J. Vernon McGee Thru the Bible Radio - (16) Book of Nehemiah

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Streamed Audio	Download Thru the Bible Chapters	Bible Chapter Listen or Download	Chapter Descriptions
Listen	Download		Nehemiah Introduction
Listen	Download	Bible - KJV	Nehemiah Ch. 1 Neh1: The words of Nehemiah: Men from Judah said, "The wall of Jerusalem is broken down." I prayed, "O LORD, give me favour with the king."
Listen	Download	Bible - KJV	Nehemiah Ch. 2 Neh2: The king granted my request to go and rebuild Jerusalem. Sanballat was displeased. I inspected the walls and said, "Let us rebuild."
Listen	Download	Bible - KJV	Nehemiah Ch. 3 Neh3: The priests rebuilt the Sheep Gate, the Tekoites made repairs, Jedaiah repaired opposite his house, Meremoth repaired another section.
Listen	Download	Bible - KJV	Nehemiah Ch. 4 Neh4: Sanballat ridiculed us and plotted to attack Jerusalem. So we prayed and posted a guard. The builders carried swords as they worked.
Listen	Download	Bible - KJV	Nehemiah Ch. 5 Neh5: The people cried out, "We have to borrow to get grain." I told the nobles, "Let us stop exacting usury." I did not take my allowance.
Listen	Download	Bible - KJV	Nehemiah Ch. 6 Neh6: Sanballat and Tobiah sent for me to do me harm. I replied, "Why should I come?" The wall was finished and our enemies were afraid.
Listen	Download	Bible - KJV	Nehemiah Ch. 7 Neh7: I gave Hanani and Hananiah charge over Jerusalem. I registered the nobles, rulers and people by genealogy. The assembly was 42,360.
Listen	Download	Bible - KJV	Nehemiah Ch. 8 Neh8: The people gathered and Ezra read from the law. Nehemiah said, "This day is holy. Do not mourn." The people held the Feast of Booths.
Listen	Download	Bible - KJV	Nehemiah Ch. 9 Neh9: The Israelites confessed. The Levites said, "LORD, you brought our fathers out of Egypt. They rebelled but you did not forsake them."
Listen	Download	Bible - KJV	Nehemiah Ch. 10 Neh10: The leaders sealed a covenant. The people made an oath: "We will not marry foreigners. We will bring the offerings for the temple."
Listen	Download	Bible - KJV	Nehemiah Ch. 11 Neh11: The leaders and one in ten of the people lived in Jerusalem. There were descendants of Judah and of Benjamin, priests and Levites.
Listen	Download	Bible - KJV	Nehemiah Ch. 12 Neh12: All the Levites and leaders gathered to dedicate the wall. They made offerings and rejoiced. Men were appointed over the storerooms.
Listen	Download	Bible - KJV	Nehemiah Ch. 13 Neh13: I cleared Tobiah out of the temple. I confronted those who profaned the Sabbath and who married foreign women. Remember me, O God.

Book of Nehemiah Outlines by J.Vernon McGee PDF format <Link>

http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-outline/

The Book of Nehemiah - Summary

God's special people, the Jews, did not obey God. So he punished them. He allowed the king of Babylon and his army to defeat them. The king of Babylon ordered most Jews to live in Babylon. Babylon was a long way from their country, called Judah.

Many years later, the army from Persia defeated the army from Babylon. The king of Persia allowed the Jews to return to their own land. Only some of the Jews returned to Judah.

Many years later a man called Hanani left Judah to visited his brother, Nehemiah. Nehemiah was an important servant of the king of Persia. Nehemiah asked Hanani for news about Jerusalem, which was the chief city in Judah. Hanani told Nehemiah that the walls of Jerusalem were only heaps of stones. Fire had burned the gates of the city. This news made Nehemiah very sad. So Nehemiah asked the king to send him to Jerusalem to build the walls of the city again.

The book of Nehemiah in the Bible tells the story of how Nehemiah and the people built the walls of Jerusalem again. The people who lived near Jerusalem did not want the Jews to build the city again. They opposed the Jews and tried to stop the work. But God helped them and they finished the work in 52 days.

God wanted the Jews to become his special people again. So Nehemiah, with the help of Ezra, helped the people to obey God. But often the people did not obey God's word. They had forgotten that God had punished the people many years earlier. He did that because they did not obey him. God had allowed a foreign king to defeat the Jews. That was why the city of Jerusalem needed these repairs.

The translated Bible text has been through Advanced Checking.

Words in boxes are comments on the text.

A word list at the end explains words with a *star by them.

About this book

Chapter 1

v1 These are the words of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah. It was the month Kislev. This was when King Artaxerxes had ruled for 20 years. I was in the king’s house in the city called Susa. v2 Hanani, my brother and some men arrived. They came from Judah. I asked them for news of the *Jews who had earlier returned from Babylon. I asked them about Jerusalem city. v3 They told me, ‘The *Jews who returned to Judah are in much trouble. And they are ashamed. Their enemies have broken down the city walls and have burnt the gates.’

v4 After they told me this, I sat down. And I cried. During many days, I was very sad. I did not eat or drink. I prayed to God.

v5 I prayed, ‘Oh *Lord, God of *heaven, you are great and powerful. You are so great that I cannot come near to you. You always *keep your promises to the people that you have chosen. You do this because you love them. But they must love and obey you. v6 Listen to my words. I am your servant. I am praying to you. I pray in the day and in the night. I am praying on behalf of the people of Israel. They are your servants. We have all done wrong things. I and my *family have not obeyed you. The people of Israel have not obeyed your *laws. v7 We have all gone against you. We have not obeyed the *laws that you gave to your servant Moses.

v8 Remember what you told Moses. You told him, “If you do not obey my *laws and love me, I will make you live in foreign lands. I will cause you to become separate. You will not be together. v9 But my people must return to me and obey my *laws. Then I will let them live in the place that I have chosen. Even if they live far away, I will find them. They can live in the place that I have chosen for my name.” That is what you told Moses.’

v10 ‘Your people are your servants. You saved them from their enemies with your great power. They cost you much. v11 Please listen to my *prayer. I am your servant. The people of Israel are your servants. We *worship your name. Let the king be happy with me. Let Artaxerxes give me what I ask.’

I was the king’s cupbearer.

Chapter 2

v1 It was the month of Nisan. King Artaxerxes had ruled Babylon for 20 years. I brought the king’s *wine. I gave the *wine to the king. I was sad. I had not been sad in front of the king before. v2 The king asked me, ‘Why are you sad? You are not ill. This must mean that you are not happy.’ I was afraid.

v3 I replied, ‘Let the king live always! I am sad because they have destroyed my *ancestors’ city. Our enemies have burned the city’s gates.’ v4 The king asked me, ‘What do you want?’ So I prayed to God. v5 Then I replied to the king, ‘If it gives the king pleasure, might he send me there? Then if he is happy with his servant Nehemiah, I can build the city again. They buried my *ancestors there.’ v6 The king sat with the queen next to him. The king asked me, ‘How long will you be away? When will you return?’ The king was happy to let me go to Judah. I told him when I would leave. v7 I said to the king, ‘If the king likes the idea, give me some letters. The letters are for your government officers of Trans-Euphrates. The officers will keep me safe on the journey to Judah. v8 Let me have a letter to give to Asaph. He has authority for the king’s forest. He will give me wood from the trees to make beams. The beams are for the gates of the city, near the *temple. They are also for the city wall and for the house that I will live in.’ God was with me. So the king gave me what I asked for.

v9 I went to Trans-Euphrates. I gave the government officers the letter. The king sent soldiers with me. Some rode horses and some walked. v10 Sanballat and Tobiah were not happy because I came to help the *Jews. Sanballat was from Horon and Tobiah was an *Ammonite officer.

v11 I went to Jerusalem. I was in Jerusalem for three days. After three days v12 I went out at night. A few men came with me. I did not tell anyone the idea that God had put in my mind. I rode on a horse. We did not take any other horses. v13 I went through the Valley Gate to the Jackal Well and the *Dung Gate. I looked at Jerusalem’s wall. It was broken. Enemies had broken the wall and they had burnt the gates.

v14 I went to the *Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool. The horse that I was riding could not get through. v15 So I went to the valley to look at the wall. It was dark. I returned past the Valley Gate. v16 The officers did not know what I had done. I had not said anything to the officers or *priests. I did not tell the *Jews that I wanted them to build the city wall again.

v17 I spoke to the *priests, *Jews and officers. I said, ‘We have much trouble. Enemies have broken down the city wall. Fire has burned the gates. We must build the city again. Then Jerusalem will no longer be ashamed.’ v18 I told the people how God had helped me. God had put the idea in the king’s mind to let me come to Jerusalem. I told them what the king had said to me. The people said, ‘We will start to build!’ And they began the good work. v19 But Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem tried to make us seem like fools. They said, ‘What are you doing? Are you going against the king?’

v20 I replied, ‘God will make us strong to finish this work. We are God’s servants. We will start to build. But you have no place in Jerusalem.’

