Nechemyah
1:1The words of Nechemyah the son of
Chakhalyah. Now it happened in the month Kislev, in the twentieth year, as
I was in Shushan the palace, 1:2that Chanani, one of my brothers,
came, he and certain men out of Yehudah; and I asked them concerning the
Yehudim who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning
Yerushalayim. 1:3They said to me, The remnant who
are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction
and reproach: the wall of Yerushalayim also is broken down, and the gates
of it are burned with fire. 1:4It happened, when I heard these
words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted
and prayed before the G-d of heaven, 1:5and said, I
beg you, LORD, the G-d of heaven, the great and awesome G-d, who keeps
covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his mitzvot: 1:6Let your ear now be attentive, and
your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I
pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Yisra'el
your servants while I confess the sins of the children of Yisra'el, which
we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father's house have sinned: 1:7we have dealt very corruptly
against you, and have not kept the mitzvot, nor the
statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moshe. 1:8Remember, I beg you, the word that
you commanded your servant Moshe, saying, If you trespass, I will scatter
you abroad among the peoples: 1:9but if you return to me, and keep
my mitzvot and do them, though your outcasts were in the
uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there, and will
bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell
there. 1:10Now these are your servants and
your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your
strong hand. 1:11Lord, I beg you, let now your ear
be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your
servants, who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant
this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cup
bearer to the king.
2:1It happened in the month Nisan, in
the twentieth year of Artachshasta the king, when wine was before him,
that I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been
before sad in his presence. 2:2The king
said to me, Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? this is nothing
else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid. 2:3I said to the king, Let the king
live forever: why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of
my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and the gates of it are consumed with fire?
2:4Then the king said to me, For what
do you make request? So I prayed to the G-d of heaven. 2:5I said to the king, If it please
the king, and if your servant have found favor in your sight, that you
would send me to Yehudah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may
build it. 2:6The king said to me (the queen
also sitting by him), For how long shall your journey be? and when will
you return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 2:7Moreover I said to the king, If it
please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the
River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Yehudah; 2:8and a letter to Asaf the keeper of
the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates
of the castle which appertains to the house, and for the wall of the city,
and for the house that I shall enter into. The king granted me, according
to the good hand of my G-d on me. 2:9Then I came
to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the king's letters. Now
the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen. 2:10When Sanvallat the Choronite, and
Toviyah the servant, the `Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them
exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of
Yisra'el. 2:11So I came to Yerushalayim, and
was there three days. 2:12I arose in the night, I and some
few men with me; neither told I any man what my G-d put into my heart to
do for Yerushalayim; neither was there any animal with me, except the
animal that I rode on. 2:13I went out by night by the valley
gate, even toward the jackal's well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the
walls of Yerushalayim, which were broken down, and the gates of it were
consumed with fire. 2:14Then I went on to the spring gate
and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the animal that was
under me to pass. 2:15Then went I up in the night by
the brook, and viewed the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the
valley gate, and so returned. 2:16The rulers didn't know where I
went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Yehudim, nor to
the kohanim, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor
to the rest who did the work. 2:17Then said I to them, You see the
evil case that we are in, how Yerushalayim lies waste, and the gates of it
are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Yerushalayim,
that we be no more a reproach. 2:18I told them of the hand of my G-d
which was good on me, as also of the king's words that he had spoken to
me. They said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands
for the good work. 2:19But when Sanvallat the Choronite,
and Toviyah the servant, the `Ammonite, and Geshem the `Arvian, heard it,
they ridiculed us, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that you
do? will you rebel against the king? 2:20Then
answered I them, and said to them, The G-d of heaven, he will prosper us;
therefore we his servants will arise and build: but you have no portion,
nor right, nor memorial, in Yerushalayim.
3:1Then Elyashiv the kohen gadol rose up with his brothers the kohanim, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it,
and set up the doors of it; even to the tower of Hammeah they sanctified
it, to the tower of Chanan'el. 3:2Next to him built the men of
Yericho. Next to them built Zakkur the son of Imri. 3:3The fish
gate did the sons of Sena'ah build; they laid the beams of it, and set up
the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it. 3:4Next to them
repaired Meremot the son of Uriyah, the son of Hakkotz. Next to them
repaired Meshullam the son of Berekhyah, the son of Meshezav'el. Next to
them repaired Tzadok the son of Ba`anah. 3:5Next to them
the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles didn't put their necks to the work
of their lord. 3:6The old gate repaired Yoiada the
son of Pase'ach and Meshullam the son of Besodyah; they laid the beams of
it, and set up the doors of it, and the bolts of it, and the bars of it.
3:7Next to them repaired Melatyah the
Giv`oni, and Yadon the Meronotite, the men of Giv`on, and of Mitzpah,
that appertained to the throne of the governor beyond the River. 3:8Next to him repaired `Uzzi'el the
son of Charchayah, goldsmiths. Next to him repaired Chananyah one of the
perfumers, and they fortified Yerushalayim even to the broad wall. 3:9Next to them repaired Refayah the
son of Chur, the ruler of half the district of Yerushalayim. 3:10Next to them repaired Yedayah the
son of Charumaf, over against his house. Next to him repaired Chattush the
son of Chashavneyah. 3:11Malkiyah the son of Charim, and
Chashshuv the son of Pachat-Mo'av, repaired another portion, and the tower
of the furnaces. 3:12Next to him repaired Shallum the
son of Hallochesh, the ruler of half the district of Yerushalayim, he and
his daughters. 3:13The valley gate repaired Chanun,
and the inhabitants of Zanoach; they built it, and set up the doors of it,
the bolts of it, and the bars of it, and one thousand cubits of the wall
to the dung gate. 3:14The dung gate repaired Malkiyah
the son of Rechav, the ruler of the district of Beit-Hakkerem; he built
it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it. 3:15The spring gate repaired Shallun
the son of Kolchozeh, the ruler of the district of Mitzpah; he built it,
and covered it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars
of it, and the wall of the pool of Shelach by the king's garden, even to
the stairs that go down from the city of David. 3:16After him
repaired Nechemyah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of
Beit-Tzur, to the place over against the tombs of David, and to the pool
that was made, and to the house of the mighty men. 3:17After him
repaired the Levites, Rechum the son of Bani. Next to him repaired
Chashavyah, the ruler of half the district of Ke`ilah, for his district.
