
Nehemiah

   

   {1:1} The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in
the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the
palace, {1:2} that Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men
out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who
were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. {1:3} They said
to me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province
are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is
broken down, and the gates of it are burned with fire. {1:4} It
happened, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and
mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,
{1:5} and said, I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and
awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love
him and keep his commandments: {1:6} Let your ear now be attentive, and
your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant,
which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children
of Israel your servants while I confess the sins of the children of
Israel, which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father's house
have sinned: {1:7} we have dealt very corruptly against you, and have
not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which
you commanded your servant Moses. {1:8} Remember, I beg you, the word
that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, If you trespass, I will
scatter you abroad among the peoples: {1:9} but if you return to me,
and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the
uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there, and
will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to
dwell there. {1:10} Now these are your servants and your people, whom
you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand. {1:11}
Lord, I beg you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your
servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your
name; and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him mercy in
the sight of this man. Now I was cup bearer to the king.

    {2:1} It happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of
Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine,
and gave it to the king. Now I had not been [before] sad in his
presence. {2:2} The king said to me, Why is your face sad, seeing you
are not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very
sore afraid. {2:3} I said to the king, Let the king live forever: why
should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers'
tombs, lies waste, and the gates of it are consumed with fire? {2:4}
Then the king said to me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to
the God of heaven. {2:5} I said to the king, If it please the king, and
if your servant have found favor in your sight, that you would send me
to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may build it. {2:6}
The king said to me (the queen also sitting by him), For how long shall
your journey be? and when will you return? So it pleased the king to
send me; and I set him a time. {2:7} Moreover I said to the king, If it
please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the
River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah; {2:8}
and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give
me timber to make beams for the gates of the castle which appertains to
the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall
enter into. The king granted me, according to the good hand of my God
on me. {2:9} Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave
them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me captains of the
army and horsemen. {2:10} When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the
servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly,
because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
{2:11} So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. {2:12} I arose
in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what
my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem; neither was there any
animal with me, except the animal that I rode on. {2:13} I went out by
night by the valley gate, even toward the jackal's well, and to the
dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down,
and the gates of it were consumed with fire. {2:14} Then I went on to
the spring gate and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the
animal that was under me to pass. {2:15} Then went I up in the night by
the brook, and viewed the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the
valley gate, and so returned. {2:16} The rulers didn't know where I
went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to
the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who
did the work. {2:17} Then said I to them, You see the evil case that we
are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the gates of it are burned with
fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no
more a reproach. {2:18} I told them of the hand of my God which was
good on me, as also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. They
said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for
the good [work]. {2:19} But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the
servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed
us, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that you do? will you
rebel against the king? {2:20} Then answered I them, and said to them,
The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will
arise and build: but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in
Jerusalem.

