Nehemiah
1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to
pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in
Shushan the palace,
1:2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and [certain] men
of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had
escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning
Jerusalem.
1:3 And 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.
1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat
down and wept, and mourned [certain] days, and fasted, and
prayed before the God of heaven,
1:5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great
and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that
love him and observe his commandments:
1:6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that
thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before
thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy
servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which
we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have
sinned.
1:7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept
the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which
thou commandedst thy servant Moses.
1:8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy
servant Moses, saying, [If] ye transgress, I will scatter you
abroad among the nations:
1:9 But [if] ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do
them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part
of the heaven, [yet] will I gather them from thence, and will
bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name
there.
1:10 Now these [are] thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast
redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
1:11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to
the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants,
who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy
servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.
For I was the king's cupbearer.
2:1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth
year of Artaxerxes the king, [that] wine [was] before him: and
I took up the wine, and gave [it] unto the king. Now I had not
been [beforetime] sad in his presence.
2:2 Wherefore 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,
2:3 And 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?
2:4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request?
So I prayed to the God of heaven.
2:5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy
servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send
me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I
may build it.
2:6 And 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.
2:7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let
letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that
they may convey me over till I come into Judah;
2:8 And 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
palace which [appertained] 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.
2:9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them
the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army
and horsemen with me.
2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the
Ammonite, heard [of it], it grieved them exceedingly that there
was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
2:11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
2:12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me;
neither told I [any] man what my God had put in my heart to do
at Jerusalem: neither [was there any] beast with me, save the
beast that I rode upon.
2:13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even
before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the
walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates
thereof were consumed with fire.
2:14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the
king's pool: but [there was] no place for the beast [that was]
under me to pass.
2:15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the
wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley,
and [so] returned.
2:16 And 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.
2:17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress 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.
2:18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon
me; as also 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 [this] good [work].
2:19 But 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?
2:20 Then 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.
3:1 Then 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 Meah they
sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
3:2 And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to
them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
3:3 But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who
[also] laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof,
the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
3:4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the
son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of
Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired
Zadok the son of Baana.
3:5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles
put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
3:6 Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah,
and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams
thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof,
and the bars thereof.
3:7 And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and
Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto
the throne of the governor on this side the river.
3:8 Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the
goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of
[one of] the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto
the broad wall.
3:9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the
ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
3:10 And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph,
even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush
the son of Hashabniah.
3:11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of
Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the
furnaces.
3:12 And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the
ruler of the half part 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 thereof, the locks
thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the
wall unto the dung gate.
3:14 But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the
ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the
doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
3:15 But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of
Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered
it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the
bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's
garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of
David.
3:16 After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of
the half part of Bethzur, unto [the place] over against the
sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto
the house of the mighty.
3:17 After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next
unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of
Keilah, in his part.
3:18 After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of
Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
3:19 And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler
of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the
armoury at the turning [of the wall].
3:20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the
other piece, from the turning [of the wall] unto the door of
the house of Eliashib the high priest.
3:21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of
Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even
to the end of the house of Eliashib.
3:22 And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
3:23 After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their
house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son
of Ananiah by his house.
3:24 After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece,
from the house of Azariah unto the turning [of the wall], even
unto the corner.
3:25 Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning [of the
wall], and the tower which lieth out from the king's high
house, that [was] by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah
the son of Parosh.
3:26 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto [the place]
over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that
lieth out.
3:27 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over
against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of
Ophel.
3:28 From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one
over against his house.
3:29 After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his
house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah,
the keeper of the east gate.
3:30 After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun
the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired
Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.
3:31 After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the
place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the
gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.
3:32 And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate
repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
4:1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we
builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and
mocked the Jews.
4:2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria,
and said, What do these feeble Jews? 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 the
rubbish which are burned?
4:3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] by him, and he said, Even that
which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down
their stone wall.
4:4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their
reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the
land of captivity:
4:5 And 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.
4:6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together
unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
4:7 But it came to pass, [that] when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and
the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that
the walls of Jerusalem were made up, [and] that the breaches
began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
4:8 And conspired all of them together to come [and] to fight
against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
4:9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a
watch against them day and night, because of them.
