The words
of Nehemiah
the son
of Hachaliah.
And it
came to pass
in the month Chisleu,
in the twentieth year,
as I
was in Shushan
the palace,
That Hanani,
one
of my brethren,
came,
he and certain men
of Judah;
and
I asked them concerning
the Jews
that had escaped,
which were left
of the captivity,
and concerning Jerusalem.
And
they
said unto me,
The remnant
that
are left of the captivity
there in the province
are in great affliction
and reproach:
the wall
of Jerusalem
also is broken down,
and the gates
thereof are burned
with fire.
And it
came
to pass,
when
I heard
these words,
that I
sat down
and wept,
and mourned
certain days,
and fasted,
and prayed
before the God
of heaven,
And said,
I beseech thee,
O LORD God
of heaven,
the great
and terrible God,
that keepeth covenant
and mercy
for them that love him
and observe
his commandments:
Let thine ear
now be attentive,
and thine
eyes open,
that thou
mayest hear the prayer
of thy servant,
which I
pray
before thee now,
day and night,
for the children
of Israel thy servants,
and confess
the sins
of the children
of Israel,
which we
have sinned
against thee:
both I
and my father's house
have sinned.
We have dealt very
corruptly against thee,
and have not kept
the commandments,
nor the statutes,
nor the judgments,
which thou
commandedst
thy servant Moses.
Remember,
I beseech thee,
the word
that thou
commandedst
thy servant Moses,
saying,
If ye transgress,
I will scatter you
abroad among the nations:
But
if ye
turn unto me,
and keep
my commandments,
and do them;
though there were
of you
cast out
unto the uttermost part
of the heaven,
yet will
I gather them
from thence,
and will bring them
unto the place
that I
have chosen
to set my name there.
Now these
are thy servants
and thy people,
whom
thou hast redeemed
by thy great power,
and by thy strong hand.
O LORD,
I beseech thee,
let now
thine ear
be attentive
to the prayer
of thy servant,
and
to the prayer
of thy servants,
who desire
to fear
thy name:
and prosper,
I pray thee,
thy servant
this day,
and grant him mercy
in the sight
of this man.
For I
was the king's cupbearer.
And it
came to pass
in the month Nisan,
in the twentieth year
of Artaxerxes the king,
that wine
was
before him:
and
I took up
the wine,
and gave it
unto the king.
Now
I had not been beforetime sad
in his presence.
Wherefore
the king
said unto me,
Why is thy countenance sad,
seeing
thou art not sick?
this is nothing else
but sorrow
of heart.
Then I
was
very sore afraid,
And said
unto the king,
Let the king
live
for ever:
why should not
my countenance
be sad,
when the city,
the place
of my fathers' sepulchres,
lieth waste,
and the gates
thereof are consumed
with fire?
Then the king
said unto me,
For
what dost
thou make request?
So I
prayed
to the God
of heaven.
And I
said
unto the king,
If it
please
the king,
and
if thy servant
have found
favour in thy sight,
that thou
wouldest send me
unto Judah,
unto the city
of my fathers' sepulchres,
that I
may build it.
And the king
said unto me,
(the queen
also sitting by him,)
For how long
shall
thy journey be?
and
when wilt
thou return?
So it
pleased
the king
to send me;
and
I set him
a time.
Moreover I
said
unto the king,
If it
please
the king,
let letters
be given me
to the governors
beyond the river,
that they
may convey me
over till
I come
into Judah;
And a letter
unto Asaph
the keeper
of the king's forest,
that he
may give me
timber to make
beams
for the gates
of the palace
which appertained
to the house,
and
for the wall
of the city,
and for the house
that I
shall enter into.
And the king
granted me,
according to
the good hand
of my God
upon me.
Then
I came
to the governors
beyond the river,
and gave them
the king's letters.
Now the king
had sent captains
of the army
and horsemen
with me.
When Sanballat
the Horonite,
and Tobiah
the servant,
the Ammonite,
heard of it,
it grieved them exceedingly
that there was come
a man
to seek the welfare
of the children
of Israel.
So I
came
to Jerusalem,
and was there
three days.
And I
arose
in the night,
I and some few men
with me;
neither told
I any man
what my God
had put in
my heart
to do
at Jerusalem:
neither was there any beast
with me,
save the beast
that I
rode upon.
And I
went out
by night
by the gate
of the valley,
even before the dragon well,
and
to the dung port,
and viewed
the walls
of Jerusalem,
which were broken down,
and the gates
thereof were consumed
with fire.
Then
I went on
to the gate
of the fountain,
and
to the king's pool:
but there was
no place
for the beast
that
was under me to pass.
Then went
I up
in the night
by the brook,
and viewed
the wall,
and turned back,
and entered
by the gate
of the valley,
and so returned.
And the rulers
knew not whither
I went,
or what I did;
neither had
I as yet told
it to the Jews,
nor
to the priests,
nor
to the nobles,
nor
to the rulers,
nor to the rest
that did the work.
Then said
I unto them, Ye
see the distress
that we are in,
how Jerusalem
lieth waste,
and the gates
thereof are burned
with fire:
come,
and let us
build up
the wall
of Jerusalem,
that we
be no more a reproach.
Then I
told them
of the hand
of my God which
was good upon me;
as also
the king's words
that he
had spoken unto me.
And they said,
Let us
rise up and build.
So they
strengthened
their hands
for this good work.
But
when Sanballat
the Horonite,
and Tobiah
the servant,
the Ammonite,
and Geshem
the Arabian,
heard it,
they laughed us
to scorn,
and despised us,
and said,
What
is
this thing that
ye do?
will
ye rebel
against the king?
Then answered
I them,
and
said unto them,
The God
of heaven,
he will prosper us;
therefore we
his servants
will arise
and build:
but
ye have no portion,
nor right,
nor memorial,
in Jerusalem.
Then
Eliashib the high priest
rose up
with his brethren the priests,
and they
builded
the sheep gate;
they sanctified it,
and set up
the doors of it;
even unto the tower
of Meah
they sanctified it,
unto the tower
of Hananeel.
And next
unto him builded
the men
of Jericho.
And next to them
builded
Zaccur the son
of Imri.
But the fish gate
did
the sons
of Hassenaah build,
who also laid
the beams thereof,
and
set up
the doors thereof,
the locks thereof,
and the bars
thereof.
And next
unto them repaired
Meremoth the son
of Urijah,
the son of Koz.
And next
unto them repaired
Meshullam the son
of Berechiah,
the son
of Meshezabeel.
