eng_aiv Amundson Interpretive Version Nehemiah Nehemiah Nehemiah Neh Nehemiah id=eng_aiv name=Amundson Interpretive Version (AIV) status=draft spec=USFM-USX 3.1.1 export=2026-11-02 char:add=translator-addition-italic char:wj=words-of-Jesus-as-received-unmapped note:f=footnotes para:r=parallel-passage-references para:d=psalm-superscriptions Nehemiah’s Prayer (Deuteronomy 30:1–10) The words of Nehemiah son of Hachaliah: And it came to pass, in the month of Chislev,1.1 Chislev is the ninth month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of November and December. in the twentieth year, that I was in Susa the citadel. And came in Hanani, one of my brothers—he and men from Judah—and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity of my brothers, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, “The remnant who are left from the captivity there in the province are in great distress, and in reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with the fire.” And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I was fasting and praying before the face of the God of the heavens, and I said, “Please, O YHWH, God of the heavens, the great and awesome God, keeping the covenant and loving devotion1.5 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant. for those loving Him and observing His commandments, please let Your ear be attentive, and Your eyes be open, that You may listen to the prayer of Your servant, which I pray before You now, day and night, for the sons of Israel Your servants. And confessing on account of the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have sinned against You, both I and the house of my father have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against You, and we have not kept the commandments, and the statutes, and the ordinances that You commanded Moses Your servant. Remember, please, the word that You commanded Moses Your servant, saying, ‘You⁺ are unfaithful—I will scatter you⁺ among the nations; and if you⁺ return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though your⁺ outcast were in the end of the heavens, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen as a dwelling for My name1.9 Or in the extremity of the heavens there.’ 1.9 Deuteronomy 30:1–4 And they are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your mighty hand. Please, O Lord, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name, and let prosper, please, Your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the eyes of this man.” (For I was cupbearer to the king.) Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem And it came to pass in the month of Nisan,2.1 Nisan is the first month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of March and April. in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before his face, and I lifted up the wine and gave it to the king. And never had I been sad before his face. And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, and you are not sick? This is nothing except but sorrow of heart.” And I feared very much, and I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad when the city, the place of the tombs of my fathers, is waste, and its gates have been consumed with the fire?” And the king said to me, “Upon what is this you are seeking?” And I prayed to the God of the heavens, and I said to the king, “If to the king it is good, and if your servant has found favor in your eyes, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of the tombs of my fathers, and I will rebuild it.” And the king said to me, and the queen was sitting beside him, “Even to when will be your journey? And when will you return?” And it was good before the face of the king, and he sent me away, and I set for him a time. And I said to the king, “If it is good to the king, let letters be given to me for the governors beyond the River,2.7 That is, west of the Euphrates; also in verse 9 that they let me pass over until that I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the forest that is unto the king, that he give to me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel that is for the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I will enter into.” And the king granted to me the good according to hand of my God upon me. And I went to the governors beyond the River, and I gave to them the letters of the king. And the king sent with me captains of a force, and horsemen. And Sanballat the Horonite heard, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and they were disturbed exceedingly deeply that a man had come to seek the good of the sons of Israel. Nehemiah Inspects the Walls And I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me, and I did not tell to a man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem, there was no beast with me for but the beast that I was riding upon. And I went out through the Gate of the Valley by night, and to the front of the Well of the Serpent,2.13 Or Dragon or Jackal and to the Gate of the Dunghill. And I was inspecting the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down, and its gates that had been consumed with the fire. And I went on to the Gate of the Fountain and to the Pool of the King, and there was no place for the beast under me to pass over. And I went up by the valley by night, and I was inspecting the wall, and I turned back and came in through the Gate of the Valley, and I returned. And the prefects did not know where I had gone or what I had done. And to the Jews, and to the priests, and to the freemen, and to the prefects, and to the rest of those doing the work, even yet I had not told it. And I said to them, “You⁺ see the distress that we are in—that Jerusalem is waste and its gates are burned with the fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may not be anymore a reproach.” And I told them of the hand of my God that was good upon me, and also of the words of the king that he had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” And they strengthened their hands for good. And Sanballat the Horonite heard of it, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab, and they laughed at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you⁺ are doing? Are you⁺ rebelling against the king?” And I returned to them word and said to them, “The God of the heavens, He will prosper us, and we His servants will arise and build. And you⁺ have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.” The Builders of the Walls And Eliashib the high priest rose up, and his brothers the priests, and they built the Gate of the Sheep. They consecrated it and hung its doors, and they built as far as the Tower of the Hundred and consecrated it as far as the Tower of Hananel. And next to his hand the men of Jericho built. And next to their hand Zaccur son of Imri built. And the Gate of the Fish, the sons of Hassenaah built. They laid its beams and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And next to their hand Meremoth son of Urijah son of Hakkoz strengthened it. And next to their hand Meshullam son of Berechiah son of Meshezabel strengthened it. And next to their hand Zadok son of Baanah strengthened it. And next to their hand the Tekoites strengthened it. And their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.3.5 Or their supervisors or the governor And the Gate of Jeshanah3.6 Or The Old City Gate was strengthened by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and