4:10 And 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 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see,
till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause
the work to cease.
4:12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them
came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye
shall return unto us [they will be upon you].
4:13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, [and]
on the higher places, I even set the people after their
families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
4:14 And 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, [which is] great and terrible, and
fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your
wives, and your houses.
4:15 And 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.
4:16 And it came to pass from that time forth, [that] the half
of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them
held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the
habergeons; and the rulers [were] behind all the house of
Judah.
4:17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens,
with those that laded, [every one] with one of his hands
wrought in the work, and with the other [hand] held a weapon.
4:18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his
side, and [so] builded. And he that sounded the trumpet [was]
by me.
4:19 And 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.
4:20 In what place [therefore] ye hear the sound of the trumpet,
resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
4:21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the
spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
4:22 Likewise 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 labour on the day.
4:23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men
of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes,
[saving that] every one put them off for washing.
5:1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives
against their brethren the Jews.
5:2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters,
[are] many: therefore we take up corn [for them], that we may
eat, and live.
5:3 [Some] also there were that said, We have mortgaged our
lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because
of the dearth.
5:4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the
king's tribute, [and that upon] our lands and vineyards.
5:5 Yet 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 unto bondage [already]: neither [is it]
in our power [to redeem them]; for other men have our lands and
vineyards.
5:6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
5:7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and
the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of
his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
5:8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our
brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will
ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then
held they their peace, and found nothing [to answer].
5:9 Also I said, It [is] not good that ye do: ought ye not to
walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the
heathen our enemies?
5:10 I likewise, [and] my brethren, and my servants, might exact
of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this
usury.
5:11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands,
their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the
hundredth [part] of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and
the oil, that ye exact of them.
5:12 Then said they, We will restore [them], and will require
nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called
the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do
according to this promise.
5:13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man
from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this
promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the
congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And 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
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.
5:15 But the former governors that [had been] before me were
chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and
wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants
bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the
fear of God.
5:16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither
bought we any land: and all my servants [were] gathered thither
unto the work.
5:17 Moreover [there were] at my table an hundred and fifty of
the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among
the heathen that [are] about us.
5:18 Now [that] which was prepared [for me] daily [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
required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage
was heavy upon this people.
5:19 Think upon me, my God, for good, [according] to all that I
have done for this people.
6:1 Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem
the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had
builded the wall, and [that] there was no breach left therein;
(though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the
gates;)
6:2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us
meet together in [some one of] the villages in the plain of
Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
6:3 And 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?
6:4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I
answered them after the same manner.
6:5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the
fifth time with an open letter in his hand;
6:6 Wherein [was] written, It is reported among the heathen, and
Gashmu saith [it, that] thou and the Jews think to rebel: for
which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their
king, according to these words.
6:7 And 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.
6:8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done
as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
6:9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be
weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, [O
God], strengthen my hands.
6:10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of
Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, 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.
6:11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who [is
there], that, [being] as I [am], would go into the temple to
save his life? I will not go in.
6:12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he
pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat
had hired him.
6:13 Therefore [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 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to
these their works, and on 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 and fifth [day] of
[the month] Elul, in fifty and two days.
6:16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard
[thereof], and all the heathen that [were] about us saw [these
things], they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they
perceived that this work was wrought of our God.
6:17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many
letters unto Tobiah, and [the letters] of Tobiah came unto
them.
6:18 For [there were] many in Judah sworn unto him, because he
[was] the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son
Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of
Berechiah.
6:19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my
words to him. [And] Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
7:1 Now 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,
7:2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the
palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he [was] a faithful man, and
feared God above many.
7:3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be
opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them
shut the doors, and bar [them]: and appoint watches of the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one
[to be] over against his house.
7:4 Now the city [was] large and great: but the people [were]
few therein, and the houses [were] not builded.
7:5 And my God put into mine heart to gather together the
nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be
reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy
of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,
7:6 These [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 came
again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;
7:7 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah,
Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum,
Baanah. The number, [I say], of the men of the people of Israel
[was this];
7:8 The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and
two.
7:9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
7:10 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.
7:11 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and
Joab, two thousand and eight hundred [and] eighteen.
