Nehemiah

Chapter One


  1. THE WORDS OFNe-‍he-‍mi‍′‍-‍ah the son of Hach-‍a-‍li‍′‍-‍ah. And it came to pass in the month (of)‍ ‍Chis‍′‍-‍leu, in the twen­ti­eth year, as I was in Shu‍′‍-‍shan the palace,
  2. That Ha-‍na‍′‍-‍ni, one of my breth­ren, came, he and cer­tain men of Ju­dah; and I asked them con­cern­ing the Jews that had es­caped, which were left of the cap­tiv­ity, and con­cern­ing Jerusalem.
  3. And they said un­to me, The rem­nant that are left of the cap­tiv­ity there in the prov­ince are in great af­flic­tion and re­proach: the wall of Je­ru­sa­lem al­so is bro­ken down, and the gates there­of are burned with fire.
  4. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned cer­tain days, and fast­ed, and prayed be­fore the ⟨God⟩ of‍ ‍(the third)‍ ‍heaven,
  5. And said, I be­seech thee, O‍ ‍⟨Lord⟩ ⟨God⟩ of‍ ‍(the third)‍ ‍heaven, the great and ter­ri­ble⟨God⟩, that keep­eth cov­en­ant and mer­cy for them that love him and ob­serve his commandments:
  6. Let thine ear now be at­ten­tive, and thine eyes open, that thou may­est hear the pray­er of thy serv­ant, which I pray be­fore thee now, day and night, for the chil­dren of Is­ra­el, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my fa­thers house have sinned.
  7. We have dealt very cor­rupt­ly against thee, and have not kept the com­mand­ments, nor the stat­utes, nor the judg­ments, which thou com­mand­edst thy serv­ant Moses.
  8. Remember, I be­seech thee, the word that thou com­mand­edst thy serv­ant Mo­ses, say­ing, If ye trans­gress, I will scat­ter you abroad among the nations:
  9. But if ye turn un­to me, and keep my com­mand­ments, and do them; though there were of you cast out un­to the ut­ter­most part of the (first) heav­en, yet will I gath­er them from thence, and will bring them un­to the place that I have cho­sen to set my name there.
  10. Now these are thy serv­ants and thy peo­ple, whom thou hast re­deemed by thy great pow­er, and by thy strong hand.
  11. O‍ ‍⟨Lord⟩, I be­seech thee, let now thine ear be at­ten­tive to the pray­er of thy serv­ant, and to the pray­er of thy serv­ants, who de­sire to fear thee, thy serv­ant this day, and grant him mer­cy in the sight of this man. For I was the kings cupbearer.
Chapter Two
  1. AND IT CAME TO‍ ‍pass in the month (of)‍ ‍Ni‍′‍-‍san, in the twen­ti­eth year of Ar-‍tax-‍erx‍′‍-‍es the king, that wine was be­fore him: and I took up the wine, and gave it un­to the king.
  2. Wherefore the king said un­to me, Why is thy coun­ten­ance sad, see­ing thou art not sick? this is noth­ing else but sor­row of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
  3. And said un­to the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my coun­ten­ance be sad, when the city, the place of my fa­therssep­ul­chres,li­eth waste, and the gates there­of are con­sumed with fire?
  4. Then the king said un­to me, For what dost thou make re­quest? So I prayed to the ⟨God⟩ of‍ ‍(the third)‍ ‍heaven.
  5. And I said un­to the king, If it please the king, and if thy serv­ant have found fa­vour in thy sight, that thou would­est send me un­to Ju­dah, un­to the city of my fa­thers’ sep­ul­chres, that I may (re)­build it.
  6. And the king said un­to me, (the queen al­so sit­ting by him,) For how long shall thy jour­ney be? and when wilt thou re­turn? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
  7. Moreover I said un­to the king, If it please the king, let let­ters be giv­en me to the gov­er­nors be­yond the (Eu-‍phra‍′‍-‍tes) riv­er, they they may con­vey me over till I come in­to Judah;
  8. And a let­ter un­to A‍′‍-‍saph the keep­er of the kings for­est, that he may give me tim­ber to make beams for the gates of the pal­ace which ap­per­tained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall en­ter in­to. And the king grant­ed me, ac­cord­ing to the good hand of my ⟨God⟩ up­on me.
  9. Then I came to the gov­er­nors be­yond the (Eu-‍phra‍′‍-‍tes) riv­er, and gave them the kings let­ters. Now the king had sent cap­tains of the ar­my and horse­men with me.
  10. When San-‍bal‍′‍-‍lat the Hor‍′‍-‍o-‍nite, and To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah the serv­ant, the Am‍′‍-‍mon-‍ite, heard of it, it grieved them ex­ceed­ing­ly that there was come a man to seek the wel­fare of the chil­dren of Israel.
  11. So I came to Je­ru­sa­lem, and was there three days.
  12. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; nei­ther told I any man what my ⟨God⟩ had put in my heart to do at Je­ru­sa­lem: nei­ther was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
  13. And I went out by night by the gate of the val­ley, even be­fore the drag­on well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Je­ru­sa­lem, which were bro­ken down, and the gates there­of were con­sumed with fire.
  14. Then I went on to the gate of the foun­tain, and to the kings pool: but there was no place for the beast that was un­der me to pass.
  15. Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and en­tered by the gate of the val­ley, and so returned.
  16. And the rul­ers knew not whith­er I went, or what I did; nei­ther had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the no­bles, nor to the rul­ers, nor to the rest that did the work.
  17. Then said I un­to them, Ye see the dis­tress that we are in, how Je­ru­sa­lem li­eth waste, and the gates there­of are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Je­ru­sa­lem, that we be no more a re­proach.
  18. Then I told them of the hand of my ⟨God⟩ which was good up­on me; as al­so the kings words that he had spo­ken un­to me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strength­ened their hands for this good work.
  19. But when San-‍bal‍′‍-‍lat the Hor‍′‍-‍o-‍nite, and To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah the serv­ant, the Am‍′‍-‍mon-‍ite, and Ge‍′‍-‍shem the A-‍ra‍′‍-‍bi-‍an, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and de­spised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye re­bel against the king?
  20. Then an­swered I them, and said un­to them, The ⟨God⟩ of‍ ‍(the third)‍ ‍heaven, he will pros­per us; there­fore we his serv­ants will arise and build: but ye have no por­tion, nor right, nor me­mo­ri­al, in Jerusalem.
Chapter Three
  1. THEN E-‍LI‍′‍-‍A-‍SHIB the high priest rose up with his breth­ren the priests, and they build­ed the sheep gate: they sanc­ti­fied it, and set up the doors of it; even un­to the tow­er of Me‍′‍-‍ah they sanc­ti­fied it, un­to the tow­er of Ha-‍nan‍′‍-‍e-‍el.
  2. And next un­to him build­ed the men of Jer­i­cho. And next to them build­ed Zac‍′‍-‍cur the son of Im‍′‍-‍ri.
  3. But the fish gate did the sons of Has-‍se-‍na‍′‍-‍ah build, who al­so laid the beams there­of, and set up the doors there­of, the locks there­of, and the bars‍ ‍thereof.
  4. And next un­to them re­paired Mer‍′‍-‍e-‍moth the son of U-‍ri‍′‍-‍jah, the son of Koz. And next un­to them re­paired Me-‍shul‍′‍-‍lam the son of Ber-‍e-‍chi‍′‍-‍ah, the son of Me-‍shez‍′‍-‍a-‍beel. And next un­to them re­paired Za‍′‍-‍dok the son of Ba‍′‍-‍a-‍na.
  5. And next un­to them the Te-‍ko‍′‍-‍ites re­paired; but their no­bles put not their necks to the work of their ⟨Lord⟩.
  6. Moreover the old gate re­paired Je-‍hoi‍′‍-‍a-‍da the son of Pa-‍se‍′‍-‍ah, and Me-‍shul‍′‍-‍lam the son of Bes-‍o-‍de‍′‍-‍iah; they laid the beams there­of, and set up the doors there­of, and the locks there­of, and the bars‍ ‍thereof.
  7. And next un­to them re­paired Mel-‍a-‍ti‍′‍-‍ah the Gib‍′‍-‍e-‍on-‍ite, and Ja‍′‍-‍don the Me-‍ron‍′‍-‍o-‍thite, the men of Gib‍′‍-‍e-‍on, and of Miz‍′‍-‍pah, un­to the throne of the gov­er­nor on this side (of)‍ ‍the (Eu-‍phra‍′‍-‍tes)‍ ‍river.
  8. Next un­to him re­paired Uz-‍zi‍′‍-‍el the son of Har-‍ha‍′‍-‍iah, of the gold­smiths. Next un­to him al­so re­paired Han-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah the son of one of the apoth­e­car­ies, and they for­ti­fied Je­ru­sa­lem un­to the broad wall.
  9. And next un­to them re­paired Re-‍pha‍′‍-‍iah the son of Hur, the rul­er of the half part of Jerusalem.
  10. And next un­to them re­paired Je-‍da‍′‍-‍iah the son of Ha-‍ru‍′‍-‍maph, even over against his house. And next un­to him re­paired Hat‍′‍-‍tush the son of Hash-‍ab-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah.
  11. Mal-‍chi‍′‍-‍jah the son of Ha‍′‍-‍rim, and Ha‍′‍-‍shub the son of Pa‍′‍-‍hath–‍mo‍′‍-‍ab, re­paired the other piece, and the tow­er of the furnaces.
  12. And next un­to him re­paired Shal‍′‍-‍lum the son of Ha-‍lo‍′‍-‍hesh, the rul­er of the half part of Je­ru­sa­lem, he and his daughters.
  13. The val­ley gate re­paired Ha‍′‍-‍nun, and the in­hab­it­ants of Za-‍no‍′‍-‍ah; they built it, and set up the doors there­of, the locks there­of, and the bars there­of, and a thou­sand cu­bits on the wall un­to the dung gate.
