Ezra and Nehemiah

by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2013, all rights reserved.

God told Cyrus, king of Persia, to build a house for Him at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  So Ezra went from Babylon to Jerusalem, and the project was begun.

There was a snag, though.  Many of the children of Israel had intermarried with the people of the land, as God said not to do.  It took some time to straighten that out.

Nehemiah was saddened to learn that Jerusalem was in bad shape, so he obtained permission from King Artaxerxes to go and fix things up at Jerusalem.  (Nehemiah was the king's cupbearer.)

They built the walls, and set up the gate, all the while defending themselves against the enemies of Israel.

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are from The Holy Bible, Hoehn Version, copyright 2011.

www.FredHoehnMinistries.com

___Ezra chapter 1

1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, so that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah would be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, and he said,

2 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, the Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has commanded me to build a house for him at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

3 Who is there among you of all his people?  His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) that is in Jerusalem.

4 And whoever remains in any place where he's visiting, let the men of that place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem."

5 Then the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin rose up, and the priests, and the Levites, with all of those whose spirit God had stirred up, to go up to build the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem.

6 And all of those who were around them strengthened their hands with containers of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.

7 Also Cyrus the king brought the containers of the house of the Lord, that Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods,

8 Those did Cyrus king of Persia bring out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.

9 And this is the number of them, thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, twenty nine knives,

10 Thirty basins of gold, silver basins of a second kind four hundred ten, and a thousand other containers.

11 All the containers of gold and of silver were five thousand four hundred.  Sheshbazzar brought all these up with those of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

___Ezra chapter 2

1 Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and went back to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city,

2 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah.  The number of the men of the people of Israel,

3 The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy two.

4 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy two.

5 The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy five.

6 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve.

7 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty four.

8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty five.

9 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty.

10 The children of Bani, six hundred forty two.

11 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty three.

12 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty two.

13 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty six.

14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty six.

15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty four.

16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety eight.

17 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty three.

18 The children of Jorah, an hundred twelve.

19 The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty three.

20 The children of Gibbar, ninety five.

21 The children of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty three.

22 The men of Netophah, fifty six.

23 The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty eight.

24 The children of Azmaveth, forty two.

25 The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty three.

26 The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty one.

27 The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty two.

28 The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty three.

29 The children of Nebo, fifty two.

30 The children of Magbish, one hundred fifty six.

31 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty four.

32 The children of Harim, three hundred twenty.

33 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty five.

34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty five.

35 The children of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty.

36 The priests, the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy three.

37 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty two.

38 The children of Pashur, one thousand two hundred forty seven.

39 The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen.

40 The Levites, the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy four.

41 The singers, the children of Asaph, one hundred twenty eight.

42 The children of the porters, the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty nine.

43 The Nethinims, the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

44 The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,

45 The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,

46 The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,

47 The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,

48 The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,

49 The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,

50 The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,

51 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,

52 The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,

53 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,

54 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

55 The children of Solomon's servants, the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,

56 The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,

57 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.

58 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety two.

59 And these were those who went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they couldn't show their father's house, and their descendants, whether they were of Israel,

60 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty two.

61 And of the children of the priests, the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name,

62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they weren't found, therefore they were, as polluted, put from the priesthood.

63 And the Tirshatha said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, 'til there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

64 The whole congregation together was forty two thousand three hundred sixty,

65 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty seven, and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.

66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty six, their mules, two hundred forty five,

67 Their camels, four hundred thirty five, their asses, six thousand seven hundred twenty.

68 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord that is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in its place,

69 They gave after their ability to the treasure of the work sixty one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priest's garments.

70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

___Ezra chapter 3

1 And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.

3 And they set the altar on its bases, for fear was on them because of the people of those countries, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening.

4 They also kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of each day required,

5 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of everyone that willingly offered a freewill offering to the Lord.

6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord.  But the foundation of the temple of the Lord had not yet been laid.

7 They gave money also to the masons, and to the carpenters, and food, and drink, and oil to those of Zidon, and to those of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

8 Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all of those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and older, began to set forward the work of the house of the Lord.

9 Then Jeshua stood with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God, the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites.

10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks to the Lord, because he is good, for his mercy endures forever toward Israel.  And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord had been laid.

12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, cried with a loud voice, and many shouted out loud for joy,

13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the crying of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard far off.

___Ezra chapter 4

1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built the temple to the Lord God of Israel,

2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God, like you do, and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, who brought us up here."

3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said to them, "You have nothing to do with us to build a house to our God, but we ourselves together will build to the Lord God of Israel, like king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us."

