Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
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Nehemiah
Nehemiah 1
¶1. The words of Nehemiah ben-Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Shushan the capital,
2.that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah, and I asked them about the escaped remnant of the Jews who remained of the captives and about Jerusalem.
3. And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who remained of the captives are in great distress and reproach, and Jerusalem’s wall is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
4. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down, and wept and mourned for days, and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
5. And I said, “I beseech you, O Jehovah, God of heaven, the great and fearful God, who keeps the covenant and loving kindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments.
6.Let your ear, I pray, be attentive, and your eyes open, that you might hear the prayer of your servant, which I am praying to you this day, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, and confessing the sins of the children of Israel which we sinned against you that I and my father’s house have sinned.
7.We have been very corrupt toward you and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which you commanded Moses your servant.
8.Remember, I pray, the word which you commanded Moses your servant, saying, “You will trespass, and I will scatter you among the nations.
9.But when you return to me and keep my commandments, and you do them, though you be driven out to the ends of the heavens, from there will I gather them and bring them back to the place that I chose as a dwelling place for my name.
10.For they are your servants and your people whom you redeemed by your great power, and your strong hand.
11.O Lord, I pray you, let your ear, I beg, be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name, and prosper, I pray, your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer.
Nehemiah 2
¶1. And 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 to the king. Now I had not before been sad in his presence.
2. And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, for you are not sick? This is indeed sadness of heart.” Then I was very much afraid.
3. And I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why would my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs is desolate, and its gates have been consumed by fire?”
4. And the king said to me, “For what are you seeking?” So, I prayed to the God of heaven.
5. And I said to the king, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may build it up.”
6. And the king said to me (with the queen was sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So, it was good in the sight of the king to send me, and I gave him a set time.
7. I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let letters be given to me for the governors beyond the river, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah.
8.And a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to provide beams for the gates of the fortress, which is by the temple, and for the city walls, and for the house that I occupy.” And the king gave this to me, according to the good hand of my God upon him.
¶9. And I came to the governors beyond the river, and I gave them the king’s letters. And the king had also sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.
10. And Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard it, and it greatly displeased them that a man had come to seek good for the children of Israel.
11. And I came to Jerusalem and had been there three days
12.when I arose at night, I and a few of the men with me. Now I had not told any man what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem, and there was no animal with me except the animal that I rode upon.
13. And I went out at night through the valley gate, and by the Serpent Spring, and to the Dung Gate, for I was inspecting the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates that had been consumed by fire.
14. Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate, and to the King’s Pool, but there was no place for the animal beneath me to pass through.
15. Then I went up by the brook at night and inspected the wall, and then I turned back and returned.
16. And the officials did not know where I had gone, or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews, or the priests, or the nobles, or the officials, or the rest who would do the work.
¶17. Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we will no longer be a reproach.”
18. And I told them of the hand of my God that had been good to me, and of the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So, they strengthened their hands to do the good work.
19. When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they mocked us and despised us, saying, “What is this thing that you are doing? You are rebelling against the king!”
20. And I returned a message to them, and I said to them, “The God of heaven, He will make us successful, and we, His servants, will rise up and build the wall, and you have no portion, or righteousness, or memorial in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 3
¶1. Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers, the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set up its doors. They consecrated it to as the Tower of the Hundred, and to the Tower of Hananeel.
2. And next to him, the men of Jericho built, and next to them Zachur ben-Imri built.
3. And the Fish Gate was built by the sons of Hassenaah; they laid its beams, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars.
4. And next to them Meremoth ben-Urijah, the son of Koz, made repairs. And next to them Meshullam ben-Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel, made repairs. And beside them Zadok ben-Baana made repairs.
5. And next to them, the Tekoites made repair, but their nobles did not put their necks to the service of their Lord.
6. And Jehoiada ben-Paseah and Meshullam ben-Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate; they laid its beams, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars.
7. And next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, of the jurisdiction of the governor beyond the river, made repairs.
8. Next to him, Uzziel ben-Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths, made repairs. And next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers made repairs, and they fortified Jerusalem as far as the broad wall.
