32: And between the upper chamber of the corner and the sheep
gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
33: 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.
34: And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said: 'What do these feeble Jews? will they restore at will? will they sacrifice? will they make an end this day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burned?'
35: Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said: 'Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.'
36: Hear, O our G-d; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up to spoiling in a land of captivity;
37: and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before Thee; for they have vexed Thee before the builders.
38: So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto half the height thereof; for the people had a mind to work.
Chapter 4
1: But it came to pass that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and
the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repairing of
the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be stopped,
then they were very wroth;
2: and they conspired all of them together to come and fight
against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein.
3: But we made our prayer unto our G-d, and set a watch
against them day and night, because of them.
4: 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.'
5: And our adversaries said: 'They shall not know, neither
see, till we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to
cease.'
6: And it came to pass that, when the Jews that dwelt by them
came, they said unto us ten times: 'Ye must return unto us from all places.'
7: Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the
wall, in the open places, I even set the people after their families with their
swords, their spears, and their bows.
8: 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 L-rd, who is great and awful, and fight for your brethren, your sons and
your daughters, your wives and your houses.'
9: And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was
known unto us, and G-d had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all
of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
10: And it came to pass from that time forth, that half of my
servants wrought in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and
the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of
Judah.
11: They that builded the wall and they that bore burdens
laded themselves, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with
the other held his weapon;
12: and the builders, every one had his sword girded by his
side, and so builded. And he that sounded the horn was by me.
13: 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;
14: in what place soever ye hear the sound of the horn, resort
ye thither unto us; our G-d will fight for us.'
15: So we wrought in the work; and half of them held the
spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
16: 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 may labour in the day.'
17: So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the
men of the guard that followed me, none of us put off our clothes, every one
that went to the water had his weapon.
Chapter 5
1: Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2:For there were that said: 'We, our sons and our daughters, are many; let us get for them corn, that we may eat and live.'
3:Some also there were that said: 'We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses; let us get corn, because of the dearth.'
4: There were also that said: 'We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.
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 into bondage already; neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.'
6:And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7:Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them: 'Ye lend upon pledge, every one to his brother.' And I held a great assembly against them.
8:And I said unto them: 'We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that sold themselves unto the heathen; and would ye nevertheless sell your brethren, and should they sell themselves unto us?' Then held they their peace, and found never a word.
9: Also I said: 'The thing that ye do is not good; ought ye not to walk in the fear of our G-d, because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
10: And I likewise, my brethren and my servants, have lent them money and corn. I pray you, let us leave off this exaction.
11: Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundred pieces of silver, and the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.'
12: Then said they: 'We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as thou sayest.' Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
13: Also I shook out my lap, and said: 'So G-d 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 HaShem. And the people did according to this promise.
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.
15: But the former governors that were before me laid burdens upon the people, and took of them for bread and wine above forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants lorded over the people; but so did not I, because of the fear of G-d.
16: Yea, also I set hand to the work of this wall, neither bought we any land; and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
17: Moreover there were at my table of the Jews and the rulers a hundred and fifty men, beside those that came unto us from among the nations that were round about us.
18: Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep, also fowls were prepared for me; and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine; yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor, because the service was heavy upon this people.
19: Remember unto me, O my G-d, for good, all that I have done for this people.
Chapter 6
1: Now it came to pass, when it was reported to Sanballat and
Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and unto the rest of our enemies, that I had
builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein--though even unto
that time I had not set up the doors in the gates--
2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying: 'Come, let
us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono.' But they thought
to do me mischief.
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?'
4 And they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I
answered them after the same manner.
5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the
fifth time with an open letter in his hand;
6 wherein was written: 'It is reported among the nations, and
Geshem saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause thou
buildest the wall; and thou wouldest be their king, even according to these
words.
7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to proclaim 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.'
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.'
9 For they all would have us afraid, saying: 'Their hands
shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done.' But now, strengthen Thou
my hands.
10 And as for me, I went unto the house of Shemaiah the son
of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up; and he said: 'Let us meet
together in the house of G-d, 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.'
11 And I said: 'Should such a man as I flee? and who is
there, that, being such as I, could go into the temple and live? I will not go
in.'