Chapter 3

v1 Eliashib, the *priest, and other *priests built the Sheep Gate. They dedicated (gave) it to God and they put on the doors of the gate. Eliashib and the other *priests built the wall as far as the *Tower of the Hundred. They dedicated this part of the wall. Then they built the wall as far as the *Tower of Hananel.

v2 The men from Jericho built the next part of the city wall. Zaccur, the son of Imri, built the next part of the wall.

v3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They put up the beams and they put on the doors of the gate. They made the doors so that they could lock the gate. v4 Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, mended the next part of the wall. Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, repaired the wall next to Meremoth. Zadok, son of Baana, repaired the next part of the wall. v5 The men from Tekoa repaired the next part. But their important men did not work hard.

v6 Joiada son of Paseah, and Meshullam son of Besodeiah, repaired the Old Gate. They put up the beams of the gate and they put on the doors. They made the doors of the gate so that they could lock them. v7 Men from Gibeon and Mizpah called Melatiah and Jadon repaired the wall next to the Old Gate. Melatiah is from Gibeon. Jadon came from Meronoth that is under the authority of Trans-Euphrates. v8 Uzziel, son of Harhaiah, repaired the next part of the wall. Uzziel is a man who works with gold. Hananiah repaired the wall next to Uzziel. Hananiah makes *perfume. Hananiah and Uzziel repaired the wall as far as the Broad Wall. v9 Rephaiah, son of Hur, repaired the next part of the wall. Rephaiah rules over part of Jerusalem.

v10 Next to Rephaiah, Jedaiah, son of Harumaph, repaired the wall on the other side of Jedaiah’s house. Hattush, son of Hashabneiah, repaired the wall next to Jedaiah. v11 Malkijah son of Harim, and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab, repaired a part of the wall. They also repaired the *Tower of the *Ovens. v12 Shallum, son of Hallohesh, repaired the next part of the wall. Shallum’s daughters helped him. Shallum ruled over part of Jerusalem.

v13 Hanun and the people who lived in Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it and they put doors on the gate. They made the doors so that they could be locked. The people from Zanoah also repaired 450 metres of the city wall. They repaired the wall as far as the *Dung Gate.

v14 Malkijah, son of Recab, repaired the *Dung Gate. Malkijah put the doors on the gate. He made the doors. Malkijah rules Beth Hakkerem.

v15 Shallun, son of Col-Hozeh, repaired the *Fountain Gate. Shallun is the ruler of Mizpah and the places round it. Shallun made a roof for the *Fountain Gate. He put on the door. He made the doors so that they could lock the gate. Shallun also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam near the King’s Garden. Shallun repaired the wall as far as the steps from the City of David. v16 Nehemiah, son of Azbuk, repaired another part of the wall. He repaired as far as the pool that people had made and the House of the Brave Men. Nehemiah is a ruler of Beth Zur. v17 Next to Nehemiah, *Levites repaired the wall. Rehum son of Bani had authority over the *Levites. Next to the *Levites, Hashabiah repaired the wall. He ruled over part of Keilah. v18 Binnui son of Henadad repaired the wall. Binnui also rules over part of Keilah. Men from Keilah helped him. v19 Ezer son of Jeshua repaired part of the wall. It was in front of the place where the soldiers kept their arms. He repaired as far as the corner. Ezer rules over Mizpah. v20 Next, Baruch son of Zabbai repaired part of the wall. It was from the corner to the door of Eliashib’s house. Baruch worked very well. Eliashib is the leader of the *priests. v21 Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next part. It was from the door to the end of Eliashib’s house. v22 Next to Meremoth, *priests from near Jerusalem repaired the wall. v23 Benjamin and Hasshub repaired the wall in front of their house. Next, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, repaired the wall by his house. v24 Binnui son of Henadad, repaired from Azariah’s house to the corner. He also repaired the corner of the wall. v25 Palal son of Uzai, worked in front of the *tower of the *Upper *Palace near the *guards’ yard. Pedaiah son of Parosh v26 and the *temple servants repaired the wall towards the east. And they repaired the *tower as far as the Water Gate. The *temple servants live on the hill of Ophel. v27 The men from Tekoa repaired from the *tower to the wall of Ophel.

v28 The *priests repaired the wall above the Horse Gate. Each *priest repaired the wall in front of his house. v29 Zadok, son of Immer, repaired the city wall in front of his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah repaired the wall. Shemaiah is the *guard at the East Gate.

v30 Next to Shemaiah, Hananiah, son of Shelemiah, repaired the wall. Hanun, the 6th son of Zalaph, also repaired the wall. Next, Meshullam, son of Berekiah, repaired the wall in front of the place where he lived. v31 Malkijah works with gold. He repaired the wall as far as the *temple servants’ house. And he repaired as far as the *merchants’ houses in front of the Meeting Gate. He repaired as far as the room above the corner.

v32 Between there and the Sheep Gate the *merchants and men who worked with gold repaired the wall.

Chapter 4

v1 Sanballat knew that the *Jews were building the wall. He was very angry. He wanted people to think that the *Jews were fools. v2 Sanballat’s officers and Samaria’s army were with him. He said, ‘Those *Jews have great ideas! They are weak. They are trying to repair the wall! They want to give *sacrifices to their God. They will take a long time because fire has burned the stones. They cannot use them to build the wall.’ v3 Tobiah the *Ammonite was with him. Tobiah said, ‘The wall that the *Jews have built is very weak. If a small animal climbs on it, their wall will fall.’ v4 I prayed, ‘Hear us, our God. Our enemies are against us. Make them seem like fools. Let their enemies take them as slaves. And let their enemies take their land. v5 Do not forget their *sins. They are saying bad things about you. And the *Jews who are building the city wall are hearing their words.’

v6 The *Jews worked well because they really wanted to build the wall. So they continued to build the city wall. It soon became half as high as the old wall.

v7 But Sanballat and Tobiah were very angry. They had heard that the *Jews had nearly mended the walls. The holes in them were now small. The people who came from Arabia, the *Ammonites and the men from Ashdod were also very angry. v8 They met together. They decided how to fight against the *Jews. They wanted to cause trouble for them. v9 But we, the *Jews, prayed to God. We made *guards watch over the land outside the wall. They watched day and night.

v10 While this was happening, the people in Judah said, ‘The workers are becoming weak. There are too many small pieces of stone. We cannot build the city. The stones are in the places where we want to build.’ v11 Our enemies said, ‘Before the *Jews see us, we will go among them. Then we will kill them. While they are building the wall, we will stop them.’ v12 The *Jews who lived near them said, ‘Anywhere that you go, our enemies will attack us.’ They said this to us many times.

v13 So I (Nehemiah) put some men behind the lowest part of the wall. They had *swords, *spears and bows. They stayed near the *families who repaired the wall. v14 I looked at everything. I said to the officers and the people, ‘Do not be afraid of our enemies. Remember that God is great and powerful. Fight on behalf of your brothers. Fight on behalf of your sons and daughters. Fight on behalf of your wives. Fight on behalf of your homes.’