set up its doors and its bolts and bars. And next to their hand Melatiah the Gibeonite strengthened it, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, of the throne of the governor beyond the River.3.7 That is, west of the Euphrates Next to his hand Uzziel son of Harhaiah of the refiners strengthened it, and next to his hand Hananiah son of the perfumers strengthened it. And they fortified Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. And next to their hand Rephaiah son of Hur, leader of half the district of Jerusalem, strengthened it. And next to their hand Jedaiah son of Harumaph strengthened it, and in front of his house. And next to his hand Hattush son of Hashabniah strengthened it. A second measure Malchijah son of Harim strengthened, and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab, along with the Tower of the Ovens. And next to his hand Shallum son of Hallohesh, leader of half the district of Jerusalem, strengthened it—he and his daughters. The Gate of the Valley Hanun strengthened, and those dwelling in Zanoah. They built it and set up its doors and its bolts and bars, and a thousand cubits3.13 1,000 cubits is approximately 1,500 feet or 457.2 meters. of the wall as far as the Gate of the Dunghill. And the Gate of the Dunghill was strengthened by Malchijah son of Rechab, leader of the district of Beth-haccherem. He built it and set up its doors and its bolts and bars. And the Gate of the Fountain Shallun3.15 Hebrew; Syriac Shallum son of Col-hozeh, leader of the district of Mizpah, strengthened. He built it and covered it and set up its doors with its bolts and bars, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah3.15 Pool of Shelah is another name for the Pool of Siloam. by the Garden of the King, as far as the stairs going down from the City of David. After him Nehemiah son of Azbuk, leader of half of the district of Beth-zur, strengthened it, as far as in front of the tombs of David, and to the fashioned pool, as far as the House of the Mighty. After him the Levites strengthened it under Rehum son of Bani. Next to his hand Hashabiah, leader of half of the district of Keilah, strengthened it for his district. After him their brothers strengthened it under Binnui3.18 Two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also LXX and Nehemiah 3:24); most Hebrew manuscripts Bavvai son of Henadad, leader of half of the district of Keilah. And Ezer son of Jeshua, leader of Mizpah, strengthened it, next to his hand, a second measure, opposite the Ascent to the Armory at the angle. After him Baruch son of Zaccai heatedly strengthened a second measure, from the angle to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. After him Meremoth son of Urijah son of Koz strengthened a second section, from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib. And after him the priests, the men of the circuit, strengthened it. After him Benjamin strengthened it, and Hasshub, opposite their house. After them Azariah son of Maaseiah son of Ananiah strengthened it beside his house. After him Binnui son of Henadad strengthened a second measure from the house of Azariah to the angle, and as far as the corner. Palal son of Uzai did so opposite the angle and the tower going out from the upper house of the king that was by the court of the guard. After him was Pedaiah son of Parosh. And the Nethinim have been dwelling in Ophel, as far as in front of the Water Gate toward the east, and the tower that goes out. 3.26 That is, the temple servants also in verse 31 After them, the Tekoites strengthened a second measure from opposite the great tower that goes out, as far as the wall of Ophel. From above the Gate of the Horses the priests strengthened it, each in front of his house. After them Zadok son of Immer strengthened it in front of his house. And after him Shemaiah son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, strengthened it. After him Hananiah son of Shelemiah strengthened it, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, a second measure. After him Meshullam son of Berechiah strengthened it in front of his dwelling. After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, strengthened it as far as the house of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, in front of the Gate of the Inspection, and as far as the upper room on the corner. And between the upper room on the corner, as far as the Gate of the Sheep, the goldsmiths and the merchants strengthened it. The Work Ridiculed And it came to pass, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he became hot and he became greatly angry, and he mocked at the Jews. And he spoke before the face of his brothers and the force of Samaria and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves?4.2 Or Will they commit themselves to God? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of the rubble—and they are burned?” And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Even whatever they are building, if a fox goes up on it, it will break down the wall of their stones.” Hear, our God, for we are despised! And turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as spoil to a land of captivity. And do not cover over their iniquity; and their sin, do not let it be blotted out from before You, for they have provoked anger in front of the builders.4.5 Or have provoked You to anger before the builders And we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together up to half of it, for the people had a mind to work. And it came to pass, when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair was progressing to the walls of Jerusalem and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very hot. And all of them conspired together to come to fight against Jerusalem, and to do to it injury. Discouragement Overcome And we made our prayer to our God, and we set a watch against them, day and night, against their faces. And Judah said,4.10 Or the people of Judah said “The power of the laborers is failing, and the rubble is abundant, and we are not able to build on the wall.” And our adversaries said, “They will not know and they will not see until that we come into their midst and kill them and put an end to the work.” And it came to pass, when the Jews came who dwelt near them, that they said to us ten times, “From all the places where you⁺ return, they will be upon us.” And I appointed at the lowest of the places at the back of the wall, at the openings, I even appointed the people by their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked, and I arose and said to the nobles and to the leaders and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and fearsome, and fight for your⁺ brothers, your⁺ sons, and your⁺ daughters, your⁺ wives, and your⁺ houses.” And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plot, that all of us returned to the wall, each man to his work. And it came to pass from that day, that half of my servants worked at the construction, and half held the spears, and the shields, and the bows, and the armor. And the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. Those who built on the wall and the bearers of the burden loaded themselves, so that with one hand they worked at the construction, and one was grasping a weapon. And of the builders, each man had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded with the shofar was beside me. And I said to the nobles and to the prefects