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Nehemiah 1

Distressing News

1These are the words of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah:

During the month of Chislev, in Artaxerxes’ twentieth year as king, while I was in the fortress at Susa, 2one of my brothers, Hanani, arrived with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had survived captivity and about Jerusalem. 3They told me, “Those who survived captivity are in the province. They are enduring serious troubles and being insulted. The wall of Jerusalem has been broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.”

Nehemiah’s Prayer

4When I heard this, I sat down and cried. I mourned for days. I continued to fast and pray to the God of heaven. 5I said,

 

“Lord God of heaven, great and awe-inspiring God, you faithfully keep your promise  (Or “covenant.”) and show mercy to those who love you and obey your commandments. 6Open your eyes, and pay close attention with your ears to what I, your servant, am praying. I am praying to you day and night about your servants the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you as well as the sins that my father’s family and I have committed. 7We have done you a great wrong. We haven’t obeyed the commandments, laws, or regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. 8Please remember what you told us through your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations. 9But if you return to me and continue to obey my commandments, though your people may be driven to the most distant point on the horizon, I will come and get you from there and bring you to the place where I chose to put my name.’ 10These are your servants and your people whom you have saved by your great power and your strong hand. 11Lord, please pay attention to my prayer and to the prayers of all your other servants who want to worship your name. Please give me success today and make this man, King Artaxerxes, show me compassion.”

 

I was cupbearer  (A cupbearer was a trusted official who ensured that the king’s drink was not poisoned.) to the king at this time.

Nehemiah 2

The King Shows Compassion to Nehemiah

1In the month of Nisan, in Artaxerxes’ twentieth year as king, after some wine was brought for the king, I picked up the cup of wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence before.

2The king asked me, “Why do you look so sad? You aren’t sick, are you? You must be troubled about something.” (I was really afraid).

3“May the king live forever!” I said to the king. “Why shouldn’t I look sad when the city, the place where my ancestors are buried, is in ruins and its gates are burned down?”

4“What do you want?” the king asked me.

So I prayed to the God of heaven, 5and I asked the king, “If it pleases Your Majesty, and you are willing to grant my request, let me go to Judah, to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I can rebuild it.”

6Then, while the queen was sitting beside him, the king asked me, “How long will you be gone, and when will you come back?” When I gave him a specific date, he was willing to let me go.

7I also asked the king, “If it pleases Your Majesty, let me have letters addressed to the governors ⌞of the province⌟ west of the Euphrates River. In the letters tell them to grant me safe conduct until I arrive in Judah. 8Also, let me have a letter addressed to Asaph, the supervisor of Your Majesty’s forest. In the letter order him to give me wood for the gates of the fortress near the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I’ll move into.” (The king let me have the letters, because God was guiding me.)

Nehemiah Goes to Jerusalem

9I went to the governors ⌞of the province⌟ west of the Euphrates River and gave them the king’s letters. (The king had sent army officers and cavalry to be with me.) 10But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, they were very upset that someone had come to give the people of Israel so much assistance.

Nehemiah Surveys the Damage to Jerusalem’s Walls

11I went to Jerusalem and was there for three days. 12During the night I went out with a few men without telling anyone what my God had inspired me to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I had was the one I was riding. 13I went through Valley Gate that night toward Snake Fountain and Dung Gate and examined the places where the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and where its gates had been burned. 14Passing through Fountain Gate, I arrived at King’s Pool, but the animal I was riding couldn’t get through. 15So I went through the valley that night and examined the wall. Then I turned back, entered Valley Gate, and returned.

16The officials didn’t know where I had gone or what I had done. I hadn’t yet told the Jews, the priests, the leaders, the other officials, or any of the rest who would be doing the work. 17Then I told them, “You see the trouble we’re in. Jerusalem is in ruins, and its gates are burned down. Let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be insulted.” 18Then I told them that my God had been guiding me and what the king had told me.

They replied, “Let’s begin to rebuild.” So they encouraged one another to begin this God-pleasing work.

19When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they made fun of us and ridiculed us. They asked, “What are you doing? Are you going to rebel against the king?”

20“The God of heaven will give us success,” I answered them. “We, his servants, are going to rebuild. You have no property or claim or historic right in Jerusalem.”

Nehemiah 3

A List of the People Rebuilding Jerusalem’s Walls

1The chief priest Eliashib and his relatives, the priests, started by rebuilding Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place. They rebuilt as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and then as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2The men from Jericho were rebuilding next to Eliashib. Zaccur, son of Imri, was next to them. 3The sons of Hassenaah rebuilt Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, locks, and bars in place. 4Next to them Meremoth, son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz, made repairs. Next to them Meshullam, son of Berechiah and grandson of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok, son of Baana, made repairs. 5Next to them the men from Tekoa made repairs. However, the nobles wouldn’t lower themselves to work under supervisors.

6Joiada, Paseah’s son, and Meshullam, Besodeiah’s son, made repairs on Old Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, locks, and bars in place. 7Next to them Melatiah from Gibeon and Jadon from Meronoth, with men from Gibeon and Mizpah, made repairs on the wall. They did this under the authority of the governor ⌞from the province⌟ west of the Euphrates River. 8Next to them Uzziel, Harhaiah’s son, a goldsmith, made repairs. Next to him Hananiah, a perfume maker, made repairs. They left out part of Jerusalem as far as Broad Wall. 9Next to them Rephaiah, Hur’s son, an official in charge of half a district of Jerusalem, made repairs. 10Next to them Jedaiah, Harumaph’s son, made repairs across from his own home. Next to them Hattush, Hashabneiah’s son, made repairs. 11Malchiah, Harim’s son, and Hasshub, Pahath Moab’s son, made repairs on a section that included the Tower of the Ovens. 12Next to them Shallum, Hallohesh’s son, an official in charge of half a district of Jerusalem, made repairs with the help of his daughters.

