Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms(A) of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah,(B) 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(C) 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(D) 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(E) had done in providing Tobiah(F) 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.(G) I gave orders to purify the rooms,(H) and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense.(I)

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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.

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

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

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

Remember(H) me with favor, my God.

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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.

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