and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. In the place that you⁺ hear the voice of the shofar, there gather to us. Our God will fight for us.” And we labored in the work, and half kept hold of the spears from daybreak until the coming forth of the stars. Also at that time I said to the people, “Each man and his servant should lodge in the midst of Jerusalem, that they may be to us by the night a guard and by the day a working party.” And none—I and my brothers and my servants and the men of the guard who were behind me—none of us took off our garments; each man had his weapon at the water.4.23 Or each carried his weapon in his right hand Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed And there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their brothers the Jews. And there were those who said, “Our sons and our daughters, we are many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live.” And there were those who said, “Our lands and vineyards and houses we have mortgaged, that we might buy grain during the famine.” And there were those who said, “We have borrowed silver for the tribute of the king on our fields and our vineyards. And now as the flesh of our brothers is our flesh; as their sons are our sons. And behold, we are putting into bondage our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage, and in our hands is no power, and our fields and our vineyards are unto others.” And I became very hot when I heard their outcry and these words. And my heart reigned over me, and I rebuked the nobles and the prefects and said to them, “You⁺ are exacting usury on one another.” And I called a great assembly against them, and I said to them, “We have redeemed our brothers the Jews, who were sold to the nations, according to our ability. And you⁺ indeed are selling your⁺ brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” And they were silenced, and they found not a word. And I said, “The thing that you⁺ are doing is not good. Is it not in the fear of our God that you⁺ should walk, because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? And also I, my brothers, and my servants, have been lending to them silver and grain. Please let us stop this usury. Restore now to them even this day their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, and the hundredth of the silver, and the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you⁺ have charged to them.” And they said, “We will restore it, and from them will require nothing. Thus we will do as you say.” And I called the priests, and caused them to swear to do according to this word. Then I shook out my lap and said, “So may God shake out every man who does not perform this word from his house and from his property; even thus is he shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised YHWH, and the people did according to this word. Nehemiah’s Generosity Also from the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the King (twelve years), I and my brothers did not eat the bread of the governor. And the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and they took from them bread and wine, besides silver, forty shekels.5.15 40 shekels is approximately 1 pound or 453.6 grams of silver. Also their servants ruled over the people, and I did not do so because of the fear of God. And also I held fast in the work of this wall, and we did not buy any land. And all my servants were gathered there for the work. And the Jews and prefects, a hundred and fifty men, and those coming in to us from the nations that were around us, were at my table. And that which was prepared for one day was one ox, and six choice sheep, and fowl prepared for me, and once every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. And with this, the bread of the governor I did not demand, because the bondage was heavy on this people. Remember me, O my God, for good, for all that I have done for this people. Sanballat’s Conspiracy And it came to pass, when it was heard by Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies, that I had rebuilt the wall, and there were left in it no breaks (though at that time the doors I had not hung in the gates), that Sanballat sent, and Geshem, to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together among the villages6.2 Or in Kephirim on the plain6.2 Or in the valley of Ono.” And they were thinking to do to me harm. And I sent to them messengers, saying, “I am doing a great work, and I am not able to come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you⁺?” And they sent to me this word four times, and I answered them according to this word. And Sanballat sent to me according to this word the fifth time, his servant with an open letter in his hand, written in it: “Among the nations it is reported, and Gashmu6.6 Gashmu is a variant of Geshem; see verse 1. says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; upon thus you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king, according to these words. And also you have appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ And these words will be reported to the king; and now come and let us counsel together.” And I sent to him, saying, “These things are not being done as you say, but you are inventing them in your own heart.” For all of them were frightening us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” And now, strengthen my hands. And I came to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah son of Mehetabel, and he was confined. And he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, in the midst of the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple. For they are coming in to kill you, and by night they are coming in to kill you.” And I said, “Should a man like me flee? And who is like me, who would go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” And I perceived, and behold, God had not sent him, for in the prophecy that he pronounced against me, both Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act this way and sin, that it might be to them for an evil name, that they might reproach me. Be mindful, O My God, of Tobiah and of Sanballat according to these their works, and of Noadiah the prophetess, and of the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid. Completion of the Wall And the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth of Elul,6.15 Elul is the sixth month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of August and September. on the fifty-second day. And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard, and all the nations who were around us saw, that they fell greatly in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was done by our God. Also in those days, the nobles of Judah multiplied their letters going to Tobiah, and those of Tobiah came to them. For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law to Shechaniah son of Arah, and Jehohanan his son had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah. Also his good deeds they were reporting before me, and my words were reported to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me. Securing the City And it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had hung the doors, and the gatekeepers had been appointed, and the singers, and the Levites, that I gave the charge to Hanani my brother and Hananiah the leader of the citadel of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and he feared God above