  14. But the dung gate re­paired Mal-‍chi‍′‍-‍ah the son of Re‍′‍-‍chab, the rul­er of part of Beth–‍hac‍′‍-‍ce-‍rem; he built it, and set up the doors there­of, the locks there­of, and the bars‍ ‍thereof.
  15. But the gate of the foun­tain re­paired Shal‍′‍-‍lun the son of Col-‍ho‍′‍-‍zeh, the rul­er of part of Miz‍′‍-‍pah; he built it, and cov­ered it, and set up the doors there­of, the locks there­of, and the bars there­of, and the wall of the pool of Si-‍lo‍′‍-‍ah by the kings gar­den, and un­to the stairs that go down from the city of David.
  16. After him re­paired Ne-‍he-‍mi‍′‍-‍ah the son of Az‍′‍-‍buk, the rul­er of the half part of Beth‍′‍–‍zur, un­to the place over against the sep­ul­chres of David, and to the pool that was made, and un­to the house of the mighty.
  17. After him re­paired the Le­vites, Re‍′‍-‍hum the son of Ba‍′‍-‍ni. Next un­to him re­paired Hash-‍a-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, the rul­er of the half part of Kei‍′‍-‍lah, in his part.
  18. After him re­paired their breth­ren, Ba‍′‍-‍vai the son of Hen‍′‍-‍a-‍dad, the rul­er of the half part of Kei‍′‍-‍lah.
  19. And next to him re­paired E‍′‍-‍zer the son of Jesh‍′‍-‍u-‍a, the rul­er of Miz‍′‍-‍pah, an­oth­er piece over against the go­ing up to the ar­moury at the turn­ing of the wall.
  20. After him Ba‍′‍-‍ruch the son of Zab‍′‍-‍bai ear­nest­ly re­paired the oth­er piece, from the turn­ing of the wall un­to the door of the house of E-‍li‍′‍-‍a-‍shib the high priest.
  21. After him re­paired Mer‍′‍-‍e-‍moth the son of U-‍ri‍′‍-‍jah the son of Koz an­oth­er piece, from the door of the house of E-‍li‍′‍-‍a-‍shib even to the end of the house of E-‍li‍′‍-‍a-‍shib.
  22. And af­ter him re­paired the priests, the men of the plain.
  23. After him re­paired Ben­ja­min and Ha‍′‍-‍shub over against their house. Af­ter him re­paired Az-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah the son of Ma-‍a-‍se‍′‍-‍iah the son of An-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah by his house.
  24. After him re­paired Bin‍′‍-‍nu-‍i the son of Hen‍′‍-‍a-‍dad an­oth­er piece, from the house of Az-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah un­to the turn­ing of the wall, even un­to the corner.
  25. Pa‍′‍-‍lal the son of U‍′‍-‍zai, over against the turn­ing of the wall, and the tow­er which li­eth out from the kings high house, that was by the court of the pris­on. Af­ter him Pe-‍da‍′‍-‍iah the son of Pa‍′‍-‍rosh.
  26. Moreover the Neth‍′‍-‍i-‍nims dwelt in O‍′‍-‍phel, un­to the place over against the wa­ter gate to­ward the east, and the tow­er that li­eth out.
  27. After them the Te-‍ko‍′‍-‍ites re­paired an­oth­er piece, over against the great tow­er that li­eth out, even un­to the wall of O‍′‍-‍phel.
  28. From above the horse gate re­paired the priests, ev­ery one over against his house.
  29. After them re­paired Za‍′‍-‍dok the son of Im‍′‍-‍mer over against his house. Af­ter him re­paired al­so She-‍ma‍′‍-‍iah the son of Shech-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, the keep­er of the east gate.
  30. After him re­paired Han-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah the son of Shel-‍e-‍mi‍′‍-‍ah, and Ha‍′‍-‍nun the sixth son of Za‍′‍-‍laph, an­oth­er piece. Af­ter him re­paired Me-‍shul‍′‍-‍lam the son of Ber-‍e-‍chi‍′‍-‍ah over against his chamber.‍
  31. After him re­paired Mal-‍chi‍′‍-‍ah the gold­smiths son un­to the place of the Neth‍′‍-‍i-‍nims, and of the mer­chants, over against the gate Miph‍′‍-‍kad, and to the go­ing up of the corner.
  32. And be­tween the go­ing up of the cor­ner un­to the sheep gate re­paired the gold­smiths and the merchants.
Chapter Four
  1. BUT IT CAME TO pass, that when San-‍bal‍′‍-‍lat heard that we build­ed the wall, he was wroth, and took great in­dig­na­tion, and mocked the Jews.
  2. And he spake be­fore his breth­ren and the ar­my of Sa-‍ma‍′‍-‍ri-‍a, and said, What do these fee­ble Jews? will they for­ti­fy them­selves? will they sac­ri­fice? will they make an end in a day? will they re­vive the stones out of the heaps of the rub­bish which are burned?
  3. Now To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah the Am‍′‍-‍mon-‍ite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a‍ ‍fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
  4. Hear, O‍ ‍our ⟨God⟩; for  we are de­spised: and turn their re­proach up­on their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
  5. And cov­er not their in­iq­ui­ty, and let not their sin be blot­ted out from be­fore thee: for they have pro­voked thee to an­ger be­fore the builders.
  6. So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined to­geth­er un­to the half there­of: for the peo­ple had a mind to work.
  7. But it came to pass, that when San-‍bal‍′‍-‍lat, and To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, and the A-‍ra‍′‍-‍bi-‍ans, and the Am‍′‍-‍mon-‍ites, and the Ash‍′‍-‍dod-‍ites, heard that the walls of Je­ru­sa­lem were made up, and that the breach­es be­gan to be stopped, then they were very‍ ‍wroth,
  8. And con­spired all of them to­geth­er to come and to fight against Je­ru­sa­lem, and to hind­er it.
  9. Nevertheless we made our pray­er un­to our ⟨God⟩, and set a watch against them day and night, be­cause of them.
  10. And Ju­dah said, The strength of the bear­ers of bur­dens is de­cayed, and there is much rub­bish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
  11. And our ad­ver­sar­ies said, They shall not know, nei­ther see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
  12. And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said un­to us ten times, From all plac­es whence ye shall re­turn un­to us they will be up­on you.
  13. Therefore set I in the low­er plac­es be­hind the wall, and on the high­er plac­es, I even set the peo­ple af­ter their fam­i­lies with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
  14. And I looked, and rose up, and said un­to the no­bles, and to the rul­ers, and to the rest of the peo­ple, Be not ye afraid of them: re­mem­ber the ⟨Lord⟩ which is great and ter­ri­ble, and fight for your breth­ren, your sons, and your daugh­ters, your wives and your houses.
  15. And it came to pass, when our en­e­mies heard that it was known un­to us, and ⟨God⟩ had brought their coun­sel to nought, that we re­turned all of us to the wall, ev­ery one un­to his work.
  16. And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my serv­ants wrought in the work, and the oth­er half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the hab­er­geons; and the rul­ers were be­hind all the house of Judah.
  17. They which build­ed on the wall, and they that bare bur­dens, with those that lad­ed, ev­ery one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the oth­er hand held a weapon.
  18. For the build­ers, ev­ery one had his sword gird­ed by his side, and so build­ed. And he that sound­ed the trum­pet was by me.
  19. And I said un­to the no­bles, and to the rul­ers, and to the rest of the peo­ple, The work is great and large, and we are sep­ar­at­ed up­on the wall, one far from another.
  20. In what place there­fore ye hear the sound of the trum­pet, re­sort ye thith­er un­to us: our ⟨God⟩ shall fight for us.
  21. So we la­boured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the ris­ing of the morn­ing till the stars appeared.
  22. Likewise at the same time said I un­to the peo­ple, Let ev­ery one with his serv­ant lodge with­in Je­ru­sa­lem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and la­bour on the day.
  23. So nei­ther I, nor my breth­ren, nor my serv­ants, nor the men of the guard which fol­lowed me, none of us put off our clothes, sav­ing that ev­ery one put them off for washing.
Chapter Five
  1. AND THERE WAS A great cry of the peo­ple and of their wives against their breth­ren the Jews.
  2. For there were (those) that said, We, our sons, and our daugh­ters, are ma­ny: there­fore we take up cornfor them, that we may eat, and live.
  3. Some(oth­ers) al­so there were that said, We have mort­gaged our lands, vine­yards, and hous­es, that we might buy corn, be­cause of the dearth.
  4. There were al­so (oth­ers as well) that said, We have bor­rowed mon­ey for the kings trib­ute, and that up­on our lands and vineyards.
  5. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our breth­ren, our chil­dren as their chil­dren: and, lo, we bring in­to bond­age our sons and our daugh­ters to be serv­ants, and some of our daugh­ters are brought un­to bond­age al­rea­dy: nei­ther is it in our pow­er to re­deem them, for oth­er men have our lands and vineyards.
  6. And I was very an­gry when I heard their cry and these words.
  7. Then I con­sult­ed with my­self, and I re­buked the no­bles, and the rul­ers, and said un­to them, Ye ex­act usu­ry, ev­ery one of his broth­er. And I set a great as­sem­bly against them.
  8. And I said un­to them, We af­ter our abil­ity have re­deemed our breth­ren the Jews, which were sold un­to the heath­en; and will ye even sell your breth­ren? or shall they be sold un­to us? Then held they their peace, and found noth­ing to answer.
  9. Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our ⟨God⟩ be­cause of the re­proach of the heath­en our enemies?
  10. I like­wise, and my breth­ren, and my serv­ants, might ex­act of them mon­ey and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
  11. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vine­yards, their ol­ive­yards, and their hous­es, al­so the hun­dredth part of the mon­ey, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye ex­act of them.
