Nehemiah

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace 2 that Hanani, one of my brethren, came; he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me: The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach; the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire. 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the Elohim of Heaven, 5 and said: I beseech you, O Adonai, Elohim of Heaven, the great and terrible El, who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love Him and observe His commandments: 6 Let Your ear now be attentive, and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant, which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against You; both I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have dealt very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember, I beseech you, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying: If you transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations, 9 but if you turn to Me, and keep My commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out to the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen to set My Name there! 10 Now, these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. 11 O Adonai, I beseech You; let now Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants, who desire to fear Your Name, and prosper, I pray You, Your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

1 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 not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2 Wherefore the king said to me: Why is your countenance sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart! Then I was very sore afraid, 3 and said to the king: Let the king live forever! 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? 4 Then the king said to me: For what do you make request? So I prayed to the Elohim of Heaven. 5 And I said to the king: If it please the king and if your servant have found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. 6 The king said to me (the queen also sitting by him): For how long shall your journey be and when will you return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7 Moreover I said to the king: If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah. 8 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 appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. So the king granted me, according to the good hand of my Elohim upon me. 9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now, the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I anyone what my Elohim had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. 13 I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with fire. 14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool, but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned. 16 And the rulers did not know where I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work. 17 Then said I to them: You see the distress that we are in, how 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. 18 Then I told them of the hand of my Elohim which was good upon me, as also the king's words that he had spoken to me. And they said: Let us rise up and build! So they strengthened their hands for this good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said: What is this thing that you do? Will you rebel against the king? 20 Then I answered them, and said to them: The Elohim of Heaven will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build. But you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even to the tower of Meah they sanctified it, to the tower of Hananeel. 2 And next to him built the men of Jericho. And next to them built Zaccur the son of Imri. 3 But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid its beams, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars. 4 And next to them were Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next to them were Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next to them were Zadok the son of Baana. 5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles did not put their necks to the work of their Adon. 6 Moreover Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the old gate; they laid the beams, and set up the doors, and the locks, and the bars. 7 And next to them were Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, to the throne of the governor on this side of the river. 8 Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths repaired. Next to him also was Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem to the broad wall. 9 And next to them was Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem. 10 And next to them was Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next to him was Hattush the son of Hashabniah. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces. 12 And next to him was Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters. 13 The valley gate was repaired by Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors, the locks, and the bars, and a thousand cubits on the wall to the dung gate. 14 But the dung gate was repaired by Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors, the locks, and the bars. 15 But the gate of the fountain was repaired by Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors, the locks, and the bars, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and to the stairs that go down from the City of David. 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Bethzur, repaired to the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty. 17 After him were the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani, then Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part. 18 After him were their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah. 19 And next to him was Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the corner of the wall. 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 After him Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz repaired another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22 And after him were the priests, the men of the plain. 23 Then Benjamin and Hashub repaired over against their house. Then Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah repaired by his house. another piece, from the house of Azariah to the turning of the wall, even to the corner. 25 Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lies out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh. 26 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, to the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lies out. 27 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lies out, even to the wall of Ophel. 28 From above the horse gate the priests worked, everyone over against his house. 29 After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired over against his house. After him was Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate. 30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another piece. Next to him Meshullam the son of Berechiah worked over against his chamber. 31 After him Malchiah the goldsmith's son repaired to the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner. 32 And between the going up of the corner to the sheep gate the goldsmiths and the merchants toiled.

1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said: What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? 3 Now, Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said: Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. 4 Hear, O our Elohim; for we are despised, and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity. 5 They do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You, for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. 6 So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to the half, for the people had a mind to work. 7 But it came to pass that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, 8 and conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. 9 Nevertheless, we made our prayer to our Elohim, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 10 And Judah said: The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall! 11 And our adversaries said: They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease! 12 So it came to pass that when the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said to us ten times: From all places whence you shall return to us they will be upon you! 13 Therefore, I set in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked, and rose up, and said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people: Do not be afraid of them; remember Adonai, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. 15 And it came to pass when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and Elohim had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, everyone to his work. 16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 17 They who built on the wall, and they who bare burdens, with those who loaded, everyone with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. 18 For the builders, everyone had his sword girded by his side, and so built. And he who sounded the trumpet was by me. 19 And I said to the nobles and to the rulers and to the rest of the people: The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. 20 In what place therefore you hear the sound of the trumpet, resort there to us. Our Elohim shall fight for us! 21 So we labored in the work, and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. 22 Likewise at the same time I said to the people: Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labor on the day! 23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that everyone put them off for washing.

