Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes : and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house. For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the heave offering of the corn, of the wine, and of the oil, unto the 145 chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers and we will not forsake the house of our God.

LESSON LXXXIV

THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM

Samaritans by an appeal to Artaxerxes stop the Jews from fortifying Jerusalem, and destroy the walls they have built. Nehemiah gains favour with Artaxerxes, and obtains authority to rule Judah and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He inspires the people with enthusiasm and sets them to work.

EZRA IV. 8-23; NEHEMIAH I.—IV.

4 8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort : then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, and the Apharsath5 chites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites, and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, and set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the river, and so forth. This is the copy of the letter that 10 they sent unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men beyond the river, and so forth. Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee are come to us unto Jerusalem ; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished 1 the walls, and repaired the foundations. Be it known 15 now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will endamage the kings. Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; that search may 20 be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for

1 For have finished read will soon have finished.

which cause was this city laid waste. We certify the king that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, by this means thou 25 shalt have no portion beyond the river. Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the river, Peace, and so forth. The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before 30 me. And I decreed, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all the country beyond the river; and tribute, custom, 35 and toll, was paid unto them. Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me. And take heed that ye be not slack herein why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before 40 Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.

[Neh.] 1 1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

And

Now it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth 45 year, as I was in Shushan the palace,1 that Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province 50 are in great affliction and reproach the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven, and said, I beseech thee, O LORD, the God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments; let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel 60 thy servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: yea, I and my father's house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judge

1 For Shushan the palace read the castle of Susa.

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