Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

1 When it was reported to Sanvalat, Toviyah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and that not a single gap was left in it — although up to that time I hadn’t yet set up the doors in the gateways —

2 Sanvalat and Geshem sent me a message which said, “Come, let’s meet together in one of the villages of the Ono Valley.” But they were planning to do me harm;

3 so I sent them messengers with this message: “I’m too busy with important work to come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to come down to you?”

4 They kept sending this sort of message to me — four times — and I answered them the same way.

5 The fifth time, with the same purpose, Sanvalat sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand,

6 in which was written: “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says it too, that you and the Judeans are planning a revolt, that this is why you are rebuilding the wall, and that you intend to be their king,” and similar words;

7 “moreover, that you have also appointed prophets to proclaim about you in Yerushalayim, ‘There is a king in Y’hudah!’ A report along these lines is now going to be made to the king. Come now, therefore, and let’s discuss this.”

8 I sent him this answer; “Nothing like what you are saying is being done. You’re making it all up in your head.”

9 They were all just trying to scare us, thinking, “This will sap their strength and keep them from working.” But now, [God,] increase my strength!

10 One day, when I went to the house of Sh’ma‘yah the son of D’layah, the son of M’heitav’el, where he was confined, he said, “Let’s meet together in the house of God, inside the temple, and let’s shut the doors of the temple. For they are going to come and try to assassinate you; yes, they will come at night to kill you.”

11 I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Can a man like me go into the temple to save his life? I refuse to go in.”

12 Then I realized that God had not sent him, that he was making this prophecy against me, and that Toviyah and Sanvalat had bribed him to say it.

13 He had been hired to frighten me into following his suggestion and thus sin, so that they would have material for their unfavorable report about me and could taunt me with it.

14 My God, remember Toviyah and Sanvalat according to their deeds, also the prophet No‘adyah and the other prophets trying to intimidate me.

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.

16 When all our enemies heard about it and the surrounding nations became afraid, our enemies’ self-esteem fell severely; because they realized that this work had been accomplished by our God.

17 During this same period of time, the nobles of Y’hudah sent many letters to Toviyah, and Toviyah kept sending them replies.

18 For there were many in Y’hudah who had sworn allegiance to him, because he was the son-in-law of Sh’khanyah the son of Arach, and his son Y’hochanan had taken as his wife the daughter of Meshulam the son of Berekhyah.

19 They would even praise his good deeds in my presence, and they passed on my words to him. And Toviyah kept sending letters to intimidate me.

1 After the wall had been rebuilt, and I had set up its doors, and the gatekeepers, singers andL’vi’imhad been appointed,

2 I put my kinsman Hanani in charge of Yerushalayim, along with Hananyah the commander of the citadel. For he was a faithful man, and he feared God more than most.

3 I said to them, “The gates of Yerushalayim are not to be opened until the sun is hot; and while the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors; and you, put up the bars. Appoint watchmen from among those living in Yerushalayim; assign each one his time to guard, and have each one serving near his own house.”

4 The city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not been rebuilt.

5 My God put it in my heart to assemble the nobles, the leaders and the people, so that they could be registered according to their genealogies. I located the record of the genealogies of those who had come up at the beginning and found written in it:

6 “Here is a list of the people of the province who had been exiled, carried off to Bavel by N’vukhadnetzar king of Bavel, but who later returned from exile and went up to Yerushalayim and Y’hudah, each to his own city;

7 they went with Z’rubavel, Yeshua, Nechemyah, ‘Azaryah, Ra‘amyah, Nachmani, Mordekhai, Bilshan, Misperet, Bigvai, N’chum and Ba‘anah.

“The number of men from the people of Isra’el:

38

39 “Thecohanim:

42

43 “TheL’vi’im:

60

61 “The following went up from Tel-Melach, Tel-Harsha, K’ruv, Adon and Immer; but they could not state which fathers’ clan they and their children belonged to, [so it was not clear] whether they were from Isra’el:

62

63 and of thecohanim:

descendants of Barzillai, who took a wife from the

daughters of Barzillai the Gil‘adi and was named after them.

64 “These tried to locate their geneaolgical records, but they weren’t found. Therefore they were considered defiled and were not allowed to serve ascohanim.

65 TheTirshatatold them not to eat any of the especially holy food until acohenappeared who could consult theurimandtumim.