    {3:1} Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the
priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up
the doors of it; even to the tower of Hammeah they sanctified it, to
the tower of Hananel. {3:2} Next to him built the men of Jericho. Next
to them built Zaccur the son of Imri. {3:3} The fish gate did the sons
of Hassenaah build; they laid the beams of it, and set up the doors of
it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it. {3:4} Next to them repaired
Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz. Next to them repaired
Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel. Next to them
repaired Zadok the son of Baana. {3:5} Next to them the Tekoites
repaired; but their nobles didn't put their necks to the work of their
lord. {3:6} The old gate repaired Joiada the son of Paseah and
Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams of it, and set up
the doors of it, and the bolts of it, and the bars of it. {3:7} Next to
them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the
men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, [that appertained] to the throne of the
governor beyond the River. {3:8} Next to him repaired Uzziel the son of
Harhaiah, goldsmiths. Next to him repaired Hananiah one of the
perfumers, and they fortified Jerusalem even to the broad wall. {3:9}
Next to them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the
district of Jerusalem. {3:10} Next to them repaired Jedaiah the son of
Harumaph, over against his house. Next to him repaired Hattush the son
of Hashabneiah. {3:11} Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hasshub the son
of Pahath-moab, repaired another portion, and the tower of the
furnaces. {3:12} Next to him repaired Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the
ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters. {3:13}
The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they
built it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of
it, and one thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate. {3:14} The
dung gate repaired Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the
district of Beth Haccherem; he built it, and set up the doors of it,
the bolts of it, and the bars of it. {3:15} The spring gate repaired
Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah; he
built it, and covered it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it,
and the bars of it, and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king's
garden, even to the stairs that go down from the city of David. {3:16}
After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the
district of Beth Zur, to the place over against the tombs of David, and
to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men. {3:17}
After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him
repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, for his
district. {3:18} After him repaired their brothers, Bavvai the son of
Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah. {3:19} Next to him
repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another portion,
over against the ascent to the armory at the turning [of the wall].
{3:20} After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another
portion, from the turning [of the wall] to the door of the house of
Eliashib the high priest. {3:21} After him repaired Meremoth the son of
Uriah the son of Hakkoz another portion, from the door of the house of
Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib. {3:22} After him
repaired the priests, the men of the Plain. {3:23} After them repaired
Benjamin and Hasshub over against their house. After them repaired
Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah beside his own house.
{3:24} After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another portion,
from the house of Azariah to the turning [of the wall], and to the
corner. {3:25} Palal the son of Uzai [repaired] over against the
turning [of the wall], and the tower that stands out from the upper
house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him
Pedaiah the son of Parosh [repaired]. {3:26} (Now the Nethinim lived in
Ophel, to the place over against the water gate toward the east, and
the tower that stands out.) {3:27} After him the Tekoites repaired
another portion, over against the great tower that stands out, and to
the wall of Ophel. {3:28} Above the horse gate repaired the priests,
everyone over against his own house. {3:29} After them repaired Zadok
the son of Immer over against his own house. After him repaired
Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate. {3:30}
After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth
son of Zalaph, another portion. After him repaired Meshullam the son of
Berechiah over against his chamber. {3:31} After him repaired Malchijah
one of the goldsmiths to the house of the Nethinim, and of the
merchants, over against the gate of Hammiphkad, and to the ascent of
the corner. {3:32} Between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate
repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.

    {4:1} But it happened that when Sanballat heard that we were
building the wall, he was angry, and took great indignation, and mocked
the Jews. {4:2} He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria,
and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? will they fortify
themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will
they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are
burned? {4:3} Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even
that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their
stone wall. {4:4} Hear, our God; for we are despised: and turn back
their reproach on their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a
land of captivity; {4:5} and don't cover their iniquity, and don't let
their sin be blotted out from before you; for they have provoked [you]
to anger before the builders. {4:6} So we built the wall; and all the
wall was joined together to half [the height] of it: for the people had
a mind to work. {4:7} But it happened that when Sanballat, Tobiah, the
Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of
the walls of Jerusalem went forward, [and] that the breaches began to
be stopped, then they were very angry; {4:8} and they conspired all of
them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause
confusion therein. {4:9} But we made our prayer to our God, and set a
watch against them day and night, because of them. {4:10} Judah said,
The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much
rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. {4:11} Our
adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, until we come into
the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease. {4:12}
It happened that when the Jews who lived by them came, they said to us
ten times from all places, You must return to us. {4:13} Therefore set
I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places,
I set [there] the people after their families with their swords, their
spears, and their bows. {4:14} I looked, and rose up, and said to the
nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Don't be you
afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight
for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your
houses. {4:15} It happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to
us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all
of us to the wall, everyone to his work. {4:16} It happened from that
time forth, that half of my servants worked in the work, and half of
them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail;
and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. {4:17} They all
built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone
with one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other held his
weapon; {4:18} and the builders, everyone had his sword girded by his
side, and so built. He who sounded the trumpet was by me. {4:19} I said
to the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The
work is great and large, and we are separated on the wall, one far from
another: {4:20} in whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet,
resort you there to us; our God will fight for us. {4:21} So we worked
in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the
morning until the stars appeared. {4:22} Likewise at the same time said
I to the people, Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem,
that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day.
{4:23} So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of
the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes, everyone
[went with] his weapon [to] the water.