v15 We knew what our enemies had decided to do. They discovered this. Then they knew that God had stopped them. So each of us went back to our work on the wall.

v16 After that day, half of my men carried *spears, bows and *swords. The officers stood behind the people while they built the wall. v17 Those who carried building materials kept one hand on their *sword. Everyone who was making repairs to the wall carried a *sword. They did their work with one hand and they carried their *sword with the other hand. v18 Every man who built the wall carried his *sword. And the man with the *trumpet stayed near me.

v19 I said to all the people, ‘Because the wall is long, we are not near each other. v20 When you hear the sound of the *trumpet, come to me. Our God will fight on our behalf.’

v21 We continued to work on the wall. Half of the men carried *spears. They looked for our enemies. We worked from morning until it was dark. v22 I spoke to the *Jews and to those who helped them, ‘Everyone must stay in Jerusalem at night. You can look for our enemies at night and work in the day.’ (I said this to the *Jews who did not live in Jerusalem.) v23 Neither I nor my brothers took our clothes off. Nor did my men or the *guards take off their clothes. Everyone carried his *sword. We were ready always to fight our enemies. Even when we went to get water, we carried our *swords.

Chapter 5

v1 Some men and their wives were not happy with some other *Jews. v2 They said, ‘We have many sons and daughters. But we have no food.’ v3 Other people said, ‘We have no money for food. We have to sell our fields, vineyards and homes for food to stay alive.’

v4 Other people said, ‘We have no money to pay our debts to the king. v5 We have had to sell our sons and daughters as slaves. Other people buy them because we have no money. Our sons and daughters are *Jews like them. But some of our daughters are already slaves. They make us pay for the money that they lent to us. We should not have to do this because we are all *Jews. We have no power because we have sold our land to other people.’

v6 When I knew about this, I was very angry. v7 I thought about what these *Jews had said. Then I said to the rich *Jews and their officers, ‘You are using other *Jews to get more money.’ I asked many *Jews to meet together. v8 I said, ‘We have bought back those *Jews who were slaves. They were slaves to people who were not *Jews. Now you are making poor *Jews become slaves. They are like your brothers. We will have to buy them back again.’ The rich *Jews did not say anything. They had nothing to say. v9 I said, ‘You are doing a very wrong thing. You should be afraid that our enemies will have no *respect for our God.’

v10 ‘My brothers and I, together with other men, are lending the people money and food. But we are not getting extra money from them. v11 Please give the fields, *vineyards, *olive groves and houses back to the poor *Jews now. And do not ask them to give back more money than you lend. You have asked for 1/100th part more than you lent! Give that money back to them, too.’

v12 The rich *Jews said, ‘We will give everything back to them. We will not ask them to give back more money than we lent to them. We will do as you say.’ I asked the *priests to come and join us. I made the rich *Jews make a promise. They promised to do as I said. v13 I moved my clothes while I was still wearing them. While I did this, I said, ‘Like this, God should move every man out of his house if he does not obey this promise. God should move him away from everything that is his. People should take him away and destroy all his things.’ Everyone said, ‘*Amen’. Everyone *worshipped God. All the people obeyed this promise.

v14 During all the time that I had authority in Judah, I did not eat the food of those in authority. I did this from the 20th to the 32nd year of King Artaxerxes. For 12 years I did not eat this food. Nor did my brothers. v15 Those in authority before I came took 40 pieces of *silver, food and *wine from the people. Those who helped them thought of them as more important than other people. I did not do this, because I *worship God. v16 I worked together with my men when we built the wall. I did not take any land. v17 150 *Jews and officers ate at my table. Also, men from lands near Jerusalem ate with me. v18 Every day, my servants cooked one ox, 6 sheep and some birds for us to eat. Every 10 days I bought much *wine. I did not ask for all the things that usually they gave to people in authority. The *Jews were poor. They could not give me the food that people in authority could ask for. v19 ‘Please God, remember me. And do good things to me because of what I have done on behalf of the *Jews.’

Chapter 6

v1 We had finished building the wall. There were no holes in it, but the doors were not in the gates. Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem and all our enemies knew that we had finished building the wall. (Geshem came from Arabia.) v2 Sanballat and Geshem sent this message to me, ‘Let us meet together in a village on the Ono flat land.’ I knew that they wanted to hurt me. v3 I sent a man with my reply, ‘I am too busy to meet you. I will not stop this important work to meet you.’ v4 They sent me the same message 4 times. My reply to each was the same. v5 Then Sanballat sent his officer to me. He carried a letter that was open. Any person could read this letter. v6 This is what the letter said, ‘They are telling the people that you (Nehemiah) and the *Jews will cause trouble for the king. Geshem also says that this is true. This is why you are building the city wall. They say that you want to be King of Jerusalem. v7 You have told *prophets that they must say, “There is a king in Judah.” This report will go to King Artaxerxes. So we must meet together.’

v8 I sent this reply, ‘What you say is not true. You are saying things that are your own ideas.’

v9 Our enemies wanted to frighten us. They thought, ‘The *Jews will be so afraid that their hands will be weak. They will not finish building the wall.’ I prayed to God, ‘Make my hands strong.’

v10 One day I went to Shemaiah’s house. He is the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel. He would not go out of his house. He said to me, ‘Meet me in the *temple of God. We will close the *temple doors. Our enemies are coming to kill you. At night, they will come to kill you.’

v11 But I said, ‘I will not run away. I will not go into the *temple to save my life.’ v12 Then I knew that my enemies had sent Shemaiah. Tobiah and Sanballat had paid him to say this to me. v13 They wanted to frighten me so that I would hide in the *temple. My enemies knew that this would be a *sin. If I *sinned, they would tell the people about it. Then people would not have *respect for me after that. v14 ‘Please God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat. Remember what they have done. Remember Noadiah the *prophetess and the other *prophets who want to frighten me.’

v15 We finished the wall on the 25th of Elul. It had taken 52 days to build the city wall again. v16 When our enemies knew this, they were afraid. All the people who lived near Jerusalem were afraid. They knew that God had helped the *Jews to build the city wall again.

v17 The rich men of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah. Tobiah also sent many replies. v18 Many people in Judah had promised to obey Tobiah. That was because his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam. He had helped to repair the city wall. And his wife was Shecaniah’s daughter. Shecaniah was Arah’s son. v19 The men of Judah told me often about the good things that Tobiah had done. Then they told Tobiah everything that I said. And Tobiah sent letters to people to cause trouble for me.

Chapter 7

v1 When we had built the wall I put the doors in their place. We chose men to watch at the gates (these men are called gatekeepers), singers and *Levites. v2 I gave my brother Hanani authority over Jerusalem. I also gave authority over the strongest building to Hananiah. He was a good man. He gave God more *respect than many men. v3 I said to them, ‘Do not open the city gates until the sun is high in the sky. Lock the gates while the *gatekeepers are still there. Choose people who live in Jerusalem to watch for enemies. Some people must stand by the gates; other people must stand by their houses.’

v4 Jerusalem city was large, but not many people lived in it. We had not yet built the houses completely.

v5 God put an idea in my mind. All the people who returned to Jerusalem must write down their *family names. I found the *family records of the first people to return to Jerusalem.

v6 These *families returned to Jerusalem and Judah after King Nebuchadnezzar took the *Jews away in the *exile. v7 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah. This is a list of the men of Israel:

v8 from the *descendants of Parosh, 2172;

v9 of Shephatiah, 372;

v10 of Arah, 652;

v11 of Pahath-Moab (by Jeshua and Joab), 2818;

v12 of Elam, 1254;

v13 of Zattu, 845;

v14 of Zaccai, 760;

v15 of Binnui, 648;

v16 of Bebai, 628;

v17 of Azgad, 2322;

v18 of Adonikam, 667;

v19 of Bigvai, 2067;

v20 of Adin, 655;

v21 of Ater (by Hezekiah), 98;

v22 of Hashum, 328;

v23 of Bezai, 324;

v24 of Hariph, 112;

v25 of Gibeon, 95;

v26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;

v27 of Anathoth, 128;

v28 of Beth Azmaveth, 42;

v29 of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth, 743;

v30 of Ramah and Geba, 621;

v31 of Michmash, 122;

v32 of Bethel and Ai, 123;

v33 of the different Nebo, 52;

v34 of the different Elam, 1254;

v35 of Harim, 320;

v36 of Jericho, 345;

v37 of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 721;

v38 of Senaah, 3930;

v39 the *priests who were *descendants of Jedaiah (by Jeshua), 973;

v40 of Immer, 1052;

v41 of Pashhur, 1247;

v42 of Harim, 1017.

