Foreigners Excluded
On that day there was read in the book of Moses in the ears of the people; and it was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should come into the assembly of God, forever —
because they had not met the sons of Israel with bread and with water, and had hired Balaam against them to curse them. But our God turned the curse into a blessing.
And it happened, when they heard the instruction, that they separated all the mixed company from Israel.
The Temple Cleansed
And before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and was related to Tobiah,
had made him a great chamber, where formerly they used to put the grain offering, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the fresh oil — the portion commanded for the Levites and the singers and the gatekeepers — and the contribution of the priests.
And in all this I was not in Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, I had come to the king, and at the end of some days I asked leave of the king.
And I came to Jerusalem, and I understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in making him a room in the courts of the house of God.
And it was very evil to me, and I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the chamber.
And I gave the word, and they purified the chambers; and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.
Tithes Restored
And I learned that the portions of the Levites had not been given, and that the Levites and the singers who did the work had fled, each to his own field.
And I contended with the deputies and said, “Why has the house of God been abandoned?” And I gathered them and set them in their place.
And all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, and the new wine, and the fresh oil, to the storehouses.
And I put in charge of the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites; and next to them Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah — for they were counted faithful; and it was on them to distribute to their brothers.
Remember me, my God, concerning this; and do not blot out my loyal deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for its charges.
The Sabbath Restored
In those days I saw in Judah men treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in the heaps, and loading them on donkeys — and also wine, grapes, and figs, and every kind of load — and bringing them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. And I testified against them on the day they sold provisions.
And the Tyrians who lived there were bringing in fish and every kind of ware, and selling on the sabbath to the sons of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
And I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing — profaning the sabbath day?
Did not your fathers do this, and our God brought all this evil upon us and upon this city? And you are adding burning anger against Israel by profaning the sabbath.”
And it happened, when the gates of Jerusalem grew dark before the sabbath, that I gave the word, and the doors were shut; and I said that they should not open them until after the sabbath. And I stationed some of my young men at the gates, so that no load should come in on the sabbath day.
And the traders and sellers of every kind of merchandise lodged outside Jerusalem once and twice.
And I testified against them, and said to them, “Why are you lodging in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will send a hand against you.” From that time they did not come on the sabbath.
And I told the Levites that they should be purifying themselves and coming to keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. This also remember for me, my God, and have pity on me according to the abundance of your loyal love.
Intermarriage Forbidden
Also in those days I saw the Jews who had settled wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, of Moab.
And their sons — half spoke the language of Ashdod, and none of them knew how to speak the language of Judah, but only the tongue of this people and that.
And I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck some of their men, and pulled out their hair; and I made them swear by God: “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, and you shall not take of their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.
Was it not over these that Solomon, king of Israel, sinned? And 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 — yet even him the foreign wives caused to sin.
And shall it be heard of you that you do all this great evil, breaking faith with our God by settling foreign wives?”
And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; and I drove him from me.
Remember them, my God, for the defilings of the priesthood, and of the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
And I purified them from everything foreign, and appointed the watches for the priests and for the Levites, each at his own work;
and for the offering of wood at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, my God, for good.