13:1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience
of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite
and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God
for ever:
13:2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and
with water, but hired Baalam against them, that he should curse
them: but our God turned the curse into a blessing.
13:3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they
separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
13:4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight
of the chamber of the house of our God, [was] allied to Tobiah:
13:5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly
they laid the meat-offerings, the frankincense, and the
vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil,
which was commanded [to be given] to the Levites, and the
singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
13:6 But in all this [time] I was not at Jerusalem: for in the
two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to
the king, and after certain days I obtained leave of the king:
13:7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that
Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing for him a chamber in the
courts of the house of God.
13:8 And it grieved me greatly: therefore I cast forth all the
household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
13:9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and
thither I brought again the vessels of the house of God, with
the meat-offering and the frankincense.
13:10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not
been given [them]: for the Levites and the singers, that did
the work, had fled every one to his field.
13:11 Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the
house of God forsaken? and I assembled them, and set them in
their place.
13:12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the corn and the new
wine and the oil to the treasuries.
13:13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the
priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and
next to them [was] Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of
Mattaniah: for they were accounted faithful; and their office
[was] to distribute to their brethren.
13:14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out
my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for
its offices.
13:15 In those days I saw in Judah [some] treading wine presses
on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as
also wine, grapes, and figs, and all [manner of] burdens, which
they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified
[against them] in the day in which they sold provisions.
13:16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought fish,
and all manner of wares, and sold on the sabbath to the
children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
13:17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to
them, What evil thing [is] this that ye do, and profane the
sabbath day?
13:18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all
this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath
upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.
13:19 And it came to pass, that, when the gates of Jerusalem
began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates
should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till
after the sabbath: and I set [some] of my servants at the
gates, [that] there should no burden be brought in on the
sabbath day.
13:20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged
without Jerusalem once or twice.
13:21 Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why lodge
ye about the wall? if ye do [so] again, I will lay hands on
you. From that time forth they came no [more] on the sabbath.
13:22 And I commanded the Levites, that they should cleanse
themselves, and [that] they should come [and] keep the gates,
to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God,
[concerning] this also, and spare me according to the greatness
of thy mercy.
13:23 In those days also I saw Jews [that] had married wives of
Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab:
13:24 And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and
could not speak in the Jews language, but according to the
language of each people.
13:25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote
certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them
swear by God, [saying], Ye shall not give your daughters to
their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, or for
yourselves.
13:26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet
among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved
by his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless
even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
13:27 Shall we then hearken to you to do all this great evil, to
transgress against our God in marrying foreign wives?
13:28 And [one] of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the
high priest, [was] son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite:
therefore I chased him from me.
13:29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the
priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and of the
Levites.
13:30 Thus I cleansed them from all strangers, and appointed the
wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his
business;
13:31 And for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the
first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
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