13Hanun and the people of Zanoah repaired Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, locks, and bars in place, and they repaired 1,500 feet of the wall, as far as Dung Gate. 14Dung Gate itself was repaired by Malchiah, Rechab’s son, the official in charge of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and set its doors, locks, and bars in place.

15Shallun, Col Hozeh’s son, the official in charge of the district of Mizpah, repaired Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it, put a roof over it, and set its doors, locks, and bars in place. He also made repairs on the wall of the Pool of Shelah by the King’s Garden as far as the stairs going down from the City of David. 16After him Nehemiah, Azbuk’s son, the official in charge of half the district of Beth Zur, made repairs all the way to a point across from the tombs of David as far as the pool and the soldiers’ barracks. 17After him the Levites, including Rehum (Bani’s son), made repairs. Next to him Hashabiah, the official in charge of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district. 18After him their relatives made repairs. This included Binnui, Henadad’s son, the official in charge of half the district of Keilah. 19Next to him Ezer, Jeshua’s son, the official in charge of Mizpah, repaired a section across from the ascent to the Armory at the Angle. 20After him Baruch, Zabbai’s son, (Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls, Syriac, Latin, Egyptian “Zaccai’s son.”) made repairs on a section from the Angle to the door of the house of the chief priest Eliashib. 21After him Meremoth, son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz, made repairs on a section from the door of Eliashib’s house to the end of Eliashib’s house. 22After him the priests who lived in that area made repairs. 23After them Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs across from their own homes. After them Azariah, son of Maaseiah and grandson of Ananiah, made repairs next to his home. 24After him Binnui, Henadad’s son, made repairs on a section from Azariah’s home to the Angle and to the corner of the wall. 25Palal, Uzai’s son, made repairs across from the Angle and the upper tower that projects from the king’s palace to the guards’ courtyard. After him Pedaiah, Parosh’s son, 26and the temple servants who were living on the Ophel made repairs on the wall as far as a point across from Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower. 27After him the men from Tekoa repaired a section across from the large projecting tower as far as the Wall of the Ophel.

28Above Horse Gate the priests made repairs. Each priest made repairs across from his own home. 29After them Zadok, Immer’s son, made repairs across from his own home. After him Shemaiah, Shecaniah’s son, the guard at East Gate, made repairs. 30After him Hananiah, Shelemiah’s son, and Hanun, Zalaph’s sixth son, repaired another section. After him Meshullam, Berechiah’s son, made repairs across from his living quarters. 31After him Malchiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the building that housed the temple servants and merchants across from Inspection Gate and as far as the upper room at the corner. 32The goldsmiths and merchants made repairs between the upper room at the corner and Sheep Gate.

Nehemiah 4

Sanballat Ridicules the Jews

1 (Nehemiah 4:1–23 in English Bibles is Nehemiah 3:33–4:17 in the Hebrew Bible.)When Sanballat heard we were rebuilding the wall, he became enraged and made fun of the Jews. 2In front of his allies and the army from Samaria, he said, “What do these miserable Jews think they’re doing? Can they rebuild it by themselves? Are they going to offer sacrifices? Can they finish it in a day? Will they get the stones out of the rubbish heaps, burned as these stones are, and give them new strength?”

3Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside Sanballat, said, “Even a fox would make their stone wall collapse if it walked on top of what they’re building!”

Nehemiah Overcomes Opposition from Sanballat

4⌞Nehemiah prayed,⌟ “Our God, hear us. We are despised. Turn their insults back on them, and let them be robbed in the land where they are prisoners. 5Don’t ignore their guilt, and don’t let their sins disappear from your records. They have insulted you in front of these builders.”

6So we rebuilt the wall, which was rebuilt to about half its ⌞original⌟ height. The people worked with determination.

7When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people from Ashdod heard that the repair work on the walls of Jerusalem was making progress and that the gaps were being filled in, they became furious. 8All of them plotted to attack Jerusalem to create confusion. 9But we prayed to our God and set guards to protect us day and night.

10Then the people of Judah said, “The work crews are worn out, and there is too much rubble. We can’t continue to rebuild the wall.”

11Our enemies said, “Before they know what is happening or see a thing, we will be right in the middle of them. We’ll kill them and bring the work to an end.”

12Jews who were living near our enemies warned us ten times that our enemies would attack us from every direction.

13That is why I positioned people by their families behind the wall where it was lowest and most exposed. The people were armed with swords, spears, and bows. 14I looked them over and proceeded to tell the nobles, the leaders, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of our enemies. Remember how great and awe-inspiring the Lord is. Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

15When our enemies heard that we knew about their plots and that God had prevented their plans from being successful, we all went back to the work on the wall. Each person performed his own job. 16From that day on, half of my men worked on the wall, and the other half were wearing body armor and holding spears, shields, and bows. The leaders stood behind all the Judeans 17who were rebuilding the wall. The workers who were carrying loads did the work with one hand and held their weapons with the other, 18and each builder had his sword fastened to his side. The man who was supposed to sound the trumpet alarm was with me. 19I told the nobles, the leaders, and the rest of the people, “So much work has to be done in different places that we are widely separated from one another on the wall. 20When you hear the trumpet, assemble around me. Our God will fight for us!”

