Population of the City Increased

11 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem; and 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 towns. ² And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.

³ These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah every one lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants. ⁴ And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athai′ah the son of Uzzi′ah, son of Zechari′ah, son of Amari′ah, son of Shephati′ah, son of Mahal′alel, of the sons of Perez; ⁵ and Ma-asei′ah the son of Baruch, son of Col-ho′zeh, son of Hazai′ah, son of Adai′ah, son of Joi′arib, son of Zechari′ah, son of the Shi′lonite. ⁶ All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men.

⁷ And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshul′lam, son of Jo′ed, son of Pedai′ah, son of Kolai′ah, son of Ma-asei′ah, son of Ith′i-el, son of Jeshai′ah. ⁸ And after him Gab′bai, Sal′lai, nine hundred and twenty-eight. ⁹ Jo′el the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassen′uah was second over the city.

¹⁰ Of the priests: Jedai′ah the son of Joi′arib, Jachin, ¹¹ Serai′ah the son of Hilki′ah, son of Meshul′lam, son of Zadok, son of Merai′oth, son of Ahi′tub, ruler of the house of God, ¹² and their brethren who did the work of the house, eight hundred and twenty-two; and Adai′ah the son of Jero′ham, son of Pelali′ah, son of Amzi, son of Zechari′ah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchi′jah, ¹³ and his brethren, heads of fathers’ houses, two hundred and forty-two; and Amash′sai, the son of Az′arel, son of Ah′zai, son of Meshil′lemoth, son of Immer, ¹⁴ and their brethren, mighty men of valor, a hundred and twenty-eight; their overseer was Zab′diel the son of Haggedo′lim.

¹⁵ And of the Levites: Shemai′ah the son of Hasshub, son of Azri′kam, son of Hashabi′ah, son of Bunni; ¹⁶ and Shab′bethai and Jo′zabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God; ¹⁷ and Mattani′ah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbuki′ah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Sham′mua, son of Galal, son of Jedu′thun. ¹⁸ All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four.

¹⁹ The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brethren, who kept watch at the gates, were a hundred and seventy-two. ²⁰ And the rest of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, every one in his inheritance. ²¹ But the temple servants lived on Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.

²² The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabi′ah, son of Mattani′ah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God. ²³ For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required. ²⁴ And Pethahi′ah the son of Meshez′abel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.

Villages outside Jerusalem

²⁵ And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kir′iath-ar′ba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekab′zeel and its villages, ²⁶ and in Jeshua and in Mola′dah and Beth-pe′let, ²⁷ in Ha′zar-shu′al, in Beer-sheba and its villages, ²⁸ in Ziklag, in Meco′nah and its villages, ²⁹ in En-rim′mon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, ³⁰ Zano′ah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Aze′kah and its villages. So they encamped from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom. ³¹ The people of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash, Ai′ja, Bethel and its villages, ³² An′athoth, Nob, Anani′ah, ³³ Hazor, Ramah, Git′taim, ³⁴ Hadid, Zebo′im, Nebal′lat, ³⁵ Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. ³⁶ And certain divisions of the Levites in Judah were joined to Benjamin.

A List of Priests and Levites

12 These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerub′babel the son of She-al′tiel, and Jeshua: Serai′ah, Jeremiah, Ezra, ² Amari′ah, Malluch, Hattush, ³ Shecani′ah, Rehum, Mer′emoth, ⁴ Iddo, Gin′nethoi, Abi′jah, ⁵ Mi′jamin, Ma-adi′ah, Bilgah, ⁶ Shemai′ah, Joi′arib, Jedai′ah, ⁷ Sallu, Amok, Hilki′ah, Jedai′ah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

⁸ And the Levites: Jeshua, Bin′nui, Kad′mi-el, Sherebi′ah, Judah, and Mattani′ah, who with his brethren was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. ⁹ And Bakbuki′ah and Unno their brethren stood opposite them in the service. ¹⁰ And Jeshua was the father of Joi′akim, Joi′akim the father of Eli′ashib, Eli′ashib the father of Joi′ada, ¹¹ Joi′ada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jad′du-a.

¹² And in the days of Joi′akim were priests, heads of fathers’ houses: of Serai′ah, Merai′ah; of Jeremiah, Hanani′ah; ¹³ of Ezra, Meshul′lam; of Amari′ah, Jeho-ha′nan; ¹⁴ of Mal′luchi, Jonathan; of Shebani′ah, Joseph; ¹⁵ of Harim, Adna; of Merai′oth, Hel′kai; ¹⁶ of Iddo, Zechari′ah; of Gin′nethon, Meshul′lam; ¹⁷ of Abi′jah, Zichri; of Mini′amin, of Moadi′ah, Pil′tai; ¹⁸ of Bilgah, Sham′mu-a; of Shemai′ah, Jehon′athan; ¹⁹ of Joi′arib, Matte′nai; of Jedai′ah, Uzzi; ²⁰ of Sal′lai, Kal′lai; of Amok, Eber; ²¹ of Hilki′ah, Hashabi′ah; of Jedai′ah, Nethan′el.