    {5:1} Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives
against their brothers the Jews. {5:2} For there were that said, We,
our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat
and live. {5:3} Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our
fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of
the dearth. {5:4} There were also that said, We have borrowed money for
the king's tribute [on] our fields and our vineyards. {5:5} Yet now our
flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children:
and, behold, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be
servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage [already]:
neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields
and our vineyards. {5:6} I was very angry when I heard their cry and
these words. {5:7} Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the
nobles and the rulers, and said to them, You exact usury, everyone of
his brother. I held a great assembly against them. {5:8} I said to
them, We after our ability have redeemed our brothers the Jews, that
were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and
should they be sold to us? Then held they their peace, and found never
a word. {5:9} Also I said, The thing that you do is not good: ought you
not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the
nations our enemies? {5:10} I likewise, my brothers and my servants, do
lend them money and grain. Please let us leave off this usury. {5:11}
Please restore to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards,
their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the
money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you exact of
them. {5:12} Then said they, We will restore them, and will require
nothing of them; so will we do, even as you say. Then I called the
priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this
promise. {5:13} Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out
every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn't perform this
promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. All the assembly
said, Amen, and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this
promise. {5:14} Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their
governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the two
and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that is], twelve years, I
and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor. {5:15} But
the former governors who were before me were chargeable to the people,
and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yes,
even their servants bore rule over the people: but I didn't do so,
because of the fear of God. {5:16} Yes, also I continued in the work of
this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were
gathered there to the work. {5:17} Moreover there were at my table, of
the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, besides those who came
to us from among the nations that were round about us. {5:18} Now that
which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also
fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of
wine: yet for all this I didn't demand the bread of the governor,
because the bondage was heavy on this people. {5:19} Remember to me, my
God, for good, all that I have done for this people.

    {6:1} Now it happened, when it was reported to Sanballat and
Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that
I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein;
(though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;)
{6:2} that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet
together in [one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought
to do me mischief. {6:3} I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing
a great work, so that I can't come down: why should the work cease,
while I leave it, and come down to you? {6:4} They sent to me four
times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. {6:5}
Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in like manner the fifth time
with an open letter in his hand, {6:6} in which was written, It is
reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews
think to rebel; for which cause you are building the wall: and you
would be their king, according to these words. {6:7} You have also
appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a
king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to
these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
{6:8} Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as you
say, but you feign them out of your own heart. {6:9} For they all would
have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the
work, that it not be done. But now, [God], strengthen you my hands.
{6:10} I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of
Mehetabel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the
house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the
temple: for they will come to kill you; yes, in the night will they
come to kill you. {6:11} I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who
is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his
life? I will not go in. {6:12} I discerned, and, behold, God had not
sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and
Sanballat had hired him. {6:13} For this cause was he hired, that I
should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter
for an evil report, that they might reproach me. {6:14} Remember, my
God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the
prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put
me in fear. {6:15} So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth [day]
of [the month] Elul, in fifty-two days. {6:16} It happened, when all
our enemies heard [of it], that all the nations that were about us
feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived
that this work was worked of our God. {6:17} Moreover in those days the
nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and [the letters] of
Tobiah came to them. {6:18} For there were many in Judah sworn to him,
because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son
Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as
wife. {6:19} Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported
my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

