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## Nechemiah

### Chapter 1

1The words of Nechemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now in the month Kislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2Chanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Yehudah; and I asked them about the Yehudim who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3They said to me, “The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burnt with fire.” 4When I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned several days; and I fasted and prayed before the Elohim of heaven, 5and said, “I beg you, YHWH, the Elohim of heaven, the great and awesome Elohim who keeps Brit and chesed with those who love him and keep his mitzvot, 6let your ear now be attentive and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Yisrael your servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Yisrael which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned. 7We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the mitzvot, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moshe. 8“Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moshe, saying, ‘If you trespass, I will scatter you amongst the peoples; 9but if you return to me, and keep my mitzvot and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.’ 10“Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11Adonai, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant today, and grant him chesed in the sight of this man.” Now I was cup bearer to the king.

### Chapter 2

1In the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, I picked up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence. 2The king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why shouldn’t my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire?” 4Then the king said to me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the Elohim of heaven. 5I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favour in your sight, I ask that you would send me to Yehudah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may build it.” 6The king said to me (the queen was also sitting by him), “How long will your journey be? When will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time for him. 7Moreover I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Yehudah; 8and a letter to Asaf the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the Beit HaMikdash, for the wall of the city, and for the house that I will occupy.” The king granted my requests, because of the good hand of my Elohim on me. 9Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10When Sanballat the Horonite and Toviyah the Amoni servant heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Yisrael. 11So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 12I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my Elohim put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There wasn’t any animal with me except the animal that I rode on. 13I went out by night by the valley gate towards the jackal’s well, then to the dung gate; and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with fire. 14Then I went on to the spring gate and to the king’s pool, but there was no place for the animal that was under me to pass. 15Then I went up in the night by the brook and inspected the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned. 16The rulers didn’t know where I went, or what I did. I had not as yet told it to the Yehudim, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work. 17Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burnt with fire. Come, let’s build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we won’t be disgraced.” 18I told them about the hand of my Elohim which was good on me, and also about the king’s words that he had spoken to me. They said, “Let’s rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19But when Sanballat the Horonite, Toviyah the Amoni servant, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?” 20Then I answered them, and said to them, “The Elohim of heaven will prosper us. Therefore we, his servants, will arise and build; but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem.”

### Chapter 3

1Then Elyashiv the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate. They sanctified it, and set up its doors. They sanctified it even to the tower of Hammeah, to the tower of Chanan'el. 2Next to him the men of Jericho built. Next to them Zakur the son of Imri built. 3The sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4Next to them, Meremoth the son of Uriyah, the son of HaKotz made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berekhyah, the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Tzadok the son of Baana made repairs. 5Next to them, the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles didn’t put their necks to adonai’s work. 6Yoyada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the old gate. They laid its beams and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 7Next to them, Melatiah the Giv'oni and Yadon the Meronoti, the men of Giv'on and of Mitzpah, repaired the residence of the governor beyond the River. 8Next to him, Uzi'el the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him, Chananyah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they fortified Jerusalem even to the wide wall. 9Next to them, Refayah the son of Chur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. 10Next to them, Yeda'yah the son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him, Chatush the son of Chashavneyah made repairs. 11Malkiyah the son of Harim and Chashub the son of Pahathmoab repaired another portion and the tower of the furnaces. 12Next to him, Shalum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters made repairs. 13Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and one thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate. 14Malkiyah the son of Rechav, the ruler of the district of Beit Hakerem, repaired the dung gate. He built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 15Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mitzpah, repaired the spring gate. He built it, covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars; and he repaired the wall of the pool of Shelach by the king’s garden, even to the stairs that go down from David’s city. 16After him, Nechemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beit Tzur, made repairs to the place opposite the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men. 17After him, the Levi'im—Rehum the son of Bani made repairs. Next to him, Chashavyah, the ruler of half the district of Ke'ilah, made repairs for his district. 18After him, their brothers, Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Ke'ilah made repairs. 19Next to him, Ezer the son of Yeshua, the ruler of Mitzpah, repaired another portion across from the ascent to the armoury at the turning of the wall. 20After him, Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Elyashiv the high priest. 21After him, Meremoth the son of Uriyah the son of HaKotz repaired another portion, from the door of the house of Elyashiv even to the end of the house of Elyashiv. 22After him, the priests, the men of the surrounding area made repairs. 23After them, Binyamin and Chashub made repairs across from their house. After them, Azaryah the son of Ma'aseyah the son of Ananiah made repairs beside his own house. 24After him, Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another portion, from the house of Azaryah to the turning of the wall, and to the corner. 25Palal the son of Uzai made repairs opposite the turning of the wall, and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedayah the son of Parosh made repairs. 26(Now the Beit HaMikdash servants lived in Ophel, to the place opposite the water gate towards the east, and the tower that stands out.) 27After him the Tekoites repaired another portion, opposite the great tower that stands out, and to the wall of Ophel. 28Above the horse gate, the priests made repairs, everyone across from his own house. 29After them, Tzadok the son of Immer made repairs across from his own house. After him, Shemayah the son of Shekanyah, the keeper of the east gate, made repairs. 30After him, Chananyah the son of Shelemyah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another portion. After him, Meshullam the son of Berekhyah made repairs across from his room. 31After him, Malkiyah, one of the goldsmiths to the house of the Beit HaMikdash servants, and of the merchants, made repairs opposite the gate of Hammiphkad and to the ascent of the corner. 32Between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.