v43 the *Levites who were *descendants of Jeshua (by Kadmiel, by Hodaviah), 74.

v44 the singers who were *descendants of Asaph, 148.

v45 the *gatekeepers of the *descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai, 138.

v46 the *temple servants who were *descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

v47 Keros, Sia, Padon,

v48 Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai,

v49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,

v50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,

v51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,

v52 Besai, Meunim, Nephussim,

v53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,

v54 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,

v55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,

v56 Neziah and Hatipha.

v57 the *descendants of the servants of Solomon who were *descendants of Sotai, Sophereth, Perida,

v58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,

v59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Amon.

v60 The *temple servants and *descendants of the servants of Solomon were 392 men.

v61 There were some people who came from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer. But they did not have *family records. They could not be sure that they were *Jewish:

v62 the *descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda, 642.

v63 Among the *priests there were the *descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai. (Barzillai was a man who married a daughter of Barzillai. He came from Gilead and he took that name.) v64 These people could not find *family records. Because of this, they could not be *priests. They were not *clean. v65 The officer in Judah said that they could not eat the *priests’ special food. They had to wait for a *priest to use the Urim and Thummim.

v66 The number of all the people was 42 360. v67 There were also 7337 men servants and women servants and 245 men and women singers. v68 There were 736 horses and 245 mules, v69 435 camels and 6720 donkeys.

v70 Some of the *family leaders gave money to help build the wall. The man with authority in that place gave 8.5 kilos of gold, 50 bowls and 530 sets of special clothes for the *priests. v71 Some *family leaders gave 170 kilos of gold and 1.3 metric tons of silver. v72 The rest of the people gave 170 kilos of gold and 1.3 metric tons of silver. They also gave 67 sets of special clothes for the *priests.

v73 The *priests, the *Levites, the *gatekeepers, the singers and the *temple servants now lived in their towns. Other people and the rest of the *Jewish people also lived in their own towns. All the people were living in their own towns when the 7th month came.

Chapter 8

Ezra reads the *Law to the people

v1 All the *Jews met together in the wide place by the Water Gate. The people asked Ezra to bring the Book of the *Law of Moses. The *laws that God gave to Israel are in the Book of the *Law. v2 On the first day of the 7th month, Ezra brought the Book of the *Law to the people. All the men and women who were able to understand were there. v3 Ezra read aloud while he stood there. He read to all those people from morning to noon. Everyone watched him while he read. He read to them while he stood by the Water Gate. Everyone there listened carefully to Ezra while he read the Book of the *Law. v4 Ezra stood up above the people on a high floor made out of wood. They made this so that they could see and hear him. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah stood at his right side. Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam stood at his left side. v5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see Ezra because he was high above them. When he opened the book, the crowd stood up. v6 Ezra *praised God. All the people lifted their hands and they *praised God. The people shouted, ‘*Amen! Amen!’ They went on their knees and they *worshipped God. v7 The *Levites taught the people the *law. The names of the *Levites were: Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah. v8 The *Levites taught the *Law to the people who stood there. They helped the people to understand what Ezra read to them.

v9 Then Ezra, Nehemiah and the *Levites said to the people, ‘Do not be sad today. Do not cry. Today is *holy to God.’ They said this because the people were crying. The words of the *Law had made them sad. v10 Nehemiah told the people to eat special food and to drink sweet drinks. Nehemiah also told the people to give food and drink to those who had none. He told the people that they should not be sad. They should not be sad because they were giving pleasure to God. This would make them strong. v11 The *Levites said, ‘Do not be sad. Today is a *holy day.’ v12 The people went away. They ate and they were very happy. They understood that that day was separate (*holy) for God.

v13 On the 2nd day of the 7th month, the *family leaders met together. They met with the *priests, *Levites and with Ezra. They wanted to know God’s *laws. v14 They had heard the Book of the *Law. And it said that *Jews must live in huts made from tree branches. They must do this in the *feast of the 7th month.

v15 In the Book of the *Law, it says that they must tell everyone in the country to go into the hills. They should bring back branches from *olive trees, myrtle trees and from palm trees. They must use these to build their huts. v16 The people went to the hills and they picked branches. They made huts on their roofs and near their houses. They made them outside the *temple and by the Water Gate. They made them by the Gate of Ephraim. v17 Everyone who had returned from *exile built a hut. The *Jews had not remembered a *feast with such pleasure since the time of Joshua son of Nun. v18 Every day of the *feast, Ezra read aloud from the Book of the *Law. The *feast went on for 7 days. On the 8th day, the *Jews met together, as the *law said.

Chapter 9

The people tell God that they are sorry about the bad things that they have done

v1 On the 24th day of the same month, the *Jews met together. They did not eat or drink. They wore sackcloth and they put *dust on their heads.

v2 The people from *Jewish *families had kept themselves separate from foreign people. The *Jewish people stood up because they were sorry for their *sins. They said that they and their *ancestors had done many bad things. v3 The *Jews read from the Book of the *Law during a quarter of the day. During a quarter of the day they told God their *sins and they *worshipped him. v4 The *Levites stood above the other people on steps made from wood. They cried aloud to God. The *Levites were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Kenani. v5 The *Levites Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah said, ‘Stand up and *praise your God. He lives from the beginning for always and always.’ They said, ‘Your name is great and beautiful. It is above all *praising and good words. v6 Only you are the *Lord. You made the sky. You made even the highest sky and everything in it and the stars. You made the earth and everything on it. You made the sea and everything in it. You gave life to everything. All things in *heaven *worship you. v7 You are the *Lord God who chose Abram. You brought him out of Ur, the country where the people called Chaldeans live. You called him Abraham. v8 Abraham was *faithful. He believed you and he obeyed you. You made a promise to him. You promised to give to his *descendants the country where the people called Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites lived. You have always *kept your promises because you are good. You do only good things.

v9 You saw that our *ancestors were not happy in Egypt. You heard them cry aloud to you at the Red Sea. v10 You made great things happen against Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) and all his people and soldiers. You knew their thoughts. They thought that your people had no value. And they did bad things to your people. You showed everyone that you are a powerful God. And people believe this still. v11 You made a path in the sea between two walls. The *Jews walked through on a dry path. When Pharaoh and his soldiers followed, you threw the sea over them. You closed the path through the sea. And so Pharaoh’s soldiers drowned. v12 During the day, you led the *Jews with a tall cloud. At night, you led them with a cloud of fire to give them light. You showed them the way to go.

v13 You came to the mountain called Sinai. You spoke to Moses there. You gave him your *laws and rules. Your *laws are good and true. All that you told them was right. v14 You told the *Jews about the *Sabbath. And by your servant Moses you gave them your *laws. v15 You gave the *Jews bread from *heaven when they were hungry. You gave them water from a rock to drink. You told them to go and take the land. You had promised to give it to them.

v16 But our *ancestors did not obey you. They thought that their way was better. v17 They did not listen to you. They forgot all the good things that you had done on their behalf. They chose a leader to take them back to Egypt. They chose to return to where they had been slaves. But you *forgave them. You are God who loves his people very much. You do not become angry quickly. So you did not leave your people. v18 The *Jewish people made a gold calf to *worship. They said that this was a god. They said that the gold calf had brought them out of Egypt. But even then you did not leave your people. v19 You did not leave them in the desert, because you loved your people. In the day, the beam of cloud did not stop showing them the way. The beam of fire did not stop showing them the way at night.’