3:18After him repaired their
brothers, Bavvai the son of Chenadad, the ruler of half the district of
Ke`ilah. 3:19Next to him repaired Etzer the
son of Yeshua, the ruler of Mitzpah, another portion, over against the
ascent to the armory at the turning of the wall. 3:20After him Barukh the son of
Zakkai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the
wall to the door of the house of Elyashiv the kohen
gadol. 3:21After him repaired Meremot the
son of Uriyah the son of Hakkotz another portion, from the door of the
house of Elyashiv even to the end of the house of Elyashiv. 3:22After him repaired the kohanim, the men of the Plain. 3:23After them
repaired Binyamin and Chashshuv over against their house. After them
repaired `Azaryah the son of Ma`aseyah the son of `Ananyah beside his own
house. 3:24After him repaired Binnui the son
of Chenadad another portion, from the house of `Azaryah to the turning
of the wall, and to the corner. 3:25Palal the
son of Uzai repaired over against the turning of the wall,
and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which is
by the court of the guard. After him Pedayahu the son of Par`osh
repaired. 3:26(Now the temple servants lived in
`Ofel, to the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the
tower that stands out.) 3:27After him the Tekoites repaired
another portion, over against the great tower that stands out, and to the
wall of `Ofel. 3:28Above the horse gate repaired the
kohanim, everyone over against his own house. 3:29After them repaired Tzadok the
son of Immer over against his own house. After him repaired Shemayah the
son of Shekhanyahu, the keeper of the east gate. 3:30After him
repaired Chananyah the son of Shelemyahu, and Chanun the sixth son of
Tzalaf, another portion. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berekhyah
over against his chamber. 3:31After him repaired Malkiyah one
of the goldsmiths to the house of the temple servants, and of the
merchants, over against the gate of Hammifkad, and to the ascent of the
corner. 3:32Between the ascent of the corner
and the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
4:1But it happened that when
Sanvallat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and took
great indignation, and mocked the Yehudim. 4:2He spoke
before his brothers and the army of Shomron, and said, What are these
feeble Yehudim doing? 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 rubbish, seeing they are burned? 4:3Now Toviyah
the `Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building,
if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall. 4:4Hear, our
God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach on their own head,
and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity; 4:5and don't
cover their iniquity, and don't let their sin be blotted out from before
you; for they have provoked you to anger before the builders. 4:6So we built the wall; and all the
wall was joined together to half the height of it: for the people
had a mind to work. 4:7But it happened that when
Sanvallat, Toviyah, the `Aravi'im, the `Ammonim, and the Ashdodi heard
that the repairing of the walls of Yerushalayim went forward, and
that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very angry; 4:8and they conspired all of them
together to come and fight against Yerushalayim, and to cause confusion
therein. 4:9But we made our prayer to our G-d,
and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 4:10Yehudah 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. 4:11Our adversaries said, They shall
not know, neither see, until we come into the midst of them, and kill
them, and cause the work to cease. 4:12It happened
that when the Yehudim who lived by them came, they said to us ten times
from all places, You must return to us. 4:13Therefore
set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open
places, I set there the people after their families with their
swords, their spears, and their bows. 4:14I looked,
and rose up, and said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of
the people, Don't be you afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great
and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters,
your wives, and your houses. 4:15It happened, when our enemies
heard that it was known to us, and G-d had brought their counsel to
nothing, that we returned all of us to the wall, everyone to his work. 4:16It happened from that time forth,
that half of my servants worked in the work, and half of them held the
spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers
were behind all the house of Yehudah. 4:17They all
built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with
one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other held his weapon;
4:18and the builders, everyone had
his sword girded by his side, and so built. He who sounded the shofar was by me. 4:19I said to
the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is
great and large, and we are separated on the wall, one far from another:
4:20in whatever place you hear the
sound of the shofar, resort you there to us; our G-d
will fight for us. 4:21So we worked in the work: and
half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the
stars appeared. 4:22Likewise at the same time said I
to the people, Let everyone with his servant lodge within Yerushalayim,
that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day. 4:23So neither I, nor my brothers,
nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us put
off our clothes, everyone went with his weapon to the water.
5:1Then there arose a great cry of
the people and of their wives against their brothers the Yehudim. 5:2For there were that said, We, our
sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and
live. 5:3Some also there were that said, We
are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get
grain, because of the dearth. 5:4There were also that said, We have
borrowed money for the king's tribute on our fields and our
vineyards. 5:5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh
of our brothers, our children as their children: and, behold, we bring
into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our
daughters are brought into bondage already: neither is it in our
power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards. 5:6I was very angry when I heard
their cry and these words. 5:7Then I consulted with myself, and
contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, You exact
usury, everyone of his brother. I held a great assembly against them. 5:8I said to them, We after our
ability have redeemed our brothers the Yehudim, that were sold to the
nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to
us? Then held they their shalom, and found never a word. 5:9Also I said, The thing that you do
is not good: ought you not to walk in the fear of our G-d, because of the
reproach of the nations our enemies? 5:10I likewise,
my brothers and my servants, do lend them money and grain. Please let us
leave off this usury. 5:11Please restore to them, even this
day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses,
also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and
the oil, that you exact of them. 5:12Then said
they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we
do, even as you say. Then I called the kohanim, and
took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise. 5:13Also I shook out my lap, and
said, So G-d shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that
doesn't perform this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. All
the assembly said, Amein, and praised the LORD. The people did according
to this promise. 5:14Moreover from the time that I was
appointed to be their governor in the land of Yehudah, from the twentieth
year even to the two and thirtieth year of Artachshasta the king, that
is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the
governor. 5:15But the former governors who were
before me were chargeable to the people, and took of them bread and wine,
besides forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants bore rule over
the people: but I didn't do so, because of the fear of G-d. 5:16Yes, also I continued in the work
of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were
gathered there to the work. 5:17Moreover there were at my table,
of the Yehudim and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, besides those who
came to us from among the nations that were round about us. 5:18Now that which was prepared for
one day 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 I didn't
demand the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy on this
people. 5:19Remember to me, my G-d, for good,
all that I have done for this people.