### Chapter 4

1But when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and was very indignant, and mocked the Yehudim. 2He spoke before his brothers and the army of Shomron, and said, “What are these feeble Yehudim doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, since they are burnt?” 3Now Toviyah the Amoni was by him, and he said, “What they are building, if a fox climbed up it, he would break down their stone wall.” 4“Hear, our Elohim, for we are despised. Turn back their reproach on their own head. Give them up for a plunder in a land of captivity. 5Don’t cover their iniquity. Don’t let their sin be blotted out from before you; for they have insulted the builders.” 6So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. 7But when Sanballat, Toviyah, the Aravim, the Amonim, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be filled, they were very angry; 8and they all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion amongst us. 9But we made our prayer to our Elohim, and set a watch against them day and night because of them. 10Yehudah said, “The strength of the bearers of burdens is fading and there is much rubble, so that we are not able to build the wall.” 11Our adversaries said, “They will not know or see, until we come in amongst them and kill them, and cause the work to cease.” 12When the Yehudim who lived by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.” 13Therefore I set guards in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places. I set the people by family groups with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14I looked, and rose up, and said to the nobles, to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them! Remember Adonai, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” 15When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and Elohim had brought their counsel to nothing, all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. 16From that time forth, half of my servants did the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Yehudah. 17Those who built the wall, and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands did the work, and with the other held his weapon. 18Amongst the builders, everyone wore his sword at his side, and so built. He who sounded the trumpet was by me. 19I said to the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread out, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally there to us. Our Elohim will fight for us.” 21So we did the work. Half of the people held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared. 22Likewise at the same time I said to the people, “Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labour in the day.” 23So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes. Everyone took his weapon to the water.

### Chapter 5

1Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Yehudim. 2For there were some who said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live.” 3There were also some who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine.” 4There were also some who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral. 5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring our sons and our daughters into bondage to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. It is also not in our power to help it, because other men have our fields and our vineyards.” 6I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 7Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them. 8I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Yehudim that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?” Then they held their peace, and found not a word to say. 9Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our Elohim because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? 10I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury. 11Please restore to them, even today, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you are charging them.” 12Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. We will do so, even as you say.” Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise. 13Also I shook out my lap, and said, “So may Elohim shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that doesn’t perform this promise; even may he be shaken out and emptied like this.” All the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised YHWH. The people did according to this promise. 14Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Yehudah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor. 15But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, plus forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people, but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of Elohim. 16Yes, I also continued in the work of this wall. We didn’t buy any land. All my servants were gathered there to the work. 17Moreover there were at my table, of the Yehudim and the rulers, one hundred and fifty men, in addition to those who came to us from amongst the nations that were around us. 18Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days a store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this, I didn’t demand the governor’s pay, because the bondage was heavy on this people. 19Remember me, my Elohim, for all the good that I have done for this people.