    {7:1} Now it happened, when the wall was built, and I had set up
the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were
appointed, {7:2} that I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the
governor of the castle, charge over Jerusalem; for he was a faithful
man, and feared God above many. {7:3} I said to them, Don't let the
gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand
[on guard], let them shut the doors, and bar you them: and appoint
watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and
everyone [to be] over against his house. {7:4} Now the city was wide
and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not
built. {7:5} My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles,
and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by
genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at
the first, and I found written therein: {7:6} These are the children of
the province, who went up out of the captivity of those who had been
carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away,
and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city; {7:7}
who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani,
Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the
men of the people of Israel: {7:8} The children of Parosh, two thousand
one hundred seventy-two. {7:9} The children of Shephatiah, three
hundred seventy-two. {7:10} The children of Arah, six hundred
fifty-two. {7:11} The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of
Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred [and] eighteen. {7:12} The
children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. {7:13} The
children of Zattu, eight hundred forty-five. {7:14} The children of
Zaccai, seven hundred sixty. {7:15} The children of Binnui, six hundred
forty-eight. {7:16} The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight.
{7:17} The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty-two.
{7:18} The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-seven. {7:19} The
children of Bigvai, two thousand sixty-seven. {7:20} The children of
Adin, six hundred fifty-five. {7:21} The children of Ater, of Hezekiah,
ninety-eight. {7:22} The children of Hashum, three hundred
Twenty-eight. {7:23} The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty-four.
{7:24} The children of Hariph, one hundred twelve. {7:25} The children
of Gibeon, ninety-five. {7:26} The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one
hundred eighty-eight. {7:27} The men of Anathoth, one hundred
twenty-eight. {7:28} The men of Beth Azmaveth, forty-two. {7:29} The
men of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred
forty-three. {7:30} The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
{7:31} The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two. {7:32} The men
of Bethel and Ai, a hundred twenty-three. {7:33} The men of the other
Nebo, fifty-two. {7:34} The children of the other Elam, one thousand
two hundred fifty-four. {7:35} The children of Harim, three hundred
twenty. {7:36} The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
{7:37} The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-one.
{7:38} The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred thirty.
{7:39} The priests: The children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua,
nine hundred seventy-three. {7:40} The children of Immer, one thousand
fifty-two. {7:41} The children of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred
forty-seven. {7:42} The children of Harim, one thousand [and]
seventeen. {7:43} The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of
the children of Hodevah, seventy-four. {7:44} The singers: the children
of Asaph, one hundred forty-eight. {7:45} The porters: the children of
Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of
Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, one hundred
thirty-eight. {7:46} The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children
of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, {7:47} the children of Keros, the
children of Sia, the children of Padon, {7:48} the children of Lebana,
the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai, {7:49} the children of
Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, {7:50} the
children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
{7:51} the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of
Paseah. {7:52} The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the
children of Nephushesim, {7:53} the children of Bakbuk, the children of
Hakupha, the children of Harhur, {7:54} the children of Bazlith, the
children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, {7:55} the children of
Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah, {7:56} the
children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. {7:57} The children of
Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth,
the children of Perida, {7:58} the children of Jaala, the children of
Darkon, the children of Giddel, {7:59} the children of Shephatiah, the
children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children
of Amon. {7:60} All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's
servants, were three hundred ninety-two. {7:61} These were those who
went up from Tel-melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they
could not show their fathers' houses, nor their seed, whether they were
of Israel: {7:62} The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the
children of Nekoda, six hundred forty-two. {7:63} Of the priests: the
children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai,
who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was
called after their name. {7:64} These sought their register [among]
those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore
were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. {7:65} The
governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy
things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. {7:66} The
whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
{7:67} besides their men-servants and their maid-servants, of whom
there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and they had two
hundred forty-five singing men and singing women. {7:68} Their horses
were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five;
{7:69} [their] camels, four hundred thirty-five; [their] donkeys, six
thousand seven hundred twenty. {7:70} Some from among the heads of
fathers' [houses] gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury
one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred thirty
priests' garments. {7:71} Some of the heads of fathers' [houses] gave
into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two
thousand two hundred minas of silver. {7:72} That which the rest of the
people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand minas
of silver, and sixty-seven priests' garments. {7:73} So the priests,
and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the
people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel, lived in their cities. When
the seventh month was come, the children of Israel were in their cities.