9. And next to them, Rephaiah ben-Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs.
10. And next to them Jedaiah ben-Harumaph, made repairs in front of his house. And next to him, Hattush ben-Hashabniah made repairs.
11. Malchijah ben-Harim, and Hashub ben-Pahath-Moab repaired another section, and the Tower of the Ovens.
12. And next to him, Shallum ben-Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem made repairs, he, and his daughters.
13. Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate; they built it, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall to the Dung Gate.
14. And Malchiah ben-Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-Haccerem repaired the Dung Gate; he built it, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars.
15. And Shallun ben-Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah repaired the Fountain Gate; he built it and covered it, and he set up its doors, its locks, and its bars, as well as the wall of the Pool of Shiloah by the king’s garden, and to the steps that come down from the city of David.
16. After him Nehemiah ben-Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-Zur, repaired to opposite the tombs of David, and to the manmade pool, and to the house of the mighty men.
17. After him the Levites, Rehum ben-Bani made repairs. And next to him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah made repairs for his district.
18. After him their brothers made repairs, Bavai ben-Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah made repairs.
19. And next to him, Ezer ben-Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section from opposite the going up to the armory at the corner of the wall.
20. After him Baruch ben-Zabbai earnestly made repairs to another section from the corner to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21. After him Meremoth ben-Urijah, the son of Koz made repairs to another section from the door of Eliashib’s house as far as the end of Eliashib’s house.
22. And after him the priests, men from the Kicor made repairs.
23. And after them Benjamin and Hashub made repairs opposite their house. After them Azariah ben-Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah made repairs beside his house.
24. After him Binnui ben-Henadad made repairs to another section from Azariah’s house as far as the corner buttress of the wall and to the corner.
25. Palal ben-Uzai repaired from the corner and the tower which went out from the king’s upper house, which was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah ben-Parosh made repairs.
26. And the Nethinim, who dwelt in the Ophel, repaired as far as opposite the Water Gate to the east, and the tower that projects outward.
27. After them the Tekoites repaired another section from opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of the Ophel.
28. From above the Horse Gate the priests made repairs, each man opposite his house.
29. After them Zadok ben-Immer made repairs opposite his house. And after him Shemaiah ben-Shechaniah, keeper of the Eastern Gate, made repairs.
30. After him Hananiah ben-Shelemiah and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After them Meshullam ben-Berechiah made repairs opposite his chamber.
31. After him Malchiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the Nethanim and of the merchantmen, opposite the Miphkad Gate, and to the going up to the corner.
32. And between the going up of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchantmen repaired.
Nehemiah 4
¶1. But it came to pass, when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, that he was angry and greatly enraged, and he mocked the Jews.
2. And he spoke before his brothers and the powerful men of Samaria, and he said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they free themselves? Will they make sacrifices? Will they be finished in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish that were burned?”
3. And Tobiah the Ammonite was at his side, and he said, “Yea, what they are building, if a fox goes up on it, that shall break down their stones.”
4. O hear our God, for we are despised! And turn back their reproach on their heads and give them as spoil in a land of captivity.
5.And do not cover their iniquity, and let their sin not be blotted out from before you, for they are provoking you in the presence of the builders.
6. Yet we were building the wall, and the whole wall was joined together to half of its height, for the people had a mind to work.
¶7. But it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem progressed, and that the breaches began to be closed, that it was very displeasing to them.
8. And they all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion in it.
9. And we prayed to our God and because of them we set a guard against them day and night,
10.for Judah said, “The strength of the burden bearer is failing and there is much rubble; we are not able to build the wall.”
11. And our enemies said, “They will neither know nor see until we come into their midst and slay them, and we will put an end to the work.”
12. And it came to pass that when the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said to us ten times, “They shall come against us from all the places to which you might return.”
13. So I set a guard in the lower places in the space behind the wall, in the open places, yea, I set the people by their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
14. And I looked, and I arose and said to the nobles, and the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the great and dreadful Lord, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
15. And it came to pass when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, that all of us returned to the wall, each to his work.
16. And it came to pass that from that day half of my servants labored in the work, and the other half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the javelins; and the rulers were behind all the houses of Judah.
