1 

The princes of the people lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities.

2 

The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.

3 

Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah everyone lived in his possession in their cities: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the children of Solomon's servants.

4 

Some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. 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 Mahalalel, 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 the Shilonite.

6 

All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred 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 Jeshaiah.

8 

After him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight.

9 

Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah 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, the ruler of God's house,

12 

and their brothers who did the work of the house, eight hundred twenty-two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,

13 

and his brothers, chiefs of fathers' households, two hundred forty-two; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

14 

and their brothers, mighty men of valor, one hundred twenty-eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.

15 

Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;

16 

and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outward business of God's house;

17 

and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; 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 eighty-four.

19 

Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were one hundred seventy-two.

20 

The residue of Israel, of the priests, the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance.

21 

But the temple servants lived in Ophel: and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.

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 Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the business of God's house.

23 

For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.

24 

Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.

25 

As for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and its towns, in Dibon and its towns, in Jekabzeel and its villages,

26 

in Jeshua, in Moladah, Beth Pelet,

27 

in Hazar Shual, in Beersheba and its towns,

28 

in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns,

29 

in En Rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth,

30 

Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.

31 

The children of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, and at Bethel and its towns,

32 

at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

33 

Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

34 

Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

35 

Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

36 

Of the Levites, certain divisions in Judah settled in Benjamin's territory.

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 

Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

4 

Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,

5 

Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,

6 

Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah.

7 

Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.

8 

Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brothers.

9 

Also Bakbukiah and Unno, their brothers, were close to them according to their offices.

10 

Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib became the father of Joiada,

11 

and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the father of Jaddua.

12 

In the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers' households: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;

13 

of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;

14 

of Malluchi, 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, Nethanel.

22 

As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of fathers' households; also the priests, in the reign of Darius the Persian.

23 

The sons of Levi, heads of fathers' households, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.

24 

The chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers close to them, to praise and give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch next to watch.

25 

Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storehouses 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 and scribe.

27 

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 giving thanks, and with singing, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and with harps.

28 

The sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain around Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites;

29 

also from Beth Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had built themselves villages around Jerusalem.

30 

The priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

31 

Then I brought up the princes of Judah on the wall, and appointed two great companies who gave thanks and went in procession. One went on the right hand on the wall toward the dung gate;

32 

and after them went Hoshaiah, with half of the princes of Judah,

33 

and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,

34 

Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah,

35 

and some of the priests' sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph;

36 

and his brothers, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was before them.

37 

By the spring gate, and straight before them, they went up by the stairs of David's city, at the ascent of the wall, above David's house, even to the water gate eastward.

38 

The other company of those who gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them, with the half of the people, on the wall, above the tower of the furnaces, even to the wide wall,

39 

and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate: and they stood still in the gate of the guard.

40 

So the two companies of those who gave thanks in God's house stood, and I, and the half of the rulers with me;

41 

and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;

42 

and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.

43 

They offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy; and the women and the children also rejoiced; so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even far away.

44 

On that day were men appointed over the rooms for the treasures, for the wave offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites who waited.

45 

They performed the duty of their God, and the duty of the purification, and so did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.

46 

For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

47 

All Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the gatekeepers, as every day required; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

1 

On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,

2 

because they didn't meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them; however our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3 

It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.

4 

Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the rooms of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah,

5 

had prepared for him a great room, where before they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers; and the wave offerings for the priests.

6 

But in all this, I was not at Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king; and after some days I asked leave of the king,

7 

and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a room in the courts of God's house.

8 

It grieved me severely. Therefore I threw all Tobiah's household stuff out of the room.

9 

Then I commanded, and they cleansed the rooms. I brought into them the vessels of God's house, with the meal offerings and the frankincense again.

10 

I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had each fled to his field.

11 

Then I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why is God's house forsaken?" I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

12 

Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the treasuries.

13 

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 business was to distribute to their brothers.

14 

Remember me, my God, concerning this, and don't wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its observances.

15 

In those days saw I in Judah some men treading wine presses on the Sabbath, bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys; also with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food.

16 

Some men of Tyre also lived there, who brought in fish and all kinds of wares, 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 

Didn't your fathers do thus, and didn't our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath."

19 

It came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I set some of my servants over the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the Sabbath day.

20 

So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares camped outside of Jerusalem once or twice.

21 

Then I testified against them, and said to them, "Why do you stay around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you." From that time on, they didn't come on the Sabbath.

22 

I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember to me, my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness.

23 

In those days I also saw the Jews who had married women 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 

I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.

26 

Didn't Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless foreign women caused even him to sin.

27 

Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?"

28 

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, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

30 

Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners, and appointed duties for the priests and for the Levites, everyone in his work;

31 

and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, for good.