Nehemiah Chapter v1
1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, v2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. v3 And they said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire." v4 Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the Almighty of heaven. v5 And I said, "I beseech Thee, O יַהְוֶה Almighty of heaven, the great and awesome Almighty, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, v6 let Thine ear now be attentive and Thine eyes open to hear the prayer of Thy servant which I am praying before Thee now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Thy servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against Thee; I and my father's house have sinned. v7 "We have acted very corruptly against Thee and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which Thou didst command Thy servant Moses. v8 "Remember the word which Thou didst command Thy servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; v9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.' v10 "And they are Thy servants and Thy people whom Thou didst redeem by Thy great power and by Thy strong hand. v11 "O Lord, I beseech Thee, may Thine ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant and the prayer of Thy servants who delight to revere Thy name, and make Thy servant successful today, and grant him compassion before this man." Now I was the cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah Chapter v2
2:1 And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. v2 So the king said to me, "Why is your face sad though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart." Then I was very much afraid. v3 And I said to the king, "Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?" v4 Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the Almighty of heaven. v5 And I said to the king, "If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it." v6 Then the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, "How long will your journey be, and when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time. v7 And I said to the king, "If it please the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, v8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house to which I will go." And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my Almighty was on me. v9 Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. v10 And when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel. v11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. v12 And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my Almighty was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding. v13 So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon's Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire. v14 Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass. v15 So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned. v16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who did the work. v17 Then I said to them, "You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem that we may no longer be a reproach." v18 And I told them how the hand of my Almighty had been favorable to me, and also about the king's words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, "Let us arise and build." So they put their hands to the good work. v19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, "What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?" v20 So I answered them and said to them, "The Almighty of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem."
Nehemiah Chapter v3
3:1 Then Eliashib the high priest arose with his brothers the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors. They consecrated the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel. v2 And next to him the men of Jericho built, and next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built. v3 Now the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars. v4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz made repairs. And next to him Meshullam the son of Berechiah the son of Meshezabel made repairs. And next to him Zadok the son of Baana also made repairs. v5 Moreover, next to him the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not support the work of their masters. v6 And Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate; they laid its beams and hung its doors, with its bolts and its bars. v7 Next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, also made repairs for the official seat of the governor of the province beyond the River. v8 Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah of the goldsmiths made repairs. And next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. v9 And next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. v10 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs. v11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of Furnaces. v12 And next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs, he and his daughters. v13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars, and a thousand cubits of the wall to the Refuse Gate. v14 And Malchijah the son of Rechab, the official of the district of Beth-haccherem repaired the Refuse Gate. He built it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars. v15 Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, the official of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He built it, covered it, and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah at the king's garden as far as the steps that descend from the city of David. v16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, official of half the district of Beth-zur, made repairs as far as a point opposite the tombs of David, and as far as the artificial pool and the house of the mighty men. v17 After him the Levites carried out repairs under Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, the official of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. v18 After him their brothers carried out repairs under Bavvai the son of Henadad, official of the other half of the district of Keilah. v19 And next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, the official of Mizpah, repaired another section, in front of the ascent of the armory at the Angle. v20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the Angle to the doorway of the house of Eliashib the high priest. v21 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another section, from the doorway of Eliashib's house even as far as the end of his house. v22 And after him the priests, the men of the valley, carried out repairs. v23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub carried out repairs in front of their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah carried out repairs beside his house. v24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah as far as the Angle and as far as the corner. v25 Palal the son of Uzai made repairs in front of the Angle and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs. v26 And the temple servants living in Ophel made repairs as far as the front of the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower. v27 After him the Tekoites repaired another section in front of the great projecting tower and as far as the wall of Ophel. v28 Above the Horse Gate the priests carried out repairs, each in front of his house. v29 After them Zadok the son of Immer carried out repairs in front of his house. And after him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, carried out repairs. v30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah carried out repairs in front of his own quarters. v31 After him Malchijah one of the goldsmiths, carried out repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, in front of the Inspection Gate and as far as the upper room of the corner. v32 And between the upper room of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants carried out repairs.