66 “The entire assembly numbered 42,360,

67 not including their male and female slaves, of whom there were 7,337. They also had 245 male and female singers.

68 Their horses numbered 736; their mules, 245; *

69 their camels, 435; and their donkeys, 6,720.

70 “Some from among the heads of fathers’ clans made contributions for the work. TheTirshatacontributed to the treasury a thousand golddarkmonim[twenty-one pounds], fifty basins and 530 tunics for thecohanim.

71 Some of the heads of fathers’ clans gave into the treasury for the work 20,000 golddarkmonim[420 pounds] and 2,200 silvermanim[one-and-a-third tons].

72 The rest of the people gave 20,000 golddarkmonim, 2,000 silvermanim[about one-and-a-quarter tons] and sixty-seven tunics for thecohanim.

73 “So thecohanim, theL’vi’im, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants and all Isra’el lived in their towns.”

When the seventh month arrived, after the people of Isra’el had resettled in their towns,

1 all the people gathered with one accord in the open space in front of the Water Gate and asked ‘Ezra theTorah-teacher to bring the scroll of theTorahof Moshe, whichAdonaihad commanded Isra’el.

2 ‘Ezra thecohenbrought theTorahbefore the assembly, which consisted of men, women and all children old enough to understand. It was the first day of the seventh month.

3 Facing the open space in front of the Water Gate, he read from it to the men, the women and the children who could understand from early morning until noon; and all the people listened attentively to the scroll of theTorah.

4 ‘Ezra theTorah-teacher stood on a wood platform which they had made for the purpose; beside him on his right stood Mattityah, Shema, ‘Anayah, Uriyah, Hilkiyah and Ma‘aseiyah; while on his left were P’dayah, Misha’el, Malkiyah, Hashum, Hashbadanah, Z’kharyah and Meshulam.

5 ‘Ezra opened the scroll where all the people could see him, because he was higher than all the people; when he opened it, all the people rose to their feet.

6 ‘Ezra blessedAdonai, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen!Amen!” as they lifted up their hands, bowed their heads and fell prostrate beforeAdonaiwith their faces to the ground.

7 TheL’vi’imYeshua, Bani, Sherevyah, Yamin, ‘Akuv, Shabtai, Hodiyah, Ma‘aseiyah, K’lita, ‘Azaryah, Yozavad, Hanan and P’layah explained theTorahto the people, while the people remained in their places.

8 They read clearly from the scroll, in theTorahof God, translated it, and enabled them to understand the sense of what was being read.

9 Nechemyah theTirshata, ‘Ezra thecohenandTorah-teacher and theL’vi’imwho taught the people said to all the people, “Today is consecrated toAdonaiyour God; don’t be mournful, don’t weep.” For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of theTorah.

10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat rich food, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who can’t provide for themselves; for today is consecrated to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy ofAdonaiis your strength.”

11 In this way theL’vi’imquieted the people, as they said, “Be quiet, for today is holy; don’t be sad.”

12 Then the people went off to eat, drink, send portions and celebrate; because they had understood the words that had been proclaimed to them.

13 On the second day, the heads of fathers’ clans of all the people assembled with thecohanimandL’vi’imbefore ‘Ezra theTorah-teacher to study the words of theTorah.

14 They found written in theTorahthatAdonaihad ordered through Moshe that the people of Isra’el were to live insukkotduring the feast of the seventh month;

15 and that they were to announce and pass the word in all their cities and in Yerushalayim, “Go out to the mountains, and collect branches of olives, wild olives, myrtles, palms, and other leafy trees to makesukkot, as prescribed.”

16 So the people went out, brought them and madesukkotfor themselves, each one on the roof of his house, also in their courtyards, in the courtyards of the house of God, in the open space by the Water Gate and in the open space by the Efrayim Gate.

17 The entire community of those who had returned from the exile madesukkotand lived in thesukkot, for the people of Isra’el had not done this since the days of Yeshua the son of Nun. So there was very great joy.

18 Also they read every day, from the first day until the last day, in the scroll of theTorahof God. They kept the feast for seven days; then on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.

1 On the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Isra’el, wearing sackcloth and with dirt on them, assembled for a fast.

