The Book Of NEHEMIAH
Nehemiah continues a cycle of episodes begun in the book of Ezra: return
and reconstruction of the temple under Zerubbabel (Ezra 1:5--6:22);
return and reconstruction of the community under Ezra (7-10); and now,
return and reconstruction of the walls under Nehemiah (Nehemiah
1:1--7:73a). In each, return and reconstruction authorized by the
Persian crown meet with opposition eventually overcome with God's help.
The book of Nehemiah is concerned with the last return; the rebuilding
of the walls of Jerusalem (2:11--6:19)
and the repopulation of the city (11:1-36) form the two stages of
reconstruction. Again, in accordance with the previous missions, this
task is met with considerable opposition from the surrounding peoples
(2:10--5:19); the opposition is overcome and the project ends with a
joyful celebration (12:22-43). Following a brief interlude, Nehemiah
returns for a second term as governor and carries out a number of
reforms (13:4-31).
Ezra and Nehemiah are our only narrative source for the history of the
restoration, 538 to 430 B.C.E. The postexilic period witnessed the
reestablishment of the Jewish religious community in Jerusalem and the
implementation of the Torah. Though the situations we face are quite
different from those encountered by the postexilic community, both Ezra
and Nehemiah provide many examples of hard work coupled with prayer and
an unshakable faith in God as a formula for successful problem solving
that is as relevant today as it was then.
Jewish tradition identifies Ezra as the author of 1 and 2 Chronicles,
Ezra, and Nehemiah. Today, many scholars believe Ezra and Nehemiah come
from a different hand than Chronicles and that various older traditions
have been gathered together and edited by a postexilic editor, though
these may include an autobiographical section written by Nehemiah, the
so-called Nehemiah memoir (Nehemiah 1:1--7:73a; parts of 12:27-43; and
13:4-31).
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah, separate works in English Bibles, appear
as a single book in the earliest manuscripts, suggesting that they are
best read and interpreted as a literary whole. The work was written in
Judah, probably in Jerusalem, sometime during the Persian period
(586-332 B.C.E.), after the return from Babylon. Uncertain dates for
Ezra and differing understandings of the compositional history of this
material make precise dating impossible, though recent scholarship seems
to favor a date somewhere in the first quarter of the fourth century
B.C.E.
Nehemiah is an account of the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem and
the repopulation of the city under the direction of Nehemiah,
promulgation of the law by Ezra, and subsequent reforms by Nehemiah.
Ezra-Nehemiah looks like a history of the restoration. While important
historical information is presented, Ezra-Nehemiah should be read as a
theological, rather than a chronological, presentation of this formative
period that saw the return of Israel from exile and the rebirth of
God's people in the promised land. This is seen in the theological
ordering of the final form of the text: the rebuilding of the temple,
followed by the purification of the people, and the rebuilding of the
walls, climaxing in the reading of the law.
AUTHOR: Mark Throntveit, Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament
The Book Of NEHEMIAH
Nehemiah
Chapter 1
1 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,
2 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.
3 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.
4 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,
5 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:
6 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.
7 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.
8 Remember,
I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses,
saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
9 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.
10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
11 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.
Chapter 2
1 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.
2 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,
3 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?
4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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;
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
15 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.
16 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.
17 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.
18 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.
19 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?
20 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.
Chapter 3
1 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.
2 And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
3 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.
4 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.
5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their LORD.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
10 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.
11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
12 And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
13 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.
14 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.
15 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.
16 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.
17 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.
18 After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
19 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.
20 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.
21 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.
22 And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
23 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.
24 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.
25 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.
26 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
27 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
28 From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
29 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.
30 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.
31 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.
32 And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
Chapter 4
1 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.
2 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?
3 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.
4 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:
5 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.
6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
7 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,
8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
15 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.
16 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.
17 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.
18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
19 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.
20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
22 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.
23 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.
Chapter 5
1 And there was 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:
therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
3 Some
also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and
houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and 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 unto bondage already:
neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands
and vineyards.
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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?
10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11 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.
12 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.
13 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.
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 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.
16 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.
17 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.
18 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.
19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
Chapter 6
1 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;)
2 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.
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 Yet 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 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.
