The Reforms of Nehemiah

Now before this, (A)Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with (B)Tobiah. And he had prepared for him a large room, (C)where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, (D)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, (E)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 (F)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 (G)cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 13:7 Temple

Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the [a]chambers of the house of our God, being allied unto Tobiah, had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meal-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the heave-offerings for the priests. But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went unto the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king, and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done 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 of 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 meal-offerings and the frankincense.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 13:4 Hebrew chamber.