The Book of Nehemiah
1:1The words of Nehemiah the son of
Hacaliah. Now it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year,
as I was in Shushan the palace, 1:2that Hanani, one of my brethren, came,
he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that
had escaped, that were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 1:3And
they said unto me, The remnant that 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 thereof are burned with fire. 1:4And
it came to pass, 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, 1:5and
said, I beseech thee, O Jehovah, the God of heaven, the great and terrible
God, that keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and
keep his commandments: 1:6Let thine ear now be attentive, and
thine eyes open, that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer of thy servant,
which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the children of
Israel thy servants while I confess the sins of the children of Israel,
which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father's house have
sinned: 1:7we have dealt very corruptly against
thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the
ordinances, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. 1:8Remember, I beseech
thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye
trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples: 1:9but
if ye return unto 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 thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen, to
cause my name to dwell there. 1:10Now these are thy servants and thy
people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong
hand. 1:11O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine
ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy
servants, who delight to fear thy name; and prosper, I pray thee, thy
servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was
cupbearer to the king.
2:1And it came to pass 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 unto the king. Now I had not been
beforetime sad in his presence. 2:2And the king said unto
me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing
else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid. 2:3And I
said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my
countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres,
lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 2:4Then
the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the
God of heaven. 2:5And I said unto the king, If it please
the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou
wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that
I may build it. 2:6And the king said unto me (the queen
also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt
thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 2:7Moreover I said unto 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 till I come unto Judah; 2:8and a
letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me
timber to make beams for the gates of the castle which appertaineth to the
house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter
into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon
me. 2:9Then 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. 2:10And when Sanballat the Horonite, and
Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them
exceedingly, for that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the
children of Israel. 2:11So I came to Jerusalem, and was there
three days. 2:12And 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 beast with me, save the beast that
I rode upon. 2:13And 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 thereof were
consumed with fire. 2:14Then I went on to the fountain gate
and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was
under me to pass. 2:15Then 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. 2:16And the rulers knew not whither 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 that did
the work. 2:17Then said I unto them, Ye see the evil
case that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are
burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we
be no more a reproach. 2:18And I told them of the hand of my God
which was good upon me, as also of the king's words that he had spoken
unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened
their hands for the good work. 2:19But when Sanballat the
Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian,
heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is
this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? 2:20Then answered I them, and said unto
them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants
will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in
Jerusalem.
3:1Then Eliashib the high priest rose up
with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they
sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Hammeah
they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananel. 3:2And next unto him
builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of
Imri. 3:3And the fish gate did the sons of
Hassenaah build; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors
thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof. 3:4And next unto them
repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz. And next unto them
repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel. And next
unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana. 3:5And next unto them the
Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of
their lord. 3:6And the old gate repaired Joiada the
son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams
thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the bolts thereof, and the bars
thereof. 3:7And next unto 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. 3:8Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son
of Harhaiah, goldsmiths. And next unto him repaired Hananiah one of the
perfumers, and they fortified Jerusalem even unto the broad wall. 3:9And
next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the
district of Jerusalem. 3:10And next unto them repaired Jedaiah
the son of Harumaph, over against his house. And next unto him repaired
Hattush the son of Hashabneiah. 3:11Malchijah the son of Harim, and
Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired another portion, and the tower of
the furnaces. 3:12And next unto him repaired Shallum the
son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his
daughters. 3:13The valley gate repaired Hanun, and
the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof,
the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits of the wall
unto the dung gate. 3:14And 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 thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof.
3:15And the fountain 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 thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars
thereof, and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king's garden, even
unto the stairs that go down from the city of David. 3:16After him repaired
Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth-zur,
unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and unto the pool
that was made, and unto the house of the mighty men. 3:17After him repaired the
Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the
ruler of half the district of Keilah, for his district. 3:18After him repaired their brethren,
Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah. 3:19And
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. 3:20After him Baruch the son of Zabbai
earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall
unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 3:21After 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. 3:22And after him repaired
the priests, the men of the Plain. 3:23After 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. 3:24After him repaired
Binnui the son of Henadad another portion, from the house of Azariah unto
the turning of the wall, and unto the corner. 3:25Palal the son of Uzai
repaired over against the turning of the wall, and the tower
that standeth 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 dwelt in Ophel, unto
the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that
standeth out.) 3:27After him the Tekoites repaired
another portion, over against the great tower that standeth out, and unto
the wall of Ophel. 3:28Above the horse gate repaired the
priests, every one over against his own house. 3:29After them repaired
Zadok the son of Immer over against his own house. And after him repaired
Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate. 3:30After 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. 3:31After him repaired Malchijah one of
the goldsmiths unto the house of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, over
against the gate of Hammiphkad, and to the ascent of the corner. 3:32And
between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate repaired the
goldsmiths and the merchants.