### Chapter 6

1Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Toviyah, Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come! Let’s meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to harm me. 3I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?” 4They sent to me four times like this; and I answered them the same way. 5Then Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, 6in which was written, “It is reported amongst the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Yehudim intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words. 7You have also appointed prophets to proclaim of you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Yehudah!’ Now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let’s take counsel together.” 8Then I sent to him, saying, “There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart.” 9For they all would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done.” But now, strengthen my hands. 10I went to the house of Shemayah the son of Delayah the son of Mehetav'el, who was shut in at his home; and he said, “Let us meet together in Elohim’s house, within the Beit HaMikdash, and let’s shut the doors of the Beit HaMikdash; for they will come to kill you. Yes, in the night they will come to kill you.” 11I said, “Should a man like me flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the Beit HaMikdash to save his life? I will not go in.” 12I discerned, and behold, Elohim had not sent him, but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Toviyah and Sanballat had hired him. 13He was hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and that they might have material for an evil report, that they might reproach me. 14“Remember, my Elohim, Toviyah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets that would have put me in fear.” 15So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations that were around us were afraid, and they lost their confidence; for they perceived that this work was done by our Elohim. 17Moreover in those days the nobles of Yehudah sent many letters to Toviyah, and Toviyah’s letters came to them. 18For there were many in Yehudah sworn to him because he was the son-in-law of Shekanyah the son of Arah; and his son Yehochanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berekhyah as wife. 19Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Toviyah sent letters to put me in fear.

### Chapter 7

1Now when the wall was built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levi'im were appointed, 2I put my brother Chanani, and Chananyah the governor of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man and feared Elohim above many. 3I said to them, “Don’t let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut the doors, and you bar them; and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, with everyone near his house.” 4Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built. 5My Elohim put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be listed by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found this written in it: 6These are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Yehudah, everyone to his city, 7who came with Zerubavel, Yeshua, Nechemiah, Azaryah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordechai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Ba'ana. The number of the men of the people of Yisrael: 8The children of Parosh: two thousand and one hundred and seventy-two. 9The children of Shefatyah: three hundred and seventy-two. 10The children of Arah: six hundred and fifty-two. 11The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Yeshua and Yoav: two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen. 12The children of Elam: one thousand and two hundred and fifty-four. 13The children of Zattu: eight hundred and forty-five. 14The children of Zaccai: seven hundred and sixty. 15The children of Binnui: six hundred and forty-eight. 16The children of Bebai: six hundred and twenty-eight. 17The children of Azgad: two thousand and three hundred and twenty-two. 18The children of Adonikam: six hundred and sixty-seven. 19The children of Bigvai: two thousand and sixty-seven. 20The children of Adin: six hundred and fifty-five. 21The children of Ater: of Chizkiyahu, ninety-eight. 22The children of Chashum: three hundred and twenty-eight. 23The children of Bezai: three hundred and twenty-four. 24The children of Hariph: one hundred and twelve. 25The children of Giv'on: ninety-five. 26The men of Beit Lechem and Netophah: one hundred and eighty-eight. 27The men of Anatot: one hundred and twenty-eight. 28The men of Beit Azmavet: forty-two. 29The men of Kiryat Ye'arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth: seven hundred and forty-three. 30The men of Ramah and Geva: six hundred and twenty-one. 31The men of Michmas: one hundred and twenty-two. 32The men of Beit El and Ai: one hundred and twenty-three. 33The men of the other Nevo: fifty-two. 34The children of the other Elam: one thousand and two hundred and fifty-four. 35The children of Harim: three hundred and twenty. 36The children of Jericho: three hundred and forty-five. 37The children of Lod, Chadid, and Ono: seven hundred and twenty-one. 38The children of Senaah: three thousand and nine hundred and thirty. 39The priests: The children of Yeda'yah, of the house of Yeshua: nine hundred and seventy-three. 40The children of Immer: one thousand and fifty-two. 41The children of Pashchur: one thousand and two hundred and forty-seven. 42The children of Harim: one thousand and seventeen. 43The Levi'im: the children of Yeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah: seventy-four. 44The singers: the children of Asaf: one hundred and forty-eight. 45The gatekeepers: the children of Shalum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai: one hundred and thirty-eight. 46The Beit HaMikdash servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 47the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon, 48the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai, 49the children of Hanan, the children of Gidel, the children of Gahar, 50the children of Re'ayah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 51the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, 52the children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim, 53the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 54the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 55the children of Barkos, the children of Sisra, the children of Temah, 56the children of Netziach, and the children of Hatipha. 57The children of Shlomo’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, 58the children of Ya'alah, the children of Darkon, the children of Gidel, 59the children of Shefatyah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, and the children of Ammon. 60All the Beit HaMikdash servants and the children of Shlomo’s servants were three hundred and ninety-two. 61These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses, nor their offspring, whether they were of Yisrael: 62The children of Delayah, the children of Toviyah, the children of Nekoda: six hundred and forty-two. 63Of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of HaKotz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gil'adi, and was called after their name. 64These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn’t find them. Therefore they were deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood. 65The governor told them not to eat of the most kodesh things until a priest stood up to minister with Urim and Thummim. 66The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand and three hundred and sixty, 67in addition to their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand and three hundred and thirty-seven. They had two hundred and forty-five singing men and singing women. 68Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six; their mules, two hundred and forty-five; 69their camels, four hundred and thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand and seven hundred and twenty. 70Some from amongst the heads of fathers’ households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred and thirty priests’ garments. 71Some of the heads of fathers’ households gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand and two hundred minas of silver. 72That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, plus two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests’ garments. 73So the priests, the Levi'im, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the Beit HaMikdash servants, and all Yisrael lived in their cities. When the seventh month had come, the children of Yisrael were in their cities.