12 And I discerned, and, lo, G-d had not sent him; for he
pronounced this prophecy against me, whereas Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 For this cause was he hired, that I should be afraid, and
do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they
might taunt me.
14 Remember, O my G-d, Tobiah and Sanballat according to
these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the
prophets, that would have me put in fear.
15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of
the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
16 And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard thereof,
that all the nations that were about us feared, and were much cast down in their
own eyes; for they perceived that this work was wrought of our G-d.
17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many
letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
18 For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he
was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken
the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah to wife.
19 Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported
my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
Chapter 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,
2 that I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of
the castle, charge over Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man, and feared G-d
above many.
3 And I said unto them: 'Let not the gates of Jerusalem be
opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand on guard, let them shut the
doors, and bar ye them; and let watches be appointed of the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.'
4 Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few
therein, and the houses were not builded.
5 And my G-d put into my heart to gather together the nobles,
and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I
found the book of the genealogy of them that came up at the first, and I found
written therein:
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 that returned unto Jerusalem and to Judah,
every one unto 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:
8 The children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred and seventy
and two.
9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
10 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.
11 The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and
Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.
12 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and
four.
13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.
14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
15 The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.
16 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.
17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty
and two.
18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and
seven.
19 The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.
20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.
21 The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
22 The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.
23 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.
24 The children of Hariph, a hundred and twelve.
25 The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.
26 The men of Beth-lehem and Netophah, a hundred fourscore
and eight.
27 The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and eight.
28 The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty and two.
29 The men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven
hundred forty and three.
30 The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.
31 The men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty and two.
73 So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the
singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel, dwelt in
their cities. And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel
were in their cities,
Chapter 8
1 all the people gathered themselves together as one man into
the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spoke unto Ezra the
scribe to bring the book of the Law of Moses, which HaShem had commanded to
Israel.
2 And Ezra the priest brought the Law before the
congregation, both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding,
upon the first day of the seventh month.
3 And he read therein before the broad place that was before
the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and
the women, and of those that could understand; and the ears of all the people
were attentive unto the book of the Law.
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 Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand,
Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah,
and Meshullam.
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.
6 And Ezra blessed HaShem, the great G-d. And all the people
answered: 'Amen, Amen', with the lifting up of their hands; and they bowed their
heads, and fell down before HaShem with their faces to the ground.
7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub,
Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, even the
Levites, caused the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their
place.
8 And they read in the book, in the Law of G-d, distinctly;
and they gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, who was 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 HaShem your G-d; mourn not, nor weep.' For all the people
wept, when they heard the words of the Law.
10 Then he said unto them: 'Go your way, eat the fat, and
drink the sweet, and send portions unto him for whom nothing is prepared; for
this day is holy unto our L-rd; neither be ye grieved; for the joy of HaShem is
your strength.'
11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying: 'Hold your
peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.'
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.
13 And on the second day were gathered together the heads of
fathers' houses of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the
scribe, even to give attention to the words of the Law.
14 And they found written in the Law, how that HaShem had
commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the
feast of the seventh month;
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 branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches,
and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.'
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 G-d, and in the broad place of the water gate,
and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.
17 And all the congregation of them that were come back out
of the captivity made booths, and dwelt in the booths; for since the days of
Joshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And
there was very great gladness.
18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he
read in the book of the Law of G-d. And they kept the feast seven days; and on
the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the ordinance.
Chapter 9
1 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children
of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them.
2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all
foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their
fathers.
3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of
the Law of HaShem their G-d a fourth part of the day; and another fourth part
they confessed, and prostrated themselves before HaShem their G-d.
4 Then stood up upon the platform of the Levites, Jeshua, and
Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a
loud voice unto HaShem their G-d.
5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah,
Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said: 'Stand up and bless HaShem
your G-d from everlasting to everlasting; and let them say: Blessed be Thy
glorious Name, that is exalted above all blessing and praise.
6 Thou art HaShem, even Thou alone; Thou hast made heaven,
the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are
thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and Thou preservest them all; and the
host of heaven worshippeth Thee.