4:1But it came to pass that, when
Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was wroth, and took
great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 4:2And he spake before his
brethren 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? 4:3Now 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. 4:4Hear, O our God; for we are despised:
and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up for a
spoil in a land of captivity; 4:5and cover not their iniquity, and let
not their sin be blotted out from before thee; for they have provoked
thee to anger before the builders. 4:6So we built the wall;
and all the wall was joined together unto half the height thereof:
for the people had a mind to work. 4:7But it came to pass that, when
Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and 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 wroth; 4:8and they conspired all of them together
to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein. 4:9But
we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and
night, because of them. 4:10And 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. 4:11And our adversaries said, They shall
not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and slay them,
and cause the work to cease. 4:12And it came to pass that, when the
Jews that dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times from all places,
Ye must return unto us. 4:13Therefore 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. 4:14And I looked, and rose up, and said
unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not
ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight
for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your
houses. 4:15And it came to pass, when our enemies
heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to
nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
4:16And it came to pass from that time
forth, that half of my servants wrought 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. 4:17They all builded the
wall and they that bare burdens laded themselves; every one with one of
his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held his weapon; 4:18and
the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded.
And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. 4:19And I said unto the
nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great
and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another: 4:20in
what place soever ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto
us; our God will fight for us. 4:21So we wrought in the work: and half of
them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars
appeared. 4:22Likewise at the same time said I unto
the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in
the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day. 4:23So
neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard that
followed me, none of us put off our clothes, every one went with
his weapon to the water.
5:1Then there arose a great cry of the
people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. 5:2For
there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get
grain, that we may eat and live. 5:3Some also there were that said, We are
mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get
grain, because of the dearth. 5:4There were also that said, We have
borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and our
vineyards. 5:5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of
our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, 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. 5:6And I
was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 5:7Then
I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and
said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I held a
great assembly against them. 5:8And I said unto them, We after our
ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that were sold unto the
nations; and would ye even sell your brethren, and should they be sold
unto us? Then held they their peace, and found never a word. 5:9Also
I said, The thing that ye do is not good: ought ye not to walk in the fear
of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies? 5:10And
I likewise, my brethren and my servants, do lend them money and grain. I
pray you, let us leave off this usury. 5:11Restore, I pray you,
to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards,
and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain,
the new wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. 5:12Then said they, We
will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even
as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that
they would do according to this promise. 5:13Also I shook out my
lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his
labor, that performeth not this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and
emptied. And all the assembly said, Amen, and praised Jehovah. And the
people did according to this promise. 5:14Moreover from the time
that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the
twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the
king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the
bread of the governor. 5:15But the former governors that were
before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and
wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule
over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. 5:16Yea, also I continued in the work of
this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered
thither unto the work. 5:17Moreover there were at my table, of
the Jews and the rulers, a hundred and fifty men, besides those that came
unto us from among the nations that were round about us. 5:18Now
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 demanded not the bread of the governor, because
the bondage was heavy upon this people. 5:19Remember unto me, O my
God, for good, all that I have done for this people.
6:1Now it came to pass, when it was
reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and unto the
rest of our enemies, that I had builded the wall, and that there was no
breach left therein; (though even unto that time I had not set up the
doors in the gates;) 6:2that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me,
saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the
plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. 6:3And I sent messengers
unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down:
why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? 6:4And
they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after
the same manner. 6:5Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me
in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, 6:6wherein was written, It is reported
among the nations, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to
rebel; for which cause thou art building the wall: and thou wouldest be
their king, according to these words. 6:7And thou hast also appointed prophets
to preach of thee 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. 6:8Then I sent unto him,
saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest
them out of thine own heart. 6:9For they all would have made us afraid,
saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done.