2 Those descended from Isra’el separated themselves from all foreigners; then they stood up and confessed their own sins and the iniquities of their ancestors.

3 Standing where they were, they read in the scroll of theTorahofAdonaitheir God for one-quarter of the day. For another quarter they confessed and prostrated themselves beforeAdonaitheir God.

4 On the platform of theL’vi’imstood Yeshua, Bani, Kadmi’el, Sh’vanyah, Buni, Sherevyah, Bani and K’nani; they cried out loudly toAdonaitheir God.

5 Then theL’vi’imYeshua, Kadmi’el, Bani, Hashavn’yah, Sherevyah, Hodiyah, Sh’vanyah and P’tachyah said, “Stand up, and blessAdonaiyour God from everlasting to everlasting; let them say:

“‘Blessed be your glorious name,

exalted above all blessing and praise!

6 “‘You areAdonai, you alone.

You made heaven,

the heaven of heavens, with all their array,

the earth and all the things that are in it,

the seas and all that is in them;

and you preserve them all.

The army of heaven worships you.

7 “‘You areAdonai, the God who chose Avram,

brought him out of Ur-Kasdim

and gave him the name of Avraham.

8 Finding that he was faithful to you,

you made a covenant with him

to give the land of the Kena‘ani,

the Hitti, Emori and P’rizi,

the Y’vusi and the Girgashi,

to give it to his descendants;

and you have done what you promised,

because you are just.

9 “‘You saw the distress of our ancestors in Egypt

and heard their cry by the Sea of Suf.

10 You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh,

against all his servants and the people of the land;

for you knew how arrogantly they treated them;

and you won yourself a name which is yours to this day.

11 You divided the sea ahead of them,

so that they could pass through the sea on dry land;

then you hurled their pursuers into the depths,

like a stone into turbulent waters.

12 “‘In a column of cloud you led them by day,

and by night in a column of fire,

so that they would have light ahead of them

on the way that they were to go.

13 “‘You descended on Mount Sinai

and spoke with them from heaven.

You gave them right rulings and true teachings,

good laws andmitzvot.

14 You revealed to them your holyShabbat

and gave themmitzvot, laws and theTorah

through Moshe your servant.

15 “‘For their hunger you gave them bread from heaven;

for their thirst you brought forth for them water from the rock.

You ordered them to enter and possess the land

you had sworn with your hand to give them.

16 “‘But they and our ancestors were arrogant;

they stiffened their necks and ignored yourmitzvot;

17 they refused to listen and paid no attention

to the wonders you had done among them.

No, they stiffened their necks, and in their rebellion

appointed a leader to return them to their slavery.

But because you are a God of forgiveness,

merciful, full of compassion,

slow to grow angry and full of grace,

you did not abandon them.

18 Even when they cast themselves a metal calf,

saying of it, “This is your god

that brought you up from Egypt,”

and committing other gross provocations;

19 still, you, in your great compassion,

did not abandon them in the desert.

The column of cloud did not leave them by day;

it kept leading them along the way.

By night the column of fire

kept showing them light and the path to take.

20 You also gave your good Spirit to teach them,

did not withholdmanfrom their mouths

and provided them water to quench their thirst.

21 Yes, forty years you sustained them in the desert;

they lacked nothing —

their clothes did not wear out;

their feet did not swell up.

22 “‘You gave them kingdoms and peoples;

you even gave them extra land,

so that they took possession of the land of Sichon,

also the land of the king of Heshbon

and the land of ‘Og king of Bashan.

23 You made their children as numerous

as the countless stars in the sky.

“‘Then you brought them into the land

about which you had said to their fathers

that they should go in and take possession of it.

24 So the children went in and possessed the land,

as you subdued ahead of them

the Kena‘ani living in the land,

and handed them over to them,

along with their kings and the peoples of the land,

for them to do with as they wished.

25 They took fortified cities and fertile land,

possessed houses full of all kinds of good things,

dug-out cisterns, vineyards, olive groves,

fruit trees in plenty;

so they ate their fill and grew robust,

luxuriating in your great goodness.

26 “‘Yet they disobeyed and rebelled against you,

throwing yourTorahbehind their backs.

They killed your prophets for warning them

that they should return to you

and committed other gross provocations.

27 So you handed them over to the power

of their adversaries, who oppressed them.