v20 ‘You gave them your good Spirit to tell them what to do. You continued to give them bread from *heaven. You gave them water from a rock to drink. v21 During 40 years you gave them everything that they needed. Their clothes did not become thin. Their feet did not get big and hurt. v22 You gave the *Jews countries that other kings had ruled. You gave them the country Heshbon, of King Sihon and the country Bashan, of King Og. v23 The *Jewish people had many sons. You brought their sons into the country. You had told their fathers to take it and to live there. v24 The sons of the *Jewish people took the land. You gave them power over the *Canaanites who lived there. You gave the *Canaanites’ kings and people to the *Jewish people’s sons. They did with the *Canaanites as they wanted to do. v25 They took their cities and land. The houses that they took were full of good things. Your people did not have to dig wells. The country was full of fruit and *olive trees. They had plenty of food to eat. Everyone said how good God was.

v26 But the *Jews did not obey you. They stopped obeying your *laws. They killed the *prophets that you sent. Those *prophets had told them that they should return to your ways. Your people had said very bad things about you. v27 So you gave the *Jews to their enemies. Their enemies ruled over them. Then the *Jews cried aloud to you. From *heaven you heard them cry. You loved them very much. So you sent people to save them from their enemies.

v28 But when they were safe from their enemies, they did bad things again. So you gave them back to their enemies. Their enemies ruled over them. Your people cried aloud to you again, and again you heard them. You saved them many, many times because you loved them. v29 You told them that they must obey your *laws. But they would not listen to you. They thought that their ways were better than yours. They *sinned against you. They would not obey your *laws. But those *laws help people to live. v30 You helped the *Jews during many years. You sent your Spirit to them by your *prophets. They told them that they should remember your *laws. And they told them that they should return to you. But they would not listen to you. So you gave them to enemies from the countries round Israel. v31 You are a God who loves your people. And you are kind to them. So you did not let your people die nor did you leave them alone.

v32 Oh God, you are great and powerful and you *keep your promises. You continue to love us. Remember how many troubles we have had. They are not small troubles. Our kings, *priests, *prophets and our *ancestors have all had great troubles. We have had trouble since the time of the kings of Assyria. v33 But in all our troubles, you have always been fair to us. When we did wrong things, you were always fair to us. v34 Our kings, leaders, *priests and our fathers did not obey your *laws. They did not listen to your rules. They would not do as your *prophets told them to do. v35 You gave them good land and food. They enjoyed these, but they would not obey you. They did not stop doing things that were wrong. v36 So now we are slaves. We are slaves in the country that you gave to our *ancestors. You wanted them to enjoy its food and good things. v37 But we have *sinned. So their kings take the food that grows in our fields. You put these kings to rule over us. They use us and our animals as they like. We have many troubles.

v38 Because of this we are all making a promise. We are writing our promise. Our leaders, *Levites and *priests are putting their mark of authority on it.’

Chapter 10

v1 These people put their mark of authority on the promise that they had written:

Nehemiah son of Hacaliah (King Artaxerxes gave him authority in Judah) and Zedekiah, v2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, v3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah, v4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, v5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, v6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, v7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, v8 Maaziah, Bilgai and Shemaiah. These were the *priests.

v9 The *Levites: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel, v10 and their friends: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, v11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, v12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, v13 Hodiah, Bani and Beninu.

v14 The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, v15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, v16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, v17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, v18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, v19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, v20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, v21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, v22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

v23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, v24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, v25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, v26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, v27 Malluch, Harim and Baanah.

v28 The other people, the *priests, *Levites, *gatekeepers, singers and *temple servants made a promise. The people who had kept themselves separate from foreign people because of God’s *law also made a promise. They and their wives, sons and daughters agreed to join their leaders. v29 All these people promised to obey everything that was in the *Law. That was the *Law that God gave to his servant Moses. They asked God to do bad things to them if they did not obey his *Laws and rules. They agreed to obey these rules carefully.

v30 They said, ‘We promise not to let our daughters marry foreign people. We will not let daughters of foreign people marry our sons. v31 We will not buy or sell anything on the *Sabbath or any special day. If foreign *merchants come to us on a *Sabbath, we will not buy their things. Every 7th year we will not work on the land. Every 7th year we will tell people that they do not need to pay their debts. And we will return their land.

v32 We will obey the *law to give 1/3rd of a shekel each year to the house of God. v33 We will use this for God’s special loaves of bread, for *grain *offerings and for burnt *offerings. We will use this for the *offerings on the *Sabbath, new moon parties and *feasts. And we will use it for the *sin *offerings to take away Israel’s *sin. And we will use it for all the work in God’s house.’

v34 The *priests and the *Levites threw *lots. In that way, they told *families when they should bring wood for fires. Each *family must bring wood to the house of God at a different time of the year. The wood will burn on God’s *altar. This is what Moses wrote in the Book of the *Law. v35 They said, ‘We will also bring the first fruit from our trees and the first of our *grain. We will bring these to the *priests who work in God’s house. v36 We will bring our first son to the house of God. We will bring to God’s house the first of our young animals that are born. We will bring them to the *priests. We read this in God’s *Law. v37 We will bring the first *dough, fruit, *wine and oil and other special *offerings to the house of God. The *priests will store them in its rooms. We will bring our *tithes to the *Levites. They will take them from our towns to God’s house. They will store them there. v38 A *priest from the *family of Aaron will go with the *Levites to get the *tithes. The *Levites will bring 1/10th part of the *tithes to store in God’s house. v39 The people of Israel will bring *grain, *wine and oil to the *temple rooms. They will store them with the things that they use for *worship. The *priests who are working there, the *gatekeepers and the singers stay there. We will keep the house of God ready to *worship him.’

Chapter 11

v1 The leaders of the *Jews lived in Jerusalem. The other people threw *lots. In that way, they chose which *families would live there. From every group of 10 *families they chose one *family. Then that *family would live in Jerusalem, the *holy city. The other *families could stay in their own towns. v2 The people said that this was good. The *families in Jerusalem gave them pleasure.

v3 These are the leaders from other towns that came to live in Jerusalem. Some *Jews, *priests, *Levites, and *temple servants lived in Judah’s towns. *Descendants of Solomon’s servants also lived in towns in Judah. Each lived in his own house. v4 Other people from Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the *descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, Zechariah’s son. Zechariah was the son of Amariah, Shephatiah’s son. He was the son of Mahalalel, a *descendant of Perez. v5 Also Maaseiah son of Baruch, Col-Hozeh’s son. Col-Hozeh was the son of Hazaiah, Adaiah’s son. Adaiah was the son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah. He was a *descendant of Shelah. v6 The *descendants of Perez were 468 brave men. They all lived in Jerusalem.

v7 From the *descendants of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, Joed’s son. Joed was Pedaiah’s son, son of Kolaiah, Maaseiah’s son. Maaseiah was the son of Ithiel, Jeshaiah’s son. v8 Gabbai and Sallai, the people who followed Sallu, were also with him. There were 928 men. v9 Joel son of Zicri was their officer with authority. Judah son of Hassenuah had authority after him.

v10 From the *priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, and Jakin. v11 Also Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, Zadok’s son. Zadok was Meraioth’s son, son of Ahitub. Ahitub had authority in the house of God. v12 Their friends worked with them in God’s house. There were 822 men; and Adaiah son of Jeroham, Pelaliah’s son. Pelaliah was the son of Amzi. Amzi was the son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, Malkijah’s son. v13 They and those with them were leaders of families. There were 242 men; and Amashsai son of Azarel, Ahzai’s son. Ahzai was the son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer. v14 And their friends came with them. They were 128 strong brave men. Their officer with authority was Zabdiel, son of Haggedolim.

v15 From the *Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam. Azrikam was the son of Hashabiah, Bunni’s son. v16 Also Shabbethai and Jozabad who had authority over the outside work of God’s house. v17 Also Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zabdi, Asaph’s son. He led the people when they prayed and thanked God. Also Bakbukiah and Abda son of Shammua. He was the son of Galal, Jeduthun’s son. v18 The number of *Levites in Jerusalem city was 284.

