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21 for their thirst. Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, [so that] they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed 22. not old, and their feet swelled not. Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners; that is, thou didst drive the nations who possessed these lands into corners, giving them an easy conquest of their country so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, 23 and the land of Og king of Bashan. Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, 24 that they should go in to possess [it.] So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that 25 they might do with them as they would. And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness; were thankful at first, but 26 soon rebelled. Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and 27 they wrought great provocations. Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee thou heardest [them] from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, or judges, who saved them out of the 28 hand of their enemies. But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, the Philistines, so that they had the dominion over them yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest [them] from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver 29 them according to thy mercies; And testifiedst against them that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them, that is, be a happy man ;) and withdrew the shoulder, like refractory oxen, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. 30 Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands; that is, the Chaldeans, who had got possession of all the 31 neighbouring country. Nevertheless, for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for 32 thou [art] a gracious and merciful God.* Now therefore, our God. the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and

In the following verses they lament the sins which exposed them to these calamities, and entreat God's pity on them in their present a ficted state.

on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this 33 day. Howbeit thou [art] just in all that is brought upon us ; 34 for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly Neither

have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testi35 monies, wherewith thou didst testify against them. For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked 36 works. Behold, we [are] servants this day, and [for] the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we [are] servants in it; we pay tribute 37 to a foreign prince, the king of Persia: And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we [are] in great distress: the king had power to employ them in his works or wars; had power to demand their tribute in cattle, or order them to be employed about his works; they were now tenants to the king of Persia, whereas 38 formerly they held their land under God alone. And because of all this we make a sure [covenant,] and write [it ;] and our princes, Levites, [and] priests seal [unto it ;] upon the whole, they resolved to renew their covenant with God for better obedience, as the only way to procure perfect deliverance. This public instrument would be a witness against them if they were disobedient, and would convict them of impiety, injustice, and treachery, if they returned to idolatry and wickedness again.

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REFLECTIONS.

OLEMN seasons of public humiliation, in times of public

is wrought, to express our thankfulness for it, and to guard against those sins which might prevent the happy consequence of it, is our duty and interest. Reading the law, and praying, are the proper work of a fast day; we should read the law to direct our prayers; and in prayer we should humble ourselves for every breach of the law, and beg wisdom and grace to keep it better for the future.

2. Serious and honourable thoughts of God should be maintained whenever we approach him, v. 5, 6. that his glorious name may be exalted. The noblest creatures cannot praise him as he deserves, cannot make him more excellent. He is not only above our blessing and praise, but above all blessing and praise. We should consider him as the creator and preserver of the whole. Angels worship him, and therefore he is worthy of our highest reverence. We should take the utmost care to possess our minds with great, noble, and honourable thoughts of God when we approach to him; then we shall do it with humility, and with thankfulness for his condescension and grace, in encouraging and accepting our unworthy supplications.

3. The circumstances which our fathers experienced, should be recollected by us. We should be thankful for favours bestowed on them, in the benefits of which we share. We should lament their ingratitude, and disobedience, that we may act differently. This will tend to encourage our own better obedience, and our expectation of help in time of need.

4. The goodness of God in giving us laws and ordinances ought to be reflected upon with peculiar thankfulness, v. 13. and particular notice is taken of the sabbath, v. 14. It was a singular and valuable gift; a sign between God and them, that they were his people, and the worshippers of the true God. He gave them also his good Spirit to instruct them. This blessing we have particular reason to be thankful for. The laws of Christ are right, true, and good; are not so burdensome and grievous as the Jewish laws; the sabbath is continued, and the observation of it enforced by the authority of Christ, and in commemoration of his resurrection; his good Spirit is given to instruct us; and we have the hope of the heavenly Canaan, These mercies are of great value, ought to be recollected every day; and should be acknowledged with peculiar thankfulness in our public assemblies; and let it be remembered, that they will greatly aggravate our guilt if we are disobedient and irreligious.

5. With solemn exercises of devotion it is proper to enter into solemn engagements to be the Lord's. v. 38. Because of all this, thy mercy, and our disobedience, we make a sure covenant. When we are convinced of the evil of sin, we should solemnly engage to have no more to do with it; when we have recollected the mercies of God, we should bind ourselves to make all suitable returns, and promise and engage to keep God's commands. This we have fre, quently done; let us often reflect upon it; and having sworn, let us perform it, that we will keep God's righteous judgments.

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CHAP. X.

The names of them that sealed the covenant, and the points of it.

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QW those that sealed [were,] Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah, Seraiah, Azariah, 3 4 Jeremiah, Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, Hattush, Shebaniah, 56 Malluch, Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnethon, 78 Baruch, Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, Maaziah, Bilgai, She9 maiah: these [were] the priests. And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kad10 miel; And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, 11 12 Hanan, Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, Zaccur, Sherebiah, Sheba13 14 niah, Hodijah, Bani, Beninu. The chief of the people; Parosh, 15 16 Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani, Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, Adon17 18 ijah, Bigvai, Adin, Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur, Hodijah, Hashum, 19 20 Bezai, Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, Magpiash, Meshullam, VOL. IV.

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21 22 Hezir, Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua, Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiak 23 24 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub, Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek, 25 26 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

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And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the por ters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having 29 knowledge, and having understanding; They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD 30 our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take 31 their daughters for our sons: And [if] the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, [that] we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day : and [that] we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of 32 every debt. Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of 33 the house of our God; For the shew bread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy [things,] and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and [for] all the work of the house of 34 our God. And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring [it] into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our 35 God, as [it is] written in the law: And to bring the first fruits of our ground, and the first fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by 36 year, unto the house of the LORD: Also the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as [it is] written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God: 37 And [that] we should bring the first fruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. 38 And the priest the son of 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 39 the treasure house. For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the 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.

CHAP. XI.

The rulers, voluntary men, and the tenth man chosen by lot, dwell at Jerusalem; a catalogue of their names.

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A rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to

ND the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem : the

dwell in Jerusalem the holy city; and nine parts [to dwell] in 2 [other] cities. And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

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Now these [are] the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, [to wit,] Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants. 4 And at Jerusalem dwelt [certain] of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of 5 Perez; And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son 6 of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni. All the sons of Perez, that dwelt at Jerusalem [were] four hundred three score and eight 7 valiant men. - And these [are] the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Je8 saiah. And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and 9 eight. And Joel the son of Zichri [was] their overseer: and 10 Judah the son of Senuah [was] second over the city. Of the 11 priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin. Seraiah the son of

Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, [was] the ruler of the house of 12 God. And their brethren that did the work of the house [were] eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the 13 son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah, And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai, the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of 14 Immer, And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer [was] Zabdiel, the son of 15 [one of] the great men. Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the 16 son of Bunni; And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, [had] the oversight of the outward business of the house 17 of God. And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, [was] the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jedu. 18 thun. All the Levites in the holy city [were] two hundred four 19 score and four. Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, [were] an hundred seventy and two.

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