21So we continued to work. Half of us held spears from early dawn until the stars came out. 22At that time I told the people, “Every man and his servant should stay overnight in Jerusalem so that we can set a guard at night and work during the day.” 23My brothers, my servants, and the guards assigned to me never changed their clothes. Neither did I. We each kept our weapons at hand.

Nehemiah 5

The Poor Complain about Their Rich Relatives

1Then some of the people, the men and their wives, complained publicly about their Jewish relatives. 2Some of them said, “We have large families! We need some grain ⌞if we are going⌟ to eat and stay alive.” 3Others said, “We’ve had to mortgage our fields, our vineyards, and our homes in order to get some grain because of this famine.” 4Others said, “We’ve had to borrow money to pay the king’s taxes on our fields and vineyards. 5We have the same flesh and blood as our relatives. Our children are just like theirs. Yet, we have to force our sons and daughters to become slaves. Some of our daughters have already become slaves. But we can’t do anything else when our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

Nehemiah Stops the Rich from Taking Advantage of the Poor

6I became furious when I heard their complaint and what they had to say. 7After thinking it over, I confronted the nobles and the leaders. I told them, “You are charging interest on loans made to your own relatives.” I arranged for a large meeting to deal with them. 8Then I told them, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish relatives who had been sold to other nations. Now you are selling your Jewish relatives so that we have to buy them back again!” They were unable to say anything. 9I added, “What you’re doing is wrong. Shouldn’t you live in the fear of our God to keep our enemies from ridiculing us? 10My brothers, my servants, and I are lending money and grain to the poor. But we must stop charging them interest. 11You must return their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their homes today. Also, you must return the interest on the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil you’ve been charging them.”

12They responded, “We’ll return it and not try to get it from them ⌞again⌟. We’ll do what you say.” Then I called the priests and made them swear to do what they promised. 13I brushed off my clothes and said, “In the same way, may God brush off from home and work everyone who refuses to keep this promise. In the same way, may everyone be brushed off and left with nothing.” Then the whole congregation said amen and praised the Lord. The people did what they had promised.

Nehemiah Never Takes What Is Rightfully His as Governor

14During the 12 years that I was governor of Judah, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign to the thirty-second year of his reign, my brothers and I never ate any food that was paid for by the governor’s food allowance. 15Those who were governors before me had made life difficult for the people by taking from them food and wine plus one pound of silver. Even the governors’ servants took advantage of their power over the people. But I didn’t do that, because I feared God. 16Instead, I put my best effort into the work on this wall, and we bought no land. All my men gathered here for work. 17I fed 150 Jewish leaders and their people who came to us from the surrounding nations. 18Preparing one ox and six choice sheep was necessary every day. Poultry was prepared for me. Once every ten days a supply of wine was ordered. Yet, in spite of all this, I never demanded anything from the governor’s food allowance, because these people were already carrying a heavy load.

Nehemiah’s Prayer

19Remember me, my God. Consider everything that I have done for these people.

Nehemiah 6

Sanballat Tries to Harm Nehemiah

1Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gaps had been left in it (although at that time I had not yet hung the doors in the city gates). 2Then Sanballat and Geshem sent this message to me: “Let’s meet in Hakkephirim on the plain of Ono.” They were planning to harm me.

3I sent messengers to tell them, “I’m working on an important project and can’t get away. Why should the work stop while I leave to meet with you?” 4They sent the same message to me four times, and I answered them the same way. 5When Sanballat sent me the same message a fifth time, his servant held in his hand an unsealed letter. 6In it was written:

 

It has been reported throughout the nations, and Geshem has confirmed it, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel. That’s why you’re rebuilding the wall. According to this report, you want to become their king. 7You’ve appointed prophets to announce about you in Jerusalem, ‘There’s a king in Judah!’ This report will get back to the king. So let’s talk about this.

 

8Then I sent someone to tell him, “None of your accusations are true. You are making them up out of your own imagination.”

9They were all trying to intimidate us. They thought we would give up and not finish the work.

But God made me strong.

10⌞One day⌟ I went to the home of Shemaiah, son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel. Shemaiah who was confined to his house, said, “Let’s meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and close the temple doors. Some men are coming at night to kill you.”

11But I asked, “Should a man like me run away? Would a man like me go into the temple to save his life? I won’t go.”

12Then I realized that God hadn’t sent him. Instead, Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him to prophesy against me. 13He was hired to intimidate me into doing this so that I would sin. Then they could give me a bad reputation in order to discredit me.

14⌞Nehemiah prayed,⌟ “My God, remember what Tobiah and Sanballat have done. Also, remember the female prophet Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me.”

The Wall Rebuilt in Spite of Opposition

15The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul. The wall took 52 days to finish. 16When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence. They realized we had done this work with the help of our God.

Traitors on the Inside

17In those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah sent many letters back to them. 18Many in Judah had promised to support Tobiah because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah, Arah’s son. In addition, Tobiah’s son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam, Berechiah’s son. 19The nobles were singing Tobiah’s praises to me and reporting to him what I said. Tobiah kept sending letters to intimidate me.

Nehemiah 7

Nehemiah Places Hanani and Hananiah in Charge of Guarding the City Gates

1The gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites were assigned their duties after the wall had been rebuilt and I had hung the doors. 2I put my brother Hanani and Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem. Hananiah was a trustworthy man, and he feared God more than most people do. 3I told them, “The gates of Jerusalem should not be opened at the hottest time of the day. While the ⌞gatekeepers⌟ are still standing there, they should shut the doors and bar them. Order some of the men in Jerusalem to stand guard, some at their posts and others in front of their homes.” 4The city was large and wide-open. Few people were in it, and no houses were being built.