v19 The *gatekeepers were: Akkub, Talmon and their friends, who watched at the city gates. The number of men was 172. v20 The other *Jews and the *priests and *Levites were in the towns of Judah. They lived at the homes of their *ancestors. v21 The *temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel. Ziha and Gishpa had authority over them.

v22 Uzzi was the *Levites’ leader. He was the son of Bani, Hashabiah’s son and Hashabiah was the son of Mattaniah, Mica’s son. Uzzi was one of Asaph’s *descendants. He had authority over the singers in God’s house. v23 The singers had to obey the king. He told them each day what they should do. v24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a *descendant of Zerah, Judah’s son, spoke for the king. He told the people everything that the king wanted.

v25 Many people lived in villages with fields. Some people of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba, Dibon and Jekabzeel and the land round them. v26 Other people lived in Jeshua, Moladah and Beth Pelet. v27 More people lived in Hazar Shual, and in Beersheba and the villages round it. v28 Some people lived in Ziklag, Meconah and v29 En Rimmon. Other people were in Zorah and Jarmuth. v30 Other people lived in Zanoah and Adullam and their villages. Some people were in Lachish and its fields and in Azekah and its villages. They were living from Beersheba to the Hinnom Valley.

v31 The *descendants of Benjamin from Geba lived in Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages. v32 And they lived in Anathoth, Nob and Ananiah. v33 Also they lived in Hazor, Ramah and Gittaim. v34 And they lived in Hadid, Zeboim and Neballat. v35 Also they lived in Lod and Ono and in the Valley of the clever workers. v36 Some of the *Levites from Judah lived in Benjamin’s land.

Chapter 12

v1 This is a list of the *priests and *Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua:

Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, v2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, v3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, v4 Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah, v5 Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah, v6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, v7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the *priests and the people who helped them in the time of Jeshua. v8 The *Levites were: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah and Mattaniah. Mattaniah and the people led the songs that thanked God. And other people helped him. v9 Bakbukiah and Unni and other people stood across from them when they sang. And other people helped them. v10 Jeshua was the father of Joiakim. Joiakim was the father of Eliashib. Eliashib was the father of Joiada, v11 Joiada was the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.

v12 This is a list of the *priests’ *family leaders in the time of Joiakim: Meraiah was leader of the *family of Seraiah. Hananiah was leader of the *family of Jeremiah.

v13 Meshullam was leader of the *family of Ezra. Jehohanan was leader of the *family of Amariah.

v14 Jonathan was leader of the *family of Malluch. Joseph was leader of the *family of Shecaniah.

v15 Adna was leader of the *family of Harim. Helkai was leader of the *family of Meremoth.

v16 Zechariah was leader of the *family of Iddo. Meshullam was leader of the *family of Ginnethon.

v17 Zicri was leader of the *family of Abijah. Piltai was leader of the *families of Miniamin and Moadiah.

v18 Shammua was leader of the *family of Bilgah. Jehonathan was leader of the *family of Shemaiah.

v19 Mattenai was leader of the *family of Joiarib. Uzzi was leader of the *family of Jedaiah.

v20 Kallai was leader of the *family of Sallu. Eber was leader of the *family of Amok.

v21 Hashabiah was leader of the *family of Hilkiah. Nethanel was leader of the *family of Jedaiah.

v22 They recorded the names of the leaders of the *Levites’ *families. That was in the time of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua. They lived when King Darius ruled Persia. I also recorded the names of the *family leaders of the *priests. v23 I wrote the names of the *family leaders who were *descendants of Levi, the *Levites, in the special book. It was the book where we recorded names. These were their *descendants to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib. v24 The leaders of the *Levites were: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and the people who helped them. The people who helped them stood across from them to sing and *praise and thank God. The *Levites sang first. And then the people who helped them replied. They did this as David, God’s man, had told the *Jews. v25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were *gatekeepers. They watched for enemies from the store-rooms by the gates. v26 They were *gatekeepers in the time of Joiakim son of Jeshua, son of Jozadak. This was also in the time of Nehemiah, who had authority over Judah. And it was in the time of Ezra, who was a *priest and teacher of the *law.

v27 The *Jews brought the *Levites to Jerusalem from their homes. The *Levites were happy that they could help to dedicate the wall to God. They made music with cymbals, harps and lyres. They sang songs to thank God.

v28 The *temple singers came together from places round Jerusalem. They came from the villages round Netophah v29 and from Beth Gilgal, Geba and Azmaveth. The singers had built these villages near to Jerusalem. v30 The *priests and *Levites *purified themselves. Then they *purified the people. Then they *purified the gates and the city wall.

v31 I told the leaders of Judah that they should stand on top of the wall. I told two large groups of singers that they should sing songs. They would thank God. I told the first group that they should walk in the direction of the *Dung Gate.

v32 Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah followed this group. v33 Azariah, Ezra and Meshullam followed. v34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah and Jeremiah followed them also. v35 Some *priests with *trumpets followed them also. And Zechariah son of Jonathan, Shemaiah’s son followed them. Shemaiah was the son of Mattaniah, Micaiah’s son. Micaiah was the son of Zaccur, Asaph’s son. v36 Other people helped them: Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani. They all had things to make music. They did this as David, God’s man, had told the *Jews. Ezra the teacher of the *law led this group of people. They walked towards the *Dung Gate. v37 When they came to the *Fountain Gate they all went up the steps of the City of David. While they went up the steps, they passed above the house of David. Then they went to the Water Gate on the east.

v38 The second group of singers went the opposite way. I followed them along the top of the wall with half of the people. We went past the *Tower of the *Ovens. We went to the Broad Wall. v39 We went over the Gate of Ephraim. We went over the Jeshanah Gate. We went over the Fish Gate. We went past the *Tower of Hananel. We went past the *Tower of the Hundred to the Sheep Gate. We stopped at the Gate of the *Guards.

v40 The two groups of singers went into God’s house. I (Nehemiah) went with them. Half of the officers also went into the house of God. v41 The *priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah went in also. They had *trumpets. v42 Also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer went into the house of God. Jezrahiah told the groups of singers how to sing. v43 The *Jews gave big *sacrifices to God. Men, women and children were very happy. They sang and shouted. People heard them far away from Jerusalem.

v44 The people chose men to look after the rooms where they kept the first fruits and *tithes. They had to bring the *tithes and the first fruits from the fields near the town. They read this in the *law. These were for the *Levites and *priests. The work of the *priests and *Levites gave pleasure to the people of Judah.

v45 The *priests and *Levites worked on God’s behalf. The singers and *gatekeepers also worked on God’s behalf. They made themselves *clean as David and his son Solomon had written. v46 In the time of David and Asaph, special *Levites sang the songs to *praise and thank God. v47 In the time of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all the *Jews gave food for the singers and *gatekeepers every day. They put on one side what was for the *Levites. And the *Levites put on one side what was for the *priests, the *descendants of Aaron.

