Nehemiah 13

Revised Geneva Translation

13 And 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 should not enter into the Congregation of God

² because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them, so that he would curse them. And our God turned the curse into a blessing.

³ Now, when they had heard the Law, they separated from Israel all those who were mixed.

⁴ And prior to this, Eliashib the Priest had oversight of the chamber of the House of our God, being a kinsman to Tobiah:

⁵ And he had made himself a great chamber. And previously they had laid the offerings there: the incense, the vessels, the tithes of corn, of wine, and of oil (appointed for the Levites and the singers and the gatekeepers) and the offerings of the priests.

⁶ But I was not in Jerusalem during this time. For in the thirty-second year of Artachshashta, king of Babel, I came to the king. And after some days, I asked leave of the king.

⁷ And when I had come to Jerusalem, I understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in that he had made himself a chamber in the court of the House of God,

⁸ And it grieved me severely. Therefore, I cast forth all the vessels of the house of Tobiah out of the chamber.

⁹ And I commanded them to cleanse the chambers. And I brought back the vessels of the House of God with the Meat Offering and the incense.

¹⁰ And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given, and that everyone had fled to his land (the Levites and singers who executed the work).

¹¹ Then I complained to the rulers and said, “Why is the House of God forsaken?” And I assembled them and set them in their place.

¹² Then all Judah brought the tithes of grain and of wine and of oil to the treasures.

¹³ And I made treasurers over the treasures: Shelemiah the Priest and Zadok the scribe and Pedaiah of the Levites. And under their hand was Hanan, the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah. For they were counted faithful. And their duty was to distribute to their brethren.

¹⁴ Remember me, O my God, in this. And do not wipe out my kindness that I have shown on the House of my God, and on its duties.

¹⁵ In those days, I saw those who trod wine presses on the Sabbath in Judah, and who brought in sheaves, and who also loaded donkeys with wine, grapes, and figs, and all burdens, and brought them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath Day. And I protested to them on the day that they sold provisions.

¹⁶ Men of Tyre also dwelt there, who brought fish and all wares and sold to the children of Judah in Jerusalem on the Sabbath.

¹⁷ Then I reproved the rulers of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, and break the Sabbath Day?

¹⁸ “Did not your fathers do the same, and our God brought all this plague upon us and upon this city? Yet you increase the wrath upon Israel in breaking the Sabbath!”

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

²⁰ So, the traders and merchants of all kinds of goods remained once or twice all night outside Jerusalem.

²¹ And I reproved them, and said to them, “Why do you stay all night around the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time, they no longer came on the Sabbath.

²² And I said to the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath Day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and pardon me according to Your great mercy.

²³ Also in those days, I saw Jews who married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab.

²⁴ And half their children spoke in the language of Ashdod and could not speak in the Jews’ language (and according to the language of the people), but of other people.

²⁵ Then I reproved them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair and took an oath from them by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons. Nor shall you take of their daughters to your sons or for yourselves.

²⁶ “Did not Solomon, the king of Israel, sin by these things? Yet, there was no king like him among many nations. For he was beloved by his God. And God had made him king over Israel. Yet, strange women caused him to sin.

²⁷ “Shall we then obey you, to do all this great evil, and to transgress against our God, to marry strange wives?”

²⁸ And of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the High Priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. But I chased him from me.

²⁹ Remember them, O my God, who defile the Priesthood and the Covenant of the Priesthood, and of the Levites.

³⁰ Then I cleansed them from all strangers and appointed the duties of the priests and of the Levites (each one in his service),

³¹ and for the offering of the wood at the times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, in goodness.