### Chapter 8

1All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the wide place that was in front of the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moshe, which YHWH had commanded to Yisrael. 2Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. 3He read from it before the wide place that was in front of the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand. The ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Matityah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriyah, Chilkiyahu, and Ma'aseyah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedayah, Misha'el, Malkiyah, Chashum, Hashbaddanah, Zecharyah, and Meshullam. 5Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people), and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6Then Ezra blessed YHWH, the great Elohim. All the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshipped YHWH with their faces to the ground. 7Also Yeshua, Bani, Shereviah, Yamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodyah, Ma'aseyah, Kelita, Azaryah, Yozavad, Hanan, Pelayah, and the Levi'im, caused the people to understand the law; and the people stayed in their place. 8They read in the book, in the law of Elohim, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading. 9Nechemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levi'im who taught the people said to all the people, “Today is kodesh to YHWH your Elohim. Don’t mourn, nor weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is kodesh to our Adonai. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of YHWH is your strength.” 11So the Levi'im calmed all the people, saying, “Hold your peace, for the day is kodesh. Don’t be grieved.” 12All the people went their way to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to celebrate, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. 13On the second day, the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levi'im were gathered together to Ezra the scribe, to study the words of the law. 14They found written in the law how YHWH had commanded by Moshe that the children of Yisrael should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month; 15and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and get olive branches, branches of wild olive, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make temporary shelters, as it is written.” 16So the people went out and brought them, and made themselves temporary shelters, everyone on the roof of his house, in their courts, in the courts of Elohim’s house, in the wide place of the water gate, and in the wide place of Ephraim’s gate. 17All the assembly of those who had come back out of the captivity made temporary shelters and lived in the temporary shelters, for since the days of Yehoshua the son of Nun to that day the children of Yisrael had not done so. There was very great gladness. 18Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of Elohim. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.