Chapter 13

v1 On that day, we read the book of Moses to the people. The people listened to what Moses had written in the book. One of the *laws said that no *descendant of Ammon or Moab should be among the people of God. v2 This was because they had not given the *Jews food and water. But they had paid Balaam to ask God to do bad things to the *Jews. But God did good things for the *Jews instead. v3 When the *Jews heard this *law, they made all the foreign people leave.

v4 Before this happened, I had given to Eliashib the *priest authority over the store-rooms. They used these rooms to keep the *offerings. These rooms were in the house of God. Eliashib was a friend of Tobiah. v5 He let Tobiah use a large room in the house of God. The purpose of the room was to store the *temple’s *grain *offerings and *incense. They also kept there *tithes of *grain, *wine and oil. These were for the *Levites, singers and *gatekeepers and for the *priests.

v6 But when this happened, I (Nehemiah) was not in Jerusalem. In the 32nd year of Artaxerxes, King of Babylon, I had returned to the king. After some time had passed, I asked the king v7 to let me return to Jerusalem. There I heard about the bad thing that Eliashib had done. He had given Tobiah, who was not a *Jew, a large room in the house of God. v8 I was very angry. I threw Tobiah’s things out of the room. v9 I told people that they must *purify the rooms. Then I put God’s things back into the room. I put back the things that they used in God’s house and the *grain *offerings and *incense.

v10 People told me that the *Levites did not have any food. The people had not given them anything. So all the *Levites and singers had returned to their fields. They were not doing their work in the *Lord’s *temple. v11 I was angry with the officers. I said, ‘I am angry because you have forgotten the house of God.’ Then I called them all back. I told them that they should stand in their special places in the *temple.

v12 All the people in Judah brought *tithes of *grain and *wine and oil. They put them into the store-rooms. v13 I gave Shelemiah the *priest, Zadok the writer and Pedaiah a *Levite, authority. They watched over the things that they kept in these special rooms. Hanan son of Zaccur, Mattaniah’s son, helped them. People knew that these men were good. They gave out the *grain, oil and *wine. They gave it to the people who worked on God’s behalf. v14 ‘Remember what I have done, my God. Do not forget what I have done on behalf of the house of God and its work. I have been *faithful.’

v15 In those days, I saw men in Judah working on the *Sabbath day. They were making *wine and they were putting *wine, *grapes and other fruit on their donkeys. And they brought them into Jerusalem. I told them that they should not work on the *Sabbath day. And I told them that they should not sell things on the *Sabbath day.

v16 Men from Tyre, who lived in Jerusalem, sold fish and other things on the *Sabbath day. The *Jews then bought things from them. v17 I was angry with the leaders of Judah. I said, ‘You are doing a thing that is wrong. It is the *Sabbath day. v18 Your *ancestors did the same thing. God brought trouble on Jerusalem city because of this. You are making God angry with the *Jews by doing wrong things on the *Sabbath day.’

v19 I said to the *gatekeepers, ‘You must close the city’s gates in the evening before the *Sabbath begins.’ I did not let them open until the *Sabbath was finished. I told my men that they should stand at the gates. They did not let anyone bring things into Jerusalem until after the end of the *Sabbath. v20 Once or twice some people who wanted to sell things stayed outside Jerusalem all night. v21 I said to them, ‘You should not stay outside the wall all night. If you do this again, I will hurt you.’ After this, they did not come to Jerusalem on the *Sabbath. v22 Then I told the *Levites that they must *purify themselves. I told them that they must stand at the gates. This went on during the whole of the *Sabbath day. They kept the day *holy on God’s behalf. ‘Remember this, oh my God. Because of your love, be kind to me.’

v23 Also at that time, men from Judah had married foreign women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. v24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of another country. They did not know how to speak the language of Judah. v25 I was angry and I said angry words to them. I hit some of them. I pulled out the hair of some of these men. I made them make a promise in God’s name. I said, ‘You must not let your daughters marry the sons of foreign people. You must not let your sons marry the daughters of foreign people.

v26 Solomon, king of Israel *sinned against God because he married foreign women. There was no greater king in any other country. God loved him and made him king over all Israel. But foreign women made even Solomon *sin.

v27 Now we hear that you are doing this bad thing. You are marrying foreign women. You are not *faithful to God.’

v28 Joiada was the son of Eliashib, the leader of the *priests. One of Joiada’s sons married a daughter of Sanballat, who came from Horonaim. I sent him away.

v29 ‘Remember them, my God. They were *priests, but they *sinned. They did not do what you told them to do. They took away people’s *respect for the *priest’s work.’ v30 So I *purified the *priests and *Levites. I made them *clean from anything foreign. I told them what they should do. I gave to each man a special job. v31 I also made sure that people brought wood for the *altar. I made them bring their first fruits. ‘Remember me, my God. And please be good to me.’

Word List

altar ~ a table on which they burned animals and other gifts as a *sacrifice to God.

amen ~ ‘we agree’.

Ammonites ~ a nation who fought against the *Jews.

ancestors ~ parents, and their parents; people from the same family years ago.

Canaanites ~ the people who had lived in Canaan before the *Jews lived there.

clean ~ when something is right to use because God is happy about it.

descendants of … ~ people born into the family of ….

dough ~ bread before you cook it.

dung ~ human dirt or animal dirt that comes from their bodies.

dust ~ the dry top part of the ground. Many very small pieces of this make ‘dust’.

exile ~ to have to leave your own country, often for a long time.

faithful ~ faithful people always do what they should do.

family ~ family includes father, mother and children. It includes *ancestors and *descendants.

feast ~ a special time to eat and drink.

forgive, forgiveness ~ to show love and not remember bad things against someone; when God does not remember the wrong things that we do.

fountain ~ a fountain has water that pushes up through a small hole.

gatekeeper ~ a man who watches or is a *guard at the gates.

grain ~ part of a plant. You can use it to make bread.

grape ~ a fruit.

guard ~ a guard keeps things or places or people safe.

heaven ~ the place where God and Christ are. It is the future home of the people who know God.

holy ~ what God is like; different and better than all other things; all good with nothing bad in it; a thing that God has; separate from *sin, clean.

incense ~ something that gives a nice smell when it burns; the *Jews used it to show love to God in the *temple in Jerusalem.

Jew ~ a person who is born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.

Jewish ~ a word that describes a *Jew or anything that belongs to a *Jew.

keep a promise ~ do what you promised to do.

law ~ rules that tell us how to live. The Book of the Law had the rules that God gave to Moses.

Levites ~ men that God chose to work in his *temple.

Lord ~ a special name for God that his people use. He will do what he has promised them. That is what this name means.

lots ~ people used them to know what people or things God had chosen.

merchant ~ someone who buys things and sells them to other people.

offering ~ something that people gave to God. It could be food or drink as well as an animal. Some offerings were to give thanks to God. People also made offerings when they had *sinned.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, which the writers wrote before the life of Jesus.

olive ~ a tree with small fruits (or the fruits themselves) that people use to make oil. They burned the oil to give them light. They used it in other ways too.

oven ~ a place to cook things, like a cooker.

palace ~ a building where the king lives.

perfume ~ something with a nice smell. You put it on your skin.

praise ~ to tell God how great he is.

prayer ~ when people talk to God.

priest ~ a man that gives gifts and *sacrifices to God.

prophet ~ a man that tells other people what God wants.

prophetess ~ a woman *prophet.

purify ~ make something *clean.

respect ~ when you think that someone or something is very good and important.

Sabbath ~ a day to rest in which the people should not work. In the *Old Testament it was Saturday (from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday); day seven of the week for the *Jews. It is a special day for the Jews.

sacrifice ~ an animal that people killed and gave to God; sometimes they did it to ask God for *forgiveness.

silver ~ a white metal that shines and is very valuable.

sin, sinned ~ when people do things against God or other people; when we do not obey the rules that God gives us.

spear ~ people used a spear to kill their enemies; it is long and thin with a sharp point at the end.

sword ~ people used a sword to kill their enemies; it is like a long knife.

temple ~ the place in Jerusalem to pray and sing to God.

tithes ~ gifts to God, one tenth of the whole.

tower ~ a tall part of a wall.

trumpet ~ a thing that makes a loud noise when you blow into it.

upper ~ above something else.

vineyard ~ a piece of land where the fruit called grapes grow.

wine ~ a drink made from *grapes.

worship ~ to sing, *praise and pray to God or to a false God.

Book List

Lion Electronic Library ~ The IVP Study Bible

M. Henry ~ Commentary on the Whole Bible ~ Marshall Pickering

 

 

To obtain audio CD's of the entire "Thru the Bible Radio" contact:

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*The Good News Bible, Today's English Version, Second Edition, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville. 1992

**The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988, Liberty University Publication and Thomas A Nelson, Inc. Publication.

***The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988, Liberty University Publication and Thomas A Nelson, Inc. Publication.

