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;
02 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.
03 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the
law, that they separated from Israel all the
mixed multitude.
04 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having
the oversight of the chamber of the house of our
God, was allied unto Tobiah:
05 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.
06 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:
07 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.
08 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth
all the household stuff to Tobiah out of the
chamber.
09 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.
10 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.
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 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 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.
15 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.
16 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.
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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 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.
20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of
ware 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
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.
23 In those days also saw I Jews that had married
wives 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 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 God, and God
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 God 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 God, because they have
defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the
priesthood, and of the Levites.
30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and
appointed the wards of the priests and the
Levites, every one in his business;
31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed,
and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God,
for good.
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