Nehemiah:1-7



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* The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah . And it came to pass in the month Chisleu , in the twentieth year , as I was in Shushan the palace , * That Hanani , one of my brethren , came , he and certain men of Judah ; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped , which 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 fasted , and prayed before the God of heaven , * And said , I beseech thee , O LORD God of heaven , the great and terrible God , that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments : * Let thine ear now be attentive , and thine eyes open , that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant , which I pray before thee now , day and night , for the children of Israel thy servants , and confess the sins of the children of Israel , which we have sinned against thee : both 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 judgments , which thou commandedst thy servant Moses . * Remember , I beseech thee , the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses , saying , If ye transgress , I will scatter you abroad among the nations : * But if ye turn unto me , and keep my commandments , and do them ; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven , yet will I gather them from thence , and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name 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 desire to fear thy name : and prosper , I pray thee , thy servant this day , and grant him mercy in the sight of this man . For I was the king 's cupbearer . * And it came to pass in the month Nisan , in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king , that wine was before him : and I took up the wine , and gave it unto the king . Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence . * Wherefore 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 said unto the king , Let the king live for ever : why should not my countenance be sad , when the city , the place of my fathers ' 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 favour in thy sight , that thou wouldest send me unto Judah , unto the city of my fathers ' 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 convey me over till I come into 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 palace which appertained 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 captains of the army and horsemen with me . * When Sanballat the Horonite , and Tobiah the servant , the Ammonite , heard of it , it grieved them exceedingly 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 and some few men with me ; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem : neither was there any beast with me , save the beast that I rode upon . * And I went out by night by the gate of the valley , even before the dragon well , and to the dung port , and viewed the walls of Jerusalem , which were broken down , and the gates thereof were consumed with fire . * Then I went on to the gate of the fountain , 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 turned back , and entered by the gate of the valley , 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 distress that we are in , how Jerusalem lieth 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 . * Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me ; as also 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 this good work . * But when Sanballat the Horonite , and Tobiah the servant , the Ammonite , and Geshem 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 right , nor memorial , in Jerusalem . * Then Eliashib the high priest rose 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 Meah they sanctified it , unto the tower of Hananeel . * And next unto him builded the men of Jericho . And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri . * But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build , who also laid the beams thereof , and set up the doors thereof , the locks thereof , and the bars thereof . * And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah , the son of Koz . And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah , the son of Meshezabeel . And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana . * And next unto them the Tekoites repaired ; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord . * Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah , and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah ; they laid the beams thereof , and set up the doors thereof , and the locks thereof , and the bars thereof . * And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite , and Jadon the Meronothite , the men of Gibeon , and of Mizpah , unto the throne of the governor on this side the river . * Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah , of the goldsmiths . Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries , and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall . * And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur , the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem . * And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph , even over against his house . And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah . * Malchijah the son of Harim , and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab , repaired the other piece , and the tower of the furnaces . * And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh , the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem , he and his daughters . * The valley gate repaired Hanun , and the inhabitants of Zanoah ; they built it , and set up the doors thereof , the locks thereof , and the bars thereof , and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate . * But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab , the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem ; he built it , and set up the doors thereof , the locks thereof , and the bars thereof . * But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh , the ruler of part of Mizpah ; he built it , and covered it , and set up the doors thereof , the locks thereof , and the bars thereof , and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king 's garden , and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David . * After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk , the ruler of the half part of Bethzur , unto the place over against the sepulchres of David , and to the pool that was made , and unto the house of the mighty . * After him repaired the Levites , Rehum the son of Bani . Next unto him repaired Hashabiah , the ruler of the half part of Keilah , in his part . * After him repaired their brethren , Bavai the son of Henadad , the ruler of the half part of Keilah . * And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua , the ruler of Mizpah , another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the turning of the wall . * After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece , from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest . * After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece , from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib . * And after him repaired the priests , the men of the plain . * After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house . After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house . * After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece , from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall , even unto the corner . * Palal the son of Uzai , over against the turning of the wall , and the tower which lieth out from the king 's high house , that was by the court of the prison . After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh . * Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel , unto the place over against the water gate toward the east , and the tower that lieth out . * After them the Tekoites repaired another piece , over against the great tower that lieth out , even unto the wall of Ophel . * From above the horse gate repaired the priests , every one over against his house . * After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house . After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah , the keeper of the east gate . * After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah , and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph , another piece . After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber . * After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith 's son unto the place of the Nethinims , and of the merchants , over against the gate Miphkad , and to the going up of the corner . * And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants . * But it came to pass , that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall , he was wroth , and took great indignation , and mocked the Jews . * And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria , and said , What do these feeble Jews ? 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 the rubbish which are burned ? * Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him , and he said , Even that which they build , if a fox go up , he shall even break down their stone wall . * Hear , O our God ; for we are despised : and turn their reproach upon their own head , and give them for a prey in the 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 built we the wall ; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof : for the people had a mind to work . * But it came to pass , that when Sanballat , and Tobiah , and the Arabians , and the Ammonites , and the Ashdodites , heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up , and that the breaches began to be stopped , then they were very wroth , * And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem , and to hinder it . * Nevertheless 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 see , till we come in the midst among them , and slay them , and cause the work to cease . * And it came to pass , that when the Jews which dwelt by them came , they said unto us ten times , From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you . * Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall , and on the higher places , I even set 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 : remember the Lord , which 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 nought , that we returned all of us to the wall , every one unto his work . * And it came to pass from that time forth , that the half of my servants wrought in the work , and the other half of them held both the spears , the shields , and the bows , and the habergeons ; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah . * They which builded on the wall , and they that bare burdens , with those that laded , every one with one of his hands wrought in the work , and with the other hand held a weapon . * For the builders , every one had his sword girded by his side , and so builded . And he that sounded the trumpet was by me . * And I said 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 therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet , resort ye thither unto us : our God shall fight for us . * So we laboured 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 every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem , that in the night they may be a guard to us , and labour on the day . * So neither I , nor my brethren , nor my servants , nor the men of the guard which followed me , none of us put off our clothes , saving that every one put them off for washing . * And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews . * For there were that said , We , our sons , and our daughters , are many : therefore we take up corn for them , that we may eat , and live . * Some also there were that said , We have mortgaged our lands , vineyards , and houses , that we might buy corn , because of the dearth . * There were also that said , We have borrowed money for the king 's tribute , and that upon our lands and 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 unto bondage already : neither is it in our power to redeem them ; for other men have our lands and vineyards . * And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words . * Then I consulted with myself , and I rebuked the nobles , and the rulers , and said unto them , Ye exact usury , every one of his brother . And I set a great assembly against them . * And I said unto them , We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews , which were sold unto the heathen ; and will ye even sell your brethren ? or shall they be sold unto us ? Then held they their peace , and found nothing to answer . * Also I said , It is not good that ye do : ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies ? * I likewise , and my brethren , and my servants , might exact of them money and corn : I pray you , let us leave off this usury . * Restore , I pray you , to them , even this day , their lands , their vineyards , their oliveyards , and their houses , also the hundredth part of the money , and of the corn , the 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 as thou sayest . Then I called the priests , and took an oath of them , that they should do according to this promise . * Also I shook my lap , and said , So God shake out every man from his house , and from his labour , that performeth not this promise , even thus be he shaken out , and emptied . And all the congregation said , Amen , and praised the LORD . 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 had been before me were chargeable unto the people , and had taken of them bread and wine , beside forty shekels of silver ; yea , even their servants bare 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 an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers , beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us . * Now that which was prepared for me daily 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 required not I the bread of the governor , because the bondage was heavy upon this people . * Think upon me , my God , for good , according to all that I have done for this people . * Now it came to pass , when Sanballat , and Tobiah , and Geshem the Arabian , and the rest of our enemies , heard that I had builded the wall , and that there was no breach left therein ; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates ;) * That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me , saying , Come , let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono . 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 ? * Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort ; and I answered them after the same manner . * Then sent Sanballat 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 heathen , and Gashmu saith it , that thou and the Jews think to rebel : for which cause thou buildest the wall , that thou mayest 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 made us afraid , saying , Their hands shall be weakened from the work , that it be not done . Now therefore , O God , strengthen my hands . * Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel , 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 , in the night will they come to slay thee . * And I said , Should such a man as I flee ? and who is there , that , being as I am , would go into the temple to save his life ? I will not go in . * And , lo , I perceived that God had not sent him ; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me : for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him . * Therefore 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 . * My God , think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works , and on the prophetess Noadiah , 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 , that when all our enemies heard thereof , and all the heathen that were about us saw these things , they 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 Shechaniah the son of Arah ; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah . * Also they reported his good deeds before me , and uttered my words to him . And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear . * Now 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 ruler of the palace , 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 by , let them shut the doors , and bar 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 large and great : but the people were few therein , and the houses were not builded . * And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles , and the rulers , and the people , that they might be reckoned by genealogy . And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first , and found written therein , * These are the children of the province , that went up out of the captivity , of those that had been carried away , whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away , and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah , every one unto his city ; * Who came with Zerubbabel , Jeshua , Nehemiah , Azariah , Raamiah , Nahamani , Mordecai , Bilshan , Mispereth , Bigvai , Nehum , Baanah . The number , I say , of the men of the people of Israel was this ; * The children of Parosh , two thousand an hundred seventy and two . * The children of Shephatiah , three hundred seventy and two . * The children of Arah , six hundred fifty and two . * The children of Pahathmoab , of the children of Jeshua and Joab , two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen . * The children of Elam , a thousand two hundred fifty and four . * The children of Zattu , eight hundred forty and five . * The children of Zaccai , seven hundred and threescore . * The children of Binnui , six hundred forty and eight . * The children of Bebai , six hundred twenty and eight . * The children of Azgad , two thousand three hundred twenty and two . * The children of Adonikam , six hundred threescore and seven . * The children of Bigvai , two thousand threescore and seven . * The children of Adin , six hundred fifty and five . * The children of Ater of Hezekiah , ninety and eight . * The children of Hashum , three hundred twenty and eight . * The children of Bezai , three hundred twenty and four . * The children of Hariph , an hundred and twelve . * The children of Gibeon , ninety and five . * The men of Bethlehem and Netophah , an hundred fourscore and eight . * The men of Anathoth , an hundred twenty and eight . * The men of Bethazmaveth , forty and two . * The men of Kirjathjearim , Chephirah , and Beeroth , seven hundred forty and three . * The men of Ramah and Geba , six hundred twenty and one . * The men of Michmas , an hundred and twenty and two . * The men of Bethel and Ai , an hundred twenty and three . * The men of the other Nebo , fifty and two . * The children of the other Elam , a thousand two hundred fifty and four . * The children of Harim , three hundred and twenty . * The children of Jericho , three hundred forty and five . * The children of Lod , Hadid , and Ono , seven hundred twenty and one . * The children of Senaah , three thousand nine hundred and thirty . * The priests : the children of Jedaiah , of the house of Jeshua , nine hundred seventy and three . * The children of Immer , a thousand fifty and two . * The children of Pashur , a thousand two hundred forty and seven . * The children of Harim , a thousand and seventeen . * The Levites : the children of Jeshua , of Kadmiel , and of the children of Hodevah , seventy and four . * The singers : the children of Asaph , an hundred forty and eight . * The porters : the children of Shallum , the children of Ater , the children of Talmon , the children of Akkub , the children of Hatita , the children of Shobai , an hundred thirty and eight . * The Nethinims : the children of Ziha , the children of Hashupha , the children of Tabbaoth , * The children of Keros , the children of Sia , the children of Padon , * The children of Lebana , the children of Hagaba , the children of Shalmai , * The children of Hanan , the children of Giddel , the children of Gahar , * The children of Reaiah , the children of Rezin , the children of Nekoda , * The children of Gazzam , the children of Uzza , the children of Phaseah , * The children of Besai , the children of Meunim , the children of Nephishesim , * The children of Bakbuk , the children of Hakupha , the children of Harhur , * The children of Bazlith , the children of Mehida , the children of Harsha , * The children of Barkos , the children of Sisera , the children of Tamah , * The children of Neziah , the children of Hatipha . * The children of Solomon 's servants : the children of Sotai , the children of Sophereth , the children of Perida , * The children of Jaala , the children of Darkon , the children of Giddel , * The children of Shephatiah , the children of Hattil , the children of Pochereth of Zebaim , the children of Amon . * All the Nethinims , and the children of Solomon 's servants , were three hundred ninety and two . * And these were they which went up also from Telmelah , Telharesha , Cherub , Addon , and Immer : but they could not shew their father 's house , nor their seed , whether they were of Israel . * The children of Delaiah , the children of Tobiah , the children of Nekoda , six hundred forty and two . * And of the priests : the children of Habaiah , the children of Koz , the children of Barzillai , which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife , 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 , as polluted , put from the priesthood . * And the Tirshatha 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 congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore , * Beside their manservants and their maidservants , of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven : and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women . * Their horses , seven hundred thirty and six : their mules , two hundred forty and five : * Their camels , four hundred thirty and five : six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses . * And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work . The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold , fifty basons , five hundred and thirty priests ' garments . * And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold , and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver . * And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold , and two thousand pound of silver , and threescore and seven priests ' garments . * So the priests , and the Levites , and the porters , and the singers , and some of the people , and the Nethinims , and all Israel , dwelt in their cities ; and when the seventh month came , the children of Israel were in their cities . * And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate ; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses , which the LORD had commanded to Israel .

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