Yet in the time of their trouble,

when they cried out to you,

you heard from heaven, and in keeping

with your great compassion,

you gave them saviors to save them

from the power of their adversaries.

28 But as soon as they had gotten some relief,

they went back to do evil before you.

So you left them in the power of their enemies,

who came down hard on them.

Yet when they returned and cried out to you,

you heard from heaven many times

and saved them, according to your compassion.

29 You warned them, in order to bring them back

to yourTorah; yet they were arrogant.

They paid no attention to yourmitzvot,

but sinned against your rulings,

which, if a person does them,

he will have life through them.

However, they stubbornly turned their shoulders,

stiffened their necks and refused to hear.

30 Many years you extended them mercy

and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets;

yet they would not listen.

Therefore you handed them over

to the peoples of the lands.

31 Even so, in your great compassion,

you didn’t completely destroy them;

nor did you abandon them,

for you are a compassionate and merciful God.

32 “‘Now therefore, our God,

great, mighty, fearsome God,

who keeps both covenant and grace:

let not all this suffering seem little to you

that has come on us, our kings, our leaders,

ourcohanim, our prophets, our ancestors,

and on all your people,

from the times of the kings of Ashur

until this very day.

33 There is no question that you are just

in all that has come upon us;

for you have treated us fairly.

It is we who have acted wickedly.

34 Our kings, our leaders, ourcohanimand ancestors

did not keep yourTorah,

pay attention to yourmitzvot

or heed the warnings you gave them.

35 Even when they ruled their own kingdom,

even when you prospered them greatly,

in the great, rich land you gave them,

they did not serve you;

nor did they turn from their wicked deeds.

36 “‘So here we are today, slaves.

Yes, in the land you gave our ancestors,

so that they could eat what it produces

and enjoy its good —

here we are in it, slaves!

37 Its rich yield now goes to the kings

you have set over us because of our sins;

they have power over our bodies,

they can do what they please to our livestock,

and we are in great distress!

1 “‘In view of all this, we are making a binding covenant, putting it in writing and having it sealed by our leaders, ourL’vi’imand ourcohanim.’”

2 On the sealed document were the names of: Nechemyah theTirshatathe son of Hakhalyah, Tzedekyah,

3 S’rayah, ‘Azaryah, Yirmeyah,

4 Pash’chur, Amaryah, Malkiyah,

5 Hatush, Sh’vanyah, Malukh,

6 Harim, M’remot, ‘Ovadyah,

7 Dani’el, Ginton, Barukh,

8 Meshulam, Aviyah, Miyamin,

9 Ma‘azyah, Bilgai and Sh’ma‘yah. These were thecohanim.

10 TheL’vi’imwere: Yeshua the son of Azanyah, Binui a descendant of Henadad, Kadmi’el,

11 and their kinsmen Sh’vanyah, Hodiyah, K’lita, P’layah, Hanan,

12 Mikha, Rechov, Hashavyah,

13 Zakur, Sherevyah, Sh’vanyah,

14 Hodiyah, Bani and B’ninu.

15 The leaders of the people: Par‘osh, Pachat-Mo’av, ‘Eilam, Zatu, Bani,

16 Buni, ‘Azgad, B’vai,

17 Adoniyah, Bigvai, ‘Adin,

18 Ater, Hizkiyah, ‘Azur,

19 Hodiyah, Hashum, Betzai,

20 Harif, ‘Anatot, Neivai,

21 Magpi‘ash, Meshulam, Hezir,

22 Mesheizav’el, Tzadok, Yadua,

23 P’latyah, Hanan, ‘Anayah,

24 Hoshea, Hananyah, Hashuv,

25 HaLochesh, Pilcha, Shovek,

26 Rechum, Hashavnah, Ma‘aseiyah,

27 Achiyah, Hanan, ‘Anan,

28 Malukh, Harim and Ba‘anah.

29 The rest of the people, thecohanim, theL’vi’im, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to theTorahof God, along with their wives, sons and daughters, everyone capable of knowing and understanding,

30 joined their kinsmen and their leaders in swearing an oath, accompanied by a curse [in case of noncompliance], as follows:

“We will live by God’sTorah, given by Moshe the servant of God, and will perform and obey all themitzvot, rulings and laws ofAdonaiour Lord.

