Nehemiah:4-7

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* 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 ro #sh #, 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 #H5927 , 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 pa #am #, 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 ts @, 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 m @la #kah #. * And it came to pass from that time forth , that the half of my servants wrought in the work m @la #kah #, 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 m @la #kah #, 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 m @la #kah #: 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 na #ar #, 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 ra #ab #. * There were also that said , We have borrowed money for the kings 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 #H3027to 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 (8678 ) (8675 ) 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 na #ar #, 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 sh @nayim # 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 #arba #iym # 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 m @la #kah #. * Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty chamishshiym # 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 tso #n #; 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 gam # at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates sha #ar #; ) * 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 m @la #kah #, 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 m @la #kah #, 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 M @heytab #el #, 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 ma #aseh #, and on the prophetess Noadiah Now #adyah #, 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 #H7621unto 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 dabar #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 rachab # 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 ri #shown #, 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 Ba #anah #. The number , I say , of the men of the people of Israel was this ; * The children of Parosh Par #osh #, 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 Pachath Mow #ab #, of the children of Jeshua and Joab Yow #ab #, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen sh @moneh #. * The children of Elam , a thousand two hundred fifty and four . * The children of Zattu , eight hundred forty #arba #iym # and five . * The children of Zaccai , seven hundred and threescore . * The children of Binnui , six hundred forty #arba #iym # 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 sh @nayim #. * The children of Gibeon Gib #own #, ninety and five . * The men of Bethlehem Beythand Netophah , an hundred fourscore and eight . * The men of Anathoth , an hundred twenty and eight . * The men of Bethazmaveth Beyth , forty #arba #iym # and two . * The men of Kirjathjearim Qiryath Y @#ariym #, Chephirah , and Beeroth B @#erowth #, seven hundred forty #arba #iym # 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 Beyth -#El # 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 #arba #iym # and five . * The children of Lod , Hadid , and Ono , seven hundred twenty and one . * The children of Senaah C @na #ah #, three thousand nine hundred and thirty . * The priests : the children of Jedaiah Y @kda #yah #, 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 #arba #iym # and seven . * The children of Harim , a thousand and seventeen sheba #. * The Levites : the children of Jeshua , of Kadmiel Qadmiy #el #, and of the children of Hodevah , seventy and four . * The singers : the children of Asaph , an hundred forty #arba #iym # and eight . * The porters show #er #: 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 Tabba #owth #, * 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 R @#ayah #, 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 M @#uwniy #, the children of Nephishesim N @phuwsh @, * 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 Solomons 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 Pokereth , the children of Amon . * All the Nethinims , and the children of Solomons servants , were three hundred ninety and two . * And these were they which went up also from Telmelah Tel , Telharesha Tel , Cherub , Addon , and Immer : but they could not shew their fathers house , nor their seed , whether they were of Israel Yisra #el #. * The children of Delaiah , the children of Tobiah , the children of Nekoda , six hundred forty #arba #iym # 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 #H7239and 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 #arba #iym # and five singing men and singing women . * Their horses , seven hundred thirty and six : their mules , two hundred forty #arba #iym # 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 m @la #kah #. 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 show #er #, and the singers , and some of the people , and the Nethinims , and all Israel Yisra #el #, 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 sha #ar #; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses , which the LORD had commanded to Israel Yisra #el #.

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