June 7th Nehemiah 9 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 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 worshipped 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 an ongoing
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.
- How did God bring about a great revival among his people?
- Describe the stages of the revival.
- What was Israels greatest danger?
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