Nehemiah, Chapter 13:

Verses from Nehemiah, Chapter 13 of the book of Nehemiah in the Bible.

Nehemiah - Old Testament — Nehemiah – Old Testament

Nehemiah's Final Reforms

1. On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud before the people, and in it we find written that no Ammonite or Moabite could ever be admitted into the people of God,
2. for they did not welcome the Israelites with bread and water when they left Egypt, and hired Balaam to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3. When the people heard this law, we excluded from Israel everyone who was of foreign origin.
4. Before this, Eliashib the priest had been in charge of the storehouses of the temple of our God and was a relative of Tobit.
5. He gave Tobias a large room, which had previously been used to store the grain offerings, incense, temple utensils and also the tithes of grain, new wine and oil intended for the Levites, singers and porters, in addition to the contributions for the priests.
6. During this time I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of the reign of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went back to the king. Some time later, I asked his permission
7. and returned to Jerusalem. That was when he learned of the evil that Eliashib had done by giving Tobias a room in the courtyards of God's temple.
8. I was deeply indignant and threw all of Tobias's belongings out of the room.
9. I ordered the rooms to be purified and restored to them the utensils of the temple of God, along with the grain offerings and incense.
10. He also learned that the Levites were not receiving their share and that all of them, Levites and singers in charge of the service, had returned to their lands.
11. Then I rebuked the leaders and asked them, “Why the neglect of the temple of God?” Then I summoned the Levites and singers and reinstalled them in their respective positions.
12All the people of Judah brought their tithes of grain, new wine, and oil into the storehouses.
13. I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah to oversee the deposits. Hanan, son of Zaccur and grandson of Mattaniah, was appointed as their assistant, as they were considered trustworthy men. They were responsible for distributing supplies to their companions.
14. Remember this, O my God, and do not forget all that I have dedicatedly done for the temple of my God and for its service.
15. In those days I saw in Judah that some people were treading grapes in presses on the Sabbath and bringing sheaves of grain, carrying donkeys with loads of wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of cargo, to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. Then I warned them about selling food on the Sabbath.
16. There were also merchants from Tire, who lived in Jerusalem, who brought fish and all kinds of merchandise to sell in Jerusalem on the Sabbath for the people of Judah.
17. Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “You are doing a terrible thing by profaning the Sabbath day.
18. Did not your ancestors do the same thing, bringing all this calamity upon us and upon this city? You are further provoking the Lord’s anger against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”
19. When the evening shadows were falling on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the gates to be closed and not to be opened until the Sabbath had passed. I stationed some of my servants at the gates to ensure that no shipments entered Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.
20. On one or two occasions, traders and sellers of various goods spent the night outside Jerusalem.
21. Then I warned them, saying, “Why are you spending the night around the wall? If you do this again, I will take action against you!” And from that moment on, they didn't come back on Saturday.
22. I also commanded the Levites to purify themselves and take responsibility for guarding the gates, in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me, O my God, for this reason too, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of your love.
23. In those days I also saw Jews who married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab.
24. Half of the children from these marriages spoke the language of Ashdod or another people and could not speak the language of Judah.
25. I rebuked them and cursed them. I hit some of them and pulled out their hair. I made them swear before God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters in marriage to your sons, nor take their daughters to marry your sons or for yourselves.
26. Was it not because of these marriages that King Solomon of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. However, even he allowed himself to be seduced by foreign women.
27. How then could we accept the practice you are following, committing infidelity against our God by marrying foreign women?”
28. One of the sons of Jehoiada, son of the high priest Eliashib, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. I expelled him from my presence.
29. Remember them, O my God, for they profaned the priesthood and the priestly and Levitical covenant.
30. So I cleansed them from everything foreign and appointed roles for the priests and the Levites, each in his respective task.
31. I also established the dates for the delivery of the wood for the altar, as well as for the offerings of the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for all these things, and grant me your mercy according to your great goodness.