a Jewish priest, and doctor of the law. Artaxerxes Longimanus sent him with rich presents for the use and ornament of the temple at Jerusalem, rebuilt under Zerubbabel; the king also ordered the neighbouring governors to provide him with what conduces to the pomp of the Jewish religion, and to exempt the priests from paying taxes. He is supposed to be the collector of the Canon of Scripture; and that, by divine inspiration, he added some things which happened. pened after the deaths of the authors. It is guessed he wrote the Chronicles, besides those books which bear his name, the two last of which are exploded even by the church of Rome.