    {8:1} All the people gathered themselves together as one man into
the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra
the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had
commanded to Israel. {8:2} Ezra the priest brought the law before the
assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with
understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. {8:3} He read
therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from
early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women,
and of those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were
[attentive] to the book of the law. {8:4} Ezra the scribe stood on a
pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him
stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and
Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and
Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, [and]
Meshullam. {8:5} Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people;
(for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the
people stood up: {8:6} and Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God. All the
people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and
they bowed their heads, and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the
ground. {8:7} Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub,
Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah,
and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the
people [stood] in their place. {8:8} They read in the book, in the law
of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood
the reading. {8:9} Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest
the scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the
people, This day is holy to Yahweh your God; don't mourn, nor weep. For
all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. {8:10} Then
he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and
send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy
to our Lord: neither be you grieved; for the joy of Yahweh is your
strength. {8:11} So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold
your peace, for the day is holy; neither be you grieved. {8:12} All the
people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and
to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were
declared to them. {8:13} On the second day were gathered together the
heads of fathers' [houses] of all the people, the priests, and the
Levites, to Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the
law. {8:14} They found written in the law, how that Yahweh had
commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths
in the feast of the seventh month; {8:15} and that they should publish
and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth to
the mountain, and get olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and
myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to
make booths, as it is written. {8:16} So the people went forth, and
brought them, and made themselves booths, everyone on the roof of his
house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and
in the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the
gate of Ephraim. {8:17} All the assembly of those who were come again
out of the captivity made booths, and lived in the booths; for since
the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the children of Israel
had not done so. There was very great gladness. {8:18} Also day by day,
from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of
God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn
assembly, according to the ordinance.

    {9:1} Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of
Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth on
them. {9:2} The seed of Israel separated themselves from all
foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of
their fathers. {9:3} They stood up in their place, and read in the book
of the law of Yahweh their God a fourth part of the day; and [another]
fourth part they confessed, and worshiped Yahweh their God. {9:4} Then
stood up on the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel,
Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, [and] Chenani, and cried with a loud
voice to Yahweh their God. {9:5} Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel,
Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, [and] Pethahiah, said,
Stand up and bless Yahweh your God from everlasting to everlasting; and
blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and
praise. {9:6} You are Yahweh, even you alone; you have made heaven, the
heaven of heavens, with all their army, the earth and all things that
are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them
all; and the army of heaven worships you. {9:7} You are Yahweh the God,
who did choose Abram, and brought him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees,
and gave him the name of Abraham, {9:8} and found his heart faithful
before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the
Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the
Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it to his seed, and have
performed your words; for you are righteous. {9:9} You saw the
affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea,
{9:10} and shown signs and wonders on Pharaoh, and on all his servants,
and on all the people of his land; for you knew that they dealt proudly
against them, and did get you a name, as it is this day. {9:11} You
divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the
sea on the dry land; and their pursuers you did cast into the depths,
as a stone into the mighty waters. {9:12} Moreover in a pillar of cloud
you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them
light in the way in which they should go. {9:13} You came down also on
Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right
ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments, {9:14} and
made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments,
and statutes, and a law, by Moses your servant, {9:15} and gave them
bread from the sky for their hunger, and brought forth water for them
out of the rock for their thirst, and commanded those who they should
go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them. {9:16} But
they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and didn't
listen to your commandments, {9:17} and refused to obey, neither were
mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their
neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their
bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow
to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn't forsake them.
{9:18} Yes, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is
your God who brought you up out of Egypt, and had committed awful
blasphemies; {9:19} yet you in your manifold mercies didn't forsake
them in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud didn't depart from over
them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by
night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go. {9:20}
You gave also your good Spirit to instruct them, and didn't withhold
your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.
{9:21} Yes, forty years did you sustain them in the wilderness, [and]
they lacked nothing; their clothes didn't grow old, and their feet
didn't swell. {9:22} Moreover you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which
you did allot after their portions: so they possessed the land of
Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of
Bashan. {9:23} Their children also multiplied you as the stars of the
sky, and brought them into the land concerning which you did say to
their fathers, that they should go in to possess it. {9:24} So the
children went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them
the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their
hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they might
do with them as they would. {9:25} They took fortified cities, and a
fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn
out, vineyards, and olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance: so they
ate, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in your
great goodness. {9:26} Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled
against you, and cast your law behind their back, and killed your
prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and
they committed awful blasphemies. {9:27} Therefore you delivered them
into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them: and in the
time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven;
and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors who saved
them out of the hand of their adversaries. {9:28} But after they had
rest, they did evil again before you; therefore left you them in the
hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet
when they returned, and cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many
times did you deliver them according to your mercies, {9:29} and
testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law.
Yet they dealt proudly, and didn't listen to your commandments, but
sinned against your ordinances, (which if a man do, he shall live in
them), and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would
not hear. {9:30} Yet many years did you bear with them, and testified
against them by your Spirit through your prophets: yet would they not
give ear: therefore gave you them into the hand of the peoples of the
lands. {9:31} Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you did not make a
full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful
God. {9:32} Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the
awesome God, who keep covenant and loving kindness, don't let all the
travail seem little before you, that has come on us, on our kings, on
our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our
fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria
to this day. {9:33} However you are just in all that is come on us; for
you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly; {9:34} neither have
our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept your law,
nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies with which you
did testify against them. {9:35} For they have not served you in their
kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the
large and fat land which you gave before them, neither turned they from
their wicked works. {9:36} Behold, we are servants this day, and as for
the land that you gave to our fathers to eat the fruit of it and the
good of it, behold, we are servants in it. {9:37} It yields much
increase to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins:
also they have power over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their
pleasure, and we are in great distress. {9:38} Yet for all this we make
a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, [and] our
priests, seal to it.

