Bible in a Year.

On day 279, Nehemiah 11 tells us about the organization and settlement of the people in Jerusalem. Esther 9-11 recounts Esther's victory and Israel's preservation from their enemies. Proverbs 21:17-20 reminds us of the value of diligence, temperance, and the importance of living prudently and wisely in all aspects of life.

1. And the princes of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: but the rest of the people cast lots, to take one part in ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities.

2. And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.

3. These therefore are the chief men of the province, who dwelt in Jerusalem, and in the cities of Juda. And every one dwelt in his possession, in their cities: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Nathinites, and the children of the servants of Solomon.

4. And in Jerusalem there dwelt some of the children of Juda, and some of the children of Benjamin: of the children of Juda, Athaias the son of Aziam, the son of Zacharias, the son of Amarias, the son of Saphatias, the son of Malaleel: of the sons of Phares,

5. Maasia the son of Baruch, the son of Cholhoza, the son of Hazia, the son of Adaia, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zacharias, the son of the Silonite:

6. All these the sons of Phares, who dwelt in Jerusalem, were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men.

7. And these are the children of Benjamin: Sellum the son of Mosollam, the son of Joed, the son of Phadaia, the son of Colaia, the son of Masia, the son of Etheel, the son of Isaia.

8. And after him Gebbai, Sellai, nine hundred twenty-eight.

9. And Joel the son of Zechri their ruler, and Judas the son of Senua was second over the city.

10. And of the priests Idaia the son of Joarib, Jachin,

11. Saraia the son of Helcias, the son of Mosollam, the son of Sadoc, the son of Meraioth, the son of Achitob the prince of the house of God,

12. And their brethren that do the works of the temple: eight hundred twenty- two. And Adaia the son of Jeroham, the son of Phelelia, the son of Amsi, the son of Zacharias, the son of Pheshur, the son of Melchias,

13. And his brethren the chiefs of the fathers: two hundred forty-two. And Amassai the son of Azreel, the son of Ahazi, the son of Mosollamoth, the son of Emmer,

14. And their brethren who were very mighty, a hundred twenty-eight: and their ruler Zabdiel son of the mighty.

15. And of the Levites Semeia the son of Hasub, the son of Azaricam, the son of Hasabia, the son of Boni,

16. And Sabathai and Jozabed, who were over all the outward business of the house of Cod, of the princes of the Levites,

17. And Mathania the son of Micha, the son of Zebedei, the son of Asaph, was the principal man to praise, and to give glory in prayer, and Becbecia the second, one of his brethren, and Abda the son of Samua, the son of Galal, the son of Idithun.

18. All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four.

19. And the porters, Accub, Telmon, and their brethren, who kept the doors: a hundred seventy-two.

20. And the rest of Israel, the priests and the Levites were in all the cities of Juda, every man in his possession.

21. And the Nathinites, that dwelt in Ophel, and Siaha, and Gaspha of the Nathinites.

22. And the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem, was Azzi the son of Bani, the son of Hasabia, the son of Mathania, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, were the singing men in the ministry of the house of Cod.

23. For the king's commandment was concerning them, and an order among the singing men day by day.

24. And Phathahia the son of Mesezebel of the children of Zara the son of Juda was at the hand of the king, in all matters concerning the people,

25. And in the houses through all their countries. Of the children of Juda so dwelt at Cariath-Arbe, and in the villages thereof: and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof: and at Cabseel, and in the villages thereof.

26. And at Jesue, and at Molada, and Bethphaleth,

27. And at Hasersual, and at Bersabee, and in the villages thereof,

28. And at Siceleg, and at Mochona, and in the villages thereof,

29. And at Remmon, and at Saraa, and at Jerimuth,

30. Zanoa, Odollam, and in their villages, at Lachis and its dependencies, and at Azeca and the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Bersabee unto the valley of Ennom.