6:1Now it happened, when it was
reported to Sanvallat and Toviyah, and to Geshem the `Arvian, and to the
rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no
breach left therein; (though even to that time I had not set up the doors
in the gates;) 6:2that Sanvallat and Geshem sent to
me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in
the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. 6:3I sent
messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I can't come
down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?
6:4They sent to me four times after
this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. 6:5Then sent
Sanvallat his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open
letter in his hand, 6:6in which was written, It is
reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Yehudim
think to rebel; for which cause you are building the wall: and you would
be their king, according to these words. 6:7You have
also appointed prophets to preach of you at Yerushalayim, saying, There is
a king in Yehudah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to
these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. 6:8Then I sent to him, saying, There
are no such things done as you say, but you feign them out of your own
heart. 6:9For they all would have made us
afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it not
be done. But now, God, strengthen you my hands. 6:10I went to the house of Shemayah
the son of Delayah the son of Mehetav'el, who was shut up; and he said,
Let us meet together in the house of G-d, within the temple, and let us
shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to kill you; yes, in the
night will they come to kill you. 6:11I said,
Should such a man as I flee? and who is there that, being such as I, would
go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. 6:12I discerned, and, behold, G-d had
not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and Toviyah and
Sanvallat had hired him. 6:13For this cause 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. 6:14Remember,
my G-d, Toviyah and Sanvallat according to these their works, and also the
prophetess No`adyah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me
in fear. 6:15So the wall was finished in the
twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 6:16It happened, when all our enemies
heard of it, that all the nations that were about us feared, and
were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work
was worked of our G-d. 6:17Moreover in those days the nobles
of Yehudah sent many letters to Toviyah, and the letters of Toviyah
came to them. 6:18For there were many in Yehudah
sworn to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shekhanyahu the son of
Arach; and his son Yehochanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son
of Berekhyah as wife. 6:19Also they spoke of his good deeds
before me, and reported my words to him. Toviyah sent letters to put me in
fear.
7:1Now it happened, when the wall was
built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the
Levites were appointed, 7:2that I gave my brother Chanani,
and Chananyah the governor of the castle, charge over Yerushalayim; for he
was a faithful man, and feared G-d above many. 7:3I said to
them, Don't let the gates of Yerushalayim be opened until the sun be hot;
and while they stand on guard, let them shut the doors, and bar you
them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, everyone in
his watch, and everyone to be over against his house. 7:4Now the city was wide and large;
but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built. 7:5My G-d put into my heart to gather
together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be
reckoned by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came
up at the first, and I found written therein: 7:6These are
the children of the province, who went up out of the captivity of those
who had been carried away, whom Nevukhadnetztzar the king of Bavel had
carried away, and who returned to Yerushalayim and to Yehudah, everyone to
his city; 7:7who came with Zerubbavel, Yeshua,
Nechemyah, `Azaryah, Ra`amyah, Nachamani, Mordekhai, Bilshan, Misperet,
Bigvai, Nechum, Ba`anah. The number of the men of the people of Yisra'el:
7:8The children of Par`osh, two
thousand one hundred seventy-two. 7:9The children
of Shefatyah, three hundred seventy-two. 7:10The
children of Arach, six hundred fifty-two. 7:11The
children of Pachat-Mo'av, of the children of Yeshua and Yo'av, two
thousand eight hundred and eighteen. 7:12The
children of `Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. 7:13The children of Zattu, eight
hundred forty-five. 7:14The children of Zakkai, seven
hundred sixty. 7:15The children of Binnui, six
hundred forty-eight. 7:16The children of Bevai, six
hundred twenty-eight. 7:17The children of Azgad, two
thousand three hundred twenty-two. 7:18The
children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-seven. 7:19The
children of Bigvai, two thousand sixty-seven. 7:20The
children of `Adin, six hundred fifty-five. 7:21The
children of Ater, of Chizkiyahu, ninety-eight. 7:22The
children of Chashum, three hundred Twenty-eight. 7:23The
children of Betzai, three hundred twenty-four. 7:24The
children of Charif, one hundred twelve. 7:25The
children of Giv`on, ninety-five. 7:26The men of
Beit-Lechem and Netofah, one hundred eighty-eight. 7:27The men of
`Anatot, one hundred twenty-eight. 7:28The men of
Beit-`Azmavet, forty-two. 7:29The men of Kiryat-Ye`arim,
Kefirah, and Be'erot, seven hundred forty-three. 7:30The men of
Ramah and Geva, six hundred twenty-one. 7:31The men of
Mikhmas, one hundred and twenty-two. 7:32The men of
Beit-El and `Ai, a hundred twenty-three. 7:33The men of
the other Nevo, fifty-two. 7:34The children of the other `Elam,
one thousand two hundred fifty-four. 7:35The
children of Charim, three hundred twenty. 7:36The
children of Yericho, three hundred forty-five. 7:37The
children of Lod, Chadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-one. 7:38The children of Sena'ah, three
thousand nine hundred thirty. 7:39The kohanim:
The children of Yedayah, of the house of Yeshua, nine hundred
seventy-three. 7:40The children of Immer, one
thousand fifty-two. 7:41The children of Pashchur, one
thousand two hundred forty-seven. 7:42The
children of Charim, one thousand and seventeen. 7:43The Levites: the children of
Yeshua, of Kadmi'el, of the children of Hodevah, seventy-four. 7:44The singers: the children of
Asaf, one hundred forty-eight. 7:45The porters: the children of
Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of
`Akkuv, the children of Chatita, the children of Shovai, one hundred
thirty-eight. 7:46The temple servants: the children
of Tzicha, the children of Chasufa, the children of Tabba`ot, 7:47the children of Keros, the
children of Sia, the children of Padon, 7:48the
children of Levanah, the children of Chagava, the children of Salmai, 7:49the children of Chanan, the
children of Giddel, the children of Gachar, 7:50the
children of Re'ayah, the children of Retzin, the children of Nekoda, 7:51the children of Gazzam, the
children of Uzza, the children of Pase'ach. 7:52The
children of Besai, the children of Me`unim, the children of Nefishesim, 7:53the children of Bakbuk, the
children of Chakufa, the children of Charchur, 7:54the
children of Batzlit, the children of Mechida, the children of Charsha, 7:55the children of Barkos, the
children of Sisera, the children of Temach, 7:56the
children of Netzi'ach, the children of Chatifa. 7:57The
children of Shlomo's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of
Soferet, the children of Perida, 7:58the
