GetPassageurn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.darby:16urn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.darby:16The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah . And it came to pass in the month Chislev , in the twentieth year , as I was in Shushan the fortress , that Hanani , one of my brethren , came , he and [ certain ] men of Judah . And I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped , who were left of the captivity , and concerning Jerusalem . And they said to me , Those who remain , that are left of the captivity there in the province , are in great affliction and reproach ; and the wall of Jerusalem is in ruins , and its gates are burned with fire . And it came to pass , when I heard these words , that I sat and wept , and mourned for days , and fasted , and prayed before the God of the heavens , and said , I beseech thee , Jehovah , God of the heavens , the great and terrible God , that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and keep his commandments . Let thine ear now be attentive , and thine eyes open , to hear the prayer of thy servant , which I pray before thee at this time , day and night , for the children of Israel thy servants , confessing the sins of the children of Israel , which we have sinned against thee : both I and my father's house have sinned . We have acted very perversely against thee , and have not kept the commandments , nor the statutes , nor the ordinances that thou commandedst thy servant Moses . Remember , I beseech thee , the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses , saying , If ye act unfaithfully , I will scatter you among the peoples ; but if ye return to me , and keep my commandments and do them , though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heavens , yet will I gather them from thence , and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there . And they are thy servants and thy people , whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power and by thy strong hand . O Lord , I beseech thee , let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant , and to the prayer of thy servants who delight to fear thy name ; and prosper , I pray thee , thy servant this day , and grant him mercy in the sight of this man . Now I was the king's cupbearer . And it came to pass in the month Nisan , in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king , [ that ] wine was before him , and I took up the wine and gave it to the king . Now , I had never been sad in his presence . And the king said to me , Why is thy face sad , seeing thou art not sick ? this is nothing else but sadness of heart . And I was very sore afraid . And I said to the king , Let the king live for ever ! Why should not my countenance be sad , when the city , the place of my fathers' sepulchres , lies waste , and its gates are consumed with fire ? And the king said to me , For what dost thou make request ? So I prayed to the God of the heavens . And I said to the king , If it please the king , and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight , that thou wouldest send me to Judah , to the city of my fathers' sepulchres , that I may build it . And the king said to me -- the queen also sitting by him , -- For how long shall thy journey be , and when wilt thou return ? And it pleased the king to send me ; and I set him a time . And I said to the king , If it please the king , let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river , that they may set me forward till I come into Judah ; and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest , that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which [ appertains ] to the house , and for the wall of the city , and for the house that I shall enter into . And the king granted me , according to the good hand of my God upon me . And I came to the governors beyond the river , and gave them the king's letters . Now the king had sent captains of a force and horsemen with me . And when Sanballat the Horonite , and Tobijah the servant , the Ammonite , heard [ of it ] , it grieved them exceedingly that there had come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel . And I came to Jerusalem , and was there three days . And I arose in the night , I and some few men with me -- but I told no man what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem -- and there was no beast with me , except the beast that I rode upon . And I went out by night by the valley-gate , even toward the jackal-fountain , and to the dung-gate ; and I viewed the walls of Jerusalem , which were in ruins , and its gates were consumed with fire . And I went on to the fountain-gate , and to the king's pool ; and there was no place for the beast under me to pass . And I went up in the night through the valley , and viewed the wall , and turned back , and entered by the valley-gate and returned . And the rulers did not know whither I went or what I did , for I had not as yet told it to the Jews , nor to the priests , nor to the nobles , nor to the rulers , nor to the rest that did the work . And I said to them , Ye see the distress that we are in , that Jerusalem lies waste , and its gates are burned with fire . Come , and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem , that we be no more a reproach . And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me ; as also of the king's words which he had said unto me . And they said , Let us rise up and build . And they strengthened their hands for the good [ work ] . And Sanballat the Horonite , and Tobijah the servant , the Ammonite , and Geshem the Arabian , heard it ; and they mocked us and despised us , and said , What is this thing which ye do ? will ye rebel against the king ? And I answered them , and said to them , The God of the heavens , he will prosper us , and we his servants will arise and build ; but ye have no portion , nor right , nor memorial in Jerusalem . And Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests , and they built the sheep-gate . They hallowed it , and set up its doors ; and they hallowed it even to the tower of Meah , to the tower of Hananeel . And next to them built the men of Jericho . And next to them built Zaccur the son of Imri . And the fish-gate did the sons of Senaah build : they laid its beams , and set up its doors , its locks and its bars . And next to them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah , the son of Koz . And next to them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah , the son of Meshezabeel . And next to them repaired Zadok the son of Baana . And next to them the Tekoites repaired ; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord . And the gate of the old [ wall ] repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah , and Meshullam the son of Besodiah ; they laid its beams , and set up its doors , and its locks , and its bars . And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite , and Jadon the Meronothite , the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah , to the seat of the governor on this side the river . Next to them repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah , of the goldsmiths ; and next to him repaired Hananiah of the perfumers , and they left Jerusalem [ in its state ] as far as the broad wall . And next to them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur , the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem . And next to them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph , even over against his house . And next to him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah . Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-Moab repaired a second piece , and the tower of the furnaces . And next to them repaired Shallum the son of Hallohesh , the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem , he and his daughters . The valley-gate repaired Hanun , and the inhabitants of Zanoah ; they built it , and set up its doors , its locks and its bars , and a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the dung-gate . And the dung-gate repaired Malchijah the son of Rechab , the chief of the district of Beth-haccerem ; he built it , and set up its doors , its locks and its bars . And the fountain-gate repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh , the chief of the district of Mizpah ; he built it , and covered it , and set up its doors , its locks and its bars , and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king's garden , and to the stairs that go down from the city of David . After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk , the chief of the half district of Beth-zur , even over against the sepulchres of David , and to the pool that was made , and to the house of the mighty [ men ] . After him repaired the Levites , Rehum the son of Bani . Next to him repaired Hashabiah , the chief of the half district of Keilah , for his district . After him repaired their brethren , Bavvai the son of Henadad , the chief of the half district of Keilah . And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua , the ruler of Mizpah , a second piece over against the going up to the armoury at the angle . After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another piece , from the angle to the entry of the house of Eliashib the high priest . After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah , the son of Koz , another piece , from the door of the house of Eliashib as far as the end of the house of Eliashib . And after him repaired the priests , the men of the plain [ of Jordan ] . After them repaired Benjamin and Hasshub over against their house . After them repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah , the son of Ananiah , by his house . After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece , from the house of Azariah to the angle , as far as the corner . Palal the son of Uzai , over against the angle , and the high tower that lies out from the king's house , which was by the court of the prison . After him , Pedaiah the son of Parosh . ( Now the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel , even over against the water-gate toward the east , and the tower which lies out . ) After him the Tekoites repaired a second piece , over against the great tower which lies out , as far as the wall of Ophel . From above the horse-gate repaired the priests , every one over against his house . After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house . And after him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah , the keeper of the east gate . After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah , and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph , a second piece . After them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber . After him repaired Malchijah of the goldsmiths to the place of the Nethinim and of the dealers , over against the gate Miphkad , and to the ascent of the corner . And between the ascent of the corner and the sheep-gate repaired the goldsmiths and the dealers . And it came to pass that when Sanballat heard that we built the wall , he was angry and very indignant , and mocked the Jews . And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria , and said , What do these feeble Jews ? shall they be permitted to go on ? Will they offer sacrifices ? Will they finish in a day ? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish , when they are burned ? And Tobijah the Ammonite was by him , and he said , Even that which they build , if a fox went up , it would break down their stone wall . -- Hear , our God , for we are despised , and turn their reproach upon their own head , and give them for a prey in a land of captivity ! And cover not their iniquity , and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee ; for they have provoked the builders . But we built the wall ; and all the wall was joined together to the half thereof ; for the people had a mind to work . And it came to pass , when Sanballat , and Tobijah , and the Arabians , and the Ammonites , and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being repaired , that the breaches began to be stopped , then they were very wroth , and conspired all of them together to come to fight against Jerusalem , and to hinder it . Then we prayed to our God , and set a watch against them day and night , because of them . And Judah said , The strength of the bearers of burdens faileth , and there is much rubbish ; so that we are not able to build at the wall . And our adversaries said , They shall not know , neither see , till we come into the midst of them and kill them , and put an end to the work . And it came to pass that when the Jews that dwelt by them came and told us so ten times , from all the places whence they returned to us , I set in the lower places behind the wall in exposed places , I even set the people , according to their families , with their swords , their spears and their bows . And I looked , and rose up , and said to the nobles , and to the rulers , and to the rest of the people , Be not afraid of them : remember the Lord who is great and terrible , and fight for your brethren , your sons and your daughters , your wives and your houses . And it came to pass that when our enemies heard that it was known to us , and that God had defeated their counsel , we returned all of us to the wall , every one to his work . And from that time forth the half of my servants wrought in the work , and the other half of them held the spears , and the shields , and the bows , and the corslets ; and the captains were behind all the house of Judah . They that built on the wall , and they that bore burdens , with those that loaded , wrought in the work with one hand , and with the other they held a weapon . And the builders had every one his sword girded by his side , and built . And he that sounded the trumpet was by me . And I said to the nobles , and to the rulers , and to the rest of the people , The work is great and extended , and we are scattered upon the wall , one far from another : in what place ye hear the sound of the trumpet , thither shall ye assemble to us ; our God will fight for us . And we laboured in the work ; and half of them held the spears from the rising of the dawn till the stars appeared . Likewise at the same time I said to the people , Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem , that in the night they may be a guard to us , and [ be for ] labour in the day . And neither I , nor my brethren , nor my servants , nor the men of the guard that followed me , none of us put off our garments : every one had his