31 “We will not give our daughters as wives to the peoples of the land or take their daughters as wives for our sons.

32 “If the peoples of the lands bring merchandise or food to sell onShabbat, we will not buy from them onShabbator on a holy day.

“We will forego [planting and harvesting our fields] during the seventh year and collecting debts then.

33 “We will impose on ourselves a yearly tax of one-third of ashekel[one-seventh of an ounce of silver] for the service of the house of our God,

34 for the showbread, for the regular grain offering, for the regular burnt offering, for [the offerings] onShabbat, onRosh-Hodesh, at the designated times and at other holy times, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Isra’el, and for all the work connected with the house of our God.

35 “We, thecohanim, theL’vi’imand the people, will cast lots in connection with the wood offering, so that it will be brought to the house of our God according to our fathers’ clans, at specified times, year by year, and then be burned on the altar ofAdonaiour God, as prescribed in theTorah.

36 “Every year we will bring the firstfruits of our land and the firstfruits of all fruit from every kind of tree to the house ofAdonai.

37 “We will also bring the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, as prescribed in theTorah, and the firstborn of our herds and flocks, to the house of our God, to thecohanimministering in the house of our God.

38 “We will bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every kind of tree, wine and olive oil to thecohanimin the storerooms of the house of our God, along with the tenths from our land for theL’vi’im; since they, theL’vi’im, take the tenths in all the cities where we farm.

39 Thecohenthe descendant of Aharon is to be with theL’vi’imwhen theL’vi’imtake tenths. TheL’vi’imwill bring the tenth of the tenth to the house of our God, to the storerooms for supplies.

40 For the people of Isra’el and the descendants of Levi are to bring the contribution of grain, wine and olive oil to the rooms where the equipment for the sanctuary, the ministeringcohanim, the gatekeepers and the singers are. We will not abandon the house of our God.”

1 The leaders of the people took up residence in Yerushalayim; while the rest of the people cast lots to bring one-tenth of them to live in Yerushalayim the holy city, with the other nine-tenths in the other cities.

2 The people blessed all those who volunteered to live in Yerushalayim.

3 In the cities of Y’hudah, everyone lived on his own property — the people of Isra’el, thecohanim, theL’vi’im, the temple servants and the descendants of Shlomo’s servants. But the leaders of the province lived in Yerushalayim.

4 Some of those living in Yerushalayim were from people of Y’hudah, and others were from people of Binyamin. Those from the people of Y’hudah were: ‘Atayah the son of ‘Uziyah, the son of Z’kharyah, the son of Amaryah, the son of Sh’fatyah, the son of Mahalal’el, from the descendants of Peretz;

5 and Ma‘aseiyah the son of Barukh, the son of Kol-Hozeh, the son of Hazayah, the son of ‘Adayah, the son of Yoyariv, the son of Z’kharyah, who belonged to the family of Shelah.

6 The total number of descendants of Peretz living in Yerushalayim was 468 courageous men.

7 These are the people of Binyamin: Salu the son of Meshulam, the son of Yo‘ed, the son of P’dayah, the son of Kolayah, the son of Ma‘aseiyah, the son of Iti’el, the son of Yesha‘yah.

8 After him: Gabai, Salai; 928 in all.

9 Yo’el the son of Zikhri was their overseer, and Y’hudah the son of Hasnu’ah was second in charge of the city.

10 From thecohanim: Y’da‘yah the son of Yoyariv, Yakhin,

11 S’rayah the son of Hilkiyah, the son of Meshulam, the son of Tzadok, the son of M’rayot, the son of Achituv, the supervisor of the house of God,

12 and their kinsmen who did the work for the house; in all 822; and ‘Adayah the son of Yerocham, the son of P’lalyah, the son of Amtzi, the son of Z’kharyah, the son of Pash’chur, the son of Malkiyah;

13 with his kinsmen, heads of fathers’ clans, 242; and ‘Amash’sai the son of ‘Azar’el, the son of Achzai, the son of Meshillemot, the son of Immer;

14 with his kinsmen, courageous men, 128; their overseer was Zavdi’el the son of HaG’dolim.

