 Chapter 1-3 of Nehemiah, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Sam Stinson. Chapter 1. The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hakaliah. Now it came to pass in the month Chislev in the twentieth year as I was in Shushan, the palace. But Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men out of Judah, and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped that were left of the captivity and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass when I heard these words, that I sat down, and wept, and mourned certain days, and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven, and said, I beseech thee, O Jehovah, the God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and loving kindness with them that love him, and keep his commandments. Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest harken unto the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel, thy servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee, yea, I and my Father's house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which thou commandetst, thy servant, Moses. I beseech thee, the word that thou commandetst, thy servant, Moses, saying, If ye trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples. But if ye return unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there. Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who delight to fear thy name, and prosper I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cup-bearer to the king, and of Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and it came to pass in the month Nisan in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been before time sad in his presence, and the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, and I said unto the king, Let the king live for ever. Why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my father's sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven, and I said unto the king, If it please the king, And if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, That thou wouldst send me unto Judah, Unto the city of my father's sepulchres, That I may build it. And the king said unto me, The queen also sitting by him, For how long shall thy journey be? And when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me, And I set him a time. Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, Let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, That they may let me pass through till I come unto Judah. And a letter unto Asaph, The keeper of the king's forest, That he may give me timber, To make beams for the gates of the castle, Which appertaineth to the house, And for the wall of the city, And for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, According to the good hand of my God upon me. Then I came to the governors beyond the river, And gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me Captains of the army and horsemen. And when sand ballad the horrid night, And Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, It grieved them exceedingly, For that there was come a man To seek the welfare of the children of Israel. So I came to Jerusalem, And was there three days. And I arose in the night, I in some few men with me, After told I any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. Neither was there any beast with me, Save the beast that I rode upon. And I went out by night, By the valley gate, Even toward the jackals well, And to the dung gate, And viewed the walls of Jerusalem, Which were broken down, And the gates thereof were consumed with fire. Then I went on to the fountain gate, And to the king's pool, But there was no place for the beast That was under me to pass. Then went I up in the night, By the brook, And viewed the wall. And I turned back and entered by the valley gate, And so returned. And the rulers knew not whither I went, Or what I did, Neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, Nor to the priests, Nor to the nobles, Nor to the rulers, Nor to the rest that did the work. Then said I unto them, Ye see the evil case that we are in. Now Jerusalem lyeth waste, And the gates thereof are burned with fire. Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, That we be no more a reproach. And I told them of the hand of my God, Which was good upon me, As also of the king's words, That he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build, So they strengthened their hands for the good work. But when Sandballot the Horanite, And Tobiah the Servant, the Ammonite, And Geshom the Arabian heard it, They laughed us to scorn, And despised us, And said, What is this thing that ye do? Will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, And said unto them, The God of heaven, He will prosper us, Therefore we his servants will arise and build. But ye have no portion, Nor rite, Nor memorial in Jerusalem. CHAPTER III The Noliashub, the High Priest, Rows up with his brethren the priests, And they builded the sheep-gate. They sanctified it, And set up the doors of it, Even unto the tower of Hamea, They sanctified it, Unto the tower of Hennanel. And next unto him builded the men of Jericho, And next to them builded Zakkur, the son of Imre, And the fish-gate did the sons of Hassanah build. They laid the beams thereof, And set up the doors The bolts thereof, And the bars thereof, And next unto them repaired Merimoth, The son of Uriah, The son of Hakkaz, And next unto them repaired Mesulim, the son of Barakaiah, The son of Meshezabel, And next unto them repaired Zaddak, the son of Banna, And next unto them the Takoites repaired, But their nobles put not there next to the work of their Lord. And the old gate repaired Joida, the son of Pasea, And Mesulim, the son of Bessodea, They laid the beams thereof, And set up the doors thereof, And the bolts thereof, And the bars thereof. And next unto them repaired Melatiah, The gibionite, And Jadin, the Meranaphite, The men of Gibion, And of Mizpah, That appertained to the throne of the governor Beyond the river. Next unto him repaired Uziel, the son of Harhaya, Goldsmiths. And next unto him repaired Hananiah, one of the perfumers, And they fortified Jerusalem even unto the broad wall. And next unto them repaired Rafaah, the son of Her, The ruler of half the district of Jerusalem. And next unto them repaired Jedaya, the son of Harumaph, Over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush, the son of Hashabnia. And now Kija, the son of Harim, And Hashub, the son of Pahath Moab, Repaired another portion, And the tower of the furnaces. And next unto him repaired Shalom, the son of Hallohesh, The ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, He