1 There was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. 2 For there were some who said: We, our sons, and our daughters, are many; therefore, we take up grain for them, that we may eat, and live! 3 There were some who said: We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy grain, because of the dearth! 4 There were some also who said: We have borrowed money for the king's taxes, using our lands and vineyards as security! 5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children, and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought to bondage already; neither is it in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards! 6 I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said to them: You exact usury, everyone of his brother. So I set a great assembly against them 8 and I said to them: We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, who were sold to the heathen; and will you even sell your brethren? Or shall they be sold to us? Then they held their peace, and found nothing to answer. 9 Also I said: It is not good that you do; should you not walk in the fear of our Elohim because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? 10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the wine, and the oil, that you exact of them. 12 Then they agreed, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so we will do as you say. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. 13 Also I shook my lap and said: So Elohim shake out, every man from his house, and from his labor, who does not perform this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said: Amen and praised YHVH! Then the people did according to this promise. 14 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; that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread payable to the governor. 15 But the former governors who had been before me were chargeable to the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants bare rule over the people. But I did not so because of the fear of Elohim. 16 Yes, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither did we buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there to the work. 17 Moreover, there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those who came to us from among the heathen who are about us. 18 Now, that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also birds were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this I declined the remuneration payable to the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. 19 Think upon me, my Elohim, for good, according to all that I have done for this people!

1 Now, it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, 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 upon the gates) 2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying: Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. 3 And I sent messengers to them, saying: I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? 4 Yet they sent to me four times after this sort, and I answered them after the same manner. 5 Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, 6 wherein was written: It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu said it, that you and the Jews think to rebel, for which cause you build the wall, that you may be their king, according to these words! 7 And you have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying: There is a king in Judah, and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together! 8 Then I sent to him, saying: There are no such things done as you say, but you feign them out of your own heart! 9 For they all made us afraid, saying: Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O Elohim, strengthen my hands. 10 Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, which was closed up; and he said: Let us meet together in the House of Elohim, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they will come to slay you; yes, in the night will they come to slay you! 11 And I said: Should such a man as I flee? And who is there, who, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in! 12 And lo, I perceived that Elohim had not sent him, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me, for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 Therefore was he hired, 13 because he was in their pay, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. 14 My Elohim, think upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, who would have put me in fear! 15 So the wall was finished in the twenty fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty two days. 16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard of it, and all the heathen who were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was wrought of our Elohim. 17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them. 18 For there were many in Judah sworn to him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

1 Now, it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 2 that I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man, and feared Elohim above many. 3 And I said to them: Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them, and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and everyone to be over against his house. 4 Now the city was large and great, but the people were few in it, and the houses were not built. 5 And my Elohim put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and found written in it: 6 These are the children of the province, who went up out of the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city, 7 who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this: 8 The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy two. 9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy two. 10 The children of Arah, six hundred and fifty two. 11 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen. 12 The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty four. 13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred and forty five. 14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty. 15 The children of Binnui, six hundred and forty eight. 16 The children of Bebai, six hundred and twenty eight. 17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty two. 18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty seven. 19 The children of Bigvai, two thousand and sixty seven. 20 The children of Adin, six hundred and fifty five. 21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety eight. 22 The children of Hashum, three hundred and twenty eight. 23 The children of Bezai, three hundred and twenty four. 24 The children of Hariph, one hundred and twelve. 25 The children of Gibeon, ninety five. 26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred and eighty eight. 27 The men of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty eight. 28 The men of Bethazmaveth, forty two. 29 The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty three. 30 The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred and twenty one. 31 The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty two. 32 The men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty three. 33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty two. 34 The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty four. 35 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. 36 The children of Jericho, three hundred and forty five. 37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty one. 38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty. 39 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy three. 40 The children of Immer, one thousand and fifty two. 41 The children of Pashur, one thousand two hundred and forty seven. 42 The children of Harim, one thousand and seventeen. 43 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy four. 44 The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred and forty eight. 45 The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, one hundred and thirty eight. 46 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth. 47 The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon. 48 The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai. 49 The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar. 50 The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda. 51 The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah. 52 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim. 53 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur. 54 The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha. 55 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah. 56 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 57 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida. 58 The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel. 59 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon. 60 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred and ninety two. 61 And these were they who went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer. But they could not prove their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel. 62 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred and forty two. 63 And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, and the children of Barzillai who took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name. 64 These sought their register among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found. Therefore they were, as polluted, put from the priesthood. 65 And the Tirshatha said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. 66 The whole congregation together was forty two thousand three hundred and sixty, 67 beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty seven, and they had two hundred and forty five singing men and singing women. 68 Their horses, seven hundred and thirty six; their mules, two hundred and forty five; 69 their camels, four hundred and thirty five; six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses. 70 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests' garments. 71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand two hundred pound of silver. 72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and sixty seven priests' garments. 73 So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which YHVH had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 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, 6 and Ezra blessed YHVH, the great Elohim. And all the people answered: Amen! Amen! And lifting up their hands they bowed their heads and worshiped YHVH with their faces to the ground. 7 Also 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. 8 So they read in the book in the law of Elohim distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people: This day is holy unto Adonai your Elohim; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them: Go your way, eat the best and drink the sweet, and send portions to them for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy unto our Adon! Neither be sorry, for the joy of YHVH is your strength! 11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying: Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be you grieved! 12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. 13 On the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. 14 And they found written in the law which YHVH had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying: Go forth to the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written! 16 So 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 Elohim, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the congregation of those who were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths, for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun, to that day, the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. 18 Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of Elohim. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the manner.