7:12 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and
four.
7:13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.
7:14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
7:15 The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.
7:16 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.
7:17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty
and two.
7:18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.
7:19 The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.
7:20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.
7:21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
7:22 The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.
7:23 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.
7:24 The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.
7:25 The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.
7:26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and
eight.
7:27 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
7:28 The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two.
7:29 The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven
hundred forty and three.
7:30 The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.
7:31 The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two.
7:32 The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.
7:33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.
7:34 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred
fifty and four.
7:35 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
7:36 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
7:37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty
and one.
7:38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and
thirty.
7:39 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of
Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
7:40 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
7:41 The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and
seven.
7:42 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
7:43 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, [and] of
the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.
7:44 The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and
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, an hundred thirty and eight.
7:46 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of
Hashupha, 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 Shalmai,
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 Phaseah,
7:52 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children
of Nephishesim,
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 Tamah,
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 of Zebaim, the children of Amon.
7:60 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants,
[were] three hundred ninety and two.
7:61 And these [were] they which went up [also] from Telmelah,
Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew
their father's house, 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 and two.
7:63 And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children
of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took [one] of the
daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called
after their name.
7:64 These sought their register [among] those that were
reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were
they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
7:65 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat
of the most holy things, till there stood [up] a priest with
Urim and Thummim.
7:66 The whole congregation together [was] forty and two
thousand three hundred and threescore,
7:67 Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom
[there were] seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and
they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing
women.
7:68 Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules,
two hundred forty and five:
7:69 [Their] camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand
seven hundred and twenty asses.
7:70 And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work.
The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold,
fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.
7:71 And [some] of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure
of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and
two hundred pound of silver.
7:72 And [that] which the rest of the people gave [was] twenty
thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and
threescore and seven priests' garments.
7:73 So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the
singers, and [some] of the people, and the Nethinims, and all
Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came,
the children of Israel [were] in their cities.
8:1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man
into the street that [was] before the water gate; and they
spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of
Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.
8:2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation
both of men and women, and all that could hear with
understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
8:3 And he read therein before the street that [was] before the
water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and
the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all
the people [were attentive] unto the book of the law.
8:4 And 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 Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on
his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and
Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, [and]
Meshullam.
8:5 And 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 the LORD, the great God. And all the people
answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they
bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with [their] faces
to the ground.
8:7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub,
Shabbethai, Hodijah, 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 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and
gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the reading.
8:9 And Nehemiah, which [is] the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest
the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto
all the people, This day [is] holy unto the LORD your God;
mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard
the words of the law.
8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink
the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is
prepared: for [this] day [is] holy unto our Lord: neither be ye
sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
8:11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your
peace, for the day [is] holy; neither be ye grieved.
8:12 And 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.
8:13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of
the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites,
unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.
8:14 And they found written in the law which the LORD 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 unto the mount, and
fetch olive branches, and pine branches, 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, every one upon the roof of his house, and in
their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the
street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of
Ephraim.
8:17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out
of the captivity made booths, and sat under 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.
8:18 Also 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 manner.
9:1 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children
of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes,
and earth upon them.
9:2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all
strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the
iniquities of their fathers.
9:3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of
the law of the LORD their God [one] fourth part of the day; and
[another] fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD
their God.
9:4 Then 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 the LORD their God.
9:5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah,
Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, [and] Pethahiah, said, Stand up
[and] bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be
thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and
praise.
9:6 Thou, [even] thou, [art] LORD alone; thou hast made heaven,
the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all
[things] that [are] therein, the seas, and all that [is]
therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven
worshippeth thee.
9:7 Thou [art] the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and
broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him
the name of Abraham;
9:8 And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a
covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the
Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites,
and the Girgashites, to give [it, I say], to his seed, and hast
performed thy words; for thou [art] righteous:
9:9 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and
heardest their cry by the Red sea;
9:10 And shewedst 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. So didst thou get thee a
name, as [it is] this day.
9:11 And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they
went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their
persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the
mighty waters.
9:12 Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar;
and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the
way wherein they should go.
9:13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with
them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true
laws, good statutes and commandments:
9:14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and
commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of
Moses thy servant:
9:15 And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and
broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their
thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess
the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.