many. And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are standing by, let them shut the doors, and fasten, and appoint guards of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each man at his station and a man in front of his house.” The List of Returning Exiles (Ezra 2:1–67) And the city was wide on two hands and great, and the people were few in its midst, and the houses had not been rebuilt. And my God put it into my heart, and I gathered the nobles and the rulers and the people, that they might be registered by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who had come up at the first, and I found written in it: These are the sons of the province who came back from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each man to his city, who came in with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: 7.7 Parallel text at Ezra 2:2 who came in with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah The sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two; the sons of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two; the sons of Arah, six hundred fifty-two; the sons of Pahath-moab (of the sons of Jeshua and Joab), two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen; the sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four; the sons of Zattu, eight hundred forty-five; the sons of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty; the sons of Binnui, six hundred forty-eight; 7.15 Binnui is a variant of Bani; see Ezra 2:10. the sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight; the sons of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty-two; the sons of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-seven; the sons of Bigvai, two thousand sixty-seven; the sons of Adin, six hundred fifty-five; the sons of Ater (of Hezekiah), ninety-eight; the sons of Hashum, three hundred twenty-eight; the sons of Bezai, three hundred twenty-four; the sons of Hariph, a hundred and twelve; 7.24 Hariph is a variant of Jorah; see Ezra 2:18. the sons of Gibeon, ninety-five; 7.25 Gibeon is a variant of Gibbar; see Ezra 2:20. the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, a hundred eighty-eight; the men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty-eight; the men of Beth-azmaveth, forty-two; 7.28 Beth-azmaveth is a variant of Azmaveth; see Ezra 2:24. the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three; the men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one; the men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty-two; the men of Bethel and Ai, a hundred twenty-three; the men of the other Nebo, fifty-two; 7.33 Or of West Nebo the sons of the other Elam,7.34 Or of West Elam a thousand two hundred fifty-four; the sons of Harim, three hundred and twenty; the sons of Jericho, three hundred forty-five; the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one; the sons of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty. The priests: The sons of Jedaiah (of the house of Jeshua), nine hundred seventy-three; the sons of Immer, a thousand fifty-two; the sons of Pashhur, a thousand two hundred forty-seven; the sons of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. The Levites: The sons of Jeshua (of Kadmiel and of the sons of Hodevah), seventy-four. 7.43 Hodevah is a variant of Hodaviah; see Ezra 2:40. The singers: The sons of Asaph, a hundred forty-eight. 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, a hundred thirty-eight. The Nethinim:7.46 That is, the temple servants also in verses 60 and 73 The sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon, 7.47 Sia is a variant of Siaha; see Ezra 2:44. the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Shalmai, the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, the sons of the Meunites, the sons of Nephushesim, 7.52 Nephushesim is a variant of Nephusim; see Ezra 2:50. the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 7.54 Bazlith is a variant of Bazluth; see Ezra 2:52. the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha. The sons of the servants of Solomon: The sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida, 7.57 Perida is a variant of Peruda; see Ezra 2:55. the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon. 7.59 Amon is a variant of Ami; see Ezra 2:57. All the Nethinim and the sons of the servants of Solomon were three hundred ninety-two. And these were those who went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, and they were not able to declare the house of their fathers and their seed, whether they were of Israel: 7.61 Addon is a variant of Addan; see Ezra 2:59. The sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two. And of the priests: The sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai (who took of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite a wife, and was called by their name). These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but it was not found, and they were defiled from the priesthood. And the Tirshatha said to them that they should not eat from the holy of holies7.65 Or the most holy until the priest stood for Urim and Thummim.7.65 That is, Lights and Perfections All the assembly was as one—four myriads two thousand three hundred and sixty, besides their menservants and maidservants, these seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven, and to them were singers and songstresses, two hundred and forty-five. Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five;7.68 Some Hebrew manuscripts (see also Ezra 2:66); most Hebrew manuscripts do not include this verse. their camels, four hundred thirty-five, and donkeys, six thousand seven hundred and twenty. Offerings by the Exiles (Exodus 38:21–31; Ezra 2:68–70) And some from the extremity of the heads of the fathers gave to the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasury a thousand gold darics,7.70 Or 1,000 gold drachmas; that is, approximately 18.5 pounds or 8.4 kilograms of gold coins fifty bowls, and thirty and five hundred priestly garments. And of the heads of the fathers they gave to the treasury of the work two myriads of gold darics,7.71 Or 20,000 gold drachmas; that is, approximately 370.4 pounds or 168 kilograms of gold coins; also in verse 72 and two thousand and two hundred silver minas.7.71 Or 2,200 silver minas; that is, approximately 1.38 tons or 1.25 metric tons of silver That which the rest of the people gave was two myriads of gold darics, and two thousand minas of silver,7.72 Or 2,000 silver minas; that is, approximately 1.26 tons or 1.14 metric tons of silver and sixty-seven priestly garments. And they dwelt—the priests, and the Levites, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel—in their cities. And the seventh month arrived, and the sons of Israel were in their cities. Ezra Reads the Law (Deuteronomy 31:9–13) And all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they said to Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which YHWH had commanded for Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the Law before the face of the assembly, of men and also women, and all with understanding to hear, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it before the face of the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from the morning until the middle of the day before the men and the women and those with understanding. And the ears of all the people were toward the Book of the