   

   {10:1} Now those who sealed were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of
Hacaliah, and Zedekiah, {10:2} Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, {10:3}
Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, {10:4} Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, {10:5}
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, {10:6} Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, {10:7}
Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, {10:8} Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these
were the priests. {10:9} The Levites: namely, Jeshua the son of
Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; {10:10} and their
brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, {10:11} Mica,
Rehob, Hashabiah, {10:12} Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, {10:13} Hodiah,
Bani, Beninu. {10:14} The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab,
Elam, Zattu, Bani, {10:15} Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, {10:16} Adonijah,
Bigvai, Adin, {10:17} Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, {10:18} Hodiah, Hashum,
Bezai, {10:19} Hariph, Anathoth, Nobai, {10:20} Magpiash, Meshullam,
Hezir, {10:21} Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, {10:22} Pelatiah, Hanan,
Anaiah, {10:23} Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, {10:24} Hallohesh, Pilha,
Shobek, {10:25} Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, {10:26} and Ahiah, Hanan,
Anan, {10:27} Malluch, Harim, Baanah. {10:28} The rest of the people,
the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and
all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to
the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone
who had knowledge, and understanding; {10:29} They joined with their
brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to
walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to
observe and do all the commandments of Yahweh our Lord, and his
ordinances and his statutes; {10:30} and that we would not give our
daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our
sons; {10:31} and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain
on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the
Sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year,
and the exaction of every debt. {10:32} Also we made ordinances for us,
to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the
service of the house of our God; {10:33} for the show bread, and for
the continual meal-offering, and for the continual burnt-offering, for
the Sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy
things, and for the sin-offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for
all the work of the house of our God. {10:34} We cast lots, the
priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood-offering, to bring
it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at
times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of Yahweh our God,
as it is written in the law; {10:35} and to bring the first fruits of
our ground, and the first fruits of all fruit of all manner of trees,
year by year, to the house of Yahweh; {10:36} also the firstborn of our
sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstborn
of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, to
the priests who minister in the house of our God; {10:37} and that we
should bring the first fruits of our dough, and our heave-offerings,
and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil, to the
priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our
ground to the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all
the cities of our tillage. {10:38} The priest the son of Aaron shall be
with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall
bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the
chambers, into the treasure-house. {10:39} For the children of Israel
and the children of Levi shall bring the heave-offering of the grain,
of the new wine, and of the oil, to the chambers, where are the vessels
of the sanctuary, and the priests who minister, and the porters, and
the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.