### Chapter 9

1Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Yisrael were assembled with fasting, with sackcloth, and dirt on them. 2The offspring of Yisrael separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3They stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of YHWH their Elohim a fourth part of the day; and a fourth part they confessed and worshipped YHWH their Elohim. 4Then Yeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shevanyah, Bunni, Shereviah, Bani, and Chenani of the Levi'im stood up on the stairs, and cried with a loud voice to YHWH their Elohim. 5Then the Levi'im, Yeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Chashavneyah, Shereviah, Hodyah, Shevanyah, and Petachyah, said, “Stand up and bless YHWH your Elohim from everlasting to everlasting! Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise! 6You are YHWH, even you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their army, the earth and all things that are on it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all. The army of heaven worships you. 7You are YHWH, the Elohim who chose Avram, brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, gave him the name of Avraham, 8found his heart faithful before you, and made a Brit with him to give the land of the Kna'ani, the Chitti, the Emori, the Perizi, the Yevusi, and the Girgashi, to give it to his offspring, and have performed your words, for you are righteous. 9“You saw the affliction of our fathers in Mitzrayim, and heard their cry by the Yam Suf, 10and showed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his servants, and against all the people of his land, for you knew that they dealt proudly against them, and made a name for yourself, as it is today. 11You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land; and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters. 12Moreover, in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go. 13“You also came down on Har Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and mitzvot, 14and made known to them your kodesh Shabbat, and commanded them mitzvot, statutes, and a law, by Moshe your servant, 15and gave them bread from the sky for their hunger, and brought water out of the rock for them for their thirst, and commanded them that they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them. 16“But they and our fathers behaved proudly, hardened their neck, didn’t listen to your mitzvot, 17and refused to obey. They weren’t mindful of your wonders that you did amongst them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a Elohim ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in chesed, and didn’t forsake them. 18Yes, when they had made themselves a moulded calf, and said, ‘This is your Elohim who brought you up out of Mitzrayim,’ and had committed awful blasphemies, 19yet you in your manifold mercies didn’t forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud didn’t depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither did the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go. 20You gave also your good Ruach to instruct them, and didn’t withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. 21“Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes didn’t grow old, and their feet didn’t swell. 22Moreover you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you allotted according to their portions. So they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Cheshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan. 23You also multiplied their children as the stars of the sky, and brought them into the land concerning which you said to their fathers that they should go in to possess it. 24“So the children went in and possessed the land; and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Kna'anim, and gave them into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they pleased. 25They took fortified cities and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns dug out, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled, became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness. 26“Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against you, cast your law behind their back, killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies. 27Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. In the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviours who saved them out of the hands of their adversaries. 28But after they had rest, they did evil again before you; therefore you left them in the hands of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned and cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many times you delivered them according to your mercies, 29and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they were arrogant, and didn’t listen to your mitzvot, but sinned against your ordinances (which if a man does, he shall live in them), turned their backs, stiffened their neck, and would not hear. 30Yet many years you put up with them, and testified against them by your Ruach through your prophets. Yet they would not listen. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. 31“Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you didn’t make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful Elohim. 32Now therefore, our Elohim, the great, the mighty, and the awesome Elohim, who keeps Brit and chesed, don’t let all the travail seem little before you that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, on our priests, on our prophets, on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day. 33However you are just in all that has come on us; for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly. 34Also our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law, nor listened to your mitzvot and your testimonies with which you testified against them. 35For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land which you gave before them. They didn’t turn from their wicked works. 36“Behold, we are servants today, and as for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good, behold, we are servants in it. 37It yields much increase to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. Also they have power over our bodies and over our livestock, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. 38Yet for all this, we make a sure Brit, and write it; and our princes, our Levi'im, and our priests, seal it.”