Law. And Ezra the scribe stood on a tower of wood that they had made for the purpose. And Mattithiah stood beside him, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah at his right hand, and at his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. And Ezra opened the book before the eyes of all the people, for he was above all the people. And at his opening it, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed YHWH, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with lifting up of their hands, and they bowed and prostrated themselves to YHWH—nostrils to the ground. And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites instructed the people in the law, and the people were on their stations. And they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it8.8 Or translating it or paragraph by paragraph and giving the meaning, and they gave understanding to the convocation. And Nehemiah (he was the Tirshatha) said—and Ezra the priest and the scribe and the Levites who were instructing the people—to all the people, “This day is holy to YHWH your⁺ God. Do not mourn and do not weep.” For all the people wept at their hearing the words of the Law. And he said to them, “Go, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to those with nothing prepared for them, for the day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of YHWH is your⁺ strength.” And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy, and do not be grieved.” And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to greatly rejoice because they understood concerning the words that were declared to them. The Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33–44; Zechariah 14:16–21) And on the second day the heads of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, even to act wisely concerning the words of the Law. And they found written in the Law that YHWH had commanded by Moses that the sons of Israel should dwell in booths8.14 Or tabernacles or shelters; also in verses 15, 16, and 17 during the feast of the seventh month, and that they should proclaim and cause to pass over a voice in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain and bring olive branches, and branches of oil tree,8.15 Or pine or wild olive and branches of myrtle, and branches of palm trees, and branches of a leafy tree, to make booths, as it is written.8.15 See Leviticus 23:37–40.” And the people went out and brought them in and made for themselves booths, each man on his roof, and in their courtyards, and in the courtyards of the house of God, and in the open square of the Water Gate, and in the open square of the Gate of Ephraim. And all the assembly who had returned from the captivity made booths, and they sat in the booths, for the sons of Israel had not done so from the days of Jeshua8.17 Jeshua is a variant of Joshua son of Nun until that day. And there was very great gladness. And he read from the Book of the Law of God day by day, from the first day until the last day, and they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day was a sacred assembly, according to the ordinance. The People Confess Their Sins And on the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel were assembled with fasting, and in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all the sons of a foreigner, and they stood and confessed concerning their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of YHWH their God for a fourth of the day, and a fourth they confessed and bowed low to YHWH their God. And there stood on the ascent, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and they cried out in a loud voice to YHWH their God. And the Levites said—Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah: “Rise and bless YHWH your⁺ God from forever even to forever! And blessed be the name of your glory, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You are He, YHWH, You alone; You have made the heavens, the heavens of the heavens, and all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You give life to all things, and the host of the heavens gives worship to You. You are He, YHWH, the God who chose Abram and brought him out from Ur of the Chaldeans, and you set his name to be Abraham. And You found his heart faithful before You, and You cut with him a covenant to give him the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Jebusite and the Girgashite, to give it to his seed. And You made stand Your words, for You are righteous. And You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and their cry You heard at the Red Sea.9.9 Or the Sea of Reeds And You gave forth signs and wonders against Pharaoh, and against all his servants, and against all the people of his land. For You knew that they seethed against them, and You made for Yourself a name as it is this day. And You divided the sea before them, and they passed over in the midst of the sea on the dry land. And those pursuing them You threw into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters. And by a pillar of cloud You led them by day, and by a pillar of fire by night, to give light for them, on the way that they should walk in it. And upon Mount Sinai You came down and spoke with them from the heavens, and You gave to them straight ordinances and true instructions, good statutes and commandments. And the Sabbath of Your holiness You made known to them, and the commands and statutes and instructions You commanded to them by the hand of Moses Your servant. And bread from the heavens You gave to them for their hunger, and water from the rock you brought forth to them for their thirst, and You said to them to go in to possess the land that You lifted Your hand to give to them. And they and our fathers seethed and hardened their necks, and they did not listen to Your commandments. And they refused to hear, and they did not remember Your wonders that You did among them; and they hardened their necks and appointed a leader for returning to their slavery in Egypt.9.17 LXX and a few Hebrew manuscripts; MT for return to their slavery in their rebellion And You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, long of nostrils and abounding in loving devotion— and You did not forsake them. For they also made for themselves a calf molten and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up from Egypt,’ and they did great blasphemies, and You, great in Your mercies, did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud He did not turn aside from them by day, to lead them on the path; and the pillar of the fire by night, to shine on them, and on the way that they should walk in it. And Your good Spirit You gave to give them understanding, and Your manna You did not withhold from their lips, and water you gave to them for their thirst. And forty years You sustained them in the wilderness; they did not lack. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell. And You gave to them kingdoms and nations, and You portioned them to the corner. And they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon,9.22 One Hebrew manuscript and LXX; most Hebrew manuscripts Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. And their children You multiplied as the stars of the heavens, and You brought them into the land of which You had said to their fathers to enter to possess it. And the sons came and possessed the land, and You humbled before their faces the dwellers of the land of the Canaanites, and You gave them into their hands and their kings, and the people of the land, to do with them according to their pleasure. And they took fortified cities and a rich land, and they possessed houses full of all good, wells dug, vineyards, and olive groves and trees of fruit in abundance. And they ate and were filled and grew fat and lived luxuriously in Your great goodness. And they were disobedient and rebelled against You, and they cast Your law behind their backs, and Your prophets they killed, those who testified against them, so as to turn them back to You, and they did great blasphemies. And You gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they brought distress to them. And in the time of their distress they cried to You, and You from the heavens heard, and according to Your abundant mercies You gave to them saviors, and they saved them from the hand of their enemies. And after rest for them, again they did evil before You, and you left them to the hand of their enemies, and they ruled over them. And they returned and cried out to You, and You from the heavens heard, and You delivered them according to Your mercies many times. And you testified against them to bring them back to Your instruction, and they still seethed and did not listen to Your commands. And Your just laws they sinned against, which if a man does them, he shall live by them; and they gave to be stubborn the shoulder, and their neck they hardened, and they would not listen. And You drew over them many years, and You testified with them by Your Spirit, by the hand of Your prophets. And they would not give an ear, and You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. And in Your great mercies You did not make of them a complete end, nor did You abandon them, for You are a gracious and merciful God. And now, our God— the God the great, the mighty, and fearsome, keeping the covenant and the kindness, should not all the hardship that has found us seem little before Your face— for our kings, for our princes, and for our priests, and for our prophets, and for our fathers, and for all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until this day. And You are righteous over all that has come upon us, for faithfully You have acted, and we have been wicked. And our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers, they have not done Your law, and they have not attended to Your commandments and to Your testimonies that You testified against them. And they, in their kingdom, in your abundant goodness, that You gave to them, and in the land broad and rich that You gave before their face, they did not serve You, and not did they turn away from their evil deeds. Behold! We are this day slaves, and the land that You gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its goodness, behold—we are slaves in it. And its produce is multiplying for the kings whom You have given to be over us in our sins, and over our bodies to be ruling, and over our livestock according to their pleasure, and we are in great distress. And in all this we are cutting a firm covenant, and writing even on the sealed document our leaders, our Levites, and our priests.” Signers of the Covenant And upon the seals were: Nehemiah the Tirshatha, son of Hachaliah, and Zedekiah, Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests. 10.8 Bilgai is a variant of Bilgah; see Nehemiah 12:5. And the Levites: Jeshuah son of Azaniah, Binnui from the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel, and their brothers: Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu. The heads of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, and Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, Malluch, Harim, and Baanah. The Vows of the Covenant And the rest of the people—the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim,10.28 That is, the temple servants and all having separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the Law of God—their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone having knowledge and understanding, taking hold upon their brothers, their nobles, and entering into a curse and into an oath to walk in the law of God that was given by the hand of Moses the servant of God, and to keep and to do all the commandments of YHWH, our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes, and that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, and their daughters we would not take for our sons. And when the peoples of the land are bringing the wares and all kinds of grain on the day of the Sabbath to sell, we shall not receive it from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day, and we shall leave the seventh year, and interest from every hand. And we made for ourselves the obligation to put on ourselves a third of a shekel10.32 A third of a shekel is approximately 0.13 ounces or 3.8 grams, probably of silver. in a year for the service of the house of our God: For the bread of the arrangement, and the regular grain offering, and the regular burnt offering for the Sabbaths, for the New Moons, for the appointed times, and for the holy things, and for sin offerings, to make atonement upon Israel, and all the work of the house of our God. And the lots we made fall over the offering of wood for the priests, the Levites, and the people, to bring it to the house of our God, by the house of our fathers, at the times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of YHWH our God, as written in the Law, and to bring in the firstfruits of our land and the firstfruits of all the fruit of every tree year by year, to the house of YHWH, and the firstborn of our sons, and our livestock, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, to the priests ministering in the house of our God. And the first of our dough and our contributions, and the fruit of every tree, the new wine, and the oil, we shall bring to the priests, into the rooms of the house of our God, and the tithe of our land for the Levites, and they—the Levites—are those collecting the tithe in all the cities of our service. And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites in the Levites collecting tithes, and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithe to the house of our God into the rooms, into the house of the treasury. For into the rooms shall bring the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi the contribution of the grain, and the new wine, and the oil, and there shall be the articles of the sanctuary are, and the priests ministering, and the gatekeepers, and the singers. And we shall not forsake the house of our God. Jerusalem’s New Settlers And the leaders of the people dwelt in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people caused lots to fall to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine hands in the cities. And the people gave a blessing to all the men who freely offered to dwell in Jerusalem. And these are the heads of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem, and they dwelt in the cities of Judah, each man on his property in their cities—Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim,11.3 That is, the temple servants; also in verse 21 and the sons of the servants of Solomon— and in Jerusalem some dwelt from the sons of Judah and from the sons of Benjamin. From the sons of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, from the sons of Perez; and Maaseiah son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite.11.5 