   {11:1} The princes of the people lived in Jerusalem: the rest of the
people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the
holy city, and nine parts in the [other] cities. {11:2} The people
blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in
Jerusalem. {11:3} Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in
Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah lived everyone in his possession
in their cities, [to wit], Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and
the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's servants. {11:4} In
Jerusalem lived certain of the children of Judah, and of the children
of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the
son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of
Mahalalel, of the children of Perez; {11:5} and Maaseiah the son of
Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the
son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite. {11:6}
All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred
sixty-eight valiant men. {11:7} These are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu
the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of
Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah.
{11:8} After him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight. {11:9} Joel
the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah
was second over the city. {11:10} Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of
Joiarib, Jachin, {11:11} Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of
Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub,
the ruler of the house of God, {11:12} and their brothers who did the
work of the house, eight hundred twenty-two; and Adaiah the son of
Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah,
the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, {11:13} and his brothers,
chiefs of fathers' [houses], two hundred forty-two; and Amashsai the
son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of
Immer, {11:14} and their brothers, mighty men of valor, one hundred
twenty-eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.
{11:15} Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of
Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; {11:16} and Shabbethai
and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the
outward business of the house of God; {11:17} and Mattaniah the son of
Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin
the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his
brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of
Jeduthun. {11:18} All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred
eighty-four. {11:19} Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their
brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were one hundred seventy-two.
{11:20} The residue of Israel, of the priests, the Levites, were in all
the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance. {11:21} But the
Nethinim lived in Ophel: and Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim.
{11:22} The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son
of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica,
of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the business of the house of
God. {11:23} For there was a commandment from the king concerning them,
and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required. {11:24}
Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of
Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.
{11:25} As for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of
Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and the towns of it, and in Dibon and the
towns of it, and in Jekabzeel and the villages of it, {11:26} and in
Jeshua, and in Moladah, and Beth Pelet, {11:27} and in Hazar Shual, and
in Beersheba and the towns of it, {11:28} and in Ziklag, and in Meconah
and in the towns of it, {11:29} and in En-rimmon, and in Zorah, and in
Jarmuth, {11:30} Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and the
fields of it, Azekah and the towns of it. So they encamped from
Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom. {11:31} The children of Benjamin
also [lived] from Geba [onward], at Michmash and Aija, and at Bethel
and the towns of it, {11:32} at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, {11:33} Hazor,
Ramah, Gittaim, {11:34} Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, {11:35} Lod, and Ono,
the valley of craftsmen. {11:36} Of the Levites, certain divisions in
Judah [were joined] to Benjamin.

   {12:1} Now these are the priests and the Levites who went up with
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
{12:2} Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, {12:3} Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
{12:4} Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, {12:5} Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, {12:6}
Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah. {12:7} Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah.
These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days
of Jeshua. {12:8} Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel,
Sherebiah, Judah, [and] Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he
and his brothers. {12:9} Also Bakbukiah and Unno, their brothers, were
over against them according to their offices. {12:10} Jeshua became the
father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and
Eliashib became the father of Joiada, {12:11} and Joiada became the
father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the father of Jaddua. {12:12}
In the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers' [houses]: of
Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; {12:13} of Ezra, Meshullam; of
Amariah, Jehohanan; {12:14} of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah,
Joseph; {12:15} of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; {12:16} of Iddo,
Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; {12:17} of Abijah, Zichri; of
Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; {12:18} of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah,
Jehonathan; {12:19} and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; {12:20}
of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; {12:21} of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of
Jedaiah, Nethanel. {12:22} As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib,
Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of
fathers' [houses]; also the priests, in the reign of Darius the
Persian. {12:23} The sons of Levi, heads of fathers' [houses], were
written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan
the son of Eliashib. {12:24} The chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah,
Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers over
against them, to praise and give thanks, according to the commandment
of David the man of God, watch next to watch. {12:25} Mattaniah, and
Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the
watch at the store-houses of the gates. {12:26} These were in the days
of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of
Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest the scribe. {12:27} At
the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of
all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication
with gladness, both with giving thanks, and with singing, with cymbals,
psalteries, and with harps. {12:28} The sons of the singers gathered
themselves together, both out of the plain round about Jerusalem, and
from the villages of the Netophathites; {12:29} also from Beth Gilgal,
and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had built
them villages round about Jerusalem. {12:30} The priests and the
Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people, and the
gates, and the wall. {12:31} Then I brought up the princes of Judah on
the wall, and appointed two great companies who gave thanks and went in
procession. [One went] on the right hand on the wall toward the dung
gate; {12:32} and after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of
Judah, {12:33} and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, {12:34} Judah, and
Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, {12:35} and certain of the
priests' sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of
Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur,
the son of Asaph; {12:36} and his brothers, Shemaiah, and Azarel,
Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical
instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was before
them. {12:37} By the spring gate, and straight before them, they went
up by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above
the house of David, even to the water gate eastward. {12:38} The other
company of those who gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them,
with the half of the people, on the wall, above the tower of the
furnaces, even to the broad wall, {12:39} and above the gate of
Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of
Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate: and they
stood still in the gate of the guard. {12:40} So stood the two
companies of those who gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the
half of the rulers with me; {12:41} and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah,
Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
{12:42} and Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and
Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang loud,
with Jezrahiah their overseer. {12:43} They offered great sacrifices
that day, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy;
and the women also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of
Jerusalem was heard even afar off. {12:44} On that day were men
appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the heave-offerings,
for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them,
according to the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the
law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and
for the Levites who waited. {12:45} They kept the charge of their God,
and the charge of the purification, and [so did] the singers and the
porters, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.
{12:46} For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of
the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. {12:47} All
Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the
portions of the singers and the porters, as every day required: and
they set apart [that which was] for the Levites; and the Levites set
apart [that which was] for the sons of Aaron.