****F.B. Meyer Bible Commentary; Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton, Illinois. ISBN 0-8423-4250-8, 1978.

Note: Chapter topic headings suggested from "The Holman Illustrated Study Bible"; Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A. ISBN: 978-1-58640-275-4. and Chapter topic headings suggested from "The Inspirational Study Bible" by Max Lucado, General Editor; Word Bibles, 1991; Thomas Nelson, Inc., ISBN 0-8499-5123-2 (Hardback edition); and "The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988, Liberty University Publication and Thomas A Nelson, Inc. Publication. and from "The Abingdon Bible Commentary" Abingdon Press, 1929, The Good News Bible, Today's English Version, Second Edition, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville. 1992, and Wikepedia.com

 

Provided by Grace Baptist Church, Madisonville, KY 42431

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Book 16	Nehemiah

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001:001	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,
001:002	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.
001:003	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.
001:004	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,
001:005	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:
001:006	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.
001:007	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.
001:008	Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
001:009	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.
001:010	Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
001:011	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.

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002:001	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.
002:002	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,
002:003	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?
002:004	Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
002:005	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.
002:006	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.
002:007	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;
002:008	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.
002:009	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.
002:010	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.
002:011	So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
002:012	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.
002:013	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.
002:014	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.
002:015	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.
002:016	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.
002:017	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.
002:018	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.
002:019	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?
002:020	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.

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003:001	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.
003:002	And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
003:003	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.
003:004	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.
003:005	And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their LORD.
003:006	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.
003:007	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.
003:008	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.
003:009	And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
003:010	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.
003:011	Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
003:012	And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
003:013	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.
003:014	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.
003:015	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.
003:016	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.
003:017	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.
003:018	After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
003:019	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.
003:020	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.
003:021	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.
003:022	And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
003:023	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.
003:024	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.
003:025	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.
003:026	Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
003:027	After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
003:028	From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
003:029	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.
003:030	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.
003:031	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.
003:032	And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.

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004:001	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.
004:002	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?
004:003	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.
004:004	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:
004:005	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.
004:006	So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
004:007	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,
004:008	And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
004:009	Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
004:010	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.
004:011	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.
004:012	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.
004:013	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.
004:014	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.
004:015	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.
004:016	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.
004:017	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.
004:018	For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
004:019	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.
004:020	In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
004:021	So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
004:022	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.
004:023	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.

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005:001	And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
005:002	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.
005:003	Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
005:004	There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
005:005	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.
005:006	And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
005:007	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.
005:008	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.
005:009	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?
005:010	I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
005:011	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.
005:012	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.
005:013	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.
005:014	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.
005:015	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.
005:016	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.
005:017	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.
005:018	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.
005:019	Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

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006:001	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;)
006:002	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.
006:003	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?
006:004	Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
006:005	Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;
006:006	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.
006:007	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.
006:008	Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
006:009	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.
006:010	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.
006:011	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.
006:012	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.
006:013	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.
006:014	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.
006:015	So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
006:016	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.
006:017	Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
006:018	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.
006:019	Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

---

007:001	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,
007:002	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.
007:003	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.
007:004	Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.
007:005	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,
007:006	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;
007:007	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;
007:008	The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.
007:009	The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
007:010	The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.
007:011	The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.
007:012	The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
007:013	The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.
007:014	The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
007:015	The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.
007:016	The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.
007:017	The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.
007:018	The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.
007:019	The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.
007:020	The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.
007:021	The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
007:022	The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.
007:023	The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.
007:024	The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.
007:025	The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.
007:026	The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.
007:027	The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
007:028	The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two.
007:029	The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.
007:030	The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.
007:031	The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two.
007:032	The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.
007:033	The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.
007:034	The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
007:035	The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
007:036	The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
007:037	The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one.
007:038	The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
007:039	The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
007:040	The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
007:041	The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
007:042	The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
007:043	The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.
007:044	The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight.
007:045	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.
007:046	The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
007:047	The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
007:048	The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,
007:049	The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
007:050	The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
007:051	The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,
007:052	The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,
007:053	The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
007:054	The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
007:055	The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,
007:056	The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
007:057	The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,
007:058	The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
007:059	The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon.
007:060	All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.
007:061	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.
007:062	The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.
007:063	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.
007:064	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.
007:065	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.
007:066	The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
007:067	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.
007:068	Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five:
007:069	Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.
007:070	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.
007:071	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.
007:072	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.
007:073	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.

---

008:001	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.
008:002	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.
008:003	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.
008:004	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.
008:005	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:
008:006	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.
008:007	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.
008:008	So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
008:009	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.
008:010	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.
008:011	So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.
008:012	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.
008:013	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.
008:014	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:
008:015	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.
008:016	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.
008:017	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.
008:018	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.

---

009:001	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.
009:002	And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
009:003	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.
009:004	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.
009:005	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.
009:006	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.
009:007	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;
009:008	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:
009:009	And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;
009:010	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.
009:011	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.
009:012	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.
009:013	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:
009:014	And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:
009:015	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.
009:016	But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
009:017	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.
009:018	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;
009:019	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.
009:020	Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.
009:021	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.
009:022	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.
009:023	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.
009:024	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.
009:025	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.
009:026	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.
009:027	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.
009:028	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;
009:029	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.
009:030	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.
009:031	Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.
009:032	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.
009:033	Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:
009:034	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.
009:035	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.
009:036	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:
009:037	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.
009:038	And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.

---

010:001	Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
010:002	Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
010:003	Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
010:004	Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
010:005	Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
010:006	Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
010:007	Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
010:008	Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
010:009	And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
010:010	And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
010:011	Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
010:012	Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
010:013	Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
010:014	The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
010:015	Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
010:016	Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
010:017	Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
010:018	Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
010:019	Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
010:020	Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
010:021	Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
010:022	Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
010:023	Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
010:024	Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
010:025	Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
010:026	And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
010:027	Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
010:028	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;
010:029	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;
010:030	And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, not take their daughters for our sons:
010:031	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.
010:032	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;
010:033	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.
010:034	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:
010:035	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:
010:036	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:
010:037	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.
010:038	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.
010:039	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.

---

011:001	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.
011:002	And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
011:003	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.
011:004	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;
011:005	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.
011:006	All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.
011:007	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.
011:008	And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.
011:009	And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.
011:010	Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.
011:011	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.
011:012	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.
011:013	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,
011:014	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.
011:015	Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
011:016	And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.
011:017	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.
011:018	All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.
011:019	Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.
011:020	And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
011:021	But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.
011:022	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.
011:023	For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
011:024	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.
011:025	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,
011:026	And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,
011:027	And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,
011:028	And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,
011:029	And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,
011:030	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.
011:031	The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages.
011:032	And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
011:033	Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
011:034	Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
011:035	Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
011:036	And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.

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012:001	Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
012:002	Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
012:003	Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
012:004	Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,
012:005	Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
012:006	Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
012:007	Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
012:008	Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
012:009	Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches.
012:010	And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,
012:011	And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.
012:012	And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
012:013	Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
012:014	Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
012:015	Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;
012:016	Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
012:017	Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai:
012:018	Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
012:019	And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
012:020	Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
012:021	Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.
012:022	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.
012:023	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.
012:024	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.
012:025	Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates.
012:026	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.
012:027	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.
012:028	And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;
012:029	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.
012:030	And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
012:031	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:
012:032	And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
012:033	And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
012:034	Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
012:035	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:
012:036	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.
012:037	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.
012:038	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;
012:039	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.
012:040	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:
012:041	And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
012:042	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.
012:043	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.
012:044	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.
012:045	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.
012:046	For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
012:047	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.

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013:001	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;
013:002	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.
013:003	Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
013:004	And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
013:005	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.
013:006	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:
013:007	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.
013:008	And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff to Tobiah out of the chamber.
013:009	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.
013:010	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.
013:011	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.
013:012	Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
013:013	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.
013:014	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.
013:015	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.
013:016	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.
013:017	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?
013:018	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.
013:019	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.
013:020	So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
013:021	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.
013:022	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.
013:023	In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
013:024	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.
013:025	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.
013:026	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.
013:027	Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
013:028	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.
013:029	Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
013:030	Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
013:031	And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

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