### Chapter 10

1Now those who sealed were: Nechemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Tzidkiyahu, 2Serayah, Azaryah, Yirmeyahu, 3Pashchur, Amaryah, Malkiyah, 4Chatush, Shevanyah, Malluch, 5Harim, Meremoth, Ovadyah, 6Daniyyel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7Meshullam, Aviyah, Mijamin, 8Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemayah. These were the priests. 9The Levi'im: Yeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; 10and their brothers, Shevanyah, Hodyah, Kelita, Pelayah, Hanan, 11Mica, Rechov, Chashavyah, 12Zakur, Shereviah, Shevanyah, 13Hodyah, Bani, and Beninu. 14The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, 15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16Adoniyahu, Bigvai, Adin, 17Ater, Chizkiyahu, Azzur, 18Hodyah, Chashum, Bezai, 19Hariph, Anatot, Nobai, 20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21Meshezabel, Tzadok, Yadu'a, 22Pelatyah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23Hoshea, Chananyah, Chashub, 24Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, 25Rehum, Hashabnah, Ma'aseyah, 26Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 27Malluch, Harim, and Ba'ana. 28The rest of the people, the priests, the Levi'im, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Beit HaMikdash servants, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of Elohim, their wives, their sons, and their daughters—everyone who had knowledge and understanding— 29joined with their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse and into an oath, to walk in Elohim’s law, which was given by Moshe the servant of Elohim, and to observe and do all the mitzvot of YHWH our Adonai, and his ordinances and his statutes; 30and that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons; 31and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the Shabbat day to sell, that we would not buy from them on the Shabbat, or on a kodesh day; and that we would forego the seventh year crops and the exaction of every debt. 32Also we made ordinances for ourselves, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our Elohim: 33for the show bread, for the continual meal offering, for the continual burnt offering, for the Shabbats, for the new moons, for the set feasts, for the kodesh things, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Yisrael, and for all the work of the house of our Elohim. 34We, the priests, the Levi'im, and the people, cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our Elohim, according to our fathers’ houses, at times appointed year by year, to burn on YHWH our Elohim’s altar, as it is written in the law; 35and to bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all fruit of all kinds of trees, year by year, to YHWH’s house; 36also the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, as it is written in the law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our Elohim, to the priests who minister in the house of our Elohim; 37and that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, our wave offerings, the fruit of all kinds of trees, and the new wine and the oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our Elohim; and the tithes of our ground to the Levi'im; for they, the Levi'im, take the tithes in all our farming villages. 38The priest, the descendent of Aharon, shall be with the Levi'im when the Levi'im take tithes. The Levi'im shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our Elohim, to the rooms, into the treasure house. 39For the children of Yisrael and the children of Levi shall bring the wave offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, to the rooms where the vessels of the Beit HaMikdash are, and the priests who minister, with the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not forsake the house of our Elohim.

### Chapter 11

1The 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 kodesh city, and nine parts in the other cities. 2The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem. 3Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the cities of Yehudah, everyone lived in his possession in their cities—Yisrael, the priests, the Levi'im, the Beit HaMikdash servants, and the children of Shlomo’s servants. 4Some of the children of Yehudah and of the children of Binyamin lived in Jerusalem. Of the children of Yehudah: Athaiah the son of Uziyahu, the son of Zecharyah, the son of Amaryah, the son of Shefatyah, the son of Mahalal'el, of the children of Peretz; 5and Ma'aseyah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Chazayah, the son of Adayah, the son of Yoyariv, the son of Zecharyah, the son of the Shiloni. 6All the sons of Peretz who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men. 7These are the sons of Binyamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Yo'ed, the son of Pedayah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Ma'aseyah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Yesha'yah. 8After him Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred and twenty-eight. 9Yoel the son of Zikhri was their overseer; and Yehudah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city. 10Of the priests: Yeda'yah the son of Yoyariv, Yakhin, 11Serayah the son of Chilkiyahu, the son of Meshullam, the son of Tzadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Achituv, the ruler of Elohim’s house, 12and their brothers who did the work of the house, eight hundred and twenty-two; and Adayah the son of Yerocham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zecharyah, the son of Pashchur, the son of Malkiyah, 13and his brothers, chiefs of fathers’ households, two hundred and forty-two; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14and their brothers, mighty men of valour, one hundred and twenty-eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim. 15Of the Levi'im: Shemayah the son of Chashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Chashavyah, the son of Bunni; 16and Shabbethai and Yozavad, of the chiefs of the Levi'im, who had the oversight of the outward business of Elohim’s house; 17and Matanyah the son of Mica, the son of Zavdi, the son of Asaf, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukyah, the second amongst his brothers; and Abda the son of Shamu'a, the son of Galal, the son of Yedutun. 18All the Levi'im in the kodesh city were two hundred and eighty-four. 19Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were one hundred and seventy-two. 20The residue of Yisrael, of the priests, and the Levi'im were in all the cities of Yehudah, everyone in his inheritance. 21But the Beit HaMikdash servants lived in Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the Beit HaMikdash servants. 22The overseer also of the Levi'im at Jerusalem was Uzi the son of Bani, the son of Chashavyah, the son of Matanyah, the son of Mica, of the sons of Asaf, the singers responsible for the service of Elohim’s house. 23For there was a mitzvah from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required. 24Petachyah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerach the son of Yehudah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people. 25As for the villages with their fields, some of the children of Yehudah lived in Kiryat Arba and its towns, in Dibon and its towns, in Yekabtze'el and its villages, 26in Yeshua, in Moladah, Beit Pelet, 27in Hazar Shual, in Be'er Sheva and its towns, 28in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns, 29in En Rimon, in Tyre'a, in Yarmut, 30Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lakhish and its fields, and Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Be'er Sheva to the valley of Hinnom. 31The children of Binyamin also lived from Geva onward, at Michmash and Aija, and at Beit El and its towns, 32at Anatot, Nob, Ananiah, 33Chatzor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34Chadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36Of the Levi'im, certain divisions in Yehudah settled in Binyamin’s territory.