7 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.
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 made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the
work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
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, 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.
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 Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the
daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered 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 ruler of the palace, charge
over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God 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 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.
4 Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.
5 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,
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 came again to 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, I say,
of the men of the people of Israel was this;
8 The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred 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 Pahathmoab, 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, an hundred and twelve.
25 The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.
26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.
27 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
28 The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two.
29 The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.
30 The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.
31 The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two.
32 The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.
33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.
34 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
35 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
36 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one.
38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
39 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
40 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
41 The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
42 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
43 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.
44 The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight.
45 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.
46 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
47 The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
48 The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,
49 The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
50 The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
51 The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,
52 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,
53 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
54 The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,
56 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
57 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,
58 The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
59 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon.
60 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.
61 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.
62 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.
63 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.
64 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.
65 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.
66 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
67 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.
68 Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five:
69 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.
70 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.
71 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.
72 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.
73 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.
Chapter 8
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
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
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.
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 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.
7 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.
8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
9 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.
10 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.
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 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.
14 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:
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 pine branches, 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 God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the
street of the gate of Ephraim.
17 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.
18 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.
Chapter 9
1 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.
2 And the
seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, 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 the
LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they
confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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;
8 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:
9 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;
10 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.
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 persecutors thou threwest
into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.
12 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.
13 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:
14 And
madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts,
statutes, and laws, 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 promisedst them
that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to
give them.
16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
17 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.
18 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;
19 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.
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, so that they
lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
22 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.
23 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.
24 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.
25 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.
26 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.
27 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.
28 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;
29 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.
30 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.
31 Nevertheless
for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor
forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.
32 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.
33 Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, 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 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 dominion over our bodies, and over
our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.
38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.
Chapter 10
1 Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
14 The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
28 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;
29 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;
30 And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, not take their daughters for our sons:
31 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.
32 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;
33 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.
34 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:
35 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:
36 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:
37 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.
38 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.
39 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.
Chapter 11
1 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.
2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
3 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.
4 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;
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
Shiloni.
6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at 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 Jesaiah.
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 Senuah 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, was the ruler of the house of God.
12 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.
13 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,
14 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.
15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.
17 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.
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 the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.
20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.
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 Micha. Of the sons of
Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God.
23 For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
24 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.
25 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,
26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,
27 And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,
28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,
29 And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,
30 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.
31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages.
32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in 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 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,
5 Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
8 Moreover
the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah,
which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches.
10 And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,
11 And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.
12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: 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, Nethaneel.
22 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.
23 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.
24 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.
25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds 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 country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of
Netophathi;
29 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.
30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and 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 of them that gave thanks, whereof one went 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; 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:
36 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.
37 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.
38 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;
39 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.
40 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:
41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, 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 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.
44 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.
45 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.
46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
47 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.
Chapter 13
1 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;
2 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.
3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
5 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.
6 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:
7 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.
8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff to 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 God, with the meat offering and the
frankincense.
10 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.
11 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.
12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new 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 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.
15 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.
16 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.
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 God 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 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.
20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
21 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.
22 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.
23 In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
24 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.
25 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.
26 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.
27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
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 God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
The book is a lesson in prayer, sacrifice, and tenacity. Nehemiah, the chief figure, gave up a responsible and wealthy position with the king of Persia in order to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and rally the Jews as a nation.
ReplyDeleteNehemiah continues a cycle of episodes begun in the book of Ezra: return and reconstruction of the temple under Zerubbabel (Ezra 1:5--6:22); return and reconstruction of the community under Ezra (7-10); and now, return and reconstruction of the walls under Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:1--7:73a). In each, return and reconstruction authorized by the Persian crown meet with opposition eventually overcome with God's help. The book of Nehemiah is concerned with the last return; the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem (2:11--6:19)
ReplyDeleteand the repopulation of the city (11:1-36) form the two stages of reconstruction. Again, in accordance with the previous missions, this task is met with considerable opposition from the surrounding peoples (2:10--5:19); the opposition is overcome and the project ends with a joyful celebration (12:22-43). Following a brief interlude, Nehemiah returns for a second term as governor and carries out a number of reforms (13:4-31)....
AUTHOR: Mark Throntveit, Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament
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