Nechemyah 13
13
1On that day they read in the Sefer Moshe in the ears of HaAm; and therein was found written, that the Ammoni and the Moavi should not come into the Kehal HaElohim forever,
2Because they met not the Bnei Yisroel with lechem and with mayim, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them; howbeit Eloheinu turned the kelalah into a brocha.
3Now it came to pass, when they had heard the Torah, that they separated from Yisroel all the foreign descent.
4And before this, Elyashiv the Kohen, having the oversight of the storeroom of the Beis Eloheinu, was allied unto Toviyah;
5And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the minchah, the levonah, and the vessels, and the ma'aser of the grain, the tirosh, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levi'im, and the singers, and the gatekeepers; and the terumat hakohanim.
6But in all this time was not I at Yerushalayim; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artachshasta Melech Bavel came I unto HaMelech, and after certain days obtained I leave of HaMelech;
7And I came to Yerushalayim, and understood of the evil that Elyashiv did for Toviyah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the Beis HaElohim.
8And it grieved me much; therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Toviyah out of the chamber.
9Then I commanded, and they made tahor the chambers, and there brought I again the vessels of the Beis HaElohim, with the minchah and the levonah.
10And I perceived that the portions of the Levi'im had not been given them, for the Levi'im and the singers, that did the work, had gone back every one to his sadeh.
11Then contended I with the officials, and said, Why is the Beis HaElohim forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
12Then brought all Yehudah the ma'asar of the grain and the tirosh and the oil unto the Otzarot.
13And I made over the Otzarot Shelemyah the Kohen, and Tzadok the Sofer, and of the Levi'im, Pedayah; and next to them was Chanan ben Zakkur, ben Matanyah; for they were considered ne'emanim, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
14Remember me, O Elohai, concerning this, and wipe not out my faithful deeds that I have done for the Beis Elohai, and for the offices thereof.
15In those days saw I in Yehudah some treading winepresses on Shabbos, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys; as also yayin, grapes, and figs, and all manner of massa (burdens), which they brought into Yerushalayim on Shabbos; and I warned them against selling food on Shabbos.
16There dwelt men of Tzor also therein, which brought dag (fish), and all manner of merchandise, and sold on Shabbos unto the Bnei Yehudah, and in Yerushalayim.
17Then I contended with the nobles of Yehudah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, being Mechallel Shabbos (desecrator of Shabbos)?
18Did not your avot thus, and did not Eloheinu bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? Yet ye bring more wrath upon Yisroel by committing Chillul Shabbos (desecration of Shabbos).
19And it came to pass, that when the gates of Yerushalayim began to be dark before Shabbos, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after Shabbos, and some of my own men set I at the gates, that there should no massa (burden) be brought in on Shabbos.
20Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of merchandise lodged outside Yerushalayim.
21Then I warned 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 Shabbos.
22And I commanded the Levi'im that they should make themselves tahor, and that they should come and be shomer over the gates, to set apart as kodesh Shabbos. Remember me, O Elohai, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Thy mercy.
23In those days also saw I Yehudim that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moav,
24And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the language of the Yehudim, but according to the language of one people or another.
25And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by Elohim, saying, Ye shall not give your banot unto their banim, nor take their banot unto your banim, or for yourselves.
26Did not Sh'lomo Melech Yisroel sin by these things? Yet among many Goyim was there no melech like him, who was beloved of Elohav, and Elohim made him melech over kol Yisroel. Nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin.
27Shall we then pay heed unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against Eloheinu in marrying strange wives?
28And one of the Bnei Yoyada ben Elyashiv, the Kohen HaGadol, was son-in-law to Sanvalat the Choroni; therefore I drove him away from me.
29Remember them, O Elohai, because they have defiled the kehunah, and the brit (covenant) of the kehunah, and of the Levi'im.
30Thus I cleansed them from all that is foreign, and had them attend again to the duties of the Kohanim and the Levi'im, every one in his appointed work;
31And for the korban of wood, at times appointed, and for the bikkurim. Remember me, O Elohai, for good.
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Nechemyah 13: TOJB2011
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THE ORTHODOX JEWISH BIBLE
FOURTH EDITION © Artists For Israel Intl Inc., 2002-2011, 2021.
Nehemiah 13
13
Nehemiah's Reforms
1 #
Deut 23.3-5. 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#Num 22.1-6. because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Ba´laam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
4And before this, Eli´ashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobi´ah: 5and 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. 6But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerx´es king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: 7and I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eli´ashib did for Tobi´ah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobi´ah out of the chamber. 9Then 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 #
Deut 12.19. 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. 11Then 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#Mal 3.10. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. 13And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemi´ah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedai´ah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattani´ah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. 14Remember 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 #
Exod 20.8-10; Deut 5.12-14; Jer 17.21,22. In those days saw I in Judah some treading winepresses 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. 16There 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. 17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? 18Did 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.
19And 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. 20So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. 21Then 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. 22And 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 #
Exod 34.11-16; Deut 7.1-5. In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: 24and 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. 25And 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#2 Sam 12.24,25; 1 Kgs 11.1-8. 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. 27Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
28 #
Neh 4.1. And one of the sons of Joi´ada, the son of Eli´ashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanbal´lat the Hor´onite: therefore I chased him from me. 29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; 31and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.