Nehemiah 12:44-13:4

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

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 from the fields belonging to the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered.^{(A) 45} 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.^{(B) 46} For in the days of David and Asaph long ago there was a leader of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.^{(C) 47} In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers. They set apart that which was for the Levites, and the Levites set apart that which was for the descendants of Aaron.^(D)

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,^{(E) 2} because they did not meet the Israelites with bread and water but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.^{(F) 3} When the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.^(G)

The Reforms of Nehemiah

⁴ Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God and who was related to Tobiah,^(H)