1 Now, in the twenty fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sack clothes, and earth upon them. 2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 They stood up in their place and read in the book of the law of YHVH their Elohim, one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshiped YHVH their Elohim. 4 Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice to YHVH their Elohim. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said: Stand up and bless Adonai your El, forever and ever, and blessed be Your glorious Name, which is exalted above all, blessing and praise. 6 You, even You, are YHVH alone! You have made heaven, the Heaven of heavens, with all their host; and the earth, and all things that are in it; the seas, and all that is in it! And You preserve them all, and the host of Heaven worships You! 7 You are YHVH, The Elohim, who choose Abram and brought him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful before You, and made a 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, I say, to his seed, and have performed your words; for You are righteous! 9 And saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea; 10 and showed signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land. For You knew that they dealt proudly against them. So You won Yourself a Name, as it is this day. 11 And You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors You threw into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters. 12 Moreover, You led them in the day by a cloudy pillar, and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go. 13 You came down also upon mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments! 14 You made known to them Hour holy sabbath, and commanded them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses your servant. 15 You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promised them that they should go in to possess the land which You had sworn to give them. 16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and did not listen to Your commandments, 17 and refused to obey, neither were mindful of your wonders that you did among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are an El ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsook them not. 18 Yes, when they had made a molten calf, and said: This is your El who brought you up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations! 19 Yet You, in Your manifold mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness; the pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go. 20 You gave also Your good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. 21 Yes, You sustained them forty years in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes did not grow old, and their feet did not swell. 22 Moreover, You gave them kingdoms and nations, and divided them into corners, so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan. 23 You multiplied their children also, as the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land, concerning which you had promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it. 24 So, the children went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would. 25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells dug, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance; so they ate, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness. 26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against You, and cast Your law behind their backs, and slew Your prophets who testified against them to turn them to You, and they wrought great provocations. 27 Therefore, You delivered them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them, and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to You, You heard them from Heaven; and according to Your manifold mercies You gave them deliverers who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. 28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before You. Therefore, You left them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them. Yet, when they returned, and cried to You, You heard them from Heaven; and many times did You deliver them according to Your mercies, 29 and testified against them, that You might bring them again to Your law. Yet they dealt proudly and did not hearken to Your commandments, but sinned against Your judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. 30 Yet many years You did forbear them, and testified against them by Your Spirit in your prophets. Yet would they not give ear; therefore, You gave them into the hand of the people of the lands. 31 Nevertheless for Your great mercies' sake You did not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for You are a gracious and merciful El. 32 Now therefore, our Elohim, the great and mighty, who keeps covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before You, that has come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all Your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day. 33 Howbeit You are just in all that is brought upon us; for You have done right, but we have done wickedly: 34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept Your law, nor hearkened to Your commandments and testimonies, wherewith You testified against them. 35 For they have not served You in their kingdom, and in Your great goodness that You gave them, and in the large and fat land which You gave before them, neither turned they from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that You gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good, behold, we are servants in it. 37 And it yields much increase to the kings whom You have set over us because of our sins; also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. 38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal to it.