But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands. 6:10And I went unto 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
slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. 6:11And
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. 6:12And
I discerned, and, lo, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this
prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 6:13For
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. 6:14Remember, O 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. 6:15So
the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the
month Elul, in fifty and two days. 6:16And it came to pass,
when all our enemies heard thereof, 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 wrought of our God. 6:17Moreover in those days
the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters
of Tobiah came unto them. 6:18For there were many in Judah sworn
unto 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
to wife. 6:19Also they spake of his good deeds
before me, and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to
put me in fear.
7:1Now it came to pass, when the wall was
built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the
Levites were appointed, 7:2that 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. 7:3And I said unto them,
Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while
they stand on guard, let them shut the doors, and bar ye them: and
appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch,
and every one to be over against his house. 7:4Now the city was wide
and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not
builded. 7:5And my God put into my heart to gather
together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be
reckoned by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of them that
came up at the first, and I found written therein: 7:6These are the children
of the province, that went up out of the captivity of those that had been
carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away,
and that returned unto Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city; 7:7who
came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani,
Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men
of the people of Israel: 7:8The children of Parosh, two thousand a
hundred and seventy and two. 7:9The children of Shephatiah, three
hundred seventy and two. 7:10The children of Arah, six hundred
fifty and two. 7:11The children of Pahath-moab, of the
children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and
eighteen. 7:12The children of Elam, a thousand two
hundred fifty and four. 7:13The children of Zattu, eight hundred
forty and five. 7:14The children of Zaccai, seven hundred
and threescore. 7:15The children of Binnui, six hundred
forty and eight. 7:16The children of Bebai, six hundred
twenty and eight. 7:17The children of Azgad, two thousand
three hundred twenty and two. 7:18The children of Adonikam, six hundred
threescore and seven. 7:19The children of Bigvai, two thousand
threescore and seven. 7:20The children of Adin, six hundred
fifty and five. 7:21The children of Ater, of Hezekiah,
ninety and eight. 7:22The children of Hashum, three hundred
twenty and eight. 7:23The children of Bezai, three hundred
twenty and four. 7:24The children of Hariph, a hundred and
twelve. 7:25The children of Gibeon, ninety and
five. 7:26The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, a
hundred fourscore and eight. 7:27The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty
and eight. 7:28The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty and
two. 7:29The men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah,
and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three. 7:30The men of Ramah and
Geba, six hundred twenty and one. 7:31The men of Michmas, a hundred and
twenty and two. 7:32The men of Beth-el and Ai, a hundred
twenty and three. 7:33The men of the other Nebo, fifty and
two. 7:34The children of the other Elam, a
thousand two hundred fifty and four. 7:35The children of Harim, three hundred
and twenty. 7:36The children of Jericho, three hundred
forty and five. 7:37The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono,
seven hundred twenty and one. 7:38The children of Senaah, three thousand
nine hundred and thirty. 7:39The priests: The children of Jedaiah,
of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. 7:40The
children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. 7:41The children of
Pashhur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. 7:42The children of Harim,
a thousand and seventeen. 7:43The Levites: the children of Jeshua,
of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four. 7:44The
singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred forty and eight. 7:45The
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, a hundred thirty and eight. 7:46The Nethinim: the children of Ziha,
the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 7:47the children of Keros,
the children of Sia, the children of Padon, 7:48the children of
Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai, 7:49the
children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, 7:50the
children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 7:51the
children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah. 7:52The
children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim, 7:53the
children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 7:54the
children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 7:55the
children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah, 7:56the
children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 7:57The children of
Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the
children of Perida, 7:58the children of Jaala, the children of
Darkon, the children of Giddel, 7:59the children of Shephatiah, the
children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of
Amon. 7:60All the Nethinim, and the children of
Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two. 7:61And
these were they that 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: 7:62The children of Delaiah, the children
of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two. 7:63And
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. 7:64These sought their
register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was
not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the
priesthood. 7:65And the governor said unto them, that
they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest
with Urim and Thummim. 7:66The whole assembly together was forty
and two thousand three hundred and threescore, 7:67besides their
men-servants and their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand
three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five
singing men and singing women. 7:68Their horses were seven hundred thirty
and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five; 7:69their camels,
four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven
hundred and twenty. 7:70And some from among the heads of
fathers' houses gave unto the work. The governor gave to the
treasury a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty
priests' garments. 7:71And some of the heads of fathers'
houses gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of
gold, and two thousand and two hundred pounds of silver. 7:72And
that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold,
and two thousand pounds of silver, and threescore and seven priests'
garments. 7:73So the priests, and the Levites, and
the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim,
and all Israel, dwelt in their cities. And when the seventh month was
come, the children of Israel were in their cities.
