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