4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

5 And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, until the rule of Darius king of Persia.

6 And in the rule of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his rule, they wrote to him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia, and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian language, and interpreted in the Syrian language.

8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king like this:

9 "Then Rehum the chancellor wrote, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,

10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side of the river, and at such a time.

11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent to him, to Artaxerxes the king, your servants the men on this side of the river, and at such a time.

12 Be it known to the king, that the Jews that came up from you to us have come to Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls of it, and joined the foundations.

13 Let it be known now to the king, that, if this city is built, and the walls set up again, then they won't pay toll, taxes, and custom, and so you shall damage the revenue of the kings.

14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not right for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore we've sent and certified to the king,

15 So that search can be made in the book of the records of your fathers, so you'll find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within it of old time, for which reason this city was destroyed.

16 We certify the king that, if this city is built again, and the walls of it set up, by this means you'll have no portion on this side of the river."

17 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that live in Samaria, and to the rest beyond the river, "Peace, and at such a time.

18 The letter that you sent us has been plainly read before me.

19 And I commanded, and search has been made, and it was found that this city of old time has made rebellion against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it.

20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all countries beyond the river, and toll, taxes, and custom, were paid to them.

21 Now give commandment to cause these men to stop, and that this city not be built, until another commandment shall be given from me.

22 Take heed now that you don't fail to do this, why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?"

23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to stop by force and power.

24 Then the work of the house of God stopped that is at Jerusalem.  So it stopped until the second year of the rule of Darius king of Persia.

___Ezra chapter 5

1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel.

2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel rose up, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God that is at Jerusalem, and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

3 At the same time Tatnai came to them who was governor on this side of the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus to them, "Who has commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?"

4 Then we said to them after this manner, what are the names of the men that make this building?

5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they could not cause them to stop, 'til the matter came to Darius, and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.

6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were on this side of the river, sent to Darius the king,

7 They sent a letter to him that said, "To Darius the king, all peace.

8 Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, that's been built with large stones, and timber has been laid in the walls, and this work goes fast on, and prospers in their hands.

9 Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

10 We asked their names also, to certify to you, so that we could write the names of their top men.

11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, we are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago, that a great king of Israel built and set up.

12 But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to anger, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

14 And the containers also of gold and silver of the house of God, that Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, Cyrus the king took those out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to someone named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor,

15 And said to him, take these containers, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in his place.

16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundation of the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and since that time until now it has been being built, and yet it's not finished.

17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, that is there at Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."

___Ezra chapter 6

1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the scrolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.

2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a scroll, and in it was a record thus written,

3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations of it be strongly laid, the height of it ninety feet, and the breadth of it ninety feet,

4 With three rows of large stones, and a row of new timber, and let the expenses be given out of the king's house,

5 And also let the gold and silver containers of the house of God, that Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought back to the temple that is at Jerusalem, each one to its place, and put them in the house of God.

6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the river, be far from there,

7 Let the work of this house of God alone, let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place.

8 Also I make a decree what you shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God, that from the king's goods, from the taxes beyond the river, expenses immediately be given to these men, so they're not hindered.

9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests that are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail,

10 So they can offer sacrifices of sweet savors to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

11 Also I've made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hung on it, and let his house be made a manure pile for this.

12 And the God that has caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God that is at Jerusalem.  I Darius have made a decree, let it be done with speed."

13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, they did so speedily.

14 And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo.  And they built, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, that was in the sixth year of the rule of Darius the king.

16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,

17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.

19 And the children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.

21 And the children of Israel, who had come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel ate,

22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

___Ezra chapter 7

1 Now after these things, in the rule of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

4 The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest,

6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given, and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God on him.

7 And some of the children of Israel went up, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

9 For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him.

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and judgments in Israel.

11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel.

12 "Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

13 I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, that of their own free will, have it in their minds to go up to Jerusalem, go with you.

14 Since you are sent by the king, and by his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God that is in your hand,

15 And to carry the silver and gold, that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,

16 And all the silver and gold that you can find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God who is in Jerusalem,

17 So that you can buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God who is in Jerusalem.

18 And whatever shall seem good to you, and to your brothers, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that according to the will of your God.

19 The containers also that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver those before the God of Jerusalem.

20 And whatever more shall be necessary for the house of your God, that you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.

21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers that are beyond the river, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

22 Up to a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures

of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven, for why should there be anger against the realm of the king and his sons?

24 Also we certify you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, taxes, or custom, on them.

25 And you, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God, that is in your hand, set magistrates and judges, who'll judge all the people that are beyond the river, all knowledgeable in the laws of your God, and teach those who don't know them.