7 Thou art HaShem the G-d, who didst choose Abram, and
broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of
Abraham;
8 and foundest his heart faithful before Thee, and madest a
covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite,
and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, even to give it unto
his seed, and hast performed Thy words; for Thou art righteous;
9 And Thou sawest the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and
heardest their cry by the Red Sea;
10 and didst show signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all
his servants, and on all the people of his land; for Thou knewest that they
dealt proudly against them; and didst get Thee a name, as it is this day.
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 pursuers Thou didst
cast into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.
12 Moreover in a pillar of cloud Thou didst lead them by day;
and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way wherein they
should go.
13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spokest with
them from heaven, and gavest them right ordinances and laws of truth, good
statutes and commandments;
14 and madest known unto them Thy holy sabbath, and didst
command them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by the hand of Moses Thy
servant;
15 and gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and
broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and didst
command them that they should go in to possess the land which Thou hadst lifted
up Thy hand to give them.
16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their
neck, and hearkened not to Thy commandments,
17 and refused to hearken, neither were mindful of Thy
wonders that Thou didst among them; but hardened their neck, and in their
rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage; but Thou art a G-d
ready to pardon, gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and plenteous
in mercy, and forsookest them not.
18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said:
'This is thy G-d that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great
provocations;
19 yet Thou in Thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in
the wilderness; the pillar of cloud departed not from over them by day, to lead
them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and
the way wherein they should go.
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.
21 Yea, forty years didst Thou sustain them in the
wilderness, and they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet
swelled not.
22 Moreover Thou gavest them kingdoms and peoples, which Thou
didst allot quarter by quarter; so they possessed the land of Sihon, even the
land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
23 Their children also didst Thou multiply as the stars of
heaven, and didst bring them into the land, concerning which Thou didst say to
their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.
24 So the children went in and possessed the land, and Thou
didst subdue before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest
them into their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they
might do with them as they would.
25 And they took fortified cities, and a fat land, and
possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, and
oliveyards, and fruit-trees in abundance; so they did eat, and were filled, and
became fat, and luxuriated in Thy great goodness.
26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against
Thee, and cast Thy law behind their back, and slew Thy prophets that did
forewarn them to turn them back unto Thee, and they wrought great provocations.
27 Therefore Thou didst deliver them into the hand of their
adversaries, who distressed them; and in the time of their trouble, when they
cried unto Thee, Thou heardest from heaven; and according to Thy manifold
mercies Thou gavest them saviours who might save them out of the hand of their
adversaries.
28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before Thee;
therefore didst Thou leave them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had
the dominion over them; yet when they returned, and cried unto Thee, many times
didst Thou hear from heaven, and deliver them according to Thy mercies;
29 and didst forewarn them, that Thou mightest bring them
back unto Thy law; yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto Thy
commandments, but sinned against Thine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall
live by them, and presented a stubborn shoulder, and hardened their neck, and
would not hear.
30 Yet many years didst Thou extend mercy unto them, and
didst forewarn them by Thy spirit through Thy prophets; yet would they not give
ear; therefore gavest Thou them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
31 Nevertheless in Thy manifold mercies Thou didst not
utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for Thou art a gracious and merciful
G-d.
32 Now therefore, our G-d, the great, the mighty, and the
awful G-d, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the travail seem little
before Thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our
priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all Thy people, since
the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
33 Howbeit Thou art just in all that is come upon us; for
Thou hast dealt truly, but we have done wickedly;
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.
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.
36 Behold, we are servants this day, and as for the land that
Thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof,
behold, we are servants in it.
37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom Thou
hast set over us because of our sins; also they have power over our bodies, and
over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.'
Chapter 10
1 And yet for all this we make a sure covenant, and subscribe
it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, set their seal unto it.
2 Now those that set their seal were: Nehemiah the Tirshatha,
the son of Hachaliah, and Zedekiah;
3 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah;
4 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah;
5 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch;
6 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah;
7 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch;
8 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin;
9 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah. These were the priests.
10 And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the
sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
11 and their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah,
Hanan;
12 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah;
13 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah;
14 Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.
