Jump to:
Nehemiah
Chapter 13
1
On that day they read in the book of Moses
in
the audience of the people.
And
therein was found written,
that
the Ammonite and the Moabite
should
not come into the congregation
of
'Elohiym/Godhead forever . . . 2
because
they met not the children of Israel
with
bread and with water,
but
hired Balaam against them,
that
he should curse them.
However our 'Elohiym/Godhead turned the curse into a blessing.
3
Now it came to pass,
when
they had heard the law,
that
they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
4
And before this,
Eliashib,
the priest,
having
the oversight of the chamber
of
the house of our 'Elohiym/Godhead,
was
allied unto Tobiah.
5
And he had prepared for him a great chamber,
where
aforetime they laid the meat offerings,
the
frankincense,
and
the vessels,
and
the tithes of the corn,
the
new wine, and the oil,
which
was commanded to be given to the Levites,
and
the singers, and the porters
and
the offerings of the priests.
6
But in all this time
I
was not at Jerusalem . . .
for
in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes,
king
of Babylon,
I
came unto the king,
and
after certain days I obtained leave of the king.
7
And I came to Jerusalem,
and
understood of the evil
that
Eliashib did for Tobiah,
in
preparing him a chamber
in
the courts of the house of 'Elohiym/Godhead.
8 And it grieved me sore.
Therefore
I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah
out
of the chamber.
9
Then I commanded,
and
they cleansed the chambers
and
there I brought again
the
vessels of the house of 'Elohiym/Godhead,
with
the meat offering and the frankincense.
10
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites
had
not been given them . . .
for
the Levites and the singers,
who
did the work,
were
fled every one to his field.
11
Then I contended with the rulers, and said,
"Why
is the house of 'Elohiym/Godhead forsaken?"
And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
12
Then brought all Judah
the
tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil
unto
the treasuries.
13
And I made treasurers over the treasuries,
Shelemiah,
the priest,
and
Zadok, the scribe,
and
of the Levites,
Pedaiah.
And
next to them was Hanan,
the
son of Zaccur,
the
son of Mattaniah . . .
for
they were counted faithful,
and
their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
14
"Remember me, O my 'Elohiym/Godhead,
concerning
this,
and
wipe not out my good deeds
that
I have done for the house of my 'Elohiym/Godhead,
and
for the offices thereof."
15
In those days I saw in Judah
some
treading wine presses on the Sabbath,
and
bringing in sheaves,
and
lading asses . . .
as
also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens,
which
they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.
And I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
16
There dwelt men of Tyre also therein,
who
brought fish,
and
all manner of ware,
and
sold on the Sabbath
unto
the children of Judah,
and
in Jerusalem.
17
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah,
and
said unto them,
"What
evil thing is this that you do,
and
profane the Sabbath day? 18
Did
not your fathers thus,
and
did not our 'Elohiym/Godhead bring all this evil upon us,
and
upon this city?
Yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath."
19
And it came to pass,
that
when the gates of Jerusalem
began
to be dark before the Sabbath,
I
commanded that the gates should be shut,
and
charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath.
And
some of my servants I set at the gates,
that
there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day.
20
So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware
lodged
outside Jerusalem once or twice.
21
Then I testified against them,
and
said unto them,
"Why
do you lodge about the wall?
If
you do so again,
I
will lay hands on you."
From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath.
22
And I commanded the Levites
that
they should cleanse themselves,
and
that they should come and keep the gates,
to
sanctify the Sabbath day.
"Remember
me,
O
my 'Elohiym/Godhead,
concerning
this also,
and
spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy."
23
In those days,
also
I saw Jews who had married wives
of
Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab.
24
And their children
spoke
half in the speech of Ashdod,
and
could not speak in the Jews' language,
but
according to the language of each people.
25
And I contended with them,
and
cursed them,
and
smote certain of them,
and
plucked off their hair,
and
made them swear by 'Elohiym/Godhead, saying,
you
shall not give your daughters unto their sons,
nor
take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?
Yet
among many nations was there no king like him . . .
who
was beloved of his 'Elohiym/Godhead,
and
'Elohiym/Godhead made him king over all Israel.
Nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
27
Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil,
to
transgress against our 'Elohiym/Godhead
in
marrying strange wives?
28
And one of the sons of Joiada,
the
son of Eliashib, the high priest,
was
son in law to Sanballat the Horonite.
Therefore I chased him from me.
29
"Remember them,
O
my 'Elohiym/Godhead,
because
they have defiled the priesthood,
and
the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites."
30
Thus I cleansed them from all strangers,
and
appointed the observances of the priests and the Levites,
every
one in his business.
31
And for the wood offering,
at
times appointed,
and
for the first fruits.
"Remember
me,
O
my 'Elohiym/Godhead . . .
for
good."
|
|
|
|
