Nehemiah 13

Posted under Archives on March 14th, 2024 by with no responses 

Neh 13:1 On that day they read in the Book of Moses in the ears of the people. And it was found written in it that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God forever,
Neh 13:2 because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. But our God turned the curse to a blessing.
Neh 13:3 And it happened, when they had heard the Law, they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
Neh 13:4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, who was set over the rooms of the house of our God, who was related to Tobiah,
Neh 13:5 (and he had prepared for himself a large room and there before they were giving the food offering, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the offerings of the priests).
Neh 13:6 But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem. For in the thirty second year of Artaxerxes the king of Babylon, I came to the king. And after some days I asked leave from the king.
Neh 13:7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil which Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.
Neh 13:8 And it grieved me very much. And I threw all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the room.
Neh 13:9 Then I commanded, and they purified the rooms. And I returned there the vessels of the house of God, with the food offering and the frankincense.
Neh 13:10 And I was aware that the portions of the Levites had not been given, for the Levites and the singers who did the work had each one fled to his field.
Neh 13:11 Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them and set them in their place.
Neh 13:12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, and the new wine, and the oil, into the treasuries.
Neh 13:13 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 on them was the duty to distribute to their brothers.
Neh 13:14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds which I have done for the house of my God, and in its keeping.
Neh 13:15 In those days I saw in Judah ones treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves and loading asses; and also wine, grapes, and figs, and all burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I testified against them on the day they sold food.
Neh 13:16 Men of Tyre also lived in it, who brought fish and all wares, and were selling on the Sabbath to the sons of Judah, even in Jerusalem.
Neh 13:17 And I contended with the nobles of Judah and said to them, What is this evil thing that you do, defiling the Sabbath day?
Neh 13:18 Did not your fathers do this, and did not our God bring all this evil on us and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Israel by defiling the Sabbath.
Neh 13:19 And it happened, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, so that there should be no burden brought in on the Sabbath day.
Neh 13:20 And the merchants and sellers of all the wares stayed the night outside Jerusalem once or twice.
Neh 13:21 Then I testified against them and said to them, Why are you staying around the wall? If you do it again, I will send a hand against you. From that time they did not come on the Sabbath.
Neh 13:22 And I said to the Levites that they should be cleansing themselves, and they should come guarding the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. O my God, remember me for this also and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy.
Neh 13:23 In those days I also saw Jews who had dwelt with women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab.
Neh 13:24 And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and to them there was no respecting to speak Jewish, but according to the language of each people.
Neh 13:25 And I contended with them, and put a curse on them, and struck some of them, and I plucked their hair. And I made them swear by the name of God, saying, You shall not give your daughter to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, or for yourselves.
Neh 13:26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved by his God; and God made him king over Israel. But women from other lands caused even him to sin.
Neh 13:27 Shall we then listen to you, to do this great evil, to sin against our God in living with foreign women?
Neh 13:28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. And I chased him from me.
Neh 13:29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
Neh 13:30 And I cleansed them from all aliens, and appointed watches to the priests and the Levites, each one in his work,
Neh 13:31 and for the wood offering, at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good!

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