15 From theL’vi’im: Sh’ma‘yah the son of Hashuv, the son of ‘Azrikam, the son of Hashavyah, the son of Buni,

16 and Shabtai and Yozavad, from the leaders of theL’vi’im, who were in charge of external affairs for the house of God;

17 and Matanyah the son of Mikha, the son of Zavdi, the son of Asaf, the leader who began the thanksgiving prayer; and Bakbukyah, the second among his kinsmen; and ‘Avda the son of Shamua, the son of Galal, the son of Y’dutun.

18 All theL’vi’imin the holy city numbered 284.

19 The gatekeepers: ‘Akuv, Talmon and their kinsmen, who kept watch at the gates, numbered 172.

20 The rest of Isra’el, [the rest of] thecohanimand [the rest of] theL’vi’imwere in all the cities of Y’hudah, each on his own property.

21 The temple servants lived in the ‘Ofel; Tzicha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants.

22 The overseer of theL’vi’imin Yerushalayim was ‘Uzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashavyah, the son of Matanyah, the son of Mikha, from the descendants of Asaf the singers; [he was] in charge of the work of the house of God.

23 For they were subject to the king’s orders; and there was a fixed schedule for the singers, assigning them their daily duties.

24 P’tachyah the son of Mesheizav’el, from the descendants of Zerach the son of Y’hudah, was the king’s deputy in all affairs concerning the people.

25 As for the villages and their surrounding fields: some of the people of Y’hudah lived in Kiryat-Arba and its villages, in Divon and its villages, in Y’kabze’el and its villages,

26 in Yeshua, in Moladah, in Beit-Pelet,

27 in Hatzar-Shu‘al and its villages, in Be’er-Sheva and its villages,

28 in Ziklag, in M’khonah and its villages,

29 in ‘Ein-Rimmon, in Tzor‘ah, in Yarmut,

30 Zanoach, Adulam and their villages, in Lakhish and its surrounding fields, and in ‘Azekah and its villages. Thus they occupied the territory from Be’er-Sheva as far as the Hinnom Valley.

31 The people of Binyamin lived from Geva onward, in Mikhmas and ‘Ayah, in Beit-El and its villages,

32 and in ‘Anatot, Nov, ‘Ananyah,

33 Hatzor, Ramah, Gittayim,

34 Hadid, Tzvo‘im, N’valat,

35 Lud, Ono and Gei-Harashim.

36 Of theL’vi’im, some divisions from Y’hudah settled in Binyamin.

1 These are thecohanimandL’vi’imwho went up with Z’rubavel the son of Sh’alti’el, and Yeshua: S’rayah, Yirmeyah, ‘Ezra,

2 Amaryah, Malukh, Hatush,

3 Sh’khanyah, Rechum, M’remot,

4 ‘Iddo, Gintoi, Achiyah,

5 Miyamin, Ma‘adiyah, Bilgah,

6 Sh’ma‘yah, Yoyariv, Y’da‘yah,

7 Salu, ‘Amok, Hilkiyah and Y’da‘yah. These were the leaders of thecohanimand their kinsmen during the time of Yeshua.

8 TheL’vi’im: Yeshua, Binui, Kadmi’el, Sherevyah, Y’hudah and Mattanyah, who was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving, he and his kinsmen,

9 with Bakbukyah and ‘Uni, their kinsmen, singing antiphonally with them in the service.

10 Yeshua was the father of Yoyakim, Yoyakim was the father of Elyashiv, Elyashiv was the father of Yoyada,

11 Yoyada was the father of Yonatan, and Yonatan was the father of Yadua.

12 In the days of Yoyakim these were thecohanimwho were heads of fathers’ clans: of S’rayah, M’rayah; of Yirmeyah, Hananyah;

13 of ‘Ezra, Meshulam; of Amaryah, Y’hochanan;

14 of M’likhu, Yonatan; of Sh’vanyah, Yosef;

15 of Harim, ‘Adna; of M’rayot, Helkai;

16 of ‘Iddo, Z’kharyah; of Ginton, Meshulam;

17 of Achiyah, Zikhri; of Minyamin, of Mo‘adyah, Piltai;

18 of Bilgai, Shamua; of Sh’ma‘yah, Y’honatan;

19 of Yoyariv, Matnai; of Y’da‘yah, ‘Uzi;

20 of Salai, Kallai; of ‘Amok, ‘Ever;

21 of Hilkiyah, Hashavyah; and of Y’da‘yah, N’tan’el.

