Nehemiah, starting at chapter 13
{13:1} On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of
the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a
Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever, {13:2}
because they didn't meet the children of Israel with bread and with
water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: however our God
turned the curse into a blessing. {13:3} It came to pass, when they
had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed
multitude. {13:4} Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was
appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied to
Tobiah, {13:5} had prepared for him a great chamber, where before they
laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the
tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by
commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the
wave offerings for the priests. {13:6} But in all this [time] I was
not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king
of Babylon I went to the king: and after certain days asked I leave of
the king, {13:7} 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 God. {13:8} It grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth
all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. {13:9} Then I
commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and there brought I again
the vessels of the house of God, with the meal offerings and the
frankincense. {13:10} I perceived that the portions of the Levites had
not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the
work, had fled everyone to his field. {13:11} Then contended I with
the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? I gathered
them together, and set them in their place. {13:12} Then brought all
Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the
treasuries. {13:13} I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah
the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and
next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for
they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to
their brothers. {13:14} Remember me, my God, concerning this, and
don't wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God,
and for its observances. {13:15} In those days saw I in Judah some men
treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and
lading donkeys [therewith]; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all
manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath
day: and I testified [against them] in the day in which they sold
food. {13:16} There lived men of Tyre also therein, who brought in
fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children
of Judah, and in Jerusalem. {13:17} Then I contended with the nobles
of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and
profane the Sabbath day? {13:18} Didn't your fathers do thus, and did
not our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city? yet you bring
more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath. {13:19} 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 until after the Sabbath: and some of my servants
set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the
Sabbath day. {13:20} So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares
lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice. {13:21} Then I testified
against them, and said to them, Why lodge you about the wall? if you
do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they
no more on the Sabbath. {13:22} I commanded the Levites that they
should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the
gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember to me, my God, this also,
and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness.
{13:23} In those days also saw I the Jews who had married women of
Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab: {13:24} 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. {13:25} I contended with
them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off
their hair, and made them swear by God, [saying], You shall not give
your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons,
or for yourselves. {13:26} Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these
things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was
beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel:
nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin. {13:27} Shall we
then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our
God in marrying foreign women? {13:28} One of the sons of Joiada, the
son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the
Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. {13:29} Remember them, my
God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the
priesthood, and of the Levites. {13:30} Thus cleansed I them from all
foreigners, and appointed charges for the priests and for the Levites,
everyone in his work; {13:31} and for the wood offering, at times
appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, for good.
___
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