weapon on his right side . And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews . And there were that said , We , our sons and our daughters , are many , and we must procure corn that we may eat and live . And there were that said , We have had to pledge our fields , and our vineyards , and our houses , that we might procure corn in the dearth . And there were that said , We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and vineyards ; yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren , our children as their children ; and behold , we must bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants , and some of our daughters are brought into bondage [ already ] ; neither is it in the power of our hand [ to redeem them ] , for other men have our fields and our vineyards . And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words . And I consulted with myself ; and I remonstrated with the nobles and the rulers , and said to them , Ye exact usury , every one of his brother ! And I set a great assembly against them . And I said to them , We , according to our ability , have redeemed our brethren the Jews , who were sold to the nations ; and will ye even sell your brethren ? or shall they be sold unto us ? And they were silent and found no answer . And I said , The thing that ye do is not good . Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God , so as not to be the reproach of the nations our enemies ? I also , my brethren and my servants , we might exact usury of them , money and corn . I pray you , let us leave off this usury . Restore , I pray you , to them this very day their fields , their vineyards , their olive-gardens , and their houses , also the hundredth [ part ] of the money , and of the corn , the wine and the oil , that ye have exacted of them . And they said , We will restore [ them ] , and will require nothing of them ; so will we do , as thou hast said . And I called the priests , and took an oath of them , that they should do according to this promise . Also I shook my lap , and said , So God shake out every man from his house and from his earnings , that performeth not this promise : even thus be he shaken out and emptied ! And all the congregation said , Amen ! And they praised Jehovah . And the people did according to this promise . Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah , from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king , twelve years , I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor . But the former governors that were before me had been chargeable to the people , and had taken of them bread and wine , besides forty shekels of silver : even their servants bore rule over the people . But I did not so , because of the fear of God . Yea , also I applied myself to this work of the wall , and we bought no fields ; and all my servants were gathered thither for the work . And there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and the rulers , besides those that came to us from among the nations that were about us . And that which was prepared daily was one ox [ and ] six choice sheep ; also fowls were prepared for me , and once in ten days all sorts of wine in abundance . Yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor ; for the service was heavy upon this people . Remember for me , my God , for good , all that I have done for this people . And it came to pass when Sanballat , and Tobijah , and Geshem the Arabian , and the rest of our enemies , heard that I had built the wall , and that there was no breach left in it ( though at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates ) , that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me , saying , Come , let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono . But they thought to do me mischief . And I sent messengers to them , saying , I am doing a great work , and I cannot come down . Why should the work cease , whilst I leave it and come down to you ? And they sent to me four times after this sort ; and I answered them in the same manner . Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in this manner the fifth time , with an open letter in his hand , in which was written : It is reported among the nations , and Gashmu says [ it , that ] thou and the Jews think to rebel , for which cause thou buildest the wall , and according to these words thou wilt become their king . And thou hast also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning thee at Jerusalem saying , There is a king in Judah ! And now it will be reported to the king according to these words . Come now therefore , and let us take counsel together . And I sent to him , saying , There are no such things done as thou sayest , but thou feignest them out of thine own heart . For they all would have made us afraid , saying , Their hands shall be slackened from the work , that it be not carried out . -- Now therefore strengthen my hands ! And I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah , the son of Mehetabeel , who had shut himself up . And he said , Let us meet together in the house of God , within the temple , and let us shut the doors of the temple ; for they are coming to kill thee ; even in the night are they coming to kill thee . And I said , Should such a man as I flee ? and who is there , that , being as I am , could go into the temple , and live ? I will not go in . And I perceived , and behold , God had not sent him ; for he pronounced this prophecy against me ; and Tobijah and Sanballat had hired him . Therefore was he hired , that I should be afraid , and do so , and sin , and that they might have wherewith to spread an evil report , that they might reproach me . My God , remember Tobijah and Sanballat according to these their works , and also the prophetess Noadiah , and the rest of the prophets who would have put me in fear . So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth of Elul , in fifty-two days . And it came to pass that when all our enemies heard [ of it ] , all the nations that were about us were afraid and were much cast down in their own eyes , and they perceived that this work was wrought by our God . Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobijah , and those of Tobijah came to them . For there were many in Judah sworn to him ; for he was a son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah ; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah . Also they spoke of his good deeds before me , and reported my words to him . [ And ] Tobijah sent letters to put me in fear . And it came to pass when the wall was built , and I had set up the doors , that the doorkeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed . And I gave my brother Hanani , and Hananiah the ruler of the citadel , charge over Jerusalem ; for he was a faithful man and feared God above many . And I said to them that the gates of Jerusalem should not be opened until the sun was hot , and that they should shut the doors and bar them while they stood by ; and that there should be appointed watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem , every one in his watch , and every one over against his house . Now the city was large and great ; but the people in it were few , and no houses were built . And my God put into my heart to gather together the nobles , and the rulers , and the people , for registration by genealogy . And I found a genealogical register of those that had come up at the first , and I found written in it : These are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity of those that had been carried away , whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away , and who came again to Jerusalem and to Judah , every one to his city ; those who came with Zerubbabel , Jeshua , Nehemiah , Azariah , Raamiah , Nahamani , Mordecai , Bilshan , Mispereth , Bigvai , Nehum , Baanah . The number of the men of the people of Israel : The children of Parosh , two thousand one hundred and seventy-two . The children of Shephatiah , three hundred and seventy-two . The children of Arah , six hundred and fifty-two . The children of Pahath-Moab , of the children of Jeshua and Joab , two thousand eight hundred and eighteen . The children of Elam , a thousand two hundred and fifty-four . The children of Zattu , eight hundred and forty-five . The children of Zaccai , seven hundred and sixty . The children of Binnui , six hundred and forty-eight . The children of Bebai , six hundred and twenty-eight . The children of Azgad , two thousand three hundred and twenty-two . The children of Adonikam , six hundred and sixty-seven . The children of Bigvai , two thousand and sixty-seven . The children of Adin , six hundred and fifty-five . The children of Ater of [ the family of ] Hezekiah , ninety-eight . The children of Hashum , three hundred and twenty-eight . The children of Bezai , three hundred and twenty-four . The children of Hariph , a hundred and twelve . The children of Gibeon , ninety-five . The men of Bethlehem and Netophah , a hundred and eighty-eight . The men of Anathoth , a hundred and twenty-eight . The men of Beth-azmaveth , forty-two . The men of Kirjath-jearim , Chephirah , and Beeroth , seven hundred and forty-three . The men of Ramah and Geba , six hundred and twenty-one . The men of Michmas , a hundred and twenty-two . The men of Bethel and Ai , a hundred and twenty-three . The men of the other Nebo , fifty-two . The children of the other Elam , a thousand two hundred and fifty-four . The children of Harim , three hundred and twenty . The children of Jericho , three hundred and forty-five . The children of Lod , Hadid , and Ono , seven hundred and twenty-one . The children of Senaah , three thousand nine hundred and thirty . The priests : the children of Jedaiah , of the house of Jeshua , nine hundred and seventy-three . The children of Immer , a thousand and fifty-two . The children of Pashhur , a thousand two hundred and forty-seven . The children of Harim , a thousand and seventeen . The Levites : the children of Jeshua [ and ] of Kadmiel , of the children of Hodvah , seventy-four . The singers : the children of Asaph , a hundred and forty-eight . The doorkeepers : the children of Shallum , the children of Ater , the children of Talmon , the children of Akkub , the children of Hatita , the children of Shobai , a hundred and thirty-eight . The Nethinim : the children of Ziha , the children of Hasupha , the children of Tabbaoth , the children of Keros , the children of Sia , the children of Padon , the children of Lebana , the children of Hagaba , the children of Salmai , the children of Hanan , the children of Giddel , the children of Gahar , the children of Reaiah , the children of Rezin , the children of Nekoda , the children of Gazzam , the children of Uzza , the children of Phaseah , the children of Besai , the children of Meunim , the children of Nephishesim , the children of Bakbuk , the children of Hakupha , the children of Harhur , the children of Bazlith , the children of Mehida , the children of Harsha , the children of Barkos , the children of Sisera , the children of Thamah , the children of Neziah , the children of Hatipha . The children of Solomon's servants : the children of Sotai , the children of Sophereth , the children of Perida , the children of Jaala , the children of Darkon , the children of Giddel , the children of Shephatiah , the children of Hattil , the children of Pochereth-Hazzebaim , the children of Amon . All the Nethinim , and the children of Solomon's servants , three hundred and ninety-two . And these are they that went up from Tel-melah , Tel-harsha , Cherub-Addon and Immer ; but they could not shew their father's house , nor their seed , whether they were of Israel . The children of Delaiah , the children of Tobijah , the children of Nekoda , six hundred and forty-two . And of the priests : the children of Hobaiah , the children of Koz , the children of Barzillai , who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called after their name . These sought their genealogical register , but it was not found ; therefore were they , as polluted , removed from the priesthood . And the Tirshatha said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things , till there stood up the priest with Urim and Thummim . The whole congregation together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty , besides their servants and their maids , of whom there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven ; and they had two hundred and forty-five singing-men and singing-women . Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six ; their mules , two hundred and forty-five ; the camels , four hundred and thirty-five ; the asses , six thousand seven hundred and twenty . And some of the chief fathers gave to the work . The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand darics of gold , fifty basons , five hundred and thirty priests' coats . And [ some ] of the chief fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand darics of gold , and two thousand two hundred pounds of silver . And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold , and two thousand pounds of silver , and sixty-seven priests' coats . And the priests , and the Levites , and the doorkeepers , and the singers , and [ some ] of the people , and the Nethinim , and all Israel , dwelt in their cities . And when the seventh month came , and the children of Israel were in their cities , all the people gathered together as one man to the open place that was before the water-gate ; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses , which Jehovah had commanded Israel . And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation , both of men and women , and all that could hear with understanding , on the first day of the seventh month . And he read in it before the open place that was before the water-gate from the morning until midday , in presence of the men and the women , and those that could understand . And the ears of all the people were [ attentive ] to the book of the law . And Ezra the scribe stood upon a high stage of wood , which they had made for the purpose . And beside him stood Mattithiah , and Shema , and Anaiah , and Urijah , and Hilkijah , and Maaseiah on his right hand ; and on his left hand , Pedaiah , and Mishael , and Malchijah , and Hashum , and Hashbaddana , Zechariah , Meshullam . And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people , for he was above all the people ; and when he opened it , all the people stood up . And Ezra blessed Jehovah , the great God ; and all the people answered , Amen , Amen ! with lifting up of their hands ; and they bowed their heads , and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground . And Jeshua , and Bani , and Sherebiah , Jamin , Akkub , Shabbethai , Hodijah , Maaseiah , Kelita , Azariah , Jozabad , Hanan , Pelaiah , and the Levites , caused the people to understand the law ; and the people [ stood ] in their place . And they read in the law of God distinctly out of the book , and gave the sense , and caused [ them ] to understand the reading . And Nehemiah , that is , the Tirshatha , and Ezra the priest the scribe , and the Levites that explained to the people , said to all the people , This day is holy to Jehovah your God : mourn not , nor weep . For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law . And he said to them , Go your way , eat the fat , and drink the sweet , and send portions to them for whom nothing is prepared ; for the day is holy to our Lord ; and be not grieved , for the joy of Jehovah is your strength . And the Levites quieted all the people , saying , Be still ! for the day is holy ; neither be grieved . And all the people went their way , to eat and to drink , and to send portions , and to make great rejoicing . For they had understood the words that were declared to them . And on the second day were gathered together the chief fathers of all the people , the priests , and the Levites , to Ezra the scribe , even to gain wisdom as to the words of the law . And they found written in the law which Jehovah had commanded through Moses , that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month , and that they should publish and proclaim through all their cities , and at Jerusalem , saying , Go forth to the mount , and fetch olive-branches , and wild olive-branches , and myrtle-branches , and palm-branches , and branches of thick trees , to make booths , as it is written . And the people went forth and brought [ them ] , and made themselves booths , everyone upon the roof of his house , and in their courts , and in the courts of the house of God , and in the open space of the water-gate , and in the open space of the gate of Ephraim . And all the congregation of them that had come back from the captivity made booths , and dwelt in the booths . For since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun until that day had not the children of Israel done so . And there was very great gladness . Also day by day , from the first day to the last day , he read in the book of the law of God . And they observed the feast seven days ; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly , according to the ordinance . And on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting , and with sackclothes , and earth upon them . And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners , and stood and confessed their sins , and the iniquities of their fathers . And they stood up in their place , and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth part of the day ; and a fourth part they confessed , and worshipped Jehovah their God . Then stood up upon the platform of the Levites , Jeshua , and Bani , Kadmiel , Shebaniah , Bunni , Sherebiah , Bani , Chenani , and cried with a loud voice to Jehovah their God . And the Levites , Jeshua , and Kadmiel , Bani , Hashabniah , Sherebiah , Hodijah , Shebaniah , Pethahiah , said , Stand up , bless Jehovah your God from eternity to eternity . And let [ men ] bless the name of thy glory , which is exalted above all blessing and praise . Thou art the Same , thou alone , Jehovah , who hast made the heaven of heavens , and all their host , the earth and all that is therein , the seas and all that is therein . And thou quickenest them all ; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee . Thou art the Same , Jehovah Elohim , who didst choose Abram and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees , and gavest him the name of Abraham ; and foundest his heart faithful before thee , and madest the covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites , the Hittites , the Amorites , and the Perizzites , and the Jebusites , and the Girgashites , -- to give it to his seed ; and thou hast performed thy words , for thou art righteous . And thou sawest the affliction of our fathers in Egypt , and heardest their cry by the Red Sea ; and didst shew signs and wonders upon Pharaoh , and upon all his servants , and upon all the people of his land ; for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them , and thou didst make thee a name , as it is this day . And thou didst divide the sea before them , and they went through the midst of the sea on dry [ ground ] ; and their pursuers thou threwest into the depths , as a stone into the mighty waters . And thou leddest them in the day by a pillar of cloud , and in the night by a pillar of fire , to give them light in the way wherein they should go . And thou camest down on mount Sinai , and didst speak with them from the heavens , and gavest them right judgments and true laws , good statutes and commandments . And thou madest known unto them thy holy sabbath , and prescribedst for them commandments and statutes and a law , through Moses thy servant . And thou gavest them bread from the heavens for their hunger , and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst , and didst say to them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them . But they , our fathers , dealt proudly , and hardened their neck , and hearkened not to thy commandments , and refused to obey , neither were they mindful of thy wonders which thou hadst done among them ; but hardened their neck , and in their rebellion made a captain to return to their bondage . But thou art a God ready to forgive , gracious and merciful , slow to anger and of great loving-kindness , and thou forsookest them not . Yea , when they had made them a molten calf , and said , This is thy god that brought thee up out of Egypt ! and they had wrought great provocation , yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness . The pillar of the cloud departed not from over them by day , to lead them on the way ; neither the pillar of fire by night , to shew them light , and the way wherein they should go . Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them , and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth , and gavest them water for their thirst . Yea , forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness ; they lacked nothing ; their clothes grew not old , and their feet swelled not . And thou gavest them kingdoms and peoples , and didst divide them by countries ; and they possessed the land of Sihon , as well the land of the king of Heshbon , as the land of Og king of Bashan . And their children thou didst multiply as the stars of heaven , and thou broughtest them into the land concerning which thou didst say to their fathers that they should go in to possess it . And the children went in and possessed the land ; and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land , the Canaanites , and gavest them into their hands , both their kings and the peoples of the land , that they might do with them as they would . And they took strong cities , and a fat land , and possessed houses full of all good things , wells digged , vineyards and olive-gardens , and fruit trees in abundance . And they did eat and were filled , and became fat , and delighted themselves in thy great goodness . But they were disobedient , and rebelled against thee , and cast thy law behind their backs , and slew thy prophets who testified against them to turn them to thee , and they wrought great provocations . And thou gavest them into the hand of their oppressors , and they oppressed them ; and in the time of their distress , when they cried unto thee , thou heardest them from the heavens , and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours , who saved them out of the hand of their oppressors . But when they had rest , they did evil again before thee ; and thou didst leave them in the hand of their enemies , and they had dominion over them ; and again they cried unto thee , and thou heardest [ them ] from the heavens , and many times didst thou deliver them , according to thy mercies . And thou testifiedst against them , that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law ; but they dealt proudly , and hearkened not unto thy commandments , but sinned against thine ordinances ( which if a man do , he shall live in them ) ; and they withdrew the shoulder , and hardened their neck , and would not hear . And many years didst thou forbear with them , and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit through thy prophets ; but they would not give ear : and thou gavest them into the hand of the peoples of the lands . Nevertheless for thy manifold mercies' sake , thou didst not make a full end of them nor forsake them ; for thou art a gracious and merciful God . And now , our God , the great , the mighty , and the terrible God , who keepest covenant and loving-kindness , let not all the trouble seem little before thee , that hath come upon us , on our kings , on our princes , and on our priests , and on our prophets , and on our fathers , and on all thy people , since the days of the kings of Assyria unto this day . But thou art just in all that is come upon us ; for thou hast acted according to truth , and we have done wickedly . And our kings , our princes , our priests , and our fathers , have not performed thy law , nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies , wherewith thou didst testify against them . And they have not served thee in their kingdom , and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them , and in the large and fat land that thou didst set before them , neither turned they from their wicked works . Behold , we are servants this day , and the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof , behold , we are bondmen in it . And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins : and they have dominion over our bodies , and over our cattle , at their pleasure ; and we are in great distress . And because of all this we make a sure covenant , and write it ; and our princes , our Levites , [ and ] our priests are at the sealing . And at the head of those that sealed were Nehemiah the Tirshatha , the son of Hachaliah , and Zedekiah . -- Seraiah , Azariah , Jeremiah , Pashhur , Amariah , Malchijah , Hattush , Shebaniah , Malluch , Harim , Meremoth , Obadiah , Daniel , Ginnethon , Baruch , Meshullam , Abijah , Mijamin , Maaziah , Bilgai , Shemaiah : these were the priests . -- And the Levites : Jeshua the son of Azaniah ; Binnui , of the sons of Henadad ; Kadmiel , and their brethren , Shebaniah , Hodijah , Kelita , Pelaiah , Hanan , Mica , Rehob , Hashabiah , Zaccur , Sherebiah , Shebaniah , Hodijah , Bani , Beninu . -- The chief of the people : Parosh , Pahath-Moab , Elam , Zatthu , Bani , Bunni , Azgad , Bebai , Adonijah , Bigvai , Adin , Ater , Hezekiah , Azzur , Hodijah , Hashum , Bezai , Hariph , Anathoth , Nebai , Magpiash , Meshullam , Hezir , Meshezabeel , Zadok , Jaddua , Pelatiah , Hanan , Anaiah , Hoshea , Hananiah , Hashub , Hallohesh , Pilha , Shobek , Rehum , Hashabnah , Maaseiah , and Ahijah , Hanan , Anan , Malluch , Harim , Baanah . And the rest of the people , the priests , the Levites , the doorkeepers , the singers , the Nethinim , and all they that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God , their wives , their sons and their daughters , every one having knowledge [ and ] having understanding , joined with their brethren , their nobles , and entered into a curse and into an oath , to walk in the law of God , which had been given by Moses the servant of God , and to keep and do all the commandments of Jehovah our Lord , and his ordinances and his statutes ; and that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land , nor take their daughters for our sons : and that if the peoples of the land brought wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell , we would not take it of them on the sabbath , or on [ any ] holy day ; and that we would leave [ the land uncultivated ] the seventh year , and the exaction of every debt . And we made ordinances for us , to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God , for the bread to be set in rows , and for the continual oblation , and for the continual burnt-offering , [ for that ] of the sabbaths [ and ] of the new moons , for the set feasts and for the holy [ things ] , and for the sin-offerings to make an atonement for Israel , and [ for ] all the work of the house of our God . And we cast the lots among the priests , the Levites , and the people , for the wood-offering , to bring [ it ] into the house of our God , according to our fathers' houses , at times appointed year by year , to burn upon the altar of Jehovah our God , as it is written in the law ; and to bring the first-fruits of our land , and the first-fruits of all fruit of all trees , year by year to the house of Jehovah , and the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle , as it is written in the law ; and to bring the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God , to the priests that minister in the house of our God ; and that we should bring the first-fruits of our coarse meal and our heave-offerings , and the fruit of all manner of trees , new wine and oil , to the priests , into the chambers of the house of our God , and the tithes of our ground to the Levites , that they , the Levites , should take the tithes in all the cities of our tillage . And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites , when the Levites take tithes ; and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God , into the chambers of the treasure-house . For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the heave-offering of the corn , of the new wine and the oil , into the chambers , where are the vessels of the sanctuary , and the priests that minister , and the doorkeepers and the singers . And we will not forsake the house of our God . And the princes of the people dwelt in Jerusalem ; and the rest of the people cast lots , to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem , the holy city , and nine parts in the cities . And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem . And these are the chiefs of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem ; but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities , Israel , the priests , and the Levites , and the Nethinim , and the children of Solomon's servants . And in Jerusalem dwelt some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin . Of the children