And next
unto them repaired
Zadok the son
of Baana.
And next
unto them the Tekoites repaired;
but their nobles put not
their necks
to the work
of their LORD.
Moreover the old gate
repaired
Jehoiada the son
of Paseah,
and Meshullam
the son
of Besodeiah;
they laid
the beams thereof,
and
set up
the doors thereof,
and the locks
thereof,
and the bars
thereof.
And next
unto them repaired Melatiah
the Gibeonite,
and Jadon
the Meronothite,
the men
of Gibeon,
and of Mizpah,
unto the throne
of the governor
on this side the river.
Next unto him repaired
Uzziel the son
of Harhaiah,
of the goldsmiths.
Next unto him
also repaired Hananiah
the son
of one
of the apothecaries,
and
they fortified Jerusalem
unto the broad wall.
And next
unto them repaired
Rephaiah the son
of Hur,
the ruler
of the half
part
of Jerusalem.
And next
unto them repaired
Jedaiah the son
of Harumaph,
even over
against his house.
And next
unto him repaired
Hattush the son
of Hashabniah.
Malchijah the son
of Harim,
and Hashub
the son
of Pahathmoab,
repaired the other piece,
and the tower
of the furnaces.
And next
unto him repaired
Shallum the son
of Halohesh,
the ruler
of the half
part
of Jerusalem,
he and his daughters.
The valley gate
repaired Hanun,
and the inhabitants
of Zanoah;
they built it,
and
set up
the doors thereof,
the locks thereof,
and the bars
thereof,
and a thousand cubits
on the wall
unto the dung gate.
But the dung
gate
repaired
Malchiah the son
of Rechab,
the ruler
of part
of Bethhaccerem;
he built it,
and
set up
the doors thereof,
the locks thereof,
and the bars
thereof.
But the gate
of the fountain repaired
Shallun the son
of Colhozeh,
the ruler
of part
of Mizpah;
he built it,
and covered it,
and
set up
the doors thereof,
the locks thereof,
and the bars
thereof,
and the wall
of the pool
of Siloah
by the king's garden,
and
unto the stairs
that go down
from the city
of David.
After him
repaired
Nehemiah the son
of Azbuk,
the ruler
of the half
part
of Bethzur,
unto the place over
against the sepulchres
of David,
and to the pool
that was made,
and
unto the house
of the mighty.
After him
repaired the Levites,
Rehum the son
of Bani.
Next unto him repaired Hashabiah,
the ruler
of the half
part
of Keilah,
in his part.
After him
repaired their brethren,
Bavai the son
of Henadad,
the ruler
of the half
part
of Keilah.
And next to him
repaired
Ezer the son
of Jeshua,
the ruler
of Mizpah,
another piece over
against the going up to
the armoury
at the turning
of the wall.
After him
Baruch
the son
of Zabbai
earnestly repaired
the other piece,
from the turning
of the wall
unto the door
of the house
of Eliashib
the high priest.
After him
repaired Meremoth
the son
of Urijah the son
of Koz another piece,
from the door
of the house
of Eliashib
even to the end
of the house
of Eliashib.
And
after him
repaired the priests,
the men
of the plain.
After him
repaired Benjamin
and Hashub over
against their house.
After him
repaired Azariah
the son
of Maaseiah the son
of Ananiah
by his house.
After him
repaired Binnui
the son
of Henadad another piece,
from the house
of Azariah
unto the turning
of the wall,
even unto the corner.
Palal the son
of Uzai,
over against the turning
of the wall,
and the tower
which lieth out
from the king's high house,
that was by the court
of the prison.
After him
Pedaiah the son
of Parosh.
Moreover the Nethinims
dwelt
in Ophel,
unto the place over
against the water
gate
toward the east,
and the tower
that lieth out.
After them
the Tekoites
repaired another piece,
over against the great
tower
that lieth out,
even unto the wall
of Ophel.
From above
the horse gate
repaired the priests,
every one over
against his house.
After them
repaired Zadok
the son
of Immer over
against his house.
After him
repaired also
Shemaiah the son
of Shechaniah,
the keeper
of the east gate.
After him
repaired
Hananiah the son
of Shelemiah,
and Hanun
the sixth son
of Zalaph,
another piece.
After him
repaired Meshullam
the son
of Berechiah over
against his chamber.
After him
repaired Malchiah
the goldsmith's son
unto the place
of the Nethinims,
and
of the merchants,
over against the gate Miphkad,
and to the going up
of the corner.
And between the going up
of the corner
unto the sheep
gate
repaired
the goldsmiths
and the merchants.
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.
And
he spake before his brethren
and the army
of Samaria,
and said,
What
do
these feeble Jews?
will
they fortify
themselves?
will
they sacrifice?
will
they make
an end
in a day?
will
they
revive the stones
out of the heaps
of the rubbish which
are burned?
Now Tobiah
the Ammonite
was by him,
and he said,
Even
that which
they build,
if a fox go up,
he shall even break down
their stone wall.
Hear,
O our God;
for we
are despised:
and turn
their reproach
upon their own head,
and give them
for a prey
in the land
of captivity:
And cover not
their iniquity,
and let not
their sin
be blotted out from
before thee:
for they
have provoked thee
to anger
before the builders.
So built
we the wall;
and all
the wall
was joined together
unto the half
thereof:
for the people
had a mind
to work.
But it
came
to pass,
that when Sanballat,
and Tobiah,
and the Arabians,
and the Ammonites,
and the Ashdodites,
heard
that the walls
of Jerusalem
were made up,
and
that the breaches
began
to be stopped,
then
they were very wroth,
And conspired
all of them
together to come
and
to fight
against Jerusalem,
and to hinder it.
Nevertheless
we made
our prayer
unto our God,
and set
a watch
against them day and night,
because
of them.
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.
And our adversaries said,
They shall not know,
neither see,
till we come in
the midst
among them,
and slay them,
and cause
the work
to cease.
And it
came
to pass,
that when the Jews which
dwelt by them
came,
they said
unto us ten times,
From
all places whence
ye shall return
unto us they
will be
upon you.
Therefore set
I in the lower
places
behind the wall,
and
on the higher places,
I even set the people
after their families
with their swords,
their spears,
and their bows.
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 LORD,
which is
great
and terrible,
and fight
for your brethren,
your sons,
and your daughters,
your wives,
and your houses.