children of Ya`alah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 7:59the children of Shefatyah, the
children of Chattil, the children of Pokheret-Hatzevayim, the children of
Amon. 7:60All the temple servants, and the
children of Shlomo's servants, were three hundred ninety-two. 7:61These were those who went up from
Tel-melah, Tel-Charsha, Keruv, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show
their fathers' houses, nor their seed, whether they were of Yisra'el: 7:62The children of Delayah, the
children of Toviyah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty-two. 7:63Of the kohanim: the children of Chavayah, the children of
Hakkotz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of
Barzillai the Gil`adite, and was called after their name. 7:64These sought their register
among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found:
therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. 7:65The governor said to them, that
they should not eat of the most holy things, until there stood up a kohen with Urim and Tummim. 7:66The whole
assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, 7:67besides their men-servants and
their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred
thirty-seven: and they had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing
women. 7:68Their horses were seven hundred
thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; 7:69their camels, four hundred
thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty. 7:70Some from among the heads of
fathers' houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury
one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred thirty kohanim' garments. 7:71Some of the
heads of fathers' houses gave into the treasury of the work twenty
thousand darics of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas of silver. 7:72That which the rest of the people
gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand minas of silver,
and sixty-seven kohanim' garments. 7:73So the kohanim, and the Levites, and the porters, and the
singers, and some of the people, and the temple servants, and all
Yisra'el, lived in their cities. When the seventh month was come, the
children of Yisra'el were in their cities.
8:1All the people gathered themselves
together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate;
and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moshe,
which the LORD had commanded to Yisra'el. 8:2Ezra the kohen brought the law before the assembly, both men and
women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the
seventh month. 8:3He read therein before the broad
place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in
the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand;
and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the
law. 8:4Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit
of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood
Mattityah, and Shema, and `Anayah, and Uriyah, and Chilkiyah, and
Ma`aseyah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedayahu, and
Misha'el, and Malkiyah, and Chashum, and Chashbaddanah, Zekharyah,
and Meshullam. 8:5Ezra 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: 8:6and Ezra blessed the LORD, the
great G-d. All the people answered, Amein, Amein, with the lifting up of
their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshiped the LORD with their
faces to the ground. 8:7Also Yeshua, and Bani, and
Sherevyah, Yamin, `Akkuv, Shabbetai, Hodiyah, Ma`aseyah, Kelita, `Azaryah,
Yozavad, Chanan, Pelayah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand
the law: and the people stood in their place. 8:8They read in
the book, in the law of G-d, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that
they understood the reading. 8:9Nechemyah, who was the governor,
and Ezra the kohen the scribe, and the Levites who
taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to the LORD
your G-d; don't mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard
the words of the law. 8:10Then he said to them, Go your
way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom
nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord: neither be you
grieved; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. 8:11So the
Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your shalom, for the day is
holy; neither be you grieved. 8:12All 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 to them. 8:13On the second day were gathered
together the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, the kohanim, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, even to give
attention to the words of the law. 8:14They found
written in the law, how that the LORD had commanded by Moshe, that the
children of Yisra'el should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh
month; 8:15and that they should publish and
proclaim in all their cities, and in Yerushalayim, saying, Go forth to the
mountain, and get olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and myrtle
branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths,
as it is written. 8:16So the people went forth, and
brought them, and made themselves booths, everyone on the roof of his
house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of G-d, and in
the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of
Efrayim. 8:17All the assembly of those who
were come again out of the captivity made booths, and lived in the booths;
for since the days of Yeshua the son of Nun to that day the children of
Yisra'el had not done so. There was very great gladness. 8:18Also day by day, from the first
day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of G-d. They kept the
feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according
to the ordinance.
9:1Now in the twenty-fourth day of
this month the children of Yisra'el were assembled with fasting, and with
sackcloth, and earth on them. 9:2The seed of Yisra'el separated
themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and
the iniquities of their fathers. 9:3They stood
up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their G-d a
fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and
worshiped the LORD their G-d. 9:4Then stood up on the stairs of the
Levites, Yeshua, and Bani, Kadmi'el, Shevanyah, Bunni, Sherevyah, Bani,
and Kenani, and cried with a loud voice to the LORD their G-d. 9:5Then the Levites, Yeshua, and
Kadmi'el, Bani, Chashavneyah, Sherevyah, Hodiyah, Shevanyah, and
Petachyah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your G-d from everlasting to
everlasting; and blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all
blessing and praise. 9:6You are the LORD, even you alone;
you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the
earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them,
and you preserve them all; and the host of heaven worships you. 9:7You are the LORD the G-d, who did
choose Avram, and brought him forth out of Ur of the Kasdim, and gave him
the name of Avraham, 9:8and found his heart faithful
before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Kana`ani,
the Chittite, the Amori, and the Perizzi, and the Yevusi, and the
Girgashi, to give it to his seed, and have performed your words; for you
are righteous. 9:9You saw the affliction of our
fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Sea of Suf, 9:10and shown signs and wonders on
Par`oh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land; for
you knew that they dealt proudly against them, and did get you a name, as
it is this day. 9:11You divided the sea before them,
so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their
pursuers you did cast into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.