26 And whoever won't do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it's to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem,

28 And has extended mercy to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes.  And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

___Ezra chapter 8

1 These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the rule of Artaxerxes the king.

2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom, of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel, of the sons of David, Hattush.

3 Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh, Zechariah, and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty.

4 Of the sons of Pahathmoab, Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.

5 Of the sons of Shechaniah, the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.

6 Of the sons also of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.

7 And of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.

8 And of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him eighty males.

9 Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred eighteen males.

10 And of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah, and with him one hundred sixty males.

11 And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty eight males.

12 And of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him one hundred ten males.

13 And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males.

14 Of the sons also of Bigvai, Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.

15 And I gathered them together at the river that runs to Ahava, and we lived there in tents three days, and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men, also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.

17 And I sent them with commandment to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say to Iddo, and to his brothers the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, so that they would bring us ministers for the house of our God.

18 And by the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen,

19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty,

20 Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred twenty Nethinims, all of them were expressed by name.

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, so we could afflict ourselves before our God, to seek from him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our goods.

22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is on all those for good who seek him, but his power and his anger is against all those who forsake him."

23 So we fasted and besought our God for this, and he was entreated by us.

24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them,

25 And weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the containers, the offering of the house of our God, that the king, and his counselors, and his lords, and all Israel that were present there, had offered,

26 I weighed to their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver containers a hundred talents, and of gold a hundred talents,

27 Also twenty basins of gold, of a thousand drams, and two containers of fine copper, precious as gold.

28 And I said to them, "You are holy to the Lord, the containers are holy also, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord God of your fathers.

29 Watch and keep them, until you weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the rooms of the house of the Lord."

30 So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the containers, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem, and the hand of our God was on us, and he gave us deliverance from the hand of the enemy, and of those who laid in ambush by the road.

32 And we came to Jerusalem, and lived there three days.

33 Now on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the containers were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites,

34 By number and by weight of every one, and all the weight was written at that time.

35 Also the children of those that had been carried away, who had come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety six rams, seventy seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering, all this was a burnt offering to the Lord.

36 And they delivered the king's commissions to the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side of the river, and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

___Ezra chapter 9

1 Now when these things had been done, the princes came to me, saying, "The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their dirty things, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

2 For they've taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the people of those lands, yes, the princes and rulers are among the most guilty in this trespass."

3 And when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonished.

4 Then everyone that trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.

5 And at the evening sacrifice I got up from my heaviness, and having torn my garment and my mantle, I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord my God,

6 And said, "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God, for our sins have increased over our head, and our trespass has grown up to the heavens.

7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass to this day, and for our sins we, our kings, and our priests, have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.

8 And now for a little space grace has been showed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, so that our God will illuminate our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

9 For we were bondmen, yet our God hasn't forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations of it, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this?  For we have forsaken your commandments,

11 That you've commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, the land, to which you go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their dirty things, who have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.

12 Now therefore don't give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth forever, so you'll be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.

13 And after all that has come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that you our God have punished us less than our sins deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this,

14 Should we again break your commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these dirty things?  Wouldn't you be angry with us 'til you had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant nor escaping?

15 O Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day, see, we are before you in our trespasses, for we can't stand before you because of this."

___Ezra chapter 10

1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a very great congregation of men and women and children assembled to him out of Israel, for the people cried very much.

2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, "We've trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land, yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and those who've been born from them, according to the advice of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the law.

4 Arise, for this matter belongs to you, we also will be with you, be of good courage, and do it."

5 Then Ezra got up, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word.  And they swore.

6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the room of Johanan the son of Eliashib, and when he came there, he didn't eat any bread, nor drink water, for he mourned because of the transgression of those who had been carried away.

7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem,

8 And that whoever wouldn't come within three days, according to the advice of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and he himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.

9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within three days.  It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month, and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.

10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, "You've transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.

11 Now therefore make confession to the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure, and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives."

12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, "As you've said, so we must do.

13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside, nor is this a work of one day or two, for we are many who have transgressed in this thing.

14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all those who've taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges of them, until the fierce anger of our God for this matter has turned from us."

15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.

16 And the children of the captivity did so.  And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.

18 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives, specifically, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.

19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives, and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.

20 And of the sons of Immer, Hanani, and Zebadiah.

21 And of the sons of Harim, Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.

22 And of the sons of Pashur, Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

23 Also of the Levites, Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

24 Of the singers also, Eliashib, and of the porters, Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.

25 Also of Israel, of the sons of Parosh, Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.

26 And of the sons of Elam, Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.

27 And of the sons of Zattu, Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.

28 Of the sons also of Bebai, Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

29 And of the sons of Bani, Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth.

30 And of the sons of Pahathmoab, Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.

31 And of the sons of Harim, Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.

33 Of the sons of Hashum, Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

34 Of the sons of Bani, Maadai, Amram, and Uel,

35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,

36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,

38 And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,

39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,

40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.