of Judah : Athaiah the son of Uzziah , the son of Zechariah , the son of Amariah , the son of Shephatiah , the son of Mahalaleel , of the children of Pherez ; and Maaseiah the son of Baruch , the son of Col-hozeh , the son of Hazaiah , the son of Adaiah , the son of Joiarib , the son of Zechariah , the son of Shiloni . All the children of Pherez that dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men . And these are the children of Benjamin : Sallu the son of Meshullam , the son of Joed , the son of Pedaiah , the son of Kolaiah , the son of Maaseiah , the son of Ithiel , the son of Isaiah ; and after him , Gabbai , Sallai , nine hundred and twenty-eight : and Joel the son of Zicri was their overseer , and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city . Of the priests : Jedaiah [ the son of ] Joiarib , Jachin , Seraiah the son of Hilkijah , the son of Meshullam , the son of Zadok , the son of Meraioth , the son of Ahitub , the ruler of the house of God . And their brethren that did the work of the house , eight hundred and twenty-two ; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham , the son of Pelaliah , the son of Amzi , the son of Zechariah , the son of Pashhur , the son of Malchijah ; and his brethren , chief fathers , two hundred and forty-two ; and Amassai the son of Azareel , the son of Ahzai , the son of Meshillemoth , the son of Immer ; and their brethren , mighty men of valour , a hundred and twenty-eight : and their overseer was Zabdiel the son of Gedolim . And of the Levites : Shemaiah the son of Hasshub , the son of Azrikam , the son of Hashabiah , the son of Bunni ; and Shabbethai and Jozabad , of the chiefs of the Levites , [ who were ] over the outward work of the house of God ; and Mattaniah the son of Mica , the son of Zabdi , the son of Asaph , [ who was ] the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer ; and Bakbukiah , the second among his brethren ; and Abda the son of Shammua , the son of Galal , the son of Jeduthun : all the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four . And the doorkeepers , Akkub , Talmon , and their brethren , that kept watch at the gates , were a hundred and seventy-two . And the residue of Israel , the priests , [ and ] the Levites , were in all the cities of Judah , every one in his inheritance . And the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel ; and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinim . And the overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani , the son of Hashabiah , the son of Mattaniah , the son of Mica , of the sons of Asaph , the singers , for the work of the house of God . For it was the king's commandment concerning them , and there was a settled portion for the singers , due for each day . And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel , of the children of Zerah the son of Judah , was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people . And as to the hamlets in their fields , [ some ] of the children of Judah dwelt in Kirjath-Arba and its dependent villages , and in Dibon and its dependent villages , and in Jekabzeel and its dependent villages , and in Jeshua , and in Moladah , and in Beth-phelet , and in Hazar-Shual , and in Beer-sheba and its dependent villages , and in Ziklag , and in Meconah and its dependent villages ; and in En-Rimmon , and in Zorah , and in Jarmuth , Zanoah , Adullam , and their hamlets , in Lachish and its fields , in Azekah and its dependent villages : and they encamped from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom . And the children of Benjamin from Geba [ dwelt ] in Michmash and Aija and Bethel , and their dependent villages , in Anathoth , Nob , Ananiah , Hazor , Ramah , Gittaim , Hadid , Zeboim , Neballat , Lod , and Ono , the valley of craftsmen . And of the Levites there were divisions of Judah [ dwelling ] in Benjamin . And these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel , and Jeshua : Seraiah , Jeremiah , Ezra , Amariah , Malluch , Hattush , Shechaniah , Rehum , Meremoth , Iddo , Ginnethoi , Abijah , Mijamin , Maadiah , Bilgah , Shemaiah , and Joiarib , Jedaiah , Sallu , Amok , Hilkijah , Jedaiah . These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua . And the Levites : Jeshua , Binnui , Kadmiel , Sherebiah , Judah , Mattaniah , [ who was ] over the thanksgiving , he and his brethren ; and Bakbukiah and Unni , their brethren , were over against them as watches . And Jeshua begot Joiakim , and Joiakim begot Eliashib , and Eliashib begot Joiada , and Joiada begot Jonathan , and Jonathan begot Jaddua . And in the days of Joiakim were priests , chief fathers : of Seraiah , Meraiah ; of Jeremiah , Hananiah ; of Ezra , Meshullam ; of Amariah , Jehohanan ; of Melicu , Jonathan ; of Shebaniah , Joseph ; of Harim , Adna ; of Meraioth , Helkai ; of Iddo , Zechariah ; of Ginnethon , Meshullam ; of Abijah , Zichri ; of Miniamin [ and ] Moadiah , Piltai ; of Bilgah , Shammua ; of Shemaiah , Jehonathan ; and of Joiarib , Mattenai ; of Jedaiah , Uzzi ; of Sallai , Kallai ; of Amok , Eber ; of Hilkijah , Hashabiah ; of Jedaiah , Nethaneel . of the Levites , the chief fathers were recorded in the days of Eliashib , Joiada , and Johanan , and Jaddua , and the priests , until the reign of Darius the Persian . The children of Levi , the chief fathers , were recorded in the book of the chronicles , even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib . And the chief Levites : Hashabiah , Sherebiah , and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel , with their brethren over against them , to praise [ and ] to give thanks , according to the commandment of David the man of God , ward over against ward . Mattaniah and Bakbukiah , Obadiah , Meshullam , Talmon , Akkub , were doorkeepers keeping the ward at the storehouses of the gates . These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua the son of Jozadak , and in the days of Nehemiah the governor , and of Ezra the priest , the scribe . And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places , to bring them to Jerusalem , to hold the dedication with gladness , both with thanksgivings , and with singing , [ with ] cymbals , lutes and harps . And the children of the singers were assembled , both from the plain [ of Jordan ] round about Jerusalem , and from the villages of the Netophathites , also from Beth-Gilgal , and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth ; for the singers had built themselves hamlets round about Jerusalem . And the priests and the Levites purified themselves ; and they purified the people , and the gates and the wall . And I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall , and appointed two great choirs and processions , on the right hand upon the wall towards the dung-gate . And after them went Hoshaiah , and half of the princes of Judah , and Azariah , Ezra , and Meshullam , Judah and Benjamin , and Shemaiah , and Jeremiah , and [ certain ] of the priests' sons with trumpets : Zechariah the son of Jonathan , the son of Shemaiah , the son of Mattaniah , the son of Micaiah , the son of Zaccur , the son of Asaph ; and his brethren , Shemaiah , and Azareel , Milalai , Gilalai , Maai , Nethaneel , and Judah , Hanani , with the musical instruments of David the man of God ; and Ezra the scribe before them . And at