9:12Moreover in a pillar of cloud you
led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in
the way in which they should go. 9:13You came
down also on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them
right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and mitzvot, 9:14and made known to them your holy
Shabbat, and commanded them mitzvot, and statutes, and
a law, by Moshe your servant, 9:15and gave them bread from the sky
for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for
their thirst, and commanded those who they should go in to possess the
land which you had sworn to give them. 9:16But they
and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and didn't listen
to your mitzvot, 9:17and refused
to obey, neither were mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but
hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return
to their bondage. But you are a G-d ready to pardon, gracious and
merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn't
forsake them. 9:18Yes, when they had made them a
molten calf, and said, This is your G-d who brought you up out of Egypt,
and had committed awful blasphemies; 9:19yet you in
your manifold mercies didn't forsake them in the wilderness: the pillar of
cloud didn't depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way;
neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in
which they should go. 9:20You gave also your good Spirit to
instruct them, and didn't withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave
them water for their thirst. 9:21Yes, forty years did you sustain
them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing; their clothes
didn't grow old, and their feet didn't swell. 9:22Moreover
you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you did allot after their
portions: so they possessed the land of Sichon, even the land of the king
of Cheshbon, and the land of `Og king of Bashan. 9:23Their
children also multiplied you as the stars of the sky, and brought them
into the land concerning which you did say to their fathers, that they
should go in to possess it. 9:24So the children went in and
possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the
land, the Kana`anim, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and
the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. 9:25They took fortified cities, and a
fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out,
vineyards, and olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance: so they ate,
and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great
goodness. 9:26Nevertheless they were
disobedient, and rebelled against you, and cast your law behind their
back, and killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them
again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies. 9:27Therefore
you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed
them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard
from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors
who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries. 9:28But after
they had rest, they did evil again before you; therefore left you them in
the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet
when they returned, and cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many
times did you deliver them according to your mercies, 9:29and testified against them, that
you might bring them again to your law. Yet they dealt proudly, and didn't
listen to your mitzvot, but sinned against your
ordinances, (which if a man do, he shall live in them), and withdrew the
shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. 9:30Yet many years did you bear with
them, and testified against them by your Spirit through your prophets: yet
would they not give ear: therefore gave you them into the hand of the
peoples of the lands. 9:31Nevertheless in your manifold
mercies you did not make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are
a gracious and merciful G-d. 9:32Now therefore, our G-d, the
great, the mighty, and the awesome G-d, who keep covenant and loving
kindness, don't let all the travail seem little before you, that has come
on us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our kohanim, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on
all your people, since the time of the kings of Ashshur to this day. 9:33However you are just in all that
is come on us; for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly; 9:34neither have our kings, our
princes, our kohanim, nor our fathers, kept your law,
nor listened to your mitzvot and your testimonies with
which you did testify against them. 9:35For they
have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you
gave them, and in the large and fat land which you gave before them,
neither turned they from their wicked works. 9:36Behold, we
are servants this day, and as for the land that you gave to our fathers to
eat the fruit of it and the good of it, behold, we are servants in it. 9:37It yields much increase to the
kings whom you have set over us because of our sins: also they have power
over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in
great distress. 9:38Yet for all this we make a sure
covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our kohanim, seal to it.
10:1Now those who sealed were:
Nechemyah the governor, the son of Chakhalyah, and Tzidkiyahu, 10:2Serayah, `Azaryah, Yirmeyahu, 10:3Pashchur, Amaryah, Malkiyah, 10:4Chattush, Shevanyah, Mallukh, 10:5Charim, Meremot, `Ovadyah, 10:6Daniyel, Ginneton, Barukh, 10:7Meshullam, Aviyah, Miyamin, 10:8Ma`azyah, Bilgai, Shemayah; these
were the kohanim. 10:9The
Levites: namely, Yeshua the son of Azanyah, Binnui of the sons of
Chenadad, Kadmi'el; 10:10and their brothers, Shevanyah,
Hodiyah, Kelita, Pelayah, Chanan, 10:11Mikha,
Rechov, Chashavyah, 10:12Zakkur, Sherevyah, Shevanyah, 10:13Hodiyah, Bani, Beninu. 10:14The chiefs of the people:
Par`osh, Pachat-Mo'av, `Elam, Zattu, Bani, 10:15Bunni,
Azgad, Bevai, 10:16Adoniyahu, Bigvai, `Adin, 10:17Ater, Chizkiyahu, Azur, 10:18Hodiyah, Chashum, Betzai, 10:19Charif, `Anatot, Nevai, 10:20Magpi`ash, Meshullam, Chetzir,
10:21Meshezav'el, Tzadok, Yaddua, 10:22Pelatyah, Chanan, `Anayah, 10:23Hoshea, Chananyah, Chashshuv, 10:24Hallochesh, Pilecha, Shovek, 10:25Rechum, Chashavnah, Ma`aseyah,
10:26and Achyah, Chanan, `Anan, 10:27Mallukh, Charim, Ba`anah. 10:28The rest of the people, the kohanim, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the temple
servants, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of
the lands to the law of G-d, their wives, their sons, and their daughters,
everyone who had knowledge, and understanding; 10:29They
joined with their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and
into an oath, to walk in G-d’s law, which was given by Moshe the servant
of G-d, and to observe and do all the mitzvot of the
LORD our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes; 10:30and that
we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their
daughters for our sons; 10:31and if the peoples of the land
bring wares or any grain on the day of Shabbat to sell, that we would not
buy of them on the Shabbat, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the
seventh year, and the exaction of every debt. 10:32Also we
made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of
a shekel for the service of the house of our G-d; 10:33for the
show bread, and for the continual meal-offering, and for the continual
burnt-offering, for the Shabbatot, for the new moons, for the set feasts,
and for the holy things, and for the sin-offerings to make atonement for
Yisra'el, and for all the work of the house of our G-d. 10:34We cast lots, the kohanim, the Levites, and the people, for the
wood-offering, to bring it into the house of our G-d, according to our
fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of
the LORD our G-d, as it is written in the law; 10:35and to
bring the first fruits of our ground, and the first fruits of all fruit of
all manner of trees, year by year, to the house of the LORD; 10:36also the firstborn of our sons,
and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstborn of our
herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our G-d, to the kohanim who minister in the house of our G-d; 10:37and that we should bring the
first fruits of our dough, and our heave-offerings, and the fruit of all
manner of trees, the new wine and the oil, to the kohanim, to the chambers of the house of our G-d; and the
tithes of our ground to the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the
tithes in all the cities of our tillage. 10:38The kohen the son of Aharon shall be with the Levites, when
the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the
tithes to the house of our G-d, to the chambers, into the treasure-house.