17. They who built the wall, and those who bore a burden worked with one of his hands on the work and the other holding his weapon.
18. For the builders each had his sword girded at his side as he built. And he who sounded the shofar was at my side.
19. And I said to the nobles, and the officials, and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall, each man far from his brother.
20.Wherever you hear the sound of the shofar, rally to us there; our God will fight for us.”
21. So we labored in the work, and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars came out.
22. I also said to the people at that time, “Let each man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us at night and a worker by day.
23. And neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us, took off our clothes. Each took his javelin to the water.
Nehemiah 5
¶1. Now it came to pass that there was a great cry from the people and their wives against their Jewish brethren.
2. For there were some saying, “Our sons and daughters, we are many, let us receive grain that we may eat and live.”
3. And there were some saying, “We have pledged our fields and vineyards, and our houses that we might buy grain because of the famine.”
4. And there were others saying, “We have borrowed money against our fields, and vineyards for the king’s tribute.
5.Yet, now, our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children are as their children, and, behold, we are putting our sons and daughters into slavery. Yea, there are some of our daughters have been brought into bondage, nor are our hands able to redeem them, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”
6. And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7. And I considered it in my heart. Then I contended with the nobles and the officials and said to them, “You are exacting interest, each of you from his brother.” And I called a great assembly against them.
8. And I said to them, “As we are able, we have redeemed our Jewish brothers who had been sold to the Gentiles. But you, you are even selling your brothers that they may be sold to us.” And they were silent and not able to find a thing to say.
9. Then I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Should you not be walking in the fear of our God because of the reproach of our Gentile enemies?
10.And moreover, I, my brothers, and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us leave off, I pray, this usury.
11.Restore to them this day, I pray, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, and the hundredth part of the money, and grain, and new wine, and fresh oil that you have been exacting from them.”
12. And they said, “We shall restore it and require nothing from them. We will do just as you are saying.” Then I called for the priests, that I might make them swear to act in accordance with this statement.
13. Also, I shook out my lap and said, “So may God shake out from every man his house and his property who does not keep this thing. For thus shall he be shaken out and emptied.” And the whole assembly said, “Amen”, and they praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.
14. Moreover, from the day that he appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate of the governor’s food allowance.
15. But the former governors who were before me made themselves burdensome to the people, for they had taken from them bread, and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people, but I did not do so because of the fear of God.
16. And I also persevered in the work on this wall and did not buy land, and my servants gathered there for the work.
17. And there were one hundred and fifty men, Jews and officials, as well as those who came to us from the Gentiles who were round about us at my table.
18. Now that which was prepared each day was one ox and six choice sheep; also, fowls were prepared for me, and every ten days all manner of wine in abundance. Yet for this, I did not require the governor’s food allowance because the bondager was heavy upon this people.
19. Remember for my good, O God, all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah 6
¶1. And it came to pass, when it was heard by Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (even though at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),
2.that Sanballat, with Geshem, sent word to me, saying, “Come, and let us meet together at Chephirim[1], in the valley of Ono.” But they were thinking to do me harm.
3. So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I abandon it and come down to you?”
4. And they sent this word to me four times, and I answered them in the same way.
5. Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in like manner the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand,
6.in which was written, “Among the nations it has been heard (and Geshem says it), that you, and the Jews, are thinking to rebel, for which reason you are building the wall. And you will become their king, according to these reports.
7.And you have also set up prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim concerning you, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And it will now be heard of by the king according to these words. So, come now, and let us take counsel together.”
8. Then I sent to him, saying, “It has not happened according to these things that you are saying.”
9. For all of them were trying to make us fear, thinking, “Their hands will refrain from the work so that it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
¶10. Then I went to the house of Shemaiah ben-Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up, and he said, “Let us meet in the house of God within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they will come to kill you, and they are coming by night to kill you.”
11. But I said, “Does a man like me flee? Who is there like me who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”
12. And I perceived that, behold, God had not sent him, but that he had spoken this prophecy against me, and that Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him,
13. and that he was hired so that I would fear and act in this way and be at fault, and it give them an evil report with which they could reproach me.