15 The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu,
Bani;
16 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai;
17 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin;
18 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur;
19 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai;
20 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai;
21 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir;
22 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua;
23 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah;
24 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub;
25 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek;
26 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah;
27 and Ahiah, Hanan, Anan;
28 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
29 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the
porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and all they that had separated themselves
from the peoples of the lands unto the law of G-d, their wives, their sons, and
their daughters, every one that had knowledge and understanding;
30 they cleaved to their brethren, their nobles, and entered
into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in G-d's law, which was given by Moses
the servant of G-d, and to observe and do all the commandments of HaShem our
L-rd, and His ordinances and His statutes;
31 and that we would not give our daughters unto the peoples
of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;
32 and if the peoples of the land bring ware or any victuals
on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the sabbath, or on
a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every
debt.
33 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 G-d;
34 for the showbread, and for the continual meal-offering,
and for the continual burnt-offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the
appointed seasons, and for the holy things, and for the sin-offerings to make
atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our G-d.
35 And we cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the
people, for the wood-offering, to bring it into the house of our G-d, according
to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn upon the altar
of HaShem our G-d, as it is written in the Law;
36 and to bring the first-fruits of our land, and the
first-fruits of all fruit of all manner of trees, year by year, unto the house
of HaShem;
37 also the first-born of our sons, and of our cattle, as it
is written in the Law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to
bring to the house of our G-d, unto the priests that minister in the house of
our G-d;
38 and that we should bring the first of our dough, and our
heave-offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the wine and the oil,
unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our G-d; and the tithes of our
land unto the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all the cities
of our tillage.
39 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 G-d, to the chambers, into the treasure-house.
40 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall
bring the heave-offering of the corn, of the wine, and of the oil, unto the
chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister,
and the porters, and the singers; and we will not forsake the house of our G-d.
Chapter 11
1 And the princes of the people dwelt in Jerusalem; the rest
of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy
city, and nine parts in the other cities.
2 And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered
themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.
3 Now these are the chiefs of the province that dwelt in
Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their
cities, to wit, Israelites, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and
the children of Solomon's servants.
4 And in Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah,
and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of
Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son
of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez;
5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the
son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the
son of the Shilonite.
6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt in Jerusalem were four
hundred threescore and eight valiant men.
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 Jeshaiah.
8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and
eight.
9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah
the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.
10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,
11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son
of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of G-d,
12 and their brethren that did the work of the house, eight
hundred twenty and two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the
son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,
13 and his brethren, chiefs of fathers' houses, two hundred
forty and two; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of
Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
14 and their brethren, mighty men of valour, a hundred twenty
and eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.
15 And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son
of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites,
who had the oversight of the outward business of the house of G-d;
17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son
of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah,
the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal,
the son of Jeduthun.
18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred
fourscore and four.
19 Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren,
that kept watch at the gates, were a hundred seventy and two.
20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, the Levites,
were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
21 But the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were
over the Nethinim.
22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the
son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, of the
sons of Asaph, the singers, over the business of the house of G-d.
23 For there was a commandment from the king concerning them,
and a sure ordinance concerning the singers, as every day required.
24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of
Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the
people.
25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the
children of Judah dwelt in Kiriath-arba and the towns thereof, and in Dibon and
the towns thereof, and in Jekabzeel and the villages thereof;
26 and in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and Beth-pelet;
27 and in Hazar-shual, and in Beer-sheba and the towns
thereof;
28 and in Ziklag, and in Meconah and in the towns thereof;
29 and in En-rimmon, and in Zorah, and in Jarmuth;
30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and the
fields thereof, Azekah and the towns thereof. So they encamped from Beer-sheba
unto the valley of Hinnom.
31 And the children of Benjamin from Geba onward, at Michmas
and Aijah, and at Beth-el and the towns thereof;
32 at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah;
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim;
34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat;
35 Lod, and Ono, Ge-harashim.
36 And of the Levites, certain courses in Judah were joined
to Benjamin.
Chapter 12
1 Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra;
2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush;
3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth;
4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah;
5 Mijamin, 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 Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah,
Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against
them in wards.
10 And Jeshua begot Joiakim, and Joiakim begot Eliashib, and
Eliashib begot Joiada,
11 and Joiada begot Jonathan and Jonathan begot Jaddua.