10:39For the children of Yisra'el and
the children of Levi shall bring the heave-offering of the grain, of the
new wine, and of the oil, to the chambers, where are the vessels of the
sanctuary, and the kohanim who minister, and the
porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our G-d.
11:1The princes of the people lived
in Yerushalayim: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of
ten to dwell in Yerushalayim the holy city, and nine parts in the
other cities. 11:2The people blessed all the men
who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Yerushalayim. 11:3Now these are the chiefs of the
province who lived in Yerushalayim: but in the cities of Yehudah lived
everyone in his possession in their cities, to wit, Yisra'el, the
kohanim, and the Levites, and the temple servants, and
the children of Shlomo's servants. 11:4In
Yerushalayim lived certain of the children of Yehudah, and of the children
of Binyamin. Of the children of Yehudah: `Atayah the son of `Uzziyah, the
son of Zekharyah, the son of Amaryah, the son of Shefatyah, the son of
Mahalal'el, of the children of Peretz; 11:5and
Ma`aseyah the son of Barukh, the son of Kolchozeh, the son of Chazayah,
the son of `Adayah, the son of Yoiariv, the son of Zekharyah, the son of
the Shiloni. 11:6All the sons of Peretz who lived
in Yerushalayim were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men. 11:7These are the sons of Binyamin:
Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Yo`ed, the son of Pedayahu, the son
of Kolayah, the son of Ma`aseyah, the son of 'Iti'el, the son of
Yesha`yah. 11:8After him Gabbai, Sallai, nine
hundred twenty-eight. 11:9Yo'el the son of Zikhri was their
overseer; and Yehudah the son of Senu'ah was second over the city. 11:10Of the kohanim: Yedayah the son of Yoiariv, Yakhin, 11:11Serayah the son of Chilkiyah,
the son of Meshullam, the son of Tzadok, the son of Merayot, the son of
Achituv, the ruler of the house of G-d, 11:12and their
brothers who did the work of the house, eight hundred twenty-two; and
`Adayah the son of Yerocham, the son of Pelalyah, the son of Amtzi, the
son of Zekharyah, the son of Pashchur, the son of Malkiyah, 11:13and his brothers, chiefs of
fathers' houses, two hundred forty-two; and Amashsai the son of
`Azar'el, the son of Achzai, the son of Meshillemot, the son of Immer, 11:14and their brothers, mighty men
of valor, one hundred twenty-eight; and their overseer was Zavdi'el, the
son of Haggedolim. 11:15Of the Levites: Shemayah the son
of Chashshuv, the son of `Azrikam, the son of Chashavyah, the son of
Bunni; 11:16and Shabbetai and Yozavad, of
the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outward business
of the house of G-d; 11:17and Mattanyah the son of Mikha,
the son of Zavdi, the son of Asaf, who was the chief to begin the
thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukyah, the second among his brothers; and
`Avda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Yedutun. 11:18All the Levites in the holy city
were two hundred eighty-four. 11:19Moreover the porters, `Akkuv,
Talmon, and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were one hundred
seventy-two. 11:20The residue of Yisra'el, of the
kohanim, the Levites, were in all the cities of
Yehudah, everyone in his inheritance. 11:21But the
temple servants lived in `Ofel: and Tzicha and Gishpa were over the temple
servants. 11:22The overseer also of the Levites
at Yerushalayim was `Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Chashavyah, the son
of Mattanyah, the son of Mikha, of the sons of Asaf, the singers, over the
business of the house of G-d. 11:23For there was a mitzvah from the king concerning them, and a settled
provision for the singers, as every day required. 11:24Petachyah
the son of Meshezav'el, of the children of Zerach the son of Yehudah, was
at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people. 11:25As for the villages, with their
fields, some of the children of Yehudah lived in Kiryat-Arba and the towns
of it, and in Divon and the towns of it, and in Yekavtze'el and the
villages of it, 11:26and in Yeshua, and in Moladah,
and Beit-Pelet, 11:27and in Chatzar-Shu`al, and in
Be'er-Sheva and the towns of it, 11:28and in
Tziklag, and in Mekhonah and in the towns of it, 11:29and in
En-rimmon, and in Tzor`ah, and in Yarmut, 11:30Zanoach,
`Adullam, and their villages, Lakhish and the fields of it, `Azeka and the
towns of it. So they encamped from Be'er-Sheva to the valley of Hinnom. 11:31The children of Binyamin also
lived from Geva onward, at Mikhmash and Ayah, and at Beit-El
and the towns of it, 11:32at `Anatot, Nov, `Ananyah, 11:33Chatzor, Ramah, Gittayim, 11:34Chadid, Tzevo`im, Nevalat, 11:35Lod, and Ono, the valley of
craftsmen. 11:36Of the Levites, certain
divisions in Yehudah were joined to Binyamin.
