NEHEMIAH

 

Nehemiah Chapter 13

1 ¶ On that day they read in the book of Moses while the people were listening; and in it was found written, that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the congregation of God;

2 Because they did not meet the children of Israel with food and drink, but hired Balaam to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3 Now when they had heard the law, they separated from Israel all of mixed descent.

4 Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who had been put in charge of the rooms of the house of our God, was related to Tobiah:

5 And he had prepared for him a large room, where they had previously placed the food offerings, incense, utensils, and the tithes of grain, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers; and the offerings to the priests.

6 But during all this time I was not at Jerusalem: for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went back to the king, but later I asked the king for permission to return:

7 And I came to Jerusalem, and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.

8 And I was very unhappy: so I threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.

9 Then they cleansed the rooms as I directed: and brought the vessels of the house of God back there, with the food offering and the incense.

10 ¶ Then I learned that the Levites’ portions had not been given to them: for each of the Levites and singers, who did the work, had fled to his field.

11 Then I contended with the officials, and said, Why is the house of God neglected? And I gathered them together, and set them in their stations.

12 Then all of Judah brought the tithe of grain and new wine and oil to the storerooms.

13 And I set treasurers over the storerooms, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and assisting them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren.

14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out the devout things that I have done for the house of my God, and for its service.

15 ¶ In those days I saw some in Judah treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys; and also wine, grapes, and figs, and all sort of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I protested to them at that time about selling food.

16 People from Tyre who also lived in Jerusalem, brought fish, and all kinds of goods, and sold them to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem, on the sabbath.

17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and asked them, What is this evil thing that you are doing, how dare you profane the sabbath day?

18 Did not your fathers do the same, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

19 So before the sabbath, when it began to get dark at the gates of Jerusalem, I commanded that the gates be shut, and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the sabbath: and I stationed some of my servants at the gates, so that no burden could be brought in on the sabbath day.

20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of goods lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.

21 Then I reproved them, and said, Why are you staying outside the wall? if you do it again, I will arrest you. From that time forth they no longer came on the sabbath.

22 And I commanded the Levites to cleanse themselves, and come and guard the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy.

23 ¶ In those days also I saw Jews who had married wives from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab:

24 And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not converse in the language of the Jews, but in the languages of each people.

25 And I rebuked them, cursed them, and beat some of them, and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, You shall not give your daughters to their sons in marriage, or take their daughters as wives for your sons, or for yourselves.

26 Did not Solomon the king of Israel sin in this way? among many nations there was no king like him, who was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless foreign women led even him into sin.

27 Must we hear the same about you doing this great evil, being disloyal to our God by marrying foreign wives?

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, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priests, and Levites.

30 So I cleansed them from everything foreign, and set up the duties of the priests and the Levites, each one in the work he should do;

31 And I provided for the wood offering, at appointed times, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.