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
;
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
.
Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law
, that they separated
from Israel
all the mixed multitude
.
And before this, Eliashib
the priest
, having the oversight
of the chamber
of the house
of our God
, was allied
unto Tobiah
:
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
.
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
:
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
.
And it grieved me sore
: therefore I cast forth
all the household
stuff
of Tobiah
out of
the chamber
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
Then brought all Judah
the tithe
of the corn
and the new wine
and the oil
unto the treasuries
.
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
.
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.
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
.
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
.
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
?
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
.
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
.
So the merchants and sellers
of all kind of ware
lodged
without
Jerusalem
once
or twice
.
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
.
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
.
In those days also saw
I Jews
that had married
wives
of Ashdod
, of Ammon
, and of Moab
:
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
.
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.
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
.
Shall we then hearken unto you to do
all this great
evil
, to transgress
against our God
in marrying
strange
wives
?
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.
Remember them, O my God
, because they have defiled
the priesthood
, and the covenant
of the priesthood
, and of the Levites
.
Thus cleansed I them from all strangers
, and appointed
the wards
of the priests
and the Levites
, every one
in his business
;
And for the wood offering
, at times
appointed
, and for the firstfruits
. Remember
me, O my God
, for good
.