Or of Shelah All the sons of Perez who dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight men of valor. And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah. And after him Gabbai and Sallu—nine hundred twenty-eight. And Joel son of Zichri the officer over them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the Mishneh of the city.11.9 Or was over the Second District of the city, a newer section of Jerusalem; or was second in command of the city From the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib;11.10 Or Jedaiah; the son of Joiarib; Jachin; Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, leader of the house of God. And their brothers doing the work for the house—eight hundred twenty-two; and Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and his brothers, the heads of fathers—two hundred forty-two; and Amashai son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, and his brothers, mighty men of valor—a hundred twenty-eight. And the officer over them was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim. 11.14 Most LXX manuscripts; Hebrew and their brothers And from the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni; and Shabbethai and Jozabad were over the outside work for the house of God, from the heads of the Levites; and Mattaniah son of Micah, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, the head of the beginning, who gives thanks in prayer; and Bakbukiah the second among his brothers; and Abda son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun. All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four. And the gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, those watching at the gates—a hundred seventy-two. Residents outside Jerusalem And the rest of Israel, the priests and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each man in his inheritance. And the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim. And the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica—from the sons of Asaph, the singers who were over the work of the house of God. 11.22 Mica is a variant of Micaiah; see Nehemiah 12:35. For the commandment of the king was upon them, and a fixed portion for those singing, was a matter of a day in its day. And Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, from the sons of Zerah son of Judah, was at the hand of the king for every matter for the people. And for the villages with their fields, some from the sons of Judah dwelt in Kiriath-arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages. And in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and in Beth-pelet, and in Hazar-shual, and in Beersheba and its villages. And in Ziklag, and in Mekonah and in its villages. And in En-rimmon, and in Zorah, and in Jarmuth, Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, in Lachish and its fields, and in Azekah and its villages. And they dwelt from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom. And the sons of Benjamin from Geba, Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel and its villages, Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, Lod, and Ono, and in Ge-harashim.11.35 Or and in the Valley of the Craftsmen And some from the Levites, divisions in Judah, were assigned to Benjamin. The Priests and Levites Who Returned And these are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amariah, Malluch,12.2 Malluch is a variant of Malluchi; see verse 14. Hattush, Shechaniah, Rehum,12.3 Rehum is a variant of Harim; see verse 15, Nehemiah 7:42, and Ezra 2:39. Meremoth, Iddo, Ginnethon,12.4 Many Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 16); most MT manuscripts Ginnethoi Abijah, Mijamin, Maadiah,12.5 Mijamin is a variant of Miniamin; see verse 17. Bilgah,12.5 Maadiah is a variant of Moadiah; see verse 17. 12.5 Bilgah is a variant of Bilgai; also in verse 18; see Nehemiah 10:8. Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah, Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and their brothers in the days of Jeshua. And the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah—he over the songs of praise—and his brothers, and Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, were opposite them in the services. And Jeshua begat Joiakim, and Joiakim begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada, and Joiada begat Jonathan,12.11 Jonathan is a variant of Johanan; see verse 22. and Jonathan begat Jaddua. And in the days of Joiakim were the priests, the heads of the fathers: For Seraiah, Meraiah; for Jeremiah, Hananiah; for Ezra, Meshullam; for Amariah, Jehohanan; for Malluchi,12.14 Malluchi is a variant of Malluch; see verse 2. Jonathan; for Shebaniah,12.14 Shebaniah is a variant of Shecaniah; see verse 3; see also Syriac and some Hebrew and LXX manuscripts. Joseph; for Harim, Adna; for Meraioth,12.15 Meraioth is a variant of Meremoth; see verse 3 and also some LXX manuscripts. Helkai; for Iddo, Zechariah; for Ginnethon, Meshullam; for Abijah, Zichri; for Minjamin, for Moadiah,12.17 Moadiah is a variant of Maadiah; see verse 5. Piltai; for Bilgah, Shammua; for Shemaiah, Jonathan; and for Joiarib, Mattenai; for Jedaiah, Uzzi; for Sallai,12.20 Sallai is a variant of Sallu; see verse 7. Kallai; for Amok, Eber; for Hilkiah, Hashabiah; for Jedaiah, Nethanel. The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan,12.22 Johanan is a variant of Jonathan; see verse 11. and Jaddua, were recorded as heads of fathers and priests during the reign of Darius the Persian. The sons of Levi, the heads of the fathers, were written in the book of the Words of the Days,12.23 Or the Book of the Annals or the Book of the Historical Events or the Book of the Chronicles even until the days of Johanan son of Eliashib. And the heads of the Levites were: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel,12.24 Or Sherebiah, Jeshua, Binnui, and Kadmiel and their brothers standing in front of them, to praise and to give thanks, by the command of David the man of God, watch beside watch. Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub, were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storehouses of the gates. These were in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, son of Jozadak,12.26 Jozadak is a variant of Jehozadak; see 1 Chronicles 6:14. and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe. The Dedication of the Wall And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to make the dedication with gladness, and with praises, and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and with lyres. And the sons of the singers gathered together from the circuit around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathite, and from Beth-gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall. Then I brought up the leaders of Judah upon the wall, and I made stand two great thanksgiving groups, and one went to the south upon the wall12.31 Or alongside the wall; also in verse 38 toward the Gate of the Dunghill. And after them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, and some from the sons of the priests with the trumpets, Zechariah son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph, 12.35 Micaiah is a variant of Mica; see Nehemiah 11:22. and his brothers—Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani—with instruments of song of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them. And at the Gate of the Fountain