Nehemiah 13
World English Bible
13 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever, 2 because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them; however our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the rooms of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah, 5 had prepared for him a great room, where before they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers; and the wave offerings for the priests. 6 But in all this, I was not at Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king; and after some days I asked leave of the king, 7 and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a room in the courts of God’s house. 8 It grieved me severely. Therefore I threw all Tobiah’s household stuff out of the room. 9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the rooms. I brought into them the vessels of God’s house, with the meal offerings and the frankincense again.
10 I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had each fled to his field. 11 Then I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is God’s house forsaken?” I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the treasuries. 13 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 business was to distribute to their brothers.
14 Remember me, my God, concerning this, and don’t wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its observances.
15 In those days I saw some men treading wine presses on the Sabbath in Judah, bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys; also with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food. 16 Some men of Tyre also lived there, who brought in fish and all kinds of wares, and sold 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, and profane the Sabbath day? 18 Didn’t your fathers do this, and didn’t our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”
19 It came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I set some of my servants over the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares camped outside of Jerusalem once or twice. 21 Then I testified against them, and said to them, “Why do you stay around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they didn’t come on the Sabbath. 22 I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me for this also, my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness.
23 In those days I also saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab; 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. 25 I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves. 26 Didn’t Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless foreign women caused even him to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?”
28 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, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
30 Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners, and appointed duties for the priests and for the Levites, everyone in his work; 31 and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, for good.
Nehemiah 13
Christian Standard Bible
Nehemiah’s Further Reforms
13 At that time(A) the book of Moses(B) was read publicly to[a] the people.(C) The command was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite(D) should ever enter the assembly of God,(E) 2 because they did not meet the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam against them to curse them,(F) but our God turned the curse into a blessing.(G) 3 When they heard the law, they separated all those of mixed descent(H) from Israel.
4 Now before this, the priest Eliashib(I) had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God.(J) He was a relative[b] of Tobiah(K) 5 and had prepared a large room for him where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, and the tenths of grain, new wine, and fresh oil(L) prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.(M)
6 While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to King Artaxerxes(N) of Babylon(O) in the thirty-second year of his reign.(P) It was only later that I asked the king for a leave of absence(Q) 7 so I could return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of God’s house. 8 I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household possessions out of the room. 9 I ordered that the rooms be purified,(R) and I had the articles of the house of God restored there, along with the grain offering and frankincense.(S) 10 I also found out that because the portions for the Levites had not been given,(T) each of the Levites and the singers performing the service had gone back to his own field.(U) 11 Therefore, I rebuked the officials, asking, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” (V) I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts.(W) 12 Then all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and fresh oil into the storehouses.(X) 13 I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses the priest Shelemiah, the scribe Zadok, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy.(Y) They were responsible for the distribution to their colleagues.(Z)
14 Remember me for this, my God, and don’t erase the deeds of faithful love I have done for the house of my God and for its services.(AA)
15 At that time I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in stores of grain and loading them on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day.(AB) 16 The Tyrians living there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.(AC)
17 I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?(AD) 18 Didn’t your ancestors do the same, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city?(AE) And now you are rekindling his anger against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”
19 When shadows began to fall on the city gates of Jerusalem just before the Sabbath, I gave orders that the city gates be closed and not opened until after the Sabbath.(AF) I posted some of my men at the gates, so that no goods could enter during the Sabbath day.(AG) 20 Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, 21 but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I’ll use force[c] against you.” After that they did not come again on the Sabbath. 22 Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves(AH) and guard the city gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.(AI)
Remember me for this also, my God,(AJ) and look on me with compassion according to the abundance of your faithful love.(AK)
23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.(AL) 24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples but could not speak Hebrew.[d](AM) 25 I rebuked them, cursed them, beat some of their men, and pulled out their hair.(AN) I forced them to take an oath(AO) before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or yourselves!(AP) 26 Didn’t King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, yet foreign women drew him into sin.(AQ) 27 Why then should we hear about you doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?” (AR) 28 Even one of the sons of Jehoiada, son of the high priest Eliashib,(AS) had become a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite.(AT) So I drove him away from me.(AU)
29 Remember them, my God, for defiling the priesthood as well as the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.(AV)
30 So I purified them from everything foreign(AW) and assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites.(AX) 31 I also arranged for the donation of wood at the appointed times and for the firstfruits.(AY)
Remember me, my God, with favor.(AZ)
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