wouldst +thou do this, to lead us out of Egypt? + +14:12. Is not this the word that we spoke to thee in Egypt, saying: +Depart from us, that we may serve the Egyptians? for it was much better +to serve them, than to die in the wilderness. + +14:13. And Moses said to the people: Fear not: stand, and see the great +wonders of the Lord, which he will do this day; for the Egyptians, whom +you see now, you shall see no more for ever. + +14:14. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. + +14:15. And the Lord said to Moses: Why criest thou to me? Speak to the +children of Israel to go forward. + +14:16. But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch forth thy hand over the +sea, and divide it: that the children of Israel may go through the +midst of the sea on dry ground. + +14:17. And I will harden the heart of the Egyptians to pursue you: and +I will be glorified in Pharao, and in all his host, and in his chariots +and in his horsemen. + +14:18: And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall be +glorified in Pharao, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen. + +14:19. And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, +removing, went behind them: and together with him the pillar of the +cloud, leaving the forepart, + +14:20. Stood behind, between the Egyptians' camp and the camp of +Israel: and it was a dark cloud, and enlightening the night, so that +they could not come at one another all the night. + +A dark cloud, and enlightening the night. . .It was a dark cloud to the +Egyptians; but enlightened the night to the Israelites by giving them a +great light. + +14:21. And when Moses had stretched forth his hand over the sea, the +Lord took it away by a strong and burning wind blowing all the night, +and turned it into dry ground: and the water was divided. + +14:22. And the children of Israel went in through the midst of the sea +dried up; for the water was as a wall on their right hand and on their +left. + +14:23. And the Egyptians pursuing went in after them, and all Pharao's +horses, his chariots and horsemen, through the midst of the sea. + +14:24. And now the morning watch was come, and behold the Lord looking +upon the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, +slew their host. + +14:25. And overthrew the wheels of the chariots, and they were carried +into the deep. And the Egyptians said: Let us flee from Israel; for the +Lord fighteth for them against us. + +14:26. And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch forth thy hand over the sea, +that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots +and horsemen. + +14:27. And when Moses had stretched forth his hand towards the sea, it +returned at the first break of day to the former place: and as the +Egyptians were fleeing away, the waters came upon them, and the Lord +shut them up in the middle of the waves. + +14:28. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots and the +horsemen of all the army of Pharao, who had come into the sea after +them, neither did there so much as one of them remain. + +14:29. But the children of Israel marched through the midst of the sea +upon dry land, and the waters were to them as a wall on the right hand +and on the left: + +14:30. And the Lord delivered Israel in that day out of the hands of +the Egyptians. + +14:31. And they saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore, and the +mighty hand that the Lord had used against them: and the people feared +the Lord, and they believed the Lord, and Moses his servant. + + + +Exodus Chapter 15 + + +The canticle of Moses. The bitter waters of Mara are made sweet. + +15:1. Then Moses and the children of Israel sung this canticle to the +Lord, and said: Let us sing to the Lord: for he is gloriously +magnified, the horse and the rider he hath thrown into the sea. + +15:2. The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he is become salvation +to me: he is my God, and I will glorify him: the God of my father, and +I will exalt him. + +15:3. The Lord is as a man of war, Almighty is his name. + +15:4. Pharao's chariots and his army he hath cast into the sea: his +chosen captains are drowned in the Red Sea. + +15:5. The depths have covered them, they are sunk to the bottom like a +stone. + +15:6. Thy right hand, O Lord, is magnified in strength: thy right hand, +O Lord, hath slain the enemy. + +15:7. And in the multitude of thy glory thou hast put down thy +adversaries: thou hast sent thy wrath, which hath devoured them like +stubble. + +15:8. And with the blast of thy anger the waters were gathered +together: the flowing water stood, the depths were gathered together in +the midst of the sea. + +15:9. The enemy said: I will pursue and overtake, I will divide the +spoils, my soul shall have its fill: I will draw my sword, my hand +shall slay them. + +15:10. Thy wind blew and the sea covered them: they sunk as lead in the +mighty waters. + +15:11. Who is like to thee, among the strong, O Lord? who is like to +thee, glorious in holiness, terrible and praise-worthy, doing wonders? + +15:12. Thou stretchedst forth thy hand, and the earth swallowed them. + +15:13. In thy mercy thou hast been a leader to the people which thou +hast redeemed: and in thy strength thou hast carried them to thy holy +habitation. + +15:14. Nations rose up, and were angry: sorrows took hold on the +inhabitants of Philisthiim. + +15:15. Then were the princes of Edom troubled, trembling seized on the +stout men of Moab: all the inhabitants of Chanaan became stiff. + +15:16. Let fear and dread fall upon them, in the greatness of thy arm: +let them become immoveable as a stone, until thy people, O Lord, pass +by: until this thy people pass by, which thou hast possessed. + +15:17. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thy +inheritance, in thy most firm habitation, which thou hast made, O Lord; +thy sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. + +15:18: The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. + +15:19. For Pharao went in on horseback with his chariots and horsemen +into the sea: and the Lord brought back upon them the waters of the +sea: but the children of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst +thereof. + +15:20. So Mary the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in +her hand: and all the women went forth after her with timbrels and with +dances. + +15:21. And she began the song to them, saying: Let us sing to the Lord, +for he is gloriously magnified, the horse and his rider he hath thrown +into the sea. + +15:22. And Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went forth +into the wilderness of Sur: and they marched three days through the +wilderness, and found no water. + +15:23. And they came into Mara, and they could not drink the waters of +Mara because they were bitter: whereupon he gave a name also agreeable +to the place, calling it Mara, that is, bitterness. + +15:24. And the people murmured against Moses, saying: What shall we +drink? + +15:25. But he cried to the Lord, and he shewed him a tree, which when +he had cast into the waters, they were turned into sweetness. There he +appointed him ordinances, and judgments, and there he proved him, + +15:26. Saying: If thou wilt hear the voice of the Lord thy God, and do +what is right before him, and obey his commandments, and keep all his +precepts, none of the evils that I laid upon Egypt, will I bring upon +thee: for I am the Lord thy healer. + +15:27. And the children of Israel came into Elim, where there were +twelve fountains of water, and seventy palm trees: and they encamped by +the waters. + + + +Exodus Chapter 16 + + +The people murmur for want of meat: God giveth them quails and manna. + +16:1. And they set forward from Elim, and all the multitude of the +children of Israel came into the desert of Sin, which is between Elim +and Sinai: the fifteenth day of the second month, after they came out +of the land of Egypt. + +16:2. And all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured +against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. + +16:3. And the children of Israel said to them: Would to God we had died +by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat over the +fleshpots, and ate bread to the full: Why have you brought us into this +desert, that you might destroy all the multitude with famine? + +16:4. And the Lord said to Moses: Behold I will rain bread from heaven +for you; let the people go forth, and gather what is sufficient for +every day: that I may prove them whether they will walk in my law, or +not. + +16:5. But the sixth day let them provide for to bring in: and let it be +double to that they were wont to gather every day. + +16:6. And Moses and Aaron said to the children of Israel In the evening +you shall know that the Lord hath brought you forth out of the land of +Egypt: + +16:7. And in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord: for he +hath heard your murmuring against the Lord: but as for us, what are we, +that you mutter against us? + +16:8. And Moses said: In the evening the Lord will give you flesh to +eat, and in the morning bread to the full: for he hath heard your +murmurings, with which you have murmured against him, for what are we? +your murmuring is not against us, but against the Lord. + +16:9. Moses also said to Aaron: Say to the whole congregation of the +children of Israel: Come before the Lord; for he hath heard your +murmuring. + +16:10. And when Aaron spoke to all the assembly of the children of +Israel, they looked towards the wilderness; and behold the glory of the +Lord appeared in a cloud. + +16:11. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +16:12. I have heard the murmuring of the children of Israel, say to +them: In the evening you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall +have your fill of bread; and you shall know that I am the Lord your +God. + +16:13. So it came to pass in the evening, that quails coming up, +covered the camp: and in the morning a dew lay round about the camp. + +16:14. And when it had covered the face of the earth, it appeared in +the wilderness small, and as it were beaten with a pestle, like unto +the hoar frost on the ground. + +16:15. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to +another: Manhu! which signifieth: What is this! for they knew not what +it was. And Moses said to them: This is the bread which the Lord hath +given you to eat. + +16:16. This is the word that the Lord hath commanded: Let every one +gather of it as much as is enough to eat; a gomor for every man, +according to the number of your souls that dwell in a tent, so shall +you take of it. + +16:17. And the children of Israel did so: and they gathered, one more, +another less. + +16:18: And they measured by the measure of a gomor: neither had he more +that had gathered more; nor did he find less that had provided less: +but every one had gathered, according to what they were able to eat. + +16:19. And Moses said to them: Let no man leave thereof till the +morning. + +16:20. And they hearkened not to him, but some of them left until the +morning, and it began to be full of worms, and it putrified, and Moses +was angry with them. + +16:21. Now every one of them gathered in the morning, as much as might +suffice to eat: and after the sun grew hot, it melted. + +16:22. But on the sixth day they gathered twice as much, that is, two +gomors every man: and all the rulers of the multitude came, and told +Moses. + +16:23. And he said to them: This is what the Lord hath spoken: To +morrow is the rest of the sabbath sanctified to the Lord. Whatsoever +work is to be done, do it; and the meats that are to be dressed, dress +them; and whatsoever shall remain, lay it up until the morning. + +16:24. And they did so as Moses had commanded, and it did not putrify, +neither was there worm found in it. + +16:25. And Moses said: Eat it to day, because it is the sabbath of the +Lord: to day it shall not be found in the field. + +16:26. Gather it six days; but on the seventh day is the sabbath of the +Lord, therefore it shall not be found. + +16:27. And the seventh day came; and some of the people going forth to +gather, found none. + +16:28. And the Lord said to Moses: How long will you refuse to keep my +commandments, and my law? + +16:29. See that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, and for this +reason on the sixth day he giveth you a double provision: let each man +stay at home, and let none go forth out of his place the seventh day. + +16:30. And the people kept the sabbath on the seventh day. + +16:31. And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it +was like coriander seed, white, and the taste thereof like to flour +with honey. + +16:32. And Moses said: This is the word which the Lord hath commanded: +Fill a gomor of it, and let it be kept unto generations to come +hereafter; that they may know the bread, wherewith I fed you in the +wilderness when you were brought forth out of the land of Egypt. + +16:33. And Moses said to Aaron: Take a vessel, and put manna into it, +as much as a gomor can hold; and lay it up before the Lord, to keep +unto your generations, + +16:34. As the Lord commanded Moses. And Aaron put it in the tabernacle +to be kept. + +16:35. And the children of Israel ate manna forty years, till they came +to a habitable land: with this meat were they fed, until they reached +the borders of the land of Chanaan. + +16:36. Now a gomor is the tenth part of an ephi. + + + +Exodus Chapter 17 + + +The people murmur again for want of drink; the Lord giveth them water +out of a rock. Moses lifting up his hand in prayer, Amalec is overcome. + +17:1. Then all the multitude of the children of Israel setting forward +from the desert of Sin, by their mansions, according to the word of the +Lord, encamped in Raphidim, where there was no water for the people to +drink. + +17:2. And they chode with Moses, and said: Give us water, that we may +drink. And Moses answered them: Why chide you with me? Wherefore do +you tempt the Lord? + +17:3. So the people were thirsty there for want of water, and murmured +against Moses, saying: Why didst thou make us go forth out of Egypt, to +kill us and our children, and our beasts with thirst? + +17:4. And Moses cried to the Lord, saying: What shall I do to this +people? Yet a little more and they will stone me. + +17:5. And the Lord said to Moses: Go before the people, and take with +thee of the ancients of Israel: and take in thy hand the rod wherewith +thou didst strike the river, and go. + +17:6. Behold I will stand there before thee, upon the rock Horeb, and +thou shalt strike the rock, and water shall come out of it that the +people may drink. Moses did so before the ancients of Israel: + +17:7. And he called the name of that place Temptation, because of the +chiding of the children of Israel, and for that they tempted the Lord, +saying: Is the Lord amongst us or not? + +17:8. And Amalec came, and fought against Israel in Raphidim. + +17:9. And Moses said to Josue: Choose out men; and go out and fight +against Amalec: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill, having +the rod of God in my hand. + +17:10. Josue did as Moses had spoken, and he fought against Amalec; but +Moses, and Aaron, and Hur, went up upon the top of the hill. + +17:11. And when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel overcame; but if he +let them down a little, Amalec overcame. + +17:12. And Moses's hands were heavy: so they took a stone, and put +under him, and he sat on it: and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands on +both sides. And it came to pass, that his hands were not weary until +sunset. + +17:13. And Josue put Amalec and his people to flight, by the edge of +the sword. + +17:14. And the Lord said to Moses: Write this for a memorial in a book, +and deliver it to the ears of Josue; for I will destroy the memory of +Amalec from under heaven. + +17:15. And Moses built an altar; and called the name thereof, The Lord, +my exaltation, saying: + +17:16. Because the hand of the throne of the Lord, and the war of the +Lord shall be against Amalec, from generation to generation. + + + +Exodus Chapter 18 + + +Jethro bringeth to Moses his wife and children. His counsel. + +18:1. And when Jethro the priest of Madian, the kinsman of Moses, had +heard all the things that God had done to Moses, and to Israel his +people, and that the Lord had brought forth Israel out of Egypt: + +18:2. He took Sephora, the wife of Moses, whom he had sent back: + +18:3. And her two sons, of whom one was called Gersam: his father +saying, I have been a stranger in a foreign country. + +18:4. And the other Eliezer: For the God of my father, said he, is my +helper, and hath delivered me from the sword of Pharao. + +18:5. And Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, came with his sons, and his +wife to Moses into the desert, where he was camped by the mountain of +God. + +18:6. And he sent word to Moses, saying: I Jethro, thy kinsman, come to +thee, and thy wife, and thy two sons with her. + +18:7. And he went out to meet his kinsman, and worshipped and kissed +him: and they saluted one another with words of peace. And when he was +come into the tent, + +18:8. Moses told his kinsman all that the Lord had done to Pharao, and +the Egyptians in favour of Israel: and all the labour which had +befallen them in the journey, and that the Lord had delivered them. + +18:9. And Jethro rejoiced for all the good things that the Lord had +done to Israel, because he had delivered them out of the hands of the +Egyptians. + +18:10. And he said: Blessed is the Lord, who hath delivered his people +out of the hand of Egypt. + +18:11. Now I know, that the Lord is great above all gods; because they +dealt proudly against them. + +18:12. So Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, offered holocausts and +sacrifices to God: and Aaron and all the ancients of Israel came, to +eat bread with him before God. + +18:13. And the next day Moses sat to judge the people, who stood by +Moses from morning until night. + +18:14. And when his kinsman had seen all things that he did among the +people, he said: What is it that thou dost among the people? Why +sittest thou alone, and all the people wait from morning till night? + +18:15. And Moses answered him: The people come to me to seek the +judgment of God? + +18:16. And when any controversy falleth out among them, they come to me +to judge between them, and to shew the precepts of God, and his laws. + +18:17. But he said: The thing thou dost is not good. + +18:18: Thou art spent with foolish labour, both thou, and this people +that is with thee; the business is above thy strength, thou alone canst +not bear it. + +18:19. But hear my words and counsels, and God shall be with thee. Be +thou to the people in those things that pertain to God, to bring their +words to him: + +18:20. And to shew the people the ceremonies, and the manner of +worshipping; and the way wherein they ought to walk, and the work that +they ought to do. + +18:21. And provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, in +whom there is truth, and that hate avarice, and appoint of them rulers +of thousands, and of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens, + +18:22. Who may judge the people at all times: and when any great matter +soever shall fall out, let them refer it to thee, and let them judge +the lesser matters only: that so it may be lighter for thee, the burden +being shared out unto others. + +18:23. If thou dost this, thou shalt fulfil the commandment of God, and +shalt be able to bear his precepts: and all this people shall return to +their places with peace. + +18:24. And when Moses heard this, he did all things that he had +suggested unto him. + +18:25. And choosing able men out of all Israel, he appointed them +rulers of the people, rulers over thousands, and over hundreds, and +over fifties, and over tens. + +18:26. And they judged the people at all times: and whatsoever was of +greater difficulty they referred to him, and they judged the easier +cases only. + +18:27. And he let his kinsman depart: and he returned and went into his +own country. + + + +Exodus Chapter 19 + + +They come to Sinai: the people are commanded to be sanctified. The +Lord, coming in thunder and lightning, speaketh with Moses. + +19:1. In the third month of the departure of Israel out of the land of +Egypt, on this day they came into the wilderness of Sinai: + +19:2. For departing out of Raphidim, and coming to the desert of Sinai, +they camped in the same place, and there Israel pitched their tents +over against the mountain. + +19:3. And Moses went up to God; and the Lord called unto him from the +mountain, and said: Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell +the children of Israel: + +And Moses went up to God. . .Moses went up to mount Sinai, where God +spoke to him. + +19:4. You have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, how I have +carried you upon the wings of eagles, and have taken you to myself. + +19:5. If therefore you will hear my voice, and keep my covenant, you +shall be my peculiar possession above all people: for all the earth is +mine. + +19:6. And you shall be to me a priestly kingdom, and a holy nation. +These are the words thou shalt speak to the children of Israel. + +19:7. Moses came; and calling together the elders of the people, he +declared all the words which the Lord had commanded. + +19:8. And all the people answered together: All that the Lord hath +spoken, we will do. And when Moses had related the people's words to +the Lord, + +19:9. The Lord said to him: Lo, now will I come to thee in the darkness +of a cloud, that the people may hear me speaking to thee, and may +believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people to the +Lord. + +19:10. And he said to him: Go to the people, and sanctify them to day, +and to morrow, and let them wash their garments. + +19:11. And let them be ready against the third day; for on the third +day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people, upon Mount +Sinai. + +19:12. And thou shalt appoint certain limits to the people round about, +and thou shalt say to them: Take heed ye go not up into the mount, and +that ye touch not the borders thereof: every one that toucheth the +mount, dying he shall die. + +19:13. No hands shall touch him, but he shall be stoned to death, or he +shall be shot through with arrows: whether it be beast, or man, he +shall not live. When the trumpet shall begin to sound, then let them go +up into the mount. + +19:14. And Moses came down from the mount to the people, and sanctified +them. And when they had washed their garments, + +19:15. He said to them: Be ready against the third day, and come not +near your wives. + +19:16. And now the third day was come, and the morning appeared: and +behold thunders began to be heard, and lightning to flash, and a very +thick cloud to cover the mount, and the noise of the trumpet sounded +exceeding loud; and the people that was in the camp, feared. + +19:17. And when Moses had brought them forth to meet God, from the +place of the camp, they stood at the bottom of the mount. + +19:18. And all Mount Sinai was on a smoke: because the Lord was come +down upon it in fire, and the smoke arose from it as out of a furnace: +and all the mount was terrible. + +19:19. And the sound of the trumpet grew by degrees louder and louder, +and was drawn out to a greater length: Moses spoke, and God answered +him. + +19:20. And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, in the very top of the +mount, and he called Moses unto the top thereof. And when he was gone +up thither, + +19:21. He said unto him: Go down, and charge the people; lest they +should have a mind to pass the limits to see the Lord, and a very great +multitude of them should perish. + +19:22. The priests also that come to the Lord, let them be sanctified, +lest he strike them. + +19:23. And Moses said to the Lord: The people cannot come up to Mount +Sinai: for thou didst charge, and command, saying: Set limits about the +mount, and sanctify it. + +19:24. And the Lord said to him: Go, get thee down; and thou shalt come +up, thou and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people +pass the limits, nor come up to the Lord, lest he kill them. + +19:25. And Moses went down to the people and told them all. + + + +Exodus Chapter 20 + + +The ten commandments. + +20:1. And the Lord spoke all these words: + +20:2. I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, +out of the house of bondage. + +20:3. Thou shalt not have strange gods before me. + +20:4. Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness +of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of +those things that are in the waters under the earth. + +A graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing, etc. . .All such images, +or likenesses, are forbidden by this commandment, as are made to be +adored and served; according to that which immediately follows, thou +shalt not adore them, nor serve them. That is, all such as are designed +for idols or image-gods, or are worshipped with divine honour. But +otherwise images, pictures, or representations, even in the house of +God, and in the very sanctuary so far from being forbidden, are +expressly authorized by the word of God. See Ex. 25.15, and etc.; chap. +38.7; Num. 21.8, 9; 1 Chron. or Paralip. 28.18, 19; 2 Chron. or +Paralip. 3.10. + +20:5. Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them: I am the Lord thy God, +mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the +children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: + +20:6. And shewing mercy unto thousands to them that love me, and keep +my commandments. + +20:7. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the +Lord will not hold him guiltless that shall take the name of the Lord +his God in vain. + +20:8. Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day. + +20:9. Six days shalt thou labour, and shalt do all thy works. + +20:10. But on the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: thou +shalt do no work on it, thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy +manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy beast, nor the stranger that +is within thy gates. + +20:11. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and +all things that are in them, and rested on the seventh day: therefore +the Lord blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it. + +20:12. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thou mayst be longlived +upon the land which the Lord thy God will give thee. + +20:13. Thou shalt not kill. + +20:14. Thou shalt not commit adultery. + +20:15. Thou shalt not steal. + +20:16. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. + +20:17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house; neither shalt thou +desire his wife, nor his servant, nor his handmaid, nor his ox, nor his +ass, nor any thing that is his. + +20:18. And all the people saw the voices and the flames, and the sound +of the trumpet, and the mount smoking; and being terrified and struck +with fear, they stood afar off, + +20:19. Saying to Moses: Speak thou to us, and we will hear: let not the +Lord speak to us, lest we die. + +20:20. And Moses said to the people: Fear not; for God is come to prove +you, and that the dread of him might be in you, and you should not sin. + +20:21. And the people stood afar off. But Moses went to the dark cloud +wherein God was. + +20:22. And the Lord said to Moses: Thus shalt thou say to the children +of Israel: You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. + +20:23. You shall not make gods of silver, nor shall you make to +yourselves gods of gold. + +20:24. You shall make an altar of earth unto me, and you shall offer +upon it your holocausts and peace offerings, your sheep and oxen, in +every place where the memory of my name shall be: I will come to thee, +and will bless thee. + +20:25. And if thou make an altar of stone unto me, thou shalt not build +it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up a tool upon it, it shall be +defiled. + +20:26. Thou shalt not go up by steps unto my altar, lest thy nakedness +be discovered. + + + +Exodus Chapter 21 + + +Laws relating to Justice. + +21:1. These are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. + +21:2. If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years shall he serve thee; in +the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. + +21:3. With what raiment he came in, with the like let him go out: if +having a wife, his wife also shall go out with him. + +21:4. But if his master gave him a wife, and she hath borne sons and +daughters; the woman and her children shall be her master's: but he +himself shall go out with his raiment. + +21:5. And if the servant shall say: I love my master and my wife and +children, I will not go out free: + +21:6. His master shall bring him to the gods, and he shall be set to +the door and the posts, and he shall bore his ear through with an awl: +and he shall be his servant for ever. + +To the gods. . .Elohim. That is, to the judges, or magistrates, +authorized by God. + +21:7. If any man sell his daughter to be a servant, she shall not go +out as bondwomen are wont to go out. + +21:8. If she displease the eyes of her master to whom she was +delivered, he shall let her go: but he shall have no power to sell her +to a foreign nation, if he despise her. + +21:9. But if he have betrothed her to his son, he shall deal with her +after the manner of daughters. + +21:10. And if he take another wife for him, he shall provide her a +marriage, and raiment, neither shall he refuse the price of her +chastity. + +21:11. If he do not these three things, she shall go out free without +money. + +21:12. He that striketh a man with a will to kill him, shall be put to +death. + +21:13. But he that did not lie in wait for him, but God delivered him +into his hands: I will appoint thee a place to which he must flee. + +21:14. If a man kill his neighbour on set purpose, and by lying in wait +for him: thou shalt take him away from my altar that he may die. + +21:15. He that striketh his father or mother, shall be put to death. + +21:16. He that shall steal a man, and sell him, being convicted of the +guilt, shall be put to death. + +21:17. He that curseth his father or mother, shall die the death. + +21:18. If men quarrel, and the one strike his neighbour with a stone, +or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed: + +21:19. If he rise again and walk abroad upon his staff, he that struck +him shall be quit, yet so that he make restitution for his work, and +for his expenses upon the physicians. + +21:20. He that striketh his bondman, or bondwoman, with a rod, and they +die under his hands, shall be guilty of the crime. + +21:21. But if the party remain alive a day or two, he shall not be +subject to the punishment, because it is his money. + +21:22. If men quarrel, and one strike a woman with child and she +miscarry indeed, but live herself: he shall be answerable for so much +damage as the woman's husband shall require, and as arbiters shall +award. + +21:23. But if her death ensue thereupon, he shall render life for life, + +21:24. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, + +21:25. Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. + +21:26. If any man strike the eye of his manservant or maidservant, and +leave them but one eye, he shall let them go free for the eye which he +put out. + +21:27. Also if he strike out a tooth of his manservant or maidservant, +he shall in like manner make them free. + +21:28. If an ox gore a man or a woman, and they die, he shall be +stoned: and his flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall +be quit. + +21:29. But if the ox was wont to push with his horn yesterday, and the +day before, and they warned his master, and he did not shut him up, and +he shall kill a man or a woman: then the ox shall be stoned, and his +owner also shall be put to death. + +21:30. And if they set a price upon him, he shall give for his life +whatsoever is laid upon him. + +21:31. If he have gored a son, or a daughter, he shall fall under the +like sentence. + +21:32. If he assault a bondman or bondwoman, he shall give thirty +sicles of silver to their master, and the ox shall be stoned. + +21:33. If a man open a pit, and dig one, and cover it not, and an ox or +an ass fall into it, + +21:34. The owner of the pit shall pay the price of the beasts: and that +which is dead shall be his own. + +21:35. If one man's ox gore another man's ox, and he die: they shall +sell the live ox, and shall divide the price, and the carcass of that +which died they shall part between them: + +21:36. But if he knew that his ox was wont to push yesterday, and the +day before, and his master did not keep him in; he shall pay ox for ox, +and shall take the whole carcass. + + + +Exodus Chapter 22 + + +The punishment of theft, and other trespasses. The law of lending +without usury, of taking pledges of reverences to superiors, and of +paying tithes. + +22:1. If any man steal an ox or a sheep, and kill or sell it: he shall +restore five oxen for one ox, and four sheep for one sheep. + +22:2. If a thief be found breaking open a house or undermining it, and +be wounded so as to die: he that slew him shall not be guilty of blood. + +22:3. But if he did this when the sun is risen, he hath committed +murder, and he shall die. If he have not wherewith to make restitution +for the theft, he shall be sold. + +22:4. If that which he stole be found with him, alive, either ox, or +ass, or sheep: he shall restore double. + +22:5. If any man hurt a field or a vineyard, and put in his beast to +feed upon that which is other men's: he shall restore the best of +whatsoever he hath in his own field, or in his vineyard, according to +the estimation of the damage. + +22:6. If a fire breaking out light upon thorns, and catch stacks of +corn, or corn standing in the fields, he that kindled the fire shall +make good the loss. + +22:7. If a man deliver money, or any vessel unto his friend to keep, +and they be stolen away from him that received them: if the thief be +found, he shall restore double: + +22:8. If the thief be not known, the master of the house shall be +brought to the gods, and shall swear that he did not lay his hand upon +his neighbour's goods, + +22:9. To do any fraud, either in ox, or in ass, or sheep, or raiment, +or any thing that may bring damage: the cause of both parties shall +come to the gods: and if they give judgment, he shall restore double to +his neighbour. + +22:10. If a man deliver ass, ox, sheep, or any beast, to his +neighbour's custody, and it die, or be hurt, or be taken by enemies, +and no man saw it: + +22:11. There shall be an oath between them, that he did not put forth +his hand to his neighbour's goods: and the owner shall accept of the +oath, and he shall not be compelled to make restitution. + +22:12. But if it were taken away by stealth, he shall make the loss +good to the owner. + +22:13. If it were eaten by a beast, let him bring to him that which was +slain, and he shall not make restitution. + +22:14. If a man borrow of his neighbour any of these things, and it be +hurt or die, the owner not being present, he shall be obliged to make +restitution. + +22:15. But if the owner be present, he shall not make restitution, +especially if it were hired, and came for the hire of his work. + +22:16. If a man seduce a virgin not yet espoused, and lie with her: he +shall endow her, and have her to wife. + +22:17. If the maid's father will not give her to him, he shall give +money according to the dowry, which virgins are wont to receive. + +22:18. Wizards thou shalt not suffer to live. + +22:19. Whosoever copulateth with a beast; shall be put to death. + +22:20. He that sacrificeth to gods, shall be put to death, save only to +the Lord. + +22:21. Thou shalt not molest a stranger, nor afflict him: for +yourselves also were strangers in the land of Egypt. + +22:22. You shall not hurt a widow or an orphan. + +22:23. If you hurt them, they will cry out to me, and I will hear their +cry: + +22:24. And my rage shall be enkindled, and I will strike you with the +sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. + +22:25. If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor, that +dwelleth with thee, thou shalt not be hard upon them as an extortioner, +nor oppress them with usuries. + +22:26. If thou take of thy neighbour a garment in pledge, thou shalt +give it him again before sunset. + +22:27. For that same is the only thing, wherewith he is covered, the +clothing of his body, neither hath he any other to sleep in: if he cry +to me, I will hear him, because I am compassionate. + +22:28. Thou shalt not speak ill of the gods, and the prince of thy +people thou shalt not curse. + +22:29. Thou shalt not delay to pay thy tithes and thy firstfruits: thou +shalt give the firstborn of thy sons to me. + +22:30. Thou shalt do the same with the firstborn of thy oxen also and +sheep: seven days let it be with its dam: the eighth day thou shalt +give it to me. + +22:31. You shall be holy men to me: the flesh that beasts have tasted +of before, you shall not eat, but shall cast it to the dogs. + + + +Exodus Chapter 23 + + +Laws for judges; the rest of the seventh year, and day: three principal +feasts to be solemnized every year; the promise of an angel, to conduct +and protect them: idols are to be destroyed. + +23:1. Thou shalt not receive the voice of a lie: neither shalt thou +join thy hand to bear false witness for a wicked person. + +23:2. Thou shalt not follow the multitude to do evil: neither shalt +thou yield in judgment, to the opinion of the most part, to stray from +the truth. + +23:3. Neither shalt thou favour a poor man in judgment. + +23:4. If thou meet thy enemy's ox or ass going astray, bring it back to +him. + +23:5. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lie underneath his +burden, thou shalt not pass by, but shalt lift him up with him. + +23:6. Thou shalt not go aside in the poor man's judgment. + +23:7. Thou shalt fly lying. The innocent and just person thou shalt not +put to death: because I abhor the wicked. + +23:8. Neither shalt thou take bribes, which even blind the wise, and +pervert the words of the just. + +23:9. Thou shalt not molest a stranger, for you know the hearts of +strangers: for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt. + +23:10. Six years thou shalt sow thy ground, and shalt gather the corn +thereof. + +23:11. But the seventh year thou shalt let it alone, and suffer it to +rest, that the poor of thy people may eat, and whatsoever shall be +left, let the beasts of the field eat it: so shalt thou do with thy +vineyard and thy oliveyard. + +23:12. Six days thou shalt work: the seventh day thou shalt cease, that +thy ox and thy ass may rest: and the son of thy handmaid and the +stranger may be refreshed. + +23:13. Keep all things that I have said to you. And by the name of +strange gods you shall not swear, neither shall it be heard out of your +mouth. + +23:14. Three times every year you shall celebrate feasts to me. + +23:15. Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days shalt +thou eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the +month of new corn, when thou didst come forth out of Egypt: thou shalt +not appear empty before me. + +23:16. And the feast of the harvest of the firstfruits of thy work, +whatsoever thou hast sown in the field. The feast also in the end of +the year, when thou hast gathered in all thy corn out of the field. + +23:17. Thrice a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy +God. + +23:18. Thou shalt not sacrifice the blood of my victim upon leaven, +neither shall the fat of my solemnity remain until the morning. + +23:19. Thou shalt carry the first-fruits of the corn of thy ground to +the house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in the milk of +his dam. + +23:20. Behold I will send my angel, who shall go before thee, and keep +thee in thy journey, and bring thee into the place that I have +prepared. + +23:21. Take notice of him, and hear his voice, and do not think him one +to be contemned: for he will not forgive when thou hast sinned, and my +name is in him. + +23:22. But if thou wilt hear hi voice, and do all that I speak, I will +be an enemy to thy enemies, and will afflict them that afflict thee. + +23:23. And my angel shall go before thee, and shall bring thee in unto +the Amorrhite, and the Hethite, and the Pherexite, and the Chanaanite, +and the Hevite, and the Jebuzite, whom I will destroy. + +23:24. Thou shalt not adore their gods, nor serve them. Thou shalt not +do their works, but shalt destroy them, and break their statues. + +23:25. And you shall serve the Lord your God, that I may bless your +bread and your waters, and may take away sickness from the midst of +thee. + +23:26. There shall not be one fruitless nor barren in thy land: I will +fill the number of thy days. + +23:27. I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people +to whom thou shalt come: and will turn the backs of all thy enemies +before thee: + +23:28. Sending out hornets before, that shall drive away the Hevite, +and the Chanaanite, and the Hethite, before thou come in. + +23:29. I will not cast them out from thy face in one year; lest the +land be brought into a wilderness, and the beasts multiply against +thee. + +23:30. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, +till thou be increased, and dost possess the land. + +23:31. And I will set thy bounds from the Red Sea to the sea of the +Palestines, and from the desert to the river: I will deliver the +inhabitants of the land into your hands, and will drive them out from +before you. + +23:32. Thou shalt not enter into league with them, nor with their gods. + +23:33. Let them not dwell in thy land, lest perhaps they make thee sin +against me, if thou serve their gods; which, undoubtedly, will be a +scandal to thee. + + + +Exodus Chapter 24 + + +Moses writeth his law; and after offering sacrifices, sprinkleth the +blood of the testament upon the people: then goeth up the mountain +which God covereth with a fiery cloud. + +24:1. And he said to Moses: Come up to the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab +and Abiu, and seventy of the ancients of Israel, and you shall adore +afar off. + +24:2. And Moses alone shall come up to the Lord, but they shall not +come nigh; neither shall the people come up with him. + +24:3. So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and +all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice: We will +do all the words of the Lord, which he hath spoken. + +24:4. And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord: and rising in the +morning, he built an altar at the foot of the mount, and twelve titles +according to the twelve tribes of Israel. + +Titles. . .That is, pillars. + +24:5. And he sent young men of the children of Israel, and they offered +holocausts, and sacrificed pacific victims of calves to the Lord. + +Holocausts. . .Whole burnt offerings, in which the whole sacrifice was +consumed with fire upon the altar. + +24:6. Then Moses took half of the blood, and put it into bowls; and the +rest he poured upon the altar. + +24:7. And taking the book of the covenant, he read it in the hearing of +the people: and they said: All things that the Lord hath spoken, we +will do, we will be obedient. + +24:8. And he took the blood and sprinkled it upon the people, and he +said: This is the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with +you concerning all these words. + +24:9. Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abiu, and seventy of the ancients +of Israel went up: + +24:10. And they saw the God of Israel: and under his feet as it were a +work of sapphire stone, and as the heaven, when clear. + +24:11. Neither did he lay his hand upon those of the children of +Israel, that retired afar off, and they saw God, and they did eat and +drink. + +24:12. And the Lord said to Moses: Come up to me into the mount, and be +there; and I will give thee tables of stone, and the law, and the +commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. + +24:13. Moses rose up, and his minister Josue: and Moses going up into +the mount of God, + +24:14. Said to the ancients: Wait ye here till we return to you. You +have Aaron and Hur with you: if any question shall arise, you shall +refer it to them. + +24:15. And when Moses was gone up, a cloud covered the mount. + +24:16. And the glory of the Lord dwelt upon Sinai, covering it with a +cloud six days: and the seventh day he called him out of the midst of +the cloud. + +24:17. And the sight of the glory of the Lord, was like a burning fire +upon the top of the mount, in the eyes of the children of Israel. + +24:18. And Moses entering into the midst of the cloud, went up into the +mountain: And he was there forty days and forty nights. + + + +Exodus Chapter 25 + + +Offerings prescribed for making the tabernacle, the ark, the +candlestick, etc. + +25:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +25:2. Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring firstfruits to +me: of every man that offereth of his own accord, you shall take them. + +Firstfruits. . .Offerings of some of the best and choicest of their +goods. + +25:3. And these are the things you must take: Gold, and silver, and +brass, + +25:4. Violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine linen, and +goats' hair, + +25:5. And rams' skins dyed red, and violet skins, and setim wood: + +Setim wood. . .The wood of a tree that grows in the wilderness, which is +said to be incorruptible. + +25:6. Oil to make lights: spices for ointment, and for sweetsmelling +incense: + +25:7. Onyx stones, and precious stones to adorn the ephod and the +rational. + +The ephod and the rational. . .The ephod was the high priest's upper +vestment; and the rational his breastplate, in which were twelve gems, +etc. + +25:8. And they shall make me a sanctuary, and I will dwell in the midst +of them: + +25:9. According to all the likeness of the tabernacle which I will shew +thee, and of all the vessels for the service thereof: and thus you +shall make it: + +25:10. Frame an ark of setim wood, the length whereof shall be of two +cubits and a half; the breadth, a cubit and a half; the height, +likewise, a cubit and a half. + +25:11. And thou shalt overlay it with the purest gold, within and +without; and over it thou shalt make a golden crown round about: + +25:12. And four golden rings, which thou shalt put at the four corners +of the ark: let two rings be on the one side, and two on the other. + +25:13. Thou shalt make bars also of setim wood, and shalt overlay them +with gold. + +25:14. And thou shalt put them in through the rings that are in the +sides of the ark, that it may be carried on them: + +25:15. And they shall be always in the rings, neither shall they at any +time be drawn out of them. + +25:16. And thou shalt put in the ark the testimony which I will give +thee. + +25:17. Thou shalt make also a propitiatory of the purest gold: the +length thereof shall be two cubits and a half, and the breadth a cubit +and a half. + +A propitiatory. . .a covering for the ark: called a propitiatory, or +mercy seat, because the Lord, who was supposed to sit there upon the +wings of the cherubims, with the ark for his footstool, from thence +shewed mercy. It is also called the oracle, ver. 18 and 20; because +from thence God gave his orders and his answers. + +25:18. Thou shalt make also two cherubims of beaten gold, on the two +sides of the oracle. + +25:19. Let one cherub be on the one side, and the other on the other. + +25:20. Let them cover both sides of the propitiatory, spreading their +wings, and covering the oracle, and let them look one towards the +other, their faces being turned towards the propitiatory wherewith the +ark is to be covered. + +25:21. In which thou shalt put the testimony that I will give thee. + +25:22. Thence will I give orders, and will speak to thee over the +propitiatory, and from the midst of the two cherubims, which shall be +upon the ark of the testimony, all things which I will command the +children of Israel by thee. + +25:23. Thou shalt make a table also of setim wood, of two cubits in +length, and a cubit in breadth, and a cubit and a half in height. + +A table. . .On which were to be placed the twelve loaves of proposition: +or, as they are called in the Hebrew, the face bread, because they were +always to stand before the face of the Lord in his temple: as a figure +of the eucharistic sacrifice and sacrament, in the church of Christ. + +25:24. And thou shalt overlay it with the purest gold: and thou shalt +make to it a golden ledge round about. + +25:25. And to the ledge itself a polished crown, four inches high; and +over the same another little golden crown. + +25:26. Thou shalt prepare also four golden rings, and shalt put them in +the four corners of the same table, over each foot. + +25:27. Under the crown shall the golden rings be, that the bars may be +put through them, and the table may be carried. + +25:28. The bars also themselves thou shalt make of setim wood, and +shalt overlay them with gold, to bear up the table. + +25:29. Thou shalt prepare also dishes, and bowls, censers, and cups, +wherein the libations are to be offered, of the purest gold. + +Libations. . .That is, drink offerings. + +25:30. And thou shalt set upon the table loaves of proposition in my +sight always. + +25:31. Thou shalt make also a candlestick of beaten work, of the finest +gold, the shaft thereof, and the branches, the cups, and the bowls, and +the lilies going forth from it. + +A candlestick. . .This candlestick, with its seven lamps, which was +always to give light in the house of God, was a figure of the light of +the Holy Ghost, and his sevenfold grace, in the sanctuary of the church +of Christ. + +25:32. Six branches shall come out of the sides, three out of one side, +and three out of the other. + +25:33. Three cups as it were nuts to every branch, and a bowl withal, +and a lily: and three cups likewise of the fashion of nuts in the other +branch, and a bowl withal, and a lily. Such shall be the work of the +six branches, that are to come out from the shaft: + +25:34. And in the candlestick itself shall be four cups in the manner +of a nut, and at every one bowls and lilies. + +25:35. Bowls under two branches in three places, which together make +six, coming forth out of one shaft. + +25:36. And both the bowls and the branches shall be of the same beaten +work of the purest gold. + +25:37. Thou shalt make also seven lamps, and shalt set them upon the +candlestick, to give light over against. + +25:38. The snuffers also, and where the snuffings shall be put out, +shall be made of the purest gold. + +25:39. The whole weight of the candlestick, with all the furniture +thereof, shall be a talent of the purest gold. + +25:40. Look, and make it according to the pattern that was shewn thee +in the mount. + + + +Exodus Chapter 26 + + +The form of the tabernacle with its appurtenances. + +26:1. And thou shalt make the tabernacle in this manner: Thou shalt +make ten curtains of fine twisted linen, and violet and purple, and +scarlet twice dyed, diversified with embroidery. + +26:2. The length of one curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits; the +breadth shall be four cubits. All the curtains shall be of one measure. + +26:3. Five curtains shall be joined one to another, and the other five +shall be coupled together in like manner. + +26:4. Thou shalt make loops of violet in the sides and tops of the +curtains, that they may be joined one to another. + +26:5. Every curtain shall have fifty loops on both sides, so set on, +that one loop may be against another loop, and one may be fitted to the +other. + +26:6. Thou shalt make also fifty rings of gold, wherewith the veils of +the curtains are to be joined, that it may be made one tabernacle. + +26:7. Thou shalt make also eleven curtains of goats' hair, to cover the +top of the tabernacle. + +26:8. The length of one hair-curtain shall be thirty cubits; and the +breadth, four: the measure of all the curtains shall be equal. + +26:9. Five of which thou shalt couple by themselves, and the six others +thou shalt couple one to another, so as to double the sixth curtain in +the front of the roof. + +26:10. Thou shalt make also fifty loops in the edge of one curtain, +that it may be joined with the other: and fifty loops in the edge of +the other curtain, that it may be coupled with its fellow. + +26:11. Thou shalt make also fifty buckles of brass, wherewith the loops +may be joined, that of all there may be made one covering. + +26:12. And that which shall remain of the curtains, that are prepared +for the roof, to wit, one curtain that is over and above, with the half +thereof thou shalt cover the back parts of the tabernacle. + +26:13. And there shall hang down a cubit on the one side, and another +on the other side, which is over and above in the length of the +curtains, fencing both sides of the tabernacle. + +26:14. Thou shalt make also another cover to the roof of rams' skins +dyed red: and over that again another cover of violet coloured skins. + +26:15. Thou shalt make also the boards of the tabernacle standing +upright of setim wood. + +26:16. Let every one of them be ten cubits in length, and in breadth +one cubit and a half. + +26:17. In the sides of the boards shall be made two mortises, whereby +one board may be joined to another board: and after this manner shall +all the boards be prepared. + +26:18. Of which twenty shall be in the south side southward. + +26:19. For which thou shalt cast forty sockets of silver, that under +every board may be put two sockets at the two corners. + +26:20. In the second side also of the tabernacle that looketh to the +north, there shall be twenty boards, + +26:21. Having forty sockets of silver, two sockets shall be put under +each board. + +26:22. But on the west side of the tabernacle thou shalt make six +boards. + +26:23. And again other two which shall be erected in the corners at the +back of the tabernacle. + +26:24. And they shall be joined together from beneath unto the top, and +one joint shall hold them all. The like joining shall be observed for +the two boards also that are to be put in the corners. + +26:25. And they shall be in all eight boards, and their silver sockets +sixteen, reckoning two sockets for each board. + +26:26. Thou shalt make also five bars of setim wood, to hold together +the boards on one side of the tabernacle. + +26:27. And five others on the other side, and as many at the west side: + +26:28. And they shall be put along by the midst of the boards, from one +end to the other. + +26:29. The boards also themselves thou shalt overlay with gold, and +shalt cast rings of gold to be set upon them, for places for the bars +to hold together the boardwork: which bars thou shalt cover with plates +of gold. + +26:30. And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the pattern +that was shewn thee in the mount. + +26:31. Thou shalt make also a veil of violet, and purple, and scarlet +twice dyed, and fine twisted linen, wrought with embroidered work and +goodly variety: + +26:32. And thou shalt hang it up before four pillars of setim wood, +which themselves also shall be overlaid with gold, and shall have heads +of gold, but sockets of silver. + +26:33. And the veil shall be hanged on with rings, and within it thou +shalt put the ark of the testimony, and the sanctuary and the holy of +the holies shall be divided with it. + +The sanctuary, etc. . .That part of the tabernacle, which was without +the veil, into which the priests daily entered, is here called the +sanctuary, or holy place; that part which was within the veil, into +which no one but the high priest ever went, and he but once a year, is +called the holy of holies, (literally, the sanctuary of the +sanctuaries,) as being the most holy of all holy places. + +26:34. And thou shalt set the propitiatory upon the ark of the +testimony, in the holy of holies. + +26:35. And the table without the veil, and over against the table the +candlestick in the south side of the tabernacle: for the table shall +stand in the north side. + +26:36. Thou shalt make also a hanging in the entrance of the tabernacle +of violet, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted linen +with embroidered work. + +26:37. And thou shalt overlay with gold five pillars of setim wood, +before which the hanging shall be drawn: their heads shall be of gold, +and the sockets of brass. + + + +Exodus Chapter 27 + + +The altar; and the court of the tabernacle with its hangings and +pillars. Provision of oil for lamps. + +27:1. Thou shalt make also an altar of setim wood, which shall be five +cubits long, and as many broad, that is four square, and three cubits +high. + +27:2. And there shall be horns at the four corners of the same: and +thou shalt cover it with brass. + +27:3. And thou shalt make for the uses thereof pans to receive the +ashes, and tongs and fleshhooks, and firepans: all its vessels thou +shalt make of brass. + +27:4. And a grate of brass in manner of a net; at the four corners of +which, shall be four rings of brass, + +27:5. Which thou shalt put under the hearth of the altar: and the grate +shall be even to the midst of the altar. + +27:6. Thou shalt make also two bars for the altar, of setim wood, which +thou shalt cover with plates of brass: + +27:7. And thou shalt draw them through rings, and they shall be on both +sides of the altar to carry it. + +27:8. Thou shalt not make it solid, but empty and hollow in the inside, +as it was shewn thee in the mount. + +27:9. Thou shalt make also the court of the tabernacle, in the south +side whereof southward there shall be hangings of fine twisted linen of +a hundred cubits long for one side. + +27:10. And twenty pillars with as many sockets of brass, the heads of +which, with their engraving, shall be of silver. + +27:11. In like manner also on the north side there shall be hangings of +a hundred cubits long, twenty pillars, and as many sockets of brass, +and their heads with their engraving of silver. + +27:12. But in the breadth of the court, that looketh to the west, there +shall be hangings of fifty cubits, and ten pillars, and as many +sockets. + +27:13. In that breadth also of the court, which looketh to the east, +there shall be fifty cubits. + +27:14. In which there shall be for one side, hangings of fifteen +cubits, and three pillars, and as many sockets. + +27:15. And in the other side, there shall be hangings of fifteen +cubits, with three pillars, and as many sockets. + +27:16. And in the entrance of the court there shall be made a hanging +of twenty cubits of violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine +twisted linen, with embroidered work: it shall have four pillars, with +as many sockets. + +27:17. All the pillars of the court round about shall be garnished with +plates of silver, silver heads, and sockets of brass. + +27:18. In length the court shall take up a hundred cubits, in breadth +fifty, the height shall be of five cubits, and it shall be made of fine +twisted linen, and shall have sockets of brass. + +27:19. All the vessels of the tabernacle for all uses and ceremonies, +and the pins both of it and of the court, thou shalt make of brass. + +27:20. Command the children of Israel that they bring thee the purest +oil of the olives, and beaten with a pestle: that a lamp may burn +always, + +27:21. In the tabernacle of the testimony, without the veil that hangs +before the testimony. And Aaron and his sons shall order it, that it +may give light before the Lord until the morning. It shall be a +perpetual observance throughout their successions among the children of +Israel. + + + +Exodus Chapter 28 + + +The holy vestments for Aaron and his sons. + +28:1. Take unto thee also Aaron thy brother with his sons, from among +the children of Israel, that they may minister to me in the priest's +office: Aaron, Nadab, and Abiu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. + +28:2. And thou shalt make a holy vesture for Aaron, thy brother, for +glory and for beauty. + +28:3. And thou shalt speak to all the wise of heart, whom I have filled +with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's vestments, in +which he being consecrated, may minister to me. + +28:4. And these shall be the vestments that they shall make: A rational +and an ephod, a tunic and a strait linen garment, a mitre and a girdle. +They shall make the holy vestments for thy brother Aaron and his sons, +that they may do the office of priesthood unto me. + +28:5. And they shall take gold, and violet, and purple, and scarlet +twice dyed, and fine linen. + +28:6. And they shall make the ephod of gold, and violet, and purple, +and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted linen, embroidered with divers +colours. + +28:7. It shall have the two edges joined in the top on both sides, that +they may be closed together. + +28:8. The very workmanship also, and all the variety of the work, shall +be of gold, and violet, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine +twisted linen. + +28:9. And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and shalt grave on them the +names of the children of Israel: + +28:10. Six names on one stone, and the other six on the other, +according to the order of their birth. + +28:11. With the work of an engraver, and the graving of a jeweller, +thou shalt engrave them with the names of the children of Israel, set +in gold and compassed about: + +28:12. And thou shalt put them in both sides of the ephod, a memorial +for the children of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the +Lord upon both shoulders, for a remembrance. + +28:13. Thou shalt make also hooks of gold. + +28:14. And two little chains of the purest gold, linked one to another, +which thou shalt put into the hooks. + +28:15. And thou shalt make the rational of judgment with embroidered +work of divers colours, according to the workmanship of the ephod, of +gold, violet, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted +linen. + +The rational of judgment. . .This part of the priest's attire, which he +wore at his breast, was called the rational of judgment; partly because +it admonished both priest and people of their duty to God, by carrying +the names of all their tribes in his presence; and by the Urim and the +Thummim, that is, doctrine and truth, which were written upon it; and +partly because it gave divine answers and oracles, as if it were +rational and endowed with judgment. + +28:16. It shall be four square and doubled: it shall be the measure of +a span both in length and in breadth. + +28:17. And thou shalt set in it four rows of stones . In the first row +shall be a sardius stone, and a topaz, and an emerald: + +28:18. In the second a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper: + +28:19. In the third a ligurius, an agate, and an amethyst: + +28:20. In the fourth a chrysolite, an onyx, and a beryl. They shall be +set in gold by their rows. + +28:21. And they shall have the names of the children of Israel: with +twelve names shall they be engraved, each stone with the name of one +according to the twelve tribes. + +28:22. And thou shalt make on the rational chains, linked one to +another, of the purest gold: + +28:23. And two rings of gold, which thou shalt put in the two ends at +the top of the rational. + +28:24. And the golden chains thou shalt join to the rings, that are in +the ends thereof. + +28:25. And the ends of the chains themselves, thou shalt join together +with two hooks, on both sides of the ephod, which is towards the +rational. + +28:26. Thou shalt make also two rings of gold, which thou shalt put in +the top parts of the rational, in the borders that are over against the +ephod, and look towards the back parts thereof. + +28:27. Moreover also other two rings of gold, which are to be set on +each side of the ephod beneath, that looketh towards the nether +joining, that the rational may be fitted with the ephod, + +28:28. And may be fastened by the rings thereof unto the rings of the +ephod with a violet fillet, that the joining artificially wrought may +continue, and the rational and the ephod may not be loosed one from the +other. + +28:29. And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the +rational of judgment upon his breast, when he shall enter into the +sanctuary, a memorial before the Lord for ever. + +28:30. And thou shalt put in the rational of judgment doctrine and +truth, which shall be on Aaron's breast, when he shall go in before the +Lord: and he shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel on his +breast, in the sight of the Lord always. + +Doctrine and Truth. . .Hebrew, Urim and Thummim: illuminations and +perfections. These words, written on the rational, seem to signify the +light of doctrine and the integrity of life, with which the priests of +God ought to approach him. + +28:31. And thou shalt make the tunic of the ephod all of violet, + +28:32. In the midst whereof above shall be a hole for the head, and a +border round about it woven, as is wont to be made in the outmost parts +of garments, that it may not easily be broken. + +28:33. And beneath at the feet of the same tunic, round about, thou +shalt make as it were pomegranates, of violet, and purple, and scarlet +twice dyed, with little bells set between: + +28:34. So that there shall be a golden bell and a pomegranate, and +again another golden bell and a pomegranate. + +28:35. And Aaron shall be vested with it in the office of his ministry, +that the sound may be heard, when he goeth in and cometh out of the +sanctuary, in the sight of the Lord, and that he may not die. + +28:36. Thou shalt make also a plate of the purest gold: wherein thou +shalt grave with engraver's work, Holy to the Lord. + +28:37. And thou shalt tie it with a violet fillet, and it shall be upon +the mitre, + +28:38. Hanging over the forehead of the high priest. And Aaron shall +bear the iniquities of those things, which the children of Israel have +offered and sanctified, in all their gifts and offerings. And the plate +shall be always on his forehead, that the Lord may be well pleased with +them. + +28:39. And thou shalt gird the tunic with fine linen, and thou shalt +make a fine linen mitre, and a girdle of embroidered work. + +28:40. Moreover, for the sons of Aaron thou shalt prepare linen tunics, +and girdles and mitres for glory and beauty: + +28:41. And with all these things thou shalt vest Aaron thy brother, and +his sons with him. And thou shalt consecrate the hands of them all, and +shalt sanctify them, that they may do the office of priesthood unto me. + +28:42. Thou shalt make also linen breeches, to cover the flesh of their +nakedness, from the reins to the thighs: + +28:43. And Aaron and his sons shall use them when they shall go into +the tabernacle of the testimony, or when they approach to the altar to +minister in the sanctuary. lest being guilty of iniquity they die. It +shall be a law for ever to Aaron, and to his seed after him. + + + +Exodus Chapter 29 + + +The manner of consecrating Aaron and other priests; the institution of +the daily sacrifice of two lambs, one in the morning, the other at +evening. + +29:1. And thou shalt also do this, that they may be consecrated to me +in priesthood. Take a calf from the herd, and two rams without blemish, + +29:2. And unleavened bread, and a cake without leaven, tempered with +oil, wafers also unleavened, anointed with oil: thou shalt make them +all of wheaten flour. + +29:3. And thou shalt put them in a basket, and offer them: and the calf +and the two rams. + +29:4. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the +tabernacle of the testimony. And when thou hast washed the father and +his sons with water, + +29:5. Thou shalt clothe Aaron with his vestments, that is, with the +linen garment and the tunic, and the ephod and the rational, which thou +shalt gird with the girdle. + +29:6. And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and the holy plate +upon the mitre, + +29:7. And thou shalt pour the oil of unction upon his head: and by this +rite shall he be consecrated. + +29:8. Thou shalt bring his sons also, and shalt put on them the linen +tunics, and gird them with a girdle: + +29:9. To wit, Aaron and his children, and thou shalt put mitres upon +them; and they shall be priests to me by a perpetual ordinance. After +thou shalt have consecrated their hands, + +29:10. Thou shalt present also the calf before the tabernacle of the +testimony. And Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon his head, + +29:11. And thou shalt kill him in the sight of the Lord, beside the +door of the tabernacle of the testimony. + +29:12. And taking some of the blood of the calf, thou shalt put it upon +the horns of the altar with thy finger, and the rest of the blood thou +shalt pour at the bottom thereof. + +29:13. Thou shalt take also all the fat that covereth the entrails, and +the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon +them, and shalt offer a burn offering upon the altar: + +29:14. But the flesh of the calf, and the hide and the dung, thou shalt +burn abroad, without the camp, because it is for sin. + +29:15. Thou shalt take also one ram, upon the head whereof Aaron and +his sons shall lay their hands. + +29:16. And when thou hast killed him, thou shalt take of the blood +thereof, and pour round about the altar. + +29:17. And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and having washed his +entrails and feet, thou shalt put them upon the flesh that is cut in +pieces, and upon his head. + +29:18. And thou shalt offer the whole ram for a burnt offering upon the +altar: it is an oblation to the Lord, a most sweet savour of the victim +of the Lord. + +29:19. Thou shalt take also the other ram, upon whose head Aaron and +his sons shall lay their hands. + +29:20. And when thou hast sacrificed him, thou shalt take of his blood, +and put upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron and of his sons, and +upon the thumbs and great toes of their right hand and foot, and thou +shalt pour the blood upon the altar round about. + +29:21. And when thou hast taken of the blood that is upon the altar, +and of the oil of unction, thou shalt sprinkle Aaron and his vesture, +his sons and their vestments. And after they and their vestments are +consecrated, + +29:22. Thou shalt take the fat of the ram, and the rump, and the fat +that covereth the lungs, and the caul of the liver, and the two +kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder, because +it is the ram of consecration: + +29:23. And one roll of bread, a cake tempered with oil, a wafer out of +the basket of unleavened bread, which is set in the sight of the Lord: + +29:24. And thou shalt put all upon the hands of Aaron and of his sons, +and shalt sanctify them elevating before the Lord. + +29:25. And thou shalt take all from their hands; and shalt burn them +upon the altar for a holocaust, a most sweet savour in the sight of the +Lord, because it is his oblation. + +29:26. Thou shalt take also the breast of the ram, wherewith Aaron was +consecrated, and elevating it thou shalt sanctify it before the Lord, +and it shall fall to thy share. + +29:27. And thou shalt sanctify both the consecrated breast, and the +shoulder that thou didst separate of the ram, + +29:28. Wherewith Aaron was consecrated and his sons, and they shall +fall to Aaron's share, and his sons', by a perpetual right from the +children of Israel: because they are the choicest and the beginnings of +their peace victims which they offer to the Lord. + +29:29. And the holy vesture, which Aaron shall use, his sons shall have +after him, that they may be anointed, and their hands consecrated in +it. + +29:30. He of his sons that shall be appointed high priest in his stead, +and that shall enter into the tabernacle of the testimony to minister +in the sanctuary, shall wear it seven days. + +29:31. And thou shalt take the ram of the consecration, and shalt boil +the flesh thereof in the holy place: + +29:32. And Aaron and his sons shall eat it. The loaves also, that are +in the basket, they shall eat in the entry of the tabernacle of the +testimony, + +29:33. That it may be an atoning sacrifice, and the hands of the +offerers may be sanctified. A stranger shall not eat of them, because +they are holy. + +29:34. And if there remain of the consecrated flesh, or of the bread, +till the morning, thou shalt burn the remainder with fire: they shall +not be eaten, because they are sanctified. + +29:35. All that I have commanded thee, thou shalt do unto Aaron and his +sons. Seven days shalt thou consecrate their hands: + +29:36. And thou shalt offer a calf for sin every day for expiation. And +thou shalt cleanse the altar when thou hast offered the victim of +expiation, and shalt anoint it to sanctify it. + +29:37. Seven days shalt thou expiate the altar and sanctify it, and it +shall be most holy. Every one, that shall touch it, shall be holy. + +29:38. This is what thou shalt sacrifice upon the altar: Two lambs of a +year old every day continually, + +29:39. One lamb in the morning, and another in the evening. + +29:40. With one lamb a tenth part of flour tempered with beaten oil, of +the fourth part of a hin, and wine for libation of the same measure. + +29:41. And the other lamb thou shalt offer in the evening, according to +the rite of the morning oblation, and according to what we have said, +for a savour of sweetness: + +29:42. It is a sacrifice to the Lord, by perpetual oblation unto your +generations, at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony before the +Lord, where I will appoint to speak unto thee. + +29:43. And there will I command the children of Israel, and the altar +shall be sanctified by my glory. + +29:44. I will sanctify also the tabernacle of the testimony with the +altar, and Aaron with his sons, to do the office of priesthood unto me. + +29:45. And I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel, and +will be their God: + +29:46. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who have +brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might abide among them, I +the Lord their God. + + + +Exodus Chapter 30 + + +The altar of incense: money to be gathered for the use of the +tabernacle: the brazen laver: the holy oil of unction, and the +composition of the perfume. + +30:1. Thou shalt make also an altar to burn incense, of setim wood. + +An altar to burn incense. . .This burning of incense was an emblem of +prayer, ascending to God from an inflamed heart. See Ps. 140.2; Apoc. +5.8, and 8.4. + +30:2. It shall be a cubit in length, and another in breadth, that is, +four square, and two in height. Horns shall go out of the same. + +30:3. And thou shalt overlay it with the purest gold, as well the grate +thereof, as the walls round about, and the horns. And thou shalt make +to it a crown of gold round about, + +30:4. And two golden rings under the crown on either side, that the +bars may be put into them, and the altar be carried. + +30:5. And thou shalt make the bars also of setim wood, and shalt +overlay them with gold. + +30:6. And thou shalt set the altar over against the veil, that hangeth +before the ark of the testimony before the propitiatory wherewith the +testimony is covered, where I will speak to thee. + +30:7. And Aaron shall burn sweet smelling incense upon it in the +morning. When he shall dress the lamps, he shall burn it: + +30:8. And when he shall place them in the evening, he shall burn an +everlasting incense before the Lord throughout your generations. + +30:9. You shall not offer upon it incense of another composition, nor +oblation, and victim, neither shall you offer libations. + +30:10. And Aaron shall pray upon the horns thereof once a year, with +the blood of that which was offered for sin; and shall make atonement +upon it in your generations. It shall be most holy to the Lord. + +30:11. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +30:12. When thou shalt take the sum of the children of Israel, +according to their number, every one of them shall give a price for +their souls to the Lord, and there shall be no scourge among them, when +they shall be reckoned. + +30:13. And this shall every one give that passeth at the naming, half a +sicle according to the standard of the temple. A sicle hath twenty +obols. Half a sicle shall be offered to the Lord. + +Half a sicle. . .A sicle or shekel of silver, (which was also called a +stater,) according to the standard or weight of the sanctuary, which +was the most just and exact, was half an ounce of silver, that is, +about half a crown of English money. The obol, or gerah, was about +three halfpence. + +30:14. He that is counted in the number from twenty years and upwards, +shall give the price. + +30:15. The rich man shall not add to half a sicle, and the poor man +shall diminish nothing. + +30:16. And the money received, which was contributed by the children of +Israel, thou shalt deliver unto the uses of the tabernacle of the +testimony, that it may be a memorial of them before the Lord, and he +may be merciful to their souls. + +30:17. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +30:18. Thou shalt make also a brazen laver with its foot to wash in: +and thou shalt set it between the tabernacle of the testimony and the +altar. And water being put into it: + +30:19. Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and feet in it: + +30:20. When they are going into the tabernacle of the testimony, and +when they are to come to the altar, to offer on it incense to the Lord, + +30:21. Lest perhaps they die. It shall be an everlasting law to him, +and to his seed by successions. + +30:22. And the Lord spoke to Moses, + +30:23. Saying: Take spices, of principal and chosen myrrh five hundred +sicles, and of cinnamon half so much; that is, two hundred and fifty +sicles, of calamus in like manner two hundred and fifty, + +30:24. And of cassia five hundred sicles by the weight of the +sanctuary, of oil of olives the measure hin: + +30:25. And thou shalt make the holy oil of unction, an ointment +compounded after the art of the perfumer, + +30:26. And therewith thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the testimony, +and the ark of the testament, + +30:27. And the table with the vessels thereof, the candlestick and +furniture thereof, the altars of incense, + +30:28. And of holocaust, and all the furniture that belongeth to the +service of them. + +30:29. And thou shalt sanctify all, and they shall be most holy: he +that shall touch them shall be sanctified. + +30:30. Thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and shalt sanctify them, +that they may do the office of priesthood unto me. + +30:31. And thou shalt say to the children of Israel: This oil of +unction shall be holy unto me throughout your generations. + +30:32. The flesh of man shall not be anointed therewith, and you shall +make none other of the same composition, because it is sanctified, and +shall be holy unto you. + +30:33. What man soever shall compound such, and shall give thereof to a +stranger, he shall be cut off from his people. + +30:34. And the Lord said to Moses: Take unto thee spices, stacte, and +onycha, galbanum of sweet savour, and the clearest frankincense, all +shall be of equal weight. + +30:35. And thou shalt make incense compounded by the work of the +perfumer, well tempered together, and pure, and most worthy of +sanctification. + +30:36. And when thou hast beaten all into very small powder, thou shalt +set of it before the tabernacle of the testimony, in the place where I +will appear to thee. Most holy shall this incense be unto you. + +30:37. You shall not make such a composition for your own uses, because +it is holy to the Lord. + +30:38. What man soever shall make the like, to enjoy the smell thereof, +he shall perish out of his people. + + + +Exodus Chapter 31 + + +Beseleel and Ooliab are appointed by the Lord to make the tabernacle, +and the things belonging thereto. The observation of the sabbath day is +again commanded. And the Lord delivereth to Moses two tables written +with the finger of God. + +31:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +31:2. Behold, I have called by name Beseleel the son of Uri, the son of +Hur, of the tribe of Juda, + +31:3. And I have filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom and +understanding, and knowledge in all manner of work, + +31:4. To devise whatsoever may be artificially made of gold, and +silver, and brass, + +31:5. Of marble, and precious stones, and variety of wood. + +31:6. And I have given him for his companion Ooliab, the son of +Achisamech, of the tribe of Dan. And I have put wisdom in the heart of +every skilful man, that they may make all things which I have commanded +thee, + +31:7. The tabernacle of the covenant, and the ark of the testimony, and +the propitiatory, that is over it, and all the vessels of the +tabernacle, + +31:8. And the table and the vessels thereof, the most pure candlestick +with the vessels thereof, and the altars of incense, + +31:9. And of holocaust, and all their vessels, the laver with its foot, + +31:10. The holy vestments in the ministry for Aaron the priest, and for +his sons, that they may execute their office, about the sacred things: + +31:11. The oil of unction, and the incense of spices in the sanctuary, +all things which I have commanded thee, shall they make. + +31:12. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +31:13. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: See +that you keep my sabbath; because it is a sign between me and you in +your generations that you may know that I am the Lord, who sanctify +you. + +31:14. keep you my sabbath: for it is holy unto you: he that shall +profane it, shall be put to death: he that shall do any work in it, his +soul shall perish out of the midst of his people. + +31:15. Six days shall you do work: in the seventh day is the sabbath, +the rest holy to the Lord. Every one that shall do any work on this +day, shall die. + +31:16. Let the children of Israel keep the sabbath, and celebrate it in +their generations. It is an everlasting covenant + +31:17. Between me and the children of Israel, and a perpetual sign. For +in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and in the seventh he +ceased from work. + +31:18. And the Lord, when he had ended these words in Mount Sinai, gave +to Moses two stone tables of testimony, written with the finger of God. + + + +Exodus Chapter 32 + + +The people fall into idolatry. Moses prayeth for them. He breaketh the +tables: destroyeth the idol: blameth Aaron, and causeth many of the +idolaters to be slain. + +32:1. And the people seeing that Moses delayed to come down from the +mount, gathering together against Aaron, said: Arise, make us gods, +that may go before us: For as to this Moses, the man that brought us +out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has befallen him. + +32:2. And Aaron said to them: Take the golden earrings from the ears of +your wives, and your sons and daughters, and bring them to me. + +32:3. And the people did what he had commanded, bringing the earrings +to Aaron. + +32:4. And when he had received them, he fashioned them by founders' +work, and made of them a molten calf. And they said: These are thy +gods, O Israel, that have brought thee out of the land of Egypt. + +32:5. And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it, and made +proclamation by a crier's voice, saying To morrow is the solemnity of +the Lord. + +32:6. And rising in the morning, they offered holocausts, and peace +victims, and the people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to +play. + +32:7. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Go, get thee down: thy +people, which thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt, hath sinned. + +32:8. They have quickly strayed from the way which thou didst shew +them: and they have made to themselves a molten calf, and have adored +it, and sacrificing victims to it, have said: These are thy gods, O +Israel, that have brought thee out of the land of Egypt. + +32:9. And again the Lord said to Moses: I see that this people is +stiffnecked: + +32:10. Let me alone, that my wrath may be kindled against them, and +that I may destroy them, and I will make of thee a great nation. + +32:11. But Moses besought the Lord his God, saying: Why, O Lord, is thy +indignation enkindled against thy people, whom thou hast brought out of +the land of Egypt, with great power, and with a mighty hand? + +32:12. Let not the Egyptians say, I beseech thee: He craftily brought +them out, that he might kill them in the mountains, and destroy them +from the earth: let thy anger cease, and be appeased upon the +wickedness of thy people. + +32:13. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou +sworest by thy own self, saying: I will multiply your seed as the stars +of heaven: and this whole land that I have spoken of, I will give to +your seed, and you shall possess it for ever: + +32:14. And the Lord was appeased from doing the evil which he had +spoken against his people. + +32:15. And Moses returned from the mount, carrying the two tables of +the testimony in his hand, written on both sides, + +32:16. And made by the work of God; the writing also of God was graven +in the tables. + +32:17. And Josue hearing the noise of the people shouting, said to +Moses: The noise of battle is heard in the camp. + +32:18. But he answered: It is not the cry of men encouraging to fight, +nor the shout of men compelling to flee: but I hear the voice of +singers. + +32:19. And when he came nigh to the camp, he saw the calf, and the +dances: and being very angry, he threw the tables out of his hand, and +broke them at the foot of the mount: + +32:20. And laying hold of the calf which they had made, he burnt it, +and beat it to powder, which he strewed into water, and gave thereof to +the children of Israel to drink. + +32:21. And he said to Aaron: What has this people done to thee, that +thou shouldst bring upon them a most heinous sin? + +32:22. And he answered him: Let not my lord be offended; for thou +knowest this people, that they are prone to evil. + +32:23. They said to me: make us gods, that may go before us; for as to +this Moses, who brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not +what is befallen him. + +32:24. And I said to them: Which of you hath any gold? and they took +and brought it to me; and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came +out. + +32:25. And when Moses saw that the people were naked, (for Aaron had +stripped them by occasion of the shame of the filth, and had set them +naked among their enemies) + +Naked. . .Having lost not only their gold, and their honour, but what +was worst of all, being stripped also of the grace of God, and having +lost him.--The shame of the filth. . .That is, of the idol, which they +had taken for their god. It is the usual phrase of the scripture to +call idols filth and abominations. + +32:26. Then standing in the gate of the camp, he said: If any man be on +the Lord's side, let him join with me. And all the sons of Levi +gathered themselves together unto him: + +32:27. And he said to them: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Put +every man his sword upon his thigh: go, and return from gate to gate +through the midst of the camp, and let every man kill his brother, and +friend, and neighbour. + +32:28. And the sons of Levi did according to the words of Moses, and +there were slain that day about three and twenty thousand men. + +32:29. And Moses said: You have consecrated your hands this day to the +Lord, every man in his son and in his brother, that a blessing may be +given to you. + +32:30. And when the next day was come, Moses spoke to the people: You +have sinned a very great sin: I will go up to the Lord, if by any means +I may be able to entreat him for your crime. + +32:31. And returning to the Lord, he said: I beseech thee: this people +hath sinned a heinous sin, and they have made to themselves gods of +gold: either forgive them this trespass, + +32:32. Or if thou do not, strike me out of the book that thou hast +written. + +32:33. And the Lord answered him: He that hath sinned against me, him +will I strike out of my book: + +32:34. But go thou, and lead this people whither I have told thee: my +angel shall go before thee. And I in the day of revenge will visit this +sin also of theirs. + +32:35. The Lord therefore struck the people for the guilt, on occasion +of the calf which Aaron had made. + + + +Exodus Chapter 33 + + +The people mourn for their sin. Moses pitcheth the tabernacle without +the camp. He converseth familiarly with God. Desireth to see his glory. + +33:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Go, get thee up from this +place, thou and thy people which thou hast brought out of the land of +Egypt, into the land concerning which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and +Jacob, saying: To thy seed I will give it: + +33:2. And I will send an angel before thee, that I may cast out the +Chanaanite, and the Amorrhite, and the Hethite, and the Pherezite, and +the Hevite, and the Jebusite, + +33:3. That thou mayst enter into the land that floweth with milk and +honey. For I will not go up with thee, because thou art a stiffnecked +people; lest I destroy thee in the way. + +33:4. And the people hearing these very bad tidings, mourned: and no +man put on his ornaments according to custom. + +33:5. And the Lord said to Moses: Say to the children of Israel: Thou +art a stiffnecked people, once I shall come up in the midst of thee, +and shall destroy thee. Now presently lay aside thy ornaments, that I +may know what to do to thee. + +33:6. So the children of Israel laid aside their ornaments by Mount +Horeb. + +33:7. Moses also taking the tabernacle, pitched it without the camp +afar off, and called the name thereof, The tabernacle of the covenant. +And all the people, that had any question, went forth to the tabernacle +of the covenant, without the camp. + +33:8. And when Moses went forth to the tabernacle, all the people rose +up, and every one stood in the door of his pavilion, and they beheld +the back of Moses, till he went into the tabernacle. + +33:9. And when he was gone into the tabernacle of the covenant, the +pillar of the cloud came down, and stood at the door, and he spoke with +Moses. + +33:10. And all saw that the pillar of the cloud stood at the door of +the tabernacle. And they stood and worshipped at the doors of their +tent. + +33:11. And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man is wont to +speak to his friend. And when he returned into the camp, his servant +Josue, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not from the tabernacle. + +Face to face. . .That is, in a most familiar manner. Though as we learn +from this very chapter, Moses could not see the face of the Lord. + +33:12. And Moses said to the Lord: Thou commandest me to lead forth +this people; and thou dost not let me know whom thou wilt send with me, +especially whereas thou hast said: I know thee by name, and thou hast +found favour in my sight. + +I know thee by name. . .In the language of the scriptures, God is said +to know such as he approves and loves: and to know by name, those whom +he favours in a most singular manner, as he did his servant Moses. + +33:13. If therefore I have found favour in thy sight, shew me thy face, +that I may know thee, and may find grace before thy eyes: look upon thy +people this nation. + +33:14. And the Lord said: My face shall go before thee, and I will give +thee rest. + +33:15. And Moses said: If thou thyself dost not go before, bring us not +out of this place. + +33:16. For how shall we be able to know, I and thy people, that we have +found grace in thy sight, unless thou walk with us, that we may be +glorified by all people that dwell upon the earth? + +33:17. And the Lord said to Moses: This word also, which thou hast +spoken, will I do; for thou hast found grace before me, and thee I have +known by name. + +33:18. And he said: Shew me thy glory. + +33:19. He answered: I will shew thee all good, and I will proclaim in +the name of the Lord before thee: and I will have mercy on whom I will, +and I will be merciful to whom it shall please me. + +33:20. And again he said: Thou canst not see my face: for man shall not +see me, and live. + +33:21. And again he said: Behold there is a place with me, and thou +shalt stand upon the rock. + +33:22. And when my glory shall pass, I will set thee in a hole of the +rock, and protect thee with my righthand till I pass: + +33:23. And I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: +but my face thou canst not see. + +See my back parts. . .The Lord by his angel, usually spoke to Moses in +the pillar of the cloud; so that he could not see the glory of him that +spoke familiarly with him. In the vision here mentioned he was allowed +to see something of him, in an assumed corporeal form: not in the face, +the rays of which were too bright for mortal eye to bear, but to view +him as it were behind, when his face was turned from him. + + + +Exodus Chapter 34 + + +The tables are renewed: all society with the Chanaanites is forbid: +some precepts concerning the firstborn, the sabbath, and other feasts: +after forty days' fast, Moses returneth to the people with the +commandments, and his face appearing horned with rays of light, he +covereth it, whensoever he speaketh to the people. + +34:1. And after this he said: Hew thee two tables of stone like unto +the former, and I will write upon them the words, which were in the +tables, which thou brokest. + +34:2. Be ready in the morning, that thou mayst forthwith go up into +Mount Sinai, and thou shalt stand with me upon the top of the mount. + +34:3. Let no man go up with thee, and let not any man be seen +throughout all the mount; neither let the oxen nor the sheep feed over +against it. + +34:4. Then he cut out two tables of stone, such as had been before; and +rising very early he went up into the Mount Sinai, as the Lord had +commanded him, carrying with him the tables. + +34:5. And when the Lord was come down in a cloud, Moses stood with him, +calling upon the name of the Lord. + +34:6. And when he passed before him, he said: O the Lord, the Lord God, +merciful and gracious, patient and of much compassion, and true, + +34:7. Who keepest mercy unto thousands: who takest away iniquity, and +wickedness, and sin, and no man of himself is innocent before thee. Who +renderest the iniquity of the fathers to the children, and to the +grandchildren unto the third and fourth generation. + +34:8. And Moses making haste, bowed down prostrate unto the earth, and +adoring, + +34:9. Said: If I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, I beseech thee +that thou wilt go with us, (for it is a stiffnecked people) and take +away our iniquities and sin, and possess us. + +34:10. The Lord answered: I will make a covenant in the sight of all, I +will do signs such as were never seen upon the earth, nor in any +nations; that this people, in the midst of whom thou art, may see the +terrible work of the Lord which I will do. + +34:11. Observe all things which this day I command thee: I myself will +drive out before thy face the Amorrhite, and the Chanaanite, and the +Hethite, and the Pherezite, and the Hevite, and the Jebusite. + +34:12. Beware thou never join in friendship with the inhabitants of +that land, which may be thy ruin: + +34:13. But destroy their altars, break their statues and cut down their +groves: + +34:14. Adore not any strange god. The Lord his name is jealous, he is a +jealous God. + +34:15. Make no covenant with the men of those countries; lest, when +they have committed fornication with their gods, and have adored their +idols, some one call thee to eat of the things sacrificed. + +34:16. Neither shalt thou take of their daughters a wife for thy son, +lest after they themselves have committed fornication, they make thy +sons also to commit fornication with their gods. + +34:17. Thou shalt not make to thyself any molten gods. + +34:18: Thou shalt keep the feast of the unleavened bread. Seven days +shalt thou eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee in the time of the +month of the new corn: for in the month of the spring time thou camest +out from Egypt. + +34:19. All of the male kind that openeth the womb, shall be mine. Of +all beasts; both of oxen and of sheep, it shall be mine. + +34:20. The firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a sheep: but if +thou wilt not give a price for it, it shall be slain. The firstborn of +thy sons thou shalt redeem: neither shalt thou appear before me empty. + +34:21. Six days shalt thou work, the seventh day thou shalt cease to +plough and to reap. + +34:22. Thou shalt keep the feast of weeks with the firstfruits of the +corn of thy wheat harvest, and the feast when the time of the year +returneth that all things are laid in. + +34:23. Three times in the year all thy males shall appear in the sight +of the almighty Lord the God of Israel. + +34:24. For when I shall have taken away the nations from thy face, and +shall have enlarged thy borders, no man shall lie in wait against thy +land when thou shalt go up, and appear in the sight of the Lord thy God +thrice in a year. + +34:25. Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice upon leaven; +neither shall there remain in the morning any thing of the victim of +the solemnity of the Phase. + +34:26. The first of the fruits of thy ground thou shalt offer in the +house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in the milk of his +dam. + +34:27. And the Lord said to Moses: Write thee these words, by which I +have made a covenant both with thee and with Israel. + +34:28. And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights: he +neither ate bread nor drank water, and he wrote upon the tables the ten +words of the covenant. + +34:29. And when Moses came down from the Mount Sinai, he held the two +tables of the testimony, and he knew not that his face was horned from +the conversation of the Lord. + +Horned. . .That is, shining, and sending forth rays of light like horns. + +34:30. And Aaron and the children of Israel seeing the face of Moses +horned, were afraid to come near. + +34:31. And being called by him, they returned, both Aaron and the +rulers of the congregation. And after that he spoke to them, + +34:32. And all the children of Israel came to him: and he gave them in +commandment all that he had heard of the Lord on Mount Sinai. + +34:33. And having done speaking, he put a veil upon his face. + +34:34. But when he went in to the Lord, and spoke with him, he took it +away until he came forth, and then he spoke to the children of Israel +all things that had been commanded him. + +34:35. And they saw that the face of Moses when he came out was horned, +but he covered his face again, if at any time he spoke to them. + + + +Exodus Chapter 35 + + +The sabbath. Offerings for making the tabernacle. Beseleel and Ooliab +are called to the work. + +35:1. And all the multitude of the children of Israel being gathered +together, he said to them: These are the things which the Lord hath +commanded to be done: + +35:2. Six days you shall do work; the seventh day shall be holy unto +you, the sabbath and the rest of the Lord: he that shall do any work on +it, shall be put to death. + +35:3. You shall kindle no fire in any of your habitations on the +sabbath day. + +35:4. And Moses said to all the assembly of the children of Israel: +This is the word the Lord hath commanded, saying: + +35:5. Set aside with you firstfruits to the Lord. Let every one that is +willing and hath a ready heart, offer them to the Lord: gold, and +silver, and brass, + +35:6. Violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine linen, goats' +hair, + +35:7. And rams' skins dyed red, and violet coloured skins, setim wood, + +35:8. And oil to maintain lights, and to make ointment, and most sweet +incense, + +35:9. Onyx stones, and precious stones, for the adorning of the ephod +and the rational. + +35:10. Whosoever of you is wise, let him come, and make that which the +Lord hath commanded: + +35:11. To wit, the tabernacle, and the roof thereof, and the cover, the +rings, and the board-work with the bars, the pillars and the sockets: + +35:12. The ark and the staves, the propitiatory, and the veil that is +drawn before it: + +35:13. The table with the bars and the vessels, and the loaves of +proposition: + +35:14. The candlestick to bear up the lights, the vessels thereof and +the lamps, and the oil for the nourishing of fires: + +35:15. The altar of incense, and the bars, and the oil of unction, and +the incense of spices: the hanging at the door of the tabernacle: + +35:16. The altar of holocaust, and its grate of brass, with the bars +and vessels thereof: the laver and its foot: + +35:17. The curtains of the court, with the pillars and the sockets, the +hanging in the doors of the entry. + +35:18. The pins of the tabernacle, and of the court, with their little +cords: + +35:19. The vestments that are to be used in the ministry of the +sanctuary, the vesture of Aaron the high priest, and of his sons, to do +the office of priesthood to me. + +35:20. And all the multitude of the children of Israel going out from +the presence of Moses, + +35:21. Offered firstfruits to the Lord with a most ready and devout +mind, to make the work of the tabernacle of the testimony. Whatever was +necessary to the service and to the holy vestments, + +35:22. Both men and women gave bracelets and earrings, rings and +tablets: every vessel of gold was set aside to be offered to the Lord. + +35:23. If any man had violet, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, fine +linen and goats' hair, ramskins dyed red, and violet coloured skins, + +35:24. Metal of silver and brass, they offered it to the Lord, and +setim wood for divers uses. + +35:25. The skilful women also gave such things as they had spun, +violet, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, + +35:26. And goats' hair, giving all of their own accord. + +35:27. But the princes offered onyx stones, and precious stones, for +the ephod and the rational, + +35:28. And spices and oil for the lights, and for the preparing of +ointment, and to make the incense of most sweet savour. + +35:29. All, both men and women, with devout mind offered gifts, that +the works might be done which the Lord had commanded by the hand of +Moses. All the children of Israel dedicated voluntary offerings to the +Lord. + +35:30. And Moses said to the children of Israel: Behold, the Lord hath +called by name Beseleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe +of Juda, + +35:31. And hath filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom and +understanding, and knowledge, and all learning, + +35:32. To devise and to work in gold and silver and brass, + +35:33. And in engraving stones, and in carpenters' work. Whatsoever can +be devised artificially, + +35:34. He hath given in his heart: Ooliab also, the son of Achisamech, +of the tribe of Dan: + +35:35. Both of them hath he instructed with wisdom, to do carpenters' +work, and tapestry, and embroidery in blue and purple, and scarlet +twice dyed, and fine linen, and to weave all things, and to invent all +new things. + + + +Exodus Chapter 36 + + +The offerings are delivered to the workmen, the curtains, coverings, +boards, bars, veil, pillars, and hanging are made. + +36:1. Beseleel therefore, and Ooliab, and every wise man, to whom the +Lord gave wisdom and understanding, to know how to work artificially, +made the things that are necessary for the uses of the sanctuary, and +which the Lord commanded. + +36:2. And when Moses had called them, and every skilful man, to whom +the Lord had given wisdom, and such as of their own accord had offered +themselves to the making of the work, + +36:3. He delivered all the offerings of the children of Israel unto +them. And while they were earnest about the work, the people daily in +the morning offered their vows. + +36:4. Whereupon the workmen being constrained to come, + +36:5. Said to Moses: The people offereth more than is necessary. + +36:6. Moses therefore commanded proclamation to be made by the crier's +voice: Let neither man nor woman offer any more for the work of the +sanctuary. And so they ceased from offering gifts, + +36:7. Because the things that were offered did suffice, and were too +much. + +36:8. And all the men that were wise of heart, to accomplish the work +of the tabernacle, made ten curtains of twisted fine linen, and violet, +and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, with varied work, and the art of +embroidering: + +36:9. The length of one curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the +breadth four: all the curtains were of the same size. + +36:10. And he joined five curtains, one to another, and the other five +he coupled one to another. + +36:11. He made also loops of violet in the edge of one curtain on both +sides, and in the edge of the other curtain in like manner, + +36:12. That the loops might meet one against another, and might be +joined each with the other. + +36:13. Whereupon also he cast fifty rings of gold, that might catch the +loops of the curtains, and they might be made one tabernacle. + +36:14. He made also eleven curtains of goats' hair, to cover the roof +of the tabernacle: + +36:15. One curtain was thirty cubits long, and four cubits broad: all +the curtains were of one measure. + +36:16. Five of which he joined apart, and the other six apart. + +36:17. And he made fifty loops in the edge of one curtain, and fifty in +the edge of another curtain, that they might be joined one to another. + +36:18. And fifty buckles of brass wherewith the roof might be knit +together, that of all the curtains there might be made one covering. + +36:19. He made also a cover for the tabernacle of rams' skins dyed red; +and another cover over that of violet skins. + +36:20. He made also the boards of the tabernacle of setim wood +standing. + +36:21. The length of one board was ten cubits; and the breadth was one +cubit and a half. + +36:22. There were two mortises throughout every board, that one might +be joined to the other. And in this manner he made for all the boards +of the tabernacle. + +36:23. Of which twenty were at the south side southward, + +36:24. With forty sockets of silver, two sockets were put under one +board on the two sides of the corners, where the mortises of the sides +end in the corners. + +36:25. At that side also of the tabernacle, that looketh towards the +north, he made twenty boards, + +36:26. With forty sockets of silver, two sockets for every board. + +36:27. But against the west, to wit, at that side of the tabernacle, +which looketh to the sea, he made six boards, + +36:28. And two others at each corner of the tabernacle behind: + +36:29. Which were also joined from beneath unto the top, and went +together into one joint. Thus he did on both sides at the corners: + +36:30. So there were in all eight boards, and they had sixteen sockets +of silver, to wit, two sockets under every board. + +36:31. He made also bars of setim wood, five to hold together the +boards of one side of the tabernacle, + +36:32. And five others to join together the boards of the other side; +and besides these, five other bars at the west side of the tabernacle +towards the sea. + +36:33. He made also another bar, that might come by the midst of the +boards from corner to corner. + +36:34. And the boards themselves he overlaid with gold casting for them +sockets of silver. And their rings he made of gold, through which the +bars might be drawn: and he covered the bars themselves with plates of +gold. + +36:35. He made also a veil of violet, and purple, scarlet and fine +twisted linen, varied and distinguished with embroidery: + +36:36. And four pillars of setim wood, which with their heads he +overlaid with gold, casting for them sockets of silver. + +36:37. He made also a hanging in the entry of the tabernacle of violet, +purple, scarlet, and fine twisted linen, with the work of an +embroiderer. + +36:38. And five pillars with their heads, which he covered with gold, +and their sockets he cast of brass. + + + +Exodus Chapter 37 + + +Beseleel maketh the ark: the propitiatory, and cherubims, the table, +the candlestick, the lamps, and the altar of incense, and compoundeth +the incense. + +37:1. And Beseleel made also, the ark of setim wood: it was two cubits +and a half in length, and a cubit and a half in breadth, and the height +was of one cubit and a half: and he overlaid it with the purest gold +within and without. + +37:2. And he made to it a crown of gold round about, + +37:3. Casting four rings of gold at the four corners thereof: two rings +in one side, and two in the other. + +37:4. And he made bars of setim wood, which he overlaid with gold, + +37:5. And he put them into the rings that were at the sides of the ark +to carry it. + +37:6. He made also the propitiatory, that is, the oracle, of the purest +gold, two cubits and a half in length, and a cubit and a half in +breadth. + +37:7. Two cherubims also of beaten gold, which he set on the two sides +of the propitiatory: + +37:8. One cherub in the top of one side, and the other cherub in the +top of the other side: two cherubims at the two ends of the +propitiatory, + +37:9. Spreading their wings, and covering the propitiatory, and looking +one towards the other, and towards it. + +37:10. He made also the table of setim wood, in length two cubits, and +in breadth one cubit, and in height it was a cubit and a half. + +37:11. And he overlaid it with the finest gold, and he made to it a +golden ledge round about, + +37:12. And to the ledge itself he made a polished crown of gold, of +four fingers breadth, and upon the same another golden crown. + +37:13. And he cast four rings of gold, which he put in the four corners +at each foot of the table, + +37:14. Over against the crown: and he put the bars into them, that the +table might be carried. + +37:15. The bars also themselves he made of setim wood, and overlaid +them with gold. + +37:16. And the vessels for the divers uses of the table, dishes, bowls, +and cups, and censers of pure gold, wherein the libations are to be +offered. + +37:17. He made also the candlestick of beaten work of the finest gold. +from the shaft whereof its branches, its cups, and bowls, and lilies +came out: + +37:18: Six on the two sides: three branches on one side, and three on +the other. + +37:19. Three cups in manner of a nut on each branch, and bowls withal +and lilies: and three cups of the fashion of a nut in another branch, +and bowls withal and lilies. The work of the six branches, that went +out from the shaft of the candlestick was equal. + +37:20. And in the shaft itself were four cups after the manner of a +nut, and bowls withal at every one, and lilies: + +37:21. And bowls under two branches in three places, which together +made six branches going out from one shaft. + +37:22. So both the bowls, and the branches were of the same, all beaten +work of the purest gold. + +37:23. He made also the seven lamps with their snuffers, and the +vessels where the snuffings were to be put out, of the purest gold. + +37:24. The candlestick with all the vessels thereof weighed a talent of +gold. + +37:25. He made also the alter of incense of setim wood, being a cubit +on every side foursquare, and in height two cubits: from the corners of +which went out horns. + +37:26. And he overlaid it with the purest gold, with its grate, and the +sides, and the horns. + +37:27. And he made to it a crown of gold round about, and two golden +rings under the crown at each side, that the bars might be put into +them, and the altar be carried. + +37:28. And the bars themselves he made also of setim wood, and overlaid +them with plates of gold. + +37:29. He compounded also the oil for the ointment of sanctification, +and incense of the purest spices, according to the work of a perfumer. + + + +Exodus Chapter 38 + + +He maketh the altar of holocaust. The brazen laver. The court with its +pillars and hangings. The sum of what the people offered. + +38:1. He made also the altar of holocaust of setim wood, five cubits +square, and three in height: + +38:2. The horns whereof went out from the corners, and he overlaid it +with plates of brass. + +38:3. And for the uses thereof, he prepared divers vessels of brass, +cauldrons, tongs, fleshhooks, pothooks and firepans. + +38:4. And he made the grate thereof of brass, in manner of a net, and +under it in the midst of the altar a hearth, + +38:5. Casting four rings at the four ends of the net at the top, to put +in bars to carry it: + +38:6. And he made the bars of setim wood, and overlaid them with plates +of brass: + +38:7. And he drew them through the rings that stood out in the sides of +the altar. And the altar itself was not solid, but hollow, of boards, +and empty within. + +38:8. He made also the laver of brass, with the foot thereof, of the +mirrors of the women that watched at the door of the tabernacle. + +38:9. He made also the court, in the south side whereof were hangings +of fine twisted linen of a hundred cubits. + +38:10. Twenty pillars of brass with their sockets, the beads of the +pillars, and the whole graving of the work, of silver. + +38:11. In like manner at the north side the hangings, the pillars, and +the sockets and heads of the pillars were of the same measure, and work +and metal. + +38:12. But on that side that looketh to the west, there were hangings +of fifty cubits, ten pillars of brass with their sockets, and the heads +of the pillars, and all the graving of the work, of silver. + +38:13. Moreover, towards the east he prepared hangings of fifty cubits: + +38:14. Fifteen cubits of which, were on one side with three pillars, +and their sockets: + +38:15. And on the other side (for between the two he made the entry of +the tabernacle) there were hangings equally of fifteen cubits, and +three pillars, and as many sockets. + +38:16. All the hangings of the court were woven with twisted linen. + +38:17. The sockets of the pillars were of brass, and their heads with +all their gravings of silver: and he overlaid the pillars of the court +also with silver. + +38:18. And he made in the entry thereof an embroidered hanging of +violet, purple, scarlet, and fine twisted linen, that was twenty cubits +long, and five cubits high, according to the measure of all the +hangings of the court. + +38:19. And the pillars in the entry were four, with sockets of brass, +and their heads and gravings of silver. + +38:20. The pins also of the tabernacle and of the court round about he +made of brass. + +38:21. These are the instruments of the tabernacle of the testimony, +which were counted according to the commandment of Moses, in the +ceremonies of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron the +priest: + +38:22. Which Beseleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur of the tribe of +Juda, had made, as the Lord commanded by Moses. + +38:23. Having for his companion Ooliab, the son of Achisamech, of the +tribe of Dan: who also was an excellent artificer in wood, and worker +in tapestry and embroidery in violet, purple, scarlet, and fine linen. + +38:24. All the gold that was spent in the work of the sanctuary, and +that was offered in gifts, was nine and twenty talents, and seven +hundred and thirty sicles according to the standard of the sanctuary. + +38:25. And it was offered by them that went to be numbered, from twenty +years old and upwards, of six hundred and three thousand five hundred +and fifty men able to bear arms. + +38:26. There were moreover a hundred talents of silver, whereof were +cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and of the entry where the veil +hangeth. + +38:27. A hundred sockets were made of a hundred talents, one talent +being reckoned for every socket. + +38:28. And of the thousand seven hundred and seventy-five he made the +heads of the pillars, which also he overlaid with silver. + +38:29. And there were offered of brass also seventy-two thousand +talents, and four hundred sicles besides, + +38:30. Of which were cast the sockets in the entry of the tabernacle of +the testimony, and the altar of brass with the grate thereof, and also +the vessels that belong to the use thereof. + +38:31. And the sockets of the court as well round about as in the entry +thereof, and the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about. + + + +Exodus Chapter 39 + + +All the ornaments of Aaron and his sons are made. And the whole work of +the tabernacle is finished. + +39:1. And he made, of violet and purple, scarlet and fine linen, the +vestments for Aaron to wear when he ministered in the holy places, as +the Lord commanded Moses. + +39:2. So he made an ephod of gold, violet, and purple, and scarlet +twice dyed, and fine twisted linen, + +39:3. With embroidered work, and he cut thin plates of gold, and drew +them small into threads, that they might be twisted with the woof of +the foresaid colours, + +39:4. And two borders coupled one to the other in the top on either +side, + +39:5. And a girdle of the same colours, as the Lord had commanded +Moses. + +39:6. He prepared also two onyx stones, fast set and closed in gold, +and graven, by the art of a lapidary, with the names of the children of +Israel: + +39:7. And he set them in the sides of the ephod, for a memorial of the +children of Israel, as the Lord had commanded Moses. + +39:8. He made also a rational with embroidered work, according to the +work of the ephod, of gold, violet, purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and +fine twisted linen: + +39:9. Foursquare, double, of the measure of a span. + +39:10. And he set four rows of precious stones in it. In the first row +was a sardius, a topaz, an emerald. + +39:11. In the second, a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper. + +39:12. In the third, a ligurius, an agate, and an amethyst. + +39:13. In the fourth, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a beryl, set and +enclosed in gold by their rows. + +39:14. And the twelve stones, were engraved with the names of the +twelve tribes of Israel, each one with its several name. + +39:15. They made also in the rational little chains, linked one to +another, of the purest gold, + +39:16. And two hooks, and as many rings of gold. And they set the rings +on either side of the rational, + +39:17. On which rings the two golden chains should hang, which they put +into the hooks that stood out in the corners of the ephod. + +39:18. These both before and behind so answered one another, that the +ephod and the rational were bound together, + +39:19. Being fastened to the girdle, and strongly coupled with rings, +which a violet fillet joined, lest they should flag loose, and be moved +one from the other, as the Lord commanded Moses. + +39:20. They made also the tunic of the ephod all of violet, + +39:21. And a hole for the head in the upper part at the middle, and a +woven border round about the hole: + +39:22. And beneath at the feet pomegranates of violet, purple, scarlet, +and fine twisted linen: + +39:23. And little bells of the purest gold, which they put between the +pomegranates at the bottom of the tunic round about: + +39:24. To wit, a bell of gold, and a pomegranate, wherewith the high +priest went adorned, when he discharged his ministry, as the Lord had +commanded Moses. + +39:25. They made also fine linen tunics with woven work for Aaron and +his sons: + +39:26. And mitres with their little crowns of fine linen: + +39:27. And linen breeches of fine linen: + +39:28. And a girdle of fine twisted linen, violet, purple, and scarlet +twice dyed, of embroidery work, as the Lord had commanded Moses. + +39:29. They made also the plate of sacred veneration of the purest +gold, and they wrote on it with the engraving of a lapidary: The Holy +of the Lord: + +39:30. And they fastened it to the mitre with a violet fillet, as the +Lord had commanded Moses. + +39:31. So all the work of the tabernacle and of the roof of the +testimony was finished: and the children of Israel did all things which +the Lord had commanded Moses. + +39:32. And they offered the tabernacle, and the roof, and the whole +furniture, the rings, the boards, the bars, the pillars and their +sockets, + +39:33. The cover of rams' skins dyed red, and the other cover of violet +skins, + +39:34. The veil, the ark, the bars, the propitiatory, + +39:35. The table, with the vessels thereof, and the loaves of +proposition: + +39:36. The candlestick, the lamps, and the furniture of them, with the +oil: + +39:37. The altar of gold, and the ointment, and the incense of spices: + +39:38. And the hanging in the entry of the tabernacle: + +39:39. The altar of brass, the grate, the bars, and all the vessels +thereof: the laver, with the foot thereof: the hangings of the court, +and the pillars, with their sockets: + +39:40. The hanging in the entry of the court, and the little cords, and +the pins thereof. Nothing was wanting of the vessels, that were +commanded to be made for the ministry of the tabernacle, and for the +roof of the covenant. + +39:41. The vestments also, which the priests, to wit, Aaron and his +sons, use in the sanctuary, + +39:42. The children of Israel offered, as the Lord had commanded. + +39:43. And when Moses saw all things finished, he blessed them. + + + +Exodus Chapter 40 + + +The tabernacle is commanded to be set up and anointed. God filleth it +with his majesty. + +40:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +40:2. The first month, the first day of the month, thou shalt set up +the tabernacle of the testimony, + +40:3. And shalt put the ark in it, and shalt let down the veil before +it: + +40:4. And thou shalt bring in the table, and set upon it the things +that are commanded according to the rite. The candlestick shall stand +with its lamps, + +40:5. And the altar of gold, whereon the incense is burnt before the +ark of the testimony. Thou shalt put the hanging in the entry of the +tabernacle, + +40:6. And before it the altar of holocaust. + +40:7. The laver between the altar and the tabernacle, and thou shalt +fill it with water. + +40:8. And thou shalt encompass the court with hangings, and the entry +thereof. + +40:9. And thou shalt take the oil of unction and anoint the tabernacle +with its vessels, that they may be sanctified: + +40:10. The altar of holocaust and all its vessels: + +40:11. The laver with its foot: thou shalt consecrate all with the oil +of unction, that they may be most holy. + +40:12. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the +tabernacle of the testimony, and having washed them with water, + +40:13. Thou shalt put on them the holy vestments, that they may +minister to me, and that the unction of them may prosper to an +everlasting priesthood. + +40:14. And Moses did all that the Lord had commanded. + +40:15. So in the first month of the second year, the first day of the +month, the tabernacle was set up. + +40:16. And Moses reared it up, and placed the boards and the sockets +and the bars, and set up the pillars, + +40:17. And spread the roof over the tabernacle, putting over it a +cover, as the Lord had commanded. + +40:18. And he put the testimony in the ark, thrusting bars underneath, +and the oracle above. + +40:19. And when he had brought the ark into the tabernacle, he drew the +veil before it to fulfil the commandment of the Lord. + +40:20. And he set the table in the tabernacle of the testimony, at the +north side, without the veil, + +40:21. Setting there in order the loaves of proposition, as the Lord +had commanded Moses. + +40:22. He set the candlestick also in the tabernacle of the testimony, +over against the table on the south side, + +40:23. Placing the lamps in order, according to the precept of the +Lord. + +40:24. He set also the altar of gold under the roof of the testimony, +over against the veil, + +40:25. And burnt upon it the incense of spices, as the Lord had +commanded Moses. + +40:26. And he put also the hanging in the entry of the tabernacle of +the testimony, + +40:27. And the altar of holocaust in the entry of the testimony, +offering the holocaust, and the sacrifices upon it, as the Lord had +commanded. + +40:28. And he set the laver between the tabernacle of the testimony and +the altar, filling it with water. + +40:29. And Moses and Aaron, and his sons, washed their hands and feet, + +40:30. When they went into the tabernacle of the covenant, and went to +the altar, as the Lord had commanded Moses. + +40:31. He set up also the court round about the tabernacle and the +altar, drawing the hanging in the entry thereof. After all things were +perfected, + +40:32. The cloud covered the tabernacle of the testimony, and the glory +of the Lord filled it. + +40:33. Neither could Moses go into the tabernacle of the covenant, the +cloud covering all things, and the majesty of the Lord shining, for the +cloud had covered all. + +40:34. If at any time the cloud removed from the tabernacle, the +children of Israel went forward by their troops: + +40:35. If it hung over, they remained in the same place. + +40:36. For the cloud of the Lord hung over the tabernacle by day, and a +fire by night, in the sight of all the children of Israel throughout +all their mansions. + + + + +THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS + + + +This Book is called LEVITICUS, because it treats of the Offices, +Ministries, Rites and Ceremonies of the Priests and Levites. The +Hebrews call it VAICRA, from the word with which it begins. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 1 + + +Of holocausts or burnt offerings. + +1:1. And the Lord called Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of +the testimony, saying: + +1:2. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The +man among you that shall offer to the Lord a sacrifice of the cattle, +that is, offering victims of oxen and sheep: + +1:3. If his offering be a holocaust, and of the herd, he shall offer a +male without blemish, at the door of the testimony, to make the Lord +favourable to him. + +A holocaust. . .That is, a whole burnt offering (olokauston), so called, +because the whole victim was consumed with fire; and given in such +manner to God as wholly to evaporate, as it were, for his honour and +glory; without having any part of it reserved for the use of man. The +other sacrifices in the Old Testament were either offerings for sin, or +peace offerings: and these latter again were either offered in +thanksgiving for blessings received; or by way of prayer for new +favours or graces. So that sacrifices were then offered to God for four +different ends or intentions, answerable to the different obligations +which man has to God: 1. By way of adoration, homage, praise, and glory +due to his divine majesty. 2. By way of thanksgiving for all benefits +received from him. 3. By way of confessing and craving pardon for sins. +4. By way of prayer and petition for grace and relief in all +necessities. In the New Law we have but one sacrifice, viz., that of +the body and blood of Christ: but this one sacrifice of the New +Testament perfectly answers all these four ends; and both priest and +people, as often as it is celebrated, ought to join in offering it up +for these four ends. + +1:4. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the victim: and it +shall be acceptable, and help to its expiation. + +1:5. And he shall immolate the calf before the Lord: and the priests +the sons of Aaron shall offer the blood thereof, pouring it round about +the altar, which is before the door of the tabernacle. + +1:6. And when they have flayed the victim, they shall cut the joints +into pieces: + +1:7. And shall put fire on the altar, having before laid in order a +pile of wood. + +1:8. And they shall lay the parts that are cut out in order thereupon: +to wit, the head, and all things that cleave to the liver; + +1:9. The entrails and feet being washed with water. And the priest +shall burn them upon the altar for a holocaust, and a sweet savour to +the Lord. + +1:10. And if the offering be of the flocks, a holocaust of sheep or of +goats, he shall offer a male without blemish. + +1:11. And he shall immolate it at the side of the altar that looketh to +the north, before the Lord: but the sons of Aaron shall pour the blood +thereof upon the altar round about. + +1:12. And they shall divide the joints, the head, and all that cleave +to the liver: and shall lay them upon the wood, under which the fire is +to be put. + +1:13. But the entrails and the feet they shall wash with water. And the +priest shall offer it all and burn it all upon the altar for a +holocaust, and most sweet savour to the Lord. + +1:14. But if the oblation of a holocaust to the Lord be of birds, of +turtles, or of young pigeons: + +1:15. The priest shall offer it at the altar: and twisting back the +neck, and breaking the place of the wound, he shall make the blood run +down upon the brim of the altar. + +1:16. But the crop of the throat, and the feathers he shall cast beside +the altar at the east side, in the place where the ashes are wont to be +poured out. + +1:17. And he shall break the pinions thereof, and shall not cut, nor +divide it with a knife: and shall burn it upon the altar, putting fire +under the wood. It is a holocaust and oblation of most sweet savour to +the Lord. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 2 + + +Of offerings of flour, and firstfruits. + +2:1. When any one shall offer an oblation of sacrifice to the Lord, his +offering shall be of fine flour: and he shall pour oil upon it, and put +frankincense, + +2:2. And shall bring it to the sons of Aaron the priests. And one of +them shall take a handful of the flour and oil, and all the +frankincense; and shall put it a memorial upon the altar for a most +sweet savour to the Lord. + +2:3. And the remnant of the sacrifice shall be Aaron's, and his sons', +holy of holies of the offerings of the Lord. + +Holy of holies. . .That is, most holy, as being dedicated to God, and +set aside by his ordinance for the use of his priests. + +2:4. But when thou offerest a sacrifice baked in the oven of flour, to +wit, loaves without leaven, tempered with oil, and unleavened wafers, +anointed with oil: + +2:5. If thy oblation be from the fryingpan, of flour tempered with oil, +and without leaven: + +2:6. Thou shalt divide it into little pieces, and +shalt pour oil upon it. + +2:7. And if the sacrifice be from the gridiron, in like manner the +flour shall be tempered with oil. + +2:8. And when thou offerest it to the Lord, thou shalt deliver it to +the hands of the priest. + +2:9. And when he hath offered it, he shall take a memorial out of the +sacrifice, and burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour to the Lord. + +2:10. And whatsoever is left, shall be Aaron's, and his sons': holy of +holies of the offerings of the Lord. + +2:11. Every oblation that is offered to the Lord shall be made without +leaven: neither shall any leaven or honey be burnt in the sacrifice to +the Lord. + +Without leaven or honey. . .No leaven nor honey was to be used in the +sacrifice offered to God; to signify that we are to exclude from the +pure worship of the gospel, all double dealing and affection to carnal +pleasures. + +2:12. You shall offer only the firstfruits of them and gifts: but they +shall not be put upon the altar, for a savour of sweetness. + +2:13. Whatsoever sacrifice thou offerest, thou shalt season it with +salt: neither shalt thou take away the salt of the covenant of thy God +from thy sacrifice. In all thy oblations thou shalt offer salt. + +Salt. . .In every sacrifice salt was to be used, which is an emblem of +wisdom and discretion, without which none of our performances are +agreeable to God. + +2:14. But if thou offer a gift of the firstfruits of thy corn to the +Lord, of the ears yet green, thou shalt dry it at the fire, and break +it small like meal; and so shalt thou offer thy firstfruits to the +Lord: + +2:15. Pouring oil upon it and putting on frankincense, because it is +the oblation of the Lord. + +2:16. Whereof the priest shall burn for a memorial of the gift, part of +the corn broken small and of the oil, and all the frankincense. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 3 + + +Of peace offerings. + +3:1. And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offerings, and he will +offer of the herd, whether male or female: he shall offer them without +blemish before the Lord. + +Peace offerings. . .Peace, in the scripture language, signifies +happiness, welfare or prosperity; in a word, all kind of +blessings.--Such sacrifices, therefore, as were offered either on +occasion of blessings received, or to obtain new favours, were called +pacific or peace offerings. In these, some part of the victim was +consumed with fire on the altar of God; other parts were eaten by the +priests and by the persons for whom the sacrifice was offered. + +3:2. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his victim, which shall +be slain in the entry of the tabernacle of the testimony: and the sons +of Aaron the priests shall pour the blood round about upon the altar. + +3:3. And they shall offer of the sacrifice of peace offerings, for an +oblation to the Lord: the fat that covereth the entrails, and all the +fat that is within, + +3:4. The two kidneys with the fat wherewith the flanks are covered, and +the caul of the liver with the two little kidneys. + +3:5. And they shall burn them upon the altar, for a holocaust, putting +fire under the wood: for an oblation of most sweet savour to the Lord. + +3:6. But if his oblation and the sacrifice of peace offering be of the +flock, whether he offer male or female, they shall be without blemish. + +3:7. If he offer a lamb before the Lord: + +3:8. He shall put his hand upon the head of the victim. And it shall be +slain in the entry of the tabernacle of the testimony: and the sons of +Aaron shall pour the blood thereof round about upon the altar. + +3:9. And they shall offer of the victim of peace offerings, a sacrifice +to the Lord: the fat and the whole rump, + +3:10. With the kidneys, and the fat that covereth the belly and all the +vitals and both the little kidneys, with the fat that is about the +flanks, and the caul of the liver with the little kidneys. + +3:11. And the priest shall burn them upon the altar, for the food of +the fire, and of the oblation of the Lord. + +3:12. If his offering be a goat, and he offer it to the Lord: + +3:13. He shall put his hand upon the head thereof: and shall immolate +it in the entry of the tabernacle of the testimony. And the sons of +Aaron shall pour the blood thereof round about upon the altar. + +3:14. And they shall take of it for the food of the Lord's fire, the +fat that covereth the belly, and that covereth all the vital parts: + +3:15. The two little kidneys with the caul that is upon them which is +by the flanks, and the fat of the liver with the little kidneys. + +3:16. And the priest shall burn them upon the altar, for the food of +the fire, and of a most sweet savour. All the fat shall be the Lord's. + +3:17. By a perpetual law for your generations, and in all your +habitations: neither blood nor fat shall you eat at all. + +Fat. . .It is meant of the fat, which by the prescription of the law was +to be offered on God's altar; not of the fat of meat, such as we +commonly eat. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 4 + + +Of offerings for sins of ignorance. + +4:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +4:2. Say to the children of Israel: The soul that sinneth through +ignorance, and doth any thing concerning any of the commandments of the +Lord, which he commanded not to be done: + +Ignorance. . .To be ignorant of what we are bound to know is sinful; and +for such culpable ignorance, these sacrifices, prescribed in this and +the following chapter, were appointed. + +4:3. If the priest that is anointed shall sin, making the people to +offend, he shall offer to the Lord for his sin a calf without blemish. + +4:4. And he shall bring it to the door of the testimony before the +Lord: and shall put his hand upon the head thereof, and shall sacrifice +it to the Lord. + +4:5. He shall take also of the blood of the calf: and carry it into the +tabernacle of the testimony. + +The blood. . .As the figure of the blood of Christ shed for the +remission of our sins, and carried by him into the sanctuary of heaven. + +4:6. And having dipped his finger in the blood, he shall sprinkle with +it seven times before the Lord, before the veil of the sanctuary. + +4:7. And he shall put some of the same blood upon the horns of the +altar of the sweet incense most acceptable to the Lord, which is in the +tabernacle of the testimony. And he shall pour all the rest of the +blood at the foot of the altar of holocaust in the entry of the +tabernacle. + +4:8. And he shall take off the fat of the calf for the sin offering, as +well that which covereth the entrails, as all the inwards: + +4:9. The two little kidneys, and the caul that is upon them, which is +by the flanks, and the fat of the liver with the little kidneys: + +4:10. As it is taken off from the calf of the sacrifice of peace +offerings. And he shall burn them upon the altar of holocaust. + +4:11. But the skin and all the flesh with the head and the feet and the +bowels and the dung: + +4:12. And the rest of the body, he shall carry forth without the camp +into a clean place where the ashes are wont to be poured out: and he +shall burn them upon a pile of wood. They shall be burnt in the place +where the ashes are poured out. + +4:13. And if all the multitude of Israel shall be ignorant, and through +ignorance shall do that which is against the commandment of the Lord, + +4:14. And afterwards shall understand their sin: they shall offer for +their sin a calf, and shall bring it to the door of the tabernacle. + +4:15. And the ancients of the people shall put their hands upon the +head thereof before the Lord. And the calf being immolated in the sight +of the Lord: + +4:16. The priest that is anointed shall carry of the blood into the +tabernacle of the testimony. + +4:17. And shall dip his finger in it and sprinkle it seven times before +the veil. + +4:18. And he shall put of the same blood on the horns of the altar that +is before the Lord, in the tabernacle of the testimony. And the rest of +the blood he shall pour at the foot of the altar of holocaust, which is +at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony. + +4:19. And all the fat thereof he shall take off, and shall burn it upon +the altar: + +4:20. Doing so with this calf, as he did also with that before. And the +priest praying for them, the Lord will be merciful unto them. + +4:21. But the calf itself he shall carry forth without the camp, and +shall burn it as he did the former calf: because it is for the sin of +the multitude. + +4:22. If a prince shall sin, and through ignorance do any one of the +things that the law of the Lord forbiddeth, + +4:23. And afterwards shall come to know his sin: he shall offer a buck +goat without blemish, a sacrifice to the Lord. + +4:24. And he shall put his hand upon the head thereof: and when he hath +immolated it in the place where the holocaust is wont to be slain +before the Lord, because it is for sin, + +4:25. The priest shall dip his finger in the blood of the victim for +sin, touching therewith the horns of the altar of holocaust, and +pouring out the rest at the foot thereof. + +4:26. But the fat he shall burn upon it, as is wont to be done with the +victims of peace offerings. And the priest shall pray for him, and for +his sin: and it shall be forgiven him. + +4:27. And if any one of the people of the land shall sin through +ignorance, doing any of those things that by the law of the Lord are +forbidden, and offending, + +4:28. And shall come to know his sin: he shall offer a she goat without +blemish. + +4:29. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the victim that is for +sin: and shall immolate it in the place of the holocaust. + +4:30. And the priest shall take of the blood with his finger, and shall +touch the horns of the altar of holocaust: and shall pour out the rest +at the foot thereof. + +4:31. But taking off all the fat, as is wont to be taken away of the +victims of peace offerings, he shall burn it upon the altar, for a +sweet savour to the Lord: and he shall pray for him, and it shall be +forgiven him. + +4:32. But if he offer of the flock a victim for his sin, to wit, an ewe +without blemish: + +4:33. He shall put his hand upon the head thereof, and shall immolate +it in the place where the victims of holocausts are wont to be slain. + +4:34. And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, +and shall touch the horns of the altar of holocaust: and the rest he +shall pour out at the foot thereof. + +4:35. All the fat also he shall take off, as the fat of the ram that is +offered for peace offerings is wont to be taken away: and shall burn it +upon the altar, for a burnt sacrifice of the Lord. And he shall pray +for him and his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 5 + + +Of other sacrifices for sins. + +5:1. If any one sin, and hear the voice of one swearing, and is a +witness either because he himself hath seen, or is privy to it: if he +do not utter it, he shall bear his iniquity. + +5:2. Whosoever toucheth any unclean thing, either that which hath been +killed by a beast, or died of itself, or any other creeping thing: and +forgetteth his uncleanness, he is guilty, and hath offended. + +5:3. And if he touch any thing of the uncleanness of man, according to +any uncleanness wherewith he is wont to be defiled: and having +forgotten it, come afterwards to know it, he shall be guilty of an +offence. + +5:4. The person that sweareth, and uttereth with his lips, that he +would do either evil or good, and bindeth the same with an oath, and +his word: and having forgotten it afterwards understandeth his offence, + +5:5. Let him do penance for his sin: + +5:6. And offer of the flocks an ewe lamb, or a she goat, and the priest +shall pray for him and for his sin. + +5:7. But if he be not able to offer a beast, let him offer two turtles, +or two young pigeons to the Lord, one for sin, and the other for a +holocaust, + +5:8. And he shall give them to the priest: who shall offer the first +for sin, and twist back the head of it to the little pinions, so that +it stick to the neck, and be not altogether broken off. + +5:9. And of its blood he shall sprinkle the side of the altar: and +whatever is left, he shall let it drop at the bottom thereof, because +it is for sin. + +5:10. And the other he shall burn for a holocaust, as is wont to be +done. And the priest shall pray for him, and for his sin, and it shall +be forgiven him. + +5:11. And if his hand be not able to offer two turtles, or two young +pigeons, he shall offer for his sin the tenth part of an ephi of flour. +He shall not put oil upon it, nor put any frankincense thereon, because +it is for sin. + +5:12. And he shall deliver it to the priest, who shall take a handful +thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar for a memorial of him that +offered it: + +5:13. Praying for him and making atonement. But the part that is left, +he himself shall have for a gift. + +5:14. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +5:15. If any one shall sin through mistake, transgressing the +ceremonies in those things that are sacrificed to the Lord, he shall +offer for his offence a ram without blemish out of the flocks, that may +be bought for two sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary. + +5:16. And he shall make good the damage itself which he hath done, and +shall add the fifth part besides, delivering it to the priest, who +shall pray for him, offering the ram: and it shall be forgiven him. + +5:17. If any one sin through ignorance, and do one of those things +which by the law of the Lord are forbidden, and being guilty of sin, +understand his iniquity: + +5:18. He shall offer of the flocks a ram without blemish to the priest, +according to the measure and estimation of the sin. And the priest +shall pray for him, because he did it ignorantly: And it shall be +forgiven him, + +5:19. Because by mistake he trespassed against the Lord. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 6 + + +Oblation for sins of injustice: ordinances concerning the holocausts +and the perpetual fire: the sacrifices of the priests, and the sin +offerings. + +6:1. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +6:2. Whosoever shall sin, and despising the Lord, shall deny to his +neighbour the thing delivered to his keeping, which was committed to +his trust; or shall by force extort any thing, or commit oppression; + +6:3. Or shall find a thing lost, and denying it, shall also swear +falsely, or shall do any other of the many things, wherein men are wont +to sin: + +6:4. Being convicted of the offence, he shall restore + +6:5. All that he would have gotten by fraud, in the principal, and the +fifth part besides, to the owner, whom he wronged. + +6:6. Moreover for his sin he shall offer a ram without blemish out of +the flock: and shall give it to the priest, according to the estimation +and measure of the offence. + +6:7. And he shall pray for him before the Lord: and he shall have +forgiveness for every thing in doing of which he bath sinned. + +6:8. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +6:9. Command Aaron and his sons: This is the law of a holocaust. It +shall be burnt upon the altar, all night until morning: the fire shall +be of the same altar. + +6:10. The priest shall be vested with the tunick and the linen +breeches; and he shall take up the ashes of that which the devouring +fire hath burnt: and putting them beside the altar, + +6:11. Shall put off his former vestments, and being clothed with +others, shall carry them forth without the camp, and shall cause them +to be consumed to dust in a very clean place. + +6:12. And the fire on the altar shall always burn, and the priest shall +feed it, putting wood on it every day in the morning: and laying on the +holocaust, shall burn thereupon the fat of the peace offerings. + +6:13. This is the perpetual fire which shall never go out on the altar. + +The perpetual fire. . .This fire came from heaven, (infra. chap. 9.24,) +and was always kept burning on the altar, as a figure of the heavenly +fire of divine love, which ought to be always burning in the heart of a +Christian. + +6:14. This is the law of the sacrifice and libations, which the +children of Aaron shall offer before the Lord, and before the altar. + +6:15. The priest shall take a handful of the flour that is tempered +with oil, and all the frankincense that is put upon the flour: and he +shall burn on the altar for a memorial of most sweet odour to the Lord. + +6:16. And the part of the flour that is left, Aaron and his sons shall +eat, without leaven: and he shall eat it in the holy place of the court +of the tabernacle. + +6:17. And therefore it shall not be leavened, because part thereof is +offered for the burnt sacrifice of the Lord. It shall be most holy, as +that which is offered for sin and for trespass. + +6:18. The males only of the race of Aaron shall eat it. It shall be an +ordinance everlasting in your generations concerning the sacrifices of +the Lord: Every one that toucheth them shall be sanctified. + +6:19. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +6:20. This is the oblation of Aaron, and of his sons, which they must +offer to the Lord, in the day of their anointing. They shall offer the +tenth part of an ephi of flour for a perpetual sacrifice, half of it in +the morning, and half of it in the evening. + +6:21. It shall be tempered with oil, and shall be fried in a fryingpan. + +6:22. And the priest that rightfully succeedeth his father, shall offer +it hot, for a most sweet odour to the Lord: and it shall he wholly +burnt on the altar. + +6:23. For every sacrifice of the priest shall be consumed with fire: +neither shall any man eat thereof. + +6:24. And the Lord spoke to Moses. saying: + +6:25. Say to Aaron and his sons: This is the law of the victim for sin. +In the place where the holocaust is offered, it shall be immolated +before the Lord. It is holy of holies. + +6:26. The priest that offereth it, shall eat it in a holy place, in the +court of the tabernacle. + +6:27. Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof, shall be sanctified. If +a garment be sprinkled with the blood thereof, it shall be washed in a +holy place. + +6:28. And the earthen vessel, wherein it was sodden, shall be broken: +but if the vessel be of brass, it shall be scoured, and washed with +water. + +6:29. Every male of the priestly race shall eat of the flesh thereof, +because it is holy of holies. + +6:30. For the victim that is slain for sin, the blood of which is +carried into the tabernacle of the testimony to make atonement in the +sanctuary, shall not be eaten, but shall be burnt with fire. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 7 + + +Of sacrifices for trespasses and thanks offerings. No fat nor blood is +to be eaten. + +7:1. This also is the law of the sacrifice for a trespass: it is most +holy. + +Trespass. . .Trespasses, for which these offerings were to be made, were +lesser offences than those for which the sin offerings were appointed. + +7:2. Therefore where the holocaust is immolated, the victim also for a +trespass shall be slain: the blood thereof shall be poured round about +the altar. + +7:3. They shall offer thereof the rump and the fat that covereth the +entrails: + +7:4. The two little kidneys, and the fat which is by the flanks, and +the caul of the liver with the little kidneys. + +7:5. And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the burnt +sacrifice of the Lord for a trespass. + +7:6. Every male of the priestly race, shall eat this flesh in a holy +place, because it is most holy. + +7:7. As the sacrifice for sin is offered, so is also that for a +trespass: the same shall be the law of both these sacrifices. It shall +belong to the priest that offereth it. + +7:8. The priest that offereth the victim of holocaust, shall have the +skin thereof. + +7:9. And every sacrifice of flour that is baked in the oven, and +whatsoever is dressed on the gridiron, or in the fryingpan, shall be +the priest's that offereth it. + +7:10. Whether they be tempered with oil, or dry, all the sons of Aaron +shall have one as much as another. + +7:11. This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that is +offered to the Lord. + +7:12. If the oblation be for thanksgiving, they shall offer loaves +without leaven tempered with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with +oil, and fine flour fried, and cakes tempered and mingled with oil. + +7:13. Moreover loaves of leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanks, +which is offered for peace offerings: + +7:14. Of which one shall be offered to the Lord for firstfruits, and +shall be the priest's that shall pour out the blood of the victim. + +7:15. And the flesh of it shall be eaten the same day: neither shall +any of it remain until the morning. + +7:16. If any man by vow, or of his own accord offer a sacrifice, it +shall in like manner be eaten the same day. And if any of it remain +until the morrow, it is lawful to eat it. + +7:17. But whatsoever shall be found on the third day shall be consumed +with fire. + +7:18. If any man eat of the flesh of the victim of peace offerings on +the third day, the oblation shall be of no effect: neither shall it +profit the offerer. Yea rather, whatsoever soul shall defile itself +with such meat, shall be guilty of transgression. + +7:19. The flesh that hath touched any unclean thing, shall not be +eaten: but shall be burnt with fire. He that is clean shall eat of it. + +7:20. If any one that is defiled shall eat of the flesh of the +sacrifice of peace offerings, which is offered to the Lord, he shall be +cut off from his people. + +7:21. And he that hath touched the uncleanness of man, or of beast, or +of any thing that can defile, and shall eat of such kind of flesh: +shall be cut off from his people. + +7:22. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +7:23. Say to the children of Israel: The fat of a sheep, and of an ox, +and of a goat you shall not eat. + +7:24. The fat of a carcass that hath died of itself, and of a beast +that was caught by another beast, you shall have for divers uses. + +7:25. If any man eat the fat that should be offered for the burnt +sacrifice of the Lord, he shall perish out of his people. + +7:26. Moreover you shall not eat the blood of any creature whatsoever, +whether of birds or beasts. + +7:27. Every one that eateth blood, shall perish from among the people. + +7:28. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +7:29. Speak to the children of Israel, saying: He that offereth a +victim of peace offerings to the Lord, let him offer therewith a +sacrifice also, that is, the libations thereof. + +7:30. He shall hold in his hands the fat of the victim, and the breast. +And when he hath offered and consecrated both to the Lord, he shall +deliver them to the priest, + +7:31. Who shall burn the fat upon the altar. But the breast shall be +Aaron's and his sons'. + +7:32. The right shoulder also of the victim, of peace offerings shall +fall to the priest for firstfruits. + +7:33. He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood, and the fat: +he shall have the right shoulder also for his portion. + +7:34. For the breast that is elevated and the shoulder that is +separated I have taken of the children of Israel, from off their +victims of peace offerings: and have given them to Aaron the priest, +and to his sons, by a law for ever, from all the people of Israel. + +7:35. This is the anointing of Aaron and his sons, in the ceremonies of +the Lord, in the day when Moses offered them, that they might do the +office of priesthood, + +7:36. And the things that the Lord commanded to be given them by the +children of Israel, by a perpetual observance in their generations. + +7:37. This is the law of holocaust, and of the sacrifice for sin, and +for trespass, and for consecration, and the victims of peace offerings: + +7:38. Which the Lord appointed to Moses in mount Sinai, when he +commanded the children of Israel, that they should offer their +oblations to the Lord in the desert of Sinai. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 8 + + +Moses consecrateth Aaron and his sons. + +8:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +8:2. Take Aaron with his sons, their vestments, and the oil of unction: +a calf for sin, two rams, a basket with unleavened bread. + +8:3. And thou shalt gather together all the congregation to the door of +the tabernacle. + +8:4. And Moses did as the Lord had commanded. And all the multitude +being gathered together before the door of the tabernacle: + +8:5. He said: This is the word that the Lord hath commanded to be done. + +8:6. And immediately, he offered Aaron and his sons. And when he had +washed them, + +8:7. He vested the high priest with the strait linen garment, girding +him with the girdle, and putting on him the violet tunick: and over it +he put the ephod. + +8:8. And binding it with the girdle, he fitted it to the rational, on +which was Doctrine and Truth. + +8:9. He put also the mitre upon his head: and upon the mitre over the +forehead, he put the plate of gold, consecrated with sanctification, as +the Lord had commanded him. + +8:10. He took also the oil of unction, with which he anointed the +tabernacle, with all the furniture thereof. + +8:11. And when he had sanctified and sprinkled the altar seven times, +he anointed it, and all the vessels thereof: and the laver with the +foot thereof, he sanctified with the oil. + +8:12. And he poured it upon Aaron's head: and he anointed and +consecrated him. + +8:13. And after he had offered his sons, he vested them with linen +tunicks, and girded them with girdles: and put mitres on them as the +Lord had commanded. + +8:14. He offered also the calf for sin: and when Aaron and his sons had +put their hands upon the head thereof, + +8:15. He immolated it: and took the blood, and dipping his finger in +it, he touched the horns of the altar round about. Which being +expiated, and sanctified, he poured the rest of the blood at the bottom +thereof. + +8:16. But the fat that was upon the entrails, and the caul of the +liver, and the two little kidneys, with their fat, he burnt upon the +altar. + +8:17. And the calf with the skin, and the flesh and the dung, he burnt +without the camp, as the Lord had commanded. + +8:18. He offered also a ram for holocaust. And when Aaron and his sons +had put their hands upon its head: + +8:19. He immolated it, and poured the blood thereof round about the +altar. + +8:20. And cutting the ram into pieces, the head thereof, and the +joints, and the fat he burnt in the fire. + +8:21. Having first washed the entrails, and the feet, and the whole ram +together he burnt upon the altar: because it was a holocaust of most +sweet odour to the Lord, as he had commanded him. + +8:22. He offered also the second ram, in the consecration of priests: +and Aaron, and his sons put their hands upon the head thereof. + +8:23. And when Moses had immolated it, he took of the blood thereof, +and touched the tip of Aaron's right ear, and the thumb of his right +hand, and in like manner also the great toe of his right foot. + +8:24. He offered also the sons of Aaron: and when with the blood of the +ram that was immolated, he had touched the tip of the right ear of +every one of them, and the thumbs of their right hands, and the great +toes of their right feet, the rest he poured on the altar round about. + +8:25. But the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that covereth the +entrails, and the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys with their +fat, and with the right shoulder, he separated. + +8:26. And taking out of the basket of unleavened bread, which was +before the Lord, a loaf without leaven, and a cake tempered with oil +and a wafer, he put them upon the fat, and the right shoulder: + +8:27. Delivering all to Aaron, and to his sons. Who having lifted them +up before the Lord, + +8:28. He took them again from their hands, and burnt them upon the +altar of holocaust: because it was the oblation of consecration, for a +sweet odour of sacrifice to the Lord. + +8:29. And he took of the ram of consecration, the breast for his +portion, elevating it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded him. + +8:30. And taking the ointment, and the blood that was upon the altar, +he sprinkled Aaron, and his vestments, and his sons, and their +vestments with it. + +8:31. And when he had sanctified them in their vestments, he commanded +them, saying: Boil the flesh before the door of the tabernacle, and +there eat it. Eat ye also the loaves of consecration, that are laid in +the basket, as the Lord commanded me, saying: Aaron and his sons shall +eat them. + +8:32. And whatsoever shall be left of the flesh and the loaves, shall +be consumed with fire. + +8:33. And you shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle for seven +days, until the day wherein the time of your consecration shall be +expired. For in seven days the consecration is finished: + +8:34. As at this present it hath been done, that the rite of the +sacrifice might be accomplished. + +8:35. Day and night shall you remain in the tabernacle observing the +watches of the Lord, lest you die. For so it hath been commanded me. + +8:36. And Aaron and his sons did all things which the Lord spoke by the +hand of Moses. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 9 + + +Aaron offereth sacrifice for himself and the people. Fire cometh from +the Lord upon the altar. + +9:1. And when the eighth day was come, Moses called Aaron and his sons, +and the ancients of Israel, and said to Aaron: + +9:2. Take of the herd a calf for sin, and a ram for a holocaust, both +without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. + +9:3. And to the children of Israel thou shalt say: Take ye a he goat +for sin, and a calf, and a lamb, both of a year old, and without +blemish for a holocaust. + +9:4. Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings. And immolate them +before the Lord, offering for the sacrifice of every one of them flour +tempered with oil: for to day the Lord will appear to you. + +9:5. They brought therefore all things that Moses had commanded before +the door of the tabernacle: where when all the multitude stood, + +9:6. Moses said: This is the word, which the Lord hath commanded. Do +it, and his glory will appear to you. + +9:7. And he said to Aaron: Approach to the altar, and offer sacrifice +for thy sin. Offer the holocaust, and pray for thyself and for the +people: and when thou hast slain the people's victim, pray for them, as +the Lord hath commanded. + +9:8. And forthwith Aaron, approaching to the altar, immolated the calf +for his sin. + +9:9. And his sons brought him the blood of it: and he dipped his finger +therein, and touched the horns of the altar, and poured the rest at the +foot thereof. + +9:10. And the fat, and the little kidneys, and the caul of the liver, +which are for sin, he burnt upon the altar, as the Lord had commanded +Moses. + +9:11. But the flesh and skins thereof he burnt with fire without the +camp. + +9:12. He immolated also the victim of holocaust: and his sons brought +him the blood thereof, which he poured round about on the altar. + +9:13. And the victim being cut into pieces, they brought to him the +head and all the members: all which he burnt with fire upon the altar. + +9:14. Having first washed the entrails and the feet with water. + +9:15. Then offering for the sin of the people, he slew the he goat: and +expiating the altar, + +9:16. He offered the holocaust. + +9:17. Adding in the sacrifice the libations, which are offered withal, +and burning them upon the altar, besides the ceremonies of the morning +holocaust. + +9:18. He immolated also the bullock and the ram, and peace offerings of +the people: and his sons brought him the blood, which he poured upon +the altar round about. + +9:19. The fat also of the bullock, and the rump of the ram, and the two +little kidneys with their fat, and the caul of the liver, + +9:20. They put upon the breasts. And after the fat was burnt upon the +altar, + +9:21. Aaron separated their breasts, and the right shoulders, elevating +them before the Lord, as Moses had commanded. + +9:22. And stretching forth his hands to the people, he blessed them. +And so the victims for sin, and the holocausts, and the peace offerings +being finished, he came down. + +9:23. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the testimony, +and afterwards came forth and blessed the people. And the glory of the +Lord appeared to all the multitude. + +9:24. And, behold, a fire, coming forth from the Lord, devoured the +holocaust, and the fat that was upon the altar: which when the +multitude saw, they praised the Lord, falling on their faces. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 10 + + +Nadab and Abiu for offering strange fire, are burnt by fire. Priests +are forbidden to drink wine, when they enter into the tabernacle. The +law of eating the holy things. + +10:1. And Nadab and Abiu, the sons of Aaron, taking their censers, put +fire therein, and incense on it, offering before the Lord strange fire: +which was not commanded them. + +10:2. And fire coming out from the Lord destroyed them: and they died +before the Lord. + +10:3. And Moses said to Aaron: This is what the Lord hath spoken. I +will be sanctified in them that approach to me: and I will be glorified +in the sight of all the people. And when Aaron heard this, he held his +peace. + +10:4. And Moses called Misael and Elisaphan, the sons of Oziel, the +uncle of Aaron, and said to them: Go and take away your brethren from +before the sanctuary, and carry them without the camp. + +10:5. And they went forthwith and took them as they lay, vested with +linen tunicks, and cast them forth, as had been commanded them. + +10:6. And Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons: +Uncover not your heads, and rend not your garments, lest perhaps you +die, and indignation come upon all the congregation. Let your brethren, +and all the house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord has +kindled. + +10:7. But you shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle: otherwise +you shall perish, for the oil of the holy unction is on you. And they +did all things according to the precept of Moses. + +10:8. The Lord also said to Aaron: + +10:9. You shall not drink wine nor any thing that may make drunk, thou +nor thy sons, when you enter into the tabernacle of the testimony, lest +you die. Because it is an everlasting precept; through your +generations: + +10:10. And that you may have knowledge to discern between holy and +unholy, between unclean and clean: + +10:11. And may teach the children of Israel all my ordinances which the +Lord hath spoken to them by the hand of Moses. + +10:12. And Moses spoke to Aaron, and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons +that were left: Take the sacrifice that is remaining of the oblation of +the Lord, and eat it without leaven beside the altar, because it is +holy of holies. + +10:13. And you shall eat it in a holy place: which is given to thee and +thy sons of the oblations of the Lord, as it hath been commanded me. + +10:14. The breast also that is offered, and the shoulder that is +separated, you shall eat in a most clean place, thou and thy sons, and +thy daughters with thee. For they are set aside for thee and thy +children, of the victims of peace offerings of the children of Israel. + +10:15. Because they have elevated before the Lord the shoulder and the +breast, and the fat that is burnt on the altar: and they belong to thee +and to thy sons by a perpetual law, as the Lord hath commanded. + +10:16. While these things were a doing, when Moses sought for the buck +goat, that had been offered for sin, he found it burnt. And being angry +with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron that were left, he said: + +10:17. Why did you not eat in the holy place the sacrifice for sin, +which is most holy, and given to you, that you may bear the iniquity of +the people, and may pray for them in the sight of the Lord. + +10:18. Especially, whereas none of the blood thereof hath been carried +within the holy places: and you ought to have eaten it in the +sanctuary, as was commanded me? + +10:19. Aaron answered: This day hath been offered the victim for sin, +and the holocaust before the Lord: and to me what thou seest has +happened. How could I eat it, or please the Lord in the ceremonies, +having a sorrowful heart? + +10:20. Which when Moses had heard he was satisfied. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 11 + + +The distinction of clean and unclean animals. + +11:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: + +11:2. Say to the children of Israel: These are the animals which you +are to eat of all the living things of the earth. + +Animals which you are to eat, etc. . .The prohibition of so many kinds +of beasts, birds, and fishes, in the law, was ordered, 1st, to exercise +the people in obedience, and temperance; 2ndly, to restrain them from +the vices of which these animals were symbols; 3rdly, because the +things here forbidden were for the most part unwholesome, and not +proper to be eaten; 4thly, that the people of God, by being obliged to +abstain from things corporally unclean, might be trained up to seek a +spiritual cleanness. + +11:3. Whatsoever hath the hoof divided, and cheweth the cud among the +beasts, you shall eat. + +Hoof divided, and cheweth the cud. . .The dividing of the hoof and +chewing of the cud, signify discretion between good and evil, and +meditating on the law of God; and where either of these is wanting a +man is unclean. In like manner fishes were reputed unclean that had not +fins and scales: that is, souls that did not raise themselves up by +prayer and cover themselves with the scales of virtue. + +11:4. But whatsoever cheweth indeed the cud, and hath a hoof, but +divideth it not, as the camel, and others: that you shall not eat, but +shall reckon it among the unclean. + +11:5. The cherogrillus which cheweth the cud, but divideth not the +hoof, is unclean. + +The cherogrillus. . .Some suppose it to be the rabbit, others the +hedgehog. St. Jerome intimates that it is another kind of animal common +in Palestine, which lives in the holes of rocks or in the earth. We +choose here, as also in the names of several other creatures that +follow (which are little known in this part of the world,) to keep the +Greek or Latin names. + +11:6. The hare also: for that too cheweth the cud, but divideth not the +hoof. + +11:7. And the swine, which, though it divideth the hoof, cheweth not +the cud. + +11:8. The flesh of these you shall not eat, nor shall you touch their +carcasses, because they are unclean to you. + +11:9. These are the things that breed in the waters, and which it is +lawful to eat. All that hath fins, and scales, as well in the sea, as +in the rivers, and the pools, you shall eat. + +11:10. But whatsoever hath not fins and scales, of those things that +move and live in the waters, shall be an abomination to you, + +11:11. And detestable. Their flesh you shall not eat: and their +carcasses you shall avoid. + +11:12. All that have not fins and scales, in the waters, shall be +unclean. + +11:13. Of birds these are they which you must not eat, and which are to +be avoided by you: The eagle, and the griffon, and the osprey. + +The griffon. . .Not the monster which the painter represent, which hath +no being upon earth; but a bird of the eagle kind, larger than the +common. + +11:14. And the kite, and the vulture, according to their kind. + +11:15. And all that is of the raven kind, according to their likeness. + +11:16. The ostrich, and the owl, and the larus, and the hawk according +to its kind. + +11:17. The screech owl, and the cormorant, and the ibis. + +11:18. And the swan, and the bittern, and the porphyrion. + +11:19. The heron, and the charadroin according to its kind, the houp +also, and the bat. + +11:20. Of things that fly, whatsoever goeth upon four feet, shall be +abominable to you. + +11:21. But whatsoever walketh upon four feet, but hath the legs behind +longer, wherewith it hoppeth upon the earth, + +11:22. That you shall eat: as the bruchus in its kind, the attacus, and +ophimachus, and the locust, every, one according to their kind. + +11:23. But of flying things whatsoever hath four feet only, shall be an +abomination to you. + +11:24. And whosoever shall touch the carcasses of them, shall be +defiled: and shall be unclean until the evening: + +11:25. And if it be necessary that he carry any of these things when +they are dead: he shall wash his clothes, and shall be unclean until +the sun set. + +11:26. Every beast that hath a hoof, but divideth it not, nor cheweth +the cud shall be unclean: and he that toucheth it, shall be defiled. + +11:27. That which walketh upon hands of all animals which go on all +four, shall be unclean: he that shall touch their carcasses shall be +defiled until evening. + +11:28. And he that shall carry such carcasses, shall wash his clothes, +and shall be unclean until evening: because all these things are +unclean to you. + +11:29. These also shall be reckoned among unclean things, of all that +move upon the earth. The weasel, and the mouse, and the crocodile, +every one according to their kind: + +11:30. The shrew, and the chameleon, and the stellio, and the lizard, +and the mole. + +11:31. All these are unclean. He that toucheth their carcasses shall be +unclean until the evening. + +11:32. And upon what thing soever any of their carcasses shall fall, it +shall be defiled, whether it be a vessel of wood, or a garment, or +skins or haircloths: or any thing in which work is done. They shall be +dipped in water, and shall be unclean until the evening, and so +afterwards shall be clean. + +11:33. But an earthen vessel, into which any of these shall fall, shall +be defiled: and therefore is to be broken. + +11:34. Any meat which you eat, if water from such a vessel be poured +upon it, shall be unclean; and every liquor that is drunk out of any +such vessel, shall be unclean. + +11:35. And upon whatsoever thing any of these dead beasts shall fall, +it shall be unclean. Whether it be oven, or pots with feet, they shall +be destroyed, and shall be unclean. + +11:36. But fountains and cisterns, and all gatherings together of +waters shall be clean. He that toucheth their carcasses shall be +defiled. + +11:37. If it fall upon seed corn, it shall not defile it. + +11:38. But if any man pour water upon the seed, and afterwards it be +touched by the carcasses, it shall be forthwith defiled. + +11:39. If any beast die, of which it is lawful for you to eat, he that +toucheth the carcass thereof, shall be unclean until the evening. + +11:40. And he that eateth or carrieth any thing thereof, shall wash his +clothes, and shall be unclean until the evening. + +11:41. All that creepeth upon the earth shall be abominable: neither +shall it be taken for meat. + +11:42. Whatsoever goeth upon the breast on four feet, or hath many +feet, or traileth on the earth, you shall not eat, because it is +abominable. + +11:43. Do not defile your souls, nor touch aught thereof, lest you be +unclean, + +11:44. For I am the Lord your God. Be holy because I am holy. Defile +not your souls by any creeping thing, that moveth upon the earth. + +11:45. For I am the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, +that I might be your God. + +11:46. You shall be holy, because I am holy. This is the law of beasts +and fowls, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and +creepeth on the earth: + +11:47. That you may know the differences of the clean, and unclean, and +know what you ought to eat, and what to refuse. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 12 + + +The purification of women after childbirth. + +12:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +12:2. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: If a +woman having received seed shall bear a man child, she shall be unclean +seven days, according to the days of separation of her flowers. + +12:3. And on the eighth day the infant shall be circumcised: + +12:4. But she shall remain three and thirty days in the blood of her +purification. She shall touch no holy thing: neither shall she enter +into the sanctuary, until the days of her purification, be fulfilled. + +12:5. But if she shall bear a maid child, she shall be unclean two +weeks, according to the custom of her monthly courses. And she shall +remain in the blood of her purification sixty-six days. + +12:6. And when the days of her purification are expired, for a son, or +for a daughter, she shall bring to the door of the tabernacle of the +testimony, a lamb of a year old for a holocaust, and a young pigeon or +a turtle for sin: and shall deliver them to the priest. + +12:7. Who shall offer them before the Lord, and shall pray for her: and +so she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law +for her that beareth a man child or a maid child. + +12:8. And if her hand find not sufficiency, and she is not able to +offer a lamb, she shall take two turtles, or two young pigeons, one for +a holocaust, and another for sin: and the priest shall pray for her, +and so she shall be cleansed. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 13 + + +The law concerning leprosy in men, and in garments. + +13:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: + +13:2. The man in whose skin or flesh shall arise a different colour or +a blister, or as it were something shining, that is the stroke of the +leprosy, shall be brought to Aaron the priest, or any or of his sons. + +13:3. And if he see the leprosy in his skin, and the hair turned white +and the place where the leprosy appears lower than the skin and the +rest of the flesh: it is the stroke of the leprosy, and upon his +judgment he shall be separated. + +13:4. But if there be a shining whiteness in the skin, and not lower +than the other flesh, and the hair be of the former colour, the priest +shall shut him up seven days. + +13:5. And the seventh day he shall look on him: and if the leprosy be +grown no farther, and hath not spread itself in the skin, he shall shut +him up again other seven days. + +13:6. And on the seventh day, he shall look on him. If the leprosy be +somewhat obscure, and not spread in the skin, he shall declare him +clean, because it is but a scab: and the man shall wash his clothes, +and shall be clean. + +13:7. But, if the leprosy grow again, after he was seen by the priest +and restored to cleanness, he shall be brought to him: + +13:8. And shall be condemned of uncleanness. + +13:9. If the stroke of the leprosy be in a man, he shall be brought to +the priest: + +13:10. And he shall view him. And when there shall be a white colour in +the skin, and it shall have changed the look of the hair, and the +living flesh itself shall appear: + +13:11. It shall be judged an inveterate leprosy, and grown into the +skin. The priest therefore shall declare him unclean: and shall not +shut him up, because he is evidently unclean. + +13:12. But if the leprosy spring out running about in the skin, and +cover all the skin from the head to the feet, whatsoever falleth under +the sight of the eyes: + +13:13. The priest shall view him, and shall judge that the leprosy +which he has is very clean: because it is all turned into whiteness, +and therefore the man shall be clean. + +13:14. But when the live flesh shall appear in him: + +13:15. Then by the judgment of the priest he shall be defiled, and +shall be reckoned among the unclean. For live flesh, if it be spotted +with leprosy, is unclean. + +13:16. And if again it be turned into whiteness, and cover all the man: + +13:17. The priest shall view him, and shall judge him to be clean. + +13:18. When also there has been an ulcer in the flesh and the skin, and +it has been healed: + +13:19. And in the place of the ulcer, there appeareth a white scar, or +somewhat red, the man shall be brought to the priest. + +13:20. And when he shall see the place of the leprosy lower than the +other flesh, and the hair turned white: he shall declare him unclean, +for the plague of leprosy is broken out in the ulcer. + +13:21. But if the hair be of the former colour, and the scar somewhat +obscure, and be not lower than the flesh that is near it: he shall shut +him up seven days. + +13:22. And if it spread, he shall judge him to have the leprosy: + +13:23. But if it stay in its place, it is but the scar of an ulcer: and +the man shall be clean. + +13:24. The flesh also and skin that hath been burnt, and after it is +healed hath a white or a red scar: + +13:25. The priest shall view it, and if he see it turned white, and the +place thereof is lower than the other skin: he shall declare him +unclean, because the evil of leprosy is broken out in the scar. + +13:26. But if the colour of the hair be not changed, nor the blemish +lower than the other flesh, and the appearance of the leprosy be +somewhat obscure: he shall shut him up seven days, + +13:27. And on the seventh day he shall view him. If the leprosy be +grown farther in the skin, he shall declare him unclean. + +13:28. But if the whiteness stay in its place, and be not very clear, +it is the sore of a burning: and therefore he shall be cleansed, +because it is only the scar of a burning. + +13:29. If the leprosy break out in the head or the beard of a man or +woman, the priest shall see them, + +13:30. And if the place be lower than the other flesh, and the hair +yellow, and thinner than usual: he shall declare them unclean, because +it is the leprosy of the head and the beard; + +13:31. But if he perceive the place of the spot is equal with the flesh +that is near it, and the hair black: he shall shut him up seven days, + +13:32. And on the seventh day he shall look upon it. If the spot be not +grown, and the hair keep its colour, and the place of the blemish be +even with the other flesh: + +13:33. The man shall be shaven all but the place of the spot: and he +shall be shut up other seven days. + +13:34. If on the seventh day the evil seem to have stayed in its place, +and not lower than the other flesh, he shall cleanse him: and his +clothes being washed he shall be clean. + +13:35. But if after his cleansing the spot spread again in the skin: + +13:36. He shall seek no more whether the hair be turned yellow, because +he is evidently unclean. + +13:37. But if the spot be stayed, and the hair be black, let him know +that the man is healed: and let him confidently pronounce him clean. + +13:38. If a whiteness appear in the skin of a man or a woman, + +13:39. The priest shall view them. If he find that a darkish whiteness +shineth in the skin, let him know that it is not the leprosy, but a +white blemish, and that the man is clean. + +13:40. The man whose hair falleth off from his head, he is bald and +clean: + +13:41. And if the hair fall from his forehead, he is bald before and +clean. + +13:42. But if in the bald head or in the bald forehead there be risen a +white or reddish colour: + +13:43. And the priest perceive this, he shall condemn him undoubtedly +of leprosy which is risen in the bald part. + +13:44. Now whosoever shall be defiled with the leprosy, and is +separated by the judgment of the priest: + +13:45. Shall have his clothes hanging loose, his head bare, his mouth +covered with a cloth: and he shall cry out that he is defiled and +unclean. + +13:46. All the time that he is a leper and unclean he shall dwell alone +without the camp. + +13:47. A woollen or linen garment that shall have the leprosy + +13:48. In the warp, and the woof: or skin, or whatsoever is made of a +skin: + +13:49. If it be infected with a white or red spot, it shall be +accounted the leprosy, and shall be shewn to the priest. + +13:50. And he shall look upon it and shall shut it up seven days. + +13:51. And on the seventh day when he looketh on it again, if he find +that it is grown, it is a fixed leprosy. He shall judge the garment +unclean, and every thing wherein it shall be found. + +13:52. And therefore it shall be burnt with fire. + +13:53. But if he see that it is not grown, + +13:54. He shall give orders, and they shall wash that part wherein the +leprosy is: and he shall shut it up other seven days. + +13:55. And when he shall see that the former colour is not returned, +nor yet the leprosy spread, he shall judge it unclean: and shall burn +it with fire, for the leprosy has taken hold of the outside of the +garment, or through the whole. + +13:56. But if the place of the leprosy be somewhat dark, after the +garment is washed, he shall tear it off, and divide it from that which +is sound. + +13:57. And if after this there appear in those places that before were +without spot, a flying and wandering leprosy: it must be burnt with +fire. + +13:58. If it cease, he shall wash with water the parts that are pure, +the second time: and they shall be clean. + +13:59. This is the law touching the leprosy of any woollen or linen +garment, either in the warp or woof, or any thing of skins: how it +ought to be cleaned, or pronounced unclean. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 14 + + +The rites of sacrifices in cleansing the leprosy. Leprosy in houses. + +14:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +14:2. This is the rite of a leper, when he is to be cleansed. He shall +be brought to the priest: + +14:3. Who going out of the camp, when he shall find that the leprosy is +cleansed, + +14:4. Shall command him that is to be purified, to offer for himself +two living sparrows, which it is lawful to eat, and cedar wood, and +scarlet, and hyssop. + +14:5. And he shall command one of the sparrows to be immolated in an +earthen vessel over living waters. + +Living waters. . .That is, waters taken from a spring, brook, or river. + +14:6. But the other that is alive, he shall dip, with the cedar wood, +and the scarlet and the hyssop, in the blood of the sparrow that is +immolated: + +14:7. Wherewith he shall sprinkle him that is to be cleansed seven +times, that he may be rightly purified. And he shall let go the living +sparrow, that it may fly into the field. + +14:8. And when the man hath washed his clothes, he shall shave all the +hair of his body, and shall be washed with water: and being purified he +shall enter into the camp, yet so that he tarry without his own tent +seven days. + +14:9. And on the seventh day he shall shave the hair of his head, and +his beard and his eyebrows, and the hair of all his body. And having +washed again his clothes, and his body, + +14:10. On the eighth day, he shall take two lambs without blemish, and +an ewe of a year old without blemish, and three tenths of flour +tempered with oil for a sacrifice, and a sextary of oil apart. + +A sextary. . .Heb. log: a measure of liquids, which was the twelfth part +of a hin; and held about as much as six eggs. + +14:11. And when the priest that purifieth the man, hath presented him, +and all these things before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of +the testimony: + +14:12. He shall take a lamb, and offer it for a trespass offering with +the sextary of oil. And having offered all before the Lord, + +14:13. He shall immolate the lamb, where the victim for sin is wont to +be immolated, and the holocaust, that is, in the holy place. For as +that which is for sin, so also the victim for a trespass offering +pertaineth to the priest: it is holy of holies. + +14:14. And the priest taking of the blood of the victim that was +immolated for trespass, shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of +him that is cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand and the +great toe of his right foot. + +Taking of the blood, etc. . .These ceremonies used in the cleansing of a +leper, were mysterious and very significative. The sprinkling seven +times with the blood of the little bird, the washing himself and his +clothes, the shaving his hair and his beard, signify the means which +are to be used in the reconciliation of a sinner, and the steps by +which he is to return to God, viz., by the repeated application of the +blood of Christ: the washing his conscience with the waters of +compunction: and retrenching all vanities and superfluities, by +employing all that is over and above what is necessary in alms deeds. +The sin offering, and the holocaust or burnt offering, which he was to +offer at his cleansing, signify the sacrifice of a contrite and humble +heart, and that of adoration in spirit and truth, with gratitude and +thankfulness, for the forgiveness of sins, with which we are ever to +appear before the Almighty. The touching the right ear, the thumb of +the right hand, and the great toe of the right foot, first with the +blood of the victim, and then with the remainder of the oil, which had +been sprinkled seven times before the Lord, signify the application of +the blood of Christ, and the unction of the sevenfold grace of the Holy +Ghost; to the sinner's right ear, that he may duly hearken to and obey +the law of God; and to his right hand and foot, that the works of his +hands, and all the steps or affections of his soul, signified by the +feet, may be rightly directed to God. + +14:15. And he shall pour of the sextary of oil into his own left hand, + +14:16. And shall dip his right finger in it, and sprinkle it before the +Lord seven times. + +14:17. And the rest of the oil in his left hand, he shall pour upon the +tip of the right ear of him that is cleansed, and upon the thumb of his +right hand and the great toe of his right foot, and upon the blood that +was shed for trespass: + +14:18. And upon his head. + +14:19. And he shall pray for him before the Lord, and shall offer the +sacrifice for sin. Then shall he immolate the holocaust. + +14:20. And put it on the altar with the libations thereof: and the man +shall be rightly cleansed. + +14:21. But if he be poor, and his hand cannot find the things +aforesaid: he shall take a lamb for an offering for trespass, that the +priest may pray for him, and a tenth part of flour tempered with oil +for a sacrifice, and a sextary of oil: + +14:22. And two turtles or two young pigeons, of which one may be for +sin, and the other for a holocaust. + +14:23. And he shall offer them on the eighth day of his purification to +the priest, at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony before the +Lord. + +14:24. And the priest receiving the lamb for trespass, and the sextary +of oil, shall elevate them together. + +14:25. And the lamb being immolated, he shall put of the blood thereof +upon the tip of the right ear of him that is cleansed, and upon the +thumb of his right hand, and the great toe of his right foot. + +14:26. But he shall pour part of the oil into his own left hand, + +14:27. And dipping the finger of his right hand in it, he shall +sprinkle it seven times before the Lord. + +14:28. And he shall touch the tip of the right ear of him that is +cleansed, and the thumb of his right hand and the great toe of his +right foot, in the place of the blood that was shed for trespass. + +14:29. And the other part of the oil that is in his left hand, he shall +pour upon the head of the purified person, that he may appease the Lord +for him. + +14:30. And he shall offer a turtle, or young pigeon: + +14:31. One for trespass, and the other for a holocaust, with their +libations. + +14:32. This is the sacrifice of a leper, that is not able to have all +things that appertain to his cleansing. + +14:33. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: + +14:34. When you shall come into the land of Chanaan, which I will give +you for a possession, if there be the plague or leprosy in a house: + +14:35. He whose house it is, shall go and tell the priest, saying: It +seemeth to me, that there is the plague of leprosy in my house, + +14:36. And he shall command, that they carry forth all things out of +the house, before he go into it, and see whether it have the leprosy, +let all things become unclean that are in the house. And afterwards he +shall go in to view the leprosy of the house. + +14:37. And if he see in the walls thereof as it were little dints, +disfigured with paleness or redness, and lower than all he rest: + +14:38. He shall go out of the door of the house, and forthwith shut it +up seven days, + +14:39. And returning on the seventh day, he shall look upon it. If he +find that the leprosy is spread, + +14:40. He shall command, that the stones wherein the leprosy is, be +taken out, and cast without the city into an unclean place: + +14:41. And that the house be scraped on the inside round about, and the +dust of the scrapings be scattered without the city into an unclean +place: + +14:42. And that other stones be laid in the place of them that were +taken away, and the house be plastered with other mortar. + +14:43. But if after the stones be taken out, and the dust scraped off, +and it be plastered with other earth. + +14:44. The priest going in perceive that the leprosy is returned, and +the walls full of spots, it is a lasting leprosy, and the house is +unclean. + +14:45. And they shall destroy it forthwith, and shall cast the stones +and timber thereof, and all the dust without the town into an unclean +place. + +14:46. He that entereth into the house when it is shut, shall be +unclean until evening, + +14:47. And he that sleepeth in it, and eateth any thing, shall wash his +clothes. + +14:48. But if the priest going in perceive that the leprosy is not +spread in the house, after it was plastered again, he shall purify it, +it being cured. + +14:49. And for the purification thereof he shall take two sparrows, and +cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. + +14:50. And having immolated one sparrow in an earthen vessel, over +living waters, + +14:51. He shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, +and the living sparrow, and shall dip all in the blood of the sparrow +that is immolated, and in the living water: and he shall sprinkle the +house seven times. + +14:52. And shall purify it as well with the blood of the sparrow, as +with the living water, and with the living sparrow, and with the cedar +wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet. + +14:53. And when he hath let go the sparrow to fly freely away into the +field, he shall pray for the house: and it shall be rightly cleansed. + +14:54. This is the law of every kind of leprosy and stroke. + +14:55. Of the leprosy of garments and houses, + +14:56. Of a scar and of blisters breaking out of a shining spot, and +when the colours are diversely changed: + +14:57. That it may be known when a thing is clean or unclean. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 15 + + +Other legal uncleannesses. + +15:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: + +15:2. Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: The man that +hath an issue of seed, shall be unclean. + +Issue of seed shall be unclean. . .These legal uncleannesses were +instituted in order to give the people a horror of carnal impurities. + +15:3. And then shall he be judged subject to this evil, when a filthy +humour, at every moment, cleaveth to his flesh, and gathereth there. + +15:4. Every bed on which he sleepeth, shall be unclean, and every place +on which he sitteth. + +15:5. If any man touch his bed, he shall wash his clothes and being +washed with water, he shall be unclean until the evening. + +15:6. If a man sit where that man hath sitten, he also shall wash his +clothes: and being washed with water, shall be unclean until the +evening. + +15:7. He that toucheth his flesh, shall wash his clothes: and being +himself washed with water shall be unclean until the evening. + +15:8. If such a man cast his spittle upon him that is clean, he shall +wash his clothes: and being washed with water, he shall be unclean +until the evening. + +15:9. The saddle on which he hath sitten shall be unclean. + +15:10. And whatsoever has been under him that hath the issue of seed, +shall be unclean until the evening. He that carrieth any of these +things, shall wash his clothes: and being washed with water, he shall +be unclean until the evening. + +15:11. Every person whom such a one shall touch, not having washed his +hands before, shall wash his clothes: and being washed with water, +shall be unclean until the evening. + +15:12. If he touch a vessel of earth, it shall be broken: but if a +vessel of wood, it shall be washed with water. + +15:13. If he who suffereth this disease be healed, he shall number +seven days after his cleansing: and having washed his clothes, and all +his body in living water, he shall be clean. + +15:14. And on the eighth day he shall take two turtles, or two young +pigeons, and he shall come before the Lord, to the door of the +tabernacle of the testimony, and shall give them to the priest. + +15:15. Who shall offer one for sin, and the other for a holocaust: and +he shall pray for him before the Lord, that he may be cleansed of the +issue of his seed. + +15:16. The man from whom the seed of copulation goeth out, shall wash +all his body with water: and he shall be unclean until the evening. + +15:17. The garment or skin that he weareth, he shall wash with water: +and it shall be unclean until the evening. + +15:18. The woman, with whom he copulateth, shall be washed with water: +and shall be unclean until the evening. + +15:19. The woman, who at the return of the month, hath her issue of +blood, shall be separated seven days. + +15:20. Every one that toucheth her, shall be unclean until the evening. + +15:21. And every thing that she sleepeth on, or that she sitteth on in +the days of her separation, shall be defiled. + +15:22. He that toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes: and being +himself washed with water, shall be unclean until the evening. + +15:23. Whosoever shall touch any vessel on which she sitteth, shall +wash his clothes: and himself being washed with water, shall be defiled +until the evening. + +15:24. If a man copulateth with her in the time of her flowers, he +shall be unclean seven days: and every bed on which he shall sleep, +shall be defiled. + +15:25. The woman that hath still issue of blood many days out of her +ordinary time, or that ceaseth not to flow after the monthly courses, +as long as she is subject to this disease, shall be unclean, in the +same manner as if she were in her flowers. + +15:26. Every bed on which she sleepeth, and every vessel on which she +sitteth, shall be defiled. + +15:27. Whosoever toucheth them shall wash his clothes: and himself +being washed with water, shall be unclean until the evening. + +15:28. If the blood stop and cease to run, she shall count seven days +of her purification: + +15:29. And on the eighth day she shall offer for herself to the priest, +two turtles, or two young pigeons, at the door of the tabernacle of the +testimony: + +15:30. And he shall offer one for sin, and the other for a holocaust, +and he shall pray for her before the Lord, and for the issue of her +uncleanness. + +15:31. You shall teach therefore the children of Israel to take heed of +uncleanness, that they may not die in their filth, when they shall have +defiled my tabernacle that is among them. + +15:32. This is the law of him that hath the issue of seed, and that is +defiled by copulation. + +15:33. And of the woman that is separated in her monthly times, or that +hath a continual issue of blood, and of the man that sleepeth with her. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 16 + + +When and how the high priest must enter into the sanctuary. The feast +of expiation. + +16:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, after the death of the two sons of +Aaron when they were slain upon their offering strange fire: + +16:2. And he commanded him, saying: Speak to Aaron thy brother, that he +enter not at all into the sanctuary, which is within the veil before +the propitiatory, with which the ark is covered, lest he die, (for I +will appear in a cloud over the oracle), + +Enter not. . .No one but the high priest, and he but once a year, could +enter into the sanctuary; to signify that no one could enter into the +sanctuary of heaven, till Christ our high priest opened it by his +passion. Heb. 10.8. + +16:3. Unless he first do these things. He shall offer a calf for sin, +and a ram for a holocaust. + +16:4. He shall be vested with a linen tunick: he shall cover his +nakedness with linen breeches: he shall be girded with a linen girdle, +and he shall put a linen mitre upon his head. For these are holy +vestments: all which he shall put on, after he is washed. + +16:5. And he shall receive from the whole multitude of the children of +Israel two buck goats for sin, and one ram for a holocaust. + +16:6. And when he hath offered the cattle and prayed for himself and +for his own house: + +16:7. He shall make the two buck goats to stand before the Lord in the +door of the tabernacle of the testimony. + +16:8. And casting lots upon them both, one to be offered to the Lord, +and the other to be the emissary goat: + +16:9. That whose lot fell to be offered to the Lord, he shall offer for +sin. + +16:10. But that whose lot was to be the emissary goat, he shall present +before the Lord, that he may pour prayers upon him, and let him go into +the wilderness. + +16:11. After these things are duly celebrated, he shall offer the calf: +and praying for himself and for his own house, he shall immolate it. + +16:12. And taking the censer, which he hath filled with the burning +coals of the altar, and taking up with his hands the compounded perfume +for incense, he shall go in within the veil into the holy place: + +16:13. That when the perfumes are put upon the fire, the cloud and +vapour thereof may cover the oracle, which is over the testimony, and +he may not die. + +16:14. He shall take also of the blood of the calf, and sprinkle with +his finger seven times towards the propitiatory to the east. + +16:15. And when he hath killed the buck goat for the sin of the people, +he shall carry in the blood thereof within the veil, as he was +commanded to do with the blood of the calf, that he may sprinkle it +over against the oracle: + +16:16. And may expiate the sanctuary from the uncleanness of the +children of Israel, and from their transgressions, and all their sins. +According to this rite shall he do to the tabernacle of the testimony, +which is fixed among them in the midst of the filth of their +habitation. + +16:17. Let no man be in the tabernacle when the high priest goeth into +the sanctuary, to pray for himself and his house, and for the whole +congregation of Israel, until he come out. + +16:18. And when he is come out to the altar that is before the Lord, +let him pray for himself: and taking the blood of the calf, and of the +buck goat, let him pour it upon the horns thereof round about. + +16:19. And sprinkling with his finger seven times, let him expiate, and +sanctify it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. + +16:20. After he hath cleaned the sanctuary, and the tabernacle, and the +altar, then let him offer the living goat. + +16:21. And putting both hands upon his head, let him confess all the +iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their offences and sins. +And praying that they may light on its head, he shall turn him out by a +man ready for it, into the desert. + +16:22. And when the goat hath carried all their iniquities into an +uninhabited land, and shall be let go into the desert: + +16:23. Aaron shall return into the tabernacle of the testimony, and +putting off the vestments, which he had on him before when he entered +into the sanctuary, and leaving them there, + +16:24. He shall wash his flesh in the holy place, and shall put on his +own garments. And after that he is come out and hath offered his own +holocaust, and that of the people, he shall pray both for himself, and +for the people. + +16:25. And the fat that is offered for sins, he shall burn on the +altar. + +16:26. But he that hath let go the emissary goat, shall wash his +clothes, and his body with water, and so shall enter into the camp. + +16:27. But the calf and the buck goat, that were sacrificed for sin, +and whose blood was carried into the sanctuary, to accomplish the +atonement, they shall carry forth without the camp, and shall burn with +fire: their skins and their flesh, and their dung. + +16:28. And whosoever burneth them shall wash his clothes, and flesh +with water: and so shall enter into the camp. + +16:29. And this shall be to you an everlasting ordinance. The seventh +month, the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and +shall do no work, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger +that sojourneth among you. + +16:30. Upon this day shall be the expiation for you, and the cleansing +from all your sins. You shall be cleansed before the Lord. + +16:31. For it is a sabbath of rest: and you shall afflict your souls by +a perpetual religion. + +16:32. And the priest that is anointed, and whose hands are consecrated +to do the office of the priesthood in his father's stead, shall make +atonement. And he shall be vested with the linen robe and the holy +vestments. + +16:33. And he shall expiate the sanctuary and the tabernacle of the +testimony and the altar: the priest also and all the people. + +16:34. And this shall be an ordinance for ever, that you pray for the +children of Israel, and for all their sins once a year. He did +therefore as the Lord had commanded Moses. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 17 + + +No sacrifices to be offered but at the door of the tabernacle: a +prohibition of blood. + +17:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +17:2. Speak to Aaron and his sons, and to all the children of Israel, +saying to them: This is the word, which the Lord hath commanded, +saying: + +17:3. Any man whosoever of the house of Israel, if he kill an ox, or a +sheep, or a goat in the camp, or without the camp, + +If he kill, etc. . .That is, in order to sacrifice. The law of God +forbids sacrifices to be offered in any other place but at the +tabernacle or temple of the Lord; to signify that no sacrifice would be +acceptable to God, out of his true temple, the one holy, catholic, +apostolic church. + +17:4. And offer it not at the door of the tabernacle an oblation to the +Lord, shall be guilty of blood. As if he had shed blood, so shall he +perish from the midst of his people. + +17:5. Therefore the children of Israel shall bring to the priest their +victims, which they kill in the field, that they may be sanctified to +the Lord before the door of the tabernacle of the testimony: and they +may sacrifice them for peace offerings to the Lord. + +17:6. And the priest shall pour the blood upon the altar of the Lord, +at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony: and shall burn the fat +for a sweet odour to the Lord. + +17:7. And they shall no more sacrifice their victims to devils, with +whom they have committed fornication. It shall be an ordinance for ever +to them and to their posterity. + +17:8. And thou shalt say to them: The man of the house of Israel, and +of the strangers who sojourn among you, that offereth a holocaust or a +victim, + +17:9. And bringeth it not to the door of the tabernacle of the +testimony, that it may be offered to the Lord, shall perish from among +his people. + +17:10. If any man whosoever of the house of Israel, and of the +strangers that sojourn among them, eat blood, I will set my face +against his soul, and will cut him off from among his people. + +Eat blood. . .To eat blood was forbidden in the law; partly, because God +reserved it to himself, to be offered in sacrifices on the altar, as to +the Lord of life and death; and as a figure of the blood of Christ; and +partly, to give men a horror of shedding blood. Gen. 9.4, 5, 6. + +17:11. Because the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given +it to you, that you may make atonement with it upon the altar for your +souls, and the blood may be for an expiation of the soul. + +17:12. Therefore I have said to the children of Israel: No soul of you, +nor of the strangers that sojourn among you, shall eat blood. + +17:13. Any man whosoever of the children of Israel, and of the +strangers that sojourn among you, if by hunting or fowling, he take a +wild beast or a bird, which is lawful to eat, let him pour out its +blood, and cover it with earth. + +17:14. For the life of all flesh is in the blood. Therefore I said to +the children of Israel: you shall not eat the blood of any flesh at +all, because the life of the flesh is in the blood, and whosoever +eateth it, shall be cut off. + +17:15. The soul that eateth that which died of itself, or has been +caught by a beast, whether he be one of your own country or a stranger, +shall wash his clothes and himself with water, and shall be defiled +until the evening: and in this manner he shall be made clean. + +17:16. But if he do not wash his clothes, and his body, he shall bear +his iniquity. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 18 + + +Marriage is prohibited in certain degrees of kindred: Anda all +unnatural lusts. + +18:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +18:2. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: I am +the Lord your God. + +18:3. You shall not do according to the custom of the land of Egypt, in +which you dwelt: neither shall you act according to the manner of the +country of Chanaan, into which I will bring you. Nor shall you walk in +their ordinances. + +18:4. You shall do my judgments, and shall observe my precepts, and +shall walk in them. I am the Lord your God. + +18:5. Keep my laws and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live +in them, I am the Lord. + +18:6. No man shall approach to her that is near of kin to him, to +uncover her nakedness. I am the Lord. + +18:7. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father, or the +nakedness of thy mother: she is thy mother, thou shalt not uncover her +nakedness. + +18:8. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's wife: for it +is the nakedness of thy father. + +18:9. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy sister by father or +by mother: whether born at home or abroad. + +18:10. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy son's daughter, or +thy daughter's daughter: because it is thy own nakedness. + +18:11. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's wife's +daughter, whom she bore to thy father: and who is thy sister. + +18:12. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: +because she is the flesh of thy father. + +18:13. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: +because she is thy mother's flesh. + +18:14. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother: +neither shalt thou approach to his wife, who is joined to thee by +affinity. + +18:15. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: +because she is thy son's wife, neither shalt thou discover her shame. + +18:16. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: +because it is the nakedness of thy brother. + +18:17. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy wife and her +daughter. Thou shalt not take her son's daughter or her daughter's +daughter, to discover her shame: because they are her flesh, and such +copulation is incest. + +18:18. Thou shalt not take thy wife's sister for a harlot, to rival +her: neither shalt thou discover her nakedness, while she is yet +living. + +18:19. Thou shalt not approach to a woman having her flowers: neither +shalt thou uncover her nakedness. + +18:20. Thou shalt not lie with thy neighbour's wife: nor be defiled +with mingling of seed. + +18:21. Thou shalt not give any of thy seed to be consecrated to the +idol Moloch, nor defile the name of thy God. I am the Lord. + +18:22. Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind: because it is +an abomination. + +18:23. Thou shalt not copulate with any beast: neither shalt thou be +defiled with it. A woman shall not lie down to a beast, nor copulate +with it: because it is a heinous crime. + +Because it is a heinous crime. . .In Hebrew, this word heinous crime is +expressed by the word confusion, signifying the shamefulness and +baseness of this abominable sin. + +18:24. Defile not yourselves with any of these things with which all +the nations have been defiled, which I will cast out before you, + +18:25. And with which the land is defiled: the abominations of which I +will visit, that it may vomit out its inhabitants. + +18:26. Keep ye my ordinances and my judgments: and do not any of these +abominations. Neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that +sojourneth among you. + +18:27. For all these detestable things the inhabitants of the land have +done, that were before you, and have defiled it. + +18:28. Beware then, lest in like manner, it vomit you also out, if you +do the like things: as it vomited out the nation that was before you. + +18:29. Every soul that shall commit any of these abominations, shall +perish from the midst of his people. + +18:30. Keep my commandments. Do not the things which they have done, +that have been before you: and be not defiled therein. I am the Lord +your God. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 19 + + +Divers ordinances, partly moral, partly ceremonial or judicial. + +19:1. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +19:2. Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel. And thou +shalt say to them: Be ye holy, because I the Lord your God am holy. + +19:3. Let every one fear his father, and his mother. Keep my sabbaths. +I am the Lord your God. + +19:4. Turn ye not to idols: nor make to yourselves molten gods. I am +the Lord your God. + +19:5. If ye offer in sacrifice a peace offering to the Lord, that he +may be favourable: + +19:6. You shall eat it on the same day it was offered, and the next +day. And whatsoever shall be left until the third day, you shall burn +with fire. + +19:7. If after two days any man eat thereof, he shall be profane and +guilty of impiety: + +19:8. And shall bear his iniquity, because he hath defiled the holy +thing of the Lord. And that soul shall perish from among his people. + +19:9. When thou reapest the corn of thy land, thou shalt not cut down +all that is on the face of the earth to the very ground: nor shalt thou +gather the ears that remain. + +19:10. Neither shalt thou gather the bunches and grapes that fall down +in thy vineyard: but shalt leave them to the poor and the strangers to +take. I am the Lord your God. + +19:11. You shall not steal. You shall not lie: neither shall any man +deceive his neighbour. + +19:12. Thou shalt not swear falsely by my name, nor profane the name of +thy God. I am the Lord. + +19:13. Thou shalt not calumniate thy neighbour, nor oppress him by +violence. The wages of him that hath been hired by thee shall not abide +with thee until the morning. + +19:14. Thou shalt not speak evil of the deaf, nor put a stumbling block +before the blind: but thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, because I am +the Lord. + +19:15. Thou shalt not do that which is unjust, nor judge unjustly. +Respect not the person of the poor: nor honour the countenance of the +mighty. But judge thy neighbour according to justice. + +19:16. Thou shalt not be a detractor nor a whisperer among the people. +Thou shalt not stand against the blood of thy neighbour. I am the Lord. + +19:17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart: But reprove him +openly, lest thou incur sin through him. + +19:18. Seek not revenge, nor be mindful of the injury of thy citizens. +Thou shalt love thy friend as thyself. I am the Lord. + +19:19. Keep ye my laws. Thou shalt not make thy cattle to gender with +beasts of any other kind. Thou shalt not sow thy field with different +seeds. Thou shalt not wear a garment that is woven of two sorts. + +Different seeds, etc. . .This law tends to recommend simplicity and +plain dealing in all things, and to teach the people not to join any +false worship or heresy with the worship of the true God. + +19:20. If a man carnally lie with a woman that is a bondservant and +marriageable, and yet not redeemed with a price, nor made free: they +both shall be scourged: and they shall not be put to death, because she +was not a free woman. + +19:21. And for his trespass he shall offer a ram to the Lord, at the +door of the tabernacle of the testimony. + +19:22. And the priest shall pray for him: and for his sin before the +Lord: and he shall have mercy on him, and the sin shall be forgiven. + +19:23. When you shall be come into the land, and shall have planted in +it fruit trees, you shall take away the firstfruits of them. The fruit +that comes forth shall be unclean to you: neither shall you eat of +them. + +Firstfruits. . .Proeputia, literally, their foreskins; it alludes to +circumcision, and signifies that for the first three years the trees +were to be as uncircumcised, and their fruit unclean: till in the +fourth year their increase was sanctified and given to the Lord, that +is, to the priests. + +19:24. But in the fourth year, all their fruit shall be sanctified, to +the praise of the Lord. + +19:25. And in the fifth year you shall eat the fruits thereof, +gathering the increase thereof. I am the Lord your God. + +19:26. You shall not eat with blood. You shall not divine nor observe +dreams. + +19:27. Nor shall you cut your hair roundwise: nor shave your beard. + +19:28. You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh, for the dead: +neither shall you make in yourselves any figures or marks. I am the +Lord. + +19:29. Make not thy daughter a common strumpet, lest the land be +defiled, and filled with wickedness. + +19:30. Keep ye my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary. I am the Lord. + +19:31. Go not aside after wizards: neither ask any thing of +soothsayers, to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God. + +19:32. Rise up before the hoary head, and honour the person of the aged +man: and fear the Lord thy God. I am the Lord. + +19:33. If a stranger dwell in your land, and abide among you, do not +upbraid hin: + +19:34. But let him be among you as one of the same country. And you +shall love him as yourselves: for you were strangers in the land of +Egypt. I am the Lord your God. + +19:35. Do not any unjust thing in judgment, in rule, in weight, or in +measure. + +19:36. Let the balance be just and the weights equal, the bushel just, +and the sextary equal. I am the Lord your God, that brought you out of +the land of Egypt. + +19:37. Keep all my precepts, and all my judgments: and do them. I am +the Lord. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 20 + + +Divers crimes to be punished with death. + +20:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +20:2. Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: If any man of the +children Israel, or of the strangers that dwell in Israel, give of his +seed to the idol Moloch, dying let him die. The people of the land +shall stone him. + +20:3. And I will set my face against him: and I will cut him off from +the midst of his people, because he hath given of his seed to Moloch, +and hath defiled my sanctuary, and profaned my holy name. + +20:4. And if the people of the land neglecting, and as it were little +regarding my commandment, let alone the man that hath given of his seed +to Moloch, and will not kill him: + +20:5. I will set my face against that man, and his kindred, and will +cut off both him and all that consented with him, to commit fornication +with Moloch, out of the midst of their people. + +20:6. The soul that shall go aside after magicians, and soothsayers, +and shall commit fornication with them: I will set my face against that +soul, and destroy it out of the midst of its people. + +20:7. Sanctify yourselves, and be ye holy: because I am the Lord your +God. + +20:8. Keep my precepts, and do them. I am the Lord that sanctify you. + +20:9. He that curseth his father, or mother, dying let him die. He hath +cursed his father, and mother: let his blood be upon him. + +20:10. If any man commit adultery with the wife of another, and defile +his neighbour's wife: let them be put to death, both the adulterer and +the adulteress. + +20:11. If a man lie with his stepmother, and discover the nakedness of +his father, let them both be put to death: their blood be upon them. + +20:12. If any man lie with his daughter in law: let both die, because +they have done a heinous crime. Their blood be upon them. + +20:13. If any one lie with a man as with a woman, both have committed +an abomination: let them be put to death. Their blood be upon them. + +20:14. If any man after marrying the daughter, marry her mother, he +hath done a heinous crime. He shall be burnt alive with them: neither +shall so great an abomination remain in the midst of you. + +20:15. He that shall copulate with any beast or cattle, dying let him +die: the beast also ye shall kill. + +The beast also ye shall kill. . .The killing of the beast was for the +greater horror of the crime, and to prevent the remembrance of such +abomination. + +20:16. The woman that shall lie under any beast, shall be killed +together with the same. Their blood be upon them. + +20:17. If any man take his sister, the daughter of his father, or the +daughter of his mother, and see her nakedness, and she behold her +brother's shame: they have committed a crime. They shall be slain, in +the sight of their people, because they have discovered one another's +nakedness. And they shall bear their iniquity. + +20:18. If any man lie with a woman in her flowers, and uncover her +nakedness, and she open the fountain of her blood: both shall be +destroyed out of the midst of their people. + +20:19. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy aunt by thy mother, +and of thy aunt by thy father. He that doth this, hath uncovered the +shame of his own flesh: both shall bear their iniquity. + +20:20. If any man lie with the wife of his uncle by the father, or of +his uncle by the mother, and uncover the shame of his near akin, both +shall bear their sin. They shall die without children. + +20:21. He that marrieth his brother's wife, doth an unlawful thing: he +hath uncovered his brother's nakedness. They shall be without children. + +20:22. Keep my laws and my judgments, and do them: lest the land into +which you are to enter to dwell therein, vomit you also out. + +20:23. Walk not after the laws of the nations, which I will cast out +before you. For they have done all these things: and therefore I +abhorred them. + +20:24. But to you I say: Possess their land which I will give you for +an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the Lord your +God, who have separated you from other people. + +20:25. Therefore do you also separate the clean beast from the unclean, +and the clean fowl from the unclean. Defile not your souls with beasts, +or birds, or any things that move on the earth, and which I have shewn +you to be unclean: + +20:26. You shall be holy unto me, because I the Lord am holy: and I +have separated you from other people, that you should be mine. + +20:27. A man, or woman, in whom there is a pythonical or divining +spirit, dying let them die. They shall stone them. Their blood be upon +them. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 21 + + +Ordinances relating to the priests. + +21:1. The Lord said also to Moses: Speak to the priests the sons of +Aaron, and thou shalt say for them: Let not a priest incur an +uncleanness at the death of his citizens. + +An uncleanness. . .Viz., such as was contracted in laying out the dead +body, or touching it; or in going into the house, or assisting at the +funeral, etc. + +21:2. But only for his kin, such as are near in blood: that is to say, +for his father and for his mother, and for his son, and for his +daughter, for his brother also: + +21:3. And for a maiden sister, who hath had no husband. + +21:4. But not even for the prince of his people shall he do any thing +that may make him unclean. + +21:5. Neither shall they shave their head, nor their beard, nor make +incisions in their flesh. + +21:6. They shall be holy to their God, and shall not profane his name. +For they offer the burnt offering of the Lord, and the bread of their +God: and therefore they shall be holy. + +21:7. They shall not take to wife a harlot or a vile prostitute, nor +one that has been put away from her husband: because they are +consecrated to their God, + +21:8. And offer the loaves of proposition. Let them therefore be holy +because I also am holy: the Lord, who sanctify them. + +21:9. If the daughter of a priest be taken in whoredom and dishonour +the name of her father, she shall be burnt with fire. + +21:10. The high priest, that is to say, the priest who is the greatest +among his brethren, upon whose head the oil of unction hath been +poured; and whose hands have been consecrated for the priesthood; and +who hath been vested with the holy vestments. He shall not uncover his +head: he shall not rend his garments. + +21:11. Nor shall he go in at all to any dead person: not even for his +father, or his mother, shall he be defiled. + +21:12. Neither shall he go out of the holy places, lest he defile the +sanctuary of the Lord: because the oil of the holy unction of his God +is upon him. I am the Lord. + +21:13. He shall take a virgin unto his wife. + +21:14. But a widow or one that is divorced, or defied, or a harlot, he +shall not take: but a maid of his own people. + +21:15. He shall not mingle the stock of his kindred with the common +people of this nation: for I am the Lord who sanctify him. + +21:16. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +21:17. Say to Aaron: Whosoever of thy seed throughout their families, +hath a blemish, he shall not offer bread to his God. + +21:18. Neither shall he approach to minister to him: If he be blind; if +he be lame; if he have a little, or a great, or a crooked nose; + +21:19. If his foot, or if his hand be broken; + +21:20. If he be crookbacked; or blear eyed; or have a pearl in his eye, +or a continual scab, or a dry scurf in his body, or a rupture. + +21:21. Whosoever of the seed of Aaron the priest hath a blemish: he +shall not approach to offer sacrifices to the Lord, nor bread to his +God. + +21:22. He shall eat nevertheless of the loaves that are offered in the +sanctuary. + +21:23. Yet so that he enter not within the veil, nor approach to the +altar: because he hath a blemish, and he must not defile my sanctuary. +I am the Lord who sanctify them. + +21:24. Moses, therefore spoke to Aaron, and to his sons and to all +Israel, all the things that had been commanded him. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 22 + + +Who may eat the holy things: and what things may be offered. + +22:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses saying: + +22:2. Speak to Aaron and to his sons, that they beware of those things +that are consecrated of the children of Israel: and defile not the name +of the things sanctified to me, which they offer. I am the Lord. + +22:3. Say to them and to their posterity: Every man of your race, that +approacheth to those things that are consecrated, and which the +children of Israel have offered to the Lord, in whom there is +uncleanness, shall perish before the Lord. I am the Lord. + +Approacheth, etc. . .This is to give us to understand, with what purity +of soul we are to approach to the blessed sacrament of which these +meats that had been offered in sacrifice were a figure. + +22:4. The man of the seed of Aaron, that is a leper, or that suffereth +a running of the seed, shall not eat of those things that are +sanctified to me, until he be healed. He that toucheth any thing +unclean by occasion of the dead: and he whose seed goeth from him as in +generation: + +22:5. And he that toucheth a creeping thing, or any unclean thing, the +touching of which is defiling: + +22:6. Shall be unclean until the evening, and shall not eat those +things that are sanctified. But when he hath washed his flesh with +water, + +22:7. And the sun is down, then being purified, he shall eat of the +sanctified things, because it is his meat. + +22:8. That which dieth of itself, and that which was taken by a beast, +they shall not eat, nor be defiled therewith. I am the Lord. + +22:9. Let them keep my precepts, that they may not fall into sin, and +die in the sanctuary, when they shall have defiled it. I am the Lord +who sanctify them. + +22:10. No stranger shall eat of the sanctified things: a sojourner of +the priests, or a hired servant, shall not eat of them. + +22:11. But he whom the priest hath bought, and he that is his servant, +born in his house, these shall eat of them. + +22:12. If the daughter of a priest be married to any of the people, she +shall not eat of those things that are sanctified nor of the +firstfruits. + +22:13. But if she be a widow, or divorced, and having no children +return to her father's house, she shall eat of her father's meats, as +she was wont to do when she was a maid. No stranger hath leave to eat +of them. + +22:14. He that eateth of the sanctified things through ignorance, shall +add the fifth part with that which he ate, and shall give it to the +priest into the sanctuary. + +22:15. And they shall not profane the sanctified things of the children +of Israel, which they offer to the Lord: + +22:16. Lest perhaps they bear the iniquity of their trespass, when they +shall have eaten the sanctified things. I am the Lord who sanctify +them. + +22:17. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +22:18. Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of +Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The man of the house of Israel, and +of the strangers who dwell with you, that offereth his oblation, either +paying his vows, or offering of his own accord, whatsoever it be which +he presenteth for a holocaust of the Lord, + +22:19. To be offered by you: it shall be a male without blemish of the +beeves, or of the sheep, or of the goats. + +22:20. If it have a blemish you shall not offer it: neither shall it be +acceptable. + +22:21. The man that offereth a victim of peace offerings to the Lord, +either paying his vows, or offering of his own accord, whether of +beeves or of sheep, shall offer it without blemish, that it may be +acceptable. There shall be no blemish in it. + +22:22. If it be blind, or broken, or have a scar or blisters, or a +scab, or a dry scurf: you shall not offer them to the Lord, nor burn +any thing of them upon the Lord's altar. + +22:23. An ox or a sheep, that hath the ear and the tail cut off, thou +mayst offer voluntarily: but a vow may not be paid with them. + +22:24. you shall not offer to the Lord any beast that hath the +testicles bruised, or crushed, or cut and taken away: neither shall you +do any such things in your land. + +22:25. you shall not offer bread to your God, from the hand of a +stranger, nor any other thing that he would give: because they are all +corrupted, and defiled. You shall not receive them. + +22:26. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +22:27. When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, they +shall be seven days under the udder of their dam: but the eighth day, +and thenceforth, they may be offered to the Lord. + +22:28. Whether it be a cow, or a sheep, they shall not be sacrificed +the same day with their young ones. + +22:29. If you immolate a victim for thanksgiving to the Lord, that he +may be favourable, + +22:30. You shall eat it the same day. There shall not any of it remain +until the morning of the next day. I am the Lord. + +22:31. Keep my commandments, and do them. I am the Lord. + +22:32. Profane not my holy name, that I may be sanctified in the midst +of the children of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctify you: + +22:33. And who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that I might be +your God. I am the Lord. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 23 + + +Holy days to be kept. + +23:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +23:2. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: +These are the feasts of the Lord, which you shall call holy. + +23:3. Six days shall ye do work: the seventh day, because it is the +rest of the sabbath, shall be called holy. You shall do no work on that +day: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your habitations. + +23:4. These also are the holy days of the Lord, which you must +celebrate in their seasons. + +23:5. The first month, the fourteenth day of the month at evening, is +the phase of the Lord. + +23:6. And the fifteenth day of the same month is the solemnity of the +unleavened bread of the Lord. Seven days shall you eat unleavened +bread. + +23:7. The first day shall be most solemn unto you, and holy: you shall +do no servile work therein. + +23:8. But you shall offer sacrifice in fire to the Lord seven days. And +the seventh day shall be more solemn, and more holy: and you shall do +no servile work therein. + +23:9. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +23:10. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: +When you shall have entered into the land which I will give you, and +shall reap your corn, you shall bring sheaves of ears, the firstfruits +of your harvest to the priest. + +23:11. Who shall lift up the sheaf before the Lord, the next day after +the sabbath, that it may be acceptable for you, and shall sanctify it. + +23:12. And on the same day that the sheaf is consecrated, a lamb +without blemish of the first year shall be killed for a holocaust of +the Lord. + +23:13. And the libations shall be offered with it: two tenths of flour +tempered with oil, for a burnt offering of the Lord, and a most sweet +odour. Libations also of wine, the fourth part of a hin. + +23:14. You shall not eat either bread, or parched corn, or frumenty or +the harvest, until the day that you shall offer thereof to your God. It +is a precept for ever throughout your generations, and all your +dwellings. + +23:15. You shall count therefore from the morrow after the sabbath, +wherein you offered the sheaf of firstfruits, seven full weeks. + +23:16. Even unto the morrow after the seventh week be expired, that is +to say, fifty days: and so you shall offer a new sacrifice to the Lord. + +23:17. Out of all your dwellings, two loaves of the firstfruits, of two +tenths of flour leavened, which you shall bake for the firstfruits of +the Lord. + +23:18. And you shall offer with the loaves seven lambs without blemish +of the first year, and one calf from the herd, and they shall be for a +holocaust with their two rams: and they shall be for a holocaust with +their libations for a most sweet odour to the Lord. + +23:19. You shall offer also a buck goat for sin, and two lambs of the +first year for sacrifices of peace offerings. + +23:20. And when the priest hath lifted them up with the loaves of the +firstfruits before the Lord, they shall fall to his use. + +23:21. And you shall call this day most solemn, and most holy. You +shall do no servile work therein. It shall be an everlasting ordinance +in all your dwellings and generations. + +23:22. And when you reap the corn of your land, you shall not cut it to +the very ground: neither shall you gather the ears that remain. But you +shall leave them for the poor and for the strangers. I am the Lord your +God. + +23:23. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +23:24. Say to the children of Israel: The seventh month, on the first +day of the month, you shall keep a sabbath, a memorial, with the sound +of trumpets, and it shall be called holy. + +23:25. You shall do no servile work therein, and you shall offer a +holocaust to the Lord. + +23:26. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +23:27. Upon the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the day of +atonement. It shall be most solemn, and shall be called holy: and you +shall await your souls on that day, and shall offer a holocaust to the +Lord. + +23:28. You shall do no servile work in the time of this day: because it +is a day of propitiation, that the Lord your God may be merciful unto +you. + +23:29. Every soul that is not afflicted on this day, shall perish from +among his people. + +23:30. And every soul that shall do any work, the same will I destroy +from among his people. + +23:31. You shall do no work therefore on that day: it shall be an +everlasting ordinance unto you in all your generations, and dwellings. + +23:32. It is a sabbath of rest, and you shall afflict your souls +beginning on the ninth day of the month. From evening until evening you +shall celebrate your sabbaths. + +23:33. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +23:34. Say to the children of Israel: From the fifteenth day of this +same seventh month, shall be kept the feast of tabernacles, seven days +to the Lord. + +23:35. The first day shall be called most solemn and most holy: you +shall do no servile work therein. And seven days you shall offer +holocausts to the Lord. + +23:36. The eighth day also shall be most solemn and most holy: and you +shall offer holocausts to the Lord. For it is the day of assembly and +congregation. You shall do no servile work therein. + +23:37. These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall call most +solemn and most holy, and shall offer on them oblations to the Lord: +holocausts and libations according to the rite of every day. + +23:38. Besides the sabbaths of the Lord, and your gifts, and those +things that you offer by vow, or which you shall give to the Lord +voluntarily. + +23:39. So from the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you shall +have gathered in all the fruits of your land, you shall celebrate the +feast of the Lord seven days. On the first day and the eighth shall be +a sabbath: that is a day of rest. + +23:40. And you shall take to you on the first day the fruits of the +fairest tree, and branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, +and willows of the brook: And you shall rejoice before the Lord your +God. + +23:41. And you shall keep the solemnity thereof seven days in the year. +It shall be an everlasting ordinance in your generations. In the +seventh month shall you celebrate this feast. + +23:42. And you shall dwell in bowers seven days. Every one that is of +the race of Israel, shall dwell in tabernacles: + +23:43. That your posterity may know, that I made the children of Israel +to dwell in tabernacles, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. +I am the Lord your God. + +23:44. And Moses spoke concerning the feasts of the Lord to the +children of Israel. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 24 + + +The oil for the lamps. The loaves of proposition. The punishment of +blasphemy. + +24:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +24:2. Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee the +finest and clearest oil of olives, to furnish the lamps continually, + +24:3. Without the veil of the testimony in the tabernacle of the +covenant. And Aaron shall set them from evening until morning before +the Lord, by a perpetual service and rite in your generations. + +24:4. They shall be set upon the most pure candlestick before the Lord +continually. + +24:5. Thou shalt take also fine flour, and shalt bake twelve loaves +thereof, two tenths shall be in every loaf. + +24:6. And thou shalt set them six and six, one against another, upon +the most clean table before the Lord. + +24:7. And thou shalt put upon them the clearest frankincense, that the +bread may be for a memorial of the oblation of the Lord. + +24:8. Every sabbath they shall be changed before the Lord: being +received of the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. + +24:9. And they shall be Aaron's and his sons', that they may eat them +in the holy place: because it is most holy of the sacrifices of the +Lord by a perpetual right. + +24:10. And behold there went out the son of a woman of Israel, whom she +had of an Egyptian, among the children of Israel: and fell at words in +the camp with a man of Israel. + +24:11. And when he had blasphemed the name, and had cursed it, he was +brought to Moses. (Now his mother was called Salumith, the daughter of +Dabri, of the tribe of Dan.) + +24:12. And they put him into prison, till they might know what the Lord +would command. + +24:13. And the Lord spoke to Moses, + +24:14. Saying: Bring forth the blasphemer without the camp: and let +them that heard him, put their hands upon his head: and let all the +people stone him. + +24:15. And thou shalt speak to the children of Israel: The man that +curseth his God, shall bear his sin: + +24:16. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, dying let him die. +All the multitude shall stone him, whether he be a native or a +stranger. He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, dying let him die. + +24:17. He that striketh and killeth a man: dying let him die. + +24:18. He that killeth a beast, shall make it good that is to say, +shall give beast for beast. + +24:19. He that giveth a blemish to any of his neighbours: as he hath +done, so shall it be done to him: + +24:20. Breach for breach, eye for ere, tooth for tooth, shall he +restore. What blemish he gave, the like shall he be compelled to +suffer. + +24:21. He that striketh a beast, shall render another. He that striketh +a man shall be punished. + +24:22. Let there be equal judgment among you, whether he be a stranger, +or a native that offends: because I am the Lord your God. + +24:23. And Moses spoke to the children of Israel. And they brought +forth him that had blasphemed, without the camp: and they stoned him. +And the children of Israel did as the Lord had commanded Moses. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 25 + + +The law of the seventh and of the fiftieth year of jubilee. + +25:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses in mount Sinai, saying: + +25:2. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: When +you shall have entered into the land which I will give you, observe the +rest of the sabbath of the Lord. + +25:3. Six years thou shalt sow thy field and six years thou shalt prune +thy vineyard, and shalt gather the fruits thereof. + +25:4. But in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath to the land, of +the resting of the Lord. Thou shalt not sow thy field, nor prune thy +vineyard. + +25:5. What the ground shall bring forth of itself, thou shalt not reap: +neither shalt thou gather the grapes or the firstfruits as a vintage. +For it is a year of rest to the land. + +25:6. But they shall be unto you for meat, to thee and to thy +manservant, to thy maidservant and thy hireling, and to the strangers +that sojourn with thee. + +25:7. All things that grow shall be meat to thy beasts and to thy +cattle. + +25:8. Thou shalt also number to thee seven weeks of years: that is to +say, seven times seven, which together make forty-nine years. + +25:9. And thou shalt sound the trumpet in the seventh month, the tenth +day of the month, in the time of the expiation in all your land. + +25:10. And thou shalt sanctify the fiftieth year, and shalt proclaim +remission to all the inhabitants of thy land: for it is the year of +jubilee. Every man shall return to his possession, and every one shall +go back to his former family: + +Remission. . .That is, a general release and discharge from debts and +bondage, and a reinstating of every man in his former possessions. + +25:11. Because it is the jubilee and the fiftieth year. You shall not +sow, nor reap the things that grow in the field of their own accord, +neither shall you gather the firstfruits of the vines, + +25:12. Because of the sanctification of the jubilee. But as they grow +you shall presently eat them. + +25:13. In the year of the jubilee all shall return to their +possessions. + +25:14. When thou shalt sell any thing to thy neighbour, or shalt buy of +him: grieve not thy brother. But thou shalt buy of him according to the +number of years from the jubilee. + +25:15. And he shall sell to thee according to the computation of the +fruits. + +25:16. The more years remain after the jubilee, the more shall the +price increase: and the less time is counted, so much the less shall +the purchase cost. For he shall sell to thee the time of the fruits. + +25:17. Do not afflict your countrymen: but let every one fear his God. +Because I am the Lord your God. + +25:18. Do my precepts, and keep my judgments, and fulfil them: that you +may dwell in the land without any fear. + +25:19. And the ground may yield you its fruits, of which you may eat +your fill, fearing no man's invasion. + +25:20. But if you say: What shall we eat the seventh year, if we sow +not, nor gather our fruits? + +25:21. I will give you my blessing the sixth year: and it shall yield +the fruits of three years. + +25:22. And the eighth year you shall sow, and shall eat of the old +fruits, until the ninth year: till new grow up, you shall eat the old +store. + +25:23. The land also shall not be sold for ever: because it is mine, +and you are strangers and sojourners with me. + +25:24. For which cause all the country of your possession shall be +under the condition of redemption. + +25:25. If thy brother being impoverished sell his little possession, +and his kinsman will: he may redeem what he had sold. + +25:26. But if he have no kinsman, and he himself can find the price to +redeem it: + +25:27. The value of the fruits shall be counted from that time when he +sold it. And the overplus he shall restore to the buyer, and so shall +receive his possession again. + +25:28. But if his hands find not the means to repay the price, the +buyer shall have what he bought, until the year of the jubilee. For in +that year all that is sold shall return to the owner, and to the +ancient possessor. + +25:29. He that selleth a house within the walls of a city, shall have +the liberty to redeem it, until one year be expired. + +25:30. If he redeem it not, and the whole year be fully out, the buyer +shall possess it, and his posterity for ever, and it cannot be +redeemed, not even in the jubilee. + +25:31. But if the house be in a village, that hath no walls, it shall +be sold according to the same law as the fields. If it be not redeemed +before, in the jubilee it shall return to the owner. + +25:32. The houses of Levites, which are in cities, may always be +redeemed. + +25:33. If they be not redeemed, in the jubilee they shall all return to +the owners: because the houses of the cities of the Levites are for +their possessions among the children of Israel. + +25:34. But let not their suburbs be sold, because it is a perpetual +possession. + +25:35. If thy brother be impoverished, and weak of hand, and thou +receive him as a stranger and sojourner, and he live with thee: + +25:36. Take not usury of him nor more than thou gavest. Fear thy God, +that thy brother may live with thee. + +25:37. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury: nor exact of him +any increase of fruits. + +25:38. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of +Egypt, that I might give you the land of Chanaan, and might be your +God. + +25:39. If thy brother constrained by poverty, sell himself to thee: +thou shalt not oppress him with the service of bondservants. + +25:40. But he shall be as a hireling, and a sojourner: he shall work +with thee until the year of the jubilee. + +25:41. And afterwards he shall go out with his children: and shall +return to his kindred and to the possession of his fathers. + +25:42. For they are my servants, and I brought them out of the land of +Egypt: let them not be sold as bondmen. + +25:43. Afflict him not by might: but fear thy God. + +25:44. Let your bondmen, and your bondwomen, be of the nations that are +round about you: + +25:45. And of the strangers that sojourn among you, or that were born +of them in your land. These you shall have for servants: + +25:46. And by right of inheritance shall leave them to your posterity, +and shall possess them for ever. But oppress not your brethren the +children of Israel by might. + +25:47. If the hand of a stranger or a sojourner grow strong among you, +and thy brother being impoverished sell himself to him, or to any of +his race: + +25:48. After the sale he may be redeemed. He that will of his brethren +shall redeem him: + +25:49. Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, or his kinsman, by blood, +or by affinity. But if he himself be able also, he shall redeem +himself: + +25:50. Counting only the years from the time of his selling unto the +year of the jubilee: and counting the money that he was sold for, +according to the number of the years and the reckoning of a hired +servant. + +25:51. If there be many years that remain until the jubilee, according +to them shall he also repay the price. + +25:52. If few, he shall make the reckoning with him according to the +number of the years: and shall repay to the buyer of what remaineth of +the years. + +25:53. His wages being allowed for which he served before: he shall not +afflict him violently in thy sight. + +25:54. And if by these means he cannot be redeemed, in the year of the +jubilee he shall go out with his children. + +25:55. For the children of Israel are my servants, whom I brought forth +out of the land of Egypt. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 26 + + +God's promises to them that keep his commandments. And the many +punishments with which he threatens transgressors. + +26:1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not make to yourselves any idol +or graven thing: neither shall you erect pillars, nor set up a +remarkable stone in your land, to adore it. For I am the Lord your God. + +26:2. Keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary. I am the Lord. + +26:3. If you walk in my precepts, and keep my commandments, and do +them, I will give you rain in due seasons. + +26:4. And the ground shall bring forth its increase: and the trees +shall be filled with fruit. + +26:5. The threshing of your harvest shall reach unto the vintage, and +the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and you shall eat your +bread to the full, and dwell in your land without fear. + +26:6. I will give peace in your coasts: you shall sleep, and there +shall be none to make you afraid. I will take away evil beasts: and the +sword shall not pass through your quarters. + +26:7. You shall pursue your enemies: and they shall fall before you. + +26:8. Five of yours shall pursue a hundred others: and a hundred of you +ten thousand. Your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. + +26:9. I will look on you, and make you increase: you shall be +multiplied, and I will establish my covenant with you. + +26:10. You shall eat the oldest of the old store: and, new coming on, +you shall cast away the old. + +26:11. I will set my tabernacle in the midst of you: and my soul shall +not cast you off. + +26:12. I will walk among you, and will be your God: and you shall be my +people. + +26:13. I am the Lord your God: who have brought you out of the land of +the Egyptians, that you should not serve them: and who have broken the +chains of your necks, that you might go upright. + +26:14. But if you will not hear me, nor do all my commandments: + +26:15. If you despise my laws, and contemn my judgments so as not to do +those things which are appointed by me, and to make void my covenant: + +26:16. I also will do these things to you. I will quickly visit you +with poverty, and burning heat, which shall waste your eyes, and +consume your lives. You shall sow your seed in vain, which shall be +devoured by your enemies. + +26:17. I will set my face against you, and you shall fall down before +your enemies: and shall be made subject to them that hate you. You +shall flee when no man pursueth you. + +26:18. But if you will not yet for all this obey me: I will chastise +you seven times more for your sins. + +26:19. And I will break the pride of your stubbornness: and I will make +to you the heaven above as iron, and the earth as brass. + +26:20. Your labour shall be spent in vain: the ground shall not bring +forth her increase: nor the trees yield their fruit. + +26:21. If you walk contrary to me, and will not hearken to me, I will +bring seven times more plagues upon you for your sins. + +26:22. And I will send in upon you the beasts of the field, to destroy +you and your cattle, and make you few in number: and that your highways +may be desolate. + +26:23. And if even so you will not amend, but will walk contrary to me: + +26:24. I also will walk contrary to you, and will strike you seven +times for your sins. + +26:25. And I will bring in upon you the sword that shall avenge my +covenant. And when you shall flee into the cities, I will send the +pestilence in the midst of you. And you shall be delivered into the +hands of your enemies, + +26:26. After I shall have broken the staff of your bread: so that ten +women shall bake your bread in one oven, and give it out by weight: and +you shall eat, and shall not be filled, + +26:27. But if you will not for all this hearken to me, but will walk +against me + +26:28. I will also go against you with opposite fury: and I will +chastise you with seven plagues for your sins, + +26:29. So that you shall eat the flesh of your sons and of your +daughters. + +26:30. I will destroy your high places, and break your idols. You shall +fall among the ruins of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. + +26:31. Insomuch that I will bring your cities to be a wilderness: and I +will make your sanctuaries desolate: and will receive no more your +sweet odours. + +26:32. And I will destroy your land: and your enemies shall be +astonished at it, when they shall be the inhabitants thereof. + +26:33. And I will scatter you among the Gentiles: and I will draw out +the sword after you. And your land shall be desert, and your cities +destroyed. + +26:34. Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths all the days of her +desolation. When you shall be + +26:35. In the enemy's land, she shall keep a sabbath, and rest in the +sabbaths of her desolation: because she did not rest in your sabbaths, +when you dwelt therein. + +26:36. And as to them that shall remain of you I will send fear in +their hearts in the countries of their enemies. The sound of a flying +leaf shall terrify them: and they shall flee as it were from the sword. +They shall fall, when no man pursueth them. + +26:37. And they shall every one fall upon their brethren as fleeing +from wars: none of you shall dare to resist your enemies. + +26:38. You shall perish among the Gentiles: and an enemy's land shall +consume you. + +26:39. And if of them also some remain, they shall pine away in their +iniquities, in the land of their enemies: and they shall be afflicted +for the sins of their fathers, and their own. + +26:40. Until they confess their iniquities, and the iniquities of their +ancestors, whereby they have transgressed against me, and walked +contrary unto me. + +26:41. Therefore I also will walk against them, and bring them into +their enemies' land until their uncircumcised mind be ashamed. Then +shall they pray for their sins. + +26:42. And I will remember my covenant, that I made with Jacob, and +Isaac, and Abraham. I will remember also the land: + +26:43. Which when she shall be left by them, shall enjoy her sabbaths, +being desolate for them. But they shall pray for their sins, because +they rejected my judgments, and despised my laws. + +26:44. And yet for all that when they were in the land of their +enemies, I did not cast them off altogether. Neither did I so despise +them that they should be quite consumed: and I should make void my +covenant with them. For I am the Lord their God. + +26:45. And I will remember my former covenant, when I brought them out +of the land of Egypt, in the sight of the Gentiles, to be their God. I +am the Lord. These are the judgments, and precepts, and laws, which the +Lord gave between him and the children of Israel, in mount Sinai, by +the hand of Moses. + + + +Leviticus Chapter 27 + + +Of vows and tithes. + +27:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +27:2. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The +man that shall have made a vow, and promised his soul to God, shall +give the price according to estimation. + +27:3. If it be a man from twenty years old unto sixty years old, he +shall give fifty sicles of silver, after the weight of the sanctuary: + +27:4. If a woman, thirty. + +27:5. But from the fifth year until the twentieth, a man shall give +twenty sicles: a woman ten. + +27:6. From one month until the fifth year, for a male shall be given +five sicles: for a female three. + +27:7. A man that is sixty years old or upward, shall give fifteen +sicles: a woman ten. + +27:8. If he be poor, and not able to pay the estimation, he shall stand +before the priest: and as much as he shall value him at, and see him +able to pay, so much shall he give. + +27:9. But a beast that may be sacrificed to the Lord, if any one shall +vow, shall be holy, + +27:10. And cannot be changed: that is to say, neither a better for a +worse, nor a worse for a better. And if he shall change it: both that +which was changed, and that for which it was changed, shall be +consecrated to the Lord. + +27:11. An unclean beast, which cannot be sacrificed to the Lord, if any +man shall vow, shall be brought before the priest: + +27:12. Who judging whether it be good or bad, shall set the price. + +27:13. Which, if he that offereth it will give, he shall add above the +estimation the fifth part. + +27:14. If a man shall vow his house, and sanctify it to the Lord, the +priest shall consider it, whether it be good or bad: and it shall be +sold according to the price, which he shall appoint. + +27:15. But if he that vowed, will redeem it, he shall give the fifth +part of the estimation over and above: and shall have the house. + +27:16. And if he vow the field of his possession, and consecrate it to +the Lord, the price shall be rated according to the measure of the +seed. If the ground be sown with thirty bushels of barley, let it be +sold for fifty sicles of silver. + +27:17. If he vow his field immediately from the year of jubilee that is +beginning: as much as it may be worth, at so much it shall be rated. + +27:18. But if some time after, the priest shall reckon the money +according to the number of years that remain until the jubilee, and the +price shall be abated. + +27:19. And if he that had vowed, will redeem his field, he shall add +the fifth part of the money of the estimation, and shall possess it. + +27:20. And if he will not redeem it, but it be sold to any other man, +he that vowed it, may not redeem it any more. + +27:21. For when the day of jubilee cometh, it shall be sanctified to +the Lord, and as a possession consecrated, pertaineth to the right of +the priest. + +27:22. If a field that was bought, and not of a man's ancestors' +possession, be sanctified to the Lord: + +27:23. The priest shall reckon the price according to the number of +years, unto the jubilee. And he that had vowed, shall give that to the +Lord. + +27:24. But in the jubilee, it shall return to the former owner, who had +sold it, and had it in the lot of his possession. + +27:25. All estimation shall be made according to the sicle of the +sanctuary. A sicle hath twenty obols. + +27:26. The firstborn, which belong to the Lord, no man may sanctify and +vow: whether it be bullock, or sheep, they are the Lord's. + +27:27. And if it be an unclean beast, he that offereth it shall redeem +it, according to thy estimation, and shall add the fifth part of the +price. If he will not redeem it, it shall be sold to another for how +much soever it was estimated by thee. + +27:28. Any thing that is devoted to the Lord, whether it be man, or +beast, or field, shall not be sold: neither may it be redeemed. +Whatsoever is once consecrated shall be holy of holies to the Lord. + +27:29. And any consecration that is offered by man, shall not be +redeemed, but dying shall die. + +27:30. All tithes of the land, whether of corn, or of the fruits of +trees, are the Lord's, and are sanctified to him. + +27:31. And if any man will redeem his tithes, he shall add the fifth +part of them. + +27:32. Of all the tithes of oxen, and sheep, and goats, that pass under +the shepherd's rod, every tenth that cometh shall be sanctified to the +Lord. + +27:33. It shall not be chosen neither good nor bad, neither shall it be +changed for another. If any man change it: both that which was changed, +and that for which it was changed, shall be sanctified to the Lord, and +shall not be redeemed. + +27:34. These are the precepts which the Lord commanded Moses for the +children of Israel in mount Sinai. + + + + +THE BOOK OF NUMBERS + + + +This fourth Book of Moses is called NUMBERS, because it begins with the +numbering of the people. The Hebrews, from its first words, call it +VAIEDABBER. It contains the transactions of the Israelites from the +second month of the second year after their going out of Egypt, until +the beginning of the eleventh month of the fortieth year; that is, a +history almost of thirty-nine years. + + + +Numbers Chapter 1 + + +The children of Israel are numbered: the Levites are designed to serve +the tabernacle. + +1:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai in the +tabernacle of the covenant, the first day of the second month, the +second year of their going out of Egypt, saying: + +1:2. Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel by +their families, and houses, and the names of every one, as many as are +of the male sex, + +1:3. From twenty years old and upwards, of all the men of Israel fit +for war, and you shall number them by their troops, thou and Aaron. + +1:4. And there shall be with you the princes of the tribes, and of the +houses in their kindreds, + +1:5. Whose names are these: Of Ruben, Elisur the son of Sedeur. + +1:6. Of Simeon, Salamiel the son of Surisaddai. + +1:7. Of Juda, Nahasson the son of Aminadab. + +1:8. Of Issachar, Nathanael the son of Suar. + +1:9. Of Zabulon, Eliab the son of Helon. + +1:10. And of the sons of Joseph: of Ephraim, Elisama the son of Ammiud: +of Manasses, Gamaliel the son of Phadassur. + +1:11. Of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gedeon. + +1:12. Of Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammisaddai. + +1:13. Of Aser, Phegiel the son of Ochran. + +1:14. Of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Duel. + +1:15. Of Nephtali, Ahira the son of Enan. + +1:16. These are the most noble princes of the multitude by their tribes +and kindreds, and the chiefs of the army of Israel: + +1:17. Whom Moses and Aaron took with all the multitude of the common +people: + +1:18. And assembled them on the first day of the second month, +reckoning them up by the kindreds, and houses, and families, and heads, +and names of every one from twenty years old and upward, + +1:19. As the Lord had commanded Moses. And they were numbered in the +desert of Sinai. + +1:20. Of Ruben the eldest son of Israel, by their generations and +families and houses and names of every head, all that were of the male +sex, from twenty years old and upward, that were able to go forth to +war, + +1:21. Were forty-six thousand five hundred. + +1:22. Of the sons of Simeon by their generations and families, and +houses of their kindreds, were reckoned up by the names and heads of +every one, all that were of the male sex, from twenty years old and +upward, that were able to go forth to war, + +1:23. Fifty-nine thousand three hundred. + +1:24. Of the sons of Gad, by their generations and families and houses +of their kindreds were reckoned up by the names of every one from +twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war, + +1:25. Forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty. + +1:26. Of the sons of Juda, by their generations and families and houses +of their kindreds, by the names of every one from twenty years old and +upward, all that were able to go forth to war, + +1:27. Were reckoned up seventy-four thousand six hundred. + +1:28. Of the sons of Issachar, by their generations and families and +houses of their kindreds, by the names of every one from twenty years +old and upward, all that could go forth to war, + +1:29. Were reckoned up fifty-four thousand four hundred. + +1:30. Of the sons of Zabulon, by the generations and families and +houses of their kindreds, were reckoned up by the names of every one +from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to +war, + +1:31. Fifty-seven thousand four hundred. + +1:32. Of the sons of Joseph, namely, of the sons of Ephraim, by the +generations and families and houses of their kindreds, were reckoned up +by the names of every one, from twenty years old and upward, all that +were able to go forth to war, + +1:33. Forty thousand five hundred. + +1:34. Moreover of the sons of Manasses, by the generations and families +and houses of their kindreds, were reckoned up by the names of every +one from twenty years old and upward, all that could go forth to war, + +1:35. Thirty-two thousand two hundred. + +1:36. Of the sons of Benjamin, by their generations and families and +houses of their kindreds, were reckoned up by the names of every one +from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to +war, + +1:37. Thirty-five thousand four hundred. + +1:38. Of the sons of Dan, by their generations and families and houses +of their kindreds, were reckoned up by the names of every one from +twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war, + +1:39. Sixty-two thousand seven hundred. + +1:40. Of the sons of Aser, by their generations and families and houses +of their kindreds, were reckoned up by the names of every one from +twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war, + +1:41. Forty-one thousand and five hundred. + +1:42. Of the sons of Nephtali, by their generations and families and +houses of their kindreds, were reckoned up by the names of every one +from twenty years old and upward, were able to go forth to war, + +1:43. Fifty-three thousand four hundred. + +1:44. These are they who were numbered by Moses and Aaron, and the +twelve princes of Israel, every one by the houses of their kindreds. + +1:45. And the whole number of the children of Israel by their houses +and families, from twenty years old and upward, that were able to go to +war, + +1:46. Were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty men. + +1:47. But the Levites in the tribes of their families were not numbered +with them. + +1:48. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +1:49. Number not the tribe of Levi, neither shalt thou put down the sum +of them with the children of Israel: + +1:50. But appoint them over the tabernacle of the testimony, and all +the vessels thereof, and whatsoever pertaineth to the ceremonies. They +shall carry the tabernacle and all the furniture thereof: and they +shall minister, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle. + +1:51. When you are to go forward, the Levites shall take down the +tabernacle: when you are to camp, they shall set it up. What stranger +soever cometh to it, shall be slain. + +1:52. And the children of Israel shall camp every man by his troops and +bands and army. + +1:53. But the Levites shall pitch their tents round about the +tabernacle, lest there come indignation upon the multitude of the +children of Israel, and they shall keep watch, and guard the tabernacle +of the testimony. + +1:54. And the children of Israel did according to all things which the +Lord had commanded Moses. + + + +Numbers Chapter 2 + + +The order of the tribes in their camp. + +2:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: + +2:2. All the children of Israel shall camp by their troops, ensigns, +and standards, and the houses of their kindreds, round about the +tabernacle of the covenant. + +2:3. On the east Juda shall pitch his tents by the bands of his army: +and the prince of his sons; shall be Nahasson the son of Aminadab. + +2:4. And the whole sum of the fighting men of his stock, were +seventy-four thousand six hundred. + +2:5. Next unto him they of the tribe of Issachar encamped, whose prince +was Nathanael, the son of Suar. + +2:6. And the whole number of his fighting men were fifty-four thousand +four hundred. + +2:7. In the tribe of Zabulon the prince was Eliab the son of Helon. + +2:8. And all the army of fighting men of his stock, were fifty-seven +thousand four hundred. + +2:9. All that were numbered in the camp of Juda, were a hundred and +eighty-six thousand four hundred: and they by their troops shall march +first. + +2:10. In the camp of the sons of Ruben, on the south side, the prince +shall be Elisur the son of Sedeur: + +2:11. And the whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were +forty-six thousand five hundred. + +2:12. Beside him camped they of the tribe of Simeon: whose prince was +Salamiel the son of Surisaddai. + +2:13. And the whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were +fifty-nine thousand three hundred. + +2:14. In the tribe of Gad the prince was Eliasaph the son of Duel. + +2:15. And the whole army of his righting men that were numbered, were +forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty. + +2:16. All that were reckoned up in the camp of Ruben, were a hundred +and fifty-one thousand four hundred and fifty, by their troops: they +shall march in the second place. + +2:17. And the tabernacle of the testimony shall be carried by the +officers of the Levites and their troops. As it shall be set up, so +shall it be taken down. Every one shall march according to their +places, and ranks. + +2:18. On the west side shall be the camp of the sons of Ephraim, whose +prince was Elisama the son of Ammiud. + +2:19. The whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were +forty thousand five hundred. + +2:20. And with them the tribe of the sons of Manasses, whose prince was +Gamaliel the son of Phadassur. + +2:21. And the whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were +thirty-two thousand two hundred. + +2:22. In the tribe of the sons of Benjamin the prince was Abidan the +son of Gedeon. + +2:23. And the whole army of fighting men, that were reckoned up, were +thirty-five thousand four hundred. + +2:24. All that were numbered in the camp of Ephraim, were a hundred and +eight-thousand one hundred by their troops: they shall march in the +third place. + +2:25. On the north side camped the sons of Dan: whose prince was +Ahiezar the son of Ammisaddai. + +2:26. The whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were +sixty-two thousand seven hundred. + +2:27. Beside him they of the tribe of Aser pitched their tents: whose +prince was Phegiel the son of Ochran. + +2:28. The whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were +forty-one thousand five hundred. + +2:29. Of the tribe of the sons of Nephtali the prince was Ahira the son +of Enan. + +2:30. The whole army of his fighting men, were fifty-three thousand +four hundred. + +2:31. All that were numbered in the camp of Dan, were a hundred and +fifty-seven thousand six hundred: and they shall march last. + +2:32. This is the number of the children of Israel, of their army +divided according to the houses of their kindreds and their troops, six +hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty. + +2:33. And the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel: +for so the Lord had commanded Moses. + +2:34. And the children of Israel did according to all things that the +Lord had commanded. They camped by their troops, and marched by the +families and houses of their fathers. + + + +Numbers Chapter 3 + + +The Levites are numbered and their offices distinguished. They are +taken in the place of the firstborn of the children of Israel. + +3:1. These are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the +Lord spoke to Moses in mount Sinai. + +3:2. And these the names of the sons of Aaron: his firstborn Nadab, +then Abiu, and Eleazar, and Ithamar. + +3:3. These the names of the sons of Aaron the priests that were +anointed, and whose hands were filled and consecrated, to do the +functions of priesthood. + +3:4. Now Nadab and Abiu died, without children, when they offered +strange fire before the Lord, in the desert of Sinai: and Eleazar and +Ithamar performed the priestly office in the presence of Aaron their +father. + +3:5. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +3:6. Bring the tribe of Levi, and make them stand in the sight of Aaron +the priest to minister to him, and let them watch, + +3:7. And observe whatsoever appertaineth to the service of the +multitude before the tabernacle of the testimony, + +3:8. And let them keep the vessels of the tabernacle, serving in the +ministry thereof. + +3:9. And thou shalt give the Levites for a gift, + +3:10. To Aaron and to his sons, to whom they are delivered by the +children of Israel. But thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons over the +service of priesthood. The stranger that approacheth to minister, shall +be put to death. + +3:11. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +3:12. I have taken the Levites from the children of Israel, for every +firstborn that openeth the womb among the children of Israel, and the +Levites shall be mine. + +3:13. For every firstborn is mine: since I struck the firstborn in the +land of Egypt: I have sanctified to myself whatsoever is firstborn in +Israel both of man and beast, they are mine: I am the Lord. + +3:14. And the Lord spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai, saying: + +3:15. Number the sons of Levi by the houses of their fathers and their +families, every male from one month and upward. + +3:16. Moses numbered them as the Lord had commanded. + +3:17. And there were found sons of Levi by their names, Gerson and +Caath Merari. + +3:18. The sons of Gerson: Lebni and Semei. + +3:19. The sons of Caath: Amram, and Jesaar, Hebron and Oziel: + +3:20. The sons of Merari, Moholi and Musi. + +3:21. Of Gerson were two families, the Lebnites, and the Semeites: + +3:22. Of which were numbered, people of the male sex from one month and +upward, seven thousand five hundred. + +3:23. These shall pitch behind the tabernacle on the west, + +3:24. Under their prince Eliasaph the son of Lael. + +3:25. And their charge shall be in the tabernacle of the covenant: + +3:26. The tabernacle itself and the cover thereof, the hanging that is +drawn before the doors of the tabernacle of the covenant, and the +curtains of the court: the hanging also that is hanged in the entry of +the court of the tabernacle, and whatsoever belongeth to the rite of +the altar, the cords of the tabernacle, and all the furniture thereof. + +3:27. Of the kindred of Caath come the families of the Amramites and +Jesaarites and Hebronites and Ozielites. These are the families of the +Caathites reckoned up by their names: + +3:28. All of the male sex from one month and upward, eight thousand six +hundred: they shall have the guard of the sanctuary, + +3:29. And shall camp on the south side. + +3:30. And their prince shall be Elisaphan the son of Oziel: + +3:31. And they shall keep the ark, and the table and the candlestick, +the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary, wherewith they minister, +and the veil, and all the furniture of this kind. + +3:32. And the prince of the princes of the Levites, Eleazar, the son of +Aaron the priest, shall be over them that watch for the guard of the +sanctuary. + +3:33. And of Merari are the families of the Moholites, and Musites, +reckoned up by their names: + +3:34. All of the male kind from one month and upward, six thousand two +hundred. + +3:35. Their prince Suriel the son of Abihaiel: their shall camp on the +north side. + +3:36. Under their custody shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and +the bars, and the pillars and their sockets, and all things that +pertain to this kind of service: + +3:37. And the pillars of the court round about with their sockets, and +the pins with their cords. + +3:38. Before the tabernacle of the covenant, that is to say on the east +side shall Moses and Aaron camp, with their sons, having the custody of +the sanctuary, in the midst of the children of Israel. What stranger +soever cometh unto it, shall be put to death. + +3:39. All the Levites, that I Moses and Aaron numbered according to the +precept of the Lord, by their f families, of the male kind from one +month and upward, were twenty-two thousand. + +3:40. And the Lord said to Moses: Number the firstborn of the male sex +of the children of Israel, from one month and upward, and thou shalt +take the sum of them. + +3:41. And thou shalt take the Levites to me for all the firstborn of +the children of Israel, I am the Lord: and their cattle for all the +firstborn of the cattle of the children of Israel: + +3:42. Moses reckoned up, as the Lord had commanded, the firstborn of +the children of Israel: + +3:43. And the males by their names, from one month and upward, were +twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three. + +3:44. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +3:45. Take the Levites for the firstborn of the children of Israel, and +the cattle of the Levites for their cattle, and the Levites shall be +mine. I am the Lord. + +3:46. But for the price of the two hundred and seventy-three, of the +firstborn of the children of Israel, that exceed the number of the +Levites, + +3:47. Thou shalt take five sicles for every bead, according to the +weight of the sanctuary. A sicle hath twenty obols. + +3:48. And thou shalt give the money to Aaron and his sons, the price of +them that are above. + +3:49. Moses therefore took the money of them that were above, and whom +they had redeemed from the Levites, + +3:50. For the firstborn of the children of Israel, one thousand three +hundred and sixty-five sicles, according to the weight of the +sanctuary, + +3:51. And gave it to Aaron and his sons according to the word that the +Lord had commanded him. + + + +Numbers Chapter 4 + + +The age and time of the Levites' service: their offices and burdens. + +4:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, and Aaron, saying: + +4:2. Take the sum of the sons of Caath from the midst of the Levites, +by their houses and families. + +4:3. From thirty years old and upward, to fifty years old, of all that +go in to stand and to minister in the tabernacle of the covenant. + +4:4. This is the service of the sons of Caath: + +4:5. When the camp is; to set forward, Aaron and his sons shall go into +the tabernacle of the covenant, and the holy of holies, and shall take +down the veil that hangeth before the door, and shall wrap up the ark +of the testimony in it, + +4:6. And shall cover it again with a cover of violet skins, and shall +spread over it a cloth all of violet, and shall put in the bars. + +4:7. They shall wrap up also the table of proposition in a cloth of +violet, and shall put with it the censers and little mortars, the cups +and bowls to pour out the libations: the loaves shall be always on it: + +4:8. And they shall spread over it a cloth of scarlet, which again they +shall cover with a covering of violet skins, and shall put in the bars. + +4:9. They shall take also a cloth of violet wherewith they shall cover +the candlestick with the lamps and tongs thereof and the snuffers and +all the oil vessels, which are necessary for the dressing of the lamps: + +4:10. And over all they shall put a cover of violet skins and put in +the bars. + +4:11. And they shall wrap up the golden altar also in a cloth of +violet, and shall spread over it a cover of violet skins, and put in +the bars. + +4:12. All the vessels wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, they +shall wrap up in a cloth of violet, and shall spread over it a cover of +violet skins, and put in the bars. + +4:13. They shall cleanse the altar also from the ashes, and shall wrap +it up in a purple cloth, + +4:14. And shall put it with all the vessels that they use in the +ministry thereof, that is to say, firepans, fleshhooks and forks, +pothooks and shovels. They shall cover all the vessels of the altar +together with a covering of violet skins, and shall put in the bars. + +4:15. And when Aaron and his sons have wrapped up the sanctuary and the +vessels thereof at the removing of the camp, then shall the sons of +Caath enter in to carry the things wrapped up: and they shall not touch +the vessels of the sanctuary, lest they die. These are the burdens of +the sons of Caath: in the tabernacle of the covenant: + +4:16. And over them shall be Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, to +whose charge pertaineth the oil to dress the lamps, and the sweet +incense, and the sacrifice, that is always offered, and the oil of +unction, and whatsoever pertaineth to the service of the tabernacle, +and of all the vessels that are in the sanctuary. + +4:17. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: + +4:18. Destroy not the people of Caath from the midst of the Levites: + +4:19. But do this to them, that they may live, and not die, by touching +the holies of holies. Aaron and his sons shall go in, and they shall +appoint every man his work, and shall divide the burdens that every man +is to carry. + +4:20. Let not others by any curiosity see the things that are in the +sanctuary before they be wrapped up, otherwise they shall die. + +4:21. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +4:22. Take the sum of the sons of Gerson also by their houses and +families and kindreds. + +4:23. From thirty years old and upward, unto fifty years old. Number +them all that go in and minister in the tabernacle of the covenant. + +4:24. This is the office of the family of the Gersonites: + +4:25. To carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the roof of the +covenant, the other covering, and the violet covering over all, and the +hanging that hangeth in the entry of the tabernacle of the covenant, + +4:26. The curtains of the court, and the veil in the entry that is +before tabernacle. All things that pertain to the altar, the cords and +the vessels of the ministry, + +4:27. The sons of Gerson shall carry, by the commandment of Aaron and +his sons: and each man shall know to what burden he must be assigned. + +4:28. This is the service of the family of the Gersonites in the +tabernacle of the covenant, and they shall be under the hand of Ithamar +the son of Aaron the priest. + +4:29. Thou shalt reckon up the sons of Merari also by the families and +houses of their fathers, + +4:30. From thirty years old and upward, unto fifty years old, all that +go in to the office of their ministry, and to the service of the +covenant of the testimony. + +4:31. These are their burdens: They shall carry the boards of the +tabernacle and the bars thereof, the pillars and their sockets, + +4:32. The pillars also of the court round about, with their sockets and +pins and cords. They shall receive by account all the vessels and +furniture, and so shall carry them. + +4:33. This is the office of the family of the Merarites, and their +ministry in the tabernacle of the covenant: and they shall be under the +hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. + +4:34. So Moses and Aaron and the princes of the synagogue reckoned up +the sons of Caath, by their kindreds and the houses of their fathers, + +4:35. From thirty years old and upward, unto fifty years old, all that +go in to the ministry of the tabernacle of the covenant: + +4:36. And they were found two thousand seven hundred and fifty. + +4:37. This is the number of the people of Caath that go in to the +tabernacle of the covenant: these did Moses and Aaron number according +to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses. + +4:38. The sons of Gerson also were numbered by the kindreds and houses +of their fathers, + +4:39. From thirty years old and upward, unto fifty years old, all that +go in to minister in the tabernacle of the covenant: + +4:40. And they were found two thousand six hundred and thirty. + +4:41. This is the people of the Gersonites, whom Moses and Aaron +numbered according to the word of the Lord. + +4:42. The sons of Merari also were numbered by the kindreds and houses +of their fathers, + +4:43. From thirty years old and upward, unto fifty years old, all that +go in to fulfil the rites of the tabernacle of the covenant: + +4:44. And they were found three thousand two hundred. + +4:45. This is the number of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron +reckoned up according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of +Moses. + +4:46. All that were reckoned up of the Levites, and whom Moses and +Aaron and the princes of Israel took by name, by the kindreds and +houses of their fathers, + +4:47. From thirty years old and upward, until fifty years old, that go +into the ministry of the tabernacle, and to carry the burdens, + +4:48. Were in all eight thousand five hundred and eighty. + +4:49. Moses reckoned them up according to the word of the Lord, every +one according to their office and burdens, as the Lord had commanded +him. + + + +Numbers Chapter 5 + + +The unclean are removed out of the camp: confession of sins, and +satisfaction: firstfruits and oblations belonging to the priests: trial +of jealousy. + +5:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +5:2. Command the children of Israel, that they cast out of the camp +every leper, and whosoever hath an issue of seed, or is defiled by the +dead: + +5:3. Whether it be man or woman, cast ye them out of the camp, lest +they defile it when I shall dwell with you, + +5:4. And the children of Israel did so, and they cast them forth +without the camp, as the Lord had spoken to Moses. + +5:5. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +5:6. Say to the children of Israel: When a man or woman shall have +committed any of all the sins that men are wont to commit, and by +negligence shall have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and +offended, + +5:7. They shall confess their sin, and restore the principal itself, +and the fifth part over and above, to him against whom they have +sinned. + +Shall confess. . .This confession and satisfaction, ordained in the Old +Law, was a figure of the sacrament of penance. + +5:8. But if there be no one to receive it, they shall give it to the +Lord, and it shall be the priest's, besides the ram that is offered for +expiation, to be an atoning sacrifice. + +5:9. All the firstfruits also, which the children of Israel offer, +belong to the priest: + +5:10. And whatsoever is offered into the sanctuary by every one, and is +delivered into the hands of the priest, it shall be his. + +5:11. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +5:12. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The +man whose wife shall have gone astray, and contemning her husband, + +5:13. Shall have slept with another man, and her husband cannot +discover it, but the adultery is secret, and cannot be proved by +witnesses, because she was not found in the adultery: + +5:14. If the spirit of jealousy stir up the husband against his wife, +who either is defiled, or is charged with false suspicion, + +The spirit of jealousy, etc. . .This ordinance was designed to clear the +innocent, and to prevent jealous husbands from doing mischief to their +wives: as likewise to give all a horror of adultery, by punishing it in +so remarkable a manner. + +5:15. He shall bring her to the priest, and shall offer an oblation for +her, the tenth part of a measure of barley meal: he shall not pour oil +thereon, nor put frankincense upon it: because it is a sacrifice of +jealousy, and an oblation searching out adultery. + +5:16. The priest therefore shall offer it, and set it before the Lord. + +5:17. And he shall take holy water in an earthen vessel, and he shall +cast a little earth of the pavement of the tabernacle into it. + +5:18. And when the woman shall stand before the Lord, he shall uncover +her head, and shall put on her hands the sacrifice of remembrance, and +the oblation of jealousy: and he himself shall hold the most bitter +waters, whereon he hath heaped curses with execration. + +5:19. And he shall adjure her, and shall say: If another man hath not +slept with thee, and if thou be not defiled by forsaking thy husband's +bed, these most bitter waters, on which I have heaped curses, shall not +hurt thee. + +5:20. But if thou hast gone aside from thy husband, and art defiled, +and hast lain with another man: + +5:21. These curses shall light upon thee: The Lord make thee a curse, +and an example for all among his people: may he make thy thigh to rot, +and may thy belly swell and burst asunder. + +5:22. Let the cursed waters enter into thy belly, and may thy womb +swell and thy thigh rot. And the woman shall answer, Amen, amen. + +5:23. And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and shall wash +them out with the most bitter waters, upon which he hath heaped the +curses, + +5:24. And he shall give them her to drink. And when she hath drunk them +up, + +5:25. The priest shall take from her hand the sacrifice of jealousy, +and shall elevate it before the Lord, and shall put it upon the altar: +yet so as first, + +5:26. To take a handful of the sacrifice of that which is offered, and +burn it upon the altar: and so give the most bitter waters to the woman +to drink. + +5:27. And when she hath drunk them, if she be defiled, and having +despised her husband be guilty of adultery, the malediction shall go +through her, and her belly swelling, her thigh shall rot: and the woman +shall be a curse, and an example to all the people. + +5:28. But if she be not defiled, she shall not be hurt, and shall bear +children. + +5:29. This is the law of jealousy. If a woman hath gone aside from her +husband, and be defiled, + +5:30. And the husband stirred up by the spirit of jealousy bring her +before the Lord, and the priest do to her according to all things that +are here written: + +5:31. The husband shall be blameless, and she shall bear her iniquity. + + + +Numbers Chapter 6 + + +The law of the Nazarites: the form of blessing the people. + +6:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +6:2. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: When +a man, or woman, shall make a vow to be sanctified, and will consecrate +themselves to the Lord: + +6:3. They shall abstain from wine, and from every thing that may make a +man drunk. They shall not drink vinegar of wine, or of any other drink, +nor any thing that is pressed out of the grape: nor shall they eat +grapes either fresh or dried. + +6:4. All the days that they are consecrated to the Lord by vow: they +shall eat nothing that cometh of the vineyard, from the raisin even to +the kernel. + +6:5. All the time of his separation no razor shall pass over his head, +until the day be fulfilled of his consecration to the Lord. He shall be +holy, and shall let the hair of his head grow. + +6:6. All the time of his consecration he shall not go in to any dead, + +6:7. Neither shall he make himself unclean, even for his father, or for +his mother, or for his brother, or for his sister, when they die, +because the consecration of his God is upon his head. + +6:8. All the days of his separation he shall be holy to the Lord. + +6:9. But if any man die suddenly before him: the head of his +consecration shall be defiled: and he shall shave it forthwith on the +same day of his purification, and again on the seventh day. + +6:10. And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young +pigeons to the priest in the entry of the covenant of the testimony. + +6:11. And the priest shall offer one for sin, and the other for a +holocaust, and shall pray for him, for that he hath sinned by the dead: +and he shall sanctify his head that day: + +6:12. And shall consecrate to the Lord the days of his separation, +offering a lamb of one year for sin: yet so that the former days be +made void, because his sanctification was profaned. + +6:13. This is the law of consecration. When the days which he had +determined by vow shall be expired, he shall bring him to the door of +the tabernacle of the covenant, + +6:14. And shall offer his oblation to the Lord: one he lamb of a year +old without blemish for a holocaust, and one ewe lamb of a year old +without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for a +victim of peace offering, + +6:15. A basket also of unleavened bread, tempered with oil, and wafers +without leaven anointed with oil, and the libations of each: + +6:16. And the priest shall present them before the Lord, and shall +offer both the sin offering and the holocaust. + +6:17. But the ram he shall immolate for a sacrifice of peace offering +to the Lord, offering at the same time the basket of unleavened bread, +and the libations that are due by custom. + +6:18. Then shall the hair of the consecration of the Nazarite, be +shaved off before the door of the tabernacle of the covenant: and he +shall take his hair, and lay it upon the fire, which is under the +sacrifice of the peace offerings. + +6:19. And shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened +cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and he shall deliver +them into the hands of the Nazarite, after his head is shaven. + +6:20. And receiving them again from him, he shall elevate them in the +sight of the Lord: and they being sanctified shall belong to the +priest, as the breast, which was commanded to be separated, and the +shoulder. After this the Nazarite may drink wine. + +6:21. This is the law of the Nazarite, when he hath vowed his oblation +to the Lord in the time of his consecration, besides those things which +his hand shall find, according to that which he had vowed in his mind, +so shall he do for the fulfilling of his sanctification. + +6:22. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +6:23. Say to Aaron and his sons: Thus shall you bless the children of +Israel, and you shall say to them: + +6:24. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. + +6:25. The Lord shew his face to thee, and have mercy on thee. + +6:26. The Lord turn his countenance to thee, and give thee peace. + +6:27. And they shall invoke my name upon the children of Israel, and I +will bless them. + + + +Numbers Chapter 7 + + +The offerings of the princes at the dedication of the tabernacle. God +speaketh to Moses from the propitiatory. + +7:1. And it came to pass in the day that Moses had finished the +tabernacle, and set it up, and had anointed and sanctified it with all +its vessels, the altar likewise and all the vessels thereof, + +7:2. The princes of Israel and the heads of the families, in every +tribe, who were the rulers of them who had been numbered, offered + +7:3. Their gifts before the Lord, six wagons covered, and twelve oxen. +Two princes offered one wagon, and each one an ox, and they offered +them before the tabernacle. + +7:4. And the Lord said to Moses: + +7:5. Receive them from them to serve in the ministry of the tabernacle, +and thou shalt deliver them to the Levites according to the order of +their ministry. + +7:6. Moses therefore receiving the wagons and the oxen, delivered them +to the Levites. + +7:7. Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gerson, according +to their necessity. + +7:8. The other four wagons, and eight oxen he gave to the sons of +Merari, according to their offices and service, under the hand of +Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. + +7:9. But to the sons of Caath he gave no wagons or oxen: because they +serve in the sanctuary and carry their burdens upon their own +shoulders. + +7:10. And the princes offered for the dedication of the altar on the +day when it was anointed, their oblation before the altar. + +7:11. And the Lord said to Moses: Let each of the princes one day after +another offer their gifts for the dedication of the altar. + +7:12. The first day Nahasson the son of Aminadab of the tribe of Juda +offered his offering: + +7:13. And his offering was a silver dish weighing one hundred and +thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles according to the weight +of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil for a sacrifice: + +7:14. A little mortar of ten sicles of gold full of incense: + +7:15. An ox of the herd, and a ram, and lamb of a year old for a +holocaust: + +7:16. And a buck goat for sin: + +7:17. And for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, +five he goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of +Nahasson the son of Aminadab. + +7:18. The second day Nathanael the son of Suar, prince of the tribe of +Issachar, made his offering, + +7:19. A silver dish weighing one hundred and thirty sicles, a silver +bowl of seventy sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary, both +full of flour tempered with oil for a sacrifice: + +7:20. A little mortar of gold weighing ten sicles full of incense: + +7:21. An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a +holocaust: + +7:22. And a buck goat for sin: + +7:23. And for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, +five buck goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of +Nathanael the son of Suar. + +7:24. The third day the prince of the sons of Zabulon, Eliab the son of +Helon, + +7:25. Offered a silver dish weighing one hundred and thirty sicles, a +silver bowl of seventy sicles by the weight of the sanctuary, both full +of flour tempered with oil for a sacrifice: + +7:26. A little mortar of gold weighing ten sicles full of incense: + +7:27. An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a +holocaust: + +7:28. And a buck goat for sin: + +7:29. And for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, +five buck goats, five lambs of a year old. This is the oblation of +Eliab the son of Helon. + +7:30. The fourth day the prince of the sons of Ruben, Elisur the son of +Sedeur, + +7:31. Offered a silver dish weighing one hundred and thirty sicles, a +silver bowl of seventy sicles according to the weight of the sanctuary, +both full of flour tempered with oil for a sacrifice: + +7:32. A little mortar of gold weighing ten sicles full of incense: + +7:33. An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old, for a +holocaust: + +7:34. And a buck goat for sin: + +7:35. And for victims of peace offerings two oxen, five rams, five buck +goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Elisur the +son of Sedeur. + +7:36. The fifth day the prince of the sons of Simeon, Salamiel the son +of Surisaddai, + +7:37. Offered a silver dish weighing one hundred and thirty sicles, a +silver bowl of seventy sicles after the weight of the sanctuary, both +full of flour tempered with oil for a sacrifice: + +7:38. A little mortar of gold weighing ten sicles full of incense: + +7:39. An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a +holocaust: + +7:40. And a buck goat for sin: + +7:41. And for sacrifices of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five +buck goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Salamiel +the son of Surisaddai. + +7:42. The sixth day the prince of the sons of Gad, Eliasaph the son of +Duel, + +7:43. Offered a silver dish weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a +silver bowl of seventy sicles by the weight of the sanctuary, both full +of flour tempered with oil for a sacrifice: + +7:44. A little mortar of gold weighing ten sicles full of incense: + +7:45. An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a +holocaust: + +7:46. And a buck goat for sin: + +7:47. And for sacrifices of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five +buck goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph +the son of Duel. + +7:48. The seventh day the prince of the sons of Ephraim, Elisama the +son of Ammiud, + +7:49. Offered a silver dish weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a +silver bowl of seventy sicles according to the weight of the sanctuary, +both full of flour tempered with oil for a sacrifice: + +7:50. A little mortar of gold weighing ten sicles full of incense: + +7:51. An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a +holocaust: + +7:52. And a buck goat for sin: + +7:53. And for sacrifices of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five +buck goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Elisama +the son of Ammiud. + +7:54. The eighth day the prince of the sons of Manasses, Gamaliel the +son of Phadassur, + +7:55. Offered a silver dish, weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a +silver bowl of seventy sicles, according to the weight of the +sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil for a sacrifice: + +7:56. A little mortar of gold weighing ten sicles full of incense: + +7:57. An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a +holocaust: + +7:58. And a buck goat for sin: + +7:59. And for sacrifices of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five +buck goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel +the son of Phadassur. + +7:60. The ninth day the prince of the sons of Benjamin, Abidan the son +of Gedeon, + +7:61. Offered a silver dish weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a +silver bowl of seventy sicles by the weight of the sanctuary, both full +of flour tempered with oil for a sacrifice: + +7:62. A little mortar of gold weighing ten sicles full of incense: + +7:63. An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a +holocaust: + +7:64. And a buck goat for sin: + +7:65. And for sacrifices of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five +buck goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Abidan +the son of Gedeon. + +7:66. The tenth day the princes of the sons of Dan, Ahiezer the son of +Ammisaddai, + +7:67. Offered a silver dish weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a +silver bowl of seventy sicles, according to the weight of the +sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil for a sacrifice: + +7:68. A little mortar of gold weighing ten sicles full of incense: + +7:69. An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a +holocaust: + +7:70. And a buck goat for sin: + +7:71. And for sacrifices of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five +buck goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer +the son of Ammisaddai. + +7:72. The eleventh day the prince of the sons of Aser, Phegiel the son +of Ochran, + +7:73. Offered a silver dish weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a +silver bowl of seventy sicles, according to the weight of the +sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil for a sacrifice: + +7:74. A little mortar of gold weighing ten sicles full of incense: + +7:75. An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a +holocaust: + +7:76. And a buck goat for sin: + +7:77. And for sacrifices of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five +buck goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Phegiel +the son of Ochran. + +7:78. The twelfth day the prince of the sons of Nephtali, Ahira the son +of Enan, + +7:79. Offered a silver dish weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a +silver bowl of seventy sicles, according to the weight of the +sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil for a sacrifice: + +7:80. A little mortar of gold weighing ten sicles full of incense: + +7:81. An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a +holocaust: + +7:82. And a buck goat for sin: + +7:83. And for sacrifices of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five +buck goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Ahira +the son of Enan. + +7:84. These were the offerings made by the princes of Israel in the +dedication of the altar, in the day wherein it was consecrated. Twelve +dishes of silver: twelve silver bowls: twelve little mortars of gold: + +7:85. Each dish weighing a hundred and thirty sicles of silver, and +each bowl seventy sicles: that is, putting all the vessels of silver +together, two thousand four hundred sicles, by the weight of the +sanctuary. + +7:86. Twelve little mortars of gold full of incense, weighing ten +sicles apiece, by the weight of the sanctuary: that is, in all a +hundred and twenty sicles of gold. + +7:87. Twelve oxen out of the herd for a holocaust, twelve rams, twelve +lambs of a year old, and their libations: twelve buck goats for sin. + +7:88. And for sacrifices of peace offerings, oxen twenty-four, rams +sixty, buck goats sixty, lambs of a year old sixty. These things were +offered in the dedication of the altar, when it was anointed. + +7:89. And when Moses entered into the tabernacle of the covenant, to +consult the oracle, he heard the voice of one speaking to him from the +propitiatory, that is over the ark between the two cherubims, and from +this place he spoke to him. + + + +Numbers Chapter 8 + + +The seven lamps are placed on the golden candlestick, to shine towards +the loaves of proposition: the ordination of the Levites: and to what +age they shall serve in the tabernacle. + +8:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +8:2. Speak to Aaron, and thou shalt say to him: When thou shalt place +the seven lamps, let the candlestick be set up on the south side. Give +orders therefore that the lamps look over against the north, towards +the table of the loaves of proposition, over against that part shall +they give light, towards which the candlestick looketh. + +8:3. And Aaron did so, and he put the lamps upon the candlestick, as +the Lord had commanded Moses. + +8:4. Now this was the work of the candlestick, it was of beaten gold, +both the shaft in the middle, and all that came out of both sides of +the branches: according to the pattern which the Lord had shewn to +Moses, so he made the candlestick. + +8:5. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +8:6. Take the Levites out of the midst of the children of Israel, and +thou shalt purify them, + +8:7. According to this rite: Let them be sprinkled with the water of +purification, and let them shave all the hairs of their flesh. And when +they shall have washed their garments, and are cleansed, + +Let them be sprinkled with the water of purification. . .This was the +holy water mixed with the ashes of the red cow, Num. 19., appointed for +purifying all that were unclean. It was a figure of the blood of +Christ, applied to our souls by his holy sacraments. + +8:8. They shall take an ox of the herd, and for the offering thereof +fine flour tempered with oil: and thou shalt take another ox of the +herd for a sin offering: + +8:9. And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the +covenant, calling together all the multitude of the children of Israel: + +8:10. And when the Levites are before the Lord, the children of Israel +shall put their hands upon them: + +8:11. And Aaron shall offer the Levites, as a gift in the sight of the +Lord from the children of Israel, that they may serve in his ministry. + +8:12. The Levites also shall put their hands upon the heads of the +oxen, of which thou shalt sacrifice one for sin, and the other for a +holocaust to the Lord, to pray for them. + +8:13. And thou shalt set the Levites in the sight of Aaron and of his, +and shalt consecrate them being offered to the Lord, + +8:14. And shalt separate them from the midst of the children of Israel, +to be mine. + +8:15. And afterwards they shall enter into the tabernacle of the +covenant, to serve me. And thus shalt thou purify and consecrate them +for an oblation of the Lord: for as a gift they were given me by the +children of Israel. + +8:16. I have taken them instead of the firstborn that open every womb +in Israel, + +8:17. For all the firstborn of the children of Israel, both of men and +of beasts, are mine. From the day that I slew every firstborn in the +land of Egypt, have I sanctified them to myself: + +8:18. And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the +children of Israel: + +8:19. And have delivered them for a gift to Aaron and his sons out of +the midst of the people, to serve me for Israel in the tabernacle of +the covenant, and to pray for them, lest there should be a plague among +the people, if they should presume to approach unto my sanctuary. + +8:20. And Moses and Aaron and all the multitude of the children of +Israel did with the Levites all that the Lord had commanded Moses + +8:21. And they were purified, and washed their garments. And Aaron +lifted them up in the sight of the Lord, and prayed for them, + +8:22. That being purified they might go into the tabernacle of the +covenant to do their services before Aaron and his sons. As the Lord +had commanded Moses touching the Levites, so was it done. + +8:23. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +8:24. This is the law of the Levites: From twenty-five years old and +upwards, they shall go in to minister in the tabernacle of the +covenant. + +8:25. And when they shall have accomplished the fiftieth year of their +age, they shall cease to serve: + +8:26. And they shall be the ministers of their brethren in the +tabernacle of the covenant, to keep the things that are committed to +their care, but not to do the works. Thus shalt thou order the Levites +touching their charge. + + + +Numbers Chapter 9 + + +The precept of the pasch is renewed: the unclean and travellers are to +observe it the second month: the camp is guided by the pillar of the +cloud. + +9:1. The Lord spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai, the second year +after they were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first month, +saying: + +9:2. Let the children of Israel make the phase in its due time, + +Make the phase. . .That is, keep the paschal solemnity, and eat the +paschal lamb. + +9:3. The fourteenth day of this month in the evening, according to all +the ceremonies and justifications thereof. + +9:4. And Moses commanded the children of Israel that they should make +the phase. + +9:5. And they made it in its proper time: the fourteenth day of the +month at evening, in mount Sinai. The children of Israel did according +to all things that the Lord had commanded Moses. + +9:6. But behold some who were unclean by occasion of the soul of a man, +who could not make the phase on that day, coming to Moses and Aaron, + +Behold some who were unclean by occasion of the soul of a man, +etc. . .That is, by having touched or come near a dead body, out of which +the soul was departed. + +9:7. Said to them: We are unclean by occasion of the soul of a man. Why +are we kept back that we may not offer in its season the offering to +the Lord among the children of Israel? + +9:8. And Moses answered them: Stay that I may consult the Lord what he +will ordain concerning you. + +9:9. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +9:10. Say to the children of Israel: The man that shall be unclean by +occasion of one that is dead, or shall be in a journey afar off in your +nation, let him make the phase to the Lord. + +9:11. In the second month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the +evening, they shall eat it with unleavened bread and wild lettuce: + +9:12. They shall not leave any thing thereof until morning, nor break a +bone thereof, they shall observe all the ceremonies of the phase. + +9:13. But if any man is clean, and was not on a journey, and did not +make the phase, that soul shall be cut off from among his people, +because he offered not sacrifice to the Lord in due season: he shall +bear his sin. + +9:14. The sojourner also and the stranger if they be among you, shall +make the phase to the Lord according to the ceremonies and +justifications thereof. The same ordinances shall be with you both for +the stranger, and for him that was born in the land. + +9:15. Now on the day that the tabernacle was reared up, a cloud covered +it. But from the evening there was over the tabernacle, as it were, the +appearance of fire until the morning. + +9:16. So it was always: by day the cloud covered it, and by night as it +were the appearance of fire. + +9:17. And when the cloud that covered the tabernacle was taken up, then +the children of Israel marched forward: and in the place where the +cloud stood still, there they camped. + +9:18. At the commandment of the Lord they marched, and at his +commandment they pitched the tabernacle. All the days that the cloud +abode over the tabernacle, they remained in the same place: + +9:19. And if it was so that it continued over it a long time, the +children of Israel kept the watches of the Lord, and marched not, + +9:20. For as many days soever as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. +At the commandment of the Lord they pitched their tents, and at his +commandment they took them down. + +9:21. If the cloud tarried from evening until morning, and immediately +at break of day left the tabernacle, they marched forward: and if it +departed after a day and a night, they took down their tents. + +9:22. But if it remained over the tabernacle for two days or a month or +a longer time, the children of Israel remained in the same place, and +marched not: but immediately as soon as it departed, they removed the +camp. + +9:23. By the word of the Lord they pitched their tents, and by his word +they marched: and kept the watches of the Lord according to his +commandment by the hand of Moses. + + + +Numbers Chapter 10 + + +The silver trumpets and their use. They march from Sinai. + +10:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +10:2. Make thee two trumpets of beaten silver, wherewith thou mayest +call together the multitude when the camp is to be removed. + +10:3. And when thou shalt sound the trumpets, all the multitude shall +gather unto thee to the door of the tabernacle of the covenant. + +10:4. If thou sound but once, the princes and the heads of the +multitude of Israel shall come to thee. + +10:5. But if the sound of the trumpets be longer, and with +interruptions, they that are on the east side, shall first go forward. + +10:6. And at the second sounding and like noise of the trumpet, they +who lie on the south side shall take up their tents. And after this +manner shall the rest do, when the trumpets shall sound for a march. + +10:7. But when the people is to be gathered together, the sound of the +trumpets shall be plain, and they shall not make a broken sound. + +10:8. And the sons of Aaron the priest shall sound the trumpets: and +this shall be an ordinance for ever in your generations. + +10:9. If you go forth to war out of your land against the enemies that +fight against you, you shall sound aloud with the trumpets, and there +shall be a remembrance of you before the Lord your God, that you may be +delivered out of the hands of your enemies. + +10:10. If at any time you shall have a banquet, and on your festival +days, and on the first days of your months, you shall sound the +trumpets over the holocausts, and the sacrifices of peace offerings, +that they may be to you for a remembrance of your God. I am the Lord +your God. + +10:11. The second year, in the second month, the twentieth day of the +month, the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle of the covenant. + +10:12. And the children of Israel marched by their troops from the +desert of Sinai, and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Pharan. + +10:13. And the first went forward according to the commandment of the +Lord by the hand of Moses. + +10:14. The sons of Juda by their troops: whose prince was Nahasson the +son of Aminadab. + +10:15. In the tribe of the sons of Issachar, the prince was Nathanael +the son of Suar. + +10:16. In the tribe of Zabulon, the prince was Eliab the son of Helon. + +10:17. And the tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gerson and +Merari set forward, bearing it. + +10:18. And the sons of Ruben also marched, by their troops and ranks, +whose prince was Helisur the son of Sedeur. + +10:19. And in the tribe of Simeon, the prince was Salamiel the son of +Surisaddai. + +10:20. And in the tribe of Gad, the prince was Eliasaph the son of +Duel. + +10:21. Then the Caathites also marched carrying the sanctuary. So long +was the tabernacle carried, till they came to the place of setting it +up. + +10:22. The sons of Ephraim also moved their camp by their troops, in +whose army the prince was Elisama the son of Ammiud. + +10:23. And in the tribe of the sons of Manasses, the prince was +Gamaliel the son of Phadassur. + +10:24. And in the tribe of Benjamin, the prince was Abidan the son of +Gedeon. + +10:25. The last of all the camp marched the sons of Dan by their +troops, in whose army the prince was Ahiezer the son of Ammisaddai. + +10:26. And in the tribe of the sons of Aser, the prince was Phegiel the +son of Ochran. + +10:27. And in the tribe of the sons of Nephtali, the prince was Ahira +the son of Enan. + +10:28. This was the order of the camps, and marches of the children of +Israel by their troops, when they set forward. + +10:29. And Moses said to Hobab the son of Raguel the Madianite, his +kinsman: We are going towards the place which the Lord will give us: +come with us, that we may do thee good: for the Lord hath promised good +things to Israel. + +10:30. But he answered him: I will not go with thee, but I will return +to my country, wherein I was born. + +10:31. And he said: Do not leave us: for thou knowest in what places we +should encamp in the wilderness, and thou shalt be our guide. + +10:32. And if thou comest with us, we will give thee what is the best +of the riches which the Lord shall deliver to us. + +10:33. So they marched from the mount of the Lord three days' journey, +and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them, for three +days providing a place for the camp. + +10:34. The cloud also of the Lord was over them by day when they +marched. + +10:35. And when the ark was lifted up, Moses said: Arise, O Lord, and +let thy enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee, flee from +before thy face. + +10:36. And when it was set down, he said: Return, O Lord, to the +multitude of the host of Israel. + + + +Numbers Chapter 11 + + +The people murmur and are punished with fire. God appointeth seventy +ancients for assistants to Moses. They prophesy. The people have their +fill of flesh, but forthwith many die of the plague. + +11:1. In the mean time there arose a murmuring of the people against +the Lord, as it were repining at their fatigue. And when the Lord heard +it he was angry. And the fire of the Lord being kindled against them, +devoured them that were at the uttermost part of the camp. + +11:2. And when the people cried to Moses, Moses prayed to the Lord, and +the fire was swallowed up. + +11:3. And he called the name of that place, The burning: for that the +fire of the Lord had been kindled against them. + +The burning. . .Hebrew, Taberah. + +11:4. For a mixt multitude of people, that came up with them, burned +with desire, sitting and weeping, the children of Israel also being +joined with them, and said: Who shall give us flesh to eat? + +A mixt multitude. . .These were people that came with them out of Egypt, +who were not of the race of Israel; who, by their murmuring, drew also +the children of Israel to murmur: this should teach us the danger of +associating ourselves with the children of Egypt, that is, with the +lovers and admirers of this wicked world. + +11:5. We remember the fish that we ate in Egypt free cost: the +cucumbers come into our mind, and the melons, and the leeks, and the +onions, and the garlic. + +11:6. Our soul is dry, our eyes behold nothing else but manna. + +11:7. Now the manna was like coriander seed, of the colour of bdellium. + +Bdellium. . .Bdellium, according to Pliny, 1.21, c. 9. was of the colour +of a man's nail, white and bright. + +11:8. And the people went about, and gathering it, ground it in a mill, +or beat it in a mortar, and boiled it in a pot, and made cakes thereof +of the taste of bread tempered with oil. + +11:9. And when the dew fell in the night upon the camp, the manna also +fell with it. + +11:10. Now Moses heard the people weeping by their families, every one +at the door of his tent. And the wrath of the Lord was exceedingly +enkindled: to Moses also the thing seemed insupportable. + +11:11. And he said to the Lord: Why hast thou afflicted thy servant? +Wherefore do I not find favour before thee? And why hast thou laid the +weight of all this people upon me? + +11:12. Have I conceived all this multitude, or begotten them, that thou +shouldst say to me: Carry them in thy bosom as the nurse is wont to +carry the little infant, and bear them into the land, for which thou +hast sworn to their fathers? + +11:13. Whence should I have flesh to give to so great a multitude? They +weep against me, saying: Give us flesh that we may eat. + +11:14. I am not able alone to bear all this people, because it is too +heavy for me. + +11:15. But if it seem unto thee otherwise, I beseech thee to kill me, +and let me find grace in thy eyes, that I be not afflicted with so +great evils. + +11:16. And the Lord said to Moses: Gather unto me seventy men of the +ancients of Israel, whom thou knowest to be ancients and masters of the +people: and thou shalt bring them to the door of the tabernacle of the +covenant, and shalt make them stand there with thee, + +Seventy men. . .This was the first institution of the council or senate, +called the Sanhedrin, consisting of seventy or seventy-two senators or +counsellors. + +11:17. That I may come down and speak with thee: and I will take of thy +spirit, and will give to them, that they may bear with thee the burden +of the people, and thou mayest not be burthened alone. + +11:18. And thou shalt say to the people: Be ye sanctified: to morrow +you shall eat flesh: for I have heard you say: Who will give us flesh +to eat? It was well with us in Egypt. That the Lord may give you flesh, +and you may eat: + +11:19. Not for one day, nor two, nor five, nor ten, no nor for twenty. + +11:20. But even for a month of days, till it come out at your nostrils, +and become loathsome to you, because you have cast off the Lord, who is +in the midst of you, and have wept before him, saying: Why came we out +of Egypt? + +11:21. And Moses said: There are six hundred thousand footmen of this +people, and sayest thou: I will give them flesh to eat a whole month? + +11:22. Shall then a multitude of sheep and oxen be killed, that it may +suffice for their food? or shall the fishes of the sea be gathered +together to fill them? + +11:23. And the Lord answered him: Is the hand of the Lord unable? Thou +shalt presently see whether my word shall come to pass or no. + +11:24. Moses therefore came, and told the people the words of the Lord, +and assembled seventy men of the ancients of Israel, and made them to +stand about the tabernacle. + +11:25. And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spoke to him, taking away +of the spirit that was in Moses, and giving to the seventy men. And +when the spirit had rested on them they prophesied, nor did they cease +afterwards. + +11:26. Now there remained in the camp two of the men, of whom one was +called Eldad, and the other Medad, upon whom the spirit rested; for +they also had been enrolled, but were not gone forth to the tabernacle. + +11:27. And when they prophesied in the camp, there ran a young man, and +told Moses, saying: Eldad and Medad prophesy in the camp. + +11:28. Forthwith Josue the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, and +chosen out of many, said: My lord Moses forbid them. + +11:29. But he said: Why hast thou emulation for me? O that all the +people might prophesy, and that the Lord would give them his spirit! + +11:30. And Moses returned, with the ancients of Israel, into the camp. + +11:31. And a wind going out from the Lord, taking quails up beyond the +sea brought them, and cast them into the camp for the space of one +day's journey, on every side of the camp round about, and they flew in +the air two cubits high above the ground. + +11:32. The people therefore rising up all that day, and night, and the +next day, gathered together of quails, he that did least, ten cores: +and they dried them round about the camp. + +11:33. As yet the flesh was between their teeth, neither had that kind +of meat failed: when behold the wrath of the Lord being provoked +against the people, struck them with an exceeding great plague. + +11:34. And that place was called, The graves of lust: for there they +buried the people that had lusted. And departing from the graves of +lust, they came unto Haseroth, and abode there. + +The graves of lust. . .Or, the sepulchres of concupiscence: so called +from their irregular desire of flesh. In Hebrew, Kibroth. Hattaavah. + + + +Numbers Chapter 12 + + +Mary and Aaron murmur against Moses, whom God praiseth above other +prophets. Mary being struck with leprosy, Aaron confesseth his fault. +Moses prayeth for her, and after seven days' separation from the camp, +she is restored. + +12:1. And Mary and Aaron spoke against Moses, because of his wife the +Ethiopian, + +Ethiopian. . .Sephora the wife of Moses was of Madian, which bordered +upon the land of Chus or Ethiopia: where note, that the Ethiopia here +spoken of is not that of Africa but that of Arabia. + +12:2. And they said: Hath the Lord spoken by Moses only? Hath he not +also spoken to us in like manner? And when the Lord heard this, + +12:3. (For Moses was a man exceeding meek above all men that dwelt upon +earth) + +Exceeding meek. . .Moses being the meekest of men, would not contend for +himself; therefore, God inspired him to write here his own defence: and +the Holy Spirit, whose dictate he wrote, obliged him to declare the +truth, though it was so much to his own praise. + +12:4. Immediately he spoke to him, and to Aaron and Mary: Come out you +three only to the tabernacle of the covenant. And when they were come +out, + +12:5. The Lord came down in a pillar of the cloud, and stood in the +entry of the tabernacle calling to Aaron and Mary. And when they were +come, + +12:6. He said to them: Hear my words: if there be among you a prophet +of the Lord, I will appear to him in a vision, or I will speak to him +in a dream. + +12:7. But it is not so with my servant Moses who is most faithful in +all my house: + +12:8. For I speak to him mouth to mouth: and plainly, and not by +riddles and figures doth he see the Lord. Why then were you not afraid +to speak ill of my servant Moses? + +12:9. And being angry with them he went away: + +12:10. The cloud also that was over the tabernacle departed: and behold +Mary appeared white as snow with a leprosy. And when Aaron had looked +on her, and saw her all covered with leprosy, + +12:11. He said to Moses: I beseech thee, my lord, lay not upon us this +sin, which we have foolishly committed: + +12:12. Let her not be as one dead, and as an abortive that is cast +forth from the mother's womb. Lo, now one half of her flesh is consumed +with the leprosy. + +12:13. And Moses cried to the Lord, saying O God, I beseech thee heal +her. + +12:14. And the Lord answered him: If her father had spitten upon her +face, ought she not to have been ashamed for seven days at least? Let +her be separated seven days without the camp, and afterwards she shall +be called again. + +12:15. Mary therefore was put out of the camp seven days: and the +people moved not from that place until Mary was called again. + + + +Numbers Chapter 13 + + +The twelve spies are sent to view the land. The relation they make of +it. + +13:1. And the people marched from Haseroth, and pitched their tents in +the desert of Pharan. + +13:2. And there the Lord spoke to Moses, saying. + +13:3. Send men to view the land of Chanaan, which I will give to the +children of Israel, one of every tribe, of the rulers. + +13:4. Moses did what the Lord had commanded, sending from the desert of +Pharan, principal men, whose names are these: + +13:5. Of the tribe of Ruben, Sammua the son of Zechur. + +13:6. Of the tribe of Simeon, Saphat the son of Huri. + +13:7. Of the tribe of Juda, Caleb the son of Jephone. + +13:8. Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. + +13:9. Of the tribe of Ephraim, Osee the son of Nun. + +13:10. Of the tribe of Benjamin, Phalti the son of Raphu. + +13:11. Of the tribe of Zabulon, Geddiel the son of Sodi. + +13:12. Of the tribe of Joseph, of the sceptre of Manasses, Gaddi the +son of Susi. + +13:13. Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. + +13:14. Of the tribe of Aser, Sthur the son of Michael. + +13:15. Of the tribe of Nephtali, Nahabi the son of Vapsi. + +13:16. Of the tribe of Gad, Guel the son of Machi. + +13:17. These are the names of the men, whom Moses sent to view the +land: and he called Osee the son of Nun, Josue. + +13:18. And Moses sent them to view the land of Chanaan, and said to +them: Go you up by the south side. And when you shall come to the +mountains, + +13:19. View the land, of what sort it is, and the people that are the +inhabitants thereof, whether they be strong or weak: few in number or +many: + +13:20. The land itself, whether it be good or bad: what manner of +cities, walled or without walls: + +13:21. The ground, fat or barren, woody or without trees. Be of good +courage, and bring us of the fruits of the land. Now it was the time +when the firstripe grapes are fit to be eaten. + +13:22. And when they were gone up, they viewed the land from the desert +of Sin, unto Rohob as you enter into Emath. + +13:23. And they went up at the south side, and came to Hebron, where +were Achiman and Sisai and Tholmai the sons of Enac. For Hebron was +built seven years before Tanis the city of Egypt. + +13:24. And forward as far as the torrent of the cluster of grapes, they +cut off a branch with its cluster of grapes, which two men carried upon +a lever. They took also of the pomegranates and of the figs of that +place: + +13:25. Which was called Nehelescol, that is to say, the torrent of the +cluster of grapes, because from thence the children of Israel had +carried a cluster of grapes. + +13:26. And they that went to spy out the land returned after forty +days, having gone round all the country, + +13:27. And came to Moses and Aaron and to all the assembly of the +children of Israel to the desert of Pharan, which is in Cades. And +speaking to them and to all the multitude, they shewed them the fruits +of the land: + +13:28. And they related and said: We came into the land to which thou +sentest us, which in very deed floweth with milk and honey as may be +known by these fruits: + +13:29. But it hath very strong inhabitants, and the cities are great +and walled. We saw there the race of Enac. + +13:30. Amalec dwelleth in the south, the Hethite and the Jebusite and +the Amorrhite in the mountains: but the Chanaanite abideth by the sea +and near the streams of the Jordan. + +13:31. In the mean time Caleb, to still the murmuring of the people +that rose against Moses, said: Let us go up and possess the land, for +we shall be able to conquer it. + +13:32. But the others, that had been with him, said: No, we are not +able to go up to this people, because they are stronger than we. + +13:33. And they spoke ill of the land, which they had viewed, before +the children of Israel, saying: The land which we have viewed, +devoureth its inhabitants: the people, that we beheld are of a tall +stature. + +Spoke ill, etc. . .These men, who by their misrepresentations of the +land of promise, discouraged the Israelites from attempting the +conquest of it, were a figure of worldlings, who, by decrying or +misrepresenting true devotion, discourage Christians from seeking in +earnest and acquiring so great a good, and thereby securing to +themselves a happy eternity. + +13:34. There we saw certain monsters of the sons of Enac, of the giant +kind: in comparison of whom, we seemed like locusts. + + + +Numbers Chapter 14 + + +The people murmur. God threateneth to destroy them. He is appeased by +Moses, yet so as to exclude the murmurers from entering the promised +land. The authors of the sedition are struck dead. The rest going to +fight against the will of God are beaten. + +14:1. Therefore the whole multitude crying wept that night. + +14:2. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, +saying: + +14:3. Would God that we had died in Egypt: and would God we may die in +this vast wilderness, and that the Lord may not bring us into this +land, lest we fall by the sword, and our wives and children be led away +captives. Is it not better to return into Egypt? + +14:4. And they said one to another: Let us appoint a captain, and let +us return into Egypt. + +14:5. And when Moses and Aaron heard this, they fell down flat upon the +ground before the multitude of the children of Israel. + +14:6. But Josue the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephone, who +themselves also had viewed the land, rent their garments, + +14:7. And said to all the multitude of the children of Israel: The land +which we have gone round is very good: + +14:8. If the Lord be favourable, he will bring us into it, and give us +a land flowing with milk and honey. + +14:9. Be not rebellious against the Lord: and fear ye not the people of +this land, for we are able to eat them up as bread. All aid is gone +from them: the Lord is with us, fear ye not. + +14:10. And when all the multitude cried out, and would have stoned +them, the glory of the Lord appeared over the tabernacle of the +covenant to all the children of Israel. + +14:11. And the Lord said to Moses: How long will this people detract +me? how long will they not believe me for all the signs that I have +wrought before them? + +14:12. I will strike them therefore with pestilence, and will consume +them: but thee I will make a ruler over a great nation, and a mightier +than this is. + +14:13. And Moses said to the Lord: That the Egyptians, from the midst +of whom thou hast brought forth this people, + +14:14. And the inhabitants of this land, (who have heard that thou, O +Lord, art among this people, and art seen face to face, and thy cloud +protecteth them, and thou goest before them in a pillar of a cloud by +day, and in a pillar of fire by night,) + +14:15. May hear that thou hast killed so great a multitude as it were +one man and may say: + +14:16. He could not bring the people into the land for which he had +sworn, therefore did he kill them in the wilderness. + +14:17. Let then the strength of the Lord be magnified, as thou hast +sworn, saying: + +14:18. The Lord is patient and full of mercy, by taking away iniquity +and wickedness, and leaving no man clear, who visitest the sins of the +fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. + +Clear. . .i. e., who deserves punishment. + +14:19. Forgive, I beseech thee, the sins of this people, according to +the greatness of thy mercy, as thou hast been merciful to them from +their going out of Egypt unto this place. + +14:20. And the Lord said: I have forgiven according to thy word. + +14:21. As I live: and the whole earth shall be filled with the glory of +the Lord. + +14:22. But yet all the men that have seen my majesty, and the signs +that I have done in Egypt, and in the wilderness, and have tempted me +now ten times, and have not obeyed my voice, + +14:23. Shall not see the land for which I swore to their fathers, +neither shall any one of them that hath detracted me behold it. + +14:24. My servant Caleb, who being full of another spirit hath followed +me, I will bring into this land which he hath gone round: and his seed +shall possess it. + +14:25. For the Amalecite and the Chanaanite dwell in the valleys. To +morrow remove the camp, and return into the wilderness by the way of +the Red Sea. + +14:26. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: + +14:27. How long doth this wicked multitude murmur against me? I have +heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. + +14:28. Say therefore to them: As I live, saith the Lord: According as +you have spoken in my hearing, so will I do to you. + +14:29. In the wilderness shall your carcasses lie. All you that were +numbered from twenty years old and upward, and have murmured against +me, + +14:30. Shall not enter into the land, over which I lifted up my hand to +make you dwell therein, except Caleb the son of Jephone, and Josue the +son of Nun. + +14:31. But your children, of whom you said, that they should be a prey +to the enemies, will I bring in: that they may see the land which you +have despised. + +14:32. Your carcasses shall lie in the wilderness. + +14:33. Your children shall wander in the desert forty years, and shall +bear your fornication, until the carcasses of their fathers be consumed +in the desert, + +Shall bear your fornication. . .That is, shall bear the punishment of +your disloyalty to God, which in the scripture language is here called +a fornication, in a spiritual sense. + +14:34. According to the number of the forty days, wherein you viewed +the land: a year shall be counted for a day. And forty years you shall +receive your iniquities, and shall know my revenge: + +14:35. For as I have spoken, so will I do to all this wicked multitude, +that hath risen up together against me: in this wilderness shall it +faint away and die. + +14:36. Therefore all the men, whom Moses had sent to view the land, and +who at their return had made the whole multitude to murmur against him, +speaking ill of the land that it was naught, + +14:37. Died and were struck in the sight of the Lord. + +14:38. But Josue the son of Nun, and Caleb had gone to view the land. + +14:39. And Moses spoke all these words to all the children of Israel, +and the people mourned exceedingly. + +14:40. And behold rising up very early in the morning, they went up to +the top of the mountain, and said: We are ready to go up to the place, +of which the Lord hath spoken: for we have sinned. + +14:41. And Moses said to them: Why transgress you the word of the Lord, +which shall not succeed prosperously with you? + +14:42. Go not up, for the Lord is not with you: lest you fall before +your enemies. + +14:43. The Amalecite and the Chanaanite are before you, and by their +sword you shall fall, because you would not consent to the Lord, +neither will the Lord be with you. + +14:44. But they being blinded went up to the top of the mountain. But +the ark of the testament of the Lord and Moses departed not from the +camp. + +14:45. And the Amalecite came down, and the Chanaanite that dwelt in +the mountain: and smiting and slaying them pursued them as far as +Horma. + + + +Numbers Chapter 15 + + +Certain laws concerning sacrifices. Sabbath breaking is punished with +death. The law of fringes on their garments. + +15:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +15:2. Speak to the children of Israel and thou shalt say to them: When +you shall be come unto the land of your habitation, which I will give +you, + +15:3. And shall make an offering to the Lord, for a holocaust, or a +victim, paying your vows, or voluntarily offering gifts, or in your +solemnities burning a sweet savour unto the Lord, of oxen or of sheep: + +15:4. Whosoever immolateth the victim, shall offer a sacrifice of fine +flour, the tenth part of an ephi, tempered with the fourth part of a +hin of oil: + +15:5. And he shall give the same measure of wine to pour out in +libations for the holocaust or for the victim. For every lamb, + +15:6. And for every ram there shall be a sacrifice of flour of two +tenths, which shall be tempered with the third part of a hin of oil: + +15:7. And he shall offer the third part the same measure of wine for +the libation, for a sweet savour to the Lord. + +15:8. But when thou offerest a holocaust or sacrifice of oxen, to +fulfil thy vow or for victims of peace offerings, + +15:9. Thou shalt give for every ox three tenths of flour tempered with +half a hin of oil, + +15:10. And wine for libations of the same measure, for an offering of +most sweet savour to the Lord. + +15:11. Thus shalt thou do + +15:12. For every ox and ram and lamb and kid. + +15:13. Both they that are born in the land, and the strangers + +15:14. Shall offer sacrifices after the same rite. + +15:15. There shall be all one law and judgment both for you and for +them who are strangers in the land. + +15:16. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +15:17. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: + +15:18. When you are come into the land which I will give you, + +15:19. And shall eat of the bread of that country, you shall separate +firstfruits to the Lord, + +15:20. Of the things you eat. As you separate firstfruits of your +barnfloors: + +15:21. So also shall you give firstfruits of your dough to the Lord. + +15:22. And if through ignorance you omit any of these things, which the +Lord hath spoken to Moses, + +15:23. And by him hath commanded you from the day that he began to +command and thenceforward, + +15:24. And the multitude have forgotten to do it: they shall offer a +calf out of the herd, a holocaust for a most sweet savour to the Lord, +and the sacrifice and libations thereof, as the ceremonies require, and +a buck goat for sin: + +15:25. And the priest shall pray for all the multitude of the children +of Israel: and it shall be forgiven them, because they sinned +ignorantly, offering notwithstanding a burnt offering to the Lord for +themselves and for their sin and their Ignorance: + +15:26. And it shall be forgiven all the people of the children of +Israel: and the strangers that sojourn among them: because it is the +fault of all the people through ignorance. + +15:27. But if one soul shall sin ignorantly, he shall offer a she goat +of a year old for his sin. + +15:28. And the priest shall pray for him, because he sinned ignorantly +before the Lord: and he shall obtain his pardon, and it shall be +forgiven him. + +15:29. The same law shall be for all that sin by ignorance, whether +they be natives or strangers. + +15:30. But the soul that committeth any thing through pride, whether he +be born in the land or a stranger (because he hath been rebellious +against the Lord) shall be cut off from among his people: + +15:31. For he hath contemned the word of the Lord, and made void his +precept: therefore shall he be destroyed, and shall bear his iniquity. + +15:32. And it came to pass, when the children of Israel were in the +wilderness, and had found a man gathering sticks on the sabbath day, + +15:33. That they brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole +multitude. + +15:34. And they put him into prison, not knowing what they should do +with him. + +15:35. And the Lord said to Moses: Let that man die, let all the +multitude stone him without the camp. + +15:36. And when they had brought him out, they stoned him, and he died +as the Lord had commanded. + +15:37. The Lord also said to Moses: + +15:38. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt tell them to +make to themselves fringes in the corners of their garments, putting in +them ribands of blue: + +Fringes. . .The Pharisees enlarged these fringes through hypocrisy, +Matt. 23.5, to appear more zealous than other men for the law of God. + +15:39. That when they shall see them, they may remember all the +commandments of the Lord, and not follow their own thoughts and eyes +going astray after divers things, + +15:40. But rather being mindful of the precepts of the Lord, may do +them and be holy to their God. + +15:41. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of +Egypt, that I might be your God. + + + +Numbers Chapter 16 + + +The schism of Core and his adherents: their punishment. + +16:1. And behold Core the son of Isaar, the son of Caath, the son of +Levi, and Dathan and Abiron the sons of Eliab, and Hon the son of +Pheleth of the children of Ruben, + +16:2. Rose up against Moses, and with them two hundred and fifty others +of the children of Israel, leading men of the synagogue, and who in the +time of assembly were called by name. + +Rose up. . .The crime of these men, which was punished in so remarkable +a manner, was that of schism, and of rebellion against the authority +established by God in the church; and their pretending to the +priesthood without being lawfully called and sent: the same is the case +of all modern sectaries. + +16:3. And when they had stood up against Moses and Aaron, they said: +Let it be enough for you, that all the multitude consisteth of holy +ones, and the Lord is among them: Why lift you up yourselves above the +people of the Lord? + +16:4. When Moses heard this, he fell flat on his face: + +16:5. And speaking to Core and all the multitude, he said: In the +morning the Lord will make known who belong to him, and the holy he +will join to himself: and whom he shall choose, they shall approach to +him. + +16:6. Do this therefore: Take every man of you your censers, thou Core, +and all thy company. + +16:7. And putting fire in them to morrow, put incense upon it before +the Lord: and whomsoever he shall choose, the same shall be holy: you +take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. + +16:8. And he said again to Core: Hear ye sons of Levi. + +16:9. Is it a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath spared +you from all the people, and joined you to himself, that you should +serve him in the service of the tabernacle, and should stand before the +congregation of the people, and should minister to him? + +16:10. Did he therefore make thee and all thy brethren the sons of Levi +to approach unto him, that you should challenge to yourselves the +priesthood also, + +16:11. And that all thy company should stand against the Lord? for what +is Aaron that you murmur against him? + +16:12. Then Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiron the sons of Eliab. But +they answered: We will not come. + +16:13. Is it a small matter to thee, that thou hast brought us out of a +land that flowed with milk and honey, to kill us in the desert, except +thou rule also like a lord over us? + +16:14. Thou hast brought us indeed into a land that floweth with rivers +of milk and honey, and hast given us possessions of fields and +vineyards; wilt thou also pull out our eyes? We will not come. + +16:15. Moses therefore being very angry, said to the Lord: Respect not +their sacrifices: thou knowest that I have not taken of them so much as +a young ass at any time, nor have injured any of them. + +Very angry. . .This anger was a zeal against sin; and an indignation at +the affront offered to God; like that which the same holy prophet +conceived upon the sight of the golden calf, Ex. 32.19. + +16:16. And he said to Core: Do thou and thy congregation stand apart +before the Lord to morrow, and Aaron apart. + +16:17. Take every one of you censers, and put incense upon them, +offering to the Lord two hundred and fifty censers: let Aaron also hold +his censer. + +16:18. When they had done this, Moses and Aaron standing, + +16:19. And had drawn up all the multitude against them to the door of +the tabernacle, the glory of the Lord appeared to them all. + +16:20. And the Lord speaking to Moses and Aaron, said: + +16:21. Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may +presently destroy them. + +16:22. They fell flat on their face, and said: O most mighty, the God +of the spirits of all flesh, for one man's sin shall thy wrath rage +against all? + +16:23. And the Lord said to Moses: + +16:24. Command the whole people to separate themselves from the tents +of Core and Dathan and Abiron. + +16:25. And Moses arose, and went to Dathan and Abiron: and the ancients +of Israel following him, + +16:26. He said to the multitude: Depart from the tents of these wicked +men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be involved in their sins. + +16:27. And when they were departed from their tents round about, Dathan +and Abiron coming out stood in the entry of their pavilions with their +wives and children, and all the people. + +16:28. And Moses said: By this you shall know that the Lord hath sent +me to do all things that you see, and that I have not forged them of my +own head: + +16:29. If these men die the common death of men, and if they be visited +with a plague, wherewith others also are wont to be visited, the Lord +did not send me. + +16:30. But if the Lord do a new thing, and the earth opening her mouth +swallow them down, and all things that belong to them, and they go down +alive into hell, you shall know that they have blasphemed the Lord. + +16:31. And immediately as he had made an end of speaking, the earth +broke asunder under their feet: + +16:32. And opening her mouth, devoured them with their tents and all +their substance. + +16:33. And they went down alive into hell, the ground closing upon +them, and they perished from among the people. + +16:34. But all Israel, that was standing round about, fled at the cry +of them that were perishing: saying: Lest perhaps the earth swallow us +up also. + +16:35. And a fire coming out from the Lord, destroyed the two hundred +and fifty men that offered the incense. + +16:36. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +16:37. Command Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the +censers that lie in the burning, and to scatter the fire of one side +and the other: because they are sanctified + +16:38. In the deaths of the sinners: and let him beat them into plates, +and fasten them to the altar, because incense hath been offered in them +to the Lord, and they are sanctified, that the children of Israel may +see them for a sign and a memorial. + +16:39. Then Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, wherein they +had offered, whom the burning fire had devoured, and beat them into +plates, fastening them to the altar: + +16:40. That the children of Israel might have for the time to come +wherewith they should be admonished, that no stranger or any one that +is not of the seed of Aaron should come near to offer incense to the +Lord, lest he should suffer as Core suffered, and all his congregation, +according as the Lord spoke to Moses. + +16:41. The following day all the multitude of the children of Israel +murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying: You have killed the people of +the Lord. + +16:42. And when there arose a sedition, and the tumult increased, + +16:43. Moses and Aaron fled to the tabernacle of the covenant. And when +they were gone into it, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord +appeared. + +16:44. And the Lord said to Moses: + +16:45. Get you out from the midst of this multitude, this moment will I +destroy them. And as they were lying on the ground, + +16:46. Moses said to Aaron: Take the censer, and putting fire in it +from the altar, put incense upon it, and go quickly to the people to +pray for them: for already wrath is gone out from the Lord, and the +plague rageth. + +16:47. When Aaron had done this, and had run to the midst of the +multitude which the burning fire was now destroying, he offered the +incense: + +16:48. And standing between the dead and the living, he prayed for the +people, and the plague ceased. + +16:49. And the number of them that were slain was fourteen thousand and +seven hundred men, besides them that had perished in the sedition of +Core. + +16:50. And Aaron returned to Moses to the door of the tabernacle of the +covenant after the destruction was over. + + + +Numbers Chapter 17 + + +The priesthood is confirmed to Aaron by the miracle of the blooming of +his rod, which is kept for a monument in the tabernacle. + +17:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +17:2. Speak to the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a +rod by their kindreds, of all the princes of the tribes, twelve rods, +and write the name of every man upon his rod. + +17:3. And the name of Aaron shall be for the tribe of Levi, and one rod +shall contain all their families: + +17:4. And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the covenant +before the testimony, where I will speak to thee. + +17:5. Whomsoever of these I shall choose, his rod shall blossom: and I +will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, +wherewith they murmur against you. + +17:6. And Moses spoke to the children of Israel: and all the princes +gave him rods one for every tribe: and there were twelve rods besides +the rod of Aaron. + +17:7. And when Moses had Laid them up before the Lord in the tabernacle +of the testimony: + +17:8. He returned on the following day, and found that the rod of Aaron +for the house of Levi, was budded: and that the buds swelling it hid +bloomed blossoms, which spreading the leaves, were formed into almonds. + +The rod of Aaron for the house of Levi, was budded, etc. . .This rod of +Aaron which thus miraculously brought forth fruit, was a figure of the +blessed Virgin conceiving and bringing forth her Son without any +prejudice to her virginity. + +17:9. Moses therefore brought out all the rods from before the Lord to +all the children of Israel: and they saw, and every one received their +rods. + +17:10. And the Lord said to Moses: Carry back the rod of Aaron into the +tabernacle of the testimony, that it may be kept there for a token of +the rebellious children of Israel, and that their complaints may cease +from me lest they die. + +17:11. And Moses did as the Lord had commanded. + +17:12. And the children of Israel said to Moses: Behold we are +consumed, we all perish. + +17:13. Whosoever approacheth to the tabernacle of the Lord, he dieth. +Are we all to a man to be utterly destroyed? + + + +Numbers Chapter 18 + + +The charge of the priests and of the Levites, and their portion. + +18:1. And the Lord said to Aaron: Thou, and thy sons, and thy father's +house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and +thy sons with thee shall bear the sins of your priesthood. + +Thou, and thy father's house with thee, shall bear the iniquity of the +sanctuary. . .That is, you shall be punished if, through negligence or +want of due attention, you err in the discharge of the sacred functions +for which you were ordained. + +18:2. And take with thee thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, and +the sceptre of thy father, and let them be ready in hand, and minister +to thee: but thou and thy sons shall minister in the tabernacle of the +testimony. + +18:3. And the Levites shall watch to do thy commands, and about all the +works of the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of +the sanctuary nor the altar, lest both they die, and you also perish +with them. + +18:4. But let them be with thee, and watch in the charge of the +tabernacle, and in all the ceremonies thereof. A stranger shall not +join himself with you. + +18:5. Watch ye in the charge of the sanctuary, and in the ministry of +the altar: lest indignation rise upon the children of Israel. + +18:6. I have given you your brethren the Levites from among the +children of Israel, and have delivered them for a gift to the Lord, to +serve in the ministries of the tabernacle. + +18:7. But thou and thy sons look ye to the priesthood: and all things +that pertain to the service of the altar, and that are within the veil, +shall be executed by the priests. If any stranger shall approach, he +shall be slain. + +18:8. And the Lord said to Aaron: Behold I have given thee the charge +of my firstfruits. All things that are sanctified by the children of +Israel, I have delivered to thee and to thy sons for the priestly +office, by everlasting ordinances. + +18:9. These therefore shalt thou take of the things that are +sanctified, and are offered to the Lord. Every offering, and sacrifice, +and whatsoever is rendered to me for sin and for trespass, and becometh +holy of holies, shall be for thee and thy sons. + +18:10. Thou shalt eat it in the sanctuary: the males only shall eat +thereof, because it is a consecrated thing to thee. + +18:11. But the firstfruits, which the children of Israel shall vow and +offer, I have given to thee, and to thy sons, and to thy daughters, by +a perpetual law. He that is clean in thy house, shall eat them. + +18:12. All the best of the oil, and of the wine, and of the corn, +whatsoever firstfruits they offer to the Lord, I have given them to +thee. + +18:13. All the firstripe of the fruits, that the ground bringeth forth, +and which are brought to the Lord, shall be for thy use: he that is +clean in thy house, shall eat them. + +18:14. Every thing that the children of Israel shall give by vow, shall +be thine. + +18:15. Whatsoever is firstborn of all flesh, which they offer to the +Lord, whether it be of men, or of beasts, shall belong to thee: only +for the firstborn of man thou shalt take a price, and every beast that +is unclean thou shalt cause to be redeemed, + +18:16. And the redemption of it shall be after one month, for five +sicles of silver, by the weight of the sanctuary. A sicle hath twenty +obols. + +18:17. But the firstling of a cow, and of a sheep and of a goat thou +shalt not cause to be redeemed, because they are sanctified to the +Lord. Their blood only thou shalt pour upon the altar, and their fat +thou shalt burn for a most sweet odour to the Lord. + +18:18. But the flesh shall fall to thy use, as the consecrated breast, +and the right shoulder shall be thine. + +18:19. All the firstfruits of the sanctuary which the children of +Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to thee and to thy sons and +daughters, by a perpetual ordinance. It is a covenant of salt for ever +before the Lord, to thee and to thy sons. + +A covenant of salt. . .It is a proverbial expression, signifying a +covenant not to be altered or corrupted; as salt is used to keep things +from corruption; a covenant perpetual, like that by which it was +appointed, that salt should be used in every sacrifice. Lev. 2. + +18:20. And the Lord said to Aaron: You shall possess nothing in their +land, neither shall you have a portion among them: I am thy portion and +inheritance in the midst of the children of Israel. + +18:21. And I have given to the sons of Levi all the tithes of Israel +for a possession, for the ministry wherewith they serve me in the +tabernacle of the covenant: + +18:22. That the children of Israel may not approach any more to the +tabernacle, nor commit deadly sin, + +Deadly sin. . .That is, sin which will bring death after it. + +18:23. But only the sons of Levi may serve me in the tabernacle, and +bear the sins of the people. It shall be an everlasting ordinance in +your generations. They shall not possess any other thing, + +18:24. But be content with the oblation or tithes, which I have +separated for their uses and necessities. + +18:25. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +18:26. Command the Levites, and declare unto them: When you shall +receive of the children of Israel the tithes, which I have given you, +offer the firstfruits of them to the Lord, that is to say, the tenth +part of the tenth: + +18:27. That it may be reckoned to you as an oblation of firstfruits, as +well of the barnfloors as of the winepresses: + +18:28. And of all the things of which you receive tithes, offer the +firstfruits to the Lord, and give them to Aaron the priest. + +18:29. All the things that you shall offer of the tithes, and shall +separate for the gifts of the Lord, shall be the best and choicest +things. + +18:30. And thou shalt say to them: If you offer all the goodly and the +better things of the tithes, it shall be reckoned to you as if you had +given the firstfruits of the barnfloor and the winepress: + +18:31. And you shall eat them in all your places, both you and your +families: because it is your reward for the ministry, wherewith you +serve in the tabernacle of the testimony. + +18:32. And you shall not sin in this point, by reserving the choicest +and fat things to yourselves, lest you profane the oblations of the +children of Israel, and die. + + + +Numbers Chapter 19 + + +The law of the sacrifice of the red cow, and the water of expiation. + +19:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: + +19:2. This is the observance of the victim, which the Lord hath +ordained. Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee a +red cow of full age, in which there is no blemish, and which hath not +carried the yoke: + +A red cow, etc. . .This red cow, offered in sacrifice for sin, and +consumed with fire without the camp, with the ashes of which, mingled +with water, the unclean were to be expiated and purified; was a figure +of the passion of Christ, by whose precious blood applied to our souls +in the holy sacraments, we are cleansed from our sins. + +19:3. And you shall deliver her to Eleazar the priest, who shall bring +her forth without the camp, and shall immolate her in the sight of all: + +19:4. And dipping his finger in her blood, shall sprinkle it over +against the door of the tabernacle seven times, + +19:5. And shall burn her in the sight of all delivering up to the fire +her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, and her dung. + +19:6. The priest shall also take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet +twice dyed, and cast it into the flame, with which the cow is consumed. + +19:7. And then after washing his garments, and body, he shall enter +into the camp, and shall be unclean until the evening. + +19:8. He also that hath burned her, shall wash his garments, and his +body, and shall be unclean until the evening. + +19:9. And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the cow, and +shall pour them forth without the camp in a most clean place, that they +may be reserved for the multitude of the children of Israel, and for a +water of aspersion: because the cow was burnt for sin. + +19:10. And when he that carried the ashes of the cow, hath washed his +garments, he shall be unclean until the evening. The children of +Israel, and the strangers that dwell among them, shall observe this for +a holy thing by a perpetual ordinance. + +19:11. He that toucheth the corpse of a man, and is therefore unclean +seven days, + +19:12. Shall be sprinkled with this water on the third day, and on the +seventh, and so shall be cleansed. If he were not sprinkled on the +third day, he cannot be cleansed on the seventh. + +19:13. Every one that toucheth the corpse of a man, and is not +sprinkled with this mixture, shall profane the tabernacle of the Lord, +and shall perish out of Israel: because he was not sprinkled with the +water of expiation, he shall be unclean, and his uncleanness shall +remain upon him. + +19:14. This is the law of a man that dieth in a tent: All that go into +his tent and all the vessels that are there, shall be unclean seven +days. + +19:15. The vessel that hath no cover, nor binding over it, shall be +unclean. + +19:16. If any man in the field touch the corpse of a man that was +slain, or that died of himself, or his bone, or his grave, he shall be +unclean seven days. + +19:17. And they shall take of the ashes of the burning and of the sin +offering, and shall pour living waters upon them into a vessel. + +19:18. And a man that is clean shall dip hyssop in them, and shall +sprinkle therewith all the tent, and all the furniture, and the men +that are defiled with touching any such thing: + +19:19. And in this manner he that is clean shall purify the unclean on +the third and on the seventh day. And being expiated the seventh day, +he shall wash both himself and his garments, and be unclean until the +evening. + +19:20. If any man be not expiated after this rite, his soul shall +perish out of the midst of the church: because he hath profaned the +sanctuary of the Lord, and was not sprinkled with the water of +purification. + +19:21. This precept shall be an ordinance for ever. He also that +sprinkled the water, shall wash his garments. Every one that shall +touch the waters of expiation, shall be unclean until the evening. + +19:22. Whatsoever a person toucheth who is unclean, he shall make it +unclean: and the person that toucheth any of these things, shall be +unclean until the evening. + + + +Numbers Chapter 20 + + +The death of Mary the sister of Moses. The people murmur for want of +water: God giveth it them from the rock. The death of Aaron. + +20:1. And the children of Israel, and all the multitude came into the +desert of Sin, in the first month: and the people abode in Cades. And +Mary died there, and was buried in the same place. + +20:2. And the people wanting water, came together against Moses and +Aaron: + +20:3. And making a sedition, they said: Would God we had perished among +our brethren before the Lord. + +20:4. Why have you brought out the church of the Lord into the +wilderness, that both we and our cattle should die? + +20:5. Why have you made us come up out of Egypt, and have brought us +into this wretched place which cannot be sowed, nor bringeth forth +figs, nor vines, nor pomegranates, neither is there any water to drink? + +20:6. And Moses and Aaron leaving the multitude, went into the +tabernacle of the covenant, and fell flat upon the ground, and cried to +the Lord, and said. O Lord God, hear the cry of this people, and open +to them thy treasure, a fountain of living water, that being satisfied, +they may cease to murmur. And the glory of the Lord appeared over them. + +20:7. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +20:8. Take the rod, and assemble the people together, thou and Aaron +thy brother, and speak to the rock before them, and it shall yield +waters. And when thou hast brought forth water out of the rock, all the +multitude and their cattle shall drink. + +20:9. Moses therefore took the rod, which was before the Lord, as he +had commanded him, + +20:10. And having gathered together the multitude before the rock, he +said to them: Hear, ye rebellious and incredulous: Can we bring you +forth water out of this rock? + +20:11. And when Moses bad lifted up his hand, and struck the rock twice +with the rod, there came forth water in great abundance, so that the +people and their cattle drank, + +The rock. . .This rock was a figure of Christ, and the water that issued +out from the rock, of his precious blood, the source of all our good. + +20:12. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: Because you have not +believed me, to sanctify me before the children of Israel, you shall +not bring these people into the land, which I will give them. + +You have not believed, etc. . .The fault of Moses and Aaron, on this +occasion, was a certain diffidence and weakness of faith; not doubting +of God's power or veracity; but apprehending the unworthiness of that +rebellious and incredulous people, and therefore speaking with some +ambiguity. + +20:13. This is the Water of contradiction, where the children of Israel +strove with words against the Lord, and he was sanctified in them. + +The Water of contradiction. . .Or strife. Hebrew, Meribah. + +20:14. In the mean time Moses sent messengers from Cades to the king of +Edom, to say: Thus saith thy brother Israel: Thou knowest all the +labour that hath come upon us: + +20:15. In what manner our fathers went down into Egypt, and there we +dwelt a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers. + +20:16. And how we cried to the Lord, and he heard us, and sent an +angel, who hath brought us out of Egypt. Lo, we are now in the city of +Cades, which is in the uttermost of thy borders, + +20:17. And we beseech thee that we may have leave to pass through thy +country. We will not go through the fields, nor through the vineyards, +we will not drink the waters of thy wells, but we will go by the common +highway, neither turning aside to the right hand, nor to the left, till +we are past thy borders. + +20:18. And Edom answered them: Thou shalt not pass by me: if thou dost +I will come out armed against thee. + +20:19. And the children of Israel said: We will go by the beaten way: +and if we and our cattle drink of thy waters, we will give thee what is +just: there shall be no difficulty in the price, only let us pass +speedily. + +20:20. But he answered: Thou shalt not pass. And immediately he came +forth to meet them with an infinite multitude, and a strong hand, + +20:21. Neither would he condescend to their desire to grant them +passage through his borders. Wherefore Israel turned another way from +him. + +20:22. And when they had removed the camp from Cades, they came to +mount Hor, which is in the borders of the land of Edom: + +20:23. Where the Lord spoke to Moses: + +20:24. Let Aaron, saith he, go to his people: for he shall not go into +the land which I have given the children of Israel, because he was +incredulous to my words, at the waters of contradiction. + +20:25. Take Aaron and his son with him, and bring them up into mount +Hor: + +20:26. And when thou hast stripped the father of his vesture, thou +shalt vest therewith Eleazar his son: Aaron shall be gathered to his +people, and die there. + +20:27. Moses did as the Lord had commanded: and they went up into mount +Hor before all the multitude. + +20:28. And when he had stripped Aaron of his vestments, he vested +Eleazar his son with them. + +20:29. And Aaron being dead in the top of the mountain, he came down +with Eleazar. + +20:30. And all the multitude seeing that Aaron was dead, mourned for +him thirty days throughout all their families. + + + +Numbers Chapter 21 + + +King Arad is overcome. The people murmur and are punished with fiery +serpents: they are healed by the brazen serpent. They conquer the kings +Sehon and Og. + +21:1. And when king Arad the Chanaanite, who dwelt towards the south, +had heard this, to wit, that Israel was come by the way of the spies, +he fought against them, and overcoming them carried off their spoils. + +21:2. But Israel binding himself by vow to the Lord, said: If thou wilt +deliver thus people into my hand, I will utterly destroy their cities. + +21:3. And the Lord heard the prayers of Israel, and delivered up the +Chanaanite, and they cut them off and destroyed their cities: and they +called the name of that place Horma, that is to say, Anathema. + +Anathema. . .That is, a thing devoted to utter destruction. + +21:4. And they marched from mount Hor, by the way that leadeth to the +Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom. And the people began to be weary +of their journey and labour: + +21:5. And speaking against God and Moses, they said: Why didst thou +bring us out of Egypt, to die in the wilderness? There is no bread, nor +have we any waters: our soul now loatheth this very light food. + +Very light food. . .So they call the heavenly manna: thus worldlings +loathe the things of heaven, for which they have no relish. + +21:6. Wherefore the Lord sent among the people fiery serpents, which +bit them and killed many of them. + +Fiery serpents. . .They are so called, because they that were bitten by +them were burnt with a violent heat. + +21:7. Upon which they came to Moses, and said; We have sinned, because +we have spoken against the Lord and thee: pray that he may take away +these serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. + +21:8. And the Lord said to him: Make a brazen serpent, and set it up +for a sign: whosoever being struck shall look on it, shall live. + +21:9. Moses therefore made a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: +which when they that were bitten looked upon, they were healed. + +A brazen serpent. . .This was a figure of Christ crucified, and of the +efficacy of a lively faith in him, against the bites of the hellish +serpent. John 3.14. + +21:10. And the children of Israel setting forwards camped in Oboth. + +21:11. And departing thence they pitched their tents in Jeabarim, in +the wilderness, that faceth Moab toward the east. + +21:12. And removing from thence, they came to the torrent Zared: + +21:13. Which they left and encamped over against Arnon, which is in the +desert and standeth out on the borders of the Amorrhite. For Arnon is +the border of Moab, dividing the Moabites and the Amorrhites. + +21:14. Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord: As he +did in the Red Sea, so will he do in the streams of Arnon. + +The book of the wars, etc. . .An ancient book, which, like several +others quoted in scripture, has been lost. + +21:15. The rocks of the torrents were bowed down that they might rest +in Ar, and lie down in the borders of the Moabites. + +21:16. When they went from that place, the well appeared whereof the +Lord said to Moses: Gather the people together, and I will give them +water. + +21:17. Then Israel sung this song: Let the well spring up. They sung +thereto: + +21:18. The well, which the princes dug, and the chiefs of the people +prepared by the direction of the lawgiver, and with their staves. And +they marched from the wilderness to Mathana. + +21:19. From Mathana unto Nahaliel: from Nahaliel unto Bamoth. + +21:20. From Bamoth, is a valley in the country of Moab, to the top of +Phasga, which looked towards the desert. + +21:21. And Israel sent messengers to Sehon king of the Amorrhites, +saying: + +21:22. I beseech thee that I may have leave to pass through thy land: +we will not go aside into the fields or the vineyards, we will not +drink waters of the wells, we will go the king's highway, till we be +past thy borders. + +21:23. And he would not grant that Israel should pass by his borders: +but rather gathering an army, went forth to meet them in the desert, +and came to Jasa and fought against them. + +21:24. And he was slain by them with the edge of the sword, and they +possessed his land from the Arnon unto the Jeboc, and to the confines +of the children of Ammon: for the borders of the Ammonites, were kept +with a strong garrison. + +21:25. So Israel took all his cities, and dwelt in the cities of the +Amorrhite, to wit, in Hesebon, and in the villages thereof. + +21:26. Hesebon was the city of Sehon the king of the Amorrhites, who +fought against the king of Moab: and took all the land, that had been +of his dominion, as far as the Arnon. + +21:27. Therefore it is said in the proverb: Come into Hesebon, let the +city of Sehon be built and set up: + +21:28. A fire is gone out of Hesebon, a flame from the city of Sehon, +and hath consumed Ar of the Moabites, and the inhabitants of the high +places of the Arnon. + +21:29. Woe to thee Moab: thou art undone, O people of Chamos. He hath +given his sons to flight, and his daughters into captivity to Sehon the +king of the Amorrhites. + +21:30. Their yoke is perished from Hesebon unto Dibon, they came weary +to Nophe, and unto Medaba. + +21:31. So Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorrhite. + +21:32. And Moses sent some to take a view of Jazer: and they took the +villages of it, and conquered the inhabitants. + +21:33. And they turned themselves, and went up by the way of Basan, and +Og the king of Basan came against them with all his people, to fight in +Edrai. + +21:34. And the Lord said to Moses: Fear him not, for I have delivered +him and all his people, and his country into thy hand: and thou shalt +do to him as thou didst to Sehon the king of the Amorrhites, the +inhabitant of Hesebon. + +21:35. So they slew him also with his sons, and all his people, not +letting any one escape, and they possessed his land. + + + +Numbers Chapter 22 + + +Balac, king of Moab, sendeth twice for Balaam to curse Israel. In his +way Balaam is rebuked by an angel. + +22:1. And they went forward and encamped in the plains of Moab, over +against where Jericho is situate beyond the Jordan. + +22:2. And Balac the son of Sephor, seeing all that Israel had done to +the Amorrhite, + +22:3. And that the Moabites were in great fear of him, and were not +able to sustain his assault, + +22:4. He said to the elders of Madian: So will this people destroy all +that dwell in our borders, as the ox is wont to eat the grass to the +very roots. Now he was at that time king in Moab. + +22:5. He sent therefore messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, a +soothsayer, who dwelt by the river of the land of the children of +Ammon, to call him, and to say: Behold a people is come out of Egypt, +that hath covered the face of the earth, sitting over against me. + +22:6. Come therefore, and curse this people, because it is mightier +than I: if by any means I may beat them and drive them out of my land: +for I know that he whom thou shalt bless is blessed, and he whom thou +shalt curse is cursed. + +22:7. And the ancients of Moab, and the elders of Madian, went with the +price of divination in their hands. And where they were come to Balaam, +and had told him all the words of Balac: + +22:8. He answered: Tarry here this night and I will answer whatsoever +the Lord shall say to me. And while they stayed with Balaam, God came +and said to him: + +22:9. What mean these men that are with thee? + +22:10. He answered: Balac the son of Sephor king of the Moabites hath +sent to me, + +22:11. Saying: Behold a people that is come out of Egypt, hath covered +the face of the land: come and curse them, if by any means I may fight +with them and drive them away. + +22:12. And God said to Balaam: Thou shalt not go with them, nor shalt +thou curse the people: because it is blessed. + +22:13. And he rose in the morning and said to the princes: Go into your +country, because the Lord hath forbid me to come with you. + +22:14. The princes returning, said to Balac: Balaam would not come with +us. + +22:15. Then he sent many more and more noble than he had sent before: + +22:16. Who, when they were come to Balaam, said: Thus saith Balac the +son of Sephor, Delay not to come to me: + +22:17. For I am ready to honour thee, and will give thee whatsoever +thou wilt: come and curse this people. + +22:18. Balaam answered: If Balac would give me his house full of silver +and gold, I cannot alter the word of the Lord my God, to speak either +more or less. + +22:19. I pray you to stay here this night also, that I may know what +the Lord will answer me once more. + +To stay. . .His desiring them to stay, after he had been fully informed +already that it was not God's will he should go, came from the +inclination he had to gratify Balac, for the sake of worldly gain. And +this perverse disposition God punished by permitting him to go (though +not to curse the people as he would willingly have done), and suffering +him to fall still deeper and deeper into sin, till he came at last to +give that abominable counsel against the people of God, which ended in +his own destruction. So sad a thing it is to indulge a passion for +money. + +22:20. God therefore came to Balaam in the night, and said to him: If +these men be come to call thee, arise and go with them: yet so, that +thou do what I shall command thee. + +22:21. Balaam arose in the morning, and saddling his ass went with +them. + +22:22. And God was angry. And an angel of the Lord stood in the way +against Balaam, who sat on the ass, and had two servants with him. + +22:23. The ass seeing the angel standing in the way, with a drawn +sword, turned herself out of the way, and went into the field. And when +Balaam beat her, and had a mind to bring her again to the way, + +22:24. The angel stood in a narrow place between two walls, wherewith +the vineyards were enclosed. + +22:25. And the ass seeing him, thrust herself close to the wall, and +bruised the foot of the rider. But he beat her again: + +22:26. And nevertheless the angel going on to a narrow place, where +there was no way to turn aside either to the right hand or to the left, +stood to meet him. + +22:27. And when the ass saw the angel standing, she fell under the feet +of the rider: who being angry beat her sides more vehemently with a +staff. + +22:28. And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said: What +have I done to thee? Why strikest thou me, lo, now this third time? + +Opened the mouth, etc. . .The angel moved the tongue of the ass, to +utter these speeches, to rebuke, by the mouth of a brute beast, the +brutal fury and folly of Balaam. + +22:29. Balaam answered: Because thou hast deserved it, and hast served +me ill: I would I had a sword that I might kill thee. + +22:30. The ass said: Am not I thy beast, on which thou hast been always +accustomed to ride until this present day? tell me if I ever did the +like thing to thee. But he said: Never. + +22:31. Forthwith the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the +angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he worshipped him +falling flat on the ground. + +22:32. And the angel said to him: Why beatest thou thy ass these three +times? I am come to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse, and +contrary to me: + +Perverse. . .Because thy inclinations are wicked in being willing for +the sake of gain to curse the people of whom I am the guardian. + +22:33. And unless the ass had turned out of the way, giving place to me +who stood against thee, I had slain thee, and she should have lived. + +22:34. Balaam said: I have sinned, not knowing that thou didst stand +against me: and now if it displease thee that I go, I will return. + +22:35. The angel said: Go with these men, and see thou speak no other +thing than what I shall command thee. He went therefore with the +princes. + +22:36. And when Balac heard it he came forth to meet him in a town of +the Moabites, that is situate in the uttermost borders of Arnon. + +22:37. And he said to Balaam: I sent messengers to call thee, why didst +thou not come immediately to me? was it because I am not able to reward +thy coming? + +22:38. He answered him: Lo, here I am: shall I have power to speak any +other thing but that which God shall put in my mouth? + +22:39. So they went on together, and came into a city, that was in the +uttermost borders of his kingdom. + +22:40. And when Balac had killed oxen and sheep, he sent presents to +Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. + +22:41. And when morning was come, he brought him to the high places of +Baal, and he beheld the uttermost part of the people. + + + +Numbers Chapter 23 + + +Balaam, instead of cursing Israel, is obliged to bless them, and +prophesy good things of them. + +23:1. And Balaam said to Balac: Build me here seven altars, and prepare +as many calves, and the same number of rams. + +23:2. And when he had done according to the word of Balaam, they laid +together a calf and a ram upon every altar. + +23:3. And Balaam said to Balac: Stand a while by thy burnt offering, +until I go, to see if perhaps the Lord will meet me, and whatsoever he +shall command, I will speak to thee. + +23:4. And when he was gone with speed, God met him. And Balaam speaking +to him, said: I have erected seven altars, and have laid on everyone a +calf and a ram. + +23:5. And the Lord put the word in his mouth, and said: Return to +Balac, and thus shalt thou speak. + +23:6. Returning he found Balac standing by his burnt offering, with all +the princes of the Moabites: + +23:7. And taking up his parable, he said: Balac king of the Moabites +hath brought me from Aram, from the mountains of the east: Come, said +he, and curse Jacob: make haste and detest Israel. + +23:8. How shall I curse him, whom God hath not cursed? By what means +should I detest him, whom the Lord detesteth not? + +23:9. I shall see him from the tops of the rocks, and shall consider +him from the hills. This people shall dwell alone, and shall not be +reckoned among the nations. + +23:10. Who can count the dust of Jacob, and know the number of the +stock of Israel? Let my soul die the death of the just, and my last end +be like to them. + +23:11. And Balac said to Balaam: What is this that thou dost? I sent +for thee to curse my enemies: and thou contrariwise blessest them. + +23:12. He answered him: Can I speak any thing else but what the Lord +commandeth? + +23:13. Balac therefore said: Come with me to another place from whence +thou mayest see part of Israel, and canst not see them all: curse them +from thence. + +23:14. And when he had brought him to a high place, upon the top of +mount Phasga, Balaam built seven altars, and laying on every one a calf +and a ram, + +23:15. He said to Balac: Stand here by thy burnt offering while I go to +meet him. + +23:16. And when the Lord had met him, and had put the word in his +mouth, he said: Return to Balac, and thus shalt thou say to him. + +23:17. Returning he found him standing by his burnt sacrifice, and the +princes of the Moabites with him. And Balac said to him: What hath the +Lord spoken? + +23:18. But he taking up his parable, said: Stand, O Balac, and give +ear: hear, thou son of Sephor: + +23:19. God is not a man, that he should lie, nor is the son of man, +that he should be changed. Hath he said then, and will he not do? hath +he spoken, and will he not fulfil? + +23:20. I was brought to bless, the blessing I am not able to hinder. + +23:21. There is no idol in Jacob, neither is there an image god to be +seen in Israel. The Lord his God is with him, and the sound of the +victory of the king in him. + +23:22. God hath brought him out of Egypt, whose strength is like to the +rhinoceros. + +23:23. There is no soothsaying in Jacob, nor divination in Israel. In +their times it shall be told to Jacob and to Israel what God hath +wrought. + +23:24. Behold the people shall rise up as a lioness, and shall lift +itself up as a lion: it shall not lie down till it devour the prey, and +drink the blood of the slain. + +23:25. And Balac said to Balaam: Neither curse, nor bless him. + +23:26. And he said: Did I not tell thee, that whatsoever God should +command me, that I would do? + +23:27. And Balac said to him: Come and I will bring thee to another +place; if peradventure it please God that thou mayest curse them from +thence. + +23:28. And when he had brought him upon the top of mount Phogor, which +looketh towards the wilderness, + +23:29. Balaam said to him: Build me here seven altars, and prepare as +many calves, and the same number of rams. + +23:30. Balac did as Balaam had said: and he laid on every altar, a calf +and a ram. + + + +Numbers Chapter 24 + + +Balaam still continues to prophesy good things in favour of Israel. + +24:1. And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord that he should bless +Israel, he went not as he had gone before, to seek divination: but +setting his face towards the desert, + +24:2. And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel abiding in their tents by +their tribes: and the spirit of God rushing upon him, + +24:3. He took up his parable and said: Balaam the son of Beor hath +said: The man hath said, whose eye is stopped up: + +24:4. The bearer of the words of God hath said, he that hath beheld the +vision of the Almighty, he that falleth, and so his eyes are opened: + +24:5. How beautiful are thy tabernacles O Jacob, and thy tents, O +Israel! + +24:6. As woody valleys, as watered gardens near the rivers, as +tabernacles which the Lord hath pitched, as cedars by the waterside. + +24:7. Water shall flow out of his bucket, and his seed shall be in many +waters. For Agag his king shall be removed, and his kingdom shall be +taken away. + +24:8. God hath brought him out of Egypt, whose strength is like to the +rhinoceros. They shall devour the nations that are his enemies, and +break their bones, and pierce them with arrows. + +24:9. Lying down he hath slept as a lion, and as a lioness, whom none +shall dare to rouse. He that blesseth thee, shall also himself be +blessed: he that curseth thee shall be reckoned accursed. + +24:10. And Balac being angry against Balaam, clapped his hands together +and said: I called thee to curse my enemies, and thou on the contrary +hast blessed them three times. + +24:11. Return to thy place. I had determined indeed greatly to honour +thee, but the Lord hath deprived thee of the honour designed for thee. + +24:12. Balaam made answer to Balac: Did I not say to thy messengers, +whom thou sentest to me: + +24:13. If Balac would give me his house full of silver and gold, I +cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to utter any thing of my +own head either good or evil: but whatsoever the Lord shall say, that I +will speak? + +24:14. But yet going to my people, I will give thee counsel, what this +people shall do to thy people in the latter days. + +24:15. Therefore taking up his parable, again he said: Balaam the son +of Beor hath said: The man whose eye is stopped up, hath said: + +24:16. The hearer of the words of God hath said, who knoweth the +doctrine of the Highest, and seeth the visions of the Almighty, who +falling hath his eyes opened: + +24:17. I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near. +A STAR SHALL RISE out of Jacob and a sceptre shall spring up from +Israel: and shall strike the chiefs of Moab, and shall waste all the +children of Seth + +24:18. And he shall possess Idumea: the inheritance of Seir shall come +to their enemies, but Israel shall do manfully. + +24:19. Out of Jacob shall he come that shall rule, and shall destroy +the remains of the city. + +24:20. And when he saw Amalec, he took up his parable, and said: Amalec +the beginning of nations, whose latter ends shall be destroyed. + +24:21. He saw also the Cinite: and took up his parable, and said: Thy +habitation indeed is strong: but though thou build thy nest in a rock, + +24:22. And thou be chosen of the stock of Cin, how long shalt thou be +able to continue? For Assur shall take thee captive. + +24:23. And taking up his parable, again he said: Alas, who shall live +when God shall do these things? + +24:24. They shall come in galleys from Italy, they shall overcome the +Assyrians, and shall waste the Hebrews, and at the last they themselves +also shall perish. + +24:25. And Balaam rose, and returned to his place: Balac also returned +the way that he came. + + + +Numbers Chapter 25 + + +The people fall into fornication and idolatry; for which twenty-four +thousand are slain. The zeal of Phinees. + +25:1. And Israel at that time abode in Settim, and the people committed +fornication with the daughters of Moab, + +25:2. Who called them to their sacrifices. And they ate of them, and +adored their gods. + +25:3. And Israel was initiated to Beelphegor: upon which the Lord being +angry, + +Initiated to Beelphegor. . .That is, they took to the worship of +Beelphegor, an obscene idol of the Moabites, and were consecrated, as +it were, to him. + +25:4. Said to Moses: Take all the princes of the people, and hang them +up on gibbets against the sun: that my fury may be turned away from +Israel. + +25:5. And Moses said to the judges of Israel: Let every man kill his +neighbours, that have been initiated to Beelphegor. + +25:6. And behold one of the children of Israel went in before his +brethren to a harlot of Madian, in the sight of Moses and of all the +children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle. + +25:7. And when Phinees the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest +saw it, he rose up from the midst of the multitude, and taking a +dagger, + +25:8. Went in after the Israelite into the brothel house, and thrust +both of them through together, to wit, the man and the woman in the +genital parts. And the scourge ceased from the children of Israel. + +25:9. And there were slain four and twenty thousand men. + +25:10. And the Lord said to Moses: + +25:11. Phinees the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, hath +turned away my wrath from the children of Israel: because he was moved +with my zeal against them, that I myself might not destroy the children +of Israel in my zeal. + +25:12. Therefore say to him: behold I give him the peace of my +covenant, + +25:13. And the covenant of the priesthood for ever shall be both to him +and his seed, because he hath been zealous for his God, and hath made +atonement for the wickedness of the children of Israel. + +25:14. And the name of the Israelite, that was slain with the woman of +Madian, was Zambri the son of Salu, a prince of the kindred and tribe +of Simeon. + +25:15. And the Madianite woman, that was slain with him, was called +Cozbi the daughter of Sur, a most noble prince among the Madianites. + +25:16. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +25:17. Let the Madianites find you their enemies, and slay you them: + +25:18. Because they also have acted like enemies against you, and have +guilefully deceived you by the idol Phogor, and Cozbi their sister, a +daughter of a prince of Madian, who was slain in the day of the plague +for the sacrilege of Phogor. + + + +Numbers Chapter 26 + + +The people are again numbered by their tribes and families. + +26:1. After the blood of the guilty was shed, the Lord said to Moses +and to Eleazar the son of Aaron, the priest: + +26:2. Number the whole sum of the children of Israel from twenty years +old and upward, by their houses and kindreds, all that are able to go +forth to war. + +26:3. Moses therefore and Eleazar the priest, being in the plains of +Moab upon the Jordan over against Jericho, spoke to them that were + +26:4. From twenty years old and upward, as the Lord had commanded: and +this is the number of them: + +26:5. Ruben the firstborn of Israel. His sons were Henoch, of whom is +the family of the Henochites: and Phallu, of whom is the family of the +Phalluites: + +26:6. And Hesron, of whom is the family of the Hesronites: and Charmi, +of whom is the family of the Charmites. + +26:7. These are the families of the stock of Ruben: whose number was +found to be forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty. + +26:8. The son of Phallu was Eliab. + +26:9. His sons, were Namuel and Dathan and Abiron. These are Dathan and +Abiron the princes of the people, that rose against Moses and Aaron in +the sedition of Core, when they rebelled against the Lord: + +26:10. And the earth opening her mouth swallowed up Core, many others +dying, when the fire burned two hundred and fifty men. And there was a +great miracle wrought, + +26:11. That when Core perished, his sons did not perish. + +26:12. The sons of Simeon by their kindreds: Namuel, of him is the +family of the Namuelites: Jamin, of him is the family of the Jaminites: +Jachim, of him is the family of the Jachimites: + +26:13. Zare, of him is the family of the Zarites: Saul, of him is the +family of the Saulites. + +26:14. These are the families of the stock of Simeon, of which the +whole number was twenty-two thousand two hundred. + +26:15. The sons of Gad by their kindreds: Sephon, of him is the family +of the Sephonites: Aggi, of him is the family of the Aggites: Suni, of +him is the family of the Sunites: + +26:16. Ozni, of him is the family of the Oznites: Her, of him is the +family of the Herites: + +26:17. Arod, of him is the family of the Arodites: Ariel, of him is the +family of the Arielites. + +26:18. These are the families of Gad, of which the whole number was +forty thousand five hundred. + +26:19. The sons of Juda, Her and Onan, who both died in the land of +Chanaan. + +26:20. And the sons of Juda by their kindreds were: Sela, of whom is +the family of the Selaites: Phares, of whom is the family of the +Pharesites: Zare, of whom is the family of the Zarites. + +26:21. Moreover the sons of Phares were: Hesron, of whom is the family +of the Hesronites: and Hamul, of whom is the family of the Hamulites. + +26:22. These are the families of Juda, of which the whole number was +seventy-six thousand five hundred. + +26:23. The sons of Issachar, by their kindreds: Thola of whom is the +family of the Tholaites: Phua, of whom is the family of the Phuaites: + +26:24. Jasub, of whom is the family of the Jasubites: Semran, of whom +is the family of the Semranites. + +26:25. These are the kindreds of Issachar, whose number was sixty-four +thousand three hundred. + +26:26. The sons of Zabulon by their kindreds: Sared, of whom is the +family of the Saredites: Elon, of whom is the family of the Elonites: +Jalel, of whom is the family of the Jalelites. + +26:27. These are the kindreds of Zabulon, whose number was sixty +thousand five hundred. + +26:28. The sons of Joseph by their kindred, Manasses and Ephraim. + +26:29. Of Manasses was born Machir, of whom is the family of the +Machirites. Machir begot Galaad, of whom is the family of the +Galaadites. + +26:30. Galaad had sons: Jezer, of whom is the family of the Jezerites: +and Helec, of whom is the family of the Helecites: + +26:31. And Asriel, of whom is the family of the Asrielites: and Sechem, +of whom is the family of the Sechemites: + +26:32. And Semida, of whom is the family of the Semidaites: and Hepher, +of whom is the family of the Hepherites. + +26:33. And Hepher was the father of Salphaad, who had no sons, but only +daughters, whose names are these: Maala, and Noa, and Hegla, and +Melcha, and Thersa. + +26:34. These are the families of Manasses, and the number of them +fifty-two thousand seven hundred. + +26:35. And the sons of Ephraim by their kindreds were these: Suthala, +of whom is the family of the Suthalaites: Becher, of whom is the family +of the Becherites: Thehen, of whom is the family of the Thehenites. + +26:36. Now the son of Suthala was Heran, of whom is the family of the +Heranites. + +26:37. These are the kindreds of the sons of Ephraim: whose number was +thirty-two thousand five hundred. + +26:38. These are the sons of Joseph by their families. The sons of +Benjamin in their kindreds: Bela, of whom is the family of the +Belaites: Asbel, of whom is the family of the Asbelites: Ahiram, of +whom is the family of the Ahiramites: + +26:39. Supham, of whom is the family of the Suphamites: Hupham, of whom +is the family of the Huphamites. + +26:40. The sons of Bela: Hered, and Noeman. Of Hered, is the family of +the Heredites: of Noeman, the family of the Noemanites. + +26:41. These are the sons of Benjamin by their kindreds, whose number +was forty-five thousand six hundred. + +26:42. The sons of Dan by their kindreds: Suham, of whom is the family +of the Suhamites: These are the kindreds of Dan by their families. + +26:43. All were Suhamites, whose number was sixty-four thousand four +hundred. + +26:44. The sons of Aser by their kindreds: Jemna, of whom is the family +of the Jemnaites: Jessui, of whom is the family of the Jessuites: Brie, +of whom is the family of the Brieites. + +26:45. The sons of Brie: Heber, of whom is the family of the Heberites: +and Melchiel, of whom is the family of the Melchielites. + +26:46. And the name of the daughter of Aser, was Sara. + +26:47. These are the kindreds of the sons of Aser, and their number +fifty-three thousand four hundred. + +26:48. The sons of Nephtali by their kindreds: Jesiel, of whom is the +family of the Jesielites: Guni, of whom is the family of the Gunites: + +26:49. Jeser, of whom is the family of the Jeserites: Sellem, of whom +is the family of the Sellemites. + +26:50. These are the kindreds of the sons of Nephtali by their +families: whose number was forty-five thousand four hundred. + +26:51. This is the sum of the children of Israel, that were reckoned +up, six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty. + +26:52. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +26:53. To these shall the land be divided for their possessions +according to the number of names. + +26:54. To the greater number thou shalt give a greater portion, and to +the fewer a less: to every one, as they have now been reckoned up, +shall a possession be delivered: + +26:55. Yet so that by lot the land be divided to the tribe and +families. + +26:56. Whatsoever shall fall by lot, that shall be taken by the more, +or the fewer. + +26:57. This also is the number of the sons of Levi by their families: +Gerson, of whom is the family of the Gersonites: Caath, of whom is the +family of the Caathites: Merari, of whom is the family of the +Merarites. + +26:58. These are the families of Levi: The family of Lobni, the family +of Hebroni, the family of Core. Now Caath begot Amram: + +26:59. Who had to wife Jochabed the daughter of Levi, who was born to +him in Egypt. She bore to her husband Amram sons, Aaron and Moses, and +Mary their sister. + +26:60. Of Aaron were born Nadab and Abiu, and Eleazar and Ithamar: + +26:61. Of whom Nadab and Abiu died, when they had offered the strange +fire before the Lord. + +26:62. And all that were numbered, were twenty-three thousand males +from one month old and upward: for they were not reckoned up among the +children of Israel, neither was a possession given to them with the +rest. + +26:63. This is the number of the children of Israel, that were enrolled +by Moses and Eleazar the priest, in the plains of Moab upon the Jordan, +over against Jericho. + +26:64. Among whom there was not one of them that were numbered before +by Moses and Aaron in the desert of Sinai. + +26:65. For the Lord had foretold that they should die in the +wilderness. And none remained of them, but Caleb the son of Jephone, +and Josue the son of Nun. + + + +Numbers Chapter 27 + + +The law of inheritance. Josue is appointed to succeed Moses. + +27:1. Then came the daughters of Salphaad, the son of Hepher, the son +of Galaad, the son of Machir, the son of Manasses, who was the son of +Joseph: and their names are Maala, and Noa, and Hegla, and Melcha, and +Thersa. + +27:2. And they stood before Moses and Eleazar the priest, and all the +princes of the people at the door of the tabernacle of the covenant, +and said: + +27:3. Our father died in the desert, and was not in the sedition, that +was raised against the Lord under Core, but he died in his own sin: and +he had no male children. Why is his name taken away out of his family, +because he had no son? Give us a possession among the kinsmen of our +father. + +27:4. And Moses referred their cause to the judgment of the Lord. + +27:5. And the Lord said to him: + +27:6. The daughters of Salphaad demand a just thing: Give them a +possession among their father's kindred, and let them succeed him in +his inheritance. + +27:7. And to the children of Israel thou shalt speak these things: + +27:8. When a man dieth without a son, his inheritance shall pass to his +daughter. + +27:9. If he have no daughter, his brethren shall succeed him. + +27:10. And if he have no brethren, you shall give the inheritance to +his father's brethren. + +27:11. But if he have no uncles by the father, the inheritance shall be +given to them that are the next akin. And this shall be to the children +of Israel sacred by a perpetual law, as the Lord hath commanded Moses. + +27:12. The Lord also said to Moses: Go up into this mountain Abarim, +and view from thence the land which I will give to the children of +Israel. + +27:13. And when thou shalt have seen it, thou also shalt go to thy +people, as thy brother Aaron is gone: + +27:14. Because you offended me in the desert of Sin in the +contradiction of the multitude, neither would you sanctify me before +them at the waters. These are the waters of contradiction in Cades of +the desert of Sin. + +27:15. And Moses answered him: + +27:16. May the Lord the God of the spirits of all flesh provide a man, +that may be over this multitude: + +27:17. And may go out and in before them, and may lead them out, or +bring them in: lest the people of the Lord be as sheep without a +shepherd. + +27:18. And the Lord said to him: take Josue the son of Nun, a man in +whom is the Spirit, and put thy hand upon him. + +27:19. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest and all the +multitude: + +27:20. And thou shalt give him precepts in the sight of all, and part +of thy glory, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may +hear him. + +27:21. If any thing be to be done, Eleazar the priest shall consult the +Lord for him. He and all the children of Israel with him, and the rest +of the multitude shall go out and go in at his word. + +27:22. Moses did as the Lord had commanded. And, when he had taken +Josue, he set him before Eleazar the priest, and all the assembly of +the people, + +27:23. And laying his hands on his head, he repeated all things that +the Lord had commanded. + + + +Numbers Chapter 28 + + +Sacrifices are appointed as well for every day as for sabbaths, and +other festivals. + +28:1. The Lord also said to Moses: + +28:2. Command the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: Offer +ye my oblation and my bread, and burnt sacrifice of most sweet odour, +in their due seasons. + +28:3. These are the sacrifices which you shall offer: Two lambs of a +year old without blemish every day for the perpetual holocaust: + +28:4. One you shall offer in the mornings, and the other in the +evening: + +28:5. And the tenth part of an ephi of flour, which shall be tempered +with the, purest oil, of the measure of the fourth part of a hin. + +28:6. It is the continual holocaust which you offered in mount Sinai +for a most sweet odour of a sacrifice by fire to the Lord. + +28:7. And for a libation you shall offer of wine the fourth part of a +hin for every lamb in the sanctuary of the Lord. + +28:8. And you shall offer the other lamb in like manner in the evening +according to all the rites of the morning sacrifice, and of the +libations thereof, an oblation of most sweet odour to the Lord. + +28:9. And on the sabbath day you shall offer two lambs of a year old +without blemish, and two tenths of flour tempered with oil in +sacrifice, and the libations, + +28:10. Which regularly are poured out every sabbath for the perpetual +holocaust. + +28:11. And on the first day of the month you shall offer a holocaust to +the Lord, two calves of the herd, one ram, and seven lambs of a year +old, without blemish, + +28:12. And three tenths of flour tempered with oil in sacrifice for +every calf: and two tenths of flour tempered with oil for every ram: + +28:13. And the tenth of a tenth of flour tempered with oil in sacrifice +for every lamb. It is a holocaust of most sweet odour and an offering +by fire to the Lord. + +28:14. And these shall be the libations of wine that are to be poured +out for every victim: Half a hin for every calf, a third for a ram, and +a fourth for a lamb. This shall be the holocaust for every month, as +they succeed one another in the course of the year. + +28:15. A buck goat also shall be offered to the Lord for a sin offering +over and above the perpetual holocaust with its libations. + +28:16. And in the first month, on the four tenth day of the month, +shall be the phase of the Lord, + +28:17. And on the fifteenth day the solemn feast: seven days shall they +eat unleavened bread. + +28:18. And the first day of them shall be venerable and holy: you shall +not do any servile work therein. + +28:19. And you shall offer a burnt sacrifice a holocaust to the Lord, +two calves of the herd, one ram, seven lambs of a year old, without +blemish: + +28:20. And for the sacrifice of every one three tenths of flour which +shall be tempered with oil to every calf, and two tenths to every ram, + +28:21. And the tenth of a tenth, to every lamb, that is to say, to all +the seven lambs: + +28:22. And one buck goat for sin, to make atonement for you, + +28:23. Besides the morning holocaust which you shall always offer. + +28:24. So shall you do every day of the seven days for the food of the +fire, and for a most sweet odour to the Lord, which shall rise from the +holocaust, and from the libations of each. + +28:25. The seventh day also shall be most solemn and holy unto you, you +shall do no servile work therein. + +28:26. The day also of firstfruits, when after the weeks are +accomplished, you shall offer new fruits to the Lord, shall be +venerable and holy: you shall do no servile work therein. + +28:27. And you shall offer a holocaust for a most sweet odour to the +Lord, two calves of the herd, one ram, and seven lambs of a year old, +without blemish: + +28:28. And in the sacrifices of them three tenths of flour tempered +with oil to every calf, two to every ram, + +28:29. The tenth of a tenth to every lamb, which in all are seven +lambs: a buck goat also, + +28:30. Which is slain for expiation: besides the perpetual holocaust +and the libations thereof. + +28:31. You shall offer them all without blemish with their libations. + + + +Numbers Chapter 29 + + +Sacrifices for the festivals of the seventh month. + +29:1. The first day also of the seventh month shall be venerable and +holy unto you; you shall do no servile work therein, because it is the +day of the sounding and of trumpets. + +29:2. And you shall offer a holocaust for a most sweet odour to the +Lord, one calf of the herd, one ram and seven lambs of a year old, +without blemish. + +29:3. And for their sacrifices, three tenths of flour tempered with oil +to every calf, two tenths to a ram, + +29:4. One tenth to a lamb, which in all are seven lambs: + +29:5. And a buck goat for sin, which is offered for the expiation of +the people, + +29:6. Besides the holocaust of the first day of the month with the +sacrifices thereof, and the perpetual holocaust with the accustomed +libations. With the same ceremonies you shall offer a burnt sacrifice +for a most sweet odour to the Lord. + +29:7. The tenth day also of this seventh month shall be holy and +venerable unto you, and you shall afflict your souls; you shall do no +servile work therein. + +29:8. And you shall offer a holocaust to the Lord for a most sweet +odour, one calf of the herd, one ram, and seven lambs of a year old, +without blemish: + +29:9. And for their sacrifices, three tenths of flour tempered with oil +to every calf, two tenths to a ram, + +29:10. The tenth of a tenth to every lamb, which are in all seven +lambs: + +29:11. And a buck goat for sin, besides the things that are wont to be +offered for sin, for expiation, and for the perpetual holocaust with +their sacrifice and libations. + +29:12. And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, which shall be +unto you holy and venerable, you shall do no servile work, but shall +celebrate a solemnity to the Lord seven days. + +29:13. And you shall offer a holocaust for a most sweet odour to the +Lord, thirteen calves of the herd, two rams, and fourteen lambs of a +year old, without blemish: + +29:14. And for their libations three tenths of flour tempered with oil +to every calf, being in all thirteen calves: and two tenths to each +ram, being two rams, + +29:15. And the tenth of a tenth to every lamb, being in all fourteen +lambs: + +29:16. And a buck goat for sin, besides the perpetual holocaust, and +the sacrifice and the libation thereof. + +29:17. On the second day you shall offer twelve calves of the herd, two +rams and fourteen lambs of a year old, without blemish: + +29:18. And the sacrifices and the libations for every one, for the +calves and for the rams and for the lambs you shall duly celebrate: + +29:19. And a buck goat for a sin offering besides the perpetual +holocaust, and the sacrifice and the libation thereof. + +29:20. The third day you shall offer eleven calves, two rams, and +fourteen lambs of a year old, without blemish: + +29:21. And the sacrifices and the libations of every one for the calves +and for the rams and for the lambs you shall offer according to the +rite: + +29:22. And a buck goat for sin, besides the perpetual holocaust, and +the sacrifice, and the libation thereof. + +29:23. The fourth day you shall offer ten calves, two rams, and +fourteen lambs of a year old, without blemish: + +29:24. And the sacrifices and the libations of every one for the calves +and for the rams and for the lambs you shall celebrate in right manner: + +29:25. And a buck goat for sin, besides the perpetual holocaust, and +the sacrifice and the libation thereof. + +29:26. The fifth day you shall offer nine calves, two rams, and +fourteen lambs of a year old, without blemish: + +29:27. And the sacrifices and the libations of every one for the calves +and for the rams and for the lambs you shall celebrate according to the +rite: + +29:28. And a buck goat for sin, besides the perpetual holocaust, and +the sacrifice and the libation thereof. + +29:29. The sixth day you shall offer eight calves, two rams, and +fourteen lambs of a year old, without blemish: + +29:30. And the sacrifices and the libations of every one for the calves +and for the rams and for the lambs you shall celebrate according to the +rite: + +29:31. And a buck goat for sin, besides the perpetual holocaust, and +the sacrifice and the libation thereof. + +29:32. The seventh day you shall offer seven calves and two rams, and +fourteen lambs of a year old, without blemish: + +29:33. And the sacrifices and the libations of every one for the calves +and for the rams and for the lambs you shall celebrate according to the +rite: + +29:34. And a buck goat for sin, besides the perpetual holocaust, and +the sacrifice and the libation thereof. + +29:35. On the eighth day, which is most solemn, you shall do no servile +work: + +29:36. But you shall offer a holocaust for a most sweet odour to the +Lord, one calf, one ram, and seven lambs of a year old, without +blemish: + +29:37. And the sacrifices and the libations of every one for the calves +and for the rams and for the lambs you shall celebrate according to the +rite: + +29:38. And a buck goat for sin, besides the perpetual holocaust, and +the sacrifice and the libation thereof. + +29:39. These things shall you offer to the Lord in your solemnities: +besides your vows and voluntary oblations for holocaust, for sacrifice, +for libation, and for victims of peace offerings. + + + +Numbers Chapter 30 + + +Of vows and oaths: and their obligation. + +30:1. And Moses told the children of Israel all that the Lord had +commanded him: + +30:2. And he said to the princes of the tribes of the children of +Israel: This is the word that the Lord hath commanded: + +30:3. If any man make a vow to the Lord, or bind himself by an oath: he +shall not make his word void but shall fulfil all that he promised. + +30:4. If a woman vow any thing, and bind herself by an oath, being in +her father's house, and but yet a girl in age: if her father knew the +vow that she hath promised, and the oath wherewith she hath bound her +soul, and held his peace, she shall be bound by the vow: + +30:5. Whatsoever she promised and swore, she shall fulfil in deed. + +30:6. But if her father, immediately as soon as he heard it, gainsaid +it, both her vows and her oaths shall be void, neither shall she be +bound to what she promised, because her father hath gainsaid it. + +30:7. If she have a husband, and shall vow any thing, and the word once +going out of her mouth shall bind her soul by an oath, + +30:8. The day that her husband shall hear it, and not gainsay it, she +shall be bound to the vow, and shall give whatsoever she promised. + +30:9. But if as soon as he heareth he gainsay it, and make her promises +and the words wherewith she had bound her soul of no effect: the Lord +will forgive her. + +30:10. The widow, and she that is divorced, shall fulfil whatsoever +they vow. + +30:11. If the wife in the house of her husband, hath bound herself by +vow and by oath, + +30:12. If her husband hear, and hold his peace, and doth not disallow +the promise, she shall accomplish whatsoever she had promised. + +30:13. But if forthwith he gainsay it, she shall not be bound by the +promise: because her husband gainsaid it, and the Lord will be merciful +to her. + +30:14. If she vow and bind herself by oath, to afflict her soul by +fasting, or abstinence from other things, it shall depend on the will +of her husband, whether she shall do it, or not do it. + +30:15. But if the husband hearing it hold his peace, and defer the +declaring his mind till another day: whatsoever she had vowed and +promised, she shall fulfil: because immediately as he heard it, he held +his peace. + +30:16. But if he gainsay it after that he knew it, he shall bear her +iniquity. + +30:17. These are the laws which the Lord appointed to Moses between the +husband and the wife, between the father and the daughter that is as +yet but a girl in age, or that abideth in her father's house. + + + +Numbers Chapter 31 + + +The Madianites are slain for having drawn the people of Israel into +sin. The dividing of the booty. + +31:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +31:2. Revenge first the children of Israel on the Madianites, and so +thou shalt be gathered to thy people. + +31:3. And Moses forthwith said: Arm of you men to fight, who may take +the revenge of the Lord on the Madianites. + +31:4. Let a thousand men be chosen out of every tribe of Israel to be +sent to the war. + +31:5. And they gave a thousand of every tribe, that is to say, twelve +thousand men well appointed for battle. + +31:6. And Moses sent them with Phinees the son of Eleazar the priest, +and he delivered to him the holy vessels, and the trumpets to sound. + +31:7. And when they had fought against the Madianites and had overcome +them, they slew all the men. + +31:8. And their kings Evi, and Recem, and Sur, and Hur, and Rebe, five +princes of the nation: Balaam also the son of Beor they killed with the +sword. + +31:9. And they took their women, and their children captives, and all +their cattle, and all their goods: and all their possessions they +plundered: + +31:10. And all their cities, and their villages, and castles, they +burned. + +31:11. And they carried away the booty, and all that they had taken +both of men and of beasts. + +31:12. And they brought them to Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and to +all the multitude of the children of Israel. But the rest of the things +for use they carried to the camp on the plains of Moab, beside the +Jordan over against Jericho. + +31:13. And Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the princes of the +synagogue went forth to meet them without the camp. + +31:14. And Moses being angry with the chief officers of the army, the +tribunes, and the centurions that were come from the battle, + +31:15. Said: Why have you saved the women? + +31:16. Are not these they, that deceived the children of Israel by the +counsel of Balaam, and made you transgress against the Lord by the sin +of Phogor, for which also the people was punished? + +The sin of Phogor. . .The sin committed in the worship of Beelphegor. + +31:17. Therefore kill all that are of the male sex, even of the +children: and put to death the women, that have carnally known men. + +Of children. . .Women and children, ordinarily speaking, were not to be +killed in war, Deut. 20.14. But the great Lord of life and death was +pleased to order it otherwise in the present case, in detestation of +the wickedness of this people, who by the counsel of Balaam, had sent +their women among the Israelites on purpose to draw them from God. + +31:18. But the girls, and all the women that are virgins save for +yourselves: + +31:19. And stay without the camp seven days. He that hath killed a man, +or touched one that is killed, shall be purified the third day and the +seventh day. + +31:20. And of all the spoil, every garment, or vessel, or any thing +made for use, of the skins, or hair of goats, or of wood, shall be +purified. + +31:21. Eleazar also the priest spoke to the men of the army, that had +fought, in this manner: This is the ordinance of the law, which the +Lord hath commanded Moses: + +31:22. Gold, and silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, + +31:23. And all that may pass through the fire, shall be purified by +fire, but whatsoever cannot abide the fire, shall be sanctified with +the water of expiation: + +31:24. And you shall wash your garments the seventh day, and being +purified, you shall afterwards enter into the camp. + +31:25. And the Lord said to Moses: + +31:26. Take the sum of the things that were taken both of man and +beast, thou and Eleazar the priest and the princes of the multitude: + +31:27. And thou shalt divide the spoil equally, between them that +fought and went out to the war, and between the rest of the multitude. + +31:28. And thou shalt separate a portion to the Lord from them that +fought and were in the battle, one soul of five hundred as well of +persons as of oxen and asses and sheep. + +31:29. And thou shalt give it to Eleazar the priest, because they are +the firstfruits of the Lord. + +31:30. Out of the moiety also of the children of Israel thou shalt take +the fiftieth head of persons, and of oxen, and asses, and sheep, and of +all beasts, and thou shalt give them to the Levites that watch in the +charge of the tabernacle of the Lord. + +31:31. And Moses and Eleazar did as the Lord had commanded. + +31:32. And the spoil which the army had taken, was six hundred +seventy-five thousand sheep, + +31:33. Seventy-two thousand oxen, + +31:34. Sixty-one thousand asses: + +31:35. And thirty-two thousand persons of the female sex, that had not +known men. + +31:36. And one half was given to them that had been in the battle, to +wit, three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep: + +31:37. Out of which, for the portion of the Lord, were reckoned six +hundred seventy five sheep. + +31:38. And out of the thirty-six thousand oxen, seventy-two oxen: + +31:39. Out of the thirty thousand five hundred asses, sixty-one asses: + +31:40. Out of the sixteen thousand persons, there fell to the portion +of the Lord, thirty-two souls. + +31:41. And Moses delivered the number of the firstfruits of the Lord to +Eleazar the priest, as had been commanded him, + +31:42. Out of the half of the children of Israel, which he had +separated for them that had been in the battle. + +31:43. But out of the half that fell to the rest of the multitude, that +is to say, out of the three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred +sheep, + +31:44. And out of the thirty-six thousand oxen, + +31:45. And out of the thirty thousand five hundred asses, + +31:46. And out of the sixteen thousand persons, + +31:47. Moses took the fiftieth head, and gave it to the Levites that +watched in the tabernacle of the Lord, as the Lord had commanded. + +31:48. And when the commanders of the army, and the tribunes and +centurions were come to Moses, they said: + +31:49. We thy servants have reckoned up the number of the fighting men, +whom we had under our hand, and not so much as one was wanting. + +31:50. Therefore we offer as gifts to the Lord what gold every one of +us could find in the booty, in garters and tablets, rings and +bracelets, and chains, that thou mayst pray to the Lord for us. + +31:51. And Moses and Eleazar the priest received all the gold in divers +kinds, + +31:52. In weight sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty sicles, from +the tribunes and from the centurions. + +31:53. For that which every one had taken in the booty was his own. + +31:54. And that which was received they brought into the tabernacle of +the testimony, for a memorial of the children of Israel before the +Lord. + + + +Numbers Chapter 32 + + +The tribes of Ruben and Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasses, receive +their inheritance on the east side of Jordan, upon conditions approved +of by Moses. + +32:1. And the sons of Ruben and Gad had many flocks of cattle, and +their substance in beasts was infinite. And when they saw the lands of +Jazer and Galaad fit for feeding cattle, + +32:2. They came to Moses and Eleazar the priest, and the princes of the +multitude, and said: + +32:3. Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nemra, Hesebon, and Eleale, +and Saban, and Nebo, and Beon, + +32:4. The land, which the Lord hath conquered in the sight of the +children of Israel, is a very fertile soil for the feeding of beasts: +and we thy servants have very much cattle: + +32:5. And we pray thee, if we have found favour in thy sight, that thou +give it to us thy servants in possession, and make us not pass over the +Jordan. + +32:6. And Moses answered them: What, shall your brethren go to fight, +and will you sit here? + +32:7. Why do ye overturn the minds of the children of Israel, that they +may not dare to pass into the place which the Lord hath given them? + +32:8. Was it not thus your fathers did, when I sent from Cadesbarne to +view the land? + +32:9. And when they were come as far as the valley of the cluster, +having viewed all the country, they overturned the hearts of the +children of Israel, that they should not enter into the coasts, which +the Lord gave them. + +32:10. And he swore in his anger, saying: + +32:11. If these men, that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old +and upward, shall see the land, which I promised with an oath to +Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: because they would not follow me, + +32:12. Except Caleb the son of Jephone the Cenezite, and Josue the son +of Nun: these have fulfilled my will. + +32:13. And the Lord being angry against Israel, led them about through +the desert forty years, until the whole generation, that had done evil +in his sight, was consumed. + +32:14. And behold, said he, you are risen up instead of your fathers, +the increase and offspring of sinful men, to augment the fury of the +Lord against Israel. + +32:15. For if you will not follow him, he will leave the people in the +wilderness, and you shall be the cause of the destruction of all. + +32:16. But they coming near, said: We will make sheepfolds, and stalls +for our cattle, and strong cities for our children: + +32:17. And we ourselves will go armed and ready for battle before the +children of Israel, until we bring them in unto their places. Our +little ones, and all we have, shall be in walled cities, for fear of +the ambushes of the inhabitants. + +32:18. We will not return into our houses until the children of Israel +possess their inheritance: + +32:19. Neither will we seek any thing beyond the Jordan, because we +have already our possession on the east side thereof, + +32:20. And Moses said to them: If you do what you promise, go on well +appointed for war before the Lord: + +32:21. And let every fighting man pass over the Jordan, until the Lord +overthrow his enemies: + +32:22. And all the land be brought under him, then shall you be +blameless before the Lord and before Israel, and you shall obtain the +countries that you desire, before the Lord. + +32:23. But if you do not what you say, no man can doubt but you sin +against God: and know ye, that your sin shall overtake you. + +32:24. Build therefore cities for your children, and folds and stalls +for your sheep and beasts, and accomplish what you have promised. + +32:25. And the children of Gad and Ruben said to Moses: We are thy +servants, we will do what my lord commandeth. + +32:26. We will leave our children, and our wives and sheep and cattle, +in the cities of Galaad: + +32:27. And we thy servants all well appointed will march on to the war, +as thou, my lord, speakest. + +32:28. Moses therefore commanded Eleazar the priest, and Josue the son +of Nun, and the princes of the families of all the tribes of Israel, +and said to them: + +32:29. If the children of Gad, and the children of Ruben pass with you +over the Jordan, all armed for war before the Lord, and the land be +made subject to you: give them Galaad in possession. + +32:30. But if they will not pass armed with you into the land of +Chanaan, let them receive places to dwell in among you. + +32:31. And the children of Gad, and the children of Ruben answered: As +the Lord hath spoken to his servants, so will we do: + +32:32. We will go armed before the Lord into the land of Chanaan, and +we confess that we have already received our possession beyond the +Jordan. + +32:33. Moses therefore gave to the children of Gad and of Ruben, and to +the half tribe of Manasses the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sehon king +of the Amorrhites, and the kingdom of Og king of Basan, and their land +and the cities thereof round about. + +32:34. And the sons of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, + +32:35. And Etroth, and Sophan, and Jazer, and Jegbaa, + +32:36. And Bethnemra, and Betharan, fenced cities, and folds for their +cattle. + +32:37. But the children of Ruben built Hesebon, and Eleale, and +Cariathaim, + +32:38. And Nabo, and Baalmeon (their names being changed) and Sabama: +giving names to the cities which they had built. + +32:39. Moreover the children of Machir, the son of Manasses, went into +Galaad, and wasted it, cutting off the Amorrhites, the inhabitants +thereof. + +32:40. And Moses gave the land of Galaad to Machir the son of Manasses, +and he dwelt in it. + +32:41. And Jair the son of Manasses went, and took the villages +thereof, and he called them Havoth Jair, that is to say, the villages +of Jair. + +32:42. Nobe also went, and took Canath with the villages thereof: and +he called it by his own name, Nobe. + + + +Numbers Chapter 33 + + +The mansions or journeys of the children of Israel towards the land of +promise. + +33:1. These are the mansions of the children of Israel, who went out of +Egypt by their troops under the conduct of Moses and Aaron, + +The mansions. . .These mansions, or journeys of the children of Israel +from Egypt to the land of promise, were figures, according to the +fathers, of the steps and degrees by which Christians leaving sin are +to advance from virtue to virtue, till they come to the heavenly +mansions, after this life, to see and enjoy God. + +33:2. Which Moses wrote down according to the places of their +encamping, which they changed by the commandment of the Lord. + +33:3. Now the children of Israel departed from Ramesses the first +month, on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the +phase, with a mighty hand, in the sight of all the Egyptians, + +33:4. Who were burying their firstborn, whom the Lord had slain (upon +their gods also he had executed vengeance,) + +33:5. And they camped in Soccoth. + +33:6. And from Soccoth they came into Etham, which is in the uttermost +borders of the wilderness. + +33:7. Departing from thence they came over against Phihahiroth, which +looketh towards Beelsephon, and they camped before Magdalum. + +33:8. And departing from Phihahiroth, they passed through the midst of +the sea into the wilderness: and having marched three days through the +desert of Etham, they camped in Mara. + +33:9. And departing from Mara, they came into Elim, where there were +twelve fountains of waters, and seventy palm trees: and there they +camped. + +33:10. But departing from thence also, they pitched their tents by the +Red Sea. And departing from the Red Sea, + +33:11. They camped in the desert of Sin. + +33:12. And they removed from thence, and came to Daphca. + +33:13. And departing from Daphca, they camped in Alus. + +33:14. And departing from Alus, they pitched their tents in Raphidim, +where the people wanted water to drink. + +33:15. And departing from Raphidim, they camped in the desert of Sinai. + +33:16. But departing also from the desert of Sinai, they came to the +graves of lust. + +33:17. And departing from the graves of lust, they camped in Haseroth. + +33:18. And from Haseroth they came to Rethma. + +33:19. And departing from Rethma, they camped in Remmomphares. + +33:20. And they departed from thence and came to Lebna. + +33:21. Removing from Lebna they camped in Ressa. + +33:22. And departing from Ressa, they came to Ceelatha. + +33:23. And they removed from thence and camped in the mountain Sepher. + +33:24. Departing from the mountain Sepher, they came to Arada, + +33:25. From thence they went and camped in Maceloth. + +33:26. And departing from Maceloth, they came to Thahath. + +33:27. Removing from Thahath they camped in Thare. + +33:28. And they departed from thence, and pitched their tents in +Methca. + +33:29. And removing from Methca, they camped in Hesmona. + +33:30. And departing from Hesmona, they came to Moseroth. + +33:31. And removing from Moseroth, they camped in Benejaacan. + +33:32. And departing from Benejaacan, they came to mount Gadgad. + +33:33. From thence they went and camped in Jetebatha. + +33:34. And from Jetebatha they came to Hebrona. + +33:35. And departing from Hebrona, they camped in Asiongaber. + +33:36. They removed from thence and came into the desert of Sin, which +is Cades. + +33:37. And departing from Cades, they camped in mount Hor, in the +uttermost borders of the land of Edom. + +33:38. And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment +of the Lord: and there he died in the fortieth year of the coming forth +of the children of Israel out of Egypt, the fifth month, the first day +of the month, + +33:39. When he was a hundred and twenty-three years old. + +33:40. And king Arad the Chanaanite, who dwelt towards the south, heard +that the children of Israel were come to the land of Chanaan. + +33:41. And they departed from mount Hor, and camped in Salmona. + +33:42. From whence they removed and came to Phunon. + +33:43. And departing from Phunon, they camped in Oboth. + +33:44. And from Oboth they came to Ijeabarim, which is in the borders +of the Moabites. + +33:45. And departing from Ijeabarim they pitched their tents in +Dibongab. + +33:46. From thence they went and camped in Helmondeblathaim. + +33:47. And departing from Helmondeblathaim, they came to the mountains +of Abarim over against Nabo. + +33:48. And departing from the mountains of Abarim, they passed to the +plains of Moab, by the Jordan, over against Jericho. + +33:49. And there they camped from Bethsimoth even to Ablesatim in the +plains of the Moabites, + +33:50. Where the Lord said to Moses: + +33:51. Command the children of Israel, and say to them: When you shall +have passed over the Jordan, entering into the land of Chanaan, + +33:52. Destroy all the inhabitants of that land: Beat down their +pillars, and break in pieces their statues, and waste all their high +places, + +33:53. Cleansing the land, and dwelling in it. For I have given it you +for a possession. + +33:54. And you shall divide it among you by lot. To the more you shall +give a larger part, and to the fewer a lesser. To every one as the lot +shall fall, so shall the inheritance be given. The possession shall be +divided by the tribes and the families. + +33:55. But if you will not kill the inhabitants of the land: they that +remain, shall be unto you as nails in your eyes, and spears in your +sides, and they shall be your adversaries in the land of your +habitation. + +33:56. And whatsoever I had thought to do to them, I will do to you. + + + +Numbers Chapter 34 + + +The limits of Chanaan; with the names of the men that make the division +of it. + +34:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: + +34:2. Command the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: When +you are entered into the land of Chanaan, and it shall be fallen into +your possession by lot, it shall be bounded by these limits: + +34:3. The south side shall begin from the wilderness of Sin, which is +by Edom: and shall have the most salt sea for its furthest limits +eastward: + +The most salt sea. . .The lake of Sodom, otherwise called the Dead Sea. + +34:4. Which limits shall go round on the south side by the ascent of +the Scorpion and so into Senna, and reach toward the south as far as +Cadesbarne, from whence the frontiers shall go out to the town called +Adar, and shall reach as far as Asemona. + +The Scorpion. . .A mountain so called from having a great number of +scorpions. + +34:5. And the limits shall fetch a compass from Asemona to the torrent +of Egypt, and shall end in the shore of the great sea. + +The great sea. . .The Mediterranean. + +34:6. And the west side shall begin from the great sea, and the same +shall be the end thereof. + +34:7. But toward the north side the borders shall begin from the great +sea, reaching to the most high mountain, + +The most high mountain. . .Libanus. + +34:8. From which they shall come to Emath, as far as the borders of +Sedada: + +34:9. And the limits shall go as far as Zephrona, and the village of +Enan. These shall be the borders on the north side. + +34:10. From thence they shall mark out the grounds towards the east +side from the village of Enan unto Sephama. + +34:11. And from Sephama the bounds shall go down to Rebla over against +the fountain of Daphnis: from thence they shall come eastward to the +sea of Cenereth, + +Sea of Cenereth. . .This is the sea of Galilee, illustrated by the +miracles of our Lord. + +34:12. And shall reach as far as the Jordan, and at the last shall be +closed in by the most salt sea. This shall be your land with its +borders round about. + +34:13. And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying: This shall +be the land which you shall possess by lot, and which the Lord hath +commanded to be given to the nine tribes, and to the half tribe. + +34:14. For the tribe of the children of Ruben by their families, and +the tribe of the children of Gad according to the number of their +kindreds, and half of the tribe of Manasses, + +34:15. That is, two tribes and a half, have received their portion +beyond the Jordan over against Jericho at the east side. + +34:16. And the Lord said to Moses: + +34:17. These are the names of the men, that shall divide the land unto +you: Eleazar the priest, and Josue the son of Nun, + +34:18. And one prince of every tribe, + +34:19. Whose names are these: Of the tribe of Juda, Caleb the son of +Jephone. + +34:20. Of the tribe of Simeon, Samuel the son of Ammiud. + +34:21. Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chaselon. + +34:22. Of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bocci the son of Jogli. + +34:23. Of the children of Joseph of the tribe of Manasses, Hanniel the +son of Ephod. + +34:24. Of the tribe of Ephraim, Camuel the son of Sephtan. + +34:25. Of the tribe of Zabulon, Elisaphan the son of Pharnach. + +34:26. Of the tribe of Issachar, Phaltiel the prince, the son of Ozan. + +34:27. Of the tribe of Aser, Ahiud the son of Salomi. + +34:28. Of the tribe of Nephtali: Phedael the son of Ammiud. + +34:29. These are they Whom the Lord hath commanded to divide the land +of Chanaan to the children of Israel. + + + +Numbers Chapter 35 + + +Cities are appointed for the Levites. Of which six are to be the cities +of refuge. + +35:1. And the Lord spoke these things also to Moses in the plains of +Moab by the Jordan, over against Jericho: + +35:2. Command the children of Israel that they give to the Levites out +of their possessions, + +35:3. Cities to dwell in, and their suburbs round about: that they may +abide in the towns, and the suburbs may be for them cattle and beasts: + +35:4. Which suburbs shall reach from the walls of the cities outward, a +thousand paces on every side: + +35:5. Toward the east shall be two thousand cubits: and toward the +south in like manner shall be two thousand cubits: toward the sea also, +which looketh to the west, shall be the same extent: and the north side +shall be bounded with the like limits. And the cities shall be in the +midst, and the suburbs without. + +35:6. And among the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, six +shall be separated for refuge to fugitives, that he who hath shed blood +may flee to them: and besides these there shall be other forty-two +cities, + +35:7. That is, in all forty-eight with their suburbs. + +35:8. And of these cities which shall be given out of the possessions +of the children of Israel, from them that have more, more shall be +taken: and from them that have less, fewer. Each shall give towns to +the Levites according to the extent of their inheritance. + +35:9. The Lord said to Moses: + +35:10. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: +When you shall have passed over the Jordan into the land of Chanaan, + +35:11. Determine what cities shall be for the refuge of fugitives, who +have shed blood against their will. + +35:12. And when the fugitive shall be in them, the kinsman of him that +is slain may not have power to kill him, until he stand before the +multitude, and his cause be judged. + +35:13. And of those cities, that are separated for the refuge of +fugitives, + +35:14. Three shall be beyond the Jordan, and three in the land of +Chanaan, + +35:15. As well for the children of Israel as for strangers and +sojourners, that he may flee to them, who hath shed blood against his +will. + +35:16. If any man strike with iron, and he die that was struck: he +shall be guilty of murder, and he himself shall die. + +35:17. If he throw a stone, and he that is struck die: he shall be +punished in the same manner. + +35:18. If he that is struck with wood die: he shall be revenged by the +blood of him that struck him. + +35:19. The kinsman of him that was slain, shall kill the murderer: as +soon as he apprehendeth him, he shall kill him. + +35:20. If through hatred any one push a man, or fling any thing at him +with ill design: + +35:21. Or being his enemy, strike him with his hand, and he die: the +striker shall be guilty of murder: the kinsman of him that was slain as +soon as he findeth him, shall kill him. + +35:22. But if by chance medley, and without hatred, + +35:23. And enmity, he do any of these things, + +35:24. And this be proved in the hearing of the people, and the cause +be debated between him that struck, and the next of kin: + +35:25. The innocent shall be delivered from the hand of the revenger, +and shall be brought back by sentence into the city, to which he had +fled, and he shall abide there until the death of the high priest, that +is anointed with the holy oil. + +Until the death, etc. . .This mystically signified that our deliverance +was to be effected by the death of Christ, the high priest and the +anointed of God. + +35:26. If the murderer be found without the limits of the cities that +are appointed for the banished, + +35:27. And be struck by him that is the avenger of blood: he shall not +be guilty that killed him. + +35:28. For the fugitive ought to have stayed in the city until the +death of the high priest: and after he is dead, then shall the +manslayer return to his own country. + +35:29. These things shall be perpetual, and for an ordinance in all +your dwellings. + +35:30. The murderer shall be punished by witnesses: none shall be +condemned upon the evidence of one man. + +35:31. You shall not take money of him that is guilty of blood, but he +shall die forthwith. + +35:32. The banished and fugitives before the death of the high priest +may by no means return into their own cities. + +35:33. Defile not the land of your habitation, which is stained with +the blood of the innocent: neither can it otherwise be expiated, but by +his blood that hath shed the blood of another. + +35:34. And thus shall your possession be cleansed, myself abiding with +you. For I am the Lord that dwell among the children of Israel. + + + +Numbers Chapter 36 + + +That the inheritances may not be alienated from one tribe to another, +all are to marry within their own tribes. + +36:1. And the princes of the families of Galaad, the son of Machir, the +son of Manasses, of the stock of the children of Joseph, came and spoke +to Moses before the princes of Israel, and said: + +36:2. The Lord hath commanded thee, my lord, that thou shouldst divide +the land by lot to the children of Israel, and that thou shouldst give +to the daughters of Salphaad our brother the possession due to their +father: + +36:3. Now if men of another tribe take them to wives, their possession +will follow them, and being transferred to another tribe, will be a +diminishing of our inheritance. + +36:4. And so it shall come to pass, that when the jubilee, the is, the +fiftieth year of remission, is come, the distribution made by the lots +shall be confounded, and the possession of the one shall pass to the +others. + +36:5. Moses answered the children of Israel, and said by the command of +the Lord: The tribe of the children of Joseph hath spoken rightly. + +36:6. And this is the law promulgated by the Lord touching the +daughters of Salphaad: Let them marry to whom they will, only so that +it be to men of their own tribe. + +36:7. Lest the possession of the children of Israel be mingled from +tribe to tribe. For all men shall marry wives of their own tribe and +kindred: + +36:8. And all women shall take husbands of the same tribe: that the +inheritance may remain in the families. + +36:9. And that the tribes be not mingled one with another, but remain +so + +36:10. As they were separated by the Lord. And the daughters of +Salphaad did as was commanded: + +36:11. And Maala, and Thersa, and Hegla, and Melcha, and Noa were +married to the sons of their uncle by their father + +36:12. Of the family of Manasses, who was the son of Joseph: and the +possession that had been allotted to them, remained in the tribe and +family of their father. + +36:13. These are the commandments and judgment, which the Lord +commanded by the hand of Moses to the children of Israel, in the plains +of Moab upon the Jordan over against Jericho. + + + + +THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY + + + +This Book is called DEUTERONOMY, which signifies a SECOND LAW, because +it repeats and inculcates the ordinances formerly given on mount Sinai, +with other precepts not expressed before. The Hebrews, from the first +words in the book, call it ELLE HADDEBARIM. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 1 + + +A repetition of what passed at Sinai and Cadesbarne: and of the +people's murmuring and their punishment. + +1:1. These are the words, which Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the +Jordan, in the plain wilderness, over against the Red Sea, between +Pharan and Thophel and Laban and Haseroth, where there is very much +gold. + +1:2. Eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir to +Cadesbarne. + +1:3. In the fortieth year, the eleventh month, the first day of the +month, Moses spoke to the children of Israel all that the Lord had +commanded him to say to them: + +1:4. After that he had slain Sehon king of the Amorrhites, who dwelt in +Hesebon: and Og king of Basan who abode in Astaroth, and in Edrai, + +1:5. Beyond the Jordan in the land of Moab. And Moses began to expound +the law, and to say: + +1:6. The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: You have stayed +long enough in this mountain: + +1:7. Turn you, and come to the mountain of the Amorrhites, and to the +other places that are next to it, the plains and the hills and the +vales towards the south, and by the sea shore, the land of the +Chanaanites, and of Libanus, as far as the great river Euphrates. + +1:8. Behold, said he, I have delivered it to you: go in and possess it, +concerning which the Lord swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and +Jacob, that he would give it to them, and to their seed after them. + +1:9. And I said to you at that time: + +1:10. I alone am not able to bear you: for the Lord your God hath +multiplied you, and you are this day as the stars of heaven, for +multitude. + +1:11. (The Lord God of your fathers add to this number many thousands, +and bless you as he hath spoken.) + +1:12. I alone am not able to bear your business, and the charge of you +and your differences. + +1:13. Let me have from among you wise and understanding men, and such +whose conversation is approved among your tribes, that I may appoint +them your rulers. + +1:14. Then you answered me: The thing is good which thou meanest to do. + +1:15. And I took out of your tribes men wise and honourable, and +appointed them rulers, tribunes, and centurions, and officers over +fifties, and over tens, who might teach you all things. + +1:16. And I commanded them, saying: Hear them, and judge that which is +just: whether he be one of your country, or a stranger. + +1:17. There shall be no difference of persons, you shall hear the +little as well as the great: neither shall you respect any man's +person, because it is the judgment of God. And if any thing seem hard +to you, refer it to me, and I will hear it. + +1:18. And I commanded you all things that you were to do. + +1:19. And departing from Horeb, we passed through the terrible and vast +wilderness, which you saw, by the way of the mountain of the Amorrhite, +as the Lord our God had commanded us. And when we were come into +Cadesbarne, + +1:20. I said to you: You are come to the mountain of the Amorrhite, +which the Lord our God will give to us. + +1:21. See the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee: go up and +possess it, as the Lord our God hath spoken to thy fathers: fear not, +nor be any way discouraged. + +1:22. And you came all to me, and said: Let us send men who may view +the land, and bring us word what way we shall go up, and to what cities +we shall go. + +1:23. And because the saying pleased me, I sent of you twelve men, one +of every tribe: + +1:24. Who, when they had set forward and had gone up to the mountains, +came as far as the valley of the cluster: and having viewed the land, + +1:25. Taking of the fruits thereof, to shew its fertility, they brought +them to us, and said: The land is good, which the Lord our God will +give us. + +1:26. And you would not go up, but being incredulous to the word of the +Lord our God, + +1:27. You murmured in your tents, and said: The Lord hateth us, and +therefore he hath brought us out of the land of Egypt, that he might +deliver us into the hand of the Amorrhite, and destroy us. + +1:28. Whither shall we go up? the messengers have terrified our hearts, +saying: The multitude is very great, and taller than we: the cities are +great, and walled up to the sky, we have seen the sons of the Enacims +there. + +Walled up to the sky. . .A figurative expression, signifying the walls +to be very high. + +1:29. And I said to you: Fear not, neither be ye afraid of them: + +1:30. The Lord God, who is your leader, himself will fight for you, as +he did in Egypt in the sight of all. + +1:31. And in the wilderness (as thou hast seen) the Lord thy God hath +carried thee, as a man is wont to carry his little son, all the way +that you have come, until you came to this place. + +1:32. And yet for all this you did not believe the Lord your God, + +1:33. Who went before you in the way, and marked out the place, wherein +you should pitch your tents, in the night shewing you the way by fire, +and in the day by the pillar of a cloud. + +1:34. And when the Lord had heard the voice of your words, he was angry +and swore, and said: + +1:35. Not one of the men of this wicked generation shall see the good +land, which I promised with an oath to your fathers: + +1:36. Except Caleb the son of Jephone: for he shall see it, and to him +I will give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, +because he hath followed the Lord. + +1:37. Neither is his indignation against the people to be wondered at, +since the Lord was angry with me also on your account, and said: +Neither shalt thou go in thither. + +1:38. But Josue the son of Nun, thy minister, he shall go in for thee: +exhort and encourage him, and he shall divide the land by lot to +Israel. + +1:39. Your children, of whom you said that they should be led away +captives, and your sons who know not this day the difference of good +and evil, they shall go in: and to them I will give the land, and they +shall possess it. + +1:40. But return you and go into the wilderness by the way of the Red +Sea. + +1:41. And you answered me: We have sinned against the Lord: we will go +up and fight, as the Lord our God hath commanded. And when you went +ready armed unto the mountain, + +1:42. The Lord said to me: Say to them: Go not up, and fight not, for I +am not with you: lest you fall before your enemies. + +1:43. I spoke, and you hearkened not: but resisting the commandment of +the Lord, and swelling with pride, you went up into the mountain. + +1:44. And the Amorrhite that dwelt in the mountains coming out, and +meeting you, chased you, as bees do: and made slaughter of you from +Seir as far as Horma. + +1:45. And when you returned and wept before the Lord, he heard you not, +neither would he yield to your voice. + +1:46. So you abode in Cadesbarne a long time. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 2 + + +They are forbid to fight against the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites. +Their victory over Sehon king of Hesebon. + +2:1. And departing from thence we came into the wilderness that leadeth +to the Red Sea, as the Lord had spoken to me: and we compassed mount +Seir a long time. + +2:2. And the Lord said to me: + +2:3. You have compassed this mountain long enough: go toward the north: + +2:4. And command thou the people, saying: You shall pass by the borders +of your brethren the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, and they will +be afraid of you. + +2:5. Take ye then good heed that you stir not against them. For I will +not give you of their land so much as the step of one foot can tread +upon, because I have given mount Seir to Esau, for a possession. + +2:6. You shall buy meats of them for money and shall eat: you shall +draw waters for money, and shall drink. + +2:7. The Lord thy God hath blessed thee in every work of thy hands: the +Lord thy God dwelling with thee, knoweth thy journey, how thou hast +passed through this great wilderness, for forty years, and thou hast +wanted nothing. + +2:8. And when we had passed by our brethren the children of Esau, that +dwelt in Seir, by the way of the plain from Elath and from Asiongaber, +we came to the way that leadeth to the desert of Moab. + +2:9. And the Lord said to me: Fight not against the Moabites, neither +go to battle against them: for I will not give thee any of their land, +because I have given Ar to the children of Lot in possession. + +2:10. The Emims first were the inhabitants thereof, a people great, and +strong, and so tall, that like the race of the Enacims, + +2:11. They were esteemed as giants, and were like the sons of the +Enacims. But the Moabites call them Emims. + +2:12. The Horrhites also formerly dwelt in Seir: who being driven out +and destroyed, the children of Esau dwelt there, as Israel did in the +land of his possession, which the Lord gave him. + +2:13. Then rising up to pass the torrent Zared, we came to it. + +2:14. And the time that we journeyed from Cadesbarne till we passed +over the torrent Zared, was thirty-eight years: until all the +generation of the men that were fit for war was consumed out of the +camp, as the Lord had sworn: + +2:15. For his hand was against them, that they should perish from the +midst of the camp. + +2:16. And after all the fighting men were dead, + +2:17. The Lord spoke to me, saying: + +2:18. Thou shalt pass this day the borders of Moab, the city named Ar: + +2:19. And when thou comest nigh the frontiers of the children of Ammon, +take heed thou fight not against them, nor once move to battle: for I +will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon, because I have +given it to the children of Lot for a possession. + +2:20. It was accounted a land of giants: and giants formerly dwelt in +it, whom the Ammonites call Zomzommims, + +2:21. A people great and many, and of tall stature, like the Enacims +whom the Lord destroyed before their face: and he made them to dwell in +their stead, + +2:22. As he had done in favour of the children of Esau, that dwell in +Seir, destroying the Horrhites, and delivering their land to them, +which they possess to this day. + +2:23. The Hevites also, that dwelt in Haserim as far as Gaza, were +expelled by the Cappadocians: who came out of Cappadocia, and destroyed +them and dwelt in their stead. + +2:24. Arise ye, and pass the torrent Arnon: Behold I have delivered +into thy hand Sehon king of Hesebon the Amorrhite, and begin thou to +possess his land and make war against him. + +2:25. This day will I begin to send the dread and fear of thee upon the +nations that dwell under the whole heaven: that when they hear thy name +they may fear and tremble, and be in pain like women in travail. + +2:26. So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Cademoth to Sehon the +king of Hesebon with peaceable words, saying: + +2:27. We will pass through thy land, we will go along by the highway: +we will not turn aside neither to the right hand nor to the left. + +2:28. Sell us meat for money, that we may eat: give us water for money +and so we will drink. We only ask that thou wilt let us pass through, + +2:29. As the children of Esau have done, that dwell in Seir, and the +Moabites, that abide in Ar: until we come to the Jordan, and pass to +the land which the Lord our God will give us. + +2:30. And Sehon the king of Hesebon would not let us pass: because the +Lord thy God had hardened his spirit, and fixed his heart, that he +might be delivered into thy hands, as now thou seest. + +Hardened, etc. . .That is, in punishment of his past sins he left him to +his own stubborn and perverse disposition, which drew him to his ruin. +See the note on Ex. 7.3. + +2:31. And the Lord said to me: Behold I have begun to deliver unto thee +Sehon and his land, begin to possess it. + +2:32. And Sehon came out to meet us with all his people to fight at +Jasa. + +2:33. And the Lord our God delivered him to us: and we slew him with +his sons and all his people. + +2:34. And we took all his cities at that time, killing the inhabitants +of them, men and women and children. We left nothing of them: + +2:35. Except the cattle which came to the share of them that took them: +and the spoils of the cities, which we took: + +2:36. From Aroer, which is upon the bank of the torrent Arnon, a town +that is situate in a valley, as far as Galaad. There was not a village +or city, that escaped our hands: the Lord our God delivered all unto +us: + +2:37. Except the land of the children of Ammon, to which we approached +not: and all that border upon the torrent Jeboc, and the cities in the +mountains, and all the places which the Lord our God forbade us. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 3 + + +The victory over Og king of Basan. Ruben, Gad, and half the tribe of +Manasses receive their possession on the other side of Jordan. + +3:1. Then we turned and went by the way of Basan: and Og the king of +Basan came out to meet us with his people to fight in Edrai. + +3:2. And the Lord said to me: Fear him not: because he is delivered +into thy hand, with all his people and his land: and thou shalt do to +him as thou hast done to Sehon king of the Amorrhites, that dwelt in +Hesebon. + +3:3. So the Lord our God delivered into our hands, Og also, the king of +Basan, and all his people: and we utterly destroyed them, + +3:4. Wasting all his cities at one time, there was not a town that +escaped us: sixty cities, all the country of Argob the kingdom of Og in +Basan. + +3:5. All the cities were fenced with very high walls, and with gates +and bars, besides innumerable towns that had no walls. + +3:6. And we utterly destroyed them, as we had done to Sehon the king of +Hesebon, destroying every city, men and women and children: + +3:7. But the cattle and the spoils of the cities we took for our prey. + +3:8. And we took at that time the land out of the hand of the two kings +of the Amorrhites, that were beyond the Jordan: from the torrent Arnon +unto the mount Hermon, + +3:9. Which the Sidonians call Sarion, and the Amorrhites Sanir: + +3:10. All the cities that are situate in the plain, and all the land of +Galaad and Basan as far as Selcha and Edrai, cities of the kingdom of +Og in Basan. + +3:11. For only Og king of Basan remained of the race of the giants. His +bed of iron is shewn, which is in Rabbath of the children of Ammon, +being nine cubits long, and four broad after the measure of the cubit +of a man's hand. + +3:12. And we possessed the land at that time from Aroer, which is upon +the bank of the torrent Arnon, unto the half of mount Galaad: and I +gave the cities thereof to Ruben and Gad. + +3:13. And I delivered the other part of Galaad, and all Basan the +kingdom of Og to the half tribe of Manasses, all the country of Argob: +and all Basan is called the Land of giants. + +3:14. Jair the son of Manasses possessed all the country of Argob unto +the borders of Gessuri, and Machati. And he called Basan by his own +name, Havoth Jair, that is to say, the towns of Jair, until this +present day. + +3:15. To Machir also I gave Galaad. + +3:16. And to the tribes of Ruben and Gad I gave of the land of Galaad +as far as the torrent Arnon, half the torrent, and the confines even +unto the torrent Jeboc, which is the border of the children of Ammon: + +3:17. And the plain of the wilderness, and the Jordan, and the borders +of Cenereth unto the sea of the desert, which is the most salt sea, to +the foot of mount Phasga eastward. + +3:18. And I commanded you at that time, saying: The Lord your God +giveth you this land for an inheritance, go ye well appointed before +your brethren the children of Israel, all the strong men of you. + +3:19. Leaving your wives and children and cattle. For I know you have +much cattle, and they must remain in the cities, which I have delivered +to you. + +3:20. Until the Lord give rest to your brethren, as he hath given to +you: and they also possess the land, which he will give them beyond the +Jordan: then shall every man return to his possession, which I have +given you. + +3:21. I commanded Josue also at that time, saying: Thy eyes have seen +what the Lord your God hath done to these two kings: so will he do to +all the kingdoms to which thou shalt pass. + +3:22. Fear them not: for the Lord your God will fight for you. + +3:23. And I besought the Lord at that time, saying: + +3:24. Lord God, thou hast begun to shew unto thy servant thy greatness, +and most mighty hand, for there is no other God either in heaven or +earth, that is able to do thy works, or to be compared to thy strength. + +3:25. I will pass over therefore, and will see this excellent land +beyond the Jordan, and this goodly mountain, and Libanus. + +3:26. And the Lord was angry with me on your account and heard me not, +but said to me: It is enough: speak no more to me of this matter. + +3:27. Go up to the top of Phasga, and cast thy eyes round about to the +west, and to the north, and to the south, and to the east, and behold +it, for thou shalt not pass this Jordan. + +3:28. Command Josue, and encourage and strengthen him: for he shall go +before this people, and shall divide unto them the land which thou +shalt see. + +3:29. And we abode in the valley over against the temple of Phogor. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 4 + + +Moses exhorteth the people to keep God's commandments: particularly to +fly idolatry. Appointeth three cities of refuge, on that side of the +Jordan. + +4:1. And now, O Israel, hear the commandments and judgments which I +teach thee: that doing them, thou mayst live, and entering in mayst +possess the land which the Lord the God of your fathers will give you. + +4:2. You shall not add to the word that I speak to you, neither shall +you take away from it: keep the commandments of the Lord your God which +I command you. + +4:3. Your eyes have seen all that the Lord hath done against +Beelphegor, how he hath destroyed all his worshippers from among you. + +4:4. But you that adhere to the Lord your God, are all alive until this +present day. + +4:5. You know that I have taught you statutes and justices, as the Lord +my God hath commanded me: so shall you do them in the land which you +shall possess: + +4:6. And you shall observe, and fulfil them in practice. For this is +your wisdom, and understanding in the sight of nations, that hearing +all these precepts, they may say: Behold a wise and understanding +people, a great nation. + +4:7. Neither is there any other nation so great, that hath gods so nigh +them, as our God is present to all our petitions. + +4:8. For what other nation is there so renowned that hath ceremonies, +and just judgments, and all the law, which I will set forth this day +before our eyes? + +4:9. Keep thyself therefore, and thy soul carefully. Forget not the +words that thy eyes have seen, and let them not go out of thy heart all +the days of thy life. Thou shalt teach them to thy sons and to thy +grandsons, + +4:10. From the day in which thou didst stand before the Lord thy God in +Horeb, when the Lord spoke to me, saying: Call together the people unto +me, that they may hear my words, and may learn to fear me all the time +that they live on the earth, and may teach their children. + +4:11. And you came to the foot of the mount, which burned even unto +heaven: and there was darkness, and a cloud and obscurity in it. + +4:12. And the Lord spoke to you from the midst of the fire. You heard +the voice of his words, but you saw not any form at all. + +4:13. And he shewed you his covenant, which he commanded you to do, and +the ten words that he wrote in two tables of stone. + +4:14. And he commanded me at that time that I should teach you the +ceremonies and judgments which you shall do in the land, that you shall +possess. + +4:15. Keep therefore your souls carefully. You saw not any similitude +in the day that the Lord God spoke to you in Horeb from the midst of +the fire: + +4:16. Lest perhaps being deceived you might make you a graven +similitude, or image of male or female, + +4:17. The similitude of any beasts, that are upon the earth, or of +birds, that fly under heaven, + +4:18. Or of creeping things, that move on the earth, or of fishes, that +abide in the waters under the earth: + +4:19. Lest perhaps lifting up thy eyes to heaven, thou see the sun and +the moon, and all the stars of heaven, and being deceived by error thou +adore and serve them, which the Lord thy God created for the service of +all the nations, that are under heaven. + +4:20. But the Lord hath taken you and brought you out of the iron +furnaces of Egypt, to make you his people of inheritance, as it is this +present day. + +4:21. And the Lord was angry with me for your words, and he swore that +I should not pass over the Jordan, nor enter into the excellent land, +which he will give you. + +4:22. Behold I die in this land, I shall not pass over the Jordan: you +shall pass, and possess the goodly land. + +4:23. Beware lest thou ever forget the covenant of the Lord thy God, +which he hath made with thee: and make to thyself a graven likeness of +those things which the Lord hath forbid to be made: + +4:24. Because the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. + +4:25. If you shall beget sons and grandsons, and abide in the land, and +being deceived, make to yourselves any similitude, committing evil +before the Lord your God, to provoke him to wrath: + +4:26. I call this day heaven and earth to witness, that you shall +quickly perish out of the land, which, when you have passed over the +Jordan, you shall possess. You shall not dwell therein long, but the +Lord will destroy you, + +4:27. And scatter you among all nations, and you shall remain a few +among the nations, to which the Lord shall lead you. + +4:28. And there you shall serve gods, that were framed with men's +hands: wood and stone, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. + +4:29. And when thou shalt seek there the Lord thy God, thou shalt find +him: yet so, if thou seek him with all thy heart, and all the +affliction of thy soul. + +4:30. After all the things aforesaid shall find thee, in the latter +time thou shalt return to the Lord thy God, and shalt hear his voice. + +4:31. Because the Lord thy God is a merciful God: he will not leave +thee, nor altogether destroy thee, nor forget the covenant, by which he +swore to thy fathers. + +4:32. Ask of the days of old, that have been before thy time from the +day that God created man upon the earth, from one end of heaven to the +other end thereof, if ever there was done the like thing, or it hath +been known at any time, + +4:33. That a people should hear the voice of God speaking out of the +midst of fire, as thou hast heard, and lived: + +4:34. If God ever did so as to go, and take to himself a nation out of +the midst of nations by temptations, signs, and wonders, by fight, and +a strong hand, and stretched out arm, and horrible visions according to +all the things that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt, before thy +eyes. + +4:35. That thou mightest know that the Lord he is God, and there is no +other besides him. + +4:36. From heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might teach +thee. And upon earth he shewed thee his exceeding great fire, and thou +didst hear his words out of the midst of the fire, + +4:37. Because he loved thy fathers, and chose their seed after them. +And he brought thee out of Egypt, going before thee with his great +power, + +4:38. To destroy at thy coming very great nations, and stronger than +thou art, and to bring thee in, and give thee their land for a +possession, as thou seest at this present day. + +4:39. Know therefore this day, and think in thy heart that the Lord he +is God in heaven above, and in the earth beneath, and there is no +other. + +4:40. Keep his precepts and commandments, which I command thee: that it +may be well with thee, and thy children after thee, and thou mayst +remain a long time upon the land, which the Lord thy God will give +thee. + +4:41. Then Moses set aside three cities beyond the Jordan at the east +side, + +4:42. That any one might flee to them who should kill his neighbour +unwillingly, and was not his enemy a day or two before, and that he +might escape to some one of these cities: + +4:43. Bosor in the wilderness, which is situate in the plains of the +tribe of Ruben: and Ramoth in Galaad, which is in the tribe of Gad: and +Golan in Basan, which is in the tribe of Manasses. + +4:44. This is the law, that Moses set before the children of Israel, + +4:45. And these are the testimonies and ceremonies and judgments, which +he spoke to the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt, + +4:46. Beyond the Jordan in the valley over against the temple of +Phogor, in the land of Sehon king of the Amorrhites, that dwelt in +Hesebon, whom Moses slew. And the children of Israel coming out of +Egypt, + +4:47. Possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Basan, of the two +kings of the Amorrhites, who were beyond the Jordan towards the rising +of the sun: + +4:48. From Aroer, which is situate upon the bank of the torrent Arnon, +unto mount Sion, which is also called Hermon, + +4:49. All the plain beyond the Jordan at the east side, unto the sea of +the wilderness, and unto the foot of mount Phasga. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 5 + + +The ten commandments are repeated and explained. + +5:1. And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: Hear, O Israel, the +ceremonies and judgments, which I speak in your ears this day: learn +them, and fulfil them in work. + +5:2. The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. + +5:3. He made not the covenant with our fathers, but with us, who are +now present and living. + +5:4. He spoke to us face to face in the mount out of the midst of fire. + +5:5. I was the mediator and stood between the Lord and you at that +time, to shew you his words, for you feared the fire, and went not up +into the mountain, and he said: + +5:6. I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, +out of the house of bondage. + +5:7. Thou shalt not have strange gods in my sight. + +5:8. Thou shalt not make to thy self a graven thing, nor the likeness +of any things, that are in heaven above, or that are in the earth +beneath, or that abide in the waters under the earth. + +5:9. Thou shalt not adore them, and thou shalt not serve them. For I am +the Lord thy God, a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers +upon their children unto the third and fourth generation, to them that +hate me, + +5:10. And shewing mercy unto many thousands, to them that love me, and +keep my commandments. + +5:11. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for he +shall not be unpunished that taketh his name upon a vain thing. + +5:12. Observe the day of the sabbath, to sanctify it, as the Lord thy +God hath commanded thee. + +5:13. Six days shalt thou labour, and shalt do all thy works. + +5:14. The seventh is the day of the sabbath, that is, the rest of the +Lord thy God. Thou shalt not do any work therein, thou nor thy son nor +thy daughter, nor thy manservant nor thy maidservant, nor thy ox, nor +thy ass, nor any of thy beasts, nor the stranger that is within thy +gates: that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest, even as +thyself. + +5:15. Remember that thou also didst serve in Egypt, and the Lord thy +God brought thee out from thence with a strong hand, and a stretched +out arm. Therefore hath he commanded thee that thou shouldst observe +the sabbath day. + +5:16. Honour thy father and mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded +thee, that thou mayst live a long time, and it may be well with thee in +the land, which the Lord thy God will give thee. + +5:17. Thou shalt not kill. + +5:18. Neither shalt thou commit adultery. + +5:19. And thou shalt not steal. + +5:20. Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. + +5:21. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife: nor his house, nor his +field, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his +ass, nor any thing that is his. + +5:22. These words the Lord spoke to all the multitude of you in the +mountain, out of the midst of the fire and the cloud, and the darkness, +with a loud voice, adding nothing more: and he wrote them in two tables +of stone, which he delivered unto me. + +5:23. But you, after you heard the voice out of the midst of the +darkness, and saw the mountain burn, came to me, all the princes of the +tribes and the elders, and you said: + +5:24. Behold the Lord our God hath shewn us his majesty and his +greatness, we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire, and +have proved this day that God speaking with man, man hath lived. + +5:25. Why shall we die therefore, and why shall this exceeding great +fire comsume us: for if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, +we shall die. + +5:26. What is all flesh, that it should hear the voice of the living +God, who speaketh out of the midst of the fire, as we have heard, and +be able to live? + +5:27. Approach thou rather: and hear all things that the Lord our God +shall say to thee, and thou shalt speak to us, and we will hear and +will do them. + +5:28. And when the Lord had heard this, he said to me: I have heard the +voice of the words of this people, which they spoke to thee: they have +spoken all things well. + +5:29. Who shall give them to have such a mind, to fear me, and to keep +all my commandments at all times, that it may be well with them and +with their children for ever? + +5:30. Go and say to them: Return into your tents. + +5:31. But stand thou here with me, and I will speak to thee all my +commandments, and ceremonies and judgments: which thou shalt teach +them, that they may do them in the land, which I will give them for a +possession. + +5:32. Keep therefore and do the things which the Lord God hath +commanded you: you shall not go aside neither to the right hand, nor to +the left. + +5:33. But you shall walk in the way that the Lord your God hath +commanded, that you may live, and it may be well with you, and your +days may be long in the land of your possession. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 6 + + +An exhortation to the love of God, and obedience to his law. + +6:1. These are the precepts, and ceremonies, and judgments, which the +Lord your God commanded that I should teach you, and that you should do +them in the land into which you pass over to possess it: + +6:2. That thou mayst fear the Lord thy God, and keep all his +commandments and precepts, which I command thee, and thy sons, and thy +grandsons, all the days of thy life, that thy days may be prolonged. + +6:3. Hear, O Israel, and observe to do the things which the Lord hath +commanded thee, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayst be +greatly multiplied, as the Lord the God of thy fathers hath promised +thee a land flowing with milk and honey. + +6:4. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. + +6:5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with +thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength. + +6:6. And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thy +heart: + +6:7. And thou shalt tell them to thy children, and thou shalt meditate +upon them sitting in thy house, and walking on thy journey, sleeping +and rising. + +6:8. And thou shalt bind them as a sign on thy hand, and they shall be +and shall move between thy eyes. + +6:9. And thou shalt write them in the entry, and on the doors of thy +house. + +6:10. And when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land, +for which he swore to thy fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: and shall +have given thee great and goodly cities, which thou didst not build, + +6:11. Houses full of riches, which thou didst not set up, cisterns +which thou didst not dig, vineyards and oliveyards, which thou didst +not plant, + +6:12. And thou shalt have eaten and be full: + +6:13. Take heed diligently lest thou forget the Lord, who brought thee +out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt fear +the Lord thy God, and shalt serve him only, and thou shalt swear by his +name. + +6:14. You shall not go after the strange gods of all the nations, that +are round about you: + +6:15. Because the Lord thy God is a jealous God in the midst of thee: +lest at any time the wrath of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, +and take thee away from the face of the earth. + +6:16. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God, as thou temptedst him in +the place of temptation. + +6:17. Keep the precepts of the Lord thy God, and the testimonies and +ceremonies which he hath commanded thee. + +6:18. And do that which is pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord, +that it may be well with thee: and going in thou mayst possess the +goodly land, concerning which the Lord swore to thy fathers, + +6:19. That he would destroy all thy enemies before thee, as he hath +spoken. + +6:20. And when thy son shall ask thee to morrow, saying: What mean +these testimonies, and ceremonies and judgments, which the Lord our God +hath commanded us? + +6:21. Thou shalt say to him: We were bondmen of Pharao in Egypt, and +the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand. + +6:22. And he wrought signs and wonders great and very grievous in Egypt +against Pharao, and all his house, in our sight, + +6:23. And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in and +give us the land, concerning which he swore to our fathers. + +6:24. And the Lord commanded that we should do all these ordinances, +and should fear the Lord our God, that it might be well with us all the +days of our life, as it is at this day. + +6:25. And he will be merciful to us, if we keep and do all his precepts +before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 7 + + +No league nor fellowship to be made with the Chanaanites: God promiseth +his people his blessing and assistance, if they keep his commandments. + +7:1. When the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land, which +thou art going in to possess, and shall have destroyed many nations +before thee, the Hethite, and the Gergezite, and the Amorrhite, and the +Chanaanite, and the Pherezite, and the Hevite, and the Jebusite, seven +nations much more numerous than thou art, and stronger than thou: + +7:2. And the Lord thy God shall have delivered them to thee, thou shalt +utterly destroy them. Thou shalt make no league with them, nor shew +mercy to them: + +7:3. Neither shalt thou make marriages with them. Thou shalt not give +thy daughter to his son, nor take his daughter for thy son: + +7:4. For she will turn away thy son from following me, that he may +rather serve strange gods, and the wrath of the Lord will be kindled, +and will quickly destroy thee. + +7:5. But thus rather shall you deal with them: Destroy their altars, +and break their statues, and cut down their groves, and burn their +graven things. + +7:6. Because thou art a holy people to the Lord thy God. The Lord thy +God hath chosen thee, to be his peculiar people of all peoples that are +upon the earth. + +7:7. Not because you surpass all nations in number, is the Lord joined +unto you, and hath chosen you, for you are the fewest of any people: + +7:8. But because the Lord hath loved you, and hath kept his oath, which +he swore to your fathers: and hath brought you out with a strong hand, +and redeemed you from the house of bondage, out of the hand of Pharao +the king of Egypt. + +7:9. And thou shalt know that the Lord thy God, he is a strong and +faithful God, keeping his covenant and mercy to them that love him, and +to them that keep his commandments, unto a thousand generations: + +7:10. And repaying forthwith them that hate him, so as to destroy them, +without further delay immediately rendering to them what they deserve. + +7:11. Keep therefore the precepts and ceremonies and judgments, which I +command thee this day to do. + +7:12. If after thou hast heard these judgments, thou keep and do them, +the Lord thy God will also keep his covenant to thee, and the mercy +which he swore to thy fathers: + +7:13. And he will love thee and multiply thee, and will bless the fruit +of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy vintage, thy +oil, and thy herds, and the flocks of thy sheep upon the land, for +which he swore to thy fathers that he would give it thee. + +7:14. Blessed shalt thou be among all people. No one shall be barren +among you of either sex, neither of men nor cattle. + +7:15. The Lord will take away from thee all sickness: and the grievous +infirmities of Egypt, which thou knowest, he will not bring upon thee, +but upon thy enemies. + +7:16. Thou shalt consume all the people, which the Lord thy God will +deliver to thee. Thy eye shall not spare them, neither shalt thou serve +their gods, lest they be thy ruin. + +7:17. If thou say in thy heart: These nations are more than I, how +shall I be able to destroy them? + +7:18. Fear not, but remember what the Lord thy God did to Pharao and to +all the Egyptians, + +7:19. The exceeding great plagues, which thy eyes saw, and the signs +and wonders, and the strong hand, and the stretched out arm, with which +the Lord thy God brought thee out: so will he do to all the people, +whom thou fearest. + +7:20. Moreover the Lord thy God will send also hornets among them, +until he destroy and consume all that have escaped thee, and could hide +themselves. + +7:21. Thou shalt not fear them, because the Lord thy God is in the +midst of thee, a God mighty and terrible: + +7:22. He will consume these nations in thy sight by little and little +and by degrees. Thou wilt not be able to destroy them altogether: lest +perhaps the beasts of the earth should increase upon thee. + +7:23. But the Lord thy God shall deliver them in thy sight: and shall +slay them until they be utterly destroyed. + +7:24. And he shall deliver their kings into thy hands, and thou shalt +destroy their names from under Heaven: no man shall be able to resist +thee, until thou destroy them. + +7:25. Their graven things thou shalt burn with fire: thou shalt not +covet the silver and gold of which they are made, neither shalt thou +take to thee any thing thereof, lest thou offend, because it is an +abomination to the Lord thy God. + +Graven things. . .Idols, so called by contempt. + +7:26. Neither shalt thou bring any thing of the idol into thy house, +lest thou become an anathema, like it. Thou shalt detest it as dung, +and shalt utterly abhor it as uncleanness and filth, because it is an +anathema. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 8 + + +The people is put in mind of God's dealings with them, to the end that +they may love him and serve him. + +8:1. All the commandments, that I command thee this day, take great +care to observe: that you may live, and be multiplied, and going in may +possess the land, for which the Lord swore to your fathers. + +8:2. And thou shalt remember all the way through which the Lord thy God +hath brought thee for forty years through the desert, to afflict thee +and to prove thee, and that the things that were known in thy heart +might be made known, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments or no. + +8:3. He afflicted thee with want, and gave thee manna for thy food, +which neither thou nor thy fathers knew: to shew that not in bread +alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth +of God. + +Not in bread alone, etc. . .That is, that God is able to make food of +what he pleases for the support of man. + +8:4. Thy raiment, with which thou wast covered, hath not decayed for +age, and thy foot is not worn, lo this is the fortieth year, + +8:5. That thou mayst consider in thy heart, that as a man traineth up +his son, so the Lord thy God hath trained thee up. + +8:6. That thou shouldst keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and +walk in his ways, and fear him. + +8:7. For the Lord thy God will bring thee into a good land, of brooks +and of waters, and of fountains: in the plains of which and the hills +deep rivers break out: + +8:8. A land of wheat, and barley, and vineyards, wherein fig trees and +pomegranates, and oliveyards grow: a land of oil and honey. + +8:9. Where without any want thou shalt eat thy bread, and enjoy +abundance of all things: where the stones are iron, and out of its +hills are dug mines of brass: + +8:10. That when thou hast eaten, and art full, thou mayst bless the +Lord thy God for the excellent land which he hath given thee. + +8:11. Take heed, and beware lest at any time thou forget the Lord thy +God, and neglect his commandments and judgments and ceremonies, which I +command thee this day: + +8:12. Lest after thou hast eaten and art filled, hast built goodly +houses, and dwelt in them, + +8:13. And shalt have herds of oxen and flocks of sheep, and plenty of +gold and of silver, and of all things, + +8:14. Thy heart be lifted up, and thou remember not the Lord thy God, +who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage: + +8:15. And was thy leader in the great and terrible wilderness, wherein +there was the serpent burning with his breath, and the scorpion and the +dipsas, and no waters at all: who brought forth streams out of the +hardest rock, + +The Dipsas. . .A serpent whose bite causeth a violent thirst; from +whence it has its name, for in Greek dipsa signifies thirst. + +8:16. And fed thee in the wilderness with manna which thy fathers knew +not. And after he had afflicted and proved thee, at the last he had +mercy on thee, + +8:17. Lest thou shouldst say in thy heart: My own might, and the +strength of my own hand have achieved all these things for me. + +8:18. But remember the Lord thy God, that he hath given thee strength, +that he might fulfil his covenant, concerning which he swore to thy +fathers, as this present day sheweth. + +8:19. But if thou forget the Lord thy God, and follow strange gods, and +serve and adore them: behold now I foretell thee that thou shalt +utterly perish. + +8:20. As the nations, which the Lord destroyed at thy entrance, so +shall you also perish, if you be disobedient to the voice of the Lord +your God. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 9 + + +Lest they should impute their victories to their own merits, they are +put in mind of their manifold rebellions and other sins, for which they +should have been destroyed, but God spared them for his promise made to +Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. + +9:1. Hear, O Israel: Thou shalt go over the Jordan this day; to possess +nations very great, and stronger than thyself, cities great, and walled +up to the sky, + +9:2. A people great and tall, the sons of the Enacims, whom thou hast +seen, and heard of, against whom no man is able to stand. + +9:3. Thou shalt know therefore this day that the Lord thy God himself +will pass over before thee, a devouring and consuming fire, to destroy +and extirpate and bring them to nothing before thy face quickly, as he +hath spoken to thee. + +9:4. Say not in thy heart, when the Lord thy God shall have destroyed +them in thy sight: For my justice hath the Lord brought me in to +possess this land, whereas these nations are destroyed for their +wickedness. + +9:5. For it is not for thy justices, and the uprightness of thy heart +that thou shalt go in to possess their lands: but because they have +done wickedly, they are destroyed at thy coming in: and that the Lord +might accomplish his word, which he promised by oath to thy fathers +Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. + +9:6. Know therefore that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this +excellent land in possession for thy justices, for thou art a very +stiffnecked people. + +9:7. Remember, and forget not how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to +wrath in the wilderness. From the day that thou camest out of Egypt +unto this place, thou hast always strove against the Lord. + +9:8. For in Horeb, also thou didst provoke him, and he was angry, and +would have destroyed thee, + +9:9. When I went up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, the +tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you: and I continued in +the mount forty days and nights, neither eating bread, nor drinking +water. + +9:10. And the Lord gave me two tables of stone written with the finger +of God, and containing all the words that he spoke to you in the mount +from the midst of the fire, when the people were assembled together. + +9:11. And when forty days were passed, and as many nights, the Lord +gave me the two tables of stone, the tables of the covenant, + +9:12. And said to me: Arise, and go down from hence quickly: for thy +people, which thou hast brought out of Egypt, have quickly forsaken the +way that thou hast shewn them, and have made to themselves a molten +idol. + +9:13. And again the Lord said to me: I see that this people is +stiffnecked: + +9:14. Let me alone that I may destroy them, and abolish their name from +under heaven, and set thee over a nation, that is greater and stronger +than this. + +9:15. And when I came down from the burning mount, and held the two +tables of the covenant with both hands, + +9:16. And saw that you had sinned against the Lord your God, and had +made to yourselves a molten calf, and had quickly forsaken his way, +which he had shewn you: + +9:17. I cast the tables out of my hands, and broke them in your sight. + +9:18. And I fell down before the Lord as before, forty days and nights +neither eating bread, nor drinking water, for all your sins, which you +had committed against the Lord, and had provoked him to wrath: + +9:19. For I feared his indignation and anger, wherewith being moved +against you, he would have destroyed you. And the Lord heard me this +time also. + +9:20. And he was exceeding angry against Aaron also, and would have +destroyed him, and I prayed in like manner for him. + +9:21. And your sin that you had committed, that is, the calf, I took, +and burned it with fire, and breaking it into pieces, until it was as +small as dust, I threw it into the torrent, which cometh down from the +mountain. + +9:22. At the burning also, and at the place of temptation, and at the +graves of lust you provoked the Lord: + +9:23. And when he sent you from Cadesbarne, saying: Go up, and possess +the land that I have given you, and you slighted the commandment of the +Lord your God, and did not believe him, neither would you hearken to +his voice: + +9:24. But were always rebellious from the day that I began to know you. + +9:25. And I lay prostrate before the Lord forty days and nights, in +which I humbly besought him, that he would not destroy you as he had +threatened: + +9:26. And praying, I said: O Lord God, destroy not thy people, and thy +inheritance, which thou hast redeemed in thy greatness, whom thou hast +brought out of Egypt with a strong hand. + +9:27. Remember thy servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: look not on the +stubbornness of this people, nor on their wickedness and sin: + +9:28. Lest perhaps the inhabitants of the land, out of which thou hast +brought us, say: The Lord could not bring them into the land that he +promised them, and he hated them: therefore he brought them out, that +he might kill them in the wilderness, + +9:29. Who are thy people and thy inheritance, whom thou hast brought +out by thy great strength, and in thy stretched out arm. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 10 + + +God giveth the second tables of the law: a further exhortation to fear +and serve the Lord. + +10:1. At that time the Lord said to me: Hew thee two tables of stone +like the former, and come up to me into the mount: and thou shalt make +an ark of wood, + +10:2. And I will write on the tables the words that were in them, which +thou brokest before, and thou shalt put them in the ark. + +10:3. And I made an ark of setim wood. And when I had hewn two tables +of stone like the former, I went up into the mount, having them in my +hands. + +10:4. And he wrote in the tables, according as he had written before, +the ten words, which the Lord spoke to you in the mount from the midst +of the fire, when the people were assembled: and he gave them to me. + +10:5. And returning from the mount, I came down, and put the tables +into the ark, that I had made, and they are there till this present, as +the Lord commanded me. + +10:6. And the children of Israel removed their camp from Beroth, of the +children of Jacan into Mosera, where Aaron died and was buried, and +Eleazar his son succeeded him in the priestly office. + +Mosera. . .By mount Hor, for there Aaron died, Num. 20. This and the +following verses seem to be inserted by way of parenthesis. + +10:7. From thence they came to Gadgad, from which place they departed, +and camped in Jetebatha, in a land of waters and torrents. + +10:8. At that time he separated the tribe of Levi, to carry the ark of +the covenant of the Lord, and to stand before him in the ministry, and +to bless in his name until this present day. + +10:9. Wherefore Levi hath no part nor possession with his brethren: +because the Lord himself is his possession, as the Lord thy God +promised him. + +10:10. And I stood in the mount, as before, forty days and nights: and +the Lord heard me this time also, and would not destroy thee. + +10:11. And he said to me: Go, and walk before the people, that they may +enter, and possess the land, which I swore to their fathers that I +would give them. + +10:12. And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but +that thou fear the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways, and love him, +and serve the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul: + +10:13. And keep the commandments of the Lord, and his ceremonies, which +I command thee this day, that it may be well with thee? + +10:14. Behold heaven is the Lord's thy God, and the heaven of heaven, +the earth and all things that are therein. + +10:15. And yet the Lord hath been closely joined to thy fathers, and +loved them and chose their seed after them, that is to say, you, out of +all nations, as this day it is proved. + +10:16. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and stiffen +your neck no more. + +10:17. Because the Lord your God he is the God of gods, and the Lord of +lords, a great God and mighty and terrible, who accepteth no person nor +taketh bribes. + +10:18. He doth judgment to the fatherless and the widow, loveth the +stranger, and giveth him food and raiment. + +10:19. And do you therefore love strangers, because you also were +strangers in the land of Egypt. + +10:20. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him only: to him +thou shalt adhere, and shalt swear by his name. + +10:21. He is thy praise, and thy God, that hath done for thee these +great and terrible things, which thy eyes have seen. + +10:22. In seventy souls thy fathers went down into Egypt: and behold +now the Lord thy God hath multiplied thee as the stars of heaven. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 11 + + +The love and service of God are still inculcated, with a blessing to +them that serve him, and threats of punishment if they forsake his law. + +11:1. Therefore love the Lord thy God and observe his precepts and +ceremonies, his judgments and commandments at all times. + +11:2. Know this day the things that your children know not, who saw not +the chastisements of the Lord your God, his great doings and strong +hand, and stretched out arm, + +11:3. The signs and works which he did in the midst of Egypt to king +Pharao, and to all his land, + +11:4. And to all the host of the Egyptians, and to their horses and +chariots: how the waters of the Red Sea covered them, when they pursued +you, and how the Lord destroyed them until this present day: + +11:5. And what he hath done to you in the wilderness, til you came to +this place: + +11:6. And to Dathan and Abiron the sons of Eliab, who was the son of +Ruben: whom the earth, opening her mouth swallowed up with their +households and tents, and all their substance, which they had in the +midst of Israel. + +11:7. Your eyes have seen all the great works of the Lord, that he hath +done, + +11:8. That you may keep all his commandments, which I command you this +day, and may go in, and possess the land, to which you are entering, + +11:9. And may live in it a long time: which the Lord promised by oath +to your fathers, and to their seed, a land which floweth with milk and +honey. + +11:10. For the land, which thou goest to possess, is not like the land +of Egypt, from whence thou camest out, where, when the seed is sown, +waters are brought in to water it after the manner of gardens. + +11:11. But it is a land of hills and plains, expecting rain from +heaven. + +11:12. And the Lord thy God doth always visit it, and his eyes are on +it from the beginning of the year unto the end thereof. + +11:13. If then you obey my commandments, which I command you this day, +that you love the Lord your God, and serve him with all your heart, and +with all your soul: + +11:14. He will give to your land the early rain and the latter rain, +that you may gather in your corn, and your wine, and your oil, + +11:15. And your hay out of the fields to feed your cattle, and that you +may eat and be filled. + +11:16. Beware lest perhaps your heart be deceived, and you depart from +the Lord, and serve strange gods, and adore them: + +11:17. And the Lord being angry shut up heaven, that the rain come not +down, nor the earth yield her fruit, and you perish quickly from the +excellent land, which the Lord will give you. + +11:18. Lay up these words in your hearts and minds, and hang them for a +sign on your hands, and place them between your eyes. + +11:19. Teach your children that they meditate on them, when thou +sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest on the way, and when thou +liest down and risest up. + +11:20. Thou shalt write them upon the posts and the doors of thy house: + +11:21. That thy days may be multiplied, and the days of thy children in +the land which the Lord swore to thy fathers, that he would give them +as long as the heaven hangeth over the earth. + +11:22. For if you keep the commandments which I command you, and do +them, to love the Lord your God, and walk in all his ways, cleaving +unto him, + +11:23. The Lord will destroy all these nations before your face, and +you shall possess them, which are greater and stronger than you. + +11:24. Every place, that your foot shall tread upon, shall be yours. +From the desert, and from Libanus, from the great river Euphrates unto +the western sea shall be your borders. + +11:25. None shall stand against you: the Lord your God shall lay the +dread and fear of you upon all the land that you shall tread upon, as +he hath spoken to you. + +11:26. Behold I set forth in your sight this day a blessing and a +curse: + +11:27. A blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, +which I command you this day: + +11:28. A curse, if you obey not the commandments of the Lord your God, +but revolt from the way which now I shew you, and walk after strange +gods which you know not. + +11:29. And when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land, +whither thou goest to dwell, thou shalt put the blessing upon mount +Garizim, the curse upon mount Hebal: + +Put the blessing, et. . .See Deut. 27.12, etc. and Josue 8.33, etc. + +11:30. Which are beyond the Jordan, behind the way that goeth to the +setting of the sun, in the land of the Chanaanite who dwelleth in the +plain country over against Galgala, which is near the valley that +reacheth and entereth far. + +11:31. For you shall pass over the Jordan, to possess the land, which +the Lord your God will give you, that you may have it and possess it. + +11:32. See therefore that you fulfil the ceremonies and judgments, +which I shall set this day before you. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 12 + + +All idolatry must be extirpated: sacrifices, tithes, and firstfruits +must be offered in one only place: all eating of blood is prohibited. + +12:1. These are the precepts and judgments, that you must do in the +land, which the Lord the God of thy fathers will give thee, to possess +it all the days that thou shalt walk upon the earth. + +12:2. Destroy all the places in which the nations, that you shall +possess, worshipped their gods upon high mountains, and hills, and +under every shady tree: + +12:3. Overthrow their altars, and break down their statues, burn their +groves with fire, and break their idols in pieces: destroy their names +out of those places. + +12:4. You shall not do so to the Lord your God: + +12:5. But you shall come to the place, which the Lord your God shall +choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, and to dwell in +it: + +12:6. And you shall offer in that place your holocausts and victims, +the tithes and firstfruits of your hands and your vows and gifts, the +firstborn of your herds and your sheep. + +12:7. And you shall eat there in the sight of the Lord your God: and +you shall rejoice in all things, whereunto you shall put your hand, you +and your houses wherein the Lord your God hath blessed you. + +12:8. You shall not do there the things we do here this day, every man +that which seemeth good to himself. + +12:9. For until this present time you are not come to rest, and to the +possession, which the Lord your God will give you. + +12:10. You shall pass over the Jordan, and shall dwell in the land +which the Lord your God will give you, that you may have rest from all +enemies round about: and may dwell without any fear, + +12:11. In the place, which the Lord your God shall choose, that his +name may be therein. Thither shall you bring all the things that I +command you, holocausts, and victims, and tithes, and the firstfruits +of your hands: and whatsoever is the choicest in the gifts which you +shall vow to the Lord. + +12:12. There shall you feast before the Lord your God, you and your +sons and your daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the +Levite that dwelleth in your cities. For he hath no other part and +possession among you. + +12:13. Beware lest thou offer thy holocausts in every place that thou +shalt see: + +12:14. But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy +tribes shalt thou offer sacrifices, and shalt do all that I command +thee. + +12:15. But if thou desirest to eat, and the eating of flesh delight +thee, kill, and eat according to the blessing of the Lord thy God, +which he hath given thee, in thy cities: whether it be unclean, that is +to say, having blemish or defect: or clean, that is to say, sound and +without blemish, such as may be offered, as the roe, and the hart, +shalt thou eat it: + +12:16. Only the blood thou shalt not eat, but thou shalt pour it out +upon the earth as water. + +12:17. Thou mayst not eat in thy towns the tithes of thy corn, and thy +wine, and thy oil, the firstborn of thy herds and thy cattle, nor any +thing that thou vowest, and that thou wilt offer voluntarily, and the +firstfruits of thy hands: + +12:18. But thou shalt eat them before the Lord thy God in the place +which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou and thy son and thy daughter, +and thy manservant, and maidservant, and the Levite that dwelleth in +thy cities: and thou shalt rejoice and be refreshed before the Lord thy +God in all things, whereunto thou shalt put thy hand. + +12:19. Take heed thou forsake not the Levite all the time that thou +livest in the land. + +12:20. When the Lord thy God shall have enlarged thy borders, as he hath +spoken to thee, and thou wilt eat the flesh that thy soul desireth: + +12:21. And if the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, that his +name should be there, be far off, thou shalt kill of thy herds and of +thy flocks, as I have commanded thee, and shalt eat in thy towns, as it +pleaseth thee. + +12:22. Even as the roe and the hart is eaten, so shalt thou eat them: +both the clean and unclean shall eat of them alike. + +12:23. Only beware of this, that thou eat not the blood, for the blood +is for the soul: and therefore thou must not eat the soul with the +flesh: + +12:24. But thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water, + +12:25. That it may be well with thee and thy children after thee, when +thou shalt do that which is pleasing in the sight of the Lord. + +12:26. But the things which thou hast sanctified and vowed to the Lord, +thou shalt take, and shalt come to the place which the Lord shall +choose: + +12:27. And shalt offer thy oblations, the flesh and the blood upon the +altar of the Lord thy God: the blood of thy victims thou shalt pour on +the altar: and the flesh thou thyself shalt eat. + +12:28. Observe and hear all the things that I command thee, that it may +be well with thee and thy children after thee for ever, when thou shalt +do what is good and pleasing in the sight of the Lord thy God. + +12:29. When the Lord thy God shall have destroyed before thy face the +nations, which thou shalt go in to possess, and when thou shalt possess +them, and dwell in their land: + +12:30. Beware lest thou imitate them, after they are destroyed at thy +coming in, and lest thou seek after their ceremonies, saying: As these +nations have worshipped their gods, so will I also worship. + +12:31. Thou shalt not do in like manner to the Lord thy God. For they +have done to their gods all the abominations which the Lord abhorreth, +offering their sons and daughters, and burning them with fire. + +12:32. What I command thee, that only do thou to the Lord: neither add +any thing, nor diminish. + +That only do thou, etc. . .They are forbid here to follow the ceremonies +of the heathens; or to make any alterations in the divine ordinances. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 13 + + +False prophets must be slain, and idolatrous cities destroyed. + +13:1. If there rise in the midst of thee a prophet or one that saith he +hath dreamed a dream, and he foretell a sign and a wonder, + +13:2. And that come to pass which he spoke, and he say to thee: Let us +go and follow strange gods, which thou knowest not, and let us serve +them: + +13:3. Thou shalt not hear the words of that prophet or dreamer: for the +Lord your God trieth you, that it may appear whether you love him with +all your heart, and with all your soul, or not. + +13:4. Follow the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his +commandments, and hear his voice: him you shall serve, and to him you +shall cleave. + +13:5. And that prophet or forger of dreams shall be slain: because he +spoke to draw you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of +the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of bondage: to make +thee go out of the way, which the Lord thy God commanded thee: and thou +shalt take away the evil out of the midst of thee. + +13:6. If thy brother the son of thy mother, or thy son, or daughter, or +thy wife that is in thy bosom, or thy friend, whom thou lovest as thy +own soul, would persuade thee secretly, saying: Let us go, and serve +strange gods, which thou knowest not, nor thy fathers, + +13:7. Of all the nations round about, that are near or afar off, from +one end of the earth to the other, + +13:8. Consent not to him, hear him not, neither let thy eye spare him +to pity and conceal him, + +13:9. But thou shalt presently put him to death. Let thy hand be first +upon him, and afterwards the hands of all the people. + +Presently put him to death. . .Not by killing him by private authority, +but by informing the magistrate, and proceeding by order of justice. + +13:10. With stones shall he be stoned to death: because he would have +withdrawn thee from the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land +of Egypt, from the house of bondage: + +13:11. That all Israel hearing may fear, and may do no more any thing +like this. + +13:12. If in one of thy cities, which the Lord thy God shall give thee +to dwell in, thou hear some say: + +13:13. Children of Belial are gone out of the midst of thee, and have +withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, and have said: Let us go, and +serve strange gods which you know not: + +Belial. . .That is, without yoke. Hence the wicked, who refuse to be +subject to the divine law, are called in scripture the children of +Belial. + +13:14. Inquire carefully and diligently, the truth of the thing by +looking well into it, and if thou find that which is said to be +certain, and that this abomination hath been really committed, + +13:15. Thou shalt forthwith kill the inhabitants of that city with the +edge of the sword, and shalt destroy it and all things that are in it, +even the cattle. + +13:16. And all the household goods that are there, thou shalt gather +together in the midst of the streets thereof, and shall burn them with +the city itself, so as to comsume all for the Lord thy God, and that it +be a heap for ever: it shall be built no more. + +13:17. And there shall nothing of that anathema stick to thy hand: that +the Lord may turn from the wrath of his fury, and may have mercy on +thee, and multiply thee as he swore to thy fathers, + +13:18. When thou shalt hear the voice of the Lord thy God, keeping all +his precepts, which I command thee this day, that thou mayst do what is +pleasing in the sight of the Lord thy God. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 14 + + +In mourning for the dead they are not to follow the ways of the +Gentiles: the distinction of clean and unclean meats: ordinances +concerning tithes, and firstfruits. + +14:1. Be ye children of the Lord your God: you shall not cut +yourselves, nor make any baldness for the dead; + +14:2. Because thou art a holy people to the Lord thy God: and he chose +thee to be his peculiar people of all nations that are upon the earth. + +14:3. Eat not the things that are unclean. + +Unclean. . .See the annotations on Lev. 11. + +14:4. These are the beasts that you shall eat, the ox, and the sheep, +and the goat, + +14:5. The hart and the roe, the buffle, the chamois, the pygarg, the +wild goat, the camelopardalus. + +14:6. Every beast that divideth the hoof in two parts, and cheweth the +cud, you shall eat. + +14:7. But of them that chew the cud, but divide not the hoof, you shall +not eat, such as the camel, the hare, and the cherogril: because they +chew the cud, but divide not the hoof, they shall be unclean to you. + +14:8. The swine also, because it divideth the hoof, but cheweth not the +cud, shall be unclean, their flesh you shall not eat, and their +carcasses you shall not touch. + +14:9. These shall you eat of all that abide in the waters: All that +have fins and scales, you shall eat. + +14:10. Such as are without fins and scales, you shall not eat, because +they are unclean. + +14:11. All birds that are clean you shall eat. + +14:12. The unclean eat not: to wit, the eagle, and the grype, and the +osprey, + +14:13. The ringtail, and the vulture, and the kite according to their +kind: + +14:14. And all of the raven's kind: + +14:15. And the ostrich, and the owl, and the larus, and the hawk +according to its kind: + +14:16. The heron, and the swan, and the stork, + +14:17. And the cormorant, the porphirion, and the night crow, + +14:18. The bittern, and the charadrion, every one in their kind: the +houp also and the bat. + +14:19. Every thing that creepeth, and hath little wings, shall be +unclean, and shall not be eaten. + +14:20. All that is clean, you shall eat. + +14:21. But whatsoever is dead of itself, eat not thereof. Give it to +the stranger, that is within thy gates, to eat, or sell it to him: +because thou art the holy people of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not +boil a kid in the milk of his dam. + +14:22. Every year thou shalt set aside the tithes of all thy fruits +that the earth bringeth forth, + +14:23. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God in the place which he +shall choose, that his name may be called upon therein, the tithe of +thy corn, and thy wine, and thy oil, and the firstborn of thy herds and +thy sheep: that thou mayst learn to fear the Lord thy God at all times. + +14:24. But when the way and the place which the Lord thy God shall +choose, are far off, and he hath blessed thee, and thou canst not carry +all these things thither, + +14:25. Thou shalt sell them all, and turn them into money, and shalt +carry it in thy hand, and shalt go to the place which the Lord shall +choose: + +14:26. And thou shalt buy with the same money whatsoever pleaseth thee, +either of the herds or of sheep, wine also and strong drink, and all +that thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, and +shalt feast, thou and thy house: + +14:27. And the Levite that is within thy gates, beware thou forsake him +not, because he hath no other part in thy possession. + +14:28. The third year thou shalt separate another tithe of all things +that grow to thee at that time, and shalt lay it up within thy gates. + +14:29. And the Levite that hath no other part nor possession with thee, +and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, that are within thy +gates, shall come and shall eat and be filled: that the Lord thy God +may bless thee in all the works of thy hands that thou shalt do. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 15 + + +The law of the seventh year of remission. The firstlings of cattle are +to be sanctified to the Lord. + +15:1. In the seventh year thou shalt make a remission, + +15:2. Which shall be celebrated in this order. He to whom any thing is +owing from his friend or neighbour or brother, cannot demand it again, +because it is the year of remission of the Lord. + +15:3. Of the foreigner or stranger thou mayst exact it: of thy +countryman and neighbour thou shalt not have power to demand it again. + +15:4. And there shall be no poor nor beggar among you: that the Lord +thy God may bless thee in the land which he will give thee in +possession. + +There shall be no poor, etc. . .It is not to be understood as a promise, +that there should be no poor in Israel, as appears from ver. 11, where +we learn that God's people would never be at a loss to find objects for +their charity: but it is an ordinance that all should do their best +endeavours to prevent any of their brethren from suffering the +hardships of poverty and want. + +15:5. Yet so if thou hear the voice of the Lord thy God, and keep all +things that he hath ordained, and which I command thee this day, he +will bless thee, as he hath promised. + +15:6. Thou shalt lend to many nations, and thou shalt borrow of no man. +Thou shalt have dominion over very many nations, and no one shall have +dominion over thee. + +15:7. If one of thy brethren that dwelleth within thy gates of thy city +in the land which the Lord thy God will give thee, come to poverty: +thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor close thy hand, + +15:8. But shalt open it to the poor man, thou shalt lend him, that +which thou perceivest he hath need of. + +15:9. Beware lest perhaps a wicked thought steal in upon thee, and thou +say in thy heart: The seventh year of remission draweth nigh; and thou +turn away thy eyes from thy poor brother, denying to lend him that +which he asketh: lest he cry against thee to the Lord, and it become a +sin unto thee. + +15:10. But thou shalt give to him: neither shalt thou do any thing +craftily in relieving his necessities: that the Lord thy God may bless +thee at all times, and in all things to which thou shalt put thy hand. + +15:11. There will not be wanting poor in the land of thy habitation: +therefore I command thee to open thy hand to thy needy and poor +brother, that liveth in the land. + +15:12. When thy brother a Hebrew man, or Hebrew woman is sold to thee, +and hath served thee six years, in the seventh year thou shalt let him +go free: + +15:13. And when thou sendest him out free, thou shalt not let him go +away empty: + +15:14. But shall give him for his way out of thy flocks, and out of thy +barnfloor, and thy winepress, wherewith the Lord thy God shall bless +thee. + +15:15. Remember that thou also wast a bondservant in the land of Egypt, +and the Lord thy God made thee free, and therefore I now command thee +this. + +15:16. But if he say: I will not depart: because he loveth thee, and +thy house, and findeth that he is well with thee: + +15:17. Thou shalt take an awl, and bore through his ear in the door of +thy house, and he shall serve thee for ever: thou shalt do in like +manner to thy womanservant also. + +15:18. Turn not away thy eyes from them when thou makest them free: +because he hath served thee six years according to the wages of a +hireling: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the works that +thou dost. + +15:19. Of the firstlings, that come of thy herds and thy sheep, thou +shalt sanctify to the Lord thy God whatsoever is of the male sex. Thou +shalt not work with the firstling of a bullock, and thou shalt not +shear the firstlings of thy sheep. + +15:20. In the sight of the Lord thy God shalt thou eat them every year, +in the place that the Lord shall choose, thou and thy house. + +15:21. But if it have a blemish, or be lame, or blind, or in any part +disfigured or feeble, it shall not be sacrificed to the Lord thy God. + +15:22. But thou shalt eat it within the gates of thy city: the clean +and the unclean shall eat them alike, as the roe and as the hart. + +15:23. Only thou shalt take heed not to eat their blood, but pour it +out on the earth as water. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 16 + + +The three principal solemnities to be observed: just judges to be +appointed in every city: all occasions of idolatry to be avoided. + +16:1. Observe the month of new corn, which is the first of the spring, +that thou mayst celebrate the phase to the Lord thy God: because in +this month the Lord thy God brought thee out of Egypt by night. + +16:2. And thou shalt sacrifice the phase to the Lord thy God, of sheep, +and of oxen, in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, that his +name may dwell there. + +16:3. Thou shalt not eat with it leavened bread: seven days shalt thou +eat without leaven, the bread of affliction, because thou camest out of +Egypt in fear: that thou mayst remember the day of thy coming out of +Egypt, all the days of thy life. + +16:4. No leaven shall be seen in all thy coasts for seven days, neither +shall any of the flesh of that which was sacrificed the first day in +the evening remain until morning. + +16:5. Thou mayst not immolate the phase in any one of thy cities, which +the Lord thy God will give thee: + +16:6. But in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, that his +name may dwell there: thou shalt immolate the phase in the evening, at +the going down of the sun, at which time thou camest out of Egypt. + +16:7. And thou shalt dress, and eat it in the place which the Lord thy +God shall choose, and in the morning rising up thou shalt go into thy +dwellings. + +16:8. Six days shalt thou eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day, +because it is the assembly of the Lord thy God, thou shalt do no work. + +16:9. Thou shalt number unto thee seven weeks from that day, wherein +thou didst put the sickle to the corn. + +16:10. And thou shalt celebrate the festival of weeks to the Lord thy +God, a voluntary oblation of thy hand, which thou shalt offer according +to the blessing of the Lord thy God. + +16:11. And thou shalt feast before the Lord thy God, thou, and thy son, +and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the +Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger and the fatherless, +and the widow, who abide with you: in the place which the Lord thy God +shall choose, that his name may dwell there: + +16:12. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a servant in Egypt: and +thou shalt keep and do the things that are commanded. + +16:13. Thou shalt celebrate the solemnity also of tabernacles seven +days, when thou hast gathered in thy fruit of the barnfloor and of the +winepress. + +16:14. And thou shalt make merry in thy festival time, thou, thy son, +and thy daughter, thy manservant, and thy maidservant, the Levite also +and the stranger, and the fatherless and the widow that are within thy +gates. + +16:15. Seven days shalt thou celebrate feasts to the Lord thy God in +the place which the Lord shall choose: and the Lord thy God will bless +thee in all thy fruits, and in every work of thy hands, and thou shalt +be in joy. + +16:16. Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord +thy God in the place which he shall choose: in the feast of unleavened +bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. No one +shall appear with his hands empty before the Lord: + +16:17. But every one shall offer according to what he hath, according +to the blessing of the Lord his God, which he shall give him. + +16:18. Thou shalt appoint judges and magistrates in all thy gates, +which the Lord thy God shall give thee, in all thy tribes: that they +may judge the people with just judgment, + +16:19. And not go aside to either part. Thou shalt not accept person +nor gifts: for gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and change the words +of the just. + +16:20. Thou shalt follow justly after that which is just: that thou +mayst live and possess the land, which the Lord thy God shall give +thee. + +16:21. Thou shalt plant no grove, nor any tree near the altar of the +Lord thy God: + +16:22. Neither shalt thou make nor set up to thyself a statue: which +things the Lord thy God hateth. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 17 + + +Victims must be without blemish. Idolaters are to be slain. +Controversies are to be decided by the high priest and council, whose +sentence must be obeyed under pain of death. The duty of a king, who is +to receive the law of God at the priest's hands. + +17:1. Thou shalt not sacrifice to the Lord thy God a sheep, or an ox, +wherein there is blemish, or any fault: for that is an abomination to +the Lord thy God. + +17:2. When there shall be found among you within any of thy gates, +which the Lord thy God shall give thee, man or woman that do evil in +the sight of the Lord thy God, and transgress his covenant, + +17:3. So as to go and serve strange gods, and adore them, the sun and +the moon, and all the host of heaven, which I have not commanded: + +The host of heaven. . .That is, the stars. + +17:4. And this is told thee, and hearing it thou hast inquired +diligently, and found it to be true, and that the abomination is +committed in Israel: + +17:5. Thou shalt bring forth the man or the woman, who have committed +that most wicked thing, to the gates of thy city, and they shall be +stoned. + +17:6. By the mouth of two or three witnesses shall he die that is to be +slain. Let no man be put to death, when only one beareth witness +against him. + +17:7. The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to kill him, +and afterwards the hands of the rest of the people: that thou mayst +take away the evil out of the midst of thee. + +17:8. If thou perceive that there be among you a hard and doubtful +matter in judgment between blood and blood, cause and cause, leprosy +and leprosy: and thou see that the words of the judges within thy gates +do vary: arise, and go up to the place, which the Lord thy God shall +choose. + +If thou perceive, etc. . .Here we see what authority God was pleased to +give to the church guides of the Old Testament, in deciding, without +appeal, all controversies relating to the law; promising that they +should not err therein; and surely he has not done less for the church +guides of the New Testament. + +17:9. And thou shalt come to the priests of the Levitical race, and to +the judge, that shall be at that time: and thou shalt ask of them, and +they shall shew thee the truth of the judgment. + +17:10. And thou shalt do whatsoever they shall say, that preside in the +place, which the Lord shall choose, and what they shall teach thee, + +17:11. According to his law; and thou shalt follow their sentence: +neither shalt thou decline to the right hand nor to the left hand. + +17:12. But he that will be proud, and refuse to obey the commandment of +the priest, who ministereth at that time to the Lord thy God, and the +decree of the judge, that man shall die, and thou shalt take away the +evil from Israel: + +17:13. And all the people hearing it shall fear, that no one afterwards +swell with pride. + +17:14. When thou art come into the land, which the Lord thy God will +give thee, and possessest it, and shalt say: I will set a king over me, +as all nations have that are round about: + +17:15. Thou shalt set him whom the Lord thy God shall choose out of the +number of thy brethren. Thou mayst not make a man of another nation +king, that is not thy brother. + +17:16. And when he is made king, he shall not multiply horses to +himself, nor lead back the people into Egypt, being lifted up with the +number of his horsemen, especially since the Lord hath commanded you to +return no more the same way. + +17:17. He shall not have many wives, that may allure his mind, nor +immense sums of silver and gold. + +17:18. But after he is raised to the throne of his kingdom, he shall +copy out to himself the Deuteronomy of this law in a volume, taking the +copy of the priests of the Levitical tribe, + +17:19. And he shall have it with him, and shall read it all the days of +his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, and keep his +words and ceremonies, that are commanded in the law; + +17:20. And that his heart be not lifted up with pride over his +brethren, nor decline to the right or to the left, that he and his sons +may reign a long time over Israel. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 18 + + +The Lord is the inheritance of the priests and Levites. Heathenish +abominations are to be avoided. The great PROPHET CHRIST is promised. +False prophets must be slain. + +18:1. The priests and Levites, and all that are of the same tribe, +shall have no part nor inheritance with the rest of Israel, because +they shall eat the sacrifices of the Lord, and his oblations, + +18:2. And they shall receive nothing else of the possession of their +brethren: for the Lord himself is their inheritance, as he hath said to +them. + +18:3. This shall be the priest's due from the people, and from them +that offer victims: whether they sacrifice an ox, or a sheep, they +shall give to the priest the shoulder and the breast: + +18:4. The firstfruits also of corn, of wine, and of oil, and a part of +the wool from the shearing of their sheep. + +18:5. For the Lord thy God hath chosen him of all thy tribes, to stand +and to minister to the name of the Lord, him and his sons for ever. + +18:6. If a Levite go out of any one of the cities throughout all +Israel, in which he dwelleth, and have a longing mind to come to the +place which the Lord shall choose, + +18:7. He shall minister in the name of the Lord his God, as all his +brethren the Levites do, that shall stand at that time before the Lord. + +18:8. He shall receive the same portion of food that the rest do: +besides that which is due to him in his own city, by succession from +his fathers. + +18:9. When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God shall +give thee, beware lest thou have a mind to imitate the abominations of +those nations. + +18:10. Neither let there be found among you any one that shall expiate +his son or daughter, making them to pass through the fire: or that +consulteth soothsayers, or observeth dreams and omens, neither let +there be any wizard, + +18:11. Nor charmer, nor any one that consulteth pythonic spirits, or +fortune tellers, or that seeketh the truth from the dead. + +18:12. For the Lord abhorreth all these things, and for these +abominations he will destroy them at thy coming. + +18:13. Thou shalt be perfect, and without spot before the Lord thy God. + +18:14. These nations, whose land thou shalt possess, hearken to +soothsayers and diviners: but thou art otherwise instructed by the Lord +thy God. + +18:15. The Lord thy God will raise up to thee a PROPHET of thy nation +and of thy brethren like unto me: him thou shalt hear: + +18:16. As thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the +assembly was gathered together, and saidst: Let me not hear any more +the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see any more this +exceeding great fire, lest I die. + +18:17. And the Lord said to me: They have spoken all things well. + +18:18. I will raise them up a prophet out of the midst of their +brethren like to thee: and I will put my words in his mouth, and he +shall speak to them all that I shall command him. + +18:19. And he that will not hear his words, which he shall speak in my +name, I will be the revenger. + +18:20. But the prophet, who being corrupted with pride, shall speak in +my name things that I did not command him to say, or in the name of +strange gods, shall be slain. + +18:21. And if in silent thought thou answer: How shall I know the word +that the Lord hath not spoken? + +18:22. Thou shalt have this sign: Whatsoever that same prophet +foretelleth in the name of the Lord, and it cometh not to pass: that +thing the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath forged it by the +pride of his mind: and therefore thou shalt not fear him. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 19 + + +The cities of refuge. Wilful murder, and false witnesses must be +punished. + +19:1. When the Lord thy God hath destroyed the nations, whose land he +will deliver to thee, and thou shalt possess it, and shalt dwell in the +cities and houses thereof: + +19:2. Thou shalt separate to thee three cities in the midst of the +land, which the Lord will give thee in possession, + +19:3. Paving diligently the way: and thou shalt divide the whole +province of thy land equally into three parts: that he who is forced to +flee for manslaughter, may have near at hand whither to escape. + +19:4. This shall be the law of the slayer that fleeth, whose life is to +be saved: He that killeth his neighbor ignorantly, and who is proved to +have had no hatred against him yesterday and the day before: + +19:5. But to have gone with him to the wood to hew wood, and in cutting +down the tree the axe slipped out of his hand, and the iron slipping +from the handle struck his friend, and killed him: he shall flee to one +of the cities aforesaid, and live: + +19:6. Lest perhaps the next kinsman of him whose blood was shed, pushed +on by his grief should pursue, and apprehend him, if the way be too +long, and take away the life of him who is not guilty of death, because +he is proved to have had no hatred before against him that was slain. + +19:7. Therefore I command thee, that thou separate three cities at +equal distance one from another. + +19:8. And when the Lord thy God shall have enlarged thy borders, as he +swore to the fathers, and shall give thee all the land that he promised +them, + +19:9. (Yet so, if thou keep his commandments, and do the things which I +command thee this day, that thou love the Lord thy God, and walk in his +ways at all times) thou shalt add to thee other three cities, and shalt +double the number of the three cities aforesaid: + +19:10. That innocent blood may not be shed in the midst of the land +which the Lord thy God will give thee to possess, lest thou be guilty +of blood. + +19:11. But if any man hating his neighbour, lie in wait for his life, +and rise and strike him, and he die, and he flee to one of the cities +aforesaid, + +19:12. The ancients of his city shall send, and take him out of the +place of refuge, and shall deliver him into the hand of the kinsman of +him whose blood was shed, and he shall die. + +19:13. Thou shalt not pity him, and thou shalt take away the guilt of +innocent blood out of Israel, that it may be well with thee. + +19:14. Thou shalt not take nor remove thy neighbour's landmark, which +thy predecessors have set in thy possession, which the Lord thy God +will give thee in the land that thou shalt receive to possess. + +19:15. One witness shall not rise up against any man, whatsoever the +sin or wickedness be: but in the mouth of two or three witnesses every +word shall stand. + +19:16. If a lying witness stand against a man, accusing him of +transgression, + +19:17. Both of them, between whom the controversy is, shall stand +before the Lord in the sight of the priests and the judges that shall +be in those days. + +19:18. And when after most diligent inquisition, they shall find that +the false witness hath told a lie against his brother: + +19:19. They shall render to him as he meant to do to his brother, and +thou shalt take away the evil out of the midst of thee: + +19:20. That others hearing may fear, and may not dare to do such +things. + +19:21. Thou shalt not pity him, but shalt require life for life, eye +for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 20 + + +Laws relating to war. + +20:1. If thou go out to war against thy enemies, and see horsemen and +chariots, and the numbers of the enemy's army greater than thine, thou +shalt not fear them: because the Lord thy God is with thee, who brought +thee out of the land of Egypt. + +20:2. And when the battle is now at hand, the priest shall stand before +the army, and shall speak to the people in this manner: + +20:3. Hear, O Israel, you join battle this day against your enemies, +let not your heart be dismayed, be not afraid, do not give back, fear +ye them not: + +20:4. Because the Lord your God is in the midst of you, and will fight +for you against your enemies, to deliver you from danger. + +20:5. And the captains shall proclaim through every band in the hearing +of the army: What man is there, that hath built a new house, and hath +not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in +the battle, and another man dedicate it. + +20:6. What man is there, that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not as +yet made it to be common, whereof all men may eat? let him go, and +return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man execute +his office. + +20:7. What man is there, that hath espoused a wife, and not taken her? +let him go, and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and +another man take her. + +20:8. After these things are declared they shall add the rest, and +shall speak to the people: What man is there that is fearful, and faint +hearted? let him go, and return to his house, lest he make the hearts +of his brethren to fear, as he himself is possessed with fear. + +20:9. And when the captains of the army shall hold their peace, and +have made an end of speaking, every man shall prepare their bands to +fight. + +20:10. If at any time thou come to fight against a city, thou shalt +first offer it peace. + +20:11. If they receive it, and open the gates to thee, all the people +that are therein, shall be saved, and shall serve thee paying tribute. + +20:12. But if they will not make peace, and shall begin war against +thee, thou shalt besiege it. + +20:13. And when the Lord thy God shall deliver it into thy hands, thou +shalt slay all that are therein of the male sex, with the edge of the +sword, + +20:14. Excepting women and children, cattle and other things, that are +in the city. And thou shalt divide all the prey to the army, and thou +shalt eat the spoils of thy enemies, which the Lord thy God shall give +thee. + +20:15. So shalt thou do to all cities that are at a great distance from +thee, and are not of these cities which thou shalt receive in +possession. + +20:16. But of those cities that shall be given thee, thou shalt suffer +none at all to live: + +20:17. But shalt kill them with the edge of the sword, to wit, the +Hethite, and the Amorrhite, and the Chanaanite, the Pherezite, and the +Hevite, and the Jebusite, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee: + +20:18. Lest they teach you to do all the abominations which they have +done to their gods: and you should sin against the Lord your God. + +20:19. When thou hast besieged a city a long time, and hath compassed +it with bulwarks, to take it, thou shalt not cut down the trees that +may be eaten of, neither shalt thou spoil the country round about with +axes: for it is a tree, and not a man, neither can it increase the +number of them that fight against thee. + +20:20. But if there be any trees that are not fruitful, but wild, and +fit for other uses, cut them down, and make engines, until thou take +the city, which fighteth against thee. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 21 + + +The expiation of a secret murder. The marrying a captive. The eldest +son must not be deprived of his birthright for hatred of his mother. A +stubborn son is to be stoned to death. When one is hanged on a gibbet, +he must be taken down the same day and buried. + +21:1. When there shall be found in the land, which the Lord thy God +will give thee, the corpse of a man slain, and it is not known who is +guilty of the murder, + +21:2. Thy ancients and judges shall go out, and shall measure from the +place where the body lieth the distance of every city round about: + +21:3. And the ancients of that city which they shall perceive to be +nearer than the rest, shall take a heifer of the herd, that hath not +drawn in the yoke, nor ploughed the ground, + +21:4. And they shall bring her into a rough and stony valley, that +never was ploughed, nor sown: and there they shall strike off the head +of the heifer: + +21:5. And the priests the sons of Levi shall come, whom the Lord thy +God hath chosen to minister to him, and to bless in his name, and that +by their word every matter should be decided, and whatsoever is clean +or unclean should be judged. + +21:6. And the ancients of that city shall come to the person slain, and +shall wash their hands over the heifer that was killed in the valley, + +21:7. And shall say: Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our +eyes see it. + +21:8. Be merciful to thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, O +Lord, and lay not innocent blood to their charge, in the midst of thy +people Israel. And the guilt of blood shall be taken from them: + +21:9. And thou shalt be free from the innocent's blood, that was shed, +when thou shalt have done what the Lord hath commanded thee. + +21:10. If thou go out to fight against thy enemies, and the Lord thy +God deliver them into thy hand, and thou lead them away captives, + +21:11. And seest in the number of the captives a beautiful woman, and +lovest her, and wilt have her to wife, + +21:12. Thou shalt bring her into thy house: and she shall shave her +hair, and pare her nails, + +21:13. And shall put off the raiment, wherein she was taken: and shall +remain in thy house, and mourn for her father and mother one month: and +after that thou shalt go in unto her, and shalt sleep with her, and she +shall be thy wife. + +21:14. But if afterwards she please thee not, thou shalt let her go +free, but thou mayst not sell her for money nor oppress her by might +because thou hast humbled her. + +21:15. If a man have two wives, one beloved, and the other hated, and +they have had children by him, and the son of the hated be the +firstborn, + +21:16. And he meaneth to divide his substance among his sons: he may +not make the son of the beloved the firstborn, and prefer him before +the son of the hated. + +21:17. But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, +and shall give him a double portion of all he hath: for this is the +first of his children, and to him are due the first birthrights. + +21:18. If a man have a stubborn and unruly son, who will not hear the +commandments of his father or mother, and being corrected, slighteth +obedience: + +21:19. They shall take him and bring him to the ancients of the city, +and to the gate of judgment, + +21:20. And shall say to them: This our son is rebellious and stubborn, +he slighteth hearing our admonitions, he giveth himself to revelling, +and to debauchery and banquetings: + +21:21. The people of the city shall stone him: and he shall die, that +you may take away the evil out of the midst of you, and all Israel +hearing it may be afraid. + +21:22. When a man hath committed a crime for which he is to be punished +with death, and being condemned to die is hanged on a gibbet: + +21:23. His body shall not remain upon the tree, but shall be buried the +same day: for he is accursed of God that hangeth on a tree: and thou +shalt not defile thy land, which the Lord thy God shall give thee in +possession. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 22 + + +Humanity towards neighbours. Neither sex may use the apparel of the +other. Cruelty to be avoided even to birds. Battlements about the roof +of a house. Things of divers kinds not to be mixed. The punishment of +him that slandereth his wife, as also of adultery and rape. + +22:1. Thou shalt not pass by if thou seest thy brother's ox, or his +sheep go astray: but thou shalt bring them back to thy brother. + +22:2. And if thy brother be not nigh, or thou know him not: thou shalt +bring them to thy house, and they shall be with thee until thy brother +seek them, and receive them. + +22:3. Thou shalt do in like manner with his ass, and with his raiment, +and with every thing that is thy brother's, which is lost: if thou find +it, neglect it not as pertaining to another. + +22:4. If thou see thy brother's ass or his ox to be fallen down in the +way, thou shalt not slight it, but shalt lift it up with him. + +22:5. A woman shall not be clothed with man's apparel, neither shall a +man use woman's apparel: for he that doth these things is abominable +before God. + +22:6. If thou find as thou walkest by the way, a bird's nest in a tree, +or on the ground, and the dam sitting upon the young or upon the eggs: +thou shalt not take her with her young: + +Thou shalt not take, etc. This was to shew them to exercise a certain +mercy even to irrational creatures; and by that means to train them up +to a horror of cruelty; and to the exercise of humanity and mutual +charity one to another. + +22:7. But shalt let her go, keeping the young which thou hast caught: +that it may be well with thee, and thou mayst live a long time. + +22:8. When thou buildest a new house, thou shalt make a battlement to +the roof round about: lest blood be shed in thy house, and thou be +guilty, if any one slip, and fall down headlong. + +Battlement. . .This precaution was necessary, because all their houses +had flat tops, and it was usual to walk and to converse together upon +them. + +22:9. Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest both the +seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of the vineyard, be sanctified +together. + +22:10. Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together. + +22:11. Thou shalt not wear a garment that is woven of woollen and linen +together. + +22:12. Thou shalt make strings in the hem at the four corners of thy +cloak, wherewith thou shalt be covered. + +22:13. If a man marry a wife, and afterwards hate her, + +22:14. And seek occasions to put her away, laying to her charge a very +ill name, and say: I took this woman to wife, and going in to her, I +found her not a virgin: + +22:15. Her father and mother shall take her, and shall bring with them +the tokens of her virginity to the ancients of the city that are in the +gate: + +22:16. And the father shall say: I gave my daughter unto this man to +wife: and because he hateth her, + +22:17. He layeth to her charge a very ill name, so as to say: I found +not thy daughter a virgin: and behold these are the tokens of my +daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the +ancients of the city: + +22:18. And the ancients of that city shall take that man, and beat him, + +22:19. Condemning him besides in a hundred sicles of silver, which he +shall give to the damsel's father, because he hath defamed by a very +ill name a virgin of Israel: and he shall have her to wife, and may not +put her away all the days of his life. + +22:20. But if what he charged her with be true, and virginity be not +found in the damsel: + +22:21. They shall cast her out of the doors of her father's house, and +the men of the city shall stone her to death, and she shall die: +because she hath done a wicked thing in Israel, to play the whore in +her father's house: and thou shalt take away the evil out of the midst +of thee. + +22:22. If a man lie with another man's wife, they shall both die, that +is to say, the adulterer and the adulteress: and thou shalt take away +the evil out of Israel. + +22:23. If a man have espoused a damsel that is a virgin, and some one +find her in the city, and lie with her, + +22:24. Thou shalt bring them both out to the gate of that city, and +they shall be stoned: the damsel, because she cried not out, being in +the city: the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife. And +thou shalt take away the evil from the midst of thee. + +22:25. But if a man find a damsel that is betrothed, in the field, and +taking hold of her, lie with her, he alone shall die: + +22:26. The damsel shall suffer nothing, neither is she guilty of death: +for as a robber riseth against his brother, and taketh away his life, +so also did the damsel suffer: + +22:27. She was alone in the field: she cried, and there was no man to +help her. + +22:28. If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, who is not espoused, +and taking her, lie with her, and the matter come to judgment: + +22:29. He that lay with her shall give to the father of the maid fifty +sicles of silver, and shall have her to wife, because he hath humbled +her: he may not put her away all the days of his life. + +22:30. No man shall take his father's wife, nor remove his covering. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 23 + + +Who may and who may not enter into the church: uncleanness to be +avoided: other precepts concerning fugitives, fornication, usury, vows, +and eating other men's grapes and corn. + +23:1. An eunuch, whose testicles are broken or cut away, or yard cut +off, shall not enter into the church of the Lord. + +Eunuch. . .By these are meant, in the spiritual sense, such as are +barren in good works. Ibid. Into the church. . .That is, into the +assembly or congregation of Israel, so as to have the privilege of an +Israelite, or to be capable of any place or office among the people of +God. + +23:2. A mamzer, that is to say, one born of a prostitute, shall not +enter into the church of the Lord, until the tenth generation. + +23:3. The Ammonite and the Moabite, even after the tenth generation +shall not enter into the church of the Lord for ever: + +23:4. Because they would not meet you with bread and water in the way, +when you came out of Egypt: and because they hired against thee Balaam, +the son of Beor, from Mesopotamia in Syria, to curse thee. + +23:5. And the Lord thy God would not hear Balaam, and he turned his +cursing into thy blessing, because he loved thee. + +23:6. Thou shalt not make peace with them, neither shalt thou seek +their prosperity all the days of thy life for ever. + +23:7. Thou shalt not abhor the Edomite, because he is thy brother: nor +the Egyptian, because thou wast a stranger in his land. + +23:8. They that are born of them, in the third generation shall enter +into the church of the Lord. + +23:9. When thou goest out to war against thy enemies, thou shalt keep +thyself from every evil thing. + +23:10. If there be among you any man, that is defiled in a dream by +night, he shall go forth out of the camp, + +23:11. And shall not return, before he be washed with water in the +evening: and after sunset he shall return into the camp. + +23:12. Thou shalt have a place without the camp, to which thou mayst go +for the necessities of nature, + +23:13. Carrying a paddle at thy girdle. And when thou sittest down, +thou shalt dig round about, and with the earth that is dug up thou +shalt cover + +23:14. That which thou art eased of: (for the Lord thy God walketh in +the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thy enemies to +thee:) and let thy camp be holy, and let no uncleanness appear therein, +lest he go away from thee. + +No uncleanness. . .This caution against suffering any filth in the camp, +was to teach them to fly the filth of sin, which driveth God away from +the soul. + +23:15. Thou shalt not deliver to his master the servant that is fled to +thee. + +23:16. He shall dwell with thee in the place that shall please him, and +shall rest in one of thy cities: give him no trouble. + +23:17. There shall be no whore among the daughters of Israel, nor +whoremonger among the sons of Israel. + +23:18. Thou shalt not offer the hire of a strumpet, nor the price of a +dog, in the house of the Lord thy God, whatsoever it be that thou hast +vowed: because both these are an abomination to the Lord thy God. + +23:19. Thou shalt not lend to thy brother money to usury, nor corn, nor +any other thing: + +23:20. But to the stranger. To thy brother thou shalt lend that which +he wanteth, without usury: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all +thy works in the land, which thou shalt go in to possess. + +To the stranger. . .This was a dispensation granted by God to his +people, who being the Lord of all things, can give a right and title to +one upon the goods of another. Otherwise the scripture everywhere +condemns usury, as contrary to the law of God, and a crying sin. See +Ex. 22.25; Lev. 25.36, 37; 2 Esd. 5.7; Ps. 14.5; Ezech. 18.8, 13, etc. + +23:21. When thou hast made a vow to the Lord thy God, thou shalt not +delay to pay it: because the Lord thy God will require it. And if thou +delay, it shall be imputed to thee for a sin. + +23:22. If thou wilt not promise, that shalt be without sin. + +23:23. But that which is once gone out of thy lips, thou shalt observe, +and shalt do as thou hast promised to the Lord thy God, and hast spoken +with thy own will and with thy own mouth. + +23:24. Going into thy neighbour's vineyard, thou mayst eat as many +grapes as thou pleasest: but must carry none out with thee: + +23:25. If thou go into thy friend's corn, thou mayst break the ears, +and rub them in thy hand: but not reap them with a sickle. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 24 + + +Divorce permitted to avoid greater evil: the newly married must not go +to war: of men stealers, of leprosy, of pledges, of labourers' hire, of +justice, and of charity to the poor. + +24:1. If a man take a wife, and have her, and she find not favour in +his eyes, for some uncleanness: he shall write a bill of divorce, and +shall give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. + +24:2. And when she is departed, and marrieth another husband, + +24:3. And he also hateth her, and hath given her a bill of divorce, and +hath sent her out of his house or is dead: + +24:4. The former husband cannot take her again to wife: because she is +defiled, and is become abominable before the Lord: lest thou cause thy +land to sin, which the Lord thy God shall give thee to possess. + +24:5. When a man hath lately taken a wife, he shall not go out to war, +neither shall any public business be enjoined him, but he shall be free +at home without fault, that for one year he may rejoice with his wife. + +24:6. Thou shalt not take the nether, nor the upper millstone to +pledge: for he hath pledged his life to thee. + +24:7. If any man be found soliciting his brother of the children of +Israel, and selling him shall take a price, he shall be put to death, +and thou shalt take away the evil from the midst of thee. + +24:8. Observe diligently that thou incur not the stroke of the leprosy, +but thou shalt do whatsoever the priests of the Levitical race shall +teach thee, according to what I have commanded them, and fulfil thou it +carefully. + +24:9. Remember what the Lord your God did to Mary, in the way when you +came out of Egypt. + +24:10. When thou shalt demand of thy neighbour any thing that he oweth +thee, thou shalt not go into his house to take away a pledge: + +24:11. But thou shalt stand without, and he shall bring out to thee +what he hath. + +24:12. But if he be poor, the pledge shall not lodge with thee that +night, + +24:13. But thou shalt restore it to him presently before the going down +of the sun: that he may sleep in his own raiment and bless thee, and +thou mayst have justice before the Lord thy God. + +24:14. Thou shalt not refuse the hire of the needy, and the poor, +whether he be thy brother, or a stranger that dwelleth with thee in the +land, and is within thy gates: + +24:15. But thou shalt pay him the price of his labour the same day, +before the going down of the sun, because he is poor, and with it +maintaineth his life: lest he cry against thee to the Lord, and it be +reputed to thee for a sin. + +24:16. The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the +children for the fathers, but every one shall die for his own sin, + +24:17. Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger nor of the +fatherless, neither shalt thou take away the widow's raiment for a +pledge. + +24:18. Remember that thou wast a slave in Egypt, and the Lord thy God +delivered thee from thence. Therefore I command thee to do this thing. + +24:19. When thou hast reaped the corn in thy field, and hast forgot and +left a sheaf, thou shalt not return to take it away: but thou shalt +suffer the stranger, and the fatherless and the widow to take it away: +that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the works of thy hands. + +24:20. If thou have gathered the fruit of thy olive trees, thou shalt +not return to gather whatsoever remaineth on the trees: but shalt leave +it for the stranger, for the fatherless, and the widow. + +24:21. If thou make the vintage of thy vineyard, thou shalt not gather +the clusters that remain, but they shall be for the stranger, the +fatherless, and the widow. + +24:22. Remember that thou also wast a bondman in Egypt, and therefore I +command thee to do this thing. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 25 + + +Stripes must not exceed forty. The ox is not to be muzzled. Of raising +seed to the brother. Of the immodest woman. Of unjust weight. Of +destroying the Amalecites. + +25:1. If there be a controversy between men, and they call upon the +judges: they shall give the prize of justice to him whom they perceive +to be just: and him whom they find to be wicked, they shall condemn of +wickedness. + +25:2. And if they see that the offender be worthy of stripes: they +shall lay him down, and shall cause him to be beaten before them. +According to the measure of the sin shall the measure also of the +stripes be: + +25:3. Yet so, that they exceed not the number of forty: lest thy +brother depart shamefully torn before thy eyes. + +25:4. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out thy corn on the +floor. + +Not muzzle, etc. . .St. Paul understands this of the spiritual labourer +in the church of God, who is not to be denied his maintenance. 1 Cor. +9.8, 9, 10. + +25:5. When brethren dwell together, and one of them dieth without +children, the wife of the deceased shall not marry to another: but his +brother shall take her, and raise up seed for his brother: + +25:6. And the first son he shall have of her he shall call by his name, +that his name be not abolished out of Israel. + +25:7. But if he will not take his brother's wife, who by law belongeth +to him, the woman shall go to the gate of the city, and call upon the +ancients, and say: My husband's brother refuseth to raise up his +brother's name in Israel: and will not take me to wife. + +25:8. And they shall cause him to be sent for forthwith, and shall ask +him. If he answer: I will not take her to wife: + +25:9. The woman shall come to him before the ancients, and shall take +off his shoe from his foot, and spit in his face, and say: So shall it +be done to the man that will not build up his brother's house: + +25:10. And his name shall be called in Israel, the house of the unshod. + +25:11. If two men have words together, and one begin to fight against +the other, and the other's wife willing to deliver her husband out of +the hand of the stronger, shall put forth her hand, and take him by the +secrets, + +25:12. Thou shalt cut off her hand, neither shalt thou be moved with +any pity in her regard. + +25:13. Thou shalt not have divers weights in thy bag, a greater and a +less: + +25:14. Neither shall there be in thy house a greater bushel and a less. + +25:15. Thou shalt have a just and a true weight, and thy bushel shall +be equal and true: that thou mayest live a long time upon the land +which the Lord thy God shall give thee. + +25:16. For the Lord thy God abhorreth him that doth these things, and +he hateth all injustice. + +25:17. Remember what Amalec did to thee in the way when thou camest out +of Egypt: + +Amalec. . .This order for destroying the Amalecites, in the mystical +sense, sheweth how hateful they are to God, and what punishments they +are to look for from his justice, who attack and discourage his +servants when they are but just come out, as it were, of the Egypt of +this wicked world and being yet weak and fainthearted, are but +beginning their journey to the land of promise. + +25:18. How he met thee: and slew the hindmost of the army, who sat +down, being weary, when thou wast spent with hunger and labour, and he +feared not God. + +25:19. Therefore when the Lord thy God shall give thee rest, and shall +have subdued all the nations round about in the land which he hath +promised thee: thou shalt blot out his name from under heaven. See thou +forget it not. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 26 + + +The form of words with which the firstfruits and tithes are to be +offered. God's covenant. + +26:1. And when thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God will +give thee to possess, and hast conquered it, and dwellest in it: + +26:2. Thou shalt take the first of all thy fruits, and put them in a +basket, and shalt go to the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, +that his name may be invocated there: + +26:3. And thou shalt go to the priest that shall be in those days, and +say to him: I profess this day before the Lord thy God, that I am come +into the land, for which he swore to our fathers, that he would give it +us. + +26:4. And the priest taking the basket at thy hand, shall set it before +the altar of the Lord thy God: + +26:5. And thou shalt speak thus in the sight of the Lord thy God: The +Syrian pursued my father, who went down into Egypt, and sojourned there +in a very small number, and grew into a nation great and strong and of +an infinite multitude. + +The Syrian. . .Laban. See Gen. 27. + +26:6. And the Egyptians afflicted us, and persecuted us, laying on us +most grievous burdens: + +26:7. And we cried to the Lord God of our fathers: who heard us, and +looked down upon our affliction, and labour, and distress: + +26:8. And brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand, and a stretched +out arm, with great terror, with signs and wonders: + +26:9. And brought us into this place, and gave us this land flowing +with milk and honey. + +26:10. And therefore now I offer the firstfruits of the land which the +Lord hath given me. And thou shalt leave them in the sight of the Lord +thy God, adoring the Lord thy God. + +26:11. And thou shalt feast in all the good things which the Lord thy +God hath given thee, and thy house, thou and the Levite, and the +stranger that is with thee. + +26:12. When thou hast made an end of tithing all thy fruits, in the +third year of tithes thou shalt give it to the Levite, and to the +stranger, and to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat +within thy gates, and be filled: + +26:13. And thou shalt speak thus in the sight of the Lord thy God: I +have taken that which was sanctified out of my house, and I have given +it to the Levite, and to the stranger, and to the fatherless, and to +the widow, as thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy +commandments nor forgotten thy precepts. + +26:14. I have not eaten of them in my mourning, nor separated them for +any uncleanness, nor spent any thing of them in funerals. I have obeyed +the voice of the Lord my God, and have done all things as thou hast +commanded me. + +26:15. Look from thy sanctuary, and thy high habitation of heaven, and +bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou +didst swear to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. + +26:16. This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these +commandments and judgments: and to keep and fulfil them with all thy +heart, and with all thy soul. + +26:17. Thou hast chosen the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in +his ways and keep his ceremonies, and precepts, and judgments, and obey +his command. + +26:18. And the Lord hath chosen thee this day, to be his peculiar +people, as he hath spoken to thee, and to keep all his commandments: + +26:19. And to make thee higher than all nations which he hath created, +to his own praise, and name, and glory: that thou mayst be a holy +people of the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 27 + + +The commandments must be written on stones: and an altar erected, and +sacrifices offered. The observers of the commandments are to be +blessed, and the transgressors cursed. + +27:1. And Moses with the ancients of Israel commanded the people, +saying: Keep every commandment that I command you this day. + +27:2. And when you are passed over the Jordan into the land which the +Lord thy God will give thee, thou shalt set up great stones, and shalt +plaster them over with plaster, + +27:3. That thou mayst write on them all the words of this law, when +thou art passed over the Jordan: that thou mayst enter into the land +which the Lord thy God will give thee, a land flowing with milk and +honey, as he swore to thy fathers. + +27:4. Therefore when you are passed over the Jordan, set up the stones +which I command you this day, in mount Hebal, and thou shalt plaster +them with plaster: + +27:5. And thou shalt build there an altar to the Lord thy God, of +stones which iron hath not touched, + +27:6. And of stones not fashioned nor polished: and thou shalt offer +upon it holocausts to the Lord thy God: + +27:7. And shalt immolate peace victims, and eat there, and feast before +the Lord thy God. + +27:8. And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law +plainly and clearly. + +27:9. And Moses and the priests of the race of Levi said to all Israel: +Attend, and hear, O Israel: This day thou art made the people of the +Lord thy God: + +27:10. Thou shalt hear his voice, and do the commandments and justices +which I command thee. + +27:11. And Moses commanded the people in that day, saying: + +27:12. These shall stand upon mount Garizim to bless the people, when +you are passed the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Juda, Issachar, Joseph, and +Benjamin. + +27:13. And over against them shall stand on mount Hebal to curse: +Ruben, Gad, and Aser, and Zabulon, Dan, and Nephtali. + +27:14. And the Levites shall pronounce, and say to all the men of +Israel with a loud voice: + +27:15. Cursed be the man that maketh a graven and molten thing, the +abomination of the Lord, the work of the hands of artificers, and shall +put it in a secret place: and all the people shall answer and say: +Amen. + +27:16. Cursed be he that honoureth not his father and mother: and all +the people shall say: Amen. + +27:17. Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmarks: and all +the people shall say: Amen. + +27:18. Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of his way: and +all the people shall say: Amen. + +27:19. Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, of +the fatherless and the widow: and all the people shall say: Amen. + +27:20. Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife, and uncovereth +his bed: and all the people shall say: Amen. + +27:21. Cursed be he that lieth with any beast: and all the people shall +say: Amen. + +27:22. Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his +father, or of his mother: and all the people shall say: Amen. + +27:23. Cursed be he that lieth with his mother-in-law: and all the +people shall say: Amen. + +27:24. Cursed be he that secretly killeth his neighbour: and all the +people shall say: Amen. + +27:25. Cursed be he that taketh gifts, to slay an innocent person: and +all the people shall say: Amen. + +27:26. Cursed be he that abideth not in the words of this law, and +fulfilleth them not in work: and all the people shall say: Amen. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 28 + + +Many blessings are promised to observers of God's commandments: and +curses threatened to transgressors. + +28:1. Now if thou wilt hear the voice of all his commandments, which I +command thee this day, the Lord thy God will make thee higher than all +the nations that are on the earth. + +28:2. And all these blessings shall come upon thee and overtake thee: +yet so if thou hear his precepts. + +All these blessings, etc. . .In the Old Testament, God promised temporal +blessings to the keepers of his law, heaven not being opened as yet; +and that gross and sensual people being more moved with present and +sensible things. But in the New Testament the goods that are promised +us are spiritual and eternal; and temporal evils are turned into +blessings. + +28:3. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed in the field. + +28:4. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy +ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the droves of thy herds, and the +folds of thy sheep. + +28:5. Blessed shall be thy barns and blessed thy stores. + +28:6. Blessed shalt thou be coming in and going out. + +28:7. The Lord shall cause thy enemies, that rise up against thee, to +fall down before thy face: one way shall they come out against thee, +and seven ways shall they flee before thee. + +28:8. The Lord will send forth a blessing upon thy storehouses, and +upon all the works of thy hands: and will bless thee in the land that +thou shalt receive. + +28:9. The Lord will raise thee up to be a holy people to himself, as he +swore to thee: if thou keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and +walk in his ways. + +28:10. And all the people of the earth shall see that the name of the +Lord is invocated upon thee, and they shall fear thee. + +28:11. The Lord will make thee abound with all goods, with the fruit of +thy womb, and the fruit of thy cattle, with the fruit of thy land, +which the Lord swore to thy fathers that he would give thee. + +28:12. The Lord will open his excellent treasure, the heaven, that it +may give rain in due season: and he will bless all the works of thy +hands. And thou shalt lend to many nations, and shalt not borrow of any +one. + +28:13. And the Lord shall make thee the head and not the tail: and thou +shalt be always above, and not beneath: yet so if thou wilt hear the +commandments of the Lord thy God which I command thee this day, and +keep and do them, + +28:14. And turn not away from them neither to the right hand, nor to +the left, nor follow strange gods, nor worship them. + +28:15. But if thou wilt not hear the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep +and to do all his commandments and ceremonies, which I command thee +this day, all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. + +All these curses, etc. . .Thus God dealt with the transgressors of his +law in the Old Testament: but now he often suffers sinners to prosper +in this world, rewarding them for some little good they have done, and +reserving their punishment for the other world. + +28:16. Cursed shalt thou be in the city, cursed in the field. + +28:17. Cursed shall be thy barn, and cursed thy stores. + +28:18. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy +ground, the herds of thy oxen, and the flocks of thy sheep. + +28:19. Cursed shalt thou be coming in, and cursed going out. + +28:20. The Lord shall send upon thee famine and hunger, and a rebuke +upon all the works which thou shalt do: until he consume and destroy +thee quickly, for thy most wicked inventions, by which thou hast +forsaken me. + +28:21. May the Lord set the pestilence upon thee, until he consume thee +out of the land, which thou shalt go in to possess. + +28:22. May the Lord afflict thee with miserable want, with the fever +and with cold, with burning and with heat, and with corrupted air and +with blasting, and pursue thee till thou perish. + +28:23. Be the heaven, that is over thee, of brass: and the ground thou +treadest on, of iron. + +28:24. The Lord give thee dust for rain upon thy land, and let ashes +come down from heaven upon thee, till thou be consumed. + +28:25. The Lord make thee to fall down before thy enemies, one way +mayst thou go out against them, and flee seven ways, and be scattered +throughout all the kingdoms of the earth. + +28:26. And be thy carcass meat for all the fowls of the air, and the +beasts of the earth, and be there none to drive them away. + +28:27. The Lord strike thee with the ulcer of Egypt, and the part of +thy body, by which the dung is cast out, with the scab and with the +itch: so that thou canst not be healed. + +28:28. The Lord strike thee with madness and blindness and fury of +mind. + +28:29. And mayst thou grope at midday as the blind is wont to grope in +the dark, and not make straight thy ways. And mayst thou at all times +suffer wrong, and be oppressed with violence, and mayst thou have no +one to deliver thee. + +28:30. Mayst thou take a wife, and another sleep with her. Mayst thou +build a house, and not dwell therein. Mayest thou plant a vineyard and +not gather the vintage thereof. + +28:31. May thy ox be slain before thee, and thou not eat thereof. May +thy ass be taken away in thy sight, and not restored to thee. May thy +sheep be given to thy enemies, and may there be none to help thee. + +28:32. May thy sons and thy daughters be given to another people, thy +eyes looking on, and languishing at the sight of them all the day, and +may there be no strength in thy hand. + +28:33. May a people which thou knowest not, eat the fruits of thy land, +and all thy labours: and mayst thou always suffer oppression, and be +crushed at all times. + +28:34. And be astonished at the terror of those things which thy eyes +shall see: + +28:35. May the Lord strike thee with a very sore ulcer in the knees and +in the legs, and be thou incurable from the sole of the foot to the top +of the head. + +28:36. The Lord shall bring thee, and thy king, whom thou shalt have +appointed over thee, into a nation which thou and thy fathers know not: +and there thou shalt serve strange gods, wood and stone. + +28:37. And thou shalt be lost, as a proverb and a byword to all people, +among whom the Lord shall bring thee in. + +28:38. Thou shalt cast much seed into the ground, and gather little: +because the locusts shall consume all. + +28:39. Thou shalt plant a vineyard, and dig it, and shalt not drink the +wine, nor gather any thing thereof: because it shall be wasted with +worms. + +28:40. Thou shalt have olive trees in all thy borders, and shalt not be +anointed with the oil: for the olives shall fall off and perish. + +28:41. Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, and shalt not enjoy them: +because they shall be led into captivity. + +28:42. The blast shall consume all the trees and the fruits of thy +ground. + +28:43. The stranger that liveth with thee in the land, shall rise up +over thee, and shall be higher: and thou shalt go down, and be lower. + +28:44. He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him. He shall +be as the head, and thou shalt be the tail. + +28:45. And all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue and +overtake thee, till thou perish: because thou heardst not the voice of +the Lord thy God, and didst not keep his commandments and ceremonies +which he commanded thee. + +28:46. And they shall be as signs and wonders on thee, and on thy seed +for ever. + +28:47. Because thou didst not serve the Lord thy God with joy and +gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things: + +28:48. Thou shalt serve thy enemy, whom the Lord will send upon thee, +in hunger, and thirst, and nakedness, and in want of all things: and he +shall put an iron yoke upon thy neck, till he consume thee. + +28:49. The Lord will bring upon thee a nation from afar, and from the +uttermost ends of the earth, like an eagle that flyeth swiftly, whose +tongue thou canst not understand, + +28:50. A most insolent nation, that will shew no regard to the +ancients, nor have pity on the infant, + +28:51. And will devour the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruits of thy +land: until thou be destroyed, and will leave thee no wheat, nor wine, +nor oil, nor herds of oxen, nor flocks of sheep: until he destroy thee. + +28:52. And consume thee in all thy cities, and thy strong and high wall +be brought down, wherein thou trustedst in all thy land. Thou shalt be +besieged within thy gates in all thy land which the Lord thy God will +give thee: + +28:53. And thou shalt eat the fruit of thy womb, and the flesh of thy +sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God shall give thee, in +the distress and extremity wherewith thy enemy shall oppress thee. + +28:54. The man that is nice among you, and very delicate, shall envy +his own brother, and his wife, that lieth in his bosom, + +28:55. So that he will not give them of the flesh of his children, +which he shall eat: because he hath nothing else in the siege and the +want, wherewith thy enemies shall distress thee within all thy gates. + +28:56. The tender and delicate woman, that could not go upon the +ground, nor set down her foot for over much niceness and tenderness, +will envy her husband who lieth in her bosom, the flesh of her son, and +of her daughter, + +28:57. And the filth of the afterbirths, that come forth from between +her thighs, and the children that are born the same hour. For they +shall eat them secretly for the want of all things, in the siege and +distress, wherewith thy enemy shall oppress thee within thy gates. + +28:58. If thou wilt not keep, and fulfil all the words of this law, +that are written in this volume, and fear his glorious and terrible +name: that is, The Lord thy God: + +28:59. The Lord shall increase thy plagues, and the plagues of thy +seed, plagues great and lasting, infirmities grievous and perpetual. + +28:60. And he shall bring back on thee all the afflictions of Egypt, +which thou wast afraid of, and they shall stick fast to thee. + +28:61. Moreover the Lord will bring upon thee all the diseases, and +plagues, that are not written in the volume of this law till he consume +thee: + +28:62. And you shall remain few in number, who before were as the stars +of heaven for multitude, because thou heardst not the voice of the Lord +thy God. + +28:63. And as the Lord rejoiced upon you before doing good to you, and +multiplying you: so he shall rejoice destroying and bringing you to +nought, so that you shall be taken away from the land which thou shalt +go in to possess. + +28:64. The Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the farthest +parts of the earth to the ends thereof: and there thou shalt serve +strange gods, which both thou art ignorant of and thy fathers, wood and +stone. + +28:65. Neither shalt thou be quiet, even in those nations, nor shall +there be any rest for the sole of thy foot. For the Lord will give thee +a fearful heart, and languishing eyes, and a soul consumed with +pensiveness: + +28:66. And thy life shall be as it were hanging before thee. Thou shalt +fear night and day, neither shalt thou trust thy life. + +28:67. In the morning thou shalt say: Who will grant me evening? and at +evening: Who will grant me morning? for the fearfulness of thy heart, +wherewith thou shalt be terrified, and for those things which thou +shalt see with thy eyes. + +28:68. The Lord shall bring thee again with ships into Egypt, by the +way whereof he said to thee that thou shouldst see it no more. There +shalt thou be set to sale to thy enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and +no man shall buy you. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 29 + + +The covenant is solemnly confirmed between God and his people. Threats +against those that shall break it. + +29:1. These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded +Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab: beside +that covenant which he made with them in Horeb. + +29:2. And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: You have seen all +the things that the Lord did before you in the land of Egypt to Pharao, +and to all his servants, and to his whole land. + +29:3. The great temptations, which thy eyes have seen, those mighty +signs and wonders, + +29:4. And the Lord hath not given you a heart to understand, and eyes +to see, and ears that may hear, unto this present day. + +Hath not given you, etc. . .Through your own fault and because you +resisted his grace. + +29:5. He hath brought you forty years through the desert: your garments +are not worn out, neither are the shoes of your feet consumed with age. + +29:6. You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong +drink: that you might know that I am the Lord your God. + +29:7. And you came to this place: and Sehon king of Hesebon, and Og +king of Basan, came out against us to fight. And we slew them. + +29:8. And took their land, and delivered it for a possession to Ruben +and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasses. + +29:9. Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and fulfil them: that +you may understand all that you do. + +29:10. You all stand this day before the Lord your God, your princes, +and tribes, and ancients, and doctors, all the people of Israel, + +29:11. Your children and your wives, and the stranger that abideth with +thee in the camp, besides the hewers of wood, and them that bring +water: + +29:12. That thou mayst pass in the covenant of the Lord thy God, and in +the oath which this day the Lord thy God maketh with thee. + +29:13. That he may raise thee up a people to himself, and he may be thy +God as he hath spoken to thee, and as he swore to thy fathers Abraham, +Isaac, and Jacob. + +29:14. Neither with you only do I make this covenant, and confirm these +oaths, + +29:15. But with all that are present and that are absent. + +29:16. For you know how we dwelt in the land of Egypt, and how we have +passed through the midst of nations, and passing through them, + +29:17. You have seen their abominations and filth, that is to say, +their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which they worshipped. + +29:18. Lest perhaps there should be among you a man or a woman, a +family or a tribe, whose heart is turned away this day from the Lord +our God, to go and serve the gods of those nations: and there should be +among you a root bringing forth gall and bitterness. + +29:19. And when he shall hear the words of this oath, he should bless +himself in his heart saying: I shall have peace, and will walk on in +the naughtiness of my heart: and the drunken may consume the thirsty, + +The drunken, etc., absumat ebria sitientem. . .It is a proverbial +expression, which may either be understood, as spoken by the sinner, +blessing, that is, flattering himself in his sins with the imagination +of peace, and so great an abundance as may satisfy, and as it were, +consume all thirst and want: or it may be referred to the root of +bitterness, spoken of before, which being drunken with sin may attract, +and by that means consume, such as thirst after the like evils. + +29:20. And the Lord should not forgive him: but his wrath and jealousy +against that man should be exceedingly enkindled at that time, and all +the curses that are written in this volume should light upon him: and +the Lord should blot out his name from under heaven, + +29:21. And utterly destroy him out of all the tribes of Israel, +according to the curses that are contained in the book of this law and +covenant: + +29:22. And the following generation shall say, and the children that +shall be born hereafter, and the strangers that shall come from afar, +seeing the plagues of that land and the evils wherewith the Lord hath +afflicted it, + +29:23. Burning it with brimstone, and the heat of salt, so that it +cannot be sown any more, nor any green thing grow therein, after the +example of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha, Adama and Seboim, +which the Lord destroyed in his wrath and indignation: + +29:24. And all the nations shall say: Why hath the Lord done thus to +this land? what meaneth this exceeding great heat of his wrath? + +29:25. And they shall answer: Because they forsook the covenant of the +Lord, which he made with their fathers, when he brought them out of the +land of Egypt: + +29:26. And they have served strange gods, and adored them, whom they +knew not, and for whom they had not been assigned: + +29:27. Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against this land, +to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this volume: + +29:28. And he hath cast them out of their land, in anger and in wrath, +and in very great indignation, and hath thrown them into a strange +land, as it is seen this day. + +29:29. Secret things to the Lord our God: things that are manifest, to +us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this +law. + +Secret things, etc. . .As much as to say, secret things belong to, and +are known to, God alone; our business must be to observe what he has +revealed and manifested to us, and to direct our lives accordingly. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 30 + + +Great mercies are promised to the penitent: God's commandment is +feasible. Life and death are set before them. + +30:1. Now when all these things shall be come upon thee, the blessing +or the curse, which I have set forth before thee, and thou shalt be +touched with repentance of thy heart among all the nations, into which +the Lord thy God shall have scattered thee, + +30:2. And shalt return to him, and obey his commandments, as I command +thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart, and with all +thy soul: + +30:3. The Lord thy God will bring back again thy captivity, and will +have mercy on thee, and gather thee again out of all the nations, into +which he scattered thee before. + +30:4. If thou be driven as far as the poles of heaven, the Lord thy God +will fetch thee back from hence, + +30:5. And will take thee to himself, and bring thee into the land which +thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it: and blessing thee, he +will make thee more numerous than were thy fathers. + +30:6. The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy +seed: that thou mayst love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with +all thy soul, that thou mayst live. + +30:7. And he will turn all these curses upon thy enemies, and upon them +that hate and persecute thee. + +30:8. But thou shalt return, and hear the voice of the Lord thy God, +and shalt do all the commandments which I command thee this day: + +30:9. And the Lord thy God will make thee abound in all the works of +thy hands, in the fruit of thy womb, and in the fruit of thy cattle, in +the fruitfulness of thy land, and in the plenty of all things. For the +Lord will return to rejoice over thee in all good things, as he +rejoiced in thy fathers: + +30:10. Yet so if thou hear the voice of the Lord thy God, and keep his +precepts and ceremonies, which are written in this law: and return to +the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul. + +30:11. This commandment, that I command thee this day is not above +thee, nor far off from thee: + +30:12. Nor is it in heaven, that thou shouldst say: Which of us can go +up to heaven to bring it unto us, and we may hear and fulfil it in +work? + +30:13. Nor is it beyond the sea: that thou mayst excuse thyself, and +say: Which of us can cross the sea, and bring it unto us: that we may +hear, and do that which is commanded? + +30:14. But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth and in thy +heart, that thou mayst do it. + +30:15. Consider that I have set before thee this day life and good, and +on the other hand death and evil: + +30:16. That thou mayst love the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways, and +keep his commandments and ceremonies and judgments, and bless thee in +the land, which thou shalt go in to possess. + +30:17. But if thy heart be turned away, so that thou wilt not hear, and +being deceived with error thou adore strange gods, and serve them: + +30:18. I foretell thee this day that thou shalt perish, and shalt +remain but a short time in the land, to which thou shalt pass over the +Jordan, and shalt go in to possess it. + +30:19. I call heaven and earth to witness this day, that I have set +before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose therefore life, +that both thou and thy seed may live: + +30:20. And that thou mayst love the Lord thy God, and obey his voice, +and adhere to him (for he is thy life, and the length of thy days,) +that thou mayst dwell in the land, for which the Lord swore to thy +fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that he would give it them. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 31 + + +Moses encourageth the people, and Josue, who is appointed to succeed +him. He delivereth the law to the priests. God foretelleth that the +people will often forsake him, and that he will punish them. He +commandeth Moses to write a canticle, as a constant remembrancer of the +law. + +31:1. And Moses went, and spoke all these words to all Israel, + +31:2. And he said to them: I am this day a hundred and twenty years +old, I can no longer go out and come in, especially as the Lord also +hath said to me: Thou shalt not pass over this Jordan. + +31:3. The Lord thy God then will pass over before thee: he will destroy +all these nations in thy sight, and thou shalt possess them: and this +Josue shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath spoken. + +31:4. And the Lord shall do to them as he did to Sehon and Og the kings +of the Amorrhites, and to their land, and shall destroy them. + +31:5. Therefore when the Lord shall have delivered these also to you, +you shall do in like manner to them as I have commanded you. + +31:6. Do manfully and be of good heart: fear not, nor be ye dismayed at +their sight: for the Lord thy God he himself is thy leader, and will +not leave thee nor forsake thee. + +31:7. And Moses called Josue, and said to him before all Israel: Take +courage, and be valiant: for thou shalt bring this people into the land +which the Lord swore he would give to their fathers, and thou shalt +divide it by lot. + +31:8. And the Lord who is your leader, he himself will be with thee: he +will not leave thee, nor forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. + +31:9. And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it to the priests the +sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to +all the ancients of Israel. + +31:10. And he commanded them, saying: After seven years, in the year of +remission, in the feast of tabernacles, + +31:11. When all Israel come together, to appear in the sight of the +Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose, thou shalt read +the words of this law before all Israel, in their hearing. + +31:12. And the people being all assembled together, both men and women, +children and strangers, that are within thy gates: that hearing they +may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and keep, and fulfil all the +words of this law: + +31:13. That their children also, who now are ignorant, may hear, and +fear the Lord their God, all the days that they live in the land +whither you are going over the Jordan to possess it. + +31:14. And the Lord said to Moses: Behold the days of thy death are +nigh: call Josue, and stand ye in the tabernacle of the testimony, that +I may give him a charge. So Moses and Josue went and stood in the +tabernacle of the testimony: + +31:15. And the Lord appeared there in the pillar of a cloud, which +stood in the entry of the tabernacle. + +31:16. And the Lord said to Moses: Behold thou shalt sleep with thy +fathers, and this people rising up will go a fornicating after strange +gods in the land, to which it goeth in to dwell: there will they +forsake me, and will make void the covenant, which I have made with +them, + +31:17. And my wrath shall be kindled against them in that day: and I +will forsake them, and will hide my face from them, and they shall be +devoured: all evils and afflictions shall find them, so that they shall +say in that day: In truth it is because God is not with me, that these +evils have found me. + +31:18. But I will hide, and cover my face in that day, for all the +evils which they have done, because they have followed strange gods. + +31:19. Now therefore write you this canticle, and teach the children of +Israel: that they may know it by heart, and sing it by mouth, and this +song may be unto me for a testimony among the children of Israel. + +31:20. For I will bring them into the land, for which I swore to their +fathers, that floweth with milk and honey. And when they have eaten, +and are full and fat, they will turn away after strange gods, and will +serve them: and will despise me, and make void my covenant. + +31:21. And after many evils and afflictions shall have come upon them, +this canticle shall answer them for a testimony, which no oblivion +shall take away out of the mouth of their seed. For I know their +thoughts, and what they are about to do this day, before that I bring +them into the land which I have promised them. + +31:22. Moses therefore wrote the canticle, and taught it to the +children of Israel. + +31:23. And the Lord commanded Josue the son of Nun, and said: Take +courage, and be valiant: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel +into the land which I have promised, and I will be with thee. + +31:24. Therefore after Moses had wrote the words of this law in a +volume, and finished it: + +31:25. He commanded the Levites, who carried the ark of the covenant of +the Lord, saying: + +31:26. Take this book, and put it in the side of the ark of the +covenant of the Lord your God: that it may be there for a testimony +against thee. + +31:27. For I know thy obstinacy, and thy most stiff neck. While I am +yet living, and going in with you, you have always been rebellious +against the Lord: how much more when I shall be dead? + +31:28. Gather unto me all the ancients of your tribes, and your +doctors, and I will speak these words in their hearing, and will call +heaven and earth to witness against them. + +31:29. For I know that, after my death, you will do wickedly, and will +quickly turn aside form the way that I have commanded you: and evils +shall come upon you in the latter times, when you shall do evil in the +sight of the Lord, to provoke him by the works of your hands. + +31:30. Moses therefore spoke, in the hearing of the whole assembly of +Israel, the words of this canticle, and finished it even to the end. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 32 + + +A canticle for the remembrance of the law. Moses is commanded to go up +into a mountain, from whence he shall see the promised land but not +enter into it. + +32:1. Hear, O ye heavens, the things I speak, let the earth give ear to +the words of my mouth. + +32:2. Let my doctrine gather as the rain, let my speech distil as the +dew, as a shower upon the herb, and as drops upon the grass. + +32:3. Because I will invoke the name of the Lord: give ye magnificence +to our God. + +32:4. The works of God are perfect, and all his ways are judgments: God +is faithful and without any iniquity, he is just and right. + +32:5. They have sinned against him, and are none of his children in +their filth: they are a wicked and perverse generation. + +32:6. Is this the return thou makest to the Lord, O foolish and +senseless people? Is not he thy father, that hath possessed thee, and +made thee, and created thee? + +32:7. Remember the days of old, think upon every generation: ask thy +father, and he will declare to thee: thy elders and they will tell +thee. + +32:8. When the Most High divided the nations: when he separated the +sons of Adam, he appointed the bounds of people according to the number +of the children of Israel. + +32:9. But the Lord's portion is his people: Jacob the lot of his +inheritance. + +32:10. He found him in a desert land, in a place of horror, and of vast +wilderness: he led him about, and taught him: and he kept him as the +apple of his eye. + +32:11. As the eagle enticing her young to fly, and hovering over them, +he spread his wings, and hath taken him and carried him on his +shoulders. + +32:12. The Lord alone was his leader: and there was no strange god with +him. + +32:13. He set him upon high land: that he might eat the fruits of the +fields, that he might suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the +hardest stone, + +32:14. Butter of the herd, and milk of the sheep with the fat of lambs, +and of the rams of the breed of Basan: and goats with the marrow of +wheat, and might drink the purest blood of the grape. + +32:15. The beloved grew fat, and kicked: he grew fat, and thick and +gross, he forsook God who made him, and departed from God his saviour. + +32:16. They provoked him by strange gods, and stirred him up to anger, +with their abominations. + +32:17. They sacrificed to devils and not to God: to gods whom they knew +not: that were newly come up, whom their fathers worshipped not. + +32:18. Thou hast forsaken the God that begot thee, and hast forgotten +the Lord that created thee. + +32:19. The Lord saw, and was moved to wrath: because his own sons and +daughters provoked him. + +32:20. And he said: I will hide my face from them, and will consider +what their last end shall be: for it is a perverse generation, and +unfaithful children. + +32:21. They have provoked me with that which was no god, and have +angered me with their vanities: and I will provoke them with that which +is no people, and will vex them with a foolish nation. + +32:22. A fire is kindled in my wrath, and shall burn even to the lowest +hell: and shall devour the earth with her increase, and shall burn the +foundations of the mountains. + +32:23. I will heap evils upon them, and will spend my arrows among +them. + +32:24. They shall be consumed with famine, and birds shall devour them +with a most bitter bite: I will send the teeth of beasts upon them, +with the fury of creatures that trail upon the ground, and of serpents. + +32:25. Without, the sword shall lay them waste, and terror within, both +the young man and the virgin, the sucking child with the man in years. + +32:26. I said: Where are they? I will make the memory of them to cease +from among men. + +32:27. But for the wrath of the enemies I have deferred it: lest +perhaps their enemies might be proud, and should say: Our mighty hand, +and not the Lord, hath done all these things. + +32:28. They are a nation without counsel, and without wisdom. + +32:29. O that they would be wise and would understand, and would +provide for their last end. + +32:30. How should one pursue after a thousand, and two chase ten +thousand? Was it not, because their God had sold them, and the Lord had +shut them up? + +32:31. For our God is not as their gods: our enemies themselves are +judges. + +32:32. Their vines are of the vineyard of Sodom, and of the suburbs of +Gomorrha: their grapes are grapes of gall, and their clusters most +bitter. + +32:33. Their wine is the gall of dragons, and the venom of asps, which +is incurable. + +32:34. Are not these things stored up with me, and sealed up in my +treasures? + +32:35. Revenge is mine, and I will repay them in due time, that their +foot may slide: the day of destruction is at hand, and the time makes +haste to come. + +32:36. The Lord will judge his people, and will have mercy on his +servants: he shall see that their hand is weakened, and that they who +were shut up have also failed, and they that remained are consumed. + +32:37. And he shall say: Where are their gods, in whom they trusted? + +32:38. Of whose victims they ate the fat, and drank the wine of their +drink offerings: let them arise and help you, and protect you in your +distress. + +32:39. See ye that I alone am, and there is no other God besides me: I +will kill and I will make to live: I will strike, and I will heal, and +there is none that can deliver out of my hand. + +32:40. I will lift up my hand to heaven, and I will say: I live for +ever. + +32:41. If I shall whet my sword as the lightning, and my hand take hold +on judgment: I will render vengeance to my enemies, and repay them that +hate me. + +32:42. I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall +devour flesh, of the blood of the slain and of the captivity, of the +bare head of the enemies. + +32:43. Praise his people, ye nations, for he will revenge the blood of +his servants: and will render vengeance to their enemies, and he will +be merciful to the land of his people. + +32:44. So Moses came and spoke all the words of this canticle in the +ears of the people, and Josue the son of Nun. + +32:45. And he ended all these words, speaking to all Israel. + +32:46. And he said to them: Set your hearts on all the words, which I +testify to you this day: which you shall command your children to +observe and to do, and to fulfil all that is written in this law: + +32:47. For they are not commanded you in vain, but that every one +should live in them, and that doing them you may continue a long time +in the land whither you are going over the Jordan to possess it. + +32:48. And the Lord spoke to Moses the same day, saying: + +32:49. Go up into this mountain Abarim, (that is to say, of passages,) +unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab over against Jericho: and +see the land of Chanaan, which I will deliver to the children of Israel +to possess, and die thou in the mountain. + +32:50. When thou art gone up into it thou shalt be gathered to thy +people, as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered to his +people: + +32:51. Because you trespassed against me in the midst of the children +of Israel, at the waters of contradiction, in Cades of the desert of +Sin: and you did not sanctify me among the children of Israel. + +32:52. Thou shalt see the land before thee, which I will give to the +children of Israel, but thou shalt not enter into it. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 33 + + +Moses before his death blesseth the tribes of Israel. + +33:1. This is the blessing, wherewith the man of God, Moses, blessed +the children of Israel, before his death. + +33:2. And he said: The Lord came from Sinai, and from Seir he rose up +to us: he hath appeared from mount Pharan, and with him thousands of +saints. In his right hand a fiery law. + +33:3. He hath loved the people, all the saints are in his hand: and +they that approach to his feet, shall receive of his doctrine. + +33:4. Moses commanded us a law, the inheritance of the multitude of +Jacob. + +33:5. He shall be king with the most right, the princes of the people, +being assembled with the tribes of Israel. + +33:6. Let Ruben live, and not die, and be he small in number. + +33:7. This is the blessing of Juda. Hear, O Lord, the voice of Juda, +and bring him in unto his people: his hands shall fight for him, and he +shall be his helper against his enemies. + +33:8. To Levi also he said: Thy perfection, and thy doctrine be to thy +holy man, whom thou hast proved in the temptation, and judged at the +waters of contradiction: + +Holy man. . .Aaron and his successors in the priesthood. + +33:9. Who hath said to his father, and to his mother: I do not know +you; and to his brethren: I know you not: and their own children they +have not known. These have kept thy word, and observed thy covenant, + +Who hath said, etc. . .It is the duty of the priestly tribe to prefer +God's honour and service before all considerations of flesh and blood: +in such manner as to behave as strangers to their nearest akin, when +these would withdraw them from the business of their calling. + +33:10. Thy judgments, O Jacob, and thy law, O Israel: they shall put +incense in thy wrath and holocaust upon thy altar. + +33:11. Bless, O Lord, his strength, and receive the works of his hands. +Strike the backs of his enemies, and let not them that hate him rise. + +33:12. And to Benjamin he said: The best beloved of the Lord shall +dwell confidently in him: as in a bride chamber shall he abide all the +day long, and between his shoulders shall be rest. + +Shall dwell, etc. . .This seems to allude to the temple being built in +the confines of the tribe of Benjamin. + +33:13. To Joseph also he said: Of the blessing of the Lord be his land, +of the fruits of heaven, and of the dew, and of the deep that lieth +beneath. + +33:14. Of the fruits brought forth by the sun and by the moon. + +33:15. Of the tops of the ancient mountains, of the fruits of the +everlasting hills: + +33:16. And of the fruits of the earth, and of the fulness thereof. The +blessing of him that appeared in the bush, come upon the head of +Joseph, and upon the crown of the Nazarite among his brethren. + +The Nazarite. . .See the note on Gen. 49.26. + +33:17. His beauty as of the firstling of a bullock, his horns as the +horns of a rhinoceros: with them shall he push the nations even to the +ends of the earth. These are the multitudes of Ephraim and these the +thousands of Manasses. + +33:18. And to Zabulon he said: Rejoice, O Zabulon, in thy going out; +and Issachar in thy tabernacles. + +33:19. They shall call the people to the mountain: there shall they +sacrifice the victims of justice. Who shall suck as milk the abundance +of the sea, and the hidden treasures of the sands. + +33:20. And to Gad he said: Blessed be Gad in his breadth: he hath +rested as a lion, and hath seized upon the arm and the top of the head. + +33:21. And he saw his pre-eminence, that in his portion the teacher was +laid up: who was with the princes of the people, and did the justices +of the Lord, and his judgment with Israel. + +He saw, etc. . .The pre-eminence of the tribe of Gad, to which this +alludeth, was their having the lawgiver Moses buried in their borders; +though the particular place was not known. + +33:22. To Dan also he said: Dan is a young lion, he shall flow +plentifully from Basan. + +33:23. And To Nephtali he said: Nephtali shall enjoy abundance, and +shall be full of the blessings of the Lord: he shall possess the sea +and the south. + +The sea. . .The lake of Genesareth. + +33:24. To Aser also he said: Let Aser be blessed with children, let him +be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil. + +33:25. His shoe shall be iron and brass. As the days of thy youth, so +also shall thy old age be. + +33:26. There is no other god like the God of the rightest: he that is +mounted upon the heaven is thy helper. By his magnificence the clouds +run hither and thither. + +33:27. His dwelling is above, and underneath are the everlasting arms: +he shall cast out the enemy from before thee, and shall say: Be thou +brought to nought. + +Underneath are the everlasting arms. . .Though the dwelling of God be +above in heaven, his arms are always stretched out to help us here +below. + +33:28. Israel shall dwell in safety, and alone. The eye of Jacob in a +land of corn and wine, and the heavens shall be misty with dew. + +33:29. Blessed art thou, Israel: who is like to thee, O people, that +art saved by the Lord? the shield of thy help, and the sword of thy +glory: thy enemies shall deny thee, and thou shalt tread upon their +necks. + + + +Deuteronomy Chapter 34 + + +Moses seeth the promised land, but is not suffered to go into it. He +dieth at the age of 120 years. God burieth his body secretly, and all +Israel mourn for him thirty days. Josue, replenished (by imposition of +Moses's hands) with the spirit of God, succeedeth. But Moses, for his +special familiarity with God, and for most wonderful miracles, is +commended above all other prophets. + +34:1. Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab upon mount Nebo, to +the top of Phasga over against Jericho: and the Lord shewed him all the +land of Galaad as far as Dan. + +34:2. And all Nephtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasses, and all +the land of Juda unto the furthermost sea, + +34:3. And the south part, and the breadth of the plain of Jericho the +city of palm trees as far as Segor. + +34:4. And the Lord said to him: This is the land, for which I swore to +Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying: I will give it to thy seed. Thou +hast seen it with thy eyes, and shalt not pass over to it. + +34:5. And Moses the servant of the Lord died there, in the land of +Moab, by the commandment of the Lord: + +Died there. . .This last chapter of Deuteronomy, in which the death of +Moses is related, was written by Josue, or by some of the prophets. + +34:6. And he buried him in the valley of the land of Moab over against +Phogor: and no man hath known of his sepulchre until this present day. + +He buried him, viz. . .by the ministry of angels, and would have the +place of his burial to be unknown, lest the Israelites, who were so +prone to idolatry, might worship him with divine honours. + +34:7. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye +was not dim, neither were his teeth moved. + +34:8. And the children of Israel mourned for him in the plains of Moab +thirty days: and the days of their mourning in which they mourned Moses +were ended. + +34:9. And Josue the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, +because Moses had laid his hands upon him. And the children of Israel +obeyed him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses. + +34:10. And there arose no more a prophet in Israel like unto Moses, +whom the Lord knew face to face, + +34:11. In all the signs and wonders, which he sent by him, to do in the +land of Egypt to Pharao, and to all his servants, and to his whole +land, + +34:12. And all the mighty hand, and great miracles, which Moses did +before all Israel. + + + + +THE BOOK OF JOSUE + + + +This Book is called JOSUE, because it contains the history of what +passed under him, and according to the common opinion was written by +him. The Greeks call him Jesus: for Josue and Jesus in the Hebrew, are +the same name, and have the same signification, viz., A SAVIOUR. And it +was not without a mystery that he who was to bring the people into the +land of promise should have his name changed from OSEE (for so he was +called before, Num. 13.17,) to JOSUE or JESUS, to give us to +understand, that Moses by his law could only bring the people within +sight of the promised inheritance, but that our Saviour JESUS was to +bring us into it. + + + +Josue Chapter 1 + + +Josue, encouraged by the Lord, admonisheth the people to prepare +themselves to pass over the Jordan. + +1:1. Now it came to pass after the death of Moses, the servant of the +Lord, that the Lord spoke to Josue, the son of Nun, the minister of +Moses, and said to him: + +1:2. Moses my servant is dead: arise, and pass over this Jordan, thou +and thy people with thee, into the land which I will give to the +children of Israel. + +1:3. I will deliver to you every place that the sole of your foot shall +tread upon, as I have said to Moses. + +1:4. From the desert, and from Libanus unto the great river Euphrates, +all the land of the Hethites, unto the great sea toward the going down +of the sun, shall be your border. + +1:5. No man shall be able to resist you all the days of thy life: as I +have been with Moses, so will I be with thee: I will not leave thee, +nor forsake thee. + +1:6. Take courage, and be strong: for thou shalt divide by lot to this +people the land for which I swore to their fathers, that I would +deliver it to them. + +1:7. Take courage therefore, and be very valiant: that thou mayst +observe and do all the law, which Moses my servant hath commanded thee: +turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayst +understand all things which thou dost. + +1:8. Let not the book of this law depart from thy mouth: but thou shalt +meditate on it day and night, that thou mayst observe and do all things +that are written in it: then shalt thou direct thy way, and understand +it. + +1:9. Behold I command thee, take courage, and be strong. Fear not, and +be not dismayed: because the Lord thy God is with thee in all things +whatsoever thou shalt go to. + +1:10. And Josue commanded the princes of the people, saying: Pass +through the midst of the camp, and command the people, and say: + +1:11. Prepare your victuals: for after the third day you shall pass +over the Jordan, and shall go in to possess the land, which the Lord +your God will give you. + +1:12. And he said to the Rubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe +of Manasses: + +1:13. Remember the word, which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded +you, saying: The Lord your God hath given you rest, and all this land. + +1:14. Your wives, and children; and cattle, shall remain in the land +which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan: but pass you over +armed before your brethren all of you that are strong of hand, and +fight for them, + +1:15. Until the Lord give rest to your brethren, as he hath given you, +and they also possess the land which the Lord your God will give them: +and so you shall return into the land of your possession, and you shall +dwell in it, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the +Jordan, toward the rising of the sun. + +1:16. And they made answer to Josue, and said: All that thou hast +commanded us, we will do: and whither soever thou shalt send us, we +will go. + +1:17. As we obeyed Moses in all things, so will we obey thee also: only +be the Lord thy God with thee, as he was with Moses. + +1:18. He that shall gainsay thy mouth, and not obey all thy words, that +thou shalt command him, let him die: only take thou courage, and do +manfully. + + + +Josue Chapter 2 + + +Two spies are sent to Jericho, who are received and concealed by Rahab. + +2:1. And Josue, the son of Nun, sent from Setim two men, to spy +secretly: and said to them: Go, and view the land, and the city of +Jericho. They went, and entered into the house of a woman that was a +harlot, named Rahab, and lodged with her. + +2:2. And it was told the king of Jericho, and was said: Behold there +are men come in hither, by night, of the children of Israel, to spy the +land. + +2:3. And the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying: Bring forth the men +that came to thee, and are entered into thy house: for they are spies, +and are come to view all the land. + +2:4. And the woman taking the men, hid them, and said: I confess they +came to me, but I knew not whence they were: + +2:5. And at the time of shutting the gate in the dark, they also went +out together. I know not whither they are gone: pursue after them +quickly, and you will overtake them. + +2:6. But she made the men go up to the top of her house, and covered +them with the stalks of flax, which was there. + +2:7. Now they that were sent, pursued after them, by the way that +leadeth to the fords of the Jordan: and as soon as they were gone out, +the gate was presently shut. + +2:8. The men that were hid were not yet asleep, when behold the woman +went up to them, and said: + +2:9. I know that the Lord hath given this land to you: for the dread of +you is fallen upon us, and all the inhabitants of the land have lost +all strength. + +2:10. We have heard that the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea, at +your going in, when you came out of Egypt: and what things you did to +the two kings of the Amorrhites, that were beyond the Jordan, Sehon and +Og whom you slew. + +2:11. And at the hearing these things, we were affrighted, and our +heart fainted away, neither did there remain any spirit in us, at your +coming in: for the Lord your God he is God in heaven above, and in the +earth beneath. + +2:12. Now, therefore, swear ye to me by the Lord, that as I have shewed +mercy to you, so you also will shew mercy to my father's house: and +give me a true token. + +2:13. That you will save my father and mother, my brethren and sisters, +and all things that are theirs, and deliver our souls from death. + +2:14. They answered her: Be our lives for you unto death, only if thou +betray us not. And when the Lord shall have delivered us the land, we +will shew thee mercy and truth. + +2:15. Then she let them down with a cord out of a window: for her house +joined close to the wall. + +2:16. And she said to them: Get ye up to the mountains, lest perhaps +they meet you as they return: and there lie ye hid three days, till +they come back, and so you shall go on your way. + +2:17. And they said to her: We shall be blameless of this oath, which +thou hast made us swear, + +2:18. If, when we come into the land, this scarlet cord be a sign, and +thou tie it in the window, by which thou hast let us down: and gather +together thy father and mother, and brethren, and all thy kindred into +thy house. + +2:19. Whosoever shall go out of the door of thy house, his blood shall +be upon his own head, and we shall be quit. But the blood of all that +shall be with thee in the house, shall light upon our head, if any man +touch them. + +2:20. But if thou wilt betray us, and utter this word abroad, we shall +be quit of this oath, which thou hast made us swear. + +2:21. And she answered: As you have spoken, so be it done: and sending +them on their way, she hung the scarlet cord in the window. + +2:22. But they went and came to the mountains, and stayed there three +days, till they that pursued them were returned. For having sought them +through all the way, they found them not. + +2:23. And when they were gone back into the city, the spies returned, +and came down from the mountain: and passing over the Jordan, they came +to Josue, the son of Nun, and told him all that befel them, + +2:24. And said: the Lord hath delivered all this land into our hands, +and all the inhabitants thereof are overthrown with fear. + + + +Josue Chapter 3 + + +The river Jordan is miraculously dried up for the passage of the +children of Israel. + +3:1. And Josue rose before daylight, and removed the camp: and they +departed from Setim, and came to the Jordan: he, and all the children +of Israel, and they abode there for three days. + +3:2. After which, the heralds went through the midst of the camp, + +3:3. And began to proclaim: When you shall see the ark of the covenant +of the Lord your God, and the priests of the race of Levi carrying it, +rise you up also, and follow them as they go before: + +3:4. And let there be between you and the ark the space of two thousand +cubits: that you may see it afar off, and know which way you must go: +for you have not gone this way before: and take care you come not near +the ark. + +3:5. And Josue said to the people: Be ye sanctified: for tomorrow the +Lord will do wonders among you. + +3:6. And he said to the priests: Take up the ark of the covenant, and +go before the people. And they obeyed his commands, and took it up, and +walked before them. + +3:7. And the Lord said to Josue: This day will I begin to exalt thee +before Israel: that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I am +with thee also. + +3:8. And do thou command the priests, that carry the ark of the +covenant, and say to them: When you shall have entered into part of the +water of the Jordan, stand in it. + +3:9. And Josue said to the children of Israel: Come hither, and hear +the word of the Lord your God. + +3:10. And again he said: By this you shall know, that the Lord, the +living God, is in the midst of you, and that he shall destroy, before +your sight, the Chanaanite and the Hethite, the Hevite and the +Pherezite, the Gergesite also, and the Jebusite, and the Amorrhite. + +3:11. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth +shall go before you into the Jordan. + +3:12. Prepare ye twelve men of the tribes of Israel, one of every +tribe. + +3:13. And when the priests, that carry the ark of the Lord the God of +the whole earth, shall set the soles of their feet in the waters of the +Jordan, the waters that are beneath shall run down and go off: and +those that come from above, shall stand together upon a heap. + +3:14. So the people went out of their tents, to pass over the Jordan: +and the priests that carried the ark of the covenant, went on before +them. + +3:15. And as soon as they came into the Jordan, and their feet were +dipped in part of the water, (now the Jordan, it being harvest time, +had filled the banks of its channel,) + +3:16. The waters that came down from above stood in one place, and +swelling up like a mountain, were seen afar off, from the city that is +called Adom, to the place of Sarthan: but those that were beneath, ran +down into the sea of the wilderness, (which now is called the Dead Sea) +until they wholly failed. + +3:17. And the people marched over against Jericho: and the priests that +carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, stood girded upon the dry +ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all the people passed over, +through the channel that was dried up. + + + +Josue Chapter 4 + + +Twelve stones are taken out of the river to be set up for a monument of +the miracle; and other twelve are placed in the midst of the river. + +4:1. And when they were passed over, the Lord said to Josue: + +4:2. Choose twelve men, one of every tribe: + +4:3. And command them to take out of the midst of the Jordan, where the +feet of the priests stood, twelve very hard stones, which you shall set +in the place of the camp, where you shall pitch your tents this night. + +4:4. And Josue called twelve men, whom he had chosen out of the +children of Israel, one out of every tribe, + +4:5. And he said to them: Go before the ark of the Lord your God to the +midst of the Jordan, and carry from thence every man a stone on your +shoulders, according to the number of the children of Israel, + +4:6. That it may be a sign among you: and when your children shall ask +you tomorrow, saying: What means these stones? + +4:7. You shall answer them: The waters of the Jordan ran off before the +ark of the covenant of the Lord when it passed over the same: therefore +were these stones set for a monument of the children of Israel forever. + +4:8. The children of Israel therefore did as Josue commanded them, +carrying out of the channel of the Jordan twelve stones, as the Lord +had commanded him according to the number of the children of Israel +unto the place wherein they camped, and there they set them. + +4:9. And Josue put other twelve stones in the midst of the channel of +the Jordan, where the priests stood that carried the ark of the +covenant: and they are there until this present day. + +4:10. Now the priests that carried the ark, stood in the midst of the +Jordan, till all things were accomplished, which the Lord had commanded +Josue to speak to the people, and Moses had said to him. And the people +made haste, and passed over. + +4:11. And when they had all passed over, the ark also of the Lord +passed over, and the priests went before the people. + +4:12. The children of Ruben also, and Gad, and half the tribe of +Manasses, went armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had +commanded them. + +4:13. And forty thousand fighting men by their troops and bands, +marched through the plains and fields of the city of Jericho. + +4:14. In that day the Lord magnified Josue in the sight of all Israel, +that they should fear him, as they had feared Moses, while he lived. + +4:15. And he said to him: + +4:16. Command the priests, that carry the ark of the covenant, to come +up out of the Jordan. + +4:17. And he commanded them, saying: Come ye up out of the Jordan. + +4:18. And when they that carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, +were come up, and began to tread on the dry ground, the waters returned +into their channel, and ran as they were wont before. + +4:19. And the people came up out of the Jordan, the tenth day of the +first month, and camped in Galgal, over against the east side of the +city of Jericho. + +4:20. And the twelve stones, which they had taken out of the channel of +the Jordan, Josue pitched in Galgal, + +4:21. And said to the children of Israel: When your children shall ask +their fathers tomorrow, and shall say to them: What mean these stones? + +4:22. You shall teach them, and say: Israel passed over this Jordan +through the dry channel, + +4:23. The Lord your God drying up the waters thereof in your sight, +until you passed over: + +4:24. As he had done before in the Red Sea, which he dried up till we +passed through: + +4:25. That all the people of the earth may learn the most mighty hand +of the Lord, that you also may fear the Lord your God for ever. + + + +Josue Chapter 5 + + +The people are circumcised: they keep the pasch. The manna ceaseth. An +angel appeareth to Josue. + +5:1. Now when all the kings of the Amorrhites, who dwelt beyond the +Jordan, westward, and all the kings of Chanaan, who possessed the +places near the great sea, had heard that the Lord had dried up the +waters of the Jordan before the children of Israel, till they passed +over, their heart failed them, and there remained no spirit in them, +fearing the coming in of the children of Israel. + +5:2. At that time the Lord said to Josue: Make thee knives of stone, +and circumcise the second time the children of Israel. + +The second time. . .Not that such as had been circumcised before were to +be circumcised again; but that they were now to renew, and take up +again the practice of circumcision; which had been omitted during their +forty years' sojourning in the wilderness; by reason of their being +always uncertain when they should be obliged to march. + +5:3. He did what the Lord had commanded, and he circumcised the +children of Israel in the hill of the foreskins. + +5:4. Now this is the cause of the second circumcision: All the people +that came out of Egypt that were males, all the men fit for war, died +in the desert, during the time of the long going about in the way: + +5:6. Now these were all circumcised. But the people that were born in +the desert, + +5:6. During the forty years of the journey in the wide wilderness, were +uncircumcised: till all they were consumed that had not heard the voice +of the Lord, and to whom he had sworn before, that he would not shew +them the land flowing with milk and honey. + +5:7. The children of these succeeded in the place of their fathers, and +were circumcised by Josue: for they were uncircumcised even as they +were born, and no one had circumcised them in the way. + +5:8. Now after they were all circumcised, they remained in the same +place of the camp, until they were healed. + +5:9. And the Lord said to Josue: This day have I taken away from you +the reproach of Egypt. And the name of that place was called Galgal, +until this present day. + +5:10. And the children of Israel abode in Galgal, and they kept the +phase, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, in the plains of +Jericho: + +5:11. And they ate on the next day unleavened bread of the corn of the +land, and frumenty of the same year. + +5:12. And the manna ceased after they ate of the corn of the land, +neither did the children of Israel use that food any more, but they ate +of the corn of the present year of the land of Chanaan. + +5:13. And when Josue was in the field of the city of Jericho, he lifted +up his eyes, and saw a man standing over against him, holding a drawn +sword, and he went to him, and said: Art thou one of ours, or of our +adversaries? + +5:14. And he answered: No: but I am prince of the host of the Lord, and +now I am come. + +Prince of the host of the Lord, etc. . .St. Michael, who is called +prince of the people of Israel, Dan. 10.21. + +5:15. Josue fell on his face to the ground. And worshipping, said: What +saith my lord to his servant? + +Worshipping. . .Not with divine honour, but with a religious veneration +of an inferior kind, suitable to the dignity of his person. + +5:16. Loose, saith he, thy shoes from off thy feet: for the place +whereon thou standest is holy. And Josue did as was commanded him. + + + +Josue Chapter 6 + + +After seven days' processions, the priests sounding the trumpets, the +walls of Jericho fall down: and the city is taken and destroyed. + +6:1. Now Jericho was close shut up and fenced, for fear of the children +of Israel, and no man durst go out or come in. + +6:2. And the Lord said to Josue: Behold I have given into thy hands +Jericho, and the king thereof, and all the valiant men. + +6:3. Go round about the city all ye fighting men once a day: so shall +ye do for six days. + +6:4. And on the seventh day the priests shall take the seven trumpets, +which are used in the jubilee, and shall go before the ark of the +covenant: and you shall go about the city seven times, and the priests +shall sound the trumpets. + +6:5. And when the voice of the trumpet shall give a longer and broken +tune, and shall sound in your ears, all the people shall shout together +with a very great shout, and the walls of the city shall fall to the +ground, and they shall enter in every one at the place against which +they shall stand. + +6:6. Then Josue, the son of Nun, called the priests, and said to them: +Take the ark of the covenant: and let seven other priests take the +seven trumpets of the jubilee, and march before the ark of the Lord. + +6:7. And he said to the people: Go, and compass the city, armed, +marching before the ark of the Lord. + +6:8. And when Josue had ended his words, and the seven priests blew the +seven trumpets before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, + +6:9. And all the armed men went before, the rest of the common people +followed the ark, and the sound of the trumpets was heard on all sides. + +6:10. But Josue had commanded the people, saying: You shall not shout, +nor shall your voice be heard, nor any word go out of your mouth: until +the day come wherein I shall say to you: Cry, and shout. + +6:11. So the ark of the Lord went about the city once a day, and +returning into the camp, abode there. + +6:12. And Josue rising before day, the priests took the ark of the +Lord, + +6:13. And seven of them seven trumpets, which are used in the jubilee: +and they went before the ark of the Lord, walking and sounding the +trumpets: and the armed men went before them, and the rest of the +common people followed the ark, and they blew the trumpets. + +6:14. And they went round about the city the second day once, and +returned into the camp. So they did six days. + +6:15. But the seventh day, rising up early, they went about the city, +as it was ordered, seven times. + +6:16. And when in the seventh going about the priests sounded with the +trumpets, Josue said to all Israel: Shout: for the Lord hath delivered +the city to you: + +6:17. And let this city be an anathema, and all things that are in it, +to the Lord. Let only Rahab, the harlot, live, with all that are with +her in the house: for she hid the messengers whom we sent. + +6:18. But beware ye lest you touch ought of those things that are +forbidden, and you be guilty of transgression, and all the camp of +Israel be under sin, and be troubled. + +6:19. But whatsoever gold or silver there shall be, or vessels of brass +and iron, let it be consecrated to the Lord, laid up in his treasures. + +6:20. So all the people making a shout, and the trumpets sounding, when +the voice and the sound thundered in the ears of the multitude, the +walls forthwith fell down: and every man went up by the place that was +over against him: and they took the city, + +6:21. And killed all that were in it, man and woman, young and old. The +oxen also, and the sheep, and the asses, they slew with the edge of the +sword. + +6:22. But Josue said to the two men that had been sent for spies: Go +into the harlot's house, and bring her out, and all things that are +hers, as you assured her by oath. + +6:23. And the young men went in, and brought out Rahab, and her +parents, her brethren also, and all her goods, and her kindred, and +made them to stay without the camp. + +6:24. But they burned the city, and all things that were therein; +except the gold and silver, and vessels of brass and iron, which they +consecrated unto the treasury of the Lord. _ + +6:25. But Josue saved Rahab the harlot, and her father's house, and all +she had, and they dwelt in the midst of Israel until this present day: +because she hid the messengers whom he had sent to spy out Jericho. At +that time, Josue made an imprecation, saying: + +6:26. Cursed be the man before the Lord, that shall raise up and build +the city of Jericho. In his firstborn may he lay the foundation +thereof, and in the last of his children set up its gates. + +Cursed, etc. . .Jericho, in the mystical sense, signifies iniquity: the +sounding of the trumpets by the priests, the preaching of the word of +God; by which the walls of Jericho are thrown down, when sinners are +converted; and a dreadful curse will light on them who build them up +again. + +6:27. And the Lord was with Josue, and his name was noised throughout +all the land + + + +Josue Chapter 7 + + +For the sins of Achan, the Israelites are defeated at Hai. The offender +is found out; and stoned to death, and God's wrath is turned from them. + +7:1. But the children of Israel transgressed the commandment, and took +to their own use of that which was accursed. For Achan, the son of +Charmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zare, of the tribe of Juda, took +something of the anathema: and the Lord was angry against the children +of Israel. + +7:2. And when Josue sent men from Jericho against Hai, which is beside +Bethaven, on the east side of the town of Bethel, he said to them: Go +up, and view the country: and they fulfilled his command, and viewed +Hai. + +7:3. And returning, they said to him: Let not all the people go up, but +let two or three thousand men go, and destroy the city: why should all +the people be troubled in vain, against enemies that are very few? + +7:4. There went up therefore three thousand fighting men: who +immediately turned their backs, + +7:5. And were defeated by the men of the city of Hai, and there fell of +them six and thirty men: and the enemies pursued them from the gate as +far as Sabarim, and they slew them as they fled by the descent: and the +heart of the people was struck with fear, and melted like water. + +7:6. But Josue rent his garments, and fell flat on the ground, before +the ark of the Lord, until the evening, both he and all the ancients of +Israel: and they put dust upon their heads. + +7:7. And Josue said: Alas, O Lord God, why wouldst thou bring this +people over the river Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the +Amorrhite, and to destroy us? would God we had stayed beyond the +Jordan, as we began. + +7:8. My Lord God, what shall I say, seeing Israel turning their backs +to their enemies? + +7:9. The Chanaanites, and all the inhabitants of the land, will hear of +it, and being gathered together will surround us, and cut off our name +from the earth: and what wilt thou do to thy great name? + +7:10. And the Lord said to Josue: Arise, why liest thou flat on the +ground? + +7:11. Israel hath sinned, and transgressed my covenant: and they have +taken of the anathema, and have stolen and lied, and have hid it among +their goods. + +7:12. Neither can Israel stand before his enemies, but he shall flee +from them: because he is defiled with the anathema. I will be no more +with you, till you destroy him that is guilty of this wickedness. + +7:13. Arise, sanctify the people, and say to them: Be ye sanctified +against tomorrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel: The curse is +in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thy +enemies, till he be destroyed out of thee, that is defiled with this +wickedness. + +7:14. And you shall come in the morning, every one by your tribes: and +what tribe soever the lot shall find, it shall come by its kindreds, +and the kindred by its houses and tho house by the men. + +7:15. And whosoever he be that shall be found guilty of this fact, he +shall be burnt with fire, with all his substance, because he hath +transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and hath done wickedness in +Israel. + +7:16. Josue, therefore, when he rose in the morning, made Israel to +come by their tribes, and the tribe of Juda was found. + +7:17. Which being brought by in families, it was found to be the family +of Zare. Bringing that also by the houses, he found it to be Zabdi: + +7:18. And bringing his house man by man, he found Achan, the son of +Charmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zare, of the tribe of Juda. + +7:19. And Josue said to Achan: My son, give glory to the Lord God of +Israel, and confess, and tell me what thou hast done, hide it not. + +7:20. And Achan answered Josue, and said to him: Indeed I have sinned +against the Lord, the God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done. + +7:21. For I saw among the spoils a scarlet garment, exceeding good, and +two hundred sicles of silver, and a golden rule of fifty sicles: and I +coveted them, and I took them away, and hid them in the ground in the +midst of my tent, and the silver I covered with the earth that I dug +up. + +7:22. Josue therefore sent ministers: who running to his tent, found +all hid in the same place, together with the silver. + +7:23. And taking them away out of the tent, they brought them to Josue, +and to all the children of Israel, and threw them down before the Lord. + +7:24. Then Josue, and all Israel with him, took Achan, the son of Zare, +and the silver, and the garment, and the golden rule, his sons also, +and his daughters, his oxen, and asses, and sheep, the tent also, and +all the goods: and brought them to the valley of Achor: + +His sons, etc. . .Probably conscious to, or accomplices of, the crime of +their father. + +7:25. Where Josue said: Because thou hast troubled us, the Lord trouble +thee this day. And all Israel stoned him: and all things that were his, +were consumed with fire. + +7:26. And they gathered together upon him a great heap of stones, which +remaineth until this present day And the wrath of the Lord was turned +away from them. And the name of that place was called the Valley of +Achor, until this day. + +Achor. . .That is, trouble. + + + +Josue Chapter 8 + + +Hai is taken and burnt, and all the inhabitants slain. An altar is +built, and sacrifices offered. The law is written on stones, and the +blessings and cursings are read before all the people. + +8:1. And the Lord said to Josue: Fear not, nor be thou dismayed: take +with thee all the multitude of fighting men, arise, and go up to the +town of Hai: Behold I have delivered into thy hand the king thereof, +and the people, and the city, and the land. + +8:2. And thou shalt do to the city of Hai, and to the king thereof, as +thou hast done to Jericho, and to the king thereof: but the spoils, and +all the cattle, you shall take for a prey to yourselves: lay an ambush +for the city behind it. + +8:3. And Josue arose, and all the army of the fighting men with him, to +go up against Hai: and he sent thirty thousand chosen valiant men in +the night, + +8:4. And commanded them, saying: Lay an ambush behind the city: and go +not very far from it: and be ye all ready. + +8:5. But I, and the rest of the multitude which is with me, will +approach on the contrary side against the city. And when they shall +come out against us, we will flee, and turn our backs, as we did +before: + +8:6. Till they pursuing us be drawn farther from the city: for they +will think that we flee as before. + +8:7. And whilst we are fleeing, and they pursuing, you shall rise out +of the ambush, and shall destroy the city: and the Lord your God will +deliver it into your hands. + +8:8. And when you shall have taken it, set it on fire, and you shall do +all things so as I have commanded. + +8:9. And he sent them away, and they went on to the place of the +ambush, and abode between Bethel and Hai, on the west side of the city +of Hai. But Josue staid that night in the midst of the people, + +8:10. And rising early in the morning, he mustered his soldiers, and +went up with the ancients in the front of the army, environed with the +aid of the fighting men. + +8:11. And when they were come, and were gone up over against the city, +they stood on the north side of the city, between which and them there +was a valley in the midst. + +8:12. And he had chosen five thousand men, and set them to lie in +ambush between Bethel and Hai, on the west side of the same city: + +Five thousand. . .These were part of the thirty thousand mentioned +above, ver. 3. + +8:13. But all the rest of the army went in battle array on the north +side, so that the last of that multitude reached to the west side of +the city. So Josue went that night, and stood in the midst of the +valley. + +8:14. And when the king of Hai saw this, he made haste in the morning, +and went out with all the army of the city, and set it in battle array, +toward the desert, not knowing that there lay an ambush behind his +back. + +8:15. But Josue, and all Israel gave back, making as if they were +afraid, and fleeing by the way of the wilderness. + +8:16. But they shouting together, and encouraging one another, pursued +them. And when they were come from the city, + +8:17. And not one remained in the city of Hai and of Bethel, that did +not pursue after Israel, leaving the towns open as they had rushed out, + +8:18. The Lord said to Josue: Lift up the shield that is in thy hand, +towards the city of Hai, for I will deliver it to thee. + +8:19. And when he had lifted up his shield towards the city, the +ambush, that lay hid, rose up immediately: and going to the city, took +it, and set it on fire. + +8:20. And the men of the city, that pursued after Josue, looking back, +and seeing the smoke of the city rise up to heaven, had no more power +to flee this way or that way: especially as they that had counterfeited +flight, and were going toward the wilderness, turned back most +valiantly against them that pursued. + +8:21. So Josue, and all Israel, seeing that the city was taken, and +that the smoke of the city rose up, returned, and slew the men of Hai. + +8:22. And they also that had taken and set the city on fire, issuing +out of the city to meet their own men, began to cut off the enemies who +were surrounded by them. So that the enemies being cut off on both +sides, not one of so great a multitude was saved. + +8:23. And they took the king of the city of Hai alive and brought him +to Josue. + +8:24. So all being slain that had pursued after Israel, in his flight +to the wilderness, and falling by the sword in the same place, the +children of Israel returned and laid waste the city. + +8:25. And the number of them that fell that day, both of men and women, +was twelve thousand persons, all of the city of Hai. + +8:26. But Josue drew not back his hand, which he had stretched out on +high, holding the shield, till all the inhabitants of Hai were slain. + +8:27. And the children of Israel divided among them, the cattle and the +prey of the city, as the Lord had commanded Josue. + +8:28. And he burnt the city, and made it a heap forever: + +8:29. And he hung the king thereof on a gibbet, until the evening and +the going down of the sun. Then Josue commanded, and they took down his +carcass from the gibbet: and threw it in the very entrance of the city, +heaping upon it a great heap of stones, which remaineth until this +present day. + +8:30. Then Josue built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, in +Mount Hebal, + +8:31. As Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded the children of +Israel, and it is written in the book of the law of Moses: an altar of +unhewn stones, which iron had not touched: and he offered upon it +holocausts to the Lord, and immolated victims of peace offerings. + +8:32. And he wrote upon stones, the Deuteronomy of the law of Moses, +which he had ordered before the children of Israel. + +8:33. And all the people, and the ancients, and the princes, and +judges, stood on both sides of the ark, before the priests that carried +the ark of the covenant of the Lord, both the stranger and he that was +born among them, half of them by Mount Garizim, and half by Mount +Hebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord, had commanded. And first he +blessed the people of Israel. + +8:34. After this, he read all the words of the blessing and the +cursing, and all things that were written in the book of the law. + +8:35. He left out nothing of those things which Moses had commanded, +but he repeated all before all the people of Israel, with the women and +children, and strangers, that dwelt among them. + + + +Josue Chapter 9 + + +Josue is deceived by the Gabaonites: who being detected are condemned +to be perpetual servants. + +9:1. Now when these things were heard of, all the kings beyond the +Jordan, that dwelt in the mountains, and in the plains, in the places +near the sea, and on the coasts of the great sea, they also that dwell +by Libanus, the Hethite, and the Amorrhite, the Chanaanite, the +Pherezite, and the Hevite, and the Jebusite, + +9:2. Gathered themselves together, to fight against Josue and Israel +with one mind, and one resolution. + +9:3. But they that dwelt in Gabaon, hearing all that Josue had done to +Jericho and Hai: + +9:4. Cunningly devising took for themselves provisions, laying old +sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles rent and sewed up again, + +9:5. And very old shoes, which for a show of age were clouted with +patches, and old garments upon them: the loaves also, which they +carried for provisions by the way, were hard, and broken into pieces: + +9:6. And they went to Josue, who then abode in the camp at Galgal, and +said to him, and to all Israel with him: We are come from a far +country, desiring to make peace with you. And the children of Israel +answered them, and said: + +9:7. Perhaps you dwell in the land which falls to our lot; if so, we +can make no league with you. + +9:8. But they said to Josue: We are thy servants. Josue said to them: +Who are you? and whence came you? + +9:9. They answered: From a very far country thy servants are come in +the name of the Lord thy God. For we have heard the fame of his power, +all the things that he did in Egypt. + +9:10. And to the two kings of the Amorrhites, that were beyond the +Jordan, Sehon, king of Hesebon, and Og, king of Basan, that was in +Astaroth: + +9:11. And our ancients, and all the inhabitants of our country, said to +us: Take with you victuals for a long way, and go meet them, and say: +We are your servants, make ye a league with us. + +9:12. Behold, these loaves we took hot, when we set out from our houses +to come to you, now they are become dry, and broken in pieces by being +exceeding old. + +9:13. These bottles of wine when we filled them were new, now they are +rent and burst. These garments we have on, and the shoes we have on our +feet, by reason of the very long journey, are worn out, and almost +consumed. + +9:14. They took therefore of their victuals, and consulted not the +mouth of the Lord. + +9:15. And Josue made peace with them, and entering into a league, +promised that they should not be slain: the princes also of the +multitude swore to them. + +9:16. Now three days after the league was made, they heard that they +dwelt nigh, and they should be among them. + +9:17. And the children of Israel removed the camp, and came into their +cities on the third day, the names of which are, Gabaon, and Caphira, +and Beroth, and Cariathiarim. + +9:18. And they slew them not, because the princes of the multitude had +sworn in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. Then all the common +people murmured against the princes. + +9:19. And they answered them: We have sworn to them in the name of the +Lord, the God of Israel, and therefore we may not touch them. + +9:20. But this we will do to them: Let their lives be saved, lest the +wrath of the Lord be stirred up against us, if we should be forsworn: + +9:21. But so let them live, as to serve the whole multitude in hewing +wood, and bringing in water. As they were speaking these things, + +9;22. Josue called the Gabaonites, and said to them: Why would you +impose upon us, saying: We dwell very far off from you, whereas you are +in the midst of us? + +9:23. Therefore you shall be under a curse, and your race shall always +be hewers of wood, and carriers of water, into the house of my God. + +9:24. They answered: It was told us, thy servants, that the Lord thy +God had promised his servant Moses, to give you all the land, and to +destroy all the inhabitants thereof. Therefore we feared exceedingly +and provided for our lives, compelled by the dread we had of you, and +we took this counsel. + +9:25. And now we are in thy hand: deal with us as it seemeth good and +right unto thee. + +9:26. So Josue did as he had said, and delivered them from the hand of +the children of Israel, that they should not be slain. + +9:27. And he gave orders in that day, that they should be in the +service of all the people, and of the altar of the Lord, hewing wood, +and carrying water, until this present time, in the place which the +Lord hath chosen. + + + +Josue Chapter 10 + + +Five kings war against Gabaon. Josue defeateth them: many are slain +with hailstones. At the prayer of Josue the sun and moon stand still +the space of one day. The five kings are hanged. Divers cities are +taken. + +10:1. When Adonisedec, king of Jerusalem, had heard these things, to +wit, that Josue had taken Hai, and had destroyed it, (for as he had +done to Jericho and the king thereof, so did he to Hai and its king) +and that the Gabaonites were gone over to Israel, and were their +confederates, + +10:2. He was exceedingly afraid. For Gabaon was a great city, and one +of the royal cities, and greater than the town of Hai, and all its +fighting men were most valiant. + +10:3. Therefore Adonisedec, king of Jerusalem, sent to Oham, king of +Hebron, and to Pharam, king of Jerimoth, and to Japhia, king of Lachis, +and to Dabir, king of Eglon, saying: + +10:4. Come up to me, and bring help, that we may take Gabaon, because +it hath gone over to Josue, and to the children of Israel. + +10:5. So the five kings of the Amorrhites being assembled together, +went up: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of +Jerimoth, the king of Lachis, the king of Eglon, they and their armies, +and camped about Gabaon, laying siege to it. + +10:6. But the inhabitants of the city of Gabaon, which was besieged, +sent to Josue, who then abode in the camp at Galgal, and said to him: +Withdraw not thy hands from helping thy servants: come up quickly, and +save us, and bring us succour: for all the kings of the Amorrhites, who +dwell in the mountains, are gathered together against us. + +10:7. And Josue went up from Galgal, and all the army of the warriors +with him, most valiant men. + +10:8. But the Lord said to Josue: Fear them not: for I have delivered +them into thy hands: none of them shall be able to stand against thee. + +10:9. So Josue going up from Galgal all the night, came upon them +suddenly. + +10:10. And the Lord troubled them, at the sight of Israel: and he slew +them with a great slaughter, in Gabaon, and pursued them by the way of +the ascent to Bethoron, and cut them off all the way to Azeca and +Maceda. + +10:11. And when they were fleeing from the children of Israel, and were +in the descent of Bethoron, the Lord cast down upon them great stones +from heaven, as far as Azeca: and many more were killed with the +hailstones, than were slain by the swords of the children of Israel, + +10:12. Then Josue spoke to the Lord, in the day that he delivered the +Amorrhite in the sight of the children of Israel, and he said before +them: Move not, O sun, toward Gabaon, nor thou, O moon, toward the +valley of Ajalon. + +10:13. And the sun and the moon stood still, till the people revenged +themselves of their enemies. Is not this written in the book of the +just? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to +go down the space of one day. + +The book of the just. . .In Hebrew Jasher: an ancient book long since +lost. + +10:14. There was not before, nor after, so long a day, the Lord obeying +the voice of a man, and fighting for Israel. + +10:15. And Josue returned, with all Israel, into the camp of Galgal. + +10:16. For the five kings were fled, and had hid themselves in a cave +of the city of Maceda. + +10:17. And it was told Josue, that the five kings were found hid in a +cave of the city of Maceda. + +10:18. And he commanded them that were with him, saying: Roll great +stones to the mouth of the cave, and set careful men to keep them shut +up: + +10:19. And stay you not, but pursue after the enemies, and kill all the +hindermost of them as they flee, and do not suffer them whom the Lord +God hath delivered into your hands, to shelter themselves in their +cities. + +10:20. So the enemies being slain with a great slaughter, and almost +utterly consumed, they that were able to escape from Israel, entered +into fenced cities. + +10:21. And all the army returned to Josue, in Maceda, where the camp +then was, in good health, and without the loss of any one: and no man +durst move his tongue against the children of Israel. + +10:22. And Josue gave orders, saying: Open the mouth of the cave, and +bring forth to me the five kings that lie hid therein. + +10:23. And the ministers did as they were commanded: and they brought +out to him the five kings out of the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the +king of Hebron, the king of Jerimoth, the king of Lachis, the king of +Eglon. + +10:24. And when they were brought out to him, he called all the men of +Israel, and said to the chiefs of the army that were with him: Go, and +set your feet on the necks of these kings. And when they had gone, and +put their feet upon the necks of them lying under them, + +10:25. He said again to them: Fear not, neither be ye dismayed, take +courage, and be strong: for so will the Lord do to all your enemies, +against whom you fight. + +10:26. And Josue struck, and slew them, and hanged them upon five +gibbets; and they hung until the evening. + +10:27. And when the sun was down, he commanded the soldiers to take +them down from the gibbets. And after they were taken down, they cast +them into the cave, where they had lain hid, and put great stones at +the mouth thereof, which remain until this day. + +10:28. The same day Josue took Maceda, and destroyed it with the edge +of the sword, and killed the king and all the inhabitants thereof: he +left not in it the least remains. And he did to the king of Maceda, as +he had done to the king of Jericho. + +10:29. And he passed from Maceda with all Israel to Lebna, and fought +against it: + +10:30. And the Lord delivered it with the king thereof into the hands +of Israel: and they destroyed the city with the edge of the sword, and +all the inhabitants thereof. They left not in it any remains. And they +did to the king of Lebna, as they had done to the king of Jericho. + +10:31. From Lebna he passed unto Lachis, with all Israel: and investing +it with his army, besieged it. + +10:32. And the Lord delivered Lachis into the hands of Israel, and he +took it the following day, and put it to the sword, and every soul that +was in it, as he had done to Lebna. + +10:33. At that time Horam, king of Gazer, came up to succour Lachis: +and Josue slew him with all his people so as to leave none alive. + +10:34. And he passed from Lachis to Eglon, and surrounded it, + +10:35. And took it the same day: and put to the sword all the souls +that were in it, according to all that he had done to Lachis. + +10:36. He went up also with all Israel from Eglon to Hebron, and fought +against it: + +10:37. Took it, and destroyed it with the edge of the sword: the king +also thereof, and all the towns of that country, and all the souls that +dwelt in it: he left not therein any remains: as he had done to Eglon, +so did he also to Hebron, putting to the sword all that he found in it. + +The king. . .Viz., the new king, who succeeded him that was slain, ver. +26. + +10:38. Returning from thence to Dabir, + +10:39. He took it, and destroyed it: the king also thereof, and all the +towns round about, he destroyed with the edge of the sword: he left not +in it any remains: as he had done to Hebron and Lebna, and to their +kings, so did he to Dabir, and to the king thereof. + +10:40. So Josue conquered all the country of the hills, and of the +south, and of the plain, and of Asedoth, with their kings: he left not +any remains therein, but slew all that breathed, as the Lord, the God +of Israel, had commanded him. + +Any remains therein, but slew, etc. . .God ordered these people to be +utterly destroyed, in punishment of their manifold abomination; and +that they might not draw the Israelites into the like sins. + +10:41. From Cadesbarne even to Gaza. All the land of Gosen even to +Gabaon, + +10:42. And all their kings, and their lands he took and wasted at one +onset: for the Lord the God of Israel fought for him. + +10:43. And he returned with all Israel to the place of the camp in +Galgal. + + + +Josue Chapter 11 + + +The kings of the north are overthrown: the whole country is taken. + +11:1. And when Jabin king of Asor had heard these things, he sent to +Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Semeron, and to the king of +Achsaph: + +11:2. And to the kings of the north, that dwelt in the mountains and in +the plains over against the south side of Ceneroth, and in the levels +and the countries of Dor by the sea side: + +11:3. To the Chanaanites also on the east and on the west, and the +Amorrhite, and the Hethite, and the Pherezite, and the Jebusite in the +mountains: to the Hevite also who dwelt at the foot of Hermon in the +land of Maspha. + +11:4. And they all came out with their troops, a people exceeding +numerous as the sand that is on the sea shore, their horses also and +chariots a very great multitude, + +11:5. And all these kings assembled together at the waters of Merom, to +fight against Israel. + +11:6. And the Lord said to Josue: Fear them not: for to morrow at this +same hour I will deliver all these to be slain in the sight of Israel: +thou shalt hamstring their horses, and thou shalt burn their chariots +with fire. + +Hamstring their horses, and burn their chariots with fire, etc. . .God +so ordained, that his people might not trust in chariots and horses, +but in him. + +11:7. And Josue came, and all the army with him, against them to the +waters of Merom on a sudden, and fell upon them. + +11:8. And the Lord delivered them into the hands of Israel. And they +defeated them, and chased them as far as the great Sidon and the waters +of Maserophot, and the field of Masphe, which is on the east thereof. +He slew them all, so as to leave no remains of them: + +11:9. And he did as the Lord had commanded him, he hamstringed their +horses and burned their chariots. + +11:10. And presently turning back he took Asor: and slew the king +thereof with the sword. Now Asor of old was the head of all these +kingdoms. + +11:11. And he cut off all the souls that abode there: he left not in it +any remains, but utterly destroyed all, and burned the city itself with +fire. + +11:12. And he took and put to the sword and destroyed all the cities +round about, and their kings, as Moses the servant of God had commanded +him. + +11:13. Except the cities that were on hills and high places, the rest +Israel burned: only Asor that was very strong he consumed with fire. + +11:14. And the children of Israel divided among themselves all the +spoil of these cities and the cattle, killing all the men. + +11:15. As the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses +command Josue, and he accomplished all: he left not one thing undone of +all the commandments which the Lord had commanded Moses. + +11:16. So Josue took all the country of the hills, and of the south, +and the land of Gosen, and the plains and the west country, and the +mountain of Israel, and the plains thereof: + +11:17. And part of the mountain that goeth up to Seir as far as +Baalgad, by the plain of Libanus under mount Hermon: all their kings he +took, smote and slew. + +11:18. Josue made war a long time against these kings. + +A long time. . .Seven years, as appears from chap. 14.10. + +11:19. There was not a city that delivered itself to the children of +Israel, except the Hevite, who dwelt in Gabaon: for he took all by +fight. + +11:20. For it was the sentence of the Lord, that their hearts should be +hardened, and they should fight against Israel, and fall, and should +not deserve any clemency, and should be destroyed as the Lord had +commanded Moses. + +Hardened. . .This hardening of their hearts, was their having no thought +of yielding or submitting: which was a sentence or judgment of God upon +them in punishment of their enormous crimes. + +11:21. At that time Josue came and cut off the Enancims from the +mountains, from Hebron, and Dabir, and Anab, and from all the mountain +of Juda and Israel, and destroyed their cities. + +11:22. He left not any of the stock of the Enacims, in the land of the +children of Israel: except the cities of Gaza, and Geth, and Azotus, in +which alone they were left. + +11:23. So Josue took all the land, as the Lord spoke to Moses, and +delivered it in possession to the children of Israel, according to +their divisions and tribes. And the land rested from wars. + + + +Josue Chapter 12 + + +A list of the kings slain by Moses and Josue, + +12:1. These are the kings, whom the children of Israel slew and +possessed their land beyond the Jordan towards the rising of the sun, +from the torrent Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the east country that +looketh towards the wilderness. + +12:2. Sehon king of the Amorrhites, who dwelt in Hesebon, and had +dominion from Aroer, which is seated upon the bank of the torrent +Arnon, and of the middle part in the valley, and of half Galaad, as far +as the torrent Jaboc, which is the border of the children of Ammon. + +12:3. And from the wilderness, to the sea of Ceneroth towards the east, +and to the sea of the wilderness, which is the most salt sea, on the +east side by the way that leadeth to Bethsimoth: and on the south side +that lieth under Asedoth, Phasga. + +12:4. The border of Og the king of Basan, of the remnant of the +Raphaims who dwelt in Astaroth, and in Edrai, and had dominion in mount +Hermon, and in Salecha, and in all Basan, unto the borders + +12:5. Of Gessuri and Machati, and of half Galaad: the borders of Sehon +the king of Hesebon. + +12:6. Moses the servant of the Lord, and the children of Israel slew +them, and Moses delivered their land in possession to the Rubenites, +and Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasses. + +12:7. These are the kings of the land, whom Josue and the children of +Israel slew beyond the Jordan on the west side from Baalgad in the +field of Libanus, unto the mount, part of which goeth up into Seir: and +Josue delivered it in possession to the tribes of Israel, to every one +their divisions, + +12:8. As well in the mountains as in the plains and the champaign +countries. In Asedoth, and in the wilderness, and in the south was the +Hethite and the Amorrhite, the Chanaanite and the Pherezite, the Hevite +and the Jebusite. + +12:9. The king of Jericho one: the king of Hai, which is on the side of +Bethel, one: + +12:10. The king of Jerusalem one, the king of Hebron one, + +12:11. The king of Jerimoth one, thee king of Lachis one, + +12:12. The king of Eglon one, the king of Gazer one, + +12:13. The king of Dabir one, the king of Gader one, + +12:14. The king of Herma one, the king of Hered one, + +12:15. The king of Lebna one, the king of Odullam one, + +12:16. The king of Maceda one, the king of Bethel one, + +12:17. The king of Taphua one, the king of Opher one, + +12:18. The king of Aphec one, the king of Saron one, + +12:19. The king of Madon one, the king of Asor one, + +12:20. The king of Semeron one, the king of Achsaph one, + +12:21. The king of Thenac one, the king of Mageddo one, + +12:22. Thee king of Cades one, the king of Jachanan of Carmel one, + +12:23. The king of Dor, and of the province of Dor one, the king of the +nations of Galgal one, + +12:24. The king of Thersa one: all the kings thirty and one. + + + +Josue Chapter 13 + + +God commandeth Josue to divide the land: the possessions of Ruben, Gad, +and half the tribe of Manasses, beyond the Jordan. + +13:1. Josue was old, and far advanced in years, and the Lord said to +him: Thou art grown old, and advanced in age, and there is a very large +country left, which is not yet divided by lot: + +Josue was old, and far advanced in years. . .He was then about one +hundred and one years old.--And there is a very large country left, +which is not yet divided by lot. . .Not yet possessed by the children of +Israel. + +13:2. To wit, all Galilee, Philistia, and all Gessuri. + +13:3. From the troubled river, that watereth Egypt, unto the border of +Accaron northward: the land of Chanaan, which is divided among the +lords of the Philistines, the Gazites, the Azotians, the Ascalonites, +the Gethites, and the Accronites. + +13:4. And on the south side are the Hevites, all the land of Chanaan, +and Maara of the Sidonians as far as Apheca, and the borders of the +Amorrhite, + +13:5. And his confines. The country also of Libanus towards the east +from Baalgad under mount Hermon to the entering into Emath. + +13:6. Of all that dwell in the mountains from Libanus, to the waters of +Maserephoth, and all the Sidonians. I am he that will cut them off from +before the face of the children of Israel. So let their land come in as +a part of the inheritance of Israel, as I have commanded thee. + +13:7. And now divide the land in possession to the nine tribes, and to +the half tribe of Manasses, + +13:8. With whom Ruben and Gad have possessed the land, which Moses the +servant of the Lord delivered to them beyond the river Jordan, on the +east side. + +With whom. . .That is, with the other half of that same tribe. + +13:9. From Aroer, which is upon the bank of the torrent Arnon, and in +the midst of the valley and all the plains of Medaba, as far as Dibon: + +13:10. And all the cities of Sehon, king of the Amorrhites, who reigned +in Hesebon, unto the borders of the children of Ammon. + +13:11. And Galaad, and the borders of Gessuri and Machati, and all +mount Hermon, and all Basan as far as Salecha, + +13:12. All the kingdom of Og in Basan, who reigned in Astaroth and +Edrai, he was of the remains of the Raphaims: and Moses overthrew and +destroyed them. + +13:13. And the children of Israel would not destroy Gessuri and Machati +and they have dwelt in the midst of Israel, until this present day. + +13:14. But to the tribe of Levi he gave no possession: but the +sacrifices and victims of thee Lord God of Israel, are his inheritance, +as he spoke to him. + +13:15. And Moses gave a possession to the children of Ruben according +to their kindreds. + +13:16. And their border was from Aroer, which is on the bank of the +torrent Arnon, and in the midst of the valley of the same torrent: all +the plain, that leadeth to Medaba, + +13:17. And Hesebon, and all their villages, which are in the plains. +Dibon also, and Bamothbaal, and the town of Baalmaon, + +13:18. And Jassa, and Cidimoth, and Mephaath, + +13:19. And Cariathaim, and Sabama, and Sarathasar in the mountain of +the valley. + +13:20. Bethphogor and Asedoth, Phasga and Bethiesimoth, + +13:21. And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdoms of Sehon +king of the Amorrhites, that reigned in Hesebon, whom Moses slew with +the princes of Madian: Hevi, and Recem, and Sur and Hur, and Rebe, +dukes of Sehon inhabitants of the land. + +The princes of Madian. . .It appears from hence that these were subjects +of king Sehon: they are said to have been slain with him, that is, +about the same time, but not in the same battle. + +13:22. Balaam also the son of Beor the soothsayer, the children of +Israel slew with the sword among the rest that were slain. + +13:23. And the river Jordan was the border of the children of Ruben. +This is the possession of the Rubenites, by their kindreds, of cities +and villages. + +13:24. And Moses gave to the tribe of Gad and to his children by their +kindreds a possession, of which this is the division. + +13:25. The border of Jaser, and all the cities of Galaad, and half the +land of the children of Ammon: as far as Aroer which is over against +Rabba: + +13:26. And from Hesebon unto Ramoth, Masphe and Betonim: and from +Manaim unto the borders of Dabir. + +13:27. And in the valley Betharan and Bethnemra, and Socoth, and Saphon +the other part of the kingdom of Sehon king of Hesebon: the limit of +this also is the Jordan, as far as the uttermost part of the sea of +Cenereth beyond the Jordan on the east side, + +13:28. This is the possession of the children of Gad by their families, +their cities, and villages. + +13:29. He gave also to the half tribe of Manasses and his children +possession according to their kindreds, + +13:30. The beginning whereof is this: from Manaim all Basan, and all +the kingdoms of Og king of Basan, and all the villages of Jair, which +are in Basan, threescore towns. + +13:31. And half Galaad, and Astaroth, and Edrai, cities of the kingdom +of Og in Basan: to the children of Machir, the son of Manasses, to one +half of the children of Machir according to their kindreds. + +13:32. This possession Moses divided in the plains of Moab, beyond the +Jordan, over against Jericho on the east side, + +13:33. But to the tribe of Levi he gave no possession: because the Lord +the God of Israel himself is their possession, as he spoke to them. + + + +Josue Chapter 14 + + +Caleb's petition; Hebron is given to him and to his seed. + +14:1. This is what the children of Israel possessed in the land of +Chanaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Josue the son of Nun, and the +princes of the families by the tribes of Israel gave to them. + +14:2. Dividing all by lot, as the Lord had commanded the hand of Moses, +to the nine tribes, and the half tribe. + +14:3. For to two tribes and a half Moses had given possession beyond +the Jordan: besides the Levites, who received no land among their +brethren: + +14:4. But in their place succeeded the children of Joseph divided into +two tribes, of Manasses and Ephraim: neither did the Levites receive +other portion of land, but cities to dwell in, and their suburbs to +feed their beasts and flocks. + +Hebron belonged, etc. . .All the country thereabouts, depending on +Hebron, was given to Caleb; but the city itself with the suburbs, was +one of those that were given to the priests to dwell in. + +14:5. As the Lord had commanded Moses so did the children of Israel, +and they divided the land. + +14:6. Then the children of Juda came to Josue in Galgal, and Caleb the +son of Jephone the Cenezite spoke to him: Thou knowest what the Lord +spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Cadesbarne. + +14:7. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me +from Cadesbarne, to view the land, and I brought him word again as to +me seemed true, + +14:8. But my brethren, that had gone up with me, discouraged the heart +of the people: and I nevertheless followed the Lord my God. + +14:9. And Moses swore in that day, saying: The land which thy foot hath +trodden upon shall be thy possession, and thy children for ever, +because thou hast followed the Lord my God. + +14:10. The Lord therefore hath granted me life, as he promised until +this present day, It is forty and five years since the Lord spoke this +word to Moses, when Israel journeyed through the wilderness: this day I +am eighty-five years old, + +14:11. As strong as I was at that time when I was sent to view the +land: the strength of that time continueth in me until this day, as +well to fight as to march. + +14:12. Give me therefore this mountain, which the Lord promised, in thy +hearing also, wherein are the Enacims, and cities great and strong: if +so be the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to destroy them, as +he promised me. + +14:13. And Josue blessed him, and gave him Hebron in possession. + +14:14. And from that time Hebron belonged to Caleb the son of Jephone +the Cenezite, until this present day: because he followed the Lord the +God of Israel. + +14:15. The name of Hebron before was called Cariath-Arbe: Adam the +greatest among the Enacims was laid there and the land rested from +wars. + + + +Josue Chapter 15 + + +The borders of the lot of Juda. Caleb's portion and conquest. The +cities of Juda. + +15:1. Now the lot of the children of Juda by their kindreds was this: +From the frontier of Edom, to the desert of Sin southward, and to the +uttermost part of the south coast. + +15:2. Its beginning was from the top of the most salt sea, and from the +bay thereof, that looketh to the south. + +15:3. And it goeth out towards the ascent of the Scorpion, and passeth +on to Sina: and ascendeth into Cadesbarne, and reacheth into Esron, +going up to Addar, and compassing Carcaa. + +15:4. And from thence passing along into Asemona, and reaching the +torrent of Egypt: and the bounds thereof shall be the great sea, this +shall be the limit of the south coast. + +15:5. But on the east side the beginning shall be the most salt sea +even to the end of the Jordan: and towards the north from the bay of +the sea unto the same river Jordan. + +15:6. And the border goeth up into Beth-Hagla, and passeth by the north +into Beth-Araba: going up to the stone of Boen the son of Ruben. + +15:7. And reaching as far as the borders of Debara from the valley of +Achor, and so northward looking towards Galgal, which is opposite to +the ascent of Adommin, on the south side of the torrent, and the border +passeth the waters that are called the fountain of the sun: and the +goings out thereof shall be at the fountain Rogel. + +15:8. And it goeth up by the valley of the son of Ennom on the side of +the Jebusite towards the south, the same is Jerusalem: and thence +ascending to the top of the mountain, which is over against Geennom to +the west in the end of the valley of Raphaim, northward. + +15:9. And it passeth on from the top of the mountain to the fountain of +the water of Nephtoa: and reacheth to the towns of mount Ephron: and it +bendeth towards Baala, which is Cariathiarim, that is to say, the city +of the woods. + +15:10. And it compasseth from Baala westward unto mount Seir: and +passeth by the side of mount Jarim to the north into Cheslon: and goeth +down into Bethsames, and passeth into Thamna. + +15:11. And reacheth northward to a part of Accaron at the side: and +bendeth to Sechrona, and passeth mount Baala: and cometh into Jebneel, +and is bounded westward with the great sea. + +15:12. These are the borders round about of the children of Juda in +their kindreds. + +15:13. But to Caleb the son of Jephone he gave a portion in the midst +of the children of Juda, as the Lord had commanded him: Cariath-Arbe +the father of Enac, which is Hebron. + +15:14. And Caleb destroyed out of it the three sons of Enac, Sesai and +Ahiman, and Tholmai of the race of Enac. + +15:15. And going up from thence he came to the inhabitants of Dabir, +which before was called Cariath-Sepher, that is to say, the city of +letters. + +15:16. And Caleb said: He that shall smite Cariath-Sepher, and take it, +I will give him Axa my daughter to wife. + +15:17. And Othoniel the son of Cenez, the younger brother of Caleb, +took it: and he gave him Axa his daughter to wife. + +15:18. And as they were going together, she was moved by her husband to +ask a field of her father, and she sighed as she sat on her ass. And +Caleb said to her: What aileth thee? + +15:19. But she answered: Give me a blessing: thou hast given me a +southern and dry land, give me also a land that Is watered. And Caleb +gave her the upper and the nether watery ground. + +15:20. This is the possession of the tribe of the children of Juda by +their kindreds. + +15:21. And the cities from the uttermost parts of the children of Juda +by the borders of Edom to the south, were Cabseel and Eder and Jagur, + +15:22. And Cina and Dimona and Adada, + +15:23. And Cades and Asor and Jethnam, + +15:24. Ziph and Telem and Baloth, + +15:25. New Asor and Carioth, Hesron, which is Asor. + +15:26. Amam, Sama and Molada, + +15:27. And Asergadda and Hassemon and Bethphelet, + +15:28. And Hasersual and Bersabee and Baziothia, + +15:29. And Baala and Jim and Esem, + +15:30. And Eltholad and Cesil and Harma, + +15:31. And Siceleg and Medemena and Sensenna, + +15:32. Lebaoth and Selim and Aen and Remmon: all the cities +twenty-nine, and their villages. + +15:33. But in the plains: Estaol and Sarea and Asena, + +15:34. And Zanoe and Engannim and Taphua and Enaim, + +15:35. And Jerimoth and Adullam, Socho and Azeca, + +15:36. And Saraim and Adithaim and Gedera and Gederothaim: fourteen +cities, and their villages. + +15:37. Sanan and Hadassa and Magdalgad, + +15:38. Delean and Masepha and Jecthel, + +15:39. Lachis and Bascath and Eglon, + +15:40. Chebbon and Leheman and Cethlis, + +15:41. And Gideroth and Bethdagon and Naama and Maceda: sixteen cities, +and their villages. + +15:42. Labana and Ether and Asan, + +15:43. Jephtha and Esna and Nesib, + +15:44. And Ceila and Achzib and Maresa: nine cities, and their +villages. + +15:45. Accaron with the towns and villages thereof. + +15:46. From Accaron even to the sea: all places that lie towards Azotus +and the villages thereof. + +15:47. Azotus with its towns and villages. Gaza with its towns and +villages, even to the torrent of Egypt, and the great sea that is the +border thereof. + +15:48. And in the mountain Samir and Jether and Socoth, + +15:49. And Danna and Cariath-senna, this is Dabir: + +15:50. Anab and Istemo and Anim, + +15:51. Gosen and Olon and Gilo: eleven cities and their villages. + +15:52. Arab and Ruma and Esaan, + +15:53. And Janum and Beththaphua and Apheca, + +15:54. Athmatha and Cariath-Arbe, this is Hebron and Sior: nine cities +and their villages. + +15:55. Maon and Carmel and Ziph and Jota, + +15:56. Jezrael and Jucadam and Zanoe, + +15:57. Accain, Gabaa and Thamna: ten cities and their villages. + +15:58. Halhul, and Bessur, and Gedor, + +15:59. Mareth, and Bethanoth, and Eltecon: six cities and their +villages. + +15:60. Cariathbaal, the same is Cariathiarim the city of woods, and +Arebba: two cities and their villages. + +15:61. In the desert Betharaba, Meddin and Sachacha, + +15:62. And Nebsan, and the city of salt, and Engaddi: six cities and +their villages. + +15:63. But the children of Juda could not destroy the Jebusite that +dwelt in Jerusalem: and the Jebusite dwelt with the children of Juda in +Jerusalem until this present day. + + + +Josue Chapter 16 + + +The lot of the sons of Joseph. The borders of the tribe of Ephraim. + +16:1. And the lot of the sons of Joseph fell from the Jordan over +against Jericho and the waters thereof, on the east: the wilderness +which goeth up from Jericho to the mountain of Bethel: + +16:2. And goeth out from Bethel to Luza: and passeth the border of +Archi, to Ataroth, + +16:3. And goeth down westward, by the border of Jephleti, unto the +borders of Beth-horon the nether, and to Gazer: and the countries of it +are ended by the great sea: + +16:4. And Manasses and Ephraim the children of Joseph possessed it. + +16:5. And the border of the children of Ephraim was according to their +kindreds: and their possession towards the east was Ataroth-addar unto +Beth-horon the upper. + +16:6. And the confines go out unto the sea: but Machmethath looketh to +the north, and it goeth round the borders eastward into Thanath-selo: +and passeth along on the east side to Janoe. + +Looketh to the north, etc. . .The meaning is, that the border went +towards the north, by Machmethath; and then turned eastward to +Thanath-selo. + +16:7. And it goeth down from Janoe into Ataroth and Naaratha: and it +cometh to Jericho, and goeth out to the Jordan. + +16:8. From Taphua it passeth on towards the sea into the valley of +reeds, and the goings out thereof are at the most salt sea. This is the +possession of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families. + +16:9. And there were cities with their villages separated for the +children of Ephraim in the midst of the possession of the children of +Manasses. + +16:10. And the children of Ephraim slew not the Chanaanite, who dwelt +in Gazer: and the Chanaanite dwelt in the midst of Ephraim until this +day, paying tribute. + + + +Josue Chapter 17 + + +The lot of the half tribe of Manasses. + +17:1. And this lot fell to the tribe of Manasses for he is the +firstborn of Joseph to Machir the firstborn of Manasses the father of +Galaad, who was a warlike man, and had for possession Galaad and Basan. + +17:2. And to the rest of the children of Manasses according to their +families: to the children of Abiezer, and to the children of Helec, and +to the children of Esriel, and to the children of Sechem, and to the +children of Hepher, and to the children of Semida: these are the male +children of Manasses the son of Joseph, by their kindreds. + +17:3. But Salphaad the son of Hepher the son of Galaad the son of +Machir the son of Manasses had no sons, but only daughters: whose names +are these, Maala and Noa and Hegla and Melcha and Thersa. + +17:4. And they came in the presence of Eleazar the priest and of Josue +the son of Nun, and of the princes, saying: The Lord commanded by the +hand of Moses, that a possession should be given us in the midst of our +brethren. And he gave them according to the commandment of the Lord a +possession amongst the brethren of their father. + +17:5. And there fell ten portions to Manasses, beside the land of +Galaad and Basan beyond the Jordan. + +17:6. For the daughters of Manasses possessed inheritance in the midst +of his sons. And the land of Galaad fell to the lot of the rest of the +children of Manasses. + +17:7. And the border of Manasses was from Aser, Machmethath which +looketh towards Sichem: and it goeth out on the right hand by the +inhabitants of the fountain of Taphua. + +17:8. For the lot of Manasses took in the land of Taphua, which is on +the borders of Manasses, and belongs to the children of Ephraim. + +17:9. And the border goeth down to the valley of the reeds, to the +south of the torrent of the cities of Ephraim, which are in the midst +of the cities of Manasses: the border of Manasses is on the north side +of the torrent, and the outgoings of it are at the sea: + +17:10. So that the possession of Ephraim is on the south, and on the +north that of Manasses, and the sea is the border of both, and they are +joined together in the tribe of Aser on the north, and in the tribe of +Issachar on the east. + +17:11. And the inheritance of Manasses in Issachar and in Aser, was +Bethsan and its villages, and Jeblaam with its villages, and the +inhabitants of Dor, with the towns thereof: the inhabitants also of +Endor with the villages thereof: and in like manner the inhabitants of +Thenac with the villages thereof: and the inhabitants of Mageddo with +their villages, and the third part of the city of Nopheth. + +17:12. Neither could the children of Manasses overthrow these cities, +but the Chanaanite began to dwell in his land. + +17:13. But after that the children of Israel were grown strong, they +subdued the Chanaanites, and made them their tributaries, and they did +not kill them. + +17:14. And the children of Joseph spoke to Josue, and said: Why hast +thou given me but one lot and one portion to possess, whereas I am of +so great a multitude, and the Lord hath blessed me? + +17:15. And Josue said to them: If thou be a great people, go up into +the woodland, and cut down room for thyself in the land of the +Pherezite and the Raphaims: because the possession of mount Ephraim is +too narrow for thee. + +17:16. And the children of Joseph answered him: We cannot go up to the +mountains, for the Chanaanites that dwell in the low lands, wherein are +situate Bethsan with its towns, and Jezrael in the midst of the valley, +have chariots of iron. + +17:17. And Josue said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasses: +Thou art a great people, and of great strength, thou shalt not have one +lot only: + +17:18. But thou shalt pass to the mountain, and shalt cut down the +wood, and make thyself room to dwell in: and mayst proceed farther, +when thou hast destroyed the Chanaanites, who as thou sayest have iron +chariots, and are very strong. + + + +Josue Chapter 18 + + +Surveyors are sent to divide the rest of the land into seven tribes. +The lot of Benjamin. + +18:1. And all the children of Israel assembled together in Silo, and +there they set up the tabernacle of the testimony, and the land was +subdued before them. + +18:2. But there remained seven tribes of the children of Israel, which +as yet had not received their possessions. + +18:3. And Josue said to them: How long are you indolent and slack, and +go not in to possess the land which the Lord the God of your fathers +hath given you? + +18:4. Choose of every tribe three men, that I may send them, and they +may go and compass the land, and mark it out according to the number of +each multitude: and bring back to me what they have marked out. + +18:5. Divide to yourselves the land into seven parts: let Juda be in +his bounds on the south side, and the house of Joseph on the north. + +18:6. The land in the midst between these mark ye out into seven parts; +and you shall come hither to me, that I may cast lots for you before +the Lord your God. + +The land in the midst between these mark ye out into seven +parts. . .That is to say, the rest of the land, which is not already +assigned to Juda or Joseph. + +18:7. For the Levites have no part among you, but the priesthood of the +Lord is their inheritance. And Gad and Ruben, and the half tribe of +Manasses have already received their possessions beyond the Jordan +eastward: which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them. + +18:8. And when the men were risen up, to go to mark out the land, Josue +commanded them saying: Go round the land and mark it out, and return to +me: that I may cast lots for you before the Lord in Silo. + +18:9. So they went and surveying it divided it into seven parts, +writing them down in a book. And they returned to Josue, to the camp in +Silo. + +18:10. And he cast lots before the Lord in Silo, and divided the land +to the children of Israel into seven parts. + +18:11. And first came up the lot of the children of Benjamin by their +families, to possess the land between the children of Juda, and the +children of Joseph. + +18:12. And their border northward was from the Jordan: going along by +the side of Jericho on the north side, and thence going up westward to +the mountains, and reaching to the wilderness of Bethaven, + +18:13. And passing along southward by Luza, the same is Bethel, and it +goeth down into Ataroth-addar to the mountain, that is on the south of +the nether Beth-horon. + +18:14. And it bendeth thence going round towards the sea, south of the +mountain that looketh towards Beth-horon to the southwest: and the +outgoings thereof are into Cariathbaal, which is called also +Cariathiarim, a city of the children of Juda This is their coast +towards the sea, westward. + +18:15. But on the south side the border goeth out from part of +Cariathiarim towards the sea, and cometh to the fountain of the waters +of Nephtoa. + +18:16. And it goeth down to that part of the mountain that looketh on +the valley of the children of Ennom: and is over against the north +quarter in the furthermost part of the valley of Raphaim, and it goeth +down into Geennom (that is the valley of Ennom) by the side of the +Jebusite to the south: and cometh to the fountain of Rogel, + +18:17. Passing thence to the north, and going out to Ensemes, that is +to say, the fountain of the sun: + +18:18. And It passeth along to the hills that are over against the +ascent of Adommim: and it goeth down to Abenboen, that is, the stone of +Boen the son of Ruben: and it passeth on the north side to the +champaign countries; and goeth down Into the plain, + +18:19. And it passeth by Bethhagla northward: and the outgoings thereof +are towards the north of the most salt sea at the south end of the +Jordan. + +18:20. Which is the border of it on the east side. This is the +possession of the children of Benjamin by their borders round about, +and their families. + +18:21. And their cities were, Jericho and Bethhagla and Vale-Casis, + +18:22. Betharaba and Samaraim and Bethel, + +18:23. And Avim and Aphara and Ophera, + +18:24. The town Emona and Ophni and Gabee: twelve cities, and their +villages. + +18:25. Gabam and Rama and Beroth, + +18:26. And Mesphe, and Caphara, and Amosa, + +18:27. And Recem, Jarephel, and Tharela, + +18:28. And Sela, Eleph and Jebus, which is Jerusalem, Gabaath and +Cariath: fourteen cities, and their villages. This is the possession of +the children of Benjamin by their families. + + + +Josue Chapter 19 + + +The lots of the tribes of Simeon, Zabulon, Issachar, Aser, Nephtali and +Dan. A city is given to Josue. + +19:1. And the second lot came forth for the children of Simeon by their +kindreds: and their inheritance was + +19:2. In the midst of the possession of the children of Juda: Bersabee +and Sabee and Molada + +19:3. And Hasersual, Bala and Asem, + +19:4. And Eltholad, Bethul and Harma, + +19:5. And Siceleg and Bethmarchaboth and Hasersusa, + +19:6. And Bethlebaoth and Sarohen: thirteen cities, and their villages. + +19:7. And Remmon and Athor and Asan: four cities, and their villages. + +19:8. And all the villages round about these cities to Baalath Beer +Ramath to the south quarter. This is the inheritance of the children of +Simeon according to their kindreds, + +19:9. In the possession and lot of the children of Juda: because it was +too great, and therefore the children of Simeon had their possession in +the midst of their inheritance. + +19:10. And the third lot fell to the children of Zabulon by their +kindreds: and the border of their possession was unto Sarid. + +19:11. And It went up from the sea and from Merala, and came to +Debbaseth: as far as the torrent, which is over against Jeconam. + +19:12. And it returneth from Sarid eastward to the borders of +Ceseleththabor: and it goeth out to Dabereth and ascendeth towards +Japhie. + +19:13. And it passeth along from thence to the east side of Gethhepher +and Thacasin: and goeth out to Remmon, Amthar and Noa. + +19:14. And it turneth about to the north of Hanathon: and the outgoings +thereof are the valley of Jephtahel, + +19:15. And Cateth and Naalol and Semeron and Jedala and Bethlehem: +twelve cities and their villages. + +19:16. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Zabulon +by their kindreds, the cities and their villages. + +19:17. The fourth lot came out to Issachar by their kindreds. + +19:18. And his inheritance was Jezrael and Casaloth and Sunem, + +19:19. And Hapharaim and Seon and Anaharath, + +19:20. And Rabboth and Cesion, Abes, + +19:21. And Rameth and Engannim and Enhadda and Bethpheses. + +19:22. And the border thereof cometh to Thabor and Sehesima and +Bethsames: and the outgoings thereof shall be at the Jordan: sixteen +cities, and their villages. + +19:23. This is the possession of the sons of Issachar by their +kindreds, the cities and their villages. + +19:24. And the fifth lot fell to the tribe of the children of Aser by +their kindreds: + +19:25. And their border was Halcath and Chali and Beten and Axaph, + +19:26. And Elmelech and Amaad and Messal: and it reacheth to Carmel by +the sea and Sihor and Labanath, + +19:27. And it returneth towards the east to Bethdagon: and passeth +along to Zabulon and to the valley of Jephthael towards the north to +Bethemec and Nehiel. And it goeth out to the left side of Cabul, + +19:28. And to Abaran and Rohob and Hamon and Cana, as far as the great +Sidon. + +19:29. And it returneth to Horma to the strong city of Tyre, and to +Hosa: and the outgoings thereof shall be at the sea from the portion of +Achziba: + +19:30. And Amma and Aphec and Rohob: twenty-two cities, and their +villages. + +19:31. This is the possession of the children of Aser by their +kindreds, and the cities and their villages. + +19:32. The sixth lot came out to the sons of Nephtali by their +families: + +19:33. And the border began from Heleph and Elon to Saananim, and +Adami, which is Neceb, and Jebnael even to Lecum: + +19:34. And the border returneth westward to Azanotthabor, and goeth out +from thence to Hucuca, and passeth along to Zabulon southward, and to +Aser westward, and to Juda upon the Jordan towards the rising of the +sun. + +19:35. And the strong cities are Assedim, Ser, and Emath, and Reccath +and Cenereth, + +19:36. And Edema and Arama, Asor, + +19:37. And Cedes and Edri, Enhasor, + +19:38. And Jeron and Magdalel, Horem, and Bethanath and Bethsames: +nineteen cities, and their villages. + +19:39. This is the possession of the tribe of the children of Nephtali +by their kindreds, the cities and their villages. + +19:40. The seventh lot came out to the tribe of the children of Dan by +their families + +19:41. And the border of their possession was Saraa and Esthaol, and +Hirsemes, that is, the city of the sun, + +19:42. Selebin and Aialon and Jethela, + +19:43. Elon and Themna and Acron, + +19:44. Elthece, Gebbethon and Balaath, + +19:45. And Juda and Bane and Barach and Gethremmon: + +19:46. And Mejarcon and Arecon, with the border that looketh towards +Joppe, + +19:47. And is terminated there. And the children of Dan went up and +fought against Lesem, and took it: and they put it to the sword, and +possessed it, and dwelt in it, calling the name of it Lesem Dan, by the +name of Dan their father. + +19:48. This is the possession of the tribe of the sons of Dan, by their +kindreds, the cities and their villages. + +19:49. And when he had made an end of dividing the land by lot to each +one by their tribes, the children of Israel gave a possession to Josue +the son of Nun in the midst of them, + +19:50. According to the commandment of the Lord, the city which he +asked for, Thamnath Saraa, in mount Ephraim: and he built up the city, +and dwelt in it. + +19:51. These are the possessions which Eleazar the priest, and Josue +the son of Nun, and the princes of the families, and of the tribes of +the children of Israel, distributed by lot in Silo, before the Lord at +the door of the tabernacle of the testimony, and they divided the land. + + + +Josue Chapter 20 + + +The cities of refuge are appointed for casual manslaughter. + +20:1. And the Lord spoke to Josue, saying: Speak to children of Israel +and say to them: + +20:2. Appoint cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you by the hand of +Moses: + +20:3. That whosoever shall kill a person unawares may flee to them, and +may escape the wrath of the kinsman, who is the avenger of blood. + +20:4. And when he shall flee to one of these cities: he shall stand +before the gate of the city, and shall speak to the ancients of that +city, such things as prove him innocent: and so shall they receive him, +and give him a place to dwell in. + +20:5. And when the avenger of blood shall pursue him, they shall not +deliver him into his hands, because he slew his neighbour unawares, and +is not proved to have been his enemy two or three days before, + +20:6. And he shall dwell in that city, till he stand before judgment to +give an account of his fact, and till the death of the high priest, who +shall be at that time: then shall the manslayer return, and go into his +own city and house from whence he fled. + +20:7. And they appointed Cedes in Galilee of mount Nephtali, and Sichem +in mount Ephraim, and Cariath-Arbe, the same is Hebron in the mountain +of Juda. + +20:8. And beyond the Jordan to the east of Jericho, they appointed +Bosor, which is upon the plain of the wilderness of the tribe of Ruben, +and Ramoth in Galaad of the tribe of Gad, and Gaulon in Basan of the +tribe of Manasses. + +20:9. These cities were appointed for all the children of Israel, and +for the strangers, that dwelt among them, that whosoever had killed a +person unawares might flee to them, and not die by the hand of the +kinsman, coveting to revenge the blood that was shed, until he should +stand before the people to lay open his cause. + + + +Josue Chapter 21 + + +Cities with their suburbs are assigned for the priests and Levites. + +21:1. Then the princes of the families of Levi came to Eleazar the +priest, and to Josue the son of Nun, and to the princes of the kindreds +of all the tribes of the children of Israel + +21:2. And they spoke to them in Silo in the land of Chanaan, and said: +The Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, that cities should be given us +to dwell in, and their suburbs to feed our cattle. + +21:3. And the children of Israel gave out of their possessions +according to the commandment of the Lord, cities and their suburbs. + +21:4. And the lot came out for the family of Caath of the children of +Aaron the priest out of the tribes of Juda, and of Simeon, and of +Benjamin, thirteen cities. + +21:5. And to the rest of the children of Caath, that is, to thee +Levites, who remained, out of the tribes of Ephraim, and of Dan, and +the half tribe of Manasses, ten cities. + +21:6. And the lot came out to children of Gerson, that they should take +of the tribes of Issachar and of Aser and of Nephtali, and of the half +tribe of Manasses in Basan, thirteen cities. + +21:7. And to the sons of Merari by their kindreds, of the tribes of +Ruben and of Gad and of Zabulon, twelve cities. + +21:8. And the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities and +their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, giving to +every one by lot. + +21:9. Of the tribes of the children of Juda and of Simeon Josue gave +cities: whose names are these, + +21:10. To the sons of Aaron, of the families of Caath of the race of +Levi (for the first lot came out for them) + +21:11. The city of Arbe the father of Enac, which is called Hebron, in +the mountain of Juda, and the suburbs thereof round about. + +21:12. But the fields and the villages thereof he had given to Caleb +the son of Jephone for his possession. + +21:13. He gave therefore to the children of Aaron the priest, Hebron a +city of refuge, and the suburbs thereof, and Lebna with the suburbs +thereof, + +21:14. And Jether and Estemo, + +21:15. And Holon, and Dabir, + +21:16. And Ain, and Jeta, and Bethsames, with their suburbs: nine +cities out of the two tribes, as hath been said. + +21:17. And out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, Gabaon, and +Gabae, + +21:18. And Anathoth and Almon, with, their suburbs: four cities. + +21:19. All the cities together of the children of Aaron the priest, +were thirteen, with their suburbs, + +21:20. And to the rest of the families of the children of Caath of the +race of Levi was given this possession. + +21:21. Of the tribe of Ephraim, Sichem one of the cities of refuge, +with the suburbs thereof in mount Ephraim, and Gazer, + +21:22. And Cibsaim, and Beth-horon, with their suburbs, four cities. + +21:23. And of he tribe of Dan, Eltheco and Gabathon, + +21:24. And Aialon and Gethremmon, with their suburbs, four cities. + +21:25. And of the half tribe of Manasses, Thanac and Gethremmon, with +their suburbs, two cities. + +21:26. All the cities were ten, with their suburbs, which were given to +the children of Caath, of the inferior degree. + +21:27. To the children of Gerson also of the race of Levi out of the +half tribe of Manasses, Gaulon in Basan, one of the cities of refuge, +and Bosra, with their suburbs, two cities. + +21:28. And of the tribe of Issachar, Cesion, and Dabereth, + +21:29. And Jaramoth, and Engannim, with their suburbs, four cities. + +21:30. And of the tribe of Aser, Masal and Abdon, + +21:31. And Helcath, and Rohob, with their suburbs, four cities. + +21:32. Of the tribe also of Nephtali, Cedes in Galilee, one of the +cities of refuge: and Hammoth Dor, and Carthan, with their suburbs, +three cities. + +21:33. All the cities of the families of Gerson, were thirteen, with +their suburbs. + +21:34. And to the children of Merari, Levites of the inferior degree, +by their families were given of the tribe of Zabulon, Jecnam and +Cartha, + +21:35. And Damna and Naalol, four cities with their suburbs. + +21:36. Of the tribe of Ruben beyond the Jordan over against Jericho, +Bosor in the wilderness, one of the cities of refuge, Misor and Jaser +and Jethson and Mephaath, four cities with their suburbs. + +Four cities. . .There are no more, though there be five names: for Misor +is the same city as Bosor, which is to be observed in some other +places, where the number of names exceeds the number of cities. + +21:37. Of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Galaad, one of the cities of +refuge, and Manaim and Hesebon and Jaser, four cities with their +suburbs, + +21:38. All the cities of the children of Merari by their families and +kindreds, were twelve. + +21:39. So all the cities of the Levites within the possession of the +children of Israel were forty-eight, + +21:40. With their suburbs, each distributed by the families. + +21:41. And the Lord God gave to Israel all the land that he had sworn +to give to their fathers: and they possessed it, and dwelt in it. + +21:42. And he gave them peace from all nations round about: and none of +their enemies durst stand against them, but were brought under their +dominion. + +21:43. Not so much as one word, which he had promised to perform unto +them, was made void, but all came to pass. + + + +Josue Chapter 22 + + +The tribes of Ruben and Gad, and half the tribe of Manasses return to +their possessions. They build an altar by the side of the Jordan, which +alarms the other tribes. An embassage is sent to them, to which they +give a satisfactory answer. + +22:1. At the same time Josue called the Rubenites, and the Gadites, and +the half tribe of Manasses, + +22:2. And said to them: You have done all that Moses the servant of the +Lord commanded you: you have also obeyed me in all things, + +22:3. Neither have you left your brethren this long time, until this +present day, keeping the commandment of the Lord your God. + +22:4. Therefore as the Lord your God hath given your brethren rest and +peace, as he promised: return, and go to your dwellings, and to the +land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you +beyond the Jordan: + +22:5. Yet so that you observe attentively, and in work fulfil the +commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded +you: that you love the Lord your God, and walk in all his ways, and +keep all his commandments, and cleave to him, and serve him with all +your heart, and with all your soul. + +22:6. And Josue blessed them, and sent them away, and they returned to +their dwellings. + +22:7. Now to half the tribe of Manasses, Moses had given a possession +in Basan: and therefore to the half that remained, Josue gave a lot +among the rest of their brethren beyond the Jordan to the west. And +when he sent them away to their dwellings and had blessed them, + +22:8. He said to them: With much substance and riches, you return to +your settlements, with silver and gold, brass and iron, and variety of +raiment: divide the prey of your enemies with your brethren. + +22:9. So the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad, and the half +tribe of Manasses returned, and parted from the children of Israel in +Silo, which is in Chanaan, to go into Galaad the land of their +possession, which they had obtained according to the commandment of the +Lord by the hand of Moses. + +22:10. And when they were come to banks of the Jordan, in the land of +Chanaan, they built an altar immensely great near the Jordan. + +22:11. And when the children of Israel had heard of it, and certain +messengers brought them an account that the children of Ruben, and of +Gad, and the half tribe of Manasses had built an altar in the land of +Chanaan, upon the banks of the Jordan, over against the children of +Israel: + +22:12. They all assembled in Silo, to go up and fight against them. + +22:13. And in the mean time they sent to them into the land of Galaad, +Phinees the son of Eleazar the priest, + +22:14. And ten princes with him, one of every tribe. + +22:15. Who came to the children of Ruben, and of Gad, and the half +tribe of Manasses, into the land of Galaad, and said to them: + +22:16. Thus saith all the people of the Lord: What meaneth this +transgression? Why have you forsaken the Lord the God of Israel, +building a sacrilegious altar, and revolting from the worship of him? + +22:17. Is it a small thing to you that you sinned with Beelphegor, and +the stain of that crime remaineth in us to this day? and many of the +people perished. + +22:18. And you have forsaken the Lord to day, and to morrow his wrath +will rage against all Israel. + +22:19. But if you think the land of your possession to be unclean, pass +over to the land wherein is the tabernacle of the Lord, and dwell among +us: only depart not from the Lord, and from our society, by building an +altar beside the altar of the Lord our God. + +22:20. Did not Achan the son of Zare transgress the commandment of the +Lord, and his wrath lay upon all the people of Israel? And he was but +one man, and would to God he alone had perished in his wickedness. + +22:21. And the children of Ruben, and of Gad, and of the half tribe of +Manasses answered the princes of the embassage of Israel: + +22:22. The Lord the most mighty God, the Lord the most mighty God, he +knoweth, and Israel also shall understand: If with the design of +transgression we have set up this altar, let him not save us, but +punish us immediately: + +22:23. And if we did it with that mind, that we might lay upon it +holocausts, and sacrifice, and victims of peace offerings, let him +require and judge: + +22:24. And not rather with this thought and design, that we should say: +To morrow your children will say to our children: What have you to do +with the Lord the God of Israel? + +22:25. The Lord hath put the river Jordan for a border between us and +you, O ye children of Ruben, and ye children of Gad: and therefore you +have no part in the Lord. And by this occasion your children shall turn +away our children from the fear of the Lord. We therefore thought it +best, + +22:26. And said: Let us build us an altar, not for holocausts, nor to +offer victims, + +22:27. But for a testimony between us and you, and our posterity and +yours, that we may serve the Lord, and that we may have a right to +offer both holocausts, and victims and sacrifices of peace offerings: +and that your children to morrow may not say to our children: You have +no part in the Lord. + +22:28. And if they will say so, they shall answer them: Behold the +altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for holocausts, nor for +sacrifice, but for a testimony between us and you. + +22:29. God keep us from any such wickedness that we should revolt from +the Lord, and leave off following his steps, by building an altar to +offer holocausts, and sacrifices, and victims, beside the altar of the +Lord our God, which is erected before his tabernacle. + +22:30. And when Phinees the priest, and the princes of the embassage, +who were with him, had heard this, they were satisfied: and they +admitted most willingly the words of the children of Ruben, and Gad, +and of the half tribe of Manasses, + +22:31. And Phinees the priest the son of Eleazar said to them: Now we +know that the Lord is with us, because you are not guilty of this +revolt, and you have delivered the children of Israel from the hand of +the Lord. + +22:32. And he returned with the princes from the children of Ruben and +Gad, out of the land of Galaad, into the land of Chanaan, to the +children of Israel, and brought them word again. + +22:33. And the saying pleased all that heard it. And the children of +Israel praised God, and they no longer said that they would go up +against them, and fight, and destroy the land of their possession. + +22:34. And the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad called the +altar which they had built, Our testimony, that the Lord is God, + + + +Josue Chapter 23 + + +Josue being old admonisheth the people to keep God's commandments: and +to avoid marriages and all society with the Gentiles for fear of being +brought to idolatry. + +23:1. And when a long time was passed, after that the Lord had given +peace to Israel, all the nations round about being subdued. and Josue +being now old, and far advanced in years: + +23:2. Josue called for all Israel, and for the elders, and for the +princes, and for the judges, and for the masters, and said to them: I +am old, and far advanced in years, + +23:3. And you see all that the Lord your God hath done to all the +nations round about, how he himself hath fought for you: + +23:4. And now since he hath divided to you by lot all the land, from +the east of the Jordan unto the great sea, ant many nations yet remain: + +23:5. The Lord your God will destroy them, and take them away from +before your face, and you shall possess the land as he hath promised +you. + +23:6. Only take courage, and be careful to observe all things that are +written in the book of the law of Moses: and turn not aside from them +neither to the right hand nor to the left: + +23:7. Lest after that you are come in among the Gentiles, who will +remain among you, you should swear by the name of their gods, and serve +them, and adore them: + +23:8. But cleave ye unto the Lord your God, as you have done until this +day. + +23:9. And then the Lord God will take away before your eyes nations +that are great and very strong, and no man shall be able to resist you. + +23:10. One of you shall chase a thousand men of the enemies: because +the Lord your God himself will fight for you, as he hath promised. + +23:11. This only take care of with all diligence, that you love the +Lord your God. + +23:12. But if you will embrace the errors of these nations that dwell +among you, and make marriages with them, and join friendships: + +23:13. Know ye for a certainty that the Lord your God will not destroy +them before your face, but they shall be a pit and a snare in your way, +and a stumbling-block at your side, and stakes in your eyes, till he +take you away and destroy you from off this excellent land, which he +hath given you. + +23:14. Behold this day I am going into the way of all the earth, and +you shall know with all your mind that of all the words which the Lord +promised to perform for you, not one hath failed, + +23:15. Therefore as he hath fulfilled in deed, what he promised, and +all things prosperous have come: so will he bring upon you all the +evils he hath threatened, till he take you away and destroy you from +off this excellent land, which he hath given you, + +23:16. When you shall have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your +God, which he hath made with you, and shall have served strange gods, +and adored them: then shall the indignation of the Lord rise up quickly +and speedily against you, and you shall be taken away from this +excellent land, which he hath delivered to you. + + + +Josue Chapter 24 + + +Josue assembleth the people, and reneweth the covenant between them and +God. His death and burial. + +24:1. And Josue gathered together all the tribes of Israel in Sichem, +and called for the ancients, and the princes and the judges, and the +masters: and they stood in the sight of the Lord: + +24:2. And he spoke thus to the people: Thus saith the Lord the God of +Israel: Your fathers dwelt of old on the other side of the river, Thare +the father of Abraham, and Nachor: and they served strange gods. + +Of the river. . .The Euphrates. + +24:3. And I took your father Abraham from the borders of Mesopotamia: +and brought him into the land of Chanaan: and I multiplied his seed, + +24:4. And gave him Isaac: and to him again I gave Jacob and Esau. And I +gave to Esau mount Seir for his possession: but Jacob and his children +went down into Egypt. + +24:5. And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck Egypt with many signs +and wonders. + +24:6. And I brought you and your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to +the sea: and the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and +horsemen, as far as the Red Sea. + +24:7. And the children of Israel cried to the Lord: and he put darkness +between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and +covered them. Your eyes saw all that I did in Egypt, and you dwelt in +the wilderness a long time. + +24:8. And I brought you into the land of the Amorrhite, who dwelt +beyond the Jordan. And when they fought against you, I delivered them +into your hands, and you possessed their land, and slew them. + +24:9. And Balac son of Sephor king of Moab arose and fought against +Israel. And he sent and called for Balaam son of Beor, to curse you: + +24:10. And I would not hear him, but on the contrary I blessed you by +him, and I delivered you out of his hand. + +24:11. And you passed over the Jordan, and you came to Jericho. And the +men of that city fought against you, the Amorrhite, and the Pherezite, +and the Chanaanite, and the Hethite, and the Gergesite, and the Hevite, +and the Jebusite: and I delivered them into your hands. + +24:12. And I sent before you and I drove them out from their places, +the two kings of the Amorrhites, not with thy sword nor with thy bow, + +24:13. And I gave you a land, in which you had not laboured, and cities +to dwell in which you built not, vineyards and oliveyards, which you +planted not. + +24:14. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him with a perfect and +most sincere heart: and put away the gods which your fathers served in +Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. + +24:15. But if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord, you have your +choice: choose this day that which pleaseth you, whom you would rather +serve, whether the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia, or +the gods of the Amorrhites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and +my house we will serve thee Lord, + +24:16. And the people answered, and said, God forbid we should leave +the Lord, and serve strange gods. + +24:17. The Lord our God he brought us and our fathers out of the land +of Egypt, out of the house of bondage: and did very great signs in our +sight, and preserved us in all the way by which we journeyed, and among +all the people through whom we passed. + +24:18. And he hath cast out all the nations, the Amorrhite the +inhabitant of the land into which we are come. Therefore we will serve +the Lord, for he is our God. + +24:19. And Josue said to the people: You will not be able to serve the +Lord: for he is a holy God, and mighty and jealous, and will not +forgive your wickedness and sins. + +You will not be able to serve the Lord, etc. . .This was not said by way +of discouraging them; but rather to make them more earnest and +resolute, by setting before them the greatness of the undertaking, and +the courage and constancy necessary to go through with it. + +24:20. If you leave the Lord, and serve strange gods, he will turn, and +will afflict you, and will destroy you after all the good he hath done +you. + +24:21. And the people said to Josue: No, it shall not be so as thou +sayest, but we will serve the Lord. + +24:22. And Josue said to the people, You are witnesses, that you +yourselves have chosen you the Lord to serve him. And they answered: We +are witnesses. + +24:23. Now therefore, said he, put away strange gods from among you, +and incline your hearts to the Lord the God of Israel. + +24:24. And the people said to Josue: We will serve the Lord our God, +and we will be obedient to his commandments. + +24:25. Josue therefore on that day made a covenant, and set before the +people commandments and judgments in Sichem. + +24:26. And he wrote all these things in the volume of the law of the +Lord: and he took a great stone, and set it under the oak that was in +the sanctuary of the Lord. + +24:27. And he said to all the people: Behold this stone shall be a +testimony unto you, that it hath heard all the words of the Lord, which +he hath spoken to you: lest perhaps hereafter you will deny it, and lie +to the Lord your God. + +It hath heard. . .This is a figure of speech, by which sensation is +attributed to inanimate things; and they are called upon, as it were, +to bear witness in favour of the great Creator, whom they on their part +constantly obey. + +24:28. And he sent the people away every one to their own possession, + +24:29. And after these things Josue the son of Nun the servant of the +Lord died, being a hundred and ten years old: + +And after, etc. . .If Josue wrote this book, as is commonly believed, +these last verses were added by Samuel, or some other prophet. + +24:30. And they buried him in the border of his possession in +Thamnathsare, which is situate in mount Ephraim, on the north side of +mount Gaas. + +24:31. And Israel served the Lord all the days of Josue, and of the +ancients that lived a long time after Josue, and that had known all the +works of the Lord which he had done in Israel. + +24:32. And the bones of Joseph which the children of Israel had taken +out of Egypt, they buried in Sichem, in that part of the field which +Jacob had bought of the sons of Hemor the father of Sichem, for a +hundred young ewes, and it was in the possession of the sons of Joseph. + +24:33. Eleazar also the son of Aaron died: and they buried him in +Gabaath that belongeth to Phinees his son, which was given him in mount +Ephraim. + + + + +THE BOOK OF JUDGES + + + +This Book is called JUDGES, because it contains the history of what +passed under the government of the judges, who ruled Israel before they +had kings. The writer of it, according to the more general opinion, was +the prophet Samuel. + + + +Judges Chapter 1 + + +The expedition and victory of Juda against the Chanaanites: who are +tolerated in many places. + +1:1. After the death of Josue, the children of Israel consulted the +Lord, saying: Who shall go up before us against the Chanaanite, and +shall be the leader of the war? + +1:2. And the Lord said: Juda shall go up: behold I have delivered the +land into his hands. + +1:3. And Juda said to Simeon, his brother: Come up with me into my lot, +and fight against the Chanaanite, that I also may go along with thee +into thy lot. And Simeon went with him. + +1:4. And Juda went up, and the Lord delivered the Chanaanite, and the +Pherezite into their hands: and they slew of them in Bezec ten thousand +men. + +1:5. And they found Adonibezec in Bezec, and fought against him, and +they defeated the Chanaanite, and the Pherezite. + +1:6. And Adonibezec fled: and they pursued after him and took him, and +cut off his fingers and toes. + +1:7. And Adonibezec said: Seventy kings, having their fingers and toes +cut off, gathered up the leavings of the meat under my table: as I have +done, so hath God requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and +he died there. + +1:8. And the children of Juda besieging Jerusalem, took it, and put it +to the sword, and set the whole city on fire. + +Jerusalem. . .This city was divided into two; one part was called Jebus, +the other Salem: the one was in the tribe of Juda, the other in the +tribe of Benjamin. After it was taken and burnt by the men of Juda, it +was quickly rebuilt again by the Jebusites, as we may gather from ver. +21; and continued in their possession till it was taken by king David. + +1:9. And afterwards they went down and fought against the Chanaanite, +who dwelt in the mountains, and in the south, and in the plains. + +1:10. And Juda going forward against the Chanaanite, that dwelt in +Hebron, (the name whereof was in former times Cariath-Arbe) slew Sesai, +and Ahiman, and Tholmai: + +Hebron. . .This expedition against Hebron, etc. is the same as is +related, Jos. 15.24. It is here repeated, to give the reader at once a +short sketch of all the achievements of the tribe of Juda against the +Chanaanites. + +1:11. And departing from thence, he went to the inhabitants of Dabir, +the ancient name of which was Cariath-Sepher, that is, the city of +letters. + +The city of letters. . .Perhaps so called from some famous school, or +library, kept there. + +1:12. And Caleb said: He that shall take Cariath-Sepher, and lay it +waste, to him will I give my daughter Axa to wife. + +1:13. And Othoniel, the son of Cenez, the younger brother of Caleb, +having taken it, he gave him Axa his daughter to wife. + +1:14. And as she was going on her way, her husband admonished her to +ask a field of her father. And as she sighed sitting on her ass, Caleb +said to her: What aileth thee? + +1:15. But she answered: Give me a blessing, for thou hast given me a +dry land: give me also a watery land So Caleb gave her the upper and +the nether watery ground. + +1:16. And the children of the Cinite, the kinsman of Moses, went up +from the city of palms, with the children of Juda, into the wilderness +of his lot, which is at the south side of Arad, and they dwelt with +him. + +The Cinite. . .Jethro the father in law of Moses was called Cinoeus, or +the Cinite; and his children who came along with the children of Israel +settled themselves among them in the land of Chanaan, embracing their +worship and religion. From these the Rechabites sprung, of whom see +Jer. 35.--Ibid. The city of palms. . .Jericho, so called from the +abundance of palm trees. + +1:17. And Juda went with Simeon, his brother, and they together +defeated the Chanaanites that dwelt in Sephaath, and slew them. And the +name of the city was called Horma, that is, Anathema. + +1:18. And Juda took Gaza, with its confines, and Ascalon, and Accaron, +with their confines. + +Gaza, etc. . .These were three of the principal cities of the +Philistines, famous both in sacred and profane history. They were taken +at this time by the Israelites: but as they took no care to put +garrisons in them, the Philistines soon recovered them. + +1:19. And the Lord was with Juda, and he possessed the hill country: +but was not able to destroy the inhabitants of the valley, because they +had many chariots armed with scythes. + +Was not able, etc. . .Through a cowardly fear of their chariots armed +with hooks and scythes, and for want of confidence in God. + +1:20. And they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said, who destroyed +out of it the three sons of Enac. + +1:21. But the sons of Benjamin did not destroy the Jebusites that +inhabited Jerusalem: and the Jebusite hath dwelt with the sons of +Benjamin in Jerusalem until this present day. + +1:22. The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the Lord was +with them. + +1:23. For when they were besieging the city, which before was called +Luza, + +1:24. They saw a man coming out of the city, and they said to him: Shew +us the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy. + +1:25. And when he had shewed them, they smote the city with the edge of +the sword: but that man, and all his kindred, they let go: + +1:26. Who being sent away, went into the land of Hetthim, and built +there a city, and called it Luza: which is so called until this day. + +1:27. Manasses also did not destroy Bethsan, and Thanac, with their +villages; nor the inhabitants of Dor, and Jeblaam, and Mageddo, with +their villages. And the Chanaanite began to dwell with them. + +1:28. But after Israel was grown strong, he made them tributaries, and +would not destroy them. + +1:29. Ephraim also did not slay the Chanaanite that dwelt in Gazer, bnt +dwelt with him. + +1:30. Zabulon destroyed not the inhabitants of Cetron, and Naalol: but +the Chanaanite dwelt among them, and became their tributary. + +1:31. Aser also destroyed not the inhabitants of Accho, and of Sidon, +of Ahalab, and of Achazib, and of Helba, and of Aphec, and of Rohob: + +1:32. And he dwelt in the midst of the Chanaanites, the inhabitants of +that land, and did not slay them. + +1:33. Nephthali also destroyed not the inhabitants of Bethsames, and of +Bethanath: and he dwelt in the midst of the Chanaanites, the +inhabitants of the land, and the Bethsamites and Bethanites were +tributaries to him. + +1:34. And the Amorrhite straitened the children of Dan in the mountain, +and gave them not a place to go down to the plain: + +1:35. And he dwelt in the mountain Hares, that is, of potsherds, in +Aialon and Salebim. And the hand of the house of Joseph was heavy upon +him, and he became tributary to him. + +He dwelt. . .That is, the Amorrhite. + +1:36. And the border of the Amorrhite was from the ascent of the +scorpion, the rock, and the higher places. + + + +Judges Chapter 2 + + +An angel reproveth Israel. They weep for their sins. After the death of +Josue, they often fall, and repenting are delivered from their +afflictions, but still fall worse and worse. + +2:1. And an angel of the Lord went up from Galgal to the place of +weepers, and said: I made you go out of Egypt, and have brought you +into the land for which I swore to your fathers: and I promised that I +would not make void my covenant with you for ever: + +An angel. . .Taking the shape of a man. + +2:2. On condition that you should not make a league with the +inhabitants of this land, but should throw down their altars: and you +would not hear my voice: why have you done this? + +2:3. Wherefore I would not destroy them from before your face; that you +may have enemies, and their gods may be your ruin. + +2:4. And when the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the +children of Israel: they lifted up their voice, and wept. + +2:5. And the name of that place was called, The place of weepers, or of +tears: and there they offered sacrifices to the Lord. + +2:6. And Josue sent away the people, and the children of Israel went +every one to his own possession to hold it: + +And Josue, etc. . .This is here inserted out of Jos. 24, by way of +recapitulation of what had happened before, and by way of an +introduction to that which follows. + +2:7. And they served the Lord all his days, and the days of the +ancients, that lived a long time after him, and who knew all the works +of the Lord, which he had done for Israel. + +2:8. And Josue, the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being a +hundred and ten years old; + +2:9. And they buried him in the borders of his possession in +Thamnathsare, in Mount Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaas. + +2:10. And all that generation was gathered to their fathers: and there +arose others that knew not the Lord and the works which he had done for +Israel. + +2:11. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and +they served Baalim + +2:12. And they left the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought +them out of the land of Egypt: and they followed strange gods, and the +gods of the people that dwelt round about them, and they adored them: +and they provoked the Lord to anger, + +They followed strange gods. . .What is here said of the children of +Israel, as to their falling so often into idolatry, is to be understood +of a great part of them; but not so universally, as if the true worship +of God was ever quite abolished among them: for the succession of the +true church and religion was kept up all this time by the priests and +Levites, at least in the house of God in Silo. + +2:13. Forsaking him, and serving Baal and Astaroth + +2:14. And the Lord being angry against Israel, delivered them into the +hands of plunderers: who took them and sold them to their enemies, that +dwelt round about: neither could they stand against their enemies: + +2:15. But whithersoever they meant to go, the hand of the Lord was upon +them, as he had said, and as he had sworn to them: and they were +greatly distressed. + +2:16. And the Lord raised up judges, to deliver them from the hands of +those that oppressed them: but they would not hearken to them, + +2:17. Committing fornication with strange gods, and adoring them. They +quickly forsook the way, in which their fathers had walked: and hearing +the commandments of the Lord, they did all things contrary. + +2:18. And when the Lord raised them up judges, in their days, he was +moved to mercy, and heard the groanings of the afflicted, and delivered +them from the slaughter of the oppressors. + +2:19. But after the judge was dead, they returned, and did much worse +things than their fathers had done, following strange gods, serving +them, and adoring them. They left not their own inventions, and the +stubborn way, by which they were accustomed to walk. + +2:20. And the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he +said: Behold this nation hath made void my covenant, which I had made +with their fathers, and hath despised to hearken to my voice: + +2:21. I also will not destroy the nations which Josue left when he +died: + +2:22. That through them I may try Israel, whether they will keep the +way of the Lord, and walk in it, as their fathers kept it, or not. + +2:23. The Lord therefore left all these nations, and would not quickly +destroy them, neither did he deliver them into the hands of Josue. + + + +Judges Chapter 3 + + +The people falling into idolatry are oppressed by their enemies; but +repenting are delivered by Othoniel, Aod, and Samgar. + +3:1. These are the nations which the Lord left, that by them he might +instruct Israel, and all that had not known the wars of the +Chanaanites: + +3:2. That afterwards their children might learn to fight with their +enemies, and to be trained up to war: + +3:3. The five princes of the Philistines, and all the Chanaanites, and +the Sidonians, and the Hevites that dwelt in Mount Libanus, from Mount +Baal Hermon to the entering into Emath. + +3:4. And he left them, that he might try Israel by them, whether they +would hear the commandments of the Lord, which he had commanded their +fathers, by the hand of Moses, or not. + +3:5. So the children of Israel dwelt in the midst of the Chanaanite, +and the Hethite, and the Amorrhite, and the Pherezite, and the Hevite, +and the Jebusite: + +3:6. And they took their daughters to wives, and they gave their own +daughters to their sons, and they served their gods. + +3:7. And they did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they forgot their +God, and served Baalim and Astaroth. + +3:8. And the Lord being angry with Israel, delivered them into the +hands of Chusan Rasathaim, king of Mesopotamia, and they served him +eight years. + +Mesopotamia. . .In Hebrew Aramnaharim. Syria of the two rivers: so +called because it lies between the Euphrates and the Tigris. It is +absolutely called Syria, ver. 10. + +3:9. And they cried to the Lord, who raised them up a saviour, and +delivered them; to wit, Othoniel, the son of Cenez, the younger brother +of Caleb: + +3:10. And the spirit of the Lord was in him, and he judged Israel. And +he went out to fight, and the Lord delivered Chusan Rasathaim, king of +Syria, and he overthrew him: + +3:11. And the land rested forty years, and Othoniel, the son of Cenez, +died. + +3:12. And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the +Lord: who strengthened against them Eglon, king of Moab: because they +did evil in his sight. + +3:13. And he joined to him the children of Ammon, and Amalec: and he +went and overthrew Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. + +3:14. And the children of Israel served Eglon, king of Moab, eighteen +years. + +3:15. And afterwards they cried to the Lord, who raised them up a +saviour, called Aod, the son of Cera, the son of Jemini, who used the +left hand as well as the right. And the children of Israel sent +presents to Eglon, king of Moab, by him. + +3:16. And he made himself a two-edged sword, with a haft in the midst +of the length of the palm of the hand, and was girded therewith, under +his garment, on the right thigh. + +3:17. And he presented the gifts to Eglon, king of Moab Now Eglon was +exceeding fat. + +3:18. And when he had presented the gifts unto him he followed his +companions that came along with him. + +3:19. Then returning from Galgal, where the idols were, he said to the +king: I have a secret message to thee, O king. And he commanded +silence: and all being gone out that were about him, + +3:20. Aod went in to him: now he was sitting in a summer parlour alone, +and he said: I have a word from God to thee. And he forthwith rose up +from his throne. + +A word from God, etc. . .What Aod, who was judge and chief magistrate of +Israel, did on this occasion, was by a special inspiration of God: but +such things are not to be imitated by private men. + +3:21. And Aod put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his +right thigh, and thrust it into his belly, + +3:22. With such force that the haft went in after the blade into the +wound, and was closed up with the abundance of fat. So that he did not +draw out the dagger, but left it in the body as he had struck it in: +and forthwith, by the secret parts of nature, the excrements of the +belly came out. + +3:23. And Aod carefully shutting the doors of the parlour, and locking +them, + +3:24. Went out by a postern door. And the king's servants going in, saw +the doors of the parlour shut, and they said: Perhaps he is easing +nature in his summer parlour. + +3:25. And waiting a long time, till they were ashamed, and seeing that +no man opened the door, they took a key: and opening, they found their +lord lying dead on the ground. + +3:26. But Aod, while they were in confusion, escaped, and passed by the +place of the idols from whence he had returned. And he came to Seirath: + +3:27. And forthwith he sounded the trumpet in Mount Ephraim: and the +children of Israel went down with him, he himself going in the front. + +3:28. And he said to them: Follow me: for the Lord hath delivered our +enemies, the Moabites, into our hands. And they went down after him, +and seized upon the fords of the Jordan, which are in the way to Moab: +and they suffered no man to pass over: + +3:29. But they slew of the Moabites at that time, about ten thousand, +all strong and valiant men: none of them could escape. + +3:30. And Moab was humbled that day under the hand of Israel: and the +land rested eighty years. + +3:31. After him was Samgar, the son of Anath, who slew of the +Philistines six hundred men with a ploughshare: and he also defended +Israel. + + + +Judges Chapter 4 + + +Debbora and Barac deliver Israel from Jabin and Sisara, Jahal killeth +Sisara. + +4:1. And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord +after the death of Aod: + +4:2. And the Lord delivered them up into the hands of Jabin, king of +Chanaan, who reigned in Asor: and he had a general of his army named +Sisara, and he dwelt in Haroseth of the Gentiles. + +4:3. And the children of Israel cried to the Lord: for he had nine +hundred chariots set with scythes and for twenty years had grievously +oppressed them. + +4:4. And there was at that time Debbora, a prophetess, the wife of +Lapidoth, who judged the people. + +4:5. And she sat under a palm tree, which was called by her name, +between Rama and Bethel, in Mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel +came up to her for all judgment. + +4:6. And she sent and called Barac, the Son of Abinoem, out of Cedes, +in Nephthali: and she said to him: The Lord God of Israel hath +commanded thee: Go, and lead an army to Mount Thabor, and thou shalt +take with thee ten thousand fighting men of the children of Nephthali, +and of the children of Zabulon: + +4:7. And I will bring unto thee in the place of the torrent Cison, +Sisara, the general of Jabin's army, and his chariots, and all his +multitude, and will deliver them into thy hand. + +4:8. And Barac said to her: If thou wilt come with me, I will go: if +thou wilt not come with me, I will not go. + +4:9. She said to him: I will go, indeed, with thee, but at this time +the victory shall not be attributed to thee, because Sisara shall be +delivered into the hand of a woman. Debbora therefore arose, and went +with Barac to Cedes. + +4:10. And he called unto him Zabulon and Nephthali, and went up with +ten thousand fighting men, having Debbora in his company. + +4:11. Now Haber, the Cinite, had some time before departed from the +rest of the Cinites, his brethren, the sons of Hobab, the kinsman of +Moses: and had pitched his tents unto the valley, which is called +Sennim, and was near Cedes. + +4:12. And it was told Sisara, that Barac, the son of Abinoem, was gone +up to Mount Thabor: + +4:13. And he gathered together his nine hundred chariots armed with +scythes, and all his army, from Haroseth of the Gentiles, to the +torrent Cison. + +4:14. And Debbora said to Barac: Arise, for this is the day wherein the +Lord hath delivered Sisara into thy hands: behold, he is thy leader. +And Barac went down from Mount Thabor, and ten thousand fighting men +with him. + +4:15. And the Lord struck a terror into Sisara, and all his chariots, +and all his multitude, with the edge of the sword, at the sight of +Barac; insomuch, that Sisara leaping down from off his chariot, fled +away on foot, + +4:16. And Barac pursued after the fleeing chariots, and the army, unto +Haroseth of the Gentiles; and all the multitude of the enemies was +utterly destroyed. + +4:17. But Sisara fleeing, came to the tent of Jahel, the wife of Haber, +the Cinite, for there was peace between Jabin, the king of Asor, and +the house of Haber, the Cinite. + +4:18. And Jahel went forth to meet Sisara, and said to him: Come in to +me, my lord; come in, fear not. He went into her tent, and being +covered by her with a cloak, + +4:19. Said to her: Give me, I beseech thee, a little water, for I am +very thirsty. She opened a bottle of milk, and gave him to drink, and +covered him. + +4:20. And Sisara said to her: Stand before the door of the tent, and +when any shall come and inquire of thee, saying: Is there any man here? +thou shalt say: There is none. + +4:21. So Jahel, Haber's wife, took a nail of the tent, and taking also +a hammer: and going in softly, and with silence, she put the nail upon +the temples of his head, and striking it with the hammer, drove it +through his brain fast into the ground: and so passing from deep sleep +to death, he fainted away and died. + +4:22. And behold, Barac came pursuing after Sisara: and Jahel went out +to meet him, and said to him: Come, and I will shew thee the man whom +thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, he saw Sisara lying dead, +and the nail fastened in his temples. + +4:23. So God that day humbled Jabin, the king of Chanaan, before the +children of Israel: + +4:24. Who grew daily stronger, and with a mighty hand overpowered +Jabin, king of Chanaan, till they quite destroyed him. + + + +Judges Chapter 5 + + +The canticle of Debbora and Barac after their victory. + +5:1. In that day Debbora and Barac, son of Abinoem, sung, and said: + +5:2. O you of Israel, that have willingly offered your lives to danger, +bless the Lord. + +5:3. Hear, O ye kings, give ear, O ye princes: It is I, it is I, that +will sing to the Lord, I will sing to the Lord, the God of Israel. + +5:4. O Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, and passedst by the regions +of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens and clouds dropped water. + +5:5. The mountains melted before the face of the Lord, and Sinai before +the face of the Lord the God of Israel. + +5:6. In the days of Samgar, the son of Anath, in the days of Jahel, the +paths rested: and they that went by them, walked through bye-ways. + +The paths rested. . .The ways to the sanctuary of God were unfrequented: +and men walked in the by-ways of error and sin. + +5:7. The valiant men ceased, and rested in Israel: until Debbora arose, +a mother arose in Israel. + +5:8. The Lord chose new wars, and he himself overthrew the gates of the +enemies: a shield and spear was not seen among forty thousand of +Israel. + +5:9. My heart loveth the princes of Israel: O you, that of your own +good will offered yourselves to danger, bless the Lord. + +5:10. Speak, you that ride upon fair asses, and you that sit in +judgment, and walk in the way. + +5:11. Where the chariots were dashed together, and the army of the +enemies was choked, there let the justices of the Lord be rehearsed, +and his clemency towards the brave men of Israel: then the people of +the Lord went down to the gates, and obtained the sovereignty. + +5:12. Arise, arise, O Debbora, arise, arise, and utter a canticle. +Arise, Barac, and take hold of thy captives, O son of Abinoem. + +5:13. The remnants of the people are saved, the Lord hath fought among +the valiant ones. + +5:14. Out of Ephraim he destroyed them into Amalec, and after him out +of Benjamin into thy people, O Amalec: Out of Machir there came down +princes, and out of Zabulon they that led the army to fight. + +Out of Ephraim, etc. . .The enemies straggling in their flight were +destroyed, as they were running through the land of Ephraim, and of +Benjamin, which lies after, that is beyond Ephraim: and so on to the +very confines of Amalec. Or, it alludes to former victories of the +people of God, particularly that which was freshest in memory, when the +men of Ephraim and Benjamin, with Aod at their head, overthrew their +enemies the Moabites with the Amalecites their allies. See chap. +3.--Ibid. Machir. . .The tribe of Manasses, whose eldest son was Machir. + +5:15. The captains of Issachar were with Debbora, and followed the +steps of Barac, who exposed himself to danger, as one going headlong, +and into a pit. Ruben being divided against himself, there was found a +strife of courageous men. + +Divided against himself, etc. . .By this it seems that the valient men +of the tribe of Ruben were divided in their sentiments, with relation +to this war; which division kept them at home within their own borders, +to hear the bleating of their flocks. + +5:16. Why dwellest thou between two borders, that thou mayst hear the +bleatings of the flocks? Ruben being divided against himself, there was +found a strife of courageous men. + +5:17. Galaad rested beyond the Jordan, and Dan applied himself to +ships: Aser dwelt on the sea shore, and abode in the havens. + +5:18. But Zabulon and Nephthali offered their lives to death in the +region of Merome. + +5:19. The kings came and fought, the kings of Chanaan fought in Thanac, +by the waters of Mageddo and yet they took no spoils. + +5:20. There was war made against them from heaven: the stars, remaining +in their order and courses, fought against Sisara. + +5:21. The torrent of Cison dragged their carcasses, the torrent of +Cadumim, the torrent of Cison: tread thou, my soul, upon the strong +ones. + +5:22. The hoofs of the horses were broken whilst the stoutest of the +enemies fled amain, and fell headlong down. + +5:23. Curse ye the land of Meroz, said the angel of the Lord: curse the +inhabitants thereof, because they came not to the help of the Lord, to +help his most valiant men. + +Meroz. . .Where this land of Meroz was, which is here laid under a +curse, we cannot find: nor is there mention of it anywhere else in holy +writ. In the spiritual sense, they are cursed who refuse to assist the +people of God in their warfare against their spiritual enemies. + +5:24. Blessed among women be Jahel, the wife of Haber the Cinite, and +blessed be she in her tent. + +5:25. He asked her water, and she gave him milk, and offered him butter +in a dish fit for princes. + +5:26. She put her left hand to the nail, and her right hand to the +workman's hammer, and she struck Sisara, seeking in his head a place +for the wound, and strongly piercing through his temples. + +5:27. Between her feet he fell: he fainted, and he died: he rolled +before her feet, and there he lay lifeless and wretched. + +5:28. His mother looked out at a window, and howled: and she spoke from +the dining room: Why is his chariot so long in coming back? Why are the +feet of his horses so slow? + +5:29. One that was wiser than the rest of his wives, returned this +answer to her mother in law: + +5:30. Perhaps he is now dividing the spoils, and the fairest of the +women is chosen out for him: garments of divers colours are given to +Sisara for his prey, and furniture of different kinds is heaped +together to adorn necks. + +5:31. So let all thy enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love +thee shine, as the sun shineth in his rising. + +5:32. And the land rested for forty years. + + + +Judges Chapter 6 + + +The people for their sins, are oppressed by the Madianites. Gedeon is +called to deliver them. + +6:1. And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the +Lord: and he delivered them into the hand of Madian seven years, + +6:2. And they were grievously oppressed by them. And they made +themselves dens and caves in the mountains, and strong holds to resist. + +6:3. And when Israel had sown, Madian and Amalec, and the rest of the +eastern nations, came up: + +6:4. And pitching their tents among them, wasted all things as they +were in the blade, even to the entrance of Gaza: and they left nothing +at all in Israel for sustenance of life, nor sheep, nor oxen, nor +asses. + +6:5. For they and all their flocks came with their tents, and like +locusts filled all places, an innumerable multitude of men, and of +camels, wasting whatsoever they touched. + +6:6. And Israel was humbled exceedingly in the sight of Madian. + +6:7. And he cried to the Lord, desiring help against the Madianites. + +6:8. And he sent unto them a prophet, and he spoke: Thus saith the +Lord, the God of Israel: I made you to come up out of Egypt, and +brought you out of the house of bondage, + +6:9. And delivered you out of the hands of the Egyptians, and of all +the enemies that afflicted you: and I cast them out at your coming in, +and gave you their land. + +6:10. And I said: I am the Lord your God, fear not the gods of the +Amorrhites, in whose land you dwell. And you would not hear my voice. + +6:11. And an angel of the Lord came, and sat under an oak that was in +Ephra, and belonged to Joas, the father of the family of Ezri. And when +Gedeon, his son, was threshing and cleansing wheat by the winepress, to +flee from Madian, + +6:12. The angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said: The Lord is with +thee, O most valiant of men. + +6:13. And Gedeon said to him: I beseech thee, my lord, if the Lord be +with us, why have these evils fallen upon us? Where are his miracles, +which our fathers have told us of, saying: The Lord brought us out of +Egypt but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hand +of Madian. + +6:14. And the Lord looked upon him, and said: Go, in this thy strength, +and thou shalt deliver Israel out of the hand of Madian: know that I +have sent thee. + +6:15. He answered, and said: I beseech thee, my lord wherewith shall I +deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the meanest in Manasses, and I am +the least in my father's house. + +The meanest in Manasses, etc. . .Mark how the Lord chooseth the humble +(who are mean and little in their own eyes) for the greatest +enterprises. + +6:16. And the Lord said to him: I will be with thee: and thou shalt cut +off Madian as one man. + +6:17. And he said: If I have found grace before thee, give me a sign +that it is thou that speakest to me: + +6:18. And depart not hence, till I return to thee, and bring a +sacrifice, and offer it to thee. And he answered: I will wait thy +coming. + +6:19. So Gedeon went in, and boiled a kid, and made unleavened loaves +of a measure of flour: and putting the flesh in a basket, and the broth +of the flesh into a pot, he carried all under the oak, and presented to +him. + +6:20. And the angel of the Lord said to him: Take the flesh and the +unleavened loaves, and lay them upon that rock, and pour out the broth +thereon. And when he had done so, + +6:21. The angel of the Lord put forth the tip of the rod, which he held +in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened loaves: and there +arose a fire from the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened +loaves: and the angel of the Lord vanished out of his sight. + +6:22. And Gedeon seeing that it was the angel of the Lord, said: Alas, +my Lord God: for I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face. + +6:23. And the Lord said to him: Peace be with thee: fear not, thou +shalt not die. + +6:24. And Gedeon built there an altar to the Lord, and called it the +Lord's peace, until this present day. And when he was yet in Ephra, +which is of the family of Ezri, + +6:25. That night the Lord said to him: Take a bullock of thy father's, +and another bullock of seven years, and thou shalt destroy the altar of +Baal, which is thy father's: and cut down the grove that is about the +altar: + +6:26. And thou shalt build un altar to the Lord thy God, in the top of +this rock, whereupon thou didst lay the sacrifice before: and thou +shalt take the second bullock, and shalt offer a holocaust upon a pile +of the wood, which thou shalt cut down out of the grove. + +6:27. Then Gedeon, taking ten men of his servants, did as the Lord had +commanded him. But fearing his father's house, and the men of that +city, he would not do it by day, but did all by night. + +6:28. And when the men of that town were risen in the morning, they saw +the altar of Baal destroyed, and the grove cut down, and the second +bullock laid upon the altar, which then was built. + +6:29. And they said one to another: Who hath done this? And when they +inquired for the author of the fact, it was said: Gedeon, the son of +Joas, did all this. + +6:30. And they said to Joas: Bring out thy son hither, that he may die: +because he hath destroyed the altar of Baal, and hath cut down his +grove. + +6:31. He answered them: Are you the avengers of Baal, that you fight +for him? he that is his adversary, let him die before to morrow light +appear: if he be a god, let him revenge himself on him that hath cast +down his altar. + +6:32. From that day Gedeon was called Jerobaal, because Joas had said: +Let Baal revenge himself on him that hath cast down his altar. + +6:33. Now all Madian, and Amalec, and the eastern people, were gathered +together, and passing over the Jordan, camped in the valley of Jezrael. + +6:34. But the spirit of the Lord came upon Gedeon, and he sounded the +trumpet, and called together the house of Abiezer, to follow him. + +6:35. And he sent messengers into all Manasses, and they also followed +him : and other messengers into Aser and Zabulon, and Nephthali, and +they came to meet him. + +6:36. And Gedeon said to God: If thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as +thou hast said, + +6:37. I will put this fleece of wool on the floor: if there be dew in +the fleece only, and it be dry on all the ground beside, I shall know +that by my hand, as thou hast said, thou wilt deliver Israel. + +6:38. And it was so. And rising before day, wringing the fleece, he +filled a vessel with the dew. + +6:39. And he said again to God: Let not thy wrath be kindled against +me, if I try once more, seeking a sign in the fleece. I pray that the +fleece only may be dry, and all the ground wet with dew. + +6:40. And God did that night as he had requested: and it was dry on the +fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. + + + +Judges Chapter 7 + + +Gedeon, with three hundred men, by stratagem defeateth the Madianites. + +7:1. Then Jerobaal, who is the same as Gedeon, rising up early, and all +the people with him, came to the fountain that is called Harad. Now the +camp of Madian was in the valley, on the north side of the high hill. + +7:2. And the Lord said to Gedeon: The people that are with thee are +many, and Madian shall not be delivered into their hands: lest Israel +should glory against me, and say: I was delivered by my own strength. + +Lest Israel, etc. . .By this we see that God will not choose for his +instruments in great achievements, which depend purely on his grace, +such as, through pride and self conceit, will take the glory to +themselves. + +7:3. Speak to the people, and proclaim in the hearing of all: Whosoever +is fearful and timorous, let him return. So two and twenty thousand men +went away from Mount Galaad and returned home, and only ten thousand +remained. + +7:4. And the Lord said to Gedeon: The people are still too many, bring +them to the waters, and there I will try them: and of whom I shall say +to thee, This shall go with thee, let him go: whom I shall forbid to +go, let him return. + +7:5. And when the people were come down to the waters, the Lord said to +Gedeon: They that shall lap the water with their tongues, as dogs are +wont to lap, thou shalt set apart by themselves: but they that shall +drink bowing down their knees, shall be on the other side. + +7:6. And the number of them that had lapped water; casting it with the +hand to their mouth, was three hundred men: and all the rest of the +multitude had drunk kneeling. + +7:7. And the Lord said to Gedeon: By the three hundred men, that lapped +water, I will save you, and deliver Madian into thy hand: but let all +the rest of the people return to their place. + +That lapped water. . .These were preferred that took the water up in +their hands, and so lapped it, before them who laid themselves quite +down to the waters to drink: which argued a more eager and sensual +disposition. + +7:8. So taking victuals and trumpets according to their number, he +ordered all the rest of the multitude to depart to their tents: and he +with the three hundred gave himself to the battle. Now the camp of +Madia was beneath him in the valley. + +7:9. The same night the Lord said to him: Arise, and go down into the +camp: because I have delivered them into thy hand. + +7:10. But if thou be afraid to go alone, let Phara, thy servant, go +down with thee. + +7:11. And when thou shalt hear what they are saying, then shall thy +hands be strengthened, and thou shalt go down more secure to the +enemies' camp. And he went down with Phara his servant, into part of +the camp, where was the watch of men in arms. + +7:12. But Madian and Amalec, and all the eastern people, lay scattered +in the valley, as a multitude of locusts: their camels also were +innumerable, as the sand that lieth on the sea shore. + +7:13. And when Gedeon was come, one told his neighbour a dream: and in +this manner related what he had seen: I dreamt a dream, and it seemed +to me as if a hearth cake of barley bread rolled and came down into the +camp of Madian: and when it was come to a tent, it struck it, and beat +it down flat to the ground. + +A dream. . .Observation of dreams is commonly superstitious, and as such +is condemned in the word of God: but in some extraordinary cases, as we +here see, God is pleased by dreams to foretell what he is about to do. + +7:14. He to whom he spoke, answered: This is nothing else but the sword +of Gedeon, the son of Joas, a man of Israel. For the Lord hath +delivered Madian, and all their camp into his hand. + +7:15. And when Gedeon had heard the dream, and the interpretation +thereof, he adored: and returned to the camp of Israel, and said: +Arise, for the Lord hath delivered the camp of Madian into our hands. + +7:16. And he divided the three hundred men into three parts, and gave +them trumpets in their hands, and empty pitchers, and lamps within the +pitchers. + +7:17. And he said to them: What you shall see me do, do you the same: I +will go into one part of the camp, and do you as I shall do. + +7:18. When the trumpet shall sound in my hand, do you also blow the +trumpets on every side of the camp, and shout together to the Lord and +to Gedeon. + +7:19. And Gedeon, and the three hundred men that were with him, went +into part of the camp, at the beginning of the midnight watch, and the +watchmen being alarmed, they began to sound their trumpets, and to clap +the pitchers one against another. + +Their trumpets, etc. . .In a mystical sense, the preachers of the +gospel, in order to spiritual conquests, must not only sound with the +trumpet of the word of God, but must also break their earthen pitchers, +by the mortification of the flesh and its passions, and carry lamps in +their hands by the light of their virtues. + +7:20. And when they sounded their trumpets in three places round about +the camp, and had broken their pitchers, they held their lamps in their +left hands, and with their right hands the trumpets which they blew, +and they cried out: The sword of the Lord and of Gedeon: + +7:21. Standing every man in his place round about the enemies' camp. So +all the camp was troubled, and crying out and howling, they fled away: + +7:22. And the three hundred men nevertheless persisted sounding the +trumpets. And the Lord sent the sword into all the camp, and they +killed one another, + +7:23. Fleeing as far as Bethsetta, and the border of Abelmahula, in +Tebbath. But the men of Israel, shouting from Nephthali, and Aser, and +from all Manasses, pursued after Madian. + +7:24. And Gedeon sent messengers into all Mount Ephraim, saying: Come +down to meet Madian, and take the waters before them to Bethbera and +the Jordan. And all Ephraim shouted, and took the waters before them +and the Jordan as far as Bethbera. + +7:25. And having taken two men of Madian, Oreb and Zeb: Oreb they slew +in the rock of Oreb, and Zeb in the winepress of Zeb. And they pursued +Madian, carrying the heads of Oreb and Zeb to Gedeon, beyond the waters +of the Jordan. + +Two men. . .That is, two of their chiefs. + + + +Judges Chapter 8 + + +Gedeon appeaseth the Ephraimites. Taketh Zebee and Salmana. Destroyeth +Soccoth and Phanuel. Refuseth to be king. Maketh an ephod of the gold +of the prey, and dieth in a good old age. The people return to +idolatry. + +8:1. And the men of Ephraim said to him: What is this that thou meanest +to do, that thou wouldst not call us, when thou wentest to fight +against Madian? And they chid him sharply, and almost offered violence. + +8:2. And he answered them: What could I have done like to that which +you have done? Is not one bunch of grapes of Ephraim better than the +vintages of Abiezer? + +What could I, etc. . .A meek and humble answer appeased them; who +otherwise might have come to extremities. So great is the power of +humility both with God and man. + +8:3. The Lord hath delivered into your hands the princes of Madian, +Oreb and Zeb: what could I have done like to what you have done? And +when he had said this, their spirit was appeased, with which they +swelled against him. + +8:4. And when Gedeon was come to the Jordan, he passed over it with the +three hundred men that were with him: who were so weary that they could +not pursue after them that fled. + +8:5. And he said to the men of Soccoth: Give, I beseech you, bread to +the people that is with me, for they are faint: that we may pursue +Zebee, and Salmana, the kings of Madian. + +8:6. The princes of Soccoth answered: Peradventure the palms of the +hands of Zebee and Salmana are in thy hand, and therefore thou +demandest that we should give bread to thy army. + +8:7. And he said to them: When the Lord therefore shall have delivered +Zebee and Salmana into my hands, I will thresh your flesh with the +thorns and briers of the desert. + +8:8. And going up from thence, he came to Phanuel: and he spoke the +like things to the men of that place. And they also answered him, as +the men of Soccoth had answered. + +8:9. He said, therefore, to them also: When I shall return a conqueror +in peace, I will destroy this tower. + +8:10. But Zebee and Salmana were resting with all their army. For +fifteen thousand men were left of all the troops of the eastern people, +and one hundred and twenty thousand warriors that drew the sword were +slain. + +8:11. And Gedeon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents, on the +east of Nobe and Jegbaa, and smote the camp of the enemies, who were +secure, and suspected no hurt. + +8:12. And Zebee and Salmana fled, and Gedeon pursued and took them, all +their host being put in confusion. + +8:13. And returning from the battle before the sun rising, + +8:14. He took a boy of the men of Soccoth: and he asked him the names +of the princes and ancients of Soccoth, and he described unto him +seventy-seven men. + +8:15. And he came to Soccoth, and said to them: Behold Zebee, and +Salmana, concerning whom you upbraided me, saying: Peradventure the +hands of Zebee and Salmana are in thy hands, and therefore thou +demandest that we should give bread to the men that are weary and +faint. + +8:16. So he took the ancients of the city, and thorns and briers of the +desert, and tore them with the same, and cut in pieces the men of +Soccoth. + +8:17. And he demolished the tower of Phanuel, and slew the men of the +city. + +8:18. And he said to Zebee and Salmana: What manner of men were they, +whom you slew in Thabor? They answered: They were like thee, and one of +them as the son of a king. + +8:19. He answered them: They were my brethren, the sons of my mother. +As the Lord liveth, if you had saved them, I would not kill you. + +8:20. And he said to Jether, his eldest son: Arise, and slay them. But +he drew not his sword: for he was afraid, being but yet a boy. + +8:21. And Zebee and Salmana said: Do thou rise and run upon us: because +the strength of a man is according to his age: Gedeon rose up, and slew +Zebee and Salmana: and he took the ornaments and bosses, with which the +necks of the camels of kings are wont to be adorned. + +8:22. And all the men of Israel said to Gedeon: Rule thou over us, and +thy son, and thy son's son: because thou hast delivered us from the +hand of Madian. + +8:23. And he said to them: I will not rule over you, neither shall my +son rule over you, but the Lord shall rule over you. + +8:24. And he said to them: I desire one request of you: Give me the +earlets of your spoils. For the Ismaelites were accustomed to wear +golden earlets. + +8:25. They answered: We will give them most willingly. And spreading a +mantle on the ground, they cast upon it the earlets of the spoils. + +8:26. And the weight of the earlets that he requested, was a thousand +seven hundred sicles of gold, besides the ornaments, and jewels, and +purple raiment, which the kings of Madian were wont to use, and besides +the golden chains that were about the camels necks. + +8:27. And Gedeon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city Ephra. +And all Israel committed fornication with it, and it became a ruin to +Gedeon, and to all his house. + +An ephod. . .A priestly garment which Gedeon made with a good design; +but the Israelites, after his death, abused it by making it an +instrument of their idolatrous worship. + +8:28. But Madian was humbled before the children of Israel, neither +could they any more lift up their heads: but the land rested for forty +years, while Gedeon presided. + +8:29. So Jerobaal, the son of Joas, went and dwelt in his own house: + +8:30. And he had seventy sons, who came out of his thigh, for he had +many wives. + +8:31. And his concubine, that he had in Sichem, bore him a son, whose +name was Abimelech. + +His concubine. . .She was his servant, but not his harlot: and is called +his concubine, as wives of an inferior degree are commonly called in +the Old Testament, though otherwise lawfully married. + +8:32. And Gedeon, the son of Joas died in a good old age, and was +buried in the sepulchre of his father, in Ephra, of the family of Ezri. + +8:33. But after Gedeon was dead, the children of Israel turned again, +and committed fornication with Baalim. And they made a covenant with +Baal, that he should be their god: + +8:34. And they remembered not the Lord their God, who delivered them +out of the hands of all their enemies round about: + +8:35. Neither did they shew mercy to the house of Jerobaal Gedeon, +according to all the good things he had done to Israel. + + + +Judges Chapter 9 + + +Abimelech killeth his brethren. Joatham's parable. Gaal conspireth with +the Sichemites against Abimelech, but is overcome. Abimelech destroyeth +Sichem: but is killed at Thebes. + +9:1. And Abimelech, the son of Jerobaal, went to Sichem, to his +mother's brethren, and spoke to them, and to all the kindred of his +mother's father, saying: + +9:2. Speak to all the men of Sichem: whether is better for you that +seventy men, all the sons of Jerobaal, should rule over you, or that +one man should rule over you? And withal, consider that I am your bone, +and your flesh. + +9:3. And his mother's brethren spoke of him to all the men of Sichem, +all these words, and they inclined their hearts after Abimelech, +saying: He is our brother: + +9:4. And they gave him seventy weight of silver out of the temple of +Baalberith: wherewith he hired to himself men that were needy, and +vagabonds, and they followed him. + +Baalberith. . .That is, Baal of the covenant, so called from the +covenant they had made with Baal, chap. 8.33. + +9:5. And he came to his father's house in Ephra, and slew his brethren, +the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men, upon one stone: and there remained +only Joatham, the youngest son of Jerobaal, who was hidden. + +9:6. And all the men of Sichem were gathered together, and all the +families of the city of Mello: and they went and made Abimelech king, +by the oak that stood in Sichem. + +9:7. This being told to Joatham, he went, and stood on the top of Mount +Garizim: and lifting up his voice, he cried, and said: Hear me, ye men +of Sichem, so may God hear you. + +9:8. The trees went to anoint a king over them: and they said to the +olive tree: Reign thou over us. + +9:9. And it answered: Can I leave my fatness, which both gods and men +make use of, to come to be promoted among the trees? + +Both gods and men make use of. . .The olive tree is introduced, speaking +in this manner, because oil was used both in the worship of the true +God, and in that of the false gods, whom the Sichemites served. + +9:10. And the trees said to the fig tree: Come thou and reign over us. + +9:11. And it answered them: Can I leave my sweetness, and my delicious +fruits, and go to be promoted among the other trees? + +9:12. And the trees said to the vine: Come thou and reign over us. + +9:13. And it answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that cheereth God +and men, and be promoted among the other trees? + +Cheereth God and men. . .Wine is here represented as agreeable to God, +because he had appointed it to be offered up with his sacrifices. But +we are not obliged to take these words, spoken by the trees, in +Joatham's parable, according to the strict literal sense: but only in a +sense accomodated to the design of the parable expressed in the +conclusion of it. + +9:14. And all the trees said to the bramble: Come thou and reign over +us. + +9:15. And it answered them: If, indeed, you mean to make me king, come +ye, and rest under my shadow: but if you mean it not, let fire come out +from the bramble, and devour the cedars of Libanus. + +9:16. Now, therefore, if you have done well, and without sin, in +appointing Abimelech king over you, and have dealt well with Jerobaal, +and with his house, and have made a suitable return for the benefits of +him who fought for you, + +9:17. And exposed his life to dangers, to deliver you from the hand of +Madian, + +9:18. And you are now risen up against my father's house, and have +killed his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, +the son of his handmaid, king over the inhabitants of Sichem, because +he is your brother: + +9:19. If therefore you have dealt well, and without fault, with +Jerobaal and his house, rejoice ye, this day, in Abimelech, and may he +rejoice in you. + +9:20. But if unjustly: let fire come out from him, and consume the +inhabitants of Sichem, and the town of Mello: and let fire come out +from the men of Sichem and from the town of Mello, and devour +Abimelech. + +9:21. And when he had said thus, he fled, and went into Bera: and dwelt +there for fear of Abimelech, his brother. + +9:22. So Abimelech reigned over Israel three years. + +9:23. And the Lord sent a very evil spirit between Abimelech and the +inhabitants of Sichem; who began to detest him, + +9:24. And to lay the crime of the murder of the seventy sons of +Jerobaal, and the shedding of their blood, upon Abimelech, their +brother, and upon the rest of the princes of the Sichemites, who aided +him. + +9:25. And they set an ambush against him on the top of the mountains: +and while they waited for his coming, they committed robberies, taking +spoils of all that passed by: and it was told Abimelech. + +9:26. And Gaal, the son of Obed, came with his brethren, and went over +to Sichem. And the inhabitants of Sichem, taking courage at his coming, + +9:27. Went out into the fields, wasting the vineyards, and treading +down the grapes: and singing and dancing, they went into the temple of +their god, and in their banquets and cups they cursed Abimelech. + +9:28. And Gaal, the son of Obed, cried: Who is Abimelech, and what is +Sichem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerobaal, and +hath made Zebul, his servant, ruler over the men of Emor, the father of +Sichem? Why then shall we serve him? + +9:29. Would to God that some man would put this people under my hand, +that I might remove Abimelech out of the way. And it was said to +Abimelech: Gather together the multitude of an army, and come. + +9:30. For Zebul, the ruler of the city, hearing the words of Gaal, the +son of Obed, was very angry, + +9:31. And sent messengers privately to Abimelech, saying: Behold, Gaal, +the son of Obed, is come into Sichem with his brethren, and +endeavoureth to set the city against thee. + +9:32. Arise, therefore, in the night, with the people that is with +thee, and lie hid in the field: + +9:33. And betimes in the morning, at sun rising, set upon the city, and +when he shall come out against thee, with his people, do to him what +thou shalt be able. + +9:34. Abimelech, therefore, arose with all his army, by night, and laid +ambushes near Sichem in four places. + +9:35. And Gaal, the son of Obed, went out, and stood in the entrance of +the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up, and all his army with him, +from the places of the ambushes. + +9:36. And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul: Behold, a +multitude cometh down from the mountains. And he answered him: Thou +seest the shadows of the mountains as if they were the heads of men, +and this is thy mistake. + +9:37. Again Gaal said: Behold, there cometh people down from the midst +of the land, and one troop cometh by the way that looketh towards the +oak. + +9:38. And Zebul said to him: Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou +saidst: Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Is not this the +people which thou didst despise? Go out, and fight against him. + +9:39. So Gaal went out, in the sight of the people of Sichem, and +fought against Abimelech, + +9:40. Who chased and put him to flight, and drove him to the city: and +many were slain of his people, even to the gate of the city: + +9:41. And Abimelech sat down in Ruma: but Zebul drove Gaal, and his +companions, out of the city, and would not suffer them to abide in it. + +9:42. So the day following the people went out into the field. And it +was told to Abimelech, + +9:43. And he took his army, and divided it into three companies, and +laid ambushes in the fields. And seeing that the people came out of the +city, he arose, and set upon them, + +9:44. With his own company, assaulting and besieging the city: whilst +the two other companies chased the enemies that were scattered about +the field. + +9:45. And Abimelech assaulted the city all that day: and took it, and +killed the inhabitants thereof, and demolished it, so that he sowed +salt in it. + +Sowed salt. . .To make the ground barren, and fit for nothing. + +9:46. And when they who dwelt in the tower of Sichem, had heard this, +they went into the temple of their god Berith, where they had made a +covenant with him, and from thence the place had taken its name, and it +was exceeding strong. + +9:47. Abimelech also hearing that the men of the tower of Sichem were +gathered together, + +9:48. Went up into mount Selmon, he and all his people with him: and +taking an axe, he cut down the bough of a tree, and laying it on his +shoulder, and carrying it, he said to his companions: What you see me +do, do ye out of hand. + +9:49. So they cut down boughs from the trees, every man as fast as he +could, and followed their leader. And surrounding the fort, they set it +on fire: and so it came to pass, that with the smoke and with the fire +a thousand persons were killed, men and women together, of the +inhabitants of the town of Sichem. + +9:50. Then Abimelech, departing from thence, came to the town of +Thebes, which he surrounded and besieged with his army. + +9:51. And there was in the midst of the city a high tower, to which +both the men and the women were fled together, and all the princes of +the city, and having shut and strongly barred the gate, they stood upon +the battlements of the tower to defend themselves. + +9:52. And Abimelech, coming near the tower, fought stoutly: and, +approaching to the gate, endeavoured to set fire to it: + +9:53. And behold, a certain woman casting a piece of a millstone from +above, dashed it against the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull. + +9:54. And he called hastily to his armourbearer, and said to him: Draw +thy sword, and kill me: lest it should be said that I was slain by a +woman. He did as he was commanded, and slew him. + +9:55. And when he was dead all the men of Israel that were with him, +returned to their homes. + +9:56. And God repaid the evil that Abimelech had done against his +father, killing his seventy brethren. + +9:57. The Sichemites also were rewarded for what they had done, and the +curse of Joatham, the son of Jerobaal, came upon them. + + + +Judges Chapter 10 + + +Thola ruleth Israel twenty-three years; and Jair twenty-two. The people +fall again into idolatry, and are afflicted again by the Philistines +and Ammonites. They cry to God for help, who upon their repentance hath +compassion on them. + +10:1. After Abimelech, there arose a ruler in Israel, Thola, son of +Phua, the uncle of Abimelech, a man of Issachar, who dwelt in Samir of +mount Ephraim: + +Uncle of Abimelech. . .i. e., half brother to Gedeon, as being born of +the same mother, but by a different father, and of a different tribe. + +10:2. And he judged Israel three and twenty years, and he died, and was +buried in Samir. + +10:3. To him succeeded Jair, the Galaadite, who judged Israel for two +and twenty years, + +10:4. Having thirty sons, that rode on thirty ass colts, and were +princes of thirty cities, which from his name were called Havoth Jair, +that is, the towns of Jair, until this present day, in the land of +Galaad. + +Havoth Jair. . .This name was now confirmed to these towns, which they +had formerly received from another Jair. Num. 32.41. + +10:5. And Jair died, and was buried in the place which is called Camon. + +10:6. But the children of Israel, adding new sins to their old ones, +did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served idols, Baalim and +Astaroth, and the gods of Syria, and of Sidon, and of Moab, and of the +children of Ammon, and of the Philistines: and they left the Lord, and +did not serve him. + +10:7. And the Lord being angry with them, delivered them into the hands +of the Philistines, and of the children of Ammon. + +10:8. And they were afflicted, and grievously oppressed for eighteen +years, all they that dwelt beyond the Jordan in the land of the +Amorrhite, who is in Galaad: + +10:9. Insomuch that the children of Ammon, passing over the Jordan, +wasted Juda, and Benjamin, and Ephraim: and Israel was distressed +exceedingly. + +10:10. And they cried to the Lord, and said, We have sinned against +thee, because we have forsaken the Lord our God, and have served +Baalim. + +10:11. And the Lord said to them: Did not the Egyptians, and the +Amorrhites, and the children of Ammon, and the Philistines, + +10:12. The Sidonians also, and Amalec, and Chanaan, oppress you, and +you cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand? + +10:13. And yet you have forsaken me, and have worshipped strange gods: +therefore I will deliver you no more: + +10:14. Go, and call upon the gods which you have chosen: let them +deliver you in the time of distress. + +10:15. And the children of Israel said to the Lord: We have sinned, do +thou unto us whatsoever pleaseth thee: only deliver us this time. + +10:16. And saying these things, they cast away out of their coasts all +the idols of strange gods, and served the Lord their God: and he was +touched with their miseries. + +10:17. And the children of Ammon shouting together, pitched their tents +in Galaad: against whom the children of Israel assembled themselves +together, and camped in Maspha. + +10:18. And the princes of Galaad said one to another: Whosoever of us +shall first begin to fight against the children of Ammon, he shall be +the leader of the people of Galaad. + + + +Judges Chapter 11 + + +Jephte is made ruler of the people of Galaad: he first pleads their +cause against the Ammonites; then making a vow obtains a signal +victory; he performs his vow. + +11:1. There was at that time Jephte, the Galaadite, a most valiant man, +and a warrior, the son of a woman that was a harlot, and his father was +Galaad. + +11:2. Now Galaad had a wife of whom he had sons: who, after they were +grown up, thrust out Jephte, saying: Thou canst not inherit in the +house of our father, because thou art born of another mother. + +11:3. Then he fled and avoided them, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and +there were gathered to him needy men and robbers, and they followed him +as their prince. + +11:4. In those days the children of Ammon made war against Israel. + +11:5. And as they pressed hard upon them, the ancients of Galaad went +to fetch Jephte out of the land of Tob to help them: + +11:6. And they said to him: Come thou, and be our prince, and fight +against the children of Ammon. + +11:7. And he answered them: Are not you the men that hated me, and cast +me out of my father's house, and now you are come to me, constrained by +necessity? + +11:8. And the princes of Galaad said to Jephte: For this cause we are +now come to thee, that thou mayst go with us, and fight against the +children of Ammon, and be head over all the inhabitants of Galaad. + +11:9. Jephte also said to them: If you be come to me sincerely, that I +should fight for you against the children of Ammon, and the Lord shall +deliver them into my hand, shall I be your prince? + +11:10. They answered him: The Lord, who heareth these things, he +himself is mediator and witness that we will do as we have promised. + +11:11. Jephte therefore went with the princes of Galaad, and all the +people made him their prince. And Jephte spoke all his words before the +Lord in Maspha. + +11:12. And he sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, to +say in his name: What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come +against me, to waste my land? + +11:13. And he answered them: Because Israel took away my land, when he +came up out of Egypt, from the confines of the Arnon unto the Jaboc and +the Jordan: now, therefore, restore the same peaceably to me. + +11:14. And Jephte again sent word by them, and commanded them to say to +the king of Ammon: + +11:15. Thus saith Jephte: Israel did not take away the land of Moab, +nor the land of the children of Ammon: + +11:16. But when they came up out of Egypt, he walked through the desert +to the Red Sea, and came into Cades. + +11:17. And he sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying: Suffer me to +pass through thy land. But he would not condescend to his request. He +sent also to the king of Moab, who, likewise, refused to give him +passage. He abode, therefore, in Cades, + +11:18. And went round the land of Edom at the side, and the land of +Moab: and came over against the east coast of the land of Moab, and +camped on the other side of the Arnon: and he would not enter the +bounds of Moab. + +11:19. So Israel sent messengers to Sehon, king of the Amorrhites, who +dwelt in Hesebon, and they said to him: Suffer me to pass through thy +land to the river. + +11:20. But he, also despising the words of Israel, suffered him not to +pass through his borders: but gathering an infinite multitude, went out +against him to Jasa, and made strong opposition. + +11:21. And the Lord delivered him, with all his army, into the hands of +Israel, and he slew him, and possessed all the land of the Amorrhite, +the inhabitant of that country, + +11:22. And all the coasts thereof from the Arnon to the Jaboc, and from +the wilderness to the Jordan. + +11:23. So the Lord, the God of Israel, destroyed the Amorrhite, his +people of Israel fighting against him, and wilt thou now possess his +land? + +11:24. Are not those things which thy god Chamos possesseth, due to +thee by right? But what the Lord our God hath obtained by conquest, +shall be our possession: + +Chamos. . .The idol of the Moabites and Ammonites. He argues from their +opinion, who thought they had a just title to the countries which they +imagined they had conquered by the help of their gods: how much more +then had Israel in indisputable title to the countries which God, by +visible miracles, had conquered for them. + +11:25. Unless, perhaps, thou art better than Balac, the son of Sephor, +king of Moab: or canst shew that he strove against Israel, and fought +against him, + +11:26. Whereas he hath dwelt in Hesebon, and the villages thereof, and +in Aroer, and its villages, and in all the cities near the Jordan, for +three hundred years. Why have you for so long a time attempted nothing +about this claim? + +11:27. Therefore I do not trespass against thee, but thou wrongest me +by declaring an unjust war against me. The Lord be judge, and decide +this day, between Israel and the children of Ammon. + +11:28. And the king of the children of Ammon would not hearken to the +words of Jephte, which he sent him by the messengers. + +11:29. Therefore the spirit of the Lord came upon Jephte, and going +round Galaad, and Manasses, and Maspha of Galaad, and passing over from +thence to the children of Ammon, + +11:30. He made a vow to the Lord, saying: If thou wilt deliver the +children of Ammon into my hands, + +11:31. Whosoever shall first come forth out of the doors of my house, +and shall meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, +the same will I offer a holocaust to the Lord. + +Whosoever, etc. . .Some are of opinion, that the meaning of this vow of +Jephte, was to consecrate to God whatsoever should first meet him, +according to the condition of the thing; so as to offer it up as a +holocaust, if it were such a thing as might be offered by the law; or +to devote it otherwise to God, if it were not such as the law allowed +to be offered in sacrifice. And therefore they think the daughter of +Jephte was not slain by her father, but only consecrated to perpetual +virginity. But the common opinion followed by the generality of the +holy fathers and divines is, that she was offered as a holocaust, in +consequence of her father's vow: and that Jephte did not sin, at least +not mortally, neither in making, nor in keeping, his vow: since he is +no ways blamed for it in scripture; and was even inspired by God +himself to make the vow (as appears from ver. 29, 30) in consequence of +which he obtained the victory; and therefore he reasonably concluded +that God, who is the master of life and death, was pleased on this +occasion to dispense with his own law; and that it was the divine will +he should fulfil his vow. + +11:32. And Jephte passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against +them: and the Lord delivered them into his hands. + +11:33. And he smote them from Aroer till you come to Mennith, twenty +cities, and as far as Abel, which is set with vineyards, with a very +great slaughter: and the children of Ammon were humbled by the children +of Israel. + +11:34. And when Jephte returned into Maspha, to his house, his only +daughter met him with timbrels and with dances: for he had no other +children. + +11:35. And when he saw her, he rent his garments, and said: Alas! my +daughter, thou hast deceived me, and thou thyself art deceived: for I +have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I can do no other thing. + +11:36. And she answered him: My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth +to the Lord, do unto me whatsoever thou hast promised, since the +victory hath been granted to thee, and revenge of thy enemies. + +11:37. And she said to her father: Grant me only this, which I desire: +Let me go, that I may go about the mountains for two months, and may +bewail my virginity with my companions. + +Bewail my virginity. . .The bearing of children was much coveted under +the Old Testament, when women might hope that from some child of +theirs, the Saviour of the world might one day spring. But under the +New Testament virginity is preferred. 