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hearkened to this advice； and made the heads of the priests； and
of the Levites； and of the Israelites； swear that they would put
away those wives and children； according to the advice of
Jechonias。 And when he had received their oaths； he went in haste
out of the temple into the chamber of Johanan； the son of
Eliasib； and as he had hitherto tasted nothing at all for grief；
so he abode there that day。 And when proclamation was made； that
all those of the captivity should gather themselves together to
Jerusalem； and those that did not meet there in two or three days
should be banished from the multitude； and that their substance
should b appropriated to the uses of the temple； according to the
sentence of the elders； those that were of the tribes of Judah
and Benjamin came together in three days； viz。 on the twentieth
day of the ninth month； which； according to the Hebrews； is
called Tebeth； and according to the Macedonians； Apelleius。 Now
as they were sitting in the upper room of the temple； where the
elders also were present； but were uneasy because of the cold；
Esdras stood up and accused them； and told them that they had
sinned in marrying wives that were not of their own nation； but
that now they would do a thing both pleasing to God； and
advantageous to themselves； if they would put those wives away。
Accordingly； they all cried out that they would do so。 That；
however； the multitude was great； and that the season of the year
was winter； and that this work would require more than one or two
days。 〃Let their rulers； therefore； ＇said they；＇ and those that
have married strange wives； come hither at a proper time； while
the elders of every place； that are in common to estimate the
number of those that have thus married； are to be there also。〃
Accordingly； this was resolved on by them； and they began the
inquiry after those that had married strange wives on the first
day of the tenth month； and continued the inquiry to the first
day of the next month； and found a great many of the posterity of
Jeshua the high priest； and of the priests and Levites； and
Israelites； who had a greater regard to the observation of the
law than to their natural affection； （9） and immediately cast out
their wives； and the children which were born of them。 And in
order to appease God； they offered sacrifices； and slew rams； as
oblations to him； but it does not seem to me to be necessary to
set down the names of these men。 So when Esdras had reformed this
sin about the marriages of the forementioned persons； he reduced
that practice to purity； so that it continued in that state for
the time to come。
5。 Now when they kept the feast of tabernacles in the seventh
month （10） and almost all the people were come together to it；
they went up to the open part of the temple； to the gate which
looked eastward； and desired of Esdras that the laws of Moses
might be read to them。 Accordingly； he stood in the midst of the
multitude and read them； and this he did from morning to noon。
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 h