and in front of them they went up on the stairs of the City of David, on the ascent to the wall, up above the house of David, and up to the Gate of the Water eastward. And the second thanksgiving group was proceeding opposite, and I was behind it, and half of the people on the wall above the Tower of the Ovens and up to the Broad Wall. And above the Gate of Ephraim, and above the Gate of Jeshanah,12.39 Or the Old City Gate and above the Gate of the Fish, and the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, and up to the Gate of the Sheep, and they stood by the Gate of the Guard. And the two thanksgiving groups stood in the house of God, and I, and half of the officials with me, and the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Minjamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, Hananiah—with the trumpets; and Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang out, and Jezrahiah was the overseer. And they sacrificed on that day great sacrifices, and they rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy. And also the women and the sons rejoiced, and the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar. Provisions for Temple Worship And there were appointed men on that day over the rooms for the treasures, for the contributions, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and for the Levites. For Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who were standing, and the singers and the gatekeepers, and they kept the service of their God and the service of the purification, according to the command of David and Solomon his son. For in the days of David and Asaph of old were heads of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah were giving the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, the matter of a day in its day, and they were consecrating for the Levites, and the Levites were consecrating for the sons of Aaron. Foreigners Excluded On that day they read from the Book of Moses into the ears of the people, and there was found written in it that an Ammonite or Moabite should not come into the assembly of God, even to the age,13.1 See Deuteronomy 23:3–6. because they had not met the sons of Israel with the bread and with the water, and they hired against them Balaam to curse them. (And our God turned the curse into a blessing.) And it came to pass, at their hearing the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel. The Temple Cleansed And before this Eliashib the priest, was being put in the chamber of the house of our God; he was near to Tobiah, and he had made for him a great room, and there they were previously putting the offerings, the frankincense, and the articles, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil—the commandment for the Levites and the singers and the gatekeepers—and the contribution for the priests. And in all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon13.6 Artaxerxes king of Persia is identified here as the king of Babylon because Persia had conquered the Babylonian Empire. I had come to the king, and at the end of some days I asked from the king, and I came to Jerusalem and understood about the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah in preparing for him a room in the courts of the house of God. And it was a very evil thing to me, and I threw all the goods of the house of Tobiah outside from the room. And I spoke, and they cleansed the rooms, and I returned there the articles of the house of God, with the offering and the frankincense. Tithes Restored (Leviticus 27:30–34; Deuteronomy 14:22–29; Deuteronomy 26:1–15) And I knew that the portions for the Levites had not been given, and they had fled, each man to his field—the Levites and the singers doing the work. And I contended with the rulers and said, “Why was the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them and set them on their station. And all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries. And I appointed treasurers over the storehouses: Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah from the Levites, and at their hand was Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah—for they were considered trustworthy. And it was upon them to distribute to their brothers. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my deeds of loving devotion that I have done for the house of my God and for its keeping. The Sabbath Restored (Jeremiah 17:19–27) In those days I saw in Judah those treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in the heaps of grain, and lifting loads upon the donkeys, and also wine, and grapes, and figs, and every load carried; and they were bringing it to Jerusalem on the day of the Sabbath. And I protested on the day of their selling provision. And the Tyrians who dwelt in it were bringing fish and every of merchandise and selling on the Sabbath to the sons of Judah, even in Jerusalem. And I contended with the nobles of Judah, and I said to them, “What is this evil thing that you⁺ are doing, and profaning the day of the Sabbath? Thus did not your⁺ fathers do, and our God brought upon us all this disaster, and upon this city? And you⁺ are adding to wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath!” And it came to pass when the gates of Jerusalem were becoming dark before the face of the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and I said that they shall not open them until after the Sabbath. And some from my servants I made stand at the gates, that there should not be brought in loads carried on the day of the Sabbath. And they lodged—those who traded and those who sold all kinds of goods to sell—outside of Jerusalem once or twice. And I testified against them and said to them, “Why are you⁺ lodging in front of the wall? If you⁺ do this again, a hand I will put forth on you⁺.” From that time they did not come on the Sabbath. And I said to the Levites that they should be cleansing themselves, and coming in guarding the gates, to sanctify the day of the Sabbath. Also for this, remember me, O my God, and have pity on me according to the abundance of your loving devotion. Intermarriage Forbidden (Ezra 9:1–4) Also in those days I saw the Judeans who had settled with women—Ashdodite, Ammonite, and Moabite. And of their sons, half were speaking Ashdodite, and none of them knowing how to speak Judean, and according to the tongue of people by people. And I contended with them and cursed them and struck some men from them and pulled out their hair. And I made them swear by God, “You⁺ shall Not give your⁺ daughters to their sons or take from their daughters for your⁺ sons or for yourselves. By these things did not Solomon king of Israel sin? And among the many nations there was not a king like him, and he was beloved to his God, and God gave him as king over all Israel; yet even him, the foreign women caused to sin. And to you⁺ shall we listen to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God by settling with foreign women?” And one from the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the great priest was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, and I caused him to flee from me. Remember them, O my God, on account of the defiling of the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. And I purified them from everything foreign, and I appointed duties for the priests and for the Levites, each man in his work, and for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.