   

   {13:1} On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of
the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a
Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever, {13:2}
because they didn't meet the children of Israel with bread and with
water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: however our God
turned the curse into a blessing. {13:3} It came to pass, when they had
heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
{13:4} Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the
chambers of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah, {13:5} had
prepared for him a great chamber, where before they laid the
meal-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of
the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment
to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the
heave-offerings for the priests. {13:6} But in all this [time] I was
not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king
of Babylon I went to the king: and after certain days asked I leave of
the king, {13:7} and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that
Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts
of the house of God. {13:8} It grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth
all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. {13:9} Then I
commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and there brought I again
the vessels of the house of God, with the meal-offerings and the
frankincense. {13:10} I perceived that the portions of the Levites had
not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the
work, were fled everyone to his field. {13:11} Then contended I with
the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? I gathered them
together, and set them in their place. {13:12} Then brought all Judah
the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries.
{13:13} I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest,
and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was
Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted
faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers.
{13:14} Remember me, my God, concerning this, and don't wipe out my
good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the
observances of it. {13:15} In those days saw I in Judah some men
treading wine-presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and
lading donkeys [therewith]; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all
manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath
day: and I testified [against them] in the day in which they sold food.
{13:16} There lived men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish, and
all manner of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah,
and in Jerusalem. {13:17} Then I contended with the nobles of Judah,
and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the
Sabbath day? {13:18} Didn't your fathers do thus, and did not our God
bring all this evil on us, and on this city? yet you bring more wrath
on Israel by profaning the Sabbath. {13:19} It came to pass that, when
the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded
that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be
opened until after the Sabbath: and some of my servants set I over the
gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day.
{13:20} So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged
outside of Jerusalem once or twice. {13:21} Then I testified against
them, and said to them, Why lodge you about the wall? if you do so
again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more
on the Sabbath. {13:22} I commanded the Levites that they should purify
themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify
the Sabbath day. Remember to me, my God, this also, and spare me
according to the greatness of your loving kindness. {13:23} In those
days also saw I the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon,
[and] of Moab: {13:24} and their children spoke half in the speech of
Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the
language of each people. {13:25} I contended with them, and cursed
them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made
them swear by God, [saying], You shall not give your daughters to their
sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.
{13:26} Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among
many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God,
and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did
foreign women cause to sin. {13:27} Shall we then listen to you to do
all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign
women? {13:28} One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high
priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased
him from me. {13:29} Remember them, my God, because they have defiled
the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
{13:30} Thus cleansed I them from all foreigners, and appointed charges
for the priests and for the Levites, everyone in his work; {13:31} and
for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits.
Remember me, my God, for good.

   

   

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