12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers'
houses: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
14 of Melicu, 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, Nethanel.
22 The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan,
and Jaddua, were recorded heads of fathers' houses; also the priests, in the
reign of Darius the Persian.
23 The sons of Levi, heads of fathers' houses, were written
in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of
Eliashib.
24 And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and
Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and
give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of G-d, ward against
ward.
25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon,
Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the store-houses of the gates.
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.
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.
28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together,
both out of the Plain round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of the
Netophathites;
29 also from Beth-gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and
Azmaveth; for the singers had builded them 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 up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and
appointed two great companies that gave thanks and went in procession: on the
right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate;
32 and after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of
Judah;
33 and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah;
35 and certain of the priests' sons with trumpets: Zechariah
the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of
Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph;
36 and his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai,
Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man
of G-d; and Ezra the scribe was before them;
37 and by the fountain gate, and straight before 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.
38 And the other company of them that gave thanks went to
meet them, and I after them, with the half of the people, upon the wall, above
the tower of the furnaces, even unto the broad wall;
39 and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the gate of the old
city and by the fish gate, and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah,
even unto the sheep gate; and they stood still in the gate of the guard.
40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the
house of G-d, and I, and the half of the rulers with me;
41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah,
Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
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.
43 And they offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced;
for G-d had made them rejoice with great joy; and the women also and the
children rejoiced; so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
44 And on that day were men appointed over the chambers for
the treasures, for the heave-offerings, for the first-fruits, and for the
tithes, to gather into them, according to the fields of the cities, the portions
appointed by the law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced for the
priests and for the Levites that took their stations.
45 And they kept the ward of their G-d, and the ward of the
purification, and so did the singers and the porters, according to the
commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.
46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief
of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto G-d.
47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days
of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, as every day
required; and they hallowed for the Levites; and the Levites hallowed for the
sons of Aaron.
Chapter 13
1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing
of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite
should not enter into the assembly of G-d for ever;
2 because they met not the children of Israel with bread and
with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them; howbeit our G-d turned
the curse into a blessing.
3 And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they
separated from Israel all the alien mixture.
4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed
over the chambers of the house of our G-d, being allied unto Tobiah,
5 had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they
laid the meal-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of
the corn, the wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites,
and the singers, and the porters; and the heave-offerings for the priests.
6 But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two
and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went unto the king, and after
certain days asked I leave of the king;
7 and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that
Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the
house of G-d.
8 And it grieved me sore; therefore I cast forth all the
household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and
thither brought I again the vessels of the house of G-d, with the meal-offerings
and the frankincense.
10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not
been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were
fled every one to his field.
11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said: 'Why is the
house of G-d forsaken?' And I gathered them together, and set them in their
place.
12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the wine
and the oil unto the treasuries.
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.
14 Remember me, O my G-d, concerning this, and wipe not out
my good deeds that I have done for the house of my G-d, and for the wards
thereof.
15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading winepresses on
the sabbath, and bringing in heaps of corn, and lading asses therewith; as also
wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into
Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I forewarned them in the day wherein they sold
victuals.
16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish,
and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and
in Jerusalem.
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?
18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our G-d bring all
this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by
profaning the sabbath.'
19 And it came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem
began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut,
and commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath; and some of
my servants set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on
the sabbath day.
20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged
without Jerusalem once or twice.
21 Then I forewarned 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.
22 And I commanded the Levites that they should purify
themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the
sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my G-d, this also, and spare me according to
the greatness of Thy mercy.
23 In those days also saw I the Jews that had married women
of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab;
24 and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and
could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each
people.
25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote
certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by G-d: 'Ye
shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters for your
sons, or for yourselves.
26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet
among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his G-d,
and G-d made him king over all Israel; nevertheless even him did the foreign
women cause to sin.
27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil,
to break faith with our G-d in marrying foreign women?'
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.
29 Remember them, O my G-d, because they have defiled the
priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30 Thus cleansed I them from everything foreign, and
appointed wards for the priests and for the Levites, every one in his work;
31 and for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the
first-fruits. Remember me, O my G-d, for good.