Now； by hearing the laws read to them； they were instructed to be
righteous men for the present and for the future； but as for
their past offenses； they were displeased at themselves； and
proceeded to shed tears on their account； as considering with
themselves that if they had kept the law； they had endured none
of these miseries which they had experienced。 But when Esdras saw
them in that disposition； he bade them go home； and not weep； for
that it was a festival； and that they ought not to weep thereon；
for that it was not lawful so to do。 （11） He exhorted them rather
to proceed immediately to feasting； and to do what was suitable
to a feast； and what was agreeable to a day of joy； but to let
their repentance and sorrow for their former sins be a security
and a guard to them； that they fell no more into the like
offenses。 So upon Esdras's exhortation they began to feast； and
when they had so done for eight days； in their tabernacles； they
departed to their own homes； singing hymns to God； and returning
thanks to Esdras for his reformation of what corruptions had been
introduced into their settlement。 So it came to pass； that after
he had obtained this reputation among the people； he died an old
man； and was buried in a magnificent manner at Jerusalem。 About
the same time it happened also that Joacim； the high priest；
died； and his son Eliasib succeeded in the high priesthood。
6。 Now there was one of those Jews that had been carried captive
who was cup…bearer to king Xerxes； his name was Nehemiah。 As this
man was walking before Susa； the metropolis of the Persians； he
heard some strangers that were entering the city； after a long
journey； speaking to one another in the Hebrew tongue； so he went
to them； and asked them whence they came。 And when their answer
was； that they came from Judea； he began to inquire of them again
in what state the multitude was； and in what condition Jerusalem
was； and when they replied that they were in a bad state （12） for
that their walls were thrown down to the ground； and that the
neighboring nations did a great deal of mischief to the Jews；
while in the day time they overran the country； and pillaged it；
and in the night did them mischief； insomuch that not a few were
led away captive out of the country； and out of Jerusalem itself；
and that the roads were in the day time found full of dead men。
Hereupon Nehemiah shed tears； out of commiseration of the
calamities of his countrymen； and； looking up to heaven； he said；
〃How long； O Lord； wilt thou overlook our nation； while it
suffers so great miseries； and while we are made the prey and
spoil of all men？〃 And while he staid at the gate； and lamented
thus； one told him that the king was going to sit down to supper；
so he made haste； and went as he was； without wishing himself； to
minister to the king in his office of cup…bearer。 But as the king
was very pleasant after supper； and more cheerful than usual； he
cast his eyes on Nehemiah； and seeing him look sad； he asked him
why he was sad。 Whereupon he prayed to God to give him favor； and
afford him the power of persuading by his words； and said； 〃How
can I； O king； appear otherwise than thus； and not be in trouble；
while I hear that the walls of Jerusalem； the city where are the
sepulchers of my fathers； are thrown down to the ground； and that
its gates are consumed by fire？ But do thou grant me the favor to
go and build its wall； and to finish the building of the temple。〃
Accordingly； the king gave him a signal that he freely granted
him what he asked； and told him that he should carry an epistle
to the governors； that they might pay him due honor； and afford
him whatsoever assistance he wanted； and as he pleased。 〃Leave
off thy sorrow then；〃 said the king； 〃and be cheerful in the
performance of thy office hereafter。〃 So Nehemiah worshipped God；
and gave the king thanks for his promise； and cleared up his sad
and cloudy countenance； by the pleasure he had from the king's
promises。 Accordingly； the king called for him the next day； and
gave him an epistle to be carried to Adeus； the governor of
Syria； and Phoenicia； and Samaria； wherein he sent to him to pay
due honor to Nehemiah； and to supply him with what he wanted for
his building。
7。 Now when he was come to Babylon； and had taken with him many
of his countrymen； who voluntarily followed him； he came to
Jerusalem in the twenty and fifth year of the reign of Xerxes。
And when he had shown the epistles to God （13） he gave them to
Adeus； and to the other governors。 He also called together all
the people to Jerusalem； and stood in the midst of the temple；
and made the following speech to them： 〃You know； O Jews； that
God hath kept our fathers； Abraham； and Isaac； and Jacob； in mind
continually； and for the sake of their righteousness hath not
left off the care of you。 Indeed he hath assisted me in gaining
this authority of the king to raise up our wall； and finish what
is wanting of the temple。 I desire you； therefore who well know
the ill…will our neighboring nations bear to us； and that when
