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Chapter 13
- 13:1
- On that day they read in the book
of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written,
that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the
congregation of God for ever;
- 13:2
- Because they met not the children
of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them,
that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a
blessing.
- 13:3
- Now it came to pass, when they had
heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed
multitude.
- 13:4
- And before this, Eliashib the
priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God,
was allied unto Tobiah:
- 13:5
- 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.
- 13:6
- 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:
- 13:7
- 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.
- 13:8
- And it grieved me sore: therefore
I cast forth all the household stuff to Tobiah out of the chamber.
- 13:9
- 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.
- 13:10
- And I perceived that the portions
of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the
singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
- 13:11
- Then contended I with the rulers,
and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them
together, and set them in their place.
- 13:12
- Then brought all Judah the tithe
of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
- 13:13
- And 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 office was
to distribute unto their brethren.
- 13:14
- Remember me, O my God, concerning
this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of
my God, and for the offices thereof.
- 13:15
- In those days saw I in Judah some
treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and
lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of
burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I
testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
- 13:16
- There dwelt men 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.
- 13:17
- Then I contended with the nobles
of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and
profane the sabbath day?
- 13:18
- Did not your fathers thus, and did
not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye
bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.
- 13:19
- And it came to pass, that when the
gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I 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.
- 13:20
- So the merchants and sellers of
all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
- 13:21
- Then I testified against them, and
said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will
lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the
sabbath.
- 13:22
- And I commanded the Levites that
they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the
gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning
this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
- 13:23
- In those days also saw I Jews that
had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
- 13:24
- And their children spake half in
the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but
according to the language of each people.
- 13:25
- And I contended with them, and
cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair,
and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters
unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for
yourselves.
- 13:26
- Did not Solomon king of Israel sin
by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him,
who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel:
nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
- 13:27
- Shall we then hearken unto you to
do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying
strange wives?
- 13:28
- 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.
- 13:29
- Remember them, O my God, because
they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood,
and of the Levites.
- 13:30
- Thus cleansed I them from all
strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites,
every one in his business;
- 13:31
- And for the wood offering, at
times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for
good.
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