  12. Then said they, We will re­store them, and will re­quire noth­ing of them; so will we do as thou say­est. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do ac­cord­ing to this promise.
  13. Also I shook my lap, and said, So ⟨God⟩ shake out ev­ery man from his house, and from his la­bour, that per­form­eth not this prom­ise, even thus be he shak­en out, and emp­tied. And all the con­gre­ga­tion said, A′‍-‍men, and praised the ⟨Lord⟩. And the peo­ple did ac­cord­ing to this promise. (See also: Acts 18:6)
  14. Moreover from the time that I was ap­point­ed to be their gov­er­nor in the land of Ju­dah, from the twen­ti­eth year even un­to the two and thir­ti­eth year of Ar-‍tax-‍erx‍′‍-‍es the king, that is, twelve years, I and my breth­ren have not eat­en the bread of the governor.
  15. But the form­er gov­er­nors that had been be­fore me were charge­able un­to the peo­ple, and had tak­en of them bread and wine, beside for­ty shek‍′‍-‍els of sil­ver; yea, even their serv­ants bare rule over the peo­ple: but so did not I, be­cause of the fear of ⟨God⟩.
  16. Yea, al­so I con­tin­ued in the work of this wall, nei­ther bought we any land: and all my serv­ants were gath­ered thith­er un­to the work.
  17. Moreover there were at my ta­ble an hun­dred and fif­ty of the Jews and rul­ers‍,[150]‌be­side those that came un­to us from among the heath­en that are about us.
  18. Now that which was pre­pared for me(and the afore­men­tioned 150) dai­ly was one ox and six choice sheep; al­so fowls were pre­pared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this re­quired not I the bread of the gov­er­nor, be­cause the bond­age was hea­vy up­on this people.
  19. Think up­on me, my ⟨God⟩, for good, ac­cord­ing to all that I have done for this people.
Chapter Six
  1. NOW IT CAME TO pass, when San-‍bal‍′‍-‍lat, and To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, and Ge‍′‍-‍shem the A-‍ra‍′‍-‍bi-‍an, and the rest of our en­e­mies, heard that I had build­ed the wall, and that there was no breach left there­in; (though at that time I had not set up the doors up­on the gates;)
  2. That San-‍bal‍′‍-‍lat and Ge‍′‍-‍shem sent (mes­sen­gers) un­to me, say­ing, Come, let us meet to­geth­er in some one of the vil­lag­es in the plain of O‍′‍-‍no. But they thought to do me mischief.
  3. And I sent (their) mes­sen­gers (back) un­to them, say­ing, I am do­ing a great work, so that I can­not come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
  4. Yet they sent (their mes­sen­gers) un­to me four times af­ter this sort; and I an­swered them af­ter the same manner.
  5. Then sent San-‍bal‍′‍-‍lat his serv­ant un­to me in like man­ner the fifth time with an open let­ter in his hand;
  6. Wherein was writ­ten, It is re­port­ed among the heath­en, and Gash‍′‍-‍mu(the A-‍ra‍′‍-‍bi-‍an) sa­ith it, that thou and the Jews think to re­bel: for which cause thou build­est the wall, that thou may­est be their king, ac­cord­ing to these words.
  7. And thou hast al­so ap­point­ed proph­ets to preach of thee at Je­ru­sa­lem, say­ing, There is a king in Ju­dah: and now shall it be re­port­ed to the king ac­cord­ing to these words. Come now there­fore, and let us take coun­sel together.
  8. Then I sent un­to him, say­ing, There are no such things done as thou say­est, but thou feign­est them out of thine own heart.
  9. For they all made us afraid, say­ing, Their hands shall be weak­ened from the work, that it be not done. Now there­fore, O‍ ‍God, strength­en my hands.
  10. Afterward I came un­to the house of She-‍ma‍′‍-‍iah the son of De-‍la‍′‍-‍iah the son of Me-‍het‍′‍-‍a-‍beel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet to­geth­er in the house of ⟨God⟩, with­in the tem­ple, and let us shut the doors of the tem­ple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
  11. And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, be­ingas I am(be­fore our Creator), would go in­to the tem­ple to save his life? I will not go in.
  12. And, lo, I per­ceived that ⟨God⟩ had not sent him; but that he pro­nounced this proph­e­cy against me: for To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah and San-‍bal‍′‍-‍lat had hired him.
  13. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have mat­ter for an evil re­port, that they might re­proach‍ ‍me.
  14. My ⟨God⟩, think thou up­on To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah and San-‍bal‍′‍-‍lat ac­cord­ing to these their works, and on the proph­et­ess No-‍a-‍di‍′‍-‍ah, and the rest of the proph­ets, that would have put me in fear.
  15. So the wall was fin­ished in the twen­ty and fifth day of the month(of) E‍′‍-‍lul, in fif­ty and two days.
  16. And it came to pass, that when all our en­e­mies heard there­of, and all the heath­en that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they per­ceived that this work was wrought of our ⟨God⟩.
  17. Moreover in those days the no­bles of Ju­dah sent ma­ny let­ters un­to To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, and the let­ters of To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah came un­to them.
  18. For there were ma­ny in Ju­dah sworn un­to him, be­cause he was the son in law of Shech-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, the son of A‍′‍-‍rah; and his son Jo-‍ha‍′‍-‍nan had tak­en the daugh­ter of Me-‍shul‍′‍-‍lam the son of Ber-‍e-‍chi‍′‍-‍ah.
  19. Also they re­port­ed his good deeds be­fore me, and ut­tered my words to him. And To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah sent let­ters to put me in fear.
Chapter Seven
  1. NOW IT CAME TO pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the por­ters and the sing­ers and the Le­vites were appointed,
  2. That I gave my broth­er Ha-‍na‍′‍-‍ni, and Han-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah the rul­er of the pal­ace, charge over Je­ru­sa­lem: for he was a faith­ful man, and feared ⟨God⟩ above many.
  3. And I said un­to them, Let not the gates of Je­ru­sa­lem be opened un­til the sun be hot; and while they‍ ‍stand by, let them shut the doors, and barthem: and ap­point watch­es of the in­hab­it­ants of Je­ru­sa­lem, ev­ery one in his watch, and ev­ery one to be over against his house.
  4. Now the city was large and great: but the peo­ple were few there­in, and the hous­es were not builded.
  5. And my ⟨God⟩ put in­to mine heart to gath­er to­geth­er the no­bles, and the rul­ers, and the peo­ple, that they might be reck­oned by ge­ne­al­o­gy of them which came up at the first, and found writ­ten therein,
  6. These are the chil­dren of the prov­ince, that went up out of the cap­tiv­ity, of those that had been car­ried away, whom Neb-‍u-‍chad-‍nez‍′‍-‍zar the king of Bab­y­lon had car­ried away, and came again to Je­ru­sa­lem and to Ju­dah, ev­ery one un­to his city;
  7. Who came with Ze-‍rub‍‍-‍ba-‍bel: Jesh‍‍-‍u-‍a, Ne-‍he-‍mi‍‍-‍ah, Az-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah,  Ra-‍a-‍mi‍′‍-‍ah,Na-‍ham‍′‍-‍a-‍ni, Mor‍‍-‍de-‍cai, Bil‍‍-‍shan, Mis‍′‍-‍pe-‍reth, Big‍‍-‍vai, Ne‍′‍-‍hum, Ba‍‍-‍a-‍nah. The num­ber, I say, of the men of the peo­ple of Is­ra­el was this;
  8. The chil­dren of Pa‍‍-‍rosh, two thou­sand an hun­dred sev­en­ty and two‍.[2,172]
  9. The chil­dren of Sheph-‍a-‍ti‍‍-‍ah, three hun­dred sev­en­ty and two‍.[372]
  10. The chil­dren of A‍‍-‍rah, six hun­dred fif­ty and two‍.[652]
  11. The chil­dren of Pa‍‍-‍hath–‍mo‍‍-‍ab of the chil­dren of Jesh‍‍-‍u-‍a and Jo‍‍-‍ab, two thou­sand eight hun­dred and eighteen‍.[2,818]
  12. The chil­dren of E‍‍-‍lam, a thou­sand two hun­dred fif­ty and four‍.[1,254]
  13. The chil­dren of Zat‍‍-‍tu, eight hun­dred for­ty and five‍.[845]
