2 ESDRAS: The Hidden Book of Prophecy With 1st Esdras - Book - Page 174
4 : S E C O N D
T E M P L E
T O
C O N T I N U E
CHAPTER 4:
1 The second declares the power of a King.
14 The third, the force of women: 33 and of
Truth. 41 The third is judged to be wisest,
47 and obtains Letters of the King to build
Yerusalem. 58 He praises Elohim, and shows
his brethren what he had done.
The Speech about the
King
1 Then the second that had
spoken of the strength of the
King, began to say;
2 O you men, do not men
excel in strength, that bear
Or, have the rule over Sea and land, and all
command.
things in them?
3 But yet the King is more
mighty: for he is lord of all
these things, and has dominion
over them, and whatsoever he
commands them, they do:
4 If you bid them to make war
one against the other, they do
it: if he send them out against
the enemies, they go, and
break down mountains, walls
and towers.
5 They slay and are slain,
and transgress not the King’s
commandment: if they get
the victory, they bring all to
the King, as well the spoil as
all things else.
6 Likewise for those that are
not soldiers, and have not to do
with wars, but use husbandry;
when they have reaped again,
that which they had sown,
they bring it to the King, and
C O N S T R U C T I O N
compel one another to pay
tribute unto the King.
7 And yet he is but one man;
if he command to kill, they
kill, if he command to spare,
they spare.
8 If he command to smite,
they smite; if he command
to make desolate, they make
desolate; if he command to
build, they build:
9 If he command to cut down,
they cut down; if he command
to plant, they plant.
10 So all his people and his
armies obey him; furthermore
he lies down, he eats and
drinks, and takes his rest.
11 And these keep (watch)
round about him, neither may
any one depart, and do his
own business, neither disobey
Or, can.
they him in any thing.
12 O you men, how should not
the King be mightiest, when
in such sort he is obeyed? and
he held his tongue.
The Speech about Women
13 Then the third, who had
spoken of women, and of the
truth (this was Zerubbabel)
began to speak.
14 O you men, it is not the Heb. is of
great King, nor the multitude force.
of men, neither is it wine that
excels; who is it then that rules
them, or has the lordship over
172