14. My God, remember Tobiah, and Sanballat, according to these works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets who would make me fear.
¶15. And the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.
16. And it came to pass that when all our enemies heard, and all the nations who were round about saw it, that they were much diminished in their own eyes, for they understood that it was of our God that this work was accomplished.
17. Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and many came from Tobiah to them.
18. For there were many in Judah bound by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah ben-Arah, and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam ben-Berechiah.
19. They were even speaking of his good works before me and taking my words to him, Tobiah, the one who sent letters to put me in fear.
Nehemiah 7
¶1. And it came to pass when the wall had been built, and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and the Levites had been appointed,
2.that I gave that Hanani, my brother, and Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, a charge concerning Jerusalem (for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many).
3. And I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot, and while they are standing guard, close the doors and bar them. And you shall station guards for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each in his watch, and each before his house.”
4. For the city was wide and great, but the people within it were few, and no house had been built.
¶5. Then my God put it into my heart, and I assembled the nobles, and the officials, and the people, to be reckoned according to genealogy. And I found a record of the genealogy of those who had come up to Jerusalem at the beginning, and in which I found written:
6. These are the children of the province who came up to Judah of the captives of the exile whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had carried away, each to his city,
7.who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel was:
8.The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two.
9.The children of Shephtiah, three hundred and seventy-two.
10.The children of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two.
11.The children of Pahath-Moab, of the children Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
12.The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four.
13.The children of Zattu, eight hundred and forty-five.
14.The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty.
15.The children of Binnui, six hundred and forty-eight.
16.The children of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-eight.
17.The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two.
18.The children of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-seven.
19.The children of Bigvai, two thousand and sixty-seven.
20.The children of Adin , six hundred and fifty-five.
21.The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
22.The children of Hashum, three hundred and twenty-eight.
23.The children of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-four.
24.The children of Hariph, one hundred and twelve.
25.The children of Gibeon, ninety-five.
26.The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred and eighty-eight.
27.The men of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight.
28.The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty-two.
29.The men of Kirjath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three.
30.The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one.
31.The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two.
32.The men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three.
33.The men of the other Nebo, one hundred and fifty-two.
34.The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four.
35.The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
36. The children of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five.
37.The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one.
38.The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
¶39. The priests: the children of Jedediah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three.
40.The children of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two.
41.The children of Pashur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven.
42.The children of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.
¶43. The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy-four.
¶44. The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred and forty-eight.
¶45. The gatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, one hundred and thirty-eight.
¶46. The Nethanims: the children if Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
47.the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
48.the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,
49.the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
50.the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
51.the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phseah,
52.the children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim,
53.the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
54.the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55.the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,
56.the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
57. The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,
58.the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
59.the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-zebaim, the children of Amon.
60. All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants, three hundred and ninety-two.
¶61. And these were those who went up from Tel-melah, Tel-haresha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer. But they were not able to declare their father’s house, or their seed, whether they were of Israel.
62. The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two.
63. And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, who took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite as a wife and was called by their name.
64. These sought the record of their reckoning by genealogy, but it was not found, so they were polluted and excluded from the priesthood.
65. And the governor told them that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest arose with the Urim and Thummim.
¶66. The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty,
67.beside their male servants and their female servants. These were seven-thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. And they had two hundred and forty-five male and female singers.
68. Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules were two hundred and forty-five,[2]
69.camels, four hundred and thirty-five, donkeys, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
¶70. And some of the chiefs of the fathers gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand drachmas of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priestly tunics.
71. And some of the chiefs of the fathers gave to the treasury for the work twenty-thousand drachmas of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas of silver.
72. And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drachmas of gold, two thousand minas of silver, and seven priestly tunics.
73. And the priests, and the Levites, and the gatekeepers, 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.
Nehemiah 8
¶1. And all the people gathered as one man to the street which is before the water-gate, and they said to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded Israel.
2. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of both men and women, and everyone who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.[3]
3. And he read from it before the street which was before the water-gate from early morning until midday in the presence of the men and women, and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
4. Now Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And at his side stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right, and on his left Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5. And Ezra the scribe 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.
6. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!”, while lifting up their hands. Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord, faces to the ground.
7. And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites gave the people understanding of the law; and the people stood in their place.
8. And they read in the book of the law of God, expounding and giving the meaning, so that they understood the reading.
9. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites, gave understanding to the people, and he said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn! And do not weep!” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
10. And he said to them, “Go! Eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared! For this day is holy to our Lord, and be not grieved because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
11. Then the Levites stilled all the people, saying, “Be quiet! For today is holy, and you shall not grieve.”
12. So all the people went to eat and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great rejoicing because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
13. And on the second day, the chiefs of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, to gain understanding of the words of the law.
14. And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses, that the children of Israel were to dwell in booths at the feast of the seventh month.
15. Then they proclaimed and sent word throughout all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring the foliage of the olive, and branches of the olive[4], and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and the branches of leafy trees, to make booths as it is written.”
16. So the people went out and brought them, and they made booths for themselves, each on his roof or in their courtyards, and in the courtyard of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
17. And the whole assembly who had returned from the captivity made booths, and they dwelt in the booths. Truly, the children of Israel had not done so since the days of Jeshua ben-Nun until that day. And there was very great rejoicing.
18. And day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day was a solemn Assembly, according to the ordinance.
Nehemiah 9
¶1. And on the twenty-fourth day of this month, the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth and earth on them.
2. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and their father’s iniquities.
3. And they stood in their place and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God for a quarter of the day, and for a quarter they were confessing and worshipping Jehovah their God.
4. Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebeniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, Chenani, stood on the ascent and cried out with a great voice to Jehovah their God.
5. Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabeniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up! Bless Jehovah your God for ever and ever.” And they blessed your glorious name and exalted it above all blessing and praise.
6. [5]“You alone are He, Jehovah. You made the heaven, the heaven of heavens and all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and that is in them, and you preserve them all. And the host of heaven worships you.
7.You are the Lord God who chose Abraham and brought him out from Ur of the Chaldeans, and you gave him his name ‘Abraham’.
8.And you found his heart to be faithful before you, and you made a covenant with him to give the land of Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it to his seed; and you fulfilled your word, for you are righteous.
9.And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and you heard their cry by the Red Sea.
10.And you performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, and against all his servants, and against all the people of his land, for you knew that they had been proud against them. And you made a name for yourself, as it is this day.
11.And you divided the sea before them and they passed through the midst of the sea on dry ground, but their pursuers you cast into the depths like a stone into the mighty waters.
12.And you led them by day with a pillar of cloud and at night with a pillar of fire, to light for them the way that they should go.
13.And you came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven, and you gave them right judgments, and true laws, and good statutes and commandments.
14.And you made known to them your holy Sabbath, and you charged them with commandments, and statutes, and the law by the hand of Moses your servant.
15.And you gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought forth water from a rock for them for their thirst, and you said to them that they should go in to possess the land which you lifted up your hand to give to them.
16.But they and our fathers were proud, and they stiffened their necks and did not obey your commandments.
17.And they refused to take heed, nor did they remember your wonders which you did among them, and in their rebellion, they stiffened their necks and appointed a captain to return to their slavery. But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in mercy, and you did not forsake them.
18.And even when they made a molten calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up from Egypt’, and committed great blasphemies,
19.you, in your abundant mercies, did not forsake them in the wilderness, neither did the pillar of cloud depart from being over them to lead them by day in the way, nor the pillar of fire by night to light the way that they should go.
20.And you gave your good Spirit to give them wisdom, and did not withhold your manna from their mouth, and you gave them water for their thirst.
21.For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing; their garments did not wear out, and their feet did not swell.
22.And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and apportioned them a border, and they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og, king of Bashan.
23.And their children you multiplied as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land which you had told their fathers to go in to possess.
24.So, the children went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and you gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, to do with them as they pleased.
25.And they took fortified cities, and a fertile land, and they took possession of houses all full of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, and olive yards, and fruit trees in abundance. And they ate and were satisfied, and they grew fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
26.But they were disobedient and rebelled against you, and they cast your law behind their backs and murdered your prophets who testified against them to turn them back to you; yea, they committed great blasphemies.