  14. The chil­dren of Zac‍‍-‍cai, sev­en hun­dred and threescore‍.[760]
  15. The chil­dren of‍ ‍Bin‍′‍-‍nu-‍i, six hun­dred for­ty and eight‍.[648]
  16. The chil­dren of Be‍‍-‍bai, six hun­dred twen­ty and eight‍.[628]
  17. The chil­dren of Az‍‍-‍gad, two thou­sand three hun­dred twen­ty and two‍.[2,322]
  18. The chil­dren of A-‍don‍‍-‍i-‍kam, six hun­dred three­score and seven‍.[667]
  19. The chil­dren of Big‍‍-‍vai, two thou­sand three­score and seven‍.[2,067]
  20. The chil­dren of A‍‍-‍din, six hun­dred fif­ty and five‍.[655]
  21. The chil­dren of A‍‍-‍ter of Hez-‍e-‍ki‍‍-‍ah, nine­ty and eight‍.[98]
  22. The chil­dren of Ha‍‍-‍shum, three hun­dred twen­ty and eight‍.[328]
  23. The chil­dren of Be‍‍-‍zai, three hun­dred twen­ty and four‍.[324]
  24. The chil­dren of Ha‍′‍-‍riph, an hun­dred and twelve‍.[112]
  25. The chil­dren of‍ ‍Gib‍′‍-‍e-‍on, nine­ty and five‍.[95]
  26. The men of Beth‍‍–‍le-‍hem and Ne-‍to‍‍-‍phah, an hun­dred four­score and eight‍.[188]
  27. The men of An‍‍-‍a-‍thoth, an hun­dred twen­ty and eight‍.[128]
  28. The men of Beth–‍az‍‍-‍ma-‍veth, for­ty and two‍.[42]
  29. The men of Kir‍‍-‍jath–je‍′‍-‍a-‍rim, Che-‍phi‍‍-‍rah, and Be-‍e‍‍-‍roth, sev­en hun­dred for­ty and three‍.[743]
  30. The men of Ra‍‍-‍mah and Ga‍‍-‍ba, six hun­dred twen­ty and one‍.[621]
  31. The men of Mich‍‍-‍mas, an hun­dred twen­ty and two‍.[122]
  32. The men of Beth‍‍–‍el and A‍‍-‍i, an hun­dred twen­ty and three‍.[123]
  33. The men of the oth­er Ne‍‍-‍bo, fif­ty and two‍.[52]
  34. The chil­dren of the oth­er E‍‍-‍lam, a thou­sand two hun­dred fif­ty and four‍.[1,254]
  35. The chil­dren of Ha‍‍-‍rim, three hun­dred and twenty‍.[320]
  36. The chil­dren of Jer‍‍-‍i-‍cho, three hun­dred for­ty and five‍.[345]
  37. The chil­dren of Lod, Ha‍‍-‍did, and O‍‍-‍no, sev­en hun­dred twen­ty and one‍.[721]
  38. The chil­dren of Se-‍na‍‍-‍ah, three thou­sand nine hun­dred and thirty‍.[3,930]
  39. The priests: the chil­dren of Je-‍da‍‍-‍iah, of the house of Jesh‍‍-‍u-‍a, nine hun­dred sev­en­ty and three‍.[973]
  40. The chil­dren of Im‍‍-‍mer, a thou­sand fif­ty and two‍.[1,052]
  41. The chil­dren of Pash‍‍-‍ur, a thou­sand two hun­dred for­ty and seven‍.[1,247]
  42. The chil­dren of Ha‍‍-‍rim, a thou­sand and seventeen‍.[1,017]
  43. The Le­vites: the chil­dren of Jesh‍‍-‍u-‍a and Kad‍‍-‍mi-‍el, and of the chil­dren of‍ ‍Ho-‍de‍′‍-‍vah, sev­en­ty and four‍.[74]
  44. The sing­ers: the chil­dren of A‍‍-‍saph, an hun­dred for­ty and eight‍.[148]
  45. The por­ters: the chil­dren of Shal‍‍-‍lum, the chil­dren of A‍‍-‍ter, the chil­dren of Tal‍‍-‍mon, the chil­dren of Ak‍‍-‍kub, the chil­dren of Hat‍‍-‍i-‍ta, the chil­dren of Sho‍‍-‍bai, an hun­dred thir­ty and eight‍.[138]
  46. The Neth‍‍-‍i-‍nims: the chil­dren of Zi‍‍-‍ha, the chil­dren of Ha-‍shu‍‍-‍pha, the chil­dren of Tab‍‍-‍ba-‍oth,
  47. The chil­dren of Ke‍‍-‍ros, the chil­dren of‍ ‍Si‍′‍-‍a, the chil­dren of Pa‍‍-‍don,
  48. The chil­dren of Leb‍‍-‍a-‍na‍(h)‍, the chil­dren of Hag‍‍-‍a-‍ba‍(h)‍, the chil­dren of Shal‍‍-‍mai,
  49. The chil­dren of Ha‍′‍-‍nan, the chil­dren of Gid‍′‍-‍del, the chil­dren of Ga‍′‍-‍har,
  50. The chil­dren of Re-‍a‍′‍-‍iah, the chil­dren of Re‍′‍-‍zin, the chil­dren of Ne-‍ko‍′‍-‍da,
  51. The chil­dren of Gaz‍′‍-‍zam, the chil­dren of Uz‍′‍-‍za, the chil­dren of Pha-‍se‍′‍-‍ah,
  52. The chil­dren of Be‍′‍-‍sai, the chil­dren of Me-‍u‍′‍-‍nim, the chil­dren of Ne-‍phish‍′‍-‍e-‍sim,
  53. The chil­dren of Bak‍′‍-‍kuk, the chil­dren of Ha-‍ku‍′‍-‍pha, the chil­dren of Har‍′‍-‍hur,
  54. The chil­dren of Baz‍′‍-‍lith, the chil­dren of Me-‍hi‍′‍-‍da, the chil­dren of Har‍′‍-‍sha,
  55. The chil­dren of Bar‍′‍-‍kos, the chil­dren of Sis‍′‍-‍e-‍ra, the chil­dren of Ta‍′‍-‍mah,
  56. The chil­dren of Ne-‍zi‍′‍-‍ah, the chil­dren of Hat‍′‍-‍i-‍pha.
  57. The chil­dren of Sol­o­mons serv­ants: the chil­dren of So‍′‍-‍tai, the chil­dren of Soph‍′‍-‍e-‍reth, the chil­dren of  Pe-‍ri‍′‍-‍da,
  58. The chil­dren of Ja-‍a‍′‍-‍la, the chil­dren of Dar‍′‍-‍kon, the chil­dren of Gid‍′‍-‍del,
  59. The chil­dren of Sheph-‍a-‍ti‍′‍-‍ah, the chil­dren of Hat‍′‍-‍til, the chil­dren of Poch‍′‍-‍e-‍reth of Ze-‍ba‍′‍-‍im, the chil­dren of Amon.
  60. All the Neth‍′‍-‍i-‍nims, and the chil­dren of Sol­o­mons serv­ants, were three hun­dred nine­ty and two‍.[392]
  61. And these were they which went up al­so from Tel–‍me‍′‍-‍lah, Tel–‍har‍′‍-‍e-‍sha, Cher­ub, Ad‍′‍-‍don, and Im‍′‍-‍mer: but they could not shew their fa­thers house, nor their seed, wheth­er they were of Israel.
  62. The chil­dren of De-‍la‍′‍-‍iah, the chil­dren of To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, the chil­dren of Ne-‍ko‍′‍-‍da, six hun­dred for­ty and two‍.[642]
  63. And of the priests: the chil­dren of Ha-‍ba‍′‍-‍iah, the chil­dren of Koz, the chil­dren of Bar-‍zil‍′‍-‍lai, which took one of the daugh­ters of Bar-‍zil‍′‍-‍lai the Gil‍′‍-‍e-‍ad-‍ite to wife, and was called af­ter their name.
  64. These sought their reg­is­ter among those that were reck­oned by ge­ne­al­o­gy, but it was not found: there­fore were they, as pol­lut­ed, put from the priesthood.
  65. And the Tir-‍sha‍′‍-‍tha said un­to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with‍ ‍U‍‍-‍rim and Thum‍‍-‍mim.
  66. The whole con­gre­ga­tion to­geth­er was for­ty and two thou­sand three hun­dred and threescore‍,[42,360]
  67. Beside their man­serv­ants and their maid­serv­ants, of whom there were sev­en thou­sand three hun­dred thir­ty and sev­en‍:‍[7,337]‌and they had two hun­dred for­ty and five sing­ing men and sing­ing women‍.[245]
  68. Their hors­es, sev­en hun­dred thir­ty and six: their mules, two hun­dred for­ty and five:
  69. Their cam­els, four hun­dred thir­ty and five: six thou­sand sev­en hun­dred and twen­ty asses.
  70. And some of the chief of the fa­thers gave un­to the work. The Tir-‍sha‍′‍-‍tha gave to the treas­ure a thou­sand drams of gold, fif­ty basons, five hun­dred and thir­ty priests‍ ‍garments.
  71. And some of the chief of the fa­thers gave to the treas­ure of the work twen­ty thou­sand drams of gold, and two thou­sand and two hun­dred pounds of silver.
  72. And that which the rest of the peo­ple gave was twen­ty thou­sand drams of gold, and two thou­sand pounds of silver, and three­score and sev­en priests‍ ‍garments.
  73. So the priests, and the Le­vites, and the por­ters, and the sing­ers, and some of the peo­ple, and the Neth‍′‍-‍i-‍nims, and all Is­ra­el, dwelt in their cit­ies; and when the sev­enth month came, the chil­dren of Is­ra­el were in their cities.
Chapter Eight
  1. AND ALL THE PEO­PLE gathered them­selves to­geth­er as one man in­to the street that was be­fore the wa­ter gate; and they spake un­to Ez­ra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Mo­ses, which the ⟨Lord⟩ had com­mand­ed to Israel.
  2. And Ez­ra the priest brought the law be­fore the con­gre­ga­tion both of men and wom­en, and all that could hear with un­der­stand­ing, up­on the first day of the sev­enth month.
  3. And he read there­in be­fore the street that was be­fore the wa­ter gate from the morn­ing un­til mid­day, be­fore the men and the wom­en, and those that could un­der­stand; and the ears of all the peo­ple were at­ten­tive un­to the book of the law.
  4. And Ez­ra the scribe stood up­on a pul­pit of wood, which they had made for the pur­pose; and be­side him stood Mat-‍ti-‍thi‍′‍-‍ah, and She‍′‍-‍ma, and A-‍na‍′‍-‍iah, and U-‍ri‍′‍-‍jah, and Hil-‍ki‍′‍-‍ah, and Ma-‍a-‍se‍′‍-‍iah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pe-‍da‍′‍-‍iah, and Mish‍′‍-‍a-‍el, and Mal-‍chi‍′‍-‍ah, and Ha‍′‍-‍shum, and Hash-‍bad‍′‍-‍a-‍na, Zech-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah, and Me-‍shul‍′‍-‍lam.
