2758 verses about Community

And the children of Israel that came out of the captivity did eat, even all those who had separated themselves from the abominations of the heathen of the land, and sought the Lord.

And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days, making merry before the Lord,

There went up with him also certain of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and Levites, and holy singers, and gatekeepers, and temple servants, to Jerusalem,

Having determined to deal graciously, I have given order, that such of the nation of the Jews, and of the priests and Levites, and of those within our realm, as are willing and desirous, should go with you to Jerusalem.

As many therefore as have a mind thereto, let them depart with you, as it has seemed good both to me and my seven friends the counselors;

and carry the gifts to the Lord of Israel to Jerusalem, which I and my friends have vowed; and that all the gold and silver that can be found in the country of Babylonia for the Lord in Jerusalem,

of the sons of Phoros, Zacharais; and with him were counted a hundred and fifty men:

of the sons of Zathoes, Sechenias the son of Jezelus, and with him three hundred men: of the sons ofAdin, Obeth the son of Jonathan, and with him two hundred and fifty men:

of the sons of Saphatias, Zebadiah. Zaraias son of Michael, and with him threescore and ten men:

of the sons of Babi, Zacharias son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight men:

of the sons of Adonikam, the last, and these are the names of them, Eliphalat, Jeuel, and Shemaiah. Samaias, and with them seventy men:

of the sons of Bigvai. Bago, Uthi the son of Istalcurus, and with him seventy men.

And I gathered them together to the river called Theras; and there we pitched our tents three days, and I surveyed them.

But when I had found there none of the priests and Levites,

and Elnathan, and Samaias, and Jarib Joribus, Nathan, Ennatan, Zacharias, and Mosollamus, principal men and men of understanding.

Then I separated twelve men of the chiefs of the priests, Eserebias, and Assamias, and ten men of their kindred with them:

Now when these things were done, the principal men came to me, and said,

So all those who were moved at the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, assembled to me, while I mourned for the iniquity: but I sat still full of heaviness until the evening sacrifice.

and glorified the temple of our Lord, and raised up the desolate Sion, to give us a sure dwelling in Jewry and Jerusalem.

Ezra 10:1. And as Esdras in his prayer made his confession, weeping, and lying flat upon the ground before the temple, there gathered to him from Jerusalem a very great throng of men and women and children: for there was great weeping among the multitude.

Arise, and put in execution: for to you does this matter appertain, and we will be with you to do valiantly.

And there was made proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all those who were of the captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem:

and that whoever met not there within two or three days, according as the elders that bare rule appointed, their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple, and himself cast out from the multitude of those who were of the captivity.

And in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem: this was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month.

Then cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, Just as you have spoken, so will we do.

But forasmuch as the multitude is great, and it is foul weather, so that we can’t stand without, and this is not a work of one day or two, seeing our sin in these things is spread far:

therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that have strange wives come at the time appointed,

and with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of the Lord from us for this matter.

Then Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezekias the son of Thocanus accordingly took the matter upon them: and Mosollamus and Levis and Sabbateus were assessors to them.

And those who were of the captivity did according to all these things.

And Esdras the priest chose to him principal men of their families, all by name: and on the new moon of the tenth month they were shut in together to examine the matter.

So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end by the new moon of the first month.

And of the Levites; Jozabdus, and Semeis, and Colius, who was called Calitas, and Patheus, and Judas, and Jonas.

Of the gatekeepers: Sallumus, and Tolbanes.

And the priests and Levites, and those who were of Israel, lived in Jerusalem, and in the country, on the new moon of the seventh month, and the children of Israel in their habitations.

Neh 8:1. And the whole multitude were gathered together with one accord into the broad place before the porch of the temple toward the east:

So Esdras the chief priest brought the law to the whole multitude both of men and women, and to all the priests, to hear the law on the new moon of the seventh month.

And he read in the broad place before the porch of the temple from morning to mid-day, before both men and women; and all the multitude gave heed to the law.

And there stood up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias, Ezekias, Baalsamus, upon the right hand:

Then took Esdras the book of the law before the multitude, and sat honorably in the first place before all.

And all the people answered, Amen; and lifting up their hands they fell to the ground, and worshipped the Lord.

Also Jesus, Annus, Sarabias, Iadinus, Jacubus, Sabateus, Auteas, Maiannas, and Calitas, Azarias, and Jozabdus, and Ananias, Phalias, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord, and read to the multitude the law of the Lord, making them withal to understand it.

Then said Attharates to Esdras the chief priest and reader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude, even to all,

go then, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing;

So the Levites published all things to the people, saying, This day is holy; be not sorrowful.

Then they went their way, every one to eat and drink, and make merry, and to give portions to those who had nothing, and to make great cheer;

By doing this, and by making donations to their temples, he inspired his subjects with confidence.

Women, but recently separated off, left their bridal chambers, left the reserve that befitted them, and ran about the city in a disorderly manner.

New-born babes were deserted by the mothers or nurses who waited upon them; some here, some there, in houses, or in fields; these now, with an ardour which could not be checked, swarmed into the Most High temple.

Such was the frequency and the vehemence of the cry of the assembled crowd, that an indescribable noise ensued.

To do away with the appearance of hating them all, he had it written underneath, that if any of them should elect to enter the community of those initiated in the rites, these should have equal rights with the Alexandrians.

cheerfully looking forward to future aid, they abhorred their own apostates, considering them to be national foes, and debarring them from the common usages of social intercourse.

