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1 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 forever, 2 because they didn’t meet the
children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them,
to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 It came
to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the
mixed multitude. 4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed
over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah, 5 had
prepared for him a great chamber, where before 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. 6 But in all
this time I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year
of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king: and after certain days
asked I leave of the king, 7 and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the
evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the
courts of the house of God. 8 It grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth
all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I commanded,
and they cleansed the chambers: and there brought I again the vessels of the
house of God, with the meal-offerings and the frankincense. 10 I perceived
that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites
and the singers, who did the work, were fled everyone to his field.
11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God
forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12 Then
brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the
treasuries. 13 I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the
priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them
was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted
faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers.
14 Remember me, my God, concerning this, and don’t wipe out my good deeds
that I have done for the house of my God, and for the observances of it.
15 In those days saw I in Judah some men treading wine-presses on the
Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading donkeys therewith; as
also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought
into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day: and I testified against them in
the day in which they sold victuals. 16 There lived men of Tyre also
therein, who brought in fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the
Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 Then I contended
with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that
you
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