Dual PanelNehemiah's religious reforms
1ON that day at the public reading from the book of Moses, it was found to be laid down that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
2because they did not welcome the Israelites with food and water but hired Balaam to curse them, though our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3When the people heard the law, they separated off from Israel all who were of mixed blood.
4But before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the storerooms of the house of our God, and who was connected by marriage with Tobiah,
5had provided for his use a large room where formerly they had kept the grain-offering, the frankincense, the temple vessels, the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and door-keepers, and the contributions for the priests.
6All this while I was not in Jerusalem because, in the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon, I had gone to the king. Some time later, however, having asked permission from him,
7I returned to Jerusalem and there discovered the outrageous thing that Eliashib had done for Tobiah's benefit in providing him with a room in the courts of the house of God.
8I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah's belongings out of the room.
9I then gave orders that the room should be purified, and that the vessels of the house of God, with the grain-offering and frankincense, should be put back into it.
10I also learnt that the Levites had not been given their portions; both they and the singers, who were responsible for their respective duties, had made off to their farms.
11I remonstrated with the magistrates: “Why is the house of God deserted?” I demanded. I recalled the men and restored them to their places.
12Then all Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil into the storehouses.
13Over the stores I set Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the accountant, and Pedaiah a Levite, with Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, as their assistant, for they were considered trustworthy men; their duty was the distribution of their shares to their brethren.
14God, remember this to my credit, and do not wipe out of your memory the devotion which I have shown in the house of my God and in his service!
15In those days I saw men in Judah treading winepresses on the sabbath, collecting quantities of produce and loading it on donkeys -- wine, grapes, figs, and every kind of load, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath. I warned them against the selling of food on that day.
16Tyrians living in Jerusalem were also bringing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the sabbath to the people of Judah, even in Jerusalem.
17I complained to the nobles of Judah and said to them, “How dare you profane the sabbath in this wicked fashion?
18Is not this just what your forefathers did, so that our God has brought all this evil on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath.”
19When the entrances to Jerusalem had been cleared in preparation for the sabbath, I gave orders that the gates should be shut and not opened until after the sabbath; and I posted some of my men at the gates to ensure that no load came in on the sabbath.
20Then on one or two occasions the merchants and all kinds of traders spent the night just outside Jerusalem,
21but I warned them: “Why are you spending the night in front of the city wall? Do it again, and I shall take action against you.” After that they did not come on the sabbath.
22I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and take up duty as guards at the gates, to ensure that the sabbath was kept holy. God, remember this also to my credit, and spare me in your great love!
23In those days also I saw that some Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
24Half their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of one of the other peoples but could not speak the language of the Jews.
25I argued with them and reviled them, I beat some of them and tore out their hair; and I made them swear in the name of God: “We shall not marry our daughters to their sons, or take any of their daughters in marriage for our sons or for ourselves.”
26“Was it not because of such women”, I said, “that King Solomon of Israel sinned? Among all the nations there was no king like him; he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless even he was led by foreign women into sin.
27Are we then to follow your example and commit this grave offence, breaking faith with our God by marrying foreign women?”
28One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest had married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him out of my presence.
29God, remember to their discredit that they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priests and the Levites.
30Thus I purified them from everything foreign, and I made the Levites and the priests resume the duties of their office;
31I also made provision for the delivery of the wood at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. God, remember me favourably!