9:16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their
necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
9:17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders
that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, 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 of great kindness, and forsookest them not.
9:18 Yea, 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;
9:19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the
wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by
day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by
night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.
9:20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and
withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them
water for their thirst.
9:21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness,
[so that] they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and
their feet swelled not.
9:22 Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst
divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon,
and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of
Bashan.
9:23 Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of
heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which
thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to
possess [it].
9:24 So 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 people of the land, that they might do with them as
they would.
9:25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed
houses full of all goods, wells digged, 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.
9:26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against
thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy
prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and
they wrought great provocations.
9:27 Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their
enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when
they cried unto thee, thou heardest [them] from heaven; and
according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours,
who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.
9:28 But 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 [them] from heaven; and many
times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies;
9:29 And 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 thy judgments, (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 didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst
against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not
give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the
people of the lands.
9:31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not
utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou [art] a
gracious and merciful God.
9:32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the
terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the
trouble 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.
9:33 Howbeit thou [art] just in all that is brought upon us; for
thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:
9:34 Neither 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.
9:35 For 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.
9:36 Behold, we [are] servants this day, and [for] the land that
thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the
good thereof, behold, we [are] servants in it:
9:37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast
set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over
our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we
[are] in great distress.
9:38 And because of all this we make a sure [covenant], and
write [it]; and our princes, Levites, [and] priests, seal [unto
it].
10:1 Now those that sealed [were], Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the
son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
10:2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
10:3 Pashur, 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 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of
the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
10:10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah,
Hanan,
10:11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
10:12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
10:13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
10:14 The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu,
Bani,
10:15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
10:16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
10:17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
10:18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
10:19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
10:20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
10:21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
10:22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
10:23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
10:24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
10:25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
10:26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
10:27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
10:28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the
porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had
separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law
of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one
having knowledge, and having understanding;
10:29 They 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 the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and
his statutes;
10:30 And that we would not give our daughters unto the people
of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:
10:31 And [if] the people of the land bring ware or any victuals
on the sabbath day to sell, [that] we would not buy it of them
on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and [that] we would leave
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 shewbread, and for the continual meat offering,
and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the
new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy [things], and
for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and
[for] all the work of the house of our God.
10:34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and
the people, for the wood offering, to bring [it] into the house
of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed
year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as
[it is] written in the law:
10:35 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the
firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the
house of the LORD:
10:36 Also the firstborn 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:
10:37 And [that] we should bring the firstfruits of our dough,
and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of
wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house
of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that
the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our
tillage.
10:38 And 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.
10:39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall
bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and 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.
11:1 And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest
of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in
Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts [to dwell] in [other]
cities.
11:2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered
themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
11:3 Now these [are] the chief 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 Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's
servants.
11:4 And at 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 Mahalaleel, 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 Shiloni.
11:6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem [were] four
hundred threescore and eight valiant men.
11:7 And 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
Jesaiah.
11:8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and
eight.
11:9 And Joel the son of Zichri [was] their overseer: and Judah
the son of Senuah [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, [was] the
ruler of the house of God.
11:12 And their brethren that did the work of the house [were]
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 Pashur, the son of Malchiah,
11:13 And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty
and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the
son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
11:14 And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred
twenty and eight: and their overseer [was] Zabdiel, the son of
[one of] the great men.
11:15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son
of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
11:16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites,
[had] the oversight of the outward business of the house of
God.
11:17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son
of Asaph, [was] the principal 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.
11:18 All the Levites in the holy city [were] two hundred
fourscore and four.
11:19 Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren
that kept the gates, [were] an hundred seventy and two.
11:20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, [and] the
Levites, [were] in all the cities of Judah, every one in his
inheritance.
11:21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa
[were] over the Nethinims.
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 Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers [were] over
the business of the house of God.
11:23 For [it was] the king's commandment concerning them, that
a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
11:24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of
Zerah the son of Judah, [was] at the king's hand in all matters
concerning the people.