22 As for theL’vi’im, the heads of fathers’ clans in the days of Elyashiv, Yoyada, Yochanan and Yadua were recorded; also thecohanim, up to the reign of Daryavesh the Persian.

23 The descendants of Levi who were heads of fathers’ clans were recorded in the annals until the days of Yochanan the [grand]son of Elyashiv.

24 The chiefs of theL’vi’imwere Hashavyah, Sherevyah and Yeshua the son of Kadmi’el, with their kinsmen in an antiphonal choir, to praise and give thanks, in accordance with the order of David the man of God, choir opposite choir.

25 Mattanyah, Bakbukyah, ‘Ovadyah, Meshulam, Talmon and ‘Akuv were the gatekeepers who guarded the supplies kept at the gates.

26 This was in the days of Yoyakim the son of Yeshua, the son of Yotzadak, and in the days of Nechemyah the governor and of ‘Ezra thecohenandTorah-teacher.

27 At the dedication of the wall of Yerushalayim, they sought out theL’vi’imfrom wherever they had settled to bring them to Yerushalayim and celebrate the dedication with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs accompanied by cymbals, lutes and lyres.

28 The trained singers assembled together from the area around Yerushalayim, the villages of the N’tofati,

29 Beit-Gilgal and the region of Geva and ‘Azmavet; for the singers had built villages for themselves all around Yerushalayim.

30 ThecohanimandL’vi’imfirst purified themselves; then they purified the people, the gates and the wall;

31 and after that I brought the leaders of Y’hudah up onto the wall and appointed two large choirs to give thanks and to walk in procession. One went to the right on the wall toward the Dung Gate.

32 After them went Hosha‘yah and half of the leaders of Y’hudah,

33 together with ‘Azaryah, ‘Ezra, Meshulam,

34 Y’hudah, Binyamin, Sh’ma‘yah and Yirmeyah.

35 With them were some of the sons of thecohanimcarrying trumpets, namely, Z’kharyah the son of Yonatan the son of Sh’ma‘yah, the son of Mattanyah, the son of Mikhayah, the son of Zakur, the son of Asaf,

36 and his kinsmen, Sh’ma‘yah, ‘Azar’el, Milalai, Gilalai, Ma‘ai, N’tan’el, Y’hudah and Hanani, who had the musical instruments of David the man of God. ‘Ezra theTorah-teacher led them.

37 At the Fountain Gate they went straight ahead up the steps to the City of David, where the wall goes up, passed above the house of David, and went on to the Water Gate on the east.

38 The other thanksgiving choir, consisting of half the people, walked on the wall to meet them, with myself following. They went above the Tower of the Furnaces to the Broad Wall,

39 above the Efrayim Gate, by the gate to the Old City, to the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hanan’el and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate, and halted at the Prison Gate.

40 Thus stood the two choirs of those giving thanks in the house of God, with myself and half of the leaders with me.

41 Thecohanimthere included Elyakim, Ma‘aseiyah, Minyamin, Mikhayah, Elyo‘einai, Z’kharyah and Hananyah carrying trumpets;

42 also Ma‘aseiyah, Sh’ma‘yah, El‘azar, ‘Uzi, Y’hochanan, Malkiyah, ‘Eilam and ‘Ezer. The singers sang loudly, directed by Yizrachyah.

43 With joy they offered great sacrifices that day, for God had made them celebrate with great joy. The women and children too rejoiced, so that the celebrating in Yerushalayim could be heard far off.

44 At that time, men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for supplies, contributions, firstfruits and tenths, and to gather into them, from the fields belonging to the cities, the portions prescribed by theTorahfor thecohanimandL’vi’im. For Y’hudah rejoiced over thecohanimandL’vi’imwho took their position

45 carrying out the duties of their God and the duties of purification, as also did the singers and gatekeepers, in accordance with the order of David and of Shlomo his son.

46 For back in the days of David and Asaf, there had been leaders for those singing the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

47 So in the days of Z’rubavel and in the days of Nechemyah, all Isra’el gave portions to the singers and gatekeepers as required daily. They set aside a portion for theL’vi’im, who, in turn set aside a portion for the descendants of Aharon.