And it
came
to pass,
when our enemies
heard
that it
was known unto us,
and God
had brought
their counsel
to nought,
that we
returned
all of us
to the wall,
every one
unto his work.
And it
came to pass
from that time forth,
that the half
of my servants
wrought in the work,
and the other half
of them held
both the spears,
the shields,
and the bows,
and the habergeons;
and the rulers
were behind all
the house
of Judah.
They which
builded
on the wall,
and
they that bare burdens,
with those
that laded,
every one
with one
of his hands
wrought in the work,
and
with the other hand
held a weapon.
For the builders,
every one
had
his sword
girded
by his side,
and so builded.
And he
that
sounded
the trumpet
was by me.
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.
In what
place therefore ye
hear the sound
of the trumpet,
resort
ye thither
unto us:
our God
shall fight for us.
So we
laboured
in the work:
and half
of them held the spears
from the rising
of the morning
till the stars appeared.
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 labour
on the day.
So neither I,
nor my brethren,
nor my servants,
nor the men
of the guard which
followed me,
none of us
put off
our clothes,
saving that every one
put
them off for washing.
And there was
a great cry
of the people
and of their wives
against their brethren the Jews.
For there were
that said,
We,
our sons,
and our daughters,
are many:
therefore we
take up corn
for them,
that
we may eat,
and live.
Some
also there were
that said,
We have mortgaged
our lands,
vineyards,
and houses,
that we
might buy corn,
because
of the dearth.
There were also
that said,
We have borrowed money
for the king's tribute,
and
that upon our lands
and vineyards.
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
unto bondage already:
neither is it
in our power
to redeem them;
for other men
have our lands
and vineyards.
And
I was very angry
when I
heard
their cry and these words.
Then I
consulted
with myself,
and
I rebuked
the nobles,
and the rulers,
and
said unto them,
Ye exact usury,
every one
of his brother.
And I set
a great
assembly against them.
And
I said unto them,
We after our ability
have redeemed
our brethren the Jews,
which were sold
unto the heathen;
and will
ye even sell
your brethren?
or shall
they
be sold unto us?
Then held
they their peace,
and found nothing
to answer.
Also I said,
It is not good
that
ye do:
ought
ye not
to walk
in the fear
of our God
because
of the reproach
of the heathen our enemies?
I likewise,
and my brethren,
and my servants,
might exact
of them money
and corn:
I pray you,
let us
leave off
this usury.
Restore,
I pray you,
to them,
even this day,
their lands,
their vineyards,
their oliveyards,
and their houses,
also the hundredth part
of the money,
and of the corn,
the wine,
and the oil,
that ye
exact of them.
Then said they,
We will restore them,
and will require nothing
of them;
so will
we do
as thou sayest.
Then
I called
the priests,
and took
an oath
of them,
that they
should do according to
this promise.
Also I
shook my lap,
and said,
So God
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
the LORD.
And the people
did according to
this promise.
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.
But the former governors
that had been
before me
were chargeable
unto the people,
and had taken
of them bread
and wine,
beside forty shekels
of silver;
yea,
even their servants bare rule
over the people:
but so
did not I,
because
of the fear
of God.
Yea,
also I
continued
in the work
of this wall,
neither bought
we any land:
and all my servants
were gathered thither
unto the work.
Moreover there were
at my table an hundred
and fifty
of the Jews
and rulers,
beside those that
came
unto us from
among the heathen
that are about us.
Now that which
was prepared
for me daily 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 required not
I the bread
of the governor,
because
the bondage
was heavy
upon this people.
Think upon me,
my God,
for good,
according to all
that
I have done
for this people.
Now it
came
to pass
when Sanballat,
and Tobiah,
and Geshem
the Arabian,
and the rest
of our enemies,
heard
that I
had builded
the wall,
and that
there was
no breach
left therein;
(though
at that time
I had not set up
the doors
upon the gates;)
That Sanballat
and Geshem
sent unto me,
saying,
Come,
let us
meet together
in some one
of the villages
in the plain
of Ono.
But they
thought
to do me mischief.
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?
Yet they
sent
unto me four
times
after this sort;
and
I answered them
after the same manner.
Then sent Sanballat
his servant
unto me
in like manner
the fifth time
with an open letter
in his hand;
Wherein was written,
It is reported
among the heathen,
and Gashmu
saith it,
that thou
and the Jews
think to rebel:
for which
cause
thou buildest the wall,
that thou
mayest be
their king,
according to
these words.
And
thou hast also appointed
prophets
to preach 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.
Then
I sent unto him,
saying,
There
are
no such things
done as thou sayest,
but
thou feignest them
out of thine own heart.
For they
all made us afraid,
saying,
Their hands
shall be weakened
from the work,
that it
be not done.
Now therefore,
O God,
strengthen
my hands.
Afterward
I came
unto the house
of Shemaiah the son
of Delaiah
the son
of Mehetabeel,
who was shut up;
and he said,
Let us
meet together
in the house
of God,
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.
And I said,
Should such a man
as I flee?
and who
is there,
that,
being as I am,
would go
into the temple
to save his life?
I will not go in.
And,
lo,
I perceived
that God
had not sent him;
but that
he pronounced
this prophecy
against me:
for Tobiah
and Sanballat
had hired him.
Therefore 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 reproach me.
My God,
think
thou
upon Tobiah
and Sanballat
according to
these their works,
and
on the prophetess Noadiah,
and the rest
of the prophets,
that would have put me
in fear.
So the wall
was finished
in the twenty
and fifth day
of the month Elul,
in fifty
and two days.
And it
came
to pass,
that when
all our enemies
heard thereof,
and all
the heathen
that
were about us saw
these things,
they
were
much cast down
in their own eyes:
for they
perceived
that this work
was wrought
of our God.
Moreover in
those days
the nobles
of Judah
sent many letters
unto Tobiah,
and the letters
of Tobiah
came unto them.
For there were
many in Judah
sworn unto him,
because
he was the son
in law
of Shechaniah
the son of Arah;
and his son Johanan
had taken
the daughter
of Meshullam
the son
of Berechiah.
Also they
reported
his good deeds
before me,
and uttered
my words
to him.
And Tobiah
sent letters to
put me
in fear.
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,
That I
gave my brother Hanani,
and Hananiah
the ruler
of the palace,
charge
over Jerusalem:
for he
was a faithful man,
and feared
God above many.
And
I said unto them,
Let not
the gates
of Jerusalem
be opened until the sun
be hot;
and
while they stand by,
let them
shut the doors,
and bar them:
and appoint
watches
of the inhabitants
of Jerusalem,
every one
in his watch,
and every one
to be over
against his house.