The First Jewish Exiles Who Returned to Jerusalem

5Then my God put the idea into my head that I should gather the nobles, leaders, and people so that they could check their genealogy. I found the book with the genealogy of those who came back the first time. I found the following written in it:

 

6These were the people in the province. They were the ones who left the place where the exiles had been taken captive. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had taken them captive. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah. All of them went to their own cities. 7They went with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.

Families Listed by Ancestor

(Ezra 2:3–20)

This is the number of Israelite men from the people in exile:

8the descendants of Parosh … 2,172

9of Shephatiah … 372

10of Arah … 652

11of Pahath Moab, that is, of Jeshua and Joab … 2,818

12of Elam … 1,254

13of Zattu … 845

14of Zaccai … 760

15of Binnui … 648

16of Bebai … 628

17of Azgad … 2,322

18of Adonikam … 667

19of Bigvai … 2,067

20of Adin … 655

21of Ater, that is, Hezekiah … 98

22of Hashum … 328

23of Bezai … 324

24of Hariph … 112

25of Gibeon … 95

Families Listed by Towns

(Ezra 2:21–35)

26the people of Bethlehem and Netophah … 188

27of Anathoth … 128

28of Beth Azmaveth … 42

29of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth … 743

30of Ramah and Geba … 621

31of Michmas … 122

32of Bethel and Ai … 123

33of the other Nebo … 52

34of the other Elam … 1,254

35of Harim … 320

36of Jericho … 345

37of Lod, Hadid, and Ono … 721

38of Senaah … 3,930

Priests

(Ezra 2:36–39)

39These priests returned from exile:

the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) … 973

40of Immer … 1,052

41of Pashhur … 1,247

42of Harim … 1,017

Levites

(Ezra 2:40–42)

43These Levites returned from exile:

the descendants of Jeshua, that is, of Kadmiel ⌞and⌟ of Hodeiah … 74

44These singers returned from exile:

the descendants of Asaph … 148

45These gatekeepers returned from exile:

the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai … 138

Temple Servants

(Ezra 2:43–54)

46These temple servants returned from exile: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, 47Keros, Sia, Padon, 48Lebanah, Hagabah, Shalmai, 49Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, 50Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, 51Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, 52Besai, Meunim, Nephusheshim, 53Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, 54Bazlith, Mehida, Harsha, 55Barkos, Sisera, Temah, 56Neziah, and Hatipha.

Descendants of Solomon’s Servants

(Ezra 2:55–58)

57These descendants of Solomon’s servants returned from exile: the descendants of Sotai, Sophereth, Perida, 58Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, 59Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth Hazzebaim, and Amon.

60The temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants totaled 392.

Those of Unknown Origin

(Ezra 2:59–63)

61The following people came from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they couldn’t prove they were Israelites on the basis of their father’s family or their genealogy: 62the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda. These people totaled 642.

63These priests ⌞couldn’t prove they were Israelites⌟: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who had married one of the daughters of Barzillai from Gilead and took that ⌞family⌟ name). 64These people searched for their ⌞family⌟ names in the genealogical records, but their names couldn’t be found there. For this reason they were considered contaminated and couldn’t be priests. 65The governor told them not to eat any of the most holy food until a priest could use the Urim and Thummim  (The Urim and Thummim were used by the chief priest to determine God’s answer to questions.)⌞to settle the problem⌟.

The Total of the People and Animals Returning from Exile

(Ezra 2:64–67)

66The whole assembly totaled 42,360. 67In addition to the male and female servants who numbered 7,337, they also had 245 male and female singers. 68They had 736 horses, 245 mules, (Some Hebrew manuscripts omit “They had … mules.” In those manuscripts verses 69–73 are numbered as 68–72.) 69435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

Gifts Given for the Temple

(Ezra 2:68–70)

70Some of the heads of the families contributed to this work. The governor contributed the following to the treasury: nearly 18 pounds of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 robes for the priests. 71Some of the heads of the families contributed to the treasury for this work: 337 pounds of gold and 3,215 pounds of silver. 72The rest of the people contributed 337 pounds of gold, 2,923 pounds of silver, and 67 robes for the priests.

73The priests, Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and the rest of Israel settled in their own cities. When the seventh month came, the people of Israel were in their own cities.

Nehemiah 8

The Public Reading of Moses’ Teachings

1⌞When the seventh month came,⌟ all the people gathered together in the courtyard in front of Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of Moses’ Teachings, which the Lord had commanded Israel ⌞to follow⌟. 2Then Ezra the priest brought the Teachings in front of the assembly. This included men, women, and any ⌞children⌟ who could understand what they heard. This took place on the first day of the seventh month. 3From daybreak until noon, he read from it in the courtyard in front of Water Gate to the men, women, and ⌞children⌟ who could understand it. All the people listened to the Book of Moses’ Teachings.

4Ezra the scribe stood on a raised wooden platform made for this occasion. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right. Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam stood beside him on his left. 5Ezra, standing higher than all the other people, opened the book in front of all the people. As he opened it, all the people stood up. 6Ezra thanked the Lord, the great God. All the people responded, “Amen! Amen!” as they raised their hands and then bowed with their faces to the ground and worshiped the Lord. 7The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—explained the Teachings to the people while they were standing there. 8They read the Book of God’s Teachings clearly and explained the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.

9Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people told them, “This is a holy day for the Lord your God. Don’t mourn or cry.” All the people were crying as they listened to the reading of God’s Teachings. 10Then he told them, “Go, eat rich foods, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who cannot provide for themselves. Today is a holy day for the Lord. Don’t be sad because the joy you have in the Lord is your strength.” 11So the Levites calmed all the people by saying, “Listen. Today is a holy day. Don’t be sad.”