### Chapter 12

1Now these are the priests and the Levi'im who went up with Zerubavel the son of She'altiel, and Yeshua: Serayah, Yirmeyahu, Ezra, 2Amaryah, Malluch, Chatush, 3Shekanyah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4Iddo, Ginnethoi, Aviyah, 5Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6Shemayah, Yoyariv, Yeda'yah, 7Sallu, Amok, Chilkiyahu, and Yeda'yah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Yeshua. 8Moreover the Levi'im were Yeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Shereviah, Yehudah, and Matanyah, who was over the thanksgiving songs, he and his brothers. 9Also Bakbukyah and Unno, their brothers, were close to them according to their offices. 10Yeshua became the father of Yehoyakim, and Yehoyakim became the father of Elyashiv, and Elyashiv became the father of Yoyada, 11and Yoyada became the father of Yonatan, and Yonatan became the father of Yadu'a. 12In the days of Yehoyakim were priests, heads of fathers’ households: of Serayah, Meraiah; of Yirmeyahu, Chananyah; 13of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amaryah, Yehochanan; 14of Malluchi, Yonatan; of Shevanyah, Yosef; 15of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16of Iddo, Zecharyah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17of Aviyah, Zikhri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; 18of Bilgah, Shamu'a; of Shemayah, Yehonatan; 19of Yoyariv, Matenai; of Yeda'yah, Uzi; 20of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Ever; 21of Chilkiyahu, Chashavyah; of Yeda'yah, Netan'el. 22As for the Levi'im, in the days of Elyashiv, Yoyada, Yochanan, and Yadu'a, there were recorded the heads of fathers’ households; also the priests, in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23The sons of Levi, heads of fathers’ households, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Yochanan the son of Elyashiv. 24The chiefs of the Levi'im: Chashavyah, Shereviah, and Yeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers close to them, to praise and give thanks according to the mitzvah of David the man of Elohim, section next to section. 25Matanyah, Bakbukyah, Ovadyah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storehouses of the gates. 26These were in the days of Yehoyakim the son of Yeshua, the son of Yotzadak, and in the days of Nechemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest and scribe. 27At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levi'im 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. 28The sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain around Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netofatim; 29also from Beit Gilgal and out of the fields of Geva and Azmavet, for the singers had built themselves villages around Jerusalem. 30The priests and the Levi'im purified themselves; and they purified the people, the gates, and the wall. 31Then I brought the princes of Yehudah up on the wall, and appointed two great companies who gave thanks and went in procession. One went on the right hand on the wall towards the dung gate; 32and after them went Hoshayah, with half of the princes of Yehudah, 33and Azaryah, Ezra, and Meshullam, 34Yehudah, Binyamin, Shemayah, Yirmeyahu, 35and some of the priests’ sons with trumpets: Zecharyah the son of Yonatan, the son of Shemayah, the son of Matanyah, the son of Mikhayhu, the son of Zakur, the son of Asaf; 36and his brothers, Shemayah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Netan'el, Yehudah, and Chanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of Elohim; and Ezra the scribe was before them. 37By 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. 38The 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, 39and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, the tower of Chanan'el, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate; and they stood still in the gate of the guard. 40So the two companies of those who gave thanks in Elohim’s house stood, and I and the half of the rulers with me; 41and the priests, Elyakim, Ma'aseyah, Miniamin, Mikhayhu, Elioenai, Zecharyah, and Chananyah, with trumpets; 42and Ma'aseyah, Shemayah, El'azar, Uzi, Yehochanan, Malkiyah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang loud, with Yizrachyah their overseer. 43They offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced, for Elohim 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. 44On that day, men were 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 Levi'im; for Yehudah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levi'im who served. 45They performed the duty of their Elohim and the duty of the purification, and so did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the mitzvah of David and of Shlomo his son. 46For in the days of David and Asaf of old there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to Elohim. 47All Yisrael in the days of Zerubavel and in the days of Nechemiah gave the portions of the singers and the gatekeepers, as every day required; and they set apart that which was for the Levi'im; and the Levi'im set apart that which was for the sons of Aharon.