11:25 And for the villages, with their fields, [some] of the
children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and [in] the villages
thereof, and at Dibon, and [in] the villages thereof, and at
Jekabzeel, and [in] the villages thereof,
11:26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,
11:27 And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and [in] the villages
thereof,
11:28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages
thereof,
11:29 And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,
11:30 Zanoah, Adullam, and [in] their villages, at Lachish, and
the fields thereof, at Azekah, and [in] the villages thereof.
And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.
11:31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba [dwelt] at
Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and [in] their villages,
11:32 [And] 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 And of the Levites [were] divisions [in] Judah, [and] in
Benjamin.
12:1 Now these [are] the priests and the Levites that went up
with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah,
Jeremiah, Ezra,
12:2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
12:3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
12:4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,
12:5 Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
12:6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
12:7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These [were] the chief of
the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
12:8 Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah,
Judah, [and] Mattaniah, [which was] over the thanksgiving, he
and his brethren.
12:9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, [were] over
against them in the watches.
12:10 And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and
Eliashib begat Joiada,
12:11 And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.
12:12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the
fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
12:13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
12:14 Of Melicu, 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, Nethaneel.
12:22 The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan,
and Jaddua, [were] recorded chief of the fathers: also the
priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian.
12:23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, [were] written
in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan
the son of Eliashib.
12:24 And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and
Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against
them, to praise [and] to give thanks, according to the
commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.
12:25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon,
Akkub, [were] porters keeping the ward at the thresholds 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 And 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.
12:28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together,
both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from
the villages of Netophathi;
12:29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of
Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages
round about Jerusalem.
12:30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and
purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
12:31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and
appointed two great [companies of them that gave] thanks,
[whereof one] went on the right hand upon 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;
[namely], Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah,
the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur,
the son of Asaph:
12:36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai,
Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical
instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before
them.
12:37 And at the fountain gate, which was over against them,
they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going
up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water
gate eastward.
12:38 And the other [company of them that gave] thanks went over
against [them], and I after them, and the half of the people
upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto
the broad wall;
12:39 And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old
gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and
the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood
still in the prison gate.
12:40 So stood the two [companies of them that gave] thanks in
the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:
12:41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah,
Elioenai, Zechariah, [and] Hananiah, with trumpets;
12:42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and
Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers
sang loud, with Jezrahiah [their] overseer.
12:43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced:
for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also
and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was
heard even afar off.
12:44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for
the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for
the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities
the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah
rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.
12:45 And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of
their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the
commandment of David, [and] of Solomon his son.
12:46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old [there were]
chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto
God.
12:47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days
of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters,
every day his portion: and they sanctified [holy things] unto
the Levites; and the Levites sanctified [them] unto the
children 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 the Ammonite
and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God
for ever;
13:2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and
with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse
them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
13:3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they
separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
13:4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight
of the chamber of the house of our God, [was] allied unto
Tobiah:
13:5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where
aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and
the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the
oil, which was commanded [to be given] to the Levites, and the
singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
13:6 But in all this [time] was not I at Jerusalem: for in the
two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I
unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the
king:
13:7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that
Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the
courts of the house of God.
13:8 And 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
thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with
the meat offering and the frankincense.
13:10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not
been given [them]: for the Levites and the singers, that did
the work, were fled every one to his field.
13:11 Then 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.
13:12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new
wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
13:13 And 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 office
[was] to distribute unto their brethren.
13:14 Remember 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 offices thereof.
13:15 In those days saw I in Judah [some] treading wine presses
on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; 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.
13:16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish,
and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the
children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
13:17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto
them, What evil thing [is] this that ye do, and profane the
sabbath day?
13:18 Did 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.
13:19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem
began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates
should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till
after the sabbath: and [some] of my servants set I at 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 ware lodged
without Jerusalem once or twice.
13:21 Then 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.
13:22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse
themselves, and [that] they should come [and] keep the gates,
to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God,
[concerning] this also, and spare me according to the greatness
of thy mercy.
13:23 In those days also saw I Jews [that] had married wives of
Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab:
13:24 And 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.
13:25 And 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 unto 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, who was beloved
of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless
even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
13:27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil,
to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
13:28 And [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, O 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 strangers, and appointed the
wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his
business;
13:31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the
firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.