Nehemiah Chapter v4
4:1 Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. v2 And he spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?" v3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, "Even what they are building-- if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!" v4 Hear, O our Almighty, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity. v5 Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before Thee, for they have demoralized the builders. v6 So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. v7 Now it came about when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. v8 And all of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it. v9 But we prayed to our Almighty, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night. v10 Thus in Judah it was said, "The strength of the burden bearers is failing, Yet there is much rubbish; And we ourselves are unable To rebuild the wall." v11 And our enemies said, "They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them, and put a stop to the work." v12 And it came about when the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, "They will come up against us from every place where you may turn," v13 then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows. v14 When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: "Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." v15 And it happened when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that the Almighty had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work. v16 And it came about from that day on, that half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. v17 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. v18 As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me. v19 And I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, "The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. v20 "At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our Almighty will fight for us." v21 So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared. v22 At that time I also said to the people, "Let each man with his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day." v23 So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water.
Nehemiah Chapter v5
5:1 Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. v2 For there were those who said, "We, our sons and our daughters, are many; therefore let us get grain that we may eat and live." v3 And there were others who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses that we might get grain because of the famine." v4 Also there were those who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards. v5 "And now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others." v6 Then I was very angry when I had heard their outcry and these words. v7 And I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, "You are exacting usury, each from his brother!" Therefore, I held a great assembly against them. v8 And I said to them, "We according to our ability have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?" Then they were silent and could not find a word to say. v9 Again I said, "The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our Almighty because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? v10 "And likewise I, my brothers and my servants, are lending them money and grain. Please, let us leave off this usury. v11 "Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you are exacting from them." v12 Then they said, "We will give it back and will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as you say." So I called the priests and took an oath from them that they would do according to this promise. v13 I also shook out the front of my garment and said, "Thus may the Almighty shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not fulfill this promise; even thus may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen!" And they praised יַהְוֶה. Then the people did according to this promise. v14 Moreover, from the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor's food allowance. v15 But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people. But I did not do so because of the fear of the Almighty. v16 And I also applied myself to the work on this wall; we did not buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. v17 Moreover, there were at my table one hundred and fifty Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. v18 Now that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep, also birds were prepared for me; and once in ten days all sorts of wine were furnished in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the governor's food allowance, because the servitude was heavy on this people. v19 Remember me, O my Almighty, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah Chapter v6
6:1 Now it came about when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab, and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates, v2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono." But they were planning to harm me. v3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" v4 And they sent messages to me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same way. v5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same manner a fifth time with an open letter in his hand. v6 In it was written, "It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel; therefore you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports. v7 "And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, 'A king is in Judah!' And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let us take counsel together." v8 Then I sent a message to him saying, "Such things as you are saying have not been done, but you are inventing them in your own mind." v9 For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, "They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done." But now, O Almighty, strengthen my hands. v10 And when I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, he said, "Let us meet together in the house of the Almighty, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night." v11 But I said, "Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in." v12 Then I perceived that surely the Almighty had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. v13 He was hired for this reason, that I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could reproach me. v14 Remember, O my Almighty, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me. v15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. v16 And it came about when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our Almighty. v17 Also in those days many letters went from the nobles of Judah to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them. v18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. v19 Moreover, they were speaking about his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. Then Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.