12:1Now these are the kohanim and the Levites who went up with Zerubbavel the
son of She'alti'el, and Yeshua: Serayah, Yirmeyahu, Ezra, 12:2Amaryah, Mallukh, Chattush, 12:3Shekhanyahu, Rechum, Meremot, 12:4`Iddo, Ginnetoi, Aviyah, 12:5Miyamin, Ma`adyah, Bilgah, 12:6Shemayah, and Yoiariv, Yedayah.
12:7Sallu, `Amok, Chilkiyah, Yedayah.
These were the chiefs of the kohanim and of their
brothers in the days of Yeshua. 12:8Moreover
the Levites: Yeshua, Binnui, Kadmi'el, Sherevyah, Yehudah, and
Mattanyah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brothers. 12:9Also Bakbukyah and Unno, their
brothers, were over against them according to their offices. 12:10Yeshua became the father of
Yoiakim, and Yoiakim became the father of Elyashiv, and Elyashiv became
the father of Yoiada, 12:11and Yoiada became the father of
Yonatan, and Yonatan became the father of Yaddua. 12:12In the
days of Yoiakim were kohanim, heads of fathers'
houses: of Serayah, Merayah; of Yirmeyahu, Chananyah; 12:13of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amaryah,
Yehochanan; 12:14of Malluchi, Yonatan; of
Shevanyah, Yosef; 12:15of Charim, `Adna; of Merayot,
Chelkai; 12:16of `Iddo, Zekharyah; of
Ginneton, Meshullam; 12:17of Aviyah, Zikhri; of Minyamin,
of Mo`adyah, Piltai; 12:18of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemayah,
Yehonatan; 12:19and of Yoiariv, Mattenai; of
Yedayah, `Uzzi; 12:20of Sallai, Kallai; of `Amok,
`Ever; 12:21of Chilkiyah, Chashavyah; of
Yedayah, Netan'el. 12:22As for the Levites, in the days
of Elyashiv, Yoiada, and Yochanan, and Yaddua, there were recorded the
heads of fathers' houses; also the kohanim, in
the reign of Daryavesh the Parsian. 12:23The sons
of Levi, heads of fathers' houses, were written in the book of the
chronicles, even until the days of Yochanan the son of Elyashiv. 12:24The chiefs of the Levites:
Chashavyah, Sherevyah, and Yeshua the son of Kadmi'el, with their brothers
over against them, to praise and give thanks, according to the mitzvah of David the man of G-d, watch next to watch. 12:25Mattanyah, and Bakbukyah,
`Ovadyah, Meshullam, Talmon, `Akkuv, were porters keeping the watch at the
store-houses of the gates. 12:26These were in the days of
Yoiakim the son of Yeshua, the son of Yotzadak, and in the days of
Nechemyah the governor, and of Ezra the kohen the
scribe. 12:27At the dedication of the wall of
Yerushalayim they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring
them to Yerushalayim, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with
giving thanks, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.
12:28The sons of the singers gathered
themselves together, both out of the plain round about Yerushalayim, and
from the villages of the Netofati; 12:29also from
Beit-Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geva and `Azmavet: for the singers
had built them villages round about Yerushalayim. 12:30The kohanim and the Levites purified themselves; and they
purified the people, and the gates, and the wall. 12:31Then I
brought up the princes of Yehudah on the wall, and appointed two great
companies who gave thanks and went in procession. One went on the
right hand on the wall toward the dung gate; 12:32and after
them went Hosha`yah, and half of the princes of Yehudah, 12:33and `Azaryah, Ezra, and
Meshullam, 12:34Yehudah, and Binyamin, and
Shemayah, and Yirmeyahu, 12:35and certain of the kohanim' sons with trumpets: Zekharyah the son of Yonatan,
the son of Shemayah, the son of Mattanyah, the son of Mikhayahu, the son
of Zakkur, the son of Asaf; 12:36and his brothers, Shemayah, and
`Azar'el, Milalai, Gilalai, Ma`ai, Netan'el, and Yehudah, Chanani, with
the musical instruments of David the man of G-d; and Ezra the scribe was
before them. 12:37By the spring gate, and straight
before them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the
ascent of the wall, above the house of David, even to the water gate
eastward. 12:38The other company of those who
gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them, with the half of the
people, on the wall, above the tower of the furnaces, even to the broad
wall, 12:39and above the gate of Efrayim,
and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of Chanan'el, and
the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate: and they stood still in the
gate of the guard. 12:40So stood the two companies of
those who gave thanks in the house of G-d, and I, and the half of the
rulers with me; 12:41and the kohanim, Elyakim, Ma`aseyah, Minyamin, Mikhayahu,
Elyo`enai, Zekharyah, and Chananyah, with trumpets; 12:42and
Ma`aseyah, and Shemayah, and El`azar, and `Uzzi, and Yehochanan, and
Malkiyah, and `Elam, and Etzer. The singers sang loud, with Yizrachyah
their overseer. 12:43They offered great sacrifices
that day, and rejoiced; for G-d had made them rejoice with great joy; and
the women also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Yerushalayim
was heard even afar off. 12:44On that day were men appointed
over the chambers for the treasures, for the heave-offerings, for the
first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to the
fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the kohanim and Levites: for Yehudah rejoiced for the kohanim and for the Levites who waited. 12:45They kept the charge of their
God, and the charge of the purification, and so did the singers and
the porters, according to the mitzvah of David, and of
Shlomo his son. 12:46For in the days of David and
Asaf of old there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and
thanksgiving to G-d. 12:47All Yisra'el in the days of
Zerubbavel, and in the days of Nechemyah, gave the portions of the singers
and the porters, as every day required: and they set apart that which
was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was
for the sons of Aharon.