12Then all the people went to eat and drink and to send portions. They had a big, joyful celebration because they understood the words that had been explained to them.

The Festival of Booths Is Observed

13On the second day the leaders of the families of all the people, including the priests and the Levites, met with Ezra the scribe to study the words of God’s Teachings. 14They found written in the Teachings that the Lord had given an order through Moses that the people of Israel should live in booths during a festival in the seventh month. 15They should announce this command and send this message throughout all their cities and Jerusalem: “Go to the mountains, and get branches—olive and wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other thick-leaved branches—to make booths as it is written.”

16So the people went to get branches to make booths for themselves. Some made booths on their roofs, others in their courtyards, in the courtyards of God’s temple, in the open area by Water Gate, or in the open area at Ephraim Gate.

17The whole assembly that had come back from exile made booths and lived in them. From the time of Jeshua (son of Nun) to that day, the people of Israel had not done this. There was a big, joyful celebration. 18Day by day, from the first day of the festival to the last day, Ezra continued to read from the Book of God’s Teachings. The people celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, they had a closing festival assembly in accordance with the regulations.

Nehemiah 9

A Day of Fasting and Confession

1When the Israelites assembled on the twenty-fourth day of this month, they fasted, wore sackcloth, and threw dirt on their heads. 2Those who were descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood and confessed their sins as well as the wicked things their ancestors had done. 3They stood in their places, and for one-fourth of the day, ⌞they listened as⌟ the Book of the Teachings of the Lord their God was read, and for another fourth ⌞of the day⌟, they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God.

A Day of Prayer

4Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chanani stood on the stairs built for the Levites and cried loudly to the Lord their God. 5Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up, and thank the Lord your God:

CREATION

From everlasting to everlasting your glorious name is praised
and lifted high above all blessing and praise.
6 You alone are the Lord.
You made heaven, the highest heaven, with all its armies.
You made the earth and everything on it,
the seas and everything in them.
You give life to them all, and the armies of heaven worship you.

ABRAHAM

7 You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram
and took him from Ur of the Chaldeans
and gave him the name Abraham.
8 You found that his heart was faithful to you.
You made a promise *Or “covenant.” to him to give the land of the Canaanites, Hittites,
Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites to his descendants.
You kept your promise because you are fair.

THE EXODUS

9 You saw how our ancestors suffered in Egypt,
and you heard them crying at the Red Sea.
10 You performed miraculous signs and did amazing things to Pharaoh
and all his servants and all the people in his land
because you knew how arrogantly
they were treating our ancestors.
You made a name for yourself, a name which remains to this day.
11 You divided the sea in front of them
so that they could walk through the sea on dry ground.
You threw into deep water those who pursued your people
as someone throws a stone into raging water.

WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS

12 You led them during the day by a column of smoke
and during the night by a column of fire to give them light
to see the way they should go.
13 You came from heaven to Mount Sinai
and spoke with them from heaven.
You gave them fair rules, trustworthy teachings,
and good laws and commandments.
14 You taught them about your holy day of rest.
You gave them commandments, laws, and teachings
through your servant Moses.
15 You gave them bread from heaven to satisfy their hunger
and made water flow from a rock to quench their thirst.
You told them to take possession of the land
that you swore you would give them.
16 But they—our own ancestors—acted arrogantly.
They became stubborn and wouldn’t obey your commands.
17 They refused to listen.
They forgot the miracles you performed for them.
They became stubborn and appointed a leader
to take them back to slavery ⌞in Egypt⌟.
But you are a forgiving God,
one who is compassionate, merciful, patient,
and always ready to forgive.
You never abandoned them,
18 even when they made a metal statue of a calf for themselves
and said, ‘This is your god who took you out of Egypt.’
They committed outrageous sins.
19 But because of your endless compassion,
you didn’t abandon them in the desert.
The column of smoke didn’t leave them during the day,
but it led them on their way.
The column of fire didn’t leave them during the night,
but it gave them light to see the way they should go.
20 You gave them your good Spirit to teach them.
You didn’t keep your manna to yourself.
You gave them water to quench their thirst.
21 You provided for them in the desert for 40 years,
and they had everything they needed.
Their clothes didn’t wear out, and their feet didn’t swell.

CONQUEST OF CANAAN

22 You gave kingdoms and nations to the Israelites
and assigned them their boundaries.
So they took possession of the land of Sihon,
the land of the king of Heshbon,
and the land of King Og of Bashan.
23 You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky.
You brought them into the land you told their parents to enter and possess.
24 Their children took possession of the land.
You defeated for them the Canaanites, who lived in the land.
You handed the Canaanite kings and their people over to them
to do whatever they wanted with the Canaanites.
25 The Israelites captured fortified cities and a rich land.
They took possession of houses filled with all sorts of good things,
cisterns, vineyards, olive trees,
and plenty of fruit trees.
So they ate and were satisfied and grew fat.
They enjoyed the vast supply of good things you gave them.

ISRAEL’S REBELLION

26 But they were defiant and rebelled against you.
They threw your teachings over their shoulders
and killed your prophets who warned them to turn back to you.
They committed outrageous sins.
27 You handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer.
When they began to suffer, they cried to you.
You heard them from heaven.
You gave them saviors to rescue them from their enemies
because of your endless compassion.
28 As soon as they felt some relief,
they were again doing what you considered evil.
You abandoned them to their enemies, who conquered them.
They cried to you again, and you heard them from heaven.
You rescued them many times because of your compassion.
29 You warned them in order to bring them back to your teachings,
but they became arrogant and would not obey your commandments.
They sinned by not following your regulations.
If anyone follows them, he will find life in them.
But they gave you the cold shoulder,
became impossible to deal with, and wouldn’t listen.
30 You were patient with them for many years.
You warned them by your Spirit through your prophets.
However, they wouldn’t listen.
So you handed them over to the people in the surrounding nations.
31 But your compassion is endless.
You didn’t destroy them or abandon them.
You are a merciful and compassionate God.