27.So, you delivered them into the hand of their enemies, and they oppressed them. And in the time of their distress, they cried out to you, and you heard from heaven, and according to your abundant mercies, you gave them saviors, and they delivered them from the hand of their oppressors.
28.But when they had rest, they returned to doing evil before you, and you abandoned them into the hand of their enemies, and they ruled over them. Yet, when they repented and cried out to you, then you heard from heaven and many times delivered them according to your abundant mercies.
29.And you testified against them to turn them back to your law, but they were proud and would not take heed to your commandments. And they sinned against your judgments (which if a man do, he shall also live by them), and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not hear.
30.And for many years you bore with them and testified against them with your spirit by the hand of your prophets, but they would not give ear. Therefore, you delivered them into the hands of the peoples of the earth.
31.Yet, in your abundant mercies, you did not utterly destroy them or forsake them, for you are gracious and compassionate.
32.Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and dreadful God, who keeps covenant and mercy, let not all the distress which has befallen us, to our kings, to our princes, and to our priests, and to our prophets, and to our fathers, and to all your people, since the days of the kings of Assyria until this day, be a small thing before you.
33.Truly, you are just in all that you have brought upon us, for you have done right, and we have done wickedly.
34.For our kings, our princes, and our fathers, did not observe your law, nor did we listen to your commands or your testimonies which you testified against us.
35.And they did not serve you with their kingdom, or with your abundant goodness which you gave them, or with the wide and fertile land that you delivered before them, nor did they turn from their wicked deeds.
36.Behold, we are slaves this day, and as for the land which you gave to our fathers to eat of its fruit and its good things, behold, we are slaves upon it.
37.And its abundant produce is for the kings whom you set over us because of our sins, and they rule over our bodies, and over our livestock, according to their pleasure, and we are in great distress.
38.And because of all this, we are making a firm covenant and writing it, and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, set their seal to it.
Nehemiah 10
¶1. And over those who sealed were Nehemiah, the governor, the son of Hachaliah, and Zedekiah,
2.Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3.Pashur, Amariah, Malchiah,
4.Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5.Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6.Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7.Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8.Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
9. And the Levites: Jeshua ben-Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
10.and their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11.Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12.Zachur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13.Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
14. The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15.Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16.Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17.Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18.Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19.Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20.Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21.Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22.Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23.Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
24.Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
25.Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26.and Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27.Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
28. And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and understanding,
29.joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in the law of God, which was given by the hand of Moses, the servant of God, and to observe and to do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and His judgments and His statutes,
30.and that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land nor take their daughters for our sons,
31.and as for the peoples of the land who bring in wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, that we would not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day, and that we would forego our crops in the seventh year, and the burden of every hand.
32. Also, we put ordinances on ourselves, for each of us to give yearly a third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:
33.for the bread, the continual grain offering and the continual burnt offering of the Sabbaths, the new moons, for the appointed times, also for the holy things, and for the sin offerings, to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of God;
34.and we cast lots for the wood offering among the priests, the Levites, and the people, to bring it to the house of our God, according to the houses of our fathers, at the times appointed year by year, to burn on the altar of Jehovah our God, as it was written in the law;
35.and to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit from every tree year by year to the house of the Lord;
36.and that the firstborn of our sons, and our livestock (as was written in the law), and the firstborn of our herds and flocks would be brought to the house of our God to the priests who minister in the house of God;
37.and that we would bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our exsect offerings from the fruit of every tree, the new wine, and the fresh oil, for the priests to the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites, that they, the Levites, collect the tithes in all the cities where we labor.
38. And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites collect the tithe, and the Levites shall bring the tithe of the tithe up to the house of our God, to the chambers of the treasure-house.
39. For the children of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring up the offering of grain, the new wine, and the fresh oil to the chambers, for there are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers, and the singers. Thus, we will not neglect the house of our God.
Nehemiah 11
¶1. Now the rulers of the people were dwelling in Jerusalem; then the rest of the people cast lots to bring one in ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city. And the nine parts were to dwell in the other cities.
