cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and
for the Levites that waited.
45 And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the
purification, according to the commandment of David, andof Solomon his son.
46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there werechief of the singers, and songs of
praise and thanksgiving unto God.
47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of
the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy thingsunto the
Levites; and the Levites sanctified themunto the children of Aaron.
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 God
for ever;
2 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.
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
God, wasallied 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 givento the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of
the priests.
6 But in all this timewas 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:
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 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 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 wasHanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for
they were counted faithful, and their office wasto 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 sometreading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in
sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner ofburdens, which they
brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against themin 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.
17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing isthis that
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 someof my servants set I at the gates, thatthere 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 moreon the sabbath.
22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and thatthey should
come andkeep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerningthis
also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
23 In those days also saw I Jews thathad married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, andof 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 oneof the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, wasson 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.
