Part 198 (2/2)
”Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. For there were that said, 'We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get corn, that we may eat and live.'
Some also there were that said, 'We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get corn, because of the dearth.'
”There were also that said, 'We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and our vineyards. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already: neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.'
”And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the n.o.bles and the rulers, and said unto them, 'Ye exact usury, everyone of his brother.'
”And I held a great a.s.sembly against them. And I said to them, 'We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and would ye even sell your brethren, and should they be sold unto us?'
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”Then held they their peace, and found never a word. Also I said, 'The thing that ye do is not good: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our G.o.d, because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? And I likewise, my brethren and my servants, do lend them money and corn on usury. I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.'
”Then said they, 'We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as thou sayest.'
”Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. Also I shook out my lap, and said, 'So G.o.d shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied.'
And all the congregation said, 'Amen,' and praised the Lord.
”And the people did according to this promise. Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. But the former governors that were before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bore rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of G.o.d.
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
JERUSALEM, A PART OF THE WALL AND THE MOSQUE OF OMAR.
Jerusalem, like all ancient cities, was protected by walls. The first of these walls was built by David and Solomon and the later kings. This wall was broken down and overthrown when the people of the city were carried into captivity, and was rebuilt again by Nehemiah. In the time of Josephus, three walls encircled the city, the oldest being the ancient wall and the others additions necessitated by the enlargement of the boundaries. Parts of these walls have been traced, and some portions still exist. These existing portions are in places 150 feet high, and the ancient towers at the corners were probably 250 feet high. They were built of immense stones very solidly put together to resist the attack of battering rams in times of war.
[End ill.u.s.tration]
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Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
Moreover there were at my table of the Jews and the rulers an hundred and fifty men, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that were round about us. Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. Remember unto me, O my G.o.d, for good, all that I have done for this people.”
_In Spite of Foes, the Walls Are Built_.
”Now it came to pa.s.s, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and unto the rest of our enemies, that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein (though even unto that time I had not set up the doors in the gates); that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, 'Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono.'
”But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers to them, saying, 'I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?'
”And they sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; wherein was written, 'It is {226} reported among the nations, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause thou buildest the wall: and thou wouldest be their king, according to these words.
And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.'
”Then I sent to him, saying, 'There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.'
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