Part 284 (2/2)

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 G.o.d.

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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d turned the curse into blessing.

13:3. And it came to pa.s.s, 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 G.o.d, 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 t.i.thes 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 G.o.d.

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 G.o.d, 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 G.o.d? And I gathered them together, and I made them to stand in their places.

13:12. And all Juda brought the t.i.the 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 G.o.d, for this thing, and wipe not out my kindnesses, which I have done relating to the house of my G.o.d and his ceremonies.

13:15. In those days I saw in Juda some treading the presses on the sabbath, and carrying sheaves, and lading a.s.ses 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 G.o.d brought all this evil upon us, and upon this city? And you bring more wrath upon Israel by violating the sabbath.

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