THE PRESENT

32 And now, our God, you are the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God.
You faithfully keep your promises.
Do not consider all the hardships
that we have been going through as unimportant.
The hardships have come to our kings, leaders, priests, prophets,
ancestors, and all your people
from the time of the kings of Assyria until now.
33 But you were fair about everything that has happened to us.
You have been faithful, but we have been wicked.
34 Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors didn’t obey your teachings.
They didn’t pay attention to your commandments or the warnings
that you gave them.
35 When they lived in their own kingdom and enjoyed the many good things
that you gave them in a vast, fertile land
which was set in front of them, they didn’t serve you
or turn away from their wicked lives.
36 Look ⌞at us⌟ now. We’re slaves!
In the land you gave our ancestors,
they could eat its produce and ⌞enjoy⌟ its good things.
But now we’re slaves!
37 The many products ⌞from our land⌟ go to the kings you put over us.
This is because of our sins.
These kings have control over our bodies,
and they do as they please with our livestock.
We are in agony.†Nehemiah 9:38 in English Bibles is Nehemiah 10:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

An Agreement in Writing

38“We are making a binding agreement ⌞and putting it⌟ in writing because of all this. Our leaders, Levites, and priests are putting their seals on the document.”

Nehemiah 10

1 (Nehemiah 10:1–39 in English Bibles is Nehemiah 10:2–40 in the Hebrew Bible.)The following people sealed the agreement: Governor Nehemiah (son of Hacaliah), Zedekiah, 2Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3Pashhur, Amariah, Malchiah, 4Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.

9These were the Levites: Jeshua (son of Azaniah), Binnui (of the sons of Henadad), Kadmiel, 10and their relatives Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

14These were the leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, 15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, 18Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, 19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, 24Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, 25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 27Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

28The rest of the people took an oath. These people included the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the inhabitants of the land for the sake of God’s Teachings. Their wives, sons, daughters, and everyone who is capable of understanding also took an oath. 29They joined their relatives, the nobles, in binding themselves with a curse and an oath to follow God’s teachings given by Moses, God’s servant. They also bound themselves to follow all the commandments, rules, and regulations of the Lord our Lord.

 

30We will not allow our daughters to marry the inhabitants of the land or allow their daughters to marry our sons. 31If the inhabitants of the land bring merchandise or grain to sell on the day of rest—a holy day, we won’t buy anything from them on the day of rest or any other holy day. During the seventh year, we won’t plant the fields or collect any debts.

32Also, we take upon ourselves the obligation to give an eighth of an ounce of silver every year for worship in our God’s temple: 33for rows of the bread of the presence, and for the daily grain offerings and daily burnt offerings, on the weekly days of rest—holy days, and on the New Moon Festivals, and at the appointed annual festivals, for the holy gifts and offerings for sin that make peace with God for Israel, and for all the other work in the temple of our God.

34We priests, Levites, and laypeople have drawn lots to decide the order in which the heads of our families should bring wood to our God’s temple to burn on the altar of the Lord our God at appointed times every year according to the directions in the Teachings. 35We have drawn lots to decide who should bring the first produce harvested and the first fruit from every tree each year to the Lord’s temple. 36Following the directions in the Teachings, we have drawn lots to decide who should bring the firstborn of our sons, our cattle, and our flocks to the priests serving in our God’s temple. 37Also, we have drawn lots to decide who should bring the best of our coarse flour, contributions, fruit from every tree, new wine, and olive oil to the priests, to the storerooms. We will bring for the Levites one-tenth of the produce from our fields, because the Levites are the ones who collect one-tenth of the produce from all our farm communities. 38A priest—one of Aaron’s descendants—should be with the Levites when they collect the tenth. Then the Levites should bring one-tenth of these tenths to our God’s temple, into the rooms of the storehouses there. 39The Israelites and the Levites should bring into the storerooms their contributions of grain, new wine, and olive oil. They should bring these products to the place where the utensils of the holy place are and where the priests who serve and the gatekeepers and the singers are. We won’t neglect our God’s temple.

Nehemiah 11

New Residents for Jerusalem

1The leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people drew lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city. The remaining nine-tenths were supposed to live in the other cities. 2The people blessed everyone who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.

3These were the officials of the province who settled in Jerusalem. Some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants settled in the cities of Judah. They lived on their own property in their own cities.

4Some of the descendants of Judah and of Benjamin settled in Jerusalem. The descendants of Judah were Athaiah, who was the son of Uzziah, who was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Shephatiah, who was the son of Mahalalel, who was the son of Perez; 5Maaseiah was the son of Baruch, who was the son of Col Hozeh, who was the son of Hazaiah, who was the son of Adaiah, who was the son of Joiarib, who was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Shiloni. 6All the descendants of Perez who settled in Jerusalem were 468 outstanding men. 7These are the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu, who was the son of Meshullam, who was the son of Joed, who was the son of Pedaiah, who was the son of Kolaiah, who was the son of Maaseiah, who was the son of Ithiel, who was the son of Jeshaiah, 8and after him, Gabbai ⌞and⌟ Sallai. ⌞The number of Benjamin’s descendants⌟ totaled 928. 9Joel, son of Zichri, was in charge, and Judah, son of Senuah, was second-in-command over the city.

