| 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 for ever, 2 because they met not the
children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them,
to curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 And 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 unto
Tobiah, 5 had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime 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 unto 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 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
thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the
meal-offerings and the frankincense. 10 And I perceived that the portions
of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers,
that did the work, were fled every one to his field. 11 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. 12 Then brought all Judah the
tithe of the grain 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 business was to distribute unto their brethren. 14 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 observances thereof. 15 In those days saw I
in Judah some men treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and bringing in
sheaves, and lading asses 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 wherein they sold
victuals. 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish,
and all manner of wares, 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 ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
18 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. 19 And 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 till 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 without Jerusalem once or twice. 21 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.
22 And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and
that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day.
Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the
greatness of thy lovingkindness. 23 In those days also saw I the Jews that
had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: 24 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. 25 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 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 hearken unto you to do all this great
evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women? 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 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, every
one in his work; 31 and for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for
the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
Genesis - Public
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