  5. And Ez­ra opened the book in the sight of all the peo­ple; (for he was above all the peo­ple;) and when he opened it, all the peo­ple stood up:
  6. And Ez­ra blessed the ⟨Lord⟩, the great ⟨God⟩. And all the peo­ple an­swered, A′‍-‍men,A′‍-‍men,with lift­ing up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and wor­shipped the ⟨Lord⟩ with their fac­es to the ground.‍ ‍[]

  1. Also Jesh‍′‍-‍u-‍a, and Ba‍′‍-‍ni, and Sher-‍e-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, Ja‍′‍-‍min, Ak‍′‍-‍kub, Shab‍′‍-‍be-‍thai, Ho-‍di‍′‍-‍jah, Ma-‍a-‍se‍′‍-‍iah, Kel‍′‍-‍i-‍ta, Az-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah, Joz‍′‍-‍a-‍bad, Ha‍′‍-‍nan, Pe-‍la‍′‍-‍iah, and the Le­vites caused the peo­ple to un­der­stand the law: and the peo­ple stood in their place.
  2. So they read in the book in the law of ⟨God⟩ dis­tinct­ly, and gave the sense, and caused them to un­der­stand the reading.
  3. And Ne-‍he-‍mi‍′‍-‍ah, which is the Tir-‍sha‍′‍-‍tha, and Ez­ra the priest the scribe, and the Le­vites that taught the peo­ple, said un­to all the peo­ple, This day is holy un­to the ⟨Lord⟩ your ⟨God⟩; mourn not, nor weep. For all the peo­ple wept, when they heard the words of the law.
  4. Then he said un­to them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send por­tions un­to them for whom noth­ing is pre­pared: for this day is holy un­to our ⟨Lord⟩: nei­ther be ye sor­ry; for the joy of the ⟨Lord⟩ is your strength.
  5. So the Le­vites stilled all the peo­ple, say­ing, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; nei­ther be ye grieved.
  6. And all the peo­ple went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send por­tions, and to make great mirth, be­cause they had un­der­stood the words that were de­clared un­to them.
  7. And on the sec­ond day were gath­ered to­geth­er the chief of the fa­thers of all the peo­ple, the priests, and the Le­vites, un­to Ez­ra the scribe, even to un­der­stand the words of the law.
  8. And they found writ­ten in the law which the ⟨Lord⟩ had com­mand­ed by Mo­ses, that the chil­dren of Is­ra­el should dwell in booths in the feast of the sev­enth month:
  9. And that they should pub­lish and pro­claim in all their cit­ies, and in Je­ru­sa­lem, say­ing, Go forth un­to the mount, and fetch ol­ive branches, and pine branch­es, and myr­tle branch­es, and palm branch­es, and branch­es of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
  10. So the peo­ple went forth, and brought them, and made them­selves booths, ev­ery one up­on the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of ⟨God⟩, and in the street of the wa­ter gate, and in the street of the gate of E‍′‍-‍phra-‍im.
  11. And all the con­gre­ga­tion of them that were come again out of the cap­tiv­ity made booths, and sat un­der the booths: for since the days of Jesh‍′‍-‍u-‍a the son of Nun un­to that day had not the chil­dren of Is­ra­el done so. And there was very great gladness.
  12. Also day by day, he read in the book of the law of ⟨God⟩. And they kept the feast sev­en days; and on the eighth day was a sol­emn as­sem­bly, ac­cord­ing un­to the manner.
Chapter Nine
  1. NOW IN THE TWEN­TY and fourth day of this month the chil­dren of Is­ra­el were as­sem­bled with fast­ing, and with sack­clothes, and earth up­on them.
  2. And the seed of Is­ra­el sep­a­rat­ed them­selves from all stran­gers, and stood and con­fessed their sins, and the in­iq­ui­ties of their fathers.
  3. And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the ⟨Lord⟩ their ⟨God⟩ one fourth part of the day; and an­oth­er fourth part they con­fessed, and wor­shipped the ⟨Lord⟩ their ⟨God⟩.
  4. Then stood up up­on the stairs, of the Le­vites, Jesh‍′‍-‍u-‍a, and Ba‍′‍-‍ni, Kad‍′‍-‍mi-‍el, Sheb-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, Bun‍′‍-‍ni, Sher-‍e-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, Ba‍′‍-‍ni, and Chen‍′‍-‍a-‍ni, and cried with a loud voice un­to the ⟨Lord⟩ their ⟨God⟩.
  5. Then the Le­vites, Jesh‍′‍-‍u-‍a, and Kad‍′‍-‍mi-‍el, Ba‍′‍-‍ni, Hash-‍ab-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, Sher-‍e-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, and Peth-‍a-‍hi‍′‍-‍ah, said, Stand up and bless the ⟨Lord⟩ your ⟨God⟩ for ever and ever: and bless­ed be thy glo­ri­ous name, which is ex­alt­ed above all bless­ing and praise.
  6. Thou, even thou, art ⟨Lord⟩ alone; thou hast made (the first) heav­en, the (sec­ond) heav­en of heav­ens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are there­in, the seas, and all that is there­in, and thou pre­serv­est them all; and the host of (the third) heav­en wor­ship­peth thee.
  7. Thou art the ⟨Lord⟩ the ⟨God⟩, who didst choose Abram, and brought­est him forth out of Ur of the Chal‍′‍-‍dees, and gav­est him the name of Abraham;
  8. And found­est his heart faith­ful be­fore thee, and mad­est a cov­en­ant with him to give the land of the Ca‍′‍-‍naan-‍ites, the Hit‍′‍-‍tites, the Am‍′‍-‍o-‍rites, and the Per‍′‍-‍iz-‍zites, and the Jeb‍′‍-‍u-‍sites, and the Gir‍′‍-‍ga-‍shites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast per­formed thy words; for thou art righteous:
  9. And didst see the af­flic­tion of our fa­thers in Egypt, and heard­est their cry by the Red sea;
  10. And shew­edst signs and won­ders up­on Pharaoh, and on all his serv­ants, and on all the peo­ple of his land: for thou knew­est that they dealt proud­ly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.
  11. And thou didst di­vide the sea be­fore them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their per­se­cu­tors thou threw­est in­to the deeps, as a stone in­to the migh­ty waters.
  12. Moreover thou led­dest them in the day by a cloudy pil­lar; and in the night by a pil­lar of fire, to give them light in the way where­in they should go.
  13. Thou cam­est down al­so up­on mount Si‍′‍-‍nai, and spak­est with them from(the third)heav­en, and gav­est them right judg­ments, and true laws, good stat­utes and commandments:
  14. And mad­est known un­to them thy holy sab­bath, and com­mand­edst them pre­cepts, stat­utes, and laws, by the hand of Mo­ses thy servant:
  15. And gav­est them bread from (the third) heav­en for their hun­ger, and brought­est forth wa­ter for them out of the rock for their thirst, and prom­is­edst them that they should go in to pos­sess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.
  16. But they and our fa­thers dealt proud­ly, and hard­ened their necks, and heark­ened not to thy commandments,
  17. And re­fused to obey, nei­ther were mind­ful of thy won­ders that thou didst among them; but hard­ened their necks, and in their re­bel­lion ap­point­ed a cap­tain to re­turn to their bond­age: but thou art⟨God⟩ rea­dy to par­don, gra­cious and mer­ci­ful, slow to an­ger, and of great kind­ness, and for­sook­est them not.
  18. Yea, when they had made them a mol­ten calf, and said, This is thy (“)God(”) that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;
  19. Yet thou in thy man­i­fold mer­cies for­sook­est them not in the wil­der­ness: the pil­lar of the cloud de­part­ed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; nei­ther the pil­lar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way where­in they should go.
  20. Thou gav­est al­so thy good spir­it to in­struct them, and with­held­est not thy man‍′‍-‍na from their mouth, and gav­est them wa­ter for their thirst.
  21. Yea, for­ty years didst thou sus­tain them in the wil­der­ness, so that they lacked noth­ing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
  22. Moreover thou gav­est them king­doms and na­tions, and didst di­vide them in­to cor­ners: so they pos­sessed the land of Si‍′‍-‍hon, and the land of the king of Hesh‍′‍-‍bon, and the land of Og king of Ba‍′‍-‍shan.
  23. Their chil­dren al­so mul­ti­pliedst thou as the stars of‍ ‍(the sec­ond) heav­en, and brought­est them in­to the land, con­cern­ing which thou hadst prom­ised to their fa­thers, that they should go in to pos­sess it.
  24. So the chil­dren went in and pos­sessed the land, and thou sub­duedst be­fore them the in­hab­it­ants of the land, the Ca‍′‍-‍naan-‍ites, and gav­est them in­to their hands, with their kings, and the peo­ple of the land, that they might do with them as they would.
  25. And they took strong cit­ies, and a fat land, and pos­sessed hous­es full of all goods, wells digged, vine­yards, and ol­ive­yards, and fruit trees in abun­dance: so they did eat, and were filled, and be­came fat, and de­light­ed them­selves in thy great goodness.
  26. Nevertheless they were dis­o­be­di­ent, and re­belled against thee, and cast thy law be­hind their backs, and slew thy proph­ets which tes­ti­fied against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
  27. Therefore thou de­liv­eredst them in­to the hand of their en­e­mies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trou­ble, when they cried un­to thee, thou heard­est them from (the third) heav­en; and ac­cord­ing to thy man­i­fold mer­cies thou gav­est them sav­iours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.
  28. But af­ter they had rest, they did evil again be­fore thee: there­fore left­est thou them in the hand of their en­e­mies, so that they had the do­min­ion over them: yet when they re­turned, and cried un­to thee, thou heard­est them from (the third) heav­en; and ma­ny times didst thou de­liv­er them ac­cord­ing to thy mercies;
  29. And tes­ti­fiedst against them, that thou might­est bring them again un­to thy law: yet they dealt proud­ly, and heark­ened not un­to thy com­mand­ments, but sinned against thy judg­ments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and with­drew the shoul­der, and hard­ened their neck, and would not hear.
