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