1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the
people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should
not enter into the assembly of God forever, 2 because they didn’t meet the
children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them,
to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 It came
to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the
mixed multitude. 4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed
over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah, 5 had
prepared for him a great chamber, where before they laid the meal-offerings,
the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine,
and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers,
and the porters; and the heave-offerings for 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 went to the king: and after certain days
asked I leave of the king, 7 and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the
evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the
courts of the house of God. 8 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 brought I again the vessels of the
house of God, with the meal-offerings and the frankincense. 10 I perceived
that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites
and the singers, who did the work, were fled everyone to his field.
11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God
forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12 Then
brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the
treasuries. 13 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 business was to distribute to their brothers.
14 Remember me, my God, concerning this, and don’t wipe out my good deeds
that I have done for the house of my God, and for the observances of it.
15 In those days saw I in Judah some men treading wine-presses on the
Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading donkeys therewith; 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 in which they sold victuals. 16 There lived men of Tyre also
therein, who brought in fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the
Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 Then I contended
with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that
you do, and profane the Sabbath day? 18 Didn’t your fathers do thus,
and did not our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city? yet you
bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath. 19 It came to pass
that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I
commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not
be opened until after the Sabbath: and some of my servants set I over the
gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 So
the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem
once or twice. 21 Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why
lodge you about the wall? if you do so again, I will lay hands on
you. From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath. 22 I commanded
the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and
keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember to me, my God, this
also, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness.
23 In those days also saw I the Jews who had married women 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 I contended with them, and cursed them, and
struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by
God, saying, You shall not give your daughters to their sons,
nor take their daughters for 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, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over
all Israel: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin. 27 Shall
we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God
in marrying foreign women? 28 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, my God, because they have defiled
the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30 Thus cleansed I them from all foreigners, and appointed charges for the
priests and for the Levites, everyone in his work; 31 and for the
wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my
God, for good.
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