Now the city
was
large
and great:
but the people
were few
therein,
and the houses
were not builded.
And my God
put
into mine heart
to gather
together the nobles,
and the rulers,
and the people,
that they
might be reckoned
by genealogy.
And I
found
a register
of the genealogy
of them which
came up
at the first,
and found
written therein,
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 came again
to Jerusalem
and to Judah,
every one
unto his city;
Who came
with Zerubbabel, Jeshua,
Nehemiah, Azariah,
Raamiah, Nahamani,
Mordecai, Bilshan,
Mispereth, Bigvai,
Nehum, Baanah.
The number,
I say,
of the men
of the people
of Israel
was this;
The children
of Parosh,
two thousand
an hundred seventy
and two.
The children
of Shephatiah,
three hundred seventy
and two.
The children
of Arah,
six hundred fifty
and two.
The children
of Pahathmoab,
of the children
of Jeshua
and Joab,
two thousand
and eight hundred
and eighteen.
The children
of Elam,
a thousand two hundred fifty
and four.
The children
of Zattu,
eight hundred forty
and five.
The children
of Zaccai,
seven hundred
and threescore.
The children
of Binnui,
six hundred forty
and eight.
The children
of Bebai,
six hundred twenty
and eight.
The children
of Azgad,
two thousand three hundred twenty
and two.
The children
of Adonikam,
six hundred threescore
and seven.
The children
of Bigvai,
two thousand threescore
and seven.
The children
of Adin,
six hundred fifty
and five.
The children
of Ater
of Hezekiah,
ninety and eight.
The children
of Hashum,
three hundred twenty
and eight.
The children
of Bezai,
three hundred twenty
and four.
The children
of Hariph,
an hundred
and twelve.
The children
of Gibeon,
ninety and five.
The men
of Bethlehem
and Netophah,
an hundred fourscore
and eight.
The men
of Anathoth,
an hundred twenty
and eight.
The men
of Bethazmaveth,
forty and two.
The men
of Kirjathjearim,
Chephirah,
and Beeroth,
seven hundred forty
and three.
The men
of Ramah
and Gaba,
six hundred twenty
and one.
The men
of Michmas,
an hundred
and twenty
and two.
The men
of Bethel and Ai,
an hundred twenty
and three.
The men
of the other Nebo,
fifty and two.
The children
of the other Elam,
a thousand two hundred fifty
and four.
The children
of Harim,
three hundred
and twenty.
The children
of Jericho,
three hundred forty
and five.
The children
of Lod, Hadid,
and Ono,
seven hundred twenty
and one.
The children
of Senaah,
three thousand nine hundred
and thirty.
The priests:
the children
of Jedaiah,
of the house
of Jeshua,
nine hundred seventy
and three.
The children
of Immer,
a thousand fifty
and two.
The children
of Pashur,
a thousand two hundred forty
and seven.
The children
of Harim,
a thousand
and seventeen.
The Levites:
the children
of Jeshua,
of Kadmiel,
and of the children
of Hodevah,
seventy and four.
The singers:
the children
of Asaph,
an hundred forty
and eight.
The porters:
the children
of Shallum,
the children
of Ater,
the children
of Talmon,
the children
of Akkub,
the children
of Hatita,
the children
of Shobai,
an hundred thirty
and eight.
The Nethinims:
the children
of Ziha,
the children
of Hashupha,
the children
of Tabbaoth,
The children
of Keros,
the children
of Sia,
the children
of Padon,
The children
of Lebana,
the children
of Hagaba,
the children
of Shalmai,
The children
of Hanan,
the children
of Giddel,
the children
of Gahar,
The children
of Reaiah,
the children
of Rezin,
the children
of Nekoda,
The children
of Gazzam,
the children
of Uzza,
the children
of Phaseah,
The children
of Besai,
the children
of Meunim,
the children
of Nephishesim,
The children
of Bakbuk,
the children
of Hakupha,
the children
of Harhur,
The children
of Bazlith,
the children
of Mehida,
the children
of Harsha,
The children
of Barkos,
the children
of Sisera,
the children
of Tamah,
The children
of Neziah,
the children
of Hatipha.
The children
of Solomon's servants:
the children
of Sotai,
the children
of Sophereth,
the children
of Perida,
The children
of Jaala,
the children
of Darkon,
the children
of Giddel,
The children
of Shephatiah,
the children
of Hattil,
the children
of Pochereth
of Zebaim,
the children
of Amon.
All the Nethinims,
and the children
of Solomon's servants,
were three hundred ninety
and two.
And these
were
they which
went up
also from Telmelah, Telharesha,
Cherub, Addon,
and Immer:
but
they could not shew
their father's house,
nor their seed,
whether they
were of Israel.
The children
of Delaiah,
the children
of Tobiah,
the children
of Nekoda,
six hundred forty
and two.
And
of the priests:
the children
of Habaiah,
the children
of Koz,
the children
of Barzillai,
which took one
of the daughters
of Barzillai
the Gileadite
to wife,
and was called
after their name.
These sought
their register
among those
that were reckoned
by genealogy,
but it
was not found:
therefore were they,
as polluted,
put
from the priesthood.
And the Tirshatha
said unto them,
that they
should not eat
of the most holy things,
till there stood up
a priest
with Urim and Thummim.
The whole congregation
together was forty
and two thousand three hundred
and threescore,
Beside their manservants
and their maidservants,
of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty
and seven:
and
they had two hundred forty
and five singing men
and singing women.
Their horses,
seven hundred thirty
and six:
their mules,
two hundred forty
and five:
Their camels,
four hundred thirty
and five:
six thousand seven hundred
and twenty asses.
And some of the chief
of the fathers
gave unto the work.
The Tirshatha
gave to the treasure
a thousand drams
of gold,
fifty basons,
five hundred
and thirty priests' garments.
And some of the chief
of the fathers
gave to the treasure
of the work
twenty thousand drams
of gold,
and two thousand
and two hundred
pound
of silver.
And that
which the rest
of the people
gave
was twenty thousand drams
of gold,
and two thousand
pound of silver,
and threescore
and seven priests' garments.
So the priests,
and the Levites,
and the porters,
and the singers,
and some of the people,
and the Nethinims,
and all Israel,
dwelt
in their cities;
and
when the seventh month came,
the children
of Israel
were in their cities.