### Chapter 13

1On that day they read in the book of Moshe in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Amoni and a Moavi should not enter into the assembly of Elohim forever, 2because they didn’t meet the children of Yisrael with bread and with water, but hired Bilam against them to curse them; however, our Elohim turned the curse into a blessing. 3It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Yisrael. 4Now before this, Elyashiv the priest, who was appointed over the rooms of the house of our Elohim, being allied to Toviyah, 5had 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 mitzvah to the Levi'im, the singers, and the gatekeepers; and the wave offerings for the priests. 6But 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, 7and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Elyashiv had done for Toviyah, in preparing him a room in the courts of Elohim’s house. 8It grieved me severely. Therefore I threw all Toviyah’s household stuff out of the room. 9Then I commanded, and they cleansed the rooms. I brought into them the vessels of Elohim’s house, with the meal offerings and the frankincense again. 10I perceived that the portions of the Levi'im had not been given them, so that the Levi'im and the singers, who did the work, had each fled to his field. 11Then I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is Elohim’s house forsaken?” I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12Then all Yehudah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the treasuries. 13I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemyah the priest, and Tzadok the scribe, and of the Levi'im, Pedayah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zakur, the son of Matanyah; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers. 14Remember me, my Elohim, concerning this, and don’t wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my Elohim, and for its observances. 15In those days I saw some men treading wine presses on the Shabbat in Yehudah, bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Shabbat day; and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food. 16Some men of Tyre also lived there, who brought in fish and all kinds of wares, and sold on the Shabbat to the children of Yehudah, and in Jerusalem. 17Then I contended with the nobles of Yehudah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Shabbat day? 18Didn’t your fathers do this, and didn’t our Elohim bring all this evil on us and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Yisrael by profaning the Shabbat.” 19It came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Shabbat, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Shabbat. I set some of my servants over the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the Shabbat day. 20So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares camped outside of Jerusalem once or twice. 21Then 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 Shabbat. 22I commanded the Levi'im that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Shabbat day. Remember me for this also, my Elohim, and spare me according to the greatness of your chesed. 23In those days I also saw the Yehudim who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab; 24and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Yehudim’ language, but according to the language of each people. 25I contended with them, cursed them, struck certain of them, plucked off their hair, and made them swear by Elohim, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves. 26Didn’t Shlomo king of Yisrael sin by these things? Yet amongst many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his Elohim, and Elohim made him king over all Yisrael. Nevertheless foreign women caused even him to sin. 27Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our Elohim in marrying foreign women?” 28One of the sons of Yoyada, the son of Elyashiv the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I chased him from me. 29Remember them, my Elohim, because they have defiled the priesthood and the Brit of the priesthood and of the Levi'im. 30Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners and appointed duties for the priests and for the Levi'im, everyone in his work; 31and for the wood offering, at appointed times, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my Elohim, for good.

## KWS — KodeshWay Scriptures

Version: v3.0.18 · Released: 2026-05-24

SHA-256: `2fe5e261dbeb2fd41210c53abbcf77f4a34329e644aca38046cc1f9aa1633f5e`

Canonical text: kodeshway.com/scriptures

A Yeshua-centred edition derived from the public-domain World English Bible, with Hebrew names restored to the Mashiach's own tongue.

Released freely. No copyright, no claim. Copy it. Print it. Share it. Translate it. Give it away. What was received without price is given without price. — Mattityahu 10:8

License: CC0 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication)