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Останні настанови Неемії

13 Того дня вони читали книгу Мойсея для всіх людей і знайшли в ній запис про те, що ні аммонійці, ні моавійці не мали права брати участі в зібранні восхваління Бога, оскільки вони не зустріли ізраїльтян хлібом-сіллю, а найняли Валаама, щоб той проклинав Ізраїль. Але Бог наш змінив прокляття на благословення. Почувши той закон, вони вилучили чужинців з-поміж Ізраїлю.

Раніше священик Еліашив відповідав за покої храму Божого. Він був родичом аммонійця Товії. І Еліашив віддав Товії велику кімнату, де раніше тримали хлібні пожертви, запашне куріння, начиння храму, десятини збіжжя, молоде вино та оливу, які наказано було віддавати левитам, співцям та охоронцям брам, а також подарунки священикам.

Коли все це сталося, мене не було в Єрусалимі. Бо на тридцять другий рік правління царя Артаксеркса[a] вавилонського я знову повернувся до царя. Зрештою, попросивши дозволу царя, я повернувся в Єрусалим. Тоді й довідався я про зло, яке вчинив Єліашив заради Товії, віддавши йому кімнату на подвір’ї храму Божого. Це мене дуже розгнівило, отож я викинув з тієї кімнати всі речі Товії. Тоді я наказав очистити кімнати й повернув туди все начиння храму, хлібні жертви та запашне куріння.

10 Потім я дізнався, що левитам не віддавали їхню частку. Отож левити й співці, які правили службу, повернулися на свої поля. 11 Я дорікнув начальникам і сказав: «Чому занедбали ви храм Божий?»

Потім я зібрав левитів і співців і знову приставив їх до роботи. 12 Тоді всі юдеї принесли десятину збіжжя, молоде вино й оливу до сховищ.

13 Тоді я призначив відповідальних за сховища: священика Шелемію, писаря Задока, левита Педаю, а також Ганана, сина Заккура, сина Маттанії, їхнім помічником, бо знав, що всі вони чесні. Отож це був їхній обов’язок: видавати відповідні частки всім своїм родичам.

14 Пам’ятай, мій Боже, про мене за все це. Не забудь мої добрі діла, які я віддано чинив для храму мого Бога та для служби у ньому.

15 У ті дні в Юдеї я бачив людей, які на винокурнях по суботах чавили виноград, в’язали снопи, вантажили на віслюків усе: і вино, і зерно, і фіґи, і всіляку поклажу й везли до Єрусалима. Я попередив їх, щоб цього дня вони не торгували.

16 Люди з Тира, що жили в Юдеї, привозили рибу та різний крам на продаж. Вони продавали це юдеям в Єрусалимі по суботах. 17 Я дорікав знатним людям Юдеї і казав їм: «Що за зло ви чините? Ви ж поганите святий день—суботу? 18 Хіба ж ваші пращури не робили так само? Хіба не за те наш Бог наслав усі ці нещастя на нас та наше місто? А ви ще додаєте гніву на Ізраїль, оскверняючи святу суботу?»

19 Коли почало сутеніти в брамах Єрусалима, саме перед суботою, я наказав зачинити всі єрусалимські брами. Я також наказав не відчиняти їх, поки субота не скінчиться. І поставив по кілька чоловік біля всіх брам, щоб ніякий крам не потрапив до міста в суботній день.

20 Одного разу чи двічі торговці та продавці різного краму ночували біля брам Єрусалима. 21 Я їх попередив, сказавши: «Навіщо ви ночуєте за мурами міста? Якщо ви ще хоч раз так зробите, мені доведеться застосувати проти вас силу». Відтоді вони по суботах не приїздили.

22 Тоді я сказав левитам, що вони повинні очиститися й піти вартувати біля брам, щоб субота лишилася святим днем. Пам’ятай мене за це також, о мій Боже, і будь до мене добрий у Своїй великій любові.

23 Також у ті дні я побачив юдеїв, що одружувалися з жінками з Ашдоду, Аммону та Моаву. 24 Половина дітей розмовляли ашдодською або мовами інших народів, вони не вміли говорити гебрейською. 25 Я дорікнув їм, сказавши, що вони неправі, я прокляв їх, кількох побив, я видирав у них волосся й примушував їх присягатися іменем Божим. Я казав: «Не віддавайте своїх дочок за чужинців і не беріть чужинок за дружин своїм синам. 26 Хіба цар Соломон ізраїльський не вчинив гріх через такі ж одруження, як ці? Не було царя, подібного йому поміж інших народів, і Бог любив його й зробив царем над Ізраїлем. Але чужоземні жінки підбили і його на гріх. 27 Чи повинні ми слухати вас і чинити такий великий гріх, бути невірними нашому Богу, одружуючись із чужинками?»

28 Один із синів Йоада, сина первосвященика Еліашива, був зятем Санваллата горонійського. Я прогнав його від себе.

29 Пам’ятай їх, о мій Боже, і покарай їх, бо вони осквернили священство й Угоду священиків та левитів.

30 Отож я очистив їх від усього чужинського, я визначив обов’язки священикам та левитам, кожному дав свою роботу. 31 Я також встановив, що люди приноситимуть у належний час пожертви деревиною і першими плодами з урожаю.

Пам’ятай мене добром, о мій Боже!

Footnotes

  1. 13:6 тридцять… Артаксеркса Приблизно у 432 р. до Р. Х.

13 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;

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:

And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime 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.

But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:

And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff to Tobiah out of the chamber.

Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

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, were fled every one to his field.

11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

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 counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto 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 the offices thereof.

15 In those days saw I 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 wherein they sold victuals.

16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

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.

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 some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.

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.

23 In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

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 unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

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.

29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

13 On that day they read in the Book of Moses in the audience of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God,

For they met not the Israelites with food and drink but hired Balaam to curse them; yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.(A)

When [the Jews] heard the law, they separated from Israel all who were of foreign descent.

Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and was related [by marriage] to Tobiah [our adversary],

Prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where previously they had put the cereal offerings, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil which were given by commandment to the Levites, the singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.

But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes [Persian] king of Babylon I went to the king. Then later I asked leave of him

And came to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah in preparing him [an adversary] a chamber in the courts of the house of God!

And it grieved me exceedingly, and I threw all the house furnishings of Tobiah out of the chamber.

Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the cereal offerings and the frankincense.

10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who did the work [forced by necessity] had each fled to his field.

11 Then I contended with the officials and said, Why is the house of God neglected and forsaken? I gathered the Levites and singers and set them in their stations.

12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the storerooms.

13 I set treasurers over the storerooms: Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites; assisting them was Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, for they were counted faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren.

14 O my God, [earnestly] remember me concerning this and wipe not out my good deeds and kindnesses done for the house of my God and for His service.

15 In those days I saw in Judah men treading winepresses on the Sabbath, bringing in sheaves or heaps of grain with which they loaded donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs, and all sorts of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I protested and warned them on the day they sold the produce.

16 There dwelt men of Tyre there also who brought fish and all kinds of wares and sold on the Sabbath to the people of Judah and in Jerusalem.

17 Then I reproved the nobles of Judah and said, What evil thing is this that you do—profaning the Sabbath day?

18 Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city? Yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath.

19 And when it began to get dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath [day began], I commanded that the gates should be shut and not be opened till after the Sabbath. And I set some of my servants at the gates to prevent any burden being brought in on the Sabbath day.

20 So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.

21 But I reproved and warned them, saying, Why do you lodge by the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you. Then they stopped coming on the Sabbath.

22 And I commanded the Levites to cleanse themselves and come and guard the gates to keep the Sabbath day holy. O my God, [earnestly] remember me concerning this also and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy and loving-kindness.