Nehemiah Chapter v7
7:1 Now it came about when the wall was rebuilt and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed, v2 that I put Hanani my brother, and Hananiah the commander of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared the Almighty more than many. v3 Then I said to them, "Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot, and while they are standing guard, let them shut and bolt the doors. Also appoint guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each at his post, and each in front of his own house." v4 Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses were not built. v5 Then my Almighty put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be enrolled by genealogies. Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first in which I found the following record: v6 These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city, v7 who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of men of the people of Israel: v8 the sons of Parosh, v2,172; v9 the sons of Shephatiah, v372; v10 the sons of Arah, v652; v11 the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, v2,818; v12 the sons of Elam, v1,254; v13 the sons of Zattu, v845; v14 the sons of Zaccai, v760; v15 the sons of Binnui, v648; v16 the sons of Bebai, v628; v17 the sons of Azgad, v2,322; v18 the sons of Adonikam, v667; v19 the sons of Bigvai, v2,067; v20 the sons of Adin, v655; v21 the sons of Ater, of Hezekiah, v98; v22 the sons of Hashum, v328; v23 the sons of Bezai, v324; v24 the sons of Hariph, v112; v25 the sons of Gibeon, v95; v26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, v188; v27 the men of Anathoth, v128; v28 the men of Beth-azmaveth, v42; v29 the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, v743; v30 the men of Ramah and Geba, v621; v31 the men of Michmas, v122; v32 the men of Bethel and Ai, v123; v33 the men of the other Nebo, v52; v34 the sons of the other Elam, v1,254; v35 the sons of Harim, v320; v36 the men of Jericho, v345; v37 the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, v721; v38 the sons of Senaah, v3,930. v39 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, v973; v40 the sons of Immer, v1,052; v41 the sons of Pashhur, v1,247; v42 the sons of Harim, v1,017. v43 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodevah, v74. v44 The singers: the sons of Asaph, v148. v45 The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, v138. v46 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, v47 the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon, v48 the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai, v49 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, v50 the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, v51 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, v52 the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim, v53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, v54 the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, v55 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, v56 the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha. v57 The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida, v58 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, v59 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon. v60 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were v392. v61 And these were they who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers' houses or their descendants, whether they were of Israel: v62 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, v642. v63 And of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai, the Gileadite, and was named after them. v64 These searched among their ancestral registration, but it could not be located; therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood. v65 And the governor said to them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest arose with Urim and Thummim. v66 The whole assembly together was v42,360, v67 besides their male and their female servants, of whom there were v7,337; and they had v245 male and female singers. v68 Their horses were v736; their mules, v245; v69 their camels, v435; their donkeys, v6,720. v70 And some from among the heads of fathers' households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury v1,000 gold drachmas, v50 basins, v530 priests' garments. v71 And some of the heads of fathers' households gave into the treasury of the work v20,000 gold drachmas, and v2,200 silver minas. v72 And that which the rest of the people gave was v20,000 gold drachmas and v2,000 silver minas, and v67 priests' garments. v73 Now the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their cities. And when the seventh month came, the sons of Israel were in their cities.
Nehemiah Chapter v8
8:1 And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which יַהְוֶה had given to Israel. v2 Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. v3 And he read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law. v4 And Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. v5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. v6 Then Ezra blessed יַהְוֶה the great Almighty. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped יַהְוֶה with their faces to the ground. v7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. v8 And they read from the book, from the law of the Almighty, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading. v9 Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to יַהְוֶה your Almighty; do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. v10 Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of יַהְוֶה is your strength." v11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." v12 And all the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them. v13 Then on the second day the heads of fathers' households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law. v14 And they found written in the law how יַהְוֶה had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. v15 So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches, and wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written." v16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of the Almighty, and in the square at the Water Gate, and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. v17 And the entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them. The sons of Israel had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And there was great rejoicing. v18 And he read from the book of the law of the Almighty daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.
