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8。 So the king was pleased with what he had said； and arose and
kissed him； and wrote to the toparchs and governors； and enjoined
them to conduct Zorobabel and those that were going with him to
build the temple。 He also sent letters to those rulers that were
in Syria and Phoenicia to cut down and carry cedar trees from
Lebanon to Jerusalem； and to assist him in building the city。 He
also wrote to them； that all the captives who should go to Judea
should be free； and he prohibited his deputies and governors to
lay any king's taxes upon the Jews； he also permitted that they
should have all that land which they could possess themselves of
without tributes。 He also enjoined the Idumeans and Samaritans；
and the inhabitants of Celesyria； to restore those villages which
they had taken from the Jews； and that； besides all this； fifty
talents should be given them for the building of the temple。 He
also permitted them to offer their appointed sacrifices； and that
whatsoever the high priest and the priests wanted； and those
sacred garments wherein they used to worship God； should be made
at his own charges； 。and that the musical instruments which the
Levites used in singing hymns to God should be given them。
Moreover； he charged them； that portions of land should be given
to those that guarded the city and the temple； as also a
determinate sum of money every year for their maintenance； and
withal he sent the vessels。 And all that Cyrus intended to do
before him relating to the restoration of Jerusalem； Darius also
ordained should be done accordingly。
9。 Now when Zorobabel had obtained these grants from the king； he
went out of the palace； and looking up to heaven； he began to
return thanks to God for the wisdom he had given him； and the
victory he had gained thereby； even in the presence of Darius
himself； for； said he； 〃I had not been thought worthy of these
advantages； O Lord； unless thou hadst been favorable to me。〃 When
therefore he had returned these thanks to God for the present
circumstances he was in； and had prayed to him to afford him the
like favor for the time to come； he came to Babylon； and brought
the good news to his countrymen of what grants he had procured
for them from the king； who； when they heard the same； gave
thanks also to God that he restored the land of their forefathers
to them again。 So they betook themselves to drinking and eating；
and for seven days they continued feasting； and kept a festival；
for the rebuilding and restoration of their country： after this
they chose themselves rulers； who should go up to Jerusalem； out
of the tribes of their forefathers； with their wives； and
children； and cattle； who traveled to Jerusalem with joy and
pleasure； under the conduct of those whom Darius sent along with
them； and making a noise with songs； and pipes； and cymbals。 The
rest of the Jewish multitude also besides accompanied them with
rejoicing。
10。 And thus did these men go； a certain and determinate number
out of every family； though I do not think it proper to recite
particularly the names of those families； that I may not take off
the mind of my readers from the connexion of the historical
facts； and make it hard for them to follow the coherence of my
narrations； but the sum of those that went up； above the age of
twelve years； of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin； was four
hundred and sixty…two myriads and eight thousand （6） the Levites
were seventy…four； the number of the women and children mixed
together was forty thousand seven hundred and forty…two； and
besides these； there were singers of the Levites one hundred and
twenty…eight； and porters one hundred and ten； and of the sacred
ministers three hundred and ninety…two； there were also others
besides these； who said they were of the Israelites； but were not
able to show their genealogies； six hundred and sixty…two： some
there were also who were expelled out of the number and honor of
the priests； as having married wives whose genealogies they could
not produce； nor were they found in the genealogies of the
Levites and priests； they were about five hundred and
twenty…five： the multitude also of servants that followed those
that went up to Jerusalem were seven thousand three hundred and
thirty…seven； the singing men and singing women were two hundred
and forty…five； the camels were four hundred and thirty…five； the
beasts used to the yoke were five thousand five hundred and
twenty…five； and the governors of all this multitude thus
numbered were Zorobabel； the son of Salathiel； of the posterity
of David； and of the tribe of Judah； and Jeshua； the son of
Josedek the high priest； and besides these there were Mordecai
and Serebeus； who were distinguished from the multitude； and were
rulers； who also contributed a hundred pounds of gold； and five
thousand of silver。 By this means therefore the priests and the
Levites； and a certain part of the entire people of the Jews that
were in Babylon； came and dwelt in Jerusalem； but the rest of the
multitude returned every one to their own countries。
CHAPTER 4。
How The Temple Was Built While The Cutheans Endeavored In Vain To
Obstruct The Work。
1。 Now in the seventh month after they were departed out of
Babylon； both Jeshua the high priest； and Zorobabel the governor；
sent messengers every way round about； and gathered those that
were in the country together to Jerusalem universally； who came
very gladly thither。 He then built the altar on the same place it
had formerly been built； that they might offer the appointed
sacrifices upon it to God； according to the laws of Moses。 But
while they did this； they did not please the neighboring nations；
who all of them bare an ill…will to them。 They also celebrated
the feast of tabernacles at that time； as the legislator had
ordained concerning it； and after they offered sacrifices； and
what were called the daily sacrifices； and the oblations proper
for the Sabbaths； and for all the holy festivals。 Those also that
had made vows performed them； and offered their sacrifices from
the first day of the seventh month。 They also began to build the
temple； and gave a great deal of money to the masons and to the
carpenters； and what was necessary for the maintenance of the
workmen。 The Sidonians also were very willing and ready to bring
the cedar trees from Libanus； to bind them together； and to make
a united float of them； and to bring them to the port of Joppa；
for that was what Cyrus had commanded at first； and what was now
done at the command of Darius。
2。 In the second year of their coming to Jerusalem； as the Jews
were there in the second month； the building of the temple went
on apace； and when they had laid its foundations on the first day
of the second month of that second year； they set； as overseers
of the work； such Levites as were full twenty years old； and
Jeshua and his sons and brethren； and Codmiel the brother of
Judas； the son of Aminadab； with his sons； and the temple； by the
great diligence of those that had the care of it； was finished
sooner than any one would have expected。 And when the temple was
finished； the priests； adorned with their accusto