31. And the children of Benjamin, from Geba, at Mechmas, and at Hai, and at Bethel, and in the villages thereof,

32. At Anathoth, Nob, Anania,

33. Asor, Rama, Gethaim,

34. Hadid, Seboim, and Neballat, Led,

35. And Ono the valley of craftsmen.

36. And of the Levites were portions of Juda and Benjamin.

Chapter 9

1. So on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which as we have said above is called Adar, when all the Jews were designed to be massacred, and their enemies were greedy after their blood, the case being altered, the Jews began to have the upper hand, and to revenge themselves of their adversaries.

2. And they gathered themselves together in every city, and town, and place, to lay their hands on their enemies, and their persecutors. And no one durst withstand them, for the fear of their power had gone through every people.

3. And the judges of the provinces, and the governors, and lieutenants, and every one in dignity, that presided over every place and work, extolled the Jews for fear of Mardochai:

4. For they knew him to be prince of the palace, and to have great power: and the fame of his name increased daily, and was spread abroad through all men's mouths.

5. So the Jews made a great slaughter of their enemies, and killed them, repaying according to what they had prepared to do to them:

6. Insomuch that even in Susan they killed five hundred men, besides the ten sons of Aman the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews: whose names are these:

7. Pharsandatha, and Delphon, and Esphatha,

8. And Phoratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

9. And Phermesta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Jezatha.

10. And when they had slain them, they would not touch the spoils of their goods.

11. And presently the number of them that were killed in Susan was brought to the king.

12. And he said to the queen: The Jews have killed five hundred men in the city of Susan, besides the ten sons of Aman: how many dost thou think they have slain in all the provinces? What askest thou more, and what wilt thou have me to command to be done?

13. And she answered: If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews, to do to morrow in Susan as they have done to day, and that the ten sons of Aman may be hanged upon gibbets.

14. And the king commanded that it should be so done. And forthwith the edict was hung up in Susan, and the ten sons of Aman were hanged.

15. 15And on the fourteenth day of the month Adar the Jews gathered themselves together, and they killed in Susan three hundred men: but they took not their substance.

16. Moreover through all the provinces which were subject to the king's dominion the Jews stood for their lives, and slew their enemies and persecutors: insomuch that the number of them that were Billed amounted to seventy-five thousand, and no man took any of their goods.

17. Now the thirteenth day of the month Adar was the first day with them all of the slaughter, and on the fourteenth day they left off. Which they ordained to be kept holy day, so that all times hereafter they should celebrate it with feasting, joy, and banquets.

18. But they that were killing in the city of Susan, were employed in the slaughter on the thirteenth and fourteenth day of the same month: and on the fifteenth day they rested. And therefore they appointed that day to be a holy day of feasting and gladness.

19. But those Jews that dwelt in towns not walled and in villages, appointed the fourteenth day of the month Adar for banquets and gladness, so as to rejoice on that day, and send one another portions of their banquets and meats.

20. And Mardochai wrote all these things, and sent them comprised in letters to the Jews that abode in all the king's provinces, both those that lay near and those afar off,

21. 21That they should receive the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month Adar for holy days, and always at the return of the year should celebrate them with solemn honour:

22. Because on those days the Jews revenged themselves of their enemies, and their mourning and sorrow were turned into mirth and joy, and that these should be days of feasting and gladness, in which they should send one to another portions of meats; and should give gifts to the poor.

23. And the Jews undertook to observe with solemnity all they had begun to do at that time, which Mardochai by letters had commanded to be done.

24. For Aman, the son of Amadathi of the race of Agag, the enemy and adversary of the Jews, had devised evil against them, to kill them and destroy them: and had cast Phur, that is, the lot.

25. And afterwards Esther went in to the king, beseeching him that his endeavours might be made void by the king's letters: and the evil that he had intended against the Jews, might return upon his own head. And so both he and his sons were hanged upon gibbets.