8:1And all the people gathered themselves
together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate;
and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses,
which Jehovah had commanded to Israel. 8:2And Ezra the priest
brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all that
could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 8:3And
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 that could understand; and the ears of all the people were
attentive unto the book of the law. 8:4And Ezra the scribe
stood upon 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. 8:5And 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: 8:6and Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great
God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their
hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces
to the ground. 8:7Also 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. 8:8And they read in the
book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they
understood the reading. 8:9And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and
Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said
unto all the people, This day is holy unto Jehovah your God; mourn not,
nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
8:10Then he said unto them, Go your way,
eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto him for whom
nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye
grieved; for the joy of Jehovah is your strength. 8:11So the Levites stilled
all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be
ye grieved. 8:12And 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 unto them. 8:13And
on the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers'
houses of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra
the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law. 8:14And
they found written in the law, how that Jehovah had commanded by Moses,
that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the
seventh month; 8:15and that they should publish and
proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the
mount, and fetch 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. 8:16So the people went forth, and brought
them, and made themselves booths, every one upon 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. 8:17And all the assembly of them that were
come again out of the captivity made booths, and dwelt in the booths; for
since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children
of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness. 8:18Also day by day, from the first day
unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept
the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly,
according unto the ordinance.
9:1Now in the twenty and fourth day of
this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with
sackcloth, and earth upon them. 9:2And the seed of Israel separated
themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and
the iniquities of their fathers. 9:3And they stood up in their place, and
read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth part of the day;
and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped Jehovah
their God. 9:4Then stood up upon the stairs of the
Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani,
and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto Jehovah their God. 9:5Then
the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah,
Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless Jehovah your God
from everlasting to everlasting; and blessed be thy glorious name, which
is exalted above all blessing and praise. 9:6Thou art Jehovah, even
thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their
host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is
in them, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth
thee. 9:7Thou art Jehovah the God, who didst
choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and
gavest him the name of Abraham, 9:8and foundest his heart faithful before
thee, and madest 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 unto his seed, and hast performed thy words; for
thou art righteous. 9:9And thou sawest the affliction of our
fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red Sea, 9:10and
showedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on
all the people of his land; for thou knewest that they dealt proudly
against them, and didst get thee a name, as it is this day. 9:11And
thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst
of the sea on the dry land; and their pursuers thou didst cast into the
depths, as a stone into the mighty waters. 9:12Moreover in a pillar
of cloud thou leddest them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to
give them light in the way wherein they should go. 9:13Thou camest down also
upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right
ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments, 9:14and
madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them
commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses thy servant, 9:15and
gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water
for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commandedst them that they
should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them. 9:16But
they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and hearkened
not to thy commandments, 9:17and refused to obey, neither were
mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them, but hardened their
neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their
bondage. But thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow
to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and forsookest them not. 9:18Yea, when they had made them a molten
calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had
wrought great provocations; 9:19yet thou in thy manifold mercies
forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud departed not
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 wherein they should go. 9:20Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to
instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest
them water for their thirst. 9:21Yea, forty years didst thou sustain
them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing; their clothes
waxed not old, and their feet swelled not. 9:22Moreover thou gavest
them kingdoms and peoples, which thou didst 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. 9:23Their children also multipliedst thou
as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land concerning which
thou didst say to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it. 9:24So
the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before
them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into
their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they
might do with them as they would. 9:25And they took fortified cities, and a
fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out,
vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit-trees in abundance: so they did eat,
and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great
goodness. 9:26Nevertheless they were disobedient,
and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their back, and slew
thy prophets that testified against them to turn them again unto thee, and
they wrought great provocations. 9:27Therefore thou deliveredst them into
the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them: and in the time of
their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven; and
according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours who saved them
out of the hand of their adversaries. 9:28But after they had
rest, they did evil again before thee; therefore leftest thou them in the
hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when
they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven; and many
times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies, 9:29and
testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy
law. Yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but
sinned against thine ordinances, (which if a man do, he shall live in
them,) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not
hear. 9:30Yet many years didst thou bear with
them, and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit through thy prophets: yet
would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the
peoples of the lands. 9:31Nevertheless in thy manifold mercies
thou didst not make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for thou art a
gracious and merciful God. 9:32Now therefore, our God, the great, the
mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and lovingkindness, let
not all the travail seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on
our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on
our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria
unto this day. 9:33Howbeit thou art just in all that is
come upon us; for thou hast dealt truly, but we have done wickedly; 9:34neither have our kings, our princes,
our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy
commandments and thy testimonies wherewith thou didst testify against
them. 9:35For they have not served thee in their
kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large
and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their
wicked works. 9:36Behold, we are servants this day, and
as for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof
and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it. 9:37And it yieldeth much
increase unto the kings whom thou hast 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. 9:38And yet for all this
we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites,
and our priests, seal unto it.