23 In those days also I saw Jews who had married wives from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

24 And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak the Hebrew, but in the language of each people.

25 And I contended with them and reviled them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair and made them swear by God, saying, You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

26 Did not Solomon king of Israel act treacherously against God and miss the mark on account of such women? Among many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; yet strange women even caused him to sin [when he was old he turned treacherously away from the Lord to other gods, and God rent his kingdom from him].(B)

27 Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying strange (heathen) women?

28 One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I chased him from me.

29 O my God, [earnestly] remember them, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priests and Levites.

30 Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign (heathen), and I defined the duties of the priests and Levites, everyone in his work;

31 And I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. O my God, [earnestly] remember me for good and imprint me [on Your heart]!

Nehemiah’s Final Reforms

13 On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God,(A) because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam(B) to call a curse down on them.(C) (Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.)(D) When the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all who were of foreign descent.(E)

Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms(F) of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah,(G) and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes(H) of grain, new wine and olive oil prescribed for the Levites, musicians and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests.

But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes(I) king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib(J) had done in providing Tobiah(K) a room in the courts of the house of God. I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.(L) I gave orders to purify the rooms,(M) and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense.(N)

10 I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them,(O) and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields.(P) 11 So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?”(Q) Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.

12 All Judah brought the tithes(R) of grain, new wine and olive oil into the storerooms.(S) 13 I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zakkur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because they were considered trustworthy. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.(T)

14 Remember(U) me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.

15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath.(V) Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day. 16 People from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath(W) to the people of Judah. 17 I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day? 18 Didn’t your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city?(X) Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.”(Y)

19 When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath,(Z) I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. 21 But I warned them and said, “Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will arrest you.” From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.

Remember(AA) me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.

23 Moreover, in those days I saw men of Judah who had married(AB) women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab.(AC) 24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language(AD) of Judah. 25 I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath(AE) in God’s name and said: “You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves.(AF) 26 Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him.(AG) He was loved by his God,(AH) and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women.(AI) 27 Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying(AJ) foreign women?”

28 One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib(AK) the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat(AL) the Horonite. And I drove him away from me.

29 Remember(AM) them, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.(AN)

30 So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign,(AO) and assigned them duties, each to his own task. 31 I also made provision for contributions of wood(AP) at designated times, and for the firstfruits.(AQ)

Remember(AR) me with favor, my God.

Principles of Separation(A)

13 On that day (B)they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written (C)that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God, because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but (D)hired Balaam against them to curse them. (E)However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. So it was, when they had heard the Law, (F)that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.

The Reforms of Nehemiah

Now before this, (G)Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with (H)Tobiah. And he had prepared for him a large room, (I)where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, (J)which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests. But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, (K)for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king, and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in (L)preparing a room for him in the courts of the [a]house of God. And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room. Then I commanded them to (M)cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.

10 I also realized that the portions for the Levites had (N)not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to (O)his field. 11 So (P)I contended with the rulers, and said, (Q)“Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their place. 12 (R)Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. 13 (S)And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse 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 considered (T)faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren.

14 (U)Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its services!

15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses (V)on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, (W)which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions. 16 Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? 18 (X)Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

19 So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it (Y)began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. (Z)Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of [b]wares [c]lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.

21 Then I warned them, and said to them, “Why do you spend the night [d]around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that (AA)they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day.

Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!

23 In those days I also saw Jews who (AB)had married women of (AC)Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people.

25 So I (AD)contended with them and [e]cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them (AE)swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. 26 (AF)Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, (AG)who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. (AH)Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin. 27 Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, (AI)transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?”

28 And one of the sons (AJ)of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of (AK)Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me.

29 (AL)Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and (AM)the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

30 (AN)Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also (AO)assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, 31 and to bringing (AP)the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times.

(AQ)Remember me, O my God, for good!

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 13:7 Temple
  2. Nehemiah 13:20 merchandise
  3. Nehemiah 13:20 spent the night
  4. Nehemiah 13:21 Lit. before
  5. Nehemiah 13:25 pronounced them cursed