Nehemiah 13

Nehemiah Chapter 13 KJV

1Upon reading the law Israel is separated from the mixed multitude. 4Eliashib having in Nehemiah's absence prepared a chamber in the temple for Tobiah, Nehemiah on his return is offended, and causeth the chambers to be cleansed. 10He reformeth certain abuses concerning tithes, 15the violation of the sabbath, 23and the marriages with foreign wives.
1 On that day athey read in the book of Moses in the baudience of the people; and therein was found written, 1that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;
2 Because they 1met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but 2hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God 3turned the curse into a blessing.
3 Now it came to pass, when they 1had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the 2mixed multitude.
4 ¶ And before this, 1Eliashib the priest, ahaving the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto 2Tobiah:
5 And he had prepared for him 1a great chamber, 2where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, awhich was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
6 But in all this time 1was not I at Jerusalem: for 2in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes 3king of Babylon came I unto the king, and aafter certain days bobtained I leave of the king:
7 And I came to Jerusalem, and 1understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the 2courts of the house of God.
8 And it grieved me sore: therefore 1I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 Then I commanded, and they 1cleansed 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 1the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one 2to his field.
11 Then 1contended I with the rulers, and said, 2Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their aplace.
12 Then 1brought all Judah 2the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the atreasuries.
13 And 1I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and anext to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted 2faithful, and btheir office was to distribute unto their brethren.
14 1Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my agood deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the boffices thereof.
15 ¶ In those days saw I in Judah 1some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, 2which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
16 There dwelt 1men 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 1contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
18 1Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye abring 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, 1I 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 aabout 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 1commanded the Levites 2that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. 3Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the agreatness of thy mercy.
23 ¶ In those days also saw I Jews that ahad married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and acould not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language bof each people.
25 And I contended with them, 1and acursed them, and 2smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them 3swear 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 1among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: 2nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
27 Shall we then hearken unto you 1to do all this great evil, 2to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
28 And one of the sons of 1Joiada, the son of 2Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to 3Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I 4chased him from me.
29 1Remember them, O my God, abecause they have 2defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30 Thus 1cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the 2wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
31 And for the 1wood offering, 2at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. 3Remember me, O my God, for good.
Nehemiah 13