the fountain-gate , and over against them , they went up by the stairs of the city of David , at the ascent of the wall , above the house of David , even to the water-gate eastward . And the second choir went in the opposite direction upon the wall , and I after them , and the half of the people , from beyond the tower of the furnaces even to the broad wall ; and from above the gate of Ephraim , and above the gate of the old [ wall ] , and above the fish-gate , and the tower of Hananeel , and the tower of Meah , even to the sheep-gate ; and they stood still in the prison-gate . And both choirs stood in the house of God , and I , and the half of the rulers with me ; and the priests , Eliakim , Maaseiah , Miniamin , Micaiah , Elioenai , Zechariah , Hananiah , with trumpets ; and Maaseiah , and Shemaiah , and Eleazar , and Uzzi , and Jehohanan , and Malchijah , and Elam , and Ezer . And the singers sang loud ; and Jizrahiah was their overseer . And that day they offered great sacrifices , and rejoiced : for God had made them rejoice with great joy ; and also the women and the children rejoiced . And the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off . And at that time men were appointed over the chambers of the treasures for the heave-offerings , for the first-fruits , and for the tithes , to gather into them , out of the fields of the cities , the portions assigned by the law for the priests and the Levites ; for Judah rejoiced over the priests , and over the Levites that waited . And , with the singers and the doorkeepers , they kept the ward of their God , and the ward of the purification , according to the commandment of David [ and ] of Solomon his son . For of old , in the days of David and Asaph , there were the chiefs of the singers , and songs of praise and thanksgivings to God . And all Israel , in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah , gave the portions of the singers and the doorkeepers , every day what was needed , and they consecrated things for the Levites ; and the Levites consecrated for the children of Aaron . On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people ; and there was found written in it that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever ; because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and with water , and had hired Balaam against them , to curse them ; but our God turned the curse into blessing . And it came to pass , when they heard the law , that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude . And before this , Eliashib the priest , who had the oversight of the chambers of the house of our God , a kinsman of Tobijah , had prepared for him a great chamber , where formerly they laid the oblations , the frankincense , and the vessels , and the tithes of the corn , the new wine and the oil , which was commanded for the Levites and the singers and the doorkeepers , and the heave-offerings of the priests . And during all that [ time ] I was not at Jerusalem ; for in the two-and-thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king ; and after some time I obtained leave of the king . And I came to Jerusalem , and observed the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobijah , in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God . And it grieved me much , and I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobijah out of the chamber . And I commanded , and they purified the chambers ; and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God , the oblation and the frankincense . And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given , and that the Levites and the singers that did the work had fled every one to his field . Then I contended with the rulers , and said , Why is the house of God forsaken ? And I gathered them together and set them in their place . And all Judah brought the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil into the storehouses . And I made storekeepers over the storehouses : Shelemiah the priest , and Zadok the scribe , and of the Levites , Pedaiah ; and subordinate to them , Hanan the son of Zaccur , the son of Mattaniah ; for they were esteemed faithful , and their office was to distribute to their brethren . Remember me , O my God , concerning this , and wipe not out my good deeds which I have done for the house of my God , and for the charges thereof ! In those days I saw in Judah some treading winepresses on the sabbath , and bringing in sheaves , and lading them on asses ; as also wine , grapes and figs , and all manner of burdens ; and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day ; and I protested in the day on which they sold the victuals . Men of Tyre also dwelt therein , who brought fish and all manner of ware , and sold it on the sabbath to the children of Judah , and in Jerusalem . And I contended with the nobles of Judah , and said to them , What evil thing is this which ye do , profaning the sabbath day ? Did not your fathers thus , and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city ? And ye will bring more wrath against Israel by profaning the sabbath . And it came to pass , that when it began to be dark in the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath , I commanded that the gates should be shut ; and I commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath . And I set [ some ] of my servants at the gates , so that no burden should be brought in on the sabbath day . And the dealers and sellers of all kind of ware passed the night without Jerusalem once or twice . And I testified against them , and said to them , Why do ye pass the night before the wall ? if ye do so again , I will lay hands on you . From that time forth they came not on the sabbath . And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves , and that they should come and keep the gates , to hallow the sabbath day . Remember this also for me , my God , and spare me according to thy great loving-kindness ! In those days also I saw Jews that had married wives of Ashdod , of Ammon , [ and ] of Moab . And their children spoke half in the language of Ashdod , and could not speak in the Jews' language , but according to the language of each people . And I contended with them , and cursed them , and smote certain of them and plucked off their hair , and adjured them by God [ saying ] , Ye shall not give your daughters to their sons , nor take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves . Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things ? Yet among the many nations was there no king like him , who was beloved of his God , and God made him king over all Israel ; but even him did foreign wives cause to sin . And should we hearken to you to do all this great evil , to act unfaithfully to our God by marrying foreign wives ? And [ one ] of the sons of Joiada , the son of Eliashib the high priest , was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite ; and I chased him from me . Remember them , my God , for they are polluters of the priesthood , and of the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites ! And I purified them from all foreigners , and appointed the charges of the priests and the Levites , every one in his service ; and for the wood-offering , at times appointed , and for the first-fruits . Remember me , O my God , for good !