Nor was this unexpected uproar and sudden conflux of people unobserved by the Greeks who lived in the city, concerning men who had never harmed them: yet to aid them was not in their power, since all was oppression around; but they encouraged them in their troubles, and expected a favourable turn of affairs:

Some of the neighbors, friends, and fellow dealers of the Jews, even called them secretly to an interview, pledged them their assistance, and promised to do their very utmost for them.

Accordingly, bearing no ill-will against their kinsmen at Jerusalem, but rather remembering our connection with them, and the numerous matters with sincere heart from a remote period entrusted to them, we wished to venture a total alteration of their state, by bestowing upon them the rights of citizens of Alexandria, and to admit them to the everlasting rites of our solemnities.

have rejected the inestimable rights. Not only so, but by using speech, and by refraining from speech, they abhor the few among them who are heartily disposed towards us; ever deeming that their ignoble course of procedure will force us to do away with our reform.

Having then, received certain proofs that these Jews bear us every sort of ill-will, we must look forward to the possibility of some sudden tumult among ourselves, when these impious men may turn traitors and barbarous enemies.

When this was done, the king, hearing that their kindred in the city often went out and lamented the melancholy distress of these victims,

The king, after issuing these orders, went to his feasting, and gathered together all those of his friends and of the army who hated the Jews the most.

When the king said this, the company present were glad, and approved; and then each man went to his own home.

The friends, too, stole out one by one, and dismissed the assembled multitudes to their respective occupations.

For this cause the feeling of expectation causes tumult in the city: it swarms with factions; and is continually on the point of being plundered.

Joyfully his friends broke up, together with his kinsmen; and, trusting in his determination, arranged their forces in guard at the most convenient places of the city.

About early morning, when the city was now filled with an immense number of people at the hippodrome, he entered the palace, and called the king to the business in hand.

Who has gathered here, unreasonably removing each from his home, those who, in fidelity to us, had held the fortresses of the country?

Ceasing their miserable strain of woe, they took up the subject of their fatherland, hymning in praise God their wonder-working Saviour. All groans, all wailing, were laid aside: they formed dances in token of serene joy.

So, also, the king collected a number of guests for the occasion, and returned unceasing thanks with much magnificence for the unexpected deliverance afforded him.

But the Jews, as we just said, instituted a dance, and then gave themselves up to feasting, glad thanksgivings, and psalms.

They made a public ordinance to commemorate these things for generations to come, as long as they should be sojourners. They thus established these days as days of mirth, not for the purpose of drinking or luxury, but because God had saved them.

They feasted upon the king’s provision up to the fourteenth day, and then asked to be sent away.

Certain of our friends did of malice vehemently urge us to punish the Jews of our realm in a body, with the infliction of a monstrous punishment.

And we have dismissed them to their several homes; bidding all men everywhere to do them no wrong, or unrighteously revile them about the past.

Their priests, then, as it was meet, saluted him with good wishes, and all the people echoed with the Hallelujah. They then joyfully departed.

Having arrived at Ptolemais, called from the specialty of that district Rose-bearing, where the fleet, in accordance with the general wish, waited for them seven days,

These they registered as sacred upon a pillar, when they had dedicated the place of their festivity to be one of prayer. They departed unharmed, free, abundant in joy, preserved by the king’s command, by land, by sea, and by river, each to his own home.

Keep the old and young within your walls.

Up then, and eat some bread, and forsake us not, as the shepherd that leaves in the hands of cruel wolves.

But understand you for yourself, and of such as be like you seek out the glory.

Then we all overthrew the lights, and all my neighbors rose up to comfort me: and I remained quiet to the second day at night.

It is right now to mourn very sore, seeing we all mourn, and to be sorrowful, seeing we are all in sorrow, but you sorrowest for one son.

And it came to pass, when all the people saw that the seven days were past, and I had not come again into the city, they gathered them all together, from the least to the greatest, and came to me, and spoke to me, saying,

So the people went their way into the city, like as I said to them:

Afterward I saw the same man come down from the mountain, and call to him another multitude which was peaceful.

And whereas you saw that he gathered to him another multitude that was peaceful;

But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind lived,

Now therefore set your house in order, and reprove your people, comfort the lowly among them, and instruct such of them as be wise, and now renounce the life that is corruptible,

And he answered me and said, Go your way, gather the people together, and say to them, that they seek you not for forty days.

Then went I forth, as he commanded me, and gathered all the people together, and said,

And now you⌃ are here, and your kindred are among you.

then certain persons, bringing in new things contrary to the general unanimity, in various ways fell into calamities.

And the nation, indignant at this proclamation, and replying to the effect that it was extremely unfair that those who had committed deposits to the sacred treasury should be deprived of them, resisted as well as they could.

Imitate me, O kindred, nor ever desert your station, nor abjure my brotherhood in courage: fight the holy and honorable fight of religion;

For having arranged a holy choir of piety, they encouraged one another, saying,

Now you are not ignorant of the charm of brotherhood, which the Divine and all wise Providence has imparted through fathers to children, and has engendered through the mother’s womb.

and increase the more powerfully by reason of this simultaneous rearing, and by daily intercourse, and by other education, and exercise in the law of God.

For being educated in the same law, and practising the same virtues, and reared up in a just course of life, they increased this harmony with each other.

For a like ardour for what is right and honorable increased their fellow-feeling towards each other.

For it acting along with religion, made their brotherly feeling more desirable to them.

Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.

Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond the Jordan followed him.