2. And the people blessed all the men who were willing to dwell in Jerusalem.
3. And these are the chiefs of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah every man dwelt in his possession in their cities, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon’s servants.
¶4. And at Jerusalem dwelt some of the children of Judah, and some of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah ben-Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez,
5.and Maaseiah ben-Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.
6. All the children of Perez who dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight mighty men.
¶7. And these are the children of Benjamin: Sallu ben-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.
8. And after him, Habbai, Sallai, nine hundred and twenty-eight.
9. And Joel ben-Zichri was their overseer, and Judah ben-Hassnuah was the second over the city.
¶10. Of the priests: Jedaiah ben-Joiarib, Jachin,
11.Seraiah ben-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.
12. And their brethren who did the work of the house were eight hundred and twenty-two. And Adaiah ben-Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah,
13.and his brethren, chiefs of the fathers, were two hundred and forty-two. And Amashai ben-Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
14.and their brethren, mighty men of war, were one hundred and twenty-eight: And their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.
¶15. And of the Levites: Shemaiah ben-Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni,
16.and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, had the oversight of the external work of the house of God.
17. And Mattaniah ben-Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the leader at the commencement of the thanksgiving prayer, and Bakbukiah was the second among his brethren, with Abda ben-Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
18. All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four.
¶19. And the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren, who kept watch at the gates were one hundred and seventy-two.
20. And the rest of Israel, the priests and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each in his inheritance.
21. But the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim.
¶22. And the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi ben-Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the service of the house of God,
23.because of the king’s commandment concerning them that a certain provision be made for the singers day by day.
24. And Pethahiah ben-Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah ben-Judah, was at the king's side in every matter concerning the people.
25. And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt in Kirjath-arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages.
26.and in Jeshua and in Moladah and in Beth-pelet,
27.and in Hazar-shual, and in Beersheba and its villages,
28.and in Ziklag, in Mechonah and its villages,
29.and in En-rimmon, and in Zorah, and in Jarmuth,
30.Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish, and its fields, Azekah and its villages. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the Valley of Hinnom.
31. And the children of Benjamin dwelt from Geba to Michmash, and Aija, and at Bethel and its villages,
32.Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33.Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34.Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35.Lod, and Ono, the Valley of the Craftsmen.
36. And some of the courses of the Levites in Judah belonged to Benjamin.
Nehemiah 12
¶1. And these are the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel ben-Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2.Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
3.Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4.Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,
5.Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
6.Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7.Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
¶8. And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
9. And Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, stood opposite them according to the charges.
10. And Jeshua fathered Joiakim, and Joiakim fathered Eliashib, and Eliashib fathered Joiada,
11.and Joiada fathered Jonathan, and Jonathan fathered Jaddua.
12. And in the days of Joiakim there were priests, the chiefs of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; and of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
13.of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
14.of Melichu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
15.of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;
16.of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
17.of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;
18.of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
19.and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
20.of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
21.of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.
¶22. The Levites, In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded by the chiefs of the fathers, with the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian.
23. The sons of Levi, the chiefs of the fathers, were recorded in the book of the chronicles until the days of Johanan ben-Eliashib.
24. And the chiefs of the Levites, Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua ben-Kadmiel, and their brethren opposite them, gave praise and thanks according to the commandment of David, the man of God, division by division.
25. Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub were gatekeepers keeping watch at the storehouses of the gates.
26. These were in the days of Joiakim ben-Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe.
¶27. And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites to bring them to Jerusalem from all their places, to keep the dedication with joy, and with thanksgiving, and with song, with cymbals, ten string harps, and with lyres.
28. And the sons of the singers were assembled from both the Kicor round about Jerusalem and the villages of Netophathi,
29.and from Beth-Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages round about Jerusalem.
30. And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
¶31. Then I brought the rulers of Judah up onto the wall, and I stationed two great companies of those who gave thanks, and one went in procession to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate.
32. And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the rulers of Judah,
33.and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
34.Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
35.and some of the priest’s sons with the trumpets, Zechariah ben-Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,
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 went before them.
37. And at the Fountain Gate, they went up before them by the steps of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall above the house of David, as far as the Water Gate eastward.