1 It was also at that time, when they were reading in the scroll of Moshe, that it was found written that no ‘Amoni or Mo’avi may ever enter the assembly of God,

2 because they did not supply the people of Isra’el with food and water, but hired Bil‘am against them to put a curse on them — although our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3 On hearing theTorah, they separated from Isra’el everyone of mixed ancestry.

4 Also, prior to this, Elyashiv thecohen, who had been put in charge of the storage rooms in the house of our God, and who was related by marriage to Toviyah,

5 had prepared for him a large room where formerly they had stored the grain offerings, frankincense, equipment and the tenths of grain, wine and olive oil ordered to be given to theL’vi’im, singers and gatekeepers, and the contributions for thecohanim.

6 During all this time I wasn’t present in Yerushalayim; because in the thirty-second year of Artach’shashta king of Bavel, I went to see the king; then, after some time had passed, I asked permission from the king

7 and returned to Yerushalayim, where I found out about the terrible thing Elyashiv had done for Toviyah by preparing a room for him in the courtyards of the house of our God.

8 I was so furious that I threw all Toviyah’s household goods out of the room.

9 Then, at my order, they cleansed the rooms; and I brought back the equipment of the house of God, the grain offerings and frankincense.

10 I also learned that the portions for theL’vi’imhad not been given to them, so that theL’vi’imand singers who were supposed to be doing the work had deserted, each one to his own farm.

11 I disputed with the leaders, demanding, “Why is the house of God abandoned?” I gathered theL’vi’imtogether and restored them to their stations;

12 and then all Y’hudah brought the tenth of grain, wine and olive oil to the storerooms.

13 To supervise the storerooms I appointed Shelemyah thecohen, Tzadok theTorah-teacher and, from theL’vi’im, P’dayah; assisting them was Hanan the son of Zakur, the son of Mattanyah; for these were considered reliable. Their duty was to make the distribution to their kinsmen.

14 My God, remember me for this; don’t wipe out my good deeds which I have done for the house of my God and for his service!

15 During this time I saw in Y’hudah some people who were treading winepresses onShabbat, also bringing in heaps of grain and loading donkeys with it, likewise wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of loads; and they were bringing them into Yerushalayim on the day ofShabbat. On the day when they were planning to sell the food, I warned them not to.

16 There were also living there people from Tzor who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them onShabbatto the people in Y’hudah and even in Yerushalayim.

17 I disputed with the nobles of Y’hudah, demanding of them, “What is this terrible thing you are doing, profaning the day ofShabbat?

18 Didn’t your ancestors do this, and didn’t our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you are bringing still more fury against Isra’el by profaningShabbat!”

19 So when the gates of Yerushalayim began to grow dark beforeShabbat, I ordered that the doors be shut; and I ordered that they not be reopened until afterShabbat.I put some of my servants in charge of the gates, to see to it that no loads be brought in onShabbat.

20 The merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Yerushalayim once or twice,

21 until I warned them, “Why are you spending the night by the wall? Do it again, and I’ll use force against you!” From then on they stopped coming onShabbat.

22 Then I ordered theL’vi’imto purify themselves and come and guard the gates, in order to keep the day ofShabbatholy. My God, remember this too for me, and have mercy on me in keeping with the greatness of your grace!

23 Also during this time I saw the Judeans who had married women from Ashdod, ‘Amon and Mo’av;

24 and their children, who spoke half in the language of Ashdod and couldn’t speak in the language the Judeans spoke but only in the language of each people.

25 I disputed with them and cursed them, and I beat some of them up and pulled out their hair. Then I made them swear by God, “You will not give your daughters as wives for their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves.

26 Wasn’t it by doing these things that Shlomo king of Isra’el sinned? There was no king like him among many nations, and his God loved him, and God made him king over all Isra’el; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin.

27 Are we to give in to you and let you continue in this very great evil, breaking faith with our God by marrying foreign women?”

28 One of the sons of Yoyada the son of Elyashiv, thecohen hagadol, had become son-in-law to Sanvalat the Horoni; so I drove him out of my presence.

29 My God, remember them; because they have defiled the office ofcohenand the covenant of thecohanimandL’vi’im.

30 Thus I cleansed them of everything foreign, and I had thecohanimandL’vi’imresume their duties, each one in his appointed task.

31 I also made provision for the delivery of wood at stated times, and for the firstfruits. My God, remember me favorably.