13:1On that day they read in the book
of Moshe in the audience of the people; and therein was found written,
that an `Ammonite and a Mo'avite should not enter into the assembly of G-d
forever, 13:2because they didn't meet the
children of Yisra'el with bread and with water, but hired Bil`am against
them, to curse them: however our G-d turned the curse into a blessing. 13:3It came to pass, when they had
heard the law, that they separated from Yisra'el all the mixed multitude.
13:4Now before this, Elyashiv the kohen, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of
our G-d, being allied to Toviyah, 13:5had
prepared for him a great chamber, where before they laid the
meal-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the
grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by mitzvah to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters;
and the heave-offerings for the kohanim. 13:6But in all this time I was
not at Yerushalayim; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artachshasta
king of Bavel I went to the king: and after certain days asked I leave of
the king, 13:7and I came to Yerushalayim, and
understood the evil that Elyashiv had done for Toviyah, in preparing him a
chamber in the courts of the house of G-d. 13:8It grieved
me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Toviyah out of
the chamber. 13:9Then I commanded, and they
cleansed the chambers: and there brought I again the vessels of the house
of G-d, with the meal-offerings and the frankincense. 13:10I perceived that the portions of
the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers,
who did the work, were fled everyone to his field. 13:11Then
contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of G-d forsaken? I
gathered them together, and set them in their place. 13:12Then brought all Yehudah the
tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries. 13:13I made treasurers over the
treasuries, Shelemyahu the kohen, and Tzadok the
scribe, and of the Levites, Pedayahu: and next to them was Chanan the son
of Zakkur, the son of Mattanyah; for they were counted faithful, and their
business was to distribute to their brothers. 13:14Remember
me, my G-d, concerning this, and don't wipe out my good deeds that I have
done for the house of my G-d, and for the observances of it. 13:15In those days saw I in Yehudah
some men treading wine-presses on the Shabbat, and bringing in sheaves,
and lading donkeys therewith; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and
all manner of burdens, which they brought into Yerushalayim on the day of
Shabbat: and I testified against them in the day in which they sold
food. 13:16There lived men of Tzor also
therein, who brought in fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the
Shabbat to the children of Yehudah, and in Yerushalayim. 13:17Then I contended with the nobles
of Yehudah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and
profane the day of Shabbat? 13:18Didn't your fathers do thus, and
did not our G-d bring all this evil on us, and on this city? yet you bring
more wrath on Yisra'el by profaning the Shabbat. 13:19It came to
pass that, when the gates of Yerushalayim began to be dark before the
Shabbat, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that
they should not be opened until after the Shabbat: and some of my servants
set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the day
of Shabbat. 13:20So the merchants and sellers of
all kind of wares lodged outside of Yerushalayim once or twice. 13:21Then I testified against them,
and said to them, Why lodge you about the wall? if you do so again, I will
lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the Shabbat.
13:22I commanded the Levites that
they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the
gates, to sanctify the day of Shabbat. Remember to me, my G-d, this also,
and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness. 13:23In those days also saw I the
Yehudim who had married women of Ashdod, of `Ammon, and of Mo'av:
13:24and their children spoke half in
the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Yehudim' language, but
according to the language of each people. 13:25I
contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and
plucked off their hair, and made them swear by G-d, saying, You
shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for
your sons, or for yourselves. 13:26Did not Shlomo king of Yisra'el
sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him,
and he was beloved of his G-d, and G-d made him king over all Yisra'el:
nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin. 13:27Shall we then listen to you to
do all this great evil, to trespass against our G-d in marrying foreign
women? 13:28One of the sons of Yoiada, the
son of Elyashiv the kohen gadol, was son-in-law to
Sanvallat the Choronite: therefore I chased him from me. 13:29Remember them, my G-d, because
they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and
of the Levites. 13:30Thus cleansed I them from all
foreigners, and appointed charges for the kohanim and
for the Levites, everyone in his work; 13:31and for
the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember
me, my G-d, for good.
Notes: [1] back to 1:5
commandments [2] back to 1:7
commandments [3] back to 1:9
commandments [4] back to 2:16
priests [5] back to 3:1 high
priest [6] back to 3:1
priests [7] back to 3:20 high
priest [8] back to 3:22
priests [9] back to 3:28
priests [10] back to 4:18
trumpet [11] back to 4:20
trumpet [12] back to 5:12
priests [13] back to 7:39
priests [14] back to 7:63
priests [15] back to 7:65
priest [16] back to 7:70
priests [17] back to 7:72
priests [18] back to 7:73
priests [19] back to 8:2
priest [20] back to 8:9
priest [21] back to 8:13
priests [22] back to 9:13
commandments [23] back to 9:14
commandments [24] back to 9:16
commandments [25] back to 9:29
commandments [26] back to 9:32
priests [27] back to 9:34
priests [28] back to 9:34
commandments [29] back to 9:38
priests [30] back to 10:8
priests [31] back to 10:28
priests [32] back to 10:29
commandments [33] back to
10:34 priests [34] back to
10:36 priests [35] back to
10:37 priests [36] back to
10:38 priest [37] back to
10:39 priests [38] back to
11:3 priests [39] back to
11:10 priests [40] back to
11:20 priests [41] back to
11:23 commandment [42] back to
12:1 priests [43] back to
12:7 priests [44] back to
12:12 priests [45] back to
12:22 priests [46] back to
12:24 commandment [47] back to
12:26 priest [48] back to
12:30 priests [49] back to
12:35 priests [50] back to
12:41 priests [51] back to
12:44 priests [52] back to
12:44 priests [53] back to
12:45 commandment [54] back to
13:4 priest [55] back to
13:5 commandment [56] back to
13:5 priests [57] back to
13:13 priest [58] back to
13:28 high priest [59] back to
13:30 priests
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