Nechemyah, starting at chapter 13
{13:1} On that day they read in the book of Moshe in the audience of
the people; and therein was found written, that an `Ammonite and a
Mo'avite should not enter into the assembly of God forever, {13:2}
because they didn't meet the children of Yisra'el with bread and with
water, but hired Bil`am 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 Yisra'el all the mixed
multitude. {13:4} Now before this, Elyashiv the [1>]Kohen[<1], who was
appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied to
Toviyah, {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 [2>]mitzvah[<2] to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters;
and the heave-offerings for the [3>]Kohanim[<3]. {13:6} But in all
this [time] I was not at Yerushalayim; for in the two and thirtieth
year of Artachshasta king of Bavel I went to the king: and after
certain days asked I leave of the king, {13:7} and I came to
Yerushalayim, and understood the evil that Elyashiv had done for
Toviyah, 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 Toviyah 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, were 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 Yehudah the tithe of the
grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries. {13:13} I made
treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemyahu the [4>]Kohen[<4], and
Tzadok the [5>]Sofer[<5], and of the Levites, Pedayahu: and next to
them was Hanan the son of Zakkur, the son of Mattanyah; 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
the observances of it. {13:15} In those days saw I in Yehudah some men
treading wine-presses on the Shabbat, and bringing in sheaves, and
lading donkeys [therewith]; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all
manner of burdens, which they brought into Yerushalayim on the day of
Shabbat: and I testified [against them] in the day in which they sold
food. {13:16} There lived men of Tzor also therein, who brought in
fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the Shabbat to the children
of Yehudah, and in Yerushalayim. {13:17} Then I contended with the
nobles of Yehudah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you
do, and profane the day of Shabbat? {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 Yisra'el by profaning the Shabbat. {13:19}
It came to pass that, when the gates of Yerushalayim began to be dark
before the Shabbat, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and
commanded that they should not be opened until after the Shabbat: and
some of my servants set I over the gates, that there should no burden
be brought in on the day of Shabbat. {13:20} So the merchants and
sellers of all kind of wares lodged outside of Yerushalayim 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 Shabbat. {13:22} I
commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that
they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the day of Shabbat.
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 Yehudim who had married women of Ashdod, of `Ammon, [and] of
Mo'av: {13:24} and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod,
and could not speak in the Yehudim' 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 Shlomo king of Yisra'el 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 Yisra'el: 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 Yoiada, the son of Elyashiv
the [6>]Kohen Gadol[<6], was son-in-law to Sanvallat 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 [7>]Kohanim[<7] 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.
________________________________________________________________________
Footnotes:
[1] {13:4} priest
[2] {13:5} commandment
[3] {13:5} priests
[4] {13:13} priest
[5] {13:13} scribe
[6] {13:28} high priest
[7] {13:30} priests
________________________________________________________________________
The Hebrew Names Version of the World English Bible is in the Public
Domain. Typo reports are welcome at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please see
http://eBible.org/bible/hnv for updates and editing status.
___
You are getting this message because you subscribed to this mailing
list at a web site or via Majordomo.
To unsubscribe, please go to http://ebible.org/subscribe.htm OR send
email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with "unsubscribe hnv" in the
message body.