10:1Now those that sealed were: Nehemiah
the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah, 10:2Seraiah, Azariah,
Jeremiah, 10:3Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, 10:4Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 10:5Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 10:6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 10:7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 10:8Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these were
the priests. 10:9And the Levites: namely, Jeshua the
son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; 10:10and their brethren, Shebaniah,
Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 10:11Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, 10:12Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 10:13Hodiah, Bani, Beninu. 10:14The chiefs of the people: Parosh,
Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, 10:15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 10:16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 10:17Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, 10:18Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, 10:19Hariph, Anathoth, Nobai, 10:20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 10:21Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 10:22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 10:23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, 10:24Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, 10:25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 10:26and Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 10:27Malluch, Harim, Baanah. 10:28And the rest of the people, the
priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and all they
that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law
of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one that had
knowledge, and understanding; 10:29They clave to their brethren, 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 Jehovah our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes; 10:30and that we would not give our
daughters unto the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our
sons; 10:31and 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. 10:32Also 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; 10:33for the showbread,
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. 10:34And 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 upon the altar of Jehovah our God, as it
is written in the law; 10:35and to bring the first-fruits of our
ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all manner of trees, year by
year, unto the house of Jehovah; 10:36also the first-born of our sons, and
of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our
herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the
priests that minister in the house of our God; 10:37and 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, unto the priests,
to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto
the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all the cities of
our tillage. 10:38And 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 unto the house of our God, to the
chambers, into the treasure-house. 10:39For 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, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the
sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the
singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.
11:1And the princes of the people dwelt 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. 11:2And the people blessed all the men
that willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem. 11:3Now
these are the chiefs of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the
cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to
wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the
children of Solomon's servants. 11:4And in Jerusalem dwelt 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; 11:5and 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. 11:6All
the sons of Perez that dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and
eight valiant men. 11:7And 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.
11:8And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine
hundred twenty and eight. 11:9And Joel the son of Zichri was their
overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city. 11:10Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of
Joiarib, Jachin, 11:11Seraiah 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, 11:12and their brethren that did the work
of the house, eight hundred twenty and 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, 11:13and his brethren, chiefs of fathers'
houses, two hundred forty and two; and Amashsai the son of Azarel,
the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 11:14and their brethren, mighty men of
valor, a hundred twenty and eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son
of Haggedolim. 11:15And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son
of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 11:16and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the
chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outward business of
the house of God; 11:17and 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 brethren; and
Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 11:18All the Levites in the holy city were
two hundred fourscore and four. 11:19Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon,
and their brethren, that kept watch at the gates, were a hundred seventy
and two. 11:20And the residue of Israel, of the
priests, the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his
inheritance. 11:21But the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel: and
Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim. 11:22The 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. 11:23For there was a
commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the
singers, as every day required. 11:24And 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. 11:25And as for the villages, with their
fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt in Kiriath-arba and the towns
thereof, and in Dibon and the towns thereof, and in Jekabzeel and the
villages thereof, 11:26and in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and
Beth-pelet, 11:27and in Hazar-shual, and in Beer-sheba
and the towns thereof, 11:28and in Ziklag, and in Meconah and in
the towns thereof, 11:29and in En-rimmon, and in Zorah, and
in Jarmuth, 11:30Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages,
Lachish and the fields thereof, Azekah and the towns thereof. So they
encamped from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom. 11:31The children of
Benjamin also dwelt from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija,
and at Beth-el and the towns thereof, 11:32at Anathoth, Nob,
Ananiah, 11:33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 11:34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 11:35Lod, and Ono, the valley of
craftsmen. 11:36And of the Levites, certain courses
in Judah were joined to Benjamin.