  30. Yet ma­ny years didst thou for­bear them, and tes­ti­fied against them by thy spir­it in thy proph­ets: yet would they not give ear: there­fore gav­est thou them in­to the hand of the peo­ple of the lands.
  31. Nevertheless for thy great mer­cies sake thou didst not ut­ter­ly con­sume them, nor for­sake them; for thou art a gra­cious and mer­ci­ful ⟨God⟩.
  32. Now there­fore, our ⟨God⟩, the great, the migh­ty, and the ter­ri­ble⟨God⟩, who keep­est cov­en­ant and mer­cy, let not all the trou­ble seem lit­tle be­fore thee, that hath come up­on us, on our kings, on our princ­es, and on our priests, and on our proph­ets, and on our fa­thers, and on all thy peo­ple, since the time of the kings of As­syr­ia un­to this day.
  33. Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought up­on us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:
  34. Neither have our kings, our princ­es, our priests, nor our fa­thers, kept thy law, nor heark­ened un­to thy com­mand­ments and thy tes­ti­mo­nies, where­with thou didst tes­ti­fy against them.
  35. For they have not served thee in their king­dom, and in thy great good­ness that thou gav­est them, and in the large and fat land which thou gav­est be­fore them, nei­ther turned they from their wick­ed works.
  36. Behold, we are serv­ants this day, and for the land that thou gav­est un­to our fa­thers to eat the fruit there­of and the good there­of, be­hold, we are serv­ants in it:
  37. And it yield­eth much in­crease un­to the kings whom thou hast set over us be­cause of our sins: al­so they have do­min­ion over our bod­ies, and over our cat­tle, at their pleas­ure, and we are in great distress.
  38. And be­cause of all this, we make a sure cov­en­ant, and write it; and our princ­es, Le­vites, and priests, sealun­to it.
Chapter Ten
  1. NOW THOSE THATsealedwere, Ne-‍he-‍mi‍′‍-‍ah, the Tir-‍sha‍′‍-‍tha, the son of Hach-‍a-‍li‍′‍-‍ah, and Zid-‍ki‍′‍-‍jah,
  2. Se-‍ra‍′‍-‍iah, Az-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah, Jer-‍e-‍mi‍′‍-‍ah,
  3. Pash‍′‍-‍ur, Am-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah, Mal-‍chi‍′‍-‍jah,
  4. Hat‍′‍-‍tush, Sheb-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, Mal‍′‍-‍luch,
  5. Ha‍′‍-‍rim, Mer‍′‍-‍e-‍moth, O-‍ba-‍di‍′‍-‍ah,
  6. Daniel, Gin‍′‍-‍ne-‍thon, Ba‍′‍-‍ruch,
  7. Me-‍shul‍′‍-‍lam, A-‍bi‍′‍-‍jah, Mij‍′‍-‍a-‍min,
  8. Ma-‍a-‍zi‍′‍-‍ah, Bil‍′‍-‍gai, She-‍ma‍′‍-‍iah: these were the priests.
  9. And the Le­vites: both Jesh‍′‍-‍u-‍a the son of Az-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, Bin‍′‍-‍nu-‍i of the sons of Hen‍′‍-‍a-‍dad, Kad‍′‍-‍mi-‍el;
  10. And their breth­ren, Sheb-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, Ho-‍di‍′‍-‍jah, Kel‍′‍-‍i-‍ta, Pe-‍la‍′‍-‍iah, Ha‍′‍-‍nan,
  11. Mi‍′‍-‍cha, Re‍′‍-‍hob, Hash-‍a-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah,
  12. Zac‍′‍-‍cur, Sher-‍e-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, Sheb-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah,
  13. Ho-‍di‍′‍-‍jah, Ba‍′‍-‍ni, Ben‍′‍-‍i-‍nu.
  14. The chief of the peo­ple; Pa‍′‍-‍rosh, Pa‍′‍-‍hath–‍mo‍′‍-‍ab, E‍′‍-‍lam, Zat‍′‍-‍thu, Ba‍′‍-‍ni,
  15. Bun‍′‍-‍ni, Az‍′‍-‍gad, Be‍′‍-‍bai,
  16. Ad-‍o-‍ni‍′‍-‍jah, Big‍′‍-‍vai, A‍′‍-‍din,
  17. A‍′‍-‍ter, Hiz-‍ki‍′‍-‍jah, Az‍′‍-‍zur,
  18. Ho-‍di‍′‍-‍jah, Ha‍′‍-‍shum, Be‍′‍-‍zai,
  19. Ha‍′‍-‍riph, An‍′‍-‍a-‍toth, Ne‍′‍-‍bai,
  20. Mag‍′‍-‍pi-‍ash, Me-‍shul‍′‍-‍lam, He‍′‍-‍zir,
  21. Me-‍shez‍′‍-‍a-‍beel, Za‍′‍-‍dok, Jad-‍du‍′‍-‍a,
  22. Pel-‍a-‍ti‍′‍-‍ah, Ha‍′‍-‍nan, A-‍na‍′‍-‍iah,
  23. Ho-‍she‍′‍-‍a, Han-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, Ha‍′‍-‍shub,
  24. Hal-‍lo‍′‍-‍hesh, Pil‍′‍-‍e-‍ha, Sho‍′‍-‍bek,
  25. Re‍′‍-‍hum, Ha-‍shab‍′‍-‍nah, Ma-‍a-‍se‍′‍-‍iah,
  26. And A-‍hi‍′‍-‍jah, Ha‍′‍-‍nan, A‍′‍-‍nan,
  27. Mal‍′‍-‍luch, Ha‍′‍-‍rim, Ba‍′‍-‍a-‍nah‍.[84]
  28. And the rest of the peo­ple, the priests, the Le­vites, the por­ters, the sing­ers, the Neth‍′‍-‍i-‍nims, and all they that had sep­a­rat­ed them­selves from the peo­ple of the lands un­to the law of ⟨God⟩, their wives, their sons, and their daugh­ters, ev­ery one hav­ing knowl­edge, and hav­ing understanding;
  29. They clave to their breth­ren, their no­bles, and en­tered in­to a curse, and in­to an oath, to walk in ⟨Gods⟩ law, which was giv­en by Mo­ses the serv­ant of ⟨God⟩, and to ob­serve and do all the com­mand­ments of the ⟨Lord⟩ our ⟨Lord⟩, and his judg­ments and his statutes;
  30. And that we would not give our daugh­ters un­to the peo­ple of the land, nor take their daugh­ters for our sons:
  31. And if the peo­ple of the land bring ware or any vic­tu­als on the sab­bath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sab­bath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the sev­enth year, and the ex­ac­tion of ev­ery debt.
  32. Also we made or­di­nanc­es for us, to‍ ‍charge our­selves year­ly with‍ ‍the third part of a shek‍′‍-‍el for the serv­ice of the house of our ⟨God⟩;
  33. For the shew­bread, and for the con­tin­u­al meat of­fer­ing, and for the con­tin­u­al burnt of­fer­ing, of the sab­baths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin of­fer­ings to make atone­ment for Is­ra­el, and for all the work of the house of our ⟨God⟩.
  34. And we cast the lots among the priests, the Le­vites, and the peo­ple, for the wood of­fer­ing, to bring it in­to the house of our ⟨God⟩, af­ter the hous­es of our fa­thers, at times ap­point­ed year by year, to burn up­on the al­tar of the ⟨Lord⟩ our ⟨God⟩, as it is writ­ten in the law:
  35. And to bring the first­fruits of our ground, and the first­fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, un­to the house of the ⟨Lord⟩:
  36. Also the first­born of our sons (for serv­ice in the tem­ple), and of our cat­tle, as it is writ­ten in the law, and the first­lings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our ⟨God⟩, un­to the priests that min­is­ter in the house of our ⟨God⟩:
  37. And that we should bring the first­fruits of our dough, and our of­fer­ings, and the fruit of all man­ner of trees, of wine and of oil, un­to the priests, to the cham­bers of the house of our ⟨God⟩; and the tithes of our ground un­to the Le­vites, that the same Le­vites might have the tithes in all the cit­ies of our tillage.
  38. And the priest the son of Aa­ron shall be with the Le­vites, when the Le­vites take tithes: and the Le­vites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes un­to the house of our ⟨God⟩, to the cham­bers, in­to the treas­ure house.
  39. For the chil­dren of Is­ra­el and the chil­dren of Le­vi shall bring the of­fer­ing of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, un­to the cham­bers, where are the ves­sels of the sanc­tu­ary, and the priests that min­is­ter, and the por­ters, and the sing­ers: and we will not for­sake the house of our ⟨God⟩.
Chapter Eleven
  1. AND THE RUL­ERS OF‍ ‍the peo­ple dwelt at Je­ru­sa­lem: the rest of the peo­ple al­so cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Je­ru­sa­lem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in oth­er cities.
  2. And the peo­ple blessed all the men, that will­ing­ly of­fered them­selves to dwell at Jerusalem.
  3. Now these are the chief of the prov­ince that dwelt in Je­ru­sa­lem: but in the cit­ies of Ju­dah dwelt ev­ery one in his pos­ses­sion in their cit­ies, to wit, Is­ra­el, the priests, and the Le­vites, and the Neth‍′‍-‍i-‍nims, and the chil­dren of Sol­o­mons servants.
  4. And at Je­ru­sa­lem dwelt cer­tain of the chil­dren of Ju­dah, and of the chil­dren of Ben­ja­min. Of the chil­dren of Ju­dah; Ath-‍a-‍i‍′‍-‍ah the son of Uz-‍zi‍′‍-‍ah, the son of Zech-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah, the son of Am-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah, the son of Sheph-‍a-‍ti‍′‍-‍ah, the son of Ma-‍ha‍′‍-‍la-‍le-‍el, of the chil­dren of Pe‍′‍-‍rez;
  5. And Ma-‍a-‍se‍′‍-‍iah the son of Ba‍′‍-‍ruch, the son of Col-‍ho‍′‍-‍zeh, the son of Ha-‍za‍′‍-‍iah, the son of A-‍da‍′‍-‍iah, the son of Joi‍′‍-‍a-‍rib, the son of Zech-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah, the son of Shi-‍lo‍′‍-‍ni.