¶38. And the second company went to the left , and I followed it, with half of the people, on the wall, from above the Tower of the Ovens as far as the broad wall,
39.and from above the Gate of Ephraim, and over the Old Gate, and over the Fish Gate, and the Tower of Hananeel, and the Tower of Meah, as far as the Sheep Gate. And they stood at the Prison Gate.
40. And the two companies stood at the house of God, and I , and half of the rulers with me,
41.and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with the trumpets,
42.and Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers were heard with Jezrahiah as their leader.
43. And on that day, they offered great sacrifices, and they rejoiced because God had made them glad with great joy. And the women and children rejoiced also, and the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.
¶44. And at that time, certain men were appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and the Levites because there was joy in Judah over the priests and the Levites who were standing.
45. And they kept the charges of their God, even the charge of the purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon, his son.
46. For in the days of David and Asaph of old, there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
47. And in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, all Israel gave daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, and the holy things to the Levites. And the Levites consecrated them to the sons of Aaron.
Nehemiah 13
¶1. On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
2.for they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and water, and he hired Balaam against them to curse them, but our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3. And it came to pass that when they heard the law, they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
4. Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who had been set over the chambers of the house of our God, had become close to Tobiah,
5.and had prepared for him a great chamber where they had formerly laid the grain offering, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of grain, the new wine, and the fresh oil designated for the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the offerings of the priests.
6. But during this time, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, I came to the king, and after a time, I made request of the king,
7.and I came to Jerusalem and learned of the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah in preparing a chamber for him in the courts of the house of God.
8. And it grieved me greatly, and I threw all Tobiah’s household stuff out of the chamber.
9. And I gave orders, and they purified the chambers. Then I returned there the vessels of the house of God, the grain offering, and the frankincense.
¶10. And I found out that the portions for the Levites had not been given, and that the Levites and the singers who did the work had fled, each to his field.
11. And I contended with the officials, and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them and set them at their stations.
12. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, and the new wine, and the fresh oil into the storehouses.
13. And I made treasurers over the storehouses, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah from the Levites, and at their side was Hanan ben-Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, for they were considered faithful. And it was upon them to distribute to their brethren.
¶14. Remember me, O God, for this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its charges.
15. In those days, I saw in Judah some treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain, and loading donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens. And they were bringing them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I admonished them that day of their selling provision.
16. Men of Tyre also dwelt therein, who brought fish and all kinds of merchandise, and who were selling on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17. And I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing that is profaning the Sabbath day?
18.Did not your fathers do so, and our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? Yet you are bringing even more burning wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”
19. And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem fell into shade before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and gave an order that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I set some of my servants at the gates, so that no burden would be brought in on the Sabbath day.
20. Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice.
21. So I admonished them, and said to them, “Why are you lodging in front of the wall? If you do this again, I will lay hands on you.” From then on they came no more on the Sabbath.
22. And I commanded the Levites that they were to purify themselves and come to watch the gates to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, for this also, and spare me according to your lovingkindness.
23. Also, in those days I saw that Jews were dwelling with women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab,
24.and their children were speaking half in the language of Ashdod and could not speak in the language of the Jews, but the language of each people.
25. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and beat some of the men and pulled out their hair, and I made them swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or if you take their daughters for your sons or yourselves.
26.Did not Solomon, king of Israel sin by these things? For among many nations there was not a king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel, yet foreign women caused even him to sin.
27.Should we then take heed to you to do all this great evil, to deal unfaithfully with our God by dwelling with foreign women?”
28. And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. So, I chased him away from me.
29. Remember them, my God, for the defilements of the priesthood, and the covenant of priesthood, and the Levites.
30. I cleansed them of every foreigner, and I set up the offices for the priests and for the Levites, each with his work,
31.and for the offerings, and for the wood in the times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, my God, for good!
Footnotes
[1] Translated “young lions” elsewhere, and often as “one of the villages” here.
[2] Ezra 2:66. Hebrew lacking in Nehemiah.
[3] The Feast of Trumpets.
[4] Heb. “oil tree”.
[5] The LXX begins with “And Ezra said”.