10These were the priests: Jedaiah (son of Joiarib), Jachin, 11Seraiah, who was the son of Hilkiah, who was the son of Meshullam, who was the son of Zadok, who was the son of Meraioth, who was the son of Ahitub, who was the supervisor of God’s temple. 12From Seraiah’s relatives 822 did the work in the temple. Also, Adaiah worked in the temple. He was the son of Jeroham, who was the son of Pelaliah, who was the son of Amzi, who was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Pashhur, who was the son of Malchiah. 13Adaiah’s relatives, the heads of the families, totaled 242. Amashsai was the son of Azarel, who was the son of Ahzai, who was the son of Meshillemoth, who was the son of Immer. 14Their relatives, who were warriors, totaled 128. The man in charge of them was Zabdiel, son of Haggedolim.

15These were the Levites: Shemaiah who was the son of Hasshub, who was the son of Azrikam, who was the son of Hashabiah, who was the son of Bunni. 16Shabbethai and Jozabad, Levite leaders, who were in charge of the work outside God’s temple. 17Mattaniah was the son of Mica, who was the son of Zabdi, who was the son of Asaph, the leader who led the prayer of thanksgiving. The Levite leader Bakbukiah was the second-in-command among his relatives; and so was Abda who was the son of Shammua, who was the son of Galal, who was the son of Jeduthum. 18All the Levites in the holy city totaled 284.

19These were the gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives who guarded the gates totaled 172.

20The rest of the Israelites, priests, and Levites lived in all the cities of Judah. Everyone lived on his own inherited property. 21But the temple servants lived on Mount Ophel with Ziha and Gishpa in charge of them.

22The man in charge of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi, who was the son of Bani, who was the son of Hashabiah, who was the son of Mattaniah, who was the son of Mica from Asaph’s descendants who were the singers in charge of worship in God’s temple. 23They were under orders from the king, orders that determined which duties they should perform day by day. 24Pethahiah, son of Meshezabel, one of the descendants of Zerah, Judah’s son, was the king’s adviser on all matters concerning the people.

25Many people lived in villages that had fields. Some people of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and its villages, in Dibon and its villages, in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26in Jeshua, Moladah, and Beth Pelet, 27in Hazar Shual, in Beersheba and its villages, 28in Ziklag, and in Meconah and its villages, 29in En Rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, 30Zanoah, and Adullam and their villages, in Lachish and its fields, and in Azekah and its villages. So they settled in the land from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.

31Benjamin’s descendants live in the area of Geba, in Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages, 32in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35Lod, Ono, and in the valley of the Craftsmen. 36Some divisions of Levites in Judah were assigned to Benjamin.

Nehemiah 12

The Priest and Levites Who Returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel

1These are the priests and Levites who came back with Zerubbabel (Shealtiel’s son) and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and of their relatives at the time of Jeshua.

8The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his relatives was in charge of the thanksgiving hymns. 9Their relatives Bakbukiah and Unno stood across from them in worship.

10Jeshua was the father of Joiakim. Joiakim was the father of Eliashib. Eliashib was the father of Joiada. 11Joiada was the father of Jonathan. Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.

12At the time of Joiakim, these were the priests who were the leaders of their families: From Seraiah, Meraiah; from Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13from Ezra, Meshullam; from Amariah, Jehohanan; 14from Malluchi, Jonathan; from Shebaniah, Joseph; 15from Harim, Adna; from Meraioth, Helkai; 16from Iddo, Zechariah; from Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17from Abijah, Zichri; from Miniamin, from Moadiah, Piltai; 18from Bilgah, Shammua; from Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19from Joiarib, Mattenai; from Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20from Sallai, Kallai; from Amok, Eber; 21from Hilkiah, Hashabiah; from Jedaiah, Nethanel.

22⌞The names of⌟ the family heads of the Levites and the priests at the time of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua were recorded until the reign of Darius the Persian. 23⌞The names of⌟ the family heads of the Levites were recorded in the Book of Chronicles until the time of Johanan, grandson of Eliashib. 24The heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua (son of Kadmiel). They and their relatives stood in groups across from one another to sing hymns of praise and thanksgiving antiphonally as David, the man of God, had ordered. 25Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses by the gates. 26They lived in the days of Joiakim, son of Jeshua, grandson of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest and scribe.

Jerusalem’s Walls Are Dedicated to God

27When the wall of Jerusalem was going to be dedicated, they went to wherever the Levites lived and had them come to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication joyfully with hymns of thanksgiving, with songs and cymbals, and with harps and lyres. 28So the groups of singers came together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the villages of Netophah, 29from Beth Gilgal, and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth. The singers had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30The priests and the Levites cleansed themselves. Then they cleansed the people, the gates, and the wall.

31Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on the wall, and I arranged two large choirs to give thanks and march in procession. One choir went to the right on the wall to Dung Gate. 32Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah followed them. 33Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah also followed. 35So did some priests with trumpets: Zechariah, who was the son of Jonathan, who was the son of Shemaiah, who was the son of Mattaniah, who was the son of Micaiah, who was the son of Zaccur, who was the son of Asaph. 36Also, these relatives of Zechariah followed: Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani with the musical instruments of David, the man of God. Ezra the scribe led them. 37At Fountain Gate they went straight up the stairs of the City of David. There the wall rises past David’s palace and reaches Water Gate on the east.

38The other choir went to the left. I followed them with the other half of the people. We walked on the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens, as far as Broad Wall, 39then past Ephraim Gate, over Old Gate and Fish Gate, and by the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as Sheep Gate. The choir stopped at Guard’s Gate. 40So both choirs stood in God’s temple, as did I and the half of the leaders who were with me. 41Likewise, these priests stood in God’s temple: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah with trumpets, 42and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchiah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang under the direction of Jezrahiah.