43 Of the sons of Nebo, Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.

44 All these had taken strange wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

___Nehemiah chapter 1

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah.  In the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men of Judah, and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

3 And they said to me, the remnant that is left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach, the wall of Jerusalem also has been broken down, and the gates of it have been burned with fire.

4 And when I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

5 And said, "I beg of you, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keeps covenant and mercy for those who love him and observe his commandments,

6 Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, so that you'll hear the prayer of your servant, that I pray before you now, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, that we've sinned against you, both I and my father's house have sinned.

7 We have dealt very corruptly against you, and haven't kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, that you commanded your servant Moses.

8 I beg of you, remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, if you transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations,

9 But if you turn to me, and keep my commandments, and do them, though there were of you thrown out to the uttermost part of the heaven, yet I'll gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I've chosen to set my name there.

10 Now these are your servants and your people, whom you've redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand.

11 O Lord, I beseech you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who desire to fear your name, and prosper, please, your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man."  For I was the king's cupbearer.

___Nehemiah chapter 2

1 In the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, wine was before him, and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king.  Now I had not been previously sad in his presence.

2 So the king said to me, "Why is your facial expression sad, seeing that you're not sick?  This is nothing else but sorrow of heart.  Then I was very very afraid,

3 And said to the king, "Let the king live forever, why shouldn't my facial expression be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and the gates of it are consumed by fire?"

4 Then the king said to me, "For what do you make request?"  So I prayed to the God of heaven.

5 And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, so I can build it."

6 And the king said to me, (the queen also sitting by him,) "For how long shall your journey be?  And when will you return?"  So it pleased the king to send me, and I told him a period of time.

7 Also I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, so that they'll convey me over 'til I come into Judah,

8 And a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, so he'll give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace that pertains to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I'll enter into."  And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God on me.

9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters.  Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them very much that a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

12 And I got up at night, I and a few men with me, nor did I tell any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem, nor was there any animal with me, except the animal that I rode on.

13 And I went out at night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and looked at the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down, and the gates of it that were consumed by fire.

14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool, but there wasn't enough room for the animal that was under me to pass.

15 Then I went up at 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 didn't know where I went, or what I did, nor had I yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest of those who did the work.

17 Then I said to them, "You see the distress that we're in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the gates of it have been burned with fire, come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, so that we're no longer a reproach."

18 Then I told them about the hand of my God that was good on me, as also the king's words that he had spoken to me.  And they said, "Let us rise up and build."  So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed at us scornfully, and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you do?  Will you rebel against the king?"

20 Then answered I them, "The God of heaven will prosper us, therefore we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem."

___Nehemiah chapter 3

1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate, they made it holy, and set up the doors of it, even to the tower of Meah they made it holy, to the tower of Hananeel.

2 And next to him the men of Jericho built.  And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.

3 But the sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate, who also laid the beams of it, and set up the doors of it, the locks of it, and the bars of it.

4 And Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz, repaired next to them.  And Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel, repaired next to them.  And Zadok the son of Baana repaired next to them.

5 And the Tekoites repaired next to them, but their nobles didn't put their necks to the work of their Lord.

6 Also Jehoiada the son of Paseah repaired the old gate, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah, they laid the beams of it, and set up the doors of it, and the locks of it, and the bars of it.

7 And Melatiah the Gibeonite repaired next to them, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, to the throne of the governor on this side of the river.

8 Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths, repaired next to him.   Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries also repaired next to him, and they fortified Jerusalem to the broad wall.

9 And Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of one half of Jerusalem, repaired next to them.

10 And Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired next to them, opposite his house.  And Hattush the son of Hashabniah repaired next to him.

11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.

12 And Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of one half of of Jerusalem, repaired next to him, he and his daughters.

13 Hanun repaired the valley gate, and the inhabitants of Zanoah, they built it, and set up the doors of it, the locks of it, and the bars of it, and a thousand cubits on the wall up to the dung gate.

14 But Malchiah, the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem, repaired the dung gate, he built it, and set up the doors of it, the locks of it, and the bars of it.

15 But Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah, repaired the gate of the fountain, he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors of it, the locks of it, and the bars of it, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and to the stairs that go down from the city of David.

16 Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half of Bethzur, repaired after him, to the place over against the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty.

17 The Levites, Rehum the son of Bani, repaired after him.  Hashabiah, the ruler of half of Keilah, repaired next to him, in his part.

18 Their brothers, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half of Keilah, repaired after him.

19 And Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired next to him, another piece opposite the going up to the armory at the turning of the wall.

20 After him, Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

21 Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz repaired another piece after him, from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib.

22 And the priests repaired after him, the men of the plain.

23 Benjamin and Hashub repaired after him, opposite their house.  Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah repaired after him, by his house.

24 Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another piece after him, from the house of Azariah to the turning of the wall, to the corner.

25 Palal the son of Uzai, opposite the turning of the wall, and the tower that lies out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison.  After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.

26 Also the Nethinims lived in Ophel, to the place opposite the water gate toward the east, and the outlying tower.

27 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, opposite the large outlying tower, even to the wall of Ophel.

28 The priests repaired from above the horse gate, everyone opposite his house.

29 Zadok the son of Immer repaired after them opposite his house.  Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate, also repaired after him.

30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another piece.  After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his room.

31 After him Malchiah, the goldsmith's son, repaired to the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, opposite the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.

32 And between the going up of the corner to the sheep gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.

___Nehemiah chapter 4

1 But when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was angry, and very indignant, and made fun of the Jews.

2 And he spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing?  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 that are burned?"

3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, "Even what they build, if a fox goes up, he'll break down their stone wall."

4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised, and turn their reproach on their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity,

5 And don't cover their iniquity, and don't let their sin be blotted out from before you, for they've provoked you to anger before the builders.

6 So we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together to the half of it, for the people had a mind to work.

7 But when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the holes began to be stopped, then they were very angry,

8 And all of them plotted together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

9 But we made our prayer to 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 a lot of rubbish, so that we're not able to build the wall."

11 And our adversaries said, "They won't know, nor see, 'til we come in the middle of them, and kill them, and cause the work to stop."

12 And when the Jews who lived near them came, they said to us ten times, "From all places from where you shall return to us they'll be on you."

13 Therefore I set in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

14 And I looked, and rose up, and said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them, remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

15 And when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their plan down, we all returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

16 And from then on, the half of my servants worked, and the other half held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the chain mail vests, and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.

17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, with those who laid burdens on, everyone with one of his hands worked, and with the other hand held a weapon.

18 For every one of the builders, had his sword strapped to his side, and so built.  And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

19 And I said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and large, and we are separated on the wall, one far from another.

20 In whatever place therefore that you hear the sound of the trumpet, resort there to us, our God shall fight for us."

21 So we labored in the work, and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning 'til the stars appeared.

22 Likewise at the same time I said to the people, let everyone with his servant lodge inside Jerusalem, so that during the night they'll be a guard to us, and labor on the day.

23 So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes, except that everyone put them off for washing.

___Nehemiah chapter 5

1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.

2 For some said, "We, our sons, and our daughters, are many, therefore we take up corn for them, so we can eat, and live."

3 Some also said, "We've mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, so we can buy corn, because of the dearth."

4 Some also said, "We've borrowed money for the king's taxes, and that on our lands and vineyards.

5 Yet now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children, and see, we bring into servitude our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into servitude already, nor 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 reprimanded the nobles, and the rulers, and said to them, "You require interest, everyone from your brothers."  And I set a great assembly against them.

8 And I said to them, "We, as we were able, have redeemed our brothers the Jews, who were sold to the heathen, and will you sell your brothers?  Or shall they be sold to us?"  Then they kept quiet, and found nothing to answer.

9 Also I said, "It is not good what you do, shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

10 I likewise, and my brothers, and my servants, might require from them money and corn, please, let's stop requiring the payment of interest.

11 Please restore to them, even today, their lands, their vineyards, their olive yards, and their houses, also one per cent of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that you require from them."

12 Then they said, "We will restore them, and will require nothing of them, so we'll do as you've said."  Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would 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 labor, that doesn't perform this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied."  And all the congregation said, "Amen," and praised the Lord.  And the people did according to this promise.

14 Also from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers haven't eaten the bread of the governor.

15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable to the people, and had taken from them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver, yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I didn't do so, because of the fear of God.

16 Yes, I also continued in the work of this wall, nor did we buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there to work.

17 Also there were at my table one hundred fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came to us from among the heathen that are around us.

18 Now what was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep, also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all kinds of wine, yet for all this I didn't require the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy on these people.

19 Think on me, my God, for good, according to all that I've done for these people.

___Nehemiah chapter 6

1 Now when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I'd built the wall, and that there were no holes left in it, (though at that time I hadn't set up the doors on the gates,)

2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let's meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono."  But they thought to do me mischief.

3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, "I'm doing a great work, so that I can't come down, why should the work stop, while I leave it, and come down to you?"

4 Yet they sent to me four times like that, and I answered them the same way.

5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me like that the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,

6 In which it was written, "It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel, for which reason you build the wall, so you can be their king, according to these words.

7 And you've also appointed prophets to preach about you at Jerusalem, saying, there is a king in Judah, and now it shall be reported to the king according to these words.  Come now therefore, and let's talk together about it."

8 Then I sent to him, saying, "What you're talking about is not happening, but you're inventing those things out of your own imagination."

9 For they all made us afraid, saying, "Their hands shall be weakened from the work, so that it can't be done."  Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

10 Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut-in, and he said, "Let's meet together in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they'll come to kill you, yes, in the night they'll come to kill you."

11 And I said, "Should such a man as I run away?  And who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life?  I will not go in."

12 And see, I perceived that God had not sent him, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me, for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13 Therefore he was hired, to make me afraid, and do so, and sin, and so that they'd have something for an evil report, so they could reproach me.

14 My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat according to these doings of theirs, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that wanted to put me in fear."

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty two days.

16 And when all our enemies heard about it, and all the heathen that were around us saw these things, they were much thrown down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

17 Also in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them.

18 For there were many in Judah pledged to him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Johanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.

19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and repeated my words to him.  And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

___Nehemiah chapter 7

1 Now when the wall had been built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,

2 I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man, and feared God more than many.

3 And I said to them, "Don't let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot, and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them, and appoint watches from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and everyone to be opposite his house."

4 Now the city was large and great, but the people were few in it, and the houses were not built.

5 And my God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, so they might be reckoned by genealogy.  And I found a register of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and found written in it,

6 These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came back to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city,

7 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.  The numbers, I say, of the men of the people of Israel were these:

8 The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy two.

9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy two.

10 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty two.

11 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred eighteen.

12 The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty four.

13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty five.

14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty.

15 The children of Binnui, six hundred forty eight.

16 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty eight.

17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty two.

18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty seven.

19 The children of Bigvai, two thousand sixty seven.

20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty five.

21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety eight.

22 The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty eight.

23 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty four.

24 The children of Hariph, one hundred twelve.

25 The children of Gibeon, ninety five.

26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred eighty eight.

27 The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty eight.

28 The men of Bethazmaveth, forty two.

29 The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty three.

30 The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty one.

31 The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty two.

32 The men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred twenty three.

33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty two.

34 The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty four.

35 The children of Harim, three hundred twenty.

36 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty five.

37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty one.

38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred thirty.

39 The priests, the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy three.

40 The children of Immer, one thousand fifty two.

41 The children of Pashur, one thousand two hundred forty seven.

42 The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen.

43 The Levites, the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy four.

44 The singers, the children of Asaph, one hundred forty eight.

45 The porters, the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, one hundred thirty eight.

46 The Nethinims, the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

47 The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,

48 The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,

49 The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,

50 The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,

51 The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,

52 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,

53 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,

54 The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,

55 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,

56 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

57 The children of Solomon's servants, the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,

58 The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,

59 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon.

60 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety two.

61 And these were those who went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they couldn't show their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.

62 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.

63 And of the priests, the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, who took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.

64 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it wasn't found, therefore they were as polluted, put from the priesthood.

65 And the Tirshatha said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, 'til there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.

66 The whole congregation together was forty two thousand three hundred sixty,

67 Beside their menservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty seven, and they had two hundred forty five singing men and singing women.

68 Their horses, seven hundred thirty six, their mules, two hundred forty five,

69 Their camels, four hundred thirty five, six thousand seven hundred twenty asses.

70 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the work.  The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, five hundred 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 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 sixty seven priest's garments.

73 So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, lived in their cities, and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

___Nehemiah chapter 8

1 And all the people gathered themselves together like one man into the street that was before the water gate, and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, that 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, on the first day of the seventh month.

3 And he read in it 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 to the book of the law.

4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose, and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand, and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

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, Amen, Amen, lifting up their hands, and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law, and the people stood in their place.

8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

9 And Nehemiah, who is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God, don't mourn, nor cry."  For all the people cried, when they heard the words of the law.

10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing has been prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord, and don't be sorry, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for the day is holy, and don't be grieved."

12 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 to them.

13 And on the second day, the chief of the fathers of all the people gathered together, the priests, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, to understand the words of the law.

14 And they found written in the law that the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month,

15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the mountain, 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."

16 So the people went out, and brought them, and made themselves booths, everyone on 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 Ephraim.

17 And all the congregation of them those who came back out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths, for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day, the children of Israel had not done so.  And there was very great gladness.

18 Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God.  And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the manner.

___Nehemiah chapter 9

1 Now on the twenty fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with clothes of sackcloth, and soil on them.

2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the sins of their fathers.

3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God for one fourth of the day, and for another fourth of the day they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God.

4 Then of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, these stood up on the stairs and cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God.

5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, stand up and bless the Lord your God forever and always, and blessed be your glorious name, who is exalted above all blessing and praise.

6 You, even you, are Lord alone, you've made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are in it, the seas, and all that is in it, and you preserve them all, and the host of heaven worships you.

7 You are the Lord the God, who chose Abram, and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name Abraham,

8 And found his heart faithful before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his descendants, and have performed your words, for you are righteous,

9 And saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the red sea,

10 And showed signs and wonders on Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land, for you knew that they dealt proudly against them.  So you got yourself a name, as it is this day.

11 And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land, and you threw their persecutors into the deeps, like a stone into the mighty waters.

12 Also you led them in the day by a cloudy pillar, and at night by a pillar of fire, to give them light on the way in which they should go.

13 You came down also on mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments,

14 And made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses your servant,

15 And gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promised them that they would go in to possess the land that you had sworn to give them.

16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and didn't listen to your commandments,

17 And refused to obey, nor were mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage, but you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and didn't forsake them.

18 Yes, when they'd made for themselves a calf that was cast in the foundry, and said, "This is your God that brought you up out of Egypt," and had made great provocations,

19 Yet you in your many mercies didn't forsake them in the wilderness, the pillar of the cloud didn't depart from them by day, to lead them in the way, nor the pillar of fire at night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go.

20 You gave also your good spirit to instruct them, and didn't withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.

21 Yes, you sustained them for forty years in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing, their clothes didn't grow, and their feet didn't swell.

22 Also you gave them kingdoms and nations, and divided them into corners, so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

23 You also multiplied their children like the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land, concerning which you had promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

24 So the children went in and possessed the land, and you subdued the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, before them, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, so that they could do with them as they wished.

25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells dug, vineyards, and olive yards, and fruit trees in abundance, so they ate, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.

26 But they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, and threw your law behind their backs, and killed your prophets who testified against them to turn them to you, and they made great provocations.

27 Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them, and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard them from heaven, and according to your many mercies you gave them saviors, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before you, therefore you left them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them, yet when they returned, and cried to you, you heard them from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies,

29 And testified against them, so that you could bring them back to your law, yet they dealt proudly, and didn't listen to your commandments, but sinned against your judgments, (which if a man does, he'll live in them,) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and wouldn't hear.

30 Yet for many years you were patient with them, and testified against them by your spirit in your prophets, yet they wouldn't give ear, therefore you gave them into the hand of the people of the lands.

31 But for your great mercies' sake you didn't completely consume them, nor forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keeps covenant and mercy, don't let all the trouble seem little before you that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.

33 But you are just in all that has been brought on us, for you have done right, but we have done wickedly,

34 Nor have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies, with which you testified against them.

35 For they haven't served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and fat land that you gave before them, nor did they turn from their wicked works.

36 See, we are servants this day, and for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat the fruit of it and the good of it, see, we are servants in it,

37 And it yields much increase to the kings whom you've 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, seal to it.

___Nehemiah chapter 10

1 Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,

2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,

4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah, these were the priests.

9 And the Levites, both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,

10 And their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,

12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.

14 The chief of the people, Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,

15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,

18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,

19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,

22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,

24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,

25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,

27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone having knowledge, and having understanding,

29 They stuck with their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, that 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 to the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons,

31 And if the people of the land bring goods or any food on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it from 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 one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God,

33 For the showbread, 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 an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.

34 And we drew straws 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 on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law,

35 And to bring the first fruits of our ground, and the first fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the Lord,

36 Also the firstborn of our sons, 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, to the priests that minister in the house of our God,

37 And that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all kinds of trees, of wine and of oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our God, and the tithes of our ground to the Levites, so that the Levites would 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 to the house of our God, to the rooms, 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, to the rooms, where the containers of the sanctuary are, and the priests that minister, and the door keepers, and the singers, and we will not forsake the house of our God.

___Nehemiah chapter 11

1 And the rulers of the people lived at Jerusalem, the rest of the people also drew straws, to bring one in ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine tenths to live in other cities.

2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to live at Jerusalem.

3 Now these are the chief of the province that lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah everyone lived in his possession in their cities, specifically, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.

4 And certain of the children of Judah lived at Jerusalem, and of the children of Benjamin.  Of the children of Judah, Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez,

5 And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.

6 All the sons of Perez that lived at Jerusalem were four hundred sixty eight valiant men.

7 And these are the sons of Benjamin, Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah.

8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty eight.

9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.

10 Of the priests, Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.

11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God.

12 And their brothers that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty two, and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah,

13 And his brothers, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty two, and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

14 And their brothers, mighty men of valor, one hundred twenty eight, and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.