  6. All the sons of Pe‍′‍-‍rez that dwelt at Je­ru­sa­lem were four hun­dred three­score and eight val­iant men‍.[468]
  7. And these are the sons of Ben­ja­min; Sal‍′‍-‍lu the son of Me-‍shul‍′‍-‍lam, the son of Jo‍′‍-‍ed, the son of Pe-‍da‍′‍-‍iah, the son of Ko-‍la‍′‍-‍iah, the son of Ma-‍a-‍se‍′‍-‍iah, the son of Ith‍′‍-‍i-‍el, the son of Je-‍sa‍′‍-‍iah.
  8. And af­ter him Gab‍′‍-‍bai, Sal‍′‍-‍lai, nine hun­dred twen­ty and eight‍.[928]
  9. And Jo‍′‍-‍el the son of Zich‍′‍-‍ri was their over­seer: and Ju­dah the son of Sen-‍u‍′‍-‍ah was sec­ond over the city.
  10. Of the priests: Je-‍da‍′‍-‍iah the son of Joi‍′‍-‍a-‍rib, Ja‍′‍-‍chin.
  11. Se-‍ra‍′‍-‍iah the son of Hil-‍ki‍′‍-‍ah, the son of Me-‍shul‍′‍-‍lam, the son of Za‍′‍-‍dok, the son of Me-‍ra‍′‍-‍ioth, the son of A-‍hi‍′‍-‍tub, was the rul­er of the house of ⟨God⟩.
  12. And their breth­ren that did the work of the house were eight hun­dred twen­ty and two‍:[822]‌and A-‍da‍′‍-‍iah the son of Jer‍′‍-‍o-‍ham, the son of Pel-‍a-‍li‍′‍-‍ah, the son of Am‍′‍-‍zi, the son of Zech-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah, the son of Pash‍′‍-‍ur, the son of Mal-‍chi‍′‍-‍ah,
  13. And his breth­ren, chief of the fa­thers, two hun­dred for­ty and two‍:[242]‌and Am‍′‍-‍a-‍shai the son of A-‍zar‍′‍-‍e-‍el, the son of A′‍-‍ha-‍sai, the son of Me-‍shil‍′‍-‍le-‍moth, the son of Im‍′‍-‍mer,
  14. And their brethren, migh­ty men of val­our, an hun­dred twen­ty and eight‍:[128]‌and their over­seer was Zab‍′‍-‍di-‍el, the son of one of the great men.
  15. Also of the Le­vites: She-‍ma‍′‍-‍iah the son of Ha‍′‍-‍shub, the son of Az-‍ri‍′‍-‍kam, the son of Hash-‍a-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, the son of Bun‍′‍-‍ni;
  16. And Shab‍′‍-‍be-‍thai and Joz‍′‍-‍a-‍bad, of the chief of the Le­vites, had the over­sight of the out­ward bus­i­ness of the house of ⟨God⟩.
  17. And Mat-‍ta-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah the son of Mi‍′‍-‍cha, the son of Zab‍′‍-‍di, the son of A‍′‍-‍saph, was the prin­ci­pal to be­gin the thanks­giv­ing in pray­er: and Bak-‍bu-‍ki‍′‍-‍ah the sec­ond among his breth­ren, and Ab‍′‍-‍da the son of Sham-‍mu‍′‍-‍a, the son of Ga‍′‍-‍lai, the son of Je-‍du‍′‍-‍thun.
  18. All the Le­vites in the holy city were two hun­dred four­score and four‍.[284]
  19. Moreover the por­ters, Ak‍′‍-‍kub, Tal‍′‍-‍mon, and their breth­ren that kept the gates, were an hun­dred sev­en­ty and two‍.[172]
  20. And the res­i­due of Is­ra­el, of the priests, and the Le­vites, were in all the cit­ies of Ju­dah, ev­ery one in his inheritance.
  21. But the Neth‍′‍-‍i-‍nims dwelt in‍ ‍O‍′‍-‍phel: and Zi‍′‍-‍ha and Gis‍′‍-‍pa were over the Neth‍′‍-‍i-‍nims.
  22. The over­seer al­so of the Le­vites at Je­ru­sa­lem was Uz‍′‍-‍zi the son of Ba‍′‍-‍ni, the son of Hash-‍a-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, the son of Mat-‍ta-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, the son of Mi‍′‍-‍cha. Of the sons of A′‍-‍saph, the sing­ers were over the bus­i­ness of the house of ⟨God⟩.
  23. For it was the kings com­mand­ment con­cern­ing them, that a cer­tain por­tion should be for the sing­ers, due for ev­ery day.
  24. And Peth-‍a-‍hi‍′‍-‍ah the son of Me-‍shez‍′‍-‍a-‍beel, of the chil­dren of Ze‍′‍-‍rah the son of Ju­dah, was at the kings hand in all mat­ters con­cern­ing the people.
  25. And for the vil­lag­es, with their fields, some of the chil­dren of Ju­dah dwelt at Kir‍′‍-‍jath–‍ar‍′‍-‍ba, and in the vil­lag­es there­of, and at Di‍′‍-‍bon, and in the vil­lag­es there­of, and at Je-‍kab‍′‍-‍ze-‍el, and in the vil­lag­es thereof,
  26. And at Jesh‍′‍-‍u-‍a, and at Mol‍′‍-‍a-‍dah, and at Beth–‍phe‍′‍-‍let,
  27. And at Ha‍′‍-‍zar–‍shu‍′‍-‍al, and at Be‍′‍-‍er–‍she‍′‍-‍ba, and in the vil­lag­es thereof,
  28. And at Zik‍′‍-‍lag, and at Me-‍ko‍′‍-‍nah, and in the vil­lag­es thereof,
  29. And at En–‍rim‍′‍-‍mon, and at Za‍′‍-‍re-‍ah, and at Jar‍′‍-‍muth,
  30. Za-‍no‍′‍-‍ah, A-‍dul‍′‍-‍lam, and in their vil­lag­es, at La‍′‍-‍chish, and the fields there­of, at A-‍ze‍′‍-‍kah, and in the vil­lag­es there­of. And they dwelt from Be‍′‍-‍er–‍she‍′‍-‍ba un­to the val­ley of Hin‍′‍-‍nom.
  31. The chil­dren al­so of Ben­ja­min from Ge‍′‍-‍ba dwelt at Mich‍′‍-‍mash, and Ai‍′‍-‍ja, and Beth‍′‍–‍el, and in their villages,
  32. And at An‍′‍-‍a-‍thoth, Nob, An-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah,
  33. Ha‍′‍-‍zor, Ra‍′‍-‍mah, Git‍′‍-‍ta-‍im,
  34. Ha‍′‍-‍did, Ze-‍bo‍′‍-‍im, Ne-‍bal‍′‍-‍lat,
  35. Lod, and O‍′‍-‍no, the val­ley of craftsmen.
  36. And of the Le­vites were di­vi­sions in Ju­dah, and in Benjamin.
Chapter Twelve
  1. NOW THESE ARE the priests and the Le­vites that went up with Ze-‍rub‍′‍-‍ba-‍bel the son of She-‍al‍′‍-‍ti-‍el, and Jesh‍′‍-‍u-‍a; Se-‍ra‍′‍-‍iah, Jer-‍e-‍mi‍′‍-‍ah, Ezra,
  2. Am-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah, Mal‍′‍-‍luch, Hat‍′‍-‍tush,
  3. Shech-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, Re‍′‍-‍hum, Mer‍′‍-‍e-‍moth,
  4. Id‍′‍-‍do, Gin‍′‍-‍ne-‍tho, A-‍bi‍′‍-‍jah,
  5. Mi‍′‍-‍a-‍min, Ma-‍a-‍di‍′‍-‍ah, Bil‍′‍-‍gah,
  6. She-‍ma‍′‍-‍iah, and Joi‍′‍-‍a-‍rib, Je-‍da‍′‍-‍iah,
  7. Sal‍′‍-‍lu, A‍′‍-‍mok, Hil-‍ki‍′‍-‍ah, Je-‍da‍′‍-‍iah. These were the chief of the priests and of their breth­ren in the days of Jesh‍′‍-‍u-‍a.
  8. Moreover the Le­vites: Jesh‍′‍-‍u-‍a, Bin‍′‍-‍nu-‍i, Kad‍′‍-‍mi-‍el, Sher-‍e-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, Ju­dah, and Mat-‍ta-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, which was over the thanks­giv­ing, he and his brethren.
  9. Also Bak-‍bu-‍ki‍′‍-‍ah and Un‍′‍-‍ni, their breth­ren, were over against them in the watches.
  10. And Jesh‍′‍-‍u-‍a be­gat Joi‍′‍-‍a-‍kim, Joi‍′‍-‍a-‍kim al­so be­gat E-‍li‍′‍-‍a-‍shib, and E-‍li‍′‍-‍a-‍shib be­gat Joi‍′‍-‍a-‍da.