once they are made sensible that we are in earnest about
building； they will come upon us； and contrive many ways of
obstructing our works； that you will； in the first place； put
your trust in God； as in him that will assist us against their
hatred； and to intermit building neither night nor day； but to
use all diligence； and to hasten on the work； now we have this
especial opportunity for it。〃 When he had said this； he gave
order that the rulers should measure the wall； and part the work
of it among the people； according to their villages and cities；
as every one's ability should require。 And when he had added this
promise； that he himself； with his servants； would assist them；
he dissolved the assembly。 So the Jews prepared for the work：
that is the name they are called by from the day that they came
up from Babylon； which is taken from the tribe of Judah；。 which
came first to these places； and thence both they and the country
gained that appellation。
8。 But now when the Ammonites； and Moabites； and Samaritans； and
all that inhabited Celesyria； heard that the building went on
apace； they took it heinously； and proceeded to lay snares for
them； and to hinder their intentions。 They also slew many of the
Jews； and sought how they might destroy Nehemiah himself； by
hiring some of the foreigners to kill him。 They also put the Jews
in fear； and disturbed them； and spread abroad rumors； as if many
nations were ready to make an expedition against them； by which
means they were harassed； and had almost left off the building。
But none of these things could deter Nehemiah from being diligent
about the work； he only set a number of men about him as a guard
to his body； and so unweariedly persevered therein； and was
insensible of any trouble； out of his desire to perfect this
work。 And thus did he attentively； and with great forecast； take
care of his own safety； not that he feared death； but of this
persuasion； that if he were dead； the walls for his citizens
would never be raised。 He also gave orders that the builders
should keep their ranks； and have their armor on while they were
building。 Accordingly； the mason had his sword on； as well as he
that brought the materials for building。 He also appointed that
their shields should lie very near them； and he placed trumpeters
at every five hundred feet； and charged them； that if their
enemies appeared； they should give notice of it to the people；
that they might fight in their armor； and their enemies might not
fall upon them naked。 He also went about the compass of the city
by night； being never discouraged； neither about the work itself；
nor about his own diet and sleep； for he made no use of those
things for his pleasure； but out of necessity。 And this trouble
he underwent for two years and four months； （14） for in so long a
time was the wall built； in the twenty…eighth year of the reign
of Xerxes； in the ninth month。 Now when the walls were finished；
Nehemiah and the multitude offered sacrifices to God for the
building of them； and they continued in feasting eight days。
However； when the nations which dwelt in Syria heard that the
building of the wall was finished； they had indignation at it。
But when Nehemiah saw that the city was thin of people； he
exhorted the priests and the Levites that they would leave the
country； and remove themselves to the city； and there continue；
and he built them houses at his own expenses； and he commanded
that part of the people which were employed in cultivating the
land to bring the tithes of their fruits to Jerusalem； that the
priests and Levites having whereof they might live perpetually；
might not leave the Divine worship； who willingly hearkened to
the constitutions of Nehemiah； by which means the city Jerusalem
came to be fuller of people than it was before。 So when Nehemiah
had done many other excellent things； and things worthy of
commendation； in a glorious manner； he came to a great age； and
then died。 He was a man of a good and righteous disposition； and
very ambitious to make his own nation happy； and he hath left the
walls of Jerusalem as an eternal monument for himself。 Now this
was done in the days of Xerxes。
CHAPTER 6。
Concerning Esther And Mordecai And Haman； And How In The Reign Of
Artaxerxes The Whole Nation Of The Jews Was In Danger Of
Perishing。
1。 After the death of Xerxes； the kingdom came to be transferred
to his son Cyrus； whom the Greeks called Artaxerxes。 When this
man had obtained the government over the Persians； the whole
nation of the Jews； （15） with their wives and children； were in
danger of perishing； the occasion whereof we shall declare in a
little time； for it is proper； in the first place； to explain
somewhat relating to this king； and how he came to marry a Jewish
wife； who was herself of the royal family also； and who is
related to have saved our nation； for when Artaxerxes had taken
the kingdom； and had set governors over the hundred twenty and
seven provinces； from India even unto Ethiopia； in the third year
of his reign； he made a costly feast for his friends； and for the
nations of Pers