and his daughters. The valley gate repaired Hanun, And the inhabitants of Zanoa. They built it, And set up the doors thereof, The bolts thereof, And the bars thereof, And a thousand cubits of the wall unto the dung gate. And the dung gate repaired Malkaija, the son of Rikab, The ruler of the district of Beth Hakerim. He built it, And set up the doors thereof, The bolts thereof, And the bars thereof. And the fountain gate repaired Shalom, the son of Kolhosa, The ruler of the district of Mizpah. He built it, And covered it, And set up the doors thereof, The bolts thereof, And the bars thereof, And the wall of the pool Of Sheila, by the king's garden. Even unto the stairs that go down from the city of David. After him repaired Nehemiah, the son of Asbukh, The ruler of half the district of Beth Zure, Unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, And unto the pool that was made, And unto the house of the mighty men. After him repaired the Levites, Rehum, the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hash Abaya, the ruler of half the district of Kila, For his district. After him repaired their brethren, Bavai, the son of Henedad, The ruler of half the district of Kila. And next to him repaired Ezur, the son of Jeshua, The ruler of Mizpah, another portion over against the ascent to the armory At the turning of the wall. After him Baruch, the son of Zabai, earnestly repaired another portion, From the turning of the wall Unto the door of the house of Eliashub, The high priest. After him repaired Meramoth, the son of Uriah, The son of Hakkos, another portion, From the door of the house of Eliashub, And unto the end of the house of Eliashub, And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain. After them repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After them repaired Azariah, the son of Messiah, The son of Ananiah, beside his own house. After him repaired Benui, the son of Henedad, another portion, From the house of Azariah Unto the turning of the wall, And unto the corner. After all the son of Uzai repaired over against the turning of the wall, And the tower that standeth out from the upper house of the king, Which is by the court of the guard. After him, Padaya, the son of Parash, repaired. Now the Nethanim dwelt in Ophel Unto the place over against the water-gate Toward the east, and the tower that standeth out. After him the Takhoites repaired another portion, Over against the great tower that standeth out, And unto the wall of Ophel. Of the horse-gate repaired the priests, Every one over against his own house. After them repaired Zaddok, the son of Eber, Over against his own house. And after him repaired Shemaah, the son of Shekiniah, The keeper of the east gate. After him repaired Hananiah, the son of Shalamiah, And Hanun, the sixth son of Zawaf, another portion. After him repaired Mesulim, the son of Barakiah, Over against his chamber. After him repaired Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths unto the house of the Nethanim, And of the merchants over against the gate of Hamifqad, And to the ascent of the corner. And between the ascent of the corner and the sheep-gate Repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants. End of chapter 3. Chapters 4 through 6 of Nehemiah, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Sam Stinson, chapter 4. But it came to pass that when Senballet heard that we were building the wall, he was Roth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren in the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burned? Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall. Here, O our God, for we are despised, and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up for a spoil and a land of captivity, and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee. For they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. So we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together unto half the height thereof, for the people had a mind to work. But it came to pass that when Senballet and Tobiah and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashtonites, heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very Roth. And they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein. But we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish, so that we are not able to build the wall. And our adversaries said, They shall not know neither sea, till we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. And it came to pass that when the Jews that dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times from all places, Ye must return unto us. Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I set there the people after their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them. Beware the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses. And it came to pass when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to not, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. And it came to pass from that time forth that half of my servants wrought in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields and the bows, and the coats of mail, and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They all buildeth the wall, and they that bear burdens laideth themselves, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held his weapon. And the builders every one had his sword girded by his side, and so buildeth, and he that sounded the trumpet was by me. And I set unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people. The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. In what place soever ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us. Our God will fight for us. So we wrought in the work, and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day. So neither I nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard that followed me, none of us put off our clothes every one went with his weapon to the water. CHAPTER V Then there arose a great cry of the people, and of their wives, against their brethren, the Jews. For there were that said, We are sons, and our daughters are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live. Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields and our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the dearth. There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and our vineyards. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children, and lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already, neither is it in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards. And I was very angry when I heard their cry in these words. Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother, and I held a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We, after our ability, have redeemed our brethren the Jews that were sold unto the nations. And would ye even sell your brethren, and should they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found never a word. Also I said, The thing that ye do is not good, ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies? And I likewise, my brethren and my servants, do lend them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. So will we do, even as thou sayest. Then I called the priest, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise. Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise. Even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the assembly said, Amen. And praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise. Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two-and-thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. But the former governors that were before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yea, even their servants bear rule over the people. But so did not I, because of the fear of God. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land, and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work. Moreover, there were at my table of the Jews and the rulers, a hundred and fifty men, besides those that came unto us from among the nations that were round about us. Now 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 store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. Remember unto me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people. End of chapter 5 CHAPTER 6 Now it came to pass when it was reported to Sandballet and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and unto the rest of our enemies, that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein, though even unto that time I had not set up the doors in the gates. That Sandballet and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of O'noe. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease whilst I leave it, and come down to you? And they sent unto me four times after this sort, and I answered them after the same manner. Then sent Sandballet his servant unto me, in like manner the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand, wherein was written. It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu sayeth it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel, for which cause thou art building the wall, and thou wouldest be their king, according to these words. And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah, and now shall it be reported to the king, according to these words. Come now, therefore, and let us take counsel together. Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart, for they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hand shall weaken from the work, that it be not done. But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands. And I went unto the house of Shamiah, the son of Deliah, the son of Mehet Abel, who was shut up, and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they will come to slay thee, yea, and the night will they come to slay thee. And I said, Should such a man as I flee? And who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. And I discerned, and lo, God had not sent him, but he pronounced this prophecy against me, and Tobiah and Sanballet had hired him. For this cause was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballet, according to these their works, and also the prophetess, Noah Diah, and the rest of the prophets that would have put me in fear. So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. And it came to pass when all our enemies heard thereof, that all the nations that were about us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them. For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son-in-law of Shekiniah, the son of Era, and his son, Jeho Hannan, had taken the daughter of Mesulam, the son of Barakiah, to wife. Also they spake of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him, and Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. End of chapter 6 Chapter 7-10 of Nehemiah, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Sam Stinson. Chapter 7 It came to pass when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, that I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah, the governor of the castle, charge over Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot, and while they stand on guard, let them shut the doors, and bar ye them, and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. Now the city was wide and large, but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. And my God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people that they might be reckoned by genealogy, and I found the book of the genealogy of them that came up at the first, and I found written therein. These are the children of the province that went out of the captivity of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had carried away, and that returned unto Jerusalem, and to Judah, every one unto his city, who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Ramiah, Nehemani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispareth, Migvai, Nehum, B'na, the number of the men of the people of Israel, the children of Parash, 2,872, the children of Shef Atiyah, 370, and 2, the children of Arah, 650, and 2, the children of Pehath Moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818, the children of Elam, 2,250, and 4, the children of Zatuh, 840, and 5, the children of Zakkai, 703, Skor, the children of Binu, 640, and 8, the children of Babai, 620, and 8, the children of Asgad, 2,320, and 2, the children of Adani, Kham, 603, Skor, and 7, the children of Bigvai, 2,003, Skor, and 7, the children of Aden, 650, and 5, the children of Aeter, of Hezekiah, 90, and 8, the children of Hashem, 320, and 8, the children of B'zai, 320, and 4, the children of Harif, 112, the children of Gibbian, 90, and 5, the men of Bethlehem and Netofah, 104, Skor, and 8, the men of Anathoth, 120, and 8, the men of Beth, Az-Maveth, 40, and 2, the men of Kirith-Jerim, Kafirah, and Birof, 740, and 3, the men of Rehma and Giba, 620, and 1, the men of Micmas, 120, and 2, the men of Beth-El, and A.I., 120, and 3, the men of the other Nibo, 50, and 2, the children of the other Elam, 1250, and 4, the children of Harim, 320, the children of Jericho, 340, and 5, the children of Lad, Hadid, and Ono, 720, and 1, the children of Sina, 3,930, the priests, the children of Jediah, of the House