13:19. And it came to pa.s.s, that when the gates of Jerusalem were at rest on the sabbath day, I spoke: and they shut the gates, and I commanded that they should not open them till after the sabbath: and I set some of my servants at the gates, that none should bring in burthens on the sabbath day.
13:20. So the merchants, and they that sold all kinds of wares, stayed without Jerusalem, once or twice.
13:21. And I charged them, and I said to them: Why stay you before the wall? if you do so another time, I will lay hands on you. And from that time they came no more on the sabbath.
13:22. I spoke also to the Levites that they should be purified, and should come to keep the gates, and to sanctify the sabbath day: for this also remember me, O my G.o.d, and spare me according to the mult.i.tude of thy tender mercies.
13:23. In those days also I saw Jews that married wives, women of Azotus, and of Ammon, and of Moab.
13:24. And their children spoke half in the speech of Azotus, and could not speak the Jews" language, but they spoke according to the language of this and that people.
13:25. And I chid them, and laid my curse upon them. And I beat some of them, and shaved off their hair, and made them swear by G.o.d that they would not give their daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for their sons, nor for themselves, saying:
13:26. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin in this kind of thing: and surely among many nations, there was not a king like him, and he was beloved of his G.o.d, and G.o.d made him king over all Israel: and yet women of other countries brought even him to sin.
13:27. And shall we also be disobedient and do all this great evil to transgress against our G.o.d, and marry strange women:
13:28. And one of the sons of Joiada the son of Eliasib the high priest, was son in law to Sanaballat the Horonite, and I drove him from me.
13:29. Remember them, O Lord my G.o.d, that defile the priesthood, and the law of priests and Levites.
13:30. So I separated from them all strangers, and I appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites, every man in his ministry:
13:31. And for the offering of wood at times appointed, and for the firstfruits: remember me, O my G.o.d, unto good. Amen.
THE BOOK OF TOBIAS
This Book takes its name from the holy man Tobias, whose wonderful virtues are herein recorded. It contains most excellent doc.u.ments of great piety, extraordinary patience, and of a perfect resignation to the will of G.o.d. His humble prayer was heard, and the angel Raphael was sent to relieve him: he is thankful and praises the Lord, calling on the children of Israel to do the same. Having lived to the age of one hundred and two years, he exhorts his son and grandsons to piety, foretells the destruction of Ninive and the rebuilding of Jerusalem: he dies happily.
Tobias Chapter 1
Tobias"s early piety: his works of mercy, particularly in burying the dead.
1:1. Tobias of the tribe and city of Nephtali, (which is in the upper parts of Galilee above Naa.s.son, beyond the way that leadeth to the west, having on the right hand the city of Sephet,)
1:2. When he was made captive in the days of Salmanasar king of the a.s.syrians, even in his captivity, forsook not the way of truth,
1:3. But every day gave all he could get to his brethren his fellow captives, that were of his kindred.
1:4. And when he was younger than any of the tribe of Nephtali, yet did he no childish thing in his work.
1:5. Moreover when all went to the golden calves which Jeroboam king of Israel had made, he alone fled the company of all,
1:6. And went to Jerusalem to the temple of the Lord, and there adored the Lord G.o.d of Israel, offering faithfully all his firstfruits, and his t.i.thes,
1:7. So that in the third year he gave all his t.i.thes to the proselytes, and strangers.
1:8. These and such like things did he observe when but a boy according to the law of G.o.d.
1:9. But when he was a man, he took to wife Anna of his own tribe, and had a son by her, whom he called after his own name,
1:10. And from his infancy he taught him to fear G.o.d, and to abstain from all sin.
1:11. And when by the captivity he with his wife and his son and all his tribe was come to the city of Ninive,
1:12. (When all ate of the meats of the Gentiles) he kept his soul and never was defiled with their meats.
1:13. And because he was mindful of the Lord with all his heart, G.o.d gave him favour in the sight of Salmanasar the king.
1:14. And he gave him leave to go whithersoever he would, with liberty to do whatever he had a mind.
1:15. He therefore went to all that were in captivity, and gave them wholesome admonitions.
1:16. And when he was come to Rages a city of the Medes, and had ten talents of silver of that with which he had been honoured by the king:
1:17. And when amongst a great mult.i.tude of his kindred, he saw Gabelus in want, who was one of his tribe, taking a note of his hand he gave him the aforesaid sum of money.
1:18. But after a long time, Salmanasar the king being dead, when Sennacherib his son, who reigned in his place, had a hatred for the children of Israel:
1:19. Tobias daily went among all his kindred and comforted them, and distributed to every one as he was able, out of his goods:
1:20. He fed the hungry, and gave clothes to the naked, and was careful to bury the dead, and they that were slain.
1:21. And when king Sennacherib was come back, fleeing from Judea by reason of the slaughter that G.o.d had made about him for his blasphemy, and being angry slew many of the children of Israel, Tobias buried their bodies.
1:22. But when it was told the king, he commanded him to be slain, and took away all his substance.
1:23. But Tobias fleeing naked away with his son and with his wife, lay concealed, for many loved him.
1:24. But after forty-five days, the king was killed by his own sons.
1:25. And Tobias returned to his house, and all his substance was restored to him.
Tobias Chapter 2
Tobias leaveth his dinner to bury the dead: he loseth his sight by G.o.d"s permission, for manifestation of his patience.
2:1. But after this, when there was a festival of the Lord, and a good dinner was prepared in Tobias"s house,
2:2. He said to his son: Go, and bring some of our tribe that fear G.o.d, to feast with us.
2:3. And when he had gone, returning he told him, that one of the children of Israel lay slain in the street. And he forthwith leaped up from his place at the table, and left his dinner, and came fasting to the body.