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 rooms of the house of our God, being allied to
Tobiah, {13:5} had prepared for him a great room, 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 room in the courts of
the house of God. {13:8} It grieved me severely: therefore I cast
forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the room. {13:9} Then I
commanded, and they cleansed the rooms: 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 I contended 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
loading donkeys [therewith]; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all
kinds 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 kinds 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
didn't 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.
I set some of my servants over the gates, that no burden should be
brought in on the Sabbath day. {13:20} So the merchants and sellers of
all kinds of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice. {13:21}
Then I testified against them, and said to them, "Why do you stay
around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you." From
that time on, they didn't come 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} Didn't 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 foreign women caused even him 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 I cleansed them from all foreigners, and
appointed duties 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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