of Jeshua, 970, and 3, the children of Imr, 1050, and 2, the children of Pashur, 1240, and 7, the children of Harim, 1017, the Levites, the children of Jeshua, of Cadmiel, of the children of Hodeva, 70, and 4, the singers, the children of Asaph, 140, and 8, the porters, the children of Shalom, the children of Atter, the children of Talmin, the children of Aqab, the children of Hatidah, the children of Shobai, 130, and 8, the Nethanim, the children of Zihah, the children of Hasufah, the children of Taba'af, the children of Keras, the children of Siyah, the children of Paydan, the children of Lebanon, the children of Haggaba, the children of Salmai, the children of Hanan, the children of Gedel, the children of Gahar, the children the children of Hatifa, the children of Solomon's servants, the children of Sotai, the children of Sophaereth, the children of Parida, the children of Jallah, the children of Darkin, the children of Geddel, the children of Shafatiah, the children of Hatil, the children of Pakareth, Hazaba'im, the children of Amon, all the Nethanim and the children of Solomon's servants were 390 and 2. And these were they that went up from Tel-Milah, Tel-Harshah, Kerub, Adam, and Imr. But they could not show their father's houses, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel. The children of Daliah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nakoda, 640 and 2. And of the priests, the children of Hobiah, the children of Hakkas, the children of Barzoli, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzoli, the Gileadite, and was called after their name. These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found. Therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. And the governor said unto them that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. The whole assembly together was 42,303 score. Besides their men's servants and their maid servants, of whom there were 7,330 and 7, and they had 245 singing men and singing women. Their horses were 730 and 6, their mules, 240 and 5, their camels, 430 and 5, their asses, 6,720, and from among the heads of father's houses gave unto the work. The governor gave to the treasury a thousand darks of gold, 50 basins, 530 priests' garments. And some of the heads of father's houses gave unto the treasury of the work 20,000 darks of gold and 2,200 pounds of silver. And that which the rest of the people gave was 20,000 darks of gold and 2,000 pounds of silver and 3,7 priests' garments. So the priests and the Levites and the porters and the singers and some of the people and the Nepheneim and all Israel dwelt in their cities, and when the seventh month was come the children of Israel were in their cities. End of chapter 7, chapter 8. And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water-gate, and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which Jehovah had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the broad place that was before the water-gate, from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those that could understand, and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood which they had made for the purpose, and beside him stood Matathea, and Shema, and Anaya, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Messiah, on his right hand, and on his left hand, Padaea, and Mishael, and Malkijah, and Hashem, and Hash, Bad, Dan, Ah, Zechariah, and Mashulam. And Ezra 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. And Ezra blessed Jehovah the great God, and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands, and they bowed their heads and worshiped Jehovah with their faces to the ground. Also, Jeshua, and Benai, and Sherabiah, Jamin, Akub, Shabbathai, Hodaea, Messiah, Kelita, Ezraea, Josephad, Hainan, Palaea, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law, and the people stood in their place. And they read in the book, and the law of God distinctly, and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest, the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto Jehovah your God, more not, nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto him for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy unto our Lord, neither be ye grieved, for the joy of Jehovah is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy, neither be ye grieved. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them. And on the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law. And they found written in the law how that Jehovah had commanded by Moses that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month, and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches and branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths as it is written. So the people went forth and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim, and all the assembly of them that were come again out of the captivity, made booths, and dwelt in the booths, for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun, unto that day had not the children of Israel done so, and there was very great gladness. Also day by day from the first day unto the last day he read in the book of the law of God, and they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly according unto the ordinance. End of chapter 8. Chapter 9. Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month, the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sack cloth, and earth upon them, and the seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers, and they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God, a fourth part of the day, and another fourth part they confessed, and worshiped Jehovah their God. Then stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua and Vanai, Cadmiel, Shabanaya, Booni, Sherabaya, Bani, and Kanani, and cried with a loud voice unto Jehovah their God. Then the Levites, Jeshua and Cadmiel, Bani, Hashab, Nia, Sherabaya, Hodaia, Shabanaya, and Pethahaya said, Stand up and bless Jehovah your God, from everlasting to everlasting, and bless be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. Thou art Jehovah, even thou alone. Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are thereon, the seas, and all that is in them, and thou preservest them all, and the host of heaven worshipeth thee. Thou art Jehovah the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Caldees, and gaveest him the name of Abraham, and foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madeest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Parasite, and the Jebusite, and the Gurgesite, to give it unto his seed, and hast performed thy words, for thou art righteous, and thou sawest the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red Sea, and showest signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land, for thou newest that they dealt proudly against them, and didst get thee a name as it is this day, and thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and their pursuers thou didst cast into the depths as a stone into the mighty waters. Moreover, in a pillar of cloud, thou letst them by day, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way wherein they should go. Thou cameest down also upon Mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gaveest them right ordinances, and true laws, good statutes and commandments, and madeest known unto them thy holy Sabbath, and commandest them commandments, and statutes, and a law by Moses thy servant, and gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commandest them that they should go into possess the land, which thou hadst sworn to give them, but they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments, and refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and forsookest them not. Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, this is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations, yet thou and thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud departed not from over them by day, to lead them in the way, neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go. Thou gaveest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gaveest them water for their thirst. Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not. Moreover, thou gaveest them kingdoms and peoples, which thou didst a lot after their portions, so they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshban, and the land of Ag, king of Meshon. Their children also multipliedest thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land concerning which thou didst say to their fathers, that they should go into possess it. So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduest before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gaveest them into their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. And they took fortified cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance. So they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness. Nevertheless, they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their back, and slew thy prophets, that testified against them to turn them again unto thee, and they wrought great provocations. Therefore thou deliverst them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them, and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou hurtest from heaven, and according to thy manifold mercies, thou gaveest them saviors, who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries. But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee. Therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them. Yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou hurtest from heaven, and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies, and testifiedest against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law. Yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live in them, and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. Yet many years didst thou bear with them, and testifiedest against them by thy spirit through thy prophets. Yet would they not give ear, therefore gaveest thou them into the hands of the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless, in thy manifold mercies, thou didst not make a full end of them, nor forsake them, for thou art a gracious and merciful God. Now therefore are God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and loving kindness. Let not all the travail seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day. How be it thou art just in all that is come upon us, for thou hast dealt truly, but we have done wickedly. Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor harkened unto thy commandments, and thy testimonies wherewith thou didst testify against them. For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gaveest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gaveest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works. Behold, we are servants this day, and as for the land that thou gaveest unto our fathers, to eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it. And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings, whom thou hast set over us, because of our sins. Also they have power over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. And yet for all this we make a sure covenant, and write it. And our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal unto it. End of chapter 9. Chapter 10. Now, those that sealed were Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hakaliah and Zedekiah, Sariah Azariah, Jeremiah, Pashur, Amariah, Malkijah, Hattush, Shabaniah, Malik, Harim, Merimoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Genithon, Baruch, Mesulam, Abijah, Mijamin, Maziah, Bilgai, Shamiah, these were the priests. And the Levites, namely, Jeshua, the son of Azaniah, Benu, of the sons of Hanadad, Cadmiel, and their brethren, Shabaniah, Hodaia, Kalida, Palaia, Hanan, Micah, Rehob, Hashabiah, Zachar, Sherabiah, Shabaniah, Hodaia, Bani, Beninu, the chiefs of the people, Parash, Pahath, Moab, Elam, Zatu, Bani, Buni, Asgad, Babai, Adonizah, Bigvai, Adon, Atar, Hezekiah, Azar, Hodaia, Hasham, Bezai, Harif, Anathoth, Nobay, Magpiyash, Mesulam, Hazir, Meshez, Abel, Zadik, Jadua, Pel, Ataya, Hanan, Anaya, Hoshia, Hen, Anaya, Hashab, Halohesh, Pilha, Shobak, Rehom, Hashab, Nah, Masiah, and Ahaya, Hanan, Anan, Malik, Harim, Bana, and the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethanim, and all they that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone that had knowledge and understanding, they clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses, the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of Jehovah, our Lord, and his ordinances, and his statutes, and that we would not give our daughters unto the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons, and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day, to sell, that we would not buy of them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day, and that we would forgo the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt. Also we made ordinances for us to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God, for the showbread, and for the continual burnt offering, for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings, to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. And we cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our father's houses at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of Jehovah our God, as it is written in the law, and to bring the first fruits of our ground, and the first fruits of all fruit of all manner of trees, year by year unto the house of Jehovah. Also the first born of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds, and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God unto the priests that minister in the house of our God. And that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, and our heave offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, for they the Levites take the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers and to the treasure house. For the children of Israel, and the children of Levi, shall bring the heave offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, unto the chambers where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers. And we will not forsake the house of our God. To bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities. And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem. Now, these are the chiefs of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah dwelt everyone in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel the priests, and the Levites, and the Nepheneem, and the children of Solomon's servants. And in Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, of the children of Judah, Ath-ayah, the son of Uz-ayah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Am-riah, the son of Sheffatiyah, the son of Mahallel, of the children of Perez, and Messiah, the son of Baruch, the son of Kahl-Hazeh, the son of Haziah, the son of Adiah, the son of Joy-Arib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shil-anite. All the sons of Perez that dwelt in Jerusalem were 403 score and eight valiant men. And these are the sons of Benjamin, Salu, the son of Mashulam, the son of Jo-ed, the son of Padah-ah, the son of Kola-ah, the son of Messiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshiah. And after him, Gabai, Salai, 928. And Joel, the son of Zechariah, was their overseer, and Judah, the son of Hassanua, was second over the city, of the priests. Jedai, the son of Joy-Arib, Jochen, Suriah, the son of Hil-kayah, the son of Mashulam, the son of Zaddik, the son of Mera-Eoth, the son of Eotub, the ruler of the house of God, and their brethren that did the work of the house, 820 and 2. And Adiyah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Paliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Poshur, the son of Malkijah, and his brethren, chiefs of father's houses, 240 and 2. And Amash-Sai, the son of Azareel, the son of Azai, the son of Mesh-il-Emoth, the son of Imr, and their brethren, mighty men of Valor, 128. And their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Hagadolim, and of the Levites, Shamiah, the son of Hashem, the son of Az-Rikam, the son of Hash-Abaya, the son of Buni, and Shab-Ethai, and Josephad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God. And Mataniah, the son of Micah, the son of Zabdil, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving and prayer, and Bak-Buk-Aya, the second among his brethren, and Abda, the son of Shamiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jaduthan. All the Levites in the Holy City were 204 score and four. Moreover, the porters, Akhab, Talmin, and their brethren, that kept watch at the gates, were 172. And the residue of Israel, of the priests, the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance. But the Nethanim dwelt in Ophel, and Zihah and Gishpa were over the Nethanim. The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi, the son of Bani, the son of Hashabaya, the son of Mataniah, the son of Micah, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the business of the house of God. For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers as every day required. And Peth Ahaya, the son of Meshez Abel, of the children of Zira, the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people. And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt in Kirith Arba, in the towns thereof, and in Dibon, in the towns thereof, and in Jech Ab Zil, in the villages thereof, and in Jeshua, and in Mola Da, in Beth Polet, and in Hazar Shu'al, and in Beersheba, in all the towns thereof, and in Ziklag, and in Mechana, and in the towns thereof, and in Enrimon, and in Zora, and in Jarmuth, Zanoa, Agilem, and their villages, Lakish, and the fields thereof, Azaka, in the towns thereof, so they encamped from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom. The children of Benjamin also dwelt from Diba onward, at Miqmash, and Ijah, and at Bethel, in the towns thereof, at Anathoth, Nab, Ananiah, Hazor, Rehma, Gita'im, Hadid, Zebo'im, Nabalit, Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. And of the Levites, certain courses in Judah were joined to Benjamin. End of Chapter 11, Chapter 12. Now, these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zorubbabel, the son of Shialtiel, and Jeshua, Soraya, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amoraya, Malik, Hattush, Shakenaya, Rahim, Merimoth, Idu, Genathoy, Abijah, Mijamin, Mediah, Bilga, Shamiah, and Joyarib, Jadiah, Salu, Amek, Hilkayah, Jadiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua. Moreover, the Levites, Jeshua, Benu, Kadmiel, Sherabiah, Judah, and Mananiah, who was over the Thanksgiving, he and his brethren. Also, Bakbukhaya and Ono, their brethren, were over against them according to their offices, and Jeshua begat Joachim, and Joachim begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joyada, and Joyada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jadua. And in the days of Joachim were priests, heads of father's houses, of Soraya, Mariah, of Jeremiah, Hananiah, of Ezra, Meshulam, of Amoraya, Jeho Hanan, of Malukki, Jonathan, of Shabanaya, Joseph, of Harim, Adna, of Marriath, Helkay, of Idu, Zechariah, of Genathan, Meshulam, of Abaija, Zikri, of Minia Min, of Moa Daya, Piltae, of Bilga, Shamiah, of Shamiah, Jehanathan, and of Joyarib, Mataniah, of Jedaya, Uzi, of Sola'i, Kala'i, of Amek, Eber, of Hilkayah, Hashabaya, of Jedaya, Nethanel, as for the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joyada, and Johanan, and Jadua. There were recorded the heads of father's houses, also the priests in the reign of Darius, the Persian. The sons of Levi, heads of father's houses, were written in the Book of the Chronicles, even until the days of Johanan, the son of Eliashib, and the chiefs of the Levites. Hashabaya, Sherabaya, and Jeshua, the son of Katmiel, with their brethren, over against them, to praise and give thanks, according to the commandment of David, the man of God, watch next to watch. Mataniah, and Bakbukhaya, Obadiah, Mesulam, Talamon, Aqab, were porters keeping the watch at the storehouses of the gates. These were in the days of Joyakim, the son of Jeshua, the son of Josadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe. And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, sultries, and with harps. And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain roundabout Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Nidophathites, also from Beth Gilgal, and out of the fields of Giba, and Azmaveth, for the singers had builded them villages roundabout Jerusalem. And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people, and the gates and the wall. Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies that gave thanks, and went in procession, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate. And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah, and Azariah, Ezra, and Mashulam, Judah and Benjamin, and Shamiah and Jeremiah, and certain of the priests' sons with trumpets. Zachariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shamiah, the son of Mataniah, the son of Makaiah, the son of Zakar, the son of Asaph, and his brethren, Shamiah and Azareh, Mil-Ali, Gil-Ali, Mai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God. And Ezra the scribe was before them, and by the fountain gate, and straight before them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward. And the other company of them that gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them, with the half of the people upon the wall, above the tower of the furnaces, even unto the broad wall, and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hamiah, even unto the sheep gate, and they stood still in the gate of the guard. So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me, and the priests, Eliachem, Messiah, Minni Amin, Micaiah, Eli Onai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets, and Messiah and Shamiah, and Eliezer, and Uzi, and Jehohanan, and Malkijah, and Elam, and Ezra, and the singer sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. And they offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy. And the women also and the children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. And on that day were men appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the heave offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them according to the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law, for the priests and Levites, for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. And they kept the charge of their God, and the charge of the purification, and so did the singers and the porters, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. For in the days of David and Asaph of old, there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God, and all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, as every day required. And they set apart that which was for the Levites, and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron. On that day they read in the Book of Moses, in the audience of the people, and therein was found written that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God, for ever, because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them, how be it our God turned the curse into a blessing. And it came to pass when they had heard the law that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. Now before this, Eliash of the priest who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied unto Tobiah, had prepared for him a great chamber, where a four time they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites and the singers and the porters and the heave offerings for the priests. But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem, for in the two-and-thirtieth year of Artaxerxes, King of Babylon, I went unto the king, and after certain days asked I leave of the king. And I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliash of had done for Tobiah, and preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore, therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers, and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meal offerings and the frankincense. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers that did the work were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them in their place. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine, and the oil unto the treasuries. And I made treasurers over the treasuries. Shalamaya, the priest, and Zaddok, the scribe, and of the Levites, Hediah, and next to them was Hanan, the son of Zacher, the son of Mataniah, for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute unto their brethren. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the observances thereof. In those days saw I in Judah some men treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves and lading asses therewith, as also wine, grapes, and figs in all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. There dwelt men of tire, also therein, who brought in fish and all manner of wares, and sold on the Sabbath, unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city? Yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath. And it came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath. And some of my servants set eye over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day. So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath. And I commanded the Levites, that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy loving kindness. And those days also saw I, the Jews that had married women of Ashtid, of Ammon, and of Moab. And their children spake half in the speech of Ashtid, and could not speak in the Jews language, but according to the language of each people. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, even him did foreign women cause to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you, to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God, and marrying foreign women? And one of the sons of Joyadah, the son of Eliash of the high priest, was son-in-law to send ballot the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me. Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. Thus cleansed I them from all foreigners, and appointed charges for the priests, and for the Levites, every one in his work, and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.