And all
the people
gathered themselves
together
as one man
into the street
that was before the water gate;
and
they spake unto Ezra
the scribe
to bring the book
of the law
of Moses,
which the LORD
had commanded
to Israel.
And Ezra
the priest
brought
the law
before the congregation both
of men and women,
and all
that could hear with
understanding,
upon the first day
of the seventh month.
And
he read therein
before the street
that was before the water gate
from the morning
until midday,
before the men
and the women,
and those
that could understand;
and the ears
of all the people
were attentive
unto the book
of the law.
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 Urijah,
and Hilkiah,
and Maaseiah,
on his right hand;
and
on his left hand,
Pedaiah,
and Mishael,
and Malchiah,
and Hashum,
and Hashbadana, Zechariah,
and Meshullam.
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:
And Ezra
blessed the LORD,
the great God.
And all
the people answered,
Amen, Amen,
with lifting
up their hands:
and
they bowed
their heads,
and worshipped
the LORD
with their faces
to the ground.
Also Jeshua,
and Bani,
and Sherebiah, Jamin,
Akkub, Shabbethai,
Hodijah, Maaseiah,
Kelita, Azariah,
Jozabad, Hanan,
Pelaiah,
and the Levites,
caused the people
to understand the law:
and the people
stood
in their place.
So they read
in the book
in the law
of God distinctly,
and gave the sense,
and caused them
to understand the reading.
And Nehemiah,
which is 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 the LORD your God;
mourn not,
nor weep.
For all
the people wept,
when they
heard
the words
of the law.
Then
he said unto them,
Go your way,
eat the fat,
and drink
the sweet,
and send portions
unto them for whom nothing
is prepared:
for this day
is holy
unto our LORD:
neither be
ye sorry;
for the joy
of the LORD
is your strength.
So the Levites
stilled all
the people,
saying,
Hold your peace,
for the day
is holy;
neither be
ye grieved.
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.
And on the second day
were gathered
together the chief
of the fathers
of all the people,
the priests,
and the Levites,
unto Ezra the scribe,
even
to understand the words
of the law.
And they
found
written
in the law
which the LORD
had commanded
by Moses,
that the children
of Israel
should dwell
in booths
in the feast
of the seventh month:
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 pine branches,
and myrtle branches,
and palm branches,
and branches
of thick trees,
to make booths,
as it is written.
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 God,
and in the street
of the water gate,
and in the street
of the gate
of Ephraim.
And all
the congregation
of them
that were come again
out of the captivity made booths,
and sat
under the booths:
for since the days
of Jeshua the son
of Nun
unto that day
had not
the children
of Israel done so.
And there was
very great gladness.
Also day by day,
from the first day
unto the last day,
he read
in the book
of the law
of God.
And
they kept
the feast seven days;
and on the eighth day
was a solemn assembly,
according
unto the manner.
Now in the twenty
and fourth day
of this month the children
of Israel
were assembled
with fasting,
and
with sackclothes,
and earth
upon them.
And the seed
of Israel
separated themselves
from all strangers,
and stood
and confessed
their sins,
and the iniquities
of their fathers.
And they
stood up
in their place,
and read
in the book
of the law
of the LORD their God
one fourth
part of the day;
and another fourth part
they confessed,
and worshipped
the LORD their God.
Then stood up
upon the stairs,
of the Levites, Jeshua,
and Bani, Kadmiel,
Shebaniah, Bunni,
Sherebiah, Bani,
and Chenani,
and cried
with a loud voice
unto the LORD their God.
Then the Levites, Jeshua,
and Kadmiel, Bani,
Hashabniah, Sherebiah,
Hodijah, Shebaniah,
and Pethahiah,
said,
Stand up
and bless
the LORD your God
for ever
and ever:
and blessed
be thy glorious name,
which is
exalted above
all blessing
and praise.
Thou,
even thou,
art LORD alone;
thou hast made
heaven,
the heaven
of heavens,
with all their host,
the earth,
and all things
that are therein,
the seas,
and all that is
therein,
and
thou preservest them all;
and
the host
of heaven
worshippeth thee.
Thou art
the LORD the God,
who didst choose Abram,
and broughtest him forth
out of Ur
of the Chaldees,
and gavest him
the name
of Abraham;
And foundest
his heart faithful
before thee,
and madest a covenant
with him
to give the land
of the Canaanites,
the Hittites,
the Amorites,
and the Perizzites,
and the Jebusites,
and the Girgashites,
to give it,
I say,
to his seed,
and hast performed
thy words;
for thou art righteous:
And didst see
the affliction
of our fathers
in Egypt,
and heardest
their cry
by the Red sea;
And shewedst
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.
So didst thou
get thee a name,
as it is this day.
And
thou didst divide
the sea
before them,
so that
they went through the midst
of the sea
on the dry land;
and their persecutors thou
threwest into the deeps,
as a stone
into the mighty waters.
Moreover thou
leddest them
in the day
by a cloudy pillar;
and in
the night
by a pillar of fire,
to give them
light in the way
wherein they
should go.
Thou camest
down also upon
mount Sinai,
and spakest with them
from heaven,
and gavest them
right judgments,
and true laws,
good statutes
and commandments:
And madest
known unto them thy holy sabbath,
and commandedst them
precepts,
statutes,
and laws,
by the hand
of Moses
thy servant:
And gavest them bread
from heaven
for their hunger,
and broughtest
forth water
for them
out of the rock
for their thirst,
and promisedst
them that
they should go in
to possess
the land which
thou hadst
sworn
to give them.
But
they and our fathers
dealt proudly,
and hardened
their necks,
and hearkened not
to thy commandments,
And refused
to obey,
neither were mindful
of thy
wonders
that thou
didst among them;
but hardened
their necks,
and
in their rebellion
appointed
a captain
to return
to their bondage:
but
thou art a God ready
to pardon,
gracious
and merciful,
slow to anger,
and of great kindness,
and forsookest them not.
Yea,
when
they had made them
a molten calf,
and said,
This
is
thy God
that brought thee
up out of Egypt,
and had wrought
great provocations;
Yet
thou in thy manifold mercies
forsookest them not
in the wilderness:
the pillar
of the cloud departed not
from them
by day,
to lead them
in the way;
neither the pillar
of fire by night,
to shew them light,
and the way
wherein they
should go.
Thou gavest also
thy good spirit
to instruct them,
and withheldest not
thy manna
from their mouth,
and gavest them
water
for their thirst.