26. And since that time these days are called Phurim, that is, of lots: because Phur, that is, the lot, was cast into the urn. And all things that were done, are contained in the volume of this epistle, that is, of this book:

27. And the things that they suffered, and that were afterwards changed, the Jews took upon themselves and their seed, and upon all that had a mind to be joined to their religion, so that it should be lawful for none to pass these days without solemnity: which the writing testifieth, and certain times require, as the years continually succeed one another.

28. These are the days which shall never be forgot: and which all provinces in the whole world shall celebrate throughout all generations: neither is there any city wherein the days of Phurim, that is, of lots, must not be observed by the Jews, and by their posterity, which is bound to these ceremonies.

29. And Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mardochai the Jew, wrote also a second epistle, that with all diligence this day should be established a festival for the time to come.

30. And they sent to all the Jews that were in the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of king Assuerus, that they should have peace, and receive truth,

31. And observe the days of lots, and celebrate them with joy in their proper time: as Mardochai and Esther had appointed, and they undertook them to be observed by themselves and by their seed, fasts, and cries, and the days of lots,

32. And all things which are contained in the history of this book, which is called Esther.

Chapter 10

1. And king Assuerus made all the land, and all the islands of the sea tributary.

2. And his strength and his empire, and the dignity and greatness wherewith he exalted Mardochai, are written in the books of the Medes, and of the Persians:

3. And how Mardochai of the race of the Jews, was next after king Assuerus: and great among the Jews, and acceptable to the people of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking those things which were for the welfare of his seed.

4. Then Mardochai said: God hath done these things.

5. I remember a dream that I saw, which signified these same things: and nothing thereof hath failed.

6. The little fountain which grew into a river, and was turned into a light, and into the sun, and abounded into many waters, is Esther, whom the king married, and made queen.

7. But the two dragons are I and Aman.

8. The nations that were assembled are they that endeavoured to destroy the name of the Jews.

9. And my nation is Israel, who cried to the Lord, and the Lord saved his people: and he delivered us from all evils, and hath wrought great signs and wonders among the nations:

10. And he commanded that there should be two lots, one of the people of God, and the other of all the nations.

11. And both lots came to the day appointed already from that time before God to all nations:

12. And the Lord remembered his people, and had mercy on his inheritance.

13. And these days shall be observed in the month of Adar on the fourteenth, and fifteenth day of the same month. with all diligence, and joy of the people gathered into one assembly, throughout all the generations hereafter of the people of Israel.

Chapter 11

1. In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said he was a priest, and of the Levitical race, and Ptolemy his son brought this epistle of Phurim, which they said Lysimachus the son of Ptolemy had interpreted in Jerusalem.

2. In the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the great, in the first day of the month Nisan, Mardochai the son of Jair, the son of Semei, the son of Cis, of the tribe of Benjamin:

3. A Jew who dwelt in the city of Susan, a great man and among the first of the king's court, had it dream.

4. Now he was of the number of the captives, whom Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away from Jerusalem with Jechonias king of Juda:

5. And this was his dream: Behold there were voices, and tumults, and thunders, and earthquakes, and a disturbance upon the earth.

6. And behold two great dragons came forth ready to fight one against another.

7. And at their cry all nations were stirred up to fight against the nation of the just.

8. And that was a day of darkness and danger, of tribulation and distress, and great fear upon the earth.

9. And the nation of the just was troubled fearing their own evils, and was prepared for death.

10. And they cried to God: and as they were crying, a little fountain grew into a very great river, and abounded into many waters.

11. The light and the sun rose up, and the humble were exalted, and they devoured the glorious.

12. And when Mardochai had seen this, and arose out of his bed, he was thinking what God would do: and he kept it fixed in his mind, desirous to know what the dream should signify.

17. He that loveth good cheer, shall be in want: he that loveth wine, and fat things, shall not be rich.

18. The wicked is delivered up for the just: and the unjust for the righteous.

19. It is better to dwell in a wilderness, than with a quarrelsome and passionate woman.

20. There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the just: and the foolish man shall spend it.