  11. And Joi‍′‍-‍a-‍da be­gat Jon­a­than, and Jon­a­than be­gat Jad-‍du‍′‍-‍a.
  12. And in the days of Joi‍′‍-‍a-‍kim were priests, the chief of the fa­thers: of Se-‍ra‍′‍-‍iah, Me-‍ra‍′‍-‍iah; of Jer-‍e-‍mi‍′‍-‍ah, Ha-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah;
  13. Of Ez­ra, Me-‍shul‍′‍-‍lam; of Am-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah, Je-‍ho-‍ha‍′‍-‍nan;
  14. Of Mel‍′‍-‍i-‍cu, Jon­a­than; of Sheb-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, Joseph;
  15. Of Ha‍′‍-‍rim, Ad‍′‍-‍na; of Me-‍ra‍′‍-‍ioth, Hel‍′‍-‍kai;
  16. Of Id‍′‍-‍do, Zech-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah; of Gin‍′‍-‍ne-‍thon, Me-‍shul‍′‍-‍lam;
  17. Of A-‍bi‍′‍-‍jah, Zich‍′‍-‍ri; of Mi-‍ni‍′‍-‍a-‍min, of Mo-‍a-‍di‍′‍-‍ah, Pil‍′‍-‍tai;
  18. Of Bil‍′‍-‍gah, Smam-‍mu‍′‍-‍a; of She-‍ma‍′‍-‍iah, Je-‍hon‍′‍-‍a-‍than;
  19. And of Joi‍′‍-‍a-‍rib, Mat-‍te‍′‍-‍nai; of Je-‍da‍′‍-‍iah, Uz‍′‍-‍zi;
  20. Of Sal‍′‍-‍lai, Kal‍′‍-‍lai; of A‍′‍-‍mok, E‍′‍-‍ber;
  21. Of Hil-‍ki‍′‍-‍ah, Hash-‍a-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah; of Je-‍da‍′‍-‍iah, Ne-‍than‍′‍-‍e-‍el.
  22. The Le­vites in the days of E-‍li‍′‍-‍a-‍shib, Joi‍′‍-‍a-‍da, and Jo-‍ha‍′‍-‍nan, and Jad-‍du‍′‍-‍a, were re­cord­ed chief of the fa­thers: al­so the priests, to the reign of Da-‍ri‍′‍-‍us the Persian.
  23. The sons of Le­vi, the chief of the fa­thers, were writ­ten in the book of the chron­i­cles, even un­til the days of Jo-‍ha‍′‍-‍nan the son of E-‍li‍′‍-‍a-‍shib.
  24. And the chief of the Le­vites: Hash-‍a-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, Sher-‍e-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, and Jesh‍′‍-‍u-‍a the son of Kad‍′‍-‍mi-‍el, with their breth­ren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, ac­cord­ing to the com­mand­ment of David the man of ⟨God⟩, ward over against ward.
  25. Mat-‍ta-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, and Bak-‍bu-‍ki‍′‍-‍ah, O-‍ba-‍di‍′‍-‍ah, Me-‍shul‍′‍-‍lam, Tal‍′‍-‍mon, Ak‍′‍-‍kub, werepor­ters keep­ing the ward at the thresh­olds of the gates.
  26. These were in the days of Joi‍′‍-‍a-‍kim the son of Jesh‍′‍-‍u-‍a, the son of Joz‍′‍-‍a-‍dak, and in the days of Ne-‍he-‍mi‍′‍-‍ah the gov­er­nor, and of Ez­ra the priest, the scribe.
  27. And at the ded­i­ca­tion of the wall of Je­ru­sa­lem they sought the Le­vites out of all their plac­es, to bring them to Je­ru­sa­lem, to keep the ded­i­ca­tion with glad­ness, both with thanks­giv­ings, and with sing­ing, with cym­bals, psal­ter­ies, and with harps.
  28. And the sons of the sing­ers gath­ered them­selves to­geth­er, both out of the plain coun­try round about Je­ru­sa­lem, and from the vil­lag­es of Ne-‍toph‍′‍-‍a-‍thi;
  29. Also from the house of Gil‍′‍-‍gal, and out of the fields of Ge‍′‍-‍ba and Az‍′‍-‍ma-‍veth: for the sing­ers had build­ed them vil­lag­es round about Jerusalem.
  30. And the priests and the Le­vites pur­i­fied them­selves, and pur­i­fied the peo­ple, and the gates, and the wall.
  31. Then I brought up the princ­es of Ju­dah up­on the wall, and ap­point­ed two great com­pa­nies of them that gave thanks, where­of one went on the right hand up­on the wall to­ward the dung gate:
  32. And af­ter them went Ho-‍sha‍′‍-‍iah, and half of the princ­es of Ju­dah,
  33. And Az-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah, Ez­ra, and Me-‍shul‍′‍-‍lam,
  34. Judah, and Ben­ja­min, and She-‍ma‍′‍-‍iah, and Jer-‍e-‍mi‍′‍-‍ah,
  35. And cer­tain of the priests sons with trum­pets; name­ly, Zech-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah the son of Jon­a­than, the son of She-‍ma‍′‍-‍iah, the son of Mat-‍ta-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, the son of Mi-‍cha‍′‍-‍iah, the son of Zac‍′‍-‍cur, the son of A‍′‍-‍saph:
  36. And his breth­ren, She-‍ma‍′‍-‍iah, and A-‍zar‍′‍-‍a-‍el, Mil‍′‍-‍a-‍lai, Gil‍′‍-‍a-‍lai, Ma‍′‍-‍ai, Ne-‍than‍′‍-‍e-‍el, and Ju­dah, Ha-‍na‍′‍-‍ni, with the mu­sic­al in­stru­ments of David the man of ⟨God⟩, and Ez­ra the scribe be­fore them.
  37. And at the foun­tain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the go­ing up of the wall, above the house of David, even un­to the wa­ter gate eastward.
  38. And the oth­er com­pa­ny of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I af­ter them, and the half of the peo­ple up­on the wall, from be­yond the tow­er of the fur­nac­es even un­to the broad wall;
  39. And from above the gate of E‍′‍-‍phra-‍im, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tow­er of Ha-‍nan‍′‍-‍e-‍el, and the tow­er of Me‍′‍-‍ah, even un­to the sheep gate: and they stood still in the pris­on gate.
  40. So stood the two com­pa­nies of them that gave thanks in the house of ⟨God⟩, and I, and the half of the rul­ers with me:
  41. And the priests; E-‍li‍′‍-‍a-‍kim, Ma-‍a-‍sei‍′‍-‍ah, Mi-‍ni‍′‍-‍a-‍min, Mi-‍cha‍′‍-‍iah, E-‍li-‍o-‍e‍′‍-‍nai, Zech-‍a-‍ri‍′‍-‍ah, and Han-‍a-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah, with trumpets;
  42. And Ma-‍a-‍se‍′‍-‍iah, and She-‍ma‍′‍-‍iah, and E-‍le-‍a‍′‍-‍zar, and Uz‍′‍-‍zi, and Je-‍ho-‍ha‍′‍-‍nan, and Mal-‍chi‍′‍-‍jah, and E‍′‍-‍lam, and E‍′‍-‍zer. And the sing­ers sang loud, with Jez-‍ra-‍hi‍′‍-‍ah their overseer.
  43. Also that day they of­fered great sac­ri­fic­es, and re­joiced: for ⟨God⟩ had made them re­joice with great joy: the wives al­so and the chil­dren re­joiced: so that the joy of Je­ru­sa­lem was heard even afar off.
  44. And at that time were some ap­point­ed over the cham­bers for the treas­ures, for the of­fer­ings, for the first­fruits, and for the tithes, to gath­er in­to them out of the fields of the 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 pur­i­ca­tion, ac­cord­ing to the com­mand­ment of David, and of Sol­o­mon his son.
  46. For in the days of David and A‍′‍-‍saph of old there were chief of the sing­ers, and songs of praise and thanks­giv­ing un­to ⟨God⟩.
  47. And all Is­ra­el in the days of Ze-‍rub‍′‍-‍ba-‍bel, and in the days of Ne-‍he-‍mi‍′‍-‍ah, gave the por­tions of the sing­ers and the por­ters, ev­ery day his por­tion: and they sanc­ti­fied holy things un­to the Le­vites; and the Le­vites sanc­ti­fied them un­to the chil­dren of Aaron.
Chapter Thirteen
  1. ON THAT DAY  THEY read in the book of Mo­ses in the au­di­ence of the peo­ple; and there­in was found writ­ten, that the Am‍′‍-‍mon-‍ite and the Mo‍′‍-‍ab-‍ite 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 Ba‍′‍-‍laam 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(all) this, E-‍li‍′‍-‍a-‍shib the priest, hav­ing the over­sight of the cham­ber of the house of our ⟨God⟩, was al­lied un­to To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah:
  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 giv­en to the Le­vites, and the sing­ers, and the por­ters; and the of­fer­ings of the priests.
  6. But in all this time was not I at Je­ru­sa­lem: for in the two and thir­ti­eth year of Ar-‍tax-‍erx‍′‍-‍es 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 E-‍li‍′‍-‍a-‍shib did for To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah, 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 To-‍bi‍′‍-‍ah 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, Shel-‍e-‍mi‍′‍-‍ah the priest, and Za‍′‍-‍dok the scribe, and of the Le­vites, Pe-‍da‍′‍-‍iah: and next to them was Ha‍′‍-‍nan the son of Zac‍′‍-‍cur, the son of Mat-‍ta-‍ni‍′‍-‍ah: 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 wine­press­es 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 againstthem in the day where­in they sold victuals.
  16. There dwelt men of Tyre al­so there­in, which brought fish, and all man­ner of ware‍(s), 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 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(s) of‍ ‍warelodged 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 Ash‍′‍-‍dod, of Am‍′‍-‍mon, and of Moab:
  24. And their chil­dren spake half in the speech of Ash‍′‍-‍dod, 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 Joi‍′‍-‍a-‍da, the son of E-‍li‍′‍-‍a-‍shib the high priest, was son in law to San-‍bal‍′‍-‍lat the Hor‍′‍-‍o-‍nite: 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.
"precept upon precept; line upon line" … - For knowledge shall cease and wisdom fail, but understanding remaineth (if gained from the former).