Yea,
forty years didst thou
sustain them
in the wilderness,
so that
they lacked
nothing;
their clothes
waxed not old,
and their feet
swelled not.
Moreover thou
gavest them kingdoms
and nations,
and didst divide them
into corners:
so they
possessed
the land
of Sihon,
and the land
of the king
of Heshbon,
and the land
of Og king
of Bashan.
Their children
also multipliedst
thou as the stars
of heaven,
and broughtest them
into the land,
concerning which
thou hadst
promised
to their fathers,
that they
should go in
to possess it.
So the children
went in
and possessed
the land,
and
thou subduedst
before them
the inhabitants
of the land,
the Canaanites,
and gavest them
into their hands,
with their kings,
and the people
of the land,
that they
might do
with them as they would.
And
they took strong cities,
and a fat land,
and possessed
houses full of all goods,
wells digged,
vineyards,
and oliveyards,
and fruit trees
in abundance:
so they
did eat,
and were filled,
and became fat,
and delighted themselves
in thy great goodness.
Nevertheless
they were disobedient,
and rebelled
against thee,
and cast
thy law
behind their backs,
and slew
thy prophets
which testified
against them
to turn them
to thee,
and
they wrought great provocations.
Therefore thou deliveredst them
into the hand
of their enemies,
who vexed them:
and in the time
of their trouble,
when they
cried
unto thee,
thou heardest them
from heaven;
and
according to
thy manifold mercies
thou gavest them
saviours,
who saved them
out of the hand
of their enemies.
But after they
had rest,
they did evil
again before thee:
therefore leftest
thou them
in the land
of their enemies,
so that
they had
the dominion
over them:
yet
when
they returned,
and cried
unto thee,
thou heardest them
from heaven;
and many times
didst thou
deliver them according to
thy mercies;
And
testifiedst against them,
that thou
mightest bring them again
unto thy law:
yet
they dealt proudly,
and hearkened not
unto thy commandments,
but sinned
against thy judgments,
(which
if a man do,
he shall live in them;)
and withdrew the shoulder,
and hardened
their neck,
and would not hear.
Yet many years
didst
thou forbear them,
and testifiedst
against them
by thy spirit
in thy prophets:
yet would
they not give ear:
therefore gavest
thou them
into the hand
of the people
of the lands.
Nevertheless for
thy great mercies' sake
thou didst not
utterly consume them,
nor forsake them;
for thou art
a gracious
and merciful God.
Now therefore,
our God,
the great,
the mighty,
and the terrible God,
who keepest covenant
and mercy,
let not all
the trouble
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.
Howbeit
thou art
just in all that is
brought upon us;
for thou
hast done right,
but
we have done wickedly:
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.
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.
Behold,
we are servants
this day,
and for the land
that thou
gavest unto our fathers
to eat
the fruit
thereof and the good thereof,
behold,
we are servants in it:
And it
yieldeth much increase
unto the kings whom
thou hast set
over us
because
of our sins:
also they
have dominion
over our bodies,
and
over our cattle,
at their pleasure,
and
we are in great distress.
And
because of all
this
we make
a sure covenant,
and write it;
and our princes,
Levites,
and priests,
seal unto it.
Now those
that sealed were,
Nehemiah,
the Tirshatha,
the son
of Hachaliah,
and Zidkijah,
Seraiah,
Azariah, Jeremiah,
Pashur,
Amariah, Malchijah,
Hattush,
Shebaniah, Malluch,
Harim,
Meremoth, Obadiah,
Daniel,
Ginnethon, Baruch,
Meshullam,
Abijah, Mijamin,
Maaziah,
Bilgai, Shemaiah:
these were the priests.
And the Levites:
both Jeshua
the son
of Azaniah,
Binnui
of the sons
of Henadad, Kadmiel;
And their brethren,
Shebaniah, Hodijah,
Kelita, Pelaiah,
Hanan,
Zaccur,
Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
The chief
of the people;
Parosh, Pahathmoab,
Elam, Zatthu,
Bani,
Magpiash,
Meshullam, Hezir,
Meshezabeel,
Zadok, Jaddua,
Hoshea,
Hananiah, Hashub,
Hallohesh,
Pileha, Shobek,
Rehum,
Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
And the rest
of the people,
the priests,
the Levites,
the porters,
the singers,
the Nethinims,
and all
they
that had separated themselves
from the people
of the lands
unto the law
of God,
their wives,
their sons,
and their daughters,
every one
having knowledge,
and having understanding;
They clave
to their brethren,
their nobles,
and entered
into a curse,
and into an oath,
to walk
in God's law,
which was given
by Moses
the servant
of God,
and to observe
and do all
the commandments
of the LORD our Lord,
and his judgments
and his statutes;
And
that we
would not give
our daughters
unto the people
of the land,
not take
their daughters
for our sons:
And
if the people
of the land
bring ware
or any victuals
on the sabbath day
to sell,
that we
would not buy it
of them
on the sabbath,
or on the holy day:
and
that we
would leave
the seventh year,
and the exaction
of every debt.
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 God;
For the shewbread,
and
for the continual meat offering,
and for
the continual burnt offering,
of the sabbaths,
of the new moons,
for the set feasts,
and
for the holy things,
and
for the sin
offerings
to make an atonement
for Israel,
and
for all the work
of the house
of our God.
And we cast
the lots
among the priests,
the Levites,
and the people,
for the wood offering,
to bring it
into the house
of our God,
after the houses
of our fathers,
at times
appointed year by year,
to burn
upon the altar
of the LORD our God,
as it is written
in the law:
And
to bring the firstfruits
of our ground,
and the firstfruits
of all fruit
of all trees,
year by year,
unto the house
of the LORD:
Also the firstborn
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 God,
unto the priests that minister
in the house
of our God:
And
that we
should bring
the firstfruits
of our dough,
and our offerings,
and the fruit
of all manner
of trees,
of wine
and of oil,
unto the priests,
to the chambers
of the house
of our God;
and the tithes
of our ground
unto the Levites,
that the same Levites
might have
the tithes
in all
the cities
of our tillage.
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 God,
to the chambers,
into the treasure house.
For the children
of Israel
and the children
of Levi
shall bring
the offering
of the corn,
of the new wine,
and 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 God.
And the rulers
of the people
dwelt
at Jerusalem:
the rest
of the people
also cast lots,
to bring
one of ten
to dwell
in Jerusalem
the holy city,
and nine parts
to dwell
in other cities.
And the people
blessed all
the men,
that willingly offered themselves
to dwell
at Jerusalem.