Nehemiah Chapter v9
9:1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dirt upon them. v2 And the descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. v3 While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of יַהְוֶה their Almighty for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped יַהְוֶה their Almighty. v4 Now on the Levites' platform stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and they cried with a loud voice to יַהְוֶה their Almighty. v5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, "Arise, bless יַהְוֶה your Almighty forever and ever! O may Thy glorious name be blessed And exalted above all blessing and praise! v6 "Thou alone art יַהְוֶה. Thou hast made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. Thou dost give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before Thee. v7 "Thou art יַהְוֶה Almighty, Who chose Abram And brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees, And gave him the name Abraham. v8 "And Thou didst find his heart faithful before Thee, And didst make a covenant with him To give him the land of the Canaanite, Of the Hittite and the Amorite, Of the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite-- To give it to his descendants. And Thou hast fulfilled Thy promise, For Thou art righteous. v9 "Thou didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, And didst hear their cry by the Red Sea. v10 "Then Thou didst perform signs and wonders against Pharaoh, Against all his servants and all the people of his land; For Thou didst know that they acted arrogantly toward them, And didst make a name for Thyself as it is this day. v11 "And Thou didst divide the sea before them, So they passed through the midst of the sea on dry ground; And their pursuers Thou didst hurl into the depths, Like a stone into raging waters. v12 "And with a pillar of cloud Thou didst lead them by day, And with a pillar of fire by night To light for them the way In which they were to go. v13 "Then Thou didst come down on Mount Sinai, And didst speak with them from heaven; Thou didst give to them just ordinances and true laws, Good statutes and commandments. v14 "So Thou didst make known to them Thy holy sabbath, And didst lay down for them commandments, statutes, and law, Through Thy servant Moses. v15 "Thou didst provide bread from heaven for them for their hunger, Thou didst bring forth water from a rock for them for their thirst, And Thou didst tell them to enter in order to possess The land which Thou didst swear to give them. v16 "But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They became stubborn and would not listen to Thy commandments. v17 "And they refused to listen, And did not remember Thy wondrous deeds which Thou hadst performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But Thou art an Almighty of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness; And Thou didst not forsake them. v18 "Even when they made for themselves A calf of molten metal And said, 'This is your Almighty Who brought you up from Egypt,' And committed great blasphemies, v19 Thou, in Thy great compassion, Didst not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, To guide them on their way, Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go. v20 "And Thou didst give Thy good Spirit to instruct them, Thy manna Thou didst not withhold from their mouth, And Thou didst give them water for their thirst. v21 "Indeed, forty years Thou didst provide for them in the wilderness and they were not in want; Their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell. v22 "Thou didst also give them kingdoms and peoples, And Thou didst allot them to them as a boundary. And they took possession of the land of Sihon the king of Heshbon, And the land of Og the king of Bashan. v23 "And Thou didst make their sons numerous as the stars of heaven, And Thou didst bring them into the land Which Thou hadst told their fathers to enter and possess. v24 "So their sons entered and possessed the land. And Thou didst subdue before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, And Thou didst give them into their hand, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, To do with them as they desired. v25 "And they captured fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of every good thing, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, Fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled, and grew fat, And reveled in Thy great goodness. v26 "But they became disobedient and rebelled against Thee, And cast Thy law behind their backs And killed Thy prophets who had admonished them So that they might return to Thee, And they committed great blasphemies. v27 "Therefore Thou didst deliver them into the hand of their oppressors who oppressed them, But when they cried to Thee in the time of their distress, Thou didst hear from heaven, and according to Thy great compassion Thou didst give them deliverers who delivered them from the hand of their oppressors. v28 "But as soon as they had rest, they did evil again before Thee; Therefore Thou didst abandon them to the hand of their enemies, so that they ruled over them. When they cried again to Thee, Thou didst hear from heaven, And many times Thou didst rescue them according to Thy compassion, v29 And admonished them in order to turn them back to Thy law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to Thy commandments but sinned against Thine ordinances, By which if a man observes them he shall live. And they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck, and would not listen. v30 "However, Thou didst bear with them for many years, And admonished them by Thy Spirit through Thy prophets, Yet they would not give ear. Therefore Thou didst give them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. v31 "Nevertheless, in Thy great compassion Thou didst not make an end of them or forsake them, For Thou art a gracious and compassionate Almighty. v32 "Now therefore, our Almighty, the great, the mighty, and the awesome Almighty, who dost keep covenant and lovingkindness, Do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before Thee, Which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and on all Thy people, From the days of the kings of Assyria to this day. v33 "However, Thou art just in all that has come upon us; For Thou hast dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly. v34 "For our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our fathers have not kept Thy law Or paid attention to Thy commandments and Thine admonitions with which Thou hast admonished them. v35 "But they, in their own kingdom, With Thy great goodness which Thou didst give them, With the broad and rich land which Thou didst set before them, Did not serve Thee or turn from their evil deeds. v36 "Behold, we are slaves today, And as to the land which Thou didst give to our fathers to eat of its fruit and its bounty, Behold, we are slaves on it. v37 "And its abundant produce is for the kings Whom Thou hast set over us because of our sins; They also rule over our bodies And over our cattle as they please, So we are in great distress. v38 "Now because of all this We are making an agreement in writing; And on the sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites and our priests."
Nehemiah Chapter v10
10:1 Now on the sealed document were the names of: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah, v2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, v3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, v4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, v5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, v6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, v7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, v8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah. These were the priests. v9 And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; v10 also their brothers Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, v11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, v12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, v13 Hodiah, Bani, Beninu. v14 The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, v15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, v16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, v17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, v18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, v19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, v20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, v21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, v22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, v23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, v24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, v25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, v26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, v27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah. v28 Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of the Almighty, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, v29 are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in the Almighty's law, which was given through Moses, the Almighty's servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of the Almighty our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes; v30 and that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. v31 As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt. v32 We also placed ourselves under obligation to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our Almighty: v33 for the showbread, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, the sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times, for the holy things and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our Almighty. v34 Likewise we cast lots for the supply of wood among the priests, the Levites, and the people in order that they might bring it to the house of our Almighty, according to our fathers' households, at fixed times annually, to burn on the altar of יַהְוֶה our Almighty as it is written in the law; v35 and in order that they might bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all the fruit of every tree to the house of יַהְוֶה annually, v36 and bring to the house of our Almighty the first-born of our sons and of our cattle, and the first-born of our herds and our flocks as it is written in the law, for the priests who are ministering in the house of our Almighty. v37 We will also bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new wine and the oil to the priests at the chambers of the house of our Almighty, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are they who receive the tithes in all the rural towns. v38 And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our Almighty, to the chambers of the storehouse. v39 For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine and the oil, to the chambers; there are the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers, and the singers. Thus we will not neglect the house of our Almighty.
Nehemiah Chapter v11
11:1 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine-tenths remained in the other cities. v2 And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. v3 Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah each lived on his own property in their cities-- the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants. v4 And some of the sons of Judah and some of the sons of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez; v5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite. v6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were v468 able men. v7 Now 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 Jeshaiah; v8 and after him Gabbai and Sallai, v928. v9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second in command of the city. v10 From the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, v11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the leader of the house of the Almighty, v12 and their kinsmen who performed the work of the temple, v822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, v13 and his kinsmen, heads of fathers' households, v242; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, v14 and their brothers, valiant warriors, v128. And their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim. v15 Now from the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; v16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of the Almighty; v17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the leader in beginning the thanksgiving at prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. v18 All the Levites in the holy city were v284. v19 Also the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren, who kept watch at the gates, were v172. v20 And the rest of Israel, of the priests, and of the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each on his own inheritance. v21 But the temple servants were living in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants. v22 Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from the sons of Asaph, who were the singers for the service of the house of the Almighty. v23 For there was a commandment from the king concerning them and a firm regulation for the song leaders day by day. v24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king's representative in all matters concerning the people. v25 Now as for the villages with their fields, some of the sons of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its towns, in Dibon and its towns, and in Jekabzeel and its villages, v26 and in Jeshua, in Moladah and Beth-pelet, v27 and in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its towns, v28 and in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns, v29 and in En-rimmon, in Zorah and in Jarmuth, v30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba as far as the valley of Hinnom. v31 The sons of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, at Bethel and its towns, v32 at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, v33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, v34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, v35 Lod and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. v36 And from the Levites, some divisions in Judah belonged to Benjamin.
Nehemiah Chapter v12
12:1 Now these are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, v2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, v3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, v4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, v5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, v6 Shemaiah and Joiarib, Jedaiah, v7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and their kinsmen in the days of Jeshua. v8 And the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah who was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving, he and his brothers. v9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, stood opposite them in their service divisions. v10 And Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib became the father of Joiada, v11 and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the father of Jaddua. v12 Now in the days of Joiakim the priests, the heads of fathers' households were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; v13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; v14 of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; v15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; v16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; v17 of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; v18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; v19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; v20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; v21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel. v22 As for the Levites, the heads of fathers' households were registered in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua; so were the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian. v23 The sons of Levi, the heads of fathers' households, were registered in the Book of the Chronicles up to the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. v24 And the heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers opposite them, to praise and give thanks, as prescribed by David the man of the Almighty, division corresponding to division. v25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping watch at the storehouses of the gates. v26 These served 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 and scribe. v27 Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps, and lyres. v28 So the sons of the singers were assembled from the district around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites, v29 from Beth-gilgal, and from their fields in Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built themselves villages around Jerusalem. v30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves; they also purified the people, the gates, and the wall. v31 Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great choirs, the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Refuse Gate. v32 Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah followed them, v33 with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, v34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, v35 and some of the sons of the priests with trumpets; and Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, v36 and his kinsmen, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of the Almighty. And Ezra the scribe went before them. v37 And at the Fountain Gate they went directly up the steps of the city of David by the stairway of the wall above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east. v38 The second choir proceeded to the left, while I followed them with half of the people on the wall, above the Tower of Furnaces, to the Broad Wall, v39 and above the Gate of Ephraim, by the Old Gate, by the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate, and they stopped at the Gate of the Guard. v40 Then the two choirs took their stand in the house of the Almighty. So did I and half of the officials with me; v41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with the trumpets; v42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang, with Jezrahiah their leader, v43 and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because the Almighty had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar. v44 On that day men were also appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required by the law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served. v45 For they performed the worship of their Almighty and the service of purification, together with the singers and the gatekeepers in accordance with the command of David and of his son Solomon. v46 For in the days of David and Asaph, in ancient times, there were leaders of the singers, songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to the Almighty. v47 And so all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day required, and set apart the consecrated portion for the Levites, and the Levites set apart the consecrated portion for the sons of Aaron.
Nehemiah Chapter v13
13:1 On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and there was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of the Almighty, v2 because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our Almighty turned the curse into a blessing. v3 So it came about, that when they heard the law, they excluded all foreigners from Israel. v4 Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our Almighty, being related to Tobiah, v5 had prepared a large room for him, where formerly they put the grain offerings, the frankincense, the utensils, and the tithes of grain, wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, the singers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. v6 But during all this time I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had gone to the king. After some time, however, I asked leave from the king, v7 and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of the Almighty. v8 And it was very displeasing to me, so I threw all of Tobiah's household goods out of the room. v9 Then I gave an order and they cleansed the rooms; and I returned there the utensils of the house of the Almighty with the grain offerings and the frankincense. v10 I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field. v11 So I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why is the house of the Almighty forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts. v12 All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. v13 And in charge of the storehouses I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and in addition to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered reliable, and it was their task to distribute to their kinsmen. v14 Remember me for this, O my Almighty, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my Almighty and its services. v15 In those days I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. So I admonished them on the day they sold food. v16 Also men of Tyre were living there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem. v17 Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day? v18 "Did not your fathers do the same so that our Almighty brought on us, and on this city, all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath." v19 And it came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them until after the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates that no load should enter on the sabbath day. v20 Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. v21 Then I warned them and said to them, "Why do you spend the night in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will use force against you." From that time on they did not come on the sabbath. v22 And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my Almighty, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Thy lovingkindness. v23 In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. v24 As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but the language of his own people. v25 So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by the Almighty, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. v26 "Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his Almighty, and the Almighty made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin. v27 "Do we then hear about you that you have committed all this great evil by acting unfaithfully against our Almighty by marrying foreign women?" v28 Even one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away from me. v29 Remember them, O my Almighty, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. v30 Thus I purified them from everything foreign and appointed duties for the priests and the Levites, each in his task, v31 and I arranged for the supply of wood at appointed times and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my Almighty, for good.