Neh 13 | ABEn | STEP | In that day they read in the scroll of Moses into the ears of the people. And it was found written in it how that [ 4 should not 5 enter 1 the Ammonite 2 and 3 Moabite] into the assembly of God unto the eon.

Nehemiah 13

CHAPTER 13 The Separation of the Intermixed People

1 In that day they read in the scroll of Moses into the ears of the people. And it was found written in it how that [⁴should not ⁵enter ¹the Ammonite ²and ³Moabite] into the assembly of God unto the eon. 2 For they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, and they hired against them Balaam to curse them. And [²turned ¹our God] the curse into a blessing. 3 And it came to pass as they heard the law, that they separated all the intermixed in Israel. 4 And before this Eliashib the priest lived in the treasury of the house of our God, near Tobiah. 5 And he made for him [²treasury ¹a great], and there they were formerly giving the sacrifice offering, and the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tenth of the grain, and of the wine, and of the olive oil, a commandment of the Levites, and of the singers, and of the gatekeepers, and the first-fruits of the priests. 6 And during all this I was not in Jerusalem. For in [⁴year ¹the thirtieth ²and ³second] of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king, and after the end of the days I asked things of the king. 7 And I came into Jerusalem, and I perceived the wickedness which Eliashib did for Tobiah, to make for him a treasury in the courtyard of the house of God. 8 And [³wicked ⁴to me ¹it appeared ²exceedingly], and I tossed all the items of the house of Tobiah outside of the treasury. 9 And I spoke, and they cleansed the treasuries. And I returned there the vessels of the house of God for the sacrifice offering and the frankincense. 10 And I knew that the portions of the Levites were not given them; and [²fled ¹every man] unto his own field, the Levites and the singers, and ones doing the work. 11 And I quarreled with the commandants, and said, Why did it abandon the house of God? And I gathered them, and set them at their station. 12 And all Judah brought a tenth of the wheat and of the wine and of the olive oil into the treasuries. 13 And I gave charge unto the hand of Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites; and near their hand was Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah. For [²trustworthy ¹they were considered], as it was upon them to portion out to their brethren. 14 Remember me, O God, in this! that [²should not be wiped away ¹my acts of mercy], which I did in the house of the lord my God, and in his watches.

The Sabbath Profaned

15 In those days I beheld in Judah ones treading the wine vats on the Sabbath, and bringing sheaves, and loading upon the donkeys; even wine, and the grape cluster, and figs, and every burden, and bringing them into Jerusalem on the day of the Sabbath. And I attested to them in the day of their sale. 16 For [⁴sold ⁵provision ¹even ²the ones ³of Tyre], and sat by it bringing fish, and [²every item ³for sale ¹selling] on the Sabbath to the sons of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 And I quarreled with the free men of Judah, and I said to them, What is [³matter ¹this ²wicked] which you do, and profane the day of the Sabbath? 18 Did not [³thus ²do ¹your fathers], and [²brought ³upon ⁴them ¹our God] and upon us all these evils, even upon this city? And you add to the anger upon Israel to profane the Sabbath. 19 And it came to pass when [²were stood ¹the gates] in Jerusalem before the Sabbath, that I spoke, and they locked the gates. And I spoke so as to not open them until after the Sabbath. And [²some of ³my young men ¹I stood] at the gates, so as to not lift burdens on the day of the Sabbath. 20 And [⁴lodged ¹all ²the ³traders] and did business outside of Jerusalem once or twice. 21 And I testified to them, and I said to them, Why do you lodge before the wall? If you repeat it a second time, I will stretch out my hand against you. From that time they did not come on the Sabbath. 22 And I spoke to the Levites who were being cleansed, and the ones coming guarding the gates to sanctify the day of the Sabbath. For these things remember me, O my God, and spare me according to the magnitude of your mercy! 23 And in those days I saw the Jews who settled with wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and Moab. 24 And their sons [²half ¹were speaking] Ashdodish, and are not knowing to speak Jewish, but spoke according to the language of this people and that people. 25 And I quarreled with them, and cursed them, and I struck some of their men, and I plucked their hair, and I bound them to an oath by God, You shall not give your daughters to their sons, and you shall not indeed take of their daughters for your sons, and to yourselves. 26 Did not [⁴thus ⁵sin ¹Solomon ²king ³of Israel]? and among [²nations ¹many] there was not a king likened to him, and [²one being loved ³by God ¹he was], and [²appointed ³him ¹God] as king over all Israel, and in this [⁴turned him aside ¹the ³wives ²alien]. 27 So [³with you ¹should we not ²hearken] to do this wickedness, to break contract with our God, and to settle with [²wives ¹alien]? 28 And from the sons of Joiada, Eliashib the [²priest ¹great], in-law to Sanballat the Horonite -- even I threw him from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, for they were against the right of inheritance of the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites! 30 And I cleansed them from all alien connection, and I set the daily rotations for the priests and for the Levites, every man according to his work; 31 even for the gift of the wood offerings in seasons, from times, and in the first produce. Remember me, O our God, for goodness!