Now these
are the chief
of the province
that dwelt
in Jerusalem:
but in the cities
of Judah
dwelt every one
in his possession
in their cities,
to wit,
Israel,
the priests,
and the Levites,
and the Nethinims,
and the children
of Solomon's servants.
And at 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 Mahalaleel,
of the children
of Perez;
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 Shiloni.
All the sons
of Perez
that dwelt
at Jerusalem
were four hundred threescore
and eight valiant men.
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 Jesaiah.
And
after him Gabbai, Sallai,
nine hundred twenty
and eight.
And Joel
the son
of Zichri
was their overseer:
and Judah
the son
of Senuah
was second
over the city.
Of the priests:
Jedaiah the son
of Joiarib, Jachin.
Seraiah the son
of Hilkiah,
the son
of Meshullam,
the son of Zadok,
the son
of Meraioth,
the son
of Ahitub,
was the ruler
of the house
of God.
And their brethren
that did
the work
of the house
were 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 Pashur,
the son
of Malchiah.
And his brethren,
chief of the fathers,
two hundred forty
and two:
and Amashai
the son
of Azareel,
the son
of Ahasai,
the son
of Meshillemoth,
the son
of Immer,
And their brethren,
mighty men
of valour,
an hundred twenty
and eight:
and their overseer
was Zabdiel,
the son
of one
of the great men.
Also of the Levites:
Shemaiah the son
of Hashub,
the son
of Azrikam,
the son
of Hashabiah,
the son
of Bunni;
And Shabbethai
and Jozabad,
of the chief
of the Levites,
had the oversight
of the outward business
of the house
of God.
And Mattaniah
the son
of Micha,
the son of Zabdi,
the son of Asaph,
was the principal
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.
All
the Levites
in the holy city
were
two hundred fourscore
and four.
Moreover the porters,
Akkub, Talmon,
and their brethren
that kept
the gates,
were an hundred seventy
and two.
And the residue
of Israel,
of the priests,
and the Levites,
were in all
the cities
of Judah,
every one
in his inheritance.
But the Nethinims
dwelt
in Ophel:
and Ziha
and Gispa
were over the Nethinims.
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 Micha.
Of the sons
of Asaph,
the singers
were over the business
of the house
of God.
For it
was
the king's commandment
concerning them,
that a certain portion
should be
for the singers,
due for every day.
And Pethahiah
the son
of Meshezabeel,
of the children
of Zerah
the son of Judah,
was at the king's hand in
all matters concerning
the people.
And
for the villages,
with their fields,
some of the children
of Judah
dwelt
at Kirjatharba,
and
in the villages
thereof,
and at Dibon,
and
in the villages
thereof,
and at Jekabzeel,
and
in the villages
thereof,
And at Jeshua,
and at Moladah,
and
at Bethphelet,
And
at Hazarshual,
and at Beersheba,
and
in the villages
thereof,
And at Ziklag,
and at Mekonah,
and
in the villages
thereof,
And at Enrimmon,
and at Zareah,
and at Jarmuth,
Zanoah,
Adullam,
and
in their villages,
at Lachish,
and the fields
thereof,
at Azekah,
and
in the villages
thereof.
And
they dwelt
from Beersheba
unto the valley
of Hinnom.
The children
also of Benjamin
from Geba
dwelt
at Michmash,
and Aija,
and Bethel,
and
in their villages.
And
at Anathoth, Nob,
Ananiah,
Lod,
and Ono,
the valley
of craftsmen.
And
of the Levites
were divisions
in Judah,
and
in Benjamin.
Now these
are the priests
and the Levites
that went up
with Zerubbabel
the son
of Shealtiel,
and Jeshua:
Seraiah, Jeremiah,
Ezra,
Amariah,
Malluch, Hattush,
Shechaniah,
Rehum, Meremoth,
Shemaiah,
and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
Sallu,
Amok, Hilkiah,
Jedaiah.
These were the chief
of the priests
and of their brethren
in the days
of Jeshua.
Moreover the Levites:
Jeshua, Binnui,
Kadmiel, Sherebiah,
Judah,
and Mattaniah,
which was over the thanksgiving,
he and his brethren.
Also Bakbukiah
and Unni,
their brethren,
were over
against them
in the watches.
And Jeshua
begat Joiakim,
Joiakim
also begat Eliashib,
and Eliashib
begat Joiada,
And Joiada
begat Jonathan,
and Jonathan
begat Jaddua.
And in the days
of Joiakim
were priests,
the chief
of the fathers:
of Seraiah, Meraiah;
of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
Of Ezra, Meshullam;
of Amariah, Jehohanan;
Of Melicu, Jonathan;
of Shebaniah, Joseph;
Of Harim, Adna;
of Meraioth, Helkai;
Of Iddo, Zechariah;
of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
Of Abijah, Zichri;
of Miniamin,
of Moadiah, Piltai:
Of Bilgah, Shammua;
of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
And
of Joiarib, Mattenai;
of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
Of Sallai, Kallai;
of Amok, Eber;
Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah;
of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.
The Levites
in the days
of Eliashib, Joiada,
and Johanan,
and Jaddua,
were recorded chief
of the fathers:
also the priests,
to the reign
of Darius the Persian.
The sons of Levi,
the chief
of the fathers,
were written
in the book
of the chronicles,
even until the days
of Johanan
the son
of Eliashib.
And the chief
of the Levites:
Hashabiah, Sherebiah,
and Jeshua
the son
of Kadmiel,
with their brethren
over against them,
to praise
and to give thanks,
according to the commandment
of David
the man of God,
ward over
against ward.
Mattaniah,
and Bakbukiah, Obadiah,
Meshullam, Talmon,
Akkub,
were porters
keeping the ward
at the thresholds
of the gates.
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.
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.
And the sons
of the singers
gathered themselves together,
both out of the plain country
round about Jerusalem,
and
from the villages
of Netophathi;
Also from the house
of Gilgal,
and out of the fields
of Geba
and Azmaveth:
for the singers
had builded them villages round
about Jerusalem.
And the priests
and the Levites
purified themselves,
and purified
the people,
and the gates,
and the wall.