1 Now those who sealed were: Nehemiah the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests. 9 And the Levites, both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel, 10 and their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu. 14 The chief of the people: Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani, 15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur, 18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai, 19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub, 24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek, 25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26 Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim, and Baanah. 28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they who had separated themselves from the people of the lands to the law of Elohim, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone having knowledge, and having understanding; 29 they clung to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in Elohim's law, which was given by Moses the servant of Elohim, and to observe and do all the commandments of YHVH our Adon, and His judgments and His statutes. 30 And that we would not give our daughters to the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons. 31 And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day, and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt. 32 Also, we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the House of our Elohim, 33 for the showbread, and for the continual food offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, 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 Elohim. 34 So, we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the House of our Elohim, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of Adonai our Elohim, as it is written in the law. 35 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the House of Elohim. 36 Also, the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the House of our Elohim, to the priests who minister in the House of our Elohim. 37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the House of our Elohim; and the tithes of our ground to the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. 38 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 Elohim, to the chambers, into the treasure house. 39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine, and the oil, to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, and the priests who minister, and the porters, and the singers, and we will not forsake the House of our Elohim.

1 And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. 2 And the people blessed all the men, who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. 3 Now, these are the chief of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah, dwelt everyone in his possession in their cities; to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants. 4 At Jerusalem dwelt certain 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 Perez. 5 And Maaseiah, the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni. 6 All the sons of Perez who dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty eight valiant men. 7 These are the sons 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 Jesaiah. 8 And after him, Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred and twenty eight. 9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city. 10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin; 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the House of Elohim. 12 And their brethren who did the work of the house were 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 Pashur, the son of Malchiah. 13 And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred and forty two, and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer. 14 And their brethren, mighty men of valor, a hundred and twenty eight, and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men. 15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the House of Elohim. 17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, 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. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty four. 19 Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren who kept the gates, were a hundred and seventy two. 20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance. 21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims. 22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the House of Elohim. 23 For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due forevery day. 24 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. 25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in its villages, and at Dibon, and in its villages, and at Jekabzeel, and in its villages, 26 and at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet, 27 and at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the nearby villages, 28 and at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the nearby villages, 29 and at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and its fields, at Azekah, and in its villages. And they dwelt from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom. 31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages, 32 and at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.

1 Now, these are the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, 5 Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua. 8 Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches. 10 And Jeshua fathered Joiakim, Joiakim also fathered Eliashib, and Eliashib fathered Joiada, 11 and Joiada fathered Jonathan, and Jonathan fathered Jaddua. 12 In the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; 18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel. 22 The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers; also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. 24 And the chief of the 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 Elohim, ward over against ward. 25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates. 26 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. 27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi. 29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built villages round about Jerusalem. 30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall. 31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of those who gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate. 32 After them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah, 33 and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, 34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, 35 and certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph. 36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of Elohim, and Ezra the scribe before them. 37 At the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the City of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even to the water gate eastward. 38 And the other company of those who gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even to the broad wall, 39 and from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, 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. 40 So stood the two companies of those who gave thanks in the House of Elohim, and I, and the half of the rulers with me. 41 And the priests: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 and Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. 43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for Elohim had made them rejoice with great joy; the wives also and the children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. 44 And at that time some were appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites, for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites who waited. 45 And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their Elohim, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. 46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to Elohim. 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion, and they sanctified holy things to the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them to the children of Aaron.

1 On that day, they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and in it was found written that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of Elohim forever, 2 because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our Elohim turned the curse into a blessing. 3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. 4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the House of our Elohim, was allied to Tobiah. 5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the food offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. 6 But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem, for in the thirty second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king, and after certain days I obtained leave of the king. 7 So I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the House of Elohim. 8 And it grieved me sore! Therefore, I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers, and there brought I again the vessels of the House of Elohim, with the food offering and the frankincense. 10 Then I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, for the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled, everyone to his field. 11 Then I contended with the rulers, and said: Why is the House of Elohim forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries. 13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries; Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah, and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute to their brethren. 14 Remember me, O my Elohim, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the House of my Elohim, and for its offices. 15 In those days I saw in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day, and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. 16 Men of Tyre also dwelt in it, who brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them: What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our Elohim bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? Yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. 19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath, and some of my servants I set at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. 20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 Then I warned them, and said to them: Why do you lodge about the wall? If you do so again I will lay hands on you! From that time forth they came no more on the sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my Elohim, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy. 23 In those days also I saw Jews who had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab. 24 And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. 25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by Elohim, saying: You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, or for yourselves! 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet, among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his Elohim, and Elohim made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, even him did outlandish women cause to sin. 27 Shall we then hearken to you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our Elohim in marrying strange wives? 28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite; therefore, I chased him from me. 29 Remember them, O my Elohim, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. 30 Thus, I cleansed them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, everyone in his business, 31 and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my Elohim, for good.