15 Also of the Levites, Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni,

16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.

17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the main one to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah the second among his brothers, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty four.

19 Also the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers that kept the gates, were one hundred seventy two.

20 And the remainder of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance.

21 But the Nethinims lived in Ophel, and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.

22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha.  Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God.

23 For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due each day.

24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.

25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah lived at Kirjatharba, and in the villages of it, and at Dibon, and in the villages from which, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages from which,

26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,

27 And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages of it,

28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages of it,

29 And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,

30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields from which, at Azekah, and in the villages of it.  And they lived from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.

31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba lived at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages,

32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

36 And there were divisions of the Levites in Judah, and in Benjamin.

___Nehemiah chapter 12

1 Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,

3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,

5 Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,

6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,

7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah.  These were the chief of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.

8 Also the Levites, Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brothers.

9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, were opposite them in the watches.

10 And Jeshua fathered Joiakim, Joiakim also fathered Eliashib, and Eliashib fathered Joiada,

11 And Joiada fathered Jonathan, and Jonathan fathered Jaddua.

12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers, of Seraiah, Meraiah, of Jeremiah, Hananiah,

13 Of Ezra, Meshullam, of Amariah, Jehohanan,

14 Of Melicu, Jonathan, of Shebaniah, Joseph,

15 Of Harim, Adna, of Meraioth, Helkai,

16 Of Iddo, Zechariah, of Ginnethon, Meshullam,

17 Of Abijah, Zichri, of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai,

18 Of Bilgah, Shammua, of Shemaiah, Jehonathan,

19 And of Joiarib, Mattenai, of Jedaiah, Uzzi,

20 Of Sallai, Kallai, of Amok, Eber,

21 Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah, of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.

22 The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers, also the priests, to the rule of Darius 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 Johanan the son of Eliashib.

24 And the chief of the Levites, Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward opposite ward.

25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates.

26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah 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 around Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi,

29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built themselves villages around 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 on the wall, and appointed two great companies of those who gave thanks, of which one went on the right hand on the wall toward the dung gate,

32 And Hoshaiah went after them, and half of the princes of Judah,

33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,

34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,

35 And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets, specifically, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,

36 And his brothers, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.

37 And at the fountain gate, that was opposite 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 to the water gate eastward.

38 And the other company of those who gave thanks went opposite them, and I went after them, and the half of the people on the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even to the broad wall,

39 And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even to the sheep gate, and they stood still in the prison gate.

40 So the two companies of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and me, and half of the rulers with me,

41 And the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets,

42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer.  And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah 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 far off.

44 And at that time some were appointed over the rooms for the treasures, for the offerings, for the first fruits, 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 door keepers kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.

46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the door keepers, his portion every day, and they made holy the holy things for the Levites, and the Levites made holy the things for the children of Aaron.

___Nehemiah chapter 13

1 On that day, they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people, and in it was found written that the Ammonite and the Moabite shouldn't come into the congregation of God forever,

2 Because they didn't meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them, but our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3 Now when they had heard the law, they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the room of the house of our God, was allied to Tobiah,

5 And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the containers, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, that was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the door keepers, and the offerings of the priests.

6 But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem, for in the thirty second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king, and after certain days I obtained permission to go from the king,

7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood about the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a room in the courts of the house of God.

8 And it grieved me severely, therefore I threw out all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the room.

9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the rooms, and I brought back there the containers of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites hadn't been given to them, for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, had fled everyone to his field.

11 Then I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why has the house of God been forsaken?"  And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries.

13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah, and Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, was next to them, for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute to their brothers.

14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and don't wipe out my good deeds that I've done for the house of my God, and for the offices of it.

15 In those days I saw in Judah some people treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading up asses, as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens, that they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food.

16 There were men of Tyre also living in it, who brought fish, and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?

18 Didn't your fathers do that, and didn't our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city?  Yet you bring more anger on Israel by profaning the Sabbath."

19 And when the gates of Jerusalem began to get dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened 'til after the Sabbath, and some of my servants I set at the gates, so that there would be no burdens brought in on the Sabbath day.

20 So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.

21 Then I testified against them, and said to them, "Why do you lodge near the wall?  If you do so again, I'll lay hands on you.  From that time on they didn't come any 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 make holy the Sabbath day.  Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy.

23 In those days also I saw Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab,

24 And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and couldn't speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, nor for yourselves.

26 Didn't Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?  Yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but outlandish women caused even him to sin.

27 Shall we then listen to 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've defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

30 Thus I cleansed them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, everyone in his business,

31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits.  Remember me, O my God, for good.