June 7th
Nehemiah, 9
9v1-37 The people
confess their sins
1: Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the
children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, 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: And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the
law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part
they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God. 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 unto the LORD their God. 5:
Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah,
Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever
and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing
and praise. 6: Thou, even thou,
art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their
host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is
therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
7: Thou art the LORD the God,
who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and
gavest him the name of Abraham; 8:
And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest 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 hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous: 9: And didst see the affliction of
our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea; 10: And shewedst signs and wonders
upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for
thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a
name, as it is this day. 11:
And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst
of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps,
as a stone into the mighty waters. 12:
Moreover thou leddest 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: Thou camest down also upon mount
Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and
true laws, good statutes and commandments: 14: And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst
them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant: 15: And gavest them bread from heaven
for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their
thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which
thou hadst sworn to give them. 16:
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened
not to thy commandments, 17:
And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among
them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to
return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and
merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. 18: Yea, when they had made them a
molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and
had wrought great provocations; 19:
Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the
pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way;
neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein
they should go. 20: Thou gavest
also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their
mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. 21: Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness,
so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet
swelled not. 22: Moreover thou
gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide 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: Their
children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them
into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they
should go in to possess it. 24:
So 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,
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
digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did
eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great
goodness. 26: Nevertheless they
were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their
backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee,
and they wrought great provocations. 27:
Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them:
and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them
from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours,
who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. 28: But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee:
therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the
dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest
them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy
mercies; 29: And testifiedst
against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt
proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy
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 didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst
against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear:
therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands. 31: Nevertheless for thy great
mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou
art a gracious and merciful God. 32:
Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who
keepest covenant and mercy, 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 time of
the kings of Assyria unto this day. 33:
Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right,
but we have done wickedly: 34:
Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy
law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou
didst testify against them. 35:
For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that
thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them,
neither turned they from their wicked works. 36: Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou
gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold,
we are servants in it: 37: And
it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast 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.
The
peoples covenant
38: And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and
write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.
Nehemiah, 10
1: Now those that 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,
Pahath-moab, 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:
And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, 27:
Malluch, Harim, Baanah. 28: And
the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the
Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the
lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every
one having knowledge, and having understanding; 29: They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into
a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the
servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our
Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; 30: And that we would not give our daughters unto 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 God; 33:
For the shewbread, and for the continual meat 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 God. 34: 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, after the
houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar
of the LORD our God, 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, unto the house of the
LORD: 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 God, unto the priests
that minister in the house of our God: 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, unto the priests, to the
chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the
Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our
tillage. 38: 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 unto the house of our God, to
the chambers, into the treasure house. 39:
For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of
the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the
vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and
the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.
Nehemiah, 11
11v1-36 Tithe of
people to live in the city
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, that willingly offered
themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. 3:
Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the
cities of Judah dwelt every one 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: And 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 Col-hozeh, 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 that dwelt
at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men. 7: And 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 twenty and 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
God. 12: And their brethren that
did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and 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 forty and 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 valour, an hundred twenty and 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 God. 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 fourscore
and four. 19: Moreover the
porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred
seventy and two. 20: And the
residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of
Judah, every one 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 God. 23:
For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion
should be for the singers, due for every 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
Kirjath-arba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages
thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof, 26: And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-phelet, 27: And at Hazar-shual, and at
Beer-sheba, and in the villages thereof, 28:
And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof, 29: And at En-rimmon, and at Zareah,
and at Jarmuth, 30: Zanoah,
Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah,
and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beer-sheba unto 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.
Nehemiah, 12
The Priests
& Levites
1: Now these are the priests and the Levites that 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, Jediah, 7: Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, 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, which 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 begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada, 11: And Joiada begat Jonathan, and
Jonathan begat Jaddua. 12: And
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 God, 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.
Nehemiah
dedicates the wall
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 builded them
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 them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the
wall toward the dung gate: 32:
And 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 God, and Ezra
the scribe before them. 37: And
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 unto the water gate eastward. 38:
And the other company of them that 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 unto 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 unto the sheep
gate: and they stood still in the prison gate. 40: So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the
house of God, 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 God 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.
Worship
44: And at that time were some 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
that waited. 45: And both the
singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, 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 unto God. 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 unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto
the children of Aaron.
Nehemiah, 13
Nehemiah
makes changes
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; 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 of Tobiah out of the
chamber. 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. 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. 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. 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? 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. 20:
So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once
or twice. 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. 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. 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? 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 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; 31: And for the
wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my
God, for good.
We
read today of a great religious revival that effected the whole nation of
Israel. The people made a solemn pledge to the Lord of their intension to
follow the Lord faithfully. The people offer a tithe for the administration of
the nation. The priests and Levites dedicate themselves to the LORD for the
dedication of the wall of Jerusalem. Then people reach the height of religious
experience - they worship the Lord. Then Nehemiah makes changes that will
affect everyone. But it all started with fasting and prayer. And sackcloth’s
and earth on their heads. Then they confessed their spiritual pollution from
heathen people. For three hours they heard the Law and for three hours they
confessed their sins and worshipped the LORD. Then they stood before the LORD
and blessed the LORD. They recounted their history which did not appear to them
to be an academic exercise but rather a living present heritage. This is a very
long a well detailed summary of Jewish history. And so the people made a solemn
pledge of obedience to the LORD. They promised to keep the commandments and
ordinances. Then they all gave willingly to the LORD in the form of a tithe of
the people. One in ten went to inhabit the city. The persons were decided by
lots. Then the scribe records the names of those chosen. Next a list is given
of the priests and Levites. Lastly the wall of Jerusalem which is now completed
is dedicated to the LORD. The Joy of the LORD so filled their hearts that it
was heard a long way away. Next they discovered that the Law specified those
who were not to be allowed to among the company of the LORD’s people so they
separated themselves from the wicked. The walls were finished but the Temple
was left unfinished, so Nehemiah urged the people to finish the job. He also
noticed that the people did not keep the Sabbath day so he urged the leaders to
put these matters right. He was also concerned that the people should not be
like Solomon who married foreign wives.
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