43That day they offered many sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them reason to rejoice. The women and children rejoiced as well. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard from far away.

44On that day men were put in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, the first produce harvested, and a tenth of the people’s money. They stored in those rooms the gifts designated by Moses’ Teachings for the priests and Levites from the fields around the cities. The people of Judah were pleased with the ministry of the priests and Levites. 45They were doing what their God required, what needed to be done for cleansing. The singers and the gatekeepers did what David and his son Solomon had ordered them to do. 46Long ago in the time of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the singers to lead ⌞in singing⌟ the songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God. 47At the time of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all the Israelites were giving gifts for the daily support of the singers and the gatekeepers. They set aside holy gifts for ⌞the daily support of⌟ the Levites, and the Levites set aside holy gifts for support of Aaron’s descendants.

Nehemiah 13

1On that day the Book of Moses was read while the people were listening. They heard the passage that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into God’s assembly. 2(After all, they didn’t welcome the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam to curse the Israelites. But our God turned the curse into a blessing.) 3After the people heard this Teaching, they separated the non-Israelites from the Israelites.

4Even before this, the priest Eliashib, who was related to Tobiah and had been put in charge of the storerooms of our God’s temple, 5had provided a large room for Tobiah. Previously, this room had been used to store grain offerings, incense, utensils, a tenth of all the grain harvested, new wine, and olive oil. These things belonged by law to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers. The contributions for the priests had also been stored there.

Nehemiah Evicts Tobiah from the Temple

6While all of this was taking place, I wasn’t in Jerusalem. In the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes’ reign in Babylon, I returned to the king. Later, I asked the king for permission to return. 7I went to Jerusalem and discovered the evil thing Eliashib had done by providing Tobiah with a room in God’s temple. 8I was furious. So I threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. 9Then I told them to cleanse the rooms, and I put back in there the utensils from God’s temple, the offerings, and the incense.

Nehemiah Ensures That the Levites Receive Their Portion of the Offerings

10I learned that the Levites had not been given their portions. So each of the Levites and singers, who conducted the worship ⌞in the temple⌟, had left for their own fields. 11I reprimanded the leaders. “Why is God’s temple being neglected?” I asked. So I brought the Levites back together and put them back in their places of service. 12Then all Judah brought a tenth of all the grain harvested, new wine, and olive oil to the storerooms. 13I appointed the following men to be in charge of the storerooms: Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah the Levite, and I appointed Hanan, son of Zaccur and grandson of Mattaniah to help them. Since they could be trusted, I made them responsible for distributing ⌞the portions⌟ to their relatives.

14⌞Nehemiah prayed,⌟ “Remember me for what I have done, my God, and don’t wipe out the good things that I have done for your temple and for the worship that is held there.”

Nehemiah Ensures That No Work Is Done on the Day of Rest

15In those days I saw people in Judah stomping grapes in the winepresses on the day of rest—a holy day. I saw them bringing in loads of wine, grapes, figs, and every other kind of load. They piled the loads on donkeys and brought them into Jerusalem on the day of rest. I warned them about selling food on that day. 16People from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of goods. They were selling them on the day of rest—a holy day, to the people of Judah, even in Jerusalem. 17I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and asked them, “What is this evil thing you’re doing? How dare you treat the day of rest—a holy day, as unholy! 18Isn’t this what your ancestors did, with the results that our God brought all these evils on us and on this city? Now you’re making him even more angry with Israel by treating the day of rest—a holy day, as unholy.”

19Before the day of rest—a holy day, when the gates of Jerusalem were cleared of traffic, I ordered the doors to be shut and not to be reopened until after the day of rest. I stationed some of my men by the gates to make sure that no loads could be brought in on the day of rest. 20Once or twice merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. 21I warned them. “Why are you spending the night in front of the wall?” I asked them. “If you do it again, I’ll arrest you.” After that, they no longer came on the day of rest—a holy day. 22Then I told the Levites to cleanse themselves and guard the gates to keep the day of rest holy.

⌞Nehemiah prayed,⌟ “Remember me also for this, my God, and spare me, since you are very kind.”

Nehemiah Dissolves Marriages to Foreigners

23In those days I saw some Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24Half their children spoke the language of Ashdod or one of the other languages, but they couldn’t understand the language of Judah well enough to speak it. 25So I reprimanded those Jews, cursed them, beat some of them, and pulled out their hair. I made them swear by God: “We won’t allow our daughters to marry their sons, and we won’t allow their daughters to marry us or our sons.” 26I said, “Wasn’t it because of marriages like these that King Solomon of Israel sinned? There wasn’t a king like him among all nations. God loved him, and God made him king of all Israel. But his non-Israelite wives led him to sin. 27Should we follow your example, commit such a serious crime against our God, and be unfaithful to him by marrying non-Israelite women?”

28Even one of Joiada’s sons was a son-in-law of Sanballat from Beth Horon. (Joiada was the son of the chief priest Eliashib.) I chased Joiada’s son away from me.

29⌞Nehemiah prayed,⌟ “Remember them, my God, because they have contaminated the priestly office and the promise  (Or “covenant.”) you made to the priests and Levites.”

30So I cleansed them from everything that was foreign. I assigned duties to the priests and Levites. Each one had his own assignment. 31I also arranged for delivering wood at regular times and for bringing the first produce to be harvested.

⌞Nehemiah prayed,⌟ “Remember me, my God, for my benefit.”

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