²² As for the Levites, in the days of Eli′ashib, Joi′ada, Joha′nan, and Jad′du-a, there were recorded the heads of fathers’ houses; also the priests until the reign of Darius the Persian. ²³ The sons of Levi, heads of fathers’ houses, were written in the Book of the Chronicles until the days of Joha′nan the son of Eli′ashib. ²⁴ And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabi′ah, Sherebi′ah, and Jeshua the son of Kad′mi-el, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch corresponding to watch. ²⁵ Mattani′ah, Bakbuki′ah, Obadi′ah, Meshul′lam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses of the gates. ²⁶ These were in the days of Joi′akim the son of Jeshua son of Jo′zadak, and in the days of Nehemi′ah the governor and of Ezra the priest the scribe.

Dedication of the City Wall

²⁷ And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. ²⁸ And the sons of the singers gathered together from the circuit round Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netoph′athites; ²⁹ also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Az′maveth; for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. ³⁰ And the priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people and the gates and the wall.

³¹ Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies which gave thanks and went in procession. One went to the right upon the wall to the Dung Gate; ³² and after them went Hoshai′ah and half of the princes of Judah, ³³ and Azari′ah, Ezra, Meshul′lam, ³⁴ Judah, Benjamin, Shemai′ah, and Jeremiah, ³⁵ and certain of the priests’ sons with trumpets: Zechari′ah the son of Jonathan, son of Shemai′ah, son of Mattani′ah, son of Micai′ah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph; ³⁶ and his kinsmen, Shemai′ah, Az′arel, Mil′alai, Gil′alai, Ma′ai, Nethan′el, Judah, and Hana′ni, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe went before them. ³⁷ At the Fountain Gate they went up straight before them by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, to the Water Gate on the east.

³⁸ The other company of those who gave thanks went to the left, and I followed them with half of the people, upon the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall, ³⁹ and above the Gate of E′phraim, and by the Old Gate, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hanan′el and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard. ⁴⁰ So both companies of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me; ⁴¹ and the priests Eli′akim, Ma-asei′ah, Mini′amin, Micai′ah, Eli-o-e′nai, Zechari′ah, and Hanani′ah, with trumpets; ⁴² and Ma-asei′ah, Shemai′ah, Elea′zar, Uzzi, Jeho-ha′nan, Malchi′jah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahi′ah as their leader. ⁴³ And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

Temple Responsibilities

⁴⁴ On that day men were appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. ⁴⁵ And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. ⁴⁶ For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. ⁴⁷ And all Israel in the days of Zerub′babel and in the days of Nehemi′ah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

Foreigners Separated from Israel

13 On that day they read from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God; ² for they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. ³ When the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.

The Reforms of Nehemiah

⁴ Now before this, Eli′ashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was connected with Tobi′ah, ⁵ prepared for Tobi′ah a large chamber where they had previously put the cereal offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. ⁶ While this was taking place I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Ar-ta-xerx′es king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king ⁷ and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eli′ashib had done for Tobi′ah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. ⁸ And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobi′ah out of the chamber. ⁹ Then I gave orders and they cleansed the chambers; and I brought back thither the vessels of the house of God, with the cereal offering and the frankincense.

¹⁰ I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field. ¹¹ So I remonstrated with the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. ¹² Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. ¹³ And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemi′ah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedai′ah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattani′ah, for they were counted faithful; and their duty was to distribute to their brethren. 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 his service.

Sabbath Reforms Begun

¹⁵ In those days I saw in Judah men treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on asses; and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I warned them on the day when they sold food. ¹⁶ Men of Tyre also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of wares and sold them on the sabbath to the people of Judah, and in Jerusalem. ¹⁷ Then I remonstrated with the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing which you are doing, profaning the sabbath day? ¹⁸ Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this evil on us and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.”

¹⁹ When it began to be dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the sabbath. And I set some of my servants over the gates, that no burden might be brought in on the sabbath day. ²⁰ Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. ²¹ But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge before the wall? If you do so again I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the sabbath. ²² And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of thy steadfast love.

Mixed Marriages Condemned

²³ In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab; ²⁴ and half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but the language of each people. ²⁵ And I contended with them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair; and I made them take oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. ²⁶ Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless foreign women made even him to sin. ²⁷ Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?”

²⁸ And one of the sons of Jehoi′ada, the son of Eli′ashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanbal′lat the Hor′onite; therefore I chased him from me. ²⁹ Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

³⁰ Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; ³¹ and I provided for the wood offering, at appointed times, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

Salutation

1 Paul and Timothy, servants^[a] of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops^[b] and deacons:

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s Prayer for the Philippians

³ I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, ⁵ thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ⁷ It is right for me to feel thus about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸ For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Present Circumstances

¹² I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard^[c] and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ; ¹⁴ and most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment,^[d] and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear.

¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. ¹⁶ The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel; ¹⁷ the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice.

¹⁹ Yes, and I shall rejoice. For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, ²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body,^[e] whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. ²³ I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴ But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear omen to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. ²⁹ For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, ³⁰ engaged in the same conflict which you saw and now hear to be mine.