12:1Now these are the priests and the
Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua:
Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 12:2Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 12:3Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 12:4Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 12:5Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 12:6Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah. 12:7Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These
were the chiefs of the priests and of their brethren in the days of
Jeshua. 12:8Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui,
Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the
thanksgiving, he and his brethren. 12:9Also Bakbukiah and Unno, their
brethren, were over against them according to their offices. 12:10And Jeshua begat Joiakim, and Joiakim
begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada, 12:11and Joiada begat
Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua. 12:12And in the days of
Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers' houses: of Seraiah,
Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 12:13of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah,
Jehohanan; 12:14of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah,
Joseph; 12:15of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;
12:16of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon,
Meshullam; 12:17of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of
Moadiah, Piltai; 12:18of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah,
Jehonathan; 12:19and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah,
Uzzi; 12:20of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 12:21of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah,
Nethanel. 12:22As 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. 12:23The 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. 12:24And the chiefs of the
Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their
brethren over against them, to praise and give thanks, according to the
commandment of David the man of God, watch next to watch. 12:25Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah,
Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the watch at the
store-houses of the gates. 12:26These 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. 12:27And 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 thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with
harps. 12:28And the sons of the singers gathered
themselves together, both out of the plain round about Jerusalem, and from
the villages of the Netophathites; 12:29also from Beth-gilgal, and out of the
fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages
round about Jerusalem. 12:30And the priests and the Levites
purified themselves; and they purified the people, and the gates, and the
wall. 12:31Then I brought up the princes of
Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies that gave thanks
and went in procession; whereof one went on the right hand upon the
wall toward the dung gate: 12:32and after them went Hoshaiah, and
half of the princes of Judah, 12:33and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, 12:34Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah,
and Jeremiah, 12:35and 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; 12:36and his brethren, 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. 12:37And by the fountain 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 unto the water gate
eastward. 12:38And the other company of them that
gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them, with the half of the
people, upon the wall, above the tower of the furnaces, even unto the
broad wall, 12:39and 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 unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the
gate of the guard. 12:40So stood the two companies of them
that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers
with me; 12:41and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah,
Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 12:42and Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and
Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And
the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. 12:43And 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. 12:44And 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 that
waited. 12:45And 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. 12:46For in the days of David and Asaph of
old there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving
unto God. 12:47And 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.
13:1On 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 for
ever, 13:2because they met not the children of
Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse
them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. 13:3And
it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from
Israel all the mixed multitude. 13:4Now before this, Eliashib the priest,
who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied
unto Tobiah, 13:5had prepared for him a great chamber,
where aforetime 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. 13:6But in all this
time I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of
Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went unto the king: and after certain days
asked I leave of the king, 13:7and 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. 13:8And it grieved me
sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the
chamber. 13:9Then I commanded, and they cleansed
the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God,
with the meal-offerings and the frankincense. 13:10And I perceived that
the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites
and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. 13:11Then contended I with the rulers, and
said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and
set them in their place. 13:12Then brought all Judah the tithe of
the grain and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. 13:13And 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 unto their brethren. 13:14Remember me, O my God, concerning
this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my
God, and for the observances thereof. 13:15In those days saw I
in Judah some men treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and bringing in
sheaves, and lading asses 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 wherein they
sold victuals. 13:16There dwelt men of Tyre also therein,
who brought in fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the sabbath unto
the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 13:17Then I contended with
the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye
do, and profane the sabbath day? 13:18Did not your fathers thus, and did
not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring
more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. 13:19And 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 till 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.
13:20So the merchants and sellers of all
kind of wares lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. 13:21Then I testified against them, and
said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay
hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. 13:22And I commanded the Levites that they
should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to
sanctify the sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare
me according to the greatness of thy lovingkindness. 13:23In those days also saw I the Jews
that had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: 13:24and their children spake half in the
speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according
to the language of each people. 13:25And I contended with them, and cursed
them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them
swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their
sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves. 13:26Did 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. 13:27Shall we then hearken unto you to do
all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign
women? 13:28And 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. 13:29Remember them, O my God, because they
have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of
the Levites. 13:30Thus cleansed I them from all
foreigners, and appointed charges for the priests and for the Levites,
every one in his work; 13:31and for the wood-offering, at times
appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
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