Then I
brought
up the princes
of Judah
upon the wall,
and appointed
two great companies
of them that
gave thanks,
whereof
one went on
the right hand
upon the wall
toward the dung gate:
And
after them
went Hoshaiah,
and half
of the princes
of Judah,
And Azariah, Ezra,
and Meshullam,
Judah,
and Benjamin,
and Shemaiah,
and Jeremiah,
And certain
of the priests' sons
with trumpets;
namely,
Zechariah the son
of Jonathan,
the son
of Shemaiah,
the son
of Mattaniah,
the son
of Michaiah,
the son
of Zaccur,
the son
of Asaph:
And his brethren,
Shemaiah,
and Azarael, Milalai,
Gilalai, Maai,
Nethaneel,
and Judah, Hanani,
with the musical instruments
of David
the man of God,
and Ezra
the scribe
before them.
And
at the fountain gate,
which was over against 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.
And the other company
of them that
gave thanks
went over against them,
and I after them,
and the half
of the people
upon the wall,
from beyond the tower
of the furnaces
even unto the broad wall;
And
from above
the gate
of Ephraim,
and above
the old gate,
and above
the fish gate,
and the tower
of Hananeel,
and the tower
of Meah,
even unto the sheep gate:
and
they stood still
in the prison gate.
So stood
the two companies
of them that
gave thanks
in the house
of God,
and I,
and the half
of the rulers
with me:
And the priests;
Eliakim, Maaseiah,
Miniamin, Michaiah,
Elioenai, Zechariah,
and Hananiah,
with trumpets;
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.
Also that day
they offered
great sacrifices,
and rejoiced:
for God
had made them
rejoice
with great joy:
the wives
also and the children rejoiced:
so that
the joy
of Jerusalem
was heard even afar off.
And at that time
were
some
appointed
over the chambers
for the treasures,
for the offerings,
for the firstfruits,
and for the tithes,
to gather
into them
out of the fields
of the cities the portions
of the law
for the priests
and Levites:
for Judah
rejoiced
for the priests
and for the Levites
that waited.
And both
the singers
and the porters
kept
the ward
of their God,
and the ward
of the purification,
according to
the commandment
of David,
and
of Solomon his son.
For in the days
of David
and Asaph of old
there were chief
of the singers,
and songs
of praise
and thanksgiving
unto God.
And all Israel
in the days
of Zerubbabel,
and in the days
of Nehemiah,
gave the portions
of the singers
and the porters,
every day his portion:
and
they sanctified holy things
unto the Levites;
and the Levites
sanctified them
unto the children
of Aaron.
On that day
they read
in the book
of Moses
in the audience
of the people;
and therein was found written,
that the Ammonite
and the Moabite
should not come
into the congregation
of God
for ever;
Because
they met not
the children
of Israel
with bread
and with water,
but hired
Balaam against them,
that
he should curse them:
howbeit our God
turned
the curse
into a blessing.
Now it
came
to pass,
when
they had heard
the law,
that they
separated
from Israel all
the mixed multitude.
And before this,
Eliashib the priest,
having the oversight
of the chamber
of the house
of our God,
was allied
unto Tobiah:
And
he had prepared
for him a great chamber,
where aforetime
they laid
the meat offerings,
the frankincense,
and the vessels,
and the tithes
of the corn,
the new wine,
and the oil,
which was commanded
to be given
to the Levites,
and the singers,
and the porters;
and the offerings
of the priests.
But in all
this time
was not
I at Jerusalem:
for in
the two
and thirtieth year
of Artaxerxes king
of Babylon
came
I unto the king,
and after certain days
obtained
I leave
of the king:
And I
came
to Jerusalem,
and understood
of the evil
that Eliashib
did for Tobiah,
in preparing him
a chamber
in the courts
of the house
of God.
And it
grieved me sore:
therefore I cast
forth all
the household stuff
to Tobiah
out of the chamber.
Then I commanded,
and
they cleansed
the chambers:
and thither brought
I again
the vessels
of the house
of God,
with the meat
offering
and the frankincense.
And I
perceived
that the portions
of the Levites
had not been given them:
for the Levites
and the singers,
that did the work,
were fled
every one
to his field.
Then contended
I with the rulers,
and said,
Why is
the house
of God forsaken?
And
I gathered them together,
and set them
in their place.
Then brought all Judah
the tithe
of the corn
and the new wine
and the oil
unto the treasuries.
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.
Remember me,
O my God,
concerning this,
and wipe not
out my good deeds
that
I have done
for the house
of my God,
and
for the offices
thereof.
In those days
saw
I in Judah some
treading wine
presses
on the sabbath,
and bringing
in sheaves,
and lading asses;
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
wherein they
sold victuals.
There dwelt men
of Tyre
also therein,
which brought fish,
and all manner
of ware,
and sold
on the sabbath
unto the children
of Judah,
and
in Jerusalem.
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?
Did not your fathers thus,
and did not
our God
bring all
this evil
upon us,
and upon this city?
yet
ye bring more wrath
upon Israel
by profaning the sabbath.
And it
came
to pass,
that when the gates
of Jerusalem
began to be dark
before the sabbath,
I commanded
that the gates
should be shut,
and charged that
they should not be opened
till after the sabbath:
and some of my servants
set
I at the gates,
that there should
no burden
be brought in
on the sabbath day.
So the merchants
and sellers
of all kind
of ware
lodged
without Jerusalem once
or twice.
Then
I testified against 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.
And
I commanded
the Levites that
they should cleanse themselves,
and that
they should come
and keep
the gates,
to sanctify the sabbath day.
Remember me,
O my God,
concerning this also,
and spare me according to
the greatness
of thy mercy.
In those days
also saw I Jews
that had married wives
of Ashdod,
of Ammon,
and of Moab:
And their children
spake half
in the speech
of Ashdod,
and could not speak
in the Jews' language,
but
according to
the language
of each people.
And
I contended with them,
and cursed them,
and smote certain
of them,
and plucked
off their hair,
and made them
swear by God,
saying,
Ye shall not give
your daughters
unto their sons,
nor take
their daughters
unto your sons,
or for yourselves.
Did not
Solomon king
of Israel
sin by these things?
yet among many nations
was there
no king like him,
who was beloved
of his God,
and God
made him king
over all Israel:
nevertheless even
him did
outlandish women
cause
to sin.
Shall we
then hearken
unto you
to do all
this great evil,
to transgress
against our God
in marrying
strange wives?
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.
Remember them,
O my God,
because
they have defiled
the priesthood,
and the covenant
of the priesthood,
and
of the Levites.
Thus cleansed
I them
from all strangers,
and appointed
the wards
of the priests
and the Levites,
every one
in his business;
And
for the wood offering,
at times appointed,
and
for the firstfruits.
Remember me,
O my God,
for good.