1 Cor. 7.35. + +11:38. And he answered her: Go. And he sent her away for two months. +And when she was gone with her comrades and companions, she mourned her +virginity in the mountains. + +11:39. And the two months being expired, she returned to her father, +and he did to her as he had vowed, and she knew no man. From thence +came a fashion in Israel, and a custom has been kept: + +11:40. That, from year to year, the daughters of Israel assemble +together, and lament the daughter of Jephte the Galaadite, for four +days. + + + +Judges Chapter 12 + + +The Ephraimites quarrel with Jephte: forty-two thousand of them are +slain: Abeson, Ahialon, and Abdon, are judges. + +12:1. But behold there arose a sedition in Ephraim. And passing towards +the north, they said to Jephte: When thou wentest to fight against the +children of Ammon, why wouldst thou not call us, that we might go with +thee? Therefore we will burn thy house. + +12:2. And he answered them: I and my people were at great strife with +the children of Ammon: and I called you to assist me, and you would not +do it. + +12:3. And when I saw this, I put my life in my own hands, and passed +over against the children of Ammon and the Lord delivered them into my +hands. What have I deserved, that you should rise up to fight against +me? + +12:4. Then calling to him all the men of Galaad, he fought against +Ephraim: and the men of Galaad defeated Ephraim, because he had said: +Galaad is a fugitive of Ephraim, and dwelleth in the midst of Ephraim +and Manasses. + +12:5. And the Galaadites secured the fords of the Jordan, by which +Ephraim was to return. And when any one of the number of Ephraim came +thither in the flight, and said: I beseech you let me pass: the +Galaadites said to him: Art thou not an Ephraimite? If he said: I am +not: + +12:6. They asked him: Say then, Scibboleth, which is interpreted, An +ear of corn. But he answered, Sibboleth, not being able to express an +ear of corn by the same letter. Then presently they took him and killed +him in the very passage of the Jordan. And there fell at that time of +Ephraim, two and forty thousand. + +12:7. And Jephte, the Galaadite, judged Israel six years: and he died, +and was buried in his city of Galaad. + +12:8. After him Abesan of Bethlehem judged Israel: + +12:9. He had thirty sons, and as many daughters, whom he sent abroad, +and gave to husbands, and took wives for his sons, of the same number, +bringing them into his house. And he judged Israel seven years: + +12:10. And he died, and was buried in Bethlehem. + +12:11. To him succeeded Ahialon, a Zabulonite: and he judged Israel ten +years: + +12:12. And he died, and was buried in Zabulon. + +12:13. After him, Abdon, the son of Illel, a Pharathonite, judged +Israel: + +12:14. And he had forty sons, and of them thirty grandsons, mounted +upon seventy ass colts, and he judged Israel eight years: + +12:15. And he died, and was buried in Pharathon, in the land of +Ephraim, in the mount of Amalech. + + + +Judges Chapter 13 + + +The people fall again into idolatry and are afflicted by the +Philistines. An angel foretelleth the birth of Samson. + +13:1. And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the +Lord: and he delivered them into the hands of the Philistines forty +years. + +13:2. Now there was a certain man of Saraa, and of the race of Dan, +whose name was Manue, and his wife was barren. + +13:3. And an angel of the Lord appeared to her, and said: Thou art +barren and without children: but thou shalt conceive and bear a son. + +13:4. Now therefore beware, and drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat +not any unclean thing. + +13:6. Because thou shalt conceive, and bear a son, and no razor shall +touch his head: for he shall be a Nazarite of God, from his infancy, +and from his mother's womb, and he shall begin to deliver Israel from +the hands of the Philistines. + +13:6. And when she was come to her husband, she said to him: A man of +God came to me, having the countenance of an angel, very awful. And +when I asked him whence he came, and by what name he was called, he +would not tell me: + +13:7. But he answered thus: Behold thou shalt conceive and bear a son: +beware thou drink no wine, nor strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: +for the child shall be a Nazarite of God from his infancy, from his +mother's womb until the day of his death. + +13:8. Then Manue prayed to the Lord, and said: I beseech thee, O Lord, +that the man of God, whom thou didst send, may come again, and teach us +what we ought to do concerning the child, that shall be born. + +13:9. And the Lord heard the prayer of Manue, and the angel of the Lord +appeared again to his wife, as she was sitting in the field. But Manue +her husband was not with her. And when she saw the angel, + +13:10. She made haste, and ran to her husband: and told him, saying: +Behold the man hath appeared to me, whom I saw before. + +13:11. He rose up, and followed his wife: and coming to the man, said +to him: Art thou he that spoke to the woman? And he answered: I am. + +13:12. And Manue said to him: When thy word shall come to pass, what +wilt thou that the child should do? or from what shall he keep himself? + +13:13. And the angel of the Lord said to Manue: From all the things I +have spoken of to thy wife, let her refrain herself: + +Let her refrain, etc. . .By the Latin text it is not clear whether this +abstinence was prescribed to the mother, or to the child; but the +Hebrew (in which the verbs relating thereto are of the feminine gender) +determineth it to the mother. But then the child also was to refrain +from the like things, because he was to be from his infancy a Nazarite +of God, ver. 5, that is, one set aside, in a particular manner, and +consecrated to God: now the Nazarites by the law were to abstain from +all these things. + +13:14. And let her eat nothing that cometh of the vine, neither let her +drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: and whatsoever I +have commanded her, let her fulfil and observe. + +13:15. And Manue said to the angel of the Lord: I beseech thee to +consent to my request, and let us dress a kid for thee. + +13:16. And the angel answered him: If thou press me I will not eat of +thy bread: but if thou wilt offer a holocaust, offer it to the Lord. +And Manue knew not it was the angel of the Lord. + +13:17. And he said to him: What is thy name, that, if thy word shall +come to pass, we may honour thee? + +13:18. And he answered him: Why askest thou my name, which is +wonderful? + +13:19. Then Manue took a kid of the flocks, and the libations, and put +them upon a rock, offering to the Lord, who doth wonderful things: and +he and his wife looked on. + +13:20. And when the flame from the altar went up towards heaven, the +angel of the Lord ascended also in the same. And when Manue and his +wife saw this, they fell flat on the ground; + +13:21. And the angel of the Lord appeared to them no more. And +forthwith Manue understood that it was an angel of the Lord, + +13:22. And he said to his wife: We shall certainly die, because we have +seen God. + +Seen God. . .Not in his own person, but in the person of his messenger. +The Israelites, in those days, imagined they should die if they saw an +angel, taking occasion perhaps from those words spoken by the Lord to +Moses, Ex. 33.20, No man shall see me and live. But the event +demonstrated that it was but a groundless imagination. + +13:23. And his wife answered him: If the Lord had a mind to kill us, he +would not have received a holocaust and libations at our hands; neither +would he have shewed us all these things, nor have told us the things +that are to come. + +13:24. And she bore a son, and called his name Samson. And the child +grew, and the Lord blessed him. + +13:25. And the Spirit of the Lord began to be with him in the camp of +Dan, between Saraa and Esthaol. + + + +Judges Chapter 14 + + +Samson desireth a wife of the Philistines. He killeth a lion: in whose +mouth he afterwards findeth honey. His marriage feast, and riddle, +which is discovered by his wife. He killeth, and strippeth thirty +Philistines. His wife taketh another man. + +14:1. Then Samson went down to Thamnatha, and seeing there a woman of +the daughters of the Philistines, + +14:2. He came up, and told his father and his mother, saying: I saw a +woman in Thamnatha of the daughters of the Philistines: I beseech you, +take her for me to wife. + +14:3. And his father and mother said to him: Is there no woman among +the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou wilt +take a wife of the Philistines, who are uncircumcised? And Samson said +to his father: Take this woman for me; for she hath pleased my eyes. + +Is there no woman among the daughters of thy brethren. . .This shews his +parents were at first against his marriage with a Gentile, it being +prohibited, Deut. 7.3; but afterwards they consented, knowing it to be +by the dispensation of God; which otherwise would have been sinful in +acting contrary to the law. + +14:4. Now his parents knew not that the thing was done by the Lord, and +that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time +the Philistines had dominion over Israel. + +14:5. Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Thamnatha. +And when they were come to the vineyards of the town, behold a young +lion met him, raging and roaring. + +14:6. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, and he tore the lion +as he would have torn a kid in pieces, having nothing at all in his +hand: and he would not tell this to his father and mother. + +14:7. And he went down, and spoke to the woman that had pleased his +eyes. + +14:8. And after some days, returning to take her, he went aside to see +the carcass of the lion, and behold there was a swarm of bees in the +mouth of the lion, and a honey-comb. + +14:9. And when he had taken it in his hands, he went on eating: and +coming to his father and mother, he gave them of it, and they ate: but +he would not tell them that he had taken the honey from the body of the +lion. + +14:10. So his father went down to the woman, and made a feast for his +son Samson: for so the young men used to do. + +14:11. And when the citizens of that place saw him, they brought him +thirty companions to be with him. + +14:12. And Samson said to them: I will propose to you a riddle, which +if you declare unto me within the seven days of the feast, I will give +you thirty shirts, and as many coats: + +14:13. But if you shall not be able to declare it, you shall give me +thirty shirts and the same number of coats. They answered him: Put +forth the riddle, that we may hear it. + +14:14. And he said to them: Out of the eater came forth meat, and out +of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not for three days +expound the riddle. + +14:15. And when the seventh day came, they said to the wife of Samson: +Sooth thy husband, and persuade him to tell thee what the riddle +meaneth. But if thou wilt not do it, we will burn thee, and thy +father's house. Have you called us to the wedding on purpose to strip +us? + +14:16. So she wept before Samson and complained, saying: Thou hatest +me, and dost not love me: therefore thou wilt not expound to me the +riddle, which thou hast proposed to the sons of my people. But he +answered: I would not tell it to my father and mother: and how can I +tell it to thee? + +14:17. So she wept before him the seven days of the feast: and, at +length, on the seventh day, as she was troublesome to him, he expounded +it. And she immediately told her countrymen. + +14:18. And they, on the seventh day before the sun went down, said to +him: What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And +he said to them: If you had not ploughed with my heifer, you had not +found out my riddle. + +14:19. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went down to +Ascalon, and slew there thirty men whose garments he took away, and +gave to them that had declared the riddle. And being exceeding angry, +he went up to his father's house: + +14:20. But his wife took one of his friends and bridal companions for +her husband. + + + +Judges Chapter 15 + + +Samson is denied his wife. He burns the corn of the Philistines, and +kills many of them. + +15:1. And a while after, when the days of the wheat harvest were at +hand, Samson came, meaning to visit his wife, and he brought her a kid +of the flock. And when he would have gone into her chamber, as usual, +her father would not suffer him, saying: + +15:2. I thought thou hadst hated her, and therefore I gave her to thy +friend: but she hath a sister, who is younger and fairer than she, take +her to wife instead of her. + +15:3. And Samson answered him: From this day I shall be blameless in +what I do against the Philistines: for I will do you evils. + +15:4. And he went and caught three hundred foxes, and coupled them tail +to tail, and fastened torches between the tails: + +Foxes. . .Being judge of the people he might have many to assist him to +catch with nets or otherwise a number of these animals; of which there +were great numbers in that country. + +15:6. And setting them on fire he let the foxes go, that they might run +about hither and thither. And they presently went into the standing +corn of the Philistines. Which being set on fire, both the corn that +was already carried together, and that which was yet standing, was all +burnt, insomuch that the flame consumed also the vineyards and the +oliveyards. + +15:6. Then the Philistines said: Who hath done this thing? And it was +answered: Samson, the son in law of the Thamnathite, because he took +away his wife, and gave her to another, hath done these things. And the +Philistines went up and burnt both the woman and her father. + +15:7. But Samson said to them: Although you have done this, yet will I +be revenged of you, and then I will be quiet. + +15:8. And he made a great slaughter of them, so that in astonishment +they laid the calf of the leg upon the thigh. And going down he dwelt +in a cavern of the rock Etam. + +15:9. Then the Philistines going up into the land of Juda, camped in +the place which afterwards was called Lechi, that is, the Jawbone, +where their army was spread abroad. + +15:10. And the men of the tribe of Juda said to them: Why are you come +up against us? They answered: We are come to bind Samson, and to pay +him for what he hath done against us. + +15:11. Wherefore three thousand men of Juda went down to the cave of +the rock Etam, and said to Samson: Knowest thou not that the +Philistines rule over us? Why wouldst thou do thus? And he said to +them: As they did to me, so have I done to them. + +15:12. And they said to him: We are come to bind thee, and to deliver +thee into the hands of the Philistines. And Samson said to them: Swear +to me, and promise me that you will not kill me. + +15:13. They said: We will not kill thee: but we will deliver thee up +bound. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him from the +rock Etam. + +15:14. Now when he was come to the place of the Jawbone, and the +Philistines shouting went to meet him, the Spirit of the Lord came +strongly upon him: and as flax is wont to be consumed at the approach +of fire, so the bands with which he was bound were broken and loosed. + +15:15. And finding a jawbone, even the jawbone of an ass, which lay +there, catching it up, he slew therewith a thousand men. + +15:16. And he said: With the jawbone of an ass, with the jaw of the +colt of asses, I have destroyed them, and have slain a thousand men. + +15:17. And when he had ended these words, singing, he threw the jawbone +out of his hand, and called the name of that place Ramathlechi, which +is interpreted the lifting up of the jawbone. + +15:18. And being very thirsty, he cried to the Lord, and said: Thou +hast given this very great deliverance and victory into the hand of thy +servant: and behold I die for thirst, and shall fall into the hands of +the uncircumcised. + +15:19. Then the Lord opened a great tooth in the jaw of the ass and +waters issued out of it. And when he had drunk them, he refreshed his +spirit, and recovered his strength. Therefore the name of that place +was called The Spring of him that invoked from the jawbone, until this +present day. + +15:20. And he judged Israel, in the days of the Philistines, twenty +years. + + + +Judges Chapter 16 + + +Samson is deluded by Dalila: and falls into the hands of the +Philistines. His death. + +16:1. He went also into Gaza, and saw there a woman, a harlot, and went +in unto her. + +16:2. And when the Philistines had heard this, and it was noised about +among them, that Samson was come into the city, they surrounded him, +setting guards at the gate of the city, and watching there all the +night in silence, that in the morning they might kill him as he went +out. + +16:3. But Samson slept till midnight, and then rising, he took both the +doors of the gate, with the posts thereof and the bolt, and laying them +on his shoulders, carried them up to the top of the hill, which looketh +towards Hebron. + +16:4. After this he loved a woman, who dwelt in the valley of Sorec, +and she was called Dalila. + +Dalila. . .Some are of opinion she was married to Samson; others that +she was his harlot. If the latter opinion be true, we cannot wonder +that, in punishment of his lust, the Lord delivered him up, by her +means, into the hands of his enemies. However if he was guilty, it is +not to be doubted but that under his afflictions he heartily repented +and returned to God, and so obtained forgiveness of his sins. + +16:5. And the princes of the Philistines came to her, and said: Deceive +him, and learn of him wherein his great strength lieth, and how we may +be able to overcome him, to bind and afflict him: which if thou shalt +do, we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. + +16:6. And Dalila said to Samson: Tell me, I beseech thee, wherein thy +greatest strength lieth, and what it is, wherewith if thou wert bound, +thou couldst not break loose. + +16:7. And Samson answered her: If I shall be bound with seven cords, +made of sinews not yet dry, but still moist, I shall be weak like other +men. + +16:8. And the princes of the Philistines brought unto her seven cords, +such as he spoke of, with which she bound him; + +16:9. Men lying privately in wait with her, and in the chamber, +expecting the event of the thing, and she cried out to him: The +Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he broke the bands, as a man +would break a thread of tow twined with spittle, when it smelleth the +fire: so it was not known wherein his strength lay. + +16:10. And Dalila said to him: Behold thou hast mocked me, and hast +told me a false thing: but now at least tell me wherewith thou mayest +be bound. + +16:11. And he answered her: If I shall be bound with new ropes, that +were never in work, I shall be weak and like other men. + +16:12. Dalila bound him again with these, and cried out: The +Philistines are upon thee, Samson, there being an ambush prepared for +him in the chamber. But he broke the bands like threads of webs. + +16:13. And Dalila said to him again: How long dost thou deceive me, and +tell me lies? Shew me wherewith thou mayest be bound. And Samson +answered her: If thou plattest the seven locks of my head with a lace, +and tying them round about a nail, fastenest it in the ground, I shall +be weak. + +16:14. And when Dalila had done this, she said to him: The Philistines +are upon thee, Samson. And awaking out of his sleep, he drew out the +nail with the hairs and the lace. + +16:15. And Dalila said to him: How dost thou say thou lovest me, when +thy mind is not with me? Thou hast told me lies these three times, and +wouldst not tell me wherein thy greatest strength lieth. + +16:16. And when she pressed him much, and continually hung upon him for +many days, giving him no time to rest, his soul fainted away, and was +wearied even unto death. + +16:17. Then opening the truth of the thing, he said to her: The razor +hath never come upon my head, for I am a Nazarite, that is to say, +consecrated to God from my mother's womb: If my head be shaven, my +strength shall depart from me, and I shall become weak, and shall be +like other men. + +16:18. Then seeing that he had discovered to her all his mind, she sent +to the princes of the Philistines, saying: Come up this once more, for +now he hath opened his heart to me. And they went up, taking with them +the money which they had promised. + +16:19. But she made him sleep upon her knees, and lay his head in her +bosom. And she called a barber and shaved his seven locks, and began to +drive him away, and thrust him from her: for immediately his strength +departed from him. + +16:20. And she said: The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And awaking +from sleep, he said in his mind: I will go out as I did before, and +shake myself, not knowing that the Lord was departed from him. + +16:21. Then the Philistines seized upon him, and forthwith pulled out +his eyes, and led him bound in chains to Gaza, and shutting him up in +prison made him grind. + +16:22. And now his hair began to grow again, + +16:23. And the princes of the Philistines assembled together, to offer +great sacrifices to Dagon their god, and to make merry, saying: Our god +hath delivered our enemy Samson into our hands. + +16:24. And the people also seeing this, praised their god, and said the +same: Our god hath delivered our adversary into our hands, him that +destroyed our country, and killed very many. + +16:25. And rejoicing in their feasts, when they had now taken their +good cheer, they commanded that Samson should be called, and should +play before them. And being brought out of prison, he played before +them; and they made him stand between two pillars. + +16:26. And he said to the lad that guided his steps: Suffer me to touch +the pillars which support the whole house, and let me lean upon them, +and rest a little. + +16:27. Now the house was full of men and women, and all the princes of +the Philistines were there. Moreover about three thousand persons of +both sexes, from the roof and the higher part of the house, were +beholding Samson's play. + +16:28. But he called upon the Lord, saying: O Lord God remember me, and +restore to me now my former strength, O my God, that I may revenge +myself on my enemies, and for the loss of my two eyes I may take one +revenge. + +Revenge myself. . .This desire of revenge was out of zeal for justice +against the enemies of God and his people; and not out of private +rancour and malice of heart. + +16:29. And laying hold on both the pillars on which the house rested, +and holding the one with his right hand, and the other with his left, + +16:30. He said: Let me die with the Philistines. And when he had +strongly shook the pillars, the house fell upon all the princes, and +the rest of the multitude, that was there: and he killed many more at +his death, than he had killed before in his life. + +Let me die. . .Literally, let my soul die. Samson did not sin on this +occasion, though he was indirectly the cause of his own death. Because +he was moved to what he did, by a particular inspiration of God, who +also concurred with him by a miracle, in restoring his strength upon +the spot, in consequence of his prayer. Samson, by dying in this +manner, was a figure of Christ, who by his death overcame all his +enemies. + +16:31. And his brethren and all his kindred, going down took his body, +and buried it between Saraa and Esthaol, in the buryingplace of his +father Manue: and he judged Israel twenty years. + + + +Judges Chapter 17 + + +The history of the idol of Michas, and the young Levite. + +17:1. There was at that time a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was +Michas. + +17:2. Who said to his mother: The eleven hundred pieces of silver, +which thou hadst put aside for thyself, and concerning which thou didst +swear in my hearing, behold I have, and they are with me. And she said +to him. Blessed be my son by the Lord. + +17:3. So he restored them to his mother, who said to him: I have +consecrated and vowed this silver to the Lord, that my son may receive +it at my hand, and make a graven and a molten god; so now I deliver it +to thee. + +17:4. And he restored them to his mother: and she took two hundred +pieces of silver and gave them to the silversmith, to make of them a +graven and a molten God, which was in the house of Michas. + +17:5. And he separated also therein a little temple for the god, and +made an ephod, and theraphim, that is to say, a priestly garment, and +idols: and he filled the hand of one of his sons, and he became his +priest. + +Filled the hand. . .That is, appointed and consecrated him to the +priestly office. + +17:6. In those days there was no king in Israel, but every one did that +which seemed right to himself. + +17:7. There was also another young man of Bethlehem Juda, of the +kindred thereof: and he was a Levite, and dwelt there. + +17:8. Now he went out from the city of Bethlehem, and desired to +sojourn wheresoever he should find it convenient for him. And when he +was come to mount Ephraim, as he was on his journey, and had turned +aside a little into the house of Michas, + +17:9. He was asked by him whence he came. And he answered: I am a +Levite of Bethlehem Juda, and I am going to dwell where I can, and +where I shall find a place to my advantage. + +17:10. And Michas said: Stay with me, and be unto me a father and a +priest, and I will give thee every year ten pieces of silver, and a +double suit of apparel, and thy victuals. + +17:11. He was content, and abode with the man, and was unto him as one +of his sons. + +17:12. And Michas filled his hand, and had the young man with him for +his priest, saying: + +17:13. Now I know God will do me good, since I have a priest of the +race of the Levites. + + + +Judges Chapter 18 + + +The expedition of the men of Dan against Lais: in their way they rob +Michas of his priest and his gods. + +18:1. In those days there was no king in Israel, and the tribe of Dan +sought them an inheritance to dwell in: for unto that day they had not +received their lot among the other tribes. + +Not received, etc. . .They had their portions assigned them, Jos. 19.40. +But, through their own sloth, possessed as yet but a small part of it. +See Judges 1.34. + +18:2. So the children of Dan sent five most valiant men, of their stock +and family, from Saraa and Esthaol, to spy out the land, and to view it +diligently: and they said to them: Go, and view the land. They went on +their way, and when they came to mount Ephraim, they went into the +house of Michas, and rested there: + +18:3. And knowing the voice of the young man the Levite, and lodging +with him, they said to him: Who brought thee hither? what dost thou +here? why wouldst thou come hither? + +18:4. He answered them: Michas hath done such and such things for me, +and hath hired me to be his priest. + +18:5. Then they desired him to consult the Lord, that they might know +whether their journey should be prosperous, and the thing should have +effect. + +18:6. He answered them: Go in peace: the Lord looketh on your way, and +the journey that you go. + +18:7. So the five men going on came to Lais: and they saw how the +people dwelt therein without any fear, according to the custom of the +Sidonians, secure and easy, having no man at all to oppose them, being +very rich, and living separated, at a distance from Sidon and from all +men. + +18:8. And they returned to their brethren in Saraa and Esthaol, who +asked them what they had done: to whom they answered: + +18:9. Arise, and let us go up to them: for we have seen the land which +is exceeding rich and fruitful: neglect not, lose no time: let us go +and possess it, there will be no difficulty. + +18:10. We shall come to a people that is secure, into a spacious +country, and the Lord will deliver the place to us, in which there is +no want of any thing that groweth on the earth. + +18:11. There went therefore of the kindred of Dan, to wit, from Saraa +and Esthaol, six hundred men, furnished with arms for war. + +18:12. And going up they lodged in Cariathiarim of Juda: which place +from that time is called the camp of Dan, and is behind Cariathiarim. + +18:13. From thence they passed into mount Ephraim. And when they were +come to the house of Michas, + +18:14. The five men, that before had been sent to view the land of +Lais, said to the rest of their brethren: You know that in these houses +there is an ephod and theraphim, and a graven and a molten god: see +what you are pleased to do. + +18:15. And when they had turned a little aside, they went into the +house of the young man the Levite, who was in the house of Michas: and +they saluted him with words of peace. + +18:16. And the six hundred men stood before the door, appointed with +their arms. + +18:17. But they that were gone into the house of the young man, went +about to take away the graven god, and the ephod, and the theraphim, +and the molten god, and the priest stood before the door, the six +hundred valiant men waiting not far off. + +18:18. So they that were gone in took away the graven thing, the ephod, +and the idols, and the molten god, And the priest said to them: What +are you doing? + +18:19. And they said to him: Hold thy peace, and put thy finger on thy +mouth, and come with us, that we may have thee for a father, and a +priest. Whether is better for thee, to be a priest in the house of one +man, or in a tribe and family in Israel? + +18:20. When he heard this, he agreed to their words, and took the +ephod, and the idols, and the graven god, and departed with them. + +18:21. And when they were going forward, and had put before them the +children and the cattle, and all that was valuable, + +18:22. And were now at a distance from the house of Michas, the men +that dwelt in the houses of Michas gathering together followed them, + +18:23. And began to shout out after them. They looked back, and said to +Michas: What aileth thee? Why dost thou cry? + +18:24. And he answered: You have taken away my gods which I have made +me, and the priest, and all that I have, and do you say: What aileth +thee? + +18:25. And the children of Dan said to him: See thou say no more to us, +lest men enraged come upon thee, and thou perish with all thy house. + +18:26. And so they went on the journey they had begun. But Michas +seeing that they were stronger than he, returned to his house. + +18:27. And the six hundred men took the priest, and the things we spoke +of before, and came to Lais, to a people that was quiet and secure, and +smote them with the edge of the sword: and the city they burnt with +fire, + +18:28. There being no man at all who brought them any succour, because +they dwelt far from Sidon, and had no society or business with any man. +And the city was in the land of Rohob: and they rebuilt it, and dwelt +therein, + +18:29. Calling the name of the city Dan, after the name of their +father, who was the son of Israel, which before was called Lais. + +18:30. And they set up to themselves the graven idol, and Jonathan the +son of Gersam, the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests in the +tribe of Dan, until the day of their captivity. + +18:31. And the idol of Michas remained with them all the time that the +house of God was in Silo. In those days there was no king in Israel. + + + +Judges Chapter 19 + + +A Levite bringing home his wife, is lodged by an old man at Gabaa in +the tribe of Benjamin. His wife is there abused by wicked men, and in +the morning found dead. Her husband cutteth her body in pieces, and +sendeth to every tribe of Israel, requiring them to revenge the wicked +fact. + +19:1. There was a certain Levite, who dwelt on the side of mount +Ephraim, who took a wife of Bethlehem Juda: + +19:2. And she left him, and returned to her father's house in +Bethlehem, and abode with him four months. + +19:3. And her husband followed her, willing to be reconciled with her, +and to speak kindly to her, and to bring her back with him, having with +him a servant and two asses: and she received him, and brought him into +her father's house. And when his father in law had heard this, and had +seen him, he met him with joy, + +19:4. And embraced the man. And the son in law tarried in the house of +his father in law three days, eating with him and drinking familiarly. + +19:5. But on the fourth day, arising early in the morning, he desired +to depart. But his father in law kept him, and said to him: Taste first +a little bread, and strengthen thy stomach, and so thou shalt depart. + +19:6. And they sat down together, and ate and drank. And the father of +the young woman said to his son in law: I beseech thee to stay here to +day, and let us make merry together. + +19:7. But he rising up, began to be for departing. And nevertheless his +father in law earnestly pressed him, and made him stay with him. + +19:8. But when morning was come, the Levite prepared to go on his +journey. And his father in law said to him again: I beseech thee to +take a little meat, and strengthening thyself, till the day be farther +advanced, afterwards thou mayest depart. And they ate together. + +19:9. And the young man arose to set forward with his wife and servant. +And his father in law spoke to him again: Consider that the day is +declining, and draweth toward evening: tarry with me to day also, and +spend the day in mirth, and to morrow thou shalt depart, that thou +mayest go into thy house. + +19:10. His son in law would not consent to his words: but forthwith +went forward, and came over against Jebus, which by another name is +called Jerusalem, leading with him two asses loaden, and his concubine. + +Concubine. She was his lawful wife, but even lawful wives are +frequently in scripture called concubines. See above, chap. 8. ver. +31.-ver. 16. Jemini. . .That is, Benjamin. + +19:11. And now they were come near Jebus, and the day was far spent: +and the servant said to his master: Come, I beseech thee, let us turn +into the city of the Jebusites, and lodge there. + +19:12. His master answered him: I will not go into the town of another +nation, who are not of the children of Israel, but I will pass over to +Gabaa: + +19:13. And when I shall come thither, we will lodge there, or at least +in the city of Rama. + +19:14. So they passed by Jebus, and went on their journey, and the sun +went down upon them when they were by Gabaa, which is in the tribe of +Benjamin: + +19:15. And they turned into it to lodge there. And when they were come +in, they sat in the street of the city, for no man would receive them +to lodge. + +19:16. And behold they saw an old man, returning out of the field and +from his work in the evening, and he also was of mount Ephraim, and +dwelt as a stranger in Gabaa; but the men of that country were the +children of Jemini. + +19:17. And the old man lifting up his eyes, saw the man sitting with +his bundles in the street of the city, and said to him: Whence comest +thou? and whither goest thou? + +19:18. He answered him: We came out from Bethlehem Juda, and we are +going to our home, which is on the side of mount Ephraim, from whence +we went to Bethlehem: and now we go to the house of God, and none will +receive us under his roof: + +19:19. We have straw and hay for provender of the asses, and bread and +wine for the use of myself and of thy handmaid, and of the servant that +is with me: we want nothing but lodging. + +19:20. And the old man answered him: Peace be with thee: I will furnish +all things that are necessary: only I beseech thee, stay not in the +street. + +19:21. And he brought him into his house, and gave provender to his +asses: and after they had washed their feet, he entertained them with a +feast. + +19:22. While they were making merry, and refreshing their bodies with +meat and drink, after the labour of the journey, the men of that city, +sons of Belial (that is, without yoke), came and beset the old man's +house, and began to knock at the door, calling to the master of the +house, and saying: Bring forth the man that came into thy house, that +we may abuse him: + +19:23. And the old man went out to them, and said: Do not so, my +brethren, do not so wickedly: because this man is come into my lodging, +and cease I pray you from this folly. + +19:24. I have a maiden daughter, and this man hath a concubine, I will +bring them out to you, and you may humble them, and satisfy your lust: +only, I beseech you, commit not this crime against nature on the man. + +19:25. They would not be satisfied with his words; which the man +seeing, brought out his concubine to them, and abandoned her to their +wickedness: and when they had abused her all the night, they let her go +in the morning. + +19:26. But the woman, at the dawning of the day, came to the door of +the house, where her lord lodged, and there fell down. + +19:27. And in the morning the man arose, and opened the door, that he +might end the journey he had begun: and behold his concubine lay before +the door with her hands spread on the threshold. + +19:28. He thinking she was taking her rest, said to her: Arise, and let +us be going. But as she made no answer, perceiving she was dead, he +took her up, and laid her upon his ass, and returned to his house. + +19:29. And when he was come home, he took a sword, and divided the dead +body of his wife with her bones into twelve parts, and sent the pieces +into all the borders of Israel. + +19:30. And when every one had seen this, they all cried out: There was +never such a thing done in Israel, from the day that our fathers came +up out of Egypt, until this day: give sentence, and decree in common +what ought to be done. + + + +Judges Chapter 20 + + +The Israelites warring against Benjamin are twice defeated; but in the +third battle the Benjamites are all slain, saving six hundred men. + +20:1. Then all the children of Israel went out, and gathered together +as one man, from Dan to Bersabee, with the land of Galaad, to the Lord +in Maspha: + +20:2. And all the chiefs of the people, and all the tribes of Israel, +met together in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred +thousand footmen fit for war. + +20:3. (Nor were the children of Benjamin ignorant that the children of +Israel were come up to Maspha.) And the Levite, the husband of the +woman that was killed being asked, how so great a wickedness had been +committed, + +20:4. Answered: I came into Gabaa, of Benjamin, with my wife, and there +I lodged: + +20:5. And behold the men of that city, in the night beset the house +wherein I was, intending to kill me, and abused my wife with an +incredible fury of lust, so that at last she died. + +20:6. And I took her and cut her in pieces, and sent the parts into all +the borders of your possession: because there never was so heinous a +crime, and so great an abomination committed in Israel. + +20:7. You are all here, O children of Israel, determine what you ought +to do. + +20:8. And all the people standing, answered as by the voice of one man: +We will not return to our tents, neither shall any one of us go into +his own house: + +20:9. But this we will do in common against Gabaa: + +20:10. We will take ten men of a hundred out of all the tribes of +Israel, and a hundred out of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten +thousand, to bring victuals for the army, that we may fight against +Gabaa of Benjamin, and render to it for its wickedness, what it +deserveth. + +20:11. And all Israel were gathered together against the city, as one +man, with one mind, and one counsel: + +20:12. And they sent messengers to all the tribe of Benjamin, to say to +them: Why hath so great an abomination been found among you? + +20:13. Deliver up the men of Gabaa, that have committed this heinous +crime, that they may die, and the evil may be taken away out of Israel. +But they would not hearken to the proposition of their brethren the +children of Israel: + +20:14. But out of all the cities which were of their lot, they gathered +themselves together into Gabaa, to aid them, and to fight against the +whole people of Israel. + +20:15. And there were found of Benjamin five and twenty thousand men +that drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gabaa, + +20:16. Who were seven hundred most valiant men, fighting with the left +hand as well as with the right: and slinging stones so sure that they +could hit even a hair, and not miss by the stone's going on either +side. + +20:17. Of the men of Israel also, beside the children of Benjamin, were +found four hundred thousand that drew swords and were prepared to +fight. + +20:18. And they arose and came to the house of God, that is, to Silo: +and they consulted God, and said: Who shall be in our army the first to +go to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord +answered them: Let Juda be your leader. + +20:19. And forthwith the children of Israel rising in the morning, +camped by Gabaa: + +20:20. And going out from thence to fight against Benjamin, began to +assault the city. + +20:21. And the children of Benjamin coming out of Gabaa slew of the +children of Israel that day two and twenty thousand men. + +20:22. Again Israel, trusting in their strength and their number, set +their army in array in the same place, where they had fought before: + +Trusting in their strength. . .The Lord suffered them to be overthrown +and many of them to be slain, though their cause was just; partly in +punishment of the idolatry which they exercised or tolerated in the +tribe of Dan, and elsewhere; and partly because they trusted in their +own strength; and therefore, though he bid them fight, he would not +give them the victory, till they were thoroughly humbled and had +learned to trust in him alone. + +20:23. Yet so that they first went up and wept before the Lord until +night: and consulted him and said: Shall I go out any more to fight +against the children of Benjamin my brethren or not? And he answered +them: Go up against them, and join battle. + +20:24. And when the children of Israel went out the next day to fight +against the children of Benjamin, + +20:25. The children of Benjamin sallied forth out of the gates of +Gabaa: and meeting them, made so great a slaughter of them, as to kill +eighteen thousand men that drew the sword. + +20:26. Wherefore all the children of Israel came to the house of God, +and sat and wept before the Lord: and they fasted that day till the +evening, and offered to him holocausts, and victims of peace offerings, + +20:27. And inquired of him concerning their state. At that time the ark +of the covenant of the Lord was there, + +20:28. And Phinees, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, was over the +house. So they consulted the Lord, and said: Shall we go out any more +to fight against the children of Benjamin, our brethren, or shall we +cease? And the Lord said to them: Go up, for to morrow I will deliver +them into your hands. + +20:29. And the children of Israel set ambushes round about the city of +Gabaa: + +20:30. And they drew up their army against Benjamin the third time, as +they had done the first and second. + +20:31. And the children of Benjamin boldly issued out of the city, and +seeing their enemies flee, pursued them a long way, so as to wound and +kill some of them, as they had done the first and second day, whilst +they fled by two highways, whereof one goeth up to Bethel and the other +to Gabaa, and they slew about thirty men: + +20:32. For they thought to cut them off as they did before. But they +artfully feigning a flight, designed to draw them away from the city, +and by their seeming to flee, to bring them to the highways aforesaid. + +20:33. Then all the children of Israel rising up out of the places +where they were, set their army in battle array, in the place which is +called Baalthamar. The ambushes also, which were about the city, began +by little and little to come forth, + +20:34. And to march from the west side of the city. And other ten +thousand men chosen out of all Israel, attacked the inhabitants of the +city. And the battle grew hot against the children of Benjamin: and +they understood not that present death threatened them on every side. + +20:35. And the Lord defeated them before the children of Israel, and +they slew of them in that day five and twenty thousand, and one +hundred, all fighting men, and that drew the sword. + +20:36. But the children of Benjamin, when they saw themselves to be too +weak, began to flee. Which the children of Israel seeing, gave them +place to flee, that they might come to the ambushes that were prepared, +which they had set near the city. + +20:37. And they that were in ambush arose on a sudden out of their +coverts, and whilst Benjamin turned their backs to the slayers, went +into the city, and smote it with the edge of the sword. + +20:38. Now the children of Israel had given a sign to them, whom they +had laid in ambushes, that after they had taken the city, they should +make a fire: that by the smoke rising on high, they might shew that the +city was taken. + +20:39. And when the children of Israel saw this in the battle, (for the +children of Benjamin thought they fled, and pursued them vigorously, +killing thirty men of their army) + +20:40. And perceived, as it were, a pillar of smoke rise up from the +city; and Benjamin looking back, saw that the city was taken, and that +the flames ascended on high: + +20:41. They that before had made as if they fled, turning their faces, +stood bravely against them. Which the children of Benjamin seeing, +turned their backs, + +20:42. And began to go towards the way of the desert, the enemy +pursuing them thither also. And they that fired the city came also out +to meet them. + +20:43. And so it was, that they were slain on both sides by the +enemies, and there was no rest of their men dying. They fell and were +beaten down on the east side of the city of Gabaa. + +20:44. And they that were slain in the same place, were eighteen +thousand men, all most valiant soldiers. + +20:45. And when they that remained of Benjamin saw this, they fled into +the wilderness, and made towards the rock that is called Remmon. In +that flight also, as they were straggling, and going different ways; +they slew of them five thousand men. And as they went farther, they +still pursued them, and slew also other two thousand. + +20:46. And so it came to pass, that all that were slain of Benjamin, in +divers places, were five and twenty thousand fighting men, most valiant +for war. + +20:47. And there remained of all the number of Benjamin only six +hundred men that were able to escape, and flee to the wilderness: and +they abode in the rock Remmon four months. + +20:48. But the children of Israel returning, put all the remains of the +city to the sword, both men and beasts, and all the cities and villages +of Benjamin were consumed with devouring flames. + + + +Judges Chapter 21 + + +The tribe of Benjamin is saved from being utterly extinct, by providing +wives for the six hundred that remained. + +21:1. Now the children of Israel had also sworn in Maspha, saying: None +of us shall give of his daughters to the children of Benjamin to wife. + +21:2. And they all came to the house of God in Silo, and sitting before +him till the evening, lifted up their voices, and began to lament and +weep, saying: + +21:3. O Lord God of Israel, why is so great an evil come to pass in thy +people, that this day one tribe should be taken away from among us? + +21:4. And rising early the next day, they built an altar: and offered +there holocausts, and victims of peace, and they said: + +21:5. Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with +the army of the Lord? for they had bound themselves with a great oath, +when they were in Maspha, that whosoever were wanting should be slain. + +21:6. And the children of Israel being moved with repentance for their +brother Benjamin, began to say: One tribe is taken away from Israel. + +21:7. Whence shall they take wives? For we have all in general sworn, +not to give our daughters to them. + +21:8. Therefore they said: Who is there of all the tribes of Israel, +that came not up to the Lord to Maspha? And, behold, the inhabitants of +Jabes Galaad were found not to have been in that army. + +21:9. (At that time also when they were in Silo, no one of them was +found there,) + +21:10. So they sent ten thousand of the most valiant men, and commanded +them, saying: Go and put the inhabitants of Jabes Galaad to the sword, +with their wives and their children. + +21:11. And this is what you shall observe: Every male, and all women +that have known men, you shall kill, but the virgins you shall save. + +21:12. And there were found of Jabes Galaad four hundred virgins, that +had not known the bed of a man, and they brought them to the camp in +Silo, into the land of Chanaan. + +21:13. And they sent messengers to the children of Benjamin, that were +in the rock Remmon, and commanded them to receive them in peace. + +21:14. And the children of Benjamin came at that time, and wives were +given them of Jabes Galaad: but they found no others, whom they might +give in like manner. + +21:15. And all Israel was very sorry, and repented for the destroying +of one tribe out of Israel. + +21:16. And the ancients said: What shall we do with the rest, that have +not received wives? for all the women in Benjamin are dead. + +21:17. And we must use all care, and provide with great diligence, that +one tribe be not destroyed out of Israel. + +21:18. For as to our own daughters we cannot give them, being bound +with an oath and a curse, whereby we said: Cursed be he that shall give +Benjamin any of his daughters to wife. + +21:19. So they took counsel, and said: Behold, there is a yearly +solemnity of the Lord in Silo, which is situate on the north of the +city of Bethel, and on the east side of the way, that goeth from Bethel +to Sichem, and on the south of the town of Lebona. + +21:20. And they commanded the children of Benjamin and said: Go, and +lie hid in the vineyards, + +21:21. And when you shall see the daughters of Silo come out, as the +custom is, to dance, come ye on a sudden out of the vineyards, and +catch you every man his wife among them, and go into the land of +Benjamin. + +21:22. And when their fathers and their brethren shall come, and shall +begin to complain against you, and to chide, we will say to them: Have +pity on them: for they took them not away as by the right of war or +conquest, but when they asked to have them, you gave them not, and the +fault was committed on your part. + +21:23. And the children of Benjamin did as they had been commanded: +and, according to their number, they carried off for themselves every +man his wife of them that were dancing: and they went into their +possession, and built up their cities, and dwelt in them. + +21:24. The children of Israel also returned by their tribes, and +families, to their dwellings. In those days there was no king in +Israel: but every one did that which seemed right to himself. + + + + +THE BOOK OF RUTH + + + +This Book is called RUTH, from the name of the person whose history is +here recorded: who, being a Gentile, became a convert to the true +faith, and marrying Booz, the great-grandfather of David, was one of +those from whom Christ sprung according to the flesh, and an +illustrious figure of the Gentile church. It is thought this book was +written by the prophet Samuel. + + + +Ruth Chapter 1 + + +Elimelech of Bethlehem going with his wife Noemi, and two sons, into +the land of Moab, dieth there. His sons marry wives of that country and +die without issue. Noemi returneth home with her daughter in law Ruth, +who refuseth to part with her. + +1:1. In the days of the judges, when the judges ruled, there came a +famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem Juda, went to +sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. + +1:2. He was named Elimelech, and his wife Noemi: and his two sons, the +one Mahalon, and the other Chelion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Juda. And +entering into the country of Moab, they abode there. + +1:3. And Elimelech the husband of Noemi died: and she remained with her +sons. + +1:4. And they took wives of the women of Moab, of which one was called +Orpha, and the other Ruth. And they dwelt their ten years, + +1:5. And they both died, to wit, Mahalon and Chelion: and the woman was +left alone, having lost both her sons and her husband. + +1:6. And she arose to go from the land of Moab to her own country, with +both her daughters in law: for she had heard that the Lord had looked +upon his people, and had given them food. + +1:7. Wherefore she went forth out of the place of her sojournment, with +both her daughters in law: and being now in the way to return into the +land of Juda, + +1:8. She said to them: Go ye home to your mothers, the Lord deal +mercifully with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. + +1:9. May he grant you to find rest in the houses of the husbands whom +you shall take. And she kissed them. And they lifted up their voice, +and began to weep, + +1:10. And to say: We will go on with thee to thy people. + +1:11. But she answered them: Return, my daughters: why come ye with me? +have I any more sons in my womb, that you may hope for husbands of me? + +1:12. Return again, my daughters, and go your ways: for I am now spent +with age, and not fit for wedlock. Although I might conceive this +night, and bear children, + +1:13. If you would wait till they were grown up, and come to man's +estate, you would be old women before you marry. Do not so, my +daughters, I beseech you: for I am grieved the more for your distress, +and the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. + +1:14. And they lifted up their voice, and began to weep again: Orpha +kissed her mother in law, and returned: Ruth stuck close to her mother +in law. + +1:15. And Noemi said to her: Behold thy kinswoman is returned to her +people, and to her gods, go thou with her. + +To her gods, etc. . .Noemi did not mean to persuade Ruth to return to +the false gods she had formerly worshipped: but by this manner of +speech, insinuated to her, that if she would go with her, she must +renounce her false gods and return to the Lord the God of Israel. + +1:16. She answered: Be not against me, to desire that I should leave +thee and depart: for whithersoever thou shalt go, I will go: and where +thou shalt dwell, I also will dwell. Thy people shall be my people, and +thy God my God. + +1:17. The land that shall receive thee dying, in the same will I die: +and there will I be buried. The Lord do so and so to me, and add more +also, if aught but death part me and thee. + +The Lord do so and so, etc. . .A form of swearing usual in the history +of the Old Testament, by which the person wished such and such evils to +fall upon them, if they did not do what they said. + +1:18. Then Noemi seeing that Ruth was steadfastly determined to go with +her, would not be against it, nor persuade her any more to return to +her friends: + +1:19. So they went together, and came to Bethlehem. And when they were +come into the city, the report was quickly spread among all: and the +women said: This is that Noemi. + +1:20. But she said to them: Call me not Noemi (that is, beautiful,) but +call me Mara (that is, bitter), for the Almighty hath quite filled me +with bitterness. + +1:21. I went out full and the Lord hath brought me back empty. Why then +do you call me Noemi, whom the Lord hath humbled, and the Almighty hath +afflicted? + +1:22. So Noemi came with Ruth, the Moabitess, her daughter in law, from +the land of her sojournment: and returned into Bethlehem, in the +beginning of the barley harvest. + + + +Ruth Chapter 2 + + +Ruth gleaneth in the field of Booz, who sheweth her favour. + +2:1. Now her husband Elimelech had a kinsman, a powerful man, and very +rich, whose name was Booz. + +2:3. And Ruth, the Moabitess, said to her mother in law: If thou wilt, +I will go into the field, and glean the ears of corn that escape the +hands of the reapers, wheresoever I shall find grace with a +householder, that will be favourable to me. And she answered her: Go, +my daughter. + +2:3. She went, therefore, and gleaned the ears of corn after the +reapers. And it happened that the owner of that field was Booz, who was +of the kindred of Elimelech. + +2:4. And behold, he came out of Bethlehem, and said to the reapers: The +Lord be with you. And they answered him: The Lord bless thee. + +2:5. And Booz said to the young man that was set over the reapers: +Whose maid is this ? + +2:6. And he answered him: This is the Moabitess, who came with Noemi, +from the land of Moab, + +2:7. And she desired leave to glean the ears of corn that remain, +following the steps of the reapers: and she hath been in the field from +morning till now, and hath not gone home for one moment. + +2:8. And Booz said to Ruth: Hear me, daughter, do not go to glean in +any other field, and do not depart from this place: but keep with my +maids, + +2:9. And follow where they reap. For I have charged my young men, not +to molest thee: and if thou art thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink +of the waters whereof the servants drink. + +2:10. She fell on her face, and worshipping upon the ground, said to +him: Whence cometh this to me, that I should find grace before thy +eyes, and that thou shouldst vouchsafe to take notice of me, a woman of +another country? + +2:11. And he answered her: All hath been told me, that thou hast done +to thy mother in law after the death of thy husband: and how thou hast +left thy parents, and the land wherein thou wast born, and art come to +a people which thou knewest not heretofore. + +2:12. The Lord render unto thee for thy work, and mayst thou receive a +full reward of the Lord the God of Israel, to whom thou art come, and +under whose wings thou art fled. + +2:13. And she said: I have found grace in thy eyes, my lord, who hast +comforted me, and hast spoken to the heart of thy handmaid, who am not +like to one of thy maids. + +2:14. And Booz said to her: At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of +the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. So she sat at the side of +the reapers, and she heaped to herself frumenty, and ate and was +filled, and took the leavings. + +2:15. And she arose from thence, to glean the ears of corn as before. +And Booz commanded his servants, saying: If she would even reap with +you, hinder her not: + +2:16. And let fall some of your handfuls of purpose, and leave them, +that she may gather them without shame, and let no man rebuke her when +she gathereth them. + +2:17. She gleaned therefore in the field till evening: and beating out +with a rod, and threshing what she had gleaned, she found about the +measure of an ephi of barley, that is, three bushels: + +2:18. Which she took up, and returned into the city, and shewed it to +her mother in law: moreover, she brought out, and gave her of the +remains of her meat, wherewith she had been filled. + +2:19. And her mother in law said to her: Where hast thou gleaned today, +and where hast thou wrought? blessed be he that hath had pity on thee. +And she told her with whom she had wrought: and she told the man's +name, that he was called Booz. + +2:20. And Noemi answered her: Blessed be he of the Lord: because the +same kindness which he shewed to the living, he hath kept also to the +dead. And again she said: The man is our kinsman. + +2:21. And Ruth said: He also charged me, that I should keep close to +his reapers, till all the corn should be reaped. + +2:22. And her mother in law said to her: It is better for thee, my +daughter, to go out to reap with his maids, lest in another man's field +some one may resist thee. + +2:23. So she kept close to the maids of Booz: and continued to glean +with them, till all the barley and the wheat were laid up in the barns. + + + +Ruth Chapter 3 + + +Ruth instructed by her mother in law lieth at Booz's feet, claiming him +for her husband by the law of affinity: she receiveth a good answer, +and six measures of barley. + +3:1. After she was returned to her mother in law, Noemi said to her: My +daughter, I will seek rest for thee, and will provide that it may be +well with thee. + +3:2. This Booz, with whose maids thou wast joined in the field, is our +near kinsman, and behold this night he winnoweth barley in the +threshingfloor. + +3:3. Wash thyself therefore and anoint thee, and put on thy best +garments, and go down to the barnfloor: but let not the man see thee, +till he shall have done eating and drinking. + +3:4. And when he shall go to sleep, mark the place wherein he sleepeth: +and thou shalt go in, and lift up the clothes wherewith he is covered +towards his feet, and shalt lay thyself down there: and he will tell +thee what thou must do. + +3:5. She answered: Whatsoever thou shalt command, I will do. + +3:6. And she went down to the barnfloor, and did all that her mother in +law had bid her. + +3:7. And when Booz had eaten, and drunk, and was merry, he went to +sleep by the heap of sheaves, and she came softly, and uncovering his +feet, laid herself down. + +3:8. And behold, when it was now midnight the man was afraid, and +troubled: and he saw a woman lying at his feet, + +3:9. And he said to her: Who art thou ? And she answered: I am Ruth, +thy handmaid: spread thy coverlet over thy servant, for thou art a near +kinsman. + +3:10. And he said: Blessed art thou of the Lord, my daughter, and thy +latter kindness has surpassed the former: because thou hast not +followed young men either poor or rich. + +Thy latter kindness, viz. . .to thy husband deceased in seeking to keep +up his name and family by marrying his relation according to the law, +and not following after young men. For Booz, it seems, was then in +years. + +3:11. Fear not therefore, but whatsoever thou shalt say to me I will do +to thee. For all the people that dwell within the gates of my city, +know that thou art a virtuous woman. + +3:12. Neither do I deny myself to be near of kin, but there is another +nearer than I. + +3:13. Rest thou this night: and when morning is come, if he will take +thee by the right of kindred, all is well: but if he will not, I will +undoubtedly take thee, so the Lord liveth: sleep till the morning. + +3:14. So she slept at his feet till the night was going off. And she +arose before men could know one another, and Booz said: Beware lest any +man know that thou camest hither. + +3:15. And again he said: Spread thy mantle, wherewith thou art covered, +and hold it with both hands. And when she spread it and held it, he +measured six measures of barley, and laid it upon her. And she carried +it, and went into the city, + +3:16. And came to her mother in law; who said to her: What hast thou +done, daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. + +3:17. And she said: Behold he hath given me six measures of barley: for +he said: I will not have thee return empty to thy mother in law. + +3:18. And Noemi said: Wait, my daughter, till we see what end the thing +will have. For the man will not rest until he have accomplished what he +hath said. + + + +Ruth Chapter 4 + + +Upon the refusal of the nearer kinsman, Booz marrieth Ruth, who +bringeth forth Obed, the grandfather of David. + +4:1. Then Booz went up to the gate, and sat there. And when he had seen +the kinsman going by, of whom he had spoken before, he said to him, +calling him by his name: Turn aside for a little while, and sit down +here. He turned aside, and sat down. + +4:2. And Booz, taking ten men of the ancients of the city, said to +them: Sit ye down here. + +4:3. They sat down, and he spoke to the kinsman: Noemi, who is returned +from the country of Moab will sell a parcel of land that belonged to +our brother Elimelech. + +4:4. I would have thee to understand this, and would tell thee before +all that sit here, and before the ancients of my people. If thou wilt +take possession of it by the right of kindred: buy it, and possess it: +but if it please thee not, tell me so, that I may know what I have to +do. For there is no near kinsman besides thee, who art first, and me, +who am second. But he answered: I will buy the field. + +4:5. And Booz said to him: When thou shalt buy the field at the woman's +hand, thou must take also Ruth, the Moabitess, who was the wife of the +deceased: to raise up the name of thy kinsman in his inheritance. + +4:6. He answered: I yield up my right of next akin: for I must not cut +off the posterity of my own family. Do thou make use of my privilege, +which I profess I do willingly forego. + +4:7. Now this in former times was the manner in Israel between kinsmen, +that if at any time one yielded his right to another: that the grant +might be sure, the man put off his shoe and gave it to his neighbour; +this was a testimony of cession of right in Israel. + +4:8. So Booz said to his kinsman: Put off thy shoe. And immediately he +took it off from his foot. + +4:9. And he said to the ancients, and to all the people: You are +witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and +Chelion's, and Mahalon's, of the hand of Noemi: + +4:10. And have taken to wife Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of Mahalon, +to raise up the name of the deceased in his inheritance lest his name +be cut off, from among his family and his brethren and his people. You, +I say, are witnesses of this thing. + +4:11. Then all the people that were in the gate, and the ancients, +answered: We are witnesses: The Lord make this woman who cometh into +thy house, like Rachel, and Lia, who built up the house of Israel: that +she may be an example of virtue in Ephrata, and may have a famous name +in Bethlehem: + +Ephrata. . .Another name of Bethlehem. + +4:12. And that the house may be, as the house of Phares, whom Thamar +bore unto Juda, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this +young woman. + +4:13. Booz therefore took Ruth, and married her: and went in unto her, +and the Lord gave her to conceive, and to bear a son. + +4:14. And the women said to Noemi: Blessed be the Lord, who hath not +suffered thy family to want a successor: that his name should be +preserved in Israel. + +4:15. And thou shouldst have one to comfort thy soul, and cherish thy +old age. For he is born of thy daughter in law: who loveth thee: and +is much better to thee, than if thou hadst seven sons. + +4:16. And Noemi taking the child, laid it in her bosom, and she carried +it, and was a nurse unto it. + +4:17. And the women, her neighbours, congratulating with her, and +saying, There is a son born to Noemi, called his name Obed: he is the +father of Isai, the father of David. + +4:18. These are the generations of Phares: Phares begot Esron, + +4:19. Esron begot Aram, Aram begot Aminadab, + +4:20. Aminadab begot Nahasson, Nahasson begot Salmon, + +4:21. Salmon begot Booz, Booz begot Obed, + +4:22. Obed begot Isai, Isai begot David. + + + + +THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL, OTHERWISE CALLED THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS + + + +This and the following Book are called by the Hebrews the books of +Samuel, because they contain the history of Samuel, and of the two +kings, Saul and David, whom he anointed. They are more commonly named +by the Fathers, the first and second book of kings. As to the writer of +them, it is the common opinion that Samuel composed the first book, as +far as the twenty-fifth chapter; and that the prophets Nathan and Gad +finished the first, and wrote the second book. See 1 Paralipomenon, +alias 1 Chronicles, 29.29. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 1 + + +Anna the wife of Elcana being barren, by vow and prayer obtaineth a +son: whom she calleth Samuel: and presenteth him to the service of God +in Silo, according to her vow. + +1:1. There was a man of Ramathaimsophim, of Mount Ephraim, and his name +was Elcana, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliu, the son of Thohu, the +son of Suph, an Ephraimite: + +An Ephraimite. . .He was of the tribe of Levi, 1. Par. 6.34, but is +called an Ephraimite from dwelling in mount Ephraim. + +1:2. And he had two wives, the name of one was Anna, and the name of +the other Phenenna. Phenenna had children: but Anna had no children. + +1:3. And this man went up out of his city upon the appointed days, to +adore and to offer sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Silo. And the two +sons of Heli, Ophni and Phinees, were there priests of the Lord. + +1:4. Now the day came, and Elcana offered sacrifice, and gave to +Phenenna, his wife, and to all her sons and daughters, portions: + +1:5. But to Anna he gave one portion with sorrow, because he loved +Anna. And the Lord had shut up her womb. + +1:6. Her rival also afflicted her, and troubled her exceedingly, +insomuch that she upbraided her, that the Lord had shut up her womb: + +1:7. And thus she did every year, when the time returned, that they +went up to the temple of the Lord: and thus she provoked her: but Anna +wept, and did not eat. + +1:8. Then Elcana, her husband, said to her: Anna, why weepest thou? and +why dost thou not eat? and why dost thou afflict thy heart? Am not I +better to thee than ten children? + +1:9. So Anna arose after she had eaten and drunk in Silo: And Heli, the +priest, sitting upon a stool before the door of the temple of the Lord; + +1:10. As Anna had her heart full of grief, she prayed to the Lord, +shedding many tears, + +1:11. And she made a vow, saying: O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt look +down, and wilt be mindful of me, and not forget thy handmaid, and wilt +give to thy servant a manchild: I will give him to the Lord all the +days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head. + +1:12. And it came to pass, as she multiplied prayers before the Lord, +that Heli observed her mouth. + +1:13. Now Anna spoke in her heart, and only her lips moved, but her +voice was not heard at all. Heli therefore thought her to be drunk, + +1:14. And said to her: How long wilt thou be drunk? digest a little the +wine, of which thou hast taken too much. + +1:15. Anna answering, said: Not so, my lord: for I am an exceeding +unhappy woman, and have drunk neither wine nor any strong drink, but I +have poured out my soul before the Lord. + +1:16. Count not thy handmaid for one of the daughters of Belial: for +out of the abundance of my sorrow and grief have I spoken till now. + +1:17. Then Heli said to her: Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant +thee thy petition, which thou hast asked of him. + +1:18. And she said: Would to God thy handmaid may find grace in thy +eyes. So the woman went on her way, and ate, and her countenance was no +more changed. + +1:19. And they rose in the morning, and worshipped before the Lord: and +they returned, and came into their house at Ramatha. And Elcana knew +Anna his wife: And the Lord remembered her. + +1:20. And it came to pass when the time was come about, Anna conceived +and bore a son, and called his name Samuel: because she had asked him +of the Lord. + +Samuel. . .This name imports, asked of God. + +1:21. And Elcana, her husband, went up, and all his house, to offer to +the Lord the solemn sacrifice, and his vow. + +1:22. But Anna went not up: for she said to her husband: I will not go +till the child be weaned, and till I may carry him, that he may appear +before the Lord, and may abide always there. + +1:23. And Elcana, her husband, said to her: Do what seemeth good to +thee, and stay till thou wean him: and I pray that the Lord may fulfil +his word. So the woman staid at home, and gave her son suck, till she +weaned him. + +1:24. And after she had weaned him, she carried him with her, with +three calves, and three bushels of flour, and a bottle of wine, and she +brought him to the house of the Lord in Silo. Now the child was as yet +very young: + +1:25. And they immolated a calf, and offered the child to Heli. + +1:26. And Anna said: I beseech thee, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my +lord: I am that woman, who stood before thee here praying to the Lord. + +1:27. For this child did I pray, and the Lord hath granted me my +petition, which I asked of him. + +1:28. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord all the days of his +life, he shall be lent to the Lord. And they adored the Lord there. And +Anna prayed, and said: + + + +1 Kings Chapter 2 + + +The canticle of Anna. The wickedness of the sons of Heli: for which +they are not duly corrected by their father. A prophecy against the +house of Heli. + +2:1. My heart hath rejoiced in the Lord, and my horn is exalted in my +God: my mouth is enlarged over my enemies: because I have joyed in thy +salvation. + +My horn. . .The horn in the scriptures signifies strength, power, the +horn is said to be exalted, when a person receives an increase of +strength or glory. + +2:2. There is none holy as the Lord is: for there is no other beside +thee, and there is none strong like our God. + +2:3. Do not multiply to speak lofty things, boasting: let old matters +depart from your mouth: for the Lord is a God of all knowledge, and to +him are thoughts prepared. + +2:4. The bow of the mighty is overcome, and the weak are girt with +strength. + +2:5. They that were full before, have hired out themselves for bread: +and the hungry are filled, so that the barren hath borne many: and she +that had many children is weakened. + +2:6. The Lord killeth and maketh alive, he bringeth down to hell, and +bringeth back again. + +2:7. The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich, he humbleth and he exalteth: + +2:8. He raiseth up the needy from the dust, and lifteth up the poor +from the dunghill: that he may sit with princes, and hold the throne of +glory. For the poles of the earth are the Lord's, and upon them he hath +set the world. + +2:9. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be +silent in darkness; because no man shall prevail by his own strength. + +2:10. The adversaries of the Lord shall fear him: and upon them shall +he thunder in the heavens: The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth, +and he shall give empire to his king, and shall exalt the horn of his +Christ. + +2:11. And Elcana went to Ramatha, to his house: but the child +ministered in the sight of the Lord before the face of Heli the priest. + +2:12. Now the sons of Heli were children of Belial, not knowing the +Lord, + +2:13. Nor the office of the priests to the people: but whosoever had +offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest came, while the flesh +was in boiling, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand, + +2:14. And thrust it into the kettle, or into the cauldron, or into the +pot, or into the pan: and all that the fleshhook brought up, the priest +took to himself. Thus did they to all Israel that came to Silo. + +2:15. Also before they burnt the fat, the servant of the priest came, +and said to the man that sacrificed: Give me flesh to boil for the +priest: for I will not take of thee sodden flesh, but raw. + +2:16. And he that sacrificed said to him: Let the fat first be burnt to +day, according to the custom, and then take to thee as much as thy soul +desireth. But he answered, and said to him: Not so: but thou shalt +give it me now, or else I will take it by force. + +2:17. Wherefore the sin of the young men was exceeding great before the +Lord: because they withdrew men from the sacrifice of the Lord. + +2:18. But Samuel ministered before the face of the Lord: being a child +girded with a linen ephod. + +2:19. And his mother made him a little coat, which she brought to him +on the appointed days, when she went up with her husband, to offer the +solemn sacrifice. + +2:20. And Heli blessed Elcana and his wife: and he said to him: The +Lord give thee seed of this woman, for the loan thou hast lent to the +Lord. And they went to their own home. + +2:21. And the Lord visited Anna, and she conceived, and bore three +sons, and two daughters: and the child Samuel became great before the +Lord. + +2:22. Now Heli was very old, and he heard all that his sons did to all +Israel: and how they lay with the women that waited at the door of the +tabernacle: + +2:23. And he said to them: Why do ye these kinds of things, which I +hear, very wicked things, from all the people? + +2:24. Do not so, my sons: for it is no good report that I hear, that +you make the people of the Lord to transgress. + +2:25. If one man shall sin against another, God may be appeased in his +behalf: but if a man shall sin against the Lord, who shall pray for +him? And they hearkened not to the voice of their father, because the +Lord would slay them. + +Who shall pray for him. . .By this word Heli would have his sons +understand, that by their wicked abuse of sacred things, and of the +very sacrifices which were appointed to appease the Lord, they deprived +themselves of the ordinary means of reconciliation with God; which was +by sacrifices. The more, because they were the chief priests whose +business it was to intercede for all others, they had no other to offer +sacrifices and to make atonement for them. Ibid. Because the Lord would +slay them. . .In consequence of their manifold sacrileges, he would not +soften their hearts with his efficacious grace, but was determined to +destroy them. + +2:26. But the child Samuel advanced, and grew on, and pleased both the +Lord and men. + +2:27. And there came a man of God to Heli, and said to him: Thus saith +the Lord: Did I not plainly appear to thy father's house, when they +were in Egypt in the house of Pharao? + +2:28. And I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, +to go up to my altar, and burn incense to me, and to wear the ephod +before me: and I gave to thy father's house of all the sacrifices of +the children of Israel. + +2:29. Why have you kicked away my victims, and my gifts which I +commanded to be offered in the temple: and thou hast rather honoured +thy sons than me, to eat the firstfruits of every sacrifice of my +people Israel? + +2:30. Wherefore thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: I said indeed +that thy house, and the house of thy father, should minister in my +sight, for ever. But now saith the Lord: Far be this from me: but +whosoever shall glorify me, him will I glorify: but they that despise +me, shall be despised. + +2:31. Behold the days come: and I will cut off thy arm, and the arm of +thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thy house. + +2:32. And thou shalt see thy rival in the temple, in all the prosperity +of Israel, and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever. + +Thy rival. . .A priest of another race. This was partly fulfilled, when +Abiathar, of the race of Heli, was removed from the priesthood, and +Sadoc, who was of another line, was substituted in his place. But it +was more fully accomplished in the New Testament, when the priesthood +of Aaron gave place to that of Christ. + +2:33. However, I will not altogether take away a man of thee from my +altar: but that thy eyes may faint, and thy soul be spent: and a great +part of thy house shall die, when they come to man's estate. + +2:34. And this shall be a sign to thee, that shall come upon thy two +sons, Ophni and Phinees: in one day they shall both of them die. + +2:35. And I will raise me up a faithful priest, who shall do according +to my heart, and my soul and I will build him a faithful house, and he +shall walk all days before my anointed. + +2:36. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall remain in thy +house shall come that he may be prayed for, and shall offer a piece of +silver, and a roll of bread, and shall say: Put me, I beseech thee, to +somewhat of the priestly office, that I may eat a morsel of bread. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 3 + + +Samuel is four times called by the Lord: who revealeth to him the evil +that shall fall on Heli, and his house. + +3:1. Now the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Heli, and the +word of the Lord was precious in those days, there was no manifest +vision. + +Precious. . .That is, rare. + +3:2. And it came to pass one day when Heli lay in his place, and his +eyes were grown dim, that he could not see: + +3:3. Before the lamp of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the +Lord, where the ark of God was. + +3:4. And the Lord called Samuel. And he answered: Here am I. + +3:5. And he ran to Heli, and said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. +He said: I did not call: go back and sleep. And he went and slept. + +3:6. And the Lord called Samuel again. And Samuel arose and went to +Heli, and said: Here am I: for thou calledst me. He answered: I did +not call thee, my son: return and sleep. + +3:7. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither had the word of the +Lord been revealed to him. + +3:8. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose up +and went to Heli, + +3:9. And said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. Then Heli understood +that the Lord called the child, and he said to Samuel: Go, and sleep: +and if he shall call thee any more, thou shalt say: Speak, Lord, for +thy servant heareth. So Samuel went, and slept in his place. + +3:10. And the Lord came, and stood, and he called, as he had called the +other times, Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak, Lord, for thy +servant heareth. + +3:11. And the Lord said to Samuel: Behold I do a thing in Israel: and +whosoever shall hear it, both his ears shall tingle. + +3:12. In that day I will raise up against Heli all the things I have +spoken concerning his house: I will begin, and I will make an end. + +3:13. For I have foretold unto him, that I will judge his house for +ever, for iniquity, because he knew that his sons did wickedly, and did +not chastise them. + +3:14. Therefore have I sworn to the house of Heli, that the iniquity of +his house shall not be expiated with victims nor offerings for ever. + +3:15. And Samuel slept till morning, and opened the doors of the house +of the Lord. And Samuel feared to tell the vision to Heli. + +3:16. Then Heli called Samuel, and said: Samuel, my son. And he +answered: Here am I. + +3:17. And he asked him: What is the word that the Lord hath spoken to +thee? I beseech thee hide it not from me. May God do so and so to thee, +and add so and so, if thou hide from me one word of all that were said +to thee. + +3:18. So Samuel told him all the words, and did not hide them from him. +And he answered: It is the Lord: let him do what is good in his sight. + +3:19. And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and not one of his +words fell to the ground. + +3:20. And all Israel, from Dan to Bersabee, knew that Samuel was a +faithful prophet of the Lord. + +3:21. And the Lord again appeared in Silo, for the Lord revealed +himself to Samuel in Silo, according to the word of the Lord. And the +word of Samuel came to pass to all Israel. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 4 + + +The Israelites being overcome by the Philistines, send for the ark of +God: but they are beaten again, the sons of Heli are killed, and the +ark taken: upon the hearing of the news Heli falleth backward and +dieth. + +4:1. And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered +themselves together to fight: and Israel went out to war against the +Philistines, and camped by the Stone of help. And the Philistines came +to Aphec, + +The Stone of help. . .In Hebrew Eben-ezer; so called from the help which +the Lord was pleased afterwards to give to his people Israel in that +place, by the prayers of Samuel, chap. 7.12. + +4:2. And put their army in array against Israel. And when they had +joined battle, Israel turned their backs to the Philistines: and there +were slain in that fight, here and there in the fields, about four +thousand men. + +4:3. And the people returned to the camp: and the ancients of Israel +said: Why hath the Lord defeated us to day before the Philistines? Let +us fetch unto us the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Silo, and let +it come in the midst of us, that it may save us from the hand of our +enemies. + +4:4. So the people sent to Silo, and they brought from thence the ark +of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, sitting upon the cherubims: and +the two sons of Heli, Ophni and Phinees, were with the ark of the +covenant of God. + +4:5. And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord was come into the +camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, and the earth rang again. + +4:6. And the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, and they said: +What is this noise of a great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And +they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp. + +4:7. And the Philistines were afraid, saying: God is come into the +camp. And sighing, they said: + +4:8. Woe to us: for there was no such great joy yesterday, and the day +before: Woe to us. Who shall deliver us from the hand of these high +Gods? these are the Gods that struck Egypt with all the plagues in the +desert. + +4:9. Take courage, and behave like men, ye Philistines: lest you come +to be servants to the Hebrews, as they have served you: take courage +and fight. + +4:10. So the Philistines fought, and Israel was overthrown, and every +man fled to his own dwelling: and there was an exceeding great +slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. + +4:11. And the ark of God was taken: and the two sons of Heli, Ophni and +Phinees, were slain. + +4:12. And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Silo +the same day, with his clothes rent, and his head strewed with dust. + +4:13. And when he was come, Heli sat upon a stool over against the way, +watching. For his heart was fearful for the ark of God. And when the +man was come into the city, he told it: and all the city cried out. + +4:14. And Heli heard the noise of the cry, and he said: What meaneth +the noise of this uproar? But he made haste, and came, and told Heli. + +4:15. Now Heli was ninety and eight years old, and his eyes were dim, +and he could not see. + +4:16. And he said to Heli: I am he that came from the battle, and have +fled out of the field this day. And he said to him: What is there done, +my son? + +4:17. And he that brought the news answered, and said: Israel is fled +before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter of the +people: moreover thy two sons, Ophni and Phinees, are dead: and the ark +of God is taken. + +4:18. And when he had named the ark of God, he fell from his stool +backwards by the door, and broke his neck and died. For he was an old +man, and far advanced in years: And he judged Israel forty years. + +Named the ark, etc. . .There is great reason, by all these +circumstances, to hope that Heli died in a state of grace; and by his +temporal punishments escaped the eternal. + +4:19. And his daughter in law, the wife of Phinees, was big with child, +and near her time: and hearing the news that the ark of God was taken, +and her father in law, and her husband, were dead, she bowed herself +and fell in labour: for her pains came upon her on a sudden. + +4:20. And when she was upon the point of death, they that stood about +her said to her: Fear not, for thou hast borne a son. She answered them +not, nor gave heed to them. + +4:21. And she called the child Ichabod, saying: The glory is gone from +Israel, because the ark of God was taken, and for her father in law, +and for her husband: + +Ichabod. . .That is, Where is the glory? or, there is no glory. We see +how much the Israelites lamented the loss of the ark, which was but the +symbol of God's presence among them. How much more ought Christians to +lament the loss of God himself, when by sin they have driven him out of +their souls. + +4:22. And she said: The glory is departed from Israel, because the ark +of God was taken. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 5 + + +Dagon twice falleth down before the ark. The Philistines are grievously +afflicted, wherever the ark cometh. + +5:1. And the Philistines took the ark of God, and carried it from the +Stone of help into Azotus. + +5:2. And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the +temple of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. + +5:3. And when the Azotians arose early the next day, behold Dagon lay +upon his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord: and they took +Dagon, and set him again in his place. + +5:4. And the next day again, when they rose in the morning, they found +Dagon lying upon his face on the earth before the ark of the Lord: and +the head of Dagon, and both the palms of his hands, were cut off upon +the threshold: + +5:5. And only the stump of Dagon remained in its place. For this cause +neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that go into the temple, tread on +the threshold of Dagon in Azotus unto this day. + +5:6. And the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the Azotians, and he +destroyed them, and afflicted Azotus and the coasts thereof with +emerods. And in the villages and fields in the midst of that country, +there came forth a multitude of mice, and there was the confusion of a +great mortality in the city. + +5:7. And the men of Azotus seeing this kind of plague, said: The ark of +the God of Israel shall not stay with us: for his hand is heavy upon +us, and upon Dagon, our god. + +5:8. And sending, they gathered together all the lords of the +Philistines to them, and said: What shall we do with the ark of the God +of Israel? And the Gethites answered: Let the ark of the God of Israel +be carried about. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about. + +5:9. And while they were carrying it about, the hand of the Lord came +upon every city with an exceeding great slaughter: and he smote the men +of every city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their +secret parts. And the Gethites consulted together, and made themselves +seats of skins. + +5:10. Therefore they sent the ark of God into Accaron. And when the ark +of God was come into Accaron, the Accaronites cried out, saying: They +have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our +people. + +5:11. They sent therefore, and gathered together all the lords of the +Philistines: and they said: Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and +let it return into its own place, and not kill us and our people. + +5:12. For there was the fear of death in every city, and the hand of +God was exceeding heavy. The men also that did not die, were afflicted +with the emerods: and the cry of every city went up to heaven. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 6 + + +The ark is sent back to Bethsames: where many are slain for looking +through curiosity into it. + +6:1. Now the ark of God was in the land of the Philistines seven +months. + +6:2. And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, +saying: What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? tell us how we are +to send it back to its place. And they said: + +6:3. If you send back the ark of the God of Israel, send it not away +empty, but render unto him what you owe for sin, and then you shall be +healed: and you shall know why his hand departeth not from you. + +6:4. They answered: What is it we ought to render unto him for sin? and +they answered: + +6:5. According to the number of the provinces of the Philistines you +shall make five golden emerods, and five golden mice: for the same +plague hath been upon you all, and upon your lords. And you shall make +the likeness of your emerods, and the likeness of the mice, that have +destroyed the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel: to +see if he will take off his hand from you, and from your gods, and from +your land. + +6:6. Why do you harden your hearts, as Egypt and Pharao hardened their +hearts? did not he, after he was struck, then let them go, and they +departed? + +6:7. Now, therefore, take and make a new cart: and two kine that have +calved, on which there hath come no yoke, tie to the cart, and shut up +their calves at home. + +6:8. And you shall take the ark of the Lord, and lay it on the cart, +and the vessels of gold, which you have paid him for sin, you shall put +into a little box at the side thereof: and send it away, that it may +go. + +6:9. And you shall look: and if it go up by the way of his own coasts, +towards Bethsames, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, we +shall know that it is not his hand hath touched us, but it hath +happened by chance. + +6:10. They did therefore in this manner: and taking two kine, that had +sucking calves, they yoked them to the cart, and shut up their calves +at home. + +6:11. And they laid the ark of God upon the cart, and the little box +that had in it the golden mice, and the likeness of the emerods. + +6:12. And the kine took the straight way, that leadeth to Bethsames, +and they went along the way, lowing as they went: and turned not aside +neither to the right hand nor to the left: and the lords of the +Philistines followed them as far as the borders of Bethsames. + +6:13. Now the Bethsamites were reaping wheat in the valley: and lifting +up their eyes, they saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. + +6:14. And the cart came into the field of Josue, a Bethsamite, and +stood there. And there was a great stone, and they cut in pieces the +wood of the cart, and laid the kine upon it a holocaust to the Lord. + +6:15. And the Levites took down the ark of God, and the little box that +was at the side of it, wherein were the vessels of gold, and they put +them upon the great stone. The men also of Bethsames offered +holocausts, and sacrificed victims that day to the Lord. + +6:16. And the five princes of the Philistines saw, and they returned to +Accaron the same day. + +6:17. And these are the golden emerods, which the Philistines returned +for sin to the Lord: For Azotus one, for Gaza one, for Ascalon one, for +Geth one, for Accaron one: + +6:18. And the golden mice, according to the number of the cities of the +Philistines, of the five provinces, from the fenced city to the village +that was without wall, and to the great Abel (the stone) whereon they +set down the ark of the Lord, which was till that day in the field of +Josue the Bethsamite. + +6:19. But he slew of the men of Bethsames, because they had seen the +ark of the Lord, and he slew of the people seventy men, and fifty +thousand of the common people. And the people lamented, because the +Lord had smitten the people with a great slaughter. + +Seen. . .And curiously looked into. It is likely this plague reached to +all the neighbouring country, as well as the city of Bethsames. + +6:20. And the men of Bethsames said: Who shall be able to stand before +the Lord this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us? + +6:21. And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Cariathiarim, +saying: The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord, come ye +down and fetch it up to you. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 7 + + +The ark is brought to Cariathiarim. By Samuel's exhortation the people +cast away their idols and serve God alone. The Lord defeateth the +Philistines, while Samuel offereth sacrifice. + +7:1. And the men of Cariathiarim came, and fetched up the ark of the +Lord, and carried it into the house of Abinadab, in Gabaa: and they +sanctified Eleazar, his son, to keep the ark of the Lord. + +In Gabaa. . .That is, on the hill, for Gabaa signifieth a hill. + +7:2. And it came to pass, that from the day the ark of the Lord abode +in Cariathiarim, days were multiplied (for it was now the twentieth +year) and all the house of Israel rested, following the Lord. + +7:3. And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying: If you turn +to the Lord with all your heart, put away the strange gods from among +you, Baalim and Astaroth: and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and +serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the +Philistines. + +7:4. Then the children of Israel put away Baalim and Astaroth, and +served the Lord only. + +7:5. And Samuel said: Gather all Israel to Masphath, that I may pray to +the Lord for you. + +7:6. And they gathered together to Masphath, and they drew water, and +poured it out before the Lord, and they fasted on that day, and they +said there: We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the +children of Israel in Masphath. + +7:7. And the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were +gathered together to Masphath, and the lords of the Philistines went up +against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard this, they were +afraid of the Philistines. + +7:8. And they said to Samuel: Cease not to cry to the Lord our God for +us, that he may save us out of the hand of the Philistines. + +7:9. And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it whole for a +holocaust to the Lord: and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel, and the +Lord heard him. + +7:10. And it came to pass, when Samuel was offering the holocaust, the +Philistines began the battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered +with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and terrified +them, and they were overthrown before the face of Israel. + +7:11. And the men of Israel going out of Masphath, pursued after the +Philistines, and made slaughter of them till they came under Bethchar. + +7:12. And Samuel took a stone, and laid it between Masphath and Sen: +and he called the place The stone of help. And he said: Thus far the +Lord hath helped us. + +7:13. And the Philistines were humbled, and they did not come any more +into the borders of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the +Philistines, all the days of Samuel. + +7:14. And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel, were +restored to Israel, from Accaron to Geth, and their borders: and he +delivered Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and there was peace +between Israel and the Amorrhites. + +7:15. And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life: + +7:16. And he went every year about to Bethel and to Galgal and to +Masphath, and he judged Israel in the foresaid places. + +7:17. And he returned to Ramatha: for there was his house, and there he +judged Israel: he built also there an altar to the Lord. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 8 + + +Samuel growing old, and his sons not walking in his ways, the people +desire a king. + +8:1. And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his +sons to be judges over Israel. + +8:2. Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel: and the name of the +second was Abia, judges in Bersabee. + +8:3. And his sons walked not in his ways: but they turned aside after +lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. + +8:4. Then all the ancients of Israel being assembled came to Samuel to +Ramatha. + +8:5. And they said to him: Behold thou art old, and thy sons walk not +in thy ways: make us a king, to judge us, as all nations have. + +8:6. And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, that they +should say: Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord. + +8:7. And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to the voice of the people in +all that they say to thee. For they have not rejected thee, but me, +that I should not reign over them. + +Rejected, etc. . .The government of Israel hitherto had been a +theocracy, in which God himself immediately ruled, by laws which he had +enacted, and by judges extraordinarily raised up by himself; and +therefore he complains that his people rejected him, in desiring a +change of government. + +8:8. According to all their works, they have done from the day that I +brought them out of Egypt until this day: as they have forsaken me, and +served strange gods, so do they also unto thee. + +8:9. Now, therefore, hearken to their voice: but yet testify to them, +and foretell them the right of the king, that shall reign over them. + +The right. . .That is, the manner (misphat) after which he shall +proceed, having no one to control him, when he has the power in his +hand. + +8:10. Then Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people that had +desired a king of him, + +8:11. And said: This will be the right of the king that shall reign +over you: He will take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and +will make them his horsemen, and his running footmen, to run before his +chariots, + +8:12. And he will appoint of them to be his tribunes, and his +centurions, and to plough his fields, and to reap his corn, and to make +him arms and chariots. + +8:13. Your daughters also he will take to make him ointments, and to be +his cooks, and bakers. + +8:14. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best +oliveyards, and give them to his servants. + +8:15. Moreover he will take the tenth of your corn, and of the revenues +of your vineyards, to give to his eunuchs and servants. + +8:16. Your servants also, and handmaids, and your goodliest young men, +and your asses, he will take away, and put them to his work. + +8:17. Your flocks also he will tithe, and you shall be his servants. + +8:18. And you shall cry out in that day from the face of the king, whom +you have chosen to yourselves: and the Lord will not hear you in that +day, because you desired unto yourselves a king. + +8:19. But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, and they said, +Nay: but there shall be a king over us, + +8:20. And we also will be like all nations: and our king shall judge +us, and go out before us, and fight our battles for us. + +8:21. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and rehearsed them +in the ears of the Lord. + +8:22. And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to their voice, and make +them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel: Let every man go to +his city. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 9 + + +Saul seeking his father's asses, cometh to Samuel, by whom he is +entertained. + +9:1. Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Cis, the son of +Abiel, the son of Seror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphia, the +son of a man of Jemini, valiant and strong. + +9:2. And he had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and goodly man, and +there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: +from his shoulders and upward he appeared above all the people. + +9:3. And the asses of Cis, Saul's father, were lost: and Cis said to +his son Saul: Take one of the servants with thee, and arise, go, and +seek the asses. And when they had passed through Mount Ephraim, + +9:4. And through the land of Salisa, and had not found them, they +passed also through the land of Salim, and they were not there: and +through the land of Jemini, and found them not. + +9:5. And when they were come to the land of Suph, Saul said to the +servant that was with him: Come, let us return, lest perhaps my father +forget the asses, and be concerned for us. + +9:6. And he said to him: Behold there is a man of God in this city, a +famous man: all that he saith, cometh certainly to pass. Now, +therefore, let us go thither, perhaps he may tell us of our way, for +which we are come. + +9:7. And Saul said to his servant: Behold we will go: but what shall we +carry to the man of God? the bread is spent in our bags: and we have no +present to make to the man of God, nor any thing at all. + +9:8. The servant answered Saul again, and said: Behold there is found +in my hand the fourth part of a sicle of silver, let us give it to the +man of God, that he may tell us our way. + +9:9. Now in time past in Israel, when a man went to consult God, he +spoke thus: Come, let us go to the seer. For he that is now called a +prophet, in time past was called a seer. + +Seer. . .Because of his seeing by divine light hidden things and things +to come. + +9:10. And Saul said to his servant: Thy word is very good, come let us +go. And they went into the city, where the man of God was. + +9:11. And when they went up the ascent to the city, they found maids +coming out to draw water, and they said to them: Is the seer here? + +9:12. They answered and said to them: He is: behold he is before you, +make haste now: for he came to day into the city, for there is a +sacrifice of the people to day in the high place. + +A sacrifice. . .The law did not allow of sacrifices in any other place, +but at the tabernacle, or temple, in which the ark of the covenant was +kept; but Samuel, by divine dispensation, offered sacrifices in other +places. For which dispensation this reason may be alleged, that the +house of God in Silo, having lost the ark, was now cast off; as a +figure of the reprobation of the Jews, Ps. 77.60, 67. And in +Cariathiarim where the ark was, there was neither tabernacle, nor +altar.--Ibid. The high place. . .Excelsum. The excelsa, or high places, +so often mentioned in scripture, were places of worship, in which were +altars for sacrifice. These were sometimes employed in the service of +the true God, as in the present case: but more frequently in the +service of idols; and were called excelsa, which is commonly (though +perhaps not so accurately) rendered high places; not because they were +always upon hills, for the very worst of all, which was that of +Topheth, or Geennom, (Jer. 19.) was in a valley; but because of the +high altars, and pillars, or monuments, erected there, on which were +set up the idols, or images of their deities. + +9:13. As soon as you come into the city, you shall immediately find +him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not +eat till he come; because he blesseth the victim, and afterwards they +eat that are invited. Now, therefore, go up, for to day you shall find +him. + +9:14. And they went up into the city. And when they were walking in the +midst of the city, behold Samuel was coming out over against them, to +go up to the high place. + +9:15. Now the Lord had revealed to the ear of Samuel the day before +Saul came, saying: + +9:16. To morrow about this same hour I will send thee a man of the land +of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be ruler over my people +Israel: and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: +for I have looked down upon my people, because their cry is come to me. + +9:17. And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him: Behold the man, +of whom I spoke to thee, this man shall reign over my people. + +9:18. And Saul came to Samuel in the midst of the gate, and said: Tell +me, I pray thee, where is the house of the seer? + +9:19. And Samuel answered Saul, saying: I am the seer; go up before me +to the high place, that you may eat with me to day, and I will let thee +go in the morning: and tell thee all that is in thy heart. + +9:20. And as for the asses, which were lost three days ago, be not +solicitous, because they are found. And for whom shall be all the best +things of Israel? Shall they not be for thee and for all thy father's +house? + +9:21. And Saul answering, said: Am not I a son of Jemini of the least +tribe of Israel, and my kindred the last among all the families of the +tribe of Benjamin? Why then hast thou spoken this word to me? + +9:22. Then Samuel taking Saul, and his servant, brought them into the +parlour, and gave them a place at the head of them that were invited. +For there were about thirty men. + +9:23. And Samuel said to the cook: Bring the portion which I gave thee, +and commanded thee to set it apart by thee. + +9:24. And the cook took up the shoulder, and set it before Saul. And +Samuel said: Behold what is left, set it before thee, and eat; because +it was kept of purpose for thee, when I invited the people. And Saul +ate with Samuel that day. + +9:25. And they went down from the high place into the town, and he +spoke with Saul upon the top of the house: and he prepared a bed for +Saul on the top of the house and he slept. + +9:26. And when they were risen in the morning, and it began now to be +light, Samuel called Saul on the top of the house, saying: Arise, that +I may let thee go. And Saul arose: and they went out both of them: to +wit, he and Samuel. + +9:27. And as they were going down in the end of the city, Samuel said +to Saul: Speak to the servant to go before us, and pass on: but stand +thou still a while, that I may tell thee the word of the Lord. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 10 + + +Saul is anointed. He prophesieth, and is changed into another man. +Samuel calleth the people together, to make a king: the lot falleth on +Saul. + +10:1. And Samuel took a little vial of oil, and poured it upon his +head, and kissed him, and said: Behold, the Lord hath anointed thee to +be prince over his inheritance, and thou shalt deliver his people out +of the hands of their enemies, that are round about them. And this +shall be a sign unto thee, that God hath anointed thee to be prince. + +10:2. When thou shalt depart from me this day, thou shalt find two men +by the sepulchre of Rachel in the borders of Benjamin to the south, and +they shall say to thee: The asses are found which thou wentest to seek: +and thy father, thinking no more of the asses, is concerned for you, +and saith: What shall I do for my son? + +10:3. And when thou shalt depart from thence, and go farther on, and +shalt come to the oak of Thabor, there shall meet thee three men going +up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another three loaves +of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine. + +Bethel. . .Where there was at that time an altar of God; it being one of +the places where Samuel judged Israel. + +10:4. And they will salute thee, and will give thee two loaves, and +thou shalt take them at their hand. + +10:5. After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where the garrison +of the Philistines is: and when thou shalt be come there into the city, +thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place, +with a psaltery, and a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp before them, and +they shall be prophesying. + +The hill of God. . .Gabaa, in which there was also at that time, a high +place or altar.--Prophets. . .These were men whose office it was to sing +hymns and praises to God; for such in holy writ are called prophets, +and their singing praises to God is called prophesying. See 1 Par. +alias 1 Chr. 15.22, and 25.1. Now there were in those days colleges, or +schools for training up these prophets; and it seems there was one of +these schools at this hill of God; and another at Najoth in Ramatha. +See 1 Kings 19.20, 21, etc. + +10:6. And the Spirit of the Lord shall come upon thee, and thou shalt +prophesy with them, and shalt be changed into another man. + +10:7. When therefore these signs shall happen to thee, do whatsoever +thy hand shall find, for the Lord is with thee. + +10:8. And thou shalt go down before me to Galgal, (for I will come down +to thee), that thou mayst offer an oblation, and sacrifice victims of +peace: seven days shalt thou wait, till I come to thee, and I will shew +thee what thou art to do. + +Galgal. . .Here also by dispensation was an altar of God. + +10:9. So when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave unto +him another heart, and all these things came to pass that day. + +10:10. And they came to the foresaid hill, and behold a company of +prophets met him: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he +prophesied in the midst of them. + +10:11. And all that had known him yesterday and the day before, seeing +that he was with the prophets, and prophesied, said to each other: What +is this that hath happened to the son of Cis? is Saul also among the +prophets? + +10:12. And one answered another, saying: And who is their father? +therefore it became a proverb: Is Saul also among the prophets? + +Their father. . .That is, their teacher, or superior. As much as to say, +Who could bring about such a wonderful change as to make Saul a +prophet? + +10:13. And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high +place. + +10:14. And Saul's uncle said to him, and to his servant: Whither went +you? They answered: To seek the asses: and not finding them, we went +to Samuel. + +10:15. And his uncle said to him: Tell me what Samuel said to thee. + +10:16. And Saul said to his uncle: He told us that the asses were +found. But of the matter of the kingdom of which Samuel had spoken to +him, he told him not. + +10:17. And Samuel called together the people to the Lord in Maspha: + +10:18. And he said to the children of Israel: Thus saith the Lord the +God of Israel: I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you from +the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of all the kings who +afflicted you. + +10:19. But you this day have rejected your God, who only hath saved you +out of all your evils and your tribulations: and you have said: Nay: +but set a king over us. Now therefore stand before the Lord by your +tribes, and by your families. + +10:20. And Samuel brought to him all the tribes of Israel, and the lot +fell on the tribe of Benjamin. + +10:21. And he brought the tribe of Benjamin and the kindreds thereof, +and the lot fell upon the kindred of Metri, and it came to Saul, the +son of Cis. They sought him therefore, and he was not found. + +10:22. And after this they consulted the Lord whether he would come +thither. And the Lord answered: Behold he is hidden at home. + +10:23. And they ran and fetched him thence: and he stood in the midst +of the people, and he was higher than any of the people from the +shoulders and upward. + +10:24. And Samuel said to all the people: Surely you see him whom the +Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people. And +all the people cried and said: God save the king. + +10:25. And Samuel told the people the law of the kingdom, and wrote it +in a book, and laid it up before the Lord: and Samuel sent away all the +people, every one to his own house. + +10:26. Saul also departed to his own house in Gabaa: and there went +with him a part of the army, whose hearts God had touched. + +10:27. But the children of Belial said: Shall this fellow be able to +save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents; but he +dissembled as though he heard not. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 11 + + +Saul defeateth the Ammonites, and delivereth Jabes Galaad. + +11:1. And it came to pass about a month after this, that Naas, the +Ammonite, came up, and began to fight against Jabes Galaad. And all the +men of Jabes said to Naas: Make a covenant with us, and we will serve +thee. + +11:2. And Naas, the Ammonite, answered them: On this condition will I +make a covenant with you, that I may pluck out all your right eyes, and +make you a reproach in all Israel. + +11:3. And the ancients of Jabes said to him: Allow us seven days, that +we may send messengers to all the coasts of Israel: and if there be no +one to defend us, we will come out to thee. + +11:4. The messengers therefore came to Gabaa of Saul: and they spoke +these words in the hearing of the people: and all the people lifted up +their voices, and wept. + +11:5. And behold Saul came, following oxen out of the field, and he +said: What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the +words of the men of Jabes. + +11:6. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul, when he had heard +these words, and his anger was exceedingly kindled. + +11:7. And taking both the oxen, he cut them in pieces, and sent them +into all the coasts of Israel, by messengers, saying: Whosoever shall +not come forth, and follow Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his +oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell upon the people, and they went out +as one man. + +11:8. And he numbered them in Bezec: and there were of the children of +Israel three hundred thousand: and of the men of Juda thirty thousand. + +11:9. And they said to the messengers that came: Thus shall you say to +the men of Jabes Galaad: To morrow, when the sun shall be hot, you +shall have relief. The messengers therefore came, and told the men of +Jabes, and they were glad. + +11:10. And they said: In the morning we will come out to you: and you +shall do what you please with us. + +11:11. And it came to pass, when the morrow was come, that Saul put the +people in three companies: and he came into the midst of the camp in +the morning watch, and he slew the Ammonites until the day grew hot, +and the rest were scattered, so that two of them were not left +together. + +11:12. And the people said to Samuel: Who is he that said: Shall Saul +reign over us? Bring the men, and we will kill them. + +11:13. And Saul said: No man shall be killed this day: because the Lord +this day hath wrought salvation in Israel: + +11:14. And Samuel said to the people: Come, and let us go to Galgal, +and let us renew the kingdom there. + +11:15. And all the people went to Galgal, and there they made Saul +king, before the Lord in Galgal, and they sacrificed there victims of +peace before the Lord. And there Saul and all the men of Israel +rejoiced exceedingly. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 12 + + +Samuel's integrity is acknowledged. God sheweth by a sign from heaven +that they had done ill in asking for a king. + +12:1. And Samuel said to all Israel: Behold I have hearkened to your +voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you. + +12:2. And now the king goeth before you: but I am old and greyheaded: +and my sons are with you: having then conversed with you from my youth +until this day, behold here I am. + +12:3. Speak of me before the Lord, and before his anointed, whether I +have taken any man's ox, or ass: if I have wronged any man, if I have +oppressed any man, if I have taken a bribe at any man's hand: and I +will despise it this day, and will restore it to you. + +12:4. And they said: Thou hast not wronged us, nor oppressed us, nor +taken ought at any man's hand. + +12:5. And he said to them: The Lord is witness against you, and his +anointed is witness this day, that you have not found any thing in my +hand. And they said: He is witness. + +12:6. And Samuel said to the people: It is the Lord who made Moses and +Aaron, and brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt. + +12:7. Now, therefore, stand up, that I may plead in judgment against +you before the Lord, concerning all the kindness of the Lord, which he +hath shewn to you, and to your fathers: + +12:8. How Jacob went into Egypt, and your fathers cried to the Lord: +and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and brought your fathers out of +Egypt, and made them dwell in this place. + +12:9. And they forgot the Lord their God, and he delivered them into +the hands of Sisara, captain of the army of Hasor, and into the hands +of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they +fought against them. + +12:10. But afterwards they cried to the Lord, and said: We have sinned, +because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Astaroth: +but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve +thee. + +12:11. And the Lord sent Jerobaal, and Badan, and Jephte, and Samuel, +and delivered you from the hand of your enemies round about, and you +dwelt securely. + +Jerobaal and Badan. . .That is, Gedeon and Samson called here Badan or +Bedan, because he was of Dan. + +12:12. But seeing that Naas, king of the children of Ammon, was come +against you, you said to me: Nay, but a king shall reign over us: +whereas the Lord your God was your king. + +12:13. Now, therefore, your king is here, whom you have chosen and +desired: Behold the Lord hath given you a king. + +12:14. If you will fear the Lord, and serve him, and hearken to his +voice, and not provoke the mouth of the Lord: then shall both you, and +the king who reigneth over you, be followers of the Lord your God. + +12:15. But if you will not hearken to the voice of the Lord, but will +rebel against his words, the hand of the Lord shall be upon you, and +upon your fathers. + +12:16. Now then stand, and see this great thing which the Lord will do +in your sight. + +12:17. Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call upon the Lord, and +he shall send thunder and rain: and you shall know, and see that you +yourselves have done a great evil in the sight of the Lord, in desiring +a king over you. + +Wheat harvest. . .At which time of the year, it never thunders or rains +in those countries. + +12:18. And Samuel cried unto the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and +rain that day. + +12:19. And all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. And all +the people said to Samuel: Pray for thy servants to the Lord thy God, +that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to +ask for a king. + +12:20. And Samuel said to the people: Fear not, you have done all this +evil: but yet depart not from following the Lord, but serve the Lord +with all your heart. + +12:21. And turn not aside after vain things, which shall never profit +you, nor deliver you, because they are vain. + +12:22. And the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's +sake: because the Lord hath sworn to make you his people. + +12:23. And far from me be this sin against the Lord, that I should +cease to pray for you: and I will teach you the good and right way. + +12:24. Therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in truth, and with your +whole heart, for you have seen the great works which he hath done among +you. + +12:25. But if you will still do wickedly: both you and your king shall +perish together. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 13 + + +The war between Saul and the Philistines. The distress of the +Israelites. Saul offereth sacrifice before the coming of Samuel: for +which he is reproved. + +13:1. Saul was a child of one year when he began to reign, and he +reigned two years over Israel. + +Of one year. . .That is, he was good and like an innocent child, and for +two years continued in that innocency. + +13:2. And Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel: and two thousand +were with Saul in Machmas, and in mount Bethel: and a thousand with +Jonathan in Gabaa of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent back +every man to their dwellings. + +13:3. And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines which was in +Gabaa. And when the Philistines had heard of it, Saul sounded the +trumpet over all the land, saying: Let the Hebrews hear. + +13:4. And all Israel heard this report: Saul hath smitten the garrison +of the Philistines: and Israel took courage against the Philistines. +And the people were called together after Saul to Galgal. + +13:5. The Philistines also were assembled to fight against Israel, +thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and a multitude of +people besides, like the sand on the seashore for number. And going up +they camped in Machmas, at the east of Bethaven. + +13:6. And when the men of Israel saw that they were straitened (for the +people were distressed), they hid themselves in caves, and in thickets, +and in rocks, and in dens, and in pits. + +13:7. And some of the Hebrews passed over the Jordan into the land of +Gad and Galaad. And when Saul was yet in Galgal, all the people that +followed him were greatly afraid. + +13:8. And he waited seven days, according to the appointment of Samuel, +and Samuel came not to Galgal, and the people slipt away from him. + +13:9. Then Saul said: Bring me the holocaust, and the peace offerings. +And he offered the holocaust. + +13:10. And when he had made an end of offering the holocaust, behold +Samuel came: and Saul went forth to meet him and salute him. + +13:11. And Samuel said to him: What hast thou done? Saul answered: +Because I saw that the people slipt from me, and thou wast not come +according to the days appointed, and the Philistines were gathered +together in Machmas, + +13:12. I said: Now will the Philistines come down upon me to Galgal, +and I have not appeased the face of the Lord. Forced by necessity, I +offered the holocaust. + +13:13. And Samuel said to Saul: Thou hast done foolishly, and hast not +kept the commandments of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee. And +if thou hadst not done thus, the Lord would now have established thy +kingdom over Israel for ever: + +13:14. But thy kingdom shall not continue. The Lord hath sought him a +man according to his own heart: and him hath the Lord commanded to be +prince over his people, because thou hast not observed that which the +Lord commanded. + +13:15. And Samuel arose and went up from Galgal to Gabaa of Benjamin. +And the rest of the people went up after Saul, to meet the people who +fought against them, going from Galgal to Gabaa, in the hill of +Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people, that were found with him, about +six hundred men. + +13:16. And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present +with them, were in Gabaa of Benjamin: But the Philistines encamped in +Machmas. + +13:17. And there went out of the camp of the Philistines three +companies to plunder. One company went towards the way of Ephra to the +land of Sual; + +13:18. And another went by the way of Bethoron, and the third turned to +the way of the border, above the valley of Seboim towards the desert. + +13:19. Now there was no smith to be found in all the land of Israel, +for the Philistines had taken this precaution, lest the Hebrews should +make them swords or spears. + +13:20. So all Israel went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man +his ploughshare, and his spade, and his axe, and his rake. + +13:21. So that their shares, and their spades, and their forks, and +their axes, were blunt, even to the goad, which was to be mended. + +13:22. And when the day of battle was come, there was neither sword nor +spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and +Jonathan, except Saul and Jonathan his son. + +13:23. And the army of the Philistines went out in order to advance +further in Machmas. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 14 + + +Jonathan attacketh the Philistines. A miraculous victory. Saul's +unadvised oath, by which Jonathan is put in danger of his life, but is +delivered by the people. + +14:1. Now it came to pass one day that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said +to the young man that bore his armour: Come, and let us go over to the +garrison of the Philistines, which is on the other side of yonder +place. But he told not this to his father. + +14:2. And Saul abode in the uttermost part of Gabaa, under the +pomegranate tree, which was in Magron: and the people with him were +about six hundred men. + +14:3. And Achias, the son of Achitob, brother of Ichabod the son of +Phinees, the son of Heli, the priest of the Lord in Silo, wore the +ephod. And the people knew not whither Jonathan was gone. + +14:4. Now there were between the ascents, by which Jonathan sought to +go over to the garrison of the Philistines, rocks standing up on both +sides, and steep cliffs like teeth on the one side, and on the other, +the name of the one was Boses, and the name of the other was Sene: + +14:5. One rock stood out toward the north, over against Machmas, and +the other to the south, over against Gabaa. + +14:6. And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour: Come, +let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised, it may be the +Lord will do for us: because it is easy for the Lord to save either by +many, or by few. + +14:7. And his armourbearer said to him: Do all that pleaseth thy mind: +go whither thou wilt, and I will be with thee wheresoever thou hast a +mind. + +14:8. And Jonathan said: Behold we will go over to these men. And when +we shall be seen by them, + +14:9. If they shall speak thus to us: Stay till we come to you: let us +stand still in our place, and not go up to them. + +14:10. But if they shall say: Come up to us: let us go up, because the +Lord hath delivered them into our hands, this shall be a sign unto us. + +This shall be a sign. . .It is likely Jonathan was instructed by divine +inspiration to make a choice of this sign: otherwise the observation of +omens is superstitious and sinful. + +14:11. So both of them discovered themselves to the garrison of the +Philistines: and the Philistines said: Behold the Hebrews come forth +out of the holes wherein they were hid. + +14:12. And the men of the garrison spoke to Jonathan, and to his +armourbearer, and said: Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. +And Jonathan said to his armourbearer: Let us go up, follow me: for the +Lord hath delivered them into the hands of Israel. + +14:13. And Jonathan went up creeping on his hands and feet, and his +armourbearer after him. And some fell before Jonathan, others his +armourbearer slew as he followed him. + +14:14. And the first slaughter which Jonathan and his armourbearer +made, was of about twenty men, within half an acre of land, which a +yoke of oxen is wont to plough in a day. + +14:15. And there was a miracle in the camp, in the fields: and all the +people of their garrison, who had gone out to plunder, were amazed, and +the earth trembled: and it happened as a miracle from God. + +14:16. And the watchmen of Saul, who were in Gabaa of Benjamin looked, +and behold a multitude overthrown, and fleeing this way and that. + +14:17. And Saul said to the people that were with him: Look, and see +who is gone from us. And when they had sought, it was found that +Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there. + +14:18. And Saul said to Achias: Bring the ark of the Lord. (For the ark +of God was there that day with the children of Israel.) + +14:19. And while Saul spoke to the priest, there arose a great uproar +in the camp of the Philistines: and it increased by degrees, and was +heard more clearly. And Saul said to the priest: Draw in thy hand. + +14:20. Then Saul, and all the people that were with him, shouted +together, and they came to the place of the fight: and behold every +man's sword was turned upon his neighbour, and there was a very great +slaughter. + +14:21. Moreover, the Hebrews that had been with the Philistines +yesterday and the day before, and went up with them into the camp, +returned to be with the Israelites, who were with Saul and Jonathan. + +14:22. And all the Israelites that had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, +hearing that the Philistines fled, joined themselves with their +countrymen in the fight. And there were with Saul about ten thousand +men. + +14:23. And the Lord saved Israel that day. And the fight went on as far +as Bethaven. + +14:24. And the men of Israel were joined together that day: and Saul +adjured the people, saying: Cursed be the man that shall eat food till +evening, till I be revenged of my enemies. So none of the people tasted +any food. + +14:25. And all the common people came into a forest, in which there was +honey upon the ground. + +14:26. And when the people came into the forest, behold the honey +dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth. For the people feared +the oath. + +14:27. But Jonathan had not heard when his father adjured the people: +and he put forth the end of the rod, which he had in his hand, and dipt +it in a honeycomb: and he carried his hand to his mouth, and his eyes +were enlightened. + +14:28. And one of the people answering, said: Thy father hath bound the +people with an oath, saying: Cursed be the man that shall eat any food +this day. (And the people were faint.) + +14:29. And Jonathan said: My father hath troubled the land: you have +seen yourselves that my eyes are enlightened, because I tasted a little +of this honey: + +14:30. How much more if the people had eaten of the prey of their +enemies, which they found? had there not been made a greater slaughter +among the Philistines? + +14:31. So they smote that day the Philistines, from Machmas to Aialon. +And the people were wearied exceedingly. + +14:32. And falling upon the spoils, they took sheep, and oxen, and +calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people ate them with the +blood. + +14:33. And they told Saul that the people had sinned against the Lord, +eating with the blood. And he said: You have transgressed: roll here +to me now a great stone. + +14:34. And Saul said: Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell +them to bring me every man his ox and his ram and slay them upon this +stone, and eat, and you shall not sin against the Lord, in eating with +the blood. So all the people brought every man his ox with him till the +night: and slew them there. + +14:35. And Saul built an altar to the Lord: and he then first began to +build an altar to the Lord. + +14:36. And Saul said: Let us fall upon the Philistines by night, and +destroy them till the morning light, and let us not leave a man of +them. And the people said: Do all that seemeth good in thy eyes. And +the priest said: Let us draw near hither unto God. + +14:37. And Saul consulted the Lord: Shall I pursue after the +Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hands of Israel? And he +answered him not that day. + +14:38. And Saul said: Bring hither all the corners of the people: and +know, and see by whom this sin hath happened to day. + +14:39. As the Lord liveth, who is the Saviour of Israel, if it was done +by Jonathan, my son, he shall surely die. In this none of the people +gainsayed him. + +14:40. And he said to all Israel: Be you on one side and I, with +Jonathan, my son, will be on the other side. And the people answered +Saul: Do what seemeth good in thy eyes. + +14:41. And Saul said to the Lord: O Lord God of Israel, give a sign, by +which we may know, what the meaning is, that thou answerest not thy +servant to day: If this iniquity be in me, or in my son Jonathan, give +a proof: or if this iniquity be in thy people, give holiness. And +Jonathan and Saul were taken, and the people escaped. + +14:42. And Saul said: (Cast lots between me, and Jonathan, my son. And +Jonathan was taken. + +Jonathan was taken. . .Though Jonathan was excused from sin, through +ignorance of the prohibition, yet God was pleased on this occasion to +let the lot fall upon him, to shew unto all the great obligation of +obedience to princes and parents. + +14:43. And Saul said to Jonathan: Tell me what thou hast done. And +Jonathan told him, and said: I did but taste a little honey with the +end of the rod, which was in my hand, and behold I must die. + +14:44. And Saul said: May God do so and so to me, and add still more: +for dying thou shalt die, O Jonathan. + +14:45. And the people said to Saul: Shall Jonathan then die, who hath +wrought this great salvation in Israel? this must not be: As the Lord +liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he +hath wrought with God this day. So the people delivered Jonathan, that +he should not die. + +14:46. And Saul went back, and did not pursue after the Philistines: +and the Philistines went to their own places. + +14:47. And Saul having his kingdom established over Israel, fought +against all his enemies round about, against Moab, and against the +children of Ammon, and Edom, and the kings of Soba, and the +Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he overcame. + +14:48. And gathering together an army, he defeated Amalec, and +delivered Israel from the hand of them that spoiled them. + +14:49. And the sons of Saul, were Jonathan, and Jessui, and Melchisua: +and the names of his two daughters, the name of the firstborn was +Merob, and the name of the younger Michol. + +14:50. And the name of Saul's wife was Achinoam, the daughter of +Achimaas; and the name of the captain of his army was Abner, the son of +Ner, the cousin german of Saul. + +14:51. For Cis was the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, +was son of Abiel. + +14:52. And there was a great war against the Philistines all the days +of Saul. For whomsoever Saul saw to be a valiant man, and fit for war, +he took him to himself. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 15 + + +Saul is sent to destroy Amalec: he spareth their king and the best of +their cattle: for which disobedience he is cast off by the Lord. + +15:1. And Samuel said to Saul: The Lord sent me to anoint thee king +over his people Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of +the Lord: + +15:2. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I have reckoned up all that Amalec +hath done to Israel: how he opposed them in the way when they came up +out of Egypt. + +15:3. Now therefore go, and smite Amalec, and utterly destroy all that +he hath: spare him not, nor covet anything that is his: but slay both +man and woman, child and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. + +Child. . .The great Master of life and death (who cuts off one half of +all mankind whilst they are children) has been pleased sometimes to +ordain that children should be put to the sword, in detestation of the +crimes of their parents, and that they might not live to follow the +same wicked ways. But without such ordinance of God it is not +allowable, in any wars, how just soever, to kill children. + +15:4. So Saul commanded the people, and numbered them as lambs: two +hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand of the men of Juda. + +15:5. And when Saul was come to the city of Amalec, he laid ambushes in +the torrent. + +15:6. And Saul said to the Cinite: Go, depart, and get ye down from +Amalec: lest I destroy thee with him. For thou hast shewn kindness to +all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. And the +Cinite departed from the midst of Amalec. + +15:7. And Saul smote Amalec from Hevila, until thou comest to Sur, +which is over against Egypt. + +15:8. And he took Agag, the king of Amalec, alive: but all the common +people he slew with the edge of the sword. + +15:9. And Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the flocks +of sheep, and of the herds, and the garments and the rams, and all that +was beautiful, and would not destroy them: but every thing that was +vile, and good for nothing, that they destroyed. + +15:10. And the word of the Lord came to Samuel, + +15:11. It repenteth me that I have made Saul king: for he hath forsaken +me, and hath not executed my commandments. And Samuel was grieved, and +he cried unto the Lord all night. + +15:12. And when Samuel rose early, to go to Saul in the morning, it was +told Samuel that Saul was come to Carmel, and had erected for himself a +triumphant arch, and returning had passed on, and gone down to Galgal. +And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul was offering a holocaust to the Lord, +out of the choicest of the spoils, which he had brought from Amalec. + +15:13. And when Samuel was come to Saul, Saul said to him: Blessed be +thou of the Lord, I have fulfilled the word of the Lord. + +15:14. And Samuel said: What meaneth then this bleating of the flocks, +which soundeth in my ears, and the lowing of the herds, which I hear? + +15:15. And Saul said: They have brought them from Amalec: for the +people spared the best of the sheep and of the herds, that they might +be sacrificed to the Lord thy God, but the rest we have slain. + +15:16. And Samuel said to Saul: Suffer me, and I will tell thee what +the Lord hath said to me this night. And he said to him: Speak. + +15:17. And Samuel said: When thou wast a little one in thy own eyes, +wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord +anointed thee to be king over Israel. + +15:18. And the Lord sent thee on the way, and said: Go, and kill the +sinners of Amalec, and thou shalt fight against them until thou hast +utterly destroyed them. + +15:19. Why then didst thou not hearken to the voice of the Lord: but +hast turned to the prey, and hast done evil in the eyes of the Lord? + +15:20. And Saul said to Samuel: Yea, I have hearkened to the voice of +the Lord, and have walked in the way by which the Lord sent me, and +have brought Agag, the king of Amalec, and Amalec I have slain. + +15:21. But the people took of the spoils, sheep and oxen, as the +firstfruits of those things that were slain, to offer sacrifice to the +Lord their God in Galgal. + +15:22. And Samuel said: Doth the Lord desire holocausts and victims, +and not rather that the voice of the Lord should be obeyed? For +obedience is better than sacrifices: and to hearken rather than to +offer the fat or rams. + +15:23. Because it is like the sin of witchcraft, to rebel: and like the +crime of idolatry, to refuse to obey. Forasmuch, therefore, as thou +hast rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord hath also rejected thee +from being king. + +15:24. And Saul said to Samuel: I have sinned, because I have +transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words, fearing the +people, and obeying their voice. + +15:25. But now bear, I beseech thee, my sin, and return with me, that I +may adore the Lord. + +15:26. And Samuel said to Saul: I will not return with thee, because +thou hath rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected +thee from being king over Israel. + +15:27. And Samuel turned about to go away: but he laid hold upon the +skirt of his mantle, and it rent. + +15:28. And Samuel said to him: The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel +from thee this day, and hath given it to thy neighbour who is better +than thee. + +15:29. But the triumpher in Israel will not spare, and will not be +moved to repentance: for he is not a man that he should repent. + +15:30. Then he said: I have sinned: yet honour me now before the +ancients of my people, and before Israel, and return with me, that I +may adore the Lord thy God. + +15:31. So Samuel turned again after Saul: and Saul adored the Lord. + +15:32. And Samuel said: Bring hither to me Agag, the king of Amalec. +And Agag was presented to him very fat, and trembling. And Agag said: +Doth bitter death separate in this manner? + +15:33. And Samuel said: As thy sword hath made women childless, so +shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed him in +pieces before the Lord in Galgal. + +15:34. And Samuel departed to Ramatha: but Saul went up to his house in +Gabaa. + +15:35. And Samuel saw Saul no more till the day of his death: +nevertheless, Samuel mourned for Saul, because the Lord repented that +he had made him king over Israel. + +Saw Saul no more till the day of his death. . .That is, he went no more +to see him: he visited him no more. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 16 + + +Samuel is sent to Bethlehem, where he anointeth David: who is taken +into Saul's family. + +16:1. And the Lord said to Samuel: How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, +whom I have rejected from reigning over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, +and come, that I may send thee to Isai, the Bethlehemite: for I have +provided me a king among his sons. + +16:2. And Samuel said: How shall I go? for Saul will hear of it, and he +will kill me. And the Lord said: Thou shalt take with thee a calf of +the herd, and thou shalt say: I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. + +16:3. And thou shalt call Isai to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee +what thou art to do, and thou shalt anoint him whom I shall shew to +thee. + +16:4. Then Samuel did as the Lord had said to him. And he came to +Bethlehem, and the ancients of the city wondered, and meeting him, they +said: Is thy coming hither peaceable? + +16:5. And he said: It is peaceable: I am come to offer sacrifice to the +Lord, be ye sanctified, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he +sanctified Isai and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. + +16:6. And when they were come in, he saw Eliab, and said: Is the Lord's +anointed before him? + +16:7. And the Lord said to Samuel: Look not on his countenance, nor on +the height of his stature: because I have rejected him, nor do I judge +according to the look of man: for man seeth those things that appear, +but the Lord beholdeth the heart. + +16:8. And Isai called Abinadab, and brought him before Samuel. And he +said: Neither hath the Lord chosen this, + +16:9. And Isai brought Samma, and he said of him: Neither hath the Lord +chosen this. + +16:10. Isai therefore brought his seven sons before Samuel: and Samuel +said to Isai: The Lord hath not chosen any one of these. + +16:11. And Samuel said to Isai: Are here all thy sons? He answered: +There remaineth yet a young one, who keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said +to Isai: Send, and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come +hither. + +16:12. He sent therefore and brought him. Now he was ruddy and +beautiful to behold, and of a comely face. And the Lord said: Arise, +and anoint him, for this is he. + +16:13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst +of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that +day forward: and Samuel rose up, and went to Ramatha. + +16:14. But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil +spirit from the Lord troubled him. + +From the Lord. . .An evil spirit, by divine permission, and for his +punishment, either possessed or obsessed him. + +16:15. And the servants of Saul said to him: Behold now an evil spirit +from God troubleth thee. + +16:16. Let our lord give orders, and thy servants who are before thee, +will seek out a man skilful in playing on the harp, that when the evil +spirit from the Lord is upon thee, he may play with his hand, and thou +mayst bear it more easily. + +16:17. And Saul said to his servants: Provide me then some man that can +play well, and bring him to me. + +16:18. And one of the servants answering, said: Behold I have seen a +son of Isai, the Bethlehemite, a skilful player, and one of great +strength, and a man fit for war, and prudent in his words, and a comely +person: and the Lord is with him. + +16:19. Then Saul sent messengers to Isai, saying: Send me David, thy +son, who is in the pastures. + +16:20. And Isai took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and +a kid of the flock, and sent them by the hand of David, his son, to +Saul. + +16:21. And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him +exceedingly, and made him his armourbearer. + +16:22. And Saul sent to Isai, saying: Let David stand before me: for he +hath found favour in my sight. + +16:23. So whensoever the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, David +took his harp, and played with his hand, and Saul was refreshed, and +was better, for the evil spirit departed from him. + +Departed from him. . .Chased away by David's devotion. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 17 + + +War with the Philistines. Goliath challengeth Israel. He is slain by +David. + +17:1. Now the Philistines gathering together their troops to battle, +assembled at Socho of Juda: and camped between Socho and Azeca, in the +borders of Dommim. + +17:2. And Saul and the children of Israel being gathered together, came +to the valley of Terebinth, and they set the army in array to fight +against the Philistines. + +17:3. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and +Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley +between them. + +17:4. And there went out a man baseborn from the camp of the +Philistines, named Goliath, of Geth, whose height was six cubits and a +span: + +17:5. And he had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was clothed +with a coat of mail with scales, and the weight of his coat of mail was +five thousand sicles of brass: + +17:6. And he had greaves of brass on his legs, and a buckler of brass +covered his shoulders. + +17:7. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head +of his spear weighed six hundred sicles of iron: and his armourbearer +went before him. + +17:8. And standing, he cried out to the bands of Israel, and said to +them: Why are you come out prepared to fight? am not I a Philistine, +and you the servants of Saul? Choose out a man of you, and let him come +down and fight hand to hand. + +17:9. If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, we will be servants +to you: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, you shall be +servants, and shall serve us. + +17:10. And the Philistine said: I have defied the bands of Israel this +day: give me a man, and let him fight with me hand to hand. + +17:11. And Saul and all the Israelites hearing these words of the +Philistine, were dismayed, and greatly afraid. + +17:12. Now David was the son of that Ephrathite, of Bethlehem Juda, +before mentioned, whose name was Isai, who had eight sons, and was an +old man in the days of Saul, and of great age among men. + +17:13. And his three eldest sons followed Saul to the battle: and the +names of his three sons that went to the battle, were Eliab, the +firstborn, and the second, Abinadab, and the third Samma: + +17:14. But David was the youngest. So the three eldest having followed +Saul, + +17:15. David went, and returned from Saul, to feed his father's flock +at Bethlehem. + +17:16. Now the Philistine came out morning and evening, and presented +himself forty days. + +17:17. And Isai said to David, his son: Take for thy brethren an ephi +of frumenty, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren, + +17:18. And carry these ten little cheeses to the tribune: and go see +thy brethren, if they are well: and learn with whom they are placed. + +17:19. But Saul, and they, and all the children of Israel, were in the +valley of Terebinth, fighting against the Philistines. + +17:20. David, therefore, arose in the morning, and gave the charge of +the flock to the keeper: and went away loaded, as Isai had commanded +him. And he came to the place of Magala, and to the army, which was +going out to fight, and shouted for the battle. + +17:21. For Israel had put themselves in array, and the Philistines who +stood against them were prepared. + +17:22. And David leaving the vessels which he had brought, under the +care of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the place of the battle, and +asked if all things went well with his brethren. + +17:23. And as he talked with them, that baseborn man, whose name was +Goliath, the Philistine, of Geth, shewed himself coming up from the +camp of the Philistines: and he spoke according to the same words, and +David heard them, + +17:24. And all the Israelites, when they saw the man, fled from his +face, fearing him exceedingly. + +17:25. And some one of Israel said: Have you seen this man that is come +up, for he is come up to defy Israel. And the man that shall slay him, +the king will enrich with great riches, and will give him his daughter, +and will make his father's house free from tribute in Israel. + +17:26. And David spoke to the men that stood by him, saying: What shall +be given to the man that shall kill this Philistine, and shall take +away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised +Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? + +17:27. And the people answered him the same words, saying: These things +shall be given to the man that shall slay him. + +17:28. Now when Eliab his eldest brother heard this, when he was +speaking with others, he was angry with David, and said: Why camest +thou hither? and why didst thou leave those few sheep in the desert? I +know thy pride, and the wickedness of thy heart: that thou art come +down to see the battle. + +17:29. And David said: What have I done? is there not cause to speak? + +17:30. And he turned a little aside from him to another: and said the +same word. And the people answered him as before. + +17:31. And the words which David spoke were heard, and were rehearsed +before Saul. + +17:32. And when he was brought to Saul, he said to him. Let not any +man's heart be dismayed in him: I thy servant will go, and will fight +against the Philistine. + +17:33. And Saul said to David: Thou art not able to withstand this +Philistine, nor to fight against him: for thou art but a boy, but he is +a warrior from his youth. + +17:34. And David said to Saul: Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and +there came a lion, or a bear, and took a ram out of the midst of the +flock: + +17:35. And I pursued after them, and struck them, and delivered it out +of their mouth: and they rose up against me, and I caught them by the +throat, and I strangled, and killed them. + +17:36. For I thy servant have killed both a lion and a bear: and this +uncircumcised Philistine shall be also as one of them. I will go now, +and take away the reproach of the people: for who is this uncircumcised +Philistine, who hath dared to curse the army of the living God? + +17:37. And David said: The Lord who delivered me out of the paw of the +lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the +hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David: Go, and the Lord be +with thee. + +17:38. And Saul clothed David with his garments, and put a helmet of +brass upon his head, and armed him with a coat of mail. + +17:39. And David having girded his sword upon his armour, began to try +if he could walk in armour: for he was not accustomed to it. And David +said to Saul: I cannot go thus, for I am not used to it. And he laid +them off, + +17:40. And he took his staff, which he had always in his hands: and +chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them into the +shepherd's scrip, which he had with him, and he took a sling in his +hand, and went forth against the Philistine. + +17:41. And the Philistine came on, and drew nigh against David, and his +armourbearer went before him. + +17:42. And when the Philistine looked, and beheld David, he despised +him. For he was a young man, ruddy, and of a comely countenance. + +17:43. And the Philistine said to David: Am I a dog, that thou comest +to me with a staff? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. + +17:44. And he said to David: Come to me, and I will give thy flesh to +the birds of the air, and to the beasts of the earth. + +17:45. And David said to the Philistine: Thou comest to me with a +sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the +name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, which thou +hast defied + +17:46. This day, and the Lord will deliver thee into my hand, and I +will slay thee, and take away thy head from thee: and I will give the +carcasses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the +air, and to the beasts of the earth: that all the earth may know that +there is a God in Israel. + +17:47. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with +sword and spear: for it is his battle, and he will deliver you into our +hands. + +17:48. And when the Philistine arose, and was coming, and drew nigh to +meet David, David made haste, and ran to the fight to meet the +Philistine. + +17:49. And he put his hand into his scrip, and took a stone, and cast +it with the sling, and fetching it about, struck the Philistine in the +forehead, and he fell on his face upon the earth. + +17:50. And David prevailed over the Philistine, with a sling and a +stone, and he struck, and slew the Philistine. And as David had no +sword in his hand, + +17:51. He ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and +drew it out of the sheath, and slew him, and cut off his head. And the +Philistines seeing that their champion was dead, fled away. + +17:52. And the men of Israel and Juda rising up shouted, and pursued +after the Philistines till they came to the valley and to the gates of +Accaron, and there fell many wounded of the Philistines in the way of +Saraim, and as far as Geth, and as far as Accaron. + +17:53. And the children of Israel returning, after they had pursued the +Philistines, fell upon their camp. + +17:54. And David taking the head of the Philistine, brought it to +Jerusalem: but his armour he put in his tent. + +17:55. Now at the time that Saul saw David going out against the +Philistines, he said to Abner, the captain of the army: Of what family +is this young man descended, Abner? And Abner said: As thy soul liveth, +O king, I know not. + +17:56. And the king said: Inquire thou, whose son this young man is. + +17:57. And when David was returned, after the Philistine was slain, +Abner took him, and brought him in before Saul, with the head of the +Philistine in his hand. + +17:58. And Saul said to him: Young man, of what family art thou? And +David said: I am the son of thy servant Isai the Bethlehemite. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 18 + + +The friendship of Jonathan and David. The envy of Saul, and his design +upon David's life. He marrieth him to his daughter Michol. + +18:1. And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, +the son of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved +him as his own soul. + +18:2. And Saul took him that day, and would not let him return to his +father's house. + +18:3. And David and Jonathan made a covenant, for he loved him as his +own soul. + +18:4. And Jonathan stripped himself of the coat with which he was +clothed, and gave it to David, and the rest of his garments, even to +his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. + +18:5. And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he +behaved himself prudently: and Saul set him over the soldiers, and he +was acceptable in the eyes of all the people, and especially in the +eyes of Saul's servants. + +18:6. Now when David returned, after he slew the Philistine, the women +came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king +Saul, with timbrels of joy, and cornets. + +18:7. And the women sung as they played, and they said: Saul slew his +thousands, and David his ten thousands. + +18:8. And Saul was exceeding angry, and this word was displeasing in +his eyes, and he said: They have given David ten thousands, and to me +they have given but a thousand, what can he have more but the kingdom? + +18:9. And Saul did not look on David with a good eye from that day and +forward. + +18:10. And the day after, the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and +he prophesied in the midst of his house. And David played with his hand +as at other times. And Saul held a spear in his hand, + +Prophesied. . .Acted the prophet in a mad manner. + +18:11. And threw it, thinking to nail David to the wall: and David +stept aside out of his presence twice. + +18:12. And Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him, and was +departed from Saul himself. + +18:13. Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him a captain over +a thousand men, and he went out and came in before the people. + +18:14. And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with +him. + +18:15. And Saul saw that he was exceeding prudent, and began to beware +of him. + +18:16. But all Israel and Juda loved David, for he came in and went out +before them. + +18:17. And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will +I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of +the Lord. Now Saul said within himself: Let not my hand be upon him, +but let the hands of the Philistines be upon him. + +18:18. And David said to Saul: Who am I, or what is my life, or my +father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law of the king? + +18:19. And it came to pass at the time when Merob, the daughter of +Saul, should have been given to David, that she was given to Hadriel, +the Molathite, to wife. + +18:20. But Michol, the other daughter of Saul, loved David. And it was +told Saul, and it pleased him. + +18:21. And Saul said: I will give her to him, that she may be a +stumblingblock to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be upon +him. And Saul said to David: In two things thou shalt be my son in law +this day. + +18:22. And Saul commanded his servants to speak to David privately, +saying: Behold, thou pleasest the king, and all his servants love thee. +Now, therefore be the king's son in law. + +18:23. And the servants of Saul spoke all these words in the ear of +David. And David said: Doth it seem to you a small matter to be the +king's son in law? But I am a poor man, and of small ability. + +18:24. And the servants of Saul told him, saying: Such words as these +hath David spoken. + +18:25. And Saul said: Speak thus to David: The king desireth not any +dowry, but only a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged +of the king's enemies. Now Saul thought to deliver David into the hands +of the Philistines. + +18:26. And when his servants had told David the words that Saul had +said, the word was pleasing in the eyes of David to be the king's son +in law. + +18:27. And after a few days David rose up, and went with the men that +were under him, and he slew of the Philistines two hundred men, and +brought their foreskins and numbered them out to the king, that he +might be his son in law. Saul therefore gave him Michol, his daughter, +to wife. + +18:28. And Saul saw, and understood that the Lord was with David. And +Michol, the daughter of Saul, loved him. + +18:29. And Saul began to fear David more: and Saul became David's enemy +continually. + +18:30. And the princes of the Philistines went forth: and from the +beginning of their going forth, David behaved himself more wisely than +all the servants of Saul, and his name became very famous. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 19 + + +Other attempts of Saul upon David's life. He cometh to Samuel. Saul's +messengers, and Saul himself prophesy. + +19:1. And Saul spoke to Jonathan, his son, and to all his servants, +that they should kill David. But Jonathan, the son of Saul, loved David +exceedingly. + +19:2. And Jonathan told David, saying: Saul, my father, seeketh to kill +thee: wherefore look to thyself, I beseech thee, in the morning and +thou shalt abide in a secret place, and shalt be hid. + +19:3. And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where +thou art: and I will speak of thee to my father, and whatsoever I shall +see, I will tell thee. + +19:4. And Jonathan spoke good things of David to Saul, his father: and +said to him: Sin not, O king, against thy servant, David, because he +hath not sinned against thee, and his works are very good towards thee. + +19:5. And he put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the +Lord wrought great salvation for all Israel. Thou sawest it and didst +rejoice. Why therefore wilt thou sin against innocent blood, by killing +David, who is without fault? + +19:6. And when Saul heard this, he was appeased with the words of +Jonathan, and swore: As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain. + +19:7. Then Jonathan called David, and told him all these words: and +Jonathan brought in David to Saul, and he was before him, as he had +been yesterday and the day before. + +19:8. And the war began again, and David went out, and fought against +the Philistines, and defeated them with a great slaughter, and they +fled from his face. + +19:9. And the evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul; and he sat in +his house, and held a spear in his hand: and David played with his +hand. + +19:10. And Saul endeavoured to nail David to the wall with his spear. +And David slipt away out of the presence of Saul: and the spear missed +him, and was fastened in the wall, and David fled, and escaped that +night. + +19:11. Saul therefore sent his guards to David's house to watch him, +that he might be killed in the morning. And when Michol, David's wife, +had told him this, saying: Unless thou save thyself this night, to +morrow thou wilt die: + +19:12. She let him down through a window. And he went and fled away, +and escaped. + +19:13. And Michol took an image, and laid it on the bed, and put a +goat's skin, with the hair at the head of it, and covered it with +clothes. + +19:14. And Saul sent officers to seize David; and it was answered that +he was sick. + +19:15. And again Saul sent to see David, saying: Bring him to me in the +bed, that he may be slain. + +19:16. And when the messengers were come in, they found an image upon +the bed, and a goat skin at his head. + +19:17. And Saul said to Michol: Why hast thou deceived me so, and let +my enemy go and flee away? And Michol answered Saul: Because he said to +me: Let me go, or else I will kill thee. + +19:18. But David fled and escaped, and came to Samuel in Ramatha, and +told him all that Saul had done to him: and he and Samuel went and +dwelt in Najoth. + +Najoth. . .It was probably a school or college of prophets, in or near +Ramath under the direction of Samuel. + +19:19. And it was told Saul by some, saying: Behold David is in Najoth, +in Ramatha. + +19:20. So Saul sent officers to take David: and when they saw a company +of prophets prophesying, and Samuel presiding over them, the Spirit of +the Lord came also upon them, and they likewise began to prophesy. + +Prophesying. . .That is, singing praises to God by a divine impulse. God +was pleased on this occasion that both Samuel's messengers and himself +should experience the like impulse, that he might understand, by this +instance of the divine power, how vain are the designs of man against +him whom God protects. + +19:21. And when this was told Saul, he sent other messengers: but they +also prophesied. And again Saul sent messengers the third time: and +they prophesied also. And Saul being exceeding angry, + +19:22. Went also himself to Ramatha, and came as far as the great +cistern, which is in Socho, and he asked, and said: In what place are +Samuel and David? And it was told him: Behold they are in Najoth, in +Ramatha. + +19:23. And he went to Najoth, in Ramatha, and the Spirit of the Lord +came upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied till he came to +Najoth, in Ramatha. + +19:24. And he stripped himself also of his garments, and prophesied +with the rest before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and night. +This gave occasion to a proverb: What! is Saul too among the prophets? + + + +1 Kings Chapter 20 + + +Saul being obstinately bent upon killing David, he is sent away by +Jonathan. + +20:1. But David fled from Najoth, which is in Ramatha, and came and +said to Jonathan: What have I done? what is my iniquity, and what is my +sin against thy father, that he seeketh my life? + +20:2. And he said to him: (God forbid, thou shalt not die: for my +father will do nothing, great or little, without first telling me: hath +then my father hid this word only from me? no, this shall not be. + +20:3. And he swore again to David. And David said: Thy father certainly +knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, and he will say: Let not +Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved. But truly as the Lord liveth, +and thy soul liveth, there is but one step (as I may say) between me +and death. + +20:4. And Jonathan said to David: Whatsoever thy soul shall say to me, +I will do for thee. + +20:5. And David said to Jonathan: Behold to morrow is the new moon, and +I, according to custom, am wont to sit beside the king to eat: let me +go then that I may be hid in the field till the evening of the third +day. + +To morrow is the new moon. . .The neomenia, or first day of the moon, +kept according to the law, as a festival; and therefore Saul feasted on +that day: and expected the attendance of his family. + +20:6. If thy father look and inquire for me, thou shalt answer him: +David asked me that he might run to Bethlehem, his own city: because +there are solemn sacrifices there for all of his tribe. + +20:7. If he shall say: It is well: thy servant shall have peace: but +if he be angry, know that his malice is come to its height. + +20:8. Deal mercifully then with thy servant: for thou hast brought me, +thy servant, into a covenant of the Lord with thee. But if there be any +iniquity in me, do thou kill me, and bring me not in to thy father. + +20:9. And Jonathan said: Far be this from thee: for if I should +certainly know that evil is determined by my father against thee, I +could do no otherwise than tell thee. + +20:10. And David answered Jonathan: Who shall bring me word, if thy +father should answer thee harshly concerning me? + +20:11. And Jonathan said to David: Come, and let us go out into the +field. And when they were both of them gone out into the field, + +20:12. Jonathan said to David: O Lord God of Israel, if I shall +discover my father's mind, to morrow, or the day after, and there be +any thing good for David, and I send not immediately to thee, and make +it known to thee, + +20:13. May the Lord do so and so to Jonathan, and add still more. But +if my father shall continue in malice against thee, I will discover it +to thy ear, and will send thee away, that thou mayst go in peace, and +the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father. + +20:14. And if I live, thou shalt shew me the kindness of the Lord: but +if I die, + +20:15. Thou shalt not take away thy kindness from my house for ever, +when the Lord shall have rooted out the enemies of David, every one of +them from the earth, may he take away Jonathan from his house, and may +the Lord require it at the hands of David's enemies. + +May he take away Jonathan, etc. . .It is a curse upon himself, if he +should not be faithful to his promise.--Ibid. Require it, etc. . .That +is, revenge it upon David's enemies, and upon me, if I should fail of +my word given to him. + +20:16. Jonathan therefore made a covenant with the house of David: and +the Lord required it at the hands of David's enemies. + +20:17. And Jonathan swore again to David, because he loved him: for he +loved him as his own soul. + +20:18. And Jonathan said to him: To morrow is the new moon, and thou +wilt be missed: + +20:19. For thy seat will be empty till after to morrow. So thou shalt +go down quickly, and come to the place where thou must he hid, on the +day when it is lawful to work, and thou shalt remain beside the stone, +which is called Ezel. + +20:20. And I will shoot three arrows near it, and will shoot as if I +were exercising myself at a mark. + +20:21. And I will send a boy, saying to him: Go and fetch me the +arrows. + +20:22. If I shall say to the boy: Behold the arrows are on this side of +thee, take them up: come thou to me, because there is peace to thee, +and there is no evil, as the Lord liveth. But if I shall speak thus to +the boy: Behold the arrows are beyond thee: go in peace, for the Lord +hath sent thee away. + +20:23. And concerning the word which I and thou have spoken, the Lord +be between thee and me forever. + +20:24. So David was hid in the field, and the new moon came, and the +king sat down to eat bread. + +20:25. And when the king sat down upon his chair, (according to custom) +which was beside the wall, Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's +side, and David's place appeared empty. + +20:26. And Saul said nothing that day, for he thought it might have +happened to him, that he was not clean, nor purified. + +20:27. And when the second day after the new moon was come, David's +place appeared empty again. And Saul said to Jonathan, his son: Why +cometh not the son of Isai to meat neither yesterday, nor to day? + +20:28. And Jonathan answered Saul: He asked leave of me earnestly to go +to Bethlehem. + +20:29. And he said: Let me go, for there is a solemn sacrifice in the +city, one of my brethren hath sent for me: and now if I have found +favour in thy eyes, I will go quickly, and see my brethren. For this +cause he came not to the king's table. + +20:30. Then Saul being angry against Jonathan, said to him: Thou son of +a woman that is the ravisher of a man, do I not know that thou lovest +the son of Isai to thy own confusion, and to the confusion of thy +shameless mother? + +20:31. For as long as the son of Isai liveth upon earth, thou shalt not +be established, nor thy kingdom. Therefore now presently send, and +fetch him to me: for he is the son of death. + +The son of death. . .That is, one that deserveth death, and shall surely +be put to death. + +20:32. And Jonathan answering Saul, his father, said: Why shall he die? +What hath he done? + +20:33. And Saul caught up a spear to strike him. And Jonathan +understood that it was determined by his father to kill David. + +20:34. So Jonathan rose from the table in great anger, and did not eat +bread on the second day after the new moon. For he was grieved for +David, because his father had put him to confusion. + +20:35. And when the morning came, Jonathan went into the field +according to the appointment with David, and a little boy with him. + +20:36. And he said to his boy: Go, and fetch me the arrows which I +shoot. And when the boy ran, he shot another arrow beyond the boy. + +20:37. The boy therefore came to the place of the arrow which Jonathan +had shot: and Jonathan cried after the boy, and said: Behold the arrow +is there further beyond thee. + +20:38. And Jonathan cried again after the boy, saying: Make haste +speedily, stand not. And Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows, and +brought them to his master: + +20:39. And he knew not at all what was doing: for only Jonathan and +David knew the matter. + +20:40. Jonathan therefore gave his arms to the boy, and said to him: +Go, and carry them into the city. + +20:41. And when the boy was gone, David rose out of his place, which +was toward the south, and falling on his face to the ground, adored +thrice: and kissing one another, they wept together; but David more. + +20:42. And Jonathan said to David: Go in peace: and let all stand that +we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying: The Lord be +between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. + +20:43. And David arose, and departed: and Jonathan went into the city. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 21 + + +David receiveth holy bread of Achimelech, the priest: and feigneth +himself mad before Achis, king of Geth. + +21:1. And David came to Nobe, to Achimelech, the priest and Achimelech +was astonished at David's coming. And he said to him: Why art thou +alone, and no man with thee? + +Nobe. . .A city in the tribe of Benjamin, to which the tabernacle of the +Lord had been translated from Silo. + +21:2. And David said to Achimelech, the priest: The king hath commanded +me a business, and said: Let no man know the thing for which thou art +sent by me, and what manner of commands I have given thee: and I have +appointed my servants to such and such a place. + +21:3. Now therefore if thou have any thing at hand, though it were but +five loaves, give me, or whatsoever thou canst find. + +21:4. And the priest answered David, saying: I have no common bread at +hand, but only holy bread, if the young men be clean, especially from +women? + +If the young men be clean, etc. . .If this cleanness was required of +them that were to eat that bread, which was a figure of the bread of +life which we receive in the blessed sacrament; how clean ought +Christians to be when they approach to our tremendous mysteries. And +what reason hath the church of God to admit none to be her ministers to +consecrate and daily receive this most pure sacrament, but such as +devote themselves to a life of perpetual purity. + +21:5. And David answered the priest, and said to him: Truly, as to what +concerneth women, we have refrained ourselves from yesterday and the +day before, when we came out, and the vessels of the young men were +holy. Now this way is defiled, but it shall also be sanctified this day +in the vessels. + +The vessels. . .i. e., the bodies, have been holy, that is, have been +kept from impurity.--Ibid. Is defiled. . .Is liable to expose us to +dangers of uncleanness.--Ibid. Be sanctified, etc. . .That is, we shall +take care, notwithstanding these dangerous circumstances, to keep our +vessels holy, that is, to keep our bodies from every thing that may +defile us. + +21:6. The priest therefore gave him hallowed bread: for there was no +bread there, but only the loaves of proposition, which had been taken +away from before the face of the Lord, that hot loaves might be set up. + +21:7. Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, +within the tabernacle of the Lord: and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, +the chiefest of Saul's herdsmen. + +21:8. And David said to Achimelech: Hast thou here at hand a spear, or +a sword? for I brought not my own sword, nor my own weapons with me, +for the king's business required haste. + +21:9. And the priest said: Lo, here is the sword of Goliath, the +Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Terebinth, wrapped up in +a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take this, take it, for here +there is no other but this. And David said: There is none like that, +give it me. + +21:10. And David arose and fled that day from the face of Saul: and +came to Achis, the king of Geth: + +21:11. And the servants of Achis, when they saw David, said to him: Is +not this David, the king of the land? Did they not sing to him in their +dances, saying: Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten +thousands? + +21:12. But David laid up these words in his heart, and was exceedingly +afraid at the face of Achis, the king of Geth. + +21:13. And he changed his countenance before them, and slipt down +between their hands: and he stumbled against the doors of the gate, and +his spittle ran down upon his beard. + +21:14. And Achis said to his servants: You saw the man was mad: why +have you brought him to me? + +21:15. Have we need of mad men, that you have brought in this fellow, +to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my +house? + + + +1 Kings Chapter 22 + + +Many resort to David. Doeg accuseth Achimelech to Saul. He ordereth him +and all the other priests of Nobe to be slain. Abiathar escapeth. + +22:1. David therefore went from thence, and fled to the cave of +Odollam. And when his brethren, and all his father's house, had heard +of it, they went down to him thither. + +22:2. And all that were in distress, and oppressed with debt, and under +affliction of mind, gathered themselves unto him: and he became their +prince, and there were with him about four hundred men. + +22:3. And David departed from thence into Maspha of Moab: and he said +to the king of Moab: Let my father and my mother tarry with you, I +beseech thee, till I know what God will do for me. + +22:4. And he left them under the eyes of the king of Moab, and they +abode with him all the days that David was in the hold. + +The hold. . .The strong hold, or fortress of Maspha. + +22:5. And Gad the prophet said to David: Abide not in the hold, depart, +and go into the land of Juda. And David departed, and came into the +forest of Haret. + +22:6. And SauI heard that David was seen, and the men that were with +him. Now whilst Saul abode in Gabaa, and was in the wood, which is by +Rama, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing +about him, + +22:7. He said to his servants that stood about him: Hear me now, ye +sons of Jemini: will the son of Isai give every one of you fields, and +vineyards, and make you all tribunes, and centurions: + +22:8. That all of you have conspired against me, and there is no one to +inform me, especially when even my son hath entered into league with +the son of Isai? There is not one of you that pitieth my case, nor that +giveth me any information: because my son hath raised up my servant +against me, plotting against me to this day. + +22:9. And Doeg, the Edomite, who stood by, and was the chief among the +servants of Saul, answering, said: I saw the son of Isai, in Nobe, with +Achimelech, the son of Achitob, the priest. + +22:10. And he consulted the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and +gave him the sword of Goliath, the Philistine. + +22:11. Then the king sent to call for Achimelech, the priest, the son +of Achitob, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nobe, +and they came all of them to the king. + +22:12. And Saul said to Achimelech: Hear, thou son of Achitob. He +answered: Here I am, my lord. + +22:13. And Saul said to him: Why have you conspired against me, thou, +and the son of Isai, and thou hast given him bread and a sword, and +hast consulted the Lord for him, that he should rise up against me, +continuing a traitor to this day. + +22:14. And Achimelech answering the king, said: And who amongst all thy +servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son in law, and +goeth forth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thy house? + +22:15. Did I begin to day to consult the Lord for him? far be this from +me: let not the king suspect such a thing against his servant, or any +one in all my father's house: for thy servant knew nothing of this +matter, either little or great. + +22:16. And the king said: Dying thou shalt die, Achimelech, thou and +all thy father's house. + +22:17. And the king said to the messengers that stood about him: Turn, +and kill the priests of the Lord, for their hand is with David, because +they knew that he was fled, and they told it not to me. And the king's +servants would not put forth their hands against the priests of the +Lord. + +22:18. And the king said to Doeg: Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. +And Doeg, the Edomite, turned, and fell upon the priests, and slew in +that day eighty-five men that wore the linen ephod. + +22:19. And Nobe, the city of the priests, he smote with the edge of the +sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and ox, and ass, and +sheep, with the edge of the sword. + +22:20. But one of the sons of Achimelech, the son of Achitob, whose +name was Abiathar, escaped, and fled to David, + +22:21. And told him that Saul had slain the priests of the Lord. + +22:22. And David said to Abiathar: I knew that day when Doeg, the +Edomite, was there, that without doubt he would tell Saul: I have been +the occasion of the death of all the souls of thy father's house. + +22:23. Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life, +seeketh thy life also, and with me thou shalt be saved. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 23 + + +David relieveth Ceila, besieged by the Philistines. He fleeth into the +desert of Ziph. Jonathan and he confirm their former covenant. The +Ziphites discover him to Saul, who pursuing close after him, is called +away by an invasion from the Philistines. + +23:1. And they told David, saying: Behold the Philistines fight against +Ceila, and they rob the barns. + +23:2. Therefore David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go and smite +these Philistines? And the Lord said to David: Go, and thou shalt smite +the Philistines, and shalt save Ceila. + +23:3. And the men that were with David, said to him: Behold we are in +fear here in Judea, how much more if we go to Ceila against the bands +of the Philistines? + +23:4. Therefore David consulted the Lord again. And he answered and +said to him: Arise, and go to Ceila: for I will deliver the Philistines +into thy hand. + +23:5. David, therefore, and his men, went to Ceila, and fought against +the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and made a great +slaughter of them: and David saved the inhabitants of Ceila. + +23:6. Now at that time, when Abiathar, the son of Achimelech, fled to +David, to Ceila, he came down, having an ephod with him. + +An ephod. . .Or the ephod. That is, the vestment of the high priest, +with the urim and thummim, by which the Lord gave his oracle. + +23:7. And it was told Saul that David was come to Ceila: and Saul said: +The Lord hath delivered him into my hands, and he is shut up, being +come into a city that hath gates and bars. + +23:8. And Saul commanded all the people to go down to fight against +Ceila, and to besiege David and his men. + +23:9. Now when David understood that Saul secretly prepared evil +against him, he said to Abiathar, the priest: Bring hither the ephod. + +23:10. And David said: O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath heard a +report, that Saul designeth to come to Ceila, to destroy the city for +my sake: + +23:11. Will the men of Ceila deliver me into his hands? and will Saul +come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, tell thy +servant. And the Lord said: He will come down. + +23:12. And David said: Will the men of Ceila deliver me and my men into +the hands of Saul? And the Lord said: They will deliver thee up. + +23:13. Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose, and +departing from Ceila, wandered up and down, uncertain where they should +stay: and it was told Saul that David was fled from Ceila, and had +escaped: wherefore he forbore to go out. + +23:14. But David abode in the desert in strong holds, and he remained +in a mountain of the desert of Ziph, in a woody hill. And Saul sought +him always: but the Lord delivered him not into his hands. + +23:15. And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life. And David +was in the desert of Ziph, in a wood. + +23:16. And Jonathan, the son of Saul, arose, and went to David, into +the wood, and strengthened his hands in God: and he said to him: + +23:17. Fear not: for the hand of my father, Saul, shall not find thee, +and thou shalt reign over Israel, and I shall be next to thee; yea and +my father knoweth this. + +23:18. And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in +the wood: but Jonathan returned to his house. + +23:19. And the Ziphites went up to Saul, in Gabaa, saying: Lo, doth not +David lie hid with us in the strong holds of the wood, in mount +Hachila, which is on the right hand of the desert. + +23:20. Now therefore come down, as thy soul hath desired to come down: +and it shall be our business to deliver him into the king's hands. + +23:21. And Saul said: Blessed be ye of the Lord, for you have pitied my +case. + +23:22. Go, therefore, I pray you, and use all diligence, and curiously +inquire, and consider the place where his foot is, and who hath seen +him there: for he thinketh of me, that I lie craftily in wait for him. + +23:23. Consider, and see all his lurking holes, wherein he is hid, and +return to me with the certainty of the thing, that I may go with you. +And if he should even go down into the earth to hide himself, I will +search him out in all the thousands of Juda. + +23:24. And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: and David and his +men were in the desert of Maon, in the plain at the right hand of +Jesimon. + +23:25. Then Saul and his men went to seek him: and it was told David, +and forthwith he went down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of +Maon: and when Saul had heard of it, he pursued after David in the +wilderness of Maon. + +23:26. And Saul went on this side of the mountain: and David and his +men were on the other side of the mountain: and David despaired of +being able to escape from the face of Saul: and Saul and his men +encompassed David and his men round about, to take them. + +23:27. And a messenger came to Saul, saying: Make haste to come, for +the Philistines have poured in themselves upon the land. + +23:28. Wherefore Saul returned, leaving the pursuit of David, and went +to meet the Philistines. For this cause they called that place the rock +of division. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 24 + + +Saul seeketh David in the wilderness of Engaddi: he goeth into a cave +where David hath him in his power. + +24:1. Then David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds of +Engaddi. + +24:2. And when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, they +told him, saying: Behold, David is in the desert of Engaddi. + +24:3. Saul, therefore, took three thousand chosen men out of all +Israel, and went out to seek after David and his men, even upon the +most craggy rocks, which are accessible only to wild goats. + +24:4. And he came to the sheepcotes which were in his way. And there +was a cave, into which Saul went, to ease nature: now David and his men +lay hid in the inner part of the cave. + +24:5. And the servants of David said to him: Behold the day, of which +the Lord said to thee: I will deliver thy enemy unto thee, that thou +mayst do to him as it shall seem good in thy eyes. Then David arose, +and secretly cut off the hem of Saul's robe. + +24:6. After which David's heart struck him, because he had cut off the +hem of Saul's robe. + +Heart struck him. . .Viz., with remorse, as fearing he had done amiss. + +24:7. And he said to his men: The Lord be merciful unto me, that I may +do no such thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, as to lay my hand +upon him, because he is the Lord's anointed. + +24:8. And David stopped his men with his words, and suffered them not +to rise against Saul: but Saul, rising up out of the cave, went on his +way. + +24:9. And David also rose up after him: and going out of the cave, +cried after Saul, saying: My lord the king. And Saul looked behind him: +and David bowing himself down to the ground, worshipped, + +24:10. And said to Saul: Why dost thou hear the words of men that say: +David seeketh thy hurt? + +24:11. Behold this day thy eyes have seen, that the Lord hath delivered +thee into my hand, in the cave, and I had a thought to kill thee, but +my eye hath spared thee. For I said: I will not put out my hand against +my lord, because he is the Lord's anointed. + +A thought to kill thee. . .That is, a suggestion, to which I did not +consent. + +24:12. Moreover, see and know, O my father, the hem of thy robe in my +hand, that when I cut off the hem of thy robe, I would not put out my +hand against thee. Reflect, and see, that there is no evil in my hand, +nor iniquity, neither have I sinned against thee: but thou liest in +wait for my life, to take it away. + +24:13. The Lord judge between me and thee and the Lord revenge me of +thee: but my hand shall not be upon thee. + +Revenge me of thee. . .Or, as it is in the Hebrew, will revenge me. The +meaning is, that he refers his whole cause to God, to judge and punish +according to his justice: yet so as to keep himself in the mean time, +from all personal hatred to Saul, or desire of gratifying his own +passion, by seeking revenge. So far from it, that when Saul was +afterwards slain, we find, that instead of rejoicing at his death, he +mourned most bitterly for him. + +24:14. As also it is said in the old proverb: From the wicked shall +wickedness come forth: therefore my hand shall not be upon thee. After +whom dost thou come out, O king of Israel? + +24:15. After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea. + +24:16. Be the Lord judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and +judge my cause, and deliver me out of thy hand. + +24:17. And when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, +Saul said: Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his +voice, and wept: + +24:18. And he said to David: Thou art more just than I: for thou hast +done good to me, and I have rewarded thee with evil. + +24:19. And thou hast shewed this day what good things thou hast done to +me: how the Lord delivered me into thy hand, and thou hast not killed +me. + +24:20. For who when he hath found his enemy, will let him go well away? +But the Lord reward thee for this good turn, for what thou hast done to +me this day. + +24:21. And now as I know that thou shalt surely be king, and have the +kingdom of Israel in thy hand: + +24:22. Swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed +after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father. + +24:23. And David swore to Saul. So Saul went home: and David and his +men went up into safer places. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 25 + + +The death of Samuel. David, provoked by Nabal, threateneth to destroy +him: but is appeased by Abigail. + +25:1. And Samuel died, and all Israel was gathered together, and they +mourned for him, and buried him in his house in Ramatha. And David +rose, and went down into the wilderness of Pharan. + +25:2. Now there was a certain man in the wilderness of Maon, and his +possessions were in Carmel, and the man was very great: and he had +three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and it happened that he was +shearing his sheep in Carmel. + +25:3. Now the name of the man was Nabal: and the name of his wife was +Abigail. And she was a prudent and very comely woman: but her husband +was churlish, and very bad and ill natured: and he was of the house of +Caleb. + +25:4. And when David heard in the wilderness, that Nabal was shearing +his sheep, + +25:5. He sent ten young men, and said to them: Go up to Carmel, and go +to Nabal, and salute him in my name with peace. + +25:6. And you shall say: Peace be to my brethren, and to thee, and +peace to thy house, and peace to all that thou hast. + +25:7. I have heard that thy shepherds that were with us in the desert +were shearing: we never molested them, neither was there ought missing +to them of the flock at any time, all the while they were with us in +Carmel. + +25:8. Ask thy servants, and they will tell thee. Now therefore let thy +servants find favour in thy eyes: for we are come in a good day, +whatsoever thy hand shall find give to thy servants, and to thy son +David. + +25:9. And when David's servants came, they spoke to Nabal all these +words in David's name, and then held their peace. + +25:10. But Nabal answering the servants of David, said: Who is David? +and what is the son of Isai? servants are multiplied now days who flee +from their masters. + +25:11. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and the flesh of my +cattle, which I have killed for my shearers, and give to men whom I +know not whence they are? + +25:12. So the servants of David went back their way, and returning came +and told him all the words that he said. + +25:13. Then David said to his young men: Let every man gird on his +sword. And they girded on every man his sword. And David also girded on +his sword: and there followed David about four hundred men, and two +hundred remained with the baggage. + +25:14. But one of the servants told, Abigail, the wife of Nabal, +saying: Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness, to salute +our master: and he rejected them. + +25:15. These men were very good to us, and gave us no trouble: Neither +did we ever lose any thing all the time that we conversed with them in +the desert. + +25:16. They were a wall unto us, both by night and day, all the while +we were with them keeping the sheep. + +25:17. Wherefore consider, and think what thou hast to do: for evil is +determined against thy husband, and against thy house, and he is a son +of Belial, so that no man can speak to him. + +25:18. Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves, and two +vessels of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of +parched corn, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes +of dry figs, and laid them upon asses: + +25:19. And she said to her servants: Go before me: behold, I will +follow after you: but she told not her husband, Nabal. + +25:20. And when she had gotten upon an ass, and was coming down to the +foot of the mountain, David and his men came down over against her, and +she met them. + +25:21. And David said: Truly in vain have I kept all that belonged to +this fellow in the wilderness, and nothing was lost of all that +pertained unto him: and he hath returned me evil for good. + +25:22. May God do so and so, and add more to the foes of David, if I +leave of all that belong to him till the morning, any that pisseth +against the wall. + +If I leave, etc. . .David certainly sinned in his designs against Nabal +and his family, as he himself was afterwards sensible, when he blessed +God for hindering him from executing the revenge he had proposed. + +25:23. And when Abigail saw David, she made haste and lighted off the +ass, and fell before David, on her face, and adored upon the ground. + +25:24. And she fell at his feet, and said: Upon me let this iniquity +be, my lord: let thy handmaid speak, I beseech thee, in thy ears, and +hear the words of thy servant. + +25:25. Let not my lord the king, I pray thee, regard this naughty man, +Nabal: for according to his name, he is a fool, and folly is with him: +but I, thy handmaid, did not see thy servants, my lord, whom thou +sentest. + +His name. . .Nabal, in Hebrew, signifies a fool. + +25:26. Now therefore, my lord, the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, +who hath withholden thee from coming to blood, and hath saved thy hand +to thee: and now let thy enemies be as Nabal, and all they that seek +evil to my lord. + +25:27. Wherefore receive this blessing, which thy handmaid hath brought +to thee, my lord: and give it to the young men that follow thee, my +lord. + +25:28. Forgive the iniquity of thy handmaid: for the Lord will surely +make for my lord a faithful house, because thou, my lord, fightest the +battles of the Lord: let not evil therefore be found in thee all the +days of thy life. + +25:29. For if a man at any time shall rise, and persecute thee, and +seek thy life, the soul of my lord shall be kept, as in the bundle of +the living, with the Lord thy God: but the souls of thy enemies shall +be whirled, as with the violence and whirling of a sling. + +25:30. And when the Lord shall have done to thee, my lord, all the good +that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have made thee prince +over Israel, + +25:31. This shall not be an occasion of grief to thee, and a scruple of +heart to my lord, that thou hast shed innocent blood, or hast revenged +thyself: and when the Lord shall have done well by my lord, thou shalt +remember thy handmaid. + +25:32. And David said to Abigail: Blessed be the Lord the God of +Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me, and blessed be thy speech: + +25:33. And blessed be thou, who hast kept me to day from coming to +blood, and revenging me with my own hand. + +25:34. Otherwise, as the Lord liveth, the God of Israel, who hath +withholden me from doing thee any evil, if thou hadst not quickly come +to meet me, there had not been left to Nabal by the morning light, any +that pisseth against the wall. + +25:35. And David received at her hand all that she had brought him, and +said to her: Go in peace into thy house, behold I have heard thy voice, +and honoured thy face. + +25:36. And Abigail came to Nabal: and behold he had a feast in his +house, like the feast of a king: and Nabal's heart was merry, for he +was very drunk: and she told him nothing less or more until morning. + +25:37. But early in the morning, when Nabal had digested his wine, his +wife told him these words, and his heart died within him, and he became +as a stone. + +25:38. And after ten days had passed, the Lord struck Nabal, and he +died. + +25:39. And when David had heard that Nabal was dead, he said: Blessed +be the Lord, who hath judged the cause of my reproach, at the hand of +Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil, and the Lord hath returned +the wickedness of Nabal upon his head. Then David sent and treated with +Abigail, that he might take her to himself for a wife. + +Blessed be, etc. . .David praiseth God, on this occasion, not out of joy +for the death of Nabal (which would have argued a rancour of heart), +but because he saw that God had so visibly taken his cause in hand, in +punishing the injury done to him; whilst, by a merciful providence he +kept him from revenging himself. + +25:40. And David's servants came to Abigail, to Carmel, and spoke to +her, saying: David hath sent us to thee, to take thee to himself for a +wife. + +25:41. And she arose, and bowed herself down with her face to the +earth, and said: Behold, let thy servant be a handmaid, to wash the +feet of the servants of my lord. + +25:42. And Abigail arose, and made haste, and got upon an ass, and five +damsels went with her, her waiting maids, and she followed the +messengers of David, and became his wife. + +25:43. Moreover David took also Achinoam of Jezrahel: and they were +both of them his wives. + +25:44. But Saul gave Michol, his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti, the +son of Lais, who was of Gallim. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 26 + + +Saul goeth out again after David, who cometh by night where Saul and +his men are asleep, but suffereth him not to be touched. Saul again +confesseth his fault, and promiseth peace. + +26:1. And the men of Ziph came to Saul in Gabaa, saying: Behold David +is hid in the hill of Hachila, which is over against the wilderness. + +26:2. And Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph having +with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the +wilderness of Ziph. + +26:3. And Saul encamped in Gabaa Hachila, which was over against the +wilderness in the way: and David abode in the wilderness. And seeing +that Saul was come after him into the wilderness, + +26:4. He sent spies, and learned that he was most certainly come +thither. + +26:5. And David arose secretly, and came to the place where Saul was: +and when he had beheld the place, wherein Saul slept, and Abner, the +son of Ner, the captain of his army, and Saul sleeping in a tent, and +the rest of the multitude round about him, + +26:6. David spoke to Achimelech, the Hethite, and Abisai, the son of +Sarvia, the brother of Joab, saying: Who will go down with me to Saul +into the camp? And Abisai said: I will go with thee. + +26:7. So David and Abisai came to the people by night, and found Saul +lying and sleeping in the tent, and his spear fixed in the ground at +his head: and Abner and the people sleeping round about him. + +26:8. And Abisai said to David: God hath shut up thy enemy this day +into thy hands: now then I will run him through with my spear, even to +the earth at once, and there shall be no need of a second time. + +26:9. And David said to Abisai: Kill him not: for who shall put forth +his hand against the Lord's anointed, and shall be guiltless? + +26:10. And David said: As the Lord liveth, unless the Lord shall strike +him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go down to battle, and +perish: + +26:11. The Lord be merciful unto me, and keep me that I never put forth +my hand against the Lord's anointed. But now take the spear which is at +his head, and the cup of water, and let us go. + +26:12. So David took the spear, and the cup of water which was at +Saul's head, and they went away: and no man saw it, or knew it, or +awaked, but they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord was +fallen upon them. + +26:13. And when David was gone over to the other side, and stood on the +top of the hill afar off, and a good space was between them, + +26:14. David cried to the people, and to Abner, the son of Ner, saying: +Wilt thou not answer, Abner? And Abner answering, said: Who art thou, +that criest, and disturbest the king? + +26:15. And David said to Abner: Art not thou a man? and who is like +unto thee in Israel? why then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for +there came one of the people in to kill the king thy lord. + +26:16. This thing is not good, that thou hast done: as the Lord liveth, +you are the sons of death, who have not kept your master, the Lord's +anointed. And now where is the king's spear, and the cup of water, +which was at his head? + +26:17. And Saul knew David's voice, and said: Is this thy voice, my son +David? And David said: It is my voice, my lord the king. + +26:18. And he said: Wherefore doth my lord persecute his servant? What +have I done? or what evil is there in my hand? + +26:19. Now therefore hear, I pray thee, my lord the king, the words of +thy servant: If the Lord stir thee up against me, let him accept of +sacrifice: but if the sons of men, they are cursed in the sight of the +Lord, who have cast me out this day, that I should not dwell in the +inheritance of the Lord, saying: Go, serve strange gods. + +26:20. And now let not my blood be shed upon the earth before the Lord: +for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as the partridge is +hunted in the mountains. + +26:21. And Saul said: I have sinned; return, my son David, for I will +no more do thee harm, because my life hath been precious in thy eyes +this day: for it appeareth that I have done foolishly, and have been +ignorant in very many things. + +26:22. And David answering, said: Behold the king's spear: let one of +the king's servants come over and fetch it. + +26:23. And the Lord will reward every one according to his justice, and +his faithfulness: for the Lord hath delivered thee this day into my +hand, and I would not put forth my hand against the Lord's anointed. + +26:24. And as thy life hath been much set by this day in my eyes, so +let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver +me from all distress. + +26:25. Then Saul said to David: Blessed art thou, my son David: and +truly doing thou shalt do, and prevailing thou shalt prevail. And David +went on his way, and Saul returned to his place. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 27 + + +David goeth again to Achis king of Geth, and obtaineth of him the city +of Siceleg. + +27:1. And David said in his heart: I shall one day or other fall into +the hands of Saul: is it not better for me to flee, and to be saved in +the land of the Philistines, that Saul may despair of me, and cease to +seek me in all the coasts of Israel? I will flee then out of his hands. + +27:2. And David arose, and went away, both he and the six hundred men +that were with him, to Achis, the son of Maoch, king of Geth. + +27:3. And David dwelt with Achis at Geth, he and his men; every man +with his household, and David with his two wives, Achinoam, the +Jezrahelitess, and Abigail, the wife of Nabal of Carmel. + +27:4. And it was told Saul that David was fled to Geth, and he sought +no more after him. + +27:5. And David said to Achis: If I have found favour in thy sight, let +a place be given me in one of the cities of this country, that I may +dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with +thee? + +27:6. Then Achis gave him Siceleg that day: for which reason Siceleg +belongeth to the kings of Juda unto this day. + +27:7. And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines, +was four months. + +27:8. And David and his men went up, and pillaged Gessuri, and Gerzi, +and the Amalecites: for these were of old the inhabitants of the +countries, as men go to Sur, even to the land of Egypt. + +Pillaged Gessuri, etc. . .These probably were enemies of the people of +God: and some, if not all of them, were of the number of those whom God +had ordered to be destroyed: which justifies David's proceedings in +their regard. Though it is to be observed here, that we are not under +an obligation of justifying every thing that he did: for the scripture, +in relating what was done, does not say that it was well done. And even +such as are true servants of God, are not to be imitated in all they +do. + +27:9. And David wasted all the land, and left neither man nor woman +alive: and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the +camels, and the apparel, and returned and came to Achis. + +27:10. And Achis said to him: Whom hast thou gone against to day? David +answered: Against the south of Juda, and against the south of Jerameel, +and against the south of Ceni. + +27:11. And David saved neither man nor woman, neither brought he any of +them to Geth, saying: Lest they should speak against us. So did David, +and such was his proceeding all the days that he dwelt in the country +of the Philistines. + +27:12. And Achis believed David, saying: He hath done much harm to his +people Israel: Therefore he shall be my servant for ever. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 28 + + +The Philistines go out to war against Israel. Saul being forsaken by +God, hath recourse to a witch. Samuel appeareth to him. + +28:1. And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered +together their armies, to be prepared for war against Israel: And Achis +said to David: Know thou now assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me +to the war, thou, and thy men. + +28:2. And David said to Achis: Now thou shalt know what thy servant +will do. And Achis said to David: And I will appoint thee to guard my +life for ever. + +28:3. Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel mourned for him, and buried +him in Ramatha, his city. And Saul had put away all the magicians and +soothsayers out of the land. + +28:4. And the Philistines were gathered together, and came and encamped +in Sunam: and Saul also gathered together all Israel, and came to +Gelboe. + +28:5. And Saul saw the army of the Philistines, and was afraid, and his +heart was very much dismayed. + +28:6. And he consulted the Lord, and he answered him not, neither by +dreams, nor by priests, nor by prophets. + +28:7. And Saul said to his servants: Seek me a woman that hath a +divining spirit, and I will go to her, and enquire by her. And his +servants said to him: There is a woman that hath a divining spirit at +Endor. + +28:8. Then he disguised himself: and put on other clothes, and he went, +and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night, and he said +to her: Divine to me by thy divining spirit, and bring me up him whom I +shall tell thee. + +28:9. And the woman said to him: Behold thou knowest all that Saul hath +done, and how he hath rooted out the magicians and soothsayers from the +land: why then dost thou lay a snare for my life, to cause me to be put +to death? + +28:10. And Saul swore unto her by the Lord, saying: As the Lord liveth, +there shall no evil happen to thee for this thing. + +28:11. And the woman said to him: Whom shall I bring up to thee? And he +said, Bring me up Samuel. + +28:12. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, +and said to Saul: Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. + +28:13. And the king said to her: Fear not: what hast thou seen? and +the woman said to Saul: I saw gods ascending out of the earth. + +28:14. And he said to her: What form is he of? And she said: An old +man cometh up, and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul understood that +it was Samuel, and he bowed himself with his face to the ground, and +adored. + +Understood that it was Samuel. . .It is the more common opinion of the +holy fathers, and interpreters, that the soul of Samuel appeared +indeed: and not, as some have imagined, an evil spirit in his shape. +Not that the power of her magic could bring him thither, but that God +was pleased for the punishment of Saul, that Samuel himself should +denounce unto him the evils that were falling upon him. See Eccli. +46.23. + +28:15. And Samuel said to Saul: Why hast thou disturbed my rest, that I +should be brought up? And Saul said: I am in great distress: for the +Philistines fight against me, and God is departed from me, and would +not hear me, neither by the hand of prophets, nor by dreams: therefore +I have called thee, that thou mayst shew me what I shall do. + +28:16. And Samuel said: Why askest thou me, seeing the Lord has +departed from thee, and is gone over to thy rival? + +28:17. For the Lord will do to thee as he spoke by me, and he will rend +thy kingdom out of thy hand, and will give it to thy neighbour David: + +28:18. Because thou didst not obey the voice of the Lord, neither didst +thou execute the wrath of his indignation upon Amalec. Therefore hath +the Lord done to thee what thou sufferest this day. + +28:19. And the Lord also will deliver Israel with thee into the hands +of the Philistines: and to morrow thou and thy sons shall be with me: +and the Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hands of the +Philistines. + +With me. . .That is, in the state of the dead, and in another world, +though not in the same place. + +28:20. And forthwith Saul fell all along on the ground; for he was +frightened with the words of Samuel, and there was no strength in him, +for he had eaten no bread all that day. + +28:21. And the woman came to Saul, (for he was very much troubled) and +said to him: Behold thy handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put +my life in my hand: and I hearkened unto the words which thou spokest +to me. + +28:22. Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also to the voice of +thy handmaid, and let me set before thee a morsel of bread, that thou +mayst eat and recover strength, and be able to go on thy journey. + +28:23. But he refused, and said: I will not eat. But his servants and +the woman forced him, and at length hearkening to their voice, he arose +from the ground, and sat upon the bed. + +28:24. Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she made haste +and killed it: and taking meal, kneaded it, and baked some unleavened +bread, + +28:25. And set it before Saul, and before his servants. And when they +had eaten they rose up, and walked all that night. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 29 + + +David going with the Philistines is sent back by their princes. + +29:1. Now all the troops of the Philistines were gathered together to +Aphec: and Israel also encamped by the fountain, which is in Jezrahel. + +29:2. And the lords of the Philistines marched with their hundreds and +their thousands: but David and his men were in the rear with Achis. + +29:3. And the princes of the Philistines said to Achis: What mean these +Hebrews? And Achis said to the princes of the Philistines: Do you not +know David who was the servant of Saul, the king of Israel, and hath +been with me many days, or years, and I have found no fault in him, +since the day that he fled over to me until this day? + +29:4. But the prices of the Philistines were angry with him, and they +said to him: Let this man return, and abide in his place, which thou +hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest he +be an adversary to us, when we shall begin to fight: for how can he +otherwise appease his master, but with our heads? + +29:5. Is not this David, to whom they sung in their dances, saying: +Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands? + +29:6. Then Achis called David, and said to him: As the Lord liveth, +thou art upright and good in my sight: and so is thy going out, and thy +coming in with me in the army: and I have not found any evil in thee, +since the day that thou camest to me unto this day: but thou pleasest +not the lords. + +29:7. Return therefore, and go in peace, and offend not the eyes of the +princes of the Philistines. + +29:8. And David said to Achis: But what have I done, or what hast thou +found in me thy servant, from the day that I have been in thy sight +until this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my +lord the king? + +29:9. And Achis answering, said to David: I know that thou art good in +my sight, as an angel of God: But the princes of the Philistines have +said: He shall not go up with us to the battle. + +29:10. Therefore arise in the morning, thou, and the servants of thy +lord, who came with thee: and when you are up before day, and it shall +begin to be light, go on your way. + +29:11. So David and his men arose in the night, that they might set +forward in the morning, and returned to the land of the Philistines: +and the Philistines went up to Jezrahel. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 30 + + +The Amalecites burn Siceleg, and carry off the prey: David pursueth +after them, and recovereth all out of their hands. + +30:1. Now when David and his men were come to Siceleg on the third day, +the Amalecites had made an invasion on the south side upon Siceleg, and +had smitten Siceleg, and burnt it with fire, + +30:2. And had taken the women captives that were in it, both little and +great: and they had not killed any person, but had carried them with +them, and went on their way. + +30:3. So when David and his men came to the city, and found it burnt +with fire, and that their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, +were taken captives, + +30:4. David and the people that were with him, lifted up their voices, +and wept till they had no more tears. + +30:5. For the two wives also of David were taken captives, Achinoam, +the Jezrahelitess, and Abigail, the wife of Nabal of Carmel. + +30:6. And David was greatly afflicted: for the people had a mind to +stone him, for the soul of every man was bitterly grieved for his sons +and daughters: but David took courage in the Lord his God. + +30:7. And he said to Abiathar, the priest, the son of Achimelech: Bring +me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. + +30:8. And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I pursue after these +robbers, and shall I overtake them, or not? And the Lord said to him: +Pursue after them: for thou shalt surely overtake them and recover the +prey. + +30:9. So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and +they came to the torrent Besor: and some, being weary, stayed there. + +30:10. But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred +stayed, who, being weary, could not go over the torrent Besor. + +30:11. And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to +David: and they gave him bread to eat, and water to drink, + +30:12. As also a piece of a cake of figs, and two bunches of raisins. +And when he had eaten them, his spirit returned, and he was refreshed: +for he had not eaten bread, nor drunk water, three days and three +nights. + +30:13. And David said to him: To whom dost thou belong; or whence dost +thou come? and whither art thou going? He said: I am a young man of +Egypt, the servant of an Amalecite: and my master left me, because I +began to be sick three days ago. + +30:14. For we made an invasion on the south side of Cerethi, and upon +Juda, and upon the south of Caleb, and we burnt Siceleg with fire. + +30:15. And David said to him: Canst thou bring me to this company? and +he said: Swear to me by God, that thou wilt not kill me, nor deliver me +into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee to this company. And +David swore to him. + +30:16. And when he had brought him, behold they were lying spread +abroad upon all the ground, eating and drinking, and as it were keeping +a festival day, for all the prey and the spoils which they had taken +out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Juda. + +30:17. And David slew them from the evening unto the evening of the +next day, and there escaped not a man of them, but four hundred young +men, who had gotten upon camels, and fled. + +30:18. So David recovered all that the Amalecites had taken, and he +rescued his two wives. + +30:19. And there was nothing missing small or great, neither of their +sons or their daughters, nor of the spoils, and whatsoever they had +taken, David recovered all. + +30:20. And he took all the flocks and the herds, and made them go +before him: and they said: This is the prey of David. + +30:21. And David came to the two hundred men, who, being weary, had +stayed, and were not able to follow David, and he had ordered them to +abide at the torrent Besor: and they came out to meet David, and the +people that were with him. And David coming to the people, saluted them +peaceably. + +30:22. Then all the wicked and unjust men, that had gone with David, +answering, said: Because they came not with us, we will not give them +any thing of the prey which we have recovered: but let every man take +his wife, and his children, and be contented with them, and go his way. + +30:23. But David said: You shall not do so, my brethren, with these +things, which the Lord hath given us, who hath kept us, and hath +delivered the robbers that invaded us into our hands: + +30:24. And no man shall hearken to you in this matter. But equal shall +be the portion of him that went down to battle, and of him that abode +at the baggage, and they shall divide alike. + +30:25. And this hath been done from that day forward, and since was +made a statute and an ordinance, and as a law in Israel. + +30:26. Then David came to Siceleg, and sent presents of the prey to the +ancients of Juda, his neighbours, saying: Receive a blessing of the +prey of the enemies of the Lord. + +30:27. To them that were in Bethel, and that were in Ramoth to the +south, and to them that were in Jether. + +30:28. And to them that were in Aroer, and that were in Sephamoth, and +that were in Esthamo, + +30:29. And that were in Rachal, and that were in the cities of +Jerameel, and that were in the cities of Ceni, + +30:30. And that were in Arama, and that were in the lake Asan, and that +were in Athach, + +30:31. And that were in Hebron, and to the rest that were in those +places, in which David had abode with his men. + + + +1 Kings Chapter 31 + + +Israel is defeated by the Philistines: Saul and his sons are slain. + +31:1. And the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel +fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gelboe. + +31:2. And the Philistines fell upon Saul, and upon his sons, and they +slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchisua, the sons of Saul. + +31:3. And the whole weight of the battle was turned upon Saul: and the +archers overtook him, and he was grievously wounded by the archers. + +31:4. Then Saul said to his armourbearer: Draw thy sword, and kill me: +lest these uncircumcised come, and slay me, and mock at me. And his +armourbearer would not: for he was struck with exceeding great fear. +Then Saul took his sword, and fell upon it. + +31:5. And when his armourbearer saw this, to wit, that Saul was dead, +he also fell upon his sword and died with him. + +31:6. So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all +his men that same day together. + +31:7. And the men of Israel, that were beyond the valley, and beyond +the Jordan, seeing that the Israelites were fled, and that Saul was +dead, and his sons, forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines +came and dwelt there. + +31:8. And on the morrow the Philistines came to strip the slain, and +they found Saul and his three sons lying in mount Gelboe. + +31:9. And they cut off Saul's head, and stripped him of his armour, and +sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the +temples of their idols and among their people. + +31:10. And they put his armour in the temple of Astaroth, but his body +they hung on the wall of Bethsan. + +31:11. Now when the inhabitants of Jabes Galaad had heard all that the +Philistines had done to Saul, + +31:12. All the most valiant men arose, and walked all the night, and +took the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, from the wall of +Bethsan: and they came to Jabes Galaad, and burnt them there. + +31:13. And they took their bones, and buried them in the wood of Jabes: +and fasted seven days. + + + + +THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL, OTHERWISE CALLED THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS + + + +This Book relates the transactions from the death of Saul until the end +of David's reign, being a history for the space of about forty-six +years. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 1 + + +David mourneth for the death of Saul and Jonathan: he ordereth the man +to be slain who pretended he had killed Saul. + +1:1. Now it came to pass, after Saul was dead, that David returned from +the slaughter of the Amalecites, and abode two days in Siceleg. + +1:2. And on the third day, there appeared a man who came out of Saul's +camp, with his garments rent, and dust strewed on his head: and when he +came to David, he fell upon his face, and adored. + +1:3. And David said to him: From whence comest thou? And he said to +him: I am fled out of the camp of Israel. + +1:4. And David said unto him: What is the matter that is come to pass? +tell me: He said: The people are fled from the battle, and many of the +people are fallen and dead: moreover Saul and Jonathan his son are +slain. + +1:5. And David said to the young man that told him: How knowest thou +that Saul and Jonathan his son, are dead? + +1:6. And the young man that told him, said: I came by chance upon mount +Gelboe, and Saul leaned upon his spear: and the chariots and horsemen +drew nigh unto him, + +1:7. And looking behind him, and seeing me, he called me. And I +answered, Here am I. + +1:8. And he said to me: Who art thou? And I said to him: I am an +Amalecite. + +1:9. And he said to me: Stand over me, and kill me: for anguish is come +upon me, and as yet my whole life is in me. + +1:10. So standing over him, I killed him: for I knew that he could not +live after the fall: and I took the diadem that was on his head, and +the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither to thee, +my lord. + +I killed him. . .This story of the young Amalecite was not true, as may +easily be proved by comparing it with the last chapter of the foregoing +book. + +1:11. Then David took hold of his garments and rent them, and likewise +all the men that were with him. + +1:12. And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, +and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the +house of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword. + +1:13. And David said to the young man that told him: Whence art thou? +He answered: I am the son of a stranger of Amalec. + +1:14. David said to him: Why didst thou not fear to put out thy hand to +kill the Lord's anointed? + +1:15. And David calling one of his servants, said: Go near and fall +upon him. And he struck him so that he died. + +1:16. And David said to him: Thy blood be upon thy own head: for thy +own mouth hath spoken against thee, saying: I have slain the Lord's +anointed. + +1:17. And David made this kind of lamentation over Saul, and over +Jonathan his son. + +1:18. (Also he commanded that they should teach the children of Juda +the use of the bow, as it is written in the book of the just.) And he +said: Consider, O Israel, for them that are dead, wounded on thy high +places. + +1:19. The illustrious of Israel are slain upon thy mountains: how are +the valiant fallen? + +1:20. Tell it not in Geth, publish it not in the streets of Ascalon: +lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of +the uncircumcised triumph. + +1:21. Ye mountains of Gelboe, let neither dew, nor rain come upon you, +neither be they fields of firstfruits: for there was cast away the +shield of the valiant, the shield of Saul as though he had not been +anointed with oil. + +1:22. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the valiant, the +arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not +return empty. + +1:23. Saul and Jonathan, lovely, and comely in their life, even in +death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, stronger +than lions. + +1:24. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with +scarlet in delights, who gave ornaments of gold for your attire. + +1:25. How are the valiant fallen in battle? Jonathan slain in the high +places? + +1:26. I grieve for thee, my brother Jonathan: exceeding beautiful, and +amiable to me above the love of women. As the mother loveth her only +son, so did I love thee. + +1:27. How are the valiant fallen, and the weapons of war perished? + + + +2 Kings Chapter 2 + + +David is received and anointed king of Juda. Isboseth the son of Saul +reigneth over the rest of Israel. A battle between Abner and Joab. + +2:1. And after these things David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I +go up into one of the cities of Juda? And the Lord said to him: Go up. +And David said: Whither shall I go up? And he answered him: Into +Hebron. + +2:2. So David went up, and his two wives Achinoam the Jezrahelitess, +and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel: + +2:3. And the men also that were with him, David brought up every man +with his household: and they abode in the towns of Hebron. + +2:4. And the men of Juda came, and anointed David there, to be king +over the house of Juda. And it was told David that the men of Jabes +Galaad had buried Saul. + +2:5. David therefore sent messengers to the men of Jabes Galaad, and +said to them: Blessed be you to the Lord, who have shewn this mercy to +your master Saul, and have buried him. + +2:6. And now the Lord surely will render you mercy and truth, and I +also will requite you for this good turn, because you have done this +thing. + +2:7. Let your hands be strengthened, and be ye men of valour: for +although your master Saul be dead, yet the house of Juda hath anointed +me to be their king. + +2:8. But Abner the son of Ner, general of Saul's army, took Isboseth +the son of Saul, and led him about through the camp, + +2:9. And made him king over Galaad, and over Gessuri, and over +Jezrahel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. + +2:10. Isboseth the son of Saul was forty years old when he began to +reign over Israel, and he reigned two years; and only the house of Juda +followed David. + +He reigned two years. . .Viz., before he began visibly to decline: but +in all he reigned seven years and six months; for so long David reigned +in Hebron. + +2:11. And the number of the days that David abode, reigning in Hebron +over the house of Juda, was seven years and six months. + +2:12. And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Isboseth the son of +Saul, went out from the camp to Gabaon. + +2:13. And Joab the son of Sarvia, and the servants of David went out, +and met them by the pool of Gabaon. And when they were come together, +they sat down over against one another: the one on the one side of the +pool, and the other on the other side. + +2:14. And Abner said to Joab: Let the young men rise, and play before +us. And Joab answered: Let them rise. + +2:15. Then there arose and went over twelve in number of Benjamin, of +the part of Isboseth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of +David. + +2:16. And every one catching his fellow by the head, thrust his sword +into the side of his adversary, and they fell down together: and the +name of the place was called: The field of the valiant, in Gabaon. + +2:17. And there was a very fierce battle that day: and Abner was put to +flight, with the men of Israel, by the servants of David. + +2:18. And there were the three sons of Sarvia there, Joab, and Abisai, +and Asael: now Asael was a most swift runner, like one of the roes that +abide in the woods. + +2:19. And Asael pursued after Abner, and turned not to the right hand +nor to the left from following Abner. + +2:20. And Abner looked behind him, and said: Art thou Asael? And he +answered: I am. + +2:21. And Abner said to him: Go to the right hand or to the left, and +lay hold on one of the young men and take thee his spoils. But Asael +would not leave off following him close. + +2:22. And again Abner said to Asael: Go off, and do not follow me, lest +I be obliged to stab thee to the ground, and I shall not be able to +hold up my face to Joab thy brother. + +2:23. But he refused to hearken to him, and would not turn aside: +wherefore Abner struck him with his spear with a back stroke in the +groin, and thrust him through, and he died upon the spot: and all that +came to the place where Asael fell down and died stood still. + +2:24. Now while Joab and Abisai pursued after Abner, the sun went down: +and they came as far as the hill of the aqueduct, that lieth over +against the valley by the way of the wilderness in Gabaon. + +2:25. And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together to +Abner: and being joined in one body, they stood on the top of a hill. + +2:26. And Abner cried out to Joab, and said: Shall thy sword rage unto +utter destruction? knowest thou not that it is dangerous to drive +people to despair? how long dost thou defer to bid the people cease +from pursuing after their brethren? + +2:27. And Joab said: As the Lord liveth, if thou hadst spoke sooner, +even in the morning the people should have retired from pursuing after +their brethren. + +2:28. Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and all the army stood still, and +did not pursue after Israel any farther, nor fight any more. + +2:29. And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plains: +and they passed the Jordan, and having gone through all Beth-horon, +came to the camp. + +2:30. And Joab returning, after he had left Abner, assembled all the +people: and there were wanting of David's servants nineteen men, beside +Asael. + +2:31. But the servants of David had killed of Benjamin, and of the men +that were with Abner, three hundred and sixty, who all died. + +2:32. And they took Asael, and buried him in the sepulchre of his +father in Bethlehem and Joab, and the men that were with him, marched +all the night, and they came to Hebron at break of day. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 3 + + +David groweth daily stronger. Abner cometh over to him: he is +treacherously slain by Joab. + +3:1. Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house +of David: David prospering and growing always stronger and stronger, +but the house of Saul decaying daily. + +There was a long war between the house of Saul, etc. . .Rather a strife +or emulation than a war with arms; it lasted five years and a half. + +3:2. And sons were born to David in Hebron: and his firstborn was Ammon +of Achinoam the Jezrahelitess: + +3:3. And his second Cheleab of Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel: and +the third Absalom the son of Maacha the daughter of Tholmai king of +Gessur: + +3:4. And the fourth Adonias, the son of Haggith: and the fifth +Saphathia the son of Abital: + +3:5. And the sixth Jethraam of Egla the wife of David: these were born +to David In Hebron. + +3:6. Now while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of +David, Abner the son of Ner ruled the house of Saul. + +3:7. And Saul had a concubine named Respha, the daughter of Aia. And +Isboseth said to Abner: + +3:8. Why didst thou go in to my father's concubine? And he was +exceedingly angry for the words of Isboseth, and said: Am I a dog's +head against Juda this day, who have shewn mercy to the house of Saul +thy father, and to his brethren and friends, and have not delivered +thee into the hands of David, and hast thou sought this day against me +to charge me with a matter concerning a woman? + +3:9. So do God to Abner, and more also, unless as the Lord hath sworn +to David, so I do to him, + +3:10. That the kingdom be translated from the house of Saul, and the +throne of David be set up over Israel, and over Juda from Dan to +Bersabee. + +3:11. And he could not answer him a word, because he feared him. + +3:12. Abner therefore sent messengers to David for himself, saying: +Whose is the land? and that they should say: Make a league with me, and +my hand shall be with thee: and I will bring all Israel to thee. + +3:13. And he said: Very well: I will make a league with thee: but one +thing I require of thee, saying: Thou shalt not see my face before thou +bring Michol the daughter of Saul: and so thou shalt come, and see me. + +3:14. And David sent messengers to Isboseth the son of Saul, saying: +Restore my wife Michol, whom I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins +of the Philistines. + +3:15. And Isboseth sent, and took her from her husband Phaltiel, the +son of Lais. + +3:16. And her husband followed her, weeping as far as Bahurim: and +Abner said to him: Go and return. And he returned. + +3:17. Abner also spoke to the ancients of Israel, saying: Both +yesterday and the day before you sought for David that he might reign +over you. + +3:18. Now then do it: because the Lord hath spoken to David, saying: By +the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the +hands of the Philistines, and of all their enemies. + +3:19. And Abner spoke also to Benjamin. And he went to speak to David +in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to all Benjamin. + +3:20. And he came to David in Hebron with twenty men: and David made a +feast for Abner, and his men that came with him. + +3:21. And Abner said to David: I will rise, that I may gather all +Israel unto thee my lord the king, and may enter into a league with +thee, and that thou mayst reign over all as thy soul desireth. Now when +David had brought Abner on his way, and he was gone in peace, + +3:22. Immediately, David's servants and Joab came, after having slain +the robbers, with an exceeding great booty. And Abner was not with +David in Hebron, for he had now sent him away, and he was gone in +peace. + +3:23. And Joab and all the army that was with him, came afterwards: and +it was told Joab, that Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he +hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace. + +3:24. And Joab went in to the king, and said: What hast thou done? +Behold Abner came to thee: Why didst thou send him away, and he is gone +and departed? + +3:25. Knowest thou not Abner the son of Ner, that to this end he came +to thee, that he might deceive thee, and to know thy going out, and thy +coming in, and to know all thou dost? + +3:26. Then Joab going out from David, sent messengers after Abner, and +brought him back from the cistern of Sira, David knowing nothing of it. + +3:27. And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the +middle of the gate, to speak to him treacherously: and he stabbed him +there in the groin, and he died, in revenge of the blood of Asael his +brother. + +3:28. And when David heard of it, after the thing was now done, he +said: I, and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord for ever of the +blood of Abner the son of Ner: + +3:29. And may it come upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's +house: and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an +issue of seed, or that is a leper, or that holdeth the distaff, or that +falleth by the sword, or that wanteth bread. + +3:30. So Joab and Abisai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed +their brother Asael at Gabaon in the battle. + +3:31. And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him: +Rend your garments, and gird yourselves with sackcloths, and mourn +before the funeral of Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. + +3:32. And when they had buried Abner in Hebron, king David lifted up +his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner: and all the people also +wept. + +3:33. And the king mourning and lamenting over Abner, said: Not as +cowards are wont to die, hath Abner died. + +3:34. Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet laden with fetters: but as +men fall before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall. And all +the people repeating it wept over him. + +3:35. And when all the people came to take meat with David, while it +was yet broad day, David swore, saying: So do God to me, and more also, +if I taste bread or any thing else before sunset. + +3:36. And all the people heard, and they were pleased, and all that the +king did seemed good in the sight of all the people. + +3:37. And all the people, and all Israel understood that day that it +was not the king's doing, that Abner the son of Ner was slain. + +3:38. The king also said to his servants: Do you not know that a prince +and a great man is slain this day in Israel? + +3:39. But I as yet am tender, though anointed king. And these men the +sons of Sarvia are too hard for me: the Lord reward him that doth evil +according to his wickedness. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 4 + + +Isboseth is murdered by two of his servants. David punisheth the +murderers. + +4:1. And Isboseth the son of Saul heard that Abner was slain in Hebron: +and his hands were weakened, and all Israel was troubled. + +4:2. Now the son of Saul had two men captains of his bands, the name of +the one was Baana, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Remmon +a Berothite of the children of Benjamin: for Beroth also was reckoned +in Benjamin. + +4:3. And the Berothites fled into Gethaim, and were sojourners there +until that time. + +4:4. And Jonathan the son of Saul had a son that was lame of his feet: +for he was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan +from Jezrahel. And his nurse took him up and fled: and as she made +haste to flee, he fell and became lame: and his name was Miphiboseth. + +4:5. And the sons of Remmon the Berothite, Rechab and Baana coming, +went into the house of Isboseth in the heat of the day: and he was +sleeping upon his bed at noon. And the doorkeeper of the house, who was +cleansing wheat, was fallen asleep. + +4:6. And they entered into the house secretly taking ears of corn, and +Rechab and Baana his brother stabbed him in the groin, and fled away. + +4:7. For when they came into the house, he was sleeping upon his bed in +a parlour, and they struck him and killed him and taking away his head +they went off by the way of the wilderness, walking all night. + +4:8. And they brought the head of Isboseth to David to Hebron: and they +said to the king: Behold the head of Isboseth the son of Saul thy enemy +who sought thy life: and the Lord hath revenged my lord the king this +day of Saul, and of his seed. + +4:9. But David answered Rechab, and Baana his brother, the sons of +Remmon the Berothite, and said to them: As the Lord liveth, who hath +delivered my soul out of all distress, + +4:10. The man that told me, and said: Saul is dead, who thought he +brought good tidings, I apprehended, and slew him in Siceleg, who +should have been rewarded for his news. + +4:11. How much more now when wicked men have slain an innocent man in +his own house, upon his bed, shall I not require his blood at your +hand, and take you away from the earth? + +4:12. And David commanded his servants and they slew them: and cutting +off their hands and feet, hanged them up over the pool in Hebron: but +the head of Isboseth they took and buried in the sepulchre of Abner in +Hebron. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 5 + + +David is anointed king of all Israel. He taketh Jerusalem, and dwelleth +there. He defeateth the Philistines. + +5:1. Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, saying: +Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh. + +5:2. Moreover yesterday also and the day before, when Saul was king +over us, thou wast he that did lead out and bring in Israel: and the +Lord said to thee: Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be +prince over Israel. + +5:3. The ancients also of Israel came to the king of Hebron, and king +David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they +anointed David to be king over Israel. + +5:4. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned +forty years. + +5:5. In Hebron he reigned over Juda seven years and six months: and in +Jerusalem he reigned three and thirty years over all Israel and Juda. + +5:6. And the king and all the men that were with him went to Jerusalem +to the Jebusites the inhabitants of the land: and they said to David: +Thou shalt not come in hither unless thou take away the blind and the +lame that say: David shall not come in hither. + +5:7. But David took the castle of Sion, the same is the city of David. + +5:8. For David had offered that day a reward to whosoever should strike +the Jebusites and get up to the gutters of the tops of the houses, and +take away the blind and the lame that hated the soul of David: +therefore it is said in the proverb: The blind and the lame shall not +come into the temple. + +5:9. And David dwelt in the castle, and called it, The city of David: +and built round about from Mello and inwards. + +5:10. And he went on prospering and growing up, and the Lord God of +hosts was with him. + +5:11. And Hiram the king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar +trees, and carpenters, and masons for walls: and they built a house for +David. + +5:12. And David knew that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, +and that he had exalted his kingdom over his people Israel. + +5:13. And David took more concubines and wives of Jerusalem, after he +was come from Hebron: and there were born to David other sons also and +daughters: + +David took more concubines and wives of Jerusalem. . .Not harlots, but +wives of an inferior condition; for such, in scripture, are styled +concubines. + +5:14. And these are the names of them, that were born to him in +Jerusalem, Samua, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, + +5:15. And Jebahar, and Elisua, and Nepheg, + +5:16. And Japhia, and Elisama, and Elioda, and Eliphaleth. + +5:17. And the Philistines heard that they had anointed David to be king +over Israel: and they all came to seek David: and when David heard of +it, he went down to a strong hold. + +5:18. And the Philistines coming spread themselves in the valley of +Raphaim. + +5:19. And David consulted the Lord, Saying: Shall I go up to the +Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said +to David: Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into thy +hand. + +5:20. And David came to Baal Pharisim: and defeated them there, and he +said, The Lord hath divided my enemies before me, as waters are +divided. Therefore the name of the place was called Baal Pharisim. + +5:21. And they left there their idols: which David and his men took +away. + +5:22. And the Philistines came up again and spread themselves into the +valley of Raphaim. + +5:23. And David consulted the Lord: Shall I go up against the +Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into my hands? He answered: Go +not up against them but fetch a compass behind them, and thou shalt +come upon them over against the pear trees. + +5:24. And when thou shalt hear the sound of one going in the tops of +the pear trees, then shalt thou join battle: for then will the Lord go +out before thy face to strike the army of the Philistines. + +5:25. And David did as the Lord had commanded him, and he smote the +Philistines from Gabaa until thou come to Gezer. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 6 + + +David fetcheth the ark from Cariathiarim. Oza is struck dead for +touching it. It is deposited in the house of Obededom: and from thence +carried to David's house. + +6:1. And David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, +thirty thousand. + +6:2. And David arose and went, with all the people that were with him +of the men of Juda to fetch the ark of God, upon which the name of the +Lord of Hosts is invoked, who sitteth over it upon the cherubims. + +6:3. And they laid the ark of God upon a new cart: and took it out of +the house of Abinadab, who was in Gabaa, and Oza and Ahio, the sons of +Abinadab, drove the new cart. + +Gabaa. . .The hill of Cariathiarim, where the ark had been in the house +of Abinadab, from the time of its being restored back by the +Philistines. + +6:4. And when they had taken it out of the house of Abinadab, who was +in Gabaa, Ahio having care of the ark of God went before the ark. + +6:5. But David and all Israel played before the Lord on all manner of +instruments made of wood, on harps and lutes and timbrels and cornets +and cymbals. + +6:6. And when they came to the floor of Nachon, Oza put forth his hand +to the ark of God, and took hold of it: because the oxen kicked and +made it lean aside. + +6:7. And the indignation of the Lord was enkindled against Oza, and he +struck him for his rashness: and he died there before the ark of God. + +6:8. And David was grieved because the Lord had struck Oza, and the +name of that place was called: The striking of Oza, to this day. + +6:9. And David was afraid of the Lord that day, saying: How shall the +ark of the Lord come to me? + +6:10. And he would not have the ark of the Lord brought in to himself +into the city of David: but he caused it to be carried into the house +of Obededom the Gethite. + +6:11. And the ark of the Lord abode in the house of Obededom the +Gethite three months: and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his +household. + +6:12. And it was told king David, that the Lord had blessed Obededom, +and all that he had, because of the ark of God. So David went, and +brought away the ark of God out of the house of Obededom into the city +of David with joy. And there were with David seven choirs, and calves +for victims. + +Choirs. . .Or companies of musicians. + +6:13. And when they that carried the ark of the Lord had gone six +paces, he sacrificed and ox and a ram: + +6:14. And David danced with all his might before the Lord: and David +was girded with a linen ephod. + +6:15. And David and all the louse of Israel brought the ark of the +covenant of the Lord with joyful shouting, and with sound of trumpet. + +6:16. And when the ark of the Lord was come into the city of David, +Michol the daughter of Saul, looking out through a window, saw king +David leaping and dancing before the Lord: and she despised him in her +heart. + +6:17. And they brought the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place in +the midst of the tabernacle, which David had pitched for it: and David +offered holocausts, and peace offerings before the Lord. + +6:18. And when he had made an end of offering holocausts and peace +offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. + +6:19. And he distributed to all the multitude of Israel, both men and +women, to every one, a cake of bread, and a piece of roasted beef, and +fine flour fried with oil: and all the people departed every one to his +own house. + +6:20. And David returned to bless his own house: and Michol the +daughter of Saul coming out to meet David, said: How glorious was the +king of Israel to day, uncovering himself before the handmaids of his +servants, and was naked, as if one of the buffoons should be naked. + +6:21. And David said to Michol: Before the Lord, who chose me rather +than thy father, and than all his house, and commanded me to be ruler +over the people of the Lord in Israel, + +6:22. I will both play and make myself meaner than I have done: and I +will be little in my own eyes: and with the handmaids of whom thou +speakest, I shall appear more glorious. + +6:23. Therefore Michol the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of +her death. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 7 + + +David's purpose to build a temple is rewarded with the promise of great +blessings in his seed: his prayer and thanksgiving. + +7:1. And it came to pass when the king sat in his house, and the Lord +had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, + +7:2. He said to Nathan the prophet: Dost thou see that I dwell in a +house of cedar, and the ark of God is lodged within skins? + +7:3. And Nathan said to the king: Go, do all that is in they heart: +because the Lord is with thee. + +7:4. But it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came to +Nathan, saying: + +7:5. Go, and say to my servant David: Thus saith the Lord: Shalt thou +build me a house to dwell in? + +7:6. Whereas I have not dwelt in a house from the day that I brought +the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt even to this day: but +have walked in a tabernacle, and in a tent. + +7:7. In all the places that I have gone through with all the children +of Israel, did ever I speak a word to any one of the tribes of Israel, +whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying: Why have you not +built me a house of cedar? + +7:8. And now thus shalt thou speak to my servant David: Thus saith the +Lord of hosts: I took thee out of the pastures from following the sheep +to be ruler over my people Israel: + +7:9. And I have been with thee wheresoever thou hast walked, and have +slain all thy enemies from before thy face: and I have made thee a +great man, like unto the name of the great ones that are on the earth. + +7:10. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant +them, and they shall dwell therein, and shall be disturbed no more: +neither shall the children of iniquity afflict them any more as they +did before, + +7:11. From the day that I appointed judges over my people Israel: and I +will give thee rest from all thy enemies. And the Lord foretelleth to +thee, that the Lord will make thee a house. + +7:12. And when thy days shall be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with +thy fathers, I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed +out of the bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. + +I will establish his kingdom. . .This prophecy partly relateth to +Solomon: but much more to Christ, who is called the son of David in +scripture, and who is the builder of the true temple, which is the +church, his everlasting kingdom, which shall never fail. + +7:13. He shall build a house to my name, and I will establish the +throne of his kingdom fore ever. + +7:14. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son: and if he +commit any iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men, and with +the stripes of the children of men. + +7:15. But my mercy I will not take away from him, as I took it from +Saul, whom I removed from before my face. + +7:16. And thy house shall be faithful, and thy kingdom for ever before +thy face, and thy throne shall be firm for ever. + +7:17. According to all these words and according to all this vision so +did Nathan speak to David. + +7:18. And David went in, and sat before the Lord, and said: Who am I, O +Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? + +7:19. Bur yet this hath seemed little in thy sight, O Lord God, unless +thou didst also speak of the house of thy servant for a long time to +come: for this is the law of Adam, O Lord God: + +7:20. And what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy +servant, O Lord God: + +7:21. For thy word's sake, and according to thy own heart thou has done +all these great things, so that thou wouldst make it known to thy +servant. + +7:22. Therefore thou art magnified, O Lord God, because there is none +like to thee, neither is there any God besides thee, in all the things +that we have heard with our ears. + +7:23. And what nation is there upon earth, as thy people Israel, whom +God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and +to do for them great and terrible things, upon the earth, before the +face of thy people, whom thou redeemedst to thyself out of Egypt, from +the nations and their gods. + +7:24. For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be an +everlasting people: and thou, O Lord God, art become their God. + +7:25. And now, O Lord God, raise up for ever the word that thou hast +spoken, concerning thy servant and concerning his house: and do as thou +hast spoken, + +7:26. That thy name may be magnified for ever, and it may be said: The +Lord of hosts is God over Israel. And the house of thy servant David +shall be established before the Lord. + +7:27. Because thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to +the ear of thy servant, saying: I will build thee a house: therefore +hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to thee. + +7:28. And now, O Lord God, thou art God, and thy words shall be true: +for thou hast spoken to thy servant these good things. + +7:29. And now begin, and bless the house of thy servant, that it may +endure for ever before thee: because thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it, +and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 8 + + +David's victories, and his chief officers. + +8:1. And it came to pass after this that David defeated the +Philistines, and brought them down, and David took the bridle of +tribute out of the hand of the Philistines, + +8:2. And he defeated Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them +down to the earth: and he measured with two lines, one to put to death, +and one to save alive: and Moab was made to serve David under tribute. + +8:3. David defeated also Adarezer the son of Rohob king of Soba, when +he went to extend his dominion over the river Euphrates. + +8:4. And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and +twenty thousand footmen, and houghed all the chariot horses: and only +reserved of them for one hundred chariots. + +8:5. And the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Adarezer the king of +Soba: and David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. + +8:6. And David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and Syria served +David under tribute, and the Lord preserved David in all his +enterprises, whithersoever he went. + +8:7. And David took the arms of gold, which the servants of Adarezer +wore and brought them to Jerusalem. + +8:8. And out of Bete, and out of Beroth, cities of Adarezer, king David +took and exceeding great quantity of brass. + +8:9. And Thou the king of Emath heard that David had defeated all the +forces of Adarezer. + +8:10. And Thou sent Joram his son to king David, to salute him, and to +congratulate with him, and to return him thanks: because he had fought +against Adarezer, and had defeated him. For Thou was an enemy to +Adarezer, and in his hand were vessels of gold, and vessels of silver, +and vessels of brass: + +8:11. And king David dedicated them to the Lord, together with the +silver and gold that he had dedicated of all the nations, which he had +subdued: + +8:12. Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children Ammon, and of the +Philistines, and of Amalec, and of the spoils of Adarezer the son of +Rohob king of Soba. + +8:13. David also made himself a name, when he returned after taking +Syria in the valley of the saltpits, killing eighteen thousand: + +8:14. And he put guards in Edom, and placed there a garrison: and all +Edom was made to serve David: and the Lord preserved David in all +enterprises he went about. + +8:15. And David reigned over all Israel: and David did judgment and +justice to all his people. + +8:16. And Joab the son Sarvia was over the army: and Josaphat the son +of Ahilud was recorder: + +Recorder. . .Or chancellor. + +8:17. And Sadoc the son of Achitob, and Achimelech the son of Abiathar, +were the priests: and Saraias was the scribe: + +Scribe. . .Or secretary. + +8:18. And Banaias the son of Joiada was over the Cerethi and Phelethi: +and the sons of David were the princes. + +The Cerethi and Phelethi. . .The king's guards.--Ibid. +Princes. . .Literally priests. (Cohen) So called, by a title of honour, +and not from exercising the priestly functions. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 9 + + +David's kindness to Miphiboseth for the sake of his father Jonathan. + +9:1. And David said: Is there any one, think you, left of the house of +Saul, that I may shew kindness to him for Jonathan's sake? + +9:2. Now there was of the house of Saul, a servant named Siba: and when +the king had called him to him, he said to him: Art thou Siba? And he +answered: I am Siba thy servant. + +9:3. And the king said: Is there any one left of the house of Saul, +that I may shew the mercy of God unto Him? And Siba said to the king: +There is a son of Jonathan left, who is lame of his feet. + +9:4. Where is he? said he. And Siba said to the king: Behold he is in +the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lodabar. + +9:5. Then King David sent, and brought him out of the house of Machir +the son of Ammiel of Lodabar. + +9:6. And when Miphiboseth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul was come +to David, he fell on his face and worshipped. And David said: +Miphiboseth? And he answered: Behold thy servant. + +9:7. And David said to him: Fear not, for I will surely shew thee mercy +for Jonathan thy father's sake, and I will restore the lands of Saul +the father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table always. + +9:8. He bowed down to him, and said: Who am I thy servant, that thou +shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am? + +9:9. Then the King called Siba the servant of Saul, and said to him: +All that belonged to Saul, and all his house, I have given to thy +master's son. + +9:10. Thou therefore and the sons and thy servants shall till the land +for him: and thou shalt bring in food for thy master's son, that he may +be maintained: and Miphiboseth the son of thy master shall always eat +bread at my table. And Siba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. + +9:11. And Siba said to the king: As thou my lord the hast commanded thy +servant, so will thy servant do: and Miphiboseth shall eat at my table, +as one of the sons of the King. + +9:12. And Miphiboseth had a young son whose name was Micha: and all +that kindred of the house of Siba served Miphiboseth. + +9:13. But Miphiboseth dwelt in Jerusalem: because he ate always of the +king's table: and he was lame of both feet. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 10 + + +The Ammonites shamefully abuse the ambassadors of David: they hire the +Syrians to the their assistance: but are overthrown with their allies. + +10:1. And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of +Ammon died, and Hanon his son reigned in his stead. + +10:2. And David said: I will shew kindness to Hanon the son of Daas, as +his father shewed kindness to me. So David sent his servants to comfort +him for the death of his father. But when the servants of David were +come into the land of the children of Ammon, + +10:3. The princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanon their lord: +Thinkest thou that for the honour of thy father, David hath sent +comforters to thee, and hath not David rather sent his servants to thee +to search, and spy into the city, and overthrow it? + +10:4. Wherefore Hanon took the servants of David, and shaved off the +one half of their beards, and cut away half of their garments even to +the buttocks, and sent them away. + +10:5. When this was told David, he sent to meet them: for the men were +sadly put to confusion, and David commanded them, saying: Stay at +Jericho, till your beards be grown, and then return. + +10:6. And the children of Ammon seeing that they had done an injury to +David, sent and hired the Syrians of Rohob, and the Syrians of Soba, +twenty thousand footmen, and of the king of Maacha a thousand men, and +of Istob twelve thousand men. + +10:7. And when David heard this, he sent Joab and the whole army of +warriors. + +10:8. And the children of Ammon came out, and set their men in array at +the entering in of the gate: but the Syrians of Soba, and of Rohob, and +of Istob, and of Maacha were by themselves in the field. + +10:9. Then Joab seeing that the battle was prepared against him, both +before and behind, chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them +in array against the Syrians: + +10:10. And the rest of the people he delivered to Abisai his brother, +who set them in array against the children of Ammon. + +10:11. And Joab said: If the Syrians are too strong for me, then thou +shalt help me, but if the children of Ammon are too strong for thee, +then I will help thee. + +10:12. Be of good courage, and let us fight for our people, and for the +city of our God: and the Lord will do what is good in his sight. + +10:13. And Joab and the people that were with him, began to fight +against the Syrians: and they immediately fled before him. + +10:14. And the children of Ammon seeing that the Syrians were fled, +they fled also before Abisai, and entered into the city: and Joab +returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem. + +10:15. Then the Syrians seeing that they had fallen before Israel, +gathered themselves together. + +10:16. And Adarezer sent and fetched the Syrians, that were beyond the +river, and brought over their army: and Sobach, the captain of the host +of Adarezer, was their general. + +10:17. And when this was told David, he gathered all Israel together, +and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam: and the Syrians set +themselves in array against David, and fought against him. + +10:18. And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David slew of the +Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen: +and smote Sobach the captain of the army, who presently died. + +10:19. And all the kings that were auxiliaries of Adarezer, seeing +themselves overcome by Israel, were afraid and fled away, eight and +fifty thousand men before Israel. And they made peace with Israel: and +served them, and all the Syrians were afraid to help the children of +Ammon any more. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 11 + + +David falleth into the crime of adultery with Bethsabee: and not +finding other means to conceal it, causeth her husband Urias to be +slain. Then marrieth her, who beareth him a son. + +11:1. And it came to pass at the return of the year, at the time when +kings go forth to war, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, +and all Israel, and they spoiled the children of Ammon, and besieged +Rabba: but David remained in Jerusalem. + +11:2. In the mean time it happened that David arose from his bed after +noon, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: And he saw from the +roof of his house a woman washing herself, over against him: and the +woman was very beautiful. + +11:3. And the king sent, and inquired who the woman was. And it was +told him, that she was Bethsabee the daughter of Eliam, the wife of +Urias the Hethite. + +11:4. And David sent messengers, and took her, and she came in to him, +and he slept with her: and presently she was purified from her +uncleanness: + +11:5. And she returned to her house having conceived. And she sent and +told David, and said: I have conceived. + +11:6. And David sent to Joab, saying: Send me Urias the Hethite. And +Joab sent Urias to David. + +11:7. And Urias came to David. And David asked how Joab did, and the +people, and how the war was carried on. + +11:8. And David said to Urias: Go into thy house, and wash thy feet. +And Urias went out from the king's house, and there went out after him +a mess of meat from the king. + +11:9. But Urias slept before the gate of the king's house, with the +other servants of his lord, and went not down to his own house. + +11:10. And it was told David by some that said: Urias went not to his +house. And David said to Urias: Didst thou not come from thy journey? +why didst thou not go down to thy house? + +11:11. And Urias said to David: The ark of God and Israel and Juda +dwell in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord abide upon +the face of the earth: and shall I go into my house, to eat and to +drink, and to sleep with my wife? By thy welfare and by the welfare of +thy soul I will not do this thing. + +11:12. Then David said to Urias: Tarry here to day, and to morrow I +will send thee away. Urias tarried in Jerusalem that day and the next. + +11:13. And David called him to eat and to drink before him, and he made +him drunk: and he went out in the evening, and slept on his couch with +the servants of his lord, and went not down into his house. + +11:14. And when the morning was come, David wrote a letter to Joab: and +sent it by the hand of Urias, + +11:15. Writing in the letter: Set ye Urias in the front of the battle, +where the fight is strongest: and leave ye him, that he may be wounded +and die. + +11:16. Wherefore as Joab was besieging the city, he put Urias in the +place where he knew the bravest men were. + +11:17. And the men coming out of the city, fought against Joab, and +there fell some of the people of the servants of David, and Urias the +Hethite was killed also. + +11:18. Then Joab sent, and told David all things concerning the battle. + +11:19. And he charged the messenger, saying: When thou hast told all +the words of the battle to the king, + +11:20. If thou see him to be angry, and he shall say: Why did you +approach so near to the wall to fight? knew you not that many darts are +thrown from above off the wall? + +11:21. Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerobaal? did not a woman cast a +piece of a millstone upon him from the wall and slew him in Thebes? Why +did you go near the wall? Thou shalt say: Thy servant Urias the Hethite +is also slain. + +11:22. So the messenger departed, and came and told David all that Joab +had commanded him. + +11:23. And the messenger said to David: The men prevailed against us, +and they came out to us into the field: and we vigorously charged and +pursued them even to the gate of the city. + +11:24. And the archers shot their arrows at thy servants from off the +wall above: and some of the king's servants are slain, and thy servant +Urias the Hethite is also dead. + +11:25. And David said to the messenger: Thus shalt thou say to Joab: +Let not this thing discourage thee: for various is the event of war: +and sometimes one, sometimes another is consumed by the sword: +encourage thy warriors against the city, and exhort them that thou +mayest overthrow it. + +11:26. And the wife of Urias heard that Urias her husband was dead, and +she mourned for him. + +11:27. And the mourning being over, David sent and brought her into his +house, and she became his wife, and she bore him a son: and this thing +which David had done, was displeasing to the Lord. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 12 + + +Nathan's parable. David confesseth his sin, and is forgiven: yet so as +to be sentenced to most severe temporal punishments. The death of the +child. The birth of Solomon. The taking of Rabbath. + +12:1. And the Lord sent Nathan to David: and when he was come to him, +he said to him: There were two men in one city, the one rich, and the +other poor. + +12:2. The rich man had exceeding many sheep and oxen. + +12:3. But the poor man had nothing at all but one little ewe lamb, +which he had bought and nourished up, and which had grown up in his +house together with his children, eating of his bread, and drinking of +his cup, and sleeping in his bosom: and it was unto him as a daughter. + +12:4. And when a certain stranger was come to the rich man, he spared +to take of his own sheep and oxen, to make a feast for that stranger, +who was come to him, but took the poor man's ewe, and dressed it for +the man that was come to him. + +12:5. And David's anger being exceedingly kindled against that man, he +said to Nathan: As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this is a +child of death. + +12:6. He shall restore the ewe fourfold, because he did this thing, and +had no pity. + +12:7. And Nathan said to David: Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord +the God of Israel: I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered +thee from the hand of Saul, + +12:8. And gave thee thy master's house and thy master's wives into thy +bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and Juda: and if these things +be little, I shall add far greater things unto thee. + +12:9. Why therefore hast thou despised the word of the Lord, to do evil +in my sight? Thou hast killed Urias the Hethite with the sword, and +hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword +of the children of Ammon. + +12:10. Therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house, because +thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Urias the Hethite to +be thy wife. + +12:11. Thus saith the Lord: Behold, I will raise up evil against thee +out of thy own house, and I will take thy wives before thy eyes and +give them to thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the +sight of this sun. + +I will raise, etc. . .All these evils, inasmuch as they were +punishments, came upon David by a just judgment of God, for his sin, +and therefore God says, I will raise, etc.; but inasmuch as they were +sins, on the part of Absalom and his associates, God was not the author +of them, but only permitted them. + +12:12. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing in the +sight of all Israel, and in the sight of the sun. + +12:13. And David said to Nathan: I have sinned against the Lord. And +Nathan said to David: The Lord also hath taken away thy sin: thou shalt +not die. + +12:14. Nevertheless, because thou hast given occasion to the enemies of +the Lord to blaspheme, for this thing, the child that is born to thee, +shall surely die. + +12:15. And Nathan returned to his house. The Lord also struck the child +which the wife of Urias had borne to David, and his life was despaired +of. + +12:16. And David besought the Lord for the child: and David kept a +fast, and going in by himself lay upon the ground. + +12:17. And the ancients of his house came, to make him rise from the +ground: but he would not, neither did he eat meat with them. + +12:18. And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died: and +the servants of David feared to tell him, that the child was dead. For +they said: Behold when the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he +would not hearken to our voice: how much more will he afflict himself +if we tell him that the child is dead? + +12:19. But when David saw his servants whispering, he understood that +the child was dead: and he said to his servants: Is the child dead? +They answered him He is dead. + +12:20. Then David arose from the ground, and washed and anointed +himself: and when he had changed his apparel, he went into the house of +the Lord: and worshipped, and then he came into his own house, and he +called for bread, and ate. + +12:21. And his servants said to him: What thing is this that thou hast +done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive, but +when the child was dead, thou didst rise up, and eat bread. + +12:22. And he said: While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept +for him: for I said: Who knoweth whether the Lord may not give him to +me, and the child may live? + +12:23. But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Shall I be able to +bring him back any more? I shall go to him rather: but he shall not +return to me. + +12:24. And David comforted Bethsabee his wife, and went in unto her, +and slept with her: and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon, +and the Lord loved him. + +12:25. And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and called his +name, Amiable to the Lord, because the Lord loved him. + +Amiable to the Lord. . .Or, beloved of the Lord. In Hebrew, Jedidiah. + +12:26. And Joab fought against Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and +laid close siege to the royal city. + +12:27. And Joab sent messengers to David, saying: I have fought against +Rabbath, and the city of waters is about to be taken. + +The city of waters. . .Rabbath the royal city of the Ammonites, was +called the city of waters, from being encompassed with waters. + +12:28. Now therefore gather thou the rest of the people together, and +besiege the city and take it: lest when the city shall be wasted by me, +the victory be ascribed to my name. + +12:29. Then David gathered all the people together, and went out +against Rabbath: and after fighting, he took it. + +12:30. And he took the crown of their king from his head, the weight of +which was a talent of gold, set with most precious stones, and it was +put upon David's head, and the spoils of the city which were very great +he carried away. + +12:31. And bringing forth the people thereof he sawed them, and drove +over them chariots armed with iron: and divided them with knives, and +made them pass through brickkilns: so did he to all the cities of the +children of Ammon: and David returned, with all the army to Jerusalem. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 13 + + +Ammon ravisheth Thamar. For which Absalom killeth him, and flieth to +Gessur. + +13:1. And it came to pass after this that Ammon the son of David loved +the sister of Absalom the son of David, who was very beautiful, and her +name was Thamar. + +13:2. And he was exceedingly fond of her, so that he fell sick for the +love of her: for as she was a virgin, he thought it hard to do any +thing dishonestly with her. + +13:3. Now Ammon had a friend, named Jonadab the son of Semmaa the +brother of David, a very wise man: + +A very wise man. . .That is, a crafty and subtle man: for the counsel he +gave on this occasion shews that his wisdom was but carnal and worldly. + +13:4. And he said to him: Why dost thou grow so lean from day to day, O +son of the king? why dost thou not tell me the reason of it? And Ammon +said to him: I am in love with Thamar the sister of my brother Absalom. + +13:5. And Jonadab said to him: Lie down upon thy bed, and feign thyself +sick: and when thy father shall come to visit thee, say to him: Let my +sister Thamar, I pray thee, come to me, to give me to eat, and to make +me a mess, that I may eat it at her hand. + +13:6. So Ammon lay down, and made as if he were sick: and when the king +came to visit him, Ammon said to the king: I pray thee let my sister +Thamar come, and make in my sight two little messes, that I may eat at +her hand. + +13:7. Then David sent home to Thamar, saying: Come to the house of thy +brother Ammon, and make him a mess. + +13:8. And Thamar came to the house of Ammon her brother: but he was +laid down: and she took meal and tempered it: and dissolving it in his +sight she made little messes. + +13:9. And taking what she had boiled, she poured it out, and set it +before him, but he would not eat: and Ammon said: Put out all persons +from me. And when they had put all persons out, + +13:10. Ammon said to Thamar: Bring the mess into the chamber, that I +may eat at thy hand. And Thamar took the little messes which she had +made, and brought them in to her brother Ammon in the chamber. + +13:11. And when she had presented him the meat, he took hold of her, +and said: Come lie with me, my sister. + +13:12. She answered him: Do not so, my brother, do not force me: for no +such thing must be done in Israel. Do not thou this folly. + +13:13. For I shall not be able to bear my shame, and thou shalt be as +one of the fools in Israel: but rather speak to the king, and he will +not deny me to thee. + +13:14. But he would not hearken to her prayers, but being stronger +overpowered her and lay with her. + +13:15. Then Ammon hated her with an exceeding great hatred: so that the +hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love with which he +had loved her before. And Ammon said to her: Arise, and get thee gone. + +13:16. She answered him: The evil which now thou dost against me, in +driving me away, is greater than that which thou didst before. And he +would not hearken to her: + +13:17. But calling the servants that ministered to him, he said: Thrust +this woman out from me: and shut the door after her. + +13:18. And she was clothed with a long robe: for the king's daughters +that were virgins, used such kind of garments. Then his servant thrust +her out: and shut the door after her. + +13:19. And she put ashes on her head, and rent her long robe and laid +her hands upon her head, and went on crying. + +13:20. And Absalom her brother said to her: Hath thy brother Ammon lain +with thee? but now, sister, hold thy peace, he is thy brother: and +afflict not thy heart for this thing. So Thamar remained pining away in +the house of Absalom her brother. + +13:21. And when king David heard of these things he was exceedingly +grieved: and he would not afflict the spirit of his son Ammon, for he +loved him, because he was his firstborn. + +13:22. But Absalom spoke not to Ammon neither good nor evil: for +Absalom hated Ammon because he had ravished his sister Thamar. + +13:23. And it came to pass after two years, that the sheep of Absalom +were shorn in Baalhasor, which is near Ephraim: and Absalom invited all +the king's sons: + +13:24. And he came to the king, and said to him: Behold thy servant's +sheep are shorn. Let the king, I pray, with his servants come to his +servant. + +13:25. And the king said to Absalom: Nay, my son, do not ask that we +should all come, and be chargeable to thee. And when he pressed him, +and he would not go, he blessed him. + +13:26. And Absalom said: If thou wilt not come, at least let my brother +Ammon, I beseech thee, come with us. And the king said to him: It is +not necessary that he should go with thee. + +13:27. But Absalom pressed him, so that he let Ammon and all the king's +sons go with him. And Absalom made a feast as it were the feast of a +king. + +13:28. And Absalom had commanded his servants, saying: Take notice when +Ammon shall be drunk with wine, and when I shall say to you: Strike +him, and kill him, fear not: for it is I that command you: take +courage, and be valiant men. + +13:29. And the servants of Absalom did to Ammon as Absalom had +commanded them. And all the king's sons arose and got up every man upon +his mule, and fled. + +13:30. And while they were yet in the way, a rumour came to David, +saying: Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one +them left. + +13:31. Then the king rose up, and rent his garments: and fell upon the +ground, and all his servants, that stood about him, rent their +garments. + +13:32. But Jonadab the son of Semmaa David's brother answering, said: +Let not my lord the king think that all the king's sons are slain: +Ammon only is dead, for he was appointed by the mouth of Absalom from +the day that he ravished his sister Thamar. + +13:33. Now therefore let not my lord the king take this thing into his +heart, saying: All the king's sons are slain: for Ammon only is dead. + +13:34. But Absalom fled away: and the young man that kept the watch, +lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold there came much people by a +by-way on the side of the mountain. + +13:35. And Jonadab said to the king: Behold the king's sons are come: +as thy servant said, so it is. + +13:36. And when he made an end of speaking, the king's sons also +appeared: and coming in they lifted up their voice, and wept: and the +king also and all his servants wept very much. + +13:37. But Absalom fled, and went to Tholomai the son of Ammiud the +king of Gessur. And David mourned for his son every day. + +13:38. And Absalom after he was fled, and come into Gessur, was there +three years. And king David ceased to pursue after Absalom, because he +was comforted concerning the death of Ammon. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 14 + + +Joab procureth Absalom's return, and his admittance to the king's +presence. + +14:1. And Joab the son of Sarvia, understanding that the king's heart +was turned to Absalom, + +14:2. Sent to Thecua, and fetched from thence a wise woman: and said to +her: Feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel, and be +not anointed with oil, that thou mayest be as a woman that had a long +time been mourning for one dead. + +14:3. And thou shalt go in to the king, and shalt speak to him in this +manner. And Joab put the words in her mouth. + +14:4. And when the woman of Thecua was come in to the king, she fell +before him upon the ground, and worshipped, and said: Save me, O king. + +14:5. And the king said to her: What is the matter with thee? She +answered: Alas, I am a widow woman: for my husband is dead. + +14:6. And thy handmaid had two sons: and they quarrelled with each +other in the field, and there was none to part them: and the one struck +the other, and slew him. + +14:7. And behold the whole kindred rising against thy handmaid, saith: +Deliver him that hath slain his brother, that we may kill him for the +life of his brother, whom he slew, and that we may destroy the heir: +and they seek to quench my spark which is left, and will leave my +husband no name, nor remainder upon the earth. + +14:8. And the king said to the woman: Go to thy house, and I will give +charge concerning thee. + +14:9. And the woman of Thecua said to the king: Upon me, my lord be the +iniquity, and upon the house of my father: but may the king and his +throne be guiltless. + +14:10. And the king said: If any one shall say ought against thee, +bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more. + +14:11. And she said: Let the king remember the Lord his God, that the +next of kin be not multiplied to take revenge, and that they may not +kill my son. And he said: As the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair +of thy son fall to the earth. + +14:12. The woman said: Let thy hand maid speak one word to my lord the +king. And he said: Speak. + +14:13. And the woman said: Why hast thou thought such a thing against +the people of God, and why hath the king spoken this word, to sin, and +not bring home again his own exile? + +14:14. We all die, and like waters that return no more, we fall down +into the earth: neither will God have a soul to perish, but recalleth, +meaning that he that is cast off should not altogether perish. + +14:15. Now therefore I am come, to speak this word to my lord the king +before the people. And thy handmaid said: I will speak to the king, it +maybe the king will perform the request of his handmaid. + +14:16. And the king hath hearkened to me to deliver his handmaid out of +the hand of all that would destroy me and my son together out of the +inheritance of God. + +14:17. Then let thy handmaid say, that the word of the Lord the king be +made as a sacrifice. For even as an angel of God, so is my lord the +king, that he is neither moved with blessing nor cursing: wherefore the +Lord thy God is also with thee. + +14:18. And the king answering, said to the woman: Hide not from me the +thing that I ask thee. And the woman said to him: Speak, my lord the +king. + +14:19. And the king said: Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all +this? The woman answered, and said: By the health of thy soul, my lord, +O king, it is neither on the left hand, nor on the right, in all these +things which my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he +commanded me, and he put all these words into the mouth of thy +handmaid. + +14:20. That I should come about with this form of speech, thy servant +Joab commanded this: but thou, my lord, O king, art wise, according to +the wisdom of an angel of God, to understand all things upon earth. + +14:21. And the king said to Joab: Behold I am appeased and have granted +thy request: Go therefore and fetch back the boy Absalom. + +14:22. And Joab falling down to the ground upon his face, adored, and +blessed the king: and Joab said: This day thy servant hath understood, +that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king: for thou hast +fulfilled the request of thy servant. + +Blessed. . .That is, and gave thanks to the king. + +14:23. Then Joab arose and went to Gessur, and brought Absalom to +Jerusalem. + +14:24. But the king said: Let him return into his house, and let him +not see my face. So Absalom returned into his house, and saw not the +king's face. + +14:25. But in all Israel there was not a man so comely, and so +exceedingly beautiful as Absalom: from the sole of the foot to the +crown of his head there was no blemish in him. + +14:26. And when he polled his hair (now he was polled once a year, +because his hair was burdensome to him) he weighed the hair of his head +at two hundred sicles, according to the common weight. + +14:27. And there were born to Absalom three sons: and one daughter, +whose name was Thamar, and she was very beautiful. + +14:28. And Absalom dwelt two years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's +face. + +14:29. He sent therefore to Joab, to send him to the king: but he would +not come to him. And when he had sent the second time, and he would not +come to him, + +14:30. He said to his servants: You know the field of Joab near my +field, that hath a crop of barley: go now and set it on fire. So the +servants of Absalom set the corn on fire. And Joab's servants coming +with their garments rent, said: The servants of Absalom have set part +of the field on fire. + +14:31. Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom to his house, and said: Why +have thy servants set my corn on fire? + +14:32. And Absalom answered Joab: I sent to thee beseeching thee to +come to me, that I might send thee to the king, to say to him: +Wherefore am I come from Gessur? it had been better for me to be there: +I beseech thee therefore that I may see the face of the king: and if he +be mindful of my iniquity, let him kill me. + +14:33. So Joab going in to the king, told him all: and Absalom was +called for, and, he went in to the king: and prostrated himself on the +ground before him: and the king kissed Absalom. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 15 + + +Absalom's policy and conspiracy. David is obliged to flee. + +15:1. Now after these things Absalom made himself chariots, and +horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. + +15:2. And Absalom rising up early stood by the entrance of the gate, +and when any man had business to come to the king's judgment, Absalom +called him to him, and said: Of what city art thou? He answered, and +said: Thy servant is of such tribe of Israel. + +15:3. And Absalom answered him: Thy words seem to me good and just. But +there is no man appointed by the king to hear thee. And Absalom said: + +15:4. O that they would make me judge over the land, that all that have +business might come to me, that I might do them justice. + +15:5. Moreover when any man came to him to salute him, he put forth his +hand, and took him, and kissed him. + +15:6. And this he did to all Israel that came for judgment, to be heard +by the king, and he enticed the hearts of the men of Israel. + +15:7. And after forty years, Absalom said to king David: Let me go, and +pay my vows which I have vowed to the Lord in Hebron. + +15:8. For thy servant made a vow, when he was in Gessur of Syria, +saying: If the Lord shall bring me again into Jerusalem, I will offer +sacrifice to the Lord. + +15:9. And king David said to him: Go in peace. And he arose, and went +to Hebron. + +15:10. And Absalom sent spies into all the tribes of Israel, saying: As +soon as you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, say ye: Absalom +reigneth in Hebron. + +15:11. Now there went with Absalom two hundred men out of Jerusalem +that were called, going with simplicity of heart, and knowing nothing +of the design. + +15:12. Absalom also sent for Achitophel the Gilonite, David's +counsellor, from his city Gilo. And while he was offering sacrifices, +there was a strong conspiracy, and the people running together +increased with Absalom. + +15:13. And there came a messenger to David, saying: All Israel with +their whole heart followeth Absalom. + +15:14. And David said to his servants, that were with him in Jerusalem: +Arise and let us flee: for we shall not escape else from the face of +Absalom: make haste to go out, lest he come and overtake us, and bring +ruin upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. + +15:15. And the king's servants said to him: Whatsoever our lord the +king shall command, we thy servants will willingly execute. + +15:16. And the king went forth, and all his household on foot: and the +king left ten women his concubines to keep the house: + +Concubines. . .That is, wives of an inferior degree. + +15:17. And the king going forth and all Israel on foot, stood afar off +from the house: + +15:18. And all his servants walked by him, and the bands of the +Cerethi, and the Phelethi, and all the Gethites, valiant warriors, six +hundred men who had followed him from Geth on foot, went before the +king. + +15:19. And the king said to Ethai the Gethite: Why comest thou with us: +return and dwell with the king, for thou art a stranger, and art come +out of thy own place. + +15:20. Yesterday thou camest, and to day shalt thou be forced to go +forth with us? but I shall go whither I am going: return thou, and take +back thy brethren with thee, and the Lord will shew thee mercy, and +truth, because thou hast shewn grace and fidelity. + +15:21. And Ethai answered the king, saying: As the Lord liveth, and as +my lord the king liveth: in what place soever thou shalt be, my lord, O +king, either in death, or in life, there will thy servant be. + +15:22. And David said to Ethai: Come, and pass over. And Ethai the +Gethite passed, and all the men that were with him, and the rest of the +people. + +15:23. And they all wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed +over: the king also himself went over the brook Cedron, and all the +people marched towards the way that looketh to the desert. + +15:24. And Sadoc the priest also came, and all the Levites with him +carrying the ark of the covenant of God, and they set down the ark of +God: and Abiathar went up, till all the people that was come out of the +city had done passing. + +15:25. And the king said to Sadoc: Carry back the ark of God into the +city: if I shall find grace in the sight of the Lord, he will bring me +again, and he will shew me it, and his tabernacle. + +15:26. But if he shall say to me: Thou pleasest me not: I am ready, let +him do that which is good before him. + +15:27. And the king said to Sadoc the priest: O seer, return into the +city in peace: and let Achimaas thy son, and Jonathan the son of +Abiathar, your two sons, be with you. + +15:28. Behold I will lie hid in the plains of the wilderness, till +there come word from you to certify me. + +15:29. So Sadoc and Abiathar carried back the ark of God into +Jerusalem: and they tarried there. + +15:30. But David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, going up and +weeping, walking barefoot, and with his head covered, and all the +people that were with them, went up with their heads covered weeping. + +Weeping, etc. . .David on this occasion wept for his sins, which he knew +were the cause of all his sufferings. + +15:31. And it was told David that Achitophel also was in the conspiracy +with Absalom, and David said: Infatuate, O Lord, I beseech thee, the +counsel of Achitophel. + +15:32. And when David was come to the top of the mountain, where he was +about to adore the Lord, behold Chusai the Arachite, came to meet him +with his garment rent and his head covered with earth. + +15:33. And David said to him: If thou come with me, thou wilt be a +burden to me: + +15:34. But if thou return into the city, and wilt say to Absalom: I am +thy servant, O king: as I have been thy father's servant, so I will be +thy servant: thou shalt defeat the counsel of Achitophel. + +15:35. And thou hast with thee Sadoc, and soever thou shalt hear out of +the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Sadoc and Abiathar the priests. + +15:36. And there are with them their two sons Achimaas; the son of +Sadoc, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar: and you shall send by them to +me every thing that you shall hear. + +15:37. Then Chusai the friend of David went into the city, and Absalom +came into Jerusalem. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 16 + + +Siba bringeth provisions to David. Semei curseth him. Absalom defileth +his father's wives. + +16:1. And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold Siba +the servant of Miphiboseth came to meet him with two asses, laden with +two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred bunches of raisins, a +hundred cakes of figs, and a vessel of wine. + +16:2. And the king said to Siba: What mean these things? And Siba +answered: The asses are for the king's household to sit on: and the +loaves and the figs for thy servants to eat, and the wine to drink if +any man be faint in the desert. + +16:3. And the king said: Where is thy master's son? And Siba answered +the king: He remained in Jerusalem, saying: To day, will the house of +Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. + +16:4. And the king said to Siba: I give thee all that belonged to +Miphiboseth. And Siba said: I beseech thee let me find grace before +thee, my lord, O king. + +16:5. And king David came as far as Bahurim: and behold there came out +from thence a man of the kindred of the house of Saul named Semei, the +son of Gera, and coming out he cursed as he went on, + +16:6. And he threw stones at David, and at all the servants of king +David: and all the people, and all the warriors walked on the right, +and on the left side of the king. + +16:7. And thus said Semei when he cursed the king: Come out, come out, +thou man of blood, and thou man of Belial. + +16:8. The Lord hath repaid thee for all the blood of the house of Saul: +because thou hast usurped the kingdom in his stead, and the Lord hath +given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and behold thy +evils press upon thee, because thou art a man of blood. + +16:9. And Abisai the son of Sarvia said to the king: Why should this +dead dog curse my lord the king? I will go, and cut off his head. + +16:10. And the king said: What have I to do with you, ye sons of +Sarvia? Let him alone and let him curse: for the Lord hath bid him +curse David: and who is he that shall dare say, why hath he done so? + +Hath bid him curse. . .Not that the Lord was the author of Semei's sin, +which proceeded purely from his own malice, and the abuse of his free +will. But that knowing, and suffering his malicious disposition to +break out on this occasion, he made use of him as his instrument to +punish David for his sins. + +16:11. And the king said to Abisai, and to all his servants: Behold my +son, who came forth from my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now +a son of Jemini? let him alone that he may curse as the Lord hath +bidden him. + +16:12. Perhaps the Lord may look upon my affliction, and the Lord may +render me good for the cursing of this day. + +16:13. And David and his men with him went by the way. And Semei by the +hill's side went over against him, cursing, and casting stones at him, +and scattering earth. + +16:14. And the king and all the people with him came weary, and +refreshed themselves there. + +16:15. But Absalom and all his people came into Jerusalem, and +Achitophel was with him. + +16:16. And when Chusai the Arachite, David's friend, was come to +Absalom, he said to him: God save thee, O king, God save thee, O king. + +16:17. And Absalom said to him, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? Why +wentest thou not with thy friend? + +16:18. And Chusai answered Absalom: Nay: for I will be his, whom the +Lord hath chosen, and all this people, and all Israel, and with him +will I abide. + +16:19. Besides this, whom shall I serve? is it not the king's son? as I +have served thy father, so will I serve thee also. + +16:20. And Absalom said to Achitophel: Consult what we are to do. + +16:21. And Achitophel said to Absalom: Go in to the concubines of thy +father, whom he hath left to keep the house: that when all Israel shall +hear that thou hast disgraced thy father, their hands may be +strengthened with thee. + +Their hands may be strengthened, etc. . .The people might apprehend lest +Absalom should be reconciled to his father, and therefore they followed +him with some fear of being left in the lurch, till they saw such a +crime committed as seemed to make a reconciliation impossible. + +16:22. So they spread a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and +he went in to his father's concubines before all Israel. + +16:23. Now the counsel of Achitophel, which he gave in those days, was +as if a man should consult God: so was all the counsel of Achitophel, +both when he was with David, and when he was with Absalom. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 17 + + +Achitophel's counsel is defeated by Chusai: who sendeth intelligence to +David. Achitophel hangeth himself. + +17:1. And Achitophel said to Absalom: I will choose me twelve thousand +men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night. + +17:2. And coming upon him (for he is now weary, and weak handed) I will +defeat him: and when all the people is put to flight that is with him, +I will kill the king who will be left alone. + +17:3. And I will bring back all the people, as if they were but one +man: for thou seekest but one man: and all the people shall be in +peace. + +17:4. And his saying pleased Absalom, and all the ancients of Israel. + +17:5. But Absalom said: Call Chusai the Arachite, and let us hear what +he also saith. + +17:6. And when Chusai was come to Absalom, Absalom said to him: +Achitophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do it or not? what +counsel dost thou give? + +17:7. And Chusai said to Absalom: The counsel that Achitophel hath +given this time is not good. + +17:8. And again Chusai said: Thou knowest thy father, and the men that +are with him, that they are very valiant, and bitter in their mind, as +a bear raging in the wood when her whelps are taken away: and thy +father is a warrior, and will not lodge with the people. + +17:9. Perhaps he now lieth hid in pits, or in some other place where he +liest: and when any one shall fall at the first, every one that heareth +it shall say: There is a slaughter among the people that followed +Absalom. + +17:10. And the most valiant man whose heart is as the heart of a lion, +shall melt for fear: for all the people of Israel know thy father to be +a valiant man, and that all who are with him are valiant. + +17:11. But this seemeth to me to be good counsel: Let all Israel be +gathered to thee, from Dan to Bersabee, as the sand of the sea which +cannot be numbered: and thou shalt be in the midst of them. + +17:12. And we shall come upon him in what place soever he shall be +found: and we shall cover him, as the dew falleth upon the ground, and +we shall not leave of the men that are with him, not so much as one. + +17:13. And if he shall enter into any city, all Israel shall cast ropes +round about that city, and we will draw it into the river, so that +there shall not be found so much as one small stone thereof. + +17:14. And Absalom, and all the men of Israel said: The counsel of +Chusai the Arachite is better than the counsel of Achitophel: and by +the will of the Lord the profitable counsel of Achitophel was defeated, +that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom. + +17:15. And Chusai said to Sadoc and Abiathar the priests: Thus and thus +did Achitophel counsel Absalom, and the ancients of Israel: and thus +and thus did I counsel them. + +17:16. Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying: Tarry not +this night in the plains of the wilderness, but without delay pass +over: lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that is with +him. + +17:17. And Jonathan and Achimaas stayed by the fountain Rogel: and +there went a maid and told them: and they went forward, to carry the +message to king David, for they might not be seen, nor enter into the +city. + +17:18. But a certain boy saw them, and told Absalom: but they making +haste went into the house of a certain man in Bahurim, who had a well +in his court, and they went down into it. + +17:19. And a woman took, and spread a covering over the mouth of the +well, as it were to dry sodden barley and so the thing was not known. + +17:20. And when Absalom's servants were come into the house, they said +to the woman: Where is Achimaas and Jonathan? and the woman answered +them: They passed on in haste, after they had tasted a little water. +But they that sought them, when they found them not, returned into +Jerusalem. + +17:21. And when they were gone, they came up out of the well, and going +on told king David, and said: Arise, and pass quickly over the river: +for this manner of counsel has Achitophel given against you. + +17:22. So David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they +passed over the Jordan, until it grew light, and not one of them was +left that was not gone ever the river. + +17:23. But Achitophel seeing that his counsel was not followed, saddled +his ass, and arose and went home to his house and to his city, and +putting his house in order, hanged himself, and was buried in the +sepulchre of his father. + +17:24. But David came to the camp, and Absalom passed over the Jordan, +he and all the men of Israel with him. + +To the camp. . .The city of Mahanaim, the name of which, in Hebrew, +signifies The camp. It was a city of note at that time, as appears from +its having been chosen by Isboseth for the place of his residence. + +17:25. Now Absalom appointed Amasa in Joab's stead over the army: and +Amasa was the son of a man who was called Jethra, of Jezrael, who went +in to Abigail the daughter of Naas, the sister of Sarvia who was the +mother of Joab. + +17:26. And Israel camped with Absalom in the land of Galaad. + +17:27. And when David was come to the camp, Sobi the son of Naas of +Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammihel of +Lodabar and Berzellai the Galaadite of Rogelim, + +17:28. Brought him beds, and tapestry, and earthen vessels, and wheat, +and barley, and meal, and parched corn, and beans, and lentils, and +fried pulse, + +17:29. And honey, and butter, and sheep, and fat calves, and they gave +to David and the people that were with him, to eat: for they suspected +that the people were faint with hunger and thirst in the wilderness. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 18 + + +Absalom is defeated, and slain by Joab. David mourneth for him. + +18:1. And David, having reviewed his people, appointed over them +captains of thousands and of hundreds, + +18:2. And sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, +and a third part under the hand of Abisai the son of Sarvia Joab's +brother, and a third part under the hand of Ethai, who was of Geth: and +the king said to the people: I also will go forth with you. + +18:3. And the people answered: Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee +away, they will not much mind us: or if half of us should fall, they +will not greatly care: for thou alone art accounted for ten thousand: +it is better therefore that thou shouldst be in the city to succour us. + +18:4. And the king said to them: What seemeth good to you, that will I +do. And the king stood by the gate: and all the people went forth by +their troops, by hundreds and by thousands. + +18:5. And the king commanded Joab, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Save +me the boy Absalom. And all the people heard the king giving charge to +all the princes concerning Absalom. + +18:6. So the people went out into the field against Israel, and the +battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. + +18:7. And the people of Israel were defeated there by David's army, and +a great slaughter was made that day of twenty thousand men. + +18:8. And the battle there was scattered over the face of all the +country, and there were many more of the people whom the forest +consumed, than whom the sword devoured that day. + +Consumed. . .Viz., by pits and precipices. + +18:9. And it happened that Absalom met the servants of David, riding on +a mule: and as the mule went under a thick and large oak, his head +stuck in the oak: and while he hung between the heaven and the earth, +the mule on which he rode passed on. + +18:10. And one saw this and told Joab, saying: I saw Absalom hanging +upon an oak. + +18:11. And Joab said to the man that told him: If thou sawest him, why +didst thou not stab him to the ground, and I would have given thee ten +sicles of silver, and a belt? + +18:12. And he said to Joab: If thou wouldst have paid down in my hands +a thousand pieces of silver, I would not lay my hands upon the king's +son for in our hearing the king charged thee, and Abisai, and Ethai, +saying: Save me the boy Absalom. + +18:13. Yea and if I should have acted boldly against my own life, this +could not have been hid from the king, and wouldst thou have stood by +me? + +18:14. And Joab said: Not as thou wilt, but I will set upon him in thy +sight. So he took three lances in his hand, and thrust them into the +heart of Absalom: and whilst he yet panted for life, sticking on the +oak, + +18:15. Ten young men, armourbearers of Joab, ran up, and striking him +slew him. + +18:16. And Joab sounded the trumpet, and kept back the people from +pursuing after Israel in their flight, being willing to spare the +multitude. + +18:17. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the +forest, and they laid an exceeding great heap of stones upon him: but +all Israel fled to their own dwellings. + +18:18. Now Absalom had reared up for himself, in his lifetime, a +pillar, which is in the king's valley: for he said: I have no son, and +this shall be the monument of my name. And he called the pillar by his +own name, and it is called the hand of Absalom, to this day. + +No son. . .The sons mentioned above, chap. 14.27, were dead when this +pillar was erected: unless we suppose he raised this pillar before they +were born. + +18:19. And Achimaas the son of Sadoc said: I will run and tell the +king, that the Lord hath done judgment for him from the hand of his +enemies. + +18:20. And Joab said to him: Thou shalt not be the messenger this day, +but shalt bear tidings another day: this day I will not have thee bear +tidings, because the king's son is dead. + +18:21. And Joab said to Chusai: Go, and tell the king what thou hast +seen. Chusai bowed down to Joab, and ran. + +18:22. Then Achimaas the son of Sadoc said to Joab again: Why might not +I also run after Chusai? And Joab said to him: Why wilt thou run, my +son? thou wilt not be the bearer of good tidings. + +18:23. He answered: But what if I run? And he said to him: Run. Then +Achimaas running by a nearer way passed Chusai. + +18:24. And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman that was +on the top of the gate upon the wall, lifting up his eyes, saw a man +running alone. + +18:25. And crying out he told the king: and the king said: If he be +alone, there are good tidings in his mouth. And as he was coming apace, +and drawing nearer, + +18:26. The watchman saw another man running, and crying aloud from +above, he said: I see another man running alone. And the king said: He +also is a good messenger. + +18:27. And the watchman said: The running of the foremost seemeth to me +like the running of Achimaas the son of Sadoc. And the king said: He is +a good man: and cometh with good news. + +18:28. And Achimaas crying out, said to the king: God save thee, O +king. And falling down before the king with his face to the ground, he +said: Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath shut up the men that have +lifted up their hands against the lord my king. + +18:29. And the king said: Is the young man Absalom safe? And Achimaas +said: I saw a great tumult, O king, when thy servant Joab sent me thy +servant: I know nothing else. + +18:30. And the king said to him: Pass, and stand here. + +18:31. And when he had passed, and stood still, Chusai appeared and +coming up he said: I bring good tidings, my lord, the king, for the +Lord hath judged for thee this day from the hand of all that have risen +up against thee. + +18:32. And the king said to Chusai: Is the young man Absalom safe? And +Chusai answering him, said: Let the enemies of my lord, the king, and +all that rise against him unto evil, be as the young man is. + +18:33. The king therefore being much moved, went up to the high chamber +over the gate, and wept. And as he went he spoke in this manner: My son +Absalom, Absalom my son: would to God that I might die for thee, +Absalom my son, my son Absalom. + +Would to God. . .David lamented the death of Absalom, because of the +wretched state in which he died: and therefore would have been glad to +have saved his life, even by dying for him. In which he was a figure of +Christ weeping, praying and dying for his rebellious children, and even +for them that crucified him. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 19 + + +David, at the remonstrances of Joab, ceaseth his mourning. He is +invited back and met by Semei and Miphiboseth: a strife between the men +of Juda and the men of Israel. + +19:1. And it was told Joab, that the king wept and mourned for his son: + +19:2. And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the +people: for the people heard say that day: The king grieveth for his +son. + +19:3. And the people shunned the going into the city that day as a +people would do that hath turned their backs, and fled away from the +battle. + +19:4. And the king covered his head, and cried with a loud voice: O my +son Absalom, O Absalom my son, O my son. + +19:5. Then Joab going into the house to the king, said: Thou hast +shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, that have saved thy +life, and the lives of thy sons, and of thy daughters, and the lives of +thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines. + +19:6. Thou lovest them that hate thee, and thou hatest them that love +thee: and thou hast shewn this day that thou carest not for thy nobles, +nor for thy servants: and I now plainly perceive that if Absalom had +lived, and all we had been slain, then it would have pleased thee. + +19:7. Now therefore arise, and go out, and speak to the satisfaction of +thy servants: for I swear to thee by the Lord, that if thou wilt not go +forth, there will not tarry with thee so much as one this night: and +that will be worse to thee, than all the evils that have befallen thee +from thy youth until now. + +19:8. Then the king arose and sat in the gate: and it was told to all +the people that the king sat in the gate: and all the people came +before the king, but Israel fled to their own dwellings. + +19:9. And all the people were at strife in all the tribes of Israel, +saying: The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he +saved us out of the hand of the Philistines: and now he is fled out of +the land for Absalom. + +19:10. But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in the battle: +how long are you silent, and bring not back the king? + +19:11. And king David sent to Sadoc, and Abiathar the priests, saying: +Speak to the ancients of Juda, saying: Why are you the last to bring +the king back to his house? (For the talk of all Israel was come to the +king in his house.) + +19:12. You are my brethren, you are my bone, and my flesh, why are you +the last to bring back the king? + +19:13. And say ye to Amasa: Art not thou my bone, and my flesh? So do +God to me and add more, if thou be not the chief captain of the army +before me always in the place of Joab. + +19:14. And he inclined the heart of all the men of Juda, as it were of +one man: and they sent to the king, saying: Return thou, and all thy +servants. + +19:15. And the king returned and came as far as the Jordan, and all +Juda came as far as Galgal to meet the king, and to bring him over the +Jordan. + +19:16. And Semei the son of Gera the son of Jemini of Bahurim, made +haste and went down with the men of Juda to meet king David, + +19:17. With a thousand men of Benjamin, and Siba the servant of the +house of Saul: and his fifteen sons, and twenty servants were with him: +and going over the Jordan, + +19:18.They passed the fords before the king, that they might help over +the king's household, and do according to his commandment. And Semei +the son of Gera falling down before the king, when he was come over the +Jordan, + +19:19. Said to him: Impute not to me, my lord, the iniquity, nor +remember the injuries of thy servant on the day that thou, my lord, the +king, wentest out of Jerusalem, nor lay it up in thy heart, O king. + +19:20. For I thy servant acknowledge my sin: and therefore I am come +this day the first of all the house of Joseph, and am come down to meet +my lord the king. + +19:21. But Abisai the son of Sarvia answering, said: Shall Semei for +these words not be put to death, because he cursed the Lord's anointed? + +19:22. And David said: What have I to do with you, ye sons of Sarvia? +why are you a satan this day to me? shall there any man be killed this +day in Israel? do not I know that this day I am made king over Israel? + +19:23. And the king said to Semei: Thou shalt not die. And he swore +unto him. + +19:24. And Miphiboseth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and +he had neither washed his feet, nor trimmed his beard: nor washed his +garments from the day that the king went out, until the day of his +return in peace. + +19:25. And when he met the king at Jerusalem, the king said to him: Why +camest thou not with me, Miphiboseth? + +19:26. And he answering, said: My lord, O king, my servant despised me: +for I thy servant spoke to him to saddle me an ass, that I might get on +and go with the king: for I thy servant am lame. + +19:27. Moreover he hath also accused me thy servant to thee, my lord +the king: but thou my lord the king art as an angel of God, do what +pleaseth thee. + +19:28. For all of my father's house were no better than worthy of death +before my lord the king; and thou hast set me thy servant among the +guests of thy table: what just complaint therefore have I? or what +right to cry any more to the king? + +19:29. Then the king said to him: Why speakest thou any more? what I +have said is determined: thou and Siba divide the possessions. + +19:30. And Miphiboseth answered the king: Yea, let him take all, +forasmuch as my lord the king is returned peaceably into his house. + +19:31. Berzellai also the Galaadite coming down from Rogelim, brought +the king over the Jordan, being ready also to wait on him beyond the +river. + +19:32. Now Berzellai the Galaadite was of a great age, that is to say, +fourscore years old, and he provided the king with sustenance when he +abode in the camp: for he was a man exceeding rich. + +19:33. And the king said to Berzellai: Come with me that thou mayest +rest secure with me in Jerusalem. + +19:34. And Berzellai said to the king: How many are the days of the +years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? + +19:35. I am this day fourscore years old, are my senses quick to +discern sweet and bitter? or can meat or drink delight thy servant? or +can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? why +should thy servant be a burden to my lord, the king? + +19:36. I thy servant will go on a little way from the Jordan with thee: +I need not this recompense. + +19:37. But I beseech thee let thy servant return, and die in my own +city, and be buried by the sepulchre of my father, and of my mother. +But there is thy servant Chamaam, let him go with thee, my lord, the +king, and do to him whatsoever seemeth good to thee. + +19:38. Then the king said to him: Let Chamaam go over with me, and I +will do for him whatsoever shall please thee, and all that thou shalt +ask of me, thou shalt obtain. + +19:39. And when all the people and the king had passed over the Jordan, +the king kissed Berzellai, and blessed him: and he returned to his own +place. + +19:40. So the king went on to Galgal, and Chamaam with him. Now all the +people of Juda had brought the king over, and only half of the people +of Israel were there. + +19:41. Therefore all the men of Israel running together to the king, +said to him: Why have our brethren the men of Juda stolen thee away, +and have brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all +the men of David with him? + +19:42. And all the men of Juda answered the men of Israel: Because the +king is nearer to me: why art thou angry for this matter? have we eaten +any thing of the king's, or have any gifts been given us? + +19:43. And the men of Israel answered the men of Juda, and said: I have +ten parts in the king more than thou, and David belongeth to me more +than to thee: why hast thou done me a wrong, and why was it not told me +first, that I might bring back my king? And the men of Juda answered +more harshly than the men of Israel. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 20 + + +Seba's rebellion. Amasa is slain by Joab. Abela is besieged, but upon +the citizens casting over the wall the head of Seba, Joab departeth +with all his army. + +20:1. And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was +Seba, the son of Bochri, a man of Jemini: and he sounded the trumpet, +and said: We have no part in David, nor inheritance in the son of Isai: +return to thy dwellings, O Israel. + +20:2. And all Israel departed from David, and followed Seba the son of +Bochri: but the men of Juda stuck to their king from the Jordan unto +Jerusalem. + +20:3. And when the king was come into his house at Jerusalem, he took +the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and +put them inward, allowing them provisions: and he went not in unto +them, but they were shut up unto the day of their death living in +widowhood. + +20:4. And the king said to Amasa: Assemble to me all the men of Juda +against the third day, and be thou here present. + +20:5. So Amasa went to assemble the men of Juda, but he tarried beyond +the set time which the king had appointed him. + +20:6. And David said to Abisai: Now will Seba the son of Bochri do us +more harm than did Absalom: take thou therefore the servants of thy +lord, and pursue after him, lest he find fenced cities, and escape us. + +20:7. So Joab's men went out with him, and the Cerethi and the +Phelethi: and all the valiant men went out of Jerusalem to pursue after +Seba the son of Bochri. + +20:8. And when they were at the great stone which is in Gabaon, Amasa +coming met them. And Joab had on a close coat of equal length with his +habit, and over it was girded with a sword hanging down to his flank, +in a scabbard, made in such manner as to come out with the least motion +and strike. + +20:9. And Joab said to Amasa: God save thee, my brother. And he took +Amasa by the chin with his right hand to kiss him. + +20:10. But Amasa did not take notice of the sword, which Joab had, and +he struck him in the side, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and +gave him not a second wound, and he died. And Joab, and Abisai his +brother pursued after Seba the son of Bochri. + +20:11. In the mean time some men of Joab's company stopping at the dead +body of Amasa, said: Behold he that would have been in Joab's stead the +companion of David. + +20:12. And Amasa imbrued with blood, lay in the midst of the way. A +certain man saw this that all the people stood still to look upon him, +so he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and covered him +with a garment, that they who passed might, not stop on his account. + +20:13. And when he was removed out of the way, all the people went on +following Joab to pursue after Seba the son of Bochri. + +20:14. Now he had passed through all the tribes of Israel unto Abela +and Bethmaacha: and all the chosen men were gathered together unto him. + +Abela and Bethmaacha. . .Cities of the tribe of Nephtali. + +20:15. And they came, and besieged him in Abela, and in Bethmaacha, and +they cast up works round the city, and the city was besieged: and all +the people that were with Joab, laboured to throw down the walls. + +20:16. And a wise woman cried out from the city: Hear, hear, and say to +Joab: Come near hither, and I will speak with thee. + +20:17. And when he was come near to her, she said to him: Art thou +Joab? And he answered: I am. And she spoke thus to him: Hear the +words of thy handmaid. He answered: I do hear. + +20:18. And she again said: A saying was used in the old proverb: They +that inquire, let them inquire in Abela: and so they made an end. + +20:19. Am not I she that answer truth in Israel, and thou seekest to +destroy the city, and to overthrow a mother in Israel? Why wilt thou +throw down the inheritance of the Lord? + +20:20. And Joab answering said: God forbid, God forbid that I should, I +do not throw down, nor destroy. + +20:21. The matter is not so, but a man of mount Ephraim, Seba the son +of Bochri by name, hath lifted up his hand against king David: deliver +him only, and we will depart from the city. And the woman said to Joab: +Behold his head shall be thrown to thee from the wall. + +20:22. So she went to all the people, and spoke to them wisely: and +they cut off the head of Seba the son of Bochri, and cast it out to +Joab. And he sounded the trumpet, and they departed from the city, +every one to their home: and Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. + +20:23. So Joab was over all the army of Israel: and Banaias the son of +Joiada was over the Cerethites and Phelethites, + +20:24. But Aduram over the tributes: and Josaphat the son of Ahilud was +recorder. + +20:25. And Siva was scribe: and Sadoc and Abiathar, priests. + +20:26. And Ira the Jairite was the priest of David. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 21 + + +A famine of three years, for the sin of Saul against the Gabaonites, at +whose desire seven of Saul's race are crucified. War again with the +Philistines. + +21:1. And there was a famine in the days of David for three years +successively: and David consulted the oracle of the Lord. And the Lord +said: It is for Saul, and his bloody house, because he slow the +Gabaonites. + +21:2. Then the king, calling for the Gabaonites, said to them: (Now the +Gabaonites were not of the children of Israel, but the remains of the +Amorrhites: and the children of Israel had sworn to them, and Saul +sought to slay them out of zeal, as it were for the children of Israel +and Juda:) + +21:3. David therefore said to the Gabaonites: What shall I do for you? +and what shall be the atonement or you, that you may bless the +inheritance of the Lord? + +21:4. And the Gabaonites said to him: We have no contest about silver +and gold, but against Saul and against his house: neither do we desire +that any man be slain of Israel. And the king said to them: What will +you then that I should do for you? + +21:5. And they said to the king: The man that crushed us and oppressed +us unjustly, we must destroy in such manner that there be not so much +as one left of his stock in all the coasts of Israel. + +21:6. Let seven men of his children be delivered unto us, that we may +crucify them to the Lord in Gabaa of Saul, once the chosen of the Lord. +And the king said: I will give them. + +21:7. And the king spared Miphiboseth the son of Jonathan the son of +Saul, because of the oath of the Lord, that had been between David and +Jonathan the son of Saul. + +21:8. So the king took the two sons of Respha the daughter of Aia, whom +she bore to Saul, Armoni, and Miphiboseth: and the five sons of Michol +the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Hadriel the son of Berzellai, +that was of Molathi: + +Of Michol. . .They were the sons of Merob, who was married to Hadriel: +but they are here called the sons of Michol, because she adopted them, +and brought them up as her own. + +21:9. And gave them into the hands of the Gabaonites: and they +crucified them on a hill before the Lord: and these seven died together +in the first days of the harvest, when the barley began to be reaped. + +21:10. And Respha the daughter of Aia took haircloth, and spread it +under her upon the rock from the beginning of the harvest, till water +dropped upon them out of heaven: and suffered neither the birds to tear +them by day, nor the beasts by night. + +21:11. And it was told David, what Respha the daughter of Aia, the +concubine of Saul, had done. + +21:12. And David went, and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of +Jonathan his son from the men of Jabes Galaad, who had stolen them from +the street of Bethsan, where the Philistines had hanged them when they +had slain Saul in Gelboe. + +21:13. And he brought from thence the bones of Saul, and the bones of +Jonathan his son, and they gathered up the bones of them that were +crucified, + +21:14. And they buried them with the bones of Saul, and of Jonathan his +son in the land of Benjamin, in the side, in the sepulchre of Cis his +father: and they did all that the king had commanded, and God shewed +mercy again to the land after these things. + +21:15. And the Philistines made war again against Israel, and David +went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the +Philistines. And David growing faint, + +21:16. Jesbibenob, who was of the race of Arapha, the iron of whose +spear weighed three hundred ounces, being girded with a new sword, +attempted to kill David. + +21:17. And Abisai the son of Sarvia rescued him, and striking the +Philistine killed him. Then David's men swore unto him saying: Thou +shalt go no more out with us to battle, lest thou put out the lamp of +Israel. + +21:18. There was also a second battle in Gob against the Philistines: +then Sobochai of Husathi slew Saph of the race of Arapha of the family +of the giants. + +21:19. And there was a third battle in Gob against the Philistines, in +which Adeodatus the son of the Forrest an embroiderer of Bethlehem slew +Goliath the Gethite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. + +Adeodatus the son of the Forrest. . .So it is rendered in the Latin +Vulgate, by giving the interpretation of the Hebrew names, which are +Elhanan the son of Jaare. + +21:20. A fourth battle was in Geth: where there was a man of great +stature, that had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, +four and twenty in all, and he was of the race of Arapha. + +21:21. And he reproached Israel: and Jonathan the son of Samae the +brother of David slew him. + +21:22. These four were born of Arapha in Geth, and they fell by the +hand of David, and of his servants. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 22 + + +King David's psalm of thanksgiving for his deliverance from all his +enemies. + +22:1. And David spoke to the Lord the words of this canticle, in the +day that the Lord delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and +out of the hand of Saul, + +22:2. And he said: The Lord is my rock, and my strength, and my +saviour. + +22:3. God is my strong one, in him will I trust: my shield, and the +horn of my salvation: he lifteth me up, and is my refuge: my saviour, +thou wilt deliver me from iniquity. + +22:4. I will call on the Lord who is worthy to be praised: and I shall +be saved from my enemies. + +22:5. For the pangs of death have surrounded me: the floods of Belial +have made me afraid. + +22:6. The cords of hell compassed me: the snares of death prevented me. + +22:7. In my distress I will call upon the Lord, and I will cry to my +God: and he will hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry shall come +to his ears. + +22:8. The earth shook and trembled, the foundations of the mountains +were moved, and shaken, because he was angry with them. + +22:9. A smoke went up from his nostrils, and a devouring fire out of +his mouth: coals were kindled by it. + +22:10. He bowed the heavens, and came down: and darkness was under his +feet. + +22:11. And he rode upon the cherubims, and flew: and slid upon the +wings of the wind. + +22:12. He made darkness a covering round about him: dropping waters out +of the clouds of the heavens. + +22:13. By the brightness before him, the coals of fire were kindled. + +22:14. The Lord shall thunder from heaven: and the most high shall give +forth his voice. + +22:15. He shot arrows and scattered them: lightning, and consumed them. + +22:16. And the overflowings of the sea appeared, and the foundations of +the world were laid open at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the +spirit of his wrath. + +22:17. He sent from on high, and took me, and drew me out of many +waters. + +22:18. He delivered me from my most mighty enemy, and from them that +hated me: for they were too strong for me. + +22:19. He prevented me in the day of my affliction, and the Lord became +my stay. + +22:20. And he brought me forth into a large place, he delivered me, +because I pleased him. + +22:21. The Lord will reward me according to my justice: and according +to the cleanness of my hands he will render to me. + +22:22. Because I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly +departed from my God. + +22:23. For all his judgments are in my sight: and his precepts I have +not removed from me. + +22:24. And I shall be perfect with him: and shall keep myself from my +iniquity. + +22:25. And the Lord will recompense me according to my justice: and +according to the cleanness of my hands in the sight of his eyes. + +22:26. With the holy one thou wilt be holy: and with the valiant +perfect. + +22:27. With the elect thou wilt be elect: and with the perverse thou +wilt be perverted. + +22:28. And the poor people thou wilt save: and with thy eyes thou shalt +humble the haughty. + +22:29. For thou art my lamp O Lord: and thou, O Lord, wilt enlighten my +darkness. + +22:30. For in thee I will run girded: in my God I will leap over the +wall. + +22:31. God, his way is immaculate, the word of the Lord is tried by +fire: he is the shield of all that trust in him. + +22:32. Who is God but the Lord: and who is strong but our God? + +22:33. God who hath girded me with strength, and made my way perfect. + +22:34. Making my feet like the feet of harts, and setting me upon my +high places. + +22:35. He teacheth my hands to war: and maketh my arms like a bow of +brass. + +22:36. Thou hast given me the shield of my salvation: and thy mildness +hath multiplied me. + +22:37. Thou shalt enlarge my steps under me: and my ankles shall not +fail. + +22:38. I will pursue after my enemies, and crush them: and will not +return again till I consume them. + +22:39. I will consume them and break them in pieces, so that they shall +not rise: they shall fall under my feet. + +22:40. Thou hast girded me with strength to battle: thou hast made them +that resisted me to bow under me. + +22:41. My enemies thou hast made to turn their back to me: them that +hated me, and I shall destroy them. + +22:42. They shall cry, and there shall be none to save: to the Lord, +and he shall not hear them. + +22:43. I shall beat them as small as the dust of the earth: I shall +crush them and spread them abroad like the mire of the streets. + +22:44. Thou wilt save me from the contradictions of my people: thou +wilt keep me to be the head of the Gentiles: the people which I know +not, shall serve me, + +22:45. The sons of the stranger will resist me, at the hearing of the +ear they will obey me. + +22:46. The strangers are melted away, and shall be straitened in their +distresses. + +22:47. The Lord liveth, and my God is blessed: and the strong God of my +salvation shall be exalted: + +22:48. God who giveth me revenge, and bringest down people under me, + +22:49. Who bringest me forth from my enemies, and liftest me up from +them that resist me: from the wicked man thou shalt deliver me. + +22:50. Therefore will I give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the +Gentiles, and will sing to thy name. + +22:51. Giving great salvation to his king, and shewing mercy to David +his anointed, and to his seed for ever. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 23 + + +The last words of David. A catalogue of his valiant men. + +23:1. Now these are David's last words. David the son of Isai said: The +man to whom it was appointed concerning the Christ of the God of Jacob, +the excellent psalmist of Israel said: + +23:2. The spirit of the Lord hath spoken by me and his word by my +tongue. + +23:3. The God of Israel said to me, the strong one of Israel spoke, the +ruler of men, the just ruler in the fear of God. + +23:4. As the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, shineth in the +morning without clouds, and as the grass springeth out of the earth by +rain. + +As the light, etc. . .So shall be the kingdom of Christ. + +23:5. Neither is my house so great with God, that he should make with +me an eternal covenant, firm in all things and assured. For he is all +my salvation, and all my will: neither is there ought thereof that +springeth not up. + +Neither is my house, etc. . .As if he should say: This everlasting +covenant was not due to my house: but purely owing to his bounty; who +is all my salvation, and my will: that is, who hath always saved me, +and granted me what I beseeched of him; so that I and my house, through +his blessing, have sprung up, and succeeded in all things. + +23:6. But transgressors shall all of them be plucked up as thorns: +which are not taken away with hands. + +23:7. And if a man will touch them, he must be armed with iron and with +the staff of a lance: but they shall be set on fire and burnt to +nothing. + +23:8. These are the names of the valiant men of David: Jesbaham sitting +in the chair was the wisest chief among the three, he was like the most +tender little worm of the wood, who killed eight hundred men at one +onset. + +Jesbaham. . .The son of Hachamoni. For this was the name of this hero, +as appears from 1 Chron. or Paralip. 11.--Ibid. Most tender, etc. . .He +appeared like one tender and weak, but was indeed most valiant and +strong. It seems the Latin has here given the interpretation of the +Hebrew name of the hero, to whom Jesbaham was like, instead of the name +itself, which was Adino the Eznite, one much renowned of old for his +valour. + +23:9. After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the +three valiant men that were with David when they defied the +Philistines, and they were there gathered together to battle. + +Dodo. . .In Latin, Patrui ejus, which is the interpretation of the +Hebrew name Dodo. The same occurs in ver. 24. + +23:10. And when the men of Israel were gone away, he stood and smote +the Philistines till his hand was weary, and grew stiff with the sword: +and the Lord wrought a great victory that day: and the people that were +fled away, returned to take spoils of them that were slain. + +23:11. And after him was Semma the son of Age of Arari. And the +Philistines were gathered together in a troop: for there was a field +full of lentils. And when the people were fled from the face of the +Philistines, + +23:12. He stood in the midst of the field, and defended it, and +defeated the Philistines: and the Lord gave a great victory. + +23:13. Moreover also before this the three who were princes among the +thirty, went down and came to David in the harvest time into the cave +of Odollam: and the camp of the Philistines was in the valley of the +giants. + +23:14. And David was then in a hold: and there was a garrison of the +Philistines then in Bethlehem. + +23:15. And David longed, and said: O that some man would get me a drink +of the water out of the cistern, that is in Bethlehem, by the gate. + +23:16. And the three valiant men broke through the camp of the +Philistines, and drew water out of the cistern of Bethlehem, that was +by the gate, and brought it to David: but he would not drink, but +offered it to the Lord, + +23:17. Saying: The Lord be merciful to me, that I may not do this: +shall I drink the blood of these men that went, and the peril of their +lives? therefore he would not drink. These things did these three +mighty men. + +23:18. Abisai also the brother of Joab, the son of Sarvia, was chief +among three: and he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he +slew, and he was renowned among the three, + +23:19. And the noblest of three, and was their chief, but to the three +first he attained not. + +23:20. And Banaias the son of Joiada a most valiant man, of great +deeds, of Cabseel: he slew the two lions of Moab, and he went down, and +slew a lion in the midst of a pit, in the time of snow. + +23:21. He also slew an Egyptian, a man worthy to be a sight, having a +spear in his hand: but he went down to him with a rod, and forced the +spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slew him with his own spear. + +23:22. These things did Banaias the son of Joiada. + +23:23. And he was renowned among the three valiant men, who were the +most honourable among the thirty: but he attained not to the first +three: and David made him of his privy council. + +23:24. Asael the brother of Joab was one of the thirty, Elehanan the +son of Dodo of Bethlehem. + +23:25. Semma of Harodi, Elica of Harodi, + +23:26. Heles of Phalti, Hira the son of Acces of Thecua, + +23:27. Abiezer of Anathoth, Mobonnai of Husati, + +23:28. Selmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, + +23:29. Heled the son of Baana, also a Netophathite, Ithai the son of +Ribai of Gabaath of the children of Benjamin, + +23:30. Banaia the Pharathonite, Heddai of the torrent Gaas, + +23:31. Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Beromi, + +23:32. Eliaba of Salaboni. The sons of Jassen, Jonathan, + +23:33. Semma of Orori, Aliam the son of Sarar the Arorite, + +23:34. Eliphelet the son of Aasbai the son of Machati, Eliam the son of +Achitophel the Gelonite, + +23:35. Hesrai of Carmel, Pharai of Arbi, + +23:36. Igaal the son of Nathan of Soba, Bonni of Gadi, + +23:37. Selec of Ammoni, Naharai the Berothite, armourbearer of Joab the +son of Sarvia, + +23:38. Ira the Jethrite, Gareb also a Jethrite; + +23:39. Urias the Hethite, thirty and seven in all. + + + +2 Kings Chapter 24 + + +David numbereth the people: God sendeth a pestilence, which is stopt by +David's prayer and sacrifice. + +24:1. And the anger of the Lord was again kindled against Israel, and +stirred up David among them, saying: Go, number Israel and Juda. + +Stirred up, etc. . .This stirring up was not the doing of God, but of +Satan; as it is expressly declared, 1 Chron. or Paralip. 21.1. + +24:2. And the king said to Joab the general of his army: Go through all +the tribes of Israel from Dan to Bersabee, and number ye the people +that I may know the number of them. + +24:3. And Joab said to the king: The Lord thy God increase thy people, +and make them as many more as they are now, and again multiply them a +hundredfold in the sight of my lord the king: but what meaneth my lord +the king by this kind of thing? + +24:4. But the king's words prevailed over the words of Joab, and of the +captains of the army: and Joab, and the captains of the soldiers went +out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel. + +24:5. And when they had passed the Jordan, they came to Aroer to the +right side of the city, which is in the vale of Gad. + +24:6. And by Jazer they passed into Galaad, and to the lower land of +Hodsi, and they came into the woodlands of Dan. And going about by +Sidon, + +24:7. They passed near the walls of Tyre, and all the land of the +Hevite, and the Chanaanite, and they came to the south of Juda into +Bersabee: + +24:8. And having gone through the whole land, after nine months and +twenty days, they came to Jerusalem. + +24:9. And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people to the king, +and there were found of Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that +drew the sword: and of Juda five hundred thousand fighting men. + +24:10. But David's heart struck him, after the people were numbered: +and David said to the Lord: I have sinned very much in what I have +done: but I pray thee, O Lord, to take away the iniquity of thy +servant, because I have done exceeding foolishly. + +David's heart struck him, after the people were numbered. . .That is he +was touched with a great remorse for the vanity and pride which had put +him upon numbering the people. + +24:11. And David arose in the morning, and the word of the Lord came to +Gad the prophet and the seer of David, saying: + +24:12. Go, and say to David: Thus saith the Lord: I give thee thy +choice of three things, choose one of them which thou wilt, that I may +do it to thee. + +24:13. And when Gad was come to David, he told him, saying: Either +seven years of famine shall come to thee in thy land: or thou shalt +flee three months before thy adversaries, and they shall pursue thee: +or for three days there shall be a pestilence in thy land. Now +therefore deliberate, and see what answer I shall return to him that +sent me. + +24:14. And David said to Gad: I am in a great strait: but it is better +that I should fall into the hands of the Lord (for his mercies are +many) than into the hands of men. + +24:15. And the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel, from the morning +unto the time appointed, and there died of the people from Dan to +Bersabee seventy thousand men. + +24:16. And when the angel of the Lord had stretched out his hand over +Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord had pity on the affliction, and said +to the angel that slew the people: It is enough: now hold thy hand. +And the angel of the Lord was by the thrashingfloor of Areuna the +Jebusite. + +24:17. And David said to the Lord, when he saw the angel striking the +people: It is I; I am he that have sinned, I have done wickedly: these +that are the sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I beseech thee, +be turned against me, and against my father's house. + +24:18. And Gad came to David that day, and said: Go up, and build an +altar to the Lord in the thrashingfloor of Areuna the Jebusite. + +24:19. And David went up according to the word of Gad which the Lord +had commanded him. + +24:20. And Areuna looked, and saw the king and his servants coming +towards him: + +24:21. And going out he worshipped the king, bowing with his face to +the earth, and said: Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? +And David said to him: To buy the thrashingfloor of thee, and build an +altar to the Lord, that the plague, which rageth among the people, may +cease. + +24:22. And Areuna said to David: Let my lord the king take, and offer, +as it seemeth good to him: thou hast here oxen for a holocaust, and the +wain, and the yokes of the oxen for wood. + +24:23. All these things Areuna as a king gave to the king: and Areuna +said to the king: The Lord thy God receive thy vow. + +24:24. And the king answered him, and said: Nay, but I will buy it of +thee, at a price, and I will not offer to the Lord my God holocausts +free cost. So David bought the floor, and the oxen, for fifty sicles of +silver: + +24:25. And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered +holocausts and peace offerings: and the Lord became merciful to the +land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. + + + + +THE THIRD BOOK OF KINGS + + + +This and the following Book are called by the holy fathers the third +and fourth book of Kings; but by the Hebrews, the first and second. +They contain the history of the kingdoms of Israel and Juda, from the +beginning of the reign of Solomon, to the captivity. As to the writer +of these books, it seems most probable they were not written by one +man; nor at one time; but as there was all along a succession of +prophets in Israel, who recorded, by divine inspiration, the most +remarkable things that happened in their days, these books seem to have +been written by these prophets. See 2 Paralip. alias 2 Chron. 9.29; +12.15; 13.22; 20.34; 26.22; 32.32. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 1 + + +King David growing old, Abisag a Sunamitess is brought to him. Adonias +pretending to reign, Nathan and Bethsabee obtain that Solomon should be +declared and anointed king. + +1:1. Now king David was old, and advanced in years: and when he was +covered with clothes he was not warm. + +1:2. His servants therefore, said to him: Let us seek for our Lord the +king, a young virgin, and let her stand before the king, and cherish +him, and sleep in his bosom and warm our lord the king. + +1:3. So they sought a beautiful young woman, in all the coasts of +Israel and they found Abisag, a Sunamitess, and brought her to the +king. + +1:4. And the damsel was exceedingly beautiful, and she slept with the +king, and served him, but the king did not know her. + +1:5. And Adonias, the son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying: I will +be king. And he made himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to +run before him. + +1:6. Neither did his father rebuke him at any time, saying: Why hast +thou done this? And he also was very beautiful, the next in birth after +Absalom. + +1:7. And he conferred with Joab, the son of Sarvia, and with Abiathar, +the priest, who furthered Adonias's side. + +1:8. But Sadoc, the priest, and Banaias, the son of Joiada, and Nathan, +the prophet, and Semei, and Rei, and the strength of David's army, was +not with Adonias. + +1:9. And Adonias having slain rams and calves, and all fat cattle, by +the stone of Zoheleth, which was near the fountain Rogel, invited all +his brethren, the king's sons, and all the men of Juda, the king's +servants: + +1:10. But Nathan, the prophet, and Banaias, and all the valiant men, +and Solomon, his brother, he invited not. + +1:11. And Nathan said to Bethsabee, the mother of Solomon: Hast thou +not heard that Adonias, the son of Haggith, reigneth, and our lord +David knoweth it not? + +1:12. Now then, come, take my counsel, and save thy life, and the life +of thy son Solomon. + +1:13. Go, and get thee in to king David, and say to him: Didst not +thou, my lord, O king, swear to me, thy handmaid, saying: Solomon, thy +son, shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then doth +Adonias reign? + +1:14. And while thou art yet speaking there with the king, I will come +in after thee, and will fill up thy words. + +1:15. So Bethsabee went in to the king into the chamber. Now the king +was very old, and Abisag, the Sunamitess, ministered to him. + +1:16. Bethsabee bowed herself, and worshipped the king. And the king +said to her: What is thy will? + +1:17. She answered, and said: My lord, thou didst swear to thy +handmaid, by the Lord thy God, saying: Solomon, thy son, shall reign +after me, and he shall sit on my throne. + +1:18. And behold, now Adonias reigneth, and thou, my lord the king, +knowest nothing of it. + +1:19. He hath killed oxen, and all fat cattle, and many rams, and +invited all the king's sons, and Abiathar, the priest, and Joab, the +general of the army: but Solomon, thy servant, he invited not. + +1:20. And now, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, +that thou shouldst tell them, who shall sit on thy throne, my lord the +king, after thee. + +1:21. Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king sleepeth +with his fathers, that I, and my son, Solomon, shall be accounted +offenders. + +1:22. As she was yet speaking with the king, Nathan, the prophet, came. + +1:23. And they told the king, saying: Nathan, the prophet, is here. And +when he was come in before the king, and had worshipped, bowing down to +the ground, + +1:24. Nathan said: My lord, O king, hast thou said: Let Adonias reign +after me, and let him sit upon my throne? + +1:25. Because he is gone down to day, and hath killed oxen, and +fatlings, and many rams, and invited all the king's sons, and the +captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest: and they are eating and +drinking before him, and saying: God save king Adonias: + +1:26. But me, thy servant, and Sadoc, the priest, and Banaias, the son +of Joiada, and Solomon, thy servant, he hath not invited. + +1:27. Is this word come out from my lord the king, and hast thou not +told me, thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king +after him? + +1:28. And king David answered, and said: Call to me Bethsabee. And when +she was come in to the king, and stood before him, + +1:29. The king swore, and said: As the Lord liveth, who hath delivered +my soul out of all distress, + +1:30. Even as I swore to thee, by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying: +Solomon thy son, shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne +in my stead, so will I do this day. + +1:31. And Bethsabee, bowing with her face to the earth, worshipped the +king, saying: May my lord David live for ever. + +1:32. King David also said: Call me Sadoc, the priest, and Nathan, the +prophet, and Banaias, the son of Joiada. And when they were come in +before the king, + +1:33. He said to them: Take with you the servants of your lord, and set +my son Solomon upon my mule: and bring him to Gihon: + +1:34. And let Sadoc, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, anoint him +there king over Israel: and you shall sound the trumpet, and shall say: +God save king Solomon. + +1:35. And you shall come up after him, and he shall come, and shall sit +upon my throne, and he shall reign in my stead: and I will appoint him +to be ruler over Israel, and over Juda. + +1:36. And Banaias, the son of Joiada, answered the king, saying: Amen: +so say the Lord, the God of my lord the king. + +1:37. As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, so be he with +Solomon, and make his throne higher than the throne of my lord king +David. + +1:38. So Sadoc, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, went down, and +Banaias, the son of Joiada, and the Cerethi, and Phelethi: and they set +Solomon upon the mule of king David, and brought him to Gihon. + +1:39. And Sadoc, the priest, took a horn of oil out of the tabernacle, +and anointed Solomon: and they sounded the trumpet, and all the people +said: God save king Solomon. + +1:40. And all the multitude went up after him, and the people played +with pipes, and rejoiced with a great joy, and the earth rang with the +noise of their cry. + +1:41. And Adonias, and all that were invited by him, heard it, and now +the feast was at an end. Joab also, hearing the sound of the trumpet, +said: What meaneth this noise of the city in an uproar? + +1:42. While he yet spoke, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar, the priest, +came: and Adonias said to him: Come in, because thou art a valiant man, +and bringest good news. + +1:43. And Jonathan answered Adonias: Not so: for our lord, king David, +hath appointed Solomon king; + +1:44. And hath sent with him Sadoc, the priest, and Nathan, the +prophet, and Banaias, the son of Joiada, and the Cerethi, and the +Phelethi, and they have set him upon the king's mule: + +1:45. And Sadoc, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, have anointed him +king, in Gihon: and they are gone up from thence rejoicing, so that the +city rang again: this is the noise that you have heard. + +1:46. Moreover, Solomon sitteth upon the throne of the kingdom. + +1:47. And the king's servants going in, have blessed our lord king +David, saying: May God make the name of Solomon greater than thy name, +and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king adored in his +bed: + +1:48. And he said: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who hath +given this day one to sit on my throne, my eyes seeing it. + +1:49. Then all the guests of Adonias were afraid, and they all arose, +and every man went his way. + +1:50. And Adonias fearing Solomon, arose and went, and took hold of the +horn of the altar. + +1:51. And they told Solomon, saying: Behold Adonias fearing king +Solomon, hath taken hold of the horn of the altar, saying: Let king +Solomon swear to me this day, that he will not kill his servant with +the sword. + +1:52. And Solomon said: If he be a good man, there shall not so much as +one hair of his head fall to the ground: but if evil be found in him, +he shall die. + +1:53. Then king Solomon sent, and brought him out from the altar: and +going in, he worshipped king Solomon: and Solomon said to him: Go to +thy house. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 2 + + +David, after giving his last charge to Solomon, dieth. Adonias is put +to death: Abiathar is banished: Joab and Semei are slain. + +1:1. And the days of David drew nigh that he should die, and he charged +his son Solomon, saying: + +2:2. I am going the way of all flesh: take thou courage and shew +thyself a man. + +2:3. And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and +observe his ceremonies, and his precepts, and judgments, and +testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses: that thou mayst +understand all thou dost, and whithersoever thou shalt turn thyself: + +2:4. That the Lord may confirm his words, which he hath spoken of me, +saying: If thy children shall take heed to their ways, and shall walk +before me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul, +there shall not be taken away from thee a man on the throne of Israel. + +2:5. Thou knowest also what Joab, the son of Sarvia, hath done to me, +what he did to the two captains of the army of Israel, to Abner, the +son of Ner, and to Amasa, the son of Jether: whom he slew, and shed the +blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his girdle that was +about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. + +Joab. . .These instructions given by David to his son, with relation to +Joab and Semei, proceeded not from any rancour of heart, or private +pique; but from a zeal for justice, that crimes so public and heinous +might not pass unpunished. + +2:6. Do, therefore, according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoary head +go down to hell in peace. + +To hell. . .This word hell doth not here signify the place or state of +damnation; but the place and state of the dead. + +2:7. But shew kindness to the sons of Berzellai, the Galaadite, and let +them eat at thy table: for they met me when I fled from the face of +Absalom, thy brother. + +2:8. Thou hast also with thee Semei, the son of Gera, the son of +Jemini, of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse, when I went to +the camp: but because he came down to meet me when I passed over the +Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying: I will not kill thee +with the sword: + +2:9. Do not thou hold him guiltless. But thou art a wise man, and +knowest what to do with him, and thou shalt bring down his grey hairs +with blood to the grave. + +2:10. So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of +David. + +2:11. And the days that David reigned in Israel, were forty years: in +Hebron he reigned seven years, in Jerusalem thirty-three. + +2:12. And Solomon sat upon the throne of his father David, and his +kingdom was strengthened exceedingly. + +2:13. And Adonias, the son of Haggith, came to Bethsabee the mother of +Solomon. And she said to him: Is thy coming peaceable? He answered: +It is peaceable. + +2:14. And he added: I have a word to speak with thee. She said to him: +Speak. And he said: + +2:15. Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had +preferred me to be their king: but the kingdom is transferred, and is +become my brother's: for it was appointed him by the Lord. + +2:16. Now therefore, I ask one petition of thee; turn not away my face. +And she said to him: Say on. + +2:17. And he said I pray thee speak to king Solomon (for he cannot deny +thee any thing) to give me Abisag, the Sunamitess, to wife. + +2:18. And Bethsabee said: Well, I will speak for thee to the king. + +2:19. Then Bethsabee came to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonias: +and the king arose to meet her, and bowed to her, and sat down upon his +throne: and a throne was set for the king's mother, and she sat on his +right hand. + +2:20. And she said to him: I desire one small petition of thee; do not +put me to confusion. And the king said to her: My mother ask, for I +must not turn away thy face. + +2:21. And she said: Let Abisag, the Sunamitess, be given to Adonias, +thy brother, to wife. + +2:22. And king Solomon answered, and said to his mother: Why dost thou +ask Abisag, the Sunamitess, for Adonias? ask for him also the kingdom; +for he is my elder brother, and hath Abiathar, the priest, and Joab, +the son of Sarvia. + +2:23. Then king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying: So and so may God do +to me, and add more, if Adonias hath not spoken this word against his +own life. + +2:24. And now, as the Lord liveth, who hath established me, and placed +me upon the throne of David, my father, and who hath made me a house, +as he promised, Adonias shall be put to death this day. + +2:25. And king Solomon sent by the hand of Banaias, the son of Joiada, +who slew him, and he died. + +2:26. And the king said also to Abiathar, the priest: Go to Anathoth, +to thy lands, for indeed thou art worthy of death: but I will not at +this time put thee to death, because thou didst carry the ark of the +Lord God before David, my father, and hast endured trouble in all the +troubles my father endured. + +2:27. So Solomon cast out Abiathar from being the priest of the Lord, +that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he spoke concerning +the house of Heli in Silo. + +2:28. And the news came to Joab, because Joab had turned after Adonias, +and had not turned after Solomon: and Joab fled into the tabernacle of +the Lord, and took hold on the horn of the altar. + +2:29. And it was told king Solomon, that Joab was fled into the +tabernacle of the Lord, and was by the altar: and Solomon sent Banaias, +the son of Joiada, saying. Go, kill him. + +2:30. And Banaias came to the tabernacle of the Lord, and said to him: +Thus saith the king: Come forth. And he said: I will not come forth, +but here I will die. Banaias brought word back to the king, saying: +Thus saith Joab, and thus he answered me. + +2:31. And the king said to him: Do as he hath said; and kill him, and +bury him, and thou shalt remove the innocent blood which hath been shed +by Joab, from me, and from the house of my father: + +2:32. And the Lord shall return his blood upon his own head; because he +murdered two men, just and better than himself: and slew them with the +sword, my father, David, not knowing it; Abner, the son of Ner, general +of the army of Israel, and Amasa, the son of Jether general of the army +of Juda; + +2:33. And their blood shall return upon the head of Joab, and upon the +head of his seed for ever. But to David and his seed, and his house, +and to his throne, be peace for ever from the Lord. + +2:34. So Banaias, the son of Joiada, went up, and setting upon him slew +him, and he was buried in his house in the desert. + +2:35. And the king appointed Banaias, the son of Joiada in his room +over the army; and Sadoc, the priest, he put in the place of Abiathar. + +2:36. The king also sent, and called for Semei, and said to him: Build +thee a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there: and go not out from thence +any where. + +2:37. For on what day soever thou shalt go out, and shalt pass over the +brook Cedron, know that thou shalt be put to death: thy blood shall be +upon thy own head. + +2:38. And Semei said to the king: The saying is good: as my lord the +king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Semei dwelt in Jerusalem +many days. + +2:39. And it came to pass after three years, that the servants of Semei +ran away to Achis, the son of Maacha, the king of Geth: and it was told +Semei that his servants were gone to Geth. + +2:40. And Semei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Achis, to Geth, +to seek his servants, and he brought them out of Geth. + +2:41. And it was told Solomon, that Semei had gone from Jerusalem to +Geth, and was come back. + +2:42. And sending he called for him, and said to him: Did I not protest +to thee by the Lord, and tell thee before: On what day soever thou +shalt go out and walk abroad any where, know that thou shalt die? And +thou answeredst me: The word that I have heard is good. + +2:43. Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the Lord, and the +commandment that I laid upon thee? + +2:44. And the king said to Semei: Thou knowest all the evil, of which +thy heart is conscious, which thou didst to David, my father: the Lord +hath returned thy wickedness upon thy own head. + +2:45. And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall +be established before the Lord for ever. + +2:46. So the king commanded Banaias, the son of Joiada: and he went out +and struck him; and he died. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 3 + + +Solomon marrieth Pharao's daughter. He sacrificeth in Gabaon: in the +choice which God gave him he preferreth wisdom. His wise judgment +between the two harlots. + +3:1. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon, and he +made affinity with Pharao, the king of Egypt: for he took his daughter, +and brought her into the city of David: until he had made an end of +building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of +Jerusalem round about. + +3:2. But yet the people sacrificed in the high places: for there was no +temple built to the name of the Lord until that day. + +High places. . .That is, altars where they worshipped the Lord, but not +according to the ordinance of the law; which allowed of no other places +for sacrifice but the temple of God. Among these high places that of +Gabaon was the chiefest, because there was the tabernacle of the +testimony, which had been removed from Silo to Nobe and from Nobe to +Gabaon. + +3:3. And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the precepts of David, his +father; only he sacrificed in the high places, and burnt incense. + +3:4. He went therefore to Gabaon, to sacrifice there: for that was the +great high place: a thousand victims for holocausts, did Solomon offer +upon that altar, in Gabaon. + +3:5. And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, saying: Ask +what thou wilt that I should give thee. + +3:6. And Solomon said: Thou hast shewed great mercy to thy servant +David, my father, even as he walked before thee in truth, and justice, +and an upright heart with thee: and thou hast kept thy great mercy for +him, and hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. + +3:7. And now, O Lord God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of +David, my father: and I am but a child, and know not how to go out and +come in; + +3:8. And thy servant is in the midst of the people which thou hast +chosen, an immense people, which cannot be numbered nor counted for +multitude. + +3:9. Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy +people, and discern between good and evil. For who shall be able to +judge this people, thy people, which is so numerous? + +3:10. And the word was pleasing to the Lord, that Solomon had asked +such a thing. + +3:11. And the Lord said to Solomon: Because thou hast asked this thing, +and hast not asked for thyself long life nor riches, nor the lives of +thy enemies, but hast asked for thyself wisdom to discern judgment; + +3:12. Behold I have done for thee according to thy words, and have +given thee a wise and understanding heart, in so much that there hath +been no one like thee before thee, nor shall arise after thee. + +3:13. Yea, and the things also which thou didst not ask, I have given +thee; to wit, riches and glory: so that no one hath been like thee +among the kings in all days heretofore. + +3:14. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, and keep my precepts and my +commandments, as thy father walked, I will lengthen thy days. + +3:15. And Solomon awaked, and perceived that it was a dream: and when +he was come to Jerusalem, he stood before the ark of the covenant of +the Lord, and offered holocausts, and sacrificed victims of peace +offerings, and made a great feast for all his servants. + +3:16. Then there came two women that were harlots, to the king, and +stood before him. + +3:17. And one of them said: I beseech thee, my lord, I and this woman +dwelt in one house, and I was delivered of a child with her in the +chamber. + +3:18. And the third day after I was delivered, she also was delivered; +and we were together, and no other person with us in the house; only we +two. + +3:19. And this woman's child died in the night: for in her sleep she +overlaid him. + +3:20. And rising in the dead time of the night, she took my child from +my side, while I, thy handmaid, was asleep, and laid it in her bosom: +and laid her dead child in my bosom. + +3:21. And when I arose in the morning, to give my child suck, behold it +was dead: but considering him more diligently, when it was clear day, I +found that it was not mine which I bore. + +3:22. And the other woman answered: It is not so as thou sayest, but +thy child is dead, and mine is alive. On the contrary, she said; Thou +liest: for my child liveth, and thy child is dead. And in this manner +they strove before the king. + +3:23. Then said the king: The one saith, My child is alive, and thy +child is dead. And the other answereth: Nay; but thy child is dead, and +mine liveth. + +3:24. The king therefore said: Bring me a sword. And when they had +brought a sword before the king, + +3:25. Divide, said he, the living child in two, and give half to the +one and half to the other. + +3:26. But the woman, whose child was alive, said to the king; (for her +bowels were moved upon her child) I beseech thee, my lord, give her the +child alive, and do not kill it. But the other said: Let it be neither +mine nor thine; but divide it. + +3:27. The king answered, and said: Give the living child to this woman, +and let it not be killed; for she is the mother thereof. + +3:28. And all Israel heard the judgment which the king had judged, and +they feared the king, seeing that the wisdom of God was in him to do +judgment. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 4 + + +Solomon's chief officers. His riches and wisdom. + +4:1. And king Solomon reigned over all Israel: + +4:2. And these were the princes which he had: Azarias, the son of +Sadoc, the priest: + +4:3. Elihoreph, and Ahia, the sons of Sisa, scribes: Josaphat, the son +of Ahilud, recorder: + +4:4. Banaias, the son of Joiada, over the army: and Sadoc, and +Abiathar, priests. + +Abiathar. . .By this it appears that Abiathar was not altogether deposed +from the high priesthood; but only banished to his country house, and +by that means excluded from the exercise of his functions. + +4:5. Azarias, the son of Nathan, over them that were about the king: +Zabud, the son of Nathan, the priest, the king's friend: + +4:6. And Ahisar, governor of the house: and Adoniram, the son of Abda, +over the tribute. + +4:7. And Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel, who provided +victuals for the king and for his house hold: for every one provided +necessaries, each man his month in the year. + +4:8. And these are their names: Benhur, in mount Ephraim. + +4:9. Bendecar, in Macces, and in Salebim, and in Bethsames, and in +Elon, and in Bethanan. + +4:10. Benhesed, in Aruboth: his was Socho, and all the land of Epher. + +4:11. Benabinadab, to whom belonged all Nephath-Dor: he had Tapheth, +the daughter of Solomon, to wife. + +4:12. Bana, the son of Ahilud, who governed Thanac, and Mageddo, and +all Bethsan, which is by Sarthana, beneath Jezrael, from Bethsan unto +Abelmehula, over against Jecmaan. + +4:13. Bengaber, in Ramoth Galaad: he had the town of Jair, the son of +Manasses, in Galaad: he was chief in all the country of Argob, which is +in Basan, threescore great cities with walls, and brazen bolts. + +4:14. Ahinadab, the son of Addo, was chief in Manaim. + +4:15. Achimaas, in Nephthali: he also had Basemath, the daughter of +Solomon, to wife. + +4:16. Baana, the son of Husi, in Aser, and in Baloth. + +4:17. Josaphat, the son of Pharue, in Issachar. + +4:18. Semei, the son of Ela, in Benjamin. + +4:19. Gaber, the son of Uri, in the land of Galaad, in the land of +Sehon, the king of the Amorrhites, and of Og, the king of Basan, over +all that were in that land. + +4:20. Juda and Israel were innumerable, as the sand of the sea in +multitude; eating and drinking, and rejoicing. + +4:21. And Solomon had under him all the kingdoms, from the river to the +land of the Philistines, even to the border of Egypt: and they brought +him presents, and served him all the days of his life. + +The river. . .Euphrates. + +4:22. And the provision of Solomon, for each day, was thirty measures +of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal; + +4:23. Ten fat oxen, and twenty out of the pastures, and a hundred rams; +besides venison of harts, roes, and buffles, and fatted fowls. + +4:24. For he had all the country which was beyond the river, from +Thaphsa to Gazan, and all the kings of those countries: and he had +peace on every side round about. + +4:25. And Juda, and Israel, dwelt without any fear, every one under his +vine, and under his fig tree, from Dan to Bersabee, all the days of +Solomon. + +4:26. And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of chariot horses, and +twelve thousand for the saddle. + +4:27. And the foresaid governors of the king fed them; and they +furnished the necessaries also for king Solomon's table, with great +care, in their time. + +4:28. They brought barley also, and straw for the horses and beasts, to +the place where the king was, according as it was appointed them. + +4:29. And God gave to Solomon wisdom, and understanding exceeding much, +and largeness of heart, as the sand that is on the sea shore. + +4:30. And the wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the +Orientals, and of the Egyptians; + +4:31. And he was wiser than all men: wiser than Ethan, the Ezrahite, +and Heman, and Chalcol, and Dorda, the sons of Mahol, and he was +renowned in all nations round about. + +4:32. Solomon also spoke three thousand parables: and his poems were a +thousand and five. + +Three thousand parables, etc. . .These works are all lost, excepting +some part of the parables extant in the book of Proverbs; and his chief +poem called the Canticle of Canticles. + +4:33. And he treated about trees, from the cedar that is in Libanus, +unto the hyssop that cometh out of the wall: and he discoursed of +beasts, and of fowls, and of creeping things, and of fishes. + +4:34. And they came from all nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and +from all the kings of the earth, who heard of his wisdom. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 5 + + +Hiram king of Tyre agreeth to furnish timber and workmen for building +the temple: the number of workmen and overseers. + +5:1. And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent his servants to Solomon: for he +heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for +Hiram had always been David's friend. + +5:2. Solomon sent to Hiram, saying: + +5:3. Thou knowest the will of David, my father, and that he could not +build a house to the name of the Lord his God, because of the wars that +were round about him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his +feet. + +5:4. But now the Lord my God hath given me rest round about; and there +is no adversary nor evil occurrence. + +5:5. Wherefore I purpose to build a temple to the name of the Lord my +God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying: Thy son, whom I will +set upon the throne, in thy place, he shall build a house to my name. + +5:6. Give orders, therefore, that thy servants cut me down cedar trees, +out of Libanus, and let my servants be with thy servants: and I will +give thee the hire of thy servants whatsoever thou wilt ask: for thou +knowest how there is not among my people a man that has skill to hew +wood like to the Sidonians. + +5:7. Now when Hiram had heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced +exceedingly, and said: Blessed be the Lord God this day, who hath given +to David a very wise son over this numerous people. + +5:8. And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: I have heard all thou hast +desired of me; and I will do all thy desire concerning cedar trees, and +fir trees. + +5:9. My servants shall bring them down from Libanus to the sea: and I +will put them together in floats, on the sea, and convey them to the +place, which thou shalt signify to me, and will land them there, and +thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt allow me necessaries to furnish +food for my household. + +5:10. So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees, and fir trees, according to +all his desire. + +5:11. And Solomon allowed Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat, for +provision for his house, and twenty measures of the purest oil: thus +gave Solomon to Hiram every year. + +5:12. And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, as he promised him: and +there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they two made a league +together. + +5:13. And king Solomon chose workmen out of all Israel, and the levy +was of thirty thousand men. + +5:14. And he sent them to Libanus, ten thousand every month, by turns, +so that two months they were at home: and Adoniram was over this levy. + +5:15. And Solomon had seventy thousand to carry burdens, and eighty +thousand to hew stones in the mountain: + +5:16. Besides the overseers who were over every work, in number three +thousand and three hundred, that ruled over the people, and them that +did the work. + +5:17. And the king commanded that they should bring great stones, +costly stones, for the foundation of the temple, and should square +them: + +5:18. And the masons of Solomon, and the masons of Hiram, hewed them: +and the Giblians prepared timber and stones to build the house. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 6 + + +The building of Solomon's temple. + +6:1. And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after +the children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth +year of the reign of Solomon over Israel, in the month Zio, (the same +is the second month) he began to build a house to the Lord. + +6:2. And the house, which king Solomon built to the Lord, was +threescore cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and thirty +cubits in height. + +6:3. And there was a porch before the temple, of twenty cubits in +length, according to the measure of the breadth of the temple: and it +was ten cubits in breadth, before the face of the temple. + +6:4. And he made in the temple oblique windows. + +6:5. And upon the wall of the temple, he built floors round about, in +the walls of the house, round about the temple and the oracle, and he +made chambers in the sides round about. + +Upon the wall, i. e., joining to the wall.--Ibid. He built floors round +about. . .Chambers or cells adjoining to the temple, for the use of the +temple and of the priests, so contrived as to be between the inward and +outward wall of the temple, in three stories, one above another.--Ibid. +The oracle. . .The inner temple or holy of holies, where God gave his +oracles. + +6:6. The floor that was underneath was five cubits in breadth, and the +middle floor was six cubits in breadth, and the third floor was seven +cubits in breadth. And he put beams in the house round about on the +outside, that they might not be fastened in the walls of the temple. + +6:7. And the house, when it was in building, was built of stones, hewed +and made ready: so that there was neither hammer nor axe, nor any tool +of iron heard in the house when it was in building. + +Made ready, etc. . .So the stones for the building of God's eternal +temple in the heavenly Jerusalem, (who are the faithful,) must first be +hewn and polished here by many trials and sufferings, before they can +be admitted to have a place in that celestial structure. + +6:8. The door, for the middle side, was on the right hand of the house: +and by winding stairs they went up to the middle room, and from the +middle to the third. + +6:9. So he built the house, and finished it: and he covered the house +with roofs of cedar. + +6:10. And he built a floor over all the house, five cubits in height, +and he covered the house with timber of cedar. + +6:11. And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, + +6:12. As for this house, which thou art building, if thou wilt walk in +my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments, +walking in them, I will fulfil my word to thee, which I spoke to David +thy father. + +6:13. And I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel, and I +will not forsake my people Israel. + +6:14. So Solomon built the house, and finished it. + +6:15. And he built the walls of the house on the inside, with boards of +cedar, from the floor of the house to the top of the walls, and to the +roofs, he covered it with boards of cedar on the inside: and he covered +the floor of the house with planks of fir. + +6:16. And he built up twenty cubits with boards of cedar at the hinder +part of the temple, from the floor to the top: and made the inner house +of the oracle to be the holy of holies. + +6:17. And the temple itself, before the doors of the oracle, was forty +cubits long. + +6:18. And all the house was covered within with cedar, having the +turnings, and the joints thereof artfully wrought, and carvings +projecting out: all was covered with boards of cedar: and no stone +could be seen in the wall at all. + +6:19. And he made the oracle in the midst of the house, in the inner +part, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord. + +6:20. Now the oracle was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in +breadth, and twenty cubits in height. And he covered it, and overlaid +it with most pure gold. And the altar also he covered with cedar. + +6:21. And the house before the oracle he overlaid with most pure gold, +and fastened on the plates with nails of gold. + +6:22. And there was nothing in the temple that was not covered with +gold: the whole altar of the oracle he covered also with gold. + +6:23. And he made in the oracle two cherubims of olive tree, of ten +cubits in height. + +6:24. One wing of the cherub was five cubits, and the other wing of the +cherub was five cubits: that is, in all ten cubits, from the extremity +of one wing to the extremity of the other wing. + +6:25. The second cherub also was ten cubits: and the measure, and the +work was the same in both the cherubims: + +6:26. That is to say, one cherub was ten cubits high, and in like +manner the other cherub. + +6:27. And he set the cherubims in the midst of the inner temple: and +the cherubims stretched forth their wings, and the wing of the one +touched one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other +wall: and the other wings in the midst of the temple touched one +another. + +6:28. And he overlaid the cherubims with gold. + +6:29. And all the walls of the temple round about he carved with divers +figures and carvings: and he made in them cherubims and palm trees, and +divers representations, as it were standing out, and coming forth from +the wall. + +6:30. And the floor of the house he also overlaid with gold within and +without. + +6:31. And in the entrance of the oracle, he made little doors of olive +tree, and posts of five corners, + +6:32. And two doors of olive tree: and he carved upon them figures of +cherubims, and figures of palm trees, and carvings very much +projecting; and he overlaid them with gold: and he covered both the +cherubims and the palm trees, and the other things, with gold. + +6:33. And he made in the entrance of the temple posts of olive tree +foursquare: + +6:34. And two doors of fir tree, one of each side: and each door was +double, and so opened with folding leaves. + +6:35. And he carved cherubims, and palm trees, and carved work standing +very much out: and he overlaid all with golden plates in square work by +rule. + +6:36. And he built the inner court with three rows of polished stones, +and one row of beams of cedar. + +6:37. In the fourth year was the house of the Lord founded, in the +month Zio: + +6:38. And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul. (which is the eighth +month) the house was finished in all the works thereof, and in all the +appurtenances thereof: and he was seven years in building it. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 7 + + +Solomon's palace, his house in the forest, and the queen's house: the +work of the two pillars: the sea (or laver) and other vessels. + +7:1. And Solomon built his own house in thirteen years, and brought it +to perfection. + +7:2. He built also the house of the forest of Libanus; the length of it +was a hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty cubits, and the height +thirty cubits: and four galleries between pillars of cedar: for he had +cut cedar trees into pillars. + +7:3. And he covered the whole vault with boards of cedar, and it was +held up with five and forty pillars. And one row had fifteen pillars, + +7:4. Set one against another, + +7:5. And looking one upon another, with equal space between the +pillars, and over the pillars were square beams in all things equal. + +7:6. And he made a porch of pillars of fifty cubits in length, and +thirty cubits in breadth: and another porch before the greater porch, +and pillars, and chapiters upon the pillars. + +7:7. He made also the porch of the throne wherein is the seat of +judgment; and covered it with cedar wood from the floor to the top. + +7:8. And in the midst of the porch, was a small house, where he sat in +judgment of the like work. He made also a house for the daughter of +Pharao (whom Solomon had taken to wife) of the same work, as this +porch; + +7:9. All of costly stones, which were sawed by a certain rule and +measure, both within and without: from the foundation to the top of the +walls, and without, unto the great court. + +7:10. And the foundations were of costly stones, great stones of ten +cubits or eight cubits. + +7:11. And above there were costly stones of equal measure hewed, and in +like manner planks of cedar. + +7:12. And the great court was made round with three rows of hewed +stones, and one row of planks of cedar, which also was observed in the +inner court of the house of the Lord, and in the porch of the house. + +7:13. And king Solomon sent, and brought Hiram from Tyre, + +7:14. The son of a widow woman, of the tribe of Nephthali, whose father +was a Tyrian, an artificer in brass, and full of wisdom, and +understanding, and skill to work all work in brass. And when he was +come to king Solomon, he wrought all his work. + +7:15. And he cast two pillars in brass, each pillar was eighteen cubits +high: and a line of twelve cubits compassed both the pillars. + +7:16. He made also two chapiters of molten brass, to be set upon the +tops of the pillars: the height of one chapiter was five cubits, and +the height of the other chapiter was five cubits: + +7:17. And a kind of network, and chain work wreathed together with +wonderful art. Both the chapiters of the pillars were cast: seven rows +of nets were on one chapiter, and seven nets on the other chapiter. + +7:18. And he made the pillars, and two rows round about each network to +cover the chapiters, that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and in +like manner did he to the other chapiter. + +7:19. And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars, were of +lily work, in the porch of four cubits. + +7:20. And again there were other chapiters on the top of the pillars +above, according to the measure of the pillar over against the network: +and of pomegranates there were two hundred, in rows round about the +other chapiter. + +7:21. And he set up the two pillars in the porch of the temple: and +when he had set up the pillar on the right hand, he called the name +thereof Jachin: in like manner he set up the second pillar, and called +the name thereof Booz. + +Jachin. . .That is, firmly established.--Ibid. Booz. . .That is, in its +strength. By recording these names in holy writ, the spirit of God +would have us understand the invincible firmness and strength of the +pillars on which the true temple of God, which is the church, is +established. + +7:22. And upon the tops of the pillars he made lily work: so the work +of the pillars was finished. + +7:23. He made also a molten sea, of ten cubits, from brim to brim, +round all about; the height of it was five cubits, and a line of thirty +cubits compassed it round about. + +7:24. And a graven work, under the brim of it, compassed it for ten +cubits going about the sea: there were two rows cast of chamfered +sculptures. + +7:25. And it stood upon twelve oxen, of which three looked towards the +north, and three towards the west, and three towards the south, and +three towards the east: and the sea was above upon them, and their +hinder parts were all hid within. + +7:26. And the laver was a hand breadth thick: and the brim thereof was +like the brim of a cup, or the leaf of a crisped lily: it contained two +thousand bates. + +Two thousand bates. . .That is, about ten thousand gallons. This was the +quantity of water which was usually put into it: but it was capable, if +brimful, of holding three thousand. See 2 Par. 4.5. + +7:27. And he made ten bases of brass, every base was four cubits in +length, and four cubits in breadth, and three cubits high. + +7:28. And the work itself of the bases, was intergraven: and there were +gravings between the joinings. + +7:29. And between the little crowns and the ledges, were lions, and +oxen, and cherubims; and in the joinings likewise above: and under the +lions and oxen, as it were bands of brass hanging down. + +7:30. And every base had four wheels, and axletrees of brass: and at +the four sides were undersetters, under the laver molten, looking one +against another. + +7:31. The mouth also of the laver within, was in the top of the +chapiter: and that which appeared without, was of one cubit all round, +and together it was one cubit and a half: and in the corners of the +pillars were divers engravings: and the spaces between the pillars were +square, not round. + +7:32. And the four wheels, which were at the four corners of the base, +were joined one to another under the base: the height of a wheel was a +cubit and a half. + +7:33. And they were such wheels as are used to be made in a chariot: +and their axletrees, and spokes, and strakes, and naves, were all cast. + +7:34. And the four undersetters, that were at every corner of each +base, were of the base itself, cast and joined together. + +7:35. And on the top of the base, there was a round compass of half a +cubit, so wrought that the laver might be set thereon, having its +gravings, and divers sculptures of itself. + +7:36. He engraved also in those plates, which were of brass, and in the +corners, cherubims, and lions, and palm trees, in likeness of a man +standing, so that they seemed not to be engraven, but added round +about. + +7:37. After this manner, he made ten bases, of one casting and measure, +and the like graving. + +7:38. He made also ten lavers of brass: one laver contained four bates, +and was of four cubits: and upon every base, in all ten, he put as many +lavers. + +7:39. And he set the ten bases, five on the right side of the temple, +and five on the left: and the sea he put on the right side of the +temple, over against the east southward. + +7:40. And Hiram made cauldrons, and shovels, and basins, and finished +all the work of king Solomon in the temple of the Lord. + +7:41. The two pillars and the two cords of the chapiters, upon the +chapiters of the pillars: and the two networks, to cover the two cords, +that were upon the top of the pillars. + +7:42. And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks: two rows of +pomegranates for each network, to cover the cords of the chapiters, +which were upon the tops of the pillars. + +7:43. And the ten bases, and the ten lavers on the bases. + +7:44. And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea. + +7:45. And the cauldrons, and the shovels, and the basins. All the +vessels that Hiram made for king Solomon, for the house of the Lord, +were of fine brass. + +7:46. In the plains of the Jordan, did the king cast them in a clay +ground, between Socoth and Sartham. + +7:47. And Solomon placed all the vessels: but for its exceeding great +multitude the brass could not be weighed. + +7:48. And Solomon made all the vessels for the house of the Lord: the +altar of gold, and the table of gold, upon which the loaves of +proposition should be set: + +7:49. And the golden candlesticks, five on the right hand, and five on +the left, over against the oracle, of pure gold: and the flowers like +lilies, and the lamps over them of gold: and golden snuffers, + +7:50. And pots, and fleshhooks, and bowls, and mortars, and censers, of +most pure gold: and the hinges for the doors of the inner house of the +holy of holies, and for the doors of the house of the temple, were of +gold. + +7:51. And Solomon finished all the work that he made in the house of +the Lord, and brought in the things that David, his father, had +dedicated, the silver and the gold, and the vessels, and laid them up +in the treasures of the house of the Lord. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 8 + + +The dedication of the temple: Solomon's prayer and sacrifices. + +8:1. Then all the ancients of Israel, with the princes of the tribes, +and the heads of the families of the children of Israel, were assembled +to king Solomon, in Jerusalem: that they might carry the ark of the +covenant of the Lord, out of the city of David, that is, out of Sion. + +8:2. And all Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon, on the +festival day, in the month of Ethanim, the same is the seventh month. + +8:3. And all the ancients of Israel came, and the priests took up the +ark, + +8:4. And carried the ark of the Lord, and the tabernacle of the +covenant, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, that were in the +tabernacle: and the priests and the Levites carried them. + +8:5. And king Solomon, and all the multitude of Israel, that were +assembled unto him, went with him before the ark, and they sacrificed +sheep and oxen, that could not be counted or numbered. + +8:6. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord +into its place, into the oracle of the temple, into the holy of holies, +under the wings of the cherubims. + +8:7. For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the +ark, and covered the ark, and the staves thereof above. + +8:8. And whereas the staves stood out, the ends of them were seen +without, in the sanctuary before the oracle, but were not seen farther +out, and there they have been unto this day. + +8:9. Now in the ark there was nothing else but the two tables of stone, +which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the +children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. + +Nothing else, etc. . .There was nothing else but the tables of the law +within the ark: but on the outside of the ark, or near the ark were +also the rod of Aaron, and a golden urn with manna, Heb. 9.4. + +8:10. And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the +sanctuary, that a cloud filled the house of the Lord, + +8:11. And the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: +for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord. + +8:12. Then Solomon said: The Lord said that he would dwell in a cloud. + +8:13. Building, I have built a house for thy dwelling, to be thy most +firm throne for ever. + +8:14. And the king turned his face, and blessed all the assembly of +Israel: for all the assembly of Israel stood. + +8:15. And Solomon said: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who +spoke with his mouth to David, my father, and with his own hands hath +accomplished it, saying: + +8:16. Since the day that I brought my people Israel, out of Egypt, I +chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel, for a house to be built, +that my name might be there: but I chose David to be over my people +Israel. + +8:17. And David, my father, would have built a house to the name of the +Lord, the God of Israel: + +8:18. And the Lord said to David, my father: Whereas, thou hast thought +in thy heart to build a house to my name, thou hast done well in having +this same thing in thy mind. + +8:19. Nevertheless, thou shalt not build me a house, but thy son, that +shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build a house to my name. + +8:20. The Lord hath performed his word which he spoke. And I stand in +the room of David, my father, and sit upon the throne of Israel, as the +Lord promised: and have built a house to the name of the Lord, the God +of Israel. + +8:21. And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant +of the Lord, which he made with our fathers, when they came out of the +land of Egypt. + +8:22. And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord, in the sight of +the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands towards heaven, + +8:23. And said: Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in +heaven above, or on the earth beneath: who keepest covenant and mercy +with thy servants, that have walked before thee with all their heart: + +8:24. Who hast kept with thy servant David, my father, what thou hast +promised him: with thy mouth thou didst speak, and with thy hands thou +hast performed, as this day proveth. + +8:25. Now, therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant +David, my father, what thou hast spoken to him, saying: There shall not +be taken away of thee a man in my sight, to sit on the throne of +Israel: yet so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk +before me as thou hast walked in my sight. + +8:26. And now, Lord God of Israel, let thy words be established, which +thou hast spoken to thy servant David, my father. + +8:27. Is it then to be thought that God should indeed dwell upon earth? +for if heaven, and the heavens of heavens, cannot contain thee, how +much less this house which I have built? + +8:28. But have regard to the prayer of thy servant, and to his +supplications, O Lord, my God: hear the hymn and the prayer, which thy +servant prayeth before thee this day: + +8:29. That thy eyes may be open upon this house, night and day: upon +the house of which thou hast said: My name shall be there: that thou +mayst hearken to the prayer which thy servant prayeth, in this place to +thee: + +8:30. That thou mayst hearken to the supplication of thy servant, and +of thy people Israel, whatsoever they shall pray for in this place, and +hear them in the place of thy dwelling in heaven; and when thou +hearest, shew them mercy. + +8:31. If any man trespass against his neighbour, and have an oath upon +him, wherewith he is bound, and come, because of the oath, before thy +altar, to thy house, + +8:32. Then hear thou in heaven: and do and judge thy servants, +condemning the wicked, and bringing his way upon his own head, and +justifying the just, and rewarding him according to his justice. + +8:33. If thy people Israel shall fly before their enemies (because they +will sin against thee) and doing penance, and confessing to thy name, +shall come and pray, and make supplications to thee in this house: + +8:34. Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people +Israel, and bring them back to the land which thou gavest to their +fathers. + +8:35. If heaven shall be shut up, and there shall be no rain, because +of their sins, and they, praying in this place, shall do penance to thy +name, and shall be converted from their sins, by occasion of their +afflictions: + +8:36. Then hear thou them in heaven, and forgive the sins of thy +servants, and of thy people Israel: and shew them the good way wherein +they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to +thy people in possession. + +8:37. If a famine arise in the land, or a pestilence, or corrupt air, +or blasting, or locust, or mildew; if their enemy afflict them, +besieging the gates, whatsoever plague, whatsoever infirmity, + +8:38. Whatsoever curse or imprecation shall happen to any man of thy +people Israel: when a man shall know the wound of his own heart, and +shall spread forth his hands in this house; + +8:39. Then hear thou in heaven, in the place of thy dwelling, and +forgive, and do so as to give to every one according to his ways, as +thou shalt see his heart (for thou only knowest the heart of all the +children of men) + +8:40. That they may fear thee all the days that they live upon the face +of the land, which thou hast given to our fathers. + +8:41. Moreover also the stranger, who is not of thy people Israel, when +he shall come out of a far country for thy name's sake, (for they shall +hear every where of thy great name, and thy mighty hand, + +8:42. And thy stretched out arm) so when he shall come, and shall pray +in this place, + +8:43. Then hear thou in heaven, in the firmament of thy dwelling place, +and do all those things, for which that stranger shall call upon thee: +that all the people of the earth may learn to fear thy name, as do thy +people Israel, and may prove that thy name is called upon on this +house, which I have built. + +8:44. If thy people go out to war against their enemies, by what way +soever thou shalt send them, they shall pray to thee towards the way of +the city, which thou hast chosen, and towards the house, which I have +built to thy name: + +8:45. And then hear thou in heaven their prayers, and their +supplications, and do judgment for them. + +8:46. But if they sin against thee, (for there is no man who sinneth +not) and thou being angry, deliver them up to their enemies, so that +they be led away captives into the land of their enemies, far or near; + +8:47. Then if they do penance in their heart, in the place of +captivity, and being converted, make supplication to thee in their +captivity, saying: We have sinned, we have done unjustly, we have +committed wickedness: + +8:48. And return to thee with all their heart, and all their soul, in +the land of their enemies, to which they have been led captives: and +pray to thee towards the way of their land, which thou gavest to their +fathers, and of the city which thou hast chosen, and of the temple +which I have built to thy name: + +8:49. Then hear thou in heaven, in the firmament of thy throne, their +prayers, and their supplications, and do judgment for them: + +8:50. And forgive thy people, that have sinned against thee, and all +their iniquities, by which they have transgressed against thee: and +give them mercy before them that have made them captives, that they may +have compassion on them. + +8:51. For they are thy people, and thy inheritance, whom thou hast +brought out of the land of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of +iron. + +8:52. That thy eyes may be open to the supplication of thy servant, and +of thy people Israel, to hear them in all things for which they shall +call upon thee. + +8:53. For thou hast separated them to thyself for an inheritance, from +amongst all the people of the earth, as thou hast spoken by Moses, thy +servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God. + +8:54. And it came to pass, when Solomon had made an end of praying all +this prayer and supplication to the Lord, that he rose from before the +altar of the Lord: for he had fixed both knees on the ground, and had +spread his hands towards heaven. + +8:55. And he stood, and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud +voice, saying: + +8:56. Blessed be the Lord, who hath given rest to his people Israel, +according to all that he promised: there hath not failed so much as one +word of all the good things that he promised by his servant Moses. + +8:57. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers, and not +leave us, nor cast us off: + +8:58. But may he incline our hearts to himself, that we may walk in all +his ways, and keep his commandments, and his ceremonies, and all his +judgments, which he commanded our fathers. + +8:59. And let these my words, wherewith I have prayed before the Lord, +be nigh unto the Lord our God day and night, that he may do judgment +for his servant, and for his people Israel, day by day: + +8:60. That all the people of the earth may know, that the Lord he is +God, and there is no other besides him. + +8:61. Let our hearts also be perfect with the Lord our God, that we may +walk in his statutes, and keep his commandments, as at this day. + +8:62. And the king, and all Israel with him, offered victims before the +Lord. + +8:63. And Solomon slew victims of peace offerings, which he sacrificed +to the Lord, two and twenty thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty +thousand sheep so the king, and all the children of Israel, dedicated +the temple of the Lord. + +8:64. In that day the king sanctified the middle of the court, that was +before the house of the Lord for there he offered the holocaust, and +sacrifice, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brazen altar +that was before the Lord, was too little to receive the holocaust, and +sacrifice, and the fat of the peace offerings. + +8:65. And Solomon made at the same time a solemn feast, and all Israel +with him, a great multitude, from the entrance of Emath to the river of +Egypt, before the Lord our God, seven days and seven days, that is, +fourteen days. + +8:66. And on the eighth day, he sent away the people: and they blessed +the king, and went to their dwellings, rejoicing, and glad in heart, +for all the good things that the Lord had done for David, his servant, +and for Israel, his people. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 9 + + +The Lord appeareth again to Solomon: he buildeth cities: he sendeth a +fleet to Ophir. + +9:1. And it came to pass when Solomon had finished the building of the +house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all that he desired and +was pleased to do, + +9:2. That the Lord appeared to him the second time, as he had appeared +to him in Gabaon. + +9:3. And the Lord said to him: I have heard thy prayer and thy +supplication, which thou hast made before me: I have sanctified this +house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and my +eyes, and my heart, shall be there always. + +9:4. And if thou wilt walk before me, as thy father walked, in +simplicity of heart, and in uprightness: and wilt do all that I have +commanded thee, and wilt keep my ordinances, and my judgments, + +As thy father walked, in simplicity of heart. . .That is, in the +sincerity and integrity of a single heart, as opposite to all double +dealing and deceit. + +9:5. I will establish the throne of thy kingdom over Israel for ever, +as I promised David, thy father, saying: There shall not fail a man of +thy race upon the throne of Israel. + +9:6. But if you and your children, revolting, shall turn away from +following me, and will not keep my commandments, and my ceremonies, +which I have set before you, but will go and worship strange gods, and +adore them: + +9:7. I will take away Israel from the face of the land which I have +given them; and the temple which I have sanctified to my name, I will +cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb, and a byword among +all people. + +9:8. And this house shall be made an example of: every one that shall +pass by it, shall be astonished, and shall hiss, and say: Why hath the +Lord done thus to this land, and to this house? + +9:9. And they shall answer: Because they forsook the Lord their God, +who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and followed +strange gods, and adored them, and worshipped them: therefore hath the +Lord brought upon them all this evil. + +9:10. And when twenty years were ended, after Solomon had built the two +houses; that is, the house of the Lord, and the house of the king, + +9:11. (Hiram, the king of Tyre, furnishing Solomon with cedar trees, +and fir trees, and gold, according to all he had need of) then Solomon +gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. + +9:12. And Hiram came out of Tyre, to see the towns which Solomon had +given him, and they pleased him not; + +9:13. And he said: Are these the cities which thou hast given me, +brother? And he called them the land of Chabul, unto this day. + +Chabul. . .That is, dirty or displeasing. + +9:14. And Hiram sent to king Solomon a hundred and twenty talents of +gold. + +9:15. This is the sum of the expenses, which king Solomon offered to +build the house of the Lord, and his own house, and Mello, and the wall +of Jerusalem, and Heser, and Mageddo, and Gazer. + +9:16. Pharao, the king of Egypt, came up and took Gazer, and burnt it +with fire: and slew the Chanaanite that dwelt in the city, and gave it +for a dowry to his daughter, Solomon's wife. + +9:17. So Solomon built Gazer, and Bethhoron the nether, + +9:18. And Baalath, and Palmira, in the land of the wilderness. + +9:19. And all the towns that belonged to himself, and were not walled, +he fortified; the cities also of the chariots, and the cities of the +horsemen, and whatsoever he had a mind to build in Jerusalem, and in +Libanus, and in all the land of his dominion. + +9:20. All the people that were left of the Amorrhites, and Hethites, +and Pherezites, and Hevites, and Jebusites, that are not of the +children of Israel: + +9:21. Their children, that were left in the land; to wit, such as the +children of Israel had not been able to destroy, Solomon made tributary +unto this day. + +9:22. But of the children of Israel, Solomon made not any to be +bondmen, but they were warriors, and his servants, and his princes, and +captains, and overseers of the chariots and horses. + +9:23. And there were five hundred and fifty chief officers set over all +the works of Solomon, and they had people under them, and had charge +over the appointed works. + +9:24. And the daughter of Pharao came up out of the city of David to +her house, which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Mello. + +9:25. Solomon also offered three times every year holocausts, and +victims of peace offerings, upon the altar which he had built to the +Lord, and he burnt incense before the Lord: and the temple was +finished. + +9:26. And king Solomon made a fleet in Asiongaber, which is by Ailath, +on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. + +9:27. And Hiram sent his servants in the fleet, sailors that had +knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. + +9:28. And they came to Ophir; and they brought from thence to king +Solomon four hundred and twenty talents of gold. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 10 + + +The queen of Saba cometh to king Solomon: his riches and glory. + +10:1. And the queen of Saba having heard of the fame of Solomon in the +name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions. + +10:2. And entering into Jerusalem with a great train, and riches, and +camels that carried spices, and an immense quantity of gold, and +precious stones, she came to king Solomon, and spoke to him all that +she had in her heart. + +10:3. And Solomon informed her of all the things she proposed to him: +there was not any word the king was ignorant of, and which he could not +answer her. + +10:4. And when the queen of Saba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, and the +house which he had built, + +10:5. And the meat of his table, and the apartments of his servants, +and the order of his ministers, and their apparel, and the cupbearers, +and the holocausts, which he offered in the house of the Lord, she had +no longer any spirit in her; + +10:6. And she said to the king: The report is true, which I heard in my +own country, + +10:7. Concerning thy words, and concerning thy wisdom. And I did not +believe them that told me, till I came myself, and saw with my own +eyes, and have found that the half hath not been told me: thy wisdom +and thy works exceed the fame which I heard. + +10:8. Blessed are thy men, and blessed are thy servants, who stand +before thee always, and hear thy wisdom. + +10:9. Blessed be the Lord thy God, whom thou hast pleased, and who hath +set thee upon the throne of Israel, because the Lord hath loved Israel +for ever, and hath appointed thee king, to do judgment and justice. + +10:10. And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and +of spices a very great store, and precious stones: there was brought no +more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Saba gave to +king Solomon. + +10:11. (The navy also of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought +from Ophir great plenty of thyine trees, and precious stones. + +10:12. And the king made of the thyine trees the rails of the house of +the Lord, and of the king's house: and citterns and harps for singers: +there were no such thyine trees as these brought nor seen unto this +day.) + +10:13. And king Solomon gave the queen of Saba all that she desired, +and asked of him: besides what he offered her of himself of his royal +bounty. And she returned, and went to her own country, with her +servants. + +10:14. And the weight of the gold that was brought to Solomon every +year, was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold: + +10:15. Besides that which the men brought him that were over the +tributes, and the merchants, and they that sold by retail, and all the +kings of Arabia, and the governors of the country. + +10:16. And Solomon made two hundred shields of the purest gold: he +allowed six hundred sicles of gold for the plates of one shield. + +10:17. And three hundred targets of fine gold: three hundred pounds of +gold covered one target: and the king put them in the house of the +forest of Libanus. + +10:18. King Solomon also made a great throne of ivory: and overlaid it +with the finest gold. + +10:19. It had six steps: and the top of the throne was round behind: +and there were two hands on either side holding the seat: and two lions +stood, one at each hand, + +10:20. And twelve little lions stood upon the six steps, on the one +side and on the other: there was no such work made in any kingdom. + +10:21. Moreover, all the vessels out of which king Solomon drank, were +of gold: and all the furniture of the house of the forest of Libanus +was of most pure gold: there was no silver, nor was any account made of +it in the days of Solomon: + +10:22. For the king's navy, once in three years, went with the navy of +Hiram by sea to Tharsis, and brought from thence gold, and silver, and +elephants' teeth, and apes, and peacocks. + +10:23. And king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches +and wisdom. + +10:24. And all the earth desired to see Solomon's face, to hear his +wisdom, which God had given in his heart. + +10:25. And every one brought him presents, vessels of silver and of +gold, garments, and armour, and spices, and horses, and mules, every +year. + +10:26. And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen, and he had +a thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen: and he +bestowed them in fenced cities, and with the king in Jerusalem. + +10:27. And he made silver to be as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones: +and cedars to be as common as sycamores which grow in the plains. + +10:28. And horses were brought for Solomon out of Egypt, and Coa: for +the king's merchants bought them out of Coa, and brought them at a set +price. + +10:29. And a chariot of four horses came out of Egypt, for six hundred +sicles of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. And after this +manner did all the kings of the Hethites, and of Syria, sell horses. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 11 + + +Solomon by means of his wives falleth into idolatry: God raiseth him +adversaries, Adad, Razon, and Jeroboam: Solomon dieth. + +11:1. And king Solomon loved many strange women, besides the daughter +of Pharao, and women of Moab, and of Ammon, and of Edom, and of Sidon, +and of the Hethites: + +11:2. Of the nations concerning which the Lord said to the children of +Israel: You shall not go in unto them, neither shall any of them come +into yours: for they will most certainly turn away your hearts to +follow their gods. And to these was Solomon joined with a most ardent +love. + +11:3. And he had seven hundred wives as queens, and three hundred +concubines: and the women turned away his heart. + +11:4. And when he was now old, his heart was turned away by women to +follow strange gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his +God, as was the heart of David, his father. + +11:5. But Solomon worshipped Astarthe, the goddess of the Sidonians, +and Moloch, the idol of the Ammonites. + +11:6. And Solomon did that which was not pleasing before the Lord, and +did not fully follow the Lord, as David, his father. + +11:7. Then Solomon built a temple for Chamos, the idol of Moab, on the +hill that is over against Jerusalem, and for Moloch, the idol of the +children of Ammon. + +11:8. And he did in this manner for all his wives that were strangers, +who burnt incense, and offered sacrifice to their gods. + +11:9. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his mind was turned +away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice; + +11:10. And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not +follow strange gods: but he kept not the things which the Lord +commanded him. + +11:11. The Lord therefore said to Solomon: Because thou hast done this, +and hast not kept my covenant, and my precepts, which I have commanded +thee, I will divide and rend thy kingdom, and will give it to thy +servant. + +11:12. Nevertheless, in thy days I will not do it, for David thy +father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. + +11:13. Neither will I take away the whole kingdom; but I will give one +tribe to thy son, for the sake of David, my servant, and Jerusalem, +which I have chosen. + +One tribe. . .Besides that of Juda, his own native tribe. + +11:14. And the Lord raised up an adversary to Solomon, Adad, the +Edomite, of the king's seed, in Edom. + +11:15. For when David was in Edom, and Joab, the general of the army, +was gone up to bury them that were slain, and had killed every male in +Edom, + +11:16. (For Joab remained there six months with all Israel, till he had +slain every male in Edom,) + +11:17. Then Adad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's +servants, with him, to go into Egypt: and Adad was then a little boy. + +11:18. And they arose out of Madian, and came into Pharan, and they +took men with them from Pharan, and went into Egypt, to Pharao, the +king of Egypt: who gave him a house, and appointed him victuals, and +assigned him land. + +11:19. And Adad found great favour before Pharao, insomuch that he gave +him to wife the own sister of his wife, Taphnes, the queen. + +11:20. And the sister of Taphnes bore him his son, Genubath; and +Taphnes brought him up in the house of Pharao: and Genubath dwelt with +Pharao among his children. + +11:21. And when Adad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, +and that Joab, the general of the army, was dead, he said to Pharao: +Let me depart, that I may go to my own country. + +11:22. And Pharao said to him: Why, what is wanting to thee with me, +that thou seekest to go to thy own country? But he answered: Nothing; +yet I beseech thee to let me go. + +11:23. God also raised up against him an adversary, Razon, the son of +Eliada, who had fled from his master, Adarezer, the king of Soba. + +11:24. And he gathered men against him, and he became a captain of +robbers, when David slew them of Soba: and they went to Damascus, and +dwelt there, and they made him king in Damascus. + +11:25. And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon: and +this is the evil of Adad, and his hatred against Israel; and he reigned +in Syria. + +11:26. Jeroboam also, the son of Nabat, an Ephrathite, of Sareda, a +servant of Solomon, whose mother was named Sarua, a widow woman, lifted +up his hand against the king. + +11:27. And this is the cause of his rebellion against him; for Solomon +built Mello, and filled up the breach of the city of David, his father. + +11:28. And Jeroboam was a valiant and mighty man: and Solomon seeing +him a young man ingenious and industrious, made him chief over the +tributes of all the house of Joseph. + +11:29. So it came to pass at that time, that Jeroboam went out of +Jerusalem, and the prophet Ahias, the Silonite, clad with a new +garment, found him in the way: and they two were alone in the field. + +11:30. And Ahias taking his new garment, wherewith he was clad, divided +it into twelve parts: + +11:31. And he said to Jeroboam: Take to thee ten pieces: for thus saith +the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the +hand of Solomon, and will give thee ten tribes. + +11:32. But one tribe shall remain to him for the sake of my servant, +David, and Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the +tribes of Israel: + +11:33. Because he hath forsaken me, and hath adored Astarthe, the +goddess of the Sidonians, and Chamos, the god of Moab, and Moloch, the +god of the children of Ammon: and hath not walked in my ways, to do +justice before me, and to keep my precepts, and judgments, as did +David, his father. + +11:34. Yet I will not take away all the kingdom out of his hand, but I +will make him prince all the days of his life, for David my servant's +sake, whom I chose, who kept my commandments, and my precepts. + +11:35. But I will take away the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will +give thee ten tribes: + +11:36. And to his son I will give one tribe, that there may remain a +lamp for my servant, David, before me always in Jerusalem, the city +which I have chosen, that my name might be there. + +11:37. And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign over all that thy +soul desireth, and thou shalt be king over Israel. + +11:38. If then thou wilt hearken to all that I shall command thee, and +wilt walk in my ways, and do what is right before me, keeping my +commandments and my precepts, as David, my servant, did: I will be with +thee, and will build thee up a faithful house, as I built a house for +David, and I will deliver Israel to thee: + +11:39. And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but yet not for +ever. + +11:40. Solomon, therefore, sought to kill Jeroboam: but he arose, and +fled into Egypt, to Sesac, the king of Egypt, and was in Egypt till the +death of Solomon. + +11:41. And the rest of the words of Solomon, and all that he did and +his wisdom: behold they are all written in the book of the words of the +days of Solomon. + +The book of the words, etc. . .This book is lost, with divers others +mentioned in holy writ. + +11:42. And the days that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem, over all Israel, +were forty years. + +11:43. And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city +of David, his father; and Roboam, his son, reigned in his stead. + +Solomon slept, etc. . .That is, died. He was then about fifty-eight +years of age, having reigned forty years. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 12 + + +Roboam, following the counsel of young men alienateth from him the +minds of the people. They make Jeroboam king over ten tribes: he +setteth up idolatry. + +12:1. And Roboam went to Sichem: for thither were all Israel come +together to make him king. + +12:2. But Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, who was yet in Egypt, a fugitive +from the face of king Solomon, hearing of his death, returned out of +Egypt. + +12:3. And they sent and called him: and Jeroboam came, and all the +multitude of Israel, and they spoke to Roboam, saying: + +12:4. Thy father laid a grievous yoke upon us: now, therefore, do thou +take off a little of the grievous service of thy father, and of his +most heavy yoke, which he put upon us, and we will serve thee. + +12:5. And he said to them: Go till the third day, and come to me again. +And when the people was gone, + +12:6. King Roboam took counsel with the old men, that stood before +Solomon, his father, while he yet lived, and he said: What counsel do +you give me, that I may answer this people? + +12:7. They said to him: If thou wilt yield to this people to day, and +condescend to them, and grant their petition, and wilt speak gentle +words to them, they will be thy servants always. + +12:8. But he left the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, +and consulted with the young men that had been brought up with him, and +stood before him. + +12:9. And he said to them: What counsel do you give me, that I may +answer this people, who have said to me: Make the yoke, which thy +father put upon us, lighter? + +12:10. And the young men that had been brought up with him, said: Thus +shalt thou speak to this people, who have spoken to thee, saying: Thy +father made our yoke heavy, do thou ease us. Thou shalt say to them: My +little finger is thicker than the back of my father. + +12:11. And now my father put a heavy yoke upon you, but I will add to +your yoke: my father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with +scorpions. + +12:12. So Jeroboam, and all the people, came to Roboam the third day, +as the king had appointed, saying: Come to me again the third day. + +12:13. And the king answered the people roughly, leaving the counsel of +the old men, which they had given him, + +12:14. And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, +saying: My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke: My +father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions. + +12:15. And the king condescended not to the people: for the Lord was +turned away from him, to make good his word, which he had spoken in the +hand of Ahias, the Silonite, to Jeroboam, the son of Nabat. + +12:16. Then the people, seeing that the king would not hearken to them, +answered him, saying: What portion have we in David? or what +inheritance in the son of Isai? Go home to thy dwellings, O Israel: +now, David, look to thy own house. So Israel departed to their +dwellings. + +12:17. But as for all the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities +of Juda, Roboam reigned over them. + +12:18. Then king Roboam sent Aduram, who was over the tribute: and all +Israel stoned him, and he died. Wherefore king Roboam made haste to get +him up into his chariot, and he fled to Jerusalem: + +12:19. And Israel revolted from the house of David, unto this day. + +12:20. And it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come +again, that they gathered an assembly, and sent and called him, and +made him king over all Israel, and there was none that followed the +house of David but the tribe of Juda only. + +Juda only. . .Benjamin was a small tribe, and so intermixed with the +tribe of Juda, (the very city of Jerusalem being partly in Juda, partly +in Benjamin,) that they are here counted but as one tribe. + +12:21. And Roboam came to Jerusalem, and gathered together all the +house of Juda, and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred fourscore thousand +chosen men for war, to fight against the house of Israel, and to bring +the kingdom again under Roboam, the son of Solomon. + +12:22. But the word of the Lord came to Semeias, the man of God, +saying: + +12:23. Speak to Roboam, the son of Solomon, the king of Juda, and to +all the house of Juda, and Benjamin, and the rest of the people, +saying: + +12:24. Thus saith the Lord: You shall not go up, nor fight against your +brethren, the children of Israel: let every man return to his house, +for this thing is from me. They hearkened to the word of the Lord, and +returned from their journey, as the Lord had commanded them. + +12:25. And Jeroboam built Sichem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt there, and +going out from thence, he built Phanuel. + +12:26. And Jeroboam said in his heart: Now shall the kingdom return to +the house of David, + +12:27. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the +Lord at Jerusalem: and the heart of this people will turn to their lord +Roboam, the king of Juda, and they will kill me, and return to him. + +12:28. And finding out a device, he made two golden calves, and said to +them: Go ye up no more to Jerusalem: Behold thy gods, O Israel, who +brought thee out of the land of Egypt. + +Golden calves. . .It is likely, by making his gods in this form, he +mimicked the Egyptians, among whom he had sojourned, who worshipped +their Apis and their Osiris under the form of a bullock. + +12:29. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other in Dan: + +Bethel and Dan. . .Bethel was a city of the tribe of Ephraim in the +southern part of the dominions of Jeroboam, about six leagues from +Jerusalem; Dan was in the extremity of his dominions to the north in +the confines of Syria. + +12:30. And this thing became an occasion of sin: for the people went to +adore the calf as far as Dan. + +12:31. And he made temples in the high places, and priests of the +lowest of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi. + +12:32. And he appointed a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth +day of the month, after the manner of the feast that was celebrated in +Juda. And going up to the altar, he did in like manner in Bethel, to +sacrifice to the calves, which he had made: and he placed in Bethel +priests of the high places, which he had made. + +12:33. And he went up to the altar, which he had built in Bethel, on +the fifteenth day of the eighth month, which he had devised of his own +heart: and he ordained a feast to the children of Israel, and went up +on the altar to burn incense. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 13 + + +A prophet sent from Juda to Bethel foretelleth the birth of Josias, and +the destruction of Jeroboam's altar. Jeroboam's hand offering violence +to the prophet withereth, but is restored by the prophet's prayer: the +same prophet is deceived by another prophet, and slain by a lion. + +13:1. And behold there came a man of God out of Juda, by the word of +the Lord, to Bethel, when Jeroboam was standing upon the altar, and +burning incense. + +13:2. And he cried out against the altar in the word of the Lord, and +said: O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord: Behold a child shall be born +to the house of David, Josias by name, and he shall immolate upon thee +the priests of the high places, who now burn incense upon thee, and he +shall burn men's bones upon thee. + +13:3. And he gave a sign the same day, saying: This shall be the sign, +that the Lord hath spoken: Behold the altar shall be rent, and the +ashes that are upon it, shall be poured out. + +13:4. And when the king had heard the word of the man of God, which he +had cried out against the altar in Bethel, he stretched forth his hand +from the altar, saying: Lay hold on him. And his hand which he +stretched forth against him, withered: and he was not able to draw it +back again to him. + +13:5. The altar also was rent, and the ashes were poured out from the +altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given before in +the word of the Lord. + +13:6. And the king said to the man of God: Entreat the face of the Lord +thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me. And the +man of God besought the face of the Lord, and the king's hand was +restored to him, and it became as it was before. + +13:7. And the king said to the man of God: Come home with me to dine, +and I will make thee presents. + +13:8. And the man of God answered the king: If thou wouldst give me +half thy house, I will not go with thee, nor eat bread, nor drink water +in this place: + +13:9. For so it was enjoined me by the word of the Lord commanding me: +Thou shalt not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way +that thou camest. + +13:10. So he departed by another way, and returned not by the way that +he came into Bethel. + +13:11. Now a certain old prophet dwelt in Bethel, and his sons came to +him, and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day +in Bethel: and they told their father the words which he had spoken to +the king. + +13:12. And their father said to them: What way went he? His sons shewed +him the way by which the man of God went, who came out of Juda. + +13:13. And he said to his sons: Saddle me the ass. And when they had +saddled it, he got up, + +13:14. And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under a +turpentine tree: and he said to him: Art thou the man of God who camest +from Juda? He answered: I am. + +13:15. And he said to him: Come home with me to eat bread. + +13:16. But he said: I must not return, nor go with thee, neither will I +eat bread, or drink water in this place: + +13:17. Because the Lord spoke to me, in the word of the Lord, saying: +Thou shalt not eat bread, and thou shalt not drink water there, nor +return by the way thou wentest. + +13:18. He said to him: I also am a prophet like unto thee: and an angel +spoke to me, in the word of the Lord, saying: Bring him back with thee +into thy house, that he may eat bread, and drink water. He deceived +him, + +An angel spoke to me, etc. . .This old man of Bethel was indeed a +prophet, but he sinned in thus deceiving the man of God; the more +because he pretended a revelation for what he did. + +13:19. And brought him back with him: so he ate bread, and drank water +in his house. + +13:20. And as they sat at table, the word of the Lord came to the +prophet that brought him back: + +13:21. And he cried out to the man of God who came out of Juda, saying: +Thus saith the Lord: Because thou hast not been obedient to the Lord, +and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded +thee, + +13:22. And hast returned, and eaten bread, and drunk water in the place +wherein he commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat bread, nor drink +water, thy dead body shall not be brought into the sepulchre of thy +fathers. + +13:23. And when he had eaten and drunk, he saddled his ass for the +prophet, whom he had brought back. + +13:24. And when he was gone, a lion found him in the way, and killed +him, and his body was cast in the way: and the ass stood by him, and +the lion stood by the dead body. + +Killed him. . .Thus the Lord often punishes his servants here, that he +may spare them hereafter. For the generality of divines are of opinion, +that the sin of this prophet, considered with all its circumstances, +was not mortal. + +13:25. And behold, men passing by, saw the dead body cast in the way, +and the lion standing by the body. And they came and told it in the +city, wherein that old prophet dwelt. + +13:26. And when that prophet, who had brought him back out of the way, +heard of it, he said: It is the man of God, that was disobedient to the +mouth of the Lord, and the Lord hath delivered him to the lion, and he +hath torn him, and killed him, according to the word of the Lord, which +he spoke to him. + +13:27. And he said to his sons: Saddle me an ass. And when they had +saddled it, + +13:28. And he was gone, he found the dead body cast in the way, and the +ass and the lion standing by the carcass: the lion had not eaten of the +dead body, nor hurt the ass. + +13:29. And the prophet took up the body of the man of God, and laid it +upon the ass, and going back brought it into the city of the old +prophet, to mourn for him. + +13:30. And he laid his dead body in his own sepulchre: and they mourned +over him, saying: Alas! alas, my brother. + +13:31. And when they had mourned over him, he said to his sons: When I +am dead, bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried: lay +my bones beside his bones. + +13:32. For assuredly the word shall come to pass which he hath foretold +in the word of the Lord, against the altar that is in Bethel: and +against all the temples of the high places, that are in the cities of +Samaria. + +13:33. After these words, Jeroboam came not back from his wicked way: +but on the contrary, he made of the meanest of the people priests of +the high places: whosoever would, he filled his hand, and he was made a +priest of the high places. + +13:34. And for this cause did the house of Jeroboam sin, and was cut +off, and destroyed from the face of the earth. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 14 + + +Ahias prophesieth the destruction of the family of Jeroboam. He dieth, +and is succeeded by his son Nadab. The king of Egypt taketh and +pillageth Jerusalem. Roboam dieth and his son Abiam succeedeth. + +14:1. At that time Abia, the son of Jeroboam, fell sick. + +14:2. And Jeroboam said to his wife: Arise, and change thy dress, that +thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Silo, where +Ahias, the prophet is, who told me that I should reign over this +people. + +14:3. Take also with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a pot of +honey, and go to him: for he will tell thee what will become of this +child. + +14:4. Jeroboam's wife did as he told her: and rising up, went to Silo, +and came to the house of Ahias; but he could not see, for his eyes were +dim by reason of his age. + +14:5. And the Lord said to Ahias: Behold the wife of Jeroboam cometh +in, to consult thee concerning her son, that is sick: thus and thus +shalt thou speak to her. So when she was coming in, and made as if she +were another woman, + +14:6. Ahias heard the sound of her feet, coming in at the door, and +said: Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam: why dost thou feign thyself to be +another? But I am sent to thee with heavy tidings. + +14:7. Go, and tell Jeroboam: Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: +For as much as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee +prince over my people Israel; + +14:8. And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it to +thee, and thou hast not been as my servant, David, who kept my +commandments, and followed me with all his heart, doing that which was +well pleasing in my sight: + +14:9. But hast done evil above all that were before thee, and hast made +thee strange gods, and molten gods, to provoke me to anger, and hast +cast me behind thy back: + +14:10. Therefore, behold I will bring evils upon the house of Jeroboam, +and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and +him that is shut up, and the last in Israel: and I will sweep away the +remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as dung is swept away till all be +clean. + +14:11. Them that shall die of Jeroboam in the city, the dogs shall eat: +and them that shall die in the field, the birds of the air shall +devour: for the Lord hath spoken it. + +14:12. Arise thou, therefore, and go to thy house: and when thy feet +shall be entering into the city, the child shall die, + +14:13. And all Israel shall mourn for him, and shall bury him: for he +only of Jeroboam shall be laid in a sepulchre, because in his regard +there is found a good word from the Lord, the God of Israel, in the +house of Jeroboam. + +14:14. And the Lord hath appointed himself a king over Israel, who +shall cut off the house of Jeroboam in this day, and in this time: + +14:15. And the Lord God shall strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the +water: and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave +to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river: because they +have made to themselves groves, to provoke the Lord. + +14:16. And the Lord shall give up Israel for the sins of Jeroboam, who +hath sinned, and made Israel to sin. + +14:17. And the wife of Jeroboam arose, and departed, and came to +Thersa: and when she was coming in to the threshold of the house, the +child died, + +14:18. And they buried him. And all Israel mourned for him, according +to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by the hand of his servant +Ahias, the prophet. + +14:19. And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he fought, and how he +reigned, behold they are written in the book of the words of the days +of the kings of Israel. + +The book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel. . .This book, +which is often mentioned in the Book of Kings, is long since lost. For +as to the books of Paralipomenon, or Chronicles, (which the Hebrews +call the words of the days,) they were certainly written after the Book +of Kings, since they frequently refer to them. + +14:20. And the days that Jeroboam reigned, were two and twenty years: +and he slept with his fathers: and Nadab, his son, reigned in his +stead. + +14:21. And Roboam, the son of Solomon, reigned in Juda: Roboam was one +and forty years old when he began to reign: and he reigned seventeen +years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord chose out of all the tribes +of Israel to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naama, an +Ammonitess. + +14:22. And Juda did evil in the sight of the Lord, and provoked him +above all that their fathers had done, in their sins which they +committed. + +14:23. For they also built them altars, and statues, and groves, upon +every high hill, and under every green tree: + +14:24. There were also the effeminate in the land, and they did +according to all the abominations of the people, whom the Lord had +destroyed before the face of the children of Israel. + +The effeminate. . .Catamites, or men addicted to unnatural lust. + +14:25. And in the fifth year of the reign of Roboam, Sesac, king of +Egypt, came up against Jerusalem. + +14:26. And he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the +king's treasures, and carried all off: as also the shields of gold +which Solomon had made: + +14:27. And Roboam made shields of brass instead of them, and delivered +them into the hand of the captains of the shieldbearers, and of them +that kept watch before the gate of the king's house. + +14:28. And when the king went into the house of the Lord, they whose +office it was to go before him, carried them: and afterwards they +brought them back to the armoury of the shieldbearers. + +14:29. Now the rest of the acts of Roboam, and all that he did, behold +they are written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of +Juda. + +14:30. And there was war between Roboam and Jeroboam always. + +14:31. And Roboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with them, in +the city of David: and his mother's name was Naama, an Ammonitess: and +Abiam, his son, reigned in his stead. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 15 + + +The acts of Abiam and of Asa kings of Juda. And of Nadab and Baasa +kings of Israel. + +15:1. Now in the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, the son of +Nabat, Abiam reigned over Juda. + +15:2. He reigned three years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was +Maacha, the daughter of Abessalom. + +Maacha, etc. . .She is called elsewhere Michaia, daughter of Uriel; but +it was common in those days for the same person to have two names. + +15:3. And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done +before him: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was +the heart of David, his father. + +15:4. But for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in +Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: + +15:5. Because David had done that which was right in the eyes of the +Lord, and had not turned aside from any thing that he commanded him, +all the days of his life, except the matter of Urias, the Hethite. + +15:6. But there was war between Roboam and Jeroboam all the time of his +life. + +15:7. And the rest of the words of Abiam, and all that he did, are they +not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? +And there was war between Abiam and Jeroboam. + +15:8. And Abiam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city +of David: and Asa, his son, reigned in his stead. + +15:9. So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam, king of Israel, reigned +Asa, king of Juda, + +15:10. And he reigned one and forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's +name was Maacha, the daughter of Abessalom. + +His mother, etc. . .That is, his grandmother; unless we suppose, which +is not improbable, that the Maacha here named is different from the +Maacha mentioned, ver. 2. + +15:11. And Asa did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, as +did David, his father: + +15:12. And he took away the effeminate out of the land, and removed all +the filth of the idols, which his fathers had made. + +15:13. Moreover, he also removed his mother, Maacha, from being the +princess in the sacrifices of Priapus, and in the grove which she had +consecrated to him: and he destroyed her den, and broke in pieces the +filthy idol, and burnt it by the torrent Cedron: + +15:14. But the high places he did not take away. Nevertheless, the +heart of Asa was perfect with the Lord all his days: + +The high places. . .There were excelsa or high places of two different +kinds. Some were set up, and dedicated to the worship of idols, or +strange gods; and these Asa removed, 2 Par. 14.2; others were only +altars of the true God, but were erected contrary to the law, which +allowed of no sacrifices but in the temple; and these were not removed +by Asa.--Ibid. Perfect with the Lord. . .Asa had his faults; but never +forsook the worship of the Lord. + +15:15. And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and +he had vowed, into the house of the Lord, silver and gold, and vessels. + +15:16. And there was war between Asa, and Baasa, king of Israel, all +their days. + +15:17. And Baasa, king of Israel, went up against Juda, and built Rama, +that no man might go out or come in of the side of Asa, king of Juda. + +15:18. Then Asa took all the silver and gold that remained in the +treasures of the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's +house, and delivered it into the hands of his servants: and sent them +to Benadad, son of Tabremon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who +dwelt in Damascus, saying: + +15:19. There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and +thy father: therefore I have sent thee presents of silver and gold: and +I desire thee to come, and break thy league with Baasa, king of Israel, +that he may depart from me. + +15:20. Benadad, hearkening to king Asa, sent the captains of his army +against the cities of Israel, and they smote Ahion, and Dan, and +Abeldomum Maacha, and all Cenneroth; that is all the land of Nephthali. + +15:21. And when Baasa had heard this, he left off building Rama, and +returned into Thersa. + +15:22. But king Asa sent word into all Juda, saying: Let no man be +excused: and they took away the stones from Rama, and the timber +thereof, wherewith Baasa had been building, and with them king Asa +built Gabaa of Benjamin, and Maspha. + +15:23. But the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his strength, and +all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in +the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? But in the time +of his old age he was diseased in his feet. + +15:24. And he slept with his fathers, and was buried with them in the +city of David, his father. And Josaphat, his son, reigned in his place. + +15:25. But Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, reigned over Israel the second +year of Asa, king of Juda: and he reigned over Israel two years. + +15:26. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways +of his father, and in his sins, wherewith he made Israel to sin. + +15:27. And Baasa, the son of Ahias, of the house of Issachar, conspired +against him, and slew him in Gebbethon, which is a city of the +Philistines: for Nadab and all Israel besieged Gebbethon. + +15:28. So Baasa slew him in the third year of Asa, king of Juda, and +reigned in his place. + +15:29. And when he was king, he cut off all the house of Jeroboam: he +left not so much as one soul of his seed, till he had utterly destroyed +him, according to the word of the Lord, which he had spoken in the hand +of Ahias, the Silonite: + +15:30. Because of the sin of Jeroboam, which he had sinned, and +wherewith he had made Israel to sin, and for the offence wherewith he +provoked the Lord, the God of Israel. + +15:31. But the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they +not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of +Israel? + +15:32. And there was war between Asa and Baasa, the king of Israel, all +their days. + +15:33. In the third year of Asa, king of Juda, Baasa, the son of Ahias, +reigned over all Israel, in Thersa, four and twenty years. + +15:34. And he did evil before the Lord, and walked in the ways of +Jeroboam, and in his sins, wherewith he made Israel to sin. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 16 + + +Jehu prophesieth against Baasa: his son Ela is slain and all his family +destroyed by Zambri. Of the reign of Amri father of Achab. + +16:1. Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu, the son of Hanani, +against Baasa, saying: + +16:2. For as much as I have exalted thee out of the dust and made thee +prince over my people Israel, and thou hast walked in the way of +Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger +with their sins: + +16:3. Behold I will cut down the posterity of Baasa, and the posterity +of his house, and I will make thy house as the house of Jeroboam, the +son of Nabat. + +16:4. Him that dieth of Baasa, in the city, the dogs shall eat: and him +that dieth of his in the country, the fowls of the air shall devour. + +16:5. But the rest of the acts of Baasa, and all that he did, and his +battles, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of +the kings of Israel? + +16:6. So Baasa slept with his fathers, and was buried in Thersa: and +Ela, his son, reigned in his stead. + +16:7. And when the word of the Lord came in the hand of Jehu, the son +of Hanani, the prophet, against Baasa, and against his house, and +against all the evil that he had done before the Lord, to provoke him +to anger by the works of his hands, to become as the house of Jeroboam: +for this cause he slew him; that is to say, Jehu, the son of Hanani, +the prophet. + +16:8. In the six and twentieth year of Asa, king of Juda, Ela, the son +of Baasa, reigned over Israel, in Thersa, two years. + +16:9. And his servant Zambri, who was captain of half the horsemen, +rebelled against him: now Ela was drinking in Thersa, and drunk in the +house of Arsa, the governor of Thersa. + +16:10. And Zambri rushing in, struck him, and slew him, in the seven +and twentieth year of Asa, king of Juda and he reigned in his stead. + +16:11. And when he was king, and sat upon his throne, he slew all the +house of Baasa, and he left not one thereof to piss against a wall and +all his kinsfolks and friends. + +16:12. And Zambri destroyed all the house of Baasa, according to the +word of the Lord, that he had spoken to Baasa, in the hand of Jehu, the +prophet, + +16:13. For all the sins of Baasa, and the sins of Ela, his son, who +sinned, and made Israel to sin, provoking the Lord, the God of Israel, +with their vanities. + +16:14. But the rest of the acts of Ela, and all that he did, are they +not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of +Israel? + +16:15. In the seven and twentieth year of Asa, king of Juda, Zambri +reigned seven days in Thersa: now the army was besieging Gebbethon, a +city of the Philistines. + +16:16. And when they heard that Zambri had rebelled, and slain the +king, all Israel made Amri their king, who was general over Israel in +the camp that day. + +16:17. And Amri went up, and all Israel with him, from Gebbethon, and +they besieged Thersa. + +16:18. And Zambri, seeing that the city was about to be taken, went +into the palace, and burnt himself with the king's house: and he died + +16:19. In his sins, which he had sinned, doing evil before the Lord, +and walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin, wherewith he made +Israel to sin. + +16:20. But the rest of the acts of Zambri, and of his conspiracy and +tyranny, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of +the kings of Israel? + +16:21. Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: one half +of the people followed Thebni, the son of Gineth, to make him king: and +one half followed Amri. + +16:22. But the people that were with Amri, prevailed over the people +that followed Thebni, the son of Gineth: and Thebni died, and Amri +reigned. + +16:23. In the one and thirtieth year of Asa, king of Juda, Amri reigned +over Israel twelve years: in Thersa he reigned six years. + +In the one and thirtieth year, etc. . .Amri began to reign in the seven +and twentieth year of Asa; but had not quiet possession of the kingdom +till the death of his competitor Thebni, which was in the one and +thirtieth year of Asa's reign. + +16:24. And he bought the hill of Samaria of Semer, for two talents of +silver: and he built upon it, and he called the city which he built +Samaria, after the name of Semer, the owner of the hill. + +16:25. And Amri did evil in the sight of the Lord, and acted wickedly +above all that were before him. + +16:26. And he walked in all the way of Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, and +in his sins, wherewith he made Israel to sin: to provoke the Lord, the +God of Israel, to anger with their vanities. + +With their vanities. . .That is, their idols their golden calves, vain, +false, deceitful things. + +16:27. Now the rest of the acts of Amri, and the battles he fought, are +they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of +Israel? + +16:28. And Amri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, and +Achab, his son, reigned in his stead. + +16:29. Now Achab, the son of Amri, reigned over Israel in the eight and +thirtieth year of Asa, king of Juda. And Achab, the son of Amri, +reigned over Israel in Samaria two and twenty years. + +16:30. And Achab, the son of Amri, did evil in the sight of the Lord +above all that were before him. + +16:31. Nor was it enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, the +son of Nabat: but he also took to wife Jezabel, daughter of Ethbaal, +king of the Sidonians. And he went, and served Baal, and adored him. + +16:32. And he set up an altar for Baal, in the temple of Baal, which he +had built in Samaria; + +16:33. And he planted a grove: and Achab did more to provoke the Lord, +the God of Israel, than all the kings of Israel that were before him. + +16:34. In his days Hiel, of Bethel, built Jericho: in Abiram, his +firstborn, he laid its foundations: and in his youngest son, Segub, he +set up the gates thereof: according to the word of the Lord, which he +spoke in the hand of Josue, the son of Nun. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 17 + + +Elias shutteth up the heaven from raining. He is fed by ravens, and +afterwards by a widow of Sarephta. He raiseth the window's son to life. + +17:1. And Elias the Thesbite, of the inhabitants of Galaad, said to +Achab: As the Lord liveth, the God of Israel, in whose sight I stand, +there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to the words +of my mouth. + +17:2. And the word of the Lord came to him, saying: + +17:3. Get thee hence, and go towards the east, and hide thyself by the +torrent of Carith, which is over against the Jordan; + +17:4. And there thou shalt drink of the torrent: and I have commanded +the ravens to feed thee there. + +17:5. So he went, and did according to the word of the Lord: and going, +he dwelt by the torrent Carith, which is over against the Jordan. + +17:6. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and +bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the torrent. + +17:7. But after some time the torrent was dried up: for it had not +rained upon the earth. + +17:8. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying: + +17:9. Arise, and go to Sarephta of the Sidonians, and dwell there: for +I have commanded a widow woman there to feed thee. + +Sarephta of the Sidonians. . .That is, a city of the Sidonians. + +17:10. He arose, and went to Sarephta. And when he was come to the gate +of the city, he saw the widow woman gathering sticks, and he called +her, and said to her: Give me a little water in a vessel, that I may +drink. + +17:11. And when she was going to fetch it, he called after her, saying: +Bring me also, I beseech thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand. + +17:12. And she answered: As the Lord thy God liveth, I have no bread, +but only a handful of meal in a pot, and a little oil in a cruise: +behold I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it, for me +and my son, that we may eat it and die. + +17:13. And Elias said to her: Fear not; but go, and do as thou hast +said but first make for me of the same meal a little hearth cake, and +bring it to me, and after make for thyself and thy son. + +17:14. For thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: The pot of meal +shall not waste, nor the cruise of oil be diminished, until the day +wherein the Lord will give rain upon the face of the earth. + +17:15. She went, and did according to the word of Elias: and he ate, +and she, and her house: and from that day + +17:16. The pot of meal wasted not, and the cruise of oil was not +diminished according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke in the +hand of Elias. + +17:17. And it came to pass after this, that the son of the woman, the +mistress of the house, fell sick, and the sickness was very grievous, +so that there was no breath left in him. + +17:18. And she said to Elias: What have I to do with thee, thou man of +God? art thou come to me, that my iniquities should be remembered, and +that thou shouldst kill my son? + +17:11. And Elias said to her: Give me thy son. And he took him out of +her bosom, and carried him into the upper chamber where he abode, and +laid him upon his own bed. + +17:20. And he cried to the Lord, and said: O Lord, my God, hast thou +afflicted also the widow, with whom I am after a sort maintained, so as +to kill her son? + +17:21. And he stretched, and measured himself upon the child three +times, and cried to the Lord, and said: O Lord, my God, let the soul of +this child, I beseech thee, return into his body. + +17:22. And the Lord heard the voice of Elias: and the soul of the child +returned into him, and he revived. + +17:23. And Elias took the child, and brought him down from the upper +chamber to the house below, and delivered him to his mother, and said +to her: Behold thy son liveth. + +17:24. And the woman said to Elias: Now by this I know that thou art a +man of God, and the word of the Lord in thy mouth is true. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 18 + + +Elias cometh before Achab. He convinceth the false prophets by bringing +fire from heaven: he obtaineth rain by his prayer. + +18:1. After many days, the word of the Lord came to Elias, in the third +year, saying: Go, and shew thyself to Achab, that I may give rain upon +the face of the earth. + +18:2. And Elias went to shew himself to Achab, and there was a grievous +famine in Samaria. + +18:3. And Achab called Abdias the governor of his house: now Abdias +feared the Lord very much. + +18:4. For when Jezabel killed the prophets of the Lord, he took a +hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty and fifty in caves, and fed +them with bread and water. + +18:5. And Achab said to Abdias: Go into the land unto all fountains of +waters, and into all valleys, to see if we can find grass, and save the +horses and mules, that the beasts may not utterly perish. + +18:6. And they divided the countries between them, that they might go +round about them: Achab went one way, and Abdias another way by +himself. + +18:7. And as Abdias was in the way, Elias met him: and he knew him, and +fell on his face, and said: Art thou my lord Elias? + +18:8. And he answered: I am. Go, and tell thy master: Elias is here. + +18:9. And he said: What have I sinned, that thou wouldst deliver me, +thy servant, into the hand of Achab, that he should kill me? + +18:10. As the Lord thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, +whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when all answered: He +is not here: he took an oath of every kingdom and nation, because thou +wast not found. + +18:11. And now thou sayest to me: Go and tell thy master: Elias is +here. + +18:12. And when I am gone from thee, the Spirit of the Lord will carry +thee into a place that I know not: and I shall go in and tell Achab; +and he, not finding thee, will kill me: but thy servant feareth the +Lord from his infancy. + +18:13. Hath it not been told thee, my lord, what I did when Jezabel +killed the prophets of the Lord; how I hid a hundred men of the +prophets of the Lord, by fifty and fifty in caves, and fed them with +bread and water? + +18:14. And now thou sayest: Go and tell thy master: Elias is here: +that he may kill me. + +18:15. And Elias said: As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whose face I +stand, this day I will shew myself unto him. + +18:16. Abdias therefore went to meet Achab, and told him: and Achab +came to meet Elias. + +18:17. And when he had seen him, he said: Art thou he that troublest +Israel? + +18:18. And he said: I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy +father's house, who have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and +have followed Baalim. + +18:19. Nevertheless send now, and gather unto me all Israel, unto Mount +Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the +prophets of the groves four hundred, who eat at Jezabel's table. + +18:20. Achab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered together +the prophets unto mount Carmel. + +18:21. And Elias coming to all the people, said: How long do you halt +between two sides? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then +follow him. And the people did not answer him a word. + +18:22. And Elias said again to the people: I only remain a prophet of +the Lord: but the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men. + +18:23. Let two bullocks be given us, and let them choose one bullock +for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it upon wood, but put no +fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and +put no fire under it. + +18:24. Call ye on the names of your gods, and I will call on the name +of my Lord: and the God that shall answer by fire, let him be God. And +all the people answering, said: A very good proposal. + +18:25. Then Elias said to the prophets of Baal: Choose you one bullock +and dress it first, because you are many: and call on the names of your +gods; but put no fire under. + +18:26. And they took the bullock, which he gave them, and dressed it: +and they called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, +saying: O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered: +and they leaped over the altar that they had made. + +18:27. And when it was now noon, Elias jested at them, saying: Cry with +a louder voice: for he is a god; and perhaps he is talking, or is in an +inn, or on a journey; or perhaps he is asleep, and must be awaked. + +18:28. So they cried with a loud voice, and cut themselves after their +manner with knives and lancets, till they were all covered with blood. + +18:29. And after midday was past, and while they were prophesying, the +time was come of offering sacrifice, and there was no voice heard, nor +did any one answer, nor regard them as they prayed. + +18:30. Elias said to all the people: Come ye unto me. And the people +coming near unto him, he repaired the altar of the Lord, that was +broken down: + +18:31. And he took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes +of the sons of Jacob to whom the word of the Lord came, saying: Israel +shall be thy name. + +18:32. And he built with the stones an altar to the name of the Lord: +and he made a trench for water, of the breadth of two furrows, round +about the altar. + +18:33. And he laid the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, +and laid it upon the wood. + +18:34. And he said: Fill four buckets with water, and pour it upon the +burnt offering, and upon the wood. And again he said: Do the same the +second time. And when they had done it the second time, he said: Do the +same also the third time. And they did so the third time. + +18:35. And the water run round about the altar, and the trench was +filled with water. + +18:36. And when it was now time to offer the holocaust, Elias, the +prophet, came near and said: O Lord God of Abraham, and Isaac, and +Israel, shew this day that thou art the God of Israel, and I thy +servant, and that according to thy commandment I have done all these +things. + +18:37. Dear me, O Lord, hear me: that this people may learn that thou +art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart again. + +18:38. Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the holocaust, and +the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that +was in the trench. + +18:39. And when all the people saw this, they fell on their faces, and +they said: The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God. + +18:40. And Elias said to them: Take the prophets of Baal, and let not +one of them escape. And when they had taken them, Elias brought them +down to the torrent Cison, and killed them there. + +18:41. And Elias said to Achab: Go up, eat and drink: for there is a +sound of abundance of rain. + +18:42. Achab went up to eat and drink: and Elias went up to the top of +Carmel, and casting himself down upon the earth, put his face between +his knees, + +18:43. And he said to his servant: Go up, and look towards the sea. And +he went up, and looked, and said: There is nothing. And again he said +to him: Return seven times. + +18:44. And at the seventh time: Behold a little cloud arose out of the +sea like a man's foot. And he said: Go up, and say to Achab: Prepare +thy chariot, and go down, lest the rain prevent thee. + +18:45. And while he turned himself this way and that way, behold the +heavens grew dark, with clouds and wind, and there fell a great rain. +And Achab getting up, went away to Jezrahel: + +18:46. And the hand of the Lord was upon Elias, and he girded up his +loins, and ran before Achab, till he came to Jezrahel. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 19 + + +Elias, fleeing from Jezabel, is fed by an angel in the desert; and by +the strength of that food walketh forty days, till he cometh to Horeb, +where he hath a vision of God. + +19:1. And Achab told Jezabel all that Elias had done, and how he had +slain all the prophets with the sword. + +19:2. And Jezabel sent a messenger to Elias, saying: Such and such +things may the gods do to me, and add still more, if by this hour to +morrow I make not thy life as the life of one of them. + +19:3. Then EIias was afraid, and rising up, he went whithersoever he +had a mind: and he came to Bersabee of Juda, and left his servant +there, + +19:4. And he went forward, one day's journey into the desert. And when +he was there, and sat under a juniper tree, he requested for his soul +that he might die, and said: It is enough for me, Lord; take away my +soul: for I am no better than my fathers. + +That he might die. . .Elias requested to die, not out of impatience or +pusillanimity, but out of zeal against sin; and that he might no longer +be witness of the miseries of his people; and the war they were waging +against God and his servants. See ver. 10. + +19:5. And he cast himself down, and slept in the shadow of the juniper +tree: and behold an angel of the Lord touched him, and said to him: +Arise and eat. + +19:6. He looked, and behold there was at his head a hearth cake, and a +vessel of water: and he ate and drank, and he fell asleep again. + +19:7. And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched +him, and said to him: Arise, eat: for thou hast yet a great way to go. + +19:8. And he arose, and ate and drank, and walked in the strength of +that food forty days and forty nights, unto the mount of God, Horeb. + +In the strength of that food, etc. . .This bread, with which Elias was +fed in the wilderness, was a figure of the bread of life which we +receive in the blessed sacrament; by the strength of which we are to be +supported in our journey through the wilderness of this world till we +come to the true mountain of God, and his vision in a happy eternity. + +19:9. And when he was come thither, he abode in a cave. and behold the +word of the Lord came unto him, and he said to him: What dost thou +here, Elias? + +19:10. And he answered: With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God +of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant: they +have thrown down thy altars, they have slain thy prophets with the +sword, and I alone am left, and they seek my life to take it away. + +I alone am left. . .Viz., of the prophets in the kingdom of Israel, or +of the ten tribes; for in the kingdom of Juda religion was at that time +in a very flourishing condition under the kings Asa and Josaphat. And +even in Israel there remained several prophets, though not then known +to Elias. See chap. 20.13, 28, 35. + +19:11. And he said to him: Go forth, and stand upon the mount before +the Lord: and behold the Lord passeth, and a great and strong wind +before the Lord, overthrowing the mountains, and breaking the rocks in +pieces: but the Lord is not in the wind. And after the wind, an +earthquake: but the Lord is not in the earthquake. + +19:12. And after the earthquake, a fire: but the Lord is not in the +fire. And after the fire, a whistling of a gentle air. + +19:13. And when Elias heard it, he covered his face with his mantle, +and coming forth, stood in the entering in of the cave, and behold a +voice unto him, saying: What dost thou here, Elias? And he answered: + +19:14. With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of hosts: because +the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant: they have destroyed +thy altars, they have slain thy prophets with the sword; and I alone am +left, and they seek my life to take it away. + +19:15. And the Lord said to him: Go, and return on thy way, through the +desert, to Damascus: and when thou art come thither, thou shalt anoint +Hazael to be king over Syria; + +19:16. And thou shalt anoint Jehu, the son of Namsi, to be king over +Israel: and Eliseus, the son of Saphat, of Abelmeula, thou shalt anoint +to be prophet in thy room. + +19:17. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall escape the sword +of Hazael, shall be slain by Jehu: and whosoever shall escape the sword +of Jehu, shall be slain by Eliseus. + +Shall be slain by Eliseus. . .Eliseus did not kill any of the idolaters +with the material sword: but he is here joined with Hazael and Jehu, +the great instruments of God in punishing the idolatry of Israel, +because he foretold to the former his exaltation to the kingdom of +Syria, and the vengeance he would execute against Israel, and anointed +the latter by one of his disciples to be king of Israel, with +commission to extirpate the house of Achab. + +19:18. And I will leave me seven thousand men in Israel, whose knees +have not been bowed before Baal, and every mouth that hath not +worshipped him, kissing the hands. + +19:19. And Elias departing from thence, found Eliseus, the son of +Saphat, ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen: and he was one of them that +were ploughing with, twelve yoke of oxen: and when Elias came up to +him, he cast his mantle upon him. + +19:20. And he forthwith left the oxen, and run after Elias, and said: +Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will +follow thee. And he said to him: Go, and return back: for that which +was my part, I have done to thee. + +19:21. And returning back from him, he took a yoke of oxen, and killed +them, and boiled the flesh with the plough of the oxen, and gave to the +people, and they ate: and rising up, he went away, and followed Elias, +and ministered to him. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 20 + + +The Syrians besiege Samaria: they are twice defeated by Achab: who is +reprehended by a prophet for letting Benadad go. + +20:1. And Benadad, king of Syria, gathered together all his host, and +there were two and thirty kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and +going up, he fought against Samaria, and besieged it. + +20:2. And sending messengers to Achab, king of Israel, into the city, + +20:3. He said: Thus saith Benadad: Thy silver and thy gold is mine: +and thy wives and thy goodliest children are mine. + +20:4. And the king of Israel answered: According to thy word, my lord, +O king, I am thine, and all that I have. + +20:5. And the messengers came again, and said: Thus saith Benadad, who +sent us unto thee: Thy silver and thy gold, and thy wives and thy +children, thou shalt deliver up to me. + +20:6. To morrow, therefore, at this same hour, I will send my servants +to thee, and they shall search thy house, and the houses of thy +servants: and all that pleaseth them, they shall put in their hands, +and take away. + +20:7. And the king of Israel called all the ancients of the land, and +said: Mark, and see that he layeth snares for us. For he sent to me for +my wives, and for my children, and for my silver and gold: and I said +not nay. + +20:8. And all the ancients, and all the people said to him: Hearken not +to him, nor consent to him. + +20:9. Wherefore he answered the messengers of Benadad: Tell my lord, +the king: All that thou didst send for to me, thy servant at first, I +will do: but this thing I cannot do. + +20:10. And the messengers returning brought him word. And he sent +again, and said: Such and such things may the gods do to me, and more +may they add, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all +the people that follow me. + +20:11. And the king of Israel answering, said: Tell him: Let not the +girded boast himself as the ungirded. + +Let not the girded, etc. . .Let him not boast before the victory: it +will then be time to glory when he putteth off his armour, having +overcome his adversary. + +20:12. And it came to pass, when Benadad heard this word, that he and +the kings were drinking in pavilions, and he said to his servants: +Beset the city. And they beset it. + +20:13. And behold a prophet coming to Achab, king of Israel, said to +him: Thus saith the Lord: Hast thou seen all this exceeding great +multitude? behold I will deliver them into thy hand this day: that thou +mayst know that I am the Lord. + +20:14. And Achab said: By whom? And he said to him: Thus saith the +Lord: By the servants of the princes of the provinces. And he said: +Who shall begin to fight? And he said: Thou. + +20:15. So he mustered the servants of the princes of the provinces, and +he found the number of two hundred and thirty-two: and he mustered +after them the people, all the children of Israel, seven thousand: + +20:16. And they went out at noon. But Benadad was drinking himself +drunk in his pavilion, and the two and thirty kings with him, who were +come to help him. + +20:17. And the servants of the princes of the provinces went out first. +And Benadad sent. And they told him, saying: There are men come out of +Samaria. + +20:18. And he said: Whether they come for peace, take them alive: or +whether they come to fight, take them alive. + +20:19. So the servants of the princes of the provinces went out, and +the rest of the army followed: + +20:20. And every one slew the man that came against him: and the +Syrians fled, and Israel pursued after them. And Benadad, king of +Syria, fled away on horseback with his horsemen. + +20:21. But the king of Israel going out overthrew the horses and +chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. + +20:22. (And a prophet coming to the king of Israel, said to him: Go, +and strengthen thyself, and know, and see what thou dost: for the next +year the king of Syria will come up against thee.) + +20:23. But the servants of the king of Syria said to him: Their gods +are gods of the hills, therefore they have overcome us: but it is +better that we should fight against them in the plains, and we shall +overcome them. + +20:24. Do thou, therefore, this thing: Remove all the kings from thy +army, and put captains in their stead: + +20:25. And make up the number of soldiers that have been slain of +thine, and horses, according to the former horses, and chariots, +according to the chariots which thou hadst before: and we will fight +against them in the plains, and thou shalt see that we shall overcome +them. He believed their counsel, and did so. + +20:26. Wherefore, at the return of the year, Benadad mustered the +Syrians, and went up to Aphec, to fight against Israel. + +20:27. And the children of Israel were mustered, and taking victuals, +went out on the other side, and encamped over against them, like two +little flocks of goats: but the Syrians filled the land. + +20:28. (And a man of God coming, said to the king of Israel: Thus saith +the Lord: Because the Syrians have said: The Lord is God of the hills, +but is not God of the valleys: I will deliver all this great multitude +into thy hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.) + +20:29. And both sides set their armies in array one against the other +seven days, and on the seventh day the battle was fought: and the +children of Israel slew, of the Syrians, a hundred thousand footmen in +one day. + +20:30. And they that remained fled to Aphec, into the city: and the +wall fell upon seven and twenty thousand men, that were left. And +Benadad fleeing, went into the city, into a chamber that was within a +chamber. + +20:31. And his servants said to him: Behold, we have heard that the +kings of the house of Israel are merciful; so let us put sackcloths on +our loins, and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: +perhaps he will save our lives. + +20:32. So they girded sackcloths on their loins, and put ropes on their +heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said to him: Thy servant, +Benadad, saith: I beseech thee let me have my life. And he said: If he +be yet alive, he is my brother. + +20:33. The men took this for good luck: and in haste caught the word +out of his mouth, and said: Thy brother Benadad. And he said to them: +Go, and bring him to me. Then Benadad came out to him, and he lifted +him up into his chariot. + +20:34. And he said to him: The cities which my father took from thy +father, I will restore: and do thou make thee streets in Damascus, as +my father made in Samaria and having made a league, I will depart from +thee. So he made a league with him, and let him go. + +20:35. Then a certain man of the sons of the prophets, said to his +companion, in the word of the Lord: Strike me. But he would not strike. + +20:36. Then he said to him: Because thou wouldst not hearken to the +word of the Lord, behold thou shalt depart from me, and a lion shall +slay thee. And when he was gone a little from him, a lion found him, +and slew him. + +20:37. Then he found another man, and said to him: Strike me. And he +struck him and wounded him. + +20:38. So the prophet went, and met the king in the way, and disguised +himself by sprinkling dust on his face and his eyes. + +20:39. And as the king passed by, he cried to the king, and said: Thy +servant went out to fight hand to hand: and when a certain man was run +away, one brought him to me, and said: Keep this man: and if he shall +slip away, thy life shall be for his life, or thou shalt pay a talent +of silver. + +20:40. And whilst I, in the hurry, turned this way and that, on a +sudden he was not to be seen. And the king of Israel said to him: This +is thy judgment, which thyself hast decreed. + +20:41. But he forthwith wiped off the dust from his face, and the king +of Israel knew him, that he was one of the prophets. + +20:42. And he said to him: Thus saith the Lord. Because thou hast let +go out of thy hand a man worthy of death, thy life shall be for his +life, and thy people for his people. + +20:43. And the king of Israel returned to his house, slighting to hear, +and raging came into Samaria. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 21 + + +Naboth, for denying his vineyard to king Achab, is by Jezabel's +commandment, falsely accused and stoned to death. For which crime Elias +denounceth to Achab the judgments of God: upon his humbling himself the +sentence is mitigated. + +21:1. And after these things, Naboth the Jezrahelite, who was in +Jezrahel, had at that time a vineyard, near the palace of Achab, king +of Samaria. + +21:2. And Achab spoke to Naboth, saying: Give me thy vineyard, that I +may make me a garden of herbs, because it is nigh, and adjoining to my +house; and I will give thee for it a better vineyard: or if thou think +it more convenient for thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. + +21:3. Naboth answered him: The Lord be merciful to me, and not let me +give thee the inheritance of my fathers. + +21:4. And Achab came into his house angry and fretting, because of the +word that Naboth, the Jezrahelite, had spoken to him, saying: I will +not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And casting himself upon +his bed, he turned away his face to the wall, and would eat no bread. + +21:5. And Jezabel, his wife, went in to him, and said to him: What is +the matter that thy soul is so grieved? and why eatest thou no bread? + +21:6. And he answered her: I spoke to Naboth, the Jezrahelite, and said +to him: Give me thy vineyard, and take money for it: or if it please +thee, I will give thee a better vineyard for it. And he said: I will +not give thee my vineyard. + +21:7. Then Jezabel, his wife, said to him. Thou art of great authority +indeed, and governest well the kingdom of Israel. Arise, and eat bread, +and be of good cheer; I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth, the +Jezrahelite. + +21:8. So she wrote letters in Achab's name, and sealed them with his +ring, and sent them to the ancients, and the chief men that were in his +city, and that dwelt with Naboth. + +21:9. And this was the tenor of the letters: Proclaim a fast, and make +Naboth sit among the chief of the people; + +21:10. And suborn two men, sons of Belial, against him. and let them +bear false witness; that he hath blasphemed God and the king: and then +carry him out, and stone him, and so let him die. + +21:11. And the men of his city, the ancients and nobles, that dwelt +with him in the city, did as Jezabel had commanded them, and as it was +written in the letters which she had sent to them; + +21:12. They proclaimed a fast, and made Naboth sit among the chief of +the people. + +21:13. And bringing two men, sons of the devil, they made them sit +against him: and they, like men of the devil, bore witness against him +before the people: saying: Naboth hath blasphemed God and the king. +Wherefore they brought him forth without the city, and stoned him to +death. + +21:14. And they sent to Jezabel, saying: Naboth is stoned, and is dead. + +21:15. And it came to pass, when Jezabel heard that Naboth was stoned, +and dead, that she said to Achab: Arise, and take possession of the +vineyard of Naboth, the Jezrahelite, who would not agree with thee, and +give it thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. + +21:16. And when Achab heard this, to wit, that Naboth was dead, he +arose, and went down into the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezrahelite, to +take possession of it. + +21:17. And the word of the Lord came to Elias, the Thesbite, saying: + +21:18. Arise, and go down to meet Achab, king of Israel, who is in +Samaria: behold he is going down to the vineyard of Naboth, to take +possession of it: + +21:19. And thou shalt speak to him, saying: Thus saith the Lord: Thou +hast slain: moreover also thou hast taken possession. And after these +words thou shalt add: Thus saith the Lord: In this place, wherein the +dogs have licked the blood of Naboth, they shall lick thy blood also. + +21:20. And Achab said to Elias: Hast thou found me thy enemy? He said: +I have found thee because thou art sold, to do evil in the sight of the +Lord. + +Sold, to do evil in the sight, etc. . .That is, so addicted to evil, as +if thou hadst sold thyself to the devil, to be his slave to work all +kinds of evil. + +21:21. Behold I will bring evil upon thee, and I will cut down thy +posterity, and I will kill of Achab him that pisseth against the wall, +and him that is shut up, and the last in Israel. + +21:22. And I will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of +Nabat, and like the house of Baasa the son of Ahias: for what thou hast +done to provoke me to anger, and for making Israel to sin. + +21:23. And of Jezabel also, the Lord spoke, saying: The dogs shall eat +Jezabel in the field of Jezrahel. + +21:24. If Achab die in the city, the dogs shall eat him: but if he die +in the field, the birds of the air shall eat him. + +21:25. Now, there was not such another as Achab, who was sold to do +evil in the sight of the Lord: for his wife, Jezabel, set him on, + +21:26. And he became abominable, insomuch that he followed the idols +which the Amorrhites had made, whom the Lord destroyed before the face +of the children of Israel. + +21:27. And when Achab had heard these words, he rent his garments, and +put haircloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and slept in sackcloth, and +walked with his head cast down. + +21:28. And the word of the Lord came to Elias, the Thesbite, saying: + +21:29. Hast thou not seen Achab humbled before me? therefore, because +he hath humbled himself, for my sake, I will not bring the evil in his +days, but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house. + + + +3 Kings Chapter 22 + + +Achab believing his false prophets, rather than Micheas, is slain in +Ramoth Galaad. Ochozias succeedeth him. Good king Josaphat dieth, and +his son Joram succeedeth him. + +22:1. And there passed three years without war between Syria and +Israel. + +22:2. And in the third year, Josaphat, king of Juda, came down to the +king of Israel. + +22:3. (And the king of Israel said to his servants: Know ye not that +Ramoth Galaad is ours, and we neglect to take it out of the hand of the +king of Syria?) + +22:4. And he said to Josaphat: Wilt thou come with me to battle to +Ramoth Galaad? + +22:5. And Josaphat said to the king of Israel: As I am, so art thou: my +people and thy people are one: and my horsemen are thy horsemen. And +Josaphat said to the king of Israel: Inquire, I beseech thee, this day +the word of the Lord. + +22:6. Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four +hundred men, and he said to them: Shall I go to Ramoth Galaad to fight, +or shall I forbear? They answered: Go up, and the Lord will deliver it +into the hand of the king. + +22:7. And Josaphat said: Is there not here some prophet of the Lord, +that we may inquire by him? + +22:8. And the king of Israel said to Josaphat. There is one man left, +by whom we may inquire of the Lord; Micheas, the son of Jemla: but I +hate him, for he doth not prophecy good to me, but evil. And Josaphat +said: Speak not so, O king. + +22:9. Then the king of Israel called an eunuch, and said to him: Make +haste, and bring hither Micheas, the son of Jemla. + +22:10. And the king of Israel, and Josaphat, king of Juda, sat each on +his throne, clothed with royal robes, in a court, by the entrance of +the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them. + +22:11. And Sedecias, the son of Chanaana, made himself horns of iron, +and said: Thus saith the Lord: With these shalt thou push Syria, till +thou destroy it. + +22:12. And all the prophets prophesied in like manner, saying: Go up to +Ramoth Galaad, and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the +king's hands. + +22:13. And the messenger that went to call Micheas, spoke to him, +saying: Behold the words of the prophets with one mouth declare good +things to the king: let thy word, therefore, be like to theirs, and +speak that which is good. + +22:14. But Micheas said to him: As the Lord liveth, whatsoever the Lord +shall say to me, that will I speak. + +22:15. So he came to the king, and the king said to him: Micheas, shall +we go to Ramoth Galaad to battle, or shall we forbear? He answered him: +Go up, and prosper, and the Lord shall deliver it into the king's +hands. + +Go up, etc. . .This was spoken ironically, and by way of jesting at the +flattering speeches of the false prophets: and so the king understood +it, as appears by his adjuring Micheas, in the following verse, to tell +him the truth in the name of the Lord. + +22:16. But the king said to him: I adjure thee again and again, that +thou tell me nothing but that which is true, in the name of the Lord. + +22:17. And he said: I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, like +sheep that have no shepherd; and the Lord said: These have no master: +let every man of them return to his house in peace. + +22:18. (Then the king of Israel said to Josaphat: Did I not tell thee, +that he prophesieth no good to me, but always evil?) + +22:19. And he added and said: Hear thou, therefore, the word of the +Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven +standing by him on the right hand and on the left: + +22:20. And the Lord said: Who shall deceive Achab, king of Israel, that +he may go up, and fall at Ramoth Galaad? And one spoke words of this +manner, and another otherwise. + +The Lord said, etc. . .God standeth not in need of any counsellor; nor +are we to suppose that things pass in heaven in the manner here +described: but this representation was made to the prophet, to be +delivered by him in a manner adapted to the common ways and notions of +men. + +22:21. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and +said: I will deceive him. And the Lord said to him: By what means? + +22:22. And he said: I will go forth, and be a lying spirit, in the +mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said: Thou shalt deceive him, +and shalt prevail: go forth, and do so. + +Go forth, and do so. . .This was not a command, but a permission: for +God never ordaineth lies; though he often permitteth the lying spirit +to deceive those who love not the truth. 2 Thess. 2.10. And in this +sense it is said in the following verse, The Lord hath given a lying +spirit in the mouth of all thy prophets. + +22:23. Now, therefore, behold the Lord hath given a lying spirit in the +mouth of all thy prophets that are here, and the Lord hath spoken evil +against thee. + +22:24. And Sedecias, the son of Chanaana, came, and struck Micheas on +the cheek, and said: Hath then the spirit of the Lord left me, and +spoken to thee? + +22:25. And Micheas said: Thou shalt see in the day when thou shalt go +into a chamber within a chamber to hide thyself. + +Go into a chamber, etc. . .This happened when he heard the king was +slain, and justly apprehended that he should be punished for his false +prophecy. + +22:26. And the king of Israel said: Take Micheas and let him abide with +Amon, the governor of the city, and with Joas, the son of Amalech; + +22:27. And tell them: Thus saith the king: Put this man in prison, and +feed him with bread of affliction, and water of distress till I return +in peace. + +22:28. And Micheas said: If thou return in peace, the Lord hath not +spoken by me. And he said: Hear, all ye people. + +22:29. So the king of Israel, and Josaphat, king of Juda, went up to +Ramoth-Galaad. + +22:30. And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: Take thy armour, and go +into the battle, and put on thy own garments. But the king of Israel +changed his dress, and went into the battle. + +22:31. And the king of Syria had commanded the two and thirty captains +of the chariots, saying: You shall not fight against any, small or +great, but against the king of Israel only. + +22:32. So when the captains of the chariots saw Josaphat, they +suspected that he was the king of Israel, and making a violent assault, +they fought against him: and Josaphat cried out. + +22:33. And the captains of the chariots perceived that he was not the +king of Israel, and they turned away from him. + +22:34. And a certain man bent his bow, shooting at a venture, and +chanced to strike the king of Israel, between the lungs and the +stomach. But he said to the driver of his chariot: Turn thy hand, and +carry me out of the army, for I am grievously wounded. + +22:35. And the battle was fought that day, and the king of Israel stood +in his chariot against the Syrians, and he died in the evening: and the +blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot. + +22:36. And the herald proclaimed through all the army, before the sun +set, saying: Let every man return to his own city, and to his own +country. + +22:37. And the king died, and was carried into Samaria: and they buried +the king in Samaria. + +22:38. And they washed his chariot in the pool of Samaria and the dogs +licked up his blood, and they washed the reins according to the word of +the Lord which he had spoken. + +22:39. But the rest of the acts of Achab, and all that he did, and the +house of ivory that he made, and all the cities that he built, are they +not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of +Israel? + +22:40. So Achab slept with his fathers; and Ochozias, his son, reigned +in his stead. + +22:41. But Josaphat, the son of Asa, began to reign over Juda, in the +fourth year of Acbab, king of Israel. + +22:42. He was five and thirty years old when he began to reign, and he +reigned five and twenty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was +Azuba, the daughter of Salai. + +22:43. And he walked in all the way of Asa, his father, and he declined +not from it: and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. + +22:44. Nevertheless, he took not away the high places for as yet the +people offered sacrifice, and burnt incense in the high places. + +He took not away, etc. . .He left some of the high places, viz., those +in which they worshipped the true God: but took away all others, 2 Par. +17.6, and note ver. 14 of chap. 15. 3 Kings. + +22:45. And Josaphat had peace with the king of Israel. + +22:46. But the rest of the acts of Josaphat, and his works which he +did, and his battles, are they not written in the book of the words of +the days of the kings of Juda? + +22:47. And the remnant also of the effeminate, who remained in the days +of Asa, his father, he took out of the land. + +22:48. And there was then no king appointed in Edom. + +22:49. But king Josaphat made navies on the sea, to sail into Ophir for +gold: but they could not go, for the ships were broken in Asiongaber. + +22:50. Then Ochozias, the son of Achab, said to Josaphat: Let my +servants go with thy servants in the ships. And Josaphat would not. + +Would not. . .He had been reprehended before for admitting such a +partner: and therefore would have no more to do with him. + +22:51. And Josaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with them in +the city of David, his father: and Joram, his son, reigned in his +stead. + +22:52. And Ochozias, the son of Achab, began to reign over Israel, in +Samaria, in the seventeenth year of Josaphat, king of Juda, and he +reigned over Israel two years. + +22:53. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way +of his father and his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam, the son of +Nabat, who made Israel to sin. + +22:54. He served also Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked the Lord, +the God of Israel, according to all that his father had done. + + + + +THE FOURTH BOOK OF KINGS + + + +4 Kings Chapter 1 + + +Ochozias sendeth to consult Beelzebub: Elias foretelleth his death: and +causeth fire to come down from heaven, upon two captains and their +companies. + +1:1. And Moab rebelled against Israel, after the death of Achab. + +1:2. And Ochozias fell through the lattices of his upper chamber, which +he had in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, saying to +them: Go, consult Beelzebub, the god of Accaron, whether I shall +recover of this my illness. + +1:3. And an angel of the Lord spoke to Elias, the Thesbite, saying: +Arise, and go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say +to them: Is there not a God in Israel, that ye go to consult Beelzebub, +the god of Accaron? + +1:4. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord: From the bed, on which thou art +gone up, thou shalt not come down, but thou shalt surely die. And Elias +went away. + +1:5. And the messengers turned back to Ochozias. And he said to them: +Why are you come back? + +1:6. But they answered him: A man met us, and said to us: Go, and +return to the king, that sent you, and you shall say to him: Thus saith +the Lord: Is it because there was no God in Israel, that thou sendest +to Beelzebub, the god of Accaron? Therefore thou shalt not come down +from the bed, on which thou art gone up, but thou shalt surely die. + +1:7. And he said to them: What manner of man was he who met you, and +spoke these words? + +1:8. But they said: A hairy man, with a girdle of leather about his +loins. And he said: It is Elias, the Thesbite. + +1:9. And he sent to him a captain of fifty, and the fifty men that were +under him. And he went up to him, and as he was sitting on the top of a +hill, he said to him: Man of God, the king hath commanded that thou +come down. + +1:10. And Elias answering, said to the captain of fifty: If I be a man +of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume thee, and thy fifty. +And there came down fire from heaven and consumed him, and the fifty +that were with him. + +Let fire, etc. . .Elias was inspired to call for fire from heaven upon +these captains, who came to apprehend him; not out of a desire to +gratify any private passion; but to punish the insult offered to +religion, to confirm his mission, and to shew how vain are the efforts +of men against God, and his servants, whom he willeth to protect. + +1:11. And he again sent to him another captain of fifty men, and his +fifty with him. And he said to him: Man of God: Thus saith the king: +Make haste and come down. + +1:12. Elias answering, said: If I be a man of God, let fire come down +from heaven, and consume thee, and thy fifty. And fire came down from +heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. + +1:13. Again he sent a third captain of fifty men, and the fifty that +were with him. And when he was come, he fell upon his knees before +Elias, and besought him, and said: Man of God, despise not my life, and +the lives of thy servants that are with me. + +1:14. Behold fire came down from heaven, and consumed the two first +captains of fifty men, and the fifties that were with them: but now I +beseech thee to spare my life. + +1:15. And the angel of the Lord spoke to Elias, saying: Go down with +him, fear not. He arose therefore, and went down with him to the king, + +1:16. And said to him: Thus saith the Lord: Because thou hast sent +messengers to consult Beelzebub, the god of Accaron, as though there +were not a God in Israel, of whom thou mightest inquire the word; +therefore, from the bed on which thou art gone up, thou shalt not come +down, but thou shalt surely die. + +1:17. So he died, according to the word of the Lord, which Elias spoke; +and Joram, his brother, reigned in his stead, in the second year of +Joram, the son of Josaphat, king of Juda, because he had no son. + +The second year of Joram, etc. . .Counted from the time that he was +associated to the throne by his father Josaphat. + +1:18. But the rest of the acts of Ochozias, which he did, are they not +written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel? + + + +4 Kings Chapter 2 + + +Eliseus will not part from Elias. The water of the Jordan is divided by +Elias' cloak. Elias is taken up in a fiery chariot, and his double +spirit is given to Eliseus. Eliseus healeth the waters by casting in +salt. Boys are torn by bears for mocking Eliseus. + +2:1. And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elias, into +heaven, by a whirlwind, that Elias and Eliseus were going from Galgal. + +Heaven. . .By heaven here is meant the air, the lowest of the heavenly +regions. + +2:2. And Elias said to Eliseus: Stay thou here, because the Lord hath +sent me as far as Bethel. And Eliseus said to him: As the Lord liveth, +and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And when they were come +down to Bethel, + +2:3. The sons of the prophets, that were at Bethel, came forth to +Eliseus, and said to him: Dost thou know that, this day, the Lord will +take away thy master from thee? And he answered: I also know it: hold +your peace. + +The sons of the prophets. . .That is, the disciples of the prophets; who +seem to have had their schools, like colleges or communities, in +Bethel, Jericho, and other places in the days of Elias and Eliseus. + +2:4. And Elias said to Eliseus: Stay here, because the Lord hath sent +me to Jericho. And he said: As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, +I will not leave thee. And when they were come to Jericho, + +2:5. The sons of the prophets, that were at Jericho, came to Eliseus, +and said to him: Dost thou know that, this day, the Lord will take away +thy master from thee? And he said: I also know it: hold your peace. + +2:6. And Elias said to him: Stay here, because the Lord hath sent me as +far as the Jordan. And he said: as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul +liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on together. + +2:7. And fifty men, of the sons of the prophets, followed them, and +stood in sight, at a distance: but they two stood by the Jordan. + +2:8. And Elias took his mantle, and folded it together, and struck the +waters, and they were divided hither and thither, and they both passed +over on dry ground. + +2:9. And when they were gone over, Elias said to Eliseus: Ask what thou +wilt have me to do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And +Eliseus said: I beseech thee, that in me may be thy double spirit. + +Double spirit. . .A double portion of thy spirit, as the eldest son and +heir: or thy spirit which is double in comparison of that which God +usually imparteth to his prophets. + +2:10. And he answered: Thou hast asked a hard thing; nevertheless, if +thou see me when I am taken from thee, thou shalt have what thou hast +asked: but if thou see me not, thou shalt not have it. + +2:11. And as they went on, walking and talking together, behold, a +fiery chariot and fiery horses parted them both asunder: and Elias went +up by a whirlwind into heaven. + +2:12. And Eliseus saw him, and cried: My father, my father, the chariot +of Israel, and the driver thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took +hold of his own garments, and rent them in two pieces. + +2:13. And he took up the mantle of Elias, that fell from him: and going +back, he stood on the bank of the Jordan; + +2:14. And he struck the waters with the mantle of Elias, that had +fallen from him, and they were not divided. And he said: Where is now +the God of Elias? And he struck the waters, and they were divided +hither and thither, and Eliseus passed over. + +2:15. And the sons of the prophets, at Jericho, who were over against +him, seeing it, said: The spirit of Elias hath rested upon Eliseus. And +coming to meet him, they worshipped him, falling to the ground. + +They worshipped him. . .viz., with an inferior, yet religious +veneration, not for any temporal, but spiritual excellency. + +2:16. And they said to him: Behold, there are with thy servants, fifty +strong men, that can go, and seek thy master, lest, perhaps, the spirit +of the Lord, hath taken him up and cast him upon some mountain, or into +some valley. And he said: Do not send. + +2:17. But they pressed him, till he consented, and said: Send. And they +sent fifty men: and they sought three days, but found him not. + +2:18. And they came back to him: for he abode at Jericho, and he said +to them: Did I not say to you? Do not send. + +2:19. And the men of the city, said to Eliseus . Behold the situation +of this city is very good, as thou, my lord, seest: but the waters are +very bad, and the ground barren. + +2:20. And he said: Bring me a new vessel, and put salt into it. And +when they had brought it, + +2:21. He went out to the spring of the waters, and cast the salt into +it, and said: Thus saith the Lord: I have healed these waters, and +there shall be no more in them death or barrenness. + +2:22. And the waters were healed unto this day, according to the word +of Eliseus, which he spoke. + +2:23. And he went up from thence to Bethel: and as he was going up by +the way, little boys came out of the city and mocked him, saying: Go +up, thou bald head, go up, thou bald head. + +2:24. And looking back, he saw them, and cursed them in the name of the +Lord: and there came forth two bears out of the forest, and tore of +them, two and forty boys. + +Cursed them. . .This curse, which was followed by so visible a judgment +of God, was not the effect of passion, or of a desire of revenging +himself; but of zeal for religion, which was insulted by these boys, in +the person of the prophet; and of a divine inspiration: God punishing +in this manner the inhabitants of Bethel, (the chief seat of the calf +worship,) who had trained up their children in a prejudice against the +true religion and its ministers. + +2:25. And from thence he went to mount Carmel, and from thence he +returned to Samaria. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 3 + + +The kings of Israel, Juda, and Edom, fight against the king of Moab. +They want water, which Eliseus procureth without rain: and prophesieth +victory. The king of Moab is overthrown, his city is besieged: he +sacrificeth his firstborn son: so the Israelites raise the siege. + +3:1. And Joram the son of Achab, reigned over Israel, in Samaria, in +the eighteenth year of Josaphat, king of Juda. And he reigned twelve +years. + +3:2. And he did evil before the Lord, but not like his father and his +mother: for he took away the statues of Baal, which his father had +made. + +3:3. Nevertheless, he stuck to the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, +who made Israel to sin, nor did he depart from them. + +3:4. Now Mesa, king of Moab, nourished many sheep, and he paid to the +king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs, and a hundred thousand rams, +with their fleeces. + +3:5. And when Achab was dead, he broke the league which he had made +with the king of Israel. + +3:6. And king Joram went out that day from Samaria, and mustered all +Israel. + +3:7. And he sent to Josaphat; king of Juda, saying: The king of Moab is +revolted from me: come with me against him to battle. And he answered: +I will come up: he that is mine, is thine: my people are thy people: +and my horses, thy horses. + +3:8. And he said: Which way shall we go up? But he answered: By the +desert of Edom. + +3:9. So the king of Israel, and the king of Juda, and the king of Edom, +went, and they fetched a compass of seven days journey, and there was +no water for the army, and for the beasts, that followed them. + +3:10. And the king of Israel said: Alas, alas, alas, the Lord hath +gathered us three kings together, to deliver us into the hands of Moab. + +3:11. And Josaphat said: Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that +we may beseech the Lord by him? And one of the servants of the king of +Israel answered: Here is Eliseus, the son of Saphat, who poured water +on the hands of Elias. + +3:12. And Josaphat said: The word of the Lord is with him. And the king +of Israel, and Josaphat, king of Juda, and the king of Edom, went down +to him. + +3:13. And Eliseus said to the king of Israel: What have I to do with +thee? go to the prophets of thy father, and thy mother. And the king of +Israel said to him: Why hath the Lord gathered together these three +kings, to deliver them into the hands of Moab? + +3:14. And Eliseus said to him: As the Lord of hosts liveth, in whose +sight I stand, if I did not reverence the face of Josaphat, king of +Juda, I would not have hearkened to thee, nor looked on thee. + +3:15. But now bring me hither a minstrel. And when the minstrel played, +the hand of the Lord came upon him, and he said: + +3:16. Thus saith the Lord: Make the channel of this torrent full of +ditches. + +3:17. For thus saith the Lord: You shall not see wind, nor rain: and +yet this channel shall be filled with waters, and you shall drink, you +and your families, and your beasts. + +3:18. And this is a small thing in the sight of the Lord: moreover, he +will deliver, also, Moab into your hands. + +3:19. And you shall destroy every fenced city, and every choice city, +and shall cut down every fruitful tree, and shall stop up all the +springs of waters, and every goodly field you shall cover with stones. + +3:20. And it came to pass, in the morning, when the sacrifices used to +be offered, that behold, water came by the way of Edom, and the country +was filled with water. + +3:21. And all the Moabites hearing that the kings were come up to fight +against them, gathered together all that were girded with a belt upon +them, and stood in the borders. + +3:22. And they rose early in the morning, and the sun being now up, and +shining upon the waters, the Moabites saw the waters over against them +red, like blood, + +3:23. And they said: It is the blood of the sword: the kings have +fought among themselves, and they have killed one another: go now, +Moab, to the spoils. + +3:24. And they went into the camp of Israel: but Israel rising up, +defeated Moab, who fled before them. And they being conquerors, went +and smote Moab. + +3:25. And they destroyed the cities: And they filled every goodly +field, every man casting his stone: and they stopt up all the springs +of waters: and cut down all the trees that bore fruit, so that brick +walls only remained: and the city was beset by the slingers, and a +great part thereof destroyed. + +Brick walls only remained. . .It was the proper name of the capital city +of the Moabites. In Hebrew, Kir-Haraseth. + +3:26. And when the king of Moab saw this, to wit, that the enemies had +prevailed, he took with him seven hundred men that drew the sword, to +break in upon the king of Edom: but they could not. + +3:27. Then he took his eldest son, that should have reigned in his +stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall: and there +was great indignation in Israel, and presently they departed from him, +and returned into their own country. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 4 + + +Miracles of Eliseus. He raiseth a dead child to life. + +4:1. Now a certain woman of the wives of the prophets, cried to +Eliseus, saying: Thy servant, my husband, is dead, and thou knowest +that thy servant was one that feared God, and behold the creditor is +come to take away my two sons to serve him. + +4:2. And Eliseus said to her: What wilt thou have me do for thee? Tell +me, what hast thou in thy house? And she answered: I, thy handmaid, +have nothing in my house but a little oil, to anoint me. + +4:3. And he said to her: Go, borrow of all thy neighbours empty +vessels, not a few. + +4:4. And go in, and shut thy door, when thou art within, and thy sons: +and pour out thereof into all those vessels: and when they are full, +take them away. + +4:5. So the woman went, and shut the door upon her, and upon her sons: +they brought her the vessels, and she poured in. + +4:6. And when the vessels were full, she said to her son: Bring me yet +a vessel. And he answered: I have no more. And the oil stood. + +4:7. And she came, and told the man of God. And he said: Go, sell the +oil, and pay thy creditor: and thou and thy sons live of the rest. + +4:8. And there was a day when Eliseus passed by Sunam: now there was a +great woman there, who detained him to eat bread: and as he passed +often that way, he turned into her house to eat bread. + +4:9. And she said to her husband: I perceive that this is a holy man of +God, who often passeth by us. + +4:10. Let us, therefore, make him a little chamber, and put a little +bed in it for him, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick, that +when he cometh to us he may abide there. + +4:11. Now, there was a certain day, when he came, and turned into the +chamber, and rested there. + +4:12. And he said to Giezi, his servant: Call this Sunamitess. And when +he had called her, and she stood before him, + +4:13. He said to his servant: Say to her: Behold, thou hast diligently +served us in all things; what wilt thou have me to do for thee? Hast +thou any business, and wilt thou, that I speak to the king, or to the +general of the army? And she answered: I dwell in the midst of my own +people. + +4:14. And he said: What will she then that I do for her? And Giezi +said: Do not ask, for she hath no son, and her husband is old. + +4:15. Then he bid him call her. And when she was called, and stood +before the door, + +4:16. He said to her: At this time, and this same hour, if life be in +company, thou shalt have a son in thy womb. But she answered: Do not, I +beseech thee, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie to thy handmaid. + +4:17. And the woman conceived, and brought forth a son in the time, and +at the same hour that Eliseus had said. + +4:18. And the child grew. And on a certain day, when he went out to his +father to the reapers, + +4:19. He said to his father: My head acheth, my head acheth. But he +said to his servant. Take him, and carry him to his mother. + +4:20. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, she sat +him on her knees, until noon, and then he died. + +4:21. And she went up, and laid him upon the bed of the man of God, and +shut the door: and going out, + +4:22. She called her husband, and said: Send with me, I beseech thee, +one of thy servants, and an ass, that I may run to the man of God, and +come again. + +4:23. And he said to her: Why dost thou go to him? to day is neither +new moon nor sabbath. She answered: I will go. + +4:24. And she saddled an ass, and commanded her servant: Drive, and +make haste, make no stay in going: And do that which I bid thee. + +4:25. So she went forward, and came to the man of God, to mount Carmel: +and when the man of God saw her coming towards, he said to Giezi, his +servant: Behold that Sunamitess. + +4:26. Go, therefore, to meet her, and say to her: Is all well with +thee, and with thy husband, and with thy son? And she answered: Well. + +4:27. And when she came to the man of God, to the mount, she caught +hold on his feet: and Giezi came to remove her. And the man of God +said: Let her alone for her soul is in anguish, and the Lord hath hid +it from me, and hath not told me. + +4:28. And she said to him: Did I ask a son of my lord? did I not say to +thee: Do not deceive me? + +4:29. Then he said to Giezi: Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in +thy hand, and go. If any man meet thee, salute him not: and if any man +salute thee, answer him not: and lay my staff upon the face of the +child. + +Salute him not. . .He that is sent to raise to life the sinner +spiritually dead, must not suffer himself to be called off, or diverted +from his enterprise, by the salutations or ceremonies of the world. + +4:30. But the mother of the child said: As the Lord liveth, and as thy +soul liveth, I will not leave thee. He arose, therefore, and followed +her. + +4:31. But Giezi was gone before them, and laid the staff upon the face +of the child, and there was no voice nor sense: and he returned to meet +him, and told him, saying: The child is not risen. + +St. Augustine considers a great mystery in this miracle wrought by the +prophet Eliseus, thus: By the staff sent by his servant is figured the +rod of Moses, or the Old Law, which was not sufficient to bring mankind +to life then dead in sin. It was necessary that Christ himself should +come, and by taking on human nature, become flesh of our flesh, and +restore us to life. In this Eliseus was a figure of Christ, as it was +necessary that he should come himself to bring the dead child to life +and restore him to his mother, who is here, in a mystical sense, a +figure of the Church. + +4:32. Eliseus, therefore, went into the house, and behold the child lay +dead on his bed: + +4:33. And going in, he shut the door upon him, and upon the child, and +prayed to the Lord. + +4:34. And he went up, and lay upon the child: and put his mouth upon +his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: +and he bowed himself upon him, and the child's flesh grew warm. + +4:35. Then he returned and walked in the house, once to and fro: and he +went up, and lay upon him: and the child gaped seven times, and opened +his eyes. + +4:36. And he called Giezi, and said to him: Call this Sunamitess. And +she being called, went in to him: and he said: Take up thy son. + +4:37. She came and fell at his feet, and worshipped upon the ground: +and took up her son, and went out. + +4:38. And Eliseus returned to Galgal, and there was a famine in the +land, and the sons of the prophets dwelt before him: And he said to one +of his servants: Set on the great pot, and boil pottage for the sons of +the prophets. + +4:39. And one went out into the field to gather wild herbs: and he +found something like a wild vine, and gathered of it wild gourds of the +field, and filled his mantle, and coming back, he shred them into the +pot of pottage; for he knew not what it was. + +Wild gourds of the field. . .Colocynthidas. They are extremely bitter, +and therefore are called the gall of the earth; and are poisonous if +taken in a great quantity. + +4:40. And they poured it out for their companions to eat: and when they +had tasted of the pottage, they cried out, saying: Death is in the pot, +O man of God. And they could not eat thereof. + +4:41. But he said: Bring some meal. And when they had brought it, he +cast it into the pot, and said: Pour out for the people, that they may +eat. And there was now no bitterness in the pot. + +4:42. And a certain man came from Baalsalisa, bringing to the man of +God, bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and new corn in +his scrip. And he said: Give to the people, that they may eat. + +4:43. And his servant answered him: How much is this, that I should set +it before a hundred men? He said again: Give to the people, that they +may eat: for thus saith the Lord: They shall eat, and there shall be +left. + +4:44. So he set it before them: and they ate, and there was left, +according to the word of the Lord. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 5 + + +Naaman the Syrian is cleansed of his leprosy. He professeth his belief +in one God, promising to serve him. Giezi taketh gifts of Naaman, and +is struck with leprosy. + +5:1. Naaman, general of the army, of the king of Syria, was a great man +with his master, and honourable: for by him the Lord gave deliverance +to Syria: and he was a valiant man, and rich, but a leper. + +5:2. Now there had gone out robbers from Syria, and had led away +captive out of the land of Israel, a little maid, and she waited upon +Naaman's wife. + +5:3. And she said to her mistress: I wish my master had been with the +prophet that is in Samaria: he would certainly have healed him of the +leprosy which he hath. + +5:4. Then Naaman went in to his lord, and told him, saying: Thus and +thus said the girl from the land of Israel. + +5:5. And the king of Syria said to him: Go; and I will send a letter to +the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of +silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment; + +5:6. And brought the letter to the king of Israel, in these words: When +thou shalt receive this letter, know that I have sent to thee Naaman, +my servant, that thou mayst heal him of his leprosy. + +5:7. And when the king of Israel had read the letter, he rent his +garments, and said: Am I God, to be able to kill and give life, that +this man hath sent to me to heal a man of his leprosy? mark, and see +how he seeketh occasions against me. + +5:8. And when Eliseus, the man of God, had heard this, to wit, that the +king of Israel had rent his garments, he sent to him, saying: Why hast +thou rent thy garments? let him come to me, and let him know that there +is a prophet in Israel. + +5:9. So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and stood at the door +of the house of Eliseus: + +5:10. And Eliseus sent a messenger to him, saying: Go, and wash seven +times in the Jordan, and thy flesh shall recover health, and thou shalt +be clean. + +5:11. Naaman was angry, and went away, saying: I thought he would have +come out to me, and standing, would have invoked the name of the Lord +his God, and touched with his hand the place of the leprosy, and healed +me. + +5:12. Are not the Abana, and the Pharphar, rivers of Damascus, better +than all the waters of Israel, that I may wash in them, and be made +clean? So as he turned, and was going away with indignation, + +5:13. His servants came to him, and said to him: Father, if the prophet +had bid thee do some great thing, surely thou shouldst have done it: +how much rather what he now hath said to thee: Wash, and thou shalt be +clean? + +5:14. Then he went down, and washed in the Jordan seven times, +according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored, +like the flesh of a little child: and he was made clean. + +5:15. And returning to the man of God, with all his train, he came, and +stood before him, and said: In truth, I know there is no other God, in +all the earth, but only in Israel: I beseech thee, therefore, take a +blessing of thy servant. + +A blessing. . .a present. + +5:16. But he answered: As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will +receive none. And when he pressed him, he still refused. + +5:17. And Naaman said: As thou wilt: but I beseech thee, grant to me, +thy servant, to take from hence two mules' burden of earth: for thy +servant will not henceforth offer holocaust, or victim, to other gods, +but to the Lord. + +5:18. But there is only this, for which thou shalt entreat the Lord for +thy servant; when my master goeth into the temple of Remmon, to worship +there, and he leaneth on my hand: if I bow down in the temple of +Remmon, when he boweth down in the same place, that the Lord pardon me, +thy servant, for this thing. + +5:19. And he said to him: Go in peace. So he departed from him, in the +spring time of the earth. + +Go in peace. . .What the prophet here allowed, was not an outward +conformity to an idolatrous worship; but only a service which by his +office he owed to his master: who on all public occasions leaned on +him: so that his bowing down when his master bowed himself down was not +in effect adoring the idols: nor was it so understood by the standers +by, since he publicly professed himself a worshipper of the only true +and living God, but it was no more than doing a civil office to the +king his master, whose leaning upon him obliged him to bow at the same +time that he bowed. + +5:20. But Giezi, the servant of the man of God, said: My master hath +spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving of him that which he +brought: as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take something +of him. + +5:21. And Giezi followed after Naaman: and when he saw him running +after him, he leapt down from his chariot to meet him, and said: Is all +well? + +5:22. And he said: Well: my master hath sent me to thee, saying: Just +now there are come to me from mount Ephraim, two young men of the sons +of the prophets: give them a talent of silver, and two changes of +garments. + +5:23. And Naaman said: It is better that thou take two talents. And he +forced him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, and two +changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants, and they +carried them before him. + +5:24. And when he was come, and now it was the evening, he took them +from their hands, and laid them up in the house, and sent the men away, +and they departed. + +5:25. But he went in, and stood before his master. And Eliseus said: +Whence comest thou, Giezi? He answered: Thy servant went no whither. + +5:26. But he said: Was not my heart present, when the man turned back, +from his chariot, to meet thee? So now thou hast received money, and +received garments, to buy oliveyards and vineyards, and sheep, and +oxen, and men-servants, and maid-servants. + +5:27. But the leprosy of Naaman, shall also stick to thee, and to thy +seed for ever. And he went out from him a leper, as white as snow. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 6 + + +Eliseus maketh iron to swim upon the water: he leadeth the Syrians that +were sent to apprehend him into Samaria, where there eyes being opened, +they are courteously entertained. The Syrians besiege Samaria: the +famine there causeth a woman to eat her own child. Upon this the king +commandeth Eliseus to be put to death. + +6:1. And the sons of the prophets said to Eliseus: Behold, the place +where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. + +6:2. Let us go as far as the Jordan, and take out of the wood every man +a piece of timber, that we may build us there a place to dwell in. And +he said: Go. + +6:3. And one of them said: But come thou also with thy servants. He +answered: I will come. + +6:4. So he went with them. And when they were come to the Jordan, they +cut down wood. + +6:5. And it happened, as one was felling some timber, that the head of +the ax fell into the water: and he cried out, and said: Alas, alas, +alas, my lord, for this same was borrowed. + +6:6. And the man of God said: Where did it fall? and he shewed him the +place: Then he cut off a piece of wood, and cast it in thither: and the +iron swam. + +6:7. And he said: Take it up. And he put out his hand, and took it. + +6:8. And the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with +his servants, saying: In such and such a place, let us lay an ambush. + +6:9. And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying: Beware that +thou pass not to such a place: for the Syrians are there in ambush. + +6:10. And the king of Israel, sent to the place which the man of God +had told him, and prevented him, and looked well to himself there not +once nor twice. + +6:11. And the heart of the king of Syria, was troubled for this thing. +And calling together his servants, he said: Why do you not tell me who +it is that betrays me to the king of Israel? + +6:12. And one of his servants said: No one, my lord, O king: but +Eliseus, the prophet, that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel all +the words, that thou speakest in thy privy chamber. + +6:13. And he said to them: Go, and see where he is: that I may send and +take him. And they told him: saying: Behold he is in Dothan. + +6:14. Therefore, he sent thither horses, and chariots, and the strength +of an army: and they came by night, and beset the city. + +6:15. And the servant of the man of God, rising early went out, and saw +an army round about the city, and horses and chariots: and he told him, +saying: Alas, alas, alas, my lord, what shall we do? + +6:16. But he answered: Fear not: for there are more with us than with +them. + +6:17. And Eliseus prayed, and said: Lord, open his eyes, that he may +see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw: and +behold, the mountain was full of horses, and chariots of fire round +about Eliseus. + +6:18. And the enemies came down to him: but Eliseus prayed to the Lord, +saying: Strike, I beseech thee, this people with blindness: and the +Lord struck them with blindness, according to the word of Eliseus. + +Blindness. . .The blindness here spoken of was of a particular kind, +which hindered them from seeing the objects that were really before +them; and represented other different objects to their imagination: so +that they no longer perceived the city of Dothan, nor were able to know +the person of Eliseus; but were easily led by him, whom they took to be +another man, to Samaria. So that he truly told them, this is not the +way, neither is this the city, etc., because he spoke with relation to +the way and to the city, which was represented to them. + +6:19. And Eliseus said to them: This is not the way, neither is this +the city: follow me, and I will shew you the man whom you seek. So he +led them into Samaria. + +6:20. And when they were come into Samaria, Eliseus said: Lord, open +the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their +eyes, and they saw themselves to be in the midst of Samaria. + +6:21. And the king of Israel said to Eliseus, when he saw them: My +father, shall I kill them? + +6:22. And he said: Thou shalt not kill them: for thou didst not take +them with thy sword, or thy bow, that thou mayst kill them: but set +bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to +their master. + +6:23. And a great provision of meats was set before them, and they ate +and drank; and he let them go: and they went away to their master: and +the robbers of Syria came no more into the land of Israel. + +6:24. And it came to pass, after these things, that Benadad, king of +Syria, gathered together all his army, and went up and besieged +Samaria. + +6:25. And there was a great famine in Samaria: and so long did the +siege continue, till the head of an ass was sold for fourscore pieces +of silver, and the fourth part of a cabe of pigeons' dung, for five +pieces of silver. + +6:26. And as the king of Israel was passing by the wall, a certain +woman cried out to him, saying: Save me, my lord, O king. + +6:27. And he said: If the Lord doth not save thee, how can I save thee? +out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? And the king said to +her: What aileth thee? And she answered: + +6:28. This woman said to me: Give thy son, that we may eat him today, +and we will eat my son tomorrow. + +6:29. So we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next +day: Give thy son, that we may eat him. And she hath hid her son. + +6:30. When the king heard this, he rent his garments, and passed by +upon the wall. And all the people saw the haircloth which he wore +within next to his flesh. + +6:31. And the king said: May God do so and so to me, and may he add +more, if the head of Eliseus, the son of Saphat, shall stand on him +this day. + +6:32. But Eliseus sat in his house, and the ancients sat with him. So +he sent a man before: and before that messenger came, he said to the +ancients: Do you know that this son of a murderer hath sent to cut off +my head? Look then when the messenger shall come, shut the door, and +suffer him not to come in: for behold the sound of his master's feet is +behind him. + +6:33. While he was yet speaking to them, the messenger appeared, who +was coming to him. And he said: Behold, so great an evil is from the +Lord: what shall I look for more from the Lord? + + + +4 Kings Chapter 7 + + +Eliseus prophesieth a great plenty, which presently ensueth upon the +sudden flight of the Syrians; of which four lepers bring the news to +the city. The incredulous nobleman is trod to death. + +7:1. And Eliseus said: Hear ye the word of the Lord: Thus saith the +Lord: Tomorrow, about this time, a bushel of fine flour shall be sold +for a stater, and two bushels of barley for a stater, in the gate of +Samaria. + +A stater. . .It is the same as a sicle or shekel. + +7:2. Then one of the lords, upon whose hand the king leaned, answering +the man of God, said: If the Lord should make flood-gates in heaven, +can that possibly be which thou sayest? And he said: Thou shalt see it +with thy eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. + +7:3. Now there were four lepers, at the entering in of the gate: and +they said one to another: What mean we to stay here till we die? + +7:4. If we will enter into the city, we shall die with the famine: and +if we will remain here, we must also die: come therefore, and let us +run over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare us, we shall live: +but if they kill us, we shall but die. + +7:5. So they arose in the evening, to go to the Syrian camp. And when +they were come to the first part of the camp of the Syrians, they found +no man there. + +7:6. For the Lord had made them hear, in the camp of Syria, the noise +of chariots, and of horses, and of a very great army: and they said one +to another: Behold, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings +of the Hethites, and of the Egyptians; and they are come upon us. + +7:7. Wherefore they arose, and fled away in the dark, and left their +tents, and their horses and asses in the camp, and fled, desiring to +save their lives. + +7:8. So when these lepers were come to the beginning of the camp, they +went into one tent, and ate and drank: and they took from thence +silver, and gold, and raiment, and went, and hid it: and they came +again, and went into another tent, and carried from thence in like +manner, and hid it. + +7:9. Then they said one to another: We do not well: for this is a day +of good tidings. If we hold our peace, and do not tell it till the +morning, we shall be charged with a crime: come, let us go, and tell it +in the king's court. + +7:10. So they came to the gate of the city, and told them, saying: We +went to the camp of the Syrians, and we found no man there, but horses, +and asses tied, and the tents standing. + +7:11. Then the guards of the gate went, and told it within in the +king's palace. + +7:12. And he arose in the night, and said to his servants: I tell you +what the Syrians have done to us: They know that we suffer great +famine, and therefore they are gone out of the camp, and lie hid in the +fields, saying: When they come out of the city, we shall take them +alive, and then we may get into the city. + +7:13. And one of his servants answered: Let us take the five horses +that are remaining in the city (because there are no more in the whole +multitude of Israel, for the rest are consumed), and let us send and +see. + +7:14. They brought therefore two horses, and the king sent into the +camp of the Syrians, saying: Go, and see. + +7:15. And they went after them, as far as the Jordan: and behold, all +the way was full of garments, and vessels, which the Syrians had cast +away, in their fright, and the messengers returned, and told the king. + +7:16. And the people going out, pillaged the camp of the Syrians: and a +bushel of fine flour was sold for a stater, and two bushels of barley +for a stater, according to the word of the Lord. + +7:17. And the king appointed that lord on whose hand he leaned, to +stand at the gate: and the people trod upon him in the entrance of the +gate; and he died, as the man of God had said, when the king came down +to him. + +7:18. And it came to pass, according to the word of the man of God, +which he spoke to the king, when he said: Two bushels of barley shall +be for a stater, and a bushel of fine flour for a stater, at this very +time tomorrow, in the gate of Samaria. + +7:19. When that lord answered the man of God, and said: Although the +Lord should make flood-gates in heaven, could this come to pass which +thou sayest? And he said to him: Thou shalt see it with thy eyes, and +shalt not eat thereof. + +7:20. And so it fell out to him, as it was foretold, and the people +trod upon him in the gate, and he died. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 8 + + +After seven years' famine foretold by Eliseus, the Sunamitess returning +home, recovereth her lands, and revenues. Eliseus foresheweth the death +of Benadad, king of Syria, and the reign of Hazael. Joram's wicked +reign in Juda. He dieth, and his son Ochozias succeedeth. + +8:1.And Eliseus spoke to the woman, whose son he had restored to life, +saying: Arise, and go thou, and thy household, and sojourn wheresoever +thou canst find: for the Lord hath called a famine, and it shall come +upon the land seven years. + +8:2. And she arose, and did according to the word of the man of God: +and going with her household, she sojourned in the land of the +Philistines many days. + +8:3. And when the seven years were ended, the woman returned out of the +land of the Philistines, and she went forth to speak to the king for +her house and for her lands. + +8:4. And the king talked with Giezi, the servant of the man of God, +saying: Tell me all the great things that Eliseus hath done. + +8:5. And when he was telling the king how he had raised one dead to +life, the woman appeared, whose son he had restored to life, crying to +the king for her house, and her lands. And Giezi said: My lord, O king, +this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Eliseus raised to life. + +8:6. And the king asked the woman: and she told him. And the king +appointed her an eunuch, saying: Restore her all that is hers, and all +the revenues of the lands, from the day that she left the land to this +present. + +8:7. Eliseus also came to Damascus, and Benadad, king of Syria was +sick; and they told him, saying: The man of God is come hither. + +8:8. And the king said to Hazael: Take with thee presents, and go to +meet the man of God, and consult the Lord by him, saying: Can I recover +of this my illness? + +8:9. And Hazael went to meet him, taking with him presents, and all the +good things of Damascus, the burdens of forty camels. And when he stood +before him, he said: Thy son, Benadad, the king of Syria, hath sent me +to thee, saying: Can I recover of this my illness? + +8:10. And Eliseus said to him: Go tell him: Thou shalt recover: but +the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die. + +Tell him: thou shalt recover. . .By these words the prophet signified +that the king's disease was not mortal: and that he would recover if no +violence were used. Or he might only express himself in this manner, by +way of giving Hazael to understand that he knew both what he would say +and do; that he would indeed tell the king he should recover; but would +be himself the instrument of his death. + +8:11. And he stood with him, and was troubled so far as to blush: and +the man of God wept. + +8:12. And Hazael said to him: Why doth my lord weep? And he said: +Because I know the evil that thou wilt do to the children of Israel. +Their strong cities thou wilt burn with fire, and their young men thou +wilt kill with the sword, and thou wilt dash their children, and rip up +their pregnant women. + +8:13. And Hazael said: But what am I, thy servant, a dog, that I should +do this great thing? And Eliseus said: The Lord hath shewed me that +thou shalt be king of Syria. + +8:14. And when he was departed from Eliseus he came to his master, who +said to him: What said Eliseus to thee? And he answered: He told me: +Thou shalt recover. + +8:15. And on the next day, he took a blanket, and poured water on it, +and spread it upon his face: and he died, and Hazael reigned in his +stead. + +8:16. In the fifth year of Joram, son of Achab, king of Israel, and of +Josaphat, king of Juda, reigned Joram, son of Josaphat, king of Juda. + +And of Josaphat, etc. . .That is, Josaphat being yet alive, who sometime +before his death made his son Joram king, as David had done before by +his own son Solomon. + +8:17. He was two and thirty years old when he began to reign, and he +reigned eight years in Jerusalem. + +8:18. And he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of +Achab had walked: for the daughter of Achab was his wife: and he did +that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. + +8:19. But the Lord would not destroy Juda, for David his servant's +sake, as he had promised him, to give him a light, and to his children +always. + +8:20. In his days Edom revolted from being under Juda, and made +themselves a king. + +8:21. And Joram came to Seira, and all the chariots with him: and he +arose in the night, and defeated the Edomites that had surrounded him, +and the captains of the chariots, but the people fled into their tents. + +8.22. So Edom revolted from being under Juda, unto this day. Then Lobna +also revolted at the same time. + +8:23. But the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they +not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? + +8:24. And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with them in the +city of David, and Ochozias, his son, reigned in his stead. + +8:25. In the twelfth year of Joram, the son of Achab, king of Israel, +reigned Ochozias, son of Joram, king of Juda. + +8:26. Ochozias was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and +he reigned one year in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Athalia +the daughter of Amri king of Israel. + +Daughter. . .That is, grand-daughter; for she was daughter of Achab son +of Amri, ver. 18. + +8:27. And he walked in the ways of the house of Achab: and he did evil +before the Lord, as did the house of Achab: for he was the son in law +of the house of Achab. + +8:28. He went also with Joram, son of Achab, to fight against Hazael, +king of Syria, in Ramoth Galaad, and the Syrians wounded Joram: + +8:29. And he went back to be healed, in Jezrahel: because the Syrians +had wounded him in Ramoth, when he fought against Hazael, king of Syria +And Ochozias, the son of Joram, king of Juda, went down to visit Joram, +the son of Achab, in Jezrahel, because he was sick there. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 9 + + +Jehu is anointed king of Israel, to destroy the house of Achab and +Jezebel. He killeth Joram king of Israel, and Ochozias king of Juda. +Jezebel is eaten by dogs. + +9:1. And Eliseus the prophet, called one of the sons of the prophets, +and said to him: Gird up thy loins, and take this little bottle of oil +in thy hand, and go to Ramoth Galaad. + +9:2. And when thou art come thither, thou shalt see Jehu the son of +Josaphat the son of Namsi: and going in, thou shalt make him rise up +from amongst his brethren, and carry him into an inner chamber. + +9:3. Then taking the little bottle of oil, thou shalt pour it on his +head, and shalt say: Thus saith the Lord: I have anointed thee king +over Israel. And thou shalt open the door and flee, and shalt not stay +there. + +9:4. So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went away to Ramoth +Galaad, + +9:5. And went in thither: and behold, the captains of the army were +sitting, and he said: I have a word to thee, O prince. And Jehu said: +Unto whom of us all? And he said: To thee, O prince. + +9:6. And he arose, and went into the chamber: and he poured the oil +upon his head, and said: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: I have +anointed thee king over Israel, the people of the Lord. + +9:7. And thou shalt cut off the house of Achab, thy master, and I will +revenge the blood of my servants, the prophets, and the blood of all +the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezabel. + +9:8. And I will destroy all the house of Achab, and I will cut off from +Achab, him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up, and +the meanest in Israel. + +9:9. And I will make the house of Achab, like the house of Jeroboam, +the son of Nabat, and like the house of Baasa, the son of Ahias. + +9:10. And the dogs shall eat Jezabel, in the field of Jezrahel, and +there shall be no one to bury her. And he opened the door and fled. + +9:11. Then Jehu went forth to the servants of his Lord: and they said +to him: Are all things well? why came this madman to thee? And he said +to them: You know the man, and what he said. + +9:12. But they answered: It is false; but rather do thou tell us. And +he said to them: Thus and thus did he speak to me: and he said: Thus +saith the Lord: I have anointed thee king over Israel. + +9:13. Then they made haste, and taking every man his garment, laid it +under his feet, after the manner of a judgment seat, and they sounded +the trumpet, and said: Jehu is king. + +9:14. So Jehu, the son of Josaphat, the son of Namsi, conspired against +Joram. Now Joram had besieged Ramoth Galaad, he, and all Israel, +fighting with Hazael, king of Syria: + +9:15. And was returned to be healed in Jezrahel of his wounds; for the +Syrians had wounded him, when he fought with Hazael, king of Syria. And +Jehu said: If it please you, let no man go forth or flee out of the +city, lest he go, and tell in Jezrahel. + +9:16. And he got up, and went into Jezrahel for Joram was sick there, +and Ochozias king of Juda, was come down to visit Joram. + +9:17. The watchman therefore, that stood upon the tower of Jezrahel, +saw the troop of Jehu coming, and said: I see a troop. And Joram said: +Take a chariot, and send to meet them, and let him that goeth say: Is +all well? + +9:18. So there went one in a chariot to meet him, and said: Thus saith +the king: Are all things peaceable? And Jehu said: What hast thou to +do with peace? go behind and follow me. And the watchman told, saying: +The messenger came to them, but he returneth not. + +9:19. And he sent a second chariot of horses: and he came to them, and +said: Thus saith the king: Is there peace? And Jehu said: What hast +thou to do with peace? pass, and follow me. + +9:20. And the watchman told, saying: He came even to them, but +returneth not: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu, the son of +Namsi; for he drives furiously. + +9:21. And Joram said: Make ready the chariot. And they made ready his +chariot: and Joram, king of Israel, and Ochozias, king of Juda, went +out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu, and met him +in the field of Naboth, the Jezrahelite. + +9:22. And when Joram saw Jehu, he said: Is there peace, Jehu? And he +answered: What peace? so long as the fornications of Jezabel, thy +mother, and her many sorceries, are in their vigour. + +9:23. And Joram turned his hand, and fleeing, said to Ochozias: There +is treachery, Ochozias. + +9:24. But Jehu bent his bow with his hand, and shot Joram between the +shoulders: and the arrow went out through his heart, and immediately he +fell in his chariot. + +9:25. And Jehu said to Badacer, his captain: Take him, and cast him +into the field of Naboth, the Jezrahelite: for I remember, when I and +thou, sitting in a chariot, followed Achab, this man's father, that the +Lord laid this burden upon him, saying: + +9:26. If I do not requite thee in this field, saith the Lord, for the +blood of Naboth, and for the blood of his children, which I saw +yesterday, saith the Lord. So now take him, and cast him into the +field, according to the word of the Lord. + +9:27. But Ochozias, king of Juda, seeing this, fled by the way of the +garden house: and Jehu pursued him, and said: Strike him also in his +chariot. And they struck him in the going up to Gaver, which is by +Jeblaam: and he fled into Mageddo, and died there. + +9:28. And his servants laid him upon his chariot, and carried him to +Jerusalem: and they buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers, in +the city of David. + +9:29. In the eleventh year of Joram, the son of Achab, Ochozias reigned +over Juda; + +9:30. And Jehu came into Jezrahel. But Jezabel, hearing of his coming +in, painted her face with stibic stone, and adorned her head, and +looked out of a window. + +9:31. At Jehu coming in at the gate, and said: Can there be peace for +Zambri, that hath killed his master? + +9:32. And Jehu lifted up his face to the window, and said: Who is this? +And two or three eunuchs bowed down to him. + +9:33. And he said to them: Throw her down headlong; And they threw her +down, and the wall was sprinkled with her blood, and the hoofs of the +horses trod upon her. + +9:34. And when he was come in to eat, and to drink, he said: Go, and +see after that cursed woman, and bury her; because she is a king's +daughter. + +9:35. And when they went to bury her, they found nothing but the skull, +and the feet, and the extremities of her hands. + +9:36. And coming back they told him. And Jehu said: It is the word of +the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Elias, the Thesbite, saying: In +the field of Jezrahel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezabel. + +9:37. And the flesh of Jezabel shall be as dung upon the face of the +earth in the field of Jezrahel; so that they who pass by shall say: Is +this that same Jezabel? + + + +4 Kings Chapter 10 + + +Jehu destroyeth the house of Achab: abolisheth the worship of Baal, and +killeth the worshippers: but sticketh to the calves of Jeroboam. Israel +is afflicted by the Syrians. + +10:1. And Achab had seventy sons in Samaria: so Jehu wrote letters, and +sent to Samaria, to the chief men of the city, and to the ancients, and +to them that brought up Achab's children, saying: + +10:2. As soon as you receive these letters, ye that have your master's +sons, and chariots, and horses, and fenced cities, and armour, + +10:3. Choose the best, and him that shall please you most of your +master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for the +house of your master. + +10:4. But they were exceedingly afraid, and said: Behold two kings +could not stand before him, and how shall we be able to resist? + +10:5. Therefore they that were over the king's house, and the rulers of +the city, and the ancients, and the bringers up of the children, sent +to Jehu, saying: We are thy servants: whatsoever thou shalt command us +we will do; we will not make us any king: do thou all that pleaseth +thee. + +10:6. And he wrote letters the second time to them, saying: If you be +mine, and will obey me, take the heads of the sons of your master, and +come to me to Jezrahel by tomorrow at this time. Now the king's sons, +being seventy men, were brought up with the chief men of the city. + +10:7. And when the letters came to them, they took the king's sons, and +slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to +him to Jezrahel. + +10:8. And a messenger came, and told him, saying: They have brought the +heads of the king's sons. And he said: Lay ye them in two heaps by the +entering in of the gate until the morning. + +10:9. And when it was light, he went out, and standing, said to all the +people: You are just: if I conspired against my master, and slew him; +who hath slain all these? + +10:10. See therefore now that there hath not fallen to the ground any +of the words of the Lord, which the Lord spoke concerning the house of +Achab, and the Lord hath done that which he spoke in the hand of his +servant Elias. + +10:11. So Jehu slew all that were left of the house of Achab in +Jezrahel, and all his chief men, and his friends, and his priests, till +there were no remains left of him. + +10:12. And he arose, and went to Samaria: and when he was come to the +shepherds' cabin in the way, + +10:13. He met with the brethren of Ochozias, king of Juda, and he said +to them: Who are you? And they answered: We are the brethren of +Ochozias, and are come down to salute the sons of the king, and the +sons of the queen. + +10:14. And he said: Take them alive. And they took them alive, and +killed them at the pit by the cabin, two and forty men, and he left not +any of them. + +10:15. And when he was departed thence, he found Jonadab, the son of +Rechab, coming to meet him, and he blessed him. And he said to him: Is +thy heart right as my heart is with thy heart? And Jonadab said: It is. +If it be, said he, give me thy hand. He gave him his hand. And he +lifted him up to him into the chariot, + +10:16. And said to him: Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord. So +he made him ride in his chariot, + +10:17. And brought him into Samaria. And he slew all that were left of +Achab, in Samaria, to a man, according to the word of the Lord which he +spoke by Elias. + +10:18. And Jehu gathered together all the people, and said to them: +Achab worshipped Baal a little, but I will worship him more. + +I will worship him more. . .Jehu sinned in thus pretending to worship +Baal, and causing sacrifice to be offered to him: because evil is not +to be done, that good may come of it. Rom. 3.8. + +10:19. Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, and all his +servants, and all his priests: let none be wanting, for I have a great +sacrifice to offer to Baal: whosoever shall be wanting, shall not live. +Now Jehu did this craftily, that he might destroy the worshippers of +Baal. + +10:20. And he said: Proclaim a festival for Baal. And he called, + +10:21. And he sent into all the borders of Israel; and all the servants +of Baal came: there was not one left that did not come. And they went +into the temple of Baal: and the house of Baal was filled, from one end +to the other. + +10:22. And he said to them that were over the wardrobe: Bring forth +garments for all the servants of Baal. And they brought them forth +garments. + +10:23. And Jehu, and Jonadab, the son of Rechab, went to the temple of +Baal, and said to the worshippers of Baal: Search, and see that there +be not any with you of the servants of the Lord, but that there be the +servants of Baal only. + +10:24. And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings: but +Jehu had prepared him fourscore men without, and said to them: If any +of the men escape, whom I have brought into your hands, he that letteth +him go, shall answer life for life. + +10:25. And it came to pass, when the burnt offering was ended, that +Jehu commanded his soldiers and captains, saying: Go in, and kill them: +let none escape. And the soldiers and captains slew them with the edge +of the sword, and cast them out: and they went into the city of the +temple of Baal, + +10:26. And brought the statue out of Baal's temple, and burnt it, + +10:27. And broke it in pieces. They destroyed also the temple of Baal, +and made a jakes in its place unto this day. + +10:28. So Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel: + +10:29. But yet he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of +Nabat, who made Israel to sin, nor did he forsake the golden calves +that were in Bethel, and Dan. + +10:30. And the Lord said to Jehu: because thou hast diligently executed +that which was right and pleasing in my eyes, and hast done to the +house of Achab according to all that was in my heart: thy children +shall sit upon the throne of Israel to the fourth generation. + +10:31. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of +Israel, with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of +Jeroboam, who had made Israel to sin. + +10:32. In those days the Lord began to be weary of Israel: and Hazael +ravaged them in all the coasts of Israel, + +10:33. From the Jordan eastward, all the land of Galaad, and Gad, and +Ruben, and Manasses, from Aroer, which is upon the torrent Arnon, and +Galaad, and Basan. + +10:34. But the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and his +strength, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of +the kings of Israel? + +10:35. And Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria: +and Joachaz, his son, reigned in his stead. + +10:36. And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel, in Samaria, was +eight and twenty years. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 11 + + +Athalia's usurpation and tyranny. Joas is made king. Athalia is slain. + +11:1. Now Athalia, the mother of Ochozias, seeing that her son was +dead, arose and slew all the royal seed. + +11:2. But Josaba the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ochozias, took +Joas, the son of Ochozias, and stole him from among the king's sons +that were slain, out of the bedchamber with his nurse: and hid him from +the face of Athalia; so that he was not slain. + +11:3. And he was with her six years, hid in the house of the Lord. And +Athalia reigned over the land. + +11:4. And in the seventh year Joiada sent, and taking the centurions +and soldiers, brought them in to him into the temple of the Lord, and +made a covenant with them: and taking an oath of them in the house of +the Lord, shewed them the king's son: + +11:5. And he commanded them, saying: This is the thing that you must +do. + +11:6. Let a third part of you go in on the sabbath, and keep the watch +of the king's house. And let a third part be at the gate of Sur; and +let a third part be at the gate behind the dwelling of the +shieldbearers; and you shall keep the watch of the house of Messa. + +11:7. But let two parts of you all that go forth on the sabbath, keep +the watch of the house of the Lord about the king. + +11:8. And you shall compass him round about, having weapons in your +hands: and if any man shall enter the precinct of the temple, let him +be slain: and you shall be with the king, coming in and going out. + +11:9. And the centurions did according to all things that Joiada the +priest, had commanded them: and taking every one their men, that went +in on the sabbath, with them that went out in the sabbath, came to +Joiada, the priest. + +11:10. And he gave them the spears, and the arms of king David, which +were in the house of the Lord. + +11:11. And they stood, having every one their weapons in their hands, +from the right side of the temple, unto the left side of the altar, and +of the temple, about the king. + +11:12. And he brought forth the king's son, and put the diadem upon +him, and the testimony: and they made him king, and anointed him: and +clapping their hands, they said: God save the king. + +The testimony. . .The book of the law. + +11:13. And Athalia heard the noise of the people running: and going in +to the people into the temple of the Lord, + +11:14. She saw the king standing upon a tribunal, as the manner was, +and the singers, and the trumpets near him, and all the people of the +land rejoicing, and sounding the trumpets: and she rent her garments, +and cried: A conspiracy, a conspiracy. + +A tribunal. . .A tribune, or a place elevated above the rest. + +11:15. But Joiada commanded the centurions that were over the army, and +said to them: Have her forth without the precinct of the temple, and +whosoever shall follow her, let him be slain with the sword. For the +priest had said: Let her not be slain in the temple of the Lord. + +11:16. And they laid hands on her: and thrust her out by the way by +which the horses go in, by the palace, and she was slain there. + +11:17. And Joiada made a covenant between the Lord, and the king, and +the people, that they should be the people of the Lord; and between the +king and the people. + +11:18. And all the people of the land went into the temple of Baal, and +broke down his altars, and his images they broke in pieces thoroughly: +they slew also Mathan the priest of Baal before the altar. And the +priest set guards in the house of the Lord. + +11:19. And he took the centurions, and the bands of the Cerethi, and +the Phelethi, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king +from the house of the Lord: and they came by the way of the gate of the +shieldbearers into the palace, and he sat on the throne of the kings. + +11:20. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet: +but Athalia was slain with the sword in the king's house. + +11:21. Now Joas was seven years old when he began to reign. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 12 + + +The temple is repaired. Hazael is bought off from attacking Jerusalem. +Joas is slain. + +12:1. In the seventh year of Jehu, Joas began to reign: and he reigned +forty years in Jerusalem. The name of his mother was Sebia, of +Bersabee. + +12:2. And Joas did that which was right before the Lord all the days +that Joiada, the priest, taught him. + +12:3. But yet he took not away the high places: for the people still +sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. + +12:4. And Joas said to the priests: all the money of the sanctified +things, which is brought into the temple of the Lord by those that +pass, which is offered for the price of a soul, and which of their own +accord, and of their own free heart, they bring into the temple of the +Lord: + +Sanctified. . .That is, dedicated to God's service.--Ibid. The price of +a soul. . .That is, the ordinary oblation, which every soul was to offer +by the law. Ex. 30. + +12:5. Let the priests take it according to their order and repair the +house, wheresoever they shall see any thing that wanteth repairing. + +12:6. Now till the three and twentieth year of king Joas the priests +did not make the repairs of the temple. + +12:7. And king Joas called Joiada, the high priest, and the priests, +saying to them: Why do you not repair the temple? Take you, therefore, +money no more according to your order, but restore it for the repairing +of the temple. + +12:8. And the priests were forbidden to take any more money of the +people, and to make the repairs of the house. + +12:9. And Joiada, the high priest, took a chest, and bored a hole in +the top, and set it by the altar at the right hand of them that came +into the house of the Lord; and the priests that kept the doors, put +therein all the money that was brought to the temple of the Lord. + +12:10. And when they saw that there was very much money in the chest, +the king's scribe, and the high priest, came up, and poured it out, and +counted the money that was found in the house of the Lord. + +12:11. And they gave it out by number and measure into the hands of +them that were over the builders of the house of the Lord: and they +laid it out to the carpenters, and the masons, that wrought in the +house of the Lord, + +12:12. And made the repairs: and to them that cut stones, and to buy +timber, and stones to be hewed, that the repairs of the house of the +Lord might be completely finished, and wheresoever there was need of +expenses to uphold the house. + +12:13. But there were not made of the same money for the temple of the +Lord, bowls, or fleshhooks, or censers, or trumpets, or any vessel of +gold and silver, of the money that was brought into the temple of the +Lord: + +12:14. For it was given to them that did the work, that the temple of +the Lord might be repaired. + +12:15. And they reckoned not with the men that received the money to +distribute it to the workmen, but they bestowed it faithfully. + +12:16. But the money for trespass, and the money for sins, they brought +not into the temple of the Lord, because it was for the priests. + +12:17. Then Hazael, king of Syria, went up, and fought against Geth, +and took it, and set his face to go up to Jerusalem. + +12:18. Wherefore Joas, king of Juda, took all the sanctified things, +which Josaphat, and Joram, and Ochozias, his fathers, the kings of +Juda, had dedicated to holy uses, and which he himself had offered: and +all the silver that could be found in the treasures of the temple of +the Lord, and in the king's palace: and sent it to Hazael, king of +Syria, and he went off from Jerusalem. + +12:19. And the rest of the acts of Joas, and all that he did, are they +not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? + +12:20. And his servants arose, and conspired among themselves, and slew +Joas, in the house of Mello, in the descent of Sella. + +12:21. For Josachar the son of Semaath, and Jozabad the son of Somer +his servant, struck him, and he died: and they buried him with his +fathers in the city of David; and Amasias, his son, reigned in his +stead. + +The city of David. . .He was buried in the same city with his fathers, +but not in the sepulchres of the kings. 2 Par. 14. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 13 + + +The reign of Joachaz and of Joas kings of Israel. The last acts and +death of Eliseus the prophet: a dead man is raised to life by the touch +of his bones. + +13:1. In the three and twentieth year of Joas son of Ochozias, king of +Juda, Joachaz, the son of Jehu, reigned over Israel, in Samaria, +seventeen years. + +13:2. And he did evil before the Lord, and followed the sins of +Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, who made Israel to sin; and he departed not +from them. + +13:3. And the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he +delivered them into the hand of Hazael, the king of Syria, and into the +hand of Benadad, the son of Hazael, all days. + +13:4. But Joachaz besought the face of the Lord, and the Lord heard +him: for he saw the distress of Israel, because the king of Syria had +oppressed them: + +13:5. And the Lord gave Israel a saviour, and they were delivered out +of the hand of the king of Syria: and the children of Israel dwelt in +their pavilions as yesterday and the day before. + +13:6. But yet they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, +who made Israel to sin, but walked in them: and there still remained a +grove also in Samaria. + +A grove. . .Dedicated to the worship of idols. + +13:7. And Joachaz had no more left of the people than fifty horsemen, +and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen: for the king of Syria had +slain them, and had brought them low as dust by threshing in the +barnfloor. + +13:8. But the rest of the acts of Joachaz, and all that he did, and his +valour, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of +the kings of Israel? + +13:9. And Joachaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in +Samaria: and Joas, his son, reigned in his stead. + +13:10. In the seven and thirtieth year of Joas, king of Juda, Joas the +son of Joachaz reigned over Israel, in Samaria, sixteen years. + +13:11. And he did that which is evil in the sight of the Lord: he +departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, who made +Israel to sin; but he walked in them. + +13:12. But the rest of the acts of Joas, and all that he did, and his +valour wherewith he fought against Amasias, king of Juda, are they not +written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel? + +13:13. And Joas slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his +throne. But Joas was buried in Samaria, with the kings of Israel. + +13:14. Now Eliseus was sick of the illness whereof he died: and Joas, +king of Israel, went down to him, and wept before him, and said: O my +father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the guider thereof. + +13:15. And Eliseus said to him: Bring a bow and arrows. And when he had +brought him a bow and arrows, + +13:16. He said to the king of Israel: Put thy hand upon the bow. And +when he had put his hand, Eliseus put his hands over the king's hands, + +13:17. And said: Open the window to the east. And when he had opened +it, Eliseus said: Shoot an arrow. And he shot. And Eliseus said: The +arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of the deliverance from +Syria: and thou shalt strike the Syrians in Aphec, till thou consume +them. + +13:18. And he said: Take the arrows. And when he had taken them, he +said to him: Strike with an arrow upon the ground. And he struck three +times, and stood still. + +13:19. And the man of God was angry with him, and said: If thou hadst +smitten five or six or seven times, thou hadst smitten Syria even to +utter destruction: but now three times shalt thou smite it. + +If thou hadst smitten, etc. . .By this it appears that God had revealed +to the prophet that the king should overcome the Syrians as many times +as he should then strike on the ground; but as he had not at the same +time revealed to him how often the king would strike, the prophet was +concerned to see that he struck but thrice. + +13:20. And Eliseus died, and they buried him. And the rovers from Moab +came into the land the same year. + +13:21. And some that were burying a man, saw the rovers, and cast the +body into the sepulchre of Eliseus. And when it had touched the bones +of Eliseus, the man came to life and stood upon his feet. + +13:22. Now Hazael, king of Syria, afflicted Israel all the days of +Joachaz. + +13:23. And the Lord had mercy on them, and returned to them, because of +his covenant, which he had made with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob: and +he would not destroy them, nor utterly cast them away, unto this +present time. + +13:24. And Hazael, king of Syria, died; and Benadad, his son, reigned +in his stead. + +13:25. Now Joas the son of Joachaz, took the cities out of the hand of +Benadad, the son of Hazael, which he had taken out of the hand of +Joachaz, his father, by war; three times did Joas beat him, and he +restored the cities to Israel. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 14 + + +Amasias reigneth in Juda: he overcometh the Edomites: but is overcome +by Joas king of Israel. Jereboam the second reigneth in Israel. + +14:1. In the second year of Joas son of Joachaz, king of Israel, +reigned Amasias son of Joas, king of Juda. + +14:2. He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign; and nine +and twenty years he reigned in Jerusalem; the name of his mother was +Joadan, of Jerusalem. + +14:3. And he did that which was right before the Lord, but yet not like +David his father. He did according to all things that Joas his father, +did: + +14:4. But this only, that he took not away the high places; for yet the +people sacrificed, and burnt incense in the high places: + +14:5. And when he had possession of the kingdom, he put his servants to +death that had slain the king, his father. + +14:6. But the children of the murderers he did not put to death, +according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, +wherein the Lord commanded, saying: The fathers shall not be put to +death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for +the fathers: but every man shall die for his own sin. + +14:7. He slew of Edom in the valley of the Saltpits, ten thousand men, +and took the rock by war, and called the name thereof Jectehel, unto +this day. + +14:8. Then Amasias sent messengers to Joas, son of Joachaz, son of +Jehu, king of Israel, saying: Come, let us see one another. + +Let us see one another. . .This was a challenge to fight. + +14:9. And Joas, king of Israel, sent again to Amasias, king of Juda, +saying: A thistle of Libanus sent to a cedar tree, which is in Libanus, +saying: Give thy daughter to my son to wife. And the beasts of the +forest, that are in Libanus, passed, and trod down the thistle. + +14:10. Thou hast beaten and prevailed over Edom, and thy heart hath +lifted thee up; be content with this glory, and sit at home; why +provokest thou evil, that thou shouldst fall, and Juda with thee? + +14:11. But Amasias did not rest satisfied. So Joas, king of Israel, +went up; and he and Amasias, king of Juda, saw one another in +Bethsames, a town in Juda. + +14:12. And Juda was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every +man to their dwellings. + +14:13. But Joas, king of Israel, took Amasias, king of Juda, the son of +Joas, the son of Ochozias, in Bethsames, and brought him into +Jerusalem; and he broke down the wall of Jerusalem, from the gate of +Ephraim to the gate of the corner, four hundred cubits. + +14:14. And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that +were found in the house of the Lord, and in the king's treasures, and +hostages, and returned to Samaria. + +14:15. But the rest of the acts of Joas, which he did, and his valour, +wherewith he fought against Amasias, king of Juda, are they not written +in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel? + +14:16. And Joas slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, with +the kings of Israel: and Jeroboam, his son, reigned in his stead. + +14:17. And Amasias, the son of Joas, king of Juda, lived after the +death of Joas, son of Joachaz, king of Israel, fifteen years. + +14:18. And the rest of the acts of Amasias, are they not written in the +book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? + +14:19. Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled +to Lachis. And they sent after him to Lachis, and killed him there. + +14:20. And they brought him away upon horses, and he was buried in +Jerusalem with his fathers, in the city of David. + +14:21. And all the people of Juda took Azarias, who was sixteen years +old, and made him king instead of his father, Amasias. + +14:22. He built Elath, and restored it to Juda, after that the king +slept with his fathers. + +14:23. In the fifteenth year of Amasias, son of Joas, king of Juda, +reigned Jeroboam, the son of Joas, king of Israel, in Samaria, one and +forty years: + +14:24. And he did that which is evil before the Lord. He departed not +from all the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, who made Israel to +sin. + +14:25. He restored the borders of Israel from the entrance of Emath, +unto the sea of the wilderness, according to the word of the Lord, the +God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant, Jonas, the son of Amathi, +the prophet, who was of Geth, which is in Opher. + +Opher. . .The tribe of Zabulon. + +14:26. For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was +exceedingly bitter, and that they were consumed even to them that were +shut up in prison, and the lowest persons, and that there was no one to +help Israel. + +14:27. And the Lord did not say that he would blot out the name of +Israel from under heaven; but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam, +the son of Joas. + +14:28. But the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and +his valour, wherewith he fought, and how he restored Damascus and Emath +to Juda, in Israel, are they not written in the book of the words of +the days of the kings of Israel? + +14:29. And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, the kings of Israel; and +Zacharias, his son, reigned in his stead. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 15 + + +The reign of Azarias, and Joatham in Juda: and of Zacharias, Sellum, +Manahem, Phaceia, and Phacee in Israel. + +15:1. In the seven and twentieth year of Jeroboam, king of Israel, +reigned Azarias, son of Amasias, king of Juda. + +Azarias. . .Otherwise called Ozias. + +15:2. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned +two and fifty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Jechelia, +of Jerusalem. + +15:3. And he did that which was pleasing before the Lord, according to +all that his father, Amasias, had done. + +15:4. But the high places he did not destroy, for the people +sacrificed, and burnt incense in the high places. + +15:5. And the Lord struck the king, so that he was a leper unto the day +of his death, and he dwelt in a free house apart: but Joatham, the +king's son, governed the palace, and judged the people of the land. + +A leper. . .In punishment of his usurping the priestly function. 2 Par. +26. + +15:6. And the rest of the acts of Azarias, and all that he did, are +they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of +Juda? + +15:7. And Azarias slept with his fathers: and they buried him with his +ancestors in the city of David, and Joatham, his son, reigned in his +stead. + +15:8. In the eight and thirtieth year of Azarias, king of Juda, reigned +Zacharias, son of Jeroboam, over Israel, in Samaria, six months: + +15:9. And he did that which is evil before the Lord, as his fathers had +done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who +made Israel to sin. + +15:10. And Sellum, the son of Jabes, conspired against him: and struck +him publicly, and killed him, and reigned in his place. + +15:11. Now the rest of the acts of Zacharias, are they not written in +the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel? + +15:12. This was the word of the Lord, which he spoke to Jehu, saying: +Thy children, to the fourth generation, shall sit upon the throne of +Israel. And so it came to pass. + +15:13. Sellum, the son of Jabes, began to reign in the nine and +thirtieth year of Azarias, king of Juda: and reigned one month in +Samaria. + +15:14. And Manahem, the son of Gadi, went up from Thersa, and he came +into Samaria, and struck Sellum, the son of Jabes, in Samaria, and slew +him, and reigned in his stead. + +15:15. And the rest of the acts of Sellum, and his conspiracy which he +made, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the +kings of Israel? + +15:16. Then Manahem destroyed Thapsa and all that were in it, and the +borders thereof from Thersa, because they would not open to him: and he +slew all the women thereof that were with child, and ripped them up. + +15:17. In the nine and thirtieth year of Azarias, king of Juda, reigned +Manahem, son of Gadi, over Israel, ten years, in Samaria. + +15:18. And he did that which was evil before the Lord: he departed not +from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, who made Israel to sin, +all his days. + +15:19. And Phul, king of the Assyrians, came into the land, and Manahem +gave Phul a thousand talents of silver to aid him and to establish him +in the kingdom. + +15:20. And Manahem laid a tax upon Israel, on all that were mighty and +rich, to give the king of the Assyrians, each man fifty sicles of +silver: so the king of the Assyrians turned back, and did not stay in +the land. + +15:21. And the rest of the acts of Manahem, and all that he did, are +they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of +Israel? + +15:22. And Manahem slept with his fathers: and Phaceia, his son, +reigned in his stead. + +15:23. In the fiftieth year of Azarias, king of Juda, reigned Phaceia, +the son of Manahem, over Israel, in Samaria, two years. + +15:24. And he did that which was evil before the Lord: he departed not +from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, who made Israel to sin. + +15:25. And Phacee the son of Romelia, his captain, conspired against +him, and smote him in Samaria, in the tower of the king's house, near +Argob, and near Arie, and with him fifty men of the sons of the +Galaadites, and he slew him, and reigned in his stead. + +15:26. And the rest of the acts of Phaceia, and all that he did, are +they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of +Israel? + +15:27. In the two and fiftieth year of Azarias, king of Juda, reigned +Phacee, the son of Romelia, over Israel, in Samaria, twenty years. + +15:28. And he did that which was evil before the Lord: he departed not +from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, who made Israel to sin. + +15:29. In the days of Phacee, king of Israel, came Theglathphalasar, +king of Assyria, and took Aion, and Abel Domum Maacha, and Janoe, and +Cedes, and Asor, and Galaad, and Galilee, and all the land of +Nephthali: and carried them captives into Assyria. + +15:30. Now Osee, son of Ela, conspired, and formed a plot against +Phacee, the son of Romelia, and struck him, and slew him: and reigned +in his stead in the twentieth year of Joatham, the son of Ozias. + +In the twentieth year of Joatham. . .That is, in the twentieth year, +from the beginning of Joatham's reign. The sacred writer chooses rather +to follow here this date than to speak of the years of Achaz, who had +not yet been mentioned. + +15:31. But the rest of the acts of Phacee, and all that he did, are +they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of +Israel? + +15:32. In the second year of Phacee, the son of Romelia king of Israel, +reigned Joatham, son of Ozias, king of Juda. + +15:33. He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he +reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Jerusa, +the daughter of Sadoc. + +15:34. And he did that which was right before the Lord: according to +all that his father Ozias had done, so did he. + +15:35. But the high places he took not away: the people still +sacrificed, and burnt incense in the high places: he built the highest +gate of the house of the Lord. + +15:36. But the rest of the acts of Joatham, and all that he did, are +they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of +Juda? + +15:37. In those days the Lord began to send into Juda, Rasin king of +Syria, and Phacee the son of Romelia. + +15:38. And Joatham slept with his fathers, and was buried with them in +the city of David, his father; and Achaz, his son, reigned in his +stead. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 16 + + +The wicked reign of Achaz: the kings of Syria and Israel war against +him: he hireth the king of the Assyrians to assist him: he causeth an +altar to be made after the pattern of that of Damascus. + +16:1. In the seventeenth year of Phacee, the son of Romelia reigned +Achaz, the son of Joatham, king of Juda. + +16:2. Achaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned +sixteen years in Jerusalem: he did not that which was pleasing in the +sight of the Lord, his God, as David, his father. + +16:3. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel: moreover, he +consecrated also his son, making him pass through the fire, according +to the idols of the nations which the Lord destroyed before the +children of Israel. + +16:4. He sacrificed also, and burnt incense in the high places, and on +the hills, and under every green tree. + +16:5. Then Rasin, king of Syria, and Phacee, son of Romelia, king of +Israel, came up to Jerusalem to fight: and they besieged Achaz, but +were not able to overcome him. + +16:6. At that time Rasin, king of Syria, restored Aila to Syria, and +drove the men of Juda out of Aila: and the Edomites came into Aila, and +dwelt there unto this day. + +16:7. And Achaz sent messengers to Theglathphalasar, king of the +Assyrians, saying: I am thy servant, and thy son: come up, and save me +out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king +of Israel, who are risen up together against me. + +16:8. And when he had gathered together the silver and gold that could +be found in the house of the Lord, and in the king's treasures, he sent +it for a present to the king of the Assyrians. + +16:9. And he agreed to his desire: for the king of the Assyrians went +up against Damascus, and laid it waste: and he carried away the +inhabitants thereof to Cyrene; but Rasin he slew. + +16:10. And king Achaz went to Damascus to meet Theglathphalasar, king +of the Assyrians, and when he had seen the altar of Damascus, king +Achaz sent to Urias, the priest, a pattern of it, and its likeness, +according to all the work thereof. + +16:11. And Urias, the priest, built an altar according to all that king +Achaz had commanded from Damascus so did Urias, the priest, until king +Achaz came from Damascus. + +16:12. And when the king was come from Damascus, he saw the altar and +worshipped it: and went up and offered holocausts, and his own +sacrifice; + +16:13. And he offered libations, and poured the blood of the peace +offerings, which he had offered, upon the altar. + +16:14. But the altar of brass that was before the Lord, he removed from +the face of the temple, and from the place of the altar, and from the +place of the temple of the Lord: and he set it at the side of the altar +towards the north. + +16:15. And king Achaz commanded Urias, the priest, saying: Upon the +great altar offer the morning holocaust, and the evening sacrifice, and +the king's holocaust, and his sacrifice, and the holocaust of the whole +people of the land, and their sacrifices, and their libations: and all +the blood of the holocaust, and all the blood of the victim, thou shalt +pour out upon it: but the altar of brass shall be ready at my pleasure. + +16:16. So Urias, the priest, did according to all that king Achaz had +commanded him. + +16:17. And king Achaz took away the graven bases, and the laver that +was upon them: and he took down the sea from the brazen oxen that held +it up, and put it upon a pavement of stone. + +16:18. The Musach also for the sabbath, which he had built in the +temple, and the king's entry from without, he turned into the temple of +the Lord, because of the king of the Assyrians. + +Musach. . .The covert, or pavilion, or tribune, for the king. + +16:19. Now the rest of the acts of Achaz which he did, are they not +written in the book of the words of the of the days of the kings of +Juda? + +16:20. And Achaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with them in +the city of David, and Ezechias, his son, reigned in his stead. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 17 + + +The reign of Osee. The Israelites for their sins are carried into +captivity: other inhabitants are sent to Samaria, who make a mixture of +religion. + +17:1. In the twelfth year of Achaz king of Juda, Osee the son of Ela +reigned in Samaria, over Israel, nine years. + +In the twelfth year of Achaz king of Juda. . .He began to reign before: +but was not in quiet possession of the kingdom to the twelfth year of +Achaz. + +17:2. And he did evil before the Lord: but not as the kings of Israel +that had been before him. + +17:3. Against him came up Salmanasar, king of the Assyrians; and Osee +became his servant, and paid him tribute. + +17:4. And when the king of the Assyrians found that Osee, endeavouring +to rebel, had sent messengers to Sua, the king of Egypt, that he might +not pay tribute to the king of the Assyrians, as he had done every +year, he besieged him, bound him, and cast him into prison. + +17:5. And he went through all the land: and going up to Samaria, he +besieged it three years. + +17:6. And in the ninth year of Osee, the king of the Assyrians took +Samaria, and carried Israel away to Assyria: and he placed them in +Hala, and Habor, by the river of Gozan, in the cities of the Medes. + +17:7. For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the +Lord, their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, from under +the hand of Pharao, king of Egypt; and they worshipped strange gods. + +17:8. And they walked according to the way of the nations which the +Lord had destroyed in the sight of the children of Israel, and of the +kings of Israel: because they had done in like manner. + +17:9. And the children of Israel offended the Lord, their God, with +things that were not right: and built them high places in all their +cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. + +17:10. And they made them statues and groves on every high hill, and +under every shady tree: + +17:11. And they burnt incense there upon altars, after the manner of +the nations which the Lord had removed from their face: and they did +wicked things, provoking the Lord. + +17:12. And they worshipped abominations, concerning which the Lord had +commanded them that they should not do this thing. + +17:13. And the Lord testified to them in Israel, and in Juda, by the +hand of all the prophets and seers, saying: Return from your wicked +ways, and keep my precepts, and ceremonies, according to all the law +which I commanded your fathers: and as I have sent to you in the hand +of my servants the prophets. + +17:14. And they hearkened not, but hardened their necks like to the +neck of their fathers, who would not obey the Lord, their God. + +17:15. And they rejected his ordinances, and the covenant that he made +with their fathers, and the testimonies which he testified against +them: and they followed vanities, and acted vainly: and they followed +the nations that were round about them, concerning which the Lord had +commanded them that they should not do as they did. + +17:16. And they forsook all the precepts of the Lord, their God: and +made to themselves two molten calves, and groves, and adored all the +host of heaven: and they served Baal, + +17:17. And consecrated their sons, and their daughters, through fire: +and they gave themselves to divinations, and soothsayings: and they +delivered themselves up to do evil before the Lord, to provoke him. + +17:18. And the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from +his sight, and there remained only the tribe of Juda. + +17:19. But neither did Juda itself keep the commandments of the Lord, +their God: but they walked in the errors of Israel, which they had +wrought. + +17:20. And the Lord cast off all the seed of Israel, and afflicted +them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, till he cast them +away from his face: + +17:21. Even from that time, when Israel was rent from the house of +David, and made Jeroboam, son of Nabat, their king: for Jeroboam +separated Israel from the Lord, and made them commit a great sin. + +17:22. And the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam, +which he had done: and they departed not from them, + +17:23. Till the Lord removed Israel from his face, as he had spoken in +the hand of all his servants, the prophets: and Israel was carried away +out of their land to Assyria, unto this day. + +17:24. And the king of the Assyrians brought people from Babylon, and +from Cutha, and from Avah, and from Emath, and from Sepharvaim: and +placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: +and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. + +17:25. And when they began to dwell there, they feared not the Lord: +and the Lord sent lions among them, which killed them. + +17:26. And it was told the king of the Assyrians, and it was said: The +nations which thou hast removed, and made to dwell in the cities of +Samaria, know not the ordinances of the God of the land: and the Lord +hath sent lions among them: and behold they kill them, because they +know not the manner of the God of the land. + +17:27. And the king of the Assyrians commanded, saying: Carry thither +one of the priests whom you brought from thence captive, and let him +go, and dwell with them: and let him teach them the ordinances of the +God of the land. + +17:28. So one of the priests, who had been carried away captive from +Samaria, came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should +worship the Lord. + +17:29. And every nation made gods of their own and put them in the +temples of the high places, which the Samaritans had made, every nation +in their cities where they dwelt. + +17:30. For the men of Babylon made Sochothbenoth: and the Cuthites made +Nergel: and the men of Emath made Asima. + +17:31. And the Hevites made Nebahaz, and Tharthac. And they that were +of Sepharvaim burnt their children in fire, to Adramelech and +Anamelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. + +17:32. And nevertheless they worshipped the Lord. And they made to +themselves, of the lowest of the people, priests of the high places, +and they placed them in the temples of the high places. + +17:33. And when they worshipped the Lord, they served also their own +gods, according to the custom of the nations out of which they were +brought to Samaria: + +17:34. Unto this day they follow the old manner: they fear not the +Lord, neither do they keep his ceremonies, and judgments, and law, and +the commandment, which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom +he surnamed Israel: + +17:35. With whom he made a covenant, and charged them, saying: You +shall not fear strange gods, nor shall you adore them, nor worship +them, nor sacrifice to them. + +17:36. But the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of +Egypt, with great power, and a stretched out arm, him shall you fear, +and him shall you adore, and to him shall you sacrifice. + +17:37. And the ceremonies, and judgments, and law, and the commandment, +which he wrote for you, you shall observe to do them always: and you +shall not fear strange gods. + +17:38. And the covenant that he made with you, you shall not forget: +neither shall ye worship strange Gods, + +17:39. But fear the Lord, your God, and he shall deliver you out of the +hand of all your enemies. + +17:40. But they did not hearken to them, but did according to their old +custom. + +17:41. So these nations feared the Lord, but nevertheless served also +their idols: their children also, and grandchildren, as their fathers +did, so do they unto this day. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 18 + + +The reign of Ezechias: he abolisheth idolatry and prospereth. +Sennacherib cometh up against him: Rabsaces soliciteth the people to +revolt; and blasphemeth the Lord. + +18:1. In the third year of Osee, the son of Ela, king of Israel, +reigned Ezechias, the son of Achaz, king of Juda. + +18:2. He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign: and he +reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was +Abi, the daughter of Zacharias. + +18:3. And he did that which was good before the Lord, according to all +that David, his father, had done + +18:4. He destroyed the high places, and broke the statues in pieces, +and cut down the groves, and broke the brazen serpent, which Moses had +made: for till that time the children of Israel burnt incense to it: +and he called its name Nohestan. + +And he called its name Noheston. . .That is, their brass; or a little +brass. So he called it in contempt, because they had made an idol of +it. + +18:5. He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel: so that after him +there was none like him among all the kings of Juda, nor any of them +that were before him: + +18:6. And he stuck to the Lord, and departed not from his steps, but +kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses. + +18:7. Wherefore the Lord also was with him, and in all things, to which +he went forth, he behaved himself wisely. And he rebelled against the +king of the Assyrians, and served him not. + +18:8. He smote the Philistines as far as Gaza, and all their borders, +from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. + +18:9. In the fourth year of king Ezechias, which was the seventh year +of Osee, the son of Ela, king of Israel, Salmanasar, king of the +Assyrians, came up to Samaria, and besieged it, + +18:10. And took it. For after three years, in the sixth year of +Ezechias, that is, in the ninth year of Osee, king of Israel, Samaria +was taken: + +18:11. And the king of the Assyrians carried away Israel into Assyria, +and placed them in Hala, and in Habor, by the rivers of Gozan, in the +cities of the Medes. + +18:12. Because they hearkened not to the voice of the Lord, their God, +but transgressed his covenant: all that Moses, the servant of the Lord, +commanded, they would not hear, nor do. + +18:13. In the fourteenth year of king Ezechias, Sennacherib, king of +the Assyrians, came up against the fenced cities of Juda, and took +them. + +18:14. Then Ezechias, king of Juda, sent messengers to the king of the +Assyrians, to Lachis, saying: I have offended, depart from me: and all +that thou shalt put upon me, I will bear. And the king of the Assyrians +put a tax upon Ezechias, king of Juda, of three hundred talents of +silver, and thirty talents of gold. + +18:15. And Ezechias gave all the silver that was found in the house of +the Lord, and in the king's treasures. + +18:16. At that time Ezechias broke the doors of the temple of the Lord, +and the plates of gold which he had fastened on them, and gave them to +the king of the Assyrians. + +18:17. And the king of the Assyrians sent Tharthan, and Rabsaris, and +Rabsaces, from Lachis, to king Ezechias, with a strong army, to +Jerusalem: and they went up and came to Jerusalem, and they stood by +the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the way of the fuller's +field. + +18:18. And they called for the king: and there went out to them +Eliacim, the son of Helcias, who was over the house, and Sobna, the +scribe, and Joahe, the son of Asaph, the recorder. + +18:19. And Rabsaces said to them: Speak to Ezechias: Thus saith the +great king, the king of the Assyrians: What is this confidence, wherein +thou trustest? + +18:20. Perhaps thou hast taken counsel, to prepare thyself for battle. +On whom dost thou trust, that thou darest to rebel? + +18:21. Dost thou trust in Egypt a staff of a broken reed, upon which if +a man lean, it will break and go into his hand, and pierce it? so is +Pharao, king of Egypt, to all that trust in him. + +18:22. But if you say to me: We trust in the Lord, our God: is it not +he, whose high places and altars Ezechias hath taken away: and hath +commanded Juda and Jerusalem: You shall worship before this altar in +Jerusalem? + +18:23. Now therefore come over to my master, the king of the Assyrians, +and I will give you two thousand horses, and see whether you be able to +have riders for them. + +18:24. And how can you stand against one lord of the least of my +master's servants? Dost thou trust in Egypt for chariots and for +horsemen? + +18:25. Is it without the will of the Lord that I am come up to this +place to destroy it? The Lord said to me: Go up to this land, and +destroy it. + +18:26. Then Eliacim, the son of Helcias, and Sobna, and Joahe, said to +Rabsaces: We pray thee, speak to us, thy servants, in Syriac: for we +understand that tongue: and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in +the hearing of the people that are upon the wall. + +18:27. And Rabsaces answered them, saying: Hath my master sent me to +thy master, and to thee, to speak these words, and not rather to the +men that sit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink +their urine with you? + +18:28. Then Rabsaces stood, and cried out with a loud voice in the +Jews' language, and said: Hear the word of the great king, the king of +the Assyrians. + +18:29. Thus saith the king: Let not Ezechias deceive you: for he shall +not be able to deliver you out of my hand. + +18:30. Neither let him make you trust in the Lord, saying: The Lord +will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand +of the king of the Assyrians. + +18:31. Do not hearken to Ezechias. For thus saith the king of the +Assyrians: Do with me that which is for your advantage, and come out to +me: and every man of you shall eat of his own vineyard, and of his own +fig tree: and you shall drink water of your own cisterns, + +18:32. Till I come, and take you away, to a land, like to your own +land, a fruitful land, and plentiful in wine, a land of bread and +vineyards, a land of olives, and oil, and honey, and you shall live, +and not die. Hearken not to Ezechias, who deceiveth you, saying: The +Lord will deliver us. + +18:33. Have any of the gods of the nations delivered their land from +the hand of the king of Assyria? + +18:34. Where is the god of Emath, and of Arphad? where is the god of +Sepharvaim, of Ana, and of Ava? have they delivered Samaria out of my +hand? + +18:35. Who are they among all the gods of the nations that have +delivered their country out of my hand, that the Lord may deliver +Jerusalem out of my hand? + +18:36. But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: +for they had received commandment from the king that they should not +answer him. + +18:37. And Eliacim, the son of Helcias, who was over the house, and +Sobna, the scribe, and Joahe, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to +Ezechias, with their garments rent, and told him the words of Rabsaces. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 19 + + +Ezechias is assured of God's help by Isaias the prophet. The king of +the Assyrians still threateneth and blasphemeth. Ezechias prayeth, and +God promiseth to protect Jerusalem. An angel destroyeth the army of the +Assyrians, their king returneth to Nineve, and is slain by his two +sons. + +19:1. And when king Ezechias heard these words, he rent his garments, +and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the +Lord. + +19:2. And he sent Eliacim, who was over the house, and Sobna, the +scribe, and the ancients of the priests, covered with sackcloths, to +Isaias, the prophet, the son of Amos. + +19:3. And they said to him: Thus saith Ezechias: This day is a day of +tribulation, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: the children are come to +the birth, and the woman in travail hath not strength. + +19:4. It may be the Lord, thy God, will hear all the words of Rabsaces, +whom the king of the Assyrians, his master, hath sent to reproach the +living God, and to reprove with words, which the Lord, thy God, hath +heard: and do thou offer prayer for the remnants that are found. + +19:5. So the servants of king Ezechias came to Isaias. + +19:6. And Isaias said to them: Thus shall you say to your master: Thus +saith the Lord: Be not afraid for the words which thou hast heard, with +which the servants of the king of the Assyrians have blasphemed me. + +19:7. Behold I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a +message, and shall return into his own country, and I will make him +fall by the sword in his own country. + +19:8. And Rabsaces returned, and found the king of the Assyrians +besieging Lobna: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachis. + +19:9. And when he heard of Tharaca, king of Ethiopia: Behold, he is +come out to fight with thee: and was going against him, he sent +messengers to Ezechias, saying: + +19:10. Thus shall you say to Ezechias, king of Juda: Let not thy God +deceive thee, in whom thou trustest: and do not say: Jerusalem shall +not be delivered into the hands of the king of the Assyrians. + +19:11. Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of the Assyrians have +done to all countries, how they have laid them waste: and canst thou +alone be delivered? + +19:12. Have the gods of the nations delivered any of them, whom my +fathers have destroyed, to wit, Gozan, and Haran, and Reseph, and the +children of Eden, that were in Thelassar? + +19:13. Where is the king of Emath, and the king of Arphad, and the king +of the city of Sepharvaim, and of Ana, and of Ava? + +19:14. And when Ezechias had received the letter of the hand of the +messengers, and had read it, he went up to the house of the Lord, and +spread it before the Lord, + +19:15. And he prayed in his sight, saying: O Lord God of Israel, who +sittest upon the cherubims, thou alone art the God of all the kings of +the earth: thou madest heaven and earth: + +19:16. Incline thy ear, and hear: open, O Lord, thy eyes and see: and +hear all the words of Sennacherib, who hath sent to upbraid unto us the +living God. + +19:17. Of a truth, O Lord, the kings of the Assyrians have destroyed +nations, and the lands of them all. + +19:18. And they have cast their gods into the fire: for they were not +gods, but the work of men's hands, of wood and stone, and they +destroyed them. + +19:19. Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all +the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord, the only +God. + +19:20. And Isaias, the son of Amos, sent to Ezechias, saying: Thus +saith the Lord, the God of Israel: I have heard the prayer thou hast +made to me concerning Sennacherib, king of the Assyrians. + +19:21. This is the word that the Lord hath spoken of him: The virgin, +the daughter of Sion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn: +the daughter of Jerusalem hath wagged her head behind thy back. + +19:22. Whom hast thou reproached, and whom hast thou blasphemed? +against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thy eyes on +high? against the holy one of Israel. + +19:23. By the hand of thy servants thou hast reproached the Lord, and +hast said: With the multitude of my chariots I have gone up to the +height of the mountains, to the top of Libanus, and have cut down its +tall cedars, and its choice fir trees. And I have entered into the +furthest parts thereof, and the forest of its Carmel. + +Carmel. . .A pleasant fruitful hill in the forest. These expressions are +figurative, signifying under the names of mountains and forests, the +kings and provinces whom the Assyrians had triumphed over. + +19:24. I have cut down, and I have drunk strange waters, and have dried +up with the soles of my feet all the shut up waters. + +19:25. Hast thou not heard what I have done from the beginning? from +the days of old I have formed it, and now I have brought it to effect: +that fenced cities of fighting men should be turned to heaps of ruins: + +I have formed it, etc. . .All thy exploits, in which thou takest pride, +are no more than what I have decreed; and are not to be ascribed to thy +wisdom or strength, but to my will and ordinance: who have given to +thee to take and destroy so many fenced cities, and to carry terror +wherever thou comest.--Ibid. Heaps of ruin. . .Literally ruin of the +hills. + +19:26. And the inhabitants of them were weak of hand, they trembled and +were confounded, they became like the grass of the field, and the green +herb on the tops of houses, which withered before it came to maturity. + +19:27. Thy dwelling, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy way +I knew before, and thy rage against me. + +19:28. Thou hast been mad against me, and thy pride hath come up to my +ears: therefore I will put a ring in thy nose, and a bit between thy +lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. + +19:29. And to thee, O Ezechias, this shall be a sign: Eat this year +what thou shalt find: and in the second year, such things as spring of +themselves: but in the third year sow and reap: plant vineyards, and +eat the fruit of them. + +19:30. And whatsoever shall be left of the house of Juda, shall take +root downward, and bear fruit upward. + +19:31. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and that which +shall be saved out of mount Sion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall +do this. + +19:32. Wherefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of the +Assyrians: He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow into +it, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a trench about it. + +19:33. By the way that he came he shall return: and into this city he +shall not come, saith the Lord. + +19:34. And I will protect this city, and will save it for my own sake, +and for David, my servant's sake. + +19:35. And it came to pass that night, that an angel of the Lord came, +and slew in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five +thousand. And when he arose early in the morning, he saw all the bodies +of the dead. + +19:36. And Sennacherib, king of the Assyrians, departing, went away, +and he returned and abode in Ninive. + +19:37. And as he was worshipping in the temple of Nesroch, his god, +Adramelech and Sarasar, his sons, slew him with the sword, and they +fled into the land of the Armenians, and Asarhaddon, his son, reigned +in his stead. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 20 + + +Ezechias being sick, is told by Isaias that he shall die; but praying +to God, he obtaineth longer life, and in confirmation thereof receiveth +a sign by the sun's returning back. He sheweth all his treasures to the +ambassadors of the king of Babylon: Isaias reproving him for it, +foretelleth the Babylonish captivity. + +20:1. In those days Ezechias was sick unto death: and Isaias, the son +of Amos, the prophet, came and said to him: Thus saith the Lord God: +Give charge concerning thy house, for thou shalt die, and not llve. + +20:2. And he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, +saying: + +20:3. I beseech thee, O Lord, remember how I have walked before thee in +truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is pleasing +before thee. And Ezechias wept with much weeping. + +20:4. And before Isaias was gone out of the middle of the court, the +word of the Lord came to him, saying: + +20:5. Go back, and tell Ezechias, the captain of my people: Thus saith +the Lord, the God of David, thy father: I have heard thy prayer, and I +have seen thy tears: and behold I have healed thee: on the third day +thou shalt go up to the temple of the Lord. + +20:6. And I will add to thy days fifteen years: and I will deliver thee +and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians, and I will +protect this city for my own sake, and for David, my servant's sake. + +20:7. And Isaias said: Bring me a lump of figs. And when they had +brought it, and laid it upon his boil, he was healed. + +20:8. And Ezechias had said to Isaias: What shall be the sign that the +Lord will heal me, and that I will go up to the temple of the Lord the +third day? + +20:9. And Isaias said to him: This shall be the sign from the Lord, +that the Lord will do the word which he hath spoken: Wilt thou that the +shadow go forward ten lines, or that it go back so many degrees? + +20:10. And Ezechias said: It is an easy matter for the shadow to go +forward ten lines: and I do not desire that this be done, but let it +return back ten degrees. + +20:11. And Isaias, the prophet, called upon the Lord, and he brought +the shadow ten degrees backwards by the lines, by which it had already +gone down on the dial of Achaz. + +20:12. At that time Berodach Baladan, the son of Baladan, king of the +Babylonians, sent letters and presents to Ezechias: for he had heard +that Ezechias had been sick. + +20:13. And Ezechias rejoiced at their coming, and he shewed them the +house of his aromatical spices, and the gold, and the silver, and +divers precious odours, and ointments, and the house of his vessels, +and all that he had in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, +nor in all his dominions, that Ezechias shewed them not. + +20:14. And Isaias, the prophet, came to king Ezechias, and said to him: +What said these men? or from whence came they to thee? And Ezechias +said to him: From a far country, they came to me out of Babylon. + +20:15. And he said: What did they see in thy house? Ezechias said: +They saw all the things that are in my house: There is nothing among my +treasures that I have not shewed them. + +20:16. And Isaias said to Ezechias: Hear the word of the Lord. + +20:17. Behold the days shall come, that all that is in thy house, and +that thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried +into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. + +20:18. And of thy sons also that shall issue from thee, whom thou shalt +beget, they shall take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of +the king of Babylon. + +20:19. Ezechias said to Isaias: The word of the Lord, which thou hast +spoken, is good: let peace and truth be in my days. + +20:20. And the rest of the acts of Ezechias, and all his might, and how +he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought waters into the city, are +they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of +Juda? + +20:21. And Ezechias slept with his fathers, and Manasses, his son +reigned in his stead. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 21 + + +The wickedness of Manasses: God's threats by his prophets. His wicked +son Amon succeedeth him, and is slain by his servants. + +21:1. Manasses was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he +reigned five and fifty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was +Haphsiba. + +21:2. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the idols +of the nations, which the Lord destroyed from before the face of the +children of Israel. + +21:3. And he turned, and built up the high places, which Ezechias, his +father, had destroyed: and he set up altars to Baal, and made groves, +as Achab, the king of Israel, had done: and he adored all the host of +heaven, and served them. + +21:4. And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord +said: In Jerusalem I will put my name. + +21:5. And he built altars for all the host of heaven, in the two courts +of the temple of the Lord. + +21:6. And he made his son pass through fire: and he used divinations, +and observed omens, and appointed pythons, and multiplied soothsayers, +to do evil before the Lord, and to provoke him. + +Pythons. . .That is, diviners by spirits. + +21:7. He set also an idol of the grove, which he had made, in the +temple of the Lord: concerning which the Lord said to David, and to +Solomon his son: In this temple, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen +out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name for ever. + +21:8. And I will no more make the feet of Israel to be moved out of the +land, which I gave to their fathers: only if they will observe to do +all that I have commanded them, according to the law which my servant +Moses commanded them. + +21:9. But they hearkened not: but were seduced by Manasses, to do evil +more than the nations which the Lord destroyed before the children of +Israel. + +21:10. And the Lord spoke in the hand of his servants, the prophets, +saying: + +21:11. Because Manasses, king of Juda, hath done these most wicked +abominations, beyond all that the Amorrhites did before him, and hath +made Juda also to sin with his filthy doings: + +21:12. Therefore thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I will +bring on evils upon Jerusalem and Juda: that whosoever shall hear of +them, both his ears shall tingle. + +21:13. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the +weight of the house of Achab: and I will efface Jerusalem, as writings +tables are wont to be effaced, and I will erase and turn it, and draw +the pencil often over the face thereof. + +21:14. And I will leave the remnants of my inheritance, and will +deliver them into the hands of their enemies: and they shall become a +prey, and a spoil to all their enemies. + +21:15. Because they have done evil before me, and have continued to +provoke me, from the day that their fathers came out of Egypt, even +unto this day. + +21:16. Moreover, Manasses shed also very much innocent blood, till he +filled Jerusalem up to the mouth: besides his sins, wherewith he made +Juda to sin, to do evil before the Lord. + +21:17. Now the rest of the acts of Manasses, and all that he did, and +his sin, which he sinned, are they not written in the book of the words +of the days of the kings of Juda? + +21:18. And Manasses slept with his fathers, and was buried in the +garden of his own house, in the garden of Oza: and Amon, his son, +reigned in his stead. + +21:19. Two and twenty years old was Amon when he began to reign, and he +reigned two years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Messalemeth, +the daughter of Harus, of Jeteba. + +21:20. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasses, his +father, had done. + +21:21. And he walked in all the way in which his father had walked: and +he served the abominations which his father had served, and he adored +them. + +21:22. And forsook the Lord, the God of his fathers, and walked not in +the way of the Lord. + +21:23. And his servants plotted against him, and slew the king in his +own house. + +21:24. But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired +against king Amon: and made Josias, his son, their king in his stead. + +21:25. But the rest of the acts of Amon, which he did, are they not +written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? + +21:26. And they buried him in his sepulchre, in the garden of Oza: and +his son, Josias, reigned in his stead. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 22 + + +Josias repaireth the temple. The book of the law is found, upon which +they consult the Lord, and are told that great evils shall fall upon +them, but not in the time of Josias. + +22:1. Josias was eight years old when he began to reign: he reigned one +and thirty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Idida, the +daughter of Hadaia, of Besecath. + +22:2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and +walked in all the ways of David, his father: he turned not aside to the +right hand, or to the left. + +22:3. And in the eighteenth year of king Josias, the king sent Saphan, +the son of Assia, the son of Messulam, the scribe of the temple of the +Lord, saying to him: + +22:4. Go to Helcias, the high priest, that the money may be put +together which is brought into the temple of the Lord, which the +doorkeepers of the temple have gathered of the people. + +22:5. And let it be given to the workmen by the overseers of the house +of the Lord: and let them distribute it to those that work in the +temple of the Lord, to repair the temple: + +22:6. That is, to carpenters and masons, and to such as mend breaches: +and that timber may be bought, and stones out of the quarries, to +repair the temple of the Lord. + +22:7. But let there be no reckoning made with them of the money which +they receive, but let them have it in their power, and in their trust. + +22:8. And Helcias, the high priest, said to Saphan, the scribe: I have +found the book of the law in the house of the Lord: and Helcias gave +the book to Saphan, and he read it. + +The book of the law. . .That is, Deuteronomy. + +22:9. And Saphan, the scribe, came to the king, and brought him word +again concerning that which he had commanded, and said: Thy servants +have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the +Lord: and they have given it to be distributed to the workmen, by the +overseers of the works of the temple of the Lord. + +22:10. And Saphan, the scribe, told the king, saying: Helcias, the +priest, hath delivered to me a book. And when Saphan had read it before +the king, + +22:11. And the king had heard the words of the law of the Lord, he rent +his garments. + +22:12. And he commanded Helcias, the priest, and Ahicam, the son of +Saphan, and Achobor, the son of Micha, and Saphan, the scribe, and +Asaia, the king's servant, saying: + +22:13. Go and consult the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all +Juda, concerning the words of this book which is found: for the great +wrath of the Lord is kindled against us, because our fathers have not +hearkened to the words of this book, to do all that is written for us. + +22:14. So Helcias, the priest, and Ahicam, and Achobor, and Sapham, and +Asaia, went to Holda, the prophetess, the wife of Sellum, the son of +Thecua, the son of Araas, keeper of the wardrobe, who dwelt in +Jerusalem, in the Second: and they spoke to her. + +The Second. . .A street, or part of the city, so called; in Hebrew, +Massem. + +22:15. And she said to them: Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: +Tell the man that sent you to me: + +22:16. Thus saith the Lord: Behold, I will bring evils upon this place, +and upon the inhabitants thereof, all the words of the law which the +king of Juda hath read: + +22:17. Because they have forsaken me, and have sacrificed to strange +gods, provoking me by all the works of their hands: therefore my +indignation shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be +quenched. + +22:18. But to the king of Juda, who sent you to consult the Lord, thus +shall you say: Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: for as much as +thou hast heard the words of the book, + +22:19. And thy heart hath been moved to fear, and thou hast humbled +thyself before the Lord, hearing the words against this place, and the +inhabitants thereof, to wit, that they should become a wonder and a +curse: and thou hast rent thy garments, and wept before me; I also have +heard thee; saith the Lord. + +22:20. Therefore I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be +gathered to thy sepulchre in peace; that thy eyes may not see all the +evils which I will bring upon this place. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 23 + + +Josias readeth the law before all the people. They promise to observe +it. He abolisheth all idolatry, celebrateth the phase: is slain in +battle by the king of Egypt. The short reign of Joachaz, in whose place +Joakim is made king. + +23:1. And they brought the king word again what she had said. And he +sent: and all the ancients of Juda and Jerusalem were assembled to him. + +23:2. And the king went up to the temple of the Lord, and all the men +of Juda, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, the priests, +and the prophets, and all the people, both little and great: and in the +hearing of them all he read all the words of the book of the covenant, +which was found in the house of the Lord. + +23:3. And the king stood upon the step: and he made a covenant with the +Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his +testimonies, and his ceremonies, with all their heart, and with all +their soul, and to perform the words of this covenant, which were +written in that book: and the people agreed to the covenant. + +The king stood upon the step. . .That is, his tribune, or tribunal, a +more eminent place, from whence he might be seen and heard by the +people. + +23:4. And the king commanded Helcias, the high priest, and the priests +of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to cast out of the temple of +the Lord all the vessels that had been made for Baal, and for the +grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burnt them without +Jerusalem, in the valley of Cedron, and he carried the ashes of them to +Bethel. + +23:5. And he destroyed the soothsayers, whom the kings of Juda had +appointed to sacrifice in the high places in the cities of Juda, and +round about Jerusalem: them also that burnt incense to Baal, and to the +sun, and to the moon, and to the twelve signs, and to all the host of +heaven. + +23:6. And he caused the grove to be carried out from the house of the +Lord, without Jerusalem, to the valley of Cedron, and he burnt it +there, and reduced it to dust, and cast the dust upon the graves of the +common people. + +23:7. He destroyed also the pavilions of the effeminate, which were in +the house of the Lord, for which the women wove as it were little +dwellings for the grove. + +23:8. And he gathered together all the priests out of the cities of +Juda: and he defiled the high places, where the priests offered +sacrifice, from Gabaa to Bersabee: and he broke down the altars of the +gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Josue, governor of +the city, which was on the left hand of the gate of the city. + +23:9. However, the priests of the high places came not up to the altar +of the Lord, in Jerusalem: but only eat of the unleavened bread among +their brethren. + +23:10. And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of +Ennom: that no man should consecrate there his son, or his daughter, +through fire, to Moloch. + +23:11. And he took away the horses which the kings of Juda had given to +the sun, at the entering in of the temple of the Lord, near the chamber +of Nathanmelech the eunuch, who was in Pharurim: and he burnt the +chariots of the sun with fire. + +23:12. And the altars that were upon the top of the upper chamber of +Achaz, which the kings of Juda had made, and the altars which Manasses +had made in the two courts of the temple of the Lord, the king broke +down: and he ran from thence, and cast the ashes of them into the +torrent Cedron. + +23:13. The high places also that were at Jerusalem, on the right side +of the Mount of Offence, which Solomon, king of Israel, had built to +Astaroth, the idol of the Sidonians, and to Chamos, the scandal of +Moab, and to Melchom, the abomination of the children of Ammon, the +king defiled. + +23:14. And he broke in pieces the statues, and cut down the groves: and +he filled their places with the bones of dead men. + +23:15. Moreover, the altar also that was at Bethel, and the high place, +which Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, who made Israel to sin, had made: +both the altar, and the high place, he broke down and burnt, and +reduced to powder, and burnt the grove. + +23:16. And as Josias turned himself, he saw there the sepulchres that +were in the mount: and he sent and took the bones out of the +sepulchres, and burnt them upon the altar, and defiled it according to +the word of the Lord, which the man of God spoke, who had foretold +these things. + +23:17. And he said: What is that monument which I see? And the men of +that city answered: It is the sepulchre of the man of God, who came +from Juda, and foretold these things which thou hast done upon the +altar of Bethel. + +23:18. And he said: Let him alone, let no man move his bones. So his +bones were left untouched with the bones of the prophet, that came out +of Samaria. + +23:19. Moreover all the temples of the high places which were in the +cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the +Lord, Josias took away: and he did to them according to all the acts +that he had done in Bethel. + +23:20. And he slew all the priests of the high places, that were there, +upon the altars; and he burnt men's bones upon them: and returned to +Jerusalem. + +23:21. And he commanded all the people, saying: Keep the Phase to the +Lord your God, according as it is written in the book of this covenant. + +23:22. Now there was no such a Phase kept from the days of the judges, +who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, and of +the kings of Juda, + +23:23. As was this Phase, that was kept to the Lord in Jerusalem, in +the eighteenth year of king Josias. + +23:24. Moreover the diviners by spirits, and soothsayers, and the +figures of idols, and the uncleannesses, and the abominations, that had +been in the land of Juda and Jerusalem, Josias took away: that he might +perform the words of the law, that were written in the book, which +Helcias the priest had found in the temple of the Lord. + +23:25. There was no king before him like unto him, that returned to the +Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his +strength, according to all the law of Moses: neither after him did +there arise any like unto him. + +23:26. But yet the Lord turned not away from the wrath of his great +indignation, wherewith his anger was kindled against Juda: because of +the provocations, wherewith Manasses had provoked him. + +23:27. And the Lord said: I will remove Juda also from before my face, +as I have removed Israel: and I will cast off this city Jerusalem, +which I chose, and the house, of which I said: My name shall be there. + +23:28. Now the rest of the acts of Josias, and all that he did, are +they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of +Juda? + +23:29. In his days Pharao Nechao, king of Egypt, went up against the +king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josias went to meet +him: and was slain at Mageddo, when he had seen him. + +23:30. And his servants carried him dead from Mageddo: and they brought +him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people +of the land took Joachaz, the son of Josias: and they anointed him, and +made him king in his father's stead. + +23:31. Joachaz was three and twenty years old when he began to reign, +and he reigned three months in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was +Amital, the daughter of Jeremias, of Lobna. + +23:32. And he did evil before the Lord, according to all that his +fathers had done. + +23:33. And Pharao Nechao bound him at Rebla, which is in the land of +Emath, that he should not reign in Jerusalem: and he set a fine upon +the land, of a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold. + +23:34. And Pharao Nechao made Eliacim, the son of Josias, king in the +room of Josias his father: and turned his name to Joakim. And he took +Joachaz away and carried him into Egypt, and he died there. + +23:35. And Joakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharao, after he had +taxed the land for every man, to contribute according to the +commandment of Pharao: and he exacted both the silver and the gold of +the people of the land, of every man according to his ability: to give +to Pharao Nechao. + +23:36. Joakim was five and twenty years old when he began to reign: and +he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was +Zebida, the daughter of Phadaia, of Ruma. + +23:37. And he did evil before the Lord according to all that his +fathers had done. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 24 + + +The reign of Joakim, Joachin, and Sedecias. + +24:1. In his days Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon came up, and Joakim +became his servant three years: then again he rebelled against him. + +24:2. And the Lord sent against him the rovers of the Chaldees, and the +rovers of Syria, and the rovers of Moab, and the rovers of the children +of Ammon: and he sent them against Juda, to destroy it, according to +the word of the Lord, which he had spoken by his servants, the +prophets. + +The Lord sent against him the rovers. . .Latrunculos. Bands or parties +of men, who pillaged and plundered wherever they came. + +24:3. And this came by the word of the Lord against Juda, to remove +them from before him for all the sins of Manasses which he did; + +24:4. And for the innocent blood that he shed, filling Jerusalem with +innocent blood: and therefore the Lord would not be appeased. + +24:5. But the rest of the acts of Joakim, and all that he did, are they +not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? +And Joakim slept with his fathers: + +24:6. And Joachin, his son, reigned in his stead. + +24:7. And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his own +country: for the king of Babylon had taken all that had belonged to the +king of Egypt, from the river of Egypt, unto the river Euphrates. + +24:8. Joachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he +reigned three months in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Nohesta, +the daughter of Elnathan, of Jerusalem. + +24:9. And he did evil before the Lord, according to all that his father +had done. + +24:10. At that time the servants of Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon, +came up against Jerusalem, and the city was surrounded with their +forts. + +24:11. And Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon, came to the city, with his +servants, to assault it. + +24:12. And Joachin, king of Juda, went out to the king of Babylon, he, +and his mother, and his servants, and his nobles, and his eunuchs: and +the king of Babylon received him in the eighth year of his reign. + +24:13. And he brought out from thence all the treasures of the house of +the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house: and he cut in pieces +all the vessels of gold which Solomon, king of Israel, had made in the +temple of the Lord, according to the word of the Lord. + +24:14. And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all +the valiant men of the army, to the number of ten thousand, into +captivity: and every artificer and smith: and none were left, but the +poor sort of the people of the land. + +24:15. And he carried away Joachin into Babylon, and the king's mother, +and the king's wives, and his eunuchs: and the judges of the land he +carried into captivity, from Jerusalem, into Babylon. + +24:16. And all the strong men, seven thousand, and the artificers, and +the smiths, a thousand, all that were valiant men, and fit for war: and +the king of Babylon led them captives into Babylon. + +24:17. And he appointed Matthanias, his uncle, in his stead: and called +his name Sedecias. + +24:18. Sedecias was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, +and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was +Amital, the daughter of Jeremias, of Lobna. + +24:19. And he did evil before the Lord, according to all that Joakim +had done. + +24:20. For the Lord was angry against Jerusalem and against Juda, till +he cast them out from his face: and Sedecias revolted from the king of +Babylon. + + + +4 Kings Chapter 25 + + +Jerusalem is besieged and taken by Nabuchodonosor: Sedecias is taken: +the city and temple are destroyed. Godolias, who is left governor, is +slain. Joachin is exalted by Evilmerodach. + +25:1. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth +month, the tenth day of the month, that Nabuchodonosor, king of +Babylon, came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem: and they +surrounded it: and raised works round about it. + +25:2. And the city was shut up and besieged till the eleventh year of +king Sedecias, + +25:3. The ninth day of the month: and a famine prevailed in the city, +and there was no bread for the people of the land. + +25:4. And a breach was made into the city: and all the men of war fled +in the night between the two walls by the king's garden (now the +Chaldees besieged the city round about), and Sedecias fled by the way +that leadeth to the plains of the wilderness. + +25:5. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook +him in the plains of Jericho: and all the warriors that were with him +were scattered, and left him: + +25:6. So they took the king, and brought him to the king of Babylon, to +Reblatha, and he gave judgment upon him. + +25:7. And he slew the sons of Sedecias before his face, and he put out +his eyes, and bound him with chains, and brought him to Babylon. + +25:8. In the fifth month, the seventh day of the month, the same is the +nineteenth year of the king of Babylon, came Nabuzardan, commander of +the army, a servant of the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem. + +25:9. And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and the +houses of Jerusalem, and every great house he burnt with fire. + +25:10. And all the army of the Chaldees, which was with the commander +of the troops, broke down the walls of Jerusalem round about. + +25:11. And Nabuzardan, the commander of the army, carried away the rest +of the people, that remained in the city, and the fugitives, that had +gone over to the king of Babylon, and the remnant of the common people. + +25:12. But of the poor of the land he left some dressers of vines and +husbandmen. + +25:13. And the pillars of brass that were in the temple of the Lord, +and the bases, and the sea of brass, which was in the house of the +Lord, the Chaldees broke in pieces, and carried all the brass of them +to Babylon. + +25:14. They took away also the pots of brass, and the mazers, and the +forks, and the cups, and the mortars, and all the vessels of brass, +with which they ministered. + +25:15. Moreover also the censers, and the bowls, such as were of gold +in gold: and such as were of silver in silver, the general of the army +took away. + +25:16. That is, two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had +made in the temple of the Lord: the brass of all these vessels was +without weight. + +25:17. One pillar was eighteen cubits high: and the chapiter of brass, +which was upon it, was three cubits high: and the network, and the +pomegranates that were upon the chapiter of the pillar, were all of +brass: and the second pillar had the like adorning. + +25:18. And the general of the army took Seraias, the chief priest, and +Sophonias, the second priest, and three doorkeepers: + +25:19. And out of the city one eunuch, who was captain over the men of +war: and five men of them who had stood before the king, whom he found +in the city, and Sopher, the captain of the army, who exercised the +young soldiers of the people of the land: and threescore men of the +common people, who were found in the city: + +25:20. These Nabuzardan, the general of the army, took away, and +carried them to the king of Babylon, to Reblatha. + +25:21. And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Reblatha, +in the land of Emath: so Juda was carried away out of their land. + +25:22. But over the people that remained in the land of Juda, which +Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon, had left, he gave the government to +Godolias, the son of Ahicam, the son of Saphan. + +25:23. And when all the captains of the soldiers had heard this, they +and the men that were with them, to wit, that the king of Babylon had +made Godolias governor they came to Godolias to Maspha, Ismael, the son +of Nathanias, and Johanan, the son of Caree, and Saraia, the son of +Thanehumeth, the Netophathite, and Jezonias, the son of Maachathi, they +and their men. + +25:24. And Godolias swore to them and to their men, saying: Be not +afraid to serve the Chaldees: stay in the land, and serve the king of +Babylon, and it shall be well with you. + +25:25. But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ismael, the son +of Nathanias, the son of Elisama, of the seed royal came, and ten men +with him, and smote Godolias; so that he died: and also the Jews and +the Chaldees that were with him in Maspha. + +25:26. And all the people, both little and great, and the captains of +the soldiers, rising up, went to Egypt, fearing the Chaldees. + +25:27. And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the +captivity of Joachin, king of Juda, in the twelfth month, the seven and +twentieth day of the month: Evilmerodach, king of Babylon, in the year +that he began to reign, lifted up the head of Joachin, king of Juda, +out of prison. + +25:28. And he spoke kindly to him: and he set his throne above the +throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon. + +25:29. And he changed his garments which he had in prison, and he ate +bread always before him, all the days of his life. + +25:30. And he appointed him a continual allowance, which was also given +him by the king, day by day, all the days of his life. + + + + +THE FIRST BOOK OF PARALIPOMENON + + + +These Books are called by the Greek interpreters, Paralipomenon, that +is, of things left out, or omitted; because they are a kind of a +supplement of such things as were passed over in the books of the +Kings. The Hebrews call them Dibre Haijamim, that is, The words of the +days, or The Chronicles.--Not that they are the books which are so +often quoted in the Kings, under the title of the words of the days of +the kings of Israel, and of the kings of Juda: for the books of +Paralipomenon were written after the books of Kings: but because in all +probability they have been abridged from those ancient words of the +days, by Esdras or some other sacred writer. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 1 + + +The genealogy of the patriarchs down to Abraham: The posterity of +Abraham and of Esau. + +1:1. Adam, Seth, Enos, + +1:2. Cainan, Malaleel, Jared, + +1:3. Henoc, Mathusale, Lamech, + +1:4. Noe, Sem, Cham, and Japheth. + +1:5. The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, +Thubal, Mosoch, Thiras. + +1:6. And the sons of Gomer: Ascenez, and Riphath, and Thogorma. + +1:7. And the sons of Javan: Elisa and Tharsis, Cethim and Dodanim. + +1:8. The sons of Cham: Chus, and Mesrai, and Phut, and Chanaan. + +1:9. And the sons of Chus: Saba, and Hevila, Sabatha, and Regma, and +Sabathaca. And the sons of Regma: Saba, and Dadan. + +1:10. Now Chus begot Nemrod: he began to be mighty upon earth. + +1:11. But Mesraim begot Ludim, and Anamim, and Laabim, and Nephtuim, + +1:12. Phetrusim also, and Casluim: from whom came the Philistines, and +Caphtorim. + +1:13. And Chanaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and the Hethite, + +1:14. And the Jebusite, and the Amorrhite, and the Gergesite, + +1:15. And the Hevite, and the Aracite, and the Sinite, + +1:16. And the Aradian, and the Samarite, and the Hamathite. + +1:17. The sons of Sem: Elam and Asur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, +and Hus, and Hul, and Gether, and Mosoch. + +1:18. And Arphaxad begot Sale, and Sale begot Heber. + +1:19. And to Heber were born two sons, the name of the one was Phaleg, +because in his days the earth was divided; and the name of his brother +was Jectan. + +1:20. And Jectan begot Elmodad, and Saleph, and Asarmoth, and Jare, + +1:21. And Adoram, and Usal, and Decla, + +1:22. And Hebal, and Abimael, and Saba, + +1:23. And Ophir, and Hevila, and Jobab. All these are the sons of +Jectan. + +1:24. Sem, Arphaxad, Sale, + +1:25. Heber, Phaleg, Ragau, + +1:26. Serug, Nachor, Thare, + +1:27. Abram, this is Abraham. + +1:28. And the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Ismahel. + +1:29. And these are the generations of them. The firstborn of Ismahel, +Nabajoth, then Cedar, and Adbeel, and Mabsam, + +1:30. And Masma, and Duma, Massa, Hadad, and Thema, + +1:31. Jetur, Naphis, Cedma: these are the sons of Ismahel. + +1:32. And the sons of Cetura, Abraham's concubine, whom she bore: +Zamran, Jecsan, Madan, Madian, Jesboc, and Sue. And the sons of Jecsan, +Saba, and Dadan. And the sons of Dadan: Assurim, and Latussim, and +Laomin. + +Concubine. . .She was his lawful wife, but of an inferior degree. + +1:33. And the sons of Madian: Epha, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, +and Eldaa. All these are the sons of Cetura. + +1:34. And Abraham begot Isaac: and his sons were Esau and Israel. + +1:35. The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Rahuel, Jehus, Ihelom, and Core. + +1:36. The sons of Eliphaz: Theman, Omar, Sephi, Gathan, Cenez, and by +Thamna, Amalec. + +1:37. The sons of Rahuel: Nahath, Zara, Samma, Meza. + +1:38. The sons of Seir: Lotan, Sobal, Sebeon, Ana, Dison, Eser, Disan. + +1:39. The sons of Lotan: Hori, Homam. And the sister of Lotan was +Thamna. + +1:40. The sons of Sobal: Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Sephi, and +Onam. The sons of Sebeon: Aia, and Ana. The son of Ana: Dison. + +1:41. The sons of Dison: Hamram, and Eseban, and Jethran, and Charan. + +1:42. The sons of Eser: Balaan, and Zavan, and Jacan. The sons of +Disan: Hus and Aran. + +1:43. Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before +there was a king over the children of Israel: Bale the son of Beor: and +the name of his city was Denaba. + +1:44. And Bale died, and Jobab the son of Zare of Bosra, reigned in his +stead. + +1:45. And when Jobab also was dead, Husam of the land of the Themanites +reigned in his stead. + +1:46. And Husam also died, and Adad the son of Badad reigned in his +stead, and he defeated the Madianites in the land of Moab: the name of +his city was Avith. + +1:47. And when Adad also was dead, Semla of Masreca reigned in his +stead. + +1:48. Semla also died, and Saul of Rohoboth, which is near the river, +reigned in his stead. + +1:49. And when Saul was dead, Balanan the son of Achobor reigned in his +stead. + +1:50. He also died, and Adad reigned in his stead: and the name of his +city was Phau, and his wife was called Meetabel the daughter of Matred, +the daughter of Mezaab. + +1:51. And after the death of Adad, there began to be dukes in Edom +instead of kings: duke Thamna, duke Alva, duke Jetheth, + +1:52. Duke Oolibama, duke Ela, duke Phinon, + +1:53. Duke Cenez, duke Theman, duke Mabsar, + +1:54. Duke Magdiel, duke Hiram. These are the dukes of Edom. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 2 + + +The twelve tribes of Israel. The genealogy of Juda down to David. Other +genealogies of the tribe of Juda. + +2:1. And these are the sons of Israel: Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda, +Issachar, and Zabulon, + +2:2. Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Nephtali, Gad, and Aser. + +2:3. The sons of Juda: Her, Onan and Sela. These three were born to him +of the Chanaanitess the daughter of Sue. And Her the firstborn of Juda, +was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he slew him. + +2:4. And Thamar his daughter in law bore him Phares and Zara. So all +the sons of Juda were five. + +2:5. And the sons of Phares, were Hesron and Hamul. + +2:6. And the sons also of Zare: Zamri, and Ethan, and Eman, and +Chalchal, and Dara, five in all. + +2:7. And the sons of Charmi: Achar, who troubled Israel, and sinned by +the theft of the anathema. + +Achar. . .Alias Achan. Jos. 7.--Ibid. The anathema. . .The thing +devoted or accursed, viz., the spoils of Jericho. + +2:8. The sons of Ethan: Azarias, + +2:9. And the sons of Hesron that were born to him: Jerameel, and Ram, +and Calubi. + +2:10. And Ram begot Aminadab, and Aminadab begot Nahasson, prince of +the children of Juda. + +Ram. . .He is commonly called Aram. But it is to be observed here, once +for all, that it was a common thing among the Hebrews for the same +persons to have different names: and that it is not impossible among so +many proper names, as here occur in the first nine chapters of this +book, that the transcribers of the ancient Hebrew copies may have made +some slips in the orthography. + +2:11. And Nahasson begot Salma, the father of Booz. + +2:12. And Booz begot Obed, and Obed begot Isai. + +2:13. And Isai begot Eliab his firstborn, the second Abinadab, the +third Simmaa, + +2:14. The fourth, Nathanael, the fifth Raddai, + +2:15. The sixth Asom, the seventh David. + +2:16. And their sisters were Sarvia, and Abigail. The sons of Sarvia: +Abisai, Joab, and Asael, three. + +2:17. And Abigail bore Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ismahelite. + +2:18. And Caleb the son of Hesron took a wife named Azuba, of whom he +had Jerioth: and her sons were Jaser, and Sobab, and Ardon. + +Caleb. . .Alias Calubi, ver. 9. + +2:19. And when Azuba was dead, Caleb took to wife Ephrata: who bore him +Hur. + +2:20. And Hur begot Uri: and Uri begot Bezeleel. + +2:21. And afterwards Hesron went in to the daughter of Machir the +father of Galaad, and took her to wife when he was threescore years +old: and she bore him Segub. + +2:22. And Segub begot Jair, and he had three and twenty cities in the +land of Galaad. + +2:23. And he took Gessur, and Aram the towns of Jair, and Canath, and +the villages thereof, threescore cities. All these, the sons of Machir +father of Galaad. + +2:24. And when Hesron was dead, Caleb went in to Ephrata. Hesron also +had to wife Abia who bore him Ashur the father of Thecua. + +2:25. And the sons of Jerameel the firstborn of Hesron, were Ram his +firstborn, and Buna, and Aram, and Asom, and Achia. + +2:26. And Jerameel married another wife, named Atara, who was the +mother of Onam. + +2:27. And the sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerameel, were Moos, Jamin, +and Achar. + +2:28. And Onam had sons Semei, and Jada. And the sons of Semei: Nadab, +and Abisur. + +2:29. And the name of Abisur's wife was Abihail, who bore him Ahobban, +and Molid. + +2:30. And the sons of Nadab were Saled and Apphaim. And Saled died +without children. + +2:31. But the son of Apphaim was Jesi: and Jesi begot Sesan. And Sesan +begot Oholai. + +2:32. And the sons of Jada the brother of Semei: Jether and Jonathan. +And Jether also died without children. + +2:33. But Jonathan begot Phaleth, and Ziza. These were the sons of +Jerameel. + +2:34. And Sesan had no sons, but daughters and a servant an Egyptian, +named Jeraa. + +2:35. And he gave him his daughter to wife: and she bore him Ethei. + +2:36. And Ethei begot Nathan, and Nathan begot Zabad. + +2:37. And Zabad begot Ophlal, and Ophlal begot Obed. + +2:38. Obed begot Jehu, Jehu begot Azarias. + +2:39. Azarias begot Helles, and Helles begot Elasa. + +2:40. Elasa begot Sisamoi, Sisamoi begot Sellum, + +2:41. Sellum begot Icamia, and Icamia begot Elisama. + +2:42. Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerameel were Mesa his +firstborn, who was the father of Siph: and the sons of Maresa father of +Hebron. + +2:43. And the sons of Hebron, Core, and Thaphua, and Recem, and Samma. + +2:44. And Samma begot Raham, the father of Jercaam, and Recem begot +Sammai. + +2:45. The son of Sammai, Maon: and Maon the father of Bethsur. + +2:46. And Epha the concubine of Caleb bore Haran, and Mosa, and Gezez. +And Haran begot Gezez. + +2:47. And the sons of Jahaddai, Rogom, and Joathan, and Gesan, and +Phalet, and Epha, and Saaph. + +2:48. And Maacha the concubine of Caleb bore Saber, and Tharana. + +2:49. And Saaph the father of Madmena begot Sue the father of Machbena, +and the father of Gabaa. And the daughter of Caleb was Achsa. + +2:50. These were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur the firstborn of +Ephrata, Sobal the father of Cariathiarim. + +2:51. Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hariph the father of Bethgader. + +2:52. And Sobal the father of Cariathiarim had sons: he that saw half +of the places of rest. + +He that saw, etc. . .The Latin interpreter seems to have given us here, +instead of the proper names, the meaning of those names in the Hebrew. +He has done in like manner, ver. 55. + +2:53. And of the kindred of Cariathiarim, the Jethrites, and +Aphuthites, and Semathites, and Maserites. Of them came the Saraites, +and Esthaolites. + +2:54. The sons of Salma, Bethlehem, and Netophathi, the crowns of the +house of Joab, and half of the place of rest of Sarai. + +2:55. And the families of the scribes that dwell in Jabes, singing and +making melody, and abiding in tents. These are the Cinites, who came of +Calor (Chamath) father of the house of Rechab. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 3 + + +The genealogy of the house of David. + +3:1. Now these were the sons of David that were born to him in Hebron: +the firstborn Amnon of Achinoam the Jezrahelitess, the second Daniel of +Abigail the Carmelitess. + +3:2. The third Absalom the son of Maacha the daughter of Tolmai king of +Gessur, the fourth Adonias the son of Aggith, + +3:3. The fifth Saphatias of Abital, the sixth Jethrahem of Egla his +wife. + +3:4. So six sons were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned seven +years and six months. And in Jerusalem he reigned three and thirty +years. + +3:5. And these sons were born to him in Jerusalem: Simmaa, and Sobab, +and Nathan, and Solomon, four of Bethsabee the daughter of Ammiel. + +3:6. Jebaar also and Elisama, + +3:7. And Eliphaleth, and Noge, and Nepheg, and Japhia, + +3:8. And Elisama, and Eliada, and Elipheleth, nine: + +3:9. All these the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines: +and they had a sister Thamar. + +The concubines. . .The inferior wives. + +3:10. And Solomon's son was Roboam: whose son Abia begot Asa. And his +son was Josaphat, + +3:11. The father of Joram: and Joram begot Ochozias, of whom was born +Joas: + +3:12. And his son Amasias begot Azarias. And Joathan the son of Azarias + +3:13. Begot Achaz, the father of Ezechias, of whom was born Manasses. + +3:14. And Manasses begot Amon the father of Josias. + +3:15. And the sons of Josias were, the firstborn Johanan, the second +Joakim, the third Sedecias, the fourth Sellum. + +3:16. Of Joakim was born Jechonias, and Sedecias. + +3:17. The sons of Jechonias were Asir, Salathiel, + +3:18. Melchiram, Phadaia, Senneser and Jecemia, Sama, and Nadabia. + +3:19. Of Phadaia were born Zorobabel and Semei. Zorobabel begot +Mosollam, Hananias, and Salomith their sister: + +3:20. Hasaba also, and Ohol, and Barachias, and Hasadias, Josabhesed, +five. + +3:21. And the son of Hananias was Phaltias the father of Jeseias, whose +son was Raphaia. And his son was Arnan, of whom was born Obdia, whose +son was Sechenias. + +3:22. The son of Sechenias was Semeia, whose sons were Hattus, and +Jegaal, and Baria, and Naaria, and Saphat, six in number. + +Six. . .Counting the father in the number. + +3:23. The sons of Naaria, Elioenai, and Ezechias, and Ezricam, three. + +3:24. The sons of Elioenai, Oduia, and Eliasub, and Pheleia, and Accub, +and Johanan, and Dalaia, and Anani, seven. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 4 + + +Other genealogies of Juda and Simeon, and their victories. + +4:1. The sons of Juda: Phares, Hesron, and Charmi and Hur, and Sobal. + +4:2. And Raia the son of Sobal begot Jahath, of whom were born Ahumai, +and Laad. These are the families of Sarathi. + +4:3. And this is the posterity of Etam: Jezrahel, and Jesema, And +Jedebos: and the name of their sister was Asalelphuni. + +4:4. And Phanuel the father of Gedor, and Ezar the father of Hosa, +these are the sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephratha the father of +Bethlehem. + +4:5. And Assur the father of Thecua had two wives, Halaa and Naara: + +4:6. And Naara bore him Ozam, and Hepher, and Themani, and Ahasthari: +these are the sons of Naara. + +4:7. And the sons of Halaa, Sereth, Isaar, and Ethnan. + +4:8. And Cos begot Anob, and Soboba, and the kindred of Aharehel the +son of Arum. + +4:9. And Jabes was more honourable than any of his brethren, and his +mother called his name Jabes, saying: Because I bore him with sorrow. + +Jabes. . .That is, sorrowful. + +4:10. And Jabes called upon the God of Israel, saying: If blessing thou +wilt bless me, and wilt enlarge my borders, and thy hand be with me, +and thou save me from being oppressed by evil. And God granted him the +things he prayed for. + +4:11. And Caleb the brother of Sua begot Mahir, who was the father of +Esthon. + +4:12. And Esthon begot Bethrapha, and Phesse, and Tehinna father of the +city of Naas: these are the men of Recha. + +4:13. And the sons of Cenez were Othoniel, and Saraia. And the sons of +Othoniel, Hathath, and Maonathi. + +4:14. Maonathi begot Ophra, and Saraia begot Joab the father of the +Valley of artificers: for artificers were there. + +4:15. And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephone, were Hir, and Ela, and +Naham. And the sons of Ela: Cenez. + +4:16. The sons also of Jaleleel: Ziph, and Zipha, Thiria and Asrael. + +4:17. And the sons of Esra, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon, +and he begot Mariam, and Sammai, and Jesba the father of Esthamo. + +4:18. And his wife Judaia, bore Jared the father of Gedor, and Heber +the father of Socho, and Icuthiel the father of Zanoe. And these are +the sons of Bethia the daughter of Pharao, whom Mered took to wife. + +4:19. And the sons of his wife Odaia the sister of Naham the father of +Celia, Garmi, and Esthamo, who was of Machathi. + +4:20. The sons also of Simon, Amnon, and Rinna the son of Hanan, and +Thilon. And the sons of Jesi Zoheth, and Benzoheth. + +4:21. The sons of Sela the son of Juda: Her the father of Lecha, and +Laada the father of Maresa, and the families of the house of them that +wrought fine linen in the House of oath. + +4:22. And he that made the sun to stand, and the men of Lying, and +Secure, and Burning, who were princes in Moab, and who returned into +Lahem. Now these are things of old. + +He that made, etc. . .Viz., Joazim, the meaning of whose name in Hebrew +is, he that made the sun to stand. In like manner the following names, +Lying (Chozeba), Secure (Joas), and Burning (Saraph), are substituted +in place of the Hebrew names of the same signification. + +4:23. These are the potters, and they dwelt in Plantations, and Hedges, +with the king for his works, and they abode there. + +Plantations and Hedges. . .These are the proper names of the places +where they dwelt. In Hebrew Atharim and Gadira. + +4:24. The sons of Simeon: Namuel and Jamin, Jarib, Zara, Saul: + +4:25. Sellum his son, Mapsam his son, Masma his son. + +4:26. The sons of Masma: Hamuel his son, Zachur his son, Semei his son. + +4:27. The sons of Semei were sixteen, and six daughters: but his +brethren had not many sons, and the whole kindred could not reach to +the sum of the children of Juda. + +4:28. And they dwelt in Bersabee, and Molada, and Hasarsuhal, + +4:29. And in Bala, and in Asom, and in Tholad, + +4:30. And in Bathuel, and in Horma, and in Siceleg, + +4:31. And in Bethmarchaboth, and in Hasarsusim, and in Bethberai, and +in Saarim. These were their cities unto the reign of David. + +4:32. Their towns also were Etam, and Aen, Remmon, and Thochen, and +Asan, five cities. + +4:33. And all their villages round about these cities as far as Baal. +This was their habitation, and the distribution of their dwellings. + +4:34. And Mosabab and Jemlech, and Josaphat, the son of Amasias, + +4:35. And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josabia the son of Saraia, the son +of Asiel, + +4:36. And Elioenai, and Jacoba, and Isuhaia, and Asaia, and Adiel, and +Ismiel, and Banaia, + +4:37. Ziza also the son of Sephei the son of Allon the son of Idaia the +son of Semri the son of Samaia. + +4:38. These were named princes in their kindreds, and in the houses of +their families were multiplied exceedingly. + +4:39. And they went forth to enter into Gador as far as to the east +side of the valley, to seek pastures for their flocks. + +4:40. And they found fat pastures, and very good, and a country +spacious, and quiet, and fruitful, in which some of the race of Cham +had dwelt before. + +4:41. And these whose names are written above, came in the days of +Ezechias king of Juda: and they beat down their tents, and slew the +inhabitants that were found there, and utterly destroyed them unto this +day: and they dwelt in their place, because they found there fat +pastures. + +4:42. Some also of the children of Simeon, five hundred men, went into +mount Seir, having for their captains Phaltias and Naaria and Raphaia +and Oziel the sons of Jesi: + +4:43. And they slew the remnant of the Amalecites, who had been able to +escape, and they dwelt there in their stead unto this day. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 5 + + +Genealogies of Ruben and Gad: their victories over the Agarites: their +captivity. + +5:1. Now the sons of Ruben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was his +firstborn: but forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his first +birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, and he +was not accounted for the firstborn. + +5:2. But of the race of Juda, who was the strongest among his brethren, +came the princes: but the first birthright was accounted to Joseph.) + +Accounted to Joseph. . .Viz., as to the double portion, which belonged +to the firstborn; but the princely dignity was given to Juda, and the +priesthood to Levi. + +5:3. The sons then of Ruben the firstborn of Israel were Enoch, and +Phallu, Esron, and Charmi. + +5:4. The sons of Joel: Samaia his son, Gog his son, Semei his son, + +5:5. Micha his son, Reia his son, Baal his son, + +5:6. Beera his son, whom Thelgathphalnasar king of the Assyrians +carried away captive, and he was prince in the tribe of Ruben. + +5:7. And his brethren, and all his kindred, when they were numbered by +their families, had for princes Jehiel, and Zacharias. + +5:8. And Bala the son of Azaz, the son of Samma, the son of Joel, dwelt +in Aroer as far as Nebo, and Beelmeon. + +5:9. And eastward he had his habitation as far as the entrance of the +desert, and the river Euphrates. For they possessed a great number of +cattle in the land of Galaad. + +5:10. And in the days of Saul they fought against the Agarites, and +slew them, and dwelt in their tents in their stead, in all the country, +that looketh to the east of Galaad. + +5:11. And the children of Gad dwelt over against them in the land of +Basan, as far as Selcha: + +5:12. Johel the chief, and Saphan the second: and Janai, and Saphat in +Basan. + +5:13. And their brethren according to the houses of their kindreds, +were Michael and Mosollam, and Sebe, and Jorai, and Jacan, and Zie, and +Heber, seven. + +5:14. These were the sons of Abihail, the son of Huri, the son of Jara, +the son of Galaad, the son of Michael, the son of Jesisi, the son of +Jeddo, the son of Buz. + +5:15. And their brethren the sons of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of +the house in their families, + +5:16. And they dwelt in Galaad, and in Basan and in the towns thereof, +and in all the suburbs of Saron, unto the borders. + +5:17. All these were numbered in the days of Joathan king of Juda, and +in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel. + +5:18. The Sons of Ruben, and of Gad, and of the half tribe of Manasses, +fighting men, bearing shields, and swords, and bending the bow, and +trained up to battles, four and forty thousand seven hundred and +threescore that went out to war. + +5:19. They fought against the Agarites: but the Itureans, and Naphis, +and Nodab, + +5:20. Gave them help. And the Agarites were delivered into their hands, +and all that were with them, because they called upon God in the +battle: and he heard them, because they had put their faith in him. + +5:21. And they took all that they possessed, of camels fifty thousand, +and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, +and of men a hundred thousand souls. + +5:22. And many fell down slain: for it was the battle of the Lord. And +they dwelt in their stead till the captivity. + +5:23. And the children of the half tribe of Manasses possessed the +land, from the borders of Basan unto Baal, Hermon, and Sanir, and mount +Hermon, for their number was great. + +5:24. And these were the heads of the house of their kindred, Epher, +and Jesi, and Eliel, and Esriel, and Jeremia, and Odoia, and Jediel, +most valiant and powerful men, and famous chiefs in their families. + +5:25. But they forsook the God of their fathers, and went astray after +the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them. + +5:26. And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Phul king of the +Assyrians. and the spirit of Thelgathphalnasar king of Assur: and he +carried away Ruben, and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasses, and +brought them to Lahela, and to Habor, and to Ara, and to the river of +Gozan, unto this day. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 6 + + +The genealogies of Levi, and of Aaron: the cities of the Levites. + +6:1. The sons of Levi were Gerson, Caath, and Merari. + +6:2. The Sons of Caath: Amram, Isaar, Hebron, and Oziel. + +6:3. The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Mary. The Sons of Aaron: +Nadab and Abiu, Eleazar and Ithamar. + +6:4. Eleazar begot Phinees, and Phinees begot Abisue, + +6:5. And Abisue begot Bocci, and Bocci begot Ozi. + +6:6. Ozi begot Zaraias, and Zaraias begot Maraioth. + +6:7. And Maraioth begot Amarias, and Amarias begot Achitob. + +6:8. Achitob begot Sadoc, and Sadoc begot Achimaas. + +6:9. Achimaas begot Azarias, Azarias begot Johanan, + +6:10. Johanan begot Azarias. This is he that executed the priestly +office in the house which Solomon built in Jerusalem. + +6:11. And Azarias begot Amarias, and Amarias begot Achitob. + +6:12. And Achitob begot Sadoc, and Sadoc begot Sellum, + +6:13. Sellum begot Helcias, and Helcias begot Azarias, + +6:14. Azarias begot Saraias, and Saraias begot Josedec. + +6:15. Now Josedec went out, when the Lord carried away Juda, and +Jerusalem, by the hands of Nabuchodonosor. + +6:16. So the sons of Levi were Gerson, Caath, and Merari. + +6:17. And these are the names of the sons of Gerson: Lobni and Semei. + +6:18. The sons of Caath: Amram, and Isaar, and Hebron, and Oziel. + +6:19. The sons of Merari: Moholi and Musi. And these are the kindreds +of Levi according to their families. + +6:20. Of Gerson: Lobni his son, Jahath his son, Zamma his son, + +6:21. Joah his son, Addo his son, Zara his son, Jethrai his son. + +6:22. The sons of Caath, Aminadab his son, Core his son, Asir his son, + +6:23. Elcana his son, Abiasaph his son, Asir his son, + +6:24. Thahath his son, Uriel his son, Ozias his son, Saul his son. + +6:25. The sons of Elcana: Amasai, and Achimoth. + +6:26. And Elcana. The sons of Elcana: Sophai his son, Nahath his son, + +6:27. Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elcana his son. + +6:28. The sons of Samuel: the firstborn Vasseni, and Abia. + +6:29. And the sons of Merari, Moholi: Lobni his son, Semei his son, Oza +his son, + +6:30. Sammaa his son, Haggia his son, Asaia his son. + +6:31. These are they, whom David set over the singing men of the house +of the Lord, after that the ark was placed. + +6:32. And they ministered before the tabernacle of the testimony, with +singing, until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and +they stood according to their order in the ministry. + +6:33. And these are they that stood with their sons, of the sons of +Caath, Hemam a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Sammuel, + +6:34. The son of Elcana, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son +of Thohu, + +6:35. The son of Suph, the son of Elcana, the son of Mahath, the son of +Amasai, + +6:36. The son of Elcana, the son of Johel, the son of Azarias, the son +of Sophonias, + +6:37. The son of Thahath, the son of Asir, the son of Abiasaph, the son +of Core, + +6:38. The son of Isaar, the son of Caath, the son of Levi, the son of +Israel. + +6:39. And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, Asaph the son +of Barachias, the son of Samaa. + +6:40. The son of Michael, the son of Basaia, the, son of Melchia. + +6:41. The son of Athanai, the son of Zara, the son of Adaia. + +6:42. The son of Ethan, the son of Zamma, the son of Semei. + +6:43. The son of Jeth, the son of Gerson, the son of Levi. + +6:44. And the sons of Merari their brethren, on the left hand, Ethan +the son of Cusi, the son of Abdi, the son of Meloch, + +6:45. The son of Hasabia, the son of Amasai, the son of Helcias, + +6:46. The son of Amasai, the son of Boni, the son of Somer, + +6:47. The son of Moholi, the son of Musi, the son of Merari, the son of +Levi. + +6:48. Their brethren also the Levites, who were appointed for all the +ministry of the tabernacle of the house of the Lord. + +6:49. But Aaron and his sons offered burnt offerings upon the altar of +holocausts, and upon the altar of incense, for every work of the holy +of holies: and to pray for Israel according to all that Moses the +servant of God had commanded. + +6:50. And these are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinees his +son, Abisue his son, + +6:51. Bocci his son, Ozi his son, Zarahia his son, + +6:52. Meraioth his son, Amarias his son, Achitob his son, + +6:53. Sadoc his son, Achimaas his son. + +6:54. And these are their dwelling places by the towns and confines, to +wit, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Caathites: for they +fell to them by lot. + +6:55. And they gave them Hebron in the land of Juda, and the suburbs +thereof round about: + +6:56. But the fields of the city, and the villages to Caleb son of +Jephone. + +6:57. And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities for refuge Hebron, +and Lobna, and the suburbs thereof, + +6:58. And Jether and Esthemo, with their suburbs, and Helon, and Dabir +with their suburbs: + +6:59. Asan also, and Bethsames, with their suburbs. + +6:60. And out of the tribe of Benjamin: Gabee and its suburbs, Almath +with its suburbs, Anathoth also with its suburbs: all their cities +throughout their families were thirteen. + +6:61. And to the sons of Caath that remained of their kindred they gave +out of the half tribe of Manasses ten cities in possession. + +6:62. And to the sons of Gerson by their families out of the tribe of +Issachar, and out of the tribe of Aser, and out of the tribe of +Nephtali, and out of the tribe Manasses in Basan, thirteen cities. + +6:63. And to the sons of Merari by their families out of the tribe of +Ruben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zabulon, +they gave by lot twelve cities. + +6:64. And the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities, and +their suburbs. + +6:65. And they gave them by lot, out of the tribe of the sons of Juda, +and out of the tribe of the sons of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the +sons of Benjamin, these cities which they called by their names. + +6:66. And to them that were of the kindred of the sons of Caath, and +the cities in their borders were of the tribe of Ephraim. + +6:67. And they gave the cities of refuge Sichem with its suburbs in +mount Ephraim, and Gazer with its suburbs, + +6:68. Jecmaan also with its suburbs, and Beth-horon in like manner, + +6:69. Helon also with its suburbs, and Gethremmon in like manner, + +6:70. And out of the half tribe of Manasses, Aner and its suburbs, +Baalam and its suburbs, to wit, to them that were left of the family of +the sons of Caath. + +6:71. And to the sons of Gersom, out the kindred of the half tribe of +Manasses, Gaulon, in Basan, and its suburbs, and Astharoth with its +suburbs. + +6:72. Out of the tribe of Issachar, Cedes and its suburbs, and Dabereth +with its suburbs; + +6:73. Ramoth also and its suburbs, and Anem with its suburbs. + +6:74. And out of the tribe of Aser: Masal with its suburbs, and Abdon +in like manner; + +6:75. Hucac also and its suburbs, and Rohol with its suburbs. + +6:76. And out of the tribe of Nephtali, Cedes in Galilee and its +suburbs, Hamon with its suburbs, and Cariathaim, and its suburbs. + +6:77. And to the sons of Merari that remained: out of the tribe of +Zabulon, Remmono and its suburbs, and Thabor with its suburbs. + +6:78. Beyond the Jordan also over against Jericho, on the east side of +the Jordan and out of the tribe of Ruben, Bosor in the wilderness with +its suburbs, and Jassa with its suburbs; + +6:79. Cademoth also and its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; + +6:80. Moreover also out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Galaad and its +suburbs, and Manaim with its suburbs; + +6:81. Hesebon also with its suburbs, and Jazer with its suburbs. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 7 + + +Genealogies of Issachar, Benjamin, Nephtali, Manasses, Ephraim, and +Aser. + +7:1. Now the sons of Issachar were Thola, and Phua, Jasub and Simeron, +four. + +7:2. The sons of Thola: Ozi and Raphaia, and Jeriel, and Jemai, and +Jebsem, and Samuel, chiefs of the houses of their kindreds. Of the +posterity of Thola were numbered in the days of David, two and twenty +thousand six hundred most valiant men. + +7:3. The sons of Ozi: Izrahia, of whom were born Michael, and Obadia, +and Joel, and Jesia, five all great men. + +7:4. And there were with them by their families and peoples, six and +thirty thousand most valiant men ready for war: for they had many wives +and children. + +7:5. Their brethren also throughout all the house of Issachar, were +numbered fourscore and seven thousand most valiant men for war. + +7:6. The sons of Benjamin were Bela, and Bechor, and Jadihel, three. + +7:7. The sons of Bela: Esbon, and Ozi, and Ozial, and Jerimoth and +Urai, five chiefs of their families, and most valiant warriors, and +their number was twenty-two thousand and thirty-four. + +7:8. And the sons of Bechor were Zamira, and Joas, and Eliezer, and +Elioenai, and Amai, and Jerimoth, and Abia, and Anathoth, and Almath: +all these were the sons of Bechor. + +7:9. And they were numbered by the families, heads of their kindreds, +most valiant men for war, twenty thousand and two hundred. + +7:10. And the son of Jadihel: Balan. And the sons of Balan: Jehus and +Benjamin, and Aod, and Chanana, and Zethan and Tharsis, and Ahisahar. + +7:11. All these were sons of Jadihel, heads of their kindreds, most +valiant men, seventeen thousand and two hundred fifty to go out to war. + +7:12. Sepham also and Hapham the sons of Hir: and Hasim the sons of +Aher. + +7:13. And the sons of Nephtali were Jasiel, and Guni, and Jezer, and +Sellum, sons of Bala. + +7:14. And the son of Manasses, Ezriel: and his concubine the Syrian +bore Machir the father of Galaad. + +7:15. And Machir took wives for his sons Happhim, and Saphan: and he +had a sister named Maacha: the name of the second was Salphaad, and +Salphaad had daughters. + +7:16. And Maacha the wife of Machir bore a son, and she called his name +Phares: and the name of his brother was Sares: and his sons were Ulam +and Recen. + +7:17. And the son of Ulam, Baden. These are the sons of Galaad, the son +of Machir, the son of Manasses. + +7:18. And his sister named Queen bore Goodlyman, and Abiezer, and +Mohola. + +7:19. And the sons of Semida were Ahiu, and Sechem, and Leci and Aniam. + +7:20. And the sons of Ephraim were Suthala, Bared his son, Thahath his +son, Elada his son, Thahath his son, and his son Zabad, + +7:21. And his son Suthala, and his son Ezer, and Elad: and the men of +Geth born in the land slew them, because they came down to invade their +possessions. + +7:22. And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came +to comfort him. + +7:23. And he went in to his wife: and she conceived and bore a son, and +he called his name Beria, because he was born when it went evil with +his house: + +Beria. . .This name signifies in evil, or in affliction. + +7:24. And his daughter was Sara, who built Bethoron, the nether and the +upper, and Ozensara. + +7:25. And Rapha was his son, and Reseph, and Thale, of whom was born +Thaan, + +7:26. Who begot Laadan: and his son was Ammiud, who begot Elisama, + +7:27. Of whom was born Nun, who had Josue for his son. + +7:28. And their possessions and habitations were Bethel with her +daughters, and eastward Noran, and westward Gazer and her daughters, +Sichem also with her daughters, as far as Asa with her daughters. + +7:29. And by the borders of the sons of Manasses Bethsan and her +daughters, Thanach and her daughters, Mageddo and her daughters: Dor +and her daughters: in these dwelt the children of Joseph, the son of +Israel. + +7:30. The children of Aser were Jemna, and Jesua, and Jessui, and +Baria, and Sara their sister. + +7:31. And the sons of Baria: Haber, and Melchiel: he is the father of +Barsaith. + +7:32. And Heber begot Jephlat, and Somer, and Hotham, and Suaa their +sister. + +7:33. The sons of Jephlat: Phosech, and Chamaal, and Asoth: these are +the sons of Jephlat. + +7:34. And the sons of Somer: Ahi, and Roaga and Haba, and Aram. + +7:35. And the sons of Helem his brother: Supha, and Jemna, and Selles, +and Amal. + +7:36. The sons of Supha: Sue, Hernapher, and Sual, and Beri, and Jamra. + +7:37. Bosor and Hod, and Samma, and Salusa, and Jethran, and Bera. + +7:38. The sons of Jether: Jephone, and Phaspha, and Ara. + +7:39. And the sons of Olla: Aree, and Haniel, and Resia. + +7:40. All these were sons of Aser, heads of their families, choice and +most valiant captains of captains: and the number of them that were of +the age that was fit for war, was six and twenty thousand. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 8 + + +The posterity of Benjamin is further declared down to Saul. His issue. + +8:1. Now Benjamin begot Bale his firstborn, Asbel the second, Ahara the +third, + +8:2. Nohaa the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. + +8:3. And the sons of Bale were Addar, and Gera, and Abiud, + +8:4. And Abisue, and Naaman, and Ahoe, + +8:5. And Gera, and Sephuphan, and Huram. + +8:6. These are the sons of Abed, heads of families that dwelt in Gabaa, +who were removed into Manahath. + +8:7. And Naaman, and Achia, and Gera he removed them, and begot Oza, +and Ahiud. + +8:8. And Saharim begot in the land of Moab, after he sent away Husim +and Bara his wives. + +8:9. And he begot of Hodes his wife Jobab, and Sebia, and Mosa, and +Molchom, + +8:10. And Jehus and Sechia, and Marma. These were his sons heads of +their families. + +8:11. And Mehusim begot Abitob, and Elphaal. + +8:12. And the sons of Elphaal were Heber, and Misaam, and Samad: who +built Ono, and Lod, and its daughters. + +8:13. And Baria, and Sama were heads of their kindreds that dwelt in +Aialon: these drove away the inhabitants of Geth. + +8:14. And Ahio, and Sesac, and Jerimoth, + +8:15. And Zabadia, and Arod, and Heder, + +8:16. And Michael, and Jespha, and Joha, the sons of Baria. + +8:17. And Zabadia, and Mosollam, Hezeci, and Heber, + +8:18. And Jesamari, and Jezlia, and Jobab, sons of Elphaal, + +8:19. And Jacim, and Zechri, and Zabdi, + +8:20. And Elioenai, and Selethai, and Elial, + +8:21. And Adaia, and Baraia, and Samareth, the sons of Semei. + +8:22. And Jespham, and Heber, and Eliel, + +8:23. And Abdon, and Zechri, and Hanan, + +8:24. And Hanania, and Elam, and Anathothia. + +8:25. And Jephdaia, and Phanuel the sons of Sesac. + +8:26. And Samsari, and Sohoria and Otholia, + +8:27. And Jersia, and Elia, and Zechri, the sons of Jeroham. + +8:28. These were the chief fathers, and heads of their families who +dwelt in Jerusalem. + +8:29. And at Gabaon dwelt Abigabaon, and the name of his wife was +Maacha: + +8:30. And his firstborn son Abdon, and Sur, and Cis, and Baal, and +Nadab, + +8:31. And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher, and Macelloth: + +8:32. And Macelloth begot Samaa: and they dwelt over against their +brethren in Jerusalem with their brethren. + +8:33. And Ner begot Cis and Cis begot Saul. And Saul begot Jonathan and +Melchisua, and Abinadab, and Esbaal. + +Esbaal. . .Alias Isboseth. + +8:34. And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begot Micha. + +Meribbaal. . .Alias Miphiboseth. 2 Kings 4.4. + +8:35. And the sons of Micha were Phithon, and Melech, and Tharaa, and +Ahaz. + +8:36. And Ahaz begot Joada: and Joada begot Alamath, and Azmoth, and +Zamri: and Zamri begot Mosa, + +8:37. And Mosa begot Banaa, whose son was Rapha, of whom was born +Elasa, who begot Asel. + +8:38. And Asel had six sons whose names were Ezricam, Bochru, Ismahel, +Saris, Obdia, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Asel. + +8:39. And the sons of Esec, his brother, were Ulam the firstborn, and +Jehus the second, and Eliphalet the third. + +8:40. And the sons of Ulam were most valiant men, and archers of great +strength: and they had many sons and grandsons, even to a hundred and +fifty. All these were children of Benjamin. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 9 + + +The Israelites, priests, and Levites, who first dwelt in Jerusalem +after the captivity. A repetition of the genealogy of Saul. + +9:1. And all Israel was numbered: and the sum of them was written in +the book of the kings of Israel, and Juda: and they were carried away +to Babylon for their transgression. + +9:2. Now the first that dwelt in their possessions, and in their +cities, were the Israelites, and the priests, and the Levites, and the +Nathineans. + +Nathineans. . .These were the posterity of the Gabaonites, whose office +was to bring wood, water, etc., for the service of the temple. + +9:3. And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Juda, and of the +children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and of Manasses. + +9:4. Othei the son of Ammiud, the son of Amri, the son of Omrai, the +son of Bonni of the sons of Phares the son of Juda. + +9:5. And of Siloni: Asaia the firstborn, and his sons. + +9:6. And of the sons of Zara: Jehuel and their brethren, six hundred +and ninety. + +9:7. And of the sons of Benjamin: Salo the son of Mosollam, the son of +Oduia, the son of Asana: + +9:8. And Jobania the son of Jeroham: and Ela the son of Ozi, the son of +Mochori and Mosallam the son of Saphatias, the son of Rahuel, the son +of Jebania: + +9:9. And their brethren by their families, nine hundred and fifty-six. +All these were heads of their families, by the houses of their fathers. + +9:10. And of the priests: Jedaia, Joiarib, and Jachin: + +9:11. And Azarias the son of Helcias, the son of Mosollam, the son of +Sadoc, the son of Maraioth, the son of Achitob, high priest of the +house of God. + +9:12. And Adaias the son of Jeroham, the son of Phassur, the son of +Melchias, and Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jezra, the son of +Mosollam, the son of Mosollamith, the son of Emmer. + +9:13. And their brethren heads in their families a thousand seven +hundred and threescore, very strong and able men for the work of the +ministry in the house of God. + +9:14. And of the Levites: Semeia the son of Hassub the son of Ezricam, +the son of Hasebia of the sons of Merari. + +9:15. And Bacbacar the carpenter, and Galal, and Mathania the son of +Micha, the son of Zechri the son of Asaph: + +9:16. And Obdia the son of Semeia, the son of Galal, the son of +Idithum: and Barachia the son of Asa, the son of Elcana, who dwelt in +the suburbs of Netophati. + +9:17. And the porters were Sellum, and Accub, and Telmon, and Ahiman: +and their brother Sellum was the prince, + +9:18. Until that time, in the king's gate eastward, the sons of Levi +waited by their turns. + +9:19. But Sellum the son of Core, the son of Abiasaph, the son of Core, +with his brethren and his father's house, the Corites were over the +works of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their +families in turns were keepers of the entrance of the camp of the Lord. + +9:20. And Phinees the son of Eleazar, was their prince before the Lord, + +9:21. And Zacharias the son of Mosollamia, was porter of the gate of +the tabernacle of the testimony: + +9:22. All these that were chosen to be porters at the gates, were two +hundred and twelve: the they were registered in their proper towns: +whom David and Samuel the seer appointed in their trust. + +9:23. As well them as their sons, to keep the gates of the house of the +Lord, and the tabernacle by their turns. + +9:24. In four quarters were the porters: that is to say, toward the +east, and west, and north, and south. + +9:25. And their brethren dwelt in village, and came upon their sabbath +days from time to time. + +9:26. To these four Levites were committed the whole number of the +porters, and they were over the chambers, and treasures, of the house +of the Lord. + +9:27. And they abode in their watches round about the temple of the +Lord: that when it was time, they might open the gates in the morning. + +9:28. And some of their stock had the charge of the vessels for the +ministry: for the vessels were both brought in and carried out by +number. + +9:29. Some of them also had the instruments of the sanctuary committed +unto them, and the charge of the fine flour, and wine, and oil, and +frankincense, and spices. + +9:30. And the sons of the priests made the ointments of the spices. + +9:31. And Mathathias a Levite, the firstborn of Sellum the Corite, was +overseer of such things as were fried the fryingpan. + +9:32. And some of the sons of Caath their brethren, were over the +loaves of proposition, to prepare always new for every sabbath. + +9:33. These are the chief of the singing men of the families of the +Levites, who dwelt in the chambers, by the temple, that they might +serve continually day and night in their ministry. + +9:34. The heads of the Levites, princes in their families, abode in +Jerusalem. + +9:35. And in Gabaon dwelt Jehiel the father of Gabaon, and the name of +his wife was Maacha: + +9:36. His firstborn son Abdon, and Sur, and Cis, and Baal, and Ner, and +Nadab, + +9:37. Gedor also, and Ahio, and Zacharias, and Macelloth. + +9:38. And Macelloth begot Samaan: these dwelt over against their +brethren in Jerusalem, with their brethren. + +9:39. Now Ner begot Cis: and Cis begot Saul: and Saul begot Jonathan +and Melchisua, and Abinadab, and Esbaal. + +9:40. And the son of Jonathan, was Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begot +Micha. + +9:41. And the sons of Micha, were Phithon, and Melech, and Tharaa, and +Ahaz. + +9:42. And Ahaz begot Jara, and Jara begot Alamath, and Azmoth, and +Zamri. And Zamri begot Mosa. + +9:43. And Mosa begot Banaa: whose son Raphaia begot Elasa: of whom was +born Asel. + +9:44. And Asel had six sons whose names are, Ezricam Bochru, Ismahel, +Saria, Obdia, Hanan: these are the sons of Asel. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 10 + + +Saul is slain for his sins: he is buried by the men of Jabes. + +10:1. Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel +fled from before the Philistines, and fell down wounded in mount +Gelboe. + +10:2. And the Philistines drew near pursuing after Saul, and his sons, +and they killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchisua the sons of Saul. + +10:3. And the battle grew hard against Saul and the archers reached +him, and wounded him with arrows. + +10:4. And Saul said to his armourbearer: Draw thy sword, and kill me: +lest these uncircumcised come, and mock me. But his armourbearer would +not, for he was struck with fear: so Saul took his sword, and fell upon +it. + +10:5. And when his armourbearer saw it, to wit, that Saul was dead, he +also fell upon his sword and died. + +10:6. So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house fell +together. + +10:7. And when the men of Israel, that dwelt in the plains, saw this, +they fled: and Saul and his sons being dead, they forsook their cities, +and were scattered up and down: and the Philistines came, and dwelt in +them. + +10:8. And the next day the Philistines taking away the spoils of them +that were slain, found Saul and his sons lying on mount Gelboe. + +10:9. And when they had stripped him, and out off his head, and taken +away his armour, they sent it into their land, to be carried about, and +shewn in the temples of the idols and to the people. + +10:10. And his armour they dedicated in the temple of their god, and +his head they fastened up in the temple of Dagon. + +10:11. And when the men of Jabes Galaad had heard this, to wit, all +that the Philistines had done to Saul, + +10:12. All the valiant men of them arose, and took the bodies of Saul +and of his sons, and brought them to Jabes, and buried their bones +under the oak that was in Jabes, and they fasted seven days. + +10:13. So Saul died for his iniquities, because he transgressed the +commandment of the Lord, which he had commanded, and kept it not: and +moreover consulted also a witch, + +10:14. And trusted not in the Lord: therefore he slew him, and +transferred his kingdom to David the son of Isai. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 11 + + +David is made king. He taketh the castle of Sion. A catalogue of his +valiant men. + +11:1. Then all Israel gathered themselves to David in Hebron, saying: +We are thy bone, and thy flesh. + +11:2. Yesterday also, and the day before when Saul was king, thou wast +he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: for the Lord thy God said +to thee: Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over +them. + +11:3. So all the ancients of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and +David made a covenant with them before the Lord: and they anointed him +king over Israel according to the word of the Lord which he spoke in +the hand of Samuel. + +11:4. And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where +the Jebusites were the inhabitants of the land. + +11:5. And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David: Thou shalt not come +in here. But David took the castle of Sion, which is the city of David. + +11:6. And he said: Whosoever shall first strike the Jebusites, shall be +the head and chief captain. And Joab the son of Sarvia went up first, +and was made the general. + +11:7. And David dwelt in the castle, and therefore it was called the +city of David, + +11:8. And he built the city round about from Mello all round, and Joab +built the rest of the city. + +11:9. And David went on growing and increasing, and the Lord of hosts +was with him. + +11:10. These are the chief of the valiant man of David, who helped him +to be made king over all Israel, according to the word of the Lord, +which he spoke to Israel. + +11:11. And this is the number of the heroes of David: Jesbaam the son +of Hachamoni the chief among the thirty: he lifted up his spear against +three hundred wounded by him at one time. + +11:12. And after him was Eleazar his uncle's son the Ahohite, who was +one of the three mighties. + +11:13. He was with David in Phesdomim, when the Philistines were +gathered to that place to battle: and the field of that country was +full of barley, and the people fled from before the Philistines. + +11:14. But these men stood in the midst of the field, and defended it: +and they slew the Philistines, and the Lord gave a great deliverance to +his people. + +11:15. And three of the thirty captains went down to the rock, wherein +David was, to the cave of Odollam, when the Philistines encamped in the +valley of Raphaim. + +11:16. And David was in a hold, and the garrison of the Philistines in +Bethlehem. + +11:17. And David longed, and said: O that some man would give me water +of the cistern of Bethlehem, which is in the gate. + +11:18. And these three broke through the midst of the camp of the +Philistines, and drew water out of the cistern of Bethlehem, which was +in the gate, and brought it to David to drink: and he would not drink +of it, but rather offered it to the Lord, + +11:19. Saying: God forbid that I should do this in the sight of my God, +and should drink the blood of these men: for with the danger of their +lives they have brought me the water. And therefore he would not drink. +These things did the three most valiant. + +11:20. And Abisai the brother of Joab, he was chief of three, and he +lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he slew, and he was +renowned among the three, + +11:21. And illustrious among the second three, and their captain: but +yet he attained not to the first three. + +11:22. Banaias the son of Joiada a most valiant man, of Cabseel, who +had done many acts: he slew the two ariels of Moab: and he went down, +and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in the time of snow. + +Two ariels. . .That is, two lions, or lion-like men; for Ariel in Hebrew +signifies a lion. + +11:23. And he slew an Egyptian, whose stature was of five cubits, and +who had a spear like a weaver's beam: and he went down to him with a +staff, and plucked away the spear, that he held in his hand, and slew +him with his own spear. + +11:24. These things did Banaias the son of Joiada, who was renowned +among the three valiant ones, + +11:25. And the first among the thirty, but yet to the three he attained +not: and David made him of his council. + +11:26. Moreover the most valiant men of the army, were Asahel brother +of Joab, and Elchanan the son of his uncle of Bethlehem, + +11:27. Sammoth an Arorite, Helles a Phalonite, + +11:28. Ira the son of Acces a Thecuite, Abiezer an Anathothite, + +11:29. Sobbochai a Husathite, Ilai an Ahohite, + +11:30. Maharai a Netophathite, Heled the son of Baana a Netophathite, + +11:31. Ethai the son of Ribai of Gabaath of the sons of Benjamin, Banai +a Pharathonite, + +11:32. Hurai of the torrent Gaas, Abiel an Arbathite, Azmoth a +Bauramite, Eliaba a Salabonite, + +11:33. The sons of Assem a Gezonite, Jonathan the son of Sage an +Ararite, + +11:34. Ahiam the son of Sachar an Ararite, + +11:35. Eliphal the son of Ur, + +11:36. Hepher a Mecherathite, Ahia a Phelonite, + +11:37. Hesro a Carmelite, Naarai the son of Azbai, + +11:38. Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibahar the son of Agarai. + +11:39. Selec an Ammonite, Naharai a Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab +the son of Sarvia. + +11:40. Ira a Jethrite, Gareb a Jethrite, + +11:41. Urias a Hethite, Zabad the son of Oholi, + +11:42. Adina the son of Siza a Rubenite the prince of the Rubenites, +and thirty with him: + +11:43. Hanan the son of Maacha, and Josaphat a Mathanite, + +11:44. Ozia an Astarothite, Samma, and Jehiel the sons of Hotham an +Arorite, + +11:45. Jedihel the son of Zamri, and Joha his brother a Thosaite, + +11:46. Eliel a Mahumite, and Jeribai, and Josaia the sons of Elnaim, +and Jethma a Moabite, Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel of Masobia. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 12 + + +Who followed David when he fled from Saul. And who came to Hebron to +make him king. + +12:1. Now these are they that came to David to Siceleg, while he yet +fled from Saul the son of Cis, and they were most valiant and excellent +warriors, + +12:2. Bending the bow, and using either hand in hurling stones with +slings, and shooting arrows: of the brethren of Saul of Benjamin. + +12:3. The chief was Ahiezer, and Joas, the sons of Samoa of Gabaath, +and Jaziel, and Phallet the sons of Azmoth, and Beracha, and Jehu an +Anathothite. + +12:4. And Samaias of Gabaon, the stoutest amongst the thirty and over +the thirty; Jeremias, and Jeheziel and Johanan, and Jozabad of +Gaderoth; + +12:5. And Eluzai, and Jerimuth, and Baalia, and Samaria, and Saphatia +the Haruphite; + +12:6. Elcana, and Jesia, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jesbaam of +Carehim: + +12:7. And Joela, and Zabadia the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. + +12:8. From Gaddi also there went over to David, when he lay hid in the +wilderness most valiant men, and excellent warriors, holding shield and +spear: whose faces were like the faces of a lion, and they were swift +like the roebucks on the mountains. + +12:9. Ezer the chief, Obdias the second, Eliab the third, + +12:10. Masmana the fourth, Jeremias the fifth, + +12:11. Ethi the sixth, Eliel the seventh, + +12:12. Johanan the eighth, Elzebad the ninth, + +12:13. Jerenias the tenth, Machbani the eleventh, + +12:14. These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the army: the least +of them was captain over a hundred soldiers, and the greatest over a +thousand. + +12:15. These are they who passed over the Jordan in the first month, +when it is used to flow over its banks: and they put to flight all that +dwelt in the valleys both toward the east and toward the west. + +12:16. And there came also of the men of Benjamin, and of Juda to the +hold, in which David abode. + +12:17. And David went out to meet them, and said: If you are come +peaceably to me to help me, let my heart be joined to you: but if you +plot against me for my enemies whereas I have no iniquity in my hands, +let the God of our fathers see, and judge. + +12:18. But the spirit came upon Amasai the chief among thirty, and he +said: We are thine, O David, and for thee, O son of Isai: peace, peace +be to thee, and peace to thy helpers. For thy God helpeth thee. So +David received them, and made them captains of the band. + +12:19. And there were some of Manasses that went over to David, when he +came with the Philistines against Saul to fight: but he did not fight +with them: because the lords of the Philistines taking counsel sent him +back, saying: With the danger of our heads he will return to his master +Saul. + +12:20. So when he went back to Siceleg, there fled to him of Manasses, +Ednas and Jozabad, and Jedihel, and Michael, and Ednas, and Jozabad, +and Eliu, and Salathi, captains of thousands in Manasses. + +12:21. These helped David against the rovers: for they were all most +valiant men, and were made commanders in the army. + +12:22. Moreover day by day there came some to David to help him till +they became a great number, like the army of God. + +12:23. And this is the number of the chiefs of the army who came to +David, when he was in Hebron, to transfer to him the kingdom of Saul, +according to the word of the Lord. + +12:24. The sons of Juda bearing shield and spear, six thousand eight +hundred well appointed to war. + +12:25. Of the sons of Simeon valiant men for war, seven thousand one +hundred. + +12:26. Of the sons of Levi, four thousand six hundred. + +12:27. And Joiada prince of the race of Aaron, and with him three +thousand seven hundred. + +12:28. Sadoc also a young man of excellent disposition, and the house +of his father, twenty-two principal men. + +12:29. And of the sons of Benjamin the brethren of Saul, three +thousand: for hitherto a great part of them followed the house of Saul. + +12:30. And of the sons of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, men of +great valour renowned in their kindreds. + +12:31. And of the half tribe of Manasses, eighteen thousand, every one +by their names, came to make David king. + +12:32. Also of the sons of Issachar men of understanding, that knew all +times to order what Israel should do, two hundred principal men: and +all the rest of the tribe followed their counsel. + +12:33. And of Zabulon such as went forth to battle, and stood in array +well appointed with armour for war, there came fifty thousand to his +aid, with no double heart. + +12:34. And of Nephtali, a thousand leaders: and with them seven and +thirty thousand, furnished with shield and spear. + +12:35. Of Dan also twenty-eight thousand six hundred prepared for +battle. + +12:36. And of Aser forty thousand going forth to fight, and challenging +in battle. + +12:37. And on the other side of the Jordan of the sons of Ruben, and of +Gad, and of the half of the tribe of Manasses a hundred and twenty +thousand, furnished with arms for war. + +12:38. All these men of war well appointed to fight, came with a +perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all +the rest also of Israel, were of one heart to make David king. + +12:39. And they were there with David three days eating and drinking: +for their brethren had prepared for them. + +12:40. Moreover they that were near them even as far as Issachar, and +Zabulon, and Nephtali, brought loaves on asses, and on camels, and on +mules, and on oxen, to eat: meal, figs, raisins, wine, oil, and oxen, +and sheep in abundance, for there was joy in Israel. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 13 + + +The ark is brought from Cariathiarim. Oza for touching it is struck +dead. + +13:1. David consulted with the captains of thousands, and of hundreds, +and with all the commanders. + +13:2. And he said to all the assembly of Israel: If it please you; and +if the words which I speak come from the Lord our God, let us send to +the rest of our brethren into all the countries of Israel, and to the +priests, and the Levites, that dwell in the suburbs of the cities, to +gather themselves to us, + +13:3. And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we sought it +not in the days of Saul. + +13:4. And all the multitude answered that it should be so: for the word +pleased all the people. + +13:5. So David assembled all Israel from Sihor of Egypt, even to the +entering into Emath, to bring the ark of God from Cariathiarim. + +13:6. And David went up with all the men of Israel to the hill of +Cariathiarim which is in Juda, to bring thence the ark of the Lord God +sitting upon the cherubims, where his name is called upon. + +13:7. And they carried the ark of God upon a new cart out of the house +of Abinadab. And Oza and his brother drove the cart. + +13:8. And David and all Israel played before God with all their might +with hymns, and with harps, and with psalteries, and timbrels, and +cymbals, and trumpets, + +13:9. And when they came to the floor of Chidon, Oza put forth his +hand, to hold up the ark: for the ox being wanton had made it lean a +little on one side. + +13:10. And the Lord was angry with Oza, and struck him, because he had +touched the ark; and he died there before the Lord. + +13:11. And David was troubled because the Lord had divided Oza: and he +called that place the Breach of Oza to this day. + +13:12. And he feared God at that time, saying: How can I bring in the +ark of God to me? + +13:13. And therefore he brought it not home to himself, that is, into +the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the +Gethite. + +13:14. And the ark of God remained in the house of Obededom three +months: and the Lord blessed his house, and all that he had. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 14 + + +David's house, and children: his victories over the Philistines. + +14:1. And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, +and masons, and carpenters, to build him a house. + +14:2. And David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over +Israel, and that his kingdom was exalted over his people Israel. + +14:3. And David took other wives in Jerusalem: and he begot sons, and +daughters. + +14:4. Now these are the names of them that were born to him in +Jerusalem: Samua, and Sobad, Nathan, and Solomon, + +14:5. Jebahar, and Elisua, and Eliphalet, + +14:6. And Noga, and Napheg, and Japhia, + +14:7. Elisama, and Baaliada, and Eliphalet. + +14:8. And the Philistines hearing that David was anointed king over all +Israel, went all up to seek him: and David heard of it, and went out +against them. + +14:9. And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the vale of +Raphaim. + +14:10. And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up against the +Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said +to him: Go up, and I will deliver them into thy hand. + +14:11. And when they were come to Baalpharasim, David defeated them +there, and he said: God hath divided my enemies by my hand, as waters +are divided: and therefore the name of that place was called +Baalpharasim. + +14:12. And they left there their gods, and David commanded that they +should be burnt. + +14:13. Another time also the Philistines made an irruption, and spread +themselves abroad in the valley. + +14:14. And David consulted God again, and God said to him: Go not up +after them, turn away from them, and come upon them over against the +pear trees. + +14:15. And when thou shalt hear the sound of one going in the tops of +the pear trees, then shalt thou go out to battle. For God is gone out +before thee to strike the army of the Philistines. + +14:16. And David did as God had commanded him, and defeated the army of +the Philistines, slaying them from Gabaon to Gazera. + +14:17. And the name of David became famous in all countries, and the +Lord made all nations fear aim. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 15 + + +The ark is brought into the city of David, with great solemnity. Michol +derideth David's devotion. + +15:1. He made also houses for himself in the city of David: and built a +place for the ark of God, and pitched a tabernacle for it. + +15:2. Then David said: No one ought to carry the ark of God, but the +Levites, whom the Lord hath chosen to carry it, and to minister unto +himself for ever. + +15:3. And he gathered all Israel together into Jerusalem, that the ark +of God might be brought into its place, which he had prepared for it. + +15:4. And the sons of Aaron also, and the Levites. + +15:5. Of the children of Caath, Uriel was the chief, and his brethren a +hundred and twenty. + +15:6. Of the sons of Merari, Asaia the chief, and his brethren two +hundred and twenty. + +15:7. Of the sons of Gersom, Joel the chief, and his brethren a hundred +and thirty. + +15:8. Of the sons of Elisaphan, Semeias the chief: and his brethren two +hundred. + +15:9. Of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief: and his brethren eighty. + +15:10. Of the sons of Oziel, Aminadab the chief: and his brethren a +hundred and twelve. + +15:11. And David called Sadoc, and Abiathar the priests, and the +Levites, Uriel, Asaia, Joel, Semeia, Eliel, and Aminadab: + +15:12. And he said to them: You that are the heads of the Levitical +families, be sanctified with your brethren, and bring the ark of the +Lord the God of Israel to the place, which is prepared for it: + +15:13. Lest as the Lord at first struck us, because you were not +present, the same should now also come to pass, by our doing some thing +against the law. + +15:14. So the priests and the Levites were sanctified, to carry the ark +of the Lord the God of Israel. + +15:15. And the sons of Levi took the ark of God as Moses had commanded, +according to the word of the Lord, upon their shoulders, with the +staves. + +15:16. And David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites, to appoint some of +their brethren to be singers with musical instruments, to wit, on +psalteries, and harps, and cymbals, that the joyful noise might resound +on high. + +15:17. And they appointed Levites, Hemam the son of Joel, and of his +brethren Asaph the son of Barachias: and of the sons of Merari, their +brethren: Ethan the son of Casaia. + +15:18. And with them their brethren: in the second rank, Zacharias, and +Ben, and Jaziel, and Semiramoth, and Jahiel, and Ani, and Eliab, and +Banaias, and Maasias, and Mathathias, and Eliphalu, and Macenias, and +Obededom, and Jehiel, the porters. + +15:19. Now the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, sounded with cymbals +of brass. + +15:20. And Zacharias, and Oziel, and Semiramoth, and Jehiel, and Ani, +and Eliab, and Maasias, and Banaias, sung mysteries upon psalteries. + +15:21. And Mathathias, and Eliphalu, and Macenias and Obededom, and +Jehiel and Ozaziu, sung a song of victory for the octave upon harps. + +15:22. And Chonenias chief of the Levites, presided over the prophecy, +to give out the tunes: for he was very skilful. + +The prophecy, to give out the tunes. . .Singing praises to God is here +called prophecy: the more, because these singers were often inspired +men. + +15:23. And Barachias, and Elcana, were doorkeepers of the ark. + +15:24. And Sebenias, and Josaphat, and Nathanael, and Amasai, and +Zacharias, and Banaias, and Eliezer the priests, sounded with trumpets, +before the ark of God: and Obededom and Jehias were porters of the ark. + +15:25. So David and all the ancients of Israel, and the captains over +thousands, went to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the +house of Obededom with joy. + +15:26. And when God had helped the Levites who carried the ark of the +covenant of the Lord, they offered in sacrifice seven oxen, and seven +rams. + +15:27. And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the +Levites that carried the ark, and the singing men, and Chonenias the +ruler of the prophecy among the singers: and David also had on him an +ephod of linen. + +15:28. And all Israel brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord with +joyful shouting, and sounding with the sound of the cornet, and with +trumpets, and cymbals, and psalteries, and harps. + +15:29. And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord was come to the +city of David, Michol the daughter of Saul looking out at a window, saw +king David dancing and playing, and she despised him in her heart. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 16 + + +The ark is placed in the tabernacle. Sacrifice is offered. David +blesseth the people, disposeth the offices of Levites, and maketh a +psalm of praise to God. + +16:1. So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the +tent, which David had pitched for it: and they offered holocausts, and +peace offerings before God. + +16:2. And when David had made an end of offering holocausts, and peace +offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. + +16:3. And he divided to all and every one, both men and women, a loaf +of bread, and a piece of roasted beef, and flour fried with oil. + +16:4. And he appointed Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, +and to remember his works, and to glorify, and praise the Lord God of +Israel. + +16:5. Asaph the chief, and next after him Zacharias: moreover Jahiel, +and Semiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mathathias, and Eliab, and Banaias, and +Obededom: and Jehiel over the instruments of psaltery, and harps: and +Asaph sounded with cymbals: + +16:6. But Banaias, and Jaziel the priests, to sound the trumpet +continually before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. + +16:7. In that day David made Asaph the chief to give praise to the Lord +with his brethren. + +16:8. Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his name: make known his doings +among the nations. + +16:9. Sing to him, yea, sing praises to him: and relate all his +wondrous works. + +16:10. Praise ye his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice, that +seek the Lord. + +16:11. Seek ye the Lord, and his power: seek ye his face evermore. + +16:12. Remember his wonderful works, which he hath done: his signs, and +the judgments of his mouth. + +16:13. O ye seed of Israel his servants, ye children of Jacob his +chosen. + +16:14. He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth. + +16:15. Remember for ever his covenant: the word, which he commanded to +a thousand generations. + +16:16. The covenant which he made with Abraham: and his oath to Isaac. + +16:17. And he appointed the same to Jacob for a precept: and to Israel +for an everlasting covenant: + +16:18. Saying: To thee will I give the land of Chanaan: the lot of your +inheritance. + +16:19. When they were but a small number: very few and sojourners in +it. + +16:20. And they passed from nation to nation: and from a kingdom to +another people. + +16:21. He suffered no man to do them wrong: and reproved kings for +their sake. + +16:22. Touch not my anointed: and do no evil to my prophets. + +16:23. Sing ye to the Lord, all the earth: shew forth from day to day +his salvation. + +16:24. Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all +people. + +16:25. For the Lord is great and exceedingly to be praised: and he is +to be feared above all gods. + +16:26. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the +heavens. + +16:27. Praise and magnificence are before him: strength and joy in his +place. + +16:28. Bring ye to the Lord, O ye families of the nations: bring ye to +the Lord glory and empire. + +16:29. Give to the Lord glory to his name, bring up sacrifice, and come +ye in his sight: and adore the Lord in holy becomingness. + +16:30. Let all the earth be moved at his presence: for he hath founded +the world immoveable. + +16:31. Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be glad: and let them say +among the nations: The Lord hath reigned. + +16:32. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields +rejoice, and all things that are in them. + +16:33. Then shall the trees of the wood give praise before the Lord: +because he is come to judge the earth. + +16:34. Give ye glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy +endureth for ever. + +16:35. And say ye: Save us, O God our savior: and gather us together, +and deliver us from the nations, that we may give glory to thy holy +name, and may rejoice in singing thy praises. + +16:36. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel from eternity to eternity: +and let all the people say Amen, and a hymn to God. + +16:37. So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, +Asaph and his brethren to minister in the presence of the ark +continually day by day, and in their courses. + +16:38. And Obededom, with his brethren sixty-eight: and Obededom the +son of Idithun, and Hosa he appointed to be porters. + +16:39. And Sadoc the priest, and his brethren priests, before the +tabernacle of the Lord in the high place, which was in Gabaon. + +16:40. That they should offer holocausts to the Lord upon the altar of +holocausts continually, morning and evening, according to all that is +written in the law of the Lord, which he commanded Israel. + +16:41. And after him Heman, and Idithun, and the rest that were chosen, +every one by his name to give praise to the Lord: because his mercy +endureth for ever. + +16:42. And Heman and Idithun sounded the trumpet, and played on the +cymbals, and all kinds of musical instruments to sing praises to God: +and the sons of Idithun he made porters. + +16:43. And all the people returned to their houses: and David to bless +also his own house. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 17 + + +David's purpose to build a temple, is rewarded by most ample promises: +David's thanksgiving. + +17:1. Now when David was dwelling in his house, he said to Nathan the +prophet: Behold I dwell in a house of cedar: and the ark of the +covenant of the Lord is under skins. + +17:2. And Nathan said to David: Do all that is in thy heart: for God is +with thee. + +17:3. Now that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: + +17:4. Go, and speak to David my servant: Thus saith the Lord: Thou +shalt not build me a house to dwell in. + +17:5. For I have not remained in a house from the time that I brought +up Israel, to this day: but I have been always changing places in a +tabernacle, and in a tent, + +17:6. Abiding with all Israel. Did I ever speak to any one, of all the +judges of Israel whom I charged to feed my people, saying: Why have you +not built me a house of cedar? + +17:7. Now therefore thus shalt thou say to my servant David: Thus saith +the Lord of hosts: I took thee from the pastures, from following the +flock, that thou shouldst be ruler of my people Israel. + +17:8. And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast gone: and have +slain all thy enemies before thee, and have made thee a name like that +of one of the great ones that are renowned in the earth. + +17:9. And I have given a place my people Israel: they shall be planted, +and shall dwell therein, and shall be moved no more, neither shall the +children of iniquity waste them, as at the beginning, + +17:10. Since the days that I gave judges to my people Israel, and have +humbled all thy enemies. And I declare to thee, that the Lord will +build thee a house. + +17:11. And when thou shalt have ended thy days to go to thy fathers, I +will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons: and I +will establish his kingdom. + +17:12. He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne for +ever. + +17:13. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son: and I +will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was +before thee. + +17:14. But I will settle him in my house, and in my kingdom for ever: +and his throne shall be most firm for ever. + +17:15. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, +so did Nathan speak to David. + +17:16. And king David came and sat before the Lord, and said: Who am I, +O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou shouldst give such things +to me? + +17:17. But even this hath seemed little in thy sight, and therefore +thou hast also spoken concerning the house of thy servant for the time +to come: and hast made me remarkable above all men, O Lord God. + +17:18. What can David add more, seeing thou hast thus glorified thy +servant, and known him? + +17:19. O Lord, for thy servant's sake, according to thy own heart, thou +hast shewn all this magnificence, and wouldst have all the great things +to be known. + +17:20. O Lord there is none like thee: and here is no other God beside +thee, of all whom we have heard of with our ears. + +17:21. For what other nation is there upon earth like thy people +Israel, whom God went to deliver, and make a people for himself, and by +his greatness and terrors cast out nations before their face whom he +had delivered out of Egypt? + +17:22. And thou hast made thy people Israel to be thy own people for +ever, and thou, O Lord, art become their God. + +17:23. Now therefore, O Lord, let the word which thou hast spoken to +thy servant, and concerning his house, be established for ever, and do +as thou hast said. + +17:24. And let thy name remain and be magnified for ever: and let it be +said: The Lord of hosts is God of Israel, and the house of David his +servant remaineth before him. + +17:25. For thou, O Lord my God, hast revealed to the ear of thy +servant, that thou wilt build him a house: and therefore thy servant +hath found confidence to pray before thee. + +17:26. And now O Lord, thou art God: and thou hast promised to thy +servant such great benefits. + +17:27. And thou hast begun to bless the house of thy servant, that it +may be always before thee: for seeing thou blessest it, O Lord, it +shall be blessed for ever. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 18 + + +David's victories. His chief officers. + +18:1. And it came to pass after this, that David defeated the +Philistines, and humbled them, and took away Geth, and her daughters +out of the hands of the Philistines, + +18:2. And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites were made David's +servants, and brought him gifts. + +18:3. At that time David defeated also Adarezer king of Soba of the +land of Hemath, when he went to extend his dominions as far as the +river Euphrates. + +18:4. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand +horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen, and he houghed all the chariot +horses, only a hundred chariots, which he reserved for himself. + +18:5. And the Syrians of Damascus came also to help Adarezer king of +Soba: and David slew of them likewise two and twenty thousand men. + +18:6. And he put a garrison in Damascus, that Syria also should serve +him, and bring gifts. And the Lord assisted him in all things to which +he went. + +18:7. And David took the golden quivers which the servants of Adarezer +had, and he brought them to Jerusalem. + +18:8. Likewise out of Thebath and Chun, cities of Adarezer, he brought +very much brass, of which Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, +and the vessels of brass. + +18:9. Now when Thou king of Hemath heard that David had defeated all +the army of Adarezer king of Soba, + +18:10. He sent Adoram his son to king David to desire peace of him, and +to congratulate him that he had defeated and overthrown Adarezer: for +Thou was an enemy to Adarezer. + +18:11. And all the vessels of gold, and silver and brass king David +consecrated to the Lord, with the silver and gold which he had taken +from all the nations, as well from Edom, and from Moab, and from the +sons of Ammon, as from the Philistines, and from Amalec. + +18:12. And Abisai the son of Sarvia slew of the Edomites in the vale of +the saltpits, eighteen thousand: + +18:13. And he put a garrison in Edom, that Edom should serve David: and +the Lord preserved David in all things to which he went. + +18:14. So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and +justice among all his people. + +18:15. And Joab the son of Sarvia was over the army, and Josaphat the +son of Ahilud recorder. + +18:16. And Sadoc the son of Achitob, and Achimelech the son of +Abiathar, were the priests: and Susa, scribe. + +18:17. And Banaias the son of Joiada was over the bands of the Cerethi, +and the Phelethi: and the sons of David were chief about the king. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 19 + + +The Ammonites abuse David's ambassadors: both they and their +confederates are overthrown. + +19:1. Now it came to pass that Naas the king of the children of Ammon +died, and his son reigned in his stead. + +19:2. And David said: I will shew kindness to Hanon the son of Naas: +for his father did a favour tome. And David sent messengers to comfort +him upon the death of his father. But when they were come into the land +of the children of Ammon, to comfort Hanon, + +19:3. The princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanon: Thou thinkest +perhaps that David to do honour to thy father hath sent comforters to +thee: and thou dost not take notice, that his servants are come to thee +to consider, and search, and spy out thy land. + +19:4. Wherefore Hanon shaved the heads and beards of the servants of +David, and cut away their garments from the buttocks to the feet, and +sent them away. + +19:5. And when they were gone, they sent word to David, who sent to +meet them (for they had suffered a great affront) and ordered them to +stay at Jericho till their beards grew and then to return. + +19:6. And when the children of Ammon saw that they had done an injury +to David, Hanon and the rest of the people sent a thousand talents of +silver, to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia and out +of Syria Maacha, and out of Soba. + +19:7. And they hired two and thirty thousand chariots, and the king of +Maacha, with his people. And they came and camped over against Medaba. +And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together out of their +cities, and came to battle. + +19:8. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army of +valiant men: + +19:9. And the children of Ammon came out and put their army in array +before the gate of the city: and the kings, that were come to their +aid, stood apart in the field. + +19:10. Wherefore Joab understanding that the battle was set against him +before and behind, chose out the bravest men of all Israel, and marched +against the Syrians, + +19:11. And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abisai +his brother, and they went against the children of Ammon. + +19:12. And he said: If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou +shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, I +will help thee. + +19:13. Be of good courage and let us behave ourselves manfully for our +people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord will do that which +is good in his sight. + +19:14. So Joab and the people that were with him, went against the +Syrians to the battle: and he put them to flight. + +19:15. And the children of Ammon seeing that the Syrians were fled, +they likewise fled from Abisai his brother, and went into the city: and +Joab also returned to Jerusalem. + +19:16. But the Syrians seeing that they had fallen before Israel, sent +messengers, and brought to them the Syrians that were beyond the river: +and Sophach, general of the army of Adarezer, was their leader. + +19:17. And it was told David, and he gathered together all Israel, and +passed the Jordan, and came upon them, and put his army in array +against them, and they fought with him. + +19:18. But the Syrian fled before Israel: and David slew of the Syrians +seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and Sophach the +general of the army. + +Seven thousand chariots. . .That is, of men who fought in chariots. + +19:19. And when the servants of Adarezer saw themselves overcome by +Israel, they went over to David, and served him: and Syria would not +help the children of Ammon any more. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 20 + + +Rabba is taken. Other victories over the Philistines. + +20:1. And it came to pass after the course of a year, at the time that +kings go out to battle, Joab gathered together an army and the strength +of the troops, and wasted the land of the children of Ammon: and went +and besieged Rabba. But David stayed at Jerusalem, when Joab smote +Rabba, and destroyed it. + +20:2. And David took the crown of Melchom from his head, and found in +it a talent weight of gold, and most precious stones, and he made +himself a diadem of it: he took also the spoils of the city which were +very great. + +20:3. And the people that were therein he brought out: and made +harrows, and sleds, and chariots of iron to go over them, so that they +were cut and bruised to pieces: in this manner David dealt with all the +cities of the children of Ammon: and he returned with all his people to +Jerusalem. + +20:4. After this there arose a war at Gazer against the Philistines: in +which Sabachai the Husathite slew Saphai of the race of Raphaim, and +humbled them. + +20:5. Another battle also was fought against the Philistines, in which +Adeodatus the son of Saltus a Bethlehemite slew the brother of Goliath +the Gethite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. + +20:6. There was another battle also in Geth, in which there was a man +of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on +each hand and foot: who also was born of the stock of Rapha. + +20:7. He reviled Israel: but Jonathan the son of Samaa the brother of +David slew him. These were the sons of Rapha in Geth, who fell by the +hand of David and his servants. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 21 + + +David's sin in numbering the people is punished by a pestilence: which +ceaseth upon his offering sacrifice in the thrashingfloor of Ornan. + +21:1. And Satan rose up against Israel: and moved David to number +Israel. + +21:2. And David said to Joab, and to the rulers of the people: Go, and +number Israel from Bersabee even to Dan, and bring me the number of +them that I may know it. + +21:3. And Joab answered: The Lord make his people a hundred times more +than they are: but, my lord the king, are they not all thy servants: +why doth my lord seek this thing, which may be imputed as a sin to +Israel? + +21:4. But the king's word rather prevailed: and Joab departed, and went +through all Israel: and returned to Jerusalem. + +21:5. And he gave David the number of them, whom he had surveyed: and +all the number of Israel was found to be eleven hundred thousand men +that drew the sword: and of Juda four hundred and seventy thousand +fighting men. + +The number, etc. . .The difference of the numbers here and 2 Kings 24. +is to be accounted for, by supposing the greater number to be that +which was really found, and the lesser to be that which Joab gave in. + +21:6. But Levi and Benjamin he did not number: for Joab unwillingly +executed the king's orders. + +21:7. And God was displeased with this thing that was commanded: and he +struck Israel. + +21:8. And David said to God: I have sinned exceedingly in doing this: I +beseech thee take away the iniquity of thy servant, for I have done +foolishly. + +21:9. And the Lord spoke to Gad the seer of David, saying: + +21:10. Go, and speak to David, and tell him: Thus saith the Lord: I +give thee the choice of three things: choose one which thou wilt, and I +will do it to thee. + +21:11. And when Gad was come to David, he said to him: Thus saith the +Lord: choose which thou wilt: + +21:12. Either three years famine: or three months to flee from thy +enemies, and not to be able to escape their sword: or three days to +have the sword of the Lord, and pestilence in the land, and the angel +of the Lord destroying in all the coasts of Israel: now therefore see +what I shall answer him who sent me. + +Three years famine. . .Which joined with the three foregoing years of +famine mentioned, 2 Kings 21. and the seventh year of the land's +resting, would make up the seven years proposed by the prophet, 2 Kings +24.13. + +21:13. And David said to Gad: I am on every side in a great strait: but +it is better for me to fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies +are many, than into the hands of men. + +21:14. So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel. And there fell of +Israel seventy thousand men. + +21:15. And he sent an angel to Jerusalem, to strike it: and as he was +striking it, the Lord beheld, and took pity for the greatness of the +evil: and said to the angel that destroyed: It is enough, now stop thy +hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the thrashingfloor of Ornan +the Jebusite. + +Ornan. . .Otherwise Areuna. + +21:16. And David lifting up his eyes, saw the angel of the Lord +standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand, +turned against Jerusalem: and both he and the ancients clothed in +haircloth, fell down flat on the ground. + +21:17. And David said to God: Am not I he that commanded the people to +be numbered? It is I that have sinned: it is I that have done the evil: +but as for this flock, what hath it deserved? O Lord my God, let thy +hand be turned, I beseech thee, upon me, and upon my father's house: +and let not thy people be destroyed. + +21:18. And the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to tell David, to go up, +and build an altar to the Lord God in the thrashingfloor of Ornan the +Jebusite. + +21:19. And David went up, according to the word of Gad, which he spoke +to him in the name of the Lord. + +21:20. Now when Ornan looked up, and saw the angel, he and his four +sons hid themselves: for at that time he was thrashing wheat in the +floor. + +21:21. And as David was coming to Ornan, Ornan saw him, and went out of +the thrashingfloor to meet him, and bowed down to him with his face to +the ground. + +21:22. And David said to him: Give me this place of thy thrashingfloor, +that I may build therein an altar to the Lord: but thou shalt take of +me as much money as it is worth, that the plague may cease from the +people. + +21:23. And Ornan said to David: Take it, and let my lord the king do +all that pleaseth him: and moreover the oxen also I give for a +holocaust, and the drays for wood, and the wheat for the sacrifice: I +will give it all willingly. + +21:24. And king David said to him: It shall not be so, but I will give +thee money as much as it is worth: for I must not take it from thee, +and so offer to the Lord holocausts free cost. + +21:25. So David gave to Ornan for the place, six hundred sicles of gold +of just weight. + +Six hundred sicles, etc. . .This was the price of the whole place, on +which the temple was afterwards built; but the price of the oxen was +fifty sicles of silver. 2 Kings 24.24. + +21:26. And he built there an altar to the Lord: and he offered +holocausts, and peace offerings, and he called upon the Lord, and he +heard him by sending fire from heaven upon the altar of the holocaust. + +21:27. And the Lord commanded the angel: and he put up his sword again +into the sheath. + +21:28. And David seeing that the Lord had heard him in the +thrashingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, forthwith offered victims there. + +21:29. But the tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses made in the desert, +and the altar of holocausts, was at that time in the high place of +Gabaon. + +21:30. And David could not go to the altar there to pray to God: for he +was seized with an exceeding great fear, seeing the sword of the angel +of the Lord. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 22 + + +David having prepared all necessaries, chargeth Solomon to build the +temple and the princes to assist him. + +22:1. Then David said: This is the house of God, And this is the altar +for the holocaust of Israel. + +22:2. And he commanded to gather together all the proselytes of the +land of Israel, and out of them he appointed stonecutters to hew stones +and polish them, to build the house of God. + +22:3. And David prepared in abundance iron for the nails of the gates, +and for the closures and joinings: and of brass an immense weight. + +22:4. And the cedar trees were without number, which the Sidonians, and +Tyrians brought to David. + +22:5. And David said: Solomon my son is very young and tender, and the +house which I would have to be built to the Lord, must be such as to be +renowned in all countries: therefore I will prepare him necessaries. +And therefore before his death he prepared all the charges. + +22:6. And he called for Solomon his son: and commanded him to build a +house to the Lord the God of Israel. + +22:7. And David said to Solomon: My son, it was my desire to have built +a house to the name of the Lord my God. + +22:8. But the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Thou hast shed much +blood, and fought many battles, so thou cannot not build house to my +name, after shedding so much blood before me: + +22:9. The son, that shall be born to thee, shall be a most quiet man: +for I will make him rest from all his enemies round about: and +therefore he shall be called Peaceable: and I will give peace and +quietness to Israel all his days. + +22:10. He shall build a house to my name, and he shall be a son to me, +and I will be a father to him: and I will establish the throne of his +kingdom over Israel for ever. + +22:11. Now then, my son, the Lord be with thee, and do thou prosper, +and build the house to the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken of thee. + +22:12. The Lord also give thee wisdom and understanding, that thou +mayest be able to rule Israel, and to keep the law of the Lord thy God. + +22:13. For then thou shalt be able to prosper, if thou keep the +commandments, and judgments, which the Lord commanded Moses to teach +Israel: take courage and act manfully, fear not, nor be dismayed. + +22:14. Behold I in my poverty have prepared the charges of the house of +the Lord, of gold a hundred thousand talents, and of silver a million +of talents: but of brass, and of iron there is no weight, for the +abundance surpasseth all account: timber also and stones I have +prepared for all the charges. + +22:15. Thou hast also workmen in abundance, hewers of stones, and +masons, and carpenters, and of all trades the most skilful in their +work, + +22:16. In gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, whereof there +is no number. Arise then, and be doing, and the Lord will be with thee. + +22:17. David also charged all the princes of Israel, to help Solomon +his son, + +22:18. Saying: You see, that the Lord your God is with you, and hath +given you rest round about, and hath delivered all your enemies into +your hands, and the land is subdued before the Lord, and before his +people. + +22:19. Give therefore your hearts and your souls, to seek the Lord your +God and arise, and build a sanctuary to the Lord God, that the ark of +the covenant of the Lord, and the vessels consecrated to the Lord, may +be brought into the house, which is built to the name of the Lord. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 23 + + +David appointeth Solomon king. The distribution of the Levites and +their offices. + +23:1. David being old and full of days, made Solomon his son king over +Israel. + +23:2. And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, and the +priests and Levites. + +23:3. And the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years, and +upwards: and there were found of them thirty-eight thousand men. + +23:4. Of these twenty-four thousand were chosen, and distributed unto +the ministry of the house of the Lord: and six thousand were the +overseers and judges. + +23:5. Moreover four thousand were porters: and as many singers singing +to the Lord with the instruments, which he had made to sing with. + +23:6. And David distributed them into courses by the families of the +sons of Levi, to wit, of Gerson, and of Caath, and of Merari. + +23:7. The sons of Gerson were Leedan and Semei. + +23:8. The sons of Leedan: the chief Jahiel, and Zethan, and Joel, +three. + +23:9. The sons of Semei: Salomith, and Hosiel, and Aran, three: these +were the heads of the families of Leedan. + +23:10. And the sons of Semei were Leheth, and Ziza, and Jaus, and +Baria: these were the sons of Semei, four. + +23:11. And Leheth was the first, Ziza the second: but Jaus and Baria +had not many children, and therefore they were counted in one family, +and in one house. + +23:12. The sons of Caath were Amram, and Isaar, Hebron, and Oziel, +four. + +23:13. The sons of Amram, Aaron, and Moses. And Aaron was separated to +minister in the holy of holies, he and his sons for ever, and to burn +incense before the Lord, according to his ceremonies, and to bless his +name for ever. + +23:14. The sons also of Moses, the man of God, were numbered in the +tribe of Levi. + +23:15. The sons of Moses were Gersom and Eliezer: + +23:16. The sons of Gersom: Subuel the first. + +23:17. And the sons of Eliezer were: Rohobia the first: and Eliezer had +no more sons. But the sons of Rohobia were multiplied exceedingly. + +23:18. The sons of Isaar: Salomith the first. + +23:19. The sons of Hebron: Jeriau the first, Amarias the second, +Jahaziel the third, Jecmaam the fourth. + +23:20. The sons of Oziel: Micha the first, Jesia the second. + +23:21. The sons of Merari: Moholi, and Musi. The sons of Moholi: +Eleazar and Cis. + +23:22. And Eleazar died, and had no sons but daughters: and the sons of +Cis their brethren took them. + +23:23. The sons of Musi: Moholi, and Eder, and Jerimoth, three. + +23:24. These are the sons of Levi in their kindreds and families, +princes by their courses, and the number of every head that did the +works of the ministry of the house of the Lord from twenty years old +and upward. + +23:25. For David said: The Lord the God of Israel hath given rest to +his people, and a habitation in Jerusalem for ever. + +23:26. And it shall not be the office of the Levites to carry any more +the tabernacle, and all the vessels for the service thereof. + +23:27. So according to the last precepts of David, the sons of Levi are +to be numbered from twenty years old and upward. + +23:28. And they are to be under the hand of the sons of Aaron for the +service of the house of the Lord, in the porches, and in the chambers, +and in the place of purification, and in the sanctuary, and in all the +works of the ministry of the temple of the Lord. + +23:29. And the priests have the charge of the loaves of proposition, +and of the sacrifice of fine flour, and of the unleavened cakes, and of +the fryingpan, and of the roasting, and of every weight and measure. + +23:30. And the Levites are to stand in the morning to give thanks, and +to sing praises to the Lord: and in like manner in the evening, + +23:31. As well in the oblation of the holocausts of the Lord, as in the +sabbaths and in the new moons, and the rest of the solemnities, +according to the number and ceremonies prescribed for every thing, +continually before the Lord. + +23:32. And let them keep the observances of the tabernacle of the +covenant, and the ceremonies of the sanctuary, and the charge of the +sons of Aaron their brethren, that they may minister in the house of +the Lord. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 24 + + +The divisions of the priests into four and twenty courses, to serve in +the temple: the chiefs of the Levites. + +24:1. Now these were the divisions of the sons of Aaron: The sons of +Aaron: Nadab, and Abiu, and Eleazar, and Ithamar. + +24:2. But Nadab and Abiu died before their father, and had no children: +so Eleazar, and Ithamar did the office of the priesthood. + +24:3. And David distributed them, that is, Sadoc of the sons of +Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their +courses and ministry. + +24:4. And there were found many more of the sons of Eleazar among the +principal men, than of the sons of Ithamar. And he divided them so, +that there were of the sons of Eleazar, sixteen chief men by their +families: and of the sons of Ithamar eight by their families and +houses. + +24:5. And he divided both the families one with the other by lot: for +there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the +sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. + +24:6. And Semeias the son of Nathanael the scribe a Levite, wrote them +down before the king and the princes, and Sadoc the priest, and +Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the princes also of the priestly and +Levitical families: one house, which was over the rest, of Eleazar: and +another house, which had the rest under it, of Ithamar. + +24:7. Now the first lot came forth to Joiarib, the second to Jedei, + +24:8. The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, + +24:9. The fifth to Melchia, the sixth to Maiman, + +24:10. The seventh to Accos, the eighth to Abia, + +24:11. The ninth to Jesua, the tenth to Sechenia, + +24:12. The eleventh to Eliasib, the twelfth to Jacim, + +24:13. The thirteenth to Hoppha, the fourteenth to Isbaab, + +24:14. The fifteenth to Belga, the sixteenth to Emmer, + +24:15. The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses, + +24:16. The nineteenth to Pheteia, the twentieth to Hezechiel, + +24:17. The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul, + +24:18. The three and twentieth to Dalaiau, the four and twentieth to +Maaziau. + +24:19. These are their courses according to their ministries, to come +into the house of the Lord, and according to their manner under the +hand of Aaron their father: as the Lord the God of Israel had +commanded. + +24:20. Now of the rest of the sons of Levi, there was of the sons of +Amram, Subael: and of the sons of Subael, Jehedeia. + +24:21. Also of the sons of Rohobia the chief Jesias. + +24:22. And the son of Isaar Salemoth, and the son of Salemoth Jahath: + +24:23. And his son Jeriau the first, Amarias the second, Jahaziel the +third, Jecmaan the fourth. + +24:24. The son of Oziel, Micha: the son of Micha, Samir. + +24:25. The brother of Micha, Jesia: and the son of Jesia, Zacharias. + +24:26. The sons of Merari: Moholi and Musi: the son of Oziau: Benno. + +24:27. The son also of Merari Oziau, and Soam, and Zacchur, and Hebri. + +24:28. And the son of Moholi: Eleazar, who had no sons. + +24:29. And the son of Cis, Jeramael. + +24:30. The sons of Musi: Moholi, Eder, and Jerimoth. These are the sons +of Levi according to the houses of their families. + +24:31. And they also cast lots over against their brethren the sons of +Aaron before David the king, and Sadoc, and Ahimelech, and the princes +of the priestly and Levitical families, both the elder and the younger. +The lot divided all equally. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 25 + + +The number and divisions of the musicians. + +25:1. Moreover David and the chief officers of the army separated for +the ministry the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Idithun: to +prophesy with harps, and with psalteries, and with cymbals according to +their number serving in their appointed office. + +25:2. Of the sons of Asaph: Zacchur, and Joseph, and Nathania, and +Asarela, sons of Asaph: under the hand of Asaph prophesying near the +king. + +25:3. And of Idithun: the sons of Idithun, Godolias, Sori, Jeseias, and +Hasabias, and Mathathias, under the hand of their father Idithun, who +prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the Lord. + +25:4. Of Heman also: the sons of Heman, Bocciau, Mathaniau, Oziel, +Subuel, and Jerimoth, Hananias, Hanani, Eliatha, Geddelthi, and +Romemthiezer, and Jesbacassa, Mellothi, Othir, Mahazioth: + +25:5. All these were the sons of Heman the seer of the king in the +words of God, to lift up the horn: and God gave to Heman fourteen sons +and three daughters. + +25:6. All these under their father's hand were distributed to sing in +the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, and psalteries and harps, for the +service of the house of the Lord near the king: to wit, Asaph, and +Idithun, and Heman. + +25:7. And the number of them with their brethren, that taught the song +of the Lord, all the teachers, were two hundred and eighty-eight. + +25:8. And they cast lots by their courses, the elder equally with the +younger, the learned and the unlearned together. + +25:9. And the first lot came forth to Joseph, who was of Asaph. The +second to Godolias, to him and his sons, and his brethren twelve. + +25:10. The third to Zachur, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:11. The fourth to Isari, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:12. The fifth to Nathania, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:13. The sixth to Bocciau, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:14. The seventh to Isreela, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:15. The eighth to Jesaia, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:16. The ninth to Mathanaias, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:17. The tenth to Semeias, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:18. The eleventh to Azareel, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:19. The twelfth to Hasabia, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:20. The thirteenth to Subael, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:21. The fourteenth to Mathathias, to his sons and his brethren +twelve. + +25:22. The fifteenth to Jerimoth, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:23. The sixteenth to Hananias, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:24. The seventeenth to Jesbacassa, to his sons and his brethren +twelve. + +25:25. The eighteenth to Hanani, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:26. The nineteenth to Mellothi, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:27. The twentieth to Eliatha, to his sons and his brethren twelve. + +25:28. The one and twentieth to Othir, to his sons and his brethren +twelve. + +25:29. The two and twentieth to Geddelthi, to his sons and his brethren +twelve. + +25:30. The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, to his sons and his +brethren twelve. + +25:31. The four and twentieth to Romemthiezer, to his sons and his +brethren twelve. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 26 + + +The divisions of the porters. Offices of other Levites. + +26:1. And the divisions of the porters: of the Corites Meselemia, the +son of Core, of the sons of Asaph. + +26:2. The sons of Meselemia: Zacharias the firstborn, Jadihel the +second, Zabadias the third, Jathanael the fourth, + +26:3. Elam the fifth, Johanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh. + +26:4. And the sons of Obededom, Semeias the firstborn, Jozabad the +second, Joaha the third, Sachar the fourth, Nathanael the fifth, + +26:5. Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Phollathi the eighth: for +the Lord had blessed him. + +26:6. And to Semei his son were born sons, heads of their families: for +they were men of great valour. + +26:7. The sons then of Semeias were Othni, and Raphael, and Obed, +Elizabad, and his brethren most valiant men: and Eliu, and Samachias. + +26:8. All these of the sons of Obededom: they, and their sons, and +their brethren most able men for service, sixty-two of Obededom. + +26:9. And the sons of Meselemia, and their brethren strong men, were +eighteen. + +26:10. And of Hosa, that is, of the sons of Merari: Semri the chief, +(for he had not a firstborn, and therefore his father made him chief.) + +He had not a firstborn. . .That is, his firstborn was either dead or not +fit to be chief; and therefore he made Semri the chief. + +26:11. Helcias the second, Tabelias the third, Zacharias the fourth: +all these the sons, and the brethren of Hosa, were thirteen. + +26:12. Among these were the divisions of the porters, so that the +chiefs of the wards, as well as their brethren, always ministered in +the house of the Lord. + +26:13. And they cast lots equally, both little and great, by their +families for every one of the gates. + +26:14. And the lot of the east fell to Selemias. But to his son +Zacharias, a very wise and learned man, the north gate fell by lot. + +26:15. And to Obededom and his sons that towards the south: in which +part of the house was the council of the ancients. + +26:16. To Sephim, and Hosa towards the west, by the gate which leadeth +to the way of the ascent: ward against ward. + +26:17. Now towards the east were six Levites: and towards the north +four a day: and towards the south likewise four a day: and where the +council was, two and two. + +26:18. In the cells also of the porters toward the west four in the +way: and two at every cell. + +26:19. These are the divisions of the porters of the sons of Core, and +of Merari. + +26:20. Now Achias was over the treasures of the house of God, and the +holy vessels. + +Holy vessels. . .Or vessels of the holy places, or of things holy. Vasa +sanctorum. + +26:21. The sons of Ledan, the sons of Gersonni: of Ledan were heads of +the families, of Ledan, and Gersonni, Jehieli. + +26:22. The sons of Jehieli: Zathan and Joel, his brethren over the +treasures of the house of the Lord, + +26:23. With the Amramites, and Isaarites, and Hebronites, and +Ozielites. + +26:24. And Subael the son of Gersom, the son of Moses, was chief over +the treasures. + +26:25. His brethren also, Eliezer, whose son Rohobia, and his son +Isaias, and his son Joram, and his son Zechri, and his son Selemith. + +26:26. Which Selemith and his brethren were over the treasures of the +holy things, which king David, and the heads of families, and the +captains over thousands and over hundreds, and the captains of the host +had dedicated, + +26:27. Out of the wars, and the spoils won in battles, which they had +consecrated to the building and furniture of the temple of the Lord. + +26:28. And all these things that Samuel the seer and Saul the son of +Cis, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Sarvia had +sanctified: and whosoever had sanctified those things, they were under +the hand of Selemith and his brethren. + +26:29. But Chonenias and his sons were over the Isaarites, for the +business abroad over Israel to teach them and judge them. + +26:30. And of the Hebronites Hasabias, and his brethren most able men, +a thousand seven hundred had the charge over Israel beyond the Jordan +westward, in all the works of the Lord, and for the service of the +king. + +26:31. And the chief of the Hebronites was Jeria according to their +families and kindreds. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they +were numbered, and there were found most valiant men in Jazer Galaad, + +26:32. And his brethren of stronger age, two thousand seven hundred +chiefs of families. And king David made them rulers over the Rubenites +and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasses, for all the service of +God, and the king. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 27 + + +The twelve captains for every month; the twelve princes of the tribes. +David's several officers. + +27:1. Now the children of Israel according to their number, the heads +of families, captains of thousands and of hundreds, and officers, that +served the king according to their companies, who came in and went out +every month in the year, under every chief were four and twenty +thousand. + +27:2. Over the first company the first month Jesboam, the son of +Zabdiel was chief, and under him were four and twenty thousand. + +27:3. Of the sons of Phares, the chief of all the captains in the host +in the first month. + +27:4. The company of the second month was under Dudia, an Ahohite, and +after him was another named Macelloth, who commanded a part of the army +of four and twenty thousand. + +27:5. And the captain of the third company for the third month, was +Banaias the son of Joiada the priest: and in his division were four and +twenty thousand. + +27:6. This is that Banaias the most valiant among the thirty, and above +the thirty. And Amizabad his son commanded his company. + +27:7. The fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel the brother of Joab, +and Zabadias his son after him: and in his company were four and twenty +thousand. + +27:8. The fifth captain for the fifth month, was Samaoth a Jezerite: +and his company were four and twenty thousand. + +27:9. The sixth, for the sixth month, was Hira the son of Acces a +Thecuite: and in his company were four and twenty thousand. + +27:10. The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helles a Phallonite of +the sons of Ephraim: and in his company were four and twenty thousand. + +27:11. The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sobochai a Husathite of +the race of Zarahi: and in his company were four and twenty thousand. + +27:12. The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer an Anathothite of +the sons of Jemini, and in his company were four and twenty thousand. + +27:13. The tenth, for the tenth month, was Marai, who was a +Netophathite of the race of Zarai: and in his company were four and +twenty thousand. + +27:14. The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Banaias, a +Pharathonite of the sons of Ephraim: and in his company were four and +twenty thousand. + +27:15. The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Holdai a Netophathite, +of the race of Gothoniel: and in his company were four and twenty +thousand. + +27:16. Now the chiefs over the tribes of Israel were these: over the +Rubenites, Eliezer the son of Zechri was ruler: over the Simeonites, +Saphatias the son of Maacha: + +27:17. Over the Levites, Hasabias the son of Camuel: over the +Aaronites, Sadoc: + +27:18. Over Juda, Eliu the brother of David over Issachar, Amri the son +of Michael: + +27:19. Over the Zabulonites, Jesmaias the son of Adias: over the +Nephtalites, Jerimoth the son of Ozriel: + +27:20. Over the sons of Ephraim, Osee the son of Ozaziu: over the half +tribe of Manasses, Joel the son of Phadaia: + +27:21. And over the half tribe of Manasses in Galaad, Jaddo the son of +Zacharias: and over Benjamin, Jasiel the son of Abner. + +27:22. And over Dan, Ezrihel the son of Jeroham: these were the princes +of the children of Israel. + +27:23. But David would not number them from twenty years old and under: +because the lord had said that he would multiply Israel like the stars +of heaven. + +27:24. Joab the son of Sarvia began to number, but he finished not: +because upon this there fell wrath upon Israel: and therefore the +number of them that were numbered, was not registered in the chronicles +of king David. + +27:25. And over the king's treasures was Azmoth the son of Adiel: and +over those stores which were in the cities, and in the villages, and, +in the castles, was Jonathan the son of Ozias. + +27:26. And over the tillage, and the husbandmen, who tilled the ground, +was Ezri the son of Chelub: + +27:27. And over the dressers of the vine yards, was Semeias a +Romathite: and over the wine cellars, Zabdias an Aphonite. + +27:28. And over the oliveyards and the fig groves, which were in the +plains, was Balanam a Gederite: and over the oil cellars, Joas. + +27:29. And over the herds that fed in Saron, was Setrai a Saronite: and +over the oxen in the valleys, Saphat the son of Adli: + +27:30. And over the camels, Ubil an Ishmahelite and over the asses, +Jadias a Meronathite: + +27:31. And over the sheep Jaziz an Agarene. All these were the rulers +of the substance of king David. + +27:32. And Jonathan David's uncle, a counsellor, a wise and learned +man: he and Jahiel the son of Hachamoni were with the king's sons. + +27:33. And Achitophel was the king's counsellor, and Chusai the +Arachite, the king's friend. + +27:34. And after Achitophel was Joiada the son of Banaias, and +Abiathar. And the general of the king's army was Joab. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 28 + + +David's speech, in a solemn assembly: his exhortation to Solomon. He +giveth him a pattern of the temple. + +28:1. And David assembled all the chief men of Israel, the princes of +the tribes, and the captains of the companies, who waited on the king: +and the captains over thousands, and over hundreds, and them who had +the charge over the substance and possessions of the king, and his sons +with the officers of the court, and the men of power, and all the +bravest of the army at Jerusalem. + +28:2. And the king rising up, and standing said: Hear me, my brethren +and my people: I had a thought to have built a house, in which the ark +of the Lord, and the footstool of our God might rest: and prepared all +things for the building. + +28:3. And God said to me: Thou shalt not build a house to my name: +because thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood. + +28:4. But the Lord God of Israel chose me of all the house of my +father, to be king over Israel for ever: for of Juda he chose the +princes: and of the house of Juda, my father's house: and among the +sons of my father, it pleased him to choose me king over all Israel. + +28:5. And among my sons (for the Lord hath given me many sons) he hath +chosen Solomon my son, to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the +Lord over Israel. + +28:6. And he said to me: Solomon thy son shall build my house, and my +courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be a father to +him. + +28:7. And I will establish his kingdom for ever, it he continue to keep +my commandments, and my judgments, as at this day. + +28:8. Now then before all the assembly of Israel, in the hearing of our +God, keep ye, and seek all the commandments of the Lord our God: that +you may possess the good land, and may leave it to your children after +you for ever. + +28:9. And thou my son Solomon, know the God of thy father, and serve +him with a perfect heart, and a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth +all hearts, and understandeth all the thoughts of minds. If thou seek +him, thou shalt find him: but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee +off for ever. + +28:10. Now therefore seeing the Lord hath chosen thee to build the +house of the sanctuary, take courage, and do it. + +28:11. And David gave to Solomon his son a description of the porch, +and of the temple, and of the treasures, and of the upper floor, and of +the inner chambers, and of the house for the mercy seat, + +28:12. As also of all the courts, which he had in his thought, and of +the chambers round about, for the treasures of the house of the Lord, +and for the treasures of the consecrated things, + +28:13. And of the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, for all +the works of the house of the Lord, and for all the vessels of the +service of the temple of the Lord. + +28:14. Gold by weight for every vessel for the ministry. And silver by +weight according to the diversity of the vessels and uses. + +28:15. He gave also gold for the golden candlesticks, and their lamps, +according to the dimensions of every candlestick, and the lamps +thereof. In like manner also he gave silver by weight for the silver +candlesticks, and for their lamps according to the diversity of the +dimensions of them. + +28:16. He gave also gold for the tables of proposition, according to +the diversity of the tables: in like manner also silver for other +tables of silver. + +28:17. For fleshhooks also, and bowls, and censors of fine gold, and +for little lions of gold, according to the measure he gave by weight, +for every lion. In like manner also for lions of silver he set aside a +different weight of silver. + +28:18. And for the altar of incense, he gave the purest gold: and to +make the likeness of the chariot of the cherubims spreading their +wings, and covering the ark of the covenant of the Lord. + +28:19. All these things, said he, came to me written by the hand of the +Lord that I might understand all the works of the pattern. + +28:20. And David said to Solomon his son: Act like a man, and take +courage, and do: fear not, and be not dismayed: for the Lord my God +will be with thee, and will not leave thee, nor forsake thee, till thou +hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. + +28:21. Behold the courses of the priests and the Levites, for every +ministry of the house of the Lord, stand by thee, and are ready, and +both the princes, and the people know how to execute all thy +commandments. + + + +1 Paralipomenon Chapter 29 + + +David by word and example encourageth the princes to contribute +liberally to the building of the temple. His thanksgiving, prayer, and +sacrifices: his death. + +29:1. And king David said to all the assembly: Solomon my son, whom +alone God hath chosen, is as yet young and tender: and the work is +great, for a house is prepared not for man, but for God. + +29:2. And I with all my ability have prepared the expenses for the +house of my God. Gold for vessels of gold, and silver for vessels of +silver, brass for things of brass, iron for things of iron, wood for +things of wood: and onyx stones, and stones like alabaster, and of +divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble of Paros +in great abundance. + +29:3. Now over and above the things which I have offered into the house +of my God I give of my own proper goods, gold and silver for the temple +of my God, beside what things I have prepared for the holy house. + +29:4. Three thousand talents of gold of the gold of Ophir: and seven +thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the temple. + +29:5. And gold for wheresoever there is need of gold: and silver for +wheresoever there is need of silver, for the works to be made by the +hands of the artificers: now if any man is willing to offer, let him +fill his hand to day, and offer what he pleaseth to the Lord. + +29:6. Then the heads of the families, and the princes of the tribes of +Israel and the captains of thousands, and of hundreds, and the +overseers of the king's possessions promised, + +29:7. And they gave for the works of the house of the Lord, of gold, +five thousand talents, and ten thousand solids: of silver ten thousand +talents: and of brass eighteen thousand talents: and of iron a hundred +thousand talents. + +29:8. And all they that had stones, gave them to the treasures of the +house of the Lord, by the hand of Jahiel the Gersonite. + +29:9. And the people rejoiced, when they promised their offerings +willingly: because they offered them to the Lord with all their heart: +and David the king rejoiced also with a great joy. + +29:10. And he blessed the Lord before all the multitude, and he said: +Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of Israel, our father from eternity to +eternity. + +29:11. Thine, O Lord, is magnificence, and power, and glory, and +victory: and to thee is praise: for all that is in heaven, and in +earth, is thine: thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art above all +princes. + +29:12. Thine are riches, and thine is glory, thou hast dominion over +all, in thy hand is power and might: in thy hand greatness, and the +empire of all things. + +29:13. Now therefore our God we give thanks to thee, and we praise thy +glorious name. + +29:14. Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to +promise thee all these things? all things are thine: and we have given +thee what we received of thy hand. + +29:15. For we are sojourners before thee, and strangers, as were all +our fathers. I Our days upon earth are as a shadow, and there is no +stay. + +29:16. O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build +thee a house for thy holy name, is from thy hand, and all things are +thine. + +29:17. I know my God that thou provest hearts, and lovest simplicity, +wherefore I also in the simplicity of my heart, have joyfully offered +all these things: and I have seen with great joy thy people, which are +here present, offer thee their offerings. + +29:18. O Lord God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Israel our fathers, +keep for ever this will of their heart, and let this mind remain always +for the worship of thee. + +29:19. And give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, that he may keep thy +commandments, thy testimonies, and thy ceremonies, and do all things: +and build the house, for which I have provided the charges. + +29:20. And David commanded all the assembly: Bless ye the Lord our God. +And all the assembly blessed the Lord the God of their fathers: and +they bowed themselves and worshipped God, and then the king. + +29:21. And they sacrificed victims to the Lord: and they offered +holocausts the next day, a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, a +thousand lambs, with their libations, and with every thing prescribed +most abundantly for all Israel. + +29:22. And they ate, and drank before the Lord that day with great joy. +And they anointed the second time Solomon the son of David. And they +anointed him to the Lord to be prince, and Sadoc to be high priest. + +29:23. And Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of +David his father, and he pleased all: and all Israel obeyed him. + +29:24. And all the princes, and men of power, and all the sons of king +David gave their hand, and were subject to Solomon the king. + +29:25. And the Lord magnified Solomon over all Israel: and gave him the +glory of a reign, such as no king of Israel had before him. + +29:26. So David the son of Isai reigned over all Israel. + +29:27. And the days that he reigned over Israel, were forty years: in +Hebron he reigned seven years, and in Jerusalem three and thirty years. + +29:28. And he died in a good age, full of days, and riches, and glory. +And Solomon his son reigned in his stead. + +29:29. Now the acts of king David first and last are written in the +book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in +the book of Gad the seer: + +29:30. And of all his reign, and his valour, and of the times that +passed under him, either in Israel, or in all the kingdoms of the +countries. + + + + +THE SECOND BOOK OF PARALIPOMENON + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 1 + + +Solomon offereth sacrifices at Gabaon. His choice of wisdom which God +giveth him. + +1:1. And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and +the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him to a high degree. + +1:2. And Solomon gave orders to all Israel, to the captains of +thousands, and of hundreds, and to the rulers, and to the judges of all +Israel, and the heads of the families: + +1:3. And he went with all the multitude to the high place of Gabaon, +where was the tabernacle of the covenant of the Lord, which Moses the +servant of God made, in the wilderness. + +1:4. For David had brought the ark of God from Cariathiarim to the +place, which he had prepared for it, and where he had pitched a +tabernacle for it, that is, in Jerusalem. + +1:5. And the altar of brass, which Beseleel the son of Uri the son of +Hur had made, was there before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon +and all the assembly sought it: + +1:6. And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar, before the +tabernacle of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up on it a thousand +victims. + +1:7. And behold that night God appeared to him, saying: Ask what thou +wilt that I should give thee. + +1:8. And Solomon said to God: Thou hast shewn great kindness to my +father David: and hast made me king in his stead. + +1:9. Now therefore, O Lord God, let thy word be fulfilled, which thou +hast promised to David my father: for thou hast made me king over thy +great people, which is as innumerable as the dust of the earth. + +1:10. Give me wisdom and knowledge that I may come in and go out before +thy people: for who can worthily judge this thy people, which is so +great? + +1:11. And God said to Solomon: Because this choice hath pleased thy +heart, and thou hast not asked riches, and wealth, and glory, nor the +lives of them that hate thee, nor many days of life: but hast asked +wisdom and knowledge, to be able to judge my people, over which I have +made thee king, + +1:12. Wisdom and knowledge are granted to thee: and I will give thee +riches, and wealth, and glory, so that none of the kings before thee, +nor after thee, shall be like thee. + +1:13. Then Solomon came from the high place of Gabaon to Jerusalem +before the tabernacle of the covenant, and reigned over Israel. + +1:14. And he gathered to himself chariots and horsemen, and he had a +thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen: and he +placed them in the cities of the chariots, and with the king in +Jerusalem. + +1:15. And the king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, +and cedar trees as sycamores, which grow in the plains in great +multitude. + +1:16. And there were horses brought him from Egypt, and from Coa by the +king's merchants, who went, and bought at a price, + +1:17. A chariot of four horses for six hundred pieces of silver, and a +horse for a hundred and fifty: in like manner market was made in all +the kingdoms of the Hethites, and of the kings of Syria. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 2 + + +Solomon's embassy to Hiram, who sends him a skilful workman and timber. + +2:1. And Solomon determined to build a house to the name of the Lord, +and a palace for himself. + +2:2. And he numbered out seventy thousand men to bear burdens, and +eighty thousand to hew stones in the mountains, and three thousand six +hundred to oversee them. + +2:3. He sent also to Hiram king of Tyre, saying: As thou didst with +David my father, and didst send him cedars, to build him a house, in +which he dwelt: + +2:4. So do with me that I may build a house to the name of the Lord my +God, to dedicate it to burn incense before him, and to perfume with +aromatical spices, and for the continual setting forth of bread, and +for the holocausts, morning and evening, and on the sabbaths, and on +the new moons, and the solemnities of the Lord our God for ever, which +are commanded for Israel. + +2:5. For the house which I desire to build, is great: for our God is +great above all gods. + +2:6. Who then can be able to build him a worthy house? if heaven, and +the heavens of heavens cannot contain him: who am I that I should be +able to build him a house? but to this end only, that incense may be +burnt before him. + +2:7. Send me therefore a skilful man, that knoweth how to work in gold, +and in silver, in brass, and in iron, in purple, in scarlet and in +blue, and that hath skill in engraving, with the artificers, which I +have with me in Judea and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. + +2:8. Send me also cedars, and fir trees, and pine trees from Libanus: +for I know that thy servants are skilful in cutting timber in Libanus, +and my servants shall be with thy servants, + +2:9. To provide me timber in abundance. For the house which I desire to +build, is to be exceeding great, and glorious. + +2:10. And I will give thy servants the workmen that are to cut down the +trees, for their food twenty thousand cores of wheat, and as many cores +of barley, and twenty thousand measures of wine, and twenty thousand +measures of oil. + +2:11. And Hiram king of Tyre sent a letter to Solomon, saying: Because +the Lord hath loved his people, therefore he hath made thee king over +them. + +2:12. And he added, saying: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who +made heaven and earth, who hath given to king David a wise and knowing +son, endued with understanding and prudence, to build a house to the +Lord, and a palace for himself. + +2:13. I therefore have sent thee my father Hiram, a wise and most +skilful man, + +2:14. The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, whose father was a +Tyrian, who knoweth how to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, and +in iron, and in marble, and in timber, in purple also, and violet, and +silk and scarlet: and who knoweth to grave all sort of graving, and to +devise ingeniously all that there may be need of in the work with thy +artificers, and with the artificers of my lord David thy father. + +2:15. The wheat therefore, and the barley and the oil, and the wine, +which thou, my lord, hast promised, send to thy servants. + +2:16. And we will cut down as many trees out of Libanus, as thou shalt +want, and will convey them in floats by sea to Joppe: and it will be +thy part to bring them thence to Jerusalem. + +2:17. And Solomon numbered all the proselytes in the land of Israel, +after the numbering which David his father had made, and they were +found a hundred and fifty-three thousand and six hundred. + +2:18. And he set seventy thousand of them to carry burdens on their +shoulders, and eighty thousand to hew stones in the mountains: and +three thousand and six hundred to be overseers of the work of the +people. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 3 + + +The plan and ornaments of the temple: the cherubims, the veil, and the +pillars. + +3:1. And Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, in +mount Moria, which had been shewn to David his father, in the place +which David had prepared in the thrashingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. + +3:2. And he began to build in the second month, in the fourth year of +his reign. + +3:3. Now these are the foundations, which Solomon laid, to build the +house of God, the length by the first measure sixty cubits, the breadth +twenty cubits. + +3:4. And the porch in the front, which was extended in length according +to the measure of the breadth of the house, twenty cubits: and the +height was a hundred and twenty cubits: and he overlaid it within with +pure gold. + +3:5. And the greater house he ceiled with deal boards, and overlaid +them with plates of fine gold throughout: and he graved in them palm +trees, and like little chains interlaced with one another. + +3:6. He paved also the floor of the temple with most precious marble, +of great beauty. + +3:7. And the gold of the plates with which he overlaid the house, and +the beams thereof, and the posts, and the walls, and the doors was of +the finest: and he graved cherubims on the walls. + +3:8. He made also the house of the holy of holies: the length of it +according to the breadth of the temple, twenty cubits, and the breadth +of it in like manner twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with plates of +gold, amounting to about six hundred talents. + +3:9. He made also nails of gold, and the weight of every nail was fifty +sicles: the upper chambers also he overlaid with gold. + +3:10. He made also in the house of the holy of holies two cherubims of +image work: and he overlaid them with gold. + +3:11. The wings of the cherubims were extended twenty cubits, so that +one wing was five cubits long, and reached to the wall of the house: +and the other was also five cubits long, and reached to the wing of the +other cherub. + +3:12. In like manner the wing of the other cherub, was five cubits +long, and reached to the wall: and his other wing was five cubits long, +and touched the wing of the other cherub. + +3:13. So the wings of the two cherubims were spread forth, and were +extended twenty cubits: and they stood upright on their feet, and their +faces were turned toward the house without. + +3:14. He made also a veil of violet, purple, scarlet, and silk: and +wrought in it cherubims. + +3:15. He made also before the doors of the temple two pillars, which +were five and thirty cubits high: and their chapiters were five cubits. + +3:16. He made also as it were little chains in the oracle, and he put +them on the heads of the pillars: and a hundred pomegranates, which he +put between the little chains. + +3:17. These pillars he put at the entrance of the temple, one on the +right hand, and the other on the left: that which was on the right +hand, he called Jachin: and that on the left hand, Booz. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 4 + + +The altar of brass, the molten sea upon twelve oxen, the ten loaves, +the candlesticks and other vessels and ornaments of the temple. + +4:1. He made also an altar of brass twenty cubits long, and twenty +cubits broad, and ten cubits high. + +4:2. Also a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in +compass: it was five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits compassed +it round about. + +4:3. And under it there was the likeness of oxen, and certain +engravings on the outside of ten cubits compassed the belly of the sea, +as it were with two rows. + +4:4. And the oxen were cast: and the sea itself was set upon the twelve +oxen, three of which looked toward the north, and other three toward +the west: and other three toward the south, and the other three that +remained toward the east, and the sea stood upon them: and the hinder +parts of the oxen were inward under the sea. + +4:5. Now the thickness of it was a handbreadth, and the brim of it was +like the brim of a cup, or of a crisped lily: and it held three +thousand measures. + +4:6. He made also ten lavers: and he set five on the right hand, and +five on the left, to wash in them all such things as they were to offer +for holocausts: but the sea was for the priests to wash in. + +4:7. And he made ten golden candlesticks, according to the form which +they were commanded to be made by: and he set them in the temple, five +on the right hand, and five on the left. + +4:8. Moreover also ten tables: and he set them in the temple, five on +the right side, and five on the left. Also a hundred bowls of gold. + +4:9. He made also the court of the priests, and a great hall, and doors +in the hall, which he covered with brass. + +4:10. And he set the sea on the right side over against the east toward +the south. + +4:11. And Hiram made caldrons, and fleshhooks, and bowls: and finished +all the king's work the house of God: + +4:12. That is to say, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the +chapiters, and the network, to cover the chapiters over the pommels. + +4:13. And four hundred pomegranates, and two wreaths of network, so +that two rows of pomegranates were joined to each wreath, to cover the +pommels, and the chapiters of the pillars. + +4:14. He made also bases, and lavers, which he set upon the bases: + +4:15. One sea, and twelve oxen under the sea; + +4:16. And the caldrons, and fleshhooks, and bowls. All the vessels did +Hiram his father make for Solomon in the house of the Lord of the +finest brass. + +4:17. In the country near the Jordan did the king cast them, in a clay +ground between Sochot and Saredatha. + +4:18. And the multitude of vessels was innumerable, so that the weight +of the brass was not known. + +4:19. And Solomon made all the vessels for the house of God, and the +golden altar, and the tables, upon which were the loaves of +proposition, + +4:20. The candlesticks also of most pure gold with their lamps to give +light before the oracle, according to the manner. + +4:21. And certain flowers, and lamps, and golden tongs: all were made +of the finest gold. + +4:22. The vessels also for the perfumes, and the censers, and the +bowls, and the mortars, of pure gold. And he graved the doors of the +inner temple, that is, for the holy of holies: and the doors of the +temple without were of gold. And thus all the work was finished which +Solomon made in the house of the Lord. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 5 + + +The ark is brought with great solemnity into the temple: the temple is +filled with the glory of God. + +5:1. Then Solomon brought in all those things that David his father had +vowed, the silver, and the gold, and all the vessels he put among the +treasures of the house of God. + +5:2. And after this he gathered together the ancients of Israel and all +the princes of the tribes, and the heads of the families, of the +children of Israel to Jerusalem, to bring the ark of the covenant of +the Lord out of the city of David, which is Sion. + +5:3. And all the men of Israel came to the king in the solemn day of +the seventh month. + +5:4. And when all the ancients of Israel were come, the Levites took up +the ark, + +5:5. And brought it in, together with all the furniture of the +tabernacle. And the priests with the Levites carried the vessels of the +sanctuary, which were in the tabernacle. + +5:6. And king Solomon and all the assembly of Israel and all that were +gathered together before the ark, sacrificed rams, and oxen without +number: so great was the multitude of the victims. + +5:7. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord +into its place, that is, to the oracle of the temple, into the holy of +holies under the wings of the cherubims: + +5:8. So that the cherubims spread their wings over the place, in which +the ark was set, and covered the ark itself and its staves. + +5:9. Now the ends of the staves wherewith the ark was carried, because +they were some thing longer, were seen before the oracle: but if a man +were a little outward, he could not see them. So the ark has been there +unto this day. + +5:10. And there was nothing else in the ark but the two tables which +Moses put there at Horeb when the Lord gave the law to the children of +Israel, at their coming out of Egypt. + +5:11. Now when the priests were come out of the sanctuary, for all the +priests that could be found there, were sanctified: and as yet at that +time the courses and orders of the ministries were not divided among +them, + +5:12. Both the Levites and the singing men, that is, both they that +were under Asaph, and they that were under Heman, and they that were +under Idithun, with their sons, and their brethren, clothed with fine +linen, sounded with cymbals, and psalteries, and harps, standing on the +east side of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests, +sounding with trumpets. + +5:13. So when they all sounded together, both with trumpets, and voice, +and cymbals, and organs, and with divers kind of musical instruments, +and lifted up their voice on high: the sound was heard afar off, so +that when they began to praise the Lord, and to say: Give glory to the +Lord for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever: the house of God +was filled with a cloud. + +5:14. Nor could the priests stand and minister by reason of the cloud. +For the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 6 + + +Solomon's blessings and prayer. + +6:1. Then Solomon said: The Lord promised that he would dwell in a +cloud. + +6:2. But I have built a house to his name, that he might dwell there +for ever. + +6:3. And the king turned his face, and blessed all the multitude of +Israel for all the multitude stood attentive and he said: + +6:4. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who hath accomplished in +deed that which he spoke to David my father, saying: + +6:5. From the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I +chose no city among all the tribes of Israel, for a house to be built +in it to my name: neither chose I any other man, to be the ruler of my +people Israel. + +6:6. But I chose Jerusalem, that my name might be there: and I chose +David to set him over my people Israel. + +6:7. And whereas David my father had a mind to build a house to the +name of the Lord the God of Israel, + +6:8. The Lord said to him: Forasmuch as it was thy will to build a +house to my name, thou hast done well indeed in having such a will: + +6:9. But thou shalt not build the house, but thy son, who shall come +out of thy loins, he shall build a house to my name. + +6:10. The Lord therefore hath accomplished his word which he spoke: and +I am risen up in the place of David my father, and sit upon the throne +of Israel, as the Lord promised: and have built a house to the name of +the Lord God of Israel. + +6:11. And I have put in it the ark, wherein is the covenant of the +Lord, which he made with the children of Israel. + +6:12. And he stood before the altar of the Lord, in presence of all the +multitude of Israel, and stretched forth his hands. + +6:13. For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, and had set it in the +midst of the temple, which was five cubits long, and five cubits broad, +and three cubits high: and he stood upon it: then kneeling down in the +presence of all the multitude of Israel, and lifting up his hands +towards heaven, + +6:14. He said: O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in +heaven nor in earth: who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants, +that walk before thee with all their hearts: + +6:15. Who hast performed to thy servant David my father all that thou +hast promised him: and hast accomplished in fact, what thou hast spoken +with thy mouth, as also the present time proveth. + +6:16. Now then, O Lord God of Israel, fulfil to thy servant David my +father, whatsoever thou hast promised him, saying: There shall not fail +thee a man in my sight, to sit upon the throne of Israel: yet so that +thy children take heed to their ways, and walk in my law, as thou hast +walked before me. + +6:17. And now, Lord God of Israel, let thy word be established which +thou hast spoken to thy servant David. + +6:18. Is it credible then that God should dwell with men on the earth? +If heaven and the heavens of heavens do not contain thee, how much less +this house, which I have built? + +6:19. But to this end only it is made, that thou mayest regard the +prayer of thy servant and his supplication, O Lord my God: and mayest +hear the prayers which thy servant poureth out before thee. + +6:20. That thou mayest open thy eyes upon this house day and night, +upon the place wherein thou hast promised that thy name should be +called upon, + +6:21. And that thou wouldst hear the prayer which thy servant prayeth +in it: hearken then to the prayers of thy servant, and of thy people +Israel. Whosoever shall pray in its place, hear thou from thy dwelling +place, that is, from heaven, and shew mercy. + +6:22. If any man sin against his neighbour, and come to swear against +him, and bind himself with a curse before the altar in this house: + +6:23. Then hear thou from heaven, and do justice to thy servants, so to +requite the wicked by making his wickedness fall upon his own head, and +to revenge the just, rewarding him according to his justice. + +6:24. If thy people Israel be overcome by their enemies, (for they will +sin against thee,) and being converted shall do penance, and call upon +thy name, and pray to thee in this place, + +6:25. Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people +Israel and bring them back into the land which thou gavest to them, and +their fathers. + +6:26. If the heavens be shut up, and there fall no rain by reason of +the sin of the people, and they shall pray to thee in this place, and +confess to thy name, and be converted from their sins, where thou dost +afflict them, + +6:27. Then hear thou from heaven, O Lord, and forgive the sins of thy +servants and of thy people Israel and teach them the good way in which +they may walk: and give rain to thy land which thou hast given to thy +people to possess. + +6:28. If a famine arise in the land, or a pestilence or blasting, or +mildew, or locusts, or caterpillars: or if their enemies waste the +country, and besiege the cities, whatsoever scourge or infirmity shall +be upon them: + +6:29. Then if any of thy people Israel, knowing his own scourge and +infirmity shall pray, and shall spread forth his hands in this house, + +6:30. Hear thou from heaven, from thy high dwelling place, and forgive, +and render to every one according to his ways, which thou knowest him +to have in his heart: for thou only knowest the hearts of the children +of men: + +6:31. That they may fear thee, and walk in thy ways all the days that +they live upon the face of the land, which thou hast given to our +fathers. + +6:32. If the stranger also, who is not of thy people Israel, come from +a far country, for the sake of thy great name, and thy strong hand, and +thy stretched out arm, and adore in this place: + +6:33. Hear thou from heaven thy firm dwelling place, and do all that +which that stranger shall call upon thee for: that all the people of +the earth may know thy name, and may fear thee, as thy people Israel, +and may know, that thy name is invoked upon this house, which I have +built. + +6:34. If thy people go out to war against their enemies, by the way +that thou shalt send them, and adore thee towards the way of this city, +which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built to thy name: + +6:35. Then hear thou from heaven their prayers, and their +supplications, and revenge them. + +6:36. And if they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth +not) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them up to their enemies, +and they lead them away captive to a land either afar off, or near at +hand, + +6:37. And if they be converted in their heart in the land to which they +were led captive, and do penance, and pray to thee in the land of their +captivity saying: We have sinned, we have done wickedly, we have dealt +unjustly: + +6:38. And return to thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, +in the land of their captivity, to which they were led away, and adore +thee towards the way of their own land which thou gavest their fathers, +and of the city, which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have +built to thy name: + +6:39. Then hear thou from heaven, that is, from thy firm dwelling +place, their prayers, and do judgment, and forgive thy people, although +they have sinned: + +6:40. For thou art my God: let thy eyes, I beseech thee, be open, and +let thy ears be attentive to the prayer, that is made in this place. + +6:41. Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy resting place, thou and +the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Lord God, put on salvation, +and thy saints rejoice in good things. + +6:42. O Lord God, turn not away the face of thy anointed: remember the +mercies of David thy servant. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 7 + + +Fire from heaven consumeth the sacrifices. The solemnity of the +dedication of the temple. God signifieth his having heard Solomon's +prayer: yet so if he continue to serve him. + +7:1. And when Solomon had made an end of his prayer, fire came down +from heaven, and consumed the holocausts and the victims: and the +majesty of the Lord filled the house. + +7:2. Neither could the priests enter into the temple of the Lord, +because the majesty of the Lord had filled the temple of the Lord. + +7:3. Moreover all the children of Israel saw the fire coming down, and +the glory of the Lord upon the house: and falling down with their faces +to the ground, upon the stone pavement, they adored and praised the +Lord: because he is good, because his mercy endureth for ever. + +7:4. And the king and all the people sacrificed victims before the +Lord. + +7:5. And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand oxen, +and one hundred and twenty thousand rams: and the king and all the +people dedicated the house of God. + +7:6. And the priests stood in their offices: and the Levites with the +instruments of music of the Lord, which king David made to praise the +Lord: because his mercy endureth for ever, singing the hymns of David +by their ministry: and the priests sounded with trumpets before them, +and all Israel stood. + +7:7. Solomon also sanctified the middle of the court before the temple +of the Lord: for he offered there the holocausts, and the fat of the +peace offerings: because the brazen altar, which he had made, could not +hold the holocausts and the sacrifices and the fat: + +7:8. And Solomon kept the solemnity at that time seven days, and all +Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entrance of Emath +to the torrent of Egypt. + +7:9. And he made on the eighth day a solemn assembly, because he had +kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and had celebrated the +solemnity seven days. + +7:10. So on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent +away the people to their dwellings, joyful and glad for the good that +the Lord had done to David, and to Solomon, and to all Israel his +people. + +7:11. And Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king's house, +and all that he had designed in his heart to do, in the house of the +Lord, and in his own house, and he prospered. + +7:12. And the Lord appeared to him by night, and said: I have heard thy +prayer, and I have chosen this place to myself for a house of +sacrifice. + +7:13. If I shut up heaven, and there fall no rain, or if I give orders, +and command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence +among my people: + +7:14. And my people, upon whom my name is called, being converted, +shall make supplication to me, and seek out my face, and do penance for +their most wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive +their sins and will heal their land. + +7:15. My eyes also shall be open, and my ears attentive to the prayer +of him that shall pray in this place. + +7:16. For I have chosen, and have sanctified this place, that my name +may be there for ever, and my eyes and my heart may remain there +perpetually. + +7:17. And as for thee, if thou walk before me, as David thy father +walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and keep my +justices and my judgments: + +7:18. I will raise up the throne of thy kingdom, as I promised to David +thy father, saying: There shall not fail thee a man of thy stock to be +ruler in Israel. + +7:19. But if you turn away, and forsake my justices, and my +commandments which I have set before you, and shall go and serve +strange gods, and adore them, + +7:20. I will pluck you up by the root out of my land which I have given +you: and this house which I have sanctified to my name, I will cast +away from before my face, and will make it a byword, and an example +among all nations. + +7:21. And this house shall be for a proverb to all that pass by, and +they shall be astonished and say: Why hath the Lord done thus to this +land, and to this house? + +7:22. And they shall answer: Because they forsook the Lord the God of +their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold +on strange gods, and adored them, and worshipped them: therefore all +these evils are come upon them. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 8 + + +Solomon's buildings and other acts. + +8:1. And at the end of twenty years after Solomon had built the house +of the Lord and his own house: + +8:2. He built the cities which Hiram had given to Solomon, and caused +the children of Israel to dwell there. + +8:3. He went also into Emath Suba, and possessed it. + +8:4. And he built Palmira in the desert, and he built other strong +cities in Emath. + +8:5. And he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, +walled cities with gates and bars and locks. + +8:6. Balaath also and all the strong cities that were Solomon's, and +all the cities of the chariots, and the cities of the horsemen. All +that Solomon had a mind, and designed, he built in Jerusalem and in +Libanus, and in all the land of his dominion. + +8:7. All the people that were left of the Hethites, and the Amorrhites, +and the Pherezites, and the Hevites, and the Jebusites, that were not +of the stock of Israel: + +8:8. Of their children, and of the posterity, whom the children of +Israel had not slain, Solomon made to be the tributaries, unto this +day. + +8:9. But of the children of Israel he set none to serve in the king's +works: for they were men of war, and chief captains, and rulers of his +chariots and horsemen. + +8:10. And all the chief captains of king Solomon's army were two +hundred and fifty, who taught the people. + +8:11. And he removed the daughter of Pharao from the city of David, to +the house which he had built for her. For the king said: My wife shall +not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, for it is sanctified: +because the ark of the Lord came into it. + +8:12. Then Solomon offered holocausts to the Lord upon the altar of the +Lord which he had built before the porch, + +8:13. That every day an offering might be made on it according to the +ordinance of Moses, in the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the +festival days three times a year, that is to say, in the feast of +unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of +tabernacles. + +8:14. And he appointed according to the order of David his father the +offices of the priests in their ministries: and the Levites in their +order to give praise, and minister before the priests according to the +duty of every day: and the porters in their divisions by gate and gate: +for so David the man of God had commanded. + +8:15. And the priests and Levites departed not from the king's +commandments, as to any thing that he had commanded, and as to the +keeping of the treasures. + +8:16. Solomon had all charges prepared, from the day that he founded +the house of the Lord, until the day wherein he finished it. + +8:17. Then Solomon went to Asiongaber, and to Ailath, on the coast of +the Red Sea, which is in the land of Edom. + +8:18. And Hiram sent him ships by the hands of his servants, and +skilful mariners, and they went with Solomon's servants to Ophir, and +they took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought it +to king Solomon. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 9 + + +The queen of Saba admireth the wisdom of Solomon. His riches and glory. +His death. + +9:1. And when the queen of Saba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came +to try him with hard questions at Jerusalem, with great riches, and +camels, which carried spices, and abundance of gold, and precious +stones. And when she was come to Solomon, she proposed to him all that +was in her heart. + +9:2. And Solomon explained to her all that she proposed: and there was +not any thing that he did not make clear unto her. + +9:3. And when she had seen these things, to wit, the wisdom of Solomon, +and the house which he had built, + +9:4. And the meats of his table, and the dwelling places of his +servants, and the attendance of his officers, and their apparel, his +cupbearers also, and their garments, and the victims which he offered +in the house of the Lord: there was no more spirit in her, she was so +astonished. + +9:5. And she said to the king: The word is true which I heard in my +country of thy virtues and wisdom. + +9:6. I did not believe them that told it, until I came, and my eyes had +seen, and I had proved that scarce one half of thy wisdom had been told +me: thou hast exceeded the same with thy virtues. + +9:7. Happy are thy men, and happy are thy servants, who stand always +before thee, and hear thy wisdom. + +9:8. Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath been pleased to set thee on +his throne, king of the Lord thy God. Because God loveth Israel, and +will preserve them forever: therefore hath he made thee king over them, +to do judgment and justice. + +9:9. And she gave to the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and +spices in great abundance, and most precious stones: there were no such +spices as these which the queen of Saba gave to king Solomon. + +9:10. And the servants also of Hiram, with the servants of Solomon, +brought gold from Ophir, and thyine trees, and most precious stones: + +9:11. And the king made of the thyine trees stairs in the house of the +Lord, and in the king's house, and harps and psalteries for the singing +men: never were there seen such trees in the land of Juda. + +9:12. And king Solomon gave to the queen of Saba all that she desired, +and that she asked, and many more things than she brought to him: so +she returned, and went to her own country with her servants. + +9:13. And the weight of the gold, that was brought to Solomon every +year, was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold: + +9:14. Beside the sum which the deputies of divers nations, and the +merchants were accustomed to bring, and all the kings of Arabia, and +the lords of the lands, who brought gold and silver to Solomon. + +9:15. And king Solomon made two hundred golden spears, of the sum of +six hundred pieces of gold, which went to every spear: + +9:16. And three hundred golden shields of three hundred pieces of gold, +which went to the covering of every shield: and the king put them in +the armoury, which was compassed with a wood. + +9:17. The king also made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with +pure gold. + +9:18. And six steps to go up to the throne, and a footstool of gold, +and two arms one on either side, and two lions standing by the arms: + +9:19. Moreover twelve other little lions standing upon the steps on +both sides: there was not such a throne in any kingdom. + +9:20. And all the vessels of the king's table were of gold, and the +vessels of the house of the forest of Libanus were of the purest gold. +For no account was made of silver in those days. + +9:21. For the king's ships went to Tharsis with the servants of Hiram, +once in three years: and they brought thence gold and silver, and +ivory, and apes, and peacocks. + +9:22. And Solomon was magnified above all the kings of the earth for +riches and glory. + +9:23. And all the kings of the earth desired to see the face of +Solomon, that they might hear the wisdom which God had given in his +heart. + +9:24. And every year they brought him presents, vessels of silver and +of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, and horses, and mules. + +9:25. And Solomon had forty thousand horses in the stables, and twelve +thousand chariots, and horsemen, and he placed them in the cities of +the chariots and where the king was in Jerusalem. + +9:26. And he exercised authority over all the kings from the river +Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, and to the borders of Egypt. + +9:27. And he made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones: and +cedars as common as the sycamores, which grow in the plains. + +9:28. And horses were brought to him out of Egypt, and out of all +countries. + +9:29. Now the rest of the acts of Solomon first and last are written in +the words of Nathan the prophet, and in the books of Ahias the +Silonite, and in the vision of Addo the seer, against Jeroboam the son +of Nabat. + +9:30. And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. + +9:31. And he slept with his fathers: and they buried him in the city of +David: and Roboam his son reigned in his stead. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 10 + + +Roboam answereth the people roughly: upon which ten tribes revolt. + +10:1. And Roboam went to Sichem: for thither all Israel were assembled, +to make him king. + +10:2. And when Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who was in Egypt, (for he was +fled thither from Solomon,) heard it, forthwith he returned. + +10:3. And they sent for him, and he came with all Israel, and they +spoke to Roboam, saying: + +10:4. Thy father oppressed with a most grievous yoke, do thou govern us +with a lighter hand than thy father, who laid upon us a heavy +servitude, and ease some thing of the burden, that we may serve thee. + +10:5. And he said to them: Come to me again after three days. And when +the people were gone, + +10:6. He took counsel with the ancients, who had stood before his +father Solomon, while he yet lived, saying: What counsel give you to +me, that I may answer the people? + +10:7. And they said to him: If thou please this people, and soothe them +with kind words, they will be thy servants for ever. + +10:8. But he forsook the counsel of the ancients, and began to treat +with the young men, that had been brought up with him, and were in his +train. + +10:9. And he said to them: What seemeth good to you? or what shall I +answer this people, who have said to me: Ease the yoke which thy father +laid upon us? + +10:10. But they answered as young men, and brought up with him in +pleasures, and said: Thus shalt thou speak to the people, that said to +thee: Thy father made our yoke heavy, do thou ease it: thus shalt thou +answer them: My little finger is thicker than the loins of my father. + +10:11. My father laid upon you a heavy yoke, and I will add more weight +to it: my father beat you with scourges, but I will beat you with +scorpions. + +10:12. So Jeroboam, and all the people came to Roboam the third day, as +he commanded them. + +10:13. And the king answered roughly, leaving the counsel of the +ancients. + +10:14. And he spoke according to the advice of the young men: My father +laid upon you a heavy yoke, which I will make heavier: my father beat +you with scourges, but I will beat you with scorpions. + +10:15. And he condescended not to the people's requests: for it was the +will of God, that his word might be fulfilled which he had spoken by +the hand of Ahias the Silonite to Jeroboam the son of Nabat. + +10:16. And all the people upon the king's speaking roughly, said thus +unto him: We have no part in David, nor inheritance in the son of Isai. +Return to thy dwellings, O Israel, and do thou, O David feed thy own +house. And Israel went away to their dwellings. + +10:17. But Roboam reigned over the children of Israel that dwelt in the +cities of Juda. + +10:18. And king Roboam sent Aduram, who was over the tributes, and the +children of Israel stoned him, and he died: and king Roboam made haste +to get up into his chariot, and fled into Jerusalem. + +10:19. And Israel revolted from the house of David unto this day. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 11 + + +Roboam's reign. His kingdom is strengthened. + +11:1. And Roboam came to Jerusalem, and called together all the house +of Juda and of Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men +and warriors, to fight against Israel, and to bring back his kingdom to +him. + +11:2. And the word of the Lord came to Semeias the man of God, saying: + +11:3. Speak to Roboam the son of Solomon the king of Juda, and to all +Israel, in Juda and Benjamin: + +11:4. Thus saith the Lord: You shall not go up, nor fight against your +brethren: let every man return to his own house, for by my will this +thing has been done. And when they heard the word of the Lord, they +returned, and did not go against Jeroboam, + +11:5. And Roboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built walled cities in Juda. + +11:6. And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Thecue, + +11:7. And Bethsur, and Socho, and Odollam, + +11:8. And Geth, and Maresa, and Ziph, + +11:9. And Aduram, and Lachis, and Azecha, + +11:10. Saraa also, and Aialon, and Hebron, which are in Juda and +Benjamin, well fenced cities. + +11:11. And when he had enclosed them with walls, he put in them +governors and storehouses of provisions, that is, of oil and of wine. + +11:12. Moreover in every city he made an armoury of shields and spears, +and he fortified them with great diligence, and he reigned over Juda, +and Benjamin, + +11:13. And the priests and Levites, that were in all Israel, came to +him out of all their seats, + +11:14. Leaving their suburbs, and their possessions, and passing over +to Juda, and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had cast them +off, from executing the priestly office to the Lord. + +11:15. And he made to himself priests for the high places, and for the +devils, and for the calves which he had made. + +11:16. Moreover out of all the tribes of Israel, whosoever gave their +heart to seek the Lord the God of Israel, came into Jerusalem to +sacrifice their victims before the Lord the God of their fathers. + +11:17. And they strengthened the kingdom of Juda, and established +Roboam the son of Solomon for three years: for they walked in the ways +of David and of Solomon, only three years. + +11:18. And Roboam took to wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth the +son of David: and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Isai. + +11:19. And they bore him sons Jehus, and Somorias, and Zoom. + +11:20. And after her he married Maacha the daughter of Absalom, who +bore him Abia, and Ethai, and Ziza, and Salomith. + +11:21. And Roboam loved Maacha the daughter of Absalom above all his +wives and concubines: for he had married eighteen wives, and threescore +concubines: and he begot eight and twenty sons, and threescore +daughters. + +11:22. But he put at the head of them Abia the son of Maacha to be the +chief ruler over all his brethren: for he meant to make him king, + +11:23. Because he was wiser and mightier than all his sons, and in all +the countries of Juda, and of Benjamin, and in all the walled cities: +and he gave them provisions in abundance, and he sought many wives. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 12 + + +Roboam for his sins is delivered up into the hands of the king of +Egypt: who carrieth away all the treasures of the temple. + +12:1. And when the kingdom of Roboam was strengthened and fortified, he +forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. + +12:2. And in the fifth year of the reign of Roboam, Sesac king of Egypt +came up against Jerusalem (because they had sinned against the Lord) + +12:3. With twelve hundred chariots and threescore thousand horsemen: +and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt, to +wit, Libyans, and Troglodites, and Ethiopians. + +12:4. And he took the strongest cities in Juda, and came to Jerusalem. + +12:5. And Semeias the prophet came to Roboam, and to the princes of +Juda, that were gathered together in Jerusalem, fleeing from Sesac, and +he said to them: Thus saith the Lord: You have left me, and I have left +you in the hand of Sesac. + +12:6. And the princes of Israel, and the king, being in a +consternation, said: The Lord is just. + +12:7. And when the Lord saw that they were humbled, the word of the +Lord came to Semeias, saying: Because they are humbled, I will not +destroy them, and I will give them a little help, and my wrath shall +not fall upon Jerusalem by the hand of Sesac. + +12:8. But yet they shall serve him, that they may know the difference +between my service, and the service of a kingdom of the earth. + +12:9. So Sesac king of Egypt departed from Jerusalem, taking away the +treasures of the king's house, and he took all with him, and the golden +shields that Solomon had made, + +12:10. Instead of which the king made brazen ones, and delivered them +to the captains of the shieldbearers, who guarded the entrance of the +palace. + +12:11. And when the king entered into the house of the Lord, the +shieldbearers came and took them, and brought them back again to their +armoury. + +12:12. But yet because they were humbled, the wrath of the Lord turned +away from them, and they were not utterly destroyed: for even in Juda +there were found good works. + +12:13. King Roboam therefore was strengthened in Jerusalem, and +reigned: he was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he +reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord chose out +of all the tribes of Israel, to establish his name there: and the name +of his mother was Naama an Ammonitess. + +12:14. But he did evil, and did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord. + +12:15. Now the acts of Roboam first and last are written in the books +of Semeias the prophet, and of Addo the seer, and diligently recorded: +and there was war between Roboam and Jeroboam all their days. + +12:16. And Roboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of +David. And Abia his son reigned in his stead. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 13 + + +Abia's reign: his victory over Jeroboam. + +13:1. In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abia reigned over Juda. + +13:2. Three years he reigned in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was +Michaia, the daughter of Uriel of Gabaa: and there was war between Abia +and Jeroboam. + +Michaia. . .Alias Maacha. Her father had also two names, viz., Absalom, +or Abessalom, and Uriel. + +13:3. And when Abia had begun battle, and had with him four hundred +thousand most valiant and chosen men, Jeroboam put his army in array +against him, eight hundred thousand men, who were also chosen and most +valiant for war. + +13:4. And Abia stood upon mount Semeron, which was in Ephraim, and +said: Hear me, O Jeroboam, and all Israel: + +13:5. Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave to David the +kingdom over Israel for ever, to him and to his sons by a covenant of +salt? + +A covenant of salt. . .That is, a firm and perpetual covenant. See Num. +18.19. + +13:6. And Jeroboam the son of Nabat, the servant of Solomon the son of +David, rose up: and rebelled against his lord. + +13:7. And there were gathered to him vain men, and children of Belial: +and they prevailed against Roboam the son of Solomon: for Roboam was +unexperienced, and of a fearful heart, and could not resist them. + +13:8. And now you say that you are able to withstand the kingdom of the +Lord, which he possesseth by the sons of David, and you have a great +multitude of people, and golden calves, which Jeroboam hath made you +for gods. + +13:9. And you have cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, +and the Levites: and you have made you priests, like all the nations of +the earth: whosoever cometh and consecrateth his hand with a bullock of +the herd, and with seven rams, is made a priest of those who are no +gods. + +13:10. But the Lord is our God, whom we forsake not, and the priests +who minister to the Lord are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites are in +their order. + +13:11. And they offer holocausts to the Lord, every day, morning and +evening, and incense made according to the ordinance of the law, and +the loaves are set forth on a most clean table, and there is with us +the golden candlestick, and the lamps thereof, to be lighted always in +the evening: for we keep the precepts of the Lord our God, whom you +have forsaken. + +13:12. Therefore God is the leader in our army, and his priests who +sound with trumpets, and resound against you: O children of Israel, +fight not against the Lord the God of your fathers, for it is not good +for you. + +13:13. While he spoke these things, Jeroboam caused an ambushment to +come about behind him. And while he stood facing the enemies, he +encompassed Juda, who perceived it not, with his army. + +13:14. And when Juda looked back, they saw the battle coming upon them +both before and behind, and they cried to the Lord: and the priests +began to sound with the trumpets. + +13:15. And all the men of Juda shouted: and behold when they shouted, +God terrified Jeroboam, and all Israel that stood against Abia and +Juda. + +13:16. And the children of Israel fled before Juda, and the Lord +delivered them into their hand. + +13:17. And Abia and his people slew them with a great slaughter, and +there fell wounded of Israel five hundred thousand valiant men. + +13:18. And the children of Israel were brought down, at that time, and +the children of Juda were exceedingly strengthened, because they had +trusted in the Lord the God of their fathers. + +13:19. And Abia pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, +Bethel and her daughters, and Jesana with her daughters, Ephron also +and her daughters. + +13:20. And Jeroboam was not able to resist any more, in the days of +Abia: and the Lord struck him, and he died. + +13:21. But Abia, being strengthened in his kingdom, took fourteen +wives: and begot two and twenty sons, and sixteen daughters. + +13:22. And the rest of the acts of Abia, and of his ways and works, are +written diligently in the book of Addo the prophet. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 14 + + +The reign of Asa: his victory over the Ethiopians. + +14:1. And Abia slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city +of David: an Asa his son reigned in his stead: in his days the land was +quiet ten years. + +14:2. And Asa did that which was good and pleasing in the sight of his +God, and he destroyed the altars of foreign worship, and the high +places. + +14:3. And broke the statues, and cut down the groves. + +14:4. And he commanded Juda to seek the Lord the God of their fathers, +and to do the law, and all the commandments. + +14:5. And he took away out of all the cities of Juda the altars, and +temples, and reigned in peace. + +14:6. He built also strong cities in Juda, for he was quiet, and there +had no wars risen in his time, the Lord giving peace. + +14:7. And he said to Juda: Let us build these cities, and compass them +with walls, and fortify them with towers, and gates, and bars, while +all is quiet from wars, because we have sought the Lord the God of our +fathers, and he hath given us peace round about. So they built, and +there was no hinderance in building. + +14:8. And Asa had in his army of men that bore shields and spears of +Juda three hundred thousand, and of Benjamin that bore shields and drew +bows, two hundred and eighty thousand, all these were most valiant men. + +14:9. And Zara the Ethiopian came out against them with his army of ten +hundred thousand men, and with three hundred chariots: and he came as +far as Maresa. + +14:10. And Asa went out to meet him, and set his army in array for +battle in the vale of Sephata, which is near Maresa: + +14:11. And he called upon the Lord God, and said: Lord, there is no +difference with thee, whether thou help with few, or with many: help +us, O Lord our God: for with confidence in thee, and in thy name we are +come against this multitude. O Lord thou art our God, let not man +prevail against thee. + +14:12. And the Lord terrified the Ethiopians before Asa and Juda: and +the Ethiopians fled. + +14:13. And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them to +Gerara: and the Ethiopians fell even to utter destruction, for the Lord +slew them, and his army fought against them, and they were destroyed. +And they took abundance of spoils, + +14:14. And they took all the cities round about Gerara: for a great +fear was come upon all men: and they pillaged the cities, and carried +off much booty. + +14:15. And they destroyed the sheepcotes, and took an infinite number +of cattle, and of camels: and returned to Jerusalem. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 15 + + +The prophecy of Azarias. Asa's covenant with God. He deposeth his +mother. + +15:1. And the spirit of God came upon Azarias the son of Oded, + +15:2. And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: Hear ye me, Asa, +and all Juda and Benjamin: The Lord is with you, because you have been +with him. If you seek him, you shall find: but if you forsake him, he +will forsake you. + +15:3. And many days shall pass in Israel, without the true God, and +without a priest a teacher, and without the law. + +15:4. And when in their distress they shall return to the Lord the God +of Israel, and shall seek him, they shall find him. + +15:5. At that time there shall be no peace to him that goeth out and +cometh in, but terrors on every side among all the inhabitants of the +earth. + +15:6. For nation shall fight against nation, and city against city, for +the Lord will trouble them with all distress. + +15:7. Do you therefore take courage, and let not your hands be +weakened: for there shall be a reward for your work. + +15:8. And when Asa had heard the words, and the prophecy of Azarias the +son of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and took away the idols out +of all the land of Juda, and out of Benjamin, and out of the cities of +mount Ephraim, which he had taken, and he dedicated the altar of the +Lord, which was before the porch of the Lord. + +15:9. And he gathered together all Juda and Benjamin, and the strangers +with them of Ephraim, and Manasses, and Simeon: for many were come over +to him out of Israel, seeing that the Lord his God was with him. + +15:10. And when they were come to Jerusalem in the third month, in the +fifteenth year of the reign of Asa, + +15:11. They sacrificed to the Lord in that day of the spoils, and of +the prey, that they had brought, seven hundred oxen, and seven thousand +rams. + +15:12. And he went in to confirm as usual the covenant, that they +should seek the Lord the God of their fathers with all their heart, and +with all their soul. + +15:13. And if any one, said he, seek not the Lord the God of Israel, +let him die, whether little or great, man or woman. + +15:14. And they swore to the Lord with a loud voice with joyful +shouting, and with sound of trumpet, and sound of cornets, + +15:15. All that were in Juda with a curse: for with all their heart +they swore, and with all their will they sought him, and they found +him, and the Lord gave them rest round about. + +15:16. Moreover Maacha the mother of king Asa he deposed from the royal +authority, because she had made in a grove an idol of Priapus: and he +entirely destroyed it, and breaking it into pieces, burnt it at the +torrent Cedron. + +15:17. But high places were left in Israel: nevertheless the heart of +Asa was perfect all his days. + +15:18. And the things which his father had vowed, and he himself had +vowed, he brought into the house of the Lord, gold and silver, and +vessels of divers uses. + +15:19. And there was no war unto the five and thirtieth year of the +kingdom of Asa. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 16 + + +Asa is reproved for seeking help from the Syrians: his last acts and +death. + +16:1. And in the six and thirtieth year of his kingdom, Baasa the king +of Israel came up against Juda, and built a wall about Rama, that no +one might safely go out or come in of the kingdom of Asa. + +Six and thirtieth year of his kingdom. . .That is, of the kingdom of +Juda, taking the date of it from the beginning of the reign of Reboam. + +16:2. Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the +house of the Lord, and of the king's treasures, and sent to Benadad +king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying: + +16:3. There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my +father and thy father, wherefore I have sent thee silver and gold, that +thou mayst break thy league with Baasa king of Israel, and make him +depart from me. + +16:4. And when Benadad heard this, he sent the captains of his armies +against the cities of Israel: and they took Ahion, and Dan, and +Abelmaim, and all the walled cities of Nephtali. + +16:5. And when Baasa heard of it, he left off the building of Rama, and +interrupted his work. + +16:6. Then king Asa took all Juda, and they carried away from Rama the +stones, and the timber that Baasa had prepared for the building: and he +built with them Gabaa, and Maspha. + +16:7. At that time Hanani the prophet came to Asa king of Juda, and +said to him: Because thou hast had confidence in the king of Syria, and +not in the Lord thy God, therefore hath the army of the king of Syria +escaped out of thy hand. + +16:8. Were not the Ethiopians, and the Libyans much more numerous in +chariots, and horsemen, and an exceeding great multitude: yet because +thou trustedst in the Lord, he delivered them into thy hand? + +16:9. For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, and give strength +to those who with a perfect heart trust in him. Wherefore thou hast +done foolishly, and for this cause from this time wars shall arise +against thee. + +16:10. And Asa was angry with the seer, and commanded him to be put in +prison: for he was greatly enraged because of this thing: and he put to +death many of the people at that time. + +16:11. But the works of Asa the first and last are written in the book +of the kings of Juda and Israel. + +16:12. And Asa fell sick in the nine and thirtieth year of his reign, +of a most violent pain in his feet, and yet in his illness he did not +seek the Lord, but rather trusted in the skill of physicians. + +16:13. And he slept with his fathers: and he died in the one and +fortieth year of his reign. + +16:14. And they buried him in his own sepulchre, which he had made for +himself in the city of David: and they laid him on his bed full of +spices and odoriferous ointments, which were made by the art of the +perfumers, and they burnt them over him with very great pomp. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 17 + + +Josaphat's reign: his care for the instruction of his people: his +numerous forces. + +17:1. And Josaphat his son reigned in his stead, and grew strong +against Israel. + +17:2. And he placed numbers of soldiers in all the fortified cities of +Juda. And he put garrisons in the land of Juda, and in the cities of +Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. + +17:3. And the Lord was with Josaphat, because he walked in the first +ways of David his father: and trusted not in Baalim, + +17:4. But in the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and +not according to the sins of Israel. + +17:5. And the Lord established the kingdom in his hand, and all Juda +brought presents to Josaphat: and he acquired immense riches, and much +glory. + +17:6. And when his heart had taken courage for the ways of the Lord, he +took away also the high places and the groves out of Juda. + +17:7. And in the third year of his reign, he sent of his princes +Benhail, and Abdias, and Zacharias, and Nathanael, and Micheas, to +teach in the cites of Juda: + +17:8. And with them the Levites, Semeias, and Nathanias, and Zabadias, +and Asael, and Semiramoth, and Jonathan, and Adonias, and Tobias, and +Thobadonias Levites, and with them Elisama, and Joram priests. + +17:9. And they taught the people in Juda, having with them the book of +the law of the Lord: and they went about all the cities of Juda, and +instructed the people. + +17:10. And the fear of the Lord came upon all the kingdoms of the lands +that were round about Juda, and they durst not make war against +Josaphat. + +17:11. The Philistines also brought presents to Josaphat, and tribute +in silver, and the Arabians brought him cattle, seven thousand seven +hundred rams, and as many he goats. + +17:12. And Josaphat grew, and became exceeding great: and he built in +Juda houses like towers, and walled cities. + +17:13. And he prepared many works in the cities of Juda: and he had +warriors, and valiant men in Jerusalem. + +17:14. Of whom this is the number of the houses and families of every +one: in Juda captains of the army, Ednas the chief, and with him three +hundred thousand most valiant men. + +17:15. After him Johanan the captain, and with him two hundred and +eighty thousand. + +17:16. And after him was Amasias the son of Zechri, consecrated to the +Lord, and with him were two hundred thousand valiant men. + +17:17. After him was Eliada valiant in battle, and with him two hundred +thousand armed with bow and shield. + +17:18. After him also was Jozabad, and with him a hundred and eighty +thousand ready for war. + +17:19. All these were at the hand of the king, beside others, whom he +had put in the walled cities, in all Juda. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 18 + + +Josaphat accompanies Achab in his expedition against Ramoth; where +Achab is slain, as Micheas had foretold. + +18:1. Now Josaphat was rich and very glorious, and was joined by +affinity to Achab. + +18:2. And he went down to him after some years to Samaria: and Achab at +his coming killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people +that came with him: and he persuaded him to go up to Ramoth Galaad. + +18:3. And Achab king of Israel said to Josaphat king of Juda: Come with +me to Ramoth Galaad. And he answered him: Thou art as I am, and my +people as thy people, and we will be with thee in the war. + +18:4. And Josaphat said to the king of Israel: Inquire, I beseech thee, +at present the word of the Lord. + +18:5. So the king of Israel gathered together of the prophets four +hundred men, and he said to them: Shall we go to Ramoth Galaad to +fight, or shall we forbear? But they said: Go up, and God will deliver +into the king's hand. + +18:6. And Josaphat said: Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that +we may inquire also of him? + +18:7. And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: There is one man, of +whom we may ask the will of the Lord: but I hate him, for he never +prophesieth good to me, but always evil: and it is Micheas the son of +Jemla. And Josaphat said: Speak not thus, O king. + +18:8. And the king of Israel called one of the eunuchs, and said to +him: Call quickly Micheas the son of Jemla. + +18:9. Now the king of Israel, and Josaphat king of Juda, both sat on +their thrones, clothed in royal robes, and they sat in the open court +by the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them. + +18:10. And Sedecias the son of Chanaana made him horns of iron, and +said: Thus saith the Lord: With these shalt thou push Syria, till thou +destroy it. + +18:11. And all the prophets prophesied in like manner, and said: Go up +to Ramoth Galaad, and thou shalt prosper, and the Lord will deliver +them into the king's hand. + +18:12. And the messenger that went to call Micheas, said to him: Behold +the words of all the prophets with one mouth declare good to the king: +I beseech thee therefore let not thy word disagree with them, and speak +thou also good success. + +18:13. And Micheas answered him: As the Lord liveth, whatsoever my God +shall say to me, that will I speak. + +18:14. So he came to the king: and the king said to him: Micheas, shall +we go to Ramoth Galaad to fight, or forbear? And he answered him: Go +up, for all shall succeed prosperously, and the enemies shall be +delivered into your hands. + +18:15. And the king said: I adjure thee again and again to say nothing +but the truth to me, in the name of the Lord. + +18:16. Then he said: I saw all Israel scattered in the mountains, like +sheep without a shepherd: and the Lord said: These have no masters: +let every man return to his own house in peace. + +18:17. And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: Did I not tell thee +that this man would not prophesy me any good, but evil? + +18:18. Then he said: Hear ye therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the +Lord sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing by him +on the right hand and on the left, + +18:19. And the Lord said: Who shall deceive Achab king of Israel, that +he may go up and fall in Ramoth Galaad? And when one spoke in this +manner, and another otherwise: + +Who shall deceive, etc. . .See the annotations, 3 Kings 22. + +18:20. There came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said: +I will deceive him. And the Lord said to him: By what means wilt thou +deceive him? + +18:21. And he answered: I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the +mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said: Thou shalt deceive, and +shalt prevail: go out, and do so. + +18:22. Now therefore behold the Lord hath put a spirit of lying in the +mouth of all thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil against thee. + +18:23. And Sedecias the son of Chanaana came, and struck Micheas on the +cheek and said: Which way went the spirit of the Lord from me, to speak +to thee? + +18:24. And Micheas said: Thou thyself shalt see in that day, when thou +shalt go in from chamber to chamber, to hide thyself. + +18:25. And the king of Israel commanded, saying: Take Micheas, and +carry him to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joas the son of +Amelech, + +18:26. And say: Thus saith the king: Put this fellow in prison, and +give him bread and water in a small quantity till I return in peace. + +18:27. And Micheas said: If thou return in peace, the Lord hath not +spoken by me. And he said: Hear, all ye people. + +18:28. So the king of Israel and Josaphat king of Juda went up to +Ramoth Galaad. + +18:29. And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: I will change my dress, +and so I will go to the battle, but put thou on thy own garments. And +the king of Israel having changed his dress, went to the battle. + +18:30. Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his cavalry, +saying: Fight ye not with small, or great, but with the king of Israel +only. + +18:31. So when the captains of the cavalry saw Josaphat, they said: +This is the king of Israel. And they surrounded him to attack him: but +he cried to the Lord, and he helped him, and turned them away from him. + +18:32. For when the captains of the cavalry saw, that he was not the +king of Israel, they left him. + +18:33. And it happened that one of the people shot an arrow at a +venture, and struck the king of Israel between the neck and the +shoulders, and he said to his chariot man: Turn thy hand, and carry me +out of the battle, for I am wounded. + +18:34. And the fight was ended that day: but the king of Israel stood +in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening, and died at the +sunset. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 19 + + +Josaphat's charge to the judges and to the Levites. + +19:1. And Josaphat king of Juda returned to his house in peace to +Jerusalem. + +19:2. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer met him, and said to him: +Thou helpest the ungodly, and thou art joined in friendship with them +that hate the Lord, and therefore thou didst deserve indeed the wrath +of the Lord: + +19:3. But good works are found in thee, because thou hast taken away +the groves out of the land of Juda, and hast prepared thy heart to seek +the Lord the God of thy fathers. + +19:4. And Josaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again to the +people from Bersabee to mount Ephraim, and brought them back to the +Lord the God of their fathers. + +19:5. And he set judges of the land in all the fenced cities of Juda, +in every place. + +19:6. And charging the judges, he said: Take heed what you do: for you +exercise not the judgment of man, but of the Lord: and whatsoever you +judge, it shall redound to you. + +19:7. Let the fear of the Lord be with you, and do all things with +diligence: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect +of persons, nor desire of gifts. + +19:8. In Jerusalem also Josaphat appointed Levites, and priests and +chiefs of the families of Israel, to judge the judgment and the cause +of the Lord for the inhabitants thereof. + +19:9. And he charged them, saying, Thus shall you do in the fear of the +Lord faithfully, and with a perfect heart. + +19:10. Every cause that shall come to you of your brethren, that dwell +in their cities, between kindred and kindred, wheresoever there is +question concerning the law, the commandment, the ceremonies, the +justifications: shew it them, that they may not sin against the Lord, +and that wrath may not come upon you and your brethren: and so doing +you shall not sin. + +19:11. And Amarias the priest your high priest shall be chief in the +things which regard God: and Zabadias the son of Ismahel, who is ruler +in the house of Juda, shall be over those matters which belong to the +king's office: and you have before you the Levites for masters, take +courage and do diligently, and the Lord will be with you in good +things. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 20 + + +The Ammonites, Moabites, and Syrians combine against Josaphat: he +seeketh God's help by public prayer and fasting. A prophet foretelleth +that God will fight for his people: the enemies destroy one another. +Josaphat with his men gathereth the spoils. He reigneth in peace, but +his navy perisheth, for his society with wicked Ochozias. + +20:1. After this the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and +with them of the Ammonites, were gathered together to fight against +Josaphat. + +20:2. And there came messengers, and told Josaphat, saying: There +cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea, and out of +Syria, and behold they are in Asasonthamar, which is Engaddi. + +20:3. And Josaphat being seized with fear betook himself wholly to pray +to the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Juda. + +20:4. And Juda gathered themselves together to pray to the Lord: and +all came out of their cities to make supplication to him. + +20:5. And Josaphat stood in the midst of the assembly of Juda, and +Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new court, + +20:6. And said: O Lord God of our fathers, thou art God in heaven, and +rulest over all the kingdoms and nations, in thy hand is strength and +power, and no one can resist thee. + +20:7. Didst not thou our God kill all the inhabitants of this land +before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy +friend for ever? + +20:8. And they dwelt in it, and built in it a sanctuary to thy name, +saying: + +20:9. If evils fall upon us, the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or +famine, we will stand in thy presence before this house, in which thy +name is called upon: and we will cry to thee in our afflictions, and +thou wilt hear, and save us. + +20:10. Now therefore behold the children of Ammon, and of Moab, and +mount Seir, through whose lands thou didst not allow Israel to pass, +when they came out of Egypt, but they turned aside from them, and slew +them not, + +20:11. Do the contrary, and endeavour to cast us out of the possession +which thou hast delivered to us. + +20:12. O our God, wilt thou not then judge them? as for us we have not +strength enough, to be able to resist this multitude, which cometh +violently upon us. But as we know not what to do, we can only turn our +eyes to thee. + +20:13. And all Juda stood before the Lord with their little ones, and +their wives, and their children. + +20:14. And Jahaziel the son of Zacharias, the son of Banaias, the son +of Jehiel, the son of Mathanias, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, was +there, upon whom the spirit of the Lord came in the midst of the +multitude, + +20:15. And he said: Attend ye, all Juda, and you that dwell in +Jerusalem, and thou king Josaphat: Thus saith the Lord to you: Fear ye +not, and be not dismayed at this multitude: for the battle is not +yours, but God's. + +20:16. To morrow you shall go down against them: for they will come up +by the ascent named Sis, and you shall find them at the head of the +torrent, which is over against the wilderness of Jeruel. + +20:17. It shall not be you that shall fight, but only stand with +confidence, and you shall see the help of the Lord over you, O Juda, +and Jerusalem: fear ye not, nor be you dismayed: to morrow you shall go +out against them, and the Lord will be with you. + +20:18. Then Josaphat, and Juda, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem +fell flat on the ground before the Lord, and adored him. + +20:19. And the Levites of the sons of Caath, and of the sons of Core +praised the Lord the God of Israel with a loud voice, on high. + +20:20. And they rose early in the morning, and went out through the +desert of Thecua: and as they were marching, Josaphat standing in the +midst of them, said: Hear me, ye men of Juda, and all the inhabitants +of Jerusalem: believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be secure: +believe his prophets, and all things shall succeed well. + +20:21. And he gave counsel to the people, and appointed the singing men +of the Lord, to praise him by their companies, and to go before the +army, and with one voice to say: Give glory to the Lord, for his mercy +endureth for ever. + +20:22. And when they began to sing praises, the Lord turned their +ambushments upon themselves, that is to say, of the children of Ammon, +and of Moab, and of mount Seir, who were come out to fight against +Juda, and they were slain. + +20:23. For the children of Ammon, and of Moab, rose up against the +inhabitants of mount Seir, to kill and destroy them: and when they had +made an end of them, they turned also against one another, and +destroyed one another. + +20:24. And when Juda came to the watch tower, that looketh toward the +desert, they saw afar off all the country, for a great space, full of +dead bodies, and that no one was left that could escape death. + +20:25. Then Josaphat came, and all the people with him to take away the +spoils of the dead, and they found among the dead bodies, stuff of +various kinds, and garments, and most precious vessels: and they took +them for themselves, insomuch that they could not carry all, nor in +three days take away the spoils, the booty was so great. + +20:26. And on the fourth day they were assembled in the valley of +Blessing: for there they blessed the Lord, and therefore they called +that place the valley of Blessing until this day. + +20:27. And every man of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem +returned, and Josaphat at their head, into Jerusalem with great joy, +because the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. + +20:28. And they came into Jerusalem with psalteries, and harps, and +trumpets into the house of the Lord. + +20:29. And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands +when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. + +20:30. And the kingdom of Josaphat was quiet, and God gave him peace +round about. + +20:31. And Josaphat reigned over Juda, and he was five and thirty years +old, when he began to reign: and he reigned five and twenty years in +Jerusalem: and the name of his mother was Azuba the daughter of Selahi. + +20:32. And he walked in the way of his father Asa and departed not from +it, doing the things that were pleasing before the Lord. + +20:33. But yet he took not away the high places, and the people had not +yet turned their heart to the Lord the God of their fathers. + +20:34. But the rest of the acts of Josaphat, first and last, are +written in the words of Jehu the son of Hanani, which he digested into +the books of the kings of Israel. + +20:35. After these things Josaphat king of Juda made friendship with +Ochozias king of Israel, whose works were very wicked. + +20:36. And he was partner with him in making ships, to go to Tharsis: +and they made the ships in Asiongaber. + +20:37. And Eliezer the son of Dodau of Maresa prophesied to Josaphat, +saying: Because thou hast made a league with Ochozias, the Lord hath +destroyed thy works, and the ships are broken, and they could not go to +Tharsis. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 21 + + +Joram's wicked reign: his punishment and death. + +21:1. And Josaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with them in +the city of David: and Joram his son reigned in his stead. + +21:2. And he had brethren the sons of Josaphat, Azarias, and Jahiel, +and Zacharias, and Azaria, and Michael, and Saphatias, all these were +the sons of Josaphat king of Juda. + +21:3. And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, +and pensions, with strong cities in Juda: but the kingdom he gave to +Joram, because he was the eldest. + +21:4. So Joram rose up over the kingdom of his father: and when he had +established himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and some +of the princes of Israel. + +21:5. Joram was two and thirty years old when he began to reign: and he +reigned eight years in Jerusalem. + +21:6. And he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of +Achab had done: for his wife was a daughter of Achab, and he did evil +in the sight of the Lord. + +21:7. But the Lord would not destroy the house of David: because of the +covenant which he had made with him: and because he had promised to +give a lamp to him, and to his sons for ever. + +21:8. In those days Edom revolted, from being subject to Juda, and made +themselves a king. + +21:9. And Joram went over with his princes, and all his cavalry with +him, and rose in the night, and defeated the Edomites who had +surrounded him, and all the captains of his cavalry. + +21:10. However Edom revolted, from being under the dominion of Juda +unto this day: at that time Lobna also revolted, from being under his +hand. For he had forsaken the Lord the God of his fathers. + +21:11. Moreover he built also high places in the cities of Juda, and he +made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and Juda to +transgress. + +21:12. And there was a letter brought him from Eliseus the prophet, in +which it was written: Thus saith the Lord the God of David thy father: +Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Josaphat thy father nor in +the ways of Asa king of Juda, + +21:13. But hast walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and hast +made Juda and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, +imitating the fornication of the house of Achab, moreover also thou +hast killed thy brethren, the house of thy father, better men than +thyself, + +21:14. Behold the Lord will strike thee with a great plague, with all +thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy substance. + +21:15. And thou shalt be sick of a very grievous disease of thy bowels, +till thy vital parts come out by little and little every day. + +21:16. And the Lord stirred up against Joram the spirit of the +Philistines, and of the Arabians, who border on the Ethiopians. + +21:17. And they came up into the land of Juda, and wasted it, and they +carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, his +sons also, and his wives: so that there was no son left him but +Joachaz, who was the youngest. + +Joachaz. . .Alias Ochozias. + +21:18. And besides all this the Lord struck him with an incurable +disease in his bowels. + +21:19. And as day came after day, and time rolled on, two whole years +passed: then after being wasted with a long consumption, so as to void +his very bowels, his disease ended with his life. And he died of a most +wretched illness, and the people did not make a funeral for him +according to the manner of burning, as they had done for his ancestors. + +21:20. He was two and thirty years old when he began his reign, and he +reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked not rightly, and they +buried him in the city of David: but not in the sepulchres of the +kings. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 22 + + +The reign and death of Ochozias. The tyranny of Athalia. + +22:1. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ochozias his youngest son +king in his place: for the rovers of the Arabians, who had broke in +upon the camp, had killed all that were his elder brothers. So Ochozias +the son of Joram king of Juda reigned. + +22:2. Ochozias was forty-two years old when he began to reign, and he +reigned one year in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother was Athalia +the daughter of Amri. + +Forty-two, etc. . .Divers Greek Bibles read thirty-two, agreeably to 4 +Kings 8.17. + +22:3. He also walked in the ways of the house of Achab: for his mother +pushed him on to do wickedly. + +22:4. So he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Achab +did: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father, to +his destruction. + +22:5. And he walked after their counsels. And he went with Joram the +son of Achab king of Israel, to fight against Hazael king of Syria, at +Ramoth Galaad: and the Syrians wounded Joram. + +22:6. And he returned to be healed in Jezrahel: for he received many +wounds in the foresaid battle. And Ochozias the son of Joram king of +Juda, went down to visit Joram the son of Achab in Jezrahel where he +lay sick. + +22:7. For it was the will of God against Ochozias that he should come +to Joram: and when he was come should go out also against Jehu the son +of Namsi, whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Achab. + +22:8. So when Jehu was rooting out the house of Achab, he found the +princes of Juda, and the sons of the brethren of Ochozias, who served +him, and he slew them. + +22:9. And he sought for Ochozias himself, and took him lying hid in +Samaria: and when he was brought to him, he killed him, and they buried +him: because he was the son of Josaphat, who had sought the Lord with +all his heart. And there was no more hope that any one should reign of +the race of Ochozias. + +22:10. For Athalia his mother, seeing that her son was dead, rose up, +and killed all the royal family of the house of Joram. + +22:11. But Josabeth the king's daughter took Joas the son of Ochozias, +and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain. And she hid +him with his nurse in a bedchamber: now Josabeth that hid him, was +daughter of king Joram, wife of Joiada the high priest, and sister of +Ochozias, and therefore Athalia did not kill him. + +22:12. And he was with them hid in the house of God six years, during +which Athalia reigned over the land. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 23 + + +Joiada the high priest causeth Joas to be made king: Athalia to be +slain, and idolatry to be destroyed. + +23:1. And in the seventh year Joiada being encouraged, took the +captains of hundreds, to wit, Azarias the son of Jeroham, and Ismahel +the son of Johanan, and Azarias the son of Obed, and Maasias the son of +Adaias, and Elisaphat the son of Zechri: and made a covenant with them. + +23:2. And they went about Juda, and gathered together the Levites out +of all the cities of Juda, and the chiefs of the families of Israel, +and they came to Jerusalem. + +23:3. And all the multitude made a covenant with the king in the house +of God: and Joiada said to them: Behold the king's son shall reign, as +the Lord hath said of the sons of David. + +23:4. And this is the thing that you shall do: + +23:5. A third part of you that come to the sabbath, of the priests, and +of the Levites, and of the porters shall be at the gates: and a third +part at the king's house: and a third at the gate that is called the +Foundation: but let all the rest of the people be in the courts of the +house of the Lord. + +To the sabbath. . .That is, to perform in your weeks the functions of +your office, or the weekly watches. + +23:6. And let no one come into the house of the Lord, but the priests, +and they that minister of the Levites: let them only come in, because +they are sanctified: and let all the rest of the people keep the +watches of the Lord. + +23:7. And let the Levites be round about the king, every man with his +arms; and if any other come into the temple, let him be slain; and let +them be with the king, both coming in, and going out. + +23:8. So the Levites, and all Juda did according to all that Joiada the +high priest had commanded: and they took every one his men that were +under him, and that came in by the course of the sabbath, with those +who had fulfilled the sabbath, and were to go out. For Joiada the high +priest permitted not the companies to depart, which were accustomed to +succeed one another every week. + +23:9. And Joiada the priest gave to the captains the spears, and the +shields, and targets of king David, which he had dedicated in the house +of the Lord. + +23:10. And he set all the people with swords in their hands from the +right side of the temple, to the left side of the temple, before the +altar, and the temple, round about the king. + +23:11. And they brought out the king's son, and put the crown upon him, +and the testimony, and gave him the law to hold in his hand, and they +made him king: and Joiada the high priest and his sons anointed him: +and they prayed for him, and said: God save the king. + +23:12. Now when Athalia heard the noise of the people running and +praising the king, she came in to the people, into the temple of the +Lord. + +23:13. And when she saw the king standing upon the step in the +entrance, and the princes, and the companies about him, and all the +people of the land rejoicing, and sounding with trumpets, and playing +on instruments of divers kinds, and the voice of those that praised, +she rent her garments, and said: Treason, treason. + +23:14. And Joiada the high priest going out to the captains, and the +chiefs of the army, said to them: Take her forth without the precinct +of the temple, and when she is without let her be killed with the +sword. For the priest commanded that she should not be killed in the +house of the Lord. + +23:15. And they laid hold on her by the neck: and when she was come +within the horse gate of the palace, they killed her there. + +23:16. And Joiada made a covenant between himself and all the people, +and the king, that they should be the people of the lord. + +23:17. And all the people went into the house of Baal, and destroyed +it: and they broke down his altars and his idols: and they slew Mathan +the priest of Baal before the altars. + +23:18. And Joiada appointed overseers in the house of the Lord, under +the hands of the priests, and the Levites, whom David had distributed +in the house of the Lord: to offer holocausts to the Lord, as it is +written in the law of Moses, with joy and singing, according to the +disposition of David. + +23:19. He appointed also porters in the gates of the house of the Lord, +that none who was unclean in any thing should enter in. + +23:20. And he took the captains of hundreds, and the most valiant men, +and the chiefs of the people, and all the people of the land, and they +brought down the king from the house of the Lord, and brought him +through the upper gate into the king's house, and set him on the royal +throne. + +23:21. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet: +but Athalia was slain with the sword. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 24 + + +Joas reigneth well all the days of Joiada: afterwards falleth into +idolatry and causeth Zacharias to be slain. He is slain himself by his +servants. + +24:1. Joas was seven years old when he began to reign: and he reigned +forty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Sebia of Bersabee. + +24:2. And he did that which is good before the Lord all the days of +Joiada the priest. + +24:3. And Joiada took for him two wives, by whom he had sons and +daughters. + +24:4. After this Joas had a mind to repair the house of the Lord. + +24:5. And he assembled the priests, and the Levites, and said to them: +Go out to the cities of Juda, and gather of all Israel money to repair +the temple of your God, from year to year: and do this with speed: but +the Levites were negligent. + +24:6. And the king called Joiada the chief, and said to him: Why hast +thou not taken care to oblige the Levites to bring in out of Juda and +Jerusalem the money that was appointed by Moses the servant of the Lord +for all the multitude of Israel to bring into the tabernacle of the +testimony? + +24:7. For that wicked woman Athalia, and her children have destroyed +the house of God, and adorned the temple of Baal with all the things +that had been dedicated in the temple of the Lord. + +24:8. And the king commanded, and they made a chest: and set it by the +gate of the house of the Lord on the outside. + +24:9. And they made a proclamation in Juda and Jerusalem, that every +man should bring to the Lord the money which Moses the servant of God +appointed for all Israel, in the desert. + +24:10. And all the princes, and all the people rejoiced: and going in +they contributed and cast so much into the chest of the Lord, that it +was filled. + +24:11. And when it was time to bring the chest before the king by the +hands of the Levites, (for they saw there was much money,) the king's +scribe, and he whom the high priest had appointed went in: and they +poured out the money that was in the chest: and they carried back the +chest to its place: and thus they did from day to day, and there was +gathered an immense sum of money. + +24:12. And the king and Joiada gave it to those who were over the works +of the house of the Lord: but they hired with it stonecutters, and +artificers of every kind of work to repair the house of the Lord: and +such as wrought in iron and brass, to uphold what began to be falling. + +24:13. And the workmen were diligent, and the breach of the walls was +closed up by their hands, and they set up the house of the Lord in its +former state, and made it stand firm. + +24:14. And when they had finished all the works, they brought the rest +of the money before the king and Joiada: and with it were made vessels +for the temple for the ministry, and for holocausts and bowls, and +other vessels of gold and silver: and holocausts were offered in the +house of the Lord continually all the days of Joiada. + +24:15. But Joiada grew old and was full of days, and died when he was a +hundred and thirty years old. + +24:16. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, +because he had done good to Israel, and to his house. + +24:17. And after the death of Joiada, the princes of Juda went in, and +worshipped the king: and he was soothed by their services and hearkened +to them. + +24:18. And they forsook the temple of the Lord the God of their +fathers, and served groves and idols, and wrath came upon Juda and +Jerusalem for this sin. + +24:19. And he sent prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord, and +they would not give ear when they testified against them. + +24:20. The spirit of God then came upon Zacharias the son of Joiada the +priest, and he stood in the sight of the people, and said to them: Thus +saith the Lord God: Why transgress you the commandment of the Lord +which will not be for your good, and have forsaken the Lord, to make +him forsake you? + +24:21. And they gathered themselves together against him, and stoned +him at the king's commandment in the court of the house of the Lord. + +24:22. And king Joas did not remember the kindness that Joiada his +father had done to him, but killed his son. And when he died, he said: +The Lord see, and require it. + +24:23. And when a year was come about, the army of Syria came up +against him: and they came to Juda and Jerusalem, and killed all the +princes of the people, and they sent all the spoils to the king of +Damascus. + +24:24. And whereas there came a very small number of the Syrians, the +Lord delivered into their hands an infinite multitude, because they had +forsaken the Lord the God of their fathers: and on Joas they executed +shameful judgments. + +24:25. And departing they left him in great diseases: and his servants +rose up against him, for revenge of the blood of the son of Joiada the +priest, and they slew him in his bed, and he died: and they buried him +in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings. + +24:26. Now the men that conspired against him were Zabad the son of +Semmaath an Ammonitess, and Jozabad the son of Semarith a Moabitess. + +24:27. And concerning his sons, and the sum of money which was gathered +under him, and the repairing the house of God, they are written more +diligently in the book of kings: and Amasias his son reigned in his +stead. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 25 + + +Amasias' reign: he beginneth well, but endeth ill: he is overthrown by +Joas, and slain by his people. + +25:1. Amasias was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and +he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem, the name of his mother +was Joadan of Jerusalem. + +25:2. And he did what was good in the sight of the Lord: but yet not +with a perfect heart. + +25:3. And when he saw himself strengthened in his kingdom, he put to +death the servants that had slain the king his father. + +25:4. But he slew not their children, as it is written in the book of +the law of Moses, where the Lord commanded, saying: The fathers shall +not be slain for the children, nor the children for their fathers, but +every man shall die for his own sin. + +25:5. Amasias therefore gathered Juda together, and appointed them by +families, and captains of thousands and of hundreds in all Juda, and +Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and upwards, and +found three hundred thousand young men that could go out to battle, and +could hold the spear and shield. + +25:6. He hired also of Israel a hundred thousand valiant men, for a +hundred talents of silver. + +25:7. But a man of God came to him, and said: O king, let not the army +of Israel go out with thee, for the Lord is not with Israel, and all +the children of Ephraim: + +25:8. And if thou think that battles consist in the strength of the +army, God will make thee to be overcome by the enemies: for it +belongeth to God both to help, and to put to flight. + +25:9. And Amasias said to the man of God: What will then become of the +hundred talents which I have given to the soldiers of Israel? and the +man of God answered him: The Lord is rich enough to be able to give +thee much more than this. + +25:10. Then Amasias separated the army, that came to him out of +Ephraim, to go home again: but they being much enraged against Juda, +returned to their own country. + +25:11. And Amasias taking courage led forth his people, and went to the +vale of saltpits, and slew of the children of Seir ten thousand. + +25:12. And other ten thousand men the sons of Juda took, and brought to +the steep of a certain rock, and cast them down headlong from the top, +and they all were broken to pieces. + +25:13. But that army which Amasias had sent back, that they should not +go with him to battle, spread themselves among the cities of Juda, from +Samaria to Beth-horon, and having killed three thousand took away much +spoil. + +25:14. But Amasias after he had slain the Edomites, set up the gods of +the children of Seir, which he had brought thence, to be his gods, and +adored them, and burnt incense to them. + +25:15. Wherefore the Lord being angry against Amasias, sent a prophet +to him, to say to him: Why hast thou adored gods that have not +delivered their own people out of thy hand? + +25:16. And when he spoke these things, he answered him: Art thou the +king's counsellor? be quiet, lest I kill thee. And the prophet +departing, said: I know that God is minded to kill thee, because thou +hast done this evil, and moreover hast not hearkened to my counsel. + +25:17. Then Amasias king of Juda taking very bad counsel, sent to Joas +the son of Joachaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying: Come, let +us see one another. + +25:18. But he sent back the messengers, saying: The thistle that is in +Libanus, sent to the cedar in Libanus, saying: Give thy daughter to my +son to wife: and behold the beasts that were in the wood of Libanus +passed by and trod down the thistle. + +25:19. Thou hast said: I have overthrown Edom, and therefore thy heart +is lifted up with pride: stay at home, why dost thou provoke evil +against thee, that both thou shouldst fall and Juda with thee. + +25:20. Amasias would not hearken to him, because it was the Lord's will +that he should be delivered into the hands of enemies, because of the +gods of Edom. + +25:21. So Joas king of Israel went up, and they presented themselves to +be seen by one another: and Amasias king of Juda was in Bethsames of +Juda: + +25:22. And Juda fell before Israel, and they fled to their dwellings. + +25:23. And Joas king of Israel took Amasias king of Juda, the son of +Joas, the son of Joachaz, in Bethsames, and brought him to Jerusalem: +and broke down the walls thereof from the gate of Ephraim, to the gate +of the corner, four hundred cubits. + +25:24. And he took all the gold, and silver, and all the vessels, that +he found in the house of God, and with Obededom, and in the treasures +of the king's house, moreover also the sons of the hostages, he brought +back to Samaria. + +25:25. And Amasias the son of Joas king of Juda lived, after the death +of Joas the son of Joachaz king of Israel, fifteen years. + +25:26. Now the rest of the acts of Amasias, the first and last, are +written in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel. + +25:27. And after he revolted from the Lord, they made a conspiracy +against him in Jerusalem. And he fled into Lachis, and they sent, and +killed him there. + +25:28. And they brought him back upon horses, and buried him with his +fathers in the city of David. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 26 + + +Ozias reigneth prosperously, till he invadeth the priests' office, upon +which he is struck with a leprosy. + +26:1. And all the people of Juda took his son Ozias, who was sixteen +years old, and made him king in the room of Amasias his father. + +26:2. He built Ailath, and restored it to the dominion of Juda, after +that the king slept with his fathers. + +26:3. Ozias was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he +reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was +Jechelia of Jerusalem. + +26:4. And he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, +according to all that Amasias his father had done. + +26:5. And he sought the Lord in the days of Zacharias that understood +and saw God: and as long as he sought the Lord, he directed him in all +things. + +26:6. Moreover he went forth and fought against the Philistines, and +broke down the wall of Geth, and the wall of Jabnia, and the wall of +Azotus: and he built towns in Azotus, and among the Philistines. + +26:7. And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the +Arabians, that dwelt in Gurbaal, and against the Ammonites. + +26:8. And the Ammonites gave gifts to Ozias: and his name was spread +abroad even to the entrance of Egypt for his frequent victories. + +26:9. And Ozias built towers in Jerusalem over the gate of the corner, +and over the gate of the valley, and the rest, in the same side of the +wall, and fortified them. + +26:10. And he built towers in the wilderness, and dug many cisterns, +for he had much cattle both in the plains, and in the waste of the +desert: he had also vineyards and dressers of vines in the mountains, +and in Carmel: for he was a man that loved husbandry. + +26:11. And the army of his fighting men, that went out to war, was +under the hand of Jehiel the scribe, and Maasias the doctor, and under +the hand of Henanias, who was one of the king's captains. + +26:12. And the whole number of the chiefs by the families of valiant +men were two thousand six hundred. + +26:13. And the whole army under them three hundred and seven thousand +five hundred: who were fit for war, and fought for the king against the +enemy. + +26:14. And Ozias prepared for them, that is, for the whole army, +shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and +slings to cast stones. + +26:15. And he made in Jerusalem engines of diverse kinds, which he +placed in the towers, and in the corners of the walls, to shoot arrows, +and great stones: and his name went forth far abroad, for the Lord +helped him, and had strengthened him. + +26:16. But when he was made strong, his heart was lifted up to his +destruction, and he neglected the Lord his God: and going into the +temple of the Lord, he had a mind to burn incense upon the altar of +incense. + +26:17. And immediately Azarias the priest going in after him, and with +him fourscore priests of the Lord, most valiant men, + +26:18. Withstood the king and said: It doth not belong to thee, Ozias, +to burn incense to the Lord, but to the priests, that is, to the sons +of Aaron, who are consecrated for this ministry: go out of the +sanctuary, do not despise: for this thing shall not be accounted to thy +glory by the Lord God. + +26:19. And Ozias was angry, and holding in his hand the censer to burn +incense, threatened the priests. And presently there rose a leprosy in +his forehead before the priests, in the house of the Lord at the altar +of incense. + +26:20. And Azarias the high priest, and all the rest of the priests +looked upon him, and saw the leprosy in his forehead, and they made +haste to thrust him out. Yea himself also being frightened, hasted to +go out, because he had quickly felt the stroke of the Lord. + +26:21. And Ozias the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and he +dwelt in a house apart being full of the leprosy, for which he had been +cast out of the house of the Lord. And Joatham his son governed the +king's house, and judged the people of the land. + +26:22. But the rest of the acts of Ozias first and last were written by +Isaias the son of Amos, the prophet. + +26:23. And Ozias slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the +field of the royal sepulchres, because he was a leper: and Joatham his +son reigned in his stead. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 27 + + +Joatham's good reign. + +27:1. Joatham was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and +he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was +Jerusa the daughter of Sadoc. + +27:2. And he did that which was right before the Lord, according to all +that Ozias his father had done, only that he entered not into the +temple of the Lord, and the people still transgressed. + +27:3. He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, and on the wall +of Ophel he built much. + +27:4. Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Juda, and castles +and towers in the forests. + +27:5. He fought against the king of the children of Ammon, and overcame +them, and the children of Ammon gave him at that time a hundred talents +of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and as many measures of +barley: so much did the children of Ammon give him in the second and +third year. + +27:6. And Joatham was strengthened, because he had his way directed +before the Lord his God. + +27:7. Now the rest of the acts of Joatham, and all his wars, and his +works, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Juda. + +27:8. He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he +reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. + +27:9. And Joatham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the +city of David: and Achaz his son reigned in his stead. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 28 + + +The wicked and unhappy reign of Achaz. + +28:1. Achaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned +sixteen years in Jerusalem: he did not that which was right in the +sight of the Lord as David his father had done, + +28:2. But walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; moreover also he +cast statues for Baalim. + +28:3. It was he that burnt incense in the valley of Benennom, and +consecrated his sons in the fire according to the manner of the +nations, which the Lord slew at the coming of the children of Israel. + +28:4. He sacrificed also, and burnt incense in the high places, and on +the hills, and under every green tree. + +28:5. And the Lord his God delivered him into the hands of the king of +Syria, who defeated him, and took a great booty out of his kingdom, and +carried it to Damascus: he was also delivered into the hands of the +king of Israel, who overthrew him with a great slaughter. + +28:6. For Phacee the son of Romelia slew of Juda a hundred and twenty +thousand in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the +Lord the God of their fathers. + +28:7. At the same time Zechri a powerful man of Ephraim, slew Maasias +the king's son, and Ezricam the governor of his house, and Elcana who +was next to the king. + +28:8. And the children of Israel carried away of their brethren two +hundred thousand women, boys, and girls, and an immense booty: and they +brought it to Samaria. + +28:9. At that time there was a prophet of the Lord there, whose name +was Oded: and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria, and +said to them: Behold the Lord the God of your fathers being angry with +Juda, hath delivered them into your hands, and you have butchered them +cruelly, so that your cruelty hath reached up to heaven. + +28:10. Moreover you have a mind to keep under the children of Juda and +Jerusalem for your bondmen and bondwomen, which ought not to be done: +for you have sinned in this against the Lord your God. + +28:11. But hear ye my counsel, and release the captives that you have +brought of your brethren, because a great indignation of the Lord +hangeth over you. + +28:12. Then some of the chief men of the sons of Ephraim, Azarias the +son of Johanan, Barachias the son of Mosollamoth, Ezechias the son of +Sellum, and Amasa the son of Adali, stood up against them that came +from the war. + +28:13. And they said to them: You shall not bring in the captives +hither, lest we sin against the Lord. Why will you add to our sins, and +heap up upon our former offences? for the sin is great, and the fierce +anger of the Lord hangeth over Israel. + +28:14. So the soldiers left the spoils, and all that they had taken, +before the princes and all the multitude. + +28:15. And the men, whom we mentioned above, rose up and took the +captives, and with the spoils clothed all them that were naked: and +when they had clothed and shod them, and refreshed them with meat and +drink, and anointed them because of their labour, and had taken care of +them, they set such of them as could not walk, and were feeble, upon +beasts, and brought them to Jericho the city of palm trees to their +brethren, and they returned to Samaria. + +28:16. At that time king Achaz sent to the king of the Assyrians asking +help. + +28:17. And the Edomites came and slew many of Juda, and took a great +booty. + +28:18. The Philistines also spread themselves among the cities of the +plains, and to the south of Juda: and they took Bethsames, and Aialon, +and Gaderoth, and Socho, and Thamnan, and Gamzo, with their villages, +and they dwelt in them. + +28:19. For the Lord had humbled Juda because of Achaz the king of Juda, +for he had stripped it of help, and had contemned the Lord. + +For he had stripped it of help. . .That is, Achaz stripped the kingdom +of Juda of the divine assistance by his wickedness, and by his +introducing idolatry. + +28:20. And he brought against him Thelgathphalnasar king of the +Assyrians, who also afflicted him, and plundered him without any +resistance. + +28:21. And Achaz stripped the house of the Lord, and the house of the +kings, and of the princes, and gave gifts to the king of the Assyrians, +and yet it availed him nothing. + +28:22. Moreover also in the time of his distress he increased contempt +against the Lord: king Achaz himself by himself, + +28:23. Sacrificed victims to the gods of Damascus that struck him, and +he said: The gods of the kings of Syria help them, and I will appease +them with victims, and they will help me; whereas on the contrary they +were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. + +28:24. Then Achaz having taken away all the vessels of the house of +God, and broken them, shut up the doors of the temple of God, and made +himself altars in all the corners of Jerusalem. + +28:25. And in all the cities of Juda he built altars to burn +frankincense, and he provoked the Lord the God of his fathers to wrath. + +28:26. But the rest of his acts, and all his works first and last are +written in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel. + +28:27. And Achaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the +city of Jerusalem: for they received him not into the sepulchres of the +kings of Israel. And Ezechias his son reigned in his stead. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 29 + + +Ezechias purifieth the temple, and restoreth religion. + +29:1. Now Ezechias began to reign, when he was five and twenty years +old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem: the name of his +mother was Abia, the daughter of Zacharias. + +29:2. And he did that which was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, +according to all that David his father had done. + +29:3. In the first year and month of his reign he opened the doors of +the house of the Lord, and repaired them. + +29:4. And he brought the priests and the Levites, and assembled them in +the east street. + +29:5. And he said to them: Hear me, ye Levites, and be sanctified, +purify the house of the Lord the God of your fathers, and take away all +filth out of the sanctuary. + +29:6. Our fathers have sinned and done evil in the sight of the Lord +God, forsaking him: they have turned away their faces from the +tabernacle of the Lord, and turned their backs. + +29:7. They have shut up the doors that were in the porch, and put out +the lamps, and have not burnt incense, nor offered holocausts in the +sanctuary of the God of Israel. + +29:8. Therefore the wrath of the Lord hath been stirred up against Juda +and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, and to +destruction, and to be hissed at, as you see with your eyes. + +29:9. Behold, our fathers are fallen by the sword, our sons, and our +daughters, and wives are led away captives for this wickedness. + +29:10. Now therefore I have a mind that we make a covenant with the +Lord the God of Israel, and he will turn away the wrath of his +indignation from us. + +29:11. My sons, be not negligent: the Lord hath chosen you to stand +before him, and to minister to him, and to worship him, and to burn +incense to him. + +29:12. Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the +son of Azarias, of the sons of Caath: and of the sons of Merari, Cis +the son of Abdi, and Azarias the son of Jalaleel. And of the sons of +Gerson, Joah the son of Zemma, and Eden the son of Joah. + +29:13. And of the sons of Elisaphan, Samri, and Jahiel. Also of the +sons of Asaph, Zacharias, and Mathanias. + +29:14. And of the sons of Heman, Jahiel, and Semei: and of the sons of +Idithun, Semeias, and Oziel. + +29:15. And they gathered together their brethren, and sanctified +themselves, and went in according to the commandment of the king, and +the precept of the Lord, to purify the house of God. + +29:16. And the priests went into the temple of the Lord to sanctify it, +and brought out all the uncleanness that they found within to the +entrance of the house of the Lord, and the Levites took it away, and +carried it out abroad to the torrent Cedron. + +29:17. And they began to cleanse on the first day of the first month, +and on the eighth day of the same month they came into the porch of the +temple of the Lord, and they purified the temple in eight days, and on +the sixteenth day of the same month they finished what they had begun. + +29:18. And they went in to king Ezechias, and said to him: We have +sanctified all the house of the Lord, and the altar of holocaust, and +the vessels thereof, and the table of proposition with all its vessels, + +29:19. And all the furniture of the temple, which king Achaz in his +reign had defiled, after his transgression; and behold they are all set +forth before the altar of the Lord. + +29:20. And king Ezechias rising early, assembled all the rulers of the +city, and went up into the house of the Lord: + +29:21. And they offered together seven bullocks, and seven rams, and +seven lambs, and seven he goats for sin, for the kingdom, for the +sanctuary, for Juda: and he spoke to the priests the sons of Aaron, to +offer them upon the altar of the Lord. + +29:22. Therefore they killed the bullocks, and the priests took the +blood, and poured it upon the altar; they killed also the rams, and +their blood they poured also upon the altar, and they killed the lambs, +and poured the blood upon the altar. + +29:23. And they brought the he goats for sin before the king, and the +whole multitude, and they laid their hand upon them: + +29:24. And the priests immolated them, and sprinkled their blood before +the altar for an expiation of all Israel: for the king had commanded +that the holocaust and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. + +29:25. And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, +and psalteries, and harps according to the regulation of David the +king, and of Gad the seer, and of Nathan the prophet: for it was the +commandment of the Lord by the hand of his prophets. + +29:26. And the Levites stood, with the instruments of David, and the +priests with trumpets. + +29:27. And Ezechias commanded that they should offer holocausts upon +the altar: and when the holocausts were offered, they began to sing +praises to the Lord, and to sound with trumpets, and divers instruments +which David the king of Israel had prepared. + +29:28. And all the multitude adored, and the singers, and the +trumpeters, were in their office till the holocaust was finished. + +29:29. And when the oblation was ended, the king, and all that were +with him bowed down and adored. + +29:30. And Ezechias and the princes commanded the Levites to praise the +Lord with the words of David, and Asaph the seer: and they praised him +with great joy, and bowing the knee adored. + +29:31. And Ezechias added, and said: You have filled your hands to the +Lord, come and offer victims, and praises in the house of the Lord. And +all the multitude offered victims, and praises, and holocausts with a +devout mind. + +29:32. And the number of the holocausts which the multitude offered, +was seventy bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs. + +29:33. And they consecrated to the Lord six hundred oxen, and three +thousand sheep. + +29:34. But the priests were few, and were not enough to flay the +holocausts: wherefore the Levites their brethren helped them, till the +work was ended, and priests were sanctified, for the Levites are +sanctified with an easier rite than the priests. + +29:35. So there were many holocausts, and the fat of peace offerings, +and the libations of holocausts: and the service of the house of the +Lord was completed. + +29:36. And Ezechias, and all the people rejoiced because the ministry +of the Lord was accomplished. For the resolution of doing this thing +was taken suddenly. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 30 + + +Ezechias inviteth all Israel to celebrate the pasch; the solemnity is +kept fourteen days. + +30:1. And Ezechias sent to all Israel and Juda: and he wrote letters to +Ephraim and Manasses, that they should come to the house of the Lord in +Jerusalem, and keep the phase to the Lord the God of Israel, + +30:2. For the king, taking counsel, and the princes, and all the +assembly of Jerusalem, decreed to keep the phase the second month. + +30:3. For they could not keep it in its time; because there were not +priests enough sanctified, and the people was not as yet gathered +together to Jerusalem. + +The host of heaven. . .The sun, moon, and stars. + +30:4. And the thing pleased the king, and all the people. + +30:5. And they decreed to send messengers to all Israel from Bersabee +even to Dan, that they should come, and keep the phase to the Lord the +God of Israel in Jerusalem: for many had not kept it as it is +prescribed by the law. + +30:6. And the posts went with letters by commandment of the king, and +his princes, to all Israel and Juda, proclaiming according to the +king's orders: Ye children of Israel, turn again to the Lord the God of +Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Israel: and he will return to the remnant +of you that have escaped the hand of the king of the Assyrians. + +30:7. Be not like your fathers, and brethren, who departed from the +Lord the God of their fathers, and he hath given them up to +destruction, as you see. + +30:8. Harden not your necks, as your fathers did: yield yourselves to +the Lord, and come to his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified forever: +serve the Lord the God of your fathers, and the wrath of his +indignation shall be turned away from you. + +30:9. For if you turn again to the Lord, your brethren, and children +shall find mercy before their masters, that have led them away captive, +and they shall return into this land: for the Lord your God is +merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to +him. + +30:10. So the posts went speedily from city to city, through the land +of Ephraim, and of Manasses, even to Zabulon, whilst they laughed at +them and mocked them. + +30:11. Nevertheless some men of Aser, and of Manasses, and of Zabulon, +yielding to the counsel, came to Jerusalem. + +30:12. But the hand of God was in Juda, to give them one heart to do +the word of the Lord, according to the commandment of the king, and of +the princes. + +30:13. And much people were assembled to Jerusalem to celebrate the +solemnity of the unleavened bread in the second month: + +30:14. And they arose and destroyed the altars that were in Jerusalem, +and took away all things in which incense was burnt to idols and cast +them into the torrent Cedron. + +30:15. And they immolated the phase on the fourteenth day of the second +month. And the priests and the Levites being at length sanctified +offered holocausts in the house of the Lord. + +30:16. And they stood in their order according to the disposition and +law of Moses the man of God: but the priests received the blood which +was to be poured out, from the hands of the Levites, + +30:17. Because a great number was not sanctified: and therefore the +Levites immolated the phase for them that came not in time to be +sanctified to the Lord. + +30:18. For a great part of the people from Ephraim, and Manasses, and +Issachar, and Zabulon, that had not been sanctified, ate the phase +otherwise than it is written: and Ezechias prayed for them, saying: The +Lord who is good will shew mercy, + +30:19. To all them, who with their whole heart, seek the Lord the God +of their fathers: and will not impute it to them that they are not +sanctified. + +30:20. And the Lord heard him, and was merciful to the people. + +30:21. And the children of Israel, that were found at Jerusalem, kept +the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great joy, praising the +Lord every day. the Levites also, and the priests, with instruments +that agreed to their office. + +30:22. And Ezechias spoke to the heart of all the Levites, that had +good understanding concerning the Lord: and they ate during the seven +days of the solemnity, immolating victims of peace offerings, and +praising the Lord the God of their fathers. + +30:23. And it pleased the whole multitude to keep other seven days: +which they did with great joy. + +30:24. For Ezechias the king of Juda had given to the multitude a +thousand bullocks, and seven thousand sheep: and the princes had given +the people a thousand bullocks, and ten thousand sheep: and a great +number of priests was sanctified. + +30:25. And all the multitude of Juda with the priests and Levites, and +all the assembly, that came out of Israel; and the proselytes of the +land of Israel, and that dwelt in Juda were full of joy. + +30:26. And there was a great solemnity in Jerusalem, such as had not +been in that city since the time of Solomon the son of David king of +Israel. + +30:27. And the priests and the Levites rose up and blessed the people: +and their voice was heard: and their prayer came to the holy dwelling +place of heaven. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 31 + + +Idolatry is abolished; and provisions made for the ministers. + +31:1. And when these things had been duly celebrated, all Israel that +were found in the cities of Juda, went out, and they broke the idols, +and cut down the groves, demolished the high places, and destroyed the +altars, not only out of all Juda and Benjamin, but out of Ephraim also +and Manasses, till they had utterly destroyed them: then all the +children of Israel returned to their possessions and cities. + +31:2. And Ezechias appointed companies of the priests, and the Levites, +by their courses, every man in his own office, to wit, both of the +priests, and of the Levites, for holocausts, and for peace offerings, +to minister, and to praise, and to sing in the gates of the camp of the +Lord. + +31:3. And the king's part was, that of his proper substance the +holocaust should be offered always morning and evening, and on the +sabbaths, and the new moons and the other solemnities, as it is written +in the law of Moses. + +31:4. He commanded also the people that dwelt in Jerusalem, to give to +the priests, and the Levites their portion, that they might attend to +the law of the Lord. + +31:5. Which when it was noised abroad in the ears of the people, the +children of Israel offered in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, +and oil, and honey: and brought the tithe of all things which the +ground bringeth forth. + +31:6. Moreover the children of Israel and Juda, that dwelt in the +cities of Juda, brought in the tithes of oxen, and sheep, and the +tithes of holy things, which they had vowed to the Lord their God: and +carrying them all, made many heaps. + +31:7. In the third month they began to lay the foundations of the +heaps, and in the seventh month, they finished them. + +31:8. And when Ezechias and his princes came in, they saw the heaps, +and they blessed the Lord and the people of Israel. + +31:9. And Ezechias asked the priests and the Levites, why the heaps lay +so. + +31:10. Azarias the chief priest of the race of Sadoc answered him, +saying: Since the firstfruits began to be offered in the house of the +Lord, we have eaten, and have been filled, and abundance is left, +because the Lord hath blessed his people: and of that which is left is +this great store which thou seest. + +31:11. Then Ezechias commanded to prepare storehouses in the house of +the Lord. And when they had done so, + +31:12. They brought in faithfully both the firstfruits, and the tithes, +and all they had vowed. And the overseer of them was Chonenias the +Levite, and Semei his brother was the second, + +31:13. And after him Jehiel, and Azarias, and Nahath, and Asael, and +Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Jesmachias, and Mahath, and +Banaias, overseers under the hand of Chonenias, and Semei his brother, +by the commandment of Ezechias the king, and Azarias the high priest of +the house of God, to whom all things appertained. + +31:14. But Core the son of Jemna the Levite, the porter of the east +gate, was overseer of the things which were freely offered to the Lord, +and of the firstfruits and the things dedicated for the holy of holies. + +31:15. And under his charge were Eden, and Benjamin, Jesue, and +Semeias, and Amarias, and Sechenias, in the cities of the priests, to +distribute faithfully portions to their brethren, both little and +great: + +31:16. Besides the males from three years old and upward, to all that +went into the temple of the Lord, and whatsoever there was need of in +the ministry, and their offices according to their courses, day by day. + +31:17. To the priests by their families, and to the Levites from the +twentieth year and upward, by their classes and companies. + +31:18. And to all the multitude, both to their wives, and to their +children of both sexes, victuals were given faithfully out of the +things that had been sanctified. + +31:19. Also of the sons of Aaron who were in the fields and in the +suburbs of each city, there were men appointed, to distribute portions +to all the males, among the priests and the Levites. + +31:20. So Ezechias did all things which we have said in all Juda, and +wrought that which was good, and right, and truth, before the Lord his +God, + +31:21. In all the service of the house of the Lord according to the law +and the ceremonies, desiring to seek his God with all his heart, and he +did it and prospered. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 32 + + +Sennacherib invadeth Juda: his army is destroyed by an angel. Ezechias +recovereth from his sickness: his other acts. + +32:1. After these things, and this truth, Sennacherib king of the +Assyrians came and entered into Juda, and besieged the fenced cities, +desiring to take them. + +32:2. And when Ezechias saw that Sennacherib was come, and that the whole +force of the war was turning against Jerusalem, + +32:3. He took counsel with the princes, and the most valiant men, to stop +up the heads of the springs, that were without the city: and as they +were all of this mind, + +32:4. He gathered together a very great multitude, and they stopped up +all the springs, and the brook, that ran through the midst of the land, +saying: Lest the kings of the Assyrians should come, and find abundance +of water. + +32:5. He built up also with great diligence all the wall that had been +broken down, and built towers upon it, and another wall without: and he +repaired Mello in the city of David, and made all sorts of arms and +shields: + +32:6. And he appointed captains of the soldiers of the army: and he +called them all together in the street of the gate of the city, and spoke +to their heart, saying: + +32:7. Behave like men, and take courage: be not afraid nor dismayed for +the king of the Assyrians, nor for all the multitude that is with him: +for there are many more with us than with him. + +32:8. For with him is an arm of flesh: with us the Lord our God, who is +our helper, and fighteth for us. And the people were encouraged with +these words of Ezechias king of Juda. + +32:9. After this, Sennacherib king of the Assyrians sent his servants to +Jerusalem, (for he with all his army was besieging Lachis,) to Ezechias +king of Juda, and to all the people that were in the city, saying: + +32:10. Thus saith Sennacherib king of the Assyrians: In whom do you +trust, that you sit still besieged in Jerusalem? + +32:11. Doth not Ezechias deceive you, to give you up to die by hunger and +thirst, affirming that the Lord your God shall deliver you from the hand +of the king of the Assyrians? + +32:12. Is it not this same Ezechias, that hath destroyed his high places, +and his altars, and commanded Juda and Jerusalem, saying: You shall +worship before one altar, and upon it you shall burn incense? + +32:13. Know you not what I and my fathers have done to all the people of +the lands? have the gods of any nations and lands been able to deliver +their country out of my hand? + +32:14. Who is there among all the gods of the nations, which my fathers +have destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your +God should be able to deliver you out of this hand? + +32:15. Therefore let not Ezechias deceive you, nor delude you with a vain +persuasion, and do not believe him. For if no god of all the nations and +kingdoms, could deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of +my fathers, consequently neither shall your God be able to deliver you +out of my hand. + +32:16. And many other things did his servants speak against the Lord God, +and against Ezechias his servant. + +32:17. He wrote also letters full of blasphemy against the Lord the God +of Israel, and he spoke against him: As the gods of other nations could +not deliver their people out of my hand, so neither can the God of +Ezechias deliver his people out of this hand. + +32:18. Moreover he cried out with a loud voice, in the Jews' tongue, to +the people that sat on the walls of Jerusalem, that he might frighten +them, and take the city. + +32:19. And he spoke against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of +the people of the earth, the works of the hands of men. + +32:20. And Ezechias the king, and Isaias the prophet the son of Amos, +prayed against this blasphemy, and cried out to heaven. + +32:21. And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the stout men and the +warriors, and the captains of the army of the king of the Assyrians: and +he returned with disgrace into his own country. And when he was come +into the house of his god, his sons that came out of his bowels, slew him +with the sword. + +32:22. And the Lord saved Ezechias and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out +of the hand of Sennacherib king of the Assyrians, and out of the hand of +all, and gave them treasures on every side. + +32:23. Many also brought victims, and sacrifices to the Lord to +Jerusalem, and presents to Ezechias king of Juda: and he was magnified +thenceforth in the sight of all nations. + +32:24. In those days Ezechias was sick even to death, and he prayed to +the Lord: and he heard him, and gave him a sign. + +32:25. But he did not render again according to the benefits which he had +received, for his heart was lifted up: and wrath was enkindled against +him, and against Juda and Jerusalem. + +32:26. And he humbled himself afterwards, because his heart had been +lifted up, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and therefore the +wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Ezechias. + +32:27. And Ezechias was rich, and very glorious, and he gathered himself +great treasures of silver and of gold, and of precious stones, of spices, +and of arms, of all kinds, and of vessels of great price. + +32:28. Storehouses also of corn, of wine, and of oil, and stalls for all +beasts, and folds for cattle. + +32:29. And he built himself cities: for he had flocks of sheep, and +herds without number, for the Lord had given him very much substance. + +32:30. This same Ezechias was, he that stopped the upper source of the +waters of Gihon, and turned them away underneath toward the west of the +city of David: in all his works he did prosperously what he would. + +32:31. But yet in the embassy of the princes of Babylon, that were sent +to him, to inquire of the wonder that had happened upon the earth, God +left him that he might be tempted, and all things might be made known +that were in his heart. + +32:32. Now the rest of the acts of Ezechias, and of his mercies are +written in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel. + +32:33. And Ezechias slept with his fathers, and they buried him above the +sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Juda, and all the inhabitants +of Jerusalem celebrated his funeral: and Manasses his son reigned in his +stead. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 33 + + +Manasses for his manifold wickedness is led captive to Babylon: he +repenteth, and is restored to his kingdom, and destroyeth idolatry: his +successor Amon is slain by his servants. + +33:1. Manasses was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he +reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. + +33:2. And he did evil before the Lord, according to all the +abominations of the nations, which the Lord cast out before the +children of Israel: + +33:3. And he turned, and built again the high places which Ezechias his +father had destroyed: and he built altars to Baalim, and made groves, +and he adored all the host of heaven, and worshipped them. + +The host of heaven. . .The sun, moon, and stars. + +33:4. He built also altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord +had said: In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. + +33:5. And he built them for all the host of heaven in the two courts of +the house of the Lord. + +33:6. And he made his sons to pass through the fire in the valley of +Benennom: he observed dreams, followed divinations, gave himself up to +magic arts, had with him magicians, and enchanters: and he wrought many +evils before the Lord, to provoke him to anger. + +33:7. He set also a graven, and a molten statue in the house of God, of +which God had said to David, and to Solomon his son: In this house, and +in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will +I put my name for ever. + +33:8. And I will not make the foot of Israel to be removed out of the +land which I have delivered to their fathers: yet so if they will take +heed to do what I have commanded them, and all the law, and the +ceremonies, and judgments by the hand of Moses. + +33:9. So Manasses seduced Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to do +evil beyond all the nations, which the Lord had destroyed before the +face of the children of Israel. + +33:10. And the Lord spoke to his people, and they would not hearken. + +33:11. Therefore he brought upon them the captains of he army of the +king of the Assyrians: and they took Manasses, and carried him bound +with chains and fetters to Babylon. + +33:12. And after that he was in distress he prayed to the Lord his God: +and did penance exceedingly before the God of his fathers. + +33:13. And he entreated him, and besought him earnestly: and he heard +his prayer, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom, and +Manasses knew that the Lord was God. + +33:14. After this he built a wall without the city of David, on the +west side of Gihon in the valley, from the entering in of the gate +round about to Ophel, and raised it up to a great height: and he +appointed captains of the army in all the fenced cities of Juda: + +33:15. And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house +of the Lord: the altars also which he had made in the mount of the +house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and he cast them all out of the +city. + +33:16. And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed upon it +victims, and peace offerings, and praise: and he commanded Juda to +serve the Lord the God of Israel. + +33:17. Nevertheless the people still sacrificed in the high places to +the Lord their God. + +33:18. But the rest of the acts of Manasses, and his prayer to his God, +and the words of the seers that spoke to him in the name of the Lord +the God of Israel, are contained in the words of the kings of Israel. + +33:19. His prayer also, and his being heard and all his sins, and +contempt, and places wherein he built high places, and set up groves, +and statues before he did penance, are written in the words of Hozai. + +33:20. And Manasses slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his +house: and his son Amon reigned in his stead. + +33:21. Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he +reigned two years in Jerusalem. + +33:22. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasses his father +had done: he sacrificed to all the idols which Manasses his father had +made, and served them. + +33:23. And he did not humble himself before the lord, as Manasses his +father had humbled himself, but committed far greater sin. + +33:24. And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own +house. + +33:25. But the rest of the multitude of the people slew them that had +killed Amon, and made Josias his son king in his stead. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 34 + + +Josias destroyeth idolatry, repaireth the temple, and reneweth the +covenant between God and the people. + +34:1. Josias was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned +one and thirty years in Jerusalem. + +34:2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and +walked in the ways of David his father: he declined not, neither to the +right hand, nor to the left. + +34:3. And in the eighth year of his reign, when he was yet a boy, he +began to seek the God of his father David: and in the twelfth year +after he began to reign, he cleansed Juda and Jerusalem from the high +places, and the groves, and the idols, and the graven things. + +34:4. And they broke down before him the altars of Baalim, and +demolished the idols that had been set upon them: and he cut down the +groves and the graven things, and broke them in pieces: and strewed the +fragments upon the graves of them that had sacrificed to them. + +34:5. And he burnt the bones of the priests on the altars of the idols, +and he cleansed Juda and Jerusalem. + +34:6. And in the cities of Manasses, and of Ephraim, and of Simeon, +even to Nephtali he demolished all. + +34:7. And when he had destroyed the altars, and the groves, and had +broken the idols in pieces, and had demolished all profane temples +throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem. + +34:8. Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the +land, and the temple of the Lord, he sent Saphan the son of Elselias, +and Maasias the governor of the city, Joha the son of Joachaz the +recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God. + +34:9. And they came to Helcias the high priest: and received of him the +money which had been brought into the house of the Lord, and which the +Levites and porters had gathered together from Manasses, and Ephraim, +and all the remnant of Israel, and from all Juda, and Benjamin, and the +inhabitants of Jerusalem, + +34:10. Which they delivered into the hands of them that were over the +workmen in the house of the Lord, to repair the temple, and mend all +that was weak. + +34:11. But they gave it to the artificers, and to the masons, to buy +stones out of the quarries, and timber for the couplings of the +building, and to rafter the houses, which the kings of Juda had +destroyed. + +34:12. And they did all faithfully. Now the overseers of the workmen +were Jahath and Abdias of the sons of Merari, Zacharias and Mosollam of +the sons of Caath, who hastened the work: all Levites skilful to play +on instruments. + +34:13. But over them that carried burdens for divers uses, were +scribes, and masters of the number of the Levites, and porters. + +34:14. Now when they carried out the money that had been brought into +the temple of the Lord, Helcias the priest found the book of the law of +the Lord, by the hand of Moses. + +34:15. And he said to Saphan the scribe: I have found the book of the +law in the house of the Lord: and he delivered it to him. + +34:16. But he carried the book to the king, and told him, saying: Lo, +all that thou hast committed to thy servants, is accomplished. + +34:17. They have gathered together the silver that was found in the +house of the Lord: and it is given to the overseers of the artificers, +and of the workmen, for divers works. + +34:18. Moreover Helcias the priest gave me this book. And he read it +before the king. + +34:19. And when he had heard the words of the law, he rent his +garments: + +34:20. And he commanded Helcias, and Ahicam the son of Saphan, and +Abdon the son of Micha, and Saphan the scribe, and Asaa the king's +servant, saying: + +34:21. Go, and pray to the Lord for me, and for the remnant of Israel, +and Juda, concerning all the words of this book, which is found: for +the great wrath of the Lord hath fallen upon us, because our fathers +have not kept the words of the Lord, to do all things that are written +in this book. + +34:22. And Helcias and they that were sent with him by the king, went +to Olda the prophetess, the wife of Sellum the son of Thecuath, the son +of Hasra keeper of the wardrobe: who dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second +part: and they spoke to her the words above mentioned. + +34:23. And she answered them: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: +Tell the man that sent you to me: + +34:24. Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring evils upon this place, +and upon the inhabitants thereof, and all the curses that are written +in this book which they read before the king of Juda. + +34:25. Because they have forsaken me, and have sacrificed to strange +gods, to provoke me to wrath with all the works of their hands, +therefore my wrath shall fail upon this place, and shall not be +quenched. + +34:26. But as to the king of Juda that sent you to beseech the Lord, +thus shall you say to him: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: +Because thou hast heard the words of this book, + +34:27. And thy heart was softened, and thou hast humbled thyself in the +sight of God for the things that are spoken against this place, and the +inhabitants of Jerusalem, and reverencing my face, hast rent thy +garments, and wept before me: I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. + +34:28. For now I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be +brought to thy tomb in peace: and thy eyes shall not see all the evil +that I will bring upon this place, and the inhabitants thereof. They +therefore reported to the king all that she had said. + +34:29. And he called together all the ancients of Juda and Jerusalem. + +34:30. And went up to the house of the Lord, and all the men of Juda, +and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites, and all +the people from the least to the greatest. And the king read in their +hearing, in the house of the Lord, all the words of the book. + +34:31. And standing up in his tribunal, he made a covenant before the +Lord to walk after him, and keep his commandments, and testimonies, and +justifications with all his heart, and with all his soul, and to do the +things that were written in that book which he had read. + +34:32. And he adjured all that were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to +do the same: and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the +covenant of the Lord the God of their fathers. + +34:33. And Josias took away all the abominations out of all the +countries of the children of Israel and made all that were left in +Israel, to serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived they departed +not from the Lord the God of their fathers. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 35 + + +Josias celebrateth a most solemn pasch. He is slain by the king of +Egypt. + +35:1. And Josias kept a phase to the Lord in Jerusalem, and it was +sacrificed on the fourteenth day of the first month. + +35:2. And he set the priests in their offices, and exhorted them to +minister in the house of the Lord. + +35:3. And he spoke to the Levites, by whose instruction all Israel was +sanctified to the Lord, saying: Put the ark in the sanctuary of the +temple, which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built: for you +shall carry it no more: but minister now to the Lord your God, and to +his people Israel. + +35:4. And prepare yourselves by your houses, and families according to +your courses, as David king of Israel commanded, and Solomon his son +hath written. + +35:5. And serve ye in the sanctuary by the families and companies of +Levi. + +35:6. And being sanctified kill the phase, and prepare your brethren, +that they may do according to the words which the Lord spoke by the +hand of Moses. + +35:7. And Josias gave to all the people that were found there in the +solemnity of the phase, of lambs and of kids of the flocks, and of +other small cattle thirty thousand, and of oxen three thousand, all +these were of the king's substance. + +35:8. And his princes willingly offered what they had vowed, both to +the people and to the priests and the Levites. Moreover Helcias, and +Zacharias, and Jahiel rulers of the house of the Lord, gave to the +priests to keep the phase two thousand six hundred small cattle, and +three hundred oxen. + +35:9. And Chonenias, and Semeias and Nathanael, his brethren, and +Hasabias, and Jehiel, and Jozabad princes of the Levites, gave to the +rest of the Levites to celebrate the phase five thousand small cattle, +and five hundred oxen. + +35:10. And the ministry was prepared, and the priests stood in their +office: the Levites also in their companies, according to the king's +commandment. + +35:11. And the phase was immolated: and the priests sprinkled the blood +with their hand, and the Levites flayed the holocausts: + +35:12. And they separated them, to give them by the houses and families +of every one, and to be offered to the Lord, as it is written in the +book of Moses, and with the oxen they did in like manner. + +35:13. And they roasted the phase with fire, according to that which is +written in the law: but the victims of peace offerings they boiled in +caldrons, and kettles, and pots, and they distributed them speedily +among all the people. + +35:14. And afterwards they made ready for themselves, and for the +priests: for the priests were busied in offering of holocausts and the +fat until night, wherefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for +the priests the sons of Aaron last. + +35:15. And the singers the sons of Asaph stood in their order, +according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and +Idithun, the prophets of the king: and the porters kept guard at every +gate, so as not to depart one moment from their service, and therefore +their brethren the Levites prepared meats for them. + +35:16. So all the service of the Lord was duly accomplished that day, +both in keeping the phase and offering holocausts upon the altar of the +Lord, according to the commandment of king Josias. + +35:17. And the children of Israel that were found there, kept the phase +at that time, and the feast of unleavened seven days. + +35:18. There was no phase like to this in Israel, from the days of +Samuel the prophet: neither did any of all the kings of Israel keep +such a phase as Josias kept, with the priests, and the Levites, and all +Juda, and Israel that were found, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. + +35:19. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josias was this phase +celebrated. + +35:20. After that Josias had repaired the temple, Nechao king of Egypt +came up to fight in Charcamis by the Euphrates: and Josias went out to +meet him. + +35:21. But he sent messengers to him, saying: What have I to do with +thee, O king of Juda? I come not against thee this day, but I fight +against another house, to which God hath commanded me to go in haste: +forbear to do against God, who is with me, lest he kill thee. + +35:22. Josias would not return, but prepared to fight against him, and +hearkened not to the words of Nechao from the mouth of God, but went to +fight in the field of Mageddo. + +35:23. And there he was wounded by the archers, and he said to his +servants: Carry me out of the battle, for I am grievously wounded. + +35:24. And they removed him from the chariot into another, that +followed him after the manner of kings, and they carried him away to +Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in the monument of his fathers, +and all Juda and Jerusalem mourned for him, + +35:25. Particularly Jeremias: whose lamentations for Josias all the +singing men and singing women repeat unto this day, and it became like +a law in Israel: Behold it is found written in the Lamentations. + +35:26. Now the rest of the acts of Josias and of his mercies, according +to what was commanded by the law of the Lord: + +35:27. And his works first and last, are written in the book of the +kings of Juda and Israel. + + + +2 Paralipomenon Chapter 36 + + +The reigns of Joachaz, Joakim, Joachin, and Sedecias: the captivity of +Babylon released at length by Cyrus. + +36:1. Then the people of the land took Joachaz the son of Josias, and +made him king instead of his father in Jerusalem. + +36:2. Joachaz was three and twenty years old when he began to reign, +and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. + +36:3. And the king of Egypt came to Jerusalem, and deposed him, and +condemned the land in a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of +gold. + +36:4. And he made Eliakim his brother king in his stead, over Juda and +Jerusalem: and he turned his name to Joakim: but he took Joachaz with +him and carried him away into Egypt. + +36:5. Joakim was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and +he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did evil before the Lord +his God. + +36:6. Against him came up Nabuchodonosor king of the Chaldeans, and led +him bound in chains into Babylon. + +36:7. And he carried also thither the vessels of the Lord, and put them +in his temple. + +36:8. But the rest of the acts of Joakim, and his abominations, which +he wrought, and the things that were found in him, are contained in the +book of the kings of Juda and Israel. And Joachin his son reigned in +his stead. + +36:9. Joachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he +reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did evil in the +sight of the Lord. + +Eight years old. . .He was associated by his father to the kingdom, when +he was but eight years old; but after his father's death, when he +reigned alone, he was eighteen years old. 4 Kings 24.8. + +36:10. And at the return of the year, king Nabuchodonosor sent, and +brought him to Babylon, carrying away at the same time the most +precious vessels of the house of the Lord: and he made Sedecias his +uncle king over Juda and Jerusalem. + +36:11. Sedecias was one and twenty years old when he began to reign: +and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. + +36:12. And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God, and did not +reverence the face of Jeremias the prophet speaking to him from the +mouth of the Lord. + +36:13. He also revolted from king Nabuchodonosor, who had made him +swear by God: and he hardened his neck and his heart, from returning to +the Lord the God of Israel. + +36:14. Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people wickedly +transgressed according to all the abominations of the Gentiles: and +they defiled the house of the Lord, which he had sanctified to himself +in Jerusalem. + +36:15. And the Lord the God of their fathers sent to them, by the hand +of his messengers, rising early, and daily admonishing them: because he +spared his people and his dwelling place. + +36:16. But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, +and misused the prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his +people, and there was no remedy. + +36:17. For he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, and he slew +their young men with the sword in the house of his sanctuary, he had no +compassion on young man, or maiden, old man or even him that stooped +for age, but he delivered them all into his hands. + +36:18. And all the vessels of the house of Lord, great and small, and +the treasures of the temple and of the king, and of the princes he +carried away to Babylon. + +36:19. And the enemies set fire to the house of God, and broke down the +wall of Jerusalem, burnt all the towers, and what soever was precious +they destroyed. + +36:20. Whosoever escaped the sword, was led into Babylon, and there +served the king and his sons, till the reign of the king of Persia, + +36:21. That the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremias might be +fulfilled, and the land might keep her sabbaths: for all the days of +the desolation she kept a sabbath, till the seventy years were expired. + +36:22. But in the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, to fulfil +the word of the Lord, which he had spoken by the mouth of Jeremias, the +Lord stirred up the heart of Cyrus, king of the Persians: who commanded +it to be proclaimed through all his kingdom, and by writing also, +saying: + +36:23. Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians: All the kingdoms of the +earth hath the Lord the God of heaven given to me, and he hath charged +me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea: who is there +among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him +go up. + + + + +THE FIRST BOOK OF ESDRAS + + + +This Book taketh its name from the writer: who was a holy priest, and +doctor of the law. He is called by the Hebrews, Ezra. + + + +1 Esdras Chapter 1 + + +Cyrus king of Persia releaseth God's people from their captivity, with +license to return and build the temple in Jerusalem: and restoreth the +holy vessels which Nabuchodonosor had taken from thence. + +1:1. In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of +the Lord by the mouth of Jeremias might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred +up the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians: and he made a proclamation +throughout all his kingdom, and in writing also, saying: + +1:2. Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians: The Lord the God of heaven +hath given to me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he hath charged me +to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea. + +1:3. Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him. Let +him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judea, and build the house of the +Lord the God of Israel: he is the God that is in Jerusalem. + +1:4. And let all the rest in all places wheresoever they dwell, help +him every man from his place, with silver and gold, and goods, and +cattle, besides that which they offer freely to the temple of God, +which is in Jerusalem. + +1:5. Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Juda and Benjamin, and +the priests, and Levites, and every one whose spirit God had raised up, +to go up to build the temple of the Lord, which was in Jerusalem. + +1:6. And all they that were round about, helped their hands with +vessels of silver, and gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with +furniture, besides what they had offered on their own accord. + +1:7. And king Cyrus brought forth vessels of the temple of the Lord, +which Nabuchodonosor had taken from Jerusalem, and had put them in the +temple of his god. + +1:8. Now Cyrus king of Persia brought them forth by the hand of +Mithridates the son of Gazabar, and numbered them to Sassabasar the +prince of Juda. + +1:9. And this is the number of them: thirty bowls of gold, a thousand +bowls of silver, nine and twenty knives, thirty cups of gold, + +1:10. Silver cups of a second sort, four hundred and ten: other vessels +a thousand. + +1:11. All the vessels of gold and silver, five thousand four hundred: +all these Sassabasar brought with them that came up from the captivity +of Babylon to Jerusalem. + + + +1 Esdras Chapter 2 + + +The number of them that returned to Judea: their oblations. + +2:1. Now these are the children of the province, that went out of the +captivity, which Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away to +Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Juda, every man to his city. + +2:2. Who came with Zorobabel, Josue, Nehemia, Saraia, Rahelaia, +Mardochai, Belsan, Mesphar, Beguai, Rehum, Baana. The number of the men +of the people of Israel: + +2:3. The children of Pharos two thousand one hundred seventy-two. + +2:4. The children of Sephatia, three hundred seventy-two. + +2:5. The children of Area, seven hundred seventy-five. + +2:6. The children of Phahath Moab, of the children of Josue: Joab, Two +thousand eight hundred twelve. + +2:7. The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty-four. + +2:8. The children of Zethua, nine hundred forty-five. + +2:9. The children of Zachai, seven hundred sixty. + +2:10. The children of Bani, six hundred forty-two. + +2:11. The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three. + +2:12. The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty-two. + +2:13. The children of Adonicam, six hundred sixty-six. + +2:14. The children of Beguai, two thousand fifty-six. + +2:15. The children of Adin, four hundred fifty-four. + +2:16. The children of Ather, who were of Ezechias, ninety-eight. + +2:17. The children of Besai, three hundred and twenty-three. + +2:18. The children of Jora, a hundred and twelve. + +2:19. The children of Hasum, two hundred twenty-three. + +2:20. The children of Gebbar, ninety-five. + +2:21. The children of Bethlehem, a hundred twenty-three. + +2:22. The men of Netupha, fifty-six. + +2:23. The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty-eight. + +2:24. The children of Azmaveth, forty-two. + +2:25. The children of Cariathiarim, Cephira, and Beroth, seven hundred +forty-three. + +2:26. The children of Rama and Gabaa, six hundred twenty-one. + +2:27. The men of Machmas, a hundred twenty-two. + +2:28. The men of Bethel and Hai, two hundred twenty-three. + +2:29. The children of Nebo, fifty-two. + +2:30. The children of Megbis, a hundred fifty-six. + +2:31. The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred +fifty-five. + +2:32. The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. + +2:33. The children of Lod, Hadid and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five. + +2:34. The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five. + +2:35. The children of Senaa, three thousand six hundred thirty. + +2:36. The priests: the children of Jadaia of the house of Josue, nine +hundred seventy-three. + +2:37. The children of Emmer, a thousand fifty-two. + +2:38. The children of Pheshur, a thousand two hundred forty-seven. + +2:39. The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. + +2:40. The Levites: the children of Josue and of Cedmihel, the children +of Odovia, seventy-four. + +2:41. The singing men: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty-eight. + +2:42. The children of the porters: the children of Sellum, the children +of Ater, the children of Telmon, the children of Accub, the children of +Hatita, the children of Sobai: in all a hundred thirty-nine. + +2:43. The Nathinites: the children of Siha, the children of Hasupha, +the children of Tabbaoth, + +2:44. The children of Ceros, the children of Sia, the children of +Phadon, + +2:45. The children of Lebana, the children of Hegaba, the children of +Accub, + +2:46. The children of Hagab, the children of Semlai, the children of +Hanan, + +2:47. The children of Gaddel, the children of Gaher, the children of +Raaia, + +2:48. The children of Rasin, the children of Necoda, the children of +Gazam, + +2:49. The children of Asa, the children of Phasea, the children of +Besee, + +2:50. The children of Asena, the children of Munim, the children of +Nephusim, + +2:51. The children of Bacbuc, the children of Hacupha, the children of +Harhur, + +2:52. The children of Besluth, the children of Mahida, the children of +Harsa, + +2:53. The children of Bercos, the children of Sisara, the children of +Thema, + +2:54. The children of Nasia, the children of Hatipha, + +2:55. The children of the servants of Solomon, the children of Sotai, +the children of Sopheret, the children of Pharuda, + +2:56. The children of Jala, the children of Dercon, the children of +Geddel, + +2:57. The children of Saphatia, the children of Hatil, the children of +Phochereth, which were of Asebaim, the children of Ami, + +2:58. All the Nathinites, and the children of the servants of Solomon, +three hundred ninety-two. + +2:59. And these are they that came up from Thelmela, Thelharsa, Cherub, +and Adon, and Emer. And they could not shew the house of their fathers +and their seed, whether they were of Israel. + +2:60. The children of Dalaia, the children of Tobia, the children of +Necoda, six hundred fifty-two. + +2:61. And of the children of the priests: the children of Hobia, the +children of Accos, the children of Berzellai, who took a wife of the +daughters of Berzellai, the Galaadite, and was called by their name: + +2:62. These sought the writing of their genealogy, and found it not, +and they were cast out of the priesthood. + +2:63. And Athersatha said to them, that they should not eat of the holy +of holies, till there arose a priest learned and perfect. + +2:64. All the multitudes as one man, were forty-two thousand three +hundred and sixty: + +Forty-two thousand, etc. . .Those who are reckoned up above of the +tribes of Juda, Benjamin, and Levi, fall short of this number. The +rest, who must be taken in to make up the whole sum, were of the other +tribes. + +2:65. Besides their menservants, and womenservants, of whom there were +seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven: and among them singing +men, and singing women two hundred. + +2:66. Their horses seven hundred thirty-six, their mules two hundred +forty-five, + +2:67. Their camels four hundred thirty-five, their asses six thousand +seven hundred and twenty. + +2:68. And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the +temple of the Lord, which is in Jerusalem, offered freely to the house +of the Lord to build it in its place. + +2:69. According to their ability, they gave towards the expenses of the +work, sixty-one thousand solids of gold, five thousand pounds of +silver, and a hundred garments for the priests. + +2:70. So the priests and the Levites, and some of the people, and the +singing men, and the porters, and the Nathinites dwelt in their cities, +and all Israel in their cities. + + + +1 Esdras Chapter 3 + + +An altar is built for sacrifice, the feast of tabernacles is solemnly +celebrated, and the foundations of the temple are laid. + +3:1. And now the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel +were in their cities: and the people gathered themselves together as +one man to Jerusalem. + +3:2. And Josue the son of Josedec rose up, and his brethren the +priests, and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and his brethren, and they +built the altar of the God of Israel that they might offer holocausts +upon it, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. + +Josue. . .or Jesus (Jeshua) the son of Josedec; he was the high priest, +at that time. + +3:3. And they set the altar of God upon its bases, while the people of +the lands round about put them in fear, and they offered upon it a +holocaust to the Lord morning and evening. + +3:4. And they kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and +offered the holocaust every day orderly according to the commandment, +the duty of the day in its day. + +3:5. And afterwards the continual holocaust, both on the new moons, and +on all the solemnities of the Lord, that were consecrated, and on all +in which a freewill offering was made to the Lord. + +3:6. From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer +holocausts to the Lord: but the temple of God was not yet founded. + +3:7. And they gave money to hewers of stones and to masons: and meat +and drink, and oil to the Sidonians and Tyrians, to bring cedar trees +from Libanus to the sea of Joppe, according to the orders which Cyrus +king of the Persians had given them. + +3:8. And in the second year of their coming to the temple of God in +Jerusalem, the second month, Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Josue +the son of Josedec, and the rest of their brethren the priests, and the +Levites, and all that were come from the captivity to Jerusalem began, +and they appointed Levites from twenty years old and upward, to hasten +forward the work of the Lord. + +3:9. Then Josue and his sons and his brethren, Cedmihel, and his sons, +and the children of Juda, as one man, stood to hasten them that did the +work in the temple of God: the sons of Henadad, and their sons, and +their brethren the Levites. + +3:10. And when the masons laid the foundations of the temple of the +Lord, the priests stood in their ornaments with trumpets: and the +Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise God by the hands of +David king of Israel. + +3:11. And they sung together hymns, and praise to the Lord: because he +is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Israel. And all the +people shouted with a great shout, praising the Lord, because the +foundations of the temple of the Lord were laid. + +3:12. But many of the priests and the Levites, and the chief of the +fathers and the ancients that had seen the former temple; when they had +the foundation of this temple before their eyes, wept with a loud +voice: and many shouting for joy, lifted up their voice. + +3:13. So that one could not distinguish the voice of the shout of joy, +from the noise of the weeping of the people: for one with another the +people shouted with a loud shout, and the voice was heard afar off. + + + +1 Esdras Chapter 4 + + +The Samaritans by their letter to the king hinder the building. + +4:1. Now the enemies of Juda and Benjamin heard that the children of +the captivity were building a temple to the Lord the God of Israel. + +4:2. And they came to Zorobabel, and the chief of the fathers, and said +to them: Let us build with you, for we seek your God as ye do: behold +we have sacrificed to him, since the days of Asor Haddan king of +Assyria, who brought us hither. + +4:3. But Zorobabel, and Josue, and the rest of the chief of the fathers +of Israel said to them: You have nothing to do with us to build a house +to our God, but we ourselves alone will build to the Lord our God, as +Cyrus king of the Persians hath commanded us. + +4:4. Then the people of the land hindered the hands of the people of +Juda, and troubled them in building. + +4:5. And they hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their design +all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius +king of the Persians. + +4:6. And in the reign of Assuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they +wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Juda and Jerusalem. + +Assuerus. . .Otherwise called Cambyses the son and successor of Cyrus. +He is also in the following verse named Artaxerxes, a name common to +almost all the kings of Persia. + +4:7. And in the days of Artaxerxes, Beselam, Mithridates, and Thabeel, +and the rest that were in the council wrote to Artaxerxes king of the +Persians: and the letter of accusation was written in Syrian, and was +read in the Syrian tongue. + +4:8. Reum Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe wrote a letter from Jerusalem +to king Artaxerxes, in this manner: + +4:9. Reum Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe and the rest of their +counsellors, the Dinites, and the Apharsathacites, the Therphalites, +the Apharsites, the Erchuites, the Babylonians, the Susanechites, the +Dievites, and the Elamites, + +4:10. And the rest of the nations, whom the great and glorious +Asenaphar brought over: and made to dwell in the cities of Samaria and +in the rest of the countries of this side of the river in peace. + +4:11. (This is the copy of the letter, which they sent to him:) To +Artaxerxes the king, thy servants, the men that are on this side of the +river, send greeting. + +4:12. Be it known to the king, that the Jews, who came up from thee to +us, are come to Jerusalem a rebellious and wicked city, which they are +building, setting up the ramparts thereof and repairing the walls. + +4:13. And now be it known to the king, that if this city be built up, +and the walls thereof repaired, they will not pay tribute nor toll, nor +yearly revenues, and this loss will fall upon the kings. + +4:14. But we remembering the salt that we have eaten in the palace, and +because we count it a crime to see the king wronged, have therefore +sent and certified the king, + +4:15. That search may be made in the books of the histories of thy +fathers, and thou shalt find written in the records: and shalt know +that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to the kings and +provinces, and that wars were raised therein of old time: for which +cause also the city was destroyed. + +4:16. We certify the king, that if this city be built, and the walls +thereof repaired, thou shalt have no possession on this side of the +river. + +4:17. The king sent word to Reum Beelteem and Samsai the scribe, and to +the rest that were in their council, inhabitants of Samaria, and to the +rest beyond the river, sending greeting and peace. + +4:18. The accusation, which you have sent to us, hath been plainly read +before me, + +4:19. And I commanded: and search hath been made, and it is found, that +this city of old time hath rebelled against kings, and seditions and +wars have been raised therein. + +4:20. For there have been powerful kings in Jerusalem, who have had +dominion over all the country that is beyond the river: and have +received tribute, and toll and revenues. + +4:21. Now therefore hear the sentence: Hinder those men, that this city +be not built, till further orders be given by me. + +4:22. See that you be not negligent in executing this, lest by little +and little the evil grow to the hurt of the kings. + +4:23. Now the copy of the edict of king Artaxerxes was read before Reum +Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe, and their counsellors: and they went +up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and hindered them with arm and +power. + +4:24. Then the work of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem was +interrupted, and ceased till the second year of the reign of Darius +king of the Persians. + + + +1 Esdras Chapter 5 + + +By the exhortation of Aggeus, and Zacharias, the people proceed in +building the temple. Which their enemies strive in vain to hinder. + +5:1. Now Aggeus the prophet, and Zacharias the son of Addo, prophesied +to the Jews that were in Judea and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of +Israel. + +5:2. Then rose up Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Josue the son of +Josedec, and began to build the temple of God in Jerusalem, and with +them were the prophets of God helping them. + +5:3. And at the same time came to them Thathanai, who was governor +beyond the river, and Stharbuzanai, and their counsellors: and said +thus to them: Who hath given you counsel to build this house, and to +repair the walls thereof? + +5:4. In answer to which we gave them the names of the men who were the +promoters of that building. + +5:5. But the eye of their God was upon the ancients of the Jews, and +they could not hinder them. And it was agreed that the matter should be +referred to Darius, and then they should give satisfaction concerning +that accusation. + +5:6. The copy of the letter that Thathanai governor of the country +beyond the river, and Stharbuzanai, and his counsellors the +Arphasachites, who dwelt beyond the river, sent to Darius the king. + +5:7. The letter which they sent him, was written thus: To Darius the +king all peace. + +5:8. Be it known to the king, that we went to the province of Judea, to +the house of the great God, which they are building with unpolished +stones, and timber is laid in the walls: and this work is carried on +diligently and advanceth in their hands. + +5:9. And we asked those ancients, and said to them thus: Who hath given +you authority to build this house, and to repair these walls? + +5:10. We asked also of them their names, that we might give thee +notice: and we have written the names of the men that are the chief +among them. + +5:11. And they answered us in these words, saying: We are the servants +of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building a temple that was +built these many years ago, and which a great king of Israel built and +set up. + +5:12. But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to +wrath, he delivered them into the hands of Nabuchodonosor the king of +Babylon the Chaldean: and he destroyed this house, and carried away the +people to Babylon. + +5:13. But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, king Cyrus +set forth a decree, that this house of God should be built. + +5:14. And the vessels also of gold and silver of the temple of God, +which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the temple, that was in +Jerusalem, and had brought them to the temple of Babylon, king Cyrus +brought out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one +Sassabasar, whom also he appointed governor, + +5:15. And said to him: Take these vessels, and go, and put them in the +temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its +place. + +5:16. Then came this same Sassabasar, and laid the foundations of the +temple of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it is in +building, and is not yet finished. + +5:17. Now therefore if it seem good to the king, let him search in the +king's library, which is in Babylon, whether it hath been decreed by +Cyrus the king, that the house of God in Jerusalem should be built, and +let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter. + + + +1 Esdras Chapter 6 + + +King Darius favoureth the building and contributeth to it. + +6:1. Then king Darius gave orders, and they searched in the library of +the books that were laid up in Babylon, + +6:2. And there was found in Ecbatana, which is a castle in the province +of Media, a book in which this record was written. + +6:3. In the first year of Cyrus the king: Cyrus the king decreed, that +the house of God should be built, which is in Jerusalem, in the place +where they may offer sacrifices, and that they lay the foundations that +may support the height of threescore cubits, and the breadth of +threescore cubits, + +6:4. Three rows of unpolished stones, and so rows of new timber: and +the charges shall be given out of the king's house. + +6:5. And also let the golden and silver vessels of the temple of God, +which Nabuchodonosor took out of the temple of Jerusalem, and brought +to Babylon, be restored, and carried back to the temple of Jerusalem to +their place, which also were placed in the temple of God. + +6:6. Now therefore Thathanai, governor of the country beyond the river, +Stharbuzanai, and your counsellors the Apharsachites, who are beyond +the river, depart far from them, + +6:7. And let that temple of God be built by the governor of the Jews, +and by their ancients, that they may build that house of God in its +place. + +6:8. I also have commanded what must be done by those ancients of the +Jews, that the house of God may be built, to wit, that of the king's +chest, that is, of the tribute that is paid out of the country beyond +the river, the charges be diligently given to those men, lest the work +be hindered. + +6:9. And if it shall be necessary, let calves also, and lambs, and +kids, for holocausts to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, +according to the custom of the priests that are in Jerusalem, be given +them day by day, that there be no complaint in any thing. + +6:10. And let them offer oblations to the God of heaven, and pray for +the life of the king, and of his children. + +6:11. And I have made a decree: That if any whosoever, shall alter this +commandment, a beam be taken from his house, and set up, and he be +nailed upon it, and his house be confiscated. + +6:12. And may the God, that hath caused his name to dwell there, +destroy all kingdoms, and the people that shall put out their hand to +resist, and to destroy the house of God, that is in Jerusalem. I Darius +have made the decree, which I will have diligently complied with. + +6:13. So then Thathanai, governor of the country beyond the river, and +Stharbuzanai, and his counsellors diligently executed what Darius the +king had commanded. + +6:14. And the ancients of the Jews built, and prospered according to +the prophecy of Aggeus the prophet, and of Zacharias the son of Addo: +and they built and finished, by the commandment of the God of Israel, +and by the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes kings of +the Persians. + +6:15. And they were finishing this house of God, until the third day of +the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of king +Darius. + +6:16. And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the +rest of the children of the captivity kept the dedication of the house +of God with joy. + +6:17. And they offered at the dedication of the house of God, a hundred +calves, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and for a sin offering +for all Israel twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes +of Israel. + +6:18. And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in +their courses over the works of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in +the book of Moses. + +6:19. And the children of Israel of the captivity kept the phase, on +the fourteenth day of the first month. + +6:20. For all the priests and the Levites were purified as one man: all +were clean to kill the phase for all the children of the captivity, and +for their brethren the priests, and themselves. + +6:21. And the children of Israel that were returned from captivity, and +all that had separated themselves from the filthiness of the nations of +the earth to them, to seek the Lord the God of Israel, did eat. + +6:22. And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy, +for the Lord had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king +of Assyria to them, that he should help their hands in the work of the +house of the Lord the God of Israel. + + + +1 Esdras Chapter 7 + + +Esdras goeth up to Jerusalem to teach, and assist the people, with a +gracious decree of Artaxerxes. + +7:1. Now after these things in the reign of Artaxerxes king of the +Persians, Esdras the son of Saraias, the son of Azarias, the son of +Helcias, + +7:2. The son of Sellum, the son of Sadoc, the son of Achitob, + +7:3. The son of Amarias, the son of Azarias, the son of Maraioth, + +7:4. The son of Zarahias, the son of Ozi, the son of Bocci, + +7:5. The son of Abisue, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar, the son +of Aaron, the priest from the beginning. + +7:6. This Esdras went up from Babylon, and he was a ready scribe in the +law of Moses, which the Lord God had given to Israel: and the king +granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God +upon him. + +7:7. And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the +children of the priests, and of the children of the Levites, and of the +singing men, and of the porters, and of the Nathinites to Jerusalem in +the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. + +7:8. And they came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, in the seventh year +of the king. + +7:9. For upon the first day of the first month he began to go up from +Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem +according to the good hand of his God upon him. + +7:10. For Esdras had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, +and to do and to teach in Israel the commandments and judgment. + +7:11. And this is the copy of the letter of the edict, which king +Artaxerxes gave to Esdras the priest, the scribe instructed in the +words and commandments of the Lord, and his ceremonies in Israel. + +7:12. Artaxerxes king of kings to Esdras the priest, the most learned +scribe of the law of the God of heaven, greeting. + +7:13. It is decreed by me, that all they of the people of Israel, and +of the priests and of the Levites in my realm, that are minded to go +into Jerusalem, should go with thee. + +7:14. For thou art sent from before the king, and his seven +counsellors, to visit Judea and Jerusalem according to the law of thy +God, which is in thy hand. + +7:15. And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his +counsellors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose tabernacle +is in Jerusalem. + +7:16. And all the silver and gold that thou shalt find in all the +province of Babylon, and that the people is willing to offer, and that +the priests shall offer of their own accord to the house of their God, +which is in Jerusalem, + +7:17. Take freely, and buy diligently with this money, calves, rams, +lambs, with the sacrifices and libations of them, and offer them upon +the altar of the temple of your God, that is in Jerusalem. + +7:18. And if it seem good to thee, and to thy brethren to do any thing +with the rest of the silver and gold, do it according to the will of +your God. + +7:19. The vessels also, that are given thee for the sacrifice of the +house of thy God, deliver thou in the sight of God in Jerusalem. + +7:20. And whatsoever more there shall be need of for the house of thy +God, how much soever thou shalt have occasion to spend, it shall be +given out of the treasury, and the king's exchequer, and by me. + +7:21. I Artaxerxes the king have ordered and decreed to all the keepers +of the public chest, that are beyond the river, that whatsoever Esdras +the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require +of you, you give it without delay, + +7:22. Unto a hundred talents of silver, and unto a hundred cores of +wheat, and unto a hundred bates of wine, and unto a hundred bates of +oil, and salt without measure. + +7:23. All that belongeth to the rites of the God of heaven, let it be +given diligently in the house of the God of heaven: lest his wrath +should be enkindled against the realm of the king, and of his sons. + +7:24. We give you also to understand concerning all the priests, and +the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nathinites, and +ministers of the house of this God, that you have no authority to +impose toll or tribute, or custom upon them. + +7:25. And thou Esdras according to the wisdom of thy God, which is in +thy hand, appoint judges and magistrates, that may judge all the +people, that is beyond the river, that is, for them who know the law of +thy God, yea and the ignorant teach ye freely. + +7:26. And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the +king diligently, judgment shall be executed upon him, either unto +death, or unto banishment, or to the confiscation of goods, or at least +to prison. + +7:27. Blessed be the Lord the God of our fathers, who hath put this in +the king's heart, to glorify the house of the Lord, which is in +Jerusalem, + +7:28. And hath inclined his mercy toward me before the king and his +counsellors, and all the mighty princes of the king: and I being +strengthened by the hand of the Lord my God, which was upon me, +gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. + + + +1 Esdras Chapter 8 + + +The companions of Esdras. The fast which he appointed. They bring the +holy vessels into the temple. + +8:1. Now these are the chief of families, and the genealogy of them, +who came up with me from Babylon in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. + +8:2. Of the sons of Phinees, Gersom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of +the sons of David, Hattus. + +8:3. Of the sons of Sechenias, the son of Pharos, Zacharias, and with +him were numbered a hundred and fifty men. + +8:4. Of the sons of Phahath Moab, Eleoenai the son of Zareha, and with +him two hundred men. + +8:5. Of the sons of Sechenias, the son of Ezechiel, and with him three +hundred men. + +8:6. Of the sons of Adan, Abed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty +men. + +8:7. Of the sons of Alam, Isaias the son of Athalias, and with him +seventy men. + +8:8. Of the sons of Saphatia: Zebodia the son of Michael, and with him +eighty men. + +8:9. Of the sons of Joab, Obedia the son of Jahiel, and with him two +hundred and eighteen men. + +8:10. Of the sons of Selomith, the son of Josphia, and with him a +hundred and sixty men. + +8:11. Of the sons of Bebai, Zacharias the son of Bebai: and with him +eight and twenty men. + +8:12. Of the sons of Azgad, Joanan the son of Eccetan, and with him a +hundred and ten men. + +8:13. Of the sons of Adonicam, who were the last: and these are their +names: Eliphelet, and Jehiel, and Samaias, and with them sixty men. + +8:14. Of the sons of Begui, Uthai and Zachur, and with them seventy +men. + +8:15. And I gathered them together to the river, which runneth down to +Ahava, and we stayed there three days: and I sought among the people +and among the priests for the sons of Levi, and found none there. + +8:16. So I sent Eliezer, and Ariel, and Semeias, and Elnathan, and +Jarib, and another Elnathan, and Nathan, and Zacharias, and Mosollam, +chief men: and Joiarib, and Elnathan, wise men. + +8:17. And I sent them to Eddo, who is chief in the place of Chasphia, +and I put in their mouth the words that they should speak to Eddo, and +his brethren the Nathinites in the place of Chasphia, that they should +bring us ministers of the house of our God. + +8:18. And by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a most +learned man of the sons of Moholi the son of Levi the son of Israel, +and Sarabias and his sons, and his brethren eighteen, + +8:19. And Hasabias, and with him Isaias of the sons of Merari, and his +brethren, and his sons twenty. + +8:20. And of the Nathinites, whom David, and the princes gave for the +service of the Levites, Nathinites two hundred and twenty: all these +were called by their names. + +8:21. And I proclaimed there a fast by the river Ahava, that we might +afflict ourselves before the Lord our God, and might ask of him a right +way for us and for our children, and for all our substance. + +And I proclaimed a fast. . .It is not enough to part from Babylon, that +is, figuratively from sin, but we must also do works of penance; and +therefore Esdras here proclaimed an extraordinary fast to those that +were come from captivity. This shews that fasting was commanded and +practised from the earliest times. + +8:22. For I was ashamed to ask the king for aid and for horsemen, to +defend us from the enemy in the way: because we had said to the king: +The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him in goodness: and his +power and strength, and wrath upon all them that forsake him. + +8:23. And we fasted, and besought our God for this: and it fell out +prosperously unto us. + +8:24. And I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sarabias, and +Hasabias, and with them ten of their brethren, + +8:25. And I weighed unto them the silver and gold, and the vessels +consecrated for the house of our God, which the king and his +counsellors, and his princes, and all Israel, that were found had +offered. + +8:26. And I weighed to their hands six hundred and fifty talents of +silver, and a hundred vessels of silver, and a hundred talents of gold, + +8:27. And twenty cups of gold, of a thousand solids, and two vessels of +the best shining brass, beautiful as gold. + +8:28. And I said to them: You are the holy ones of the Lord, and the +vessels are holy, and the silver and gold, that is freely offered to +the Lord the God of our fathers. + +8:29. Watch ye and keep them, till you deliver them by weight before +the chief of the priests, and of the Levites, and the heads of the +families of Israel in Jerusalem, into the treasure of the house of the +Lord. + +8:30. And the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver +and gold, and the vessels, to carry them to Jerusalem to the house of +our God. + +8:31. Then we set forward from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of +the first month to go to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon +us, and delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in +wait by the way. + +8:32. And we came to Jerusalem, and we stayed there three days. + +8:33. And on the fourth day the silver and the gold, and the vessels +were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of +Urias the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinees, and with +them Jozabad the son of Josue, and Noadaia the son of Benoi, Levites. + +8:34. According to the number and weight of everything: and all the +weight was written at that time. + +8:35. Moreover the children of them that had been carried away that +were come out of the captivity, offered holocausts to the God of +Israel, twelve calves for all the people of Israel, ninety-six rams, +seventy-seven lambs, and twelve he goats for sin: all for a holocaust +to the Lord. + +8:36. And they gave the king's edicts to the lords that were from the +king's court, and the governors beyond the river, and they furthered +the people and the house of God. + + + +1 Esdras Chapter 9 + + +Esdras mourneth for the transgression of the people: his confession and +prayer. + +9:1. And after these things were accomplished, the princes came to me, +saying: The people of Israel, and the priests and Levites have not +separated themselves from the people of the lands, and from their +abominations, namely, of the Chanaanites, and the Hethites, and the +Pherezites, and the Jebusites, and the Ammonites, and the Moabites, and +the Egyptians, and the Amorrhites. + +This shows how sinful it is to intermarry with those that the Church +forbids us, on account of the danger of perversion and falling off from +the true faith. + +9:2. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for +their sons, and they have mingled the holy seed with the people of the +lands. And the hand of the princes and magistrates hath been first in +this transgression. + +9:3. And when I had heard this word, I rent my mantle and my coat, and +plucked off the hairs of my head and my beard, and I sat down mourning. + +9:4. And there were assembled to me all that feared the God of Israel, +because of the transgression of those that were come from the +captivity, and I sat sorrowful, until the evening sacrifice. + +9:5. And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my affliction, and +having rent my mantle and my garment, I fell upon my knees, and spread +out my hands to the Lord my God, + +9:6. And said: My God I am confounded and ashamed to lift up my face to +thee: for our iniquities are multiplied over our heads, and our sins +are grown up even unto heaven, + +9:7. From the days of our fathers: and we ourselves also have sinned +grievously unto this day, and for our iniquities we and our kings, and +our priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the +lands, and to the sword, and to captivity, and to spoil, and to +confusion of face, as it is at this day. + +9:8. And now as a little, and for a moment has our prayer been made +before the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant, and give us a pin in +his holy place, and that our God would enlighten our eyes, and would +give us a little life in our bondage. + +A pin. . .or nail, here signifies a small settlement or holding; which +Esdras begs for, to preserve even a part of the people, who, by their +great iniquity had incurred the anger of God. + +9:9. For we are bondmen, and in our bondage our God hath not forsaken +us, but hath extended mercy upon us before the king of the Persians, to +give us life, and to set up the house of our God, and to rebuild the +desolations thereof, and to give us a fence in Juda and Jerusalem. + +9:10. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have +forsaken thy commandments, + +9:11. Which thou hast commanded by the hand of thy servants the +prophets, saying: The land which you go to possess, is an unclean land, +according to the uncleanness of the people, and of other lands, with +their abominations, who have filled it from mouth to mouth with their +filth. + +9:12. Now therefore give not your daughters to their sons, and take not +their daughters for your sons, and seek not their peace, nor their +prosperity for ever: that you may be strengthened, and may eat the good +things of the land, and may have your children your heirs for ever. + +9:13. And after all that is come upon us, for our most wicked deeds, +and our great sin, seeing that thou our God hast saved us from our +iniquity, and hast given us a deliverance as at this day, + +9:14. That we should not turn away, nor break thy commandments, nor +join in marriage with the people of these abominations. Art thou angry +with us unto utter destruction, not to leave us a remnant to be saved? + +9:15. O Lord God of Israel, thou art just: for we remain yet to be +saved as at this day. Behold we are before thee in our sin, for there +can be no standing before thee in this matter. + + + +1 Esdras Chapter 10 + + +Order is given for discharging strange women: the names of the guilty. + +10:1. Now when Esdras was thus praying, and beseeching, and weeping, +and lying before the temple of God, there was gathered to him of Israel +an exceeding great assembly of men and women and children, and the +people wept with much lamentation. + +10:2. And Sechenias the son of Jehiel of the sons of Elam answered, and +said to Esdras: We have sinned against our God, and have taken strange +wives of the people of the land: and now if there be repentance in +Israel concerning this, + +10:3. Let us make a covenant with the Lord our God, to put away all the +wives, and such as are born of them, according to the will of the Lord, +and of them that fear the commandment of the Lord our God: let it be +done according to the law. + +10:4. Arise, it is thy part to give orders, and we will be with thee: +take courage, and do it. + +10:5. So Esdras arose, and made the chiefs of the priests and of the +Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this +word, and they swore. + +10:6. And Esdras rose up from before the house of God, and went to the +chamber of Johanan the son of Eliasib, and entered in thither: he ate +no bread, and drank no water: for he mourned for the transgression of +them that were come out of the captivity. + +10:7. And proclamation was made in Juda and Jerusalem to all the +children of the captivity, that they should assemble together into +Jerusalem. + +10:8. And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to +the counsel of the princes and the ancients, all his substance should +be taken away, and he should be cast out of the company of them that +were returned from captivity. + +10:9. Then all the men of Juda, and Benjamin gathered themselves +together to Jerusalem within three days, in the ninth month, the +twentieth day of the month: and all the people sat in the street of the +house of God, trembling because of the sin, and the rain. + +10:10. And Esdras the priest stood up, and said to them: You have +transgressed, and taken strange wives, to add to the sins of Israel. + +10:11. And now make confession to the Lord the God of your fathers, and +do his pleasure, and separate yourselves from the people of the land, +and from your strange wives. + +10:12. And all the multitude answered and said with a loud voice: +According to thy word unto us, so be it done. + +10:13. But as the people are many, and it is time of rain, and we are +not able to stand without, and it is not a work of one day or two, (for +we have exceedingly sinned in this matter,) + +10:14. Let rulers be appointed in all the multitude: and in all our +cities, let them that have taken strange wives come at the times +appointed, and with them the ancients and the judges of every city, +until the wrath of our God be turned away from us for this sin. + +10:15. Then Jonathan the son of Azahel, and Jaasia the son of Thecua +were appointed over this, and Mesollam and Sebethai, Levites, helped +them: + +10:16. And the children of the captivity did so. And Esdras the priest, +and the men heads of the families in the houses of their fathers, and +all by their names, went and sat down in the first day of the tenth +month to examine the matter. + +10:17. And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange +wives by the first day of the first month. + +10:18. And there were found among the sons of the priests that had +taken strange wives: Of the sons of Josue the son of Josedec, and his +brethren, Maasia, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Godolia. + +10:19. And they gave their hands to put away their wives, and to offer +for their offence a ram of the flock. + +10:20. And of the sons of Emmer, Hanani, and Zebedia. + +10:21. And of the sons of Harim, Maasia, and Elia, and Semeia, and +Jehiel, and Ozias. + +10:22. And of the sons of Pheshur, Elioenai, Maasia, Ismael, Nathanael, +Jozabed, and Elasa. + +10:23. And of the sons of the Levites, Jozabed, and Semei, and Celaia, +the same is Calita, Phataia, Juda, and Eliezer. + +10:24. And of the singing men, Elisiab: and of the porters, Sellum, and +Telem, and Uri. + +10:25. And of Israel, of the sons of Pharos, Remeia, and Jezia, and +Melchia, and Miamin, and Eliezer, and Melchia, and Banea. + +10:26. And of the sons of Elam, Mathania, Zacharias, and Jehiel, and +Abdi, and Jerimoth, and Elia. + +10:27. And of the sons of Zethua, Elioenai, Eliasib, Mathania, +Jerimuth, and Zabad, and Aziaza. + +10:28. And of the sons of Babai, Johanan, Hanania, Zabbai, Athalai: + +10:29. And of the sons of Bani, Mosollam, and Melluch, and Adaia, +Jasub, and Saal, and Ramoth. + +10:30. And of the sons of Phahath, Moab, Edna, and Chalal, Banaias, and +Maasias, Mathanias, Beseleel, Bennui, and Manasse. + +10:31. And of the sons of Herem, Eliezer, Josue, Melchias, Semeias, +Simeon, + +10:32. Benjamin, Maloch, Samarias. + +10:33. And of the sons of Hasom, Mathanai, Mathatha, Zabad, Eliphelet, +Jermai, Manasse, Semei. + +10:34. Of the sons of Bani, Maaddi, Amram, and Uel, + +10:35. Baneas, and Badaias, Cheliau, + +10:36. Vania, Marimuth, and Eliasib, + +10:37. Mathanias, Mathania, and Jasi, + +10:38. And Bani, and Bennui, Semei, + +10:39. And Salmias, and Nathan, and Adaias, + +10:40. And Mechnedebai, Sisai, Sarai, + +10:41. Ezrel, and Selemiau, Semeria, + +10:42. Sellum, Amaria, Joseph. + +10:43. Of the sons of Nebo, Jehiel, Mathathias, Zabad, Zabina, Jeddu, +and Joel, and Banaia. + +10:44. All these had taken strange wives, and there were among them +women that had borne children. + + + + +THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAS, WHICH IS CALLED THE SECOND OF ESDRAS + + + +This Book takes its name from the writer, who was cupbearer to +Artaxerxes (surnamed Longimanus) king of Persia, and was sent by him +with a commission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. It is also called +the second book of Esdras; because it is a continuation of the history, +begun by Esdras, of the state of the people of God after their return +from captivity. + + + +2 Esdras Chapter 1 + + +Nehemias hearing the miserable state of his countrymen in Judea, +lamenteth, fasteth, and prayeth to God for their relief. + +1:1. The words of Nehemias the son of Helchias. And it came to pass in +the month of Casleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in the castle of +Susa, + +1:2. That Hanani one of my brethren came, he and some men of Juda; and +I asked them concerning the Jews, that remained and were left of the +captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. + +1:3. And they said to me: They that have remained, and are left of the +captivity there in the province, are in great affliction, and reproach: +and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates thereof are +burnt with fire. + +1:4. And when I had heard these words, I sat down, and wept, and +mourned for many days: and I fasted, and prayed before the face of the +God of heaven. + +1:5. And I said: I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, strong, great, +and terrible, who keepest covenant and mercy with those that love thee, +and keep thy commandments: + +1:6. Let thy ears be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer +of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, night and day, for the +children of Israel thy servants: and I confess the sins of the children +of Israel, by which they have sinned against thee: I and my father's +house have sinned. + +1:7. We have been seduced by vanity, and have not kept thy +commandments, and ceremonies and judgments, which thou hast commanded +thy servant Moses. + +1:8. Remember the word that thou commandedst to Moses thy servant, +saying: If you shall transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the +nations: + +1:9. But if you return to me, and keep my commandments, and do them, +though you should be led away to the uttermost parts of the world, I +will gather you from thence, and bring you back to the place which I +have chosen for my name to dwell there. + +1:10. And these are thy servants, and thy people: whom thou hast +redeemed by thy great strength, and by thy mighty hand. + +1:11. I beseech thee, O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of +thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy +name: and direct thy servant this day, and give him mercy before this +man. For I was the king's cupbearer. + + + +2 Esdras Chapter 2 + + +Nehemias with commission from king Artaxerxes cometh to Jerusalem: and +exhorteth the Jews to rebuild the walls. + +2:1. And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year +of Artaxerxes the king: that wine was before him, and I took up the +wine, and gave it to the king: and I was as one languishing away before +his face. + +2:2. And the king said to me: Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou +dost not appear to be sick? this is not without cause, but some evil, I +know not what, is in thy heart. And I was seized with an exceeding +great fear: + +2:3. And I said to the king: O king, live for ever: why should not my +countenance be sorrowful, seeing the city of the place of the +sepulchres of my fathers is desolate, and the gates thereof are burnt +with fire? + +2:4. Then the king said to me: For what dost thou make request? And I +prayed to the God of heaven, + +2:5. And I said to the king: If it seem good to the king, and if thy +servant hath found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldst send me into +Judea to the city of the sepulchre of my father, and I will build it. + +2:6. And the king said to me, and the queen that sat by him: For how +long shall thy journey be, and when wilt thou return? And it pleased +the king, and he sent me: and I fixed him a time. + +2:7. And I said to the king: If it seem good to the king, let him give +me letters to the governors of the country beyond the river, that they +convey me over, till I come into Judea: + +2:8. And a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, to give me +timber that I may cover the gates of the tower of the house, and the +walls of the city, and the house that I shall enter into. And the king +gave me according to the good hand of my God with me. + +2:9. And I came to the governors of the country beyond the river, and +gave them the king's letters. And the king had sent with me captains of +soldiers, and horsemen. + +2:10. And Sanaballat the Horonite, and Tobias the servant, the +Ammonite, heard it, and it grieved them exceedingly, that a man was +come, who sought the prosperity of the children of Israel. + +2:11. And I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. + +2:12. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me, and I told +not any man what God had put in my heart to do in Jerusalem, and there +was no beast with me, but the beast that I rode upon. + +2:13. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, and before the +dragon fountain, and to the dung gate, and I viewed the wall of +Jerusalem which was broken down, and the gates thereof which were +consumed with fire. + +2:14. And I passed to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's +aqueduct, and there was no place for the beast on which I rode to pass. + +2:15. And I went up in the night by the torrent, and viewed the wall, +and going back I came to the gate of the valley, and returned. + +2:16. But the magistrates knew not whither I went, or what I did: +neither had I as yet told any thing to the Jews, or to the priests, or +to the nobles, or to the magistrates, or to the rest that did the work. + +2:17. Then I said to them: You know the affliction wherein we are, +because Jerusalem is desolate, and the gates thereof are consumed with +fire: come, and let us build up the walls of Jerusalem, and let us be +no longer a reproach. + +2:18. And I shewed them how the hand of my God was good with me, and +the king's words, which he had spoken to me, and I said: Let us rise +up, and build. And their hands were strengthened in good. + +2:19. But Sanaballat the Horonite, and Tobias the servant, the +Ammonite, and Gossem the Arabian heard of it, and they scoffed at us, +and despised us, and said: What is this thing that you do? are you +going to rebel against the king? + +2:20. And I answered them, and said to them: The God of heaven he +helpeth us, and we are his servants: let us rise up and build: but you +have no part, nor justice, nor remembrance in Jerusalem. + + + +2 Esdras Chapter 3 + + +They begin to build the walls: the names and order of the builders. + +3:1. Then Eliasib the high priest arose, and his brethren the priests, +and they built the flock gate: they sanctified it, and set up the doors +thereof, even unto the tower of a hundred cubits they sanctified it +unto the tower of Hananeel. + +3:2. And next to him the men of Jericho built: and next to them built +Zachur the son of Amri. + +3:3. But the fish gate the sons of Asnaa built: they covered it, and +set up the doors thereof, and the locks, and the bars. And next to them +built Marimuth the son of Urias the son of Accus. + +4. And next to him built Mosollam the son of Barachias, the son of +Merezebel, and next to them built Sadoc the son of Baana. + +5. And next to them the Thecuites built: but their great men did not +put their necks to the work of their Lord. + +3:6. And Joiada the son of Phasea, and Mosollam the son of Besodia +built the old gate: they covered it and set up the doors thereof, and +the locks, and the bars. + +3:7. And next to them built Meltias the Gabaonite, and Jadon the +Meronathite, the men of Gabaon and Maspha, for the governor that was in +the country beyond the river. + +3:8. And next to him built Eziel the son of Araia the goldsmith: and +next to him built Ananias the son of the perfumer: and they left +Jerusalem unto the wall of the broad street. + +3:9. And next to him built Raphaia the son of Hur, lord of the street +of Jerusalem. + +3:10. And next to him Jedaia the son of Haromaph over against his own +house: and next to him built Hattus the son of Hasebonia. + +3:11. Melchias the son of Herem, and Hasub the son of Phahath Moab, +built half the street, and the tower of the furnaces. + +3:12. And next to him built Sellum the son of Alohes, lord of half the +street of Jerusalem, he and his daughters. + +3:13. And the gate of the valley Hanun built, and the inhabitants of +Zanoe: they built it, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks, and +the bars, and a thousand cubits in the wall unto the gate of the +dunghill. + +3:14. And the gate of the dunghill Melchias the son of Rechab built, +lord of the street of Bethacharam: he built it, and set up the doors +thereof, and the locks, and the bars. + +3:15. And the gate of the fountain, Sellum, the son of Cholhoza, built, +lord of the street of Maspha: he built it, and covered it, and set up +the doors thereof, and the locks, and the bars, and the walls of the +pool of Siloe unto the king's guard, and unto the steps that go down +from the city of David. + +3:16. After him built Nehemias the son of Azboc, lord of half the +street of Bethsur, as far as over against the sepulchre of David, and +to the pool, that was built with great labour, and to the house of the +mighty. + +3:17. After him built the Levites, Rehum the son of Benni. After him +built Hasebias, lord of half the street of Ceila in his own street. + +3:18. After him built their brethren Bavai the son of Enadad, lord of +half Ceila. + +3:19. And next to him Aser the son of Josue, lord of Maspha, built +another measure, over against the going up of the strong corner. + +3:20. After him in the mount Baruch the son of Zachai built another +measure, from the corner to the door of the house of Eliasib the high +priest. + +3:21. After him Merimuth the son of Urias the son of Haccus, built +another measure, from the door of the house of Eliasib, to the end of +the house of Eliasib. + +3:22. And after him built the priests, the men of the plains of the +Jordan. + +3:23. After him built Benjamin and Hasub, over against their own house: +and after him built Azarias the son of Maasias the son of Ananias over +against his house. + +3:24. After him built Bennui the son of Hanadad another measure, from +the house of Azarias unto the bending, and unto the corner. + +3:25. Phalel, the son of Ozi, over against the bending and the tower, +which lieth out from the king's high house, that is, in the court of +the prison: after him Phadaia the son of Pharos. + +3:26. And the Nathinites dwelt in Ophel, as far as over against the +water gate toward the east, and the tower that stood out. + +3:27. After him the Thecuites built another measure over against, from +the great tower that standeth out unto the wall of the temple. + +3:28. And upward from the horse gate the priests built, every man over +against his house. + +3:29. After them built Sadoc the son of Emmer over against his house. +And after him built Semaia the son of Sechenias, keeper of the east +gate. + +3:30. After him built Hanania the son of Selemia, and Hanun the sixth +son of Seleph, another measure: after him built Mosollam the son of +Barachias over against his treasury. After him Melcias the goldsmith's +son built unto the house of the Nathinites, and of the sellers of small +wares, over against the judgment gate, and unto the chamber of the +corner. + +3:31. And within the chamber of the corner of the flock gate, the +goldsmiths and the merchants built. + + + +2 Esdras Chapter 4 + + +The building is carried on notwithstanding the opposition of their +enemies. + +4:1. And it came to pass, that when Sanaballat heard that we were +building the wall he was angry: and being moved exceedingly he scoffed +at the Jews. + +4:2. And said before his brethren, and the multitude of the Samaritans: +What are the silly Jews doing? Will the Gentiles let them alone? will +they sacrifice and make an end in a day? are they able to raise stones +out of the heaps of the rubbish, which are burnt? + +4:3. Tobias also the Ammonite who was by him said: Let them build: if a +fox go up, he will leap over their stone wall. + +4:4. Hear thou our God, for we are despised: turn their reproach upon +their own head, and give them to be despised in a land of captivity. + +4:5. Cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out +from before thy face, because they have mocked thy builders. + +4:6. So we built the wall, and joined it all together unto the half +thereof: and the heart of the people was excited to work. + +4:7. And it came to pass, when Sanaballat, and Tobias, and the +Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Azotians heard that the walls of +Jerusalem were made up, and the breaches began to be closed, that they +were exceedingly angry. + +4:8. And they all assembled themselves together, to come, and to fight +against Jerusalem, and to prepare ambushes. + +4:9. And we prayed to our God, and set watchmen upon the wall day and +night against them. + +4:10. And Juda said: The strength of the bearer of burdens is decayed, +and the rubbish is very much, and we shall not be able to build the +wall. + +4:11. And our enemies said: Let them not know, nor understand, till we +come in the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease. + +4:12. And it came to pass, that when the Jews that dwelt by them came +and told us ten times, out of all the places from whence they came to +us, + +4:13. I set the people in the place behind the wall round about in +order, with their swords, and spears, and bows. + +4:14. And I looked and rose up: and I said to the chief men and the +magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: be not afraid of +them. Remember the Lord who is great and terrible, and fight for your +brethren, your sons, and your daughters, and your wives, and your +houses. + +4:15. And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that the thing had +been told us, that God defeated their counsel. And we returned all of +us to the walls, every man to his work. + +4:16. And it came to pass from that day forward, that half of their +young men did the work, and half were ready for to fight, with spears, +and shields, and bows, and coats of mail, and the rulers were behind +them in all the house of Juda. + +4:17. Of them that built on the wall and that carried burdens, and that +laded: with one of his hands he did the work, and with the other he +held a sword. + +4:18. For every one of the builders was girded with a sword about his +reins. And they built, and sounded with a trumpet by me. + +4:19. And I said to the nobles, and to the magistrates, and to the rest +of the common people: The work is great and wide, and we are separated +on the wall one far from another: + +4:20. In what place soever you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, run +all thither unto us: our God will fight for us. + +4:21. And let us do the work: and let one half of us hold our spears +from the rising of the morning, till the stars appear. + +4:22. At that time also I said to the people: Let every one with his +servant stay in the midst of Jerusalem, and let us take our turns in +the night, and by day, to work. + +4:23. Now I and my brethren, and my servants, and the watchmen that +followed me, did not put off our clothes: only every man stripped +himself when he was to be washed. + + + +2 Esdras Chapter 5 + + +Nehemias blameth the rich, for their oppressing the poor. His +exhortation, and bounty to his countrymen. + +5:1. Now there was a great cry of the people, and of their wives +against their brethren the Jews. + +5:2. And there were some that said: Our sons and our daughters are very +many: let us take up corn for the price of them, and let us eat and +live. + +5:3. And there were some that said: Let us mortgage our lands, and our +vineyards, and our houses, and let us take corn because of the famine. + +5:4. And others said: Let us borrow money for the king's tribute, and +let us give up our fields and vineyards: + +5:5. And now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren: and our +children as their children. Behold we bring into bondage our sons and +our daughters, and some of our daughters are bondwomen already, neither +have we wherewith to redeem them, and our fields and our vineyards +other men possess. + +5:6. And I was exceedingly angry when I heard their cry according to +these words. + +5:7. And my heart thought with myself: and I rebuked the nobles and +magistrates, and said to them: Do you every one exact usury of your +brethren? And I gathered together a great assembly against them, + +5:8. And I said to them: We, as you know, have redeemed according to +our ability our brethren the Jews, that were sold to the Gentiles: and +will you then sell your brethren, for us to redeem them? And they held +their peace, and found not what to answer. + +5:9. And I said to them: The thing you do is not good: why walk you not +in the fear of our God, that we be not exposed to the reproaches of the +Gentiles our enemies? + +5:10. Both I and my brethren, and my servants, have lent money and corn +to many: let us all agree not to call for it again; let us forgive the +debt that is owing to us. + +5:11. Restore ye to them this day their fields, and their vineyards, +and their oliveyards, and their houses: and the hundredth part of the +money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, which you were wont to +exact of them, give it rather for them. + +5:12. And they said: We will restore, and we will require nothing of +them: and we will do as thou sayest. And I called the priests and took +an oath of them, to do according to what I had said. + +5:13. Moreover I shook my lap, and said: So may God shake every man +that shall not accomplish this word, out of his house, and out of his +labours, thus may he be shaken out, and become empty. And all the +multitude said: Amen. And they praised God. And the people did +according to what was said. + +5:14. And from the day, in which the king commanded me to be governor +in the land of Juda, from the twentieth year even to the two and +thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, for twelve years, I and my +brethren did not eat the yearly allowance that was due to the +governors. + +5:15. But the former governors that had been before me, were chargeable +to the people, and took of them in bread, and wine, and in money every +day forty sicles: and their officers also oppressed the people. But I +did not so for the fear of God. + +5:16. Moreover I built in the work of the wall, and I bought no land, +and all my servants were gathered together to the work. + +5:17. The Jews also and the magistrates to the number of one hundred +and fifty men, were at my table, besides them that came to us from +among the nations that were round about us. + +5:18. And there was prepared for me day be day one ox, and six choice +rams, besides fowls, and once in ten days I gave store of divers wines, +and many other things: yet I did not require my yearly allowance as +governor: for the people were very much impoverished. + +5:19. Remember me, O my God, for good according to all that I have done +for this people. + + + +2 Esdras Chapter 6 + + +The enemies seek to terrify Nehemias. He proceedeth and finisheth the +wall. + +6:1. And it came to pass, when Sanaballat, and Tobias, and Gossem the +Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, +and that there was no breach left in it, (though at that time I had not +set up the doors in the gates,) + +6:2. Sanaballat and Gossem sent to me, saying: Come, and let us make a +league together in the villages, in the plain of Ono. But they thought +to do me mischief. + +6:3. And I sent messengers to them, saying: I am doing a great work, +and I cannot come down, lest it be neglected whilst I come, and go down +to you. + +6:4. And they sent to me according to this word, four times: and I +answered them after the same manner. + +6:5. And Sanaballat sent his servant to me the fifth time according to +the former word, and he had a letter in his hand written in this +manner: + +6:6. It is reported amongst the Gentiles, and Gossem hath said it, that +thou and the Jews think to rebel, and therefore thou buildest the wall, +and hast a mind to set thyself king over them: for which end + +6:7. Thou hast also set up prophets, to preach of thee at Jerusalem, +saying: There is a king in Judea. The king will hear of these things: +therefore come now, that we may take counsel together. + +6:8. And I sent to them, saying: There is no such thing done as thou +sayest: but thou feignest these things out of thy own heart. + +6:9. For all these men thought to frighten us, thinking that our hands +would cease from the work, and that we would leave off. Wherefore I +strengthened my hands the more: + +6:10. And I went into the house of Samaia the son of Delaia, the son of +Metabeel privately. And he said: Let us consult together in the house +of God in the midst of the temple: and let us shut the doors of the +temple, for they will come to kill thee, and in the night they will +come to slay thee. + +6:11. And I said: Should such a man as I flee? and who is there that +being as I am, would go into the temple, to save his life? I will not +go in. + +6:12. And I understood that God had not sent him, but that he had +spoken to me as if he had been prophesying, and Tobias, and Sanaballat +had hired him. + +6:13. For he had taken money, that I being afraid should do this thing, +and sin, and they might have some evil to upbraid me withal. + +6:14. Remember me, O Lord, for Tobias and Sanaballat, according to +their works of this kind: and Noadias the prophet, and the rest of the +prophets that would have put me in fear. + +6:15. But the wall was finished the five and twentieth day of the month +of Elul, in two and fifty days. + +6:16. And it came to pass when all our enemies heard of it, that all +nations which were round about us, were afraid, and were cast down +within themselves, for they perceived that this work was the work of +God. + +6:17. Moreover in those days many letters were sent by the principal +men of the Jews to Tobias, and from Tobias there came letters to them. + +6:18. For there were many in Judea sworn to him, because he was the son +in law of Sechenias the son of Area, and Johanan his son had taken to +wife the daughter of Mosollam the son of Barachias. + +6:19. And they praised him also before me, and they related my words to +him: And Tobias sent letters to put me in fear. + + + +2 Esdras Chapter 7 + + +Nehemias appointeth watchmen in Jerusalem. The list of those who came +first from Babylon. + +7:1. Now after the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and +numbered the porters and singing men, and Levites: + +7:2. I commanded Hanani my brother, and Hananias ruler of the house of +Jerusalem, (for he seemed as a sincere man, and one that feared God +above the rest,) + +7:3. And I said to them: Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened till +the sun be hot. And while they were yet standing by the gates were +shut, and barred: and I set watchmen of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, +every one by their courses, and every man over against his house. + +7:4. And the city was very wide and great, and the people few in the +midst thereof, and the houses were not built. + +7:5. But God had put in my heart, and I assembled the princes and +magistrates, and common people, to number them: and I found a book of +the number of them who came up at first and therein it was found +written: + +7:6. These are the children of the province, who came up from the +captivity of them that had been carried away, whom Nabuchodonosor the +king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned into Judea, every +one into his own city. + +7:7. Who came with Zorobabel, Josue, Nehemias, Azarias, Raamias, +Nahamani, Mardochai, Belsam, Mespharath, Begoia, Nahum, Baana. The +number of the men of the people of Israel: + +7:8. The children of Pharos, two thousand one hundred seventy-two. + +7:9. The children of Sephatia, three hundred seventy-two. + +7:10. The children of Area, six hundred fifty-two. + +7:11. The children of Phahath Moab of the children of Josue and Joab, +two thousand eight hundred eighteen. + +7:12. The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. + +7:13. The children of Zethua, eight hundred forty-five. + +7:14. The children of Zachai, seven hundred sixty. + +7:15. The children of Bannui, six hundred forty-eight. + +7:16. The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight. + +7:17. The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty-two. + +7:18. The children of Adonicam, six hundred sixty-seven. + +7:19. The children of Beguai, two thousand sixty-seven. + +7:20. The children of Adin, six hundred fifty-five. + +7:21. The children of Ater, children of Hezechias, ninety-eight. + +7:22. The children of Hasem, three hundred twenty-eight. + +7:23. The children of Besai, three hundred twenty-four. + +7:24. The children of Hareph, a hundred and twelve. + +7:25. The children of Gabaon, ninety-five. + +7:26. The children of Bethlehem, and Netupha, a hundred eighty-eight. + +7:27. The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty-eight. + +7:28. The men of Bethazmoth, forty-two. + +7:29. The men of Cariathiarim, Cephira, and Beroth, seven hundred +forty-three. + +7:30. The men of Rama and Geba, six hundred twenty-one. + +7:31. The men of Machmas, a hundred twenty-two. + +7:32. The men of Bethel and Hai, a hundred twenty-three. + +7:33. The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two. + +7:34. The men of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. + +7:35. The children of Harem, three hundred and twenty. + +7:36. The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five. + +7:37. The children of Lod, of Hadid and Ono, seven hundred twenty-one. + +7:38. The children of Senaa, three thousand nine hundred thirty. + +7:39. The priests: the children of Idaia in the house of Josue, nine +hundred and seventy-three. + +7:40. The children of Emmer, one thousand fifty-two. + +7:41. The children of Phashur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven. + +7:42. The children of Arem, one thousand and seventeen. The Levites: + +7:43. The children of Josue and Cedmihel, the sons + +7:44. Of Oduia, seventy-four. The singing men: + +7:45. The children of Asaph, a hundred forty-eight. + +7:46. The porters: the children of Sellum, the children of Ater, the +children of Telmon, the children of Accub, the children of Hatita, the +children of Sobai: a hundred thirty-eight. + +7:47. The Nathinites: the children of Soha, the children of Hasupha, +the children of Tebbaoth, + +7:48. The children of Ceros, the children os Siaa, the children of +Phadon, the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of +Selmai, + +7:49. The children of Hanan, the children of Geddel, the children of +Gaher, + +7:50. The children of Raaia, the children of Rasin, the children of +Necoda, + +7:51. The children of Gezem, the children of Asa, the children of +Phasea, + +7:52. The children of Besai, the children of Munim, the children of +Nephussim, + +7:53. The children of Bacbuc, the children of Hacupha, the children of +Harhur, + +7:54. The children of Besloth, the children of Mahida, the children of +Harsa, + +7:55. The children of Bercos, the children of Sisara, the children of +Thema, + +7:56. The children of Nasia, the children of Hatipha, + +7:57. The children of the servants of Solomon, the children of Sothai, +the children of Sophereth, the children of Pharida, + +7:58. The children of Jahala, the children of Darcon, the children of +Jeddel, + +7:59. The children of Saphatia, the children of Hatil, the children of +Phochereth, who was born of Sabaim, the son of Amon. + +7:60. All the Nathinites, and the children of the servants of Solomon, +three hundred ninety-two. + +7:61. And these are they that came up from Telmela, Thelharsa, Cherub, +Addon, and Emmer: and could not shew the house of their fathers, nor +their seed, whether they were of Israel. + +7:62. The children of Dalaia, the children of Tobia, the children of +Necoda, six hundred forty-two. + +7:63. And of the priests, the children of Habia, the children of Accos, +the children of Berzellai, who took a wife of the daughters of +Berzellai the Galaadite, and he was called by their name. + +7:64. These sought their writing in the record, and found it not: and +they were cast out of the priesthood. + +7:65. And Athersatha said to them, that they should not eat of the +holies of holies, until there stood up a priest learned and skilful. + +7:66. All the multitude as it were one man, forty-two thousand three +hundred sixty, + +7:67. Beside their menservants and womenservants, who were seven +thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and among them singing men, and +singing women, two hundred forty-five. + +7:68. Their horses, seven hundred thirty-six: their mules two hundred +forty-five. + +7:69. Their camels, four hundred thirty-five, their asses, six thousand +seven hundred and twenty. + +(Hitherto is related what was written in the record. From this place +forward goeth on the history of Nehemias.) + +7:70. And some of the heads of the families gave unto the work. +Athersatha gave into the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty +bowls, and five hundred and thirty garments for priests. + +Athersatha. . .That is, Nehemias; as appears from chap. 12. Either that +he was so called at the court of the king of Persia, where he was +cupbearer: or that, as some think, this name signifies governor; and he +was at that time governor of Judea. + +7:71. And some of the heads of families gave to the treasure of the +work, twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand two hundred +pounds of silver. + +7:72. And that which the rest of the people gave, was twenty thousand +drams of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and sixty-seven +garments for priests. + +7:73. And the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the +singing men, and the rest of the common people, and the Nathinites, and +all Israel dwelt in their cities. + + + +2 Esdras Chapter 8 + + +Esdras readeth the law before the people. Nehemias comforteth them. +They celebrate the feast of tabernacles. + +8:1. And the seventh month came: and the children of Israel were in +their cities. And all the people were gathered together as one man to +the street which is before the water gate, and they spoke to Esdras the +scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had +commanded to Israel. + +8:2. Then Esdras the priest brought the law before the multitude of men +and women, and all those that could understand, in the first day of the +seventh month. + +8:3. And he read it plainly in the street that was before the water +gate, from the morning until midday, before the men, and the women, and +all those that could understand: and the ears of all the people were +attentive to the book. + +8:4. And Esdras the scribe stood upon a step of wood, which he had made +to speak upon, and there stood by him Mathathias, and Semeia, and Ania, +and Uria, and Helcia, and Maasia, on his right hand: and on the left, +Phadaia, Misael, and Melchia, and Hasum, and Hasbadana, Zacharia and +Mosollam. + +8:5. And Esdras opened the book before all the people: for he was above +all the people: and when he had opened it, all the people stood. + +8:6. And Esdras blessed the Lord the great God: and all the people +answered, Amen, amen: lifting up their hands: and they bowed down, and +adored God with their faces to the ground. + +8:7. Now Josue, and Bani, and Serebia, Jamin, Accub, Sephtai, Odia, +Maasia, Celtia, Azarias, Jozabed, Hanan, Phalaia, the Levites, made +silence among the people to hear the law: and the people stood in their +place. + +8:8. And they read in the book of the law of God distinctly and plainly +to be understood: and they understood when it was read. + +8:9. And Nehemias (he is Athersatha) and Esdras the priest and scribe, +and the Levites who interpreted to all the people, said: This is a holy +day to the Lord our God: do not mourn, nor weep: for all the people +wept, when they heard the words of the law. + +8:10. And he said to them: Go, eat fat meats, and drink sweet wine, and +send portions to them that have not prepared for themselves: because it +is the holy day of the Lord, and be not sad: for the joy of the Lord is +our strength. + +8:11. And the Levites stilled all the people, saying: Hold your peace, +for the day is holy, and be not sorrowful. + +8:12. So all the people went to eat and drink, and to send portions, +and to make great mirth: because they understood the words that he had +taught them. + +8:13. And on the second day the chiefs of the families of all the +people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered together to Esdras +the scribe, that he should interpret to them the words of the law. + +8:14. And they found written in the law, that the Lord had commanded by +the hand of Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in +tabernacles, on the feast, in the seventh month: + +8:15. And that they should proclaim and publish the word in all their +cities, and in Jerusalem, saying: Go forth to the mount, and fetch +branches of olive, and branches of beautiful wood, branches of myrtle, +and branches of palm, and branches of thick trees, to make tabernacles, +as it is written. + +8:16. And the people went forth, and brought. And they made themselves +tabernacles every man on the top of his house, and in their courts, and +in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, +and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. + +8:17. And all the assembly of them that were returned from the +captivity, made tabernacles, and dwelt in tabernacles: for since the +days of Josue the son of Nun the children of Israel had not done so, +until that day: and there was exceeding great joy. + +8:18. And he read in the book of the law of God day by day, from the +first day till the last, and they kept the solemnity seven days, and in +the eighth day a solemn assembly according to the manner. + + + +2 Esdras Chapter 9 + + +The people repent with fasting and sackcloth. The Levites confess God's +benefits, and the people's ingratitude: they pray for them, and make a +covenant with God. + +9:1. And in the four and twentieth day of the month the children of +Israel came together with fasting and with sackcloth, and earth upon +them. + +9:2. And the seed of the children of Israel separated themselves from +every stranger: and they stood, and confessed their sins, and the +iniquities of their fathers. + +9:3. And they rose up to stand: and they read in the book of the law of +the Lord their God, four times in the day, and four times they +confessed, and adored the Lord their God. + +9:4. And there stood up upon the step of the Levites, Josue, and Bani, +and Cedmihel, Sabania, Bonni, Sarebias, Bani, and Chanani: and they +cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God. + +9:5. And the Levites Josue and Cedmihel, Bonni, Hasebnia, Serebia, +Oduia, Sebnia, and Phathahia, said: Arise, bless the Lord your God from +eternity to eternity: and blessed be the high name of thy glory with +all blessing and praise. + +9:6. Thou thyself, O Lord alone, thou hast made heaven, and the heaven +of heavens, and all the host thereof: the earth and all things that are +in it: the seas and all that are therein: and thou givest life to all +these things, and the host of heaven adoreth thee. + +9:7. Thou O Lord God, art he who chosest Abram, and broughtest him +forth out of the fire of the Chaldeans, and gavest him the name of +Abraham. + +The fire of the Chaldeans. . .The city of Ur in Chaldea, the name of +which signifies fire. Or out of the fire of the tribulations and +temptations, to which he was there exposed.--The ancient Rabbins +understood this literally, affirming that Abram was cast into the fire +by the idolaters, and brought out by a miracle without any hurt. + +9:8. And thou didst find his heart faithful before thee: and thou +madest a covenant with him, to give him the land of the Chanaanite, of +the Hethite, and of the Amorrhite, and of the Pherezite, and of the +Jebusite, and of the Gergezite, to give it to his seed: and thou hast +fulfilled thy words, because thou art just. + +9:9. And thou sawest the affliction of our fathers in Egypt: and thou +didst hear their cry by the Red Sea. + +9:10. And thou shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharao, and upon all his +servants, and upon the people of his land: for thou knewest that they +dealt proudly against them: and thou madest thyself a name, as it is at +this day. + +9:11. And thou didst divide the sea before them, and they passed +through the midst of the sea on dry land: but their persecutors thou +threwest into the depth, as a stone into mighty waters. + +9:12. And in a pillar of a cloud thou wast their leader by day, and in +a pillar of fire by night, that they might see the way by which they +went. + +9:13. Thou camest down also to mount Sinai, and didst speak with them +from heaven, and thou gavest them right judgments, and the law of +truth, ceremonies, and good precepts. + +9:14. Thou madest known to them thy holy sabbath, and didst prescribe +to them commandments, and ceremonies, and the law by the hand of Moses +thy servant. + +9:15. And thou gavest them bread from heaven in their hunger, and +broughtest forth water for them out of the rock in their thirst, and +thou saidst to them that they should go in, and possess the land, upon +which thou hadst lifted up thy hand to give it them. + +9:16. But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks +and hearkened not to thy commandments. + +9:17. And they would not hear, and they remembered not thy wonders +which thou hadst done for them. And they hardened their necks, and gave +the head to return to their bondage, as it were by contention. But +thou, a forgiving God, gracious, and merciful, longsuffering, and full +of compassion, didst not forsake them. + +And gave the head. . .That is, they set their head, or were bent to +return to Egypt. + +9:18. Yea when they had made also to themselves a molten calf, and had +said: This is thy God, that brought thee out of Egypt: and had +committed great blasphemies: + +9:19. Yet thou, in thy many mercies, didst not leave them in the +desert: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day to lead +them in the way, and the pillar of fire by night to shew them the way +by which they should go. + +9:20. And thou gavest them thy good Spirit to teach them, and thy manna +thou didst not withhold from their mouth, and thou gavest them water +for their thirst. + +9:21. Forty years didst thou feed them in the desert, and nothing was +wanting to them: their garments did not grow old, and their feet were +not worn. + +9:22. And thou gavest them kingdoms, and nations, and didst divide lots +for them: and they possessed the land of Sehon, and the land of the +king of Hesebon, and the land of Og king of Basan. + +9:23. And thou didst multiply their children as the stars of heaven, +and broughtest them to the land concerning which thou hadst said to +their fathers, that they should go in and possess it. + +9:24. And the children came and possessed the land, and thou didst +humble before them the inhabitants of the land, the Chanaanites, and +gavest them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the +land, that they might do with them as it pleased them. + +9:25. And they took strong cities and a fat land, and possessed houses +full of all goods: cisterns made by others, vineyards, and oliveyards, +and fruit trees in abundance: and they ate, and were filled, and became +fat, and abounded with delight in thy great goodness. + +9:26. But they provoked thee to wrath, and departed from thee, and +threw thy law behind their backs: and they killed thy prophets, who +admonished them earnestly to return to thee: and they were guilty of +great blasphemies. + +9:27. And thou gavest them into the hands of their enemies, and they +afflicted them. And in the time of their tribulation they cried to +thee, and thou heardest from heaven, and according to the multitude of +thy tender mercies thou gavest them saviours, to save them from the +hands of their enemies. + +9:28. But after they had rest, they returned to do evil in thy sight: +and thou leftest them in the hand of their enemies, and they had +dominion over them. Then they returned, and cried to thee: and thou +heardest from heaven, and deliveredst them many times in thy mercies. + +9:29. And thou didst admonish them to return to thy law. But they dealt +proudly, and hearkened not to thy commandments, but sinned against thy +judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them: and they withdrew +the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. + +9:30. And thou didst forbear with them for many years, and didst +testify against them by thy spirit by the hand of thy prophets: and +they heard not, and thou didst deliver them into the hand of the people +of the lands. + +9:31. Yet in thy very many mercies thou didst not utterly consume them, +nor forsake them: because thou art a merciful and gracious God. + +9:32. Now therefore our God, great, strong, and terrible, who keepest +covenant and mercy, turn not away from thy face all the labour which +hath come upon us, upon our kings, and our princes, and our priests, +and our prophets, and our fathers, and all the people from the days of +the king of Assur, until this day. + +9:33. And thou art just in all things that have come upon us: because +thou hast done truth, but we have done wickedly. + +9:34. Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not +kept thy law, and have not minded thy commandments, and thy testimonies +which thou hast testified among them. + +9:35. And they have not served thee in their kingdoms, and in thy +manifold goodness, which thou gavest them, and in the large and fat +land, which thou deliveredst before them, nor did they return from +their most wicked devices. + +9:36. Behold we ourselves this day are bondmen: and the land, which +thou gavest our fathers, to eat the bread thereof, and the good things +thereof, and we ourselves are servants in it. + +9:37. And the fruits thereof grow up for the kings, whom thou hast set +over us for our sins, and they have dominion over our bodies, and over +our beasts, according to their will, and we are in great tribulation. + +9:38. And because of all this we ourselves make a covenant, and write +it, and our princes, our Levites, and our priests sign it. + + + +2 Esdras Chapter 10 + + +The names of the subscribers to the covenant, and the contents of it. + +10:1. And the subscribers were Nehemias, Athersatha the son of +Hachelai, and Sedecias, + +10:2. Saraias, Azarias, Jeremias, + +10:3. Pheshur, Amarias, Melchias, + +10:4. Hattus, Sebenia, Melluch, + +10:5. Harem, Merimuth, Obdias, + +10:6. Daniel, Genthon, Baruch, + +10:7. Mosollam, Abia, Miamin, + +10:8. Maazia, Belgia, Semeia: these were priests. + +10:9. And the Levites, Josue the son of Azanias, Bennui of the sons of +Henadad, Cedmihel, + +10:10. And their brethren, Sebenia, Oduia, Celita, Phalaia, Hanan, + +10:11. Micha, Rohob, Hasebia, + +10:12. Zachur, Serebia, Sabania, + +10:13. Odaia, Bani, Baninu. + +10:14. The heads of the people, Pharos, Phahath Moab, Elam, Zethu, +Bani, + +10:15. Bonni, Azgad, Bebai, + +10:16. Adonia, Begoai, Adin, + +10:17. Ater, Hezecia, Azur, + +10:18. Odaia, Hasum, Besai, + +10:19. Hareph, Anathoth, Nebai, + +10:20. Megphias, Mosollam, Hazir, + +10:21. Mesizabel, Sadoc, Jeddua, + +10:22. Pheltia, Hanan, Anaia, + +10:23. Osee, Hanania, Hasub, + +10:24. Alohes, Phalea, Sobec, + +10:25. Rehum, Hasebna, Maasia, + +10:26. Echaia, Hanan, Anan, + +10:27. Melluch, Haran, Baana: + +10:28. And the rest of the people, priests, Levites, porters, and +singing men, Nathinites, and all that had separated themselves from the +people of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and +their daughters. + +10:29. All that could understand, promising for their brethren, with +their chief men, and they came to promise, and swear that they would +walk in the law of God, which he gave in the hand of Moses the servant +of God, that they would do and keep all the commandments of the Lord +our God, and his judgments and his ceremonies. + +10:30. And that we would not give our daughters to the people of the +land, nor take their daughters for our sons. + +10:31. And if the people of the land bring in things to sell, or any +things for use, to sell them on the sabbath day, that we would not buy +them on the sabbath, or on the holy day. And that we would leave the +seventh year, and the exaction of every hand. + +10:32. And we made ordinances for ourselves, to give the third part of +a sicle every year for the work of the house of our God, + +10:33. For the loaves of proposition, and for the continual sacrifice, +and for a continual holocaust on the sabbaths, on the new moons, on the +set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offering: that +atonement might be made for Israel, and for every use of the house of +our God. + +10:34. And we cast lots among the priests, and the Levites, and the +people for the offering of wood, that it might be brought into the +house of our God by the houses of our fathers at set times, from year +to year: to burn upon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written +in the law of Moses: + +10:35. And that we would bring the firstfruits of our land, and the +firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, from year to year, in the house +of our Lord. + +10:36. And the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is +written in the law, and the firstlings of our oxen, and of our sheep, +to be offered in the house of our God, to the priests who minister in +the house of our God. + +10:37. And that we would bring the firstfruits of our meats, and of our +libations, and the fruit of every tree, of the vintage also and of oil +to the priests, to the storehouse of our God, and the tithes of our +ground to the Levites. The Levites also shall receive the tithes of our +works out of all the cities. + +10:38. And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites in the +tithes of the Levites, and the Levites shall offer the tithe of their +tithes in the house of our God, to the storeroom into the treasure +house. + +10:39. For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall carry +to the treasury the firstfruits of corn, of wine, and of oil: and the +sanctified vessels shall be there, and the priests, and the singing +men, and the porters, and ministers, and we will not forsake the house +of our God. + + + +2 Esdras Chapter 11 + + +Who were the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the other cities. + +11:1. And the princes of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: but the rest of +the people cast lots, to take one part in ten to dwell in Jerusalem the +holy city, and nine parts in the other cities. + +11:2. And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered +themselves to dwell in Jerusalem. + +11:3. These therefore are the chief men of the province, who dwelt in +Jerusalem, and in the cities of Juda. And every one dwelt in his +possession, in their cities: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the +Nathinites, and the children of the servants of Solomon. + +11:4. And in Jerusalem there dwelt some of the children of Juda, and +some of the children of Benjamin: of the children of Juda, Athaias the +son of Aziam, the son of Zacharias, the son of Amarias, the son of +Saphatias, the son of Malaleel: of the sons of Phares, + +11:5. Maasia the son of Baruch, the son of Cholhoza, the son of Hazia, +the son of Adaia, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zacharias, the son of +the Silonite: + +11:6. All these the sons of Phares, who dwelt in Jerusalem, were four +hundred sixty-eight valiant men. + +11:7. And these are the children of Benjamin: Sellum the son of +Mosollam, the son of Joed, the son of Phadaia, the son of Colaia, the +son of Masia, the son of Etheel, the son of Isaia. + +11:8. And after him Gebbai, Sellai, nine hundred twenty-eight. + +11:9. And Joel the son of Zechri their ruler, and Judas the son of +Senua was second over the city. + +11:10. And of the priests Idaia the son of Joarib, Jachin, + +11:11. Saraia the son of Helcias, the son of Mosollam, the son of +Sadoc, the son of Meraioth, the son of Achitob the prince of the house +of God, + +11:12. And their brethren that do the works of the temple: eight +hundred twenty-two. And Adaia the son of Jeroham, the son of Phelelia, +the son of Amsi, the son of Zacharias, the son of Pheshur, the son of +Melchias, + +11:13. And his brethren the chiefs of the fathers: two hundred +forty-two. And Amassai the son of Azreel, the son of Ahazi, the son of +Mosollamoth, the son of Emmer, + +11:14. And their brethren who were very mighty, a hundred twenty-eight: +and their ruler Zabdiel son of the mighty. + +11:15. And of the Levites Semeia the son of Hasub, the son of Azaricam, +the son of Hasabia, the son of Boni, + +11:16. And Sabathai and Jozabed, who were over all the outward business +of the house of God, of the princes of the Levites, + +11:17. And Mathania the son of Micha, the son of Zebedei, the son of +Asaph, was the principal man to praise, and to give glory in prayer, +and Becbecia, the second, one of his brethren, and Abda the son of +Samua, the son of Galal, the son of Idithun. + +11:18. All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four. + +11:19. And the porters, Accub, Telmon, and their brethren, who kept the +doors: a hundred seventy-two. + +11:20. And the rest of Israel, the priests and the Levites were in all +the cities of Juda, every man in his possession. + +11:21. And the Nathinites, that dwelt in Ophel, and Siaha, and Gaspha +of the Nathinites. + +11:22. And the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem, was Azzi the son +of Bani, the son of Hasabia, the son of Mathania, the son of Micha. Of +the sons of Asaph, were the singing men in the ministry of the house of +God. + +11:23. For the king's commandment was concerning them, and an order +among the singing men day by day. + +11:24. And Phathahia the son of Mesezebel of the children of Zara the +son of Juda was at the hand of the king, in all matters concerning the +people, + +11:25. And in the houses through all their countries. Of the children +of Juda some dwelt at Cariath-Arbe, and in the villages thereof: and at +Dibon, and in the villages thereof: and at Cabseel, and in the villages +thereof. + +11:26. And at Jesue, and at Molada, and at Bethphaleth, + +11:27. And at Hasersuel, and at Bersabee, and in the villages thereof, + +11:28. And at Siceleg, and at Mochona, and in the villages thereof, + +11:29. And at Remmon, and at Saraa, and at Jerimuth, + +11:30. Zanoa, Odollam, and in their villages, at Lachis and its +dependencies, and at Azeca and the villages thereof. And they dwelt +from Bersabee unto the valley of Ennom. + +11:31. And the children of Benjamin, from Geba, at Mechmas, and at Hai, +and at Bethel, and in the villages thereof, + +11:32. At Anathoth, Nob, Anania, + +11:33. Asor, Rama, Gethaim, + +11:34. Hadid, Seboim, and Neballat, Lod, + +11:35. And Ono the valley of craftsmen. + +11:36. And of the Levites were portions of Juda and Benjamin. + + + +2 Esdras Chapter 12 + + +The priests, and Levites that came up with Zorobabel. The succession of +high priests: the solemnity of the dedication of the wall. + +12:1. Now these are the priests and the Levites, that went up with +Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Josue: Saraia, Jeremias, Esdras, + +12:2. Amaria, Melluch, Hattus, + +12:3. Sebenias, Rheum, Merimuth, + +12:4. Addo, Genthon, Abia, + +12:5. Miamin, Madia, Belga, + +12:6. Semeia, and Joiarib, Idaia, Sellum Amoc, Helcias, + +12:7. Idaia. These were the chief of the priests, and of their brethren +in the days of Josue. + +12:8. And the Levites, Jesua, Bennui, Cedmihel, Sarebia, Juda, +Mathanias, they and their brethren were over the hymns: + +12:9. And Becbecia, and Hanni, and their brethren every one in his +office. + +12:10. And Josue begot Joacim, and Joacim begot Eliasib, and Eliasib +begot Joiada, + +12:11. And Joiada begot Jonathan and Jonathan begot Jeddoa. + +12:12. And in the days of Joacim the priests and heads of the families +were: Of Saraia, Maraia: of Jeremias, Hanania: + +12:13. Of Esdras, Mosollam: and of Amaria, Johanan: + +12:14. Of Milicho, Jonathan: of Sebenia, Joseph: + +12:15. Of Haram, Edna: of Maraioth, Helci: + +12:16. Of Adaia, Zacharia: of Genthon, Mosollam: + +12:17. Of Abia, Zechri: of Miamin and Moadia, Phelti: + +12:18. Of Belga, Sammua of Semaia, Jonathan: + +12:19. Of Joiarib, Mathanai: of Jodaia, Azzi: + +12:20. Of Sellai, Celai: of Amoc, Heber: + +12:21. Of Helcias, Hasebia: of Idaia, Nathanael. + +12:22. The Levites the chiefs of the families in the days of Eliasib, +and Joiada, and Johanan, and Jeddoa, were recorded, and the priests in +the reign of Darius the Persian. + +12:23. The sons of Levi, heads of the families were written in the book +of Chronicles, even unto the days of Jonathan the son of Eliasib. + +12:24. Now the chief of the Levites were Hasebia, Serebia, and Josue +the son of Cedmihel: and their brethren by their courses, to praise and +to give thanks according to the commandment of David the man of God, +and to wait equally in order. + +12:25. Mathania, and Becbecia, Obedia, and Mosollam, Telmon, Accub, +were keepers of the gates and of the entrances before the gates. + +12:26. These were in the days of Joacim the son of Josue, the son of +Josedec, and in the days of Nehemias the governor, and of Esdras the +priest and scribe. + +12:27. And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the +Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, and to +keep the dedication, and to rejoice with thanksgiving, and with +singing, and with cymbals, and psalteries and harps. + +12:28. And the sons of the singing men were gathered together out of +the plain country about Jerusalem, and out of the villages of +Nethuphati, + +12:29. And from the house of Galgal, and from the countries of Geba and +Azmaveth: for the singing men had built themselves villages round about +Jerusalem. + +12:30. And the priests and the Levites were purified, and they purified +the people, and the gates, and the wall. + +12:31. And I made the princes of Juda go up upon the wall, and I +appointed two great choirs to give praise. And they went on the right +hand upon the wall toward the dung gate. + +12:32. And after them went Osaias, and half of the princes of Juda, + +12:33. And Azarias, Esdras, and Mosollam, Judas, and Benjamin, and +Semeia, and Jeremias. + +12:34. And of the sons of the priests with trumpets, Zacharias the son +of Jonathan, the son of Semeia, the son of Mathania, the son of +Michaia, the son of Zechur, the son of Asaph, + +12:35. And his brethren Semeia, and Azareel, Malalai, Galalai, Maai, +Nathanael, and Judas, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David +the man of God: and Esdras the scribe before them at the fountain gate. + +12:36. And they went up over against them by the stairs of the city of +David, at the going up of the wall of the house of David, and to the +water gate eastward: + +12:37. And the second choir of them that gave thanks went on the +opposite side, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the +wall, and upon the tower of the furnaces, even to the broad wall, + +12:38. And above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above +the fish gate and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Emath, and +even to the flock gate: and they stood still in the watch gate. + +12:39. And the two choirs of them that gave praise stood still at the +house of God, and I and the half of the magistrates with me. + +12:40. And the priests, Eliachim, Maasia, Miamin, Michea, Elioenai, +Zacharia, Hanania with trumpets, + +12:41. And Maasia, and Semeia, and Eleazar, and Azzi, and Johanan, and +Melchia, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sung loud, and Jezraia was +their overseer: + +12:42. And they sacrificed on that day great sacrifices, and they +rejoiced: for God had made them joyful with great joy: their wives also +and their children rejoiced, and the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar +off. + +12:43. They appointed also in that day men over the storehouses of the +treasure, for the libations, and for the firstfruits, and for the +tithes, that the rulers of the city might bring them in by them in +honour of thanksgiving, for the priests and Levites: for Juda was +joyful in the priests and Levites that assisted. + +12:44. And they kept the watch of their God, and the observance of +expiation, and the singing men, and the porters, according to the +commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. + +12:45. For in the days of David and Asaph from the beginning there were +chief singers appointed, to praise with canticles, and give thanks to +God. + +12:46. And all Israel, in the days of Zorobabel, and in the days of +Nehemias gave portions to the singing men, and to the porters, day by +day, and they sanctified the Levites, and the Levites sanctified the +sons of Aaron. + +Sanctified. . .That is, they gave them that which by the law was set +aside, and sanctified for their use. + + + +2 Esdras Chapter 13 + + +Divers abuses are reformed. + +13:1. And on that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of +the people: and therein was found written, that the Ammonites and the +Moabites should not come in to the church of God for ever: + +13:2. Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water: +and they hired against them Balaam, to curse them, and our God turned +the curse into blessing. + +13:3. And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they +separated every stranger from Israel. + +13:4. And over this thing was Eliasib the priest, who was set over the +treasury of the house of our God, and was near akin to Tobias. + +Over this thing, etc. . .Or, he was faulty in this thing, or in this +kind. + +13:5. And he made him a great storeroom, where before him they laid up +gifts, and frankincense, and vessels, and the tithes of the corn, of +the wine, and of the oil, the portions of the Levites, and of the +singing men, and of the porters, and the firstfruits of the priests. + +13:6. But in all this time I was not in Jerusalem, because in the two +and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, I went to the king, +and after certain days I asked the king: + +13:7. And I came to Jerusalem, and I understood the evil that Eliasib +had done for Tobias, to make him a storehouse in the courts of the +house of God. + +13:8. And it seemed to me exceeding evil. And I cast forth the vessels +of the house of Tobias out of the storehouse. + +13:9. And I commanded and they cleansed again the vessels of the house +of God, the sacrifice, and the frankincense. + +13:10. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been +given them: and that the Levites, and the singing men, and they that +ministered were fled away every man to his own country: + +13:11. And I pleaded the matter against the magistrates, and said: Why +have we forsaken the house of God? And I gathered them together, and I +made them to stand in their places. + +13:12. And all Juda brought the tithe of the corn, and the wine, and +the oil into the storehouses. + +13:13. And we set over the storehouses Selemias the priest, and Sadoc +the scribe, and of the Levites Phadaia, and next to them Hanan the son +of Zachur, the son of Mathania: for they were approved as faithful, and +to them were committed the portions of their brethren. + +13:14. Remember me, O my God, for this thing, and wipe not out my +kindnesses, which I have done relating to the house of my God and his +ceremonies. + +13:15. In those days I saw in Juda some treading the presses on the +sabbath, and carrying sheaves, and lading asses with wine, and grapes, +and figs, and all manner of burthens, and bringing them into Jerusalem +on the sabbath day. And I charged them that they should sell on a day +on which it was lawful to sell. + +13:16. Some Tyrians also dwelt there, who brought fish, and all manner +of wares: and they sold them on the sabbaths to the children of Juda in +Jerusalem. + +13:17. And I rebuked the chief men of Juda, and said to them: What is +this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the sabbath day: + +13:18. Did not our fathers do these things, and our God brought all +this evil upon us, and upon this city? And you bring more wrath upon +Israel by violating the sabbath. + +13:19. And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem were at +rest on the sabbath day, I spoke: and they shut the gates, and I +commanded that they should not open them till after the sabbath: and I +set some of my servants at the gates, that none should bring in +burthens on the sabbath day. + +13:20. So the merchants, and they that sold all kinds of wares, stayed +without Jerusalem, once or twice. + +13:21. And I charged them, and I said to them: Why stay you before the +wall? if you do so another time, I will lay hands on you. And from that +time they came no more on the sabbath. + +13:22. I spoke also to the Levites that they should be purified, and +should come to keep the gates, and to sanctify the sabbath day: for +this also remember me, O my God, and spare me according to the +multitude of thy tender mercies. + +13:23. In those days also I saw Jews that married wives, women of +Azotus, and of Ammon, and of Moab. + +13:24. And their children spoke half in the speech of Azotus, and could +not speak the Jews' language, but they spoke according to the language +of this and that people. + +13:25. And I chid them, and laid my curse upon them. And I beat some of +them, and shaved off their hair, and made them swear by God that they +would not give their daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters +for their sons, nor for themselves, saying: + +13:26. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin in this kind of thing: and +surely among many nations, there was not a king like him, and he was +beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: and yet +women of other countries brought even him to sin. + +13:27. And shall we also be disobedient and do all this great evil to +transgress against our God, and marry strange women: + +13:28. And one of the sons of Joiada the son of Eliasib the high +priest, was son in law to Sanaballat the Horonite, and I drove him from +me. + +13:29. Remember them, O Lord my God, that defile the priesthood, and +the law of priests and Levites. + +13:30. So I separated from them all strangers, and I appointed the +courses of the priests and the Levites, every man in his ministry: + +13:31. And for the offering of wood at times appointed, and for the +firstfruits: remember me, O my God, unto good. Amen. + + + + +THE BOOK OF TOBIAS + + + +This Book takes its name from the holy man Tobias, whose wonderful +virtues are herein recorded. It contains most excellent documents of +great piety, extraordinary patience, and of a perfect resignation to +the will of God. His humble prayer was heard, and the angel Raphael was +sent to relieve him: he is thankful and praises the Lord, calling on +the children of Israel to do the same. Having lived to the age of one +hundred and two years, he exhorts his son and grandsons to piety, +foretells the destruction of Ninive and the rebuilding of Jerusalem: he +dies happily. + + + +Tobias Chapter 1 + + +Tobias's early piety: his works of mercy, particularly in burying the +dead. + +1:1. Tobias of the tribe and city of Nephtali, (which is in the upper +parts of Galilee above Naasson, beyond the way that leadeth to the +west, having on the right hand the city of Sephet,) + +1:2. When he was made captive in the days of Salmanasar king of the +Assyrians, even in his captivity, forsook not the way of truth, + +1:3. But every day gave all he could get to his brethren his fellow +captives, that were of his kindred. + +1:4. And when he was younger than any of the tribe of Nephtali, yet did +he no childish thing in his work. + +1:5. Moreover when all went to the golden calves which Jeroboam king of +Israel had made, he alone fled the company of all, + +1:6. And went to Jerusalem to the temple of the Lord, and there adored +the Lord God of Israel, offering faithfully all his firstfruits, and +his tithes, + +1:7. So that in the third year he gave all his tithes to the +proselytes, and strangers. + +1:8. These and such like things did he observe when but a boy according +to the law of God. + +1:9. But when he was a man, he took to wife Anna of his own tribe, and +had a son by her, whom he called after his own name, + +1:10. And from his infancy he taught him to fear God, and to abstain +from all sin. + +1:11. And when by the captivity he with his wife and his son and all +his tribe was come to the city of Ninive, + +1:12. (When all ate of the meats of the Gentiles) he kept his soul and +never was defiled with their meats. + +1:13. And because he was mindful of the Lord with all his heart, God +gave him favour in the sight of Salmanasar the king. + +1:14. And he gave him leave to go whithersoever he would, with liberty +to do whatever he had a mind. + +1:15. He therefore went to all that were in captivity, and gave them +wholesome admonitions. + +1:16. And when he was come to Rages a city of the Medes, and had ten +talents of silver of that with which he had been honoured by the king: + +1:17. And when amongst a great multitude of his kindred, he saw Gabelus +in want, who was one of his tribe, taking a note of his hand he gave +him the aforesaid sum of money. + +1:18. But after a long time, Salmanasar the king being dead, when +Sennacherib his son, who reigned in his place, had a hatred for the +children of Israel: + +1:19. Tobias daily went among all his kindred and comforted them, and +distributed to every one as he was able, out of his goods: + +1:20. He fed the hungry, and gave clothes to the naked, and was careful +to bury the dead, and they that were slain. + +1:21. And when king Sennacherib was come back, fleeing from Judea by +reason of the slaughter that God had made about him for his blasphemy, +and being angry slew many of the children of Israel, Tobias buried +their bodies. + +1:22. But when it was told the king, he commanded him to be slain, and +took away all his substance. + +1:23. But Tobias fleeing naked away with his son and with his wife, lay +concealed, for many loved him. + +1:24. But after forty-five days, the king was killed by his own sons. + +1:25. And Tobias returned to his house, and all his substance was +restored to him. + + + +Tobias Chapter 2 + + +Tobias leaveth his dinner to bury the dead: he loseth his sight by +God's permission, for manifestation of his patience. + +2:1. But after this, when there was a festival of the Lord, and a good +dinner was prepared in Tobias's house, + +2:2. He said to his son: Go, and bring some of our tribe that fear God, +to feast with us. + +2:3. And when he had gone, returning he told him, that one of the +children of Israel lay slain in the street. And he forthwith leaped up +from his place at the table, and left his dinner, and came fasting to +the body. + +2:4. And taking it up carried it privately to his house, that after the +sun was down, he might bury him cautiously. + +2:5. And when he had hid the body, he ate bread with mourning and fear, + +2:6. Remembering the word which the Lord spoke by Amos the prophet: +Your festival days shall be turned into lamentation and mourning. + +2:7. So when the sun was down, he went and buried him. + +2:8. Now all his neighbours blamed him, saying: once already +commandment was given for thee to be slain because of this matter, and +thou didst scarce escape the sentence of death, and dost thou again +bury the dead? + +2:9. But Tobias fearing God more than the king, carried off the bodies +of them that were slain, and hid them in his house, and at midnight +buried them. + +2:10. Now it happened one day that being wearied with burying, he came +to his house, and cast himself down by the wall and slept, + +2:11. And as he was sleeping, hot dung out of a swallow's nest fell +upon his eyes, and he was made blind. + +2:12. Now this trial the Lord therefore permitted to happen to him, +that an example might be given to posterity of his patience, as also of +holy Job. + +2:13. For whereas he had always feared God from his infancy, and kept +his commandments, he repined not against God because the evil of +blindness had befallen him, + +2:14. But continued immoveable in the fear of God, giving thanks to God +all the days of his life. + +2:15. For as the kings insulted over holy Job: so his relations and +kinsmen mocked at his life, saying: + +Kings. . .So Job's three friends are here called, because they were +princes in their respective territories. + +2:16. Where is thy hope, for which thou gavest alms, and buriedst the +dead? + +2:17. But Tobias rebuked them, saying: Speak not so: + +2:18. For we are the children of saints, and look for that life which +God will give to those that never change their faith from him. + +2:19. Now Anna his wife went daily to weaving work, and she brought +home what she could get for their living by the labour of her hands. + +2:20. Whereby it came to pass, that she received a young kid, and +brought it home: + +2:21. And when her husband heard it bleating, he said: Take heed, lest +perhaps it be stolen: restore ye it to its owners, for it is not lawful +for us either to eat or to touch any thing that cometh by theft. + +2:22. At these words his wife being angry answered: It is evident the +hope is come to nothing, and thy alms now appear. + +2:23. And with these and other, such like words she upbraided him. + + + +Tobias Chapter 3 + + +The prayer of Tobias, and of Sara, in their several afflictions, are +heard by God, and the angel Raphael is sent to relieve them. + +3:1. Then Tobias sighed, and began to pray with tears, + +3:2. Saying, Thou art just, O Lord, and all thy judgments are just, and +all thy ways mercy, and truth, and judgment: + +3:3. And now, O Lord, think of me, and take not revenge of my sins, +neither remember my offences, nor those of my parents. + +3:4. For we have not obeyed thy commandments, therefore are we +delivered to spoil and to captivity, and death, and are made a fable, +and a reproach to all nations, amongst which thou hast scattered us. + +3:5. And now, O Lord, great are thy judgments, because we have not done +according to thy precepts, and have not walked sincerely before thee. + +3:6. And now, O Lord, do with me according to thy will, and command my +spirit to be received in peace: for it is better for me to die, than to +live. + +3:7. Now it happened on the same day, that Sara daughter of Raguel, in +Rages a city of the Medes, received a reproach from one of her father's +servant maids, + +Rages. . .In the Greek it is Ecbatana, which was also called Rages. For +there were two cities in Media of the name of Rages. Raguel dwelt in +one of them, and Gabelus in the other. + +3:8. Because she had been given to seven husbands and a devil named +Asmodeus had killed them, at their first going in unto her. + +3:9. So when she reproved the maid for her fault, she answered her, +saying: May we never see son, or daughter of thee upon the earth, thou +murderer of thy husbands. + +3:10. Wilt thou kill me also, as thou hast already killed seven +husbands? At these words, she went into an upper chamber of her house: +and for three days and three nights did neither eat nor drink: + +3:11. But continuing in prayer with tears besought God, that he would +deliver her from this reproach. + +3:12. And it came to pass on the third day when she was making an end +of her prayer, blessing the Lord, + +3:13. She said: Blessed is thy name, O God of our fathers, who when +thou hast been angry, wilt shew mercy, and in the time of tribulation +forgivest the sins of them that call upon thee. + +3:14. To thee, O Lord, I turn my face, to thee I direct my eyes. + +3:15. I beg, O Lord, that thou loose me from the bond of this reproach, +or else take me away from the earth. + +3:16. Thou knowest, O Lord, that I never coveted a husband, and have +kept my soul clean from all lust. + +3:17. Never have I joined myself with them that play: neither have I +made myself partaker with them that walk in lightness. + +3:18. But a husband I consented to take, with thy fear, not with my +lust. + +3:19. And either I was unworthy of them, or they perhaps were not +worthy of me: because perhaps thou hast kept me for another man, + +3:20. For thy counsel is not in man's power. + +3:21. But this every one is sure of that worshippeth thee, that his +life, if it be under trial, shall be crowned and if it be under +tribulation, it shall be delivered: and if it be under correction, it +shall be allowed to come to thy mercy. + +3:22. For thou art not delighted in our being lost, because after a +storm thou makest a calm, and after tears and weeping thou pourest in +joyfulness. + +3:23. Be thy name, O God of Israel, blessed for ever, + +3:24. At that time the prayers of them both were heard in the sight of +the glory of the most high God: + +3:25. And the holy angel of the Lord, Raphael was sent to heal them +both, whose prayers at one time were rehearsed in the sight of the +Lord. + + + +Tobias Chapter 4 + + +Tobias thinking he shall die, giveth his son godly admonitions: and +telleth him of money he had lent to a friend. + +4:1. Therefore when Tobias thought that his prayer was heard that he +might die, he called to him Tobias his son, + +4:2. And said to him: Hear, my son, the words of my mouth, and lay them +as a foundation in thy heart. + +4:3. When God shall take my soul, thou shalt bury my body: and thou +shalt honour thy mother all the days of her life: + +4:4. For thou must be mindful what and how great perils she suffered +for thee in her womb. + +4:5. And when she also shall have ended the time of her life, bury her +by me. + +4:6. And all the days of thy life have God in thy mind: and take heed +thou never consent to sin, nor transgress the commandments of the Lord +our God. + +4:7. Give alms out of thy substance, and turn not away thy face from +any poor person: for so it shall come to pass that the face of the Lord +shall not be turned from thee. + +4:8. According to thy ability be merciful. + +4:9. If thou have much give abundantly: if thou have little, take care +even so to bestow willingly a little. + +4:10. For thus thou storest up to thyself a good reward for the day of +necessity. + +4:11. For alms deliver from all sin, and from death, and will not +suffer the soul to go into darkness. + +4:12. Alms shall be a great confidence before the most high God, to all +them that give it. + +4:13. Take heed to keep thyself, my son, from all fornication, and +beside thy wife never endure to know a crime. + +4:14. Never suffer pride to reign in thy mind, or in thy words: for +from it all perdition took its beginning. + +4:15. If any man hath done any work for thee, immediately pay him his +hire, and let not the wages of thy hired servant stay with thee at all. + +4:16. See thou never do to another what thou wouldst hate to have done +to thee by another. + +4:17. Eat thy bread with the hungry and the needy, and with thy +garments cover the naked, + +4:18. Lay out thy bread, and thy wine upon the burial of a just man, +and do not eat and drink thereof with the wicked. + +4:19. Seek counsel always of a wise man. + +4:20. Bless God at all times: and desire of him to direct thy ways, and +that all thy counsels may abide in him. + +4:21. I tell thee also, my son, that I lent ten talents of silver, +while thou wast yet a child, to Gabelus, in Rages a city of the Medes, +and I have a note of his hand with me: + +4:22. Now therefore inquire how thou mayst go to him, and receive of +him the foresaid sum of money, and restore to him the note of his hand. + +4:23. Fear not, my son: we lead indeed a poor life, but we shall have +many good things if we fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that +which is good. + + + +Tobias Chapter 5 + + +Young Tobias seeking a guide for his journey, the angel Raphael, in +shape of a man, undertaketh this office. + +5:1. Then Tobias answered his father, and said: I will do all things, +father, which thou hast commanded me. + +5:2. But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell; he knoweth not me, +and I know not him: what token shall I give him? nor did I ever know +the way which leadeth thither. + +5:3. Then his father answered him, and said: I have a note of his hand +with me, which when thou shalt shew him, he will presently pay it. + +5:4. But go now, and seek thee out some faithful man, to go with thee +for his hire: that thou mayst receive it, while I yet live. + +5:5. Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man, standing +girded, and as it were ready to walk. + +5:6. And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and +said: From whence art thou, good young man? + +5:7. But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said to +him: Knowest thou the way that leadeth to the country of the Medes? + +5:8. And he answered: I know it: and I have often walked through all +the ways thereof, and I have abode with Gabelus our brother, who +dwelleth at Rages a city of the Medes, which is situate in the mount of +Ecbatana. + +5:9. And Tobias said to him: Stay for me, I beseech thee, till I tell +these same things to my father. + +5:10. Then Tobias going in told all these things to his father. Upon +which his father being in admiration, desired that he would come in +unto him. + +5:11. So going in he saluted him, and said: Joy be to thee always. + +5:12. And Tobias said: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in +darkness and see not the light of heaven? + +5:13. And the young man said to him: Be of good courage, thy cure from +God is at hand. + +5:14. And Tobias said to him: Canst thou conduct my son to Gabelus at +Rages, a city of the Medes? and when thou shalt return, I will pay thee +thy hire. + +5:15. And the angel said to him: I will conduct him thither, and bring +him back to thee. + +5:16. And Tobias said to him: I pray thee, tell me, of what family, or +what tribe art thou? + +5:17. And Raphael the angel answered: Dost thou seek the family of him +thou hirest, or the hired servant himself to go with thy son? + +5:18. But lest I should make thee uneasy, I am Azarias the son of the +great Ananias. + +Azarias. . .The angel took the form of Azarias: and therefore might call +himself by the name of the man whom he personated. Azarias, in Hebrew, +signifies the help of God, and Ananias the grace of God. + +5:19. And Tobias answered: Thou art of a great family. But I pray thee +be not angry that I desired to know thy family. + +5:20. And the angel said to him: I will lead thy son safe, and bring +him to thee again safe. + +5:21. And Tobias answering, said: May you have a good journey, and God +be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you. + +5:22. Then all things being ready, that were to be carried in their +journey, Tobias bade his father and his mother farewell, and they set +out both together. + +5:23. And when they were departed, his mother began to weep, and to +say: Thou hast taken the staff of our old age, and sent him away from +us. + +5:24. I wish the money for which thou hast sent him, had never been. + +5:25. For our poverty was sufficient for us, that we might account it +as riches, that we saw our son. + +5:26. And Tobias said to her: Weep not, our son will arrive thither +safe, and will return safe to us, and thy eyes shall see him. + +5:27. For I believe that the good angel of God doth accompany him, and +doth order all things well that are done about him, so that he shall +return to us with joy. + +5:28. At these words his mother ceased weeping, and held her peace. + + + +Tobias Chapter 6 + + +By the angel's advice young Tobias taketh hold on a fish that +assaulteth him. Reserveth the heart, the gall, and the liver for +medicines. They lodge at the house of Raguel, whose daughter Sara, +Tobias is to marry; she had before been married to seven husbands, who +were all slain by a devil. + +6:1. And Tobias went forward, and the dog followed him, and he lodged +the first night by the river of Tigris. + +6:2. And he went out to wash his feet, and behold a monstrous fish came +up to devour him. + +6:3. And Tobias being afraid of him, cried out with a loud voice, +saying: Sir, he cometh upon me. + +6:4. And the angel said to him: Take him by the gill, and draw him to +thee. And when he had done so, he drew him out upon the land, and he +began to pant before his feet. + +6:5. Then the angel said to him: Take out the entrails of this fish, +and lay up his heart, and his gall, and his liver for thee: for these +are necessary for useful medicines. + +6:6. And when he had done so, he roasted the flesh thereof, and they +took it with them in the way: the rest they salted as much as might +serve them, till they came to Rages the city of the Medes. + +6:7. Then Tobias asked the angel, and said to him: I beseech thee, +brother Azarias, tell me what remedies are these things good for, which +thou hast bid me keep of the fish? + +6:8. And the angel, answering, said to him: If thou put a little piece +of its heart upon coals, the smoke thereof driveth away all kind of +devils, either from man or from woman, so that they come no more to +them. + +Its heart, etc. The liver (ver. 19). . .God was pleased to give these +things a virtue against those proud spirits, to make them, who affected +to be like the Most High, subject to such mean corporeal creatures as +instruments of his power. + +6:9. And the gall is good for anointing the eyes, in which there is a +white speck, and they shall be cured. + +6:10. And Tobias said to him: Where wilt thou that we lodge? + +6:11. And the angel answering, said: Here is one whose name is Raguel, +a near kinsman of thy tribe, and he hath a daughter named Sara, but he +hath no son nor any other daughter beside her. + +6:12. All his substance is due to thee, and thou must take her to wife. + +6:13. Ask her therefore of her father, and he will give her thee to +wife. + +6:14. Then Tobias answered, and said: I hear that she hath been given +to seven husbands, and they all died: moreover I have heard, that a +devil killed them. + +6:15. Now I am afraid, lest the same thing should happen to me also: +and whereas I am the only child of my parents, I should bring down +their old age with sorrow to hell. + +Hell. . .That is, to the place where the souls of the good were kept +before the coming of Christ. + +6:16. Then the angel Raphael said to him: Hear me, and I will shew thee +who they are, over whom the devil can prevail. + +6:17. For they who in such manner receive matrimony, as to shut out God +from themselves, and from their mind, and to give themselves to their +lust, as the horse and mule, which have not understanding, over them +the devil hath power. + +6:18. But thou when thou shalt take her, go into the chamber, and for +three days keep thyself continent from her, and give thyself to nothing +else but to prayers with her. + +6:19. And on that night lay the liver of the fish on the fire, and the +devil shall be driven away. + +6:20. But the second night thou shalt be admitted into the society of +the holy Patriarchs. + +6:21. And the third night thou shalt obtain a blessing that sound +children may be born of you. + +6:22. And when the third night is past, thou shalt take the virgin with +the fear of the Lord, moved rather for love of children than for lust, +that in the seed of Abraham thou mayst obtain a blessing in children. + + + +Tobias Chapter 7 + + +They are kindly entertained by Raguel. Tobias demandeth Sara to wife. + +7:1. And they went in to Raguel, and Raguel received them with joy. + +7:2. And Raguel looking upon Tobias, said to Anna his wife: How like is +this young man to my cousin? + +7:3. And when he had spoken these words, he said: Whence are ye young +men our brethren? + +7:4. But they said: We are of the tribe of Nephtali, of the captivity +of Ninive. + +7:5. And Raguel said to them: Do you know Tobias my brother? And they +said: We know him. + +7:6. And when he was speaking many good things of him, the angel said +to Raguel: Tobias concerning whom thou inquirest is this young man's +father. + +7:7. And Raguel went to him, and kissed him with tears and weeping upon +his neck, said: A blessing be upon thee, my son, because thou art the +son of a good and most virtuous man. + +7:8. And Anna his wife, and Sara their daughter wept. + +7:9. And after they had spoken, Raguel commanded a sheep to be killed, +and a feast to be prepared. And when he desired them to sit down to +dinner, + +7:10. Tobias said: I will not eat nor drink here this day, unless thou +first grant me my petition, and promise to give me Sara thy daughter. + +7:11. Now when Raguel heard this he was afraid, knowing what had +happened to those seven husbands, that went in unto her: and he began +to fear lest it might happen to him also in like manner: and as he was +in suspense, and gave no answer to his petition, + +7:12. The angel said to him: Be not afraid to give her to this man, for +to him who feareth God is thy daughter due to be his wife: therefore +another could not have her. + +7:13. Then Raguel said: I doubt not but God hath regarded my prayers +and tears in his sight. + +7:14. And I believe he hath therefore made you come to me, that this +maid might be married to one of her own kindred, according to the law +of Moses: and now doubt not but I will give her to thee. + +7:15. And taking the right hand of his daughter, he gave it into the +right hand of Tobias, saying: The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, +and the God of Jacob be with you, and may he join you together, and +fulfil his blessing in you. + +7:16. And taking paper they made a writing of the marriage. + +7:17. And afterwards they made merry, blessing God. + +7:18. And Raguel called to him Anna his wife, and bade her to prepare +another chamber. + +7:19. And she brought Sara her daughter in thither, and she wept. + +7:20. And she said to her: Be of good cheer, my daughter: the Lord of +heaven give thee joy for the trouble thou hast undergone. + + + +Tobias Chapter 8 + + +Tobias burneth part of the fish's liver, and Raphael bindeth the devil. +Tobias and Sara pray. + +8:1. And after they had supped, they brought in the young man to her. + +8:2. And Tobias remembering the angel's word, took out of his bag part +of the liver, and laid it upon burning coals. + +8:3. Then the angel Raphael took the devil, and bound him in the desert +of upper Egypt. + +8:4. Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her: Sara, arise, and +let us pray to God to day, and to morrow, and the next day: because for +these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is +over, we will be in our own wedlock. + +8:5. For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined +together like heathens that know not God. + +8:6. So they both arose, and prayed earnestly both together that health +might be given them, + +8:7. And Tobias said: Lord God of our fathers, may the heavens and the +earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy +creatures that are in them, bless thee. + +8:8. Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for +a helper. + +8:9. And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take +my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy +name may be blessed for ever and ever. + +8:10. Sara also said: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, and +let us grow old both together in health. + +8:11. And it came to pass about the cockcrowing, Raguel ordered his +servants to be called for, and they went with him together to dig a +grave. + +8:12. For he said: Lest perhaps it may have happened to him, in like +manner as it did to the other seven husbands, that went in unto her. + +8:13. And when they had prepared the pit, Raguel went back to his wife, +and said to her: + +8:14. Send one of thy maids, and let her see if he be dead, that I may +bury him before it be day. + +8:15. So she sent one of her maidservants, who went into the chamber, +and found them safe and sound, sleeping both together. + +8:16. And returning she brought the good news: and Raguel and Anna his +wife blessed the Lord, + +8:17. And said: We bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because it hath +not happened as we suspected. + +8:18. For thou hast shewn thy mercy to us, and hast shut out from us +the enemy that persecuted us. + +8:19. And thou hast taken pity upon two only children. Make them, O +Lord, bless thee more fully: and to offer up to thee a sacrifice of thy +praise, and of their health, that all nations may know, that thou alone +art God in all the earth. + +8:20. And immediately Raguel commanded his servants, to fill up the pit +they had made, before it was day. + +8:21. And he spoke to his wife to make ready a feast, and prepare all +kind of provisions that are necessary for such as go a journey. + +8:22. He caused also two fat kine, and four wethers to be killed, and a +banquet to be prepared for all his neighbours, and all his friends, + +8:23. And Raguel adjured Tobias, to abide with him two weeks. + +8:24. And of all things which Raguel possessed, he gave one half to +Tobias, and made a writing, that the half that remained should after +their decease come also to Tobias. + + + +Tobias Chapter 9 + + +The angel Raphael goeth to Gabelus, receiveth the money, and bringeth +him to the marriage. + +9:1. Then Tobias called the angel to him, whom he took to be a man, and +said to him: Brother Azarias, I pray thee hearken to my words: + +9:2. If I should give myself to be thy servant I should not make a +worthy return for thy care. + +9:3. However, I beseech thee, to take with thee beasts and servants, +and to go to Gabelus to Rages the city of the Medes: and to restore to +him his note of hand, and receive of him the money, and desire him to +come to my wedding. + +9:4. For thou knowest that my father numbereth the days: and if I stay +one day more, his soul will be afflicted. + +9:5. And indeed thou seest how Raguel hath adjured me, whose adjuring I +cannot despise. + +9:6. Then Raphael took four of Raguel's servants, and two camels, and +went to Rages the city of the Medes: and finding Gabelus, gave him his +note of hand, and received of him all the money. + +9:7. And he told him concerning Tobias the son of Tobias, all that had +been done: and made him come with him to the wedding. + +9:8. And when he was come into Raguel's house he found Tobias sitting +at the table: and he leaped up, and they kissed each other: and Gabelus +wept, and blessed God, + +9:9. And said: The God of Israel bless thee, because thou art the son +of a very good and just man, and that feareth God, and doth almsdeeds: + +9:10. And may a blessing come upon thy wife and upon your parents. + +9:11. And may you see your children, and your children's children, unto +the third and fourth generation: and may your seed be blessed by the +God of Israel, who reigneth for ever and ever. + +9:12. And when all had said, Amen, they went to the feast: but the +marriage feast they celebrated also with the fear of the Lord. + + + +Tobias Chapter 10 + + +The parents lament the long absence of their son Tobias. He sets out to +return. + +10:1. But as Tobias made longer stay upon occasion of the marriage, +Tobias his father was solicitous, saying: Why thinkest thou doth my son +tarry, or why is he detained there? + +10:2. Is Gabelus dead, thinkest thou, and no man will pay him the +money? + +10:3. And he began to be exceeding sad, both he and Anna his wife with +him: and they began both to weep together, because their son did not +return to them on the day appointed. + +10:4. But his mother wept and was quite disconsolate, and said: Woe, +woe is me, my son; why did we send thee to go to a strange country, the +light of our eyes, the staff of our old age, the comfort of our life, +the hope of our posterity? + +10:5. We having all things together in thee alone, ought not to have +let thee go from us. + +10:6. And Tobias said to her: Hold thy peace, and be not troubled, our +son is safe: that man with whom we sent him is very trusty. + +10:7. But she could by no means be comforted, but daily running out +looked round about, and went into all the ways by which there seemed +any hope he might return, that she might if possible see him coming +afar off. + +10:8. But Raguel said to his son in law: Stay here, and I will send a +messenger to Tobias thy father, that thou art in health. + +10:9. And Tobias said to him: I know that my father and mother now +count the days, and their spirit is grievously afflicted within them. + +10:10. And when Raguel had pressed Tobias with many words, and he by no +means would hearken to him, he delivered Sara unto him, and half of all +his substance in menservants, and womenservants, in cattle, in camels, +and in kine, and in much money, and sent him away safe and joyful from +him, + +10:11. Saying: The holy angel of the Lord be with you in your journey, +and bring you through safe, and that you may find all things well about +your parents, and my eyes may see your children before I die. + +10:12. And the parents taking their daughter kissed her, and let her +go: + +10:13. Admonishing her to honour her father and mother in law, to love +her husband, to take care of the family, to govern the house, and to +behave herself irreprehensibly. + + + +Tobias Chapter 11 + + +Tobias anointeth his father's eyes with the fish's gall, and he +recovereth his sight. + +11:1. And as they were returning they came to Charan, which is in the +midway to Ninive, the eleventh day. + +11:2. And the angel said: Brother Tobias, thou knowest how thou didst +leave thy father. + +11:3. If it please thee therefore, let us go before, and let the family +follow softly after us, together with thy wife, and with the beasts. + +11:4. And as this their going pleased him, Raphael said to Tobias: Take +with thee of the gall of the fish, for it will be necessary. So Tobias +took some of that gall and departed. + +11:5. But Anna sat beside the way daily, on the top of a hill, from +whence she might see afar off. + +11:6. And while she watched his coming from that place, she saw him +afar off, and presently perceived it was her son coming: and returning +she told her husband, saying: Behold thy son cometh. + +11:7. And Raphael said to Tobias: As soon as thou shalt come into thy +house, forthwith adore the Lord thy God: and giving thanks to him, go +to thy father, and kiss him. + +11:8. And immediately anoint his eyes with this gall of the fish, which +thou carriest with thee. For be assured that his eyes shall be +presently opened, and thy father shall see the light of heaven, and +shall rejoice in the sight of thee. + +11:9. Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran before, +and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning +and wagging his tail. + +The dog, etc. . .This may seem a very minute circumstance to be recorded +in sacred history: but as we learn from our Saviour, St. Matt. 5.18, +there are iotas and tittles in the word of God: that is to say, things +that appear minute, but which have indeed a deep and mysterious meaning +in them. + +11:10. And his father that was blind, rising up, began to run stumbling +with his feet: and giving a servant his hand, went to meet his son. + +11:11. And receiving him kissed him, as did also his wife, and they +began to weep for joy. + +11:12. And when they had adored God, and given him thanks, they sat +down together. + +11:13. Then Tobias taking of the gall of the fish, anointed his +father's eyes. + +11:14. And he stayed about half an hour: and a white skin began to come +out of his eyes, like the skin of an egg. + +11:15. And Tobias took hold of it, and drew it from his eyes, and +recovered his sight. + +11:16. And they glorified God, both he and his wife and all that knew +him. + +11:17. And Tobias said: I bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because +thou hast chastised me, and thou hast saved me and behold I see Tobias +my son. + +11:18. And after seven days Sara his son's wife and all the family +arrived safe, and the cattle, and the camels, and an abundance of money +of his wife's: and that money also which he had received of Gabelus, + +11:19. And he told his parents all the benefits of God, which he had +done to him by the man that conducted him. + +11:20. And Achior and Nabath the kinsmen of Tobias came, rejoicing for +Tobias, and congratulating with him for all the good things that God +had done for him. + +11:21. And for seven days they feasted and rejoiced all with great joy. + + + +Tobias Chapter 12 + + +Raphael maketh himself known. + +12:1. Then Tobias called to him his son and said to him: What can we +give to this holy man, that is come with thee? + +12:2. Tobias answering, said to his father: Father, what wages shall we +give him? or what can be worthy of his benefits? + +12:3. He conducted me and brought me safe again, he received the money +of Gabelus, he caused me to have my wife, and he chased from her the +evil spirit, he gave joy to her parents, myself he delivered from being +devoured by the fish, thee also he hath made to see the light of +heaven, and we are filled with all good things through him. What can we +give him sufficient for these things? + +12:4. But I beseech thee, my father, to desire him, that he would +vouchsafe to accept of one half of all things that have been brought. + +12:5. So the father and the son calling him, took him aside: and began +to desire him that he would vouchsafe to accept of half of all things +that they had brought, + +12:6. Then he said to them secretly, Bless ye the God of heaven, give +glory to him in the sight of all that live, because he hath shewn his +mercy to you. + +12:7. For it is good to hide the secret of a king: to reveal and +confess the works of God. + +12:8. Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than to lay up +treasures of gold. + +12:9. For alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which +purgeth away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life everlasting. + +12:10. But they that commit sin and iniquity, are enemies to their own +soul. + +12:11. I discover then the truth unto you, and I will not hide the +secret from you. + +12:12. When thou didst pray with tears, and didst bury the dead, and +didst leave thy dinner, and hide the dead by day in thy house, and bury +them by night, I offered thy prayer to the Lord. + +12:13. And because thou wast acceptable to God, it was necessary that +temptation should prove thee. + +12:14. And now the Lord hath sent me to heal thee, and to deliver Sara +thy son's wife from the devil. + +12:15. For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before +the Lord. + +12:16. And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and +being seized with fear they fell upon the ground on their face. + +12:17. And the angel said to them: Peace be to you, fear not. + +12:18. For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God: bless +ye him, and sing praises to him. + +12:19. I seemed indeed to eat and to drink with you but I use an +invisible meat and drink, which cannot be seen by men. + +12:20. It is time therefore that I return to him that sent me: but +bless ye God, and publish all his wonderful works. + +12:21. And when he had said these things, he was taken from their +sight, and they could see him no more. + +12:22. Then they lying prostrate for three hours upon their face, +blessed God, and rising up, they told all his wonderful works. + + + +Tobias Chapter 13 + + +Tobias the father praiseth God, exhorting all Israel to do the same. +Prophesieth the restoration and better state of Jerusalem. + +13:1. And Tobias the elder opening his mouth, blessed the Lord, and +said: Thou art great O Lord, for ever, and thy kingdom is unto all +ages. + +13:2. For thou scourgest, and thou savest: thou leadest down to hell, +and bringest up again: and there is none that can escape thy hand. + +13:3. Give glory to the Lord, ye children of Israel, and praise him in +the sight of the Gentiles: + +13:4. Because he hath therefore scattered you among the Gentiles, who +know not him, that you may declare his wonderful works, and make them +know that there is no other almighty God besides him. + +13:5. He hath chastised us for our iniquities: and he will save us for +his own mercy. + +13:6. See then what he hath done with us, and with fear and trembling +give ye glory to him: and extol the eternal King of worlds in your +works. + +13:7. As for me, I will praise him in the land of my captivity: because +he hath shewn his majesty toward a sinful nation, + +13:8. Be converted therefore, ye sinners, and do justice before God, +believing that he will shew his mercy to you. + +13:9. And I and my soul will rejoice in him. + +13:10. Bless ye the Lord, all his elect, keep days of joy, and give +glory to him. + +13:11. Jerusalem, city of God, the Lord hath chastised thee for the +works of thy hands. + +Jerusalem. . .What is prophetically delivered here, and in the following +chapter, with relation to Jerusalem, is partly to be understood of the +rebuilding of the city after the captivity: and partly of the spiritual +Jerusalem, which is the church of Christ, and the eternal Jerusalem in +heaven. + +13:12. Give glory to the Lord for thy good things, and bless the God +eternal that he may rebuild his tabernacle in thee, and may call back +all the captives to thee, and thou mayst rejoice for ever and ever. + +13:13. Thou shalt shine with a glorious light: and all the ends of the +earth shall worship thee, + +13:14. Nations from afar shall come to thee: and shall bring gifts, and +shall adore the Lord in thee, and shall esteem thy land as holy. + +13:15. For they shall call upon the great name in thee, + +13:16. They shall be cursed that shall despise thee: and they shall be +condemned that shall blaspheme thee: and blessed shall they be that +shall build thee up, + +13:17. But thou shalt rejoice in thy children, because they shall all +be blessed, and shall be gathered together to the Lord. + +13:18. Blessed are all they that love thee, and that rejoice in thy +peace, + +13:19. My soul, bless thou the Lord, because the Lord our God hath +delivered Jerusalem his city from all her troubles. + +13:20. Happy shall I be if there shall remain of my seed, to see the +glory of Jerusalem. + +13:21. The gates of Jerusalem shall be built of sapphire, and of +emerald, and all the walls thereof round about of precious stones. + +13:22. All its streets shall be paved with white and clean stones: and +Alleluia shall be sung in its streets, + +13:23. Blessed be the Lord, who hath exalted it, and may he reign over +it for ever and ever, Amen. + + + +Tobias Chapter 14 + + +Old Tobias dieth at the age of a hundred and two years, after exhorting +his son and grandsons to piety, foreshewing that Ninive shall be +destroyed, and Jerusalem rebuilt. The younger Tobias returneth with his +family to Raguel, and dieth happily as he had lived. + +14:1. And the words of Tobias were ended. And after Tobias was restored +to his sight, he lived two and forty years, and saw the children of his +grandchildren. + +14:2. And after he had lived a hundred and two years, he was buried +honorably in Ninive. + +14:3. For he was six and fifty years old when he lost the sight of his +eyes, and sixty when he recovered it again. + +14:4. And the rest of his life was in joy, and with great increase of +the fear of God he departed in peace. + +14:5. And at the hour of his death he called unto him his son Tobias +and his children, seven young men, his grandsons, and said to them: + +14:6. The destruction of Ninive is at hand: for the word of the Lord +must be fulfilled: and our brethren, that are scattered abroad from the +land of Israel, shall return to it. + +14:7. And all the land thereof that is desert shall be filled with +people, and the house of God which is burnt in it, shall again be +rebuilt: and all that fear God shall return thither. + +14:8. And the Gentiles shall leave their idols, and shall come into +Jerusalem, and shall dwell in it. + +14:9. And all the kings of the earth shall rejoice in it, adoring the +King of Israel. + +14:10. Hearken therefore, my children, to your father: serve the Lord +in truth, and seek to do the things that please him: + +14:11. And command your children that they do justice and almsdeeds, +and that they be mindful of God, and bless him at all times in truth, +and with all their power. + +14:12. And now, children, hear me, and do not stay here: but as soon as +you shall bury your mother by me in one sepulchre, without delay direct +your steps to depart hence: + +14:13. For I see that its iniquity will bring it to destruction. + +14:14. And it came to pass that after the death of his mother, Tobias +departed out of Ninive with his wife, and children, and children's +children, and returned to his father and mother in law. + +14:15. And he found them in health in a good old age: and he took care +of them, and he closed their eyes: and all the inheritance of Raguel's +house came to him: and he saw his children's children to the fifth +generation. + +14:16. And after he had lived ninety-nine years in the fear of the +Lord, with joy they buried him. + +14:17. And all his kindred, and all his generation continued in good +life, and in holy conversation, so that they were acceptable both to +God, and to men, and to all that dwelt in the land. + + + + +THE BOOK OF JUDITH + + + +The sacred writer of this Book is generally believed to be the high +priest Eliachim (called also Joachim). The transactions herein related, +most probably happened in his days, and in the reign of Manasses, after +his repentance and return from captivity. It takes its name from that +illustrious woman, by whose virtue and fortitude, and armed with +prayer, the children of Israel were preserved from the destruction +threatened them by Holofernes and his great army. It finishes with her +canticle of thanksgiving to God. + + + +Judith Chapter 1 + + +Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians overcometh Arphaxad king of the +Medes. + +1:1. Now Arphaxad king of the Medes had brought many nations under his +dominions, and he built a very strong city, which he called Ecbatana, + +Arphaxad. . .He was probably the same as is called Dejoces by Herodotus; +to whom he attributes the building of Ecbatana, the capital city of +Media. + +1:2. Of stones squared and hewed: he made the walls thereof seventy +cubits broad, and thirty cubits high, and the towers thereof he made a +hundred cubits high. But on the square of them, each side was extended +the space of twenty feet. + +1:3. And he made the gates thereof according to the height of the +towers: + +1:4. And he gloried as a mighty one in the force of his army and in the +glory of his chariots. + +1:5. Now in the twelfth year of his reign, Nabuchodonosor king of the +Assyrians, who reigned in Ninive the great city, fought against +Arphaxad and overcame him, + +Nabuchodonosor. . .Not the king of Babylon, who took and destroyed +Jerusalem, but another of the same name, who reigned in Ninive: and is +called by profane historians Saosduchin. He succeeded Asarhaddan in the +kingdom of the Assyrians, and was contemporary with Manasses king of +Juda. + +1:6. In the great plain which is called Ragua, about the Euphrates, and +the Tigris, and the Jadason, in the plain of Erioch the king of the +Elicians. + +1:7. Then was the kingdom of Nabuchodonosor exalted, and his heart was +elevated: and he sent to all that dwelt in Cilicia and Damascus, and +Libanus, + +1:8. And to the nations that are in Carmelus, and Cedar, and to the +inhabitants of Galilee in the great plain of Asdrelon, + +1:9. And to all that were in Samaria, and beyond the river Jordan even +to Jerusalem, and all the land of Jesse till you come to the borders of +Ethiopia. + +1:10. To all these Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, sent +messengers: + +1:11. But they all with one mind refused, and sent them back empty, and +rejected them without honour. + +1:12. Then king Nabuchodonosor being angry against all that land, swore +by his throne and kingdom that he would revenge himself of all those +countries. + + + +Judith Chapter 2 + + +Nabuchodonosor sendeth Holofernes to waste the countries of the west. + +2:1. In the thirteenth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, the two and +twentieth day of the first month, the word was given out in the house +of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, that he would revenge himself. + +2:2. And he called all the ancients, and all the governors, and his +officers of war, and communicated to them the secret of his counsel: + +2:3. And he said that his thoughts were to bring all the earth under +his empire. + +2:4. And when this saying pleased them all, Nabuchodonosor, the king, +called Holofernes the general of his armies, + +2:5. And said to him: Go out against all the kingdoms of the west, and +against them especially that despised my commandment. + +2:6. Thy eye shall not spare any kingdom, and all the strong cities +thou shalt bring under my yoke. + +2:7. Then Holofernes called the captains, and officers of the power of +the Assyrians: and he mustered men for the expedition, and the king +commanded him, a hundred and twenty thousand fighting men on foot, and +twelve thousand archers, horsemen. + +2:8. And he made all his warlike preparations to go before with a +multitude of innumerable camels, with all provisions sufficient for the +armies in abundance, and herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep, without +number. + +2:9. He appointed corn to be prepared out of all Syria in his passage. + +2:10. But gold and silver he took out of the king's house in great +abundance. + +2:11. And he went forth he and all the army, with the chariots, and +horsemen, and archers, who covered the face of the earth, like locusts. + +2:12. And when he had passed through the borders of the Assyrians, he +came to the great mountains of Ange, which are on the left of Cilicia: +and he went up to all their castles, and took all the strong places. + +2:13. And he took by assault the renowned city of Melothus, and +pillaged all the children of Tharsis, and the children of Ismahel, who +were over against the face of the desert, and on the south of the land +of Cellon. + +2:14. And he passed over the Euphrates and came into Mesopotamia: and +he forced all the stately cities that were there, from the torrent of +Mambre, till one comes to the sea: + +2:15. And he took the borders thereof, from Cilicia to the coasts of +Japheth, which are towards the south. + +2:16. And he carried away all the children of Madian, and stripped them +of all their riches, and all that resisted him he slew with the edge of +the sword. + +2:17. And after these things he went down into the plains of Damascus +in the days of the harvest, and he set all the corn on fire, and he +caused all the trees and vineyards to be cut down. + +2:18. And the fear of them fell upon all the inhabitants of the land. + + + +Judith Chapter 3 + + +Many submit themselves to Holofernes. He destroyeth their cities, and +their gods, that Nabuchodonosor only might be called God. + +3:1. Then the kings and the princes of all the cities and provinces, of +Syria, Mesopotamia, and Syria Sobal, and Libya, and Cilicia sent their +ambassadors, who coming to Holofernes, said: + +3:2. Let thy indignation towards us cease, for it is better for us to +live and serve Nabuchodonosor the great king, and be subject to thee, +than to die and to perish, or suffer the miseries of slavery. + +3:3. All our cities and our possessions, all mountains and hills, and +fields, and herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep, and goats, and horses, +and camels, and all our goods, and families are in thy sight: + +3:4. Let all we have be subject to thy law, + +3:5. Both we and our children are thy servants. + +3:6. Come to us a peaceable lord, and use our service as it shall +please thee, + +3:7. Then he came down from the mountains with horsemen, in great +power, and made himself master of every city, and all the inhabitants +of the land. + +3:8. And from all the cities he took auxiliaries valiant men, and +chosen for war, + +3:9. And so great a fear lay upon all those provinces, that the +inhabitants of all the cities, both princes and nobles, as well as the +people, went out to meet him at his coming. + +3:10. And received him with garlands, and lights, and dances, and +timbrels, and flutes. + +3:11. And though they did these things, they could not for all that +mitigate the fierceness of his heart: + +3:12. For he both destroyed their cities, and cut down their groves. + +3:13. For Nabuchodonosor the king had commanded him to destroy all the +gods of the earth, that he only might be called God by those nations +which could be brought under him by the power of Holofernes. + +3:14. And when he had passed through all Syria Sobal, and all Apamea, +and all Mesopotamia, he came to the Idumeans into the land of Gabaa, + +3:15. And he took possession of their cities, and stayed there for +thirty days, in which days he commanded all the troops of his army to +be united. + + + +Judith Chapter 4 + + +The children of Israel prepare themselves to resist Holofernes. They +cry to the Lord for help. + +4:1. Then the children of Israel, who dwelt in the land of Juda, +hearing these things, were exceedingly afraid of him. + +4:2. Dread and horror seized upon their minds, lest he should do the +same to Jerusalem and to the temple of the Lord, that he had done to +other cities and their temples. + +4:3. And they sent into all Samaria round about, as far as Jericho, and +seized upon all the tops of the mountains: + +4:4. And they compassed their towns with walls and gathered together +corn for provision for war. + +4:5. And Eliachim the priest wrote to all that were over against +Esdrelon, which faceth the great plain near Dothain, and to all by whom +there might be a passage of way, that they should take possession of +the ascents of the mountains, by which there might be any way to +Jerusalem, and should keep watch where the way was narrow between the +mountains. + +4:6. And the children of Israel did as the priests of the Lord Eliachim +had appointed them. + +4:7. And all the people cried to the Lord with great earnestness, and +they humbled their souls in fastings, and prayers, both they and their +wives. + +4:8. And the priests put on haircloths, and they caused the little +children to lie prostrate before the temple of the Lord, and the altar +of the Lord they covered with haircloth. + +4:9. And they cried to the Lord the God of Israel with one accord, that +their children might not be made a prey, and their wives carried off, +and their cities destroyed, and their holy things profaned, and that +they might not be made a reproach to the Gentiles. + +4:10. Then Eliachim the high priest of the Lord went about all Israel +and spoke to them, + +4:11. Saying: Know ye that the Lord will hear your prayers, if you +continue with perseverance in fastings and prayers in the sight of the +Lord. + +4:12. Remember Moses the servant of the Lord overcame Amalec that +trusted in his own strength, and in his power, and in his army, and in +his shields, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen, not by fighting +with the sword, but by holy prayers: + +4:13. So all the enemies of Israel be, if you persevere in this work +which you have begun. + +4:14. So they being moved by this exhortation of his, prayed to the +Lord, and continued in the sight of the Lord. + +4:15. So that even they who offered the holocausts to the Lord, offered +the sacrifices to the Lord girded with haircloths, and with ashes upon +their head. + +4:16. And they all begged of God with all their heart, that he would +visit his people Israel. + + + +Judith Chapter 5 + + +Achior gives Holofernes an account of the people of Israel. + +5:1. And it was told Holofernes the general of the army of the +Assyrians, that the children of Israel prepared themselves to resist, +and had shut up the ways of the mountains. + +5:2. And he was transported with exceeding great fury and indignation, +and he called all the princes of Moab and the leaders of Ammon. + +5:3. And he said to them: Tell me what is this people that besetteth +the mountains: or what are their cities, and of what sort, and how +great: also what is their power, or what is their multitude: or who is +the king over their warfare: + +5:4. And why they above all that dwell in the east, have despised us, +and have not come out to meet us, that they might receive us with +peace? + +5:5. Then Achior captain of all the children of Ammon answering, said; +If thou vouchsafe, my lord, to hear, I will tell the truth in thy sight +concerning this people, that dwelleth in the mountains, and there shall +not a false word come out of my mouth. + +5:6. This people is of the offspring of the Chaldeans. + +5:7. They dwelt first in Mesopotamia, because they would not follow the +gods of their fathers, who were in the land of the Chaldeans. + +5:8. Wherefore forsaking the ceremonies of their fathers, which +consisted in the worship of many gods, + +5:9. They worshipped one God of heaven, who also commanded them to +depart from thence, and to dwell in Charan. And when there was a famine +over all the land, they went down into Egypt, and there for four +hundred years were so multiplied, that the army of them could not be +numbered. + +5:10. And when the king of Egypt oppressed them, and made slaves of +them to labour in clay and brick, in the building of his cities, they +cried to their Lord, and he struck the whole land of Egypt with divers +plagues. + +5:11. And when the Egyptians had cast them out from them, and the +plague had ceased from them, and they had a mind to take them again, +and bring them back to their service, + +5:12. The God of heaven opened the sea to them in their flight, so that +the waters were made to stand firm as a wall on either side, and they +walked through the bottom of the sea and passed it dry foot. + +5:13. And when an innumerable army of the Egyptians pursued after them +in that place, they were so overwhelmed with the waters, that there was +not one left, to tell what had happened to posterity. + +5:14. After they came out of the Red Sea, they abode in the deserts of +mount Sina, in which never man could dwell, or son of man rested. + +5:15. There bitter fountains were made sweet for them to drink, and for +forty years they received food from heaven. + +5:16. Wheresoever they went in without bow and arrow, and without +shield and sword, their God fought for them and overcame. + +5:17. And there was no one that triumphed over this people, but when +they departed from the worship of the Lord their God. + +5:18. But as often as beside their own God, they worshipped any other, +they were given to spoil and to the sword, and to reproach. + +5:19. And as often as they were penitent for having revolted from the +worship of their God, the God of heaven gave them power to resist. + +5:20. So they overthrew the king of the Chanaanites, and of the +Jebusites, and of the Pherezites, and of the Hethites, and of the +Hevites, and of the Amorrhites, and all the mighty ones in Hesebon, and +they possessed their lands, and their cities: + +5:21. And as long as they sinned not in the sight of their God, it was +well with them: for their God hateth iniquity. + +5:22. And even some years ago when they had revolted from the way which +God had given them to walk therein, they were destroyed in battles by +many nations and very many of them were led away captive into a strange +land. + +5:23. But of late returning to the Lord their God, from the different +places wherein they were scattered, they are come together and are gone +up into all these mountains, and possess Jerusalem again, where their +holies are. + +5:24. Now therefore, my lord, search if there be any iniquity of theirs +in the sight of their God: let us go up to them, because their God will +surely deliver them to thee, and they shall be brought under the yoke +of thy power: + +5:25. But if there be no offence of this people in the sight of their +God, we cannot resist them because their God will defend them: and we +shall be a reproach to the whole earth. + +5:26. And it came to pass, when Achior had ceased to speak these words, +all the great men of Holofernes were angry, and they had a mind to kill +him, saying to each other: + +5:27. Who is this, that saith the children of Israel can resist king +Nabuchodonosor, and his armies, men unarmed, and without force, and +without skill in the art of war? + +5:28. That Achior therefore may know that he deceiveth us, let us go up +into the mountains: and when the bravest of them shall be taken, then +shall he with them be stabbed with the sword, + +5:29. That every nation may know that Nabuchodonosor is god of the +earth, and besides him there is no other. + + + +Judith Chapter 6 + + +Holofernes in great rage sendeth Achior to Bethulia, there to be slain +with the Israelites. + +6:1. And it came to pass when they had left off speaking, that +Holofernes being in a violent passion, said to Achior: + +6:2. Because thou hast prophesied unto us, saying: That the nation of +Israel is defended by their God, to shew thee that there is no God, but +Nabuchodonosor: + +6:3. When we shall slay them all as one man, then thou also shalt die +with them by the sword of the Assyrians, and all Israel shall perish +with thee: + +6:4. And thou shalt find that Nabuchodonosor is lord of the whole +earth: and then the sword of my soldiers shall pass through thy sides, +and thou shalt be stabbed and fall among the wounded of Israel, and +thou shalt breathe no more till thou be destroyed with them. + +6:5. But if thou think thy prophecy true, let not thy countenance sink, +and let the paleness that is in thy face, depart from thee, if thou +imaginest these my words cannot be accomplished. + +6:6. And that thou mayst know that thou shalt experience these things +together with them, behold from this hour thou shalt be associated to +their people, that when they shall receive the punishment they deserve +from my sword, thou mayst fall under the same vengeance. + +6:7. Then Holofernes commanded his servants to take Achior, and to lead +him to Bethulia, and to deliver him into the hands of the children of +Israel. + +6:8. And the servants of Holofernes taking him, went through the +plains: but when they came near the mountains, the slingers came out +against them. + +6:9. Then turning out of the way by the side of the mountain, they tied +Achior to a tree hand and foot, and so left him bound with ropes, and +returned to their master. + +6:10. And the children of Israel coming down from Bethulia, came to +him, and loosing him they brought him to Bethulia, and setting him in +the midst of the people, asked him what was the matter that the +Assyrians had left him bound. + +6:11. In those days the rulers there, were Ozias the son of Micha of +the tribe of Simeon, and Charmi, called also Gothoniel. + +6:12. And Achior related in the midst of the ancients, and in the +presence of all the people, all that he had said being asked by +Holofernes: and how the people of Holofernes would have killed him for +this word, + +6:13. And how Holofernes himself being angry had commanded him to be +delivered for this cause to the Israelites: that when he should +overcome the children of Israel, then he might command Achior also +himself to be put to death by diverse torments, for having said: The +God of heaven is their defender. + +6:14. And when Achior had declared all these things, all the people +fell upon their faces, adoring the Lord, and all of them together +mourning and weeping poured out their prayers with one accord to the +Lord, + +6:15. Saying: O Lord God of heaven and earth, behold their pride, and +look on our low condition, and have regard to the face of thy saints, +and shew that thou forsakest not them that trust on thee, and that thou +humblest them that presume of themselves, and glory in their own +strength. + +6:16. So when their weeping was ended, and the people's prayer, in +which they continued all the day, was concluded, they comforted Achior, + +6:17. Saying: The God of our fathers, whose power thou hast set forth, +will make this return to thee, that thou rather shalt see their +destruction. + +6:18. And when the Lord our God shall give this liberty to his +servants, let God be with thee also in the midst of us: that as it +shall please thee, so thou with all thine mayst converse with us. + +6:19. Then Ozias, after the assembly was broken up, received him into +his house, and made him a great supper. + +6:20. And all the ancients were invited, and they refreshed themselves +together after their fast was over. + +6:21. And afterwards all the people were called together, and they +prayed all the night long within the church, desiring help of the God +of Israel. + +The church. . .That is, the synagogue or place where they met for +prayer. + + + +Judith Chapter 7 + + +Holofernes besiegeth Bethulia. The distress of the besieged. + +7:1. But Holofernes on the next day gave orders to his army, to go up +against Bethulia. + +7:2. Now there were in his troops a hundred and twenty thousand +footmen, and two and twenty thousand horsemen, besides the preparations +of those men who had been taken, and who had been brought away out of +the provinces and cities of all the youth. + +7:3. All these prepared themselves together to fight against the +children of Israel, and they came by the hillside to the top, which +looketh toward Dothain, from the place which is called Belma, unto +Chelmon, which is over against Esdrelon. + +7:4. But the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, +prostrated themselves upon the ground, putting ashes upon their heads, +praying with one accord, that the God of Israel would shew his mercy +upon his people. + +7:5. And taking their arms of war, they posted themselves at the +places, which by a narrow pathway lead directly between the mountains, +and they guarded them all day and night. + +7:6. Now Holofernes, in going round about, found that the fountain +which supplied them with water, ran through an aqueduct without the +city on the south side: and he commanded their aqueduct to be cut off. + +7:7. Nevertheless there were springs not far from the walls, out of +which they were seen secretly to draw water, to refresh themselves a +little rather than to drink their fill. + +7:8. But the children of Ammon and Moab came to Holofernes, saying: The +children of Israel trust not in their spears, nor in their arrows, but +the mountains are their defence, and the steep hills and precipices +guard them. + +7:9. Wherefore that thou mayst overcome them without joining battle, +set guards at the springs that they may not draw water out of them, and +thou shalt destroy them without sword, or at least being wearied out +they will yield up their city, which they suppose, because it is +situate in the mountains, to be impregnable. + +7:10. And these words pleased Holofernes, and his officers, and he +placed all round about a hundred men at every spring. + +7:11. And when they had kept this watch for full twenty days, the +cisterns, and the reserve of waters failed among all the inhabitants of +Bethulia, so that there was not within the city, enough to satisfy +them, no not for one day, for water was daily given out to the people +by measure. + +7:12. Then all the men and women, young men, and children, gathering +themselves together to Ozias, all together with one voice, + +7:13. Said: God be judge between us and thee, for thou hast done evil +against us, in that thou wouldst not speak peaceably with the +Assyrians, and for this cause God hath sold us into their hands. + +7:14. And therefore there is no one to help us, while we are cast down +before their eyes in thirst, and sad destruction. + +7:15. And now assemble ye all that are in the city, that we may of our +own accord yield ourselves all up to the people of Holofernes. + +7:16. For it is better, that being captives we should live and bless +the Lord, than that we should die, and be a reproach to all flesh, +after we have seen our wives and our infants die before our eyes. + +7:17. We call to witness this day heaven and earth, and the God of our +fathers, who taketh vengeance upon us according to our sins, conjuring +you to deliver now the city into the hand of the army of Holofernes, +that our end may be short by the edge of the sword, which is made +longer by the drought of thirst. + +7:18. And when they had said these things, there was great weeping and +lamentation of all in the assembly, and for many hours with one voice +they cried to God, saying: + +7:19. We have sinned with our fathers, we have done unjustly, we have +committed iniquity: + +7:20. Have thou mercy on us, because thou art good, or punish our +iniquities by chastising us thyself, and deliver not them that trust in +thee to a people that knoweth not thee, + +7:21. That they may not say among the Gentiles: Where is their God? + +7:22. And when being wearied with these cries, and tired with these +weepings, they held their peace, + +7:23. Ozias rising up all in tears, said: Be of good courage, my +brethren, and let us wait these five days for mercy from the Lord. + +7:24. For perhaps he will put a stop to his indignation, and will give +glory to his own name. + +7:25. But if after five days be past there come no aid, we will do the +things which you have spoken. + + + +Judith Chapter 8 + + +The character of Judith: her discourse to the ancients. + +8:1. Now it came to pass, when Judith a widow had heard these words, +who was the daughter of Merari, the son of Idox, the son of Joseph, the +son of Ozias, the son of Elai, the son of Jamnor, the son of Gedeon, +the son of Raphaim, the son of Achitob, the son of Melchias, the son of +Enan, the son of Nathanias, the son of Salathiel, the son of Simeon, +the son of Ruben: + +Simeon the son of Ruben. . .In the Greek, it is the son of Israel. For +Simeon the patriarch, from whom Judith descended, was not the son, but +the brother of Ruben. It seems more probable that the Simeon and the +Ruben here mentioned are not the patriarchs: but two of the descendants +of the patriarch Simeon: and that the genealogy of Judith, recorded in +this place, is not carried up so high as the patriarchs. No more than +that of Elcana the father of Samuel, 1 Kings 1.1, and that of king +Saul, 1 Kings 9.1. + +8:2. And her husband was Manasses, who died in the time of the barley +harvest: + +8:3. For he was standing over them that bound sheaves in the field; and +the heat came upon his head, and he died in Bethulia his own city, and +was buried there with his fathers. + +8:4. And Judith his relict was a widow now three years and six months. + +8:5. And she made herself a private chamber in the upper part of her +house, in which she abode shut up with her maids. + +8:6. And she wore haircloth upon her loins, and fasted all the days of +her life, except the sabbaths, and new moons, and the feasts of the +house of Israel. + +8:7. And she was exceedingly beautiful, and her husband left her great +riches, and very many servants, and large possessions of herds of oxen, +and flocks of sheep. + +8:8. And she was greatly renowned among all, because she feared the +Lord very much, neither was there any one that spoke an ill word of +her. + +8:9. When therefore she had heard that Ozias had promised that he would +deliver up the city after the fifth day, she sent to the ancients +Chabri and Charmi. + +8:10. And they came to her, and she said to them: What is this word, by +which Ozias hath consented to give up the city to the Assyrians, if +within five days there come no aid to us? + +8:11. And who are you that tempt the Lord? + +8:12. This is not a word that may draw down mercy, but rather that may +stir up wrath, and enkindle indignation. + +8:13. You have set a time for the mercy of the Lord, and you have +appointed him a day, according to your pleasure. + +8:14. But forasmuch as the Lord is patient, let us be penitent for this +same thing, and with many tears let us beg his pardon: + +8:15. For God will not threaten like man, nor be inflamed to anger like +the son of man. + +8:16. And therefore let us humble our souls before him, and continuing +in an humble spirit, in his service: + +8:17. Let us ask the Lord with tears, that according to his will so he +would shew his mercy to us: that as our heart is troubled by their +pride, so also we may glorify in our humility. + +8:18. For we have not followed the sins of our fathers, who forsook +their God, and worshipped strange gods. + +8:19. For which crime they were given up to their enemies, to the +sword, and to pillage, and to confusion: but we know no other God but +him. + +8:20. Let us humbly wait for his consolation, and the Lord our God will +require our blood of the afflictions of our enemies, and he will humble +all the nations that shall rise up against us, and bring them to +disgrace. + +8:21. And now, brethren, as you are the ancients among the people of +God, and their very soul resteth upon you: comfort their hearts by your +speech, that they may be mindful how our fathers were tempted that they +might be proved, whether they worshipped their God truly. + +8:22. They must remember how our father Abraham was tempted, and being +proved by many tribulations, was made the friend of God. + +8:23. So Isaac, so Jacob, so Moses, and all that have pleased God, +passed through many tribulations, remaining faithful. + +8:24. But they that did not receive the trials with the fear of the +Lord, but uttered their impatience and the reproach of their murmuring +against the Lord, + +8:25. Were destroyed by the destroyer, and perished by serpents. + +8:26. As for us therefore let us not revenge ourselves for these things +which we suffer. + +8:27. But esteeming these very punishments to be less than our sins +deserve, let us believe that these scourges of the Lord, with which +like servants we are chastised, have happened for our amendment, and +not for our destruction. + +8:28. And Ozias and the ancients said to her: All things which thou +hast spoken are true, and there is nothing to be reprehended in thy +words. + +8:29. Now therefore pray for us, for thou art a holy woman, and one +fearing God. + +8:30. And Judith said to them: As you know that what I have been able +to say is of God: + +8:31. So that which I intend to do prove ye if it be of God, and pray +that God may strengthen my design. + +8:32. You shall stand at the gate this night, and I will go out with my +maidservant: and pray ye, that as you have said, in five days the Lord +may look down upon his people Israel. + +8:33. But I desire that you search not into what I am doing, and till I +bring you word let nothing else be done but to pray for me to the Lord +our God. + +8:34. And Ozias the prince of Juda said to her: Go in peace, and the +Lord be with thee to take revenge of our enemies. So returning they +departed. + + + +Judith Chapter 9 + + +Judith's prayer, to beg of God to fortify her in her undertaking. + +9:1. And when they were gone, Judith went into her oratory: and putting +on haircloth, laid ashes on her head: and falling down prostrate before +the Lord, she cried to the Lord, saying: + +9:2. Lord God of my father Simeon, who gavest him a sword to execute +vengeance against strangers, who had defiled by their uncleanness, and +uncovered the virgin unto confusion: + +Gavest him a sword, etc. . .The justice of God is here praised, in +punishing by the sword of Simeon the crime of the Sichemites: and not +the act of Simeon, which was justly condemned by his father, Gen. 49.5. +Though even with regard to this act, we may distinguish between his +zeal against the crime committed by the ravishers of his sister, which +zeal may be considered just: and the manner of his punishing that +crime, which was irregular and excessive. + +9:3. And who gavest their wives to be made a prey, and their daughters +into captivity: and all their spoils to be divided to the servants, who +were zealous with thy zeal: assist, I beseech thee, O Lord God, me a +widow. + +9:4. For thou hast done the things of old, and hast devised one thing +after another: and what thou hast designed hath been done. + +9:5. For all thy ways are prepared, and in thy providence thou hast +placed thy judgments. + +9:6. Look upon the camp of the Assyrians now, as thou wast pleased to +look upon the camp of the Egyptians, when they pursued armed after thy +servants, trusting in their chariots, and in their horsemen, and in a +multitude of warriors. + +9:7. But thou lookedst over their camp, and darkness wearied them. + +9:8. The deep held their feet, and the waters overwhelmed them. + +9:9. So may it be with these also, O Lord, who trust in their +multitude, and in their chariots, and in their pikes, and in their +shields, and in their arrows, and glory in their spears, + +9:10. And know not that thou art our God, who destroyest wars from the +beginning, and the Lord is thy name. + +9:11. Lift up thy arm as from the beginning, and crush their power with +thy power: let their power fall in their wrath, who promise themselves +to violate thy sanctuary, and defile the dwelling place of thy name, +and to beat down with their sword the horn of thy altar. + +9:12. Bring to pass, O Lord, that his pride may be cut off with his own +sword. + +9:13. Let him be caught in the net of his own eyes in my regard, and do +thou strike him by the graces of the words of my lips. + +9:14. Give me constancy in my mind, that I may despise him: and +fortitude that I may overthrow him. + +9:15. For this will be a glorious monument for thy name, when he shall +fall by the hand of a woman. + +9:16. For thy power, O Lord, is not in a multitude, nor is thy pleasure +in the strength of horses, nor from the beginning have the proud been +acceptable to thee: but the prayer of the humble and the meek hath +always pleased thee. + +9:17. O God of the heavens, creator of the waters, and Lord of the +whole creation, hear me a poor wretch, making supplication to thee, and +presuming of thy mercy. + +9:18. Remember, O Lord, thy covenant, and put thou words in my mouth, +and strengthen the resolution in my heart, that thy house may continue +in thy holiness: + +9:19. And all nations may acknowledge that thou art God, and there is +no other besides thee. + + + +Judith Chapter 10 + + +Judith goeth out towards the camp, and is taken, and brought to +Holofernes. + +10:1. And it came to pass, when she had ceased to cry to the Lord, that +she rose from the place wherein she lay prostrate before the Lord. + +10:2. And she called her maid, and going down into her house she took +off her haircloth, and put away the garments of her widowhood, + +10:3. And she washed her body, and anointed herself with the best +ointment, and plaited the hair of her head, and put a bonnet upon her +head, and clothed herself with the garments of her gladness, and put +sandals on her feet, and took her bracelets, and lilies, and earlets, +and rings, and adorned herself with all her ornaments. + +10:4. And the Lord also gave her more beauty: because all this dressing +up did not proceed from sensuality, but from virtue: and therefore the +Lord increased this her beauty, so that she appeared to all men's eyes +incomparably lovely. + +10:5. And she gave to her maid a bottle of wine to carry, and a vessel +of oil, and parched corn, and dry figs, and bread and cheese, and went +out. + +10:6. And when they came to the gate of the city, they found Ozias, and +the ancients of the city waiting. + +10:7. And when they saw her they were astonished, and admired her +beauty exceedingly. + +10:8. But they asked her no question, only they let her pass, saying: +The God of our fathers give thee grace, and may he strengthen all the +counsel of thy heart with his power, that Jerusalem may glory in thee, +and thy name may be in the number of the holy and just. + +10:9. And they that were there said, all with one voice: So be it, so +be it. + +10:10. But Judith praying to the Lord, passed through the gates, she +and her maid. + +10:11. And it came to pass, when she went down the hill, about break of +day, that the watchmen of the Assyrians met her, and stopped her, +saying: Whence comest thou or whither goest thou? + +10:12. And she answered: I am a daughter of the Hebrews, and I am fled +from them, because I knew they would be made a prey to you, because +they despised you, and would not of their own accord yield themselves, +that they might find mercy in your sight. + +Because I knew, etc. . .In this and the following chapter, some things +are related to have been said by Judith, which seem hard to reconcile +with truth. But all that is related in scripture of the servants of God +is not approved by the scripture; and even the saints in their good +enterprises may sometimes slip into venial sins. + +10:13. For this reason I thought with myself, saying: I will go to the +presence of the prince Holofernes, that I may tell him their secrets, +and shew him by what way he may take them, without the loss of one man +of his army. + +10:14. And when the men had heard her words, they beheld her face, and +their eyes were amazed, for they wondered exceedingly at her beauty. + +10:15. And they said to her: Thou hast saved thy life by taking this +resolution, to come down to our lord. + +10:16. And be assured of this, that when thou shalt stand before him, +he will treat thee well, and thou wilt be most acceptable to his heart. +And they brought her to the tent of Holofernes, telling him of her. + +10:17. And when she was come into his presence, forthwith Holofernes +was caught by his eyes. + +10:18. And his officers said to him: Who can despise the people of the +Hebrews, who have such beautiful women, that we should not think it +worth our while for their sakes to fight against them? + +10:19. And Judith seeing Holofernes sitting under a canopy, which was +woven of purple and gold, with emeralds and precious stones: + +10:20. After she had looked on his face, bowed down to him, prostrating +herself to the ground. And the servants of Holofernes lifted her up, by +the command of their master. + + + +Judith Chapter 11 + + +Judith's speech to Holofernes. + +11:1. Then Holofernes said to her: Be of good comfort, and fear not in +thy heart: for I have never hurt a man that was willing to serve +Nabuchodonosor the king. + +11:2. And if thy people had not despised me, I would never have lifted +up my spear against them. + +11:3. But now tell me, for what cause hast thou left them, and why it +hath pleased thee to come to us? + +11:4. And Judith said to him: Receive the words of thy handmaid, for if +thou wilt follow the words of thy handmaid, the Lord will do with thee +a perfect thing. + +11:5. For as Nabuchodonosor the king of the earth liveth, and his power +liveth which is in thee for chastising of all straying souls: not only +men serve him through thee, but also the beasts of the field obey him. + +11:6. For the industry of thy mind is spoken of among all nations, and +it is told through the whole world, that thou only art excellent, and +mighty in all his kingdom, and thy discipline is cried up in all +provinces. + +11:7. It is known also what Achior said, nor are we ignorant of what +thou hast commanded to be done to him. + +11:8. For it is certain that our God is so offended with sins, that he +hath sent word by his prophets to the people, that he will deliver them +up for their sins. + +11:9. And because the children of Israel know they have offended their +God, thy dread is upon them. + +11:10. Moreover also a famine hath come upon them, and for drought of +water they are already to be counted among the dead. + +11:11. And they have a design even to kill their cattle, and to drink +the blood of them. + +11:12. And the consecrated things of the Lord their God which God +forbade them to touch, in corn, wine, and oil, these have they purposed +to make use of, and they design to consume the things which they ought +not to touch with their hands: therefore because they do these things, +it is certain they will be given up to destruction. + +11:13. And I thy handmaid knowing this, am fled from them, and the Lord +hath sent me to tell thee these very things. + +11:14. For I thy handmaid worship God even now that I am with thee, and +thy handmaid will go out, and I will pray to God, + +11:15. And he will tell me when he will repay them for their sins, and +I will come and tell thee, so that I may bring thee through the midst +of Jerusalem, and thou shalt have all the people of Israel, as sheep +that have no shepherd, and there shall not so much as one dog bark +against thee: + +11:16. Because these things are told me by the providence of God. + +11:17. And because God is angry with them, I am sent to tell these very +things to thee. + +11:18. And all these words pleased Holofernes, and his servants, and +they admired her wisdom, and they said one to another: + +11:19. There is not such another woman upon earth in look, in beauty, +and in sense of words. + +11:20. And Holofernes said to her: God hath done well who sent thee +before the people, that thou mightest give them into our hands: + +11:21. And because thy promise is good, if thy God shall do this for +me, he shall also be my God, and thou shalt be great in the house of +Nabuchodonosor, and thy name shall be renowned through all the earth. + + + +Judith Chapter 12 + + +Judith goeth out in the night to pray: she is invited to a banquet with +Holofernes. + +12:1. Then he ordered that she should go in where his treasures were +laid up, and bade her tarry there, and he appointed what should be +given her from his own table. + +12:2. And Judith answered him and said: Now I cannot eat of these +things which thou commandest to be given me, lest sin come upon me: but +I will eat of the things which I have brought. + +12:3. And Holofernes said to her: If these things which thou hast +brought with thee fail thee, what shall we do for thee? + +12:4. And Judith said: As thy soul liveth, my lord, thy handmaid shall +not spend all these things till God do by my hand that which I have +purposed. And his servants brought her into the tent which he had +commanded. + +12:5. And when she was going in, she desired that she might have +liberty to go out at night and before day to prayer, and to beseech the +Lord. + +12:6. And he commanded his chamberlains, that she might go out and in, +to adore her God as she pleased, for three days. + +12:7. And she went out in the nights into the valley of Bethulia, and +washed herself in a fountain of water. + +12:8. And as she came up, she prayed to the Lord the God of Israel, +that he would direct her way to the deliverance of his people. + +12:9. And going in, she remained pure in the tent, until she took her +own meat in the evening. + +12:10. And it came to pass on the fourth day, that Holofernes made a +supper for his servants, and said to Vagao his eunuch: Go, and persuade +that Hebrew woman, to consent of her own accord to dwell with me. + +12:11. For it is looked upon as shameful among the Assyrians, if a +woman mock a man, by doing so as to pass free from him. + +12:12. Then Vagao went in to Judith, and said: Let not my good maid be +afraid to go in to my lord, that she may be honoured before his face, +that she may eat with him and drink wine and be merry. + +12:13. And Judith answered him: Who am I, that I should gainsay my +lord? + +12:14. All that shall be good and best before his eyes, I will do. And +whatsoever shall please him, that shall be best to me all the days of +my life. + +12:15. And she arose and dressed herself out with her garments, and +going in she stood before his face. + +12:16. And the heart of Holofernes was smitten, for he was burning with +the desire of her. + +12:17. And Holofernes said to her: Drink now, and sit down and be +merry; for thou hast found favour before me. + +12:18. And Judith said: I will drink my lord, because my life is +magnified this day above all my days. + +12:19. And she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had +prepared for her. + +12:20. And Holofernes was made merry on her occasion, and drank +exceeding much wine, so much as he had never drunk in his life. + + + +Judith Chapter 13 + + +Judith cutteth off the head of Holofernes, and returneth to Bethulia. + +13:1. And when it was grown late, his servants made haste to their +lodgings, and Vagao shut the chamber doors, and went his way. + +13:2. And they were all overcharged with wine. + +13:3. And Judith was alone in the chamber. + +13:4. But Holofernes lay on his bed, fast asleep, being exceedingly +drunk. + +13:5. And Judith spoke to her maid to stand without before the chamber, +and to watch: + +13:6. And Judith stood before the bed praying with tears, and the +motion of her lips in silence, + +13:7. Saying: Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, and in this hour +look on the works of my hands, that as thou hast promised, thou mayst +raise up Jerusalem thy city: and that I may bring to pass that which I +have purposed, having a belief that it might be done by thee. + +13:8. And when she had said this, she went to the pillar that was at +his bed's head, and loosed his sword that hung tied upon it. + +13:9. And when she had drawn it out, she took him by the hair of his +head, and said: Strengthen me, O Lord God, at this hour. + +13:10. And she struck twice upon his neck, and cut off his head, and +took off his canopy from the pillars, and rolled away his headless +body. + +13:11. And after a while she went out, and delivered the head of +Holofernes to her maid, and bade her put it into her wallet. + +13:12. And they two went out according to their custom, as it were to +prayer, and they passed the camp, and having compassed the valley, they +came to the gate of the city. + +13:13. And Judith from afar off cried to the watchmen upon the walls: +Open the gates for God is with us, who hath shewn his power in Israel. + +13:14. And it came to pass, when the men had heard her voice, that they +called the ancients of the city. + +13:15. And all ran to meet her from the least to the greatest: for they +now had no hopes that she would come. + +13:16. And lighting up lights they all gathered round about her: and +she went up to a higher place, and commanded silence to be made. And +when all had held their peace, + +13:17. Judith said: Praise ye the Lord our God, who hath not forsaken +them that hope in him. + +13:18. And by me his handmaid he hath fulfilled his mercy, which he +promised to the house of Israel: and he hath killed the enemy of his +people by my hand this night. + +13:19. Then she brought forth the head of Holofernes out of the wallet, +and shewed it them, saying: Behold the head of Holofernes the general +of the army of the Assyrians, and behold his canopy, wherein he lay in +his drunkenness, where the Lord our God slew him by the hand of a +woman. + +13:20. But as the same Lord liveth, his angel hath been my keeper both +going hence, and abiding there, and returning from thence hither: and +the Lord hath not suffered me his handmaid to be defiled, but hath +brought me back to you without pollution of sin, rejoicing for his +victory, for my escape, and for your deliverance. + +13:21. Give all of you glory to him, because he is good, because his +mercy endureth for ever. + +13:22. And they all adored the Lord, and said to her: The Lord hath +blessed thee by his power, because by thee he hath brought our enemies +to nought. + +13:23. And Ozias the prince of the people of Israel, said to her: +Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all +women upon the earth. + +13:24. Blessed be the Lord who made heaven and earth, who hath directed +thee to the cutting off the head of the prince of our enemies. + +13:25. Because he hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise +shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be mindful of the +power of the Lord for ever, for that thou hast not spared thy life, by +reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people, but hast +prevented our ruin in the presence of our God. + +13:26. And all the people said: So be it, so be it. + +13:27. And Achior being called for came, and Judith said to him: The +God of Israel, to whom thou gavest testimony, that he revengeth himself +of his enemies, he hath cut off the head of all the unbelievers this +night by my hand. + +13:28. And that thou mayst find that it is so, behold the head of +Holofernes, who in the contempt of his pride despised the God of +Israel: and threatened them with death, saying: When the people of +Israel shall be taken, I will command thy sides to be pierced with a +sword. + +13:29. Then Achior seeing the head of Holofernes, being seized with a +great fear he fell on his face upon the earth, and his soul swooned +away. + +13:30. But after he had recovered his spirits he fell down at her feet, +and reverenced her, and said: + +13:31. Blessed art thou by thy God in every tabernacle of Jacob, for in +every nation which shall hear thy name, the God of Israel shall be +magnified on occasion of thee. + + + +Judith Chapter 14 + + +The Israelites assault the Assyrians, who finding their general slain, +are seized with a panic fear. + +14:1. And Judith said to all the people: Hear me, my brethren, hang ye +up this head upon our walls. + +14:2. And as soon as the sun shall rise, let every man take his arms, +and rush ye out, not as going down beneath, but as making an assault. + +14:3. Then the watchmen must needs run to awake their prince for the +battle. + +14:4. And when the captains of them shall run to the tent of +Holofernes, and shall find him without his head wallowing in his blood, +fear shall fall upon them. + +14:5. And when you shall know that they are fleeing, go after them +securely, for the Lord will destroy them under your feet. + +14:6. Then Achior seeing the power that the God of Israel had wrought, +leaving the religion of the Gentiles, he believed God, and circumcised +the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined to the people of Israel, with +all the succession of his kindred until this present day. + +14:7. And immediately at break of day, they hung up the head of +Holofernes upon the walls, and every man took his arms, and they went +out with a great noise and shouting. + +14:8. And the watchmen seeing this, ran to the tent of Holofernes. + +14:9. And they that were in the tent came, and made a noise, before the +door of the chamber to awake him, endeavouring by art to break his +rest, that Holofernes might awake, not by their calling him, but by +their noise. + +14:10. For no man durst knock, or open and go into the chamber of the +general of the Assyrians. + +14:11. But when his captains and tribunes were come, and all the chiefs +of the army of the king of the Assyrians, they said to the +chamberlains: + +14:12. Go in, and awake him, for the mice, coming out of their holes, +have presumed to challenge us to fight. + +14:13. Then Vagao going into his chamber, stood before the curtain, and +made a clapping with his hands: for he thought that he was sleeping +with Judith. + +14:14. But when with hearkening, he perceived no motion of one lying, +he came near to the curtain, and lifting it up, and seeing the body of +Holofernes, lying upon the ground, without the head, weltering in his +blood, he cried out with a loud voice, with weeping, and rent his +garments. + +14:15. And he went into the tent of Judith, and not finding her, he ran +out to the people, + +14:16. And said: One Hebrew woman hath made confusion in the house of +king Nabuchodonosor: for behold Holofernes lieth upon the ground, and +his head is not upon him. + +14:17. Now when the chiefs of the army of the Assyrians had heard this, +they all rent their garments, and an intolerable fear and dread fell +upon them, and their minds were troubled exceedingly. + +14:18. And there was a very great cry in the midst of their camp. + + + +Judith Chapter 15 + + +The Assyrians flee: the Hebrews pursue after them, and are enriched by +their spoils. + +15:1. And when all the army heard that Holofernes was beheaded, courage +and counsel fled from them, and being seized with trembling and fear +they thought only to save themselves by flight. + +15:2. So that no one spoke to his neighbour, but hanging down the head, +leaving all things behind, they made haste to escape from the Hebrews, +who, as they heard, were coming armed upon them, and fled by the ways +of the fields, and the paths of the hills. + +15:3. So the children of Israel seeing them fleeing, followed after +them. And they went down sounding with trumpets and shouting after +them. + +15:4. And because the Assyrians were not united together, they went +without order in their flight; but the children of Israel pursuing in +one body, defeated all that they could find. + +15:5. And Ozias sent messengers through all the cities and countries of +Israel. + +15:6. And every country, and every city, sent their chosen young men +armed after them, and they pursued them with the edge of the sword +until they came to the extremities of their confines. + +15:7. And the rest that were in Bethulia went into the camp of the +Assyrians, and took away the spoils which the Assyrians in their flight +had left behind them, and they were laden exceedingly, + +15:8. But they that returned conquerors to Bethulia, brought with them +all things that were theirs, so that there was no numbering of their +cattle, and beasts, and all their moveables, insomuch that from the +least to the greatest all were made rich by their spoils. + +15:9. And Joachim the high priest came from Jerusalem to Bethulia with +all his ancients to see Judith. + +15:10. And when she was come out to him, they all blessed her with one +voice, saying: Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of +Israel, thou art the honour of our people: + +15:11. For thou hast done manfully, and thy heart has been +strengthened, because thou hast loved chastity, and after thy husband +hast not known any other: therefore also the hand of the Lord hath +strengthened thee, and therefore thou shalt be blessed for ever. + +15:12. And all the people said: So be it, so be it. + +15:13. And thirty days were scarce sufficient for the people of Israel +to gather up the spoils of the Assyrians. + +15:14. But all those things that were proved to be the peculiar goods +of Holofernes, they gave to Judith in gold, and silver, and garments +and precious stones, and all household stuff, and they all were +delivered to her by the people. + +15:15. And all the people rejoiced, with the women, and virgins, and +young men, playing on instruments and harps. + + + +Judith Chapter 16 + + +The canticle of Judith: her virtuous life and death. + +16:1. Then Judith sung this canticle to the Lord, saying: + +16:2. Begin ye to the Lord with timbrels, sing ye to the Lord with +cymbals, tune unto him a new psalm, extol and call upon his name. + +16:3. The Lord putteth an end to wars, the Lord is his name. + +16:4. He hath set his camp in the midst of his people, to deliver us +from the hand of all our enemies. + +16:5. The Assyrian came out of the mountains from the north in the +multitude of his strength: his multitude stopped up the torrents, and +their horses covered the valleys. + +16:6. He bragged that he would set my borders on fire, and kill my +young men with the sword, to make my infants a prey, and my virgins +captives. + +16:7. But the almighty Lord hath struck him, and hath delivered him +into the hands of a woman, and hath slain him. + +16:8. For their mighty one did not fall by young men, neither did the +sons of Titan strike him, nor tall giants oppose themselves to him, but +Judith the daughter of Merari weakened him with the beauty of her face. + +16:9. For she put off her the garments of widowhood, and put on her the +garments of joy, to give joy to the children of Israel. + +16:10. She anointed her face with ointment, and bound up her locks with +a crown, she took a new robe to deceive him. + +16:11. Her sandals ravished his eyes, her beauty made his soul her +captive, with a sword she cut off his head. + +16:12. The Persians quaked at her constancy, and the Medes at her +boldness. + +16:13. Then the camp of the Assyrians howled, when my lowly ones +appeared, parched with thirst. + +16:14. The sons of the damsels have pierced them through, and they have +killed them like children fleeing away: they perished in battle before +the face of the Lord my God. + +16:15. Let us sing a hymn to the Lord, let us sing a new hymn to our +God. + +16:16. O Adonai, Lord, great art thou, and glorious in thy power, and +no one can overcome thee. + +16:17. Let all thy creatures serve thee: because thou hast spoken, and +they were made: thou didst send forth thy spirit, and they were +created, and there is no one that can resist thy voice. + +16:18. The mountains shall be moved from the foundations with the +waters: the rocks shall melt as wax before thy face. + +16:19. But they that fear thee, shall be great with thee in all things. + +16:20. Woe be to the nation that riseth up against my people: for the +Lord almighty will take revenge on them, in the day of judgment he will +visit them. + +16:21. For he will give fire, and worms into their flesh, that they may +burn, and may feel for ever. + +16:22. And it came to pass after these things, that all the people, +after the victory, came to Jerusalem to adore the Lord: and as soon as +they were purified, they all offered holocausts, and vows, and their +promises. + +16:23. And Judith offered for an anathema of oblivion all the arms of +Holofernes, which the people gave her, and the canopy that she had +taken away out of his chamber. + +An anathema of oblivion. . .That is, a gift or offering made to God, by +way of an everlasting monument, to prevent the oblivion or forgetting +so great a benefit. + +16:24. And the people were joyful in the sight of the sanctuary, and +for three months the joy of this victory was celebrated with Judith. + +16:25. And after those days every man returned to his house, and Judith +was made great in Bethulia, and she was most renowned in all the land +of Israel. + +16:26. And chastity was joined to her virtue, so that she knew no man +all the days of her life, after the death of Manasses her husband. + +16:27. And on festival days she came forth with great glory. + +16:28. And she abode in her husband's house a hundred and five years, +and made her handmaid free, and she died, and was buried with her +husband in Bethulia. + +16:29. And all the people mourned for seven days. + +16:30. And all the time of her life there was none that troubled +Israel, nor many years after her death. + +16:31. But the day of the festivity of this victory is received by the +Hebrews in the number of holy days, and is religiously observed by the +Jews from that time until this day. + + + + +THE BOOK OF ESTHER + + + +This Book takes its name from queen Esther, whose history is here +recorded. The general opinion of almost all commentators on the Holy +Scriptures makes Mardochai the writer of it: which also may be +collected below from chap. 9 ver. 20. + + + +Esther Chapter 1 + + +King Assuerus maketh a great feast. Queen Vasthi being sent for +refuseth to come: for which disobedience she is deposed. + +1:1. In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over a +hundred and twenty seven provinces: + +1:2. When he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city Susan was the +capital of his kingdom. + +1:3. Now in the third year of his reign he made a great feast for all +the princes, and for his servants, for the most mighty of the Persians, +and the nobles of the Medes, and the governors of the provinces in his +sight, + +1:4. That he might shew the riches of the glory of his kingdom, and the +greatness, and boasting of his power, for a long time, to wit, for a +hundred and fourscore days. + +1:5. And when the days of the feast were expired, he invited all the +people that were found in Susan, from the greatest to the least: and +commanded a feast to be made seven days in the court of the garden, and +of the wood, which was planted by the care and the hand of the king. + +1:6. And there were hung up on every side sky coloured, and green, and +violet hangings, fastened with cords of silk, and of purple, which were +put into rings of ivory, and were held up with marble pillars. The beds +also were of gold and silver, placed in order upon a floor paved with +porphyry and white marble: which was embellished with painting of +wonderful variety. + +1:7. And they that were invited, drank in golden cups, and the meats +were brought in divers vessels one after another. Wine also in +abundance and of the best was presented, as was worthy of a king's +magnificence. + +1:8. Neither was there any one to compel them to drink that were not +willing, but as the king had appointed, who set over every table one of +his nobles, that every man might take what he would. + +1:9. Also Vasthi the queen made a feast for the women in the palace, +where king Assuerus was used to dwell. + +1:10. Now on the seventh day, when the king was merry, and after very +much drinking was well warmed with wine, he commanded Mauman, and +Bazatha, and Harbona, and Bagatha, and Abgatha, and Zethar, and +Charcas, the seven eunuchs that served in his presence, + +1:11. To bring in queen Vasthi before the king, with the crown set upon +her head, to shew her beauty to all the people and the princes: for she +was exceeding beautiful. + +1:12. But she refused, and would not come at the king's commandment, +which he had signified to her by the eunuchs. Whereupon the king, being +angry, and inflamed with a very great fury, + +1:13. Asked the wise men, who according to the custom of the kings, +were always near his person, and all he did was by their counsel, who +knew the laws, and judgments of their forefathers: + +1:14. (Now the chief and nearest him were, Charsena, and Sethar, and +Admatha, and Tharsis, and Mares, and Marsana, and Mamuchan, seven +princes of the Persians and of the Medes, who saw the face of the king, +and were used to sit first after him:) + +1:15. What sentence ought to pass upon Vasthi the queen, who had +refused to obey the commandment of king Assuerus, which he had sent to +her by the eunuchs? + +1:16. And Mamuchan answered, in the hearing of the king and the +princes: Queen Vasthi hath not only injured the king, but also all the +people and princes that are in all the provinces of king Assuerus. + +1:17. For this deed of the queen will go abroad to all women, so that +they will despise their husbands, and will say: King Assuerus commanded +that queen Vasthi should come in to him, and she would not. + +1:18. And by this example all the wives of the princes of the Persians +and the Medes will slight the commandments of their husbands: wherefore +the king's indignation is just. + +1:19. If it please thee, let an edict go out from thy presence, and let +it be written according to the law of the Persians and of the Medes, +which must not be altered, that Vasthi come in no more to the king, but +another, that is better than her, be made queen in her place. + +1:20. And let this be published through all the provinces of thy +empire, (which is very wide,) and let all wives, as well of the greater +as of the lesser, give honour to their husbands. + +1:21. His counsel pleased the king, and the princes: and the king did +according to the counsel of Mamuchan. + +1:22. And he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom, as every +nation could hear and read, in divers languages and characters, that +the husbands should be rulers and masters in their houses: and that +this should be published to every people. + + + +Esther Chapter 2 + + +Esther is advanced to be queen. Mardochai detecteth a plot against the +king. + +2:1. After this, when the wrath of king Assuerus was appeased, he +remembered Vasthi, and what she had done and what she had suffered: + +2:2. And the king's servants and his officers said: Let young women be +sought for the king, virgins and beautiful, + +2:3. And let some persons be sent through all the provinces to look for +beautiful maidens and virgins: and let them bring them to the city of +Susan, and put them into the house of the women under the hand of Egeus +the eunuch, who is the overseer and keeper of the king's women: and let +them receive women's ornaments, and other things necessary for their +use. + +2:4. And whosoever among them all shall please the king's eyes, let her +be queen instead of Vasthi. The word pleased the king: and he commanded +it should be done as they had suggested. + +2:5. There was a man in the city of Susan, a Jew, named Mardochai, the +son of Jair, the son of Semei, the son of Cis, of the race of Jemini, + +2:6. Who had been carried away from Jerusalem at the time that +Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon carried away Jechonias king of Juda, + +2:7. And he had brought up his brother's daughter Edissa, who by +another name was called Esther: now she had lost both her parents: and +was exceeding fair and beautiful. And her father and mother being dead, +Mardochai adopted her for his daughter. + +2:8. And when the king's ordinance was noised abroad, and according to +his commandment many beautiful virgins were brought to Susan, and were +delivered to Egeus the eunuch: Esther also among the rest of the +maidens was delivered to him to be kept in the number of the women. + +2:9. And she pleased him, and found favour in his sight. And he +commanded the eunuch to hasten the women's ornaments, and to deliver to +her her part, and seven of the most beautiful maidens of the king's +house, and to adorn and deck out both her and her waiting maids. + +2:10. And she would not tell him her people nor her country. For +Mardochai had charged her to say nothing at all of that: + +2:11. And he walked every day before the court of the house, in which +the chosen virgins were kept, having a care for Esther's welfare, and +desiring to know what would befall her. + +2:12. Now when every virgin's turn came to go in to the king, after all +had been done for setting them off to advantage, it was the twelfth +month: so that for six months they were anointed with oil of myrrh, and +for other six months they used certain perfumes and sweet spices. + +2:13. And when they were going in to the king, whatsoever they asked to +adorn themselves they received: and being decked out, as it pleased +them, they passed from the chamber of the women to the king's chamber. + +2:14. And she that went in at evening, came out in the morning, and +from thence she was conducted to the second house, that was under the +hand of Susagaz the eunuch, who had the charge over the king's +concubines: neither could she return any more to the king, unless the +king desired it, and had ordered her by name to come. + +2:15. And as the time came orderly about, the day was at hand, when +Esther, the daughter of Abihail the brother of Mardochai, whom he had +adopted for his daughter, was to go in to the king. But she sought not +women's ornaments, but whatsoever Egeus the eunuch the keeper of the +virgins had a mind, he gave her to adorn her. For she was exceeding +fair, and her incredible beauty made her appear agreeable and amiable +in the eyes of all. + +2:16. So she was brought to the chamber of king Assuerus the tenth +month, which is called Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. + +2:17. And the king loved her more than all the women, and she had +favour and kindness before him above all the women, and he set the +royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vasthi. + +2:18. And he commanded a magnificent feast to be prepared for all the +princes, and for his servants, for the marriage and wedding of Esther, +And he gave rest to all the provinces, and bestowed gifts according to +princely magnificence. + +2:19. And when the virgins were sought the second time, and gathered +together, Mardochai stayed at the king's gate, + +2:20. Neither had Esther as yet declared her country and people, +according to his commandment. For whatsoever he commanded, Esther +observed: and she did all things in the same manner as she was wont at +that time when he brought her up a little one. + +2:21. At that time, therefore, when Mardochai abode at the king's gate, +Bagathan and Thares, two of the king's eunuchs, who were porters, and +presided in the first entry of the palace, were angry: and they +designed to rise up against the king, and to kill him. + +2:22. And Mardochai had notice of it, and immediately he told it to +queen Esther: and she to the king in Mardochai's name, who had reported +the thing unto her. + +2:23. It was inquired into, and found out: and they were both hanged on +a gibbet. And it was put in the histories, and recorded in the +chronicles before the king. + + + +Esther Chapter 3 + + +Aman, advanced by the king, is offended at Mardochai, and therefore +procureth the king's decree to destroy the whole nation of the Jews. + +3:1. After these things, king Assuerus advanced Aman, the son of +Amadathi, who was of the race of Agag: and he set his throne above all +the princes that were with him. + +3:2. And all the king's servants, that were at the doors of the palace, +bent their knees, and worshipped Aman: for so the emperor had commanded +them, only Mardochai did not bend his knee, nor worship him. + +3:3. And the king's servants that were chief at the doors of the +palace, said to him: Why dost thou alone not observe the king's +commandment? + +3:4. And when they were saying this often, and he would not hearken to +them, they told Aman, desirous to know whether he would continue in his +resolution: for he had told them that he was a Jew. + +3:5. Now when Aman had heard this, and had proved by experience that +Mardochai did not bend his knee to him, nor worship him, he was +exceeding angry. + +3:6. And he counted it nothing to lay his hands upon Mardochai alone: +for he had heard that he was of the nation of the Jews, and he chose +rather to destroy all the nation of the Jews that were in the kingdom +of Assuerus. + +3:7. In the first month (which is called Nisan) in the twelfth year of +the reign of Assuerus, the lot was cast into an urn, which in Hebrew is +called Phur, before Aman, on what day and what month the nation of the +Jews should be destroyed: and there came out the twelfth month, which +is called Adar. + +3:8. And Aman said to king Assuerus: There is a people scattered +through all the provinces of thy kingdom, and separated one from +another, that use new laws and ceremonies, and moreover despise the +king's ordinances: and thou knowest very well that it is not expedient +for thy kingdom that they should grow insolent by impunity. + +3:9. If it please thee, decree that they may be destroyed, and I will +pay ten thousand talents to thy treasurers. + +3:10. And the king took the ring that he used, from his own hand, and +gave it to Aman, the son of Amadathi of the race of Agag, the enemy of +the Jews, + +3:11. And he said to him: As to the money which thou promisest, keep it +for thyself: and as to the people, do with them as seemeth good to +thee. + +3:12. And the king's scribes were called in the first month Nisan, on +the thirteenth day of the same mouth: and they wrote, as Aman had +commanded, to all the king's lieutenants, and to the judges of the +provinces, and of divers nations, as every nation could read, and hear +according to their different languages, in the name of king Assuerus: +and the letters, sealed with his ring, + +3:13. Were sent by the king's messengers to all provinces, to kill and +destroy all the Jews, both young and old, little children, and women, +in one day, that is, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is +called Adar, and to make a spoil of their goods. + +3:14. And the contents of the letters were to this effect, that all +provinces might know and be ready against that day. + +3:15. The couriers that were sent made haste to fulfil the king's +commandment. And immediately the edict was hung up in Susan, the king +and Aman feasting together, and all the Jews that were in the city +weeping. + + + +Esther Chapter 4 + + +Mardochai desireth Esther to petition the king for the Jews. They join +in fasting and prayer. + +4:1. Now when Mardochai had heard these things, he rent his garments, +and put on sackcloth, strewing ashes on his head and he cried with a +loud voice in the street in the midst of the city, shewing the anguish +of his mind. + +4:2. And he came lamenting in this manner even to the gate of the +palace: for no one clothed with sackcloth might enter the king's court. + +4:3. And in all provinces, towns, and places, to which the king's cruel +edict was come, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, +wailing, and weeping, many using sackcloth and ashes for their bed. + +4:4. Then Esther's maids and her eunuchs went in, and told her. And +when she heard it she was in a consternation and she sent a garment, to +clothe him, and to take away the sackcloth: but he would not receive +it. + +4:5. And she called for Athach the eunuch, whom the king had appointed +to attend upon her, and she commanded him to go to Mardochai, and learn +of him why he did this. + +4:6. And Athach going out went to Mardochai, who was standing in the +street of the city, before the palace gate: + +4:7. And Mardochai told him all that had happened, how Aman had +promised to pay money into the king's treasures, to have the Jews +destroyed. + +4:8. He gave him also a copy of the edict which was hanging up in +Susan, that he should shew it to the queen, and admonish her to go in +to the king, and to entreat him for her people. + +4:9. And Athach went back and told Esther all that Mardochai had said. + +4:10. She answered him, and bade him say to Mardochai: + +4:11. All the king's servants, and all the provinces that are under his +dominion, know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, cometh into the +king's inner court, who is not called for, is immediately to be put to +death without any delay: except the king shall hold out the golden +sceptre to him, in token of clemency, that so he may live. How then can +I go in to the king, who for these thirty days now have not been called +unto him? + +4:12. And when Mardochai had heard this, + +4:13. He sent word to Esther again, saying: Think not that thou mayst +save thy life only, because thou art in the king's house, more than all +the Jews: + +4:14. For if thou wilt now hold thy peace, the Jews shall be delivered +by some other occasion: and thou, and thy father's house shall perish. +And who knoweth whether thou art not therefore come to the kingdom, +that thou mightest be ready in such a time as this? + +4:15. And again Esther sent to Mardochai in these words: + +4:16. Go, and gather together all the Jews whom thou shalt find in +Susan, and pray ye for me. Neither eat nor drink for three days and +three nights: and I with my handmaids will fast in like manner, and +then I will go in to the king, against the law, not being called, and +expose myself to death and to danger. + +4:17. So Mardochai went, and did all that Esther had commanded him. + + + +Esther Chapter 5 + + +Esther is graciously received: she inviteth the king and Aman to +dinner, Aman prepareth a gibbet for Mardochai. + +5:1. And on the third day Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in +the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's hall: now +he sat upon his throne in the hall of the palace, over against the door +of the house. + +5:2. And when he saw Esther the queen standing, she pleased his eyes, +and he held out toward her the golden sceptre, which he held in his +hand and she drew near, and kissed the top of his sceptre. + +5:3. And the king said to her: What wilt thou, queen Esther? what is +thy request? if thou shouldst even ask one half of the kingdom, it +shall be given to thee. + +5:4. But she answered: If it please the king, I beseech thee to come to +me this day, and Aman with thee to the banquet which I have prepared. + +5:5. And the king said forthwith: Call ye Aman quickly, that he may +obey Esther's will. So the king and Aman came to the banquet which the +queen had prepared for them. + +5:6. And the king said to her, after he had drunk wine plentifully: +What dost thou desire should be given thee? and for what thing askest +thou? although thou shouldst ask the half of my kingdom, thou shalt +have it. + +5:7. And Esther answered: My petition and request is this: + +5:8. If I have found favour in the king's sight, and if it please the +king to give me what I ask, and to fulfil my petition: let the king and +Aman come to the banquet which I have prepared them, and to morrow I +will open my mind to the king. + +5:9. So Aman went out that day joyful and merry. And when he saw +Mardochai sitting before the gate of the palace, and that he not only +did not rise up to honour him, but did not so much as move from the +place where he sat, he was exceedingly angry: + +5:10. But dissembling his anger, and returning into his house, he +called together to him his friends, and Zares his wife: + +5:11. And he declared to them the greatness of his riches, and the +multitude of his children, and with how great glory the king had +advanced him above all his princes and servants. + +5:12. And after this he said: Queen Esther also hath invited no other +to the banquet with the king, but me: and with her I am also to dine to +morrow with the king: + +5:13. And whereas I have all these things, I think I have nothing, so +long as I see Mardochai the Jew sitting before the king's gate. + +5:14. Then Zares his wife, and the rest of his friends answered him: +Order a great beam to be prepared, fifty cubits high, and in the +morning speak to the king, that Mardochai may be hanged upon it, and so +thou shalt go full of joy with the king to the banquet. The counsel +pleased him, and he commanded a high gibbet to be prepared. + + + +Esther Chapter 6 + + +The king hearing of the good service done him by Mardochai, commandeth +Aman to honour him next to the king, which he performeth. + +6:1. That night the king passed without sleep, and he commanded the +histories and chronicles of former times to be brought him. And when +they were reading them before him, + +6:2. They came to that place where it was written, how Mardochai had +discovered the treason of Bagathan and Thares the eunuchs, who sought +to kill king Assuerus. + +6:3. And when the king heard this, he said: What honour and reward hath +Mardochai received for this fidelity? His servants and ministers said +to him: He hath received no reward at all. + +No reward at all. . .He received some presents from the king, chap. +12.5; but these were so inconsiderable in the opinion of the courtiers, +that they esteemed them as nothing at all. + +6:4. And the king said immediately: Who is in the court? for Aman was +coming in to the inner court of the king's house, to speak to the king, +that he might order Mardochai to be hanged upon the gibbet, which was +prepared for him. + +6:5. The servants answered: Aman standeth in the court, and the king +said: Let him come in. + +6:6. And when he was come in, he said to him: What ought to be done to +the man whom the king is desirous to honour? But Aman thinking in his +heart, and supposing that the king would honour no other but himself, + +6:7. Answered: The man whom the king desireth to honour, + +6:8. Ought to be clothed with the king's apparel, and to be set upon +the horse that the king rideth upon, and to have the royal crown upon +his head, + +6:9. And let the first of the king's princes and nobles hold his horse, +and going through the street of the city, proclaim before him and say: +Thus shall he be honoured, whom the king hath a mind to honour. + +6:10. And the king said to him: Make haste and take the robe and the +horse, and do as thou hast spoken to Mardochai the Jew, who sitteth +before the gates of the palace. Beware thou pass over any of those +things which thou hast spoken. + +6:11. So Aman took the robe and the horse, and arraying Mardochai in +the street of the city, and setting him on the horse, went before him, +and proclaimed: This honour is he worthy of, whom the king hath a mind +to honour. + +6:12. But Mardochai returned to the palace gate: and Aman made haste to +go to his house, mourning and having his head covered: + +6:13. And he told Zares his wife, and his friends, all that had +befallen him. And the wise men whom he had in counsel, and his wife +answered him: If Mardochai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou +hast begun to fall, thou canst not resist him, but thou shalt fall in +his sight. + +6:14. As they were yet speaking, the king's eunuchs came, and compelled +him to go quickly to the banquet which the queen had prepared. + + + +Esther Chapter 7 + + +Esther's petition for herself and her people: Aman is hanged upon the +gibbet he had prepared for Mardochai. + +7:1. So the king and Aman went in, to drink with the queen. + +7:2. And the king said to her again the second day, after he was warm +with wine: What is thy petition, Esther, that it may be granted thee? +and what wilt thou have done: although thou ask the half of my kingdom, +thou shalt have it. + +7:3. Then she answered: If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, +and if it please thee, give me my life for which I ask, and my people +for which I request. + +7:4. For we are given up, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be +slain, and to perish. And would God we were sold for bondmen and +bondwomen: the evil might be borne with, and I would have mourned in +silence: but now we have an enemy, whose cruelty redoundeth upon the +king. + +7:5. And king Assuerus answered and said: Who is this, and of what +power, that he should do these things? + +7:6. And Esther said: It is this Aman that is our adversary and most +wicked enemy. Aman hearing this was forthwith astonished, not being +able to bear the countenance of the king and of the queen. + +7:7. But the king being angry rose up, and went from the place of the +banquet into the garden set with trees. Aman also rose up to entreat +Esther the queen for his life, for he understood that evil was prepared +for him by the king. + +7:8. And when the king came back out of the garden set with trees, and +entered into the place of the banquet, he found Aman was fallen upon +the bed on which Esther lay, and he said: He will force the queen also +in my presence, in my own house. The word was not yet gone out of the +king's mouth, and immediately they covered his face. + +7:9. And Harbona, one of the eunuchs that stood waiting on the king, +said: Behold the gibbet which he hath prepared for Mardochai, who spoke +for the king, standeth in Aman's house, being fifty cubits high. And +the king said to him: Hang him upon it. + +7:10. So Aman was hanged on the gibbet, which he had prepared for +Mardochai: and the king's wrath ceased. + + + +Esther Chapter 8 + + +Mardochai is advanced: Aman's letters are reversed. + +8:1. On that day king Assuerus gave the house of Aman, the Jews' enemy, +to queen Esther, and Mardochai came in before the king. For Esther had +confessed to him that he was her uncle. + +8:2. And the king took the ring which he had commanded to be taken +again from Aman, and gave it to Mardochai. And Esther set Mardochai +over her house. + +8:3. And not content with these things, she fell down at the king's +feet and wept, and speaking to him besought him, that he would give +orders that the malice of Aman the Agagite, and his most wicked devices +which he had invented against the Jews, should be of no effect. + +8:4. But he, as the manner was, held out the golden sceptre with his +hand, which was the sign of clemency: and she arose up and stood before +him, + +8:5. And said: If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his +sight, and my request be not disagreeable to him, I beseech thee, that +the former letters of Aman the traitor and enemy of the Jews, by which +he commanded that they should be destroyed in all the king's provinces, +may be reversed by new letters. + +8:6. For how can I endure the murdering and slaughter of my people? + +8:7. And king Assuerus answered Esther the queen, and Mardochai the +Jew: I have given Aman's house to Esther, and I have commanded him to +be hanged on a gibbet, because he durst lay hands on the Jews. + +8:8. Write ye therefore to the Jews, as it pleaseth you in the king's +name, and seal the letters with my ring. For this was the custom, that +no man durst gainsay the letters which were sent in the king's name, +and were sealed with his ring. + +8:9. Then the king's scribes and secretaries were called for (now it +was the time of the third month which is called Siban) the three and +twentieth day of the month, and letters were written, as Mardochai had +a mind, to the Jews, and to the governors, and to the deputies, and to +the judges, who were rulers over the hundred and twenty-seven +provinces, from India even to Ethiopia: to province and province, to +people and people, according to their languages and characters, and to +the Jews, according as they could read and hear. + +8:10. And these letters which were sent in the king's name, were sealed +with his ring, and sent by posts: who were to run through all the +provinces, to prevent the former letters with new messages. + +8:11. And the king gave orders to them, to speak to the Jews in every +city, and to command them to gather themselves together, and to stand +for their lives, and to kill and destroy all their enemies with their +wives and children and all their houses, and to take their spoil. + +8:12. And one day of revenge was appointed through all the provinces, +to wit, the thirteenth of the twelfth month Adar. + +8:13. And this was the content of the letter, that it should be +notified in all lands and peoples that were subject to the empire of +king Assuerus, that the Jews were ready to be revenged of their +enemies. + +8:14. So the swift posts went out carrying the messages, and the king's +edict was hung up in Susan. + +8:15. And Mardochai going forth out of the palace, and from the king's +presence, shone in royal apparel, to wit, of violet and sky colour, +wearing a golden crown on his head, and clothed with a cloak of silk +and purple. And all the city rejoiced, and was glad. + +8:16. But to the Jews, a new light seemed to rise, joy, honour, and +dancing. + +8:17. And in all peoples, cities, and provinces, whithersoever the +king's commandments came, there was wonderful rejoicing, feasts and +banquets, and keeping holy day: Insomuch that many of other nations and +religion, joined themselves to their worship and ceremonies. For a +great dread of the name of the Jews had fallen upon all. + + + +Esther Chapter 9 + + +The Jews kill their enemies that would have killed them. The days of +Phurim are appointed to be kept holy. + +9:1. So on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which as we have +said above is called Adar, when all the Jews were designed to be +massacred, and their enemies were greedy after their blood, the case +being altered, the Jews began to have the upper hand, and to revenge +themselves of their adversaries. + +To revenge, etc. . .The Jews on this occasion, by authority from the +king, were made executioners of the public justice, for punishing by +death a crime worthy of death, viz., a malicious conspiracy for +extirpating their whole nation. + +9:2. And they gathered themselves together in every city, and town, and +place, to lay their hands on their enemies, and their persecutors. And +no one durst withstand them, for the fear of their power had gone +through every people. + +9:3. And the judges of the provinces, and the governors, and +lieutenants, and every one in dignity, that presided over every place +and work, extolled the Jews for fear of Mardochai: + +9:4. For they knew him to be prince of the palace, and to have great +power: and the fame of his name increased daily, and was spread abroad +through all men's mouths. + +9:5. So the Jews made a great slaughter of their enemies, and killed +them, repaying according to what they had prepared to do to them: + +9:6. Insomuch that even in Susan they killed five hundred men, besides +the ten sons of Aman the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews: whose names +are these: + +9:7. Pharsandatha, and Delphon, and Esphatha + +9:8. And Phoratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, + +9:9. And Phermesta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Jezatha. + +9:10. And when they had slain them, they would not touch the spoils of +their goods. + +9:11. And presently the number of them that were killed in Susan was +brought to the king. + +9:12. And he said to the queen: The Jews have killed five hundred men +in the city of Susan, besides the ten sons of Aman: how many dost thou +think they have slain in all the provinces? What askest thou more, and +what wilt thou have me to command to be done? + +9:13. And she answered: If it please the king, let it be granted to the +Jews, to do to morrow in Susan as they have done to day, and that the +ten sons of Aman may be hanged upon gibbets. + +9:14. And the king commanded that it should be so done. And forthwith +the edict was hung up in Susan, and the ten sons of Aman were hanged. + +9:15. And on the fourteenth day of the month Adar the Jews gathered +themselves together, and they killed in Susan three hundred men: but +they took not their substance. + +9:16. Moreover through all the provinces which were subject to the +king's dominion the Jews stood for their lives, and slew their enemies +and persecutors: insomuch that the number of them that were killed +amounted to seventy-five thousand, and no man took any of their goods. + +9:17. Now the thirteenth day of the month Adar was the first day with +them all of the slaughter, and on the fourteenth day they left off. +Which they ordained to be kept holy day, so that all times hereafter +they should celebrate it with feasting, joy, and banquets. + +9:18. But they that were killing in the city of Susan, were employed in +the slaughter on the thirteenth and fourteenth day of the same month: +and on the fifteenth day they rested. And therefore they appointed that +day to be a holy day of feasting and gladness. + +9:19. But those Jews that dwelt in towns not walled and in villages, +appointed the fourteenth day of the month Adar for banquets and +gladness, so as to rejoice on that day, and send one another portions +of their banquets and meats. + +9:20. And Mardochai wrote all these things, and sent them comprised in +letters to the Jews that abode in all the king's provinces, both those +that lay near and those afar off, + +9:21. That they should receive the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the +month Adar for holy days, and always at the return of the year should +celebrate them with solemn honour: + +9:22. Because on those days the Jews revenged themselves of their +enemies, and their mourning and sorrow were turned into mirth and joy, +and that these should be days of feasting and gladness, in which they +should send one to another portions of meats, and should give gifts to +the poor. + +9:23. And the Jews undertook to observe with solemnity all they had +begun to do at that time, which Mardochai by letters had commanded to +be done. + +9:24. For Aman, the son of Amadathi of the race of Agag, the enemy and +adversary of the Jews, had devised evil against them, to kill them and +destroy them; and had cast Phur, that is, the lot. + +9:25. And afterwards Esther went in to the king, beseeching him that +his endeavours might be made void by the king's letters: and the evil +that he had intended against the Jews, might return upon his own head. +And so both he and his sons were hanged upon gibbets. + +9:26. And since that time these days are called Phurim, that is, of +lots: because Phur, that is, the lot, was cast into the urn. And all +things that were done, are contained in the volume of this epistle, +that is, of this book: + +9:27. And the things that they suffered, and that were afterwards +changed, the Jews took upon themselves and their seed, and upon all +that had a mind to be joined to their religion, so that it should be +lawful for none to pass these days without solemnity: which the writing +testifieth, and certain times require, as the years continually succeed +one another. + +9:28. These are the days which shall never be forgot: and which all +provinces in the whole world shall celebrate throughout all +generations: neither is there any city wherein the days of Phurim, that +is, of lots, must not be observed by the Jews, and by their posterity, +which is bound to these ceremonies. + +9:29. And Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mardochai the +Jew, wrote also a second epistle, that with all diligence this day +should be established a festival for the time to come. + +9:30. And they sent to all the Jews that were in the hundred and +twenty-seven provinces of king Assuerus, that they should have peace, +and receive truth, + +9:31. And observe the days of lots, and celebrate them with joy in +their proper time: as Mardochai and Esther had appointed, and they +undertook them to be observed by themselves and by their seed, fasts, +and cries, and the days of lots, + +9:32. And all things which are contained in the history of this book, +which is called Esther. + + + +Esther Chapter 10 + + +Assuerus's greatness. Mardochai's dignity. + +10:1. And king Assuerus made all the land, and all the islands of the +sea tributary. + +10:2. And his strength and his empire, and the dignity and greatness +wherewith he exalted Mardochai, are written in the books of the Medes, +and of the Persians: + +10:3. And how Mardochai of the race of the Jews, was next after king +Assuerus: and great among the Jews, and acceptable to the people of his +brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking those things +which were for the welfare of his seed. + +10:4. Then Mardochai said: God hath done these things. + +Then Mardochai, etc. . .Here St. Jerome advertiseth the reader, that +what follows is not in the Hebrew, but is found in the septuagint Greek +edition, which the seventy-two interpreters translated out of the +Hebrew, or added by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. + +10:5. I remember a dream that I saw, which signified these same things: +and nothing thereof hath failed. + +A dream. . .This dream was prophetical and extraordinary: otherwise the +general rule is not to observe dreams. + +10:6. The little fountain which grew into a river, and was turned into +a light, and into the sun, and abounded into many waters, is Esther, +whom the king married, and made queen. + +10:7. But the two dragons are I and Aman. + +10:8. The nations that were assembled are they that endeavoured to +destroy the name of the Jews. + +10:9. And my nation is Israel, who cried to the Lord, and the Lord +saved his people: and he delivered us from all evils, and hath wrought +great signs and wonders among the nations: + +10:10. And he commanded that there should be two lots, one of the +people of God, and the other of all the nations. + +10:11. And both lots came to the day appointed already from that time +before God to all nations: + +10:12. And the Lord remembered his people, and had mercy on his +inheritance. + +10:13. And these days shall be observed in the month of Adar on the +fourteenth, and fifteenth day of the same month, with all diligence, +and joy of the people gathered into one assembly, throughout all the +generations hereafter of the people of Israel. + + + +Esther Chapter 11 + + +The dream of Mardochai, which in the ancient Greek and Latin Bibles was +into the beginning of the book, but was detached by St. Jerome, and put +in this place. + +11:1. In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, +Dositheus, who said he was a priest, and of the Levitical race, and +Ptolemy his son brought this epistle of Phurim, which they said +Lysimachus the son of Ptolemy had interpreted in Jerusalem. + +11:2. In the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the great, in the +first day of the month Nisan, Mardochai the son of Jair, the son of +Semei, the son of Cis, of the tribe of Benjamin: + +11:3. A Jew who dwelt in the city of Susan, a great man and among the +first of the king's court, had a dream. + +11:4. Now he was of the number of the captives, whom Nabuchodonosor +king of Babylon had carried away from Jerusalem with Jechonias king of +Juda: + +11:5. And this was his dream: Behold there were voices, and tumults, +and thunders, and earthquakes, and a disturbance upon the earth. + +11:6. And behold two great dragons came forth ready to fight one +against another. + +11:7. And at their cry all nations were stirred up to fight against the +nation of the just. + +11:8. And that was a day of darkness and danger, of tribulation and +distress, and great fear upon the earth. + +11:9. And the nation of the just was troubled fearing their own evils, +and was prepared for death. + +11:10. And they cried to God: and as they were crying, a little +fountain grew into a very great river, and abounded into many waters. + +11:11. The light and the sun rose up, and the humble were exalted, and +they devoured the glorious. + +11:12. And when Mardochai had seen this, and arose out of his bed, he +was thinking what God would do: and he kept it fixed in his mind, +desirous to know what the dream should signify. + + + +Esther Chapter 12 + + +Mardochai detects the conspiracy of the two eunuchs. + +12:1. And he abode at that time in the king's court with Bagatha and +Thara the king's eunuchs, who were porters of the palace. + +12:2. And when he understood their designs, and had diligently searched +into their projects, he learned that they went about to lay violent +hands on king Artaxerxes, and he told the king thereof. + +12:3. Then the king had them both examined, and after they had +confessed, commanded them to be put to death. + +12:4. But the king made a record of what was done: and Mardochai also +committed the memory of the thing to writing. + +12:5. And the king commanded him, to abide in the court of the palace, +and gave him presents for the information. + +12:6. But Aman the son of Amadathi the Bugite was in great honour with +the king, and sought to hurt Mardochai and his people, because of the +two eunuchs of the king who were put to death. + + + +Esther Chapter 13 + + +A copy of a letter sent by Aman to destroy the Jews. Mardochai's prayer +for the people. + +13:1. And this was the copy of the letter: Artaxerxes the great king +who reigneth from India to Ethiopia, to the princes and governors of +the hundred and twenty-seven provinces, that are subject to his empire, +greeting. + +13:2. Whereas I reigned over many nations, and had brought all the +world under my dominion, I was not willing to abuse the greatness of my +power, but to govern my subjects with clemency and that they might live +quietly without any terror, and might enjoy peace, which is desired by +all men, + +13:3. But when I asked my counsellors how this might be accomplished, +one that excelled the rest in wisdom and fidelity, and was second after +the king, Aman by name, + +13:4. Told me that there was a people scattered through the whole +world, which used new laws, and acted against the customs of all +nations, despised the commandments of kings, and violated by their +opposition the concord of all nations. + +13:5. Wherefore having learned this, and seeing one nation in +opposition to all mankind using perverse laws, and going against our +commandments, and disturbing the peace and concord of the provinces +subject to us, + +13:6. We have commanded that all whom Aman shall mark out, who is chief +over all the provinces, and second after the king, and whom we honour +as a father, shall be utterly destroyed by their enemies, with their +wives and children, and that none shall have pity on them, on the +fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of this present year: + +13:7. That these wicked men going down to hell in one day, may restore +to our empire the peace which they had disturbed. + +13:8. But Mardochai besought the Lord, remembering all his works, + +13:9. And said: O Lord, Lord, almighty king, for all things are in thy +power, and there is none that can resist thy will, if thou determine to +save Israel. + +13:10. Thou hast made heaven and earth and all things that are under +the cope of heaven. + +13:11. Thou art Lord of all, and there is none that can resist thy +majesty. + +13:12. Thou knowest all things, and thou knowest that it was not out of +pride and or any desire of glory, that I refused to worship the proud +Aman, + +13:13. (For I would willingly and readily for the salvation of Israel +have kissed even the steps of his feet,) + +13:14. But I feared lest I should transfer the honour of my God to a +man, and lest I should adore any one except my God. + +13:15. And now, O Lord, O king, O God of Abraham, have mercy on thy +people, because our enemies resolve to destroy us, and extinguish thy +inheritance. + +13:16. Despise not thy portion, which thou hast redeemed for thyself +out of Egypt. + +13:17. Hear my supplication, and be merciful to thy lot and +inheritance, and turn our mourning into joy, that we may live and +praise thy name, O Lord, and shut not the mouths of them that sing to +thee. + +13:18. And all Israel with like mind and supplication cried to the +Lord, because they saw certain death hanging over their heads. + + + +Esther Chapter 14 + + +The prayer of Esther for herself and her people. + +14:1. Queen Esther also, fearing the danger that was at hand, had +recourse to the Lord. + +14:2. And when she had laid away her royal apparel, she put on garments +suitable for weeping and mourning: instead of divers precious +ointments, she covered her head with ashes and dung, and she humbled +her body with fasts: and all the places in which before she was +accustomed to rejoice, she filled with her torn hair. + +14:3. And she prayed to the Lord the God of Israel, saying: O my Lord, +who alone art our king, help me a desolate woman, and who have no other +helper but thee. + +14:4. My danger is in my hands. + +14:5. I have heard of my father that thou, O Lord, didst take Israel +from among all nations, and our fathers from all their predecessors, to +possess them as an everlasting inheritance, and thou hast done to them +as thou hast promised. + +14:6. We have sinned in thy sight, and therefore thou hast delivered us +into the hands of our enemies: + +14:7. For we have worshipped their gods. Thou art just, O Lord. + +14:8. And now they are not content to oppress us with most hard +bondage, but attributing the strength of their hands to the power of +their idols. + +14:9. They design to change thy promises, and destroy thy inheritance, +and shut the mouths of them that praise thee, and extinguish the glory +of thy temple and altar, + +14:10. That they may open the mouths of Gentiles, and praise the +strength of idols, and magnify for ever a carnal king. + +14:11. Give not, O Lord, thy sceptre to them that are not, lest they +laugh at our ruin: but turn their counsel upon themselves, and destroy +him that hath begun to rage against us. + +14:12. Remember, O Lord, and shew thyself to us in the time of our +tribulation, and give me boldness, O Lord, king of gods, and of all +power: + +14:13. Give me a well ordered speech in my mouth in the presence of the +lion, and turn his heart to the hatred of our enemy, that both he +himself may perish, and the rest that consent to him. + +14:14. But deliver us by thy hand, and help me, who have no other +helper, but thee, O Lord, who hast the knowledge of all things. + +14:15. And thou knowest that I hate the glory of the wicked, and abhor +the bed of the uncircumcised, and of every stranger. + +14:16. Thou knowest my necessity, that I abominate the sign of my pride +and glory, which is upon my head in the days of my public appearance, +and detest it as a menstruous rag, and wear it not in the days of my +silence, + +14:17. And that I have not eaten at Aman's table, nor hath the king's +banquet pleased me, and that I have not drunk the wine of the drink +offerings: + +14:18. And that thy handmaid hath never rejoiced, since I was brought +hither unto this day but in thee, O Lord, the God of Abraham. + +14:19. O God, who art mighty above all, hear the voice of them, that +have no other hope, and deliver us from the hand of the wicked, and +deliver me from my fear. + + + +Esther Chapter 15 + + +Esther comes into the king's presence: she is terrified, but God turns +his heart. + +15:1. And he commanded her (no doubt but he was Mardochai) to go to the +king, and petition for her people, and for her country. + +15:2. Remember, (said he,) the days of thy low estate, how thou wast +brought up by my hand, because Aman the second after the king hath +spoken against us unto death. + +15:3. And do thou call upon the Lord, and speak to the king for us, and +deliver us from death. + +15:4. And on the third day she laid away the garments she wore, and put +on her glorious apparel. + +15:5. And glittering in royal robes, after she had called upon God the +ruler and Saviour of all, she took two maids with her, + +15:6. And upon one of them she leaned, as if for delicateness and +overmuch tenderness she were not able to bear up her own body. + +15:7. And the other maid followed her lady, bearing up her train +flowing on the ground. + +15:8. But she with a rosy colour in her face, and with gracious and +bright eyes hid a mind full of anguish, and exceeding great fear. + +15:9. So going in she passed through all doors in order, and stood +before the king, where he sat upon his royal throne, clothed with his +royal robes, and glittering with gold, and precious stones, and he was +terrible to behold. + +15:10. And when he had lifted up his countenance, and with burning eyes +had shewn the wrath of his heart, the queen sunk down, and her colour +turned pale, and she rested her weary head upon her handmaid. + +15:11. And God changed the king's spirit into mildness, and all in +haste and in fear he leaped from his throne, and holding her up in his +arms, till she came to herself, caressed her with these words: + +15:12. What is the matter, Esther? I am thy brother, fear not. + +15:13. Thou shalt not die: for this law is not made for thee, but for +all others. + +15:14. Come near then, and touch the sceptre. + +15:15. And as she held her peace, he took the golden sceptre, and laid +it upon her neck, and kissed her, and said: Why dost thou not speak to +me? + +15:16. She answered: I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of God, and my +heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty. + +15:17. For thou, my lord, art very admirable, and thy face is full of +graces. + +15:18. And while she was speaking, she fell down again, and was almost +in a swoon. + +15:19. But the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her. + + + +Esther Chapter 16 + + +A copy of the king's letter in favour of the Jews. + +16:1. The great king Artaxerxes, from India to Ethiopia, to the +governors and princes of a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, which +obey our command, sendeth greeting. + +From India to Ethiopia. . .That is, who reigneth from India to Ethiopia. + +16:2. Many have abused unto pride the goodness of princes, and the +honour that hath been bestowed upon them: + +16:3. And not only endeavour to oppress the king's subjects, but not +bearing the glory that is given them, take in hand, to practise also +against them that gave it. + +16:4. Neither are they content not to return thanks for benefits +received, and to violate in themselves the laws of humanity, but they +think they can also escape the justice of God who seeth all things. + +16:5. And they break out into so great madness, as to endeavour to +undermine by lies such as observe diligently the offices committed to +them, and do all things in such manner as to be worthy of all men's +praise, + +16:6. While with crafty fraud they deceive the ears of princes that are +well meaning, and judge of others by their own nature. + +16:7. Now this is proved both from ancient histories, and by the things +which are done daily, how the good designs of kings are depraved by the +evil suggestions of certain men. + +16:8. Wherefore we must provide for the peace of all provinces. + +16:9. Neither must you think, if we command different things, that it +cometh of the levity of our mind, but that we give sentence according +to the quality and necessity of times, as the profit of the +commonwealth requireth. + +16:10. Now that you may more plainly understand what we say, Aman the +son of Amadathi, a Macedonian both in mind and country, and having +nothing of the Persian blood, but with his cruelty staining our +goodness, was received being a stranger by us: + +16:11. And found our humanity so great towards him, that he was called +our father, and was worshipped by all as the next man after the king: + +16:12. But he was so far puffed up with arrogancy, as to go about to +deprive us of our kingdom and life. + +16:13. For with certain new and unheard of devices he hath sought the +destruction of Mardochai, by whose fidelity and good services our life +was saved, and of Esther the partner of our kingdom with all their +nation: + +16:14. Thinking that after they were slain, he might work treason +against us left alone without friends, and might transfer the kingdom +of the Persians to the Macedonians. + +16:15. But we have found that the Jews, who were by that most wicked +man appointed to be slain, are in no fault at all, but contrariwise, +use just laws, + +16:16. And are the children of the highest and the greatest, and the +ever living God, by whose benefit the kingdom was given both to our +fathers and to us, and is kept unto this day. + +16:17. Wherefore know ye that those letters which he sent in our name, +are void and of no effect. + +16:18. For which crime both he himself that devised it, and all his +kindred hang on gibbets, before the gates of this city Susan: not we, +but God repaying him as he deserved. + +16:19. But this edict, which we now send, shall be published in all +cities, that the Jews may freely follow their own laws. + +16:20. And you shall aid them that they may kill those who had prepared +themselves to kill them, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, +which is called Adar. + +16:21. For the almighty God hath turned this day of sadness and +mourning into joy to them. + +16:22. Wherefore you shall also count this day among other festival +days, and celebrate it with all joy, that it may be known also in times +to come, + +16:23. That all they who faithfully obey the Persians, receive a worthy +reward for their fidelity: but they that are traitors to their kingdom, +are destroyed for their wickedness. + +16:24. And let every province and city, that will not be partaker of +this solemnity, perish by the sword and by fire, and be destroyed in +such manner as to be made unpassable, both to men and beasts, for an +example of contempt, and disobedience. + + + + +THE BOOK OF JOB + + + +This Book takes its name from the holy man of whom it treats: who, +according to the more probable opinion, was of the race of Esau; and +the same as Jobab, king of Edom, mentioned Gen. 36.33. It is uncertain +who was the writer of it. Some attribute it to Job himself; others to +Moses, or some one of the prophets. In the Hebrew it is written in +verse, from the beginning of the third chapter to the forty-second +chapter. + + + +Job Chapter 1 + + +Job's virtue and riches. Satan by permission from God strippeth him of +all his substance. His patience. + +1:1. There was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, and that +man was simple and upright, and fearing God, and avoiding evil. + +Hus. . .The land of Hus was a part of Edom; as appears from Lam. +4.21.--Ibid. Simple. . .That is, innocent, sincere, and without guile. + +1:2. And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters. + +1:3. And his possession was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand +camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and +a family exceedingly great: and this man was great among all the people +of the east. + +1:4. And his sons went, and made a feast by houses, every one in his +day. And sending, they called their three sisters, to eat and drink +with them. + +And made a feast by houses. . .That is, each made a feast in his own +house and had his day, inviting the others, and their sisters. + +1:5. And when the days of their feasting were gone about, Job sent to +them, and sanctified them: and rising up early, offered holocausts for +every one of them. For he said: Lest perhaps my sons have sinned, and +have blessed God in their hearts. So did Job all days. + +Blessed. . .For greater horror of the very thought of blasphemy, the +scripture both here and ver. 11, and in the following chapter, ver. 5 +and 9, uses the word bless to signify its contrary. + +1:6. Now on a certain day, when the sons of God came to stand before +the Lord, Satan also was present among them. + +The sons of God. . .The angels.--Ibid. Satan also, etc. This passage +represents to us in a figure, accommodated to the ways and +understandings of men, 1. The restless endeavours of Satan against the +servants of God; 2. That he can do nothing without God's permission; 3. +That God doth not permit him to tempt them above their strength: but +assists them by his divine grace in such manner, that the vain efforts +of the enemy only serve to illustrate their virtue and increase their +merit. + +1:7. And the Lord said to him: Whence comest thou? And he answered and +said: I have gone round about the earth, and walked through it. + +1:8. And the Lord said to him: Hast thou considered my servant, Job, +that there is none like him in the earth, a simple and upright man, and +fearing God, and avoiding evil? + +1:9. And Satan answering, said: Doth Job fear God in vain? + +1:10. Hast thou not made a fence for him, and his house, and all his +substance round about, blessed the works of his hands, and his +possession hath increased on the earth? + +1:11. But stretch forth thy hand a little, and touch all that he hath, +and see if he bless thee not to thy face. + +1:12. Then the Lord said to Satan: Behold, all that he hath is in thy +hand: only put not forth thy hand upon his person. And Satan went forth +from the presence of the Lord. + +1:13. Now upon a certain day, when his sons and daughters were eating +and drinking wine, in the house of their eldest brother, + +1:14. There came a messenger to Job, and said: The oxen were ploughing, +and the asses feeding beside them, + +1:15. And the Sabeans rushed in, and took all away, and slew the +servants with the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell thee. + +1:16. And while he was yet speaking, another came, and said: The fire +of God fell from heaven, and striking the sheep and the servants, hath +consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell thee. + +1:17. And while he also was yet speaking, there came another, and said: +The Chaldeans made three troops, and have fallen upon the camels, and +taken them; moreover, they have slain the servants with the sword: and +I alone have escaped to tell thee. + +1:18. He was yet speaking, and behold another came in, and said: Thy +sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their +eldest brother, + +1:19. A violent wind came on a sudden from the side of the desert, and +shook the four corners of the house, and it fell upon thy children, and +they are dead: and I alone have escaped to tell thee. + +1:20. Then Job rose up, and rent his garments, and having shaven his +head, fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, + +1:21. And said: Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I +return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as it hath +pleased the Lord, so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord. + +1:22. In all these things Job sinned not by his lips, nor spoke he any +foolish thing against God. + + + +Job Chapter 2 + + +2:1. And it came to pass, when on a certain day the sons of God came, +and stood before the Lord, and Satan came amongst them, and stood in +his sight, + +2:2. That the Lord said to Satan: Whence comest thou? And he answered, +and said: I have gone round about the earth, and walked through it. + +2:3. And the Lord said to Satan: Hast thou considered my servant, Job, +that there is none like him in the earth, a man simple and upright, and +fearing God, and avoiding evil, and still keeping his innocence? But +thou hast moved me against him, that I should afflict him without +cause. + +2:4. And Satan answered, and said: Skin for skin; and all that a man +hath, he will give for his life: + +2:5. But put forth thy hand, and touch his bone and his flesh, and then +thou shalt see that he will bless thee to thy face. + +2:6. And the Lord said to Satan: Behold, he is in thy hand, but yet +save his life. + +2:7. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job +with a very grievous ulcer, from the sole of the foot even to the top +of his head: + +2:8. And he took a potsherd and scraped the corrupt matter, sitting on +a dunghill. + +2:9. And his wife said to him: Dost thou still continue in thy +simplicity? bless God and die. + +2:10. And he said to her: Thou hast spoken like one of the foolish +women: If we have received good things at the hand of God, why should +we not receive evil? In all these things Job did not sin with his lips. + +2:11. Now when Job's three friends heard all the evil that had befallen +him, they came every one from his own place, Eliphaz, the Themanite, +and Baldad, the Suhite, and Sophar, the Naamathite. For they had made +an appointment to come together and visit him, and comfort him. + +2:12. And when they had lifted up their eyes afar off, they knew him +not, and crying out, they wept, and rending their garments, they +sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. + +2:13. And they sat with him on the ground seven day and seven nights +and no man spoke to him a word: for they saw that his grief was very +great. + + + +Job Chapter 3 + + +3:1. After this, Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day, + +Cursed his day. . .Job cursed the day of his birth, not by way of +wishing evil to any thing of God's creation; but only to express in a +stronger manner his sense of human miseries in general, and of his own +calamities in particular. + +3:2. And he said: + +3:3. Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it +was said: A man child is conceived. + +3:4. Let that day be turned into darkness, let not God regard it from +above, and let not the light shine upon it. + +3:5. Let darkness, and the shadow of death, cover it, let a mist +overspread it, and let it be wrapped up in bitterness. + +3:6. Let a darksome whirlwind seize upon that night, let it not be +counted in the days of the year, nor numbered in the months. + +3:7. Let that night be solitary, and not worthy of praise. + +3:8. Let them curse it who curse the day, who are ready to raise up a +leviathan: + +3:9. Let the stars be darkened with the mist thereof: let it expect +light, and not see it, nor the rising of the dawning of the day: + +3:10. Because it shut not up the doors of the womb that bore me, nor +took away evils from my eyes. + +3:11. Why did I not die in the womb? why did I not perish when I came +out of the belly? + +3:12. Why received upon the knees? why suckled at the breasts? + +3:13. For now I should have been asleep and still, and should have rest +in my sleep: + +3:14. With kings and consuls of the earth, who build themselves +solitudes: + +3:15. Or with princes, that possess gold, and fill their houses with +silver: + +3:16. Or as a hidden untimely birth, I should not be; or as they that, +being conceived, have not seen the light. + +3:17. There the wicked cease from tumult, and there the wearied in +strength are at rest. + +3:18. And they sometime bound together without disquiet, have not heard +the voice of the oppressor. + +3:19. The small and great are there, and the servant is free from his +master. + +3:20. Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to them +that are in bitterness of soul? + +3:21. That look for death, and it cometh not, as they that dig for a +treasure: + +3:22. And they rejoice exceedingly when they have found the grave? + +3:23. To a man whose way is hidden, and God hath surrounded him with +darkness? + +3:24. Before I eat I sigh: and as overflowing waters, so is my roaring: + +3:25. For the fear which I feared, hath come upon me: and that which I +was afraid of, hath befallen me. + +3:26. Have I not dissembled? have I not kept silence? have I not been +quiet? and indignation is come upon me. + + + +Job Chapter 4 + + +4:1. Then Eliphaz, the Themanite, answered, and said: + +4:2. If we begin to speak to thee, perhaps thou wilt take it ill; but +who can withhold the words he hath conceived? + +4:3. Behold thou hast taught many, and thou hast strengthened the weary +hands: + +4:4. Thy words have confirmed them that were staggering, and thou hast +strengthened the trembling knees: + +4:5. But now the scourge is come upon thee, and thou faintest: It hath +touched thee, and thou art troubled. + +4:6. Where is thy fear, thy fortitude, thy patience, and the perfection +of thy ways? + +4:7. Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? or when +were the just destroyed? + +4:8. On the contrary, I have seen those who work iniquity, and sow +sorrows, and reap them, + +4:9. Perishing by the blast of God, and consumed by the spirit of his +wrath. + +4:10. The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the +teeth of the whelps of lions, are broken: + +4:11. The tiger hath perished for want of prey, and the young lions are +scattered abroad. + +4:12. Now there was a word spoken to me in private, and my ears by +stealth, as it were, received the veins of its whisper. + +4:13. In the horror of a vision by night, when deep sleep is wont to +hold men, + +4:14. Fear seized upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were +affrighted: + +4:15. And when a spirit passed before me, the hair of my flesh stood +up. + +4:16. There stood one whose countenance I knew not, an image before my +eyes, and I heard the voice, as it were, of a gentle wind. + +4:17. Shall man be justified in comparison of God, or shall a man be +more pure than his maker? + +Shall man be justified in comparison of God, etc. . .These are the words +which Eliphaz had heard from an angel, which, ver. 15, he calls a +spirit. + +4:18. Behold, they that serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels +he found wickedness: + +4:19. How much more shall they that dwell in houses of clay, who have +an earthly foundation, be consumed as with the moth? + +4:20. From morning till evening they shall be cut down: and because no +one understandeth, they shall perish for ever. + +4:21. And they that shall be left, shall be taken away from them: they +shall die, and not in wisdom. + + + +Job Chapter 5 + + +5:1. Call now, if there be any that will answer thee, and turn to some +of the saints. + +5:2. Anger indeed killeth the foolish, and envy slayeth the little one. + +5:3. I have seen a fool with a strong root, and I cursed his beauty +immediately. + +5:4. His children shall be far from safety, and shall be destroyed in +the gate, and there shall be none to deliver them. + +5:5. Whose harvest the hungry shall eat, and the armed man shall take +him by violence, and the thirsty shall drink up his riches. + +5:6. Nothing upon earth is done without a cause, and sorrow doth not +spring out of the ground. + +5:7. Man is born to labour, and the bird to fly. + +5:8. Wherefore I will pray to the Lord, and address my speech to God: + +5:9. Who doth great things, and unsearchable and wonderful things +without number: + +5:10. Who giveth rain upon the face of the earth, and watereth all +things with waters: + +5:11. Who setteth up the humble on high, and comforteth with health +those that mourn. + +5:12. Who bringeth to nought the designs of the malignant, so that +their hands cannot accomplish what they had begun: + +5:13. Who catcheth the wise in their craftiness, and disappointeth the +counsel of the wicked: + +5:14. They shall meet with darkness in the day, and grope at noonday as +in the night. + +5:15. But he shall save the needy from the sword of their mouth, and +the poor from the hand of the violent. + +5:16. And to the needy there shall be hope, but iniquity shall draw in +her mouth. + +5:17. Blessed is the man whom God correcteth: refuse not, therefore, +the chastising of the Lord. + +5:18. For he woundeth, and cureth: he striketh, and his hands shall +heal. + +5:19. In six troubles he shall deliver thee, and in the seventh, evil +shall not touch thee. + +5:20. In famine he shall deliver thee from death; and in battle, from +the hand of the sword. + +5:21. Thou shalt be hidden from the scourge of the tongue: and thou +shalt not fear calamity when it cometh. + +5:22. In destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: and thou shalt not be +afraid of the beasts of the earth. + +5:23. But thou shalt have a covenant with the stones of the lands, and +the beasts of the earth shall be at peace with thee. + +5:24. And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle is in peace, and visiting +thy beauty, thou shalt not sin. + +5:25. Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be multiplied, and thy +offspring like the grass of the earth. + +5:26. Thou shalt enter into the grave in abundance, as a heap of wheat +is brought in its season. + +5:27. Behold, this is even so, as we have searched out: which thou +having heard, consider it thoroughly in thy mind. + + + +Job Chapter 6 + + +6:1. But Job answered, and said: + +6:2. O that my sins, whereby I have deserved wrath, and the calamity +that I suffer, were weighed in a balance. + +My sins, etc. . .He does not mean to compare his sufferings with his +real sins: but with the imaginary crimes which his friends imputed to +him: and especially with his wrath, or grief, expressed in the third +chapter, which they so much accused. Though, as he tells them here, it +bore no proportion with the greatness of his calamity. + +6:3. As the sand of the sea, this would appear heavier: therefore, my +words are full of sorrow: + +6:4. For the arrows of the Lord are in me, the rage whereof drinketh up +my spirit, and the terrors of the Lord war against me. + +6:5. Will the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or will the ox low when +he standeth before a full manger? + +6:6. Or can an unsavoury thing be eaten, that is not seasoned with +salt? or can a man taste that which, when tasted, bringeth death? + +6:7. The things which before my soul would not touch, now, through +anguish, are my meats. + +6:8. Who will grant that my request may come: and that God may give me +what I look for? + +6:9. And that he that hath begun may destroy me, that he may let loose +his hand, and cut me off? + +6:10. And that this may be my comfort, that afflicting me with sorrow, +he spare not, nor I contradict the words of the Holy one. + +6:11. For what is my strength, that I can hold out? or what is my end, +that I should keep patience? + +6:12. My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh of +brass. + +6:13. Behold there is no help for me in myself, and my familiar friends +also are departed from me. + +6:14. He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of +the Lord. + +6:15. My brethren have passed by me, as the torrent that passeth +swiftly in the valleys. + +6:16. They that fear the hoary frost, the snow shall fall upon them. + +6:17. At the time when they shall be scattered they shall perish: and +after it groweth hot, they shall be melted out of their place. + +6:18. The paths of their steps are entangled: they shall walk in vain, +and shall perish. + +6:19. Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little +while. + +6:20. They arc confounded, because I have hoped: they are come also +even unto me, and are covered with shame. + +6:21. Now you are come: and now, seeing my affliction, you are afraid. + +6:22. Did I say: Bring to me, and give me of your substance? + +6:23. Or deliver me from the hand of the enemy, and rescue me out of +the hand of the mighty? + +6:24. Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and if I have been ignorant +of any thing, instruct me. + +6:25. Why have you detracted the words of truth, whereas there is none +of you that can reprove me? + +6:26. You dress up speeches only to rebuke, and you utter words to the +wind. + +6:27. You rush in upon the fatherless, and you endeavour to overthrow +your friend. + +6:28. However, finish what you have begun: give ear and see whether I +lie. + +6:29. Answer, I beseech you, without contention: and speaking that +which is just, judge ye. + +6:30. And you shall not find iniquity in my tongue, neither shall folly +sound in my mouth. + + + +Job Chapter 7 + + +7:1. The life of man upon earth is a warfare, and his days are like the +days of a hireling. + +7:2. As a servant longeth for the shade, as the hireling looketh for +the end of his work; + +7:3. So I also have had empty months, and have numbered to myself +wearisome nights. + +7:4. If I lie down to sleep, I shall say: When shall I rise? and again, +I shall look for the evening, and shall be filled with sorrows even +till darkness. + +7:5. My flesh is clothed with rottenness and the filth of dust; my skin +is withered and drawn together. + +7:6. My days have passed more swiftly than the web is cut by the +weaver, and are consumed without any hope. + +7:7. Remember that my life is but wind, and my eye shall not return to +see good things. + +7:8. Nor shall the sight of man behold me: thy eyes are upon me, and I +shall be no more. + +7:9. As a cloud is consumed, and passeth away: so he that shall go down +to hell shall not come up. + +7:10. Nor shall he return any more into his house, neither shall his +place know him any more + +7:11. Wherefore, I will not spare my month, I will speak in the +affliction of my spirit: I will talk with the bitterness of my soul. + +7:12. Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou hast inclosed me in a prison? + +7:13. If I say: My bed shall comfort me, and I shall be relieved, +speaking with myself on my couch: + +7:14. Thou wilt frighten me with dreams, and terrify me with visions. + +7:15. So that my soul rather chooseth hanging, and my bones death. + +7:16. I have done with hope, I shall now live no longer: spare me, for +my days are nothing. + +7:17. What is a man, that thou shouldst magnify him or why dost thou +set thy heart upon him? + +7:18. Thou visitest him early in the morning, and thou provest him +suddenly. + +7:19. How long wilt thou not spare me, nor suffer me to swallow down my +spittle? + +7:20. I have sinned: what shall I do to thee, O keeper of men? why hast +thou set me opposite to thee. and am I become burdensome to myself? + +7:21. Why dost thou not remove my sin, and why dost thou not take away +my iniquity? Behold now I shall sleep in the dust: and if thou seek me +in the morning, I shall not be. + + + +Job Chapter 8 + + +8:1. Then Baldad, the Suhite, answered, and said: + +8:2. How long wilt thou speak these things, and how long shall the +words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? + +8:3. Doth God pervert judgment, or doth the Almighty overthrow that +which is just? + +8:4. Although thy children have sinned against him, and he hath left +them in the hand of their iniquity: + +8:5. Yet if thou wilt arise early to God, and wilt beseech the +Almighty: + +8:6. If thou wilt walk clean and upright, he will presently awake unto +thee, and will make the dwelling of thy justice peaceable: + +8:7. In so much, that if thy former things were small thy latter things +would be multiplied exceedingly. + +8:8. For inquire of the former generation, and search diligently into +the memory of the fathers: + +8:9. (For we are but of yesterday, and are ignorant that our days upon +earth are but a shadow + +8:10. And they shall teach thee: they shall speak to thee, and utter +words out of their hearts. + +8:11. Can the rush be green without moisture? or sedge bush grow +without water? + +8:12. When it is yet in flower, and is not plucked u with the hand, it +withereth before all herbs. + +8:13. Even so are the ways of all that forget God, an the hope of the +hypocrite shall perish: + +8:14. His folly shall not please him, and his trust shall be like the +spider's web. + +8:15. He shall lean upon his house, and it shall no stand: he shall +prop it up, and it shall not rise: + +8:16. He seemeth to have moisture before the sun cometh; and at his +rising, his blossom shall shoot forth. + +8:17. His roots shall be thick upon a heap of stones; and among the +stones he shall abide. + +8:18. If one swallow him up out of his place, he shall deny him, and +shall say: I know thee not. + +8:19. For this is the joy of his way, that others may spring again out +of the earth. + +8:20. God will not cast away the simple, nor reach out his hand to the +evil doer: + +8:21. Until thy mouth be filled with laughter, and thy lips with +rejoicing. + +8:22. They that hate thee, shall be clothed with confusion: and the +dwelling of the wicked shall not stand. + + + +Job Chapter 9 + + +9:1. And Job answered, and said: + +9:2. Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified, compared +with God. + +9:3. If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a +thousand. + +9:4. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted +him, and hath had peace? + +9:5. Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his +wrath, knew it not. + +9:6. Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof +tremble. + +9:7. Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not: and shutteth up the +stars, as it were, under a seal: + +9:8. Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of +the sea + +9:9. Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of +the south. + +Arcturus, etc. . .These are names of stars or constellations. In Hebrew, +Ash, Cesil, and Cimah. See note chap. 38, ver. 31. + +9:10. Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of +which there is no number. + +9:11. If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart, I shall not +understand. + +9:12. If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: +Why dost thou so? + +9:13. God, whose wrath no man can resist, and under whom they stoop +that bear up the world. + +9:14. What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with +him? + +9:15. I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, +but would make supplication to my judge. + +9:16. And if he should hear me when I call, I should not believe that +he had heard my voice. + +9:17. For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even +without cause. + +Without cause. . .That is, without my knowing the cause: or without any +crime of mine. + +9:18. He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with +bitterness. + +9:19. If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of +judgment, no man dare bear witness for me. + +9:20. If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I +would shew myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked. + +9:21. Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant +of, and I shall be weary of my life. + +9:22. One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the +wicked he consumeth. + +9:23. If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains +of the innocent. + +9:24. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, he covereth the +face of the judges thereof: and if it be not he, who is it then? + +9:25. My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and +have not seen good. + +9:26. They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying +to the prey. + +9:27. If I say: I will not speak so: I change my face, and am tormented +with sorrow. + +9:28. I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the +offender. + +9:29. But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain? + +9:30. If I be washed, as it were, with snow waters, and my hands shall +shine ever so clean: + +9:31. Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor +me. + +9:32. For I shall not answer a man that is like myself: nor one that +may be heard with me equally in judgment. + +9:33. There is none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his +hand between both. + +9:34. Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify +me. + +9:35. I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I +am in fear. + + + +Job Chapter 10 + + +10:1. My soul is weary of my life, I will let go my speech against +myself, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. + +10:2. I will say to God: Do not condemn me: tell me why thou judgest me +so? + +10:3. Doth it seem good to thee that thou shouldst calumniate me, and +oppress me, the work of thy own hands, and help the counsel of the +wicked? + +10:4. Hast thou eyes of flesh: or, shalt thou see as man seeth? + +10:5. Are thy days as the days of man, and are thy years as the times +of men: + +10:6. That thou shouldst inquire after my iniquity, and search after my +sin? + +10:7. And shouldst know that I have done no wicked thing, whereas there +is no man that can deliver out of thy hand? + +10:8. Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me wholly round about, and +dost thou thus cast me down headlong on a sudden? + +10:9. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay, and +thou wilt bring me into dust + +10:10. Hast thou not milked me as milk, and curdled me like cheese? + +10:11. Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh: thou hast put me +together with bones and sinews: + +10:12. Thou hast granted me life and mercy, and thy visitation hath +preserved my spirit. + +10:13. Although thou conceal these things in thy heart, yet I know that +thou rememberest all things. + +10:14. If I have sinned, and thou hast spared me for an hour: why dost +thou not suffer me to be clean from my iniquity? + +10:15. And if I be wicked, woe unto me: and if just, I shall not lift +up my head, being filled with affliction and misery. + +10:16. And for pride thou wilt take me as a lioness, and returning, +thou tormentest me wonderfully. + +10:17. Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and multipliest thy +wrath upon me, and pains war against me. + +10:18. Why didst thou bring me forth out of the womb? O that I had been +consumed, that eye might not see me l + +10:19. I should have been as if I had not been, carried from the womb +to the grave. + +10:20. Shall not the fewness of my days be ended shortly? Suffer me, +therefore, that I may lament my sorrow a little: + +10:21. Before I go and return no more, to a land that is dark and +covered with the mist of death: + +10:22. A land of misery and darkness, where the shadow of death, and no +order, but everlasting horror dwelleth. + + + +Job Chapter 11 + + +Sophar reproves Job, for justifying himself, and invites him to +repentance. + +11:1. Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said: + +11:2. Shall not he that speaketh much, hear also? or shall a man full +of talk be justified? + +11:3. Shall men hold their peace to thee only? and when thou hast +mocked others, shall no man confute thee? + +11:4. For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight. + +11:5. And I wish that God would speak with thee, and would open his +lips to thee, + +11:6. That he might shew thee the secrets of wisdom, and that his law +is manifold, and thou mightest understand that he exacteth much less of +thee, than thy iniquity deserveth. + +11:7. Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find +out the Almighty perfectly? + +11:8. He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do? he is deeper +than hell, and how wilt thou know? + +11:9. The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the +sea. + +11:10. If he shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, +who shall contradict him? + +11:11. For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, +doth he not consider it? + +11:12. A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born +free like a wild ass's colt. + +11:13. But thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to +him. + +11:14. If thou wilt put away from thee the iniquity that is in thy +hand, and let not injustice remain in thy tabernacle: + +11:15. Then mayst thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be +steadfast, and shalt not fear. + +11:16. Thou shalt also forget misery, and remember it only as waters +that are passed away. + +11:17. And brightness like that of the noonday, shall arise to thee at +evening: and when thou shalt think thyself consumed, thou shalt rise as +the day star. + +11:18. And thou shalt have confidence, hope being set before thee, and +being buried thou shalt sleep secure. + +11:19. Thou shalt rest, and there shall be none to make thee afraid: +and many shall entreat thy face. + +11:20. But the eyes of the wicked shall decay, and the way to escape +shall fail them, and their hope the abomination of the soul. + + + +Job Chapter 12 + + +Job's reply to Sophar. He extols God's power and wisdom. + +12:1. Then Job answered, and said: + +12:2. Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom die with you? + +12:3. I also have a heart as well as you: for who is ignorant of these +things, which you know? + +12:4. He that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God and he +will hear him: for the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn. + +12:5. The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the +time appointed. + +12:6. The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; +whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands: + +12:7. But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds +of the air, and they shall tell thee. + +12:8. Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of +the sea shall tell. + +12:9. Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these +things? + +12:10. In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit +of all flesh of man. + +12:11. Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that +eateth, the taste? + +12:12. In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence. + +12:13. With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and +understanding. + +12:14. If he pull down, there is no man that can build up: if he shut +up a man, there is none that can open. + +12:15. If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if +he send them out, they shall overturn the earth. + +12:16. With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceivers, +and him that is deceived. + +12:17. He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to +insensibility. + +12:18. He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a +cord. + +12:19. He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles. + +12:20. He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the +doctrine of the aged. + +12:21. He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were +oppressed. + +12:22. He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to +light the shadow of death. + +12:23. He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them +again after they were overthrown. + +12:24. He changeth the heart of the princes of the people of the earth, +and deceiveth them that they walk in vain where there is no way. + +12:25. They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he +shall make them stagger like men that are drunk. + + + +Job Chapter 13 + + +Job persists in maintaining his innocence: and reproves his friends. + +13:1. Behold my eye hath seen all these things, and my ear hath heard +them, and I have understood them all. + +13:2. According to your knowledge I also know: neither am I inferior to +you. + +13:3. But yet I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with +God. + +13:4. Having first shewn that you are forgers of lies, and maintainers +of perverse opinions. + +13:5. And I wish you would hold your peace, that you might be thought +to be wise men. + +13:6. Hear ye therefore my reproof, and attend to the judgment of my +lips. + +13:7. Hath God any need of your lie, that you should speak deceitfully +for him? + +13:8. Do you accept this person, and do you endeavour to judge for God? + +13:9. Or shall it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? or +shall he be deceived as a man, with your deceitful dealings? + +13:10. He shall reprove you, because in secret you accept his person. + +13:11. As soon as he shall move himself, he shall trouble you: and his +dread shall fall upon you. + +13:12. Your remembrance shall be compared to ashes, and your necks +shall be brought to clay. + +13:13. Hold your peace a little while, that I may speak whatsoever my +mind shall suggest to me. + +13:14. Why do I tear my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my +hands? + +13:15. Although he should kill me, I will trust in him: but yet I will +reprove my ways in his sight. + +13:16. And he shall be my saviour: for no hypocrite shall come before +his presence. + +13:17. Hear ye my speech, and receive with your ears hidden truths. + +13:18. If I shall be judged, I know that I shall be found just. + +13:19. Who is he that will plead against me? let him come: why am I +consumed holding my peace? + +13:20. Two things only do not to me, and then from thy face I shall not +be hid: + +13:21. Withdraw thy hand far from me, and let not thy dread terrify me. + +13:22. Call me, and I will answer thee: or else I will speak, and do +thou answer me. + +13:23. How many are my iniquities and sins? make me know my crimes and +offenses. + +13:24. Why hidest thou thy face, and thinkest me thy enemy? + +13:25. Against a leaf, that is carried away with the wind, thou shewest +thy power, and thou pursuest a dry straw. + +13:26. For thou writest bitter things against me, and wilt consume me +for the sins of my youth. + +13:27. Thou hast put my feet in the stocks, and hast observed all my +paths, and hast considered the steps of my feet: + +13:28. Who am to be consumed as rottenness, and as a garment that is +motheaten. + + + +Job Chapter 14 + + +Job declares the shortness of man's days: and professes his belief of a +resurrection. + +14:1. Man born of a woman, living for a short time, is filled with many +miseries. + +14:2. Who cometh forth like a flower, and is destroyed, and fleeth as a +shadow, and never continueth in the same state. + +14:3. And dost thou think it meet to open thy eyes upon such an one, +and to bring him into judgment with thee? + +14:4. Who can make him clean that is conceived of unclean seed? is it +not thou who only art? + +14:5. The days of man are short, and the number of his months is with +thee: thou hast appointed his bounds which cannot be passed. + +14:6. Depart a little from him, that he may rest until his wished for +day come, as that of the hireling. + +14:7. A tree hath hope: if it be cut, it growth green again, and the +boughs thereof sprout. + +14:8. If its roots be old in the earth, and its stock be dead in the +dust: + +14:9. At the scent of water, it shall spring, and bring forth leaves, +as when it was first planted. + +14:10. But man when he shall be dead, and stripped and consumed, I pray +you where is he? + +14:11. As if the waters should depart out of the sea, and an emptied +river should be dried up; + +14:12. So man when he is fallen asleep shall not rise again; till the +heavens be broken, he shall not awake, nor rise up out of his sleep. + +14:13. Who will grant me this, that thou mayst protect me in hell, and +hide me till thy wrath pass, and appoint me a time when thou wilt +remember me? + +That thou mayst protect me in hell. . .That is, in the state of the +dead; and in the place where the souls are kept waiting for their +Redeemer. + +14:14. Shall man that is dead, thinkest thou, live again? all the days +in which I am now in warfare, I expect until my change come. + +14:15. Thou shalt call me, and I will answer thee: to the work of thy +hands thou shalt reach out thy right hand. + +14:16. Thou indeed hast numbered my steps, but spare my sins. + +14:17. Thou hast sealed up my offences as it were in a bag, but hast +cured my iniquity. + +14:18. A mountain falling cometh to nought, and a rock is removed out +of its place. + +14:19. Waters wear away the stones, and with inundation the ground by +little and little is washed away: so in like manner thou shalt destroy +man. + +14:20. Thou hast strengthened him for a little while, that he may pass +away for ever: thou shalt change his face, and shalt send him away. + +14:21. Whether his children come to honour or dishonour, he shall not +understand. + +14:22. But yet his flesh, while he shall live, shall have pain, and his +soul shall mourn over him. + + + +Job Chapter 15 + + +Eliphaz returns to the charge against Job, and describes the wretched +state of the wicked. + +15:1. And Eliphaz the Themanite, answered, and said: + +15:2. Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking in the wind, and +fill his stomach with burning heat? + +15:3. Thou reprovest him by words, who is not equal to thee, and thou +speakest that which is not good for thee. + +15:4. As much as is in thee, thou hast made void fear, and hast taken +away prayers from before God. + +Thou hast made void fear. . .That is, cast off the fear of offending +God. + +15:5. For thy iniquity hath taught thy mouth, and thou imitatest the +tongue of blasphemers. + +15:6. Thy own mouth shall condemn thee, and not I: and thy own lips +shall answer thee. + +15:7. Art thou the first man that was born, or wast thou made before +the hills? + +15:8. Hast thou heard God's counsel, and shall his wisdom be inferior +to thee? + +15:9. What knowest thou that we are ignorant of? what dost thou +understand that we know not? + +15:10. There are with us also aged and ancient men, much elder than thy +fathers. + +15:11. Is it a great matter that God should comfort thee? but thy +wicked words hinder this. + +15:12. Why doth thy heart elevate thee, and why dost thou stare with +thy eyes, as if they were thinking great things? + +15:13. Why doth thy spirit swell against God, to utter such words out +of thy mouth? + +15:14. What is man that he should be without spot, and he that is born +of a woman that he should appear just? + +15:15. Behold among his saints none is unchangeable, and the heavens +are not pure in his sight. + +15:16. How much more is man abominable, and unprofitable, who drinketh +iniquity like water? + +15:17. I will shew thee, hear me: and I will tell thee what I have +seen. + +15:18. Wise men confess and hide not their fathers. + +Wise men confess and hide not their fathers. . .That is, the knowledge +and documents they have received from their fathers they are not +ashamed to own. + +15:19. To whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger hath passed +among them. + +15:20. The wicked man is proud all his days, and the number of the +years of his tyranny is uncertain. + +15:21. The sound of dread is always in his ears: and when there is +peace, he always suspecteth treason. + +15:22. He believeth not that he may return from darkness to light, +looking round about for the sword on every side. + +15:23. When he moveth himself to seek bread, he knoweth that the day of +darkness is ready at his hand. + +15:24. Tribulation shall terrify him, and distress shall surround him, +as a king that is prepared for the battle. + +15:25. For he hath stretched out his hand against God, and hath +strengthened himself against the Almighty. + +15:26. He hath run against him with his neck raised up, and is armed +with a fat neck. + +15:27. Fatness hath covered his face, and the fat hangeth down on his +sides. + +15:28. He hath dwelt in desolate cities, and in desert houses that are +reduced into heaps. + +15:29. He shall not be enriched, neither shall his substance continue, +neither shall he push his root in the earth. + +15:30. He shall not depart out of darkness: the flame shall dry up his +branches, and he shall be taken away by the breath of his own mouth. + +15:31. He shall not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he +may be redeemed with any price. + +15:32. Before his days be full he shall perish: and his hands shall +wither away. + +15:33. He shall be blasted as a vine when its grapes are in the first +flower, and as an olive tree that casteth its flower. + +15:34. For the congregation of the hypocrite is barren, and fire shall +devour their tabernacles, who love to take bribes. + +15:35. He hath conceived sorrow, and hath brought forth iniquity, and +his womb prepareth deceits. + + + +Job Chapter 16 + + +Job expostulates with his friends: and appeals to the judgment of God. + +16:1. Then Job answered, and said: + +16:2. I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome +comforters. + +16:3. Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to +speak? + +16:4. I also could speak like you: and would God your soul were for my +soul. + +16:5. I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over +you. + +16:6. I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as +sparing you. + +16:7. But what shall I do? If I speak, my pain will not rest: and if I +hold my peace, it will not depart from me. + +16:8. But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought +to nothing. + +16:9. My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth +up against my face, contradicting me. + +16:10. He hath gathered together his fury against me, and threatening +me he hath gnashed with his teeth upon me: my enemy hath beheld me with +terrible eyes. + +16:11. They have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they +have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains. + +16:12. God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me +into the hands of the wicked. + +16:13. I that was formerly so wealthy, am all on a sudden broken to +pieces: he hath taken me by my neck, he hath broken me, and hath set me +up to be his mark. + +16:14. He hath compassed me round about with his lances, he hath +wounded my loins, he hath not spared, and hath poured out my bowels on +the earth, + +16:15. He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me +like a giant. + +16:16. I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh +with ashes. + +16:17. My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim. + +16:18. These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, +when I offered pure prayers to God. + +16:19. O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a +hiding place in thee. + +16:20. For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my +conscience is on high. + +16:21. My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God. + +16:22. And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man +is judged with his companion! + +16:23. For behold short years pass away, and I am walking in a path by +which I shall not return. + + + +Job Chapter 17 + + +Job's hope in God: he expects rest in death. + +17:1. My spirit shall be wasted, my days shall be shortened and only +the grave remaineth for me. + +17:2. I have not sinned, and my eye abideth in bitterness. + +Not sinned. . .That is, I am not guilty of such sins as they charge me +with. + +17:3. Deliver me, O Lord, and set me beside thee, and let any man's +hand fight against me. + +17:4. Thou hast set their heart far from understanding, therefore they +shall not be exalted. + +17:5. He promiseth a prey to his companions, and the eyes of his +children shall fail. + +17:6. He hath made me as it were a byword of the people, and I am an +example before them. + +17:7. My eye is dim through indignation, and my limbs are brought as it +were to nothing. + +17:8. The just shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall be +raised up against the hypocrite. + +17:9. And the just man shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean +hands shall be stronger and stronger. + +17:10. Wherefore be you all converted, and come, and I shall not find +among you any wise man. + +17:11. My days have passed away, my thoughts are dissipated, tormenting +my heart. + +17:12. They have turned night into day, and after darkness I hope for +light again. + +17:13. If I wait hell is my house, and I have made my bed in darkness. + +Hell. . .Sheol. The region of the dead. + +17:14. I have said to rottenness: Thou art my father; to worms, my +mother and my sister. + +17:15. Where is now then my expectation, and who considereth my +patience? + +17:16. All that I have shall go down into the deepest pit: thinkest +thou that there at least I shall have rest? + +Deepest pit. . .Literally, hell. + + + +Job Chapter 18 + + +Baldad again reproves Job and describes the miseries of the wicked. + +18:1. Then Baldad the Suhite answered, and said: + +18:2. How long will you throw out words? understand first, and so let +us speak. + +18:3. Why are we reputed as beasts, and counted vile before you? + +18:4. Thou that destroyest thy soul in thy fury, shall the earth be +forsaken for thee, and shall rocks be removed out of their place? + +18:5. Shall not the light of the wicked be extinguished, and the flame +of his fire not shine? + +18:6. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and the lamp that is +over him, shall be put out. + +18:7. The step of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel +shall cast him down headlong. + +18:8. For he hath thrust his feet into a net, and walketh in its +meshes. + +18:9. The sole of his foot shall be held in a snare, and thirst shall +burn against him. + +18:10. A gin is hidden for him in the earth, and his trap upon the +path. + +18:11. Fears shall terrify him on every side, and shall entangle his +feet. + +18:12. Let his strength be wasted with famine, and let hunger invade +his ribs. + +18:13. Let it devour the beauty of his skin, let the firstborn death +consume his arms. + +18:14. Let his confidence be rooted out of his tabernacle, and let +destruction tread upon him like a king. + +18:15. Let the companions of him that is not, dwell in his tabernacle, +let brimstone be sprinkled in his tent. + +18:16. Let his roots be dried up beneath, and his harvest destroyed +above. + +18:17. Let the memory of him perish from the earth, and let not his +name be renowned in the streets. + +18:18. He shall drive him out of light into darkness, and shall remove +him out of the world. + +18:19. His seed shall not subsist, nor his offspring among his people, +nor any remnants in his country. + +18:20. They that come after him shall be astonished at his day, and +horror shall fall upon them that went before. + +18:21. These then are the tabernacles of the wicked, and this the place +of him that knoweth not God. + + + +Job Chapter 19 + + +Job complains of the cruelty of his friends; he describes his own +sufferings: and his belief of a future resurrection. + +19:1. Then Job answered, and said: + +19:2. How long do you afflict my soul, and break me in pieces with +words? + +19:3. Behold, these ten times you confound me, and are not ashamed to +oppress me. + +19:4. For if I have been ignorant, my ignorance shall be with me. + +19:5. But you set yourselves up against me, and reprove me with my +reproaches. + +19:6. At least now understand, that God hath not afflicted me with an +equal judgment, and compassed me with his scourges. + +With an equal judgment. . .St. Gregory explains these words thus: Job +being a just man, and truly considering his own life, thought that his +affliction was greater than his sins deserved: and in that respect, +that the punishment was not equal, yet it was just, as coming from God, +who gives a crown of justice to those who suffer for righteousness' +sake, and proves the just with tribulations, as gold is tried by fire. + +19:7. Behold I shall cry suffering violence, and no one will hear: I +shall cry aloud, and there is none to judge. + +19:8. He hath hedged in my path round about, and I cannot pass, and in +my way he hath set darkness. + +19:9. He hath stripped me of my glory, and hath taken the crown from my +head. + +19:10. He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am lost, and he hath +taken away my hope, as from a tree that is plucked up. + +19:11. His wrath is kindled against me, and he hath counted me as his +enemy. + +19:12. His troops have come together, and have made themselves a way by +me, and have besieged my tabernacle round about. + +19:13. He hath put my brethren far from me, and my acquaintance like +strangers have departed from me. + +19:14. My kinsmen have forsaken me, and they that knew me, have +forgotten me. + +19:15. They that dwell in my house, and my maidservants have counted me +as a stranger, and I have been like an alien in their eyes. + +19:16. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer, I entreated him +with my own mouth. + +19:17. My wife hath abhorred my breath, and I entreated the children of +my womb. + +19:18. Even fools despised me, and when I was gone from them, they +spoke against me. + +19:19. They that were sometime my counsellors, have abhorred me: and he +whom I loved most is turned against me. + +19:20. The flesh being consumed, my bone hath cleaved to my skin, and +nothing but lips are left about my teeth. + +19:21. Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, +because the hand of the Lord hath touched me. + +19:22. Why do you persecute me as God, and glut yourselves with my +flesh? + +19:23. Who will grant me that my words may be written? who will grant +me that they may be marked down in a book? + +19:24. With an iron pen and in a plate of lead, or else be graven with +an instrument in flint stone? + +19:25. For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall +rise out of the earth. + +Ver. 25, 26, and 27 shew Job's explicit belief in his Redeemer, and +also of the resurrection of the flesh, not as one tree riseth in place +of another, but that the selfsame flesh shall rise at the last day, by +the power of God, changed in quality but not in substance, every one to +receive sentence according to his works in this life. + +19:26. And I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I +shall see my God. + +19:27. Whom I myself shall see, and my eyes shall behold, and not +another: this my hope is laid up in my bosom. + +19:28. Why then do you say now: Let us persecute him, and let us find +occasion of word against him? + +19:29. Flee then from the face of the sword, for the sword is the +revenger of iniquities: and know ye that there is a judgment. + + + +Job Chapter 20 + + +Sophar declares the shortness of the prosperity of the wicked: and +their sudden downfall. + +20:1. Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said: + +20:2. Therefore various thoughts succeed one another in me, and my mind +is hurried away to different things. + +20:3. The doctrine with which thou reprovest me, I will hear, and the +spirit of my understanding shall answer for me. + +20:4. This I know from the beginning, since man was placed upon the +earth, + +20:5. That the praise of the wicked is short, and the joy of the +hypocrite but for a moment. + +20:6. If his pride mount up even to heaven, and his head touch the +clouds: + +20:7. In the end he shall be destroyed like a dunghill, and they that +had seen him, shall say: Where is he? + +20:8. As a dream that fleeth away he shall not be found, he shall pass +as a vision of the night: + +20:9. The eyes that had seen him, shall see him no more, neither shall +his place any more behold him. + +20:10. His children shall be oppressed with want, and his hands shall +render to him his sorrow. + +20:11. His bones shall be filled with the vices of his youth, and they +shall sleep with him in the dust. + +20:12. For when evil shall be sweet in his mouth, he will hide it under +his tongue. + +20:13. He will spare it, and not leave it, and will hide it in his +throat. + +20:14. His bread in his belly shall be turned into the gall of asps +within him, + +20:15. The riches which he hath swallowed, he shall vomit up, and God +shall draw them out of his belly. + +20:16. He shall suck the head of asps, and the viper's tongue shall +kill him. + +20:17. Let him not see the streams of the river, the brooks of honey +and of butter. + +20:18. He shall be punished for all that he did, and yet shall not be +consumed: according to the multitude of his devices so also shall he +suffer. + +According to the multitude of his devices. . .That is, his stratagems to +gratify his passions and to oppress and destroy the poor. + +20:19. Because he broke in and stripped the poor: he hath violently +taken away a house which he did not build. + +20:20. And yet his belly was not filled: and when he hath the things he +coveted, he shall not be able to possess them. + +20:21. There was nothing left of his meat, and therefore nothing shall +continue of his goods: + +20:22. When he shall be filled, he shall be straitened, he shall burn, +and every sorrow shall fall upon him. + +20:23. May his belly be filled, that God may send forth the wrath of +his indignation upon him, and rain down his war upon him. + +20:24. He shall flee from weapons of iron, and shall fall upon a bow of +brass. + +20:25. The sword is drawn out, and cometh forth from its scabbard, and +glittereth in his bitterness: the terrible ones shall go and come upon +him. + +20:26. All darkness is hid in his secret places: a fire that is not +kindled shall devour him, he shall be afflicted when left in his +tabernacle. + +20:27. The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise +up against him. + +20:28. The offspring of his house shall be exposed, he shall be pulled +down in the day of God's wrath. + +20:29. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the +inheritance of his doings from the Lord. + + + +Job Chapter 21 + + +Job shews that the wicked often prosper in this world, even to the end +of their life: but that their judgment is in another world. + +21:1. Then Job answered, and said: + +21:2. Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance. + +21:3. Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at +my words. + +21:4. Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to +be troubled? + +21:5. Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your +mouth. + +21:6. As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh +hold on my flesh. + +21:7. Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened +with riches? + +21:8. Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of +children's children in their sight. + +21:9. Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not +upon them. + +21:10. Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has +calved, and is not deprived of her fruit. + +21:11. Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance +and play. + +21:12. They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of +the organ. + +21:13. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to +hell. + +21:14. Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the +knowledge of thy ways. + +21:15. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it +profit us if we pray to him? + +21:16. Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the +counsel of the wicked be far from me. + +21:17. How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge +come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath? + +21:18. They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes +which the whirlwind scattereth. + +21:19. God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and +when he shall repay, then shall he know. + +21:20. His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of +the wrath of the Almighty. + +21:21. For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if +the number of his months be diminished by one half? + +21:22. Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are +high? + +21:23. One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy. + +21:24. His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with +marrow. + +21:25. But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches: + +21:26. And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall +cover them. + +21:27. Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against +me. + +21:28. For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the +dwelling places of the wicked? + +21:29. Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive +that he knoweth these same things. + +21:30. Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, +and he shall be brought to the day of wrath. + +21:31. Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him +what he hath done? + +21:32. He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap +of the dead. + +21:33. He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall +draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him. + +Acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus. . .The Hebrew word, which St. +Jerome has here rendered by the name Cocytus, (which the poets +represent as a river in hell,) signifies a valley or a torrent: and in +this place, is taken for the low region of death and hell: which +willingly, as it were, receives the wicked at their death: who are +ushered in by innumerable others that have gone before them; and are +followed by multitudes above number. + +21:34. How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn +to be repugnant to truth? + + + +Job Chapter 22 + + +Eliphaz falsely imputes many crimes to Job, but promises him prosperity +if he will repent. + +22:1. Then Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said: + +22:2. Can man be compared with God, even though he were of perfect +knowledge? + +22:3. What doth it profit God if thou be just? or what dost thou give +him if thy way be unspotted? + +22:4. Shall he reprove thee for fear, and come with thee into judgment: + +22:5. And not for thy manifold wickedness and thy infinite iniquities? + +22:6. For thou hast taken away the pledge of thy brethren without +cause, and stripped the naked of their clothing. + +22:7. Thou hast not given water to the weary, thou hast withdrawn bread +from the hungry. + +22:8. In the strength of thy arm thou didst possess the land, and being +the most mighty thou holdest it. + +22:9. Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless +thou hast broken in pieces. + +22:10. Therefore art thou surrounded with shares, and sudden fear +troubleth thee. + +22:11. And didst thou think that thou shouldst not see darkness, and +that thou shouldst not be covered with the violence of overflowing +waters? + +22:12. Dost not thou think that God is higher than heaven, and is +elevated above the height of the stars? + +22:13. And thou sayst: What doth God know? and he judgeth as it were +through a mist. + +22:14. The clouds are his covert, and he doth not consider our things, +and he walketh about the poles of heaven. + +22:15. Dost thou desire to keep the path of ages, which wicked men have +trodden? + +22:16. Who were taken away before their time, and a flood hath +overthrown their foundation. + +22:17. Who said to God: Depart from us: and looked upon the Almighty as +if he could do nothing: + +22:18. Whereas he had filled their houses with good things: whose way +of thinking be far from me. + +22:19. The just shall see, and shall rejoice, and the innocent shall +laugh them to scorn. + +22:20. Is not their exaltation cut down, and hath not fire devoured the +remnants of them? + +22:21. Submit thyself then to him, and be at peace: and thereby thou +shalt have the best fruits. + +22:22. Receive the law of his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart. + +22:23. If thou wilt return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, and +shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacle. + +22:24. He shall give for earth flint, and for flint torrents of gold. + +22:25. And the Almighty shall be against thy enemies, and silver shall +be heaped together for thee. + +22:26. Then shalt thou abound in delights in the Almighty, and shalt +lift up thy face to God. + +22:27. Thou shalt pray to him, and he will hear thee, and thou shalt +pay vows. + +22:28. Thou shalt decree a thing, and it shall come to thee, and light +shall shine in thy ways. + +22:29. For he that hath been humbled, shall be in glory: and he that +shall bow down his eyes, he shall be saved. + +22:30. The innocent shall be saved, and he shall be saved by the +cleanness of his hands. + + + +Job Chapter 23 + + +Job wishes to be tried at God's tribunal. + +23:1. Then Job answered, and said: + +23:2. Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge +is more grievous than my mourning. + +23:3. Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and come even +to his throne? + +23:4. I would set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with +complaints. + +23:5. That I might know the words that he would answer me, and +understand what he would say to me. + +23:6. I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, +nor overwhelm me with the weight of his greatness. + +23:7. Let him propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to +victory. + +23:8. But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I +shall not understand him. + +23:9. If to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on +him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall not see him. + +23:10. But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth +through the fire: + +23:11. My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have +not declined from it. + +23:12. I have not departed from the commandments of his lips, and the +words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom. + +23:13. For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and +whatsoever his soul hath desired, that hath he done. + +23:14. And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like +things are also at hand with him. + +23:15. And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider +him I am made pensive with fear. + +23:16. God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me. + +23:17. For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over +me, neither hath the mist covered my face. + + + +Job Chapter 24 + + +God's providence often suffers the wicked to go on a long time in their +sins: but punisheth them in another life. + +24:1. Times are not hid from the Almighty: but they that know him, know +not his days. + +24:2. Some have removed landmarks, have taken away flocks by force, and +fed them. + +24:3. They have driven away the ass of the fatherless, and have taken +away the widow's ox for a pledge. + +24:4. They have overturned the way of the poor, and have oppressed +together the meek of the earth. + +24:5. Others like wild asses in the desert go forth to their work: by +watching for a prey they get bread for their children. + +24:6. They reap the field that is not their own, and gather the vintage +of his vineyard whom by violence they have oppressed. + +24:7. They send men away naked, taking away their clothes who have no +covering in the cold: + +24:8. Who are wet, with the showers of the mountains, and having no +covering embrace the stones. + +24:9. They have violently robbed the fatherless, and stripped the poor +common people. + +24:10. From the naked and them that go without clothing, and from the +hungry they have taken away the ears of corn. + +24:11. They have taken their rest at noon among the stores of them, who +after having trodden the winepresses suffer thirst. + +24:12. Out of the cities they have made men to groan, and the soul of +the wounded hath cried out, and God doth not suffer it to pass +unrevenged. + +24:13. They have been rebellious to the light, they have not known his +ways, neither have they returned by his paths. + +24:14. The murderer riseth at the very break of day, he killeth the +needy, and the poor man: but in the night he will be as a thief. + +24:15. The eye of the adulterer observeth darkness, saying: No eye +shall see me: and he will cover his face. + +24:16. He diggeth through houses in the dark, as in the day they had +appointed for themselves, and they have not known the light. + +24:17. If the morning suddenly appear, it is to them the shadow of +death: and they walk in darkness as if it were in light. + +24:18. He is light upon the face of the water: cursed be his portion on +the earth, let him not walk by the way of the vineyards. + +24:19. Let him pass from the snow waters to excessive heat, and his sin +even to hell. + +24:20. Let mercy forget him: may worms be his sweetness: let him be +remembered no more, but be broken in pieces as an unfruitful tree. + +24:21. For he hath fed the barren that beareth not, and to the widow he +hath done no good. + +24:22. He hath pulled down the strong by his might: and when he +standeth up, he shall not trust to his life. + +24:23. God hath given him place for penance, and he abuseth it unto +pride: but his eyes are upon his ways. + +24:24. They are lifted up for a little while and shall not stand, and +shall be brought down as all things, and shall be taken away, and as +the tops of the ears of corn they shall be broken. + +24:25. And if it be not so, who can convince me that I have lied, and +set my words before God? + + + +Job Chapter 25 + + +God's providence often suffers the wicked to go on a long time in their +sins: but punisheth them in another life. + +25:1. Times are not hid from the Almighty: but they that know him, know +not his days. + +25:2. Some have removed landmarks, have taken away flocks by force, and +fed them. + +25:3. They have driven away the ass of the fatherless, and have taken +away the widow's ox for a pledge. + +25:4. They have overturned the way of the poor, and have oppressed +together the meek of the earth. + +25:5. Others like wild asses in the desert go forth to their work: by +watching for a prey they get bread for their children. + +25:6. They reap the field that is not their own, and gather the vintage +of his vineyard whom by violence they have oppressed. + +25:7. They send men away naked, taking away their clothes who have no +covering in the cold: + +25:8. Who are wet, with the showers of the mountains, and having no +covering embrace the stones. + +25:9. They have violently robbed the fatherless, and stripped the poor +common people. + +25:10. From the naked and them that go without clothing, and from the +hungry they have taken away the ears of corn. + +25:11. They have taken their rest at noon among the stores of them, who +after having trodden the winepresses suffer thirst. + +25:12. Out of the cities they have made men to groan, and the soul of +the wounded hath cried out, and God doth not suffer it to pass +unrevenged. + +25:13. They have been rebellious to the light, they have not known his +ways, neither have they returned by his paths. + +25:14. The murderer riseth at the very break of day, he killeth the +needy, and the poor man: but in the night he will be as a thief. + +25:15. The eye of the adulterer observeth darkness, saying: No eye +shall see me: and he will cover his face. + +25:16. He diggeth through houses in the dark, as in the day they had +appointed for themselves, and they have not known the light. + +25:17. If the morning suddenly appear, it is to them the shadow of +death: and they walk in darkness as if it were in light. + +25:18. He is light upon the face of the water: cursed be his portion on +the earth, let him not walk by the way of the vineyards. + +25:19. Let him pass from the snow waters to excessive heat, and his sin +even to hell. + +25:20. Let mercy forget him: may worms be his sweetness: let him be +remembered no more, but be broken in pieces as an unfruitful tree. + +25:21. For he hath fed the barren that beareth not, and to the widow he +hath done no good. + +25:22. He hath pulled down the strong by his might: and when he +standeth up, he shall not trust to his life. + +25:23. God hath given him place for penance, and he abuseth it unto +pride: but his eyes are upon his ways. + +25:24. They are lifted up for a little while and shall not stand, and +shall be brought down as all things, and shall be taken away, and as +the tops of the ears of corn they shall be broken. + +25:25. And if it be not so, who can convince me that I have lied, and +set my words before God? + + + +Job Chapter 26 + + +Job declares his sentiments of the wisdom and power of God. + +26:1. Then Job answered, and said: + +26:2. Whose helper art thou? is it of him that is weak? and dost thou +hold up the arm of him that has no strength? + +26:3. To whom hast thou given counsel? perhaps to him that hath no +wisdom, and thou hast shewn thy very great prudence. + +26:4. Whom hast thou desired to teach? was it not him that made life? + +26:5. Behold the giants groan under the waters, and they that dwell +with them. + +26:6. Hell is naked before him, and there is no covering for +destruction. + +26:7. He stretched out the north over the empty space, and hangeth the +earth upon nothing. + +26:8. He bindeth up the waters in his clouds, so that they break not +out and fall down together. + +26:9. He withholdeth the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud +over it. + +26:10. He hath set bounds about the waters, till light and darkness +come to an end. + +26:11. The pillars of heaven tremble, and dread at his beck. + +26:12. By his power the seas are suddenly gathered together, and his +wisdom has struck the proud one. + +26:13. His spirit hath adorned the heavens, and his obstetric hand +brought forth the winding serpent. + +His obstetric hand brought forth the winding serpent. . .That is, the +omnipotent power of God: which brought forth all things created in +time, but conceived in the Divine mind from all eternity. The winding +serpent, a constellation of fixed stars winding round the north pole, +called Draco. This appears from the foregoing part of the same verse, +His spirit hath adorned the heavens. + +26:14. Lo, these things are said in part of his ways: and seeing we +have heard scarce a little drop of his word, who shall be able to +behold the thunder of his greatness? + + + +Job Chapter 27 + + +Job persists in asserting his own innocence, and that hypocrites will +be punished in the end. + +27:1. Job also added, taking up his parable, and said: + +27:2. As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment, and the Almighty, +who hath brought my soul to bitterness, + +27:3. As long as breath remaineth in me, and the spirit of God in my +nostrils, + +27:4. My lips shall not speak iniquity, neither shall my tongue +contrive lying. + +27:5. God forbid that I should judge you to be just: till I die I will +not depart from my innocence. + +27:6. My justification, which I have begun to hold, I will not forsake: +for my heart doth not reprehend me in all my life. + +27:7. Let my enemy be as the ungodly, and my adversary as the wicked +one. + +27:8. For what is the hope of the hypocrite if through covetousness he +take by violence, and God deliver not his soul? + +27:9. Will God hear his cry, when distress shall come upon him? + +27:10. Or can he delight himself in the Almighty, and call upon God at +all times? + +27:11. I will teach you by the hand of God, what the Almighty hath, and +I will not conceal it. + +27:12. Behold you all know it, and why do you speak vain things without +cause? + +27:13. This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the +inheritance of the violent, which they shall receive of the Almighty. + +27:14. If his sons be multiplied, they shall be for the sword, and his +grandsons shall not be filled with bread. + +27:15. They that shall remain of him, shall be buried in death, and his +widows shall not weep. + +27:16. If he shall heap together silver as earth, and prepare raiment +as clay, + +27:17. He shall prepare indeed, but the just man shall be clothed with +it: and the innocent shall divide the silver. + +27:18. He hath built his house as a moth, and as a keeper he hath made +a booth. + +27:19. The rich man when he shall sleep shall take away nothing with +him: he shall open his eyes and find nothing. + +27:20. Poverty like water shall take hold on him, a tempest shall +oppress him in the night: + +27:21. A burning wind shall take him up, and carry him away, and as a +whirlwind shall snatch him from his place. + +27:22. And he shall cast upon him, and shall not spare: out of his hand +he would willingly flee. + +27:23. He shall clasp his hands upon him, and shall hiss at him, +beholding his place. + + + +Job Chapter 28 + + +Man's industry searcheth out many things: true wisdom is taught by God +alone. + +28:1. Silver hath beginnings of its veins, and gold hath a place +wherein it is melted. + +28:2. Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone melted with heat is +turned into brass. + +28:3. He hath set a time for darkness, and the end of all things he +considereth, the stone also that is in the dark and the shadow of +death. + +28:4. The flood divideth from the people that are on their journey, +those whom the food of the needy man hath forgotten, and who cannot be +come at. + +28:5. The land, out of which bread grew in its place, hath been +overturned with fire. + +28:6. The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and the clods of it +are gold. + +28:7. The bird hath not known the path, neither hath the eye of the +vulture beheld it. + +28:8. The children of the merchants have not trodden it, neither hath +the lioness passed by it. + +28:9. He hath stretched forth his hand to the flint, he hath overturned +mountains from the roots. + +28:10. In the rocks he hath cut out rivers, and his eye hath seen every +precious thing. + +28:11. The depths also of rivers he hath searched, and hidden things he +hath brought forth to light. + +28:12. But where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of +understanding? + +28:13. Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the +land of them that live in delights. + +28:14. The depth saith: It is not in me: and the sea saith: It is not +with me. + +28:15. The finest gold shall not purchase it, neither shall silver be +weighed in exchange for it. + +28:16. It shall not be compared with the dyed colours of India, or with +the most precious stone sardonyx, or the sapphire. + +28:17. Gold or crystal cannot equal it, neither shall any vessels of +gold be changed for it. + +28:18. High and eminent things shall not be mentioned in comparison of +it: but wisdom is drawn out of secret places. + +28:19. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equal to it, neither shall it +be compared to the cleanest dyeing. + +28:20. Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of +understanding? + +28:21. It is hid from the eyes of all living, and the fowls of the air +know it not. + +28:22. Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard the +fame thereof. + +28:23. God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place +thereof. + +28:24. For he beholdeth the ends of the world: and looketh on all +things that are under heaven. + +28:25. Who made a weight for the winds, and weighed the waters by +measure. + +28:26. When he gave a law for the rain, and a way for the sounding +storms. + +28:27. Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared, and searched it. + +28:28. And he said to man: Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: +and to depart from evil, is understanding. + + + +Job Chapter 29 + + +Job relates his former happiness, and the respect that all men shewed +him. + +29:1. Job also added, taking up his parable, and said: + +29:2. Who will grant me, that I might be according to the months past, +according to the days in which God kept me? + +29:3. When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in +darkness? + +29:4. As I was in the days of my youth, when God was secretly in my +tabernacle? + +29:5. When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me? + +29:6. When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out +rivers of oil? + +29:7. When I went out to the gate of the city, and in the street they +prepared me a chair? + +29:8. The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the old men rose up +and stood. + +29:9. The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth. + +29:10. The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their +throat. + +29:11. The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave +witness to me: + +29:12. Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the +fatherless, that had no helper. + +29:13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I +comforted the heart of the widow. + +29:14. I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment, +as with a robe and a diadem. + +29:15. I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame. + +29:16. I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I +searched out most diligently. + +29:17. I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took +away the prey. + +29:18. And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm tree shall +multiply my days. + +29:19. My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in +my harvest. + +29:20. My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be +repaired. + +29:21. They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive +held their peace at my counsel. + +29:22. To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon +them. + +29:23. They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as +for a latter shower. + +29:24. If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the +light of my countenance fell not on earth. + +29:25. If I had a mind to go to them, I sat first, and when I sat as a +king, with his army standing about him, yet I was a comforter of them +that mourned. + + + +Job Chapter 30 + + +Job shews the wonderful change of his temporal estate, from welfare to +great calamity. + +30:1. But now the younger in time scorn me, whose fathers I would not +have set with the dogs of my flock: + +But now the younger in time. . .That is, younger than I am, and as it +were obscure, when I was conspicuous and in magnificence; they now look +down on me. + +30:2. The strength of whose hands was to me as nothing, and they were +thought unworthy of life itself. + +30:3. Barren with want and hunger, who gnawed in the wilderness, +disfigured with calamity and misery. + +30:4. And they ate grass, and barks of trees, and the root of junipers +was their food. + +30:5. Who snatched up these things out of the valleys, and when they +had found any of them, they ran to them with a cry. + +30:6. They dwelt in the desert places of torrents, and in caves of +earth, or upon the gravel. + +30:7. They pleased themselves among these kind of things, and counted +it delightful to be under the briers. + +30:8. The children of foolish and base men, and not appearing at all +upon the earth. + +30:9. Now I am turned into their song, and am become their byword. + +30:10. They abhor me, and flee far from me, and are not afraid to spit +in my face. + +30:11. For he hath opened his quiver, and hath afflicted me, and hath +put a bridle into my mouth. + +30:12. At the right hand of my rising, my calamities forthwith arose: +they have overthrown my feet, and have overwhelmed me with their paths +as with waves. + +30:13. They have destroyed my ways, they have lain in wait against me, +and they have prevailed, and there was none to help. + +30:14. They have rushed in upon me, as when a wall is broken, and a +gate opened, and have rolled themselves down to my miseries. + +30:15. I am brought to nothing: as a wind thou hast taken away my +desire: and my prosperity hath passed away like a cloud. + +30:16. And now my soul fadeth within myself, and the days of affliction +possess me. + +30:17. In the night my bone is pierced with sorrows: and they that feed +upon me, do not sleep. + +30:18. With the multitude of them my garment is consumed, and they have +girded me about, as with the collar of my coat. + +30:19. I am compared to dirt, and am likened to embers and ashes. + +30:20. I cry to thee, and thou hearest me not: I stand up, and thou +dost not regard me. + +30:21. Thou art changed to be cruel toward me, and in the hardness of +thy hand thou art against me. + +30:22. Thou hast lifted me up, and set me as it were upon the wind, and +thou hast mightily dashed me. + +30:23. I know that thou wilt deliver me to death, where a house is +appointed for every one that liveth. + +30:24. But yet thou stretchest not forth thy hand to their consumption: +and if they shall fall down thou wilt save. + +30:25. I wept heretofore for him that was afflicted, and my soul had +compassion on the poor. + +30:26. I expected good things, and evils are come upon me: I waited for +light, and darkness broke out. + +30:27. My inner parts have boiled without any rest, the days of +affliction have prevented me. + +30:28. I went mourning without indignation; I rose up, and cried in the +crowd. + +30:29. I was the brother of dragons, and companion of ostriches. + +Brother of dragons, etc. . .Imitating these creatures in their +lamentable noise. + +30:30. My skin is become black upon me, and my bones are dried up with +heat. + +30:31. My harp is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of +those that weep. + + + +Job Chapter 31 + + +Job, to defend himself from the unjust judgments of his friends, gives +a sincere account of his own virtues. + +31:1. I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think +upon a virgin. + +31:2. For what part should God from above have in me, and what +inheritance the Almighty from on high? + +31:3. Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work +iniquity? + +31:4. Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps? + +31:5. If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to +deceit: + +31:6. Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my +simplicity. + +31:7. If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath +followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands: + +31:8. Then let me sow and let another reap: and let my offspring be +rooted out. + +31:9. If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid +wait at my friend's door: + +31:10. Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with +her. + +31:11. For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity. + +31:12. It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up +all things that spring. + +31:13. If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my +maidservant, when they had any controversy against me: + +31:14. For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he +shall examine, what shall I answer him? + +31:15. Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not +one and the same form me in the womb? + +31:16. If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made +the eyes of the widow wait: + +31:17. If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not +eaten thereof: + +31:18. (For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with +me from my mother's womb:) + +31:19. If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, +and the poor man that had no covering: + +31:20. If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with +the fleece of my sheep: + +31:21. If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I +saw myself superior in the gate: + +31:22. Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its +bones be broken. + +31:23. For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his +weight I was unable to bear. + +31:24. If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: +My confidence: + +31:25. If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had +gotten much. + +31:26. If I beheld the sun when it shined and the moon going in +brightness: + +If I beheld the sun, etc. . .If I behold the sun and moon with +admiration, knowing them to be created and governed by the power of +God, I call on my adversaries to produce any thing against me, whereby +I could be charged with worshipping the sun or moon. + +31:27. And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand +with, my mouth: + +31:28. Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most +high God. + +31:29. If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and +have rejoiced that evil had found him. + +31:30. For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his +soul. + +31:31. If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of +his flesh that we may be filled? + +31:32. The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the +traveller. + +31:33. If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in +my bosom. + +31:34. If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the +contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and have not rather held my +peace, and not gone out of the door. + +31:35. Who would grant me a hearing, that the Almighty may hear my +desire: and that he himself that judgeth would write a book, + +31:36. That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a +crown? + +31:37. At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a +prince. + +31:38. If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof +mourn: + +31:39. If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have +afflicted the son of the tillers thereof: + +31:40. Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead +of barley. + +The words of Job are ended. + + + +Job Chapter 32 + + +Eliu is angry with Job and his friends. He boasts of himself. + +32:1. So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he seemed just +to himself. + +32:2. And Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite of the kindred of Ram, +was angry and was moved to indignation: now he was angry against Job, +because he said he was just before God. + +32:3. And he was angry with his friends, because they had not found a +reasonable answer, but only had condemned Job. + +32:4. So Eliu waited while Job was speaking because they were his +elders that were speaking. + +32:5. But when he saw that the three were not able to answer, he was +exceedingly angry. + +32:6. Then Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, and said: I am +younger in days, and you are more ancient, therefore hanging down my +head, I was afraid to shew you my opinion. + +32:7. For I hoped that greater age would speak, and that a multitude of +years would teach wisdom. + +32:8. But, as I see, there is a spirit in men, and the inspiration of +the Almighty giveth understanding. + +32:9. They that are aged are not the wise men, neither do the ancients +understand judgment. + +32:10. Therefore I will speak: Hearken to me, I also will shew you my +wisdom. + +32:11. For I have waited for your words, I have given ear to your +wisdom, as long as you were disputing in words. + +32:12. And as long as I thought you said some thing, I considered: but, +as I see, there is none of you that can convince Job, and answer his +words. + +32:13. Lest you should say: We have found wisdom, God hath cast him +down, not man. + +32:14. He hath spoken nothing to me, and I will not answer him +according to your words. + +32:15. They were afraid, and answered no more, and they left off +speaking. + +32:16. Therefore because I have waited, and they have not spoken: they +stood, and answered no more: + +32:17. I also will answer my part, and will shew my knowledge. + +32:18. For I am full of matter to speak of, and the spirit of my bowels +straiteneth me. + +32:19. Behold, my belly is as new wine which wanteth vent, which +bursteth the new vessels. + +32:20. I will speak and take breath a little: I will open my lips, and +will answer. + +32:21. I will not accept the person of man, and I will not level God +with man. + +I will not level God with man. . .Here Eliu considers that Job hath put +himself on a level with God, by the manner he assumed to justify his +own life in speaking to God as if he spoke to an equal: Eliu expresses +in the following ver. 22 his fear of punishment hereafter for such an +attempt. + +32:22. For I know not how long I shall continue, and whether after a +while my Maker may take me away. + + + +Job Chapter 33 + + +Eliu blames Job for asserting his own innocence. + +33:1. Hear therefore, O Job, my speeches, and hearken to all my words. + +33:2. Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my +jaws. + +33:3. My words are from my upright heart, and my lips shall speak a +pure sentence. + +33:4. The spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me +life. + +33:5. If thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face. + +33:6. Behold God hath made me as well as thee, and of the same clay I +also was formed. + +33:7. But yet let not my wonder terrify thee, and let not my eloquence +be burdensome to thee. + +33:8. Now thou hast said in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of +thy words: + +33:9. I am clean, and without sin: I am unspotted, and there is no +iniquity in me. + +33:10. Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath +counted me for his enemy. + +33:11. He hath put my feet in the stocks, he hath observed all my +paths. + +33:12. Now this is the thing in which thou art not justified: I will +answer thee, that God is greater than man. + +33:13. Dost thou strive against him, because he hath not answered thee +to all words? + +33:14. God speaketh once, and repeateth not the selfsame thing the +second time. + +33:15. By a dream in a vision by night, when deep sleep falleth upon +men, and they are sleeping in their beds: + +33:16. Then he openeth the ears of men, and teaching instructeth them +in what they are to learn. + +33:17. That he may withdraw a man from the things he is doing, and may +deliver him from pride. + +33:18. Rescuing his soul from corruption: and his life from passing to +the sword. + +33:19. He rebuketh also by sorrow in the bed, and he maketh all his +bones to wither. + +33:20. Bread becometh abominable to him in his life, and to his soul +the meat which before he desired. + +33:21. His flesh shall be consumed away, and his bones that were +covered shall be made bare. + +33:22. His soul hath drawn near to corruption, and his life to the +destroyers. + +33:23. If there shall be an angel speaking for him, one among +thousands, to declare man's uprightness, + +33:24. He shall have mercy on him, and shall say: Deliver him, that he +may not go down to corruption: I have found wherein I may be merciful +to him. + +33:25. His flesh is consumed with punishments, let him return to the +days of his youth. + +33:26. He shall pray to God, and he will be gracious to him: and he +shall see his face with joy, and he will render to man his justice. + +33:27. He shall look upon men, and shall say: I have sinned, and indeed +I have offended, and I have not received what I have deserved. + +33:28. He hath delivered his soul from going into destruction, that it +may live and see the light. + +33:29. Behold, all these things God worketh three times within every +one. + +33:30. That he may withdraw their souls from corruption, and enlighten +them with the light of the living. + +33:31. Attend, Job, and hearken to me, and hold thy peace, whilst I +speak. + +33:32. But if thou hast any thing to say, answer me, speak: for I would +have thee to appear just. + +33:33. And if thou have not, hear me: hold thy peace, and I will teach +thee wisdom. + + + +Job Chapter 34 + + +Eliu charges Job with blasphemy: and sets forth the power and justice +of God. + +34:1. And Eliu continued his discourse, and said: + +34:2. Hear ye, wise men, my words, and ye learned, hearken to me: + +34:3. For the ear trieth words, and the mouth discerneth meats by the +taste. + +34:4. Let us choose to us judgment, and let us see among ourselves what +is the best. + +34:5. For Job hath said: I am just, and God hath overthrown my +judgment. + +34:6. For in judging me there is a lie: my arrow is violent without any +sin. + +34:7. What man is there like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? + +34:8. Who goeth in company with them that work iniquity, and walketh +with wicked men? + +34:9. For he hath said: Man shall not please God, although he run with +him. + +34:10. Therefore, ye men of understanding, hear me: far from God be +wickedness, and iniquity from the Almighty. + +34:11. For he will render to a man his work, and according to the ways +of every one he will reward them. + +34:12. For in very deed God will not condemn without cause, neither +will the Almighty pervert judgment. + +34:13. What other hath he appointed over the earth? or whom hath he set +over the world which he made? + +34:14. If he turn his heart to him, he shall draw his spirit and breath +unto himself. + +34:15. All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return into +ashes. + +34:16. If then thou hast understanding, hear what is said, and hearken +to the voice of my words. + +34:17. Can he be healed that loveth not judgment? and how dost thou so +far condemn him that is just? + +34:18. Who saith to the king: Thou art an apostate: who calleth rulers +ungodly: + +34:19. Who accepteth not the persons of princes: nor hath regarded the +tyrant, when he contended against the poor man: for all are the work of +his hands. + +34:20. They shall suddenly die, and the people shall be troubled at +midnight, and they shall pass, and take away the violent without hand. + +34:21. For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he considereth all +their steps. + +34:22. There is no darkness, and there is no shadow of death, where +they may be hid who work iniquity. + +34:23. For it is no longer in the power of man to enter into judgment +with God. + +34:24. He shall break in pieces many and innumerable, and shall make +others to stand in their stead. + +34:25. For he knoweth their works: and therefore he shall bring night +on them, and they shall be destroyed. + +34:26. He hath struck them, as being wicked, in open sight. + +34:27. Who as it were on purpose have revolted from him, and would not +understand all his ways: + +34:28. So that they caused the cry of the needy to come to him, and he +heard the voice of the poor. + +34:29. For when he granteth peace, who is there that can condemn? When +he hideth his countenance, who is there that can behold him, whether it +regard nations, or all men? + +34:30. Who maketh a man that is a hypocrite to reign for the sins of +the people? + +34:31. Seeing then I have spoken of God, I will not hinder thee in thy +turn. + +34:32. If I have erred, teach thou me: if I have spoken iniquity, I +will add no more. + +34:33. Doth God require it of thee, because it hath displeased thee? +for thou begannest to speak, and not I: but if thou know any thing +better, speak. + +34:34. Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man hearken +to me. + +34:35. But Job hath spoken foolishly, and his words sound not +discipline. + +34:36. My father, let Job be tried even to the end: cease not from the +man of iniquity. + +34:37. Because he addeth blasphemy upon his sins, let him be tied fast +in the mean time amongst us: and then let him provoke God to judgment +with his speeches. + + + +Job Chapter 35 + + +Eliu declares that the good or evil done by man cannot reach God. + +35:1. Moreover Eliu spoke these words: + +35:2. Doth thy thought seem right to thee, that thou shouldst say: I am +more just than God? + +35:3. For thou saidst: That which is right doth not please thee: or +what will it profit thee if I sin? + +35:4. Therefore I will answer thy words, and thy friends with thee. + +35:5. Look up to heaven and see, and behold the sky, that it is higher +than thee. + +35:6. If thou sin, what shalt thou hurt him? and if thy iniquities be +multiplied, what shalt thou do against him? + +35:7. And if thou do justly, what shalt thou give him, or what shall he +receive of thy hand? + +35:8. Thy wickedness may hurt a man that is like thee: and thy justice +may help the son of man. + +35:9. By reason of the multitude of oppressors they shall cry out: and +shall wail for the violence of the arm of tyrants. + +35:10. And he hath not said: Where is God, who made me, who hath given +songs in the night? + +35:11. Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and +instructeth us more than the fowls of the air. + +35:12. There shall they cry, and he will not hear, because of the pride +of evil men. + +35:13. God therefore will not hear in vain, and the Almighty will look +into the causes of every one. + +35:14. Yea, when thou shalt say: He considereth not: be judged before +him, and expect him. + +35:15. For he doth not now bring on his fury, neither doth he revenge +wickedness exceedingly. + +35:16. Therefore Job openeth his mouth in vain, and multiplieth words +without knowledge. + + + +Job Chapter 36 + + +Eliu proceeds in setting forth the justice and power of God. + +36:1. Eliu also proceeded, and said: + +36:2. Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat +to speak in God's behalf. + +36:3. I will repeat my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove +my Maker just. + +36:4. For indeed my words are without a lie, and perfect knowledge +shall be proved to thee. + +36:5. God doth not cast away the mighty, whereas he himself also is +mighty. + +36:6. But he saveth not the wicked, and he giveth judgment to the poor. + +36:7. He will not take away his eyes from the just, and he placeth +kings on the throne for ever, and they are exalted. + +36:8. And if they shall be in chains, and be bound with the cords of +poverty: + +36:9. He shall shew them their works, and their wicked deeds, because +they have been violent. + +36:10. He also shall open their ear, to correct them: and shall speak, +that they may return from iniquity. + +36:11. If they shall hear and observe, they shall accomplish their days +in good, and their years in glory. + +36:12. But if they hear not, they shall pass by the sword, and shall be +consumed in folly. + +36:13. Dissemblers and crafty men prove the wrath of God, neither shall +they cry when they are bound. + +36:14. Their soul shall die in a storm, and their life among the +effeminate. + +36:15. He shall deliver the poor out of his distress, and shall open +his ear in affliction. + +36:16. Therefore he shall set thee at large out of the narrow mouth, +and which hath no foundation under it: and the rest of thy table shall +be full of fatness. + +Out of the narrow mouth. . .That is, out of hell, whose entrance is +narrow, and its depth bottomless; but figuratively meant here, that is, +from his miseries and calamity to be restored to his former state of +happiness. + +36:17. Thy cause hath been judged as that of the wicked, cause and +judgment thou shalt recover. + +36:18. Therefore let not anger overcome thee to oppress any man: +neither let multitude of gifts turn thee aside. + +36:19. Lay down thy greatness without tribulation, and all the mighty +of strength. + +36:20. Prolong not the night that people may come up for them. + +36:21. Beware thou turn not aside to iniquity: for this thou hast begun +to follow after misery. + +For this thou hast begun to follow after misery. . .Eliu charges Job, +that notwithstanding his misery, he does not fear God as he ought: but +in his judgment, falls into iniquity. + +36:22. Behold, God is high in his strength, and none is like him among +the lawgivers. + +36:23. Who can search out his ways? or who can say to him: Thou hast +wrought iniquity? + +36:24. Remember that thou knowest not his work, concerning which men +have sung. + +36:25. All men see him, every one beholdeth afar off. + +36:26. Behold, God is great, exceeding our knowledge: the number of his +years is inestimable. + +36:27. He lifteth up the drops of rain, and poureth out showers like +floods: + +36:28. Which flow from the clouds that cover all above. + +36:29. If he will spread out clouds as his tent, + +36:30. And lighten with his light from above, he shall cover also the +ends of the sea. + +36:31. For by these he judgeth people, and giveth food to many mortals. + +36:32. In his hands he hideth the light, and commandeth it to come +again. + +36:33. He sheweth his friend concerning it, that it is his possession, +and that he may come up to it. + + + +Job Chapter 37 + + +Eliu goes on in his discourse, shewing God's wisdom and power, by his +wonderful works. + +37:1. At this my heart trembleth, and is moved out of its place. + +37:2. Hear ye attentively the terror of his voice, and the sound that +cometh out of his mouth. + +37:3. He beholdeth under all the heavens, and his light is upon the +ends of the earth. + +37:4. After it a noise shall roar, he shall thunder with the voice of +his majesty, and shall not be found out, when his voice shall be heard. + +37:5. God shall thunder wonderfully with his voice, he that doth great +and unsearchable things. + +37:6. He commandeth the snow to go down upon the earth, and the winter +rain, and the shower of his strength. + +37:7. He sealeth up the hand of all men, that every one may know his +works. + +He sealeth up, etc. . .When he sends those showers of his strength, that +is, those storms of rain, he seals up, that is, he shuts up the hands +of men from their usual works abroad, and confines them within doors, +to consider his works; or to forecast their works, that is, what they +themselves are to do. + +37:8. Then the beast shall go into his covert, and shall abide in his +den. + +37:9. Out of the inner parts shall a tempest come, and cold out of the +north. + +37:10. When God bloweth there cometh frost, and again the waters are +poured out abundantly. + +37:11. Corn desireth clouds, and the clouds spread their light: + +37:12. Which go round about, whithersoever the will of him that +governeth them shall lead them, to whatsoever he shall command them +upon the face of the whole earth: + +37:13. Whether in one tribe, or in his own land, or in what place +soever of his mercy he shall command them to be found. + +37:14. Hearken to these things, Job: Stand, and consider the wondrous +works of God. + +37:15. Dost thou know when God commanded the rains, to shew his light +of his clouds? + +37:16. Knowest thou the great paths of the clouds, and the perfect +knowledges? + +37:17. Are not thy garments hot, when the south wind blows upon the +earth? + +37:18. Thou perhaps hast made the heavens with him, which are most +strong, as if they were of molten brass. + +37:19. Shew us what we may say to him: or we are wrapped up in +darkness. + +37:20. Who shall tell him the things I speak? even if a man shall +speak, he shall be swallowed up. + +He shall be swallowed up. . .All that man can say when he speaks of God, +is so little and inconsiderable in comparison with the subject, that +man is lost, and as it were swallowed up in so immense an ocean. + +37:21. But now they see not the light: the air on a sudden shall be +thickened into clouds, and the wind shall pass and drive them away. + +37:22. Cold cometh out of the north, and to God praise with fear. + +37:23. We cannot find him worthily: he is great in strength, and in +judgment, and in justice, and he is ineffable. + +37:24. Therefore men shall fear him, and all that seem to themselves to +be wise, shall not dare to behold him. + + + +Job Chapter 38 + + +God interposes and shews from the things he hath made, that man cannot +comprehend his power and wisdom. + +38:1. Then the Lord answered Job out of a whirlwind, and said: + +The Lord. That is, an angel speaking in the name of the Lord. + +38:2. Who is this that wrappeth up sentences in unskilful words? + +38:3. Gird up thy loins like a man: I will ask thee, and answer thou +me. + +38:4. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell me +if thou hast understanding. + +38:5. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest or who hath +stretched the line upon it? + +38:6. Upon what are its bases grounded? or who laid the corner stone +thereof, + +38:7. When the morning stars praised me together, and all the sons of +God made a joyful melody? + +38:8. Who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth as issuing +out of the womb: + +38:9. When I made a cloud the garment thereof, and wrapped it in a mist +as in swaddling bands? + +38:10. I set my bounds around it, and made it bars and doors: + +38:11. And I said: Hitherto thou shalt come, and shalt go no further, +and here thou shalt break thy swelling waves. + +38:12. Didst thou since thy birth command the morning, and shew the +dawning of the day its place? + +38:13. And didst thou hold the extremities of the earth shaking them, +and hast thou shaken the ungodly out of it? + +38:14. The seal shall be restored as clay, and shall stand as a +garment. + +38:15. From the wicked their light shall be taken away, and the high +arm shall be broken. + +38:16. Hast thou entered into the depths of the sea, and walked in the +lowest parts of the deep? + +38:17. Have the gates of death been opened to thee, and hast thou seen +the darksome doors? + +38:18. Hast thou considered the breadth of the earth? tell me, if thou +knowest all things? + +38:19. Where is the way where light dwelleth, and where is the place of +darkness? + +38:20. That thou mayst bring every thing to its own bounds, and +understand the paths of the house thereof. + +38:21. Didst thou know then that thou shouldst be born? and didst thou +know the number of thy days? + +38:22. Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, or hast thou +beheld the treasures of the hail: + +38:23. Which I have prepared for the time of the enemy, against the day +of battle and war? + +38:24. By what way is the light spread, and heat divided upon the +earth? + +38:25. Who gave a course to violent showers, or a way for noisy +thunder: + +38:26. That it should rain on the earth without man in the wilderness, +where no mortal dwelleth: + +38:27. That it should fill the desert and desolate land, and should +bring forth green grass? + +38:28. Who is the father of rain? or who begot the drops of dew? + +38:29. Out of whose womb came the ice? and the frost from heaven who +hath gendered it? + +38:30. The waters are hardened like a stone, and the surface of the +deep is congealed. + +38:31. Shalt thou be able to join together the shining stars the +Pleiades, or canst thou stop the turning about of Arcturus? + +Pleiades. . .Hebrew, Cimah. A cluster of seven stars in the +constellation Taurus or the Bull. Arcturus, a bright star in the +constellation Bootes. The Hebrew name Cesil, is variously interpreted; +by some, Orion; by others, the Great Bear is understood. + +38:32. Canst thou bring forth the day star in its time, and make the +evening star to rise upon the children of the earth? + +38:33. Dost thou know the order of heaven, and canst thou set down the +reason thereof on the earth? + +38:34. Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that an abundance of +waters may cover thee? + +38:35. Canst thou send lightnings, and will they go, and will they +return and say to thee: Here we are? + +38:36. Who hath put wisdom in the heart of man? or who gave the cock +understanding? + +Understanding. . .That instinct by which he distinguishes the times of +crowing in the night. + +38:37. Who can declare the order of the heavens, or who can make the +harmony of heaven to sleep? + +38:38. When was the dust poured on the earth, and the clods fastened +together? + +38:39. Wilt thou take the prey for the lioness, and satisfy the +appetite of her whelps, + +38:40. When they couch in the dens and lie in wait in holes? + +38:41. Who provideth food for the raven, when her young ones cry to +God, wandering about, because they have no meat? + + + +Job Chapter 39 + + +The wonders of the power and providence of God in many of his creatures. + +39:1. Knowest thou the time when the wild goats bring forth among the +rocks, or hast thou observed the hinds when they fawn? + +39:2. Hast thou numbered the months of their conceiving, or knowest +thou the time when they bring forth? + +39:3. They bow themselves to bring forth young, and they cast them, and +send forth roarings. + +39:4. Their young are weaned and go to feed: they go forth, and return +not to them. + +39:5. Who hath sent out the wild ass free, and who hath loosed his +bonds? + +39:6. To whom I have given a house in the wilderness, and his dwellings +in the barren land. + +39:7. He scorneth the multitude of the city, he heareth not the cry of +the driver. + +39:8. He looketh round about the mountains of his pasture, and seeketh +for every green thing, + +39:9. Shall the rhinoceros be willing to serve thee, or will he stay at +thy crib? + +39:10. Canst thou bind the rhinoceros with thy thong to plough, or will +he break the clods of the valleys after thee? + +39:11. Wilt thou have confidence in his great strength, and leave thy +labours to him? + +39:12. Wilt thou trust him that he will render thee the seed, and +gather it into thy barnfloor? + +39:13. The wing of the ostrich is like the wings of the heron, and of +the hawk. + +39:14. When she leaveth her eggs on the earth, thou perhaps wilt warm +them in the dust. + +39:15. She forgetteth that the foot may tread upon them, or that the +beasts of the field may break them. + +39:16. She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not +hers, she hath laboured in vain, no fear constraining her. + +39:17. For God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he given her +understanding. + +39:18. When time shall be, she setteth up her wings on high: she +scorneth the horse and his rider. + +39:19. Wilt thou give strength to the horse or clothe his neck with +neighing? + +39:20. Wilt thou lift him up like the locusts? the glory of his +nostrils is terror. + +39:21. He breaketh up the earth with his hoof, he pranceth boldly, he +goeth forward to meet armed men. + +39:22. He despiseth fear, he turneth not his back to the sword. + +39:23. Above him shall the quiver rattle, the spear and shield shall +glitter. + +39:24. Chasing and raging he swalloweth the ground, neither doth he +make account when the noise of the trumpet soundeth. + +39:25. When he heareth the trumpet he saith: Ha, ha: he smelleth the +battle afar off, the encouraging of the captains, and the shouting of +the army. + +39:26. Doth the hawk wax feathered by thy wisdom, spreading her wings +to the south? + +39:27. Will the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest in +high places? + +39:28. She abideth among the rocks, and dwelleth among cragged flints, +and stony hills, where there is no access. + +39:29. From thence she looketh for the prey, and her eyes behold afar +off. + +39:30. Her young ones shall suck up blood: and wheresoever the carcass +shall be, she is immediately there. + +39:31. And the Lord went on, and said to Job: + +39:32. Shall he that contendeth with God be so easily silenced? surely +he that reproveth God, ought to answer him. + +39:33. Then Job answered the Lord, and said: + +39:34. What can I answer, who hath spoken inconsiderately? I will lay +my hand upon my mouth. + +Spoken inconsiderately. . .If we discuss all Job's words (saith St. +Gregory), we shall find nothing impiously spoken; as may be gathered +from the words of the Lord himself, chap. 42, ver. 7, 8; but what was +reprehensible in him, was the manner of expressing himself at times, +speaking too much of his own affliction, and too little of God's +goodness towards him, which here he acknowledges as inconsiderate. + +39:35. One thing I have spoken, which I wish I had not said: and +another, to which I will add no more. + + + +Job Chapter 40 + + +Of the power of God in the behemoth and the leviathan. + +40:1. And the Lord answering Job out of the whirlwind, said: + +40:2. Gird up thy loins like a man: I will ask thee, and do thou tell +me. + +40:3. Wilt thou make void my judgment: and condemn me, that thou mayst +be justified? + +40:4. And hast thou an arm like God, and canst thou thunder with a +voice like him? + +40:5. Clothe thyself with beauty, and set thyself up on high, and be +glorious, and put on goodly garments. + +40:6. Scatter the proud in thy indignation, and behold every arrogant +man, and humble him. + +40:7. Look on all that are proud, and confound them, and crush the +wicked in their place, + +40:8. Hide them in the dust together, and plunge their faces into the +pit. + +40:9. Then I will confess that thy right hand is able to save thee. + +40:10. Behold behemoth whom I made with thee, he eateth grass like an +ox. + +Behemoth. . .In Hebrew, behema, which signifies in general an animal; +but many authors explain, that here it is put for the elephant. + +40:11. His strength is in his loins, and his force in the navel of his +belly. + +40:12. He setteth up his tail like a cedar, the sinews of his testicles +are wrapped together. + +40:13. His bones are like pipes of brass, his gristle like plates of +iron. + +40:14. He is the beginning of the ways of God, who made him, he will +apply his sword. + +He will apply his sword. . .This text is variously explained: some +explain the sword, the horn given to the animal for his defence: +others, the power that God hath given to the animal for his defence: +others, the power that God hath given to man to slay him, +notwithstanding his great size and strength. + +40:15. To him the mountains bring forth grass: there all the beasts of +the field shall play. + +40:16. He sleepeth under the shadow, in the covert of the reed, and in +moist places. + +40:17. The shades cover his shadow, the willows of the brook shall +compass him about. + +40:18. Behold, he will drink up a river, and not wonder: and he +trusteth that the Jordan may run into his mouth. + +40:19. In his eyes as with a hook he shall take him, and bore through +his nostrils with stakes. + +40:20. Canst thou draw out the leviathan with a hook, or canst thou tie +his tongue with a cord? + +Leviathan. . .The whale or some sea monster. + +40:21. Canst thou put a ring in his nose, or bore through his jaw with +a buckle? + +40:22. Will he make many supplications to thee, or speak soft words to +thee? + +40:23. Will he make a covenant with thee, and wilt thou take him to be +a servant for ever, + +40:24. Shalt thou play with him as with a bird, or tie him up for thy +handmaids? + +40:25. Shall friends cut him in pieces, shall merchants divide him? + +40:26. Wilt thou fill nets with his skin, and the cabins of fishes with +his head? + +40:27. Lay thy hand upon him: remember the battle, and speak no more. + +40:28. Behold his hope shall fail him, and in the sight of all he shall +be cast down. + + + +Job Chapter 41 + + +A further description of the leviathan. + +41:1. I will not stir him up, like one that is cruel, for who can +resist my countenance? + +41:2. Who hath given me before that I should repay him? All things that +are under heaven are mine. + +41:3. I will not spare him, nor his mighty words, and framed to make +supplication. + +41:4. Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can go into the +midst of his mouth? + +41:5. Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round +about. + +41:6. His body is like molten shields, shut close up with scales +pressing upon one another. + +41:7. One is joined to another, and not so much as any air can come +between them: + +41:8. They stick one to another and they hold one another fast, and +shall not be separated. + +41:9. His sneezing is like the shining of fire, and his eyes like the +eyelids of the morning. + +41:10. Out of his mouth go forth lamps, like torches of lighted fire. + +41:11. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, like that of a pot heated and +boiling. + +41:12. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame cometh forth out of his +mouth. + +41:13. In his neck strength shall dwell, and want goeth before his +face. + +41:14. The members of his flesh cleave one to another: he shall send +lightnings against him, and they shall not be carried to another place. + +41:15. His heart shall be as hard as a stone, and as firm as a smith's +anvil, + +41:16. When he shall raise him up, the angels shall fear, and being +affrighted shall purify themselves. + +Angels. . .Elim, Hebrew: which signifies here, the mighty, the most +valiant, shall fear this monstrous fish, and in their fear shall seek +to be purified. + +41:17. When a sword shall lay at him, it shall not be able to hold, nor +a spear, nor a breastplate. + +41:18. For he shall esteem iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. + +41:19. The archer shall not put him to flight, the stones of the sling +are to him like stubble. + +41:20. As stubble will he esteem the hammer, and he will laugh him to +scorn who shaketh the spear. + +41:21. The beams of the sun shall be under him, and he shall strew gold +under him like mire. + +Under him. . .He shall not value the beams of the sun; and gold to him +shall be like mire. + +41:22. He shall make the deep sea to boil like a pot, and shall make it +as when ointments boil. + +41:23. A path shall shine after him, he shall esteem the deep as +growing old. + +The deep as growing old. . .Growing hoary, as it were with the froth +which he leaves behind him. + +41:24. There is no power upon earth that can be compared with him who +was made to fear no one, + +41:25. He beholdeth every high thing, he is king over all the children +of pride. + +He is king, etc. . .He is superior in strength to all that are great and +strong amongst living creatures: mystically it is understood of the +devil, who is king over all the proud. + + + +Job Chapter 42 + + +Job submits himself. God pronounces in his favour. Job offers sacrifice +for his friends. He is blessed with riches and children, and dies +happily, + +42:1. Then Job answered the Lord, and said: + +42:2. I know that thou canst do all things, and no thought is hid from +thee. + +42:3. Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore I +have spoken unwisely, and things that above measure exceeded my +knowledge. + +42:4. Hear, and I will speak: I will ask thee, and do thou tell me. + +42:5. With the hearing of the ear, I have heard thee, but now my eye +seeth thee. + +42:6. Therefore I reprehend myself, and do penance in dust and ashes. + +42:7. And after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, he said to +Eliphaz the Themanite: My wrath is kindled against thee, and against +thy two friends, because you have not spoken the thing that is right +before me, as my servant Job hath. + +42:8. Take unto you therefore seven oxen and seven rams, and go to my +servant Job, and offer for yourselves a holocaust, and my servant Job +shall pray for you: his face I will accept, that folly be not imputed +to you: for you have not spoken right things before me, as my servant +Job hath. + +42:9. So Eliphaz the Themanite, and Baldad the Suhite, and Sophar the +Naamathite went, and did as the Lord had spoken to them, and the Lord +accepted the face of Job. + +42:10. The Lord also was turned at the penance of Job, when he prayed +for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. + +42:11. And all his brethren came to him, and all his sisters, and all +that knew him before, and they ate bread with him in his house: and +bemoaned him, and comforted him upon all the evil that God had brought +upon him. And every man gave him one ewe, and one earring of gold. + +42:12. And the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his +beginning. And he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, +and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. + +42:13. And he had seven sons, and three daughters. + +42:14. And he called the name of one Dies, and the name of the second +Cassia, and the name of the third Cornustibii. + +42:15. And there were not found in all the earth women so beautiful as +the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among +their brethren. + +42:16. And Job lived after these things, a hundred and forty years, and +he saw his children, and his children's children, unto the fourth +generation, and he died an old man, and full of days. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Holy Bible, Douay-Rheims Version, O.T. Part 1 + |