1. The words of Nekhemyah, son of Hakhalyah: Now what took place [was that] in the month of Kisleu, the twentieth year, when I was in Shushan the citadel,

2. Khanani (one of my brothers) came--he and men from Yehudah, so I asked them about the fugitive Jews who had been spared capture, and about Yerushalayim.

3. So they told me, "The remnant who were spared the captivity there in the magisterial district are experiencing severe adversity and scorn. Also, the wall of Yerushalayim is badly breached, and its gates have been burned with fire."

4. As it turned out, when I heard these words, I sat down and began to weep, and I was mourning for days, and I started fasting and interceding before the Elohim of Heaven,

5. and I said, "I beg You, YHWH, Elohim of Heaven, the great and awesome El, who keeps watch over His covenant and [maintains] mercy to those who love Him and keep His commandments,

6. "please let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, so as to hear the prayer of Your servant, which I myself am praying before You today--day and night--concerning the sons of Israel, Your servants, and confessing the sins of the descendants of Israel, which we have committed against You; both I myself and my father's household have sinned.

7. "We have offended You [and] acted corruptly in that we have not guarded Your commandments, prescribed customs, or just rulings [about] which You gave orders to Moshe Your servant.

8. "Please remember the word that You commanded Moshe Your servant, to quote: 'Go outside these boundaries [and] I will scatter you among the peoples,

9. "'but [if] you come back to Me and guard My commands and carry them out, even if you were banished to the farthest horizon, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen in which to set My Name.'

10. "Indeed, they are Your servants and Your people whom You have ransomed by Your great power and by Your mighty hand.

11. "I beg You, YHWH, please, let Your ear be attentive to the petition of Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants who would delight to stand in awe of Your Name. And please, bring success to Your servant today and grant him pity in the presence of this man." (Now I was the butler for the king.)

CHAPTER 2

1. Now in the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of Artakhshasta the king, when wine came before him, that was when I took the wine up and was giving it to the king. Now I had never been sad in front of his face.

2. So the king said to me, "Why is your face sad when you are not sick now? There isn't this [kind of appearance] unless it is sadness of heart!" Then I become even more afraid.

3. But I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why would my face not be sad when the city [that is] the home of my ancestors' tombs is laid waste and its gates have been devoured by fire?"

4. So the king said to me, "What is it that you are looking for?" So I prayed to the Elohim of the Heavens,

5. then I told the king, "If it is beneficial in regard to the king, and if your servant is pleasing in your presence, that you might release me to go to Judea and to the city of my ancestors' tombs so that I can rebuild it."

6. And with the queen sitting beside him, the king said to me, "How long will your journey take? And when will you come back?" So it seemed right in the face of the king, and he released me to go, so I designated a time [limit] for him.

7. I also said to the king, "If it is beneficial in regard to the king, let letters be provided for me which will grant me passage until I reach Judea, on account of the governors [of the province] Across the River,

8. "and a letter to Asaf, the keeper of the forest preserve that belongs to the king, [specifying] that he will provide me with timbers to serve as beams for the gates of the enclosure that belongs to the House and for the wall of the city and for the house into which I will enter." And the king granted it to me, according to the kindness of the hand of my Elohim upon me.

9. When I came to the governors Across the River, I gave them the king's letters. (The king had also sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.)

10. When Sanballat the Khoronite and Tovyah the Ammonite servant heard, it was displeasing to them--very displeasing--that a person had come to seek the welfare of the descendants of Israel.

11. But I entered into Yerushalayim, and was there for three days,

12. then I got up at night--I and a few men with me--and did not tell a person what my Elohim had put in my heart to do for Yerushalayim, and there was no beast with me except the beast on which I was riding.

13. And I went out at night by the Gate of the Valley, that is, in front of the Fountain of the Dragon and toward the Refuse Gate to examine the walls of Yerushalayim that were badly breached, and its gates that were devoured by fire.

14. Then I continued over to the Gate of the Spring and to the king's pool, but there was no place for the beast [that was] under me to pass through.

15. Then what I did was proceed by night through the dry river valley and examined the wall, then doubled back and entered by [way of] the Gate of the Valley and came back.

16. Now the deputies were not aware of where I had gone or what I was doing, nor had I reported yet to the Jews, the priests, or the freeborn nobles, or the subordinate rulers, or [any of] the rest who were carrying out the work.

17. Then I told them, "You [can] see bad [situation] we are in--[one] in which Yerushalayim lies desolate and its gates have been burned with fire. Come! Let's rebuild the wall of Yerushalayim, and we will no longer be an object of scorn."

18. And I recounted to them about the hand of my Elohim which had been favorable upon me, and all the more, the words the king had spoken to me. And they said, "Let's rise up and build!" And they [worked hard to] make their hands strong for [this] worthwhile [undertaking].

19. But when Sanballat the Khoronite, and Tovyah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem ["rain"] the Arabian heard, they started mocking us and regarding us with contempt, and they said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Are you revolting against the king?"

20. So I gave them a word back, and told them, "The Elohim of the Heavens--He will cause us to succeed, so we His servants will rise up and build, but for you there is no share or right or memorial in Yerushalayim!"

CHAPTER 3

1. So Elyashiv the priest rose up along with his relatives, the priests, and they rebuilt the Gate of the Flock. They set it apart [as holy] and stood its doors up, and they consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred--all the way to the Tower of Hanan'El.

2. Then next to him, the men of Yericho ["its moon"] were building, and next to him, Zakur [mindful], the son of Imri [eloquent], was building.

3. Then the sons of Hasnaah [the thorn] built the Gate of the Fish; they [were the ones who] made its beams meet and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

4. And beside them, M'remoth [elevations] the son of Uriyah [YHWH is my light] the son of Qotz [thornbush] made repairs, then next to them M'shulam [one at peace] the son of Berekhyah [YHWH blesses] the son of M'sheyzav'El [Elohim shakes loose] made repairs, and next to them Tzadoq [righteous] the son of Baana ["in the affliction"] made repairs.

5. And next to them, the Teqoites made repairs, but their chieftains would not bring the back of their necks into the service of their master.

6. Then the Old Gate was repaired by Yoyada [YHWH knew] the son of Paseakh [one who skips over] the son of B'sodyah [in the secret council of YHWH]. They made its beams meet and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

7. And beside them, M'latyah [YHWH has cemented] the Giv'onite, Yadon [thankful] the Meronite, the men of Giv'on [high hill] and Mitzpah [watchtower] made repairs to the seat of the governor [of the province] Across the River.

8. Then next to him Uzziel [El is my strength] the son of Kharhayah [hot fury of YHWH] of the refiners made repairs, and beside him Hananyah the son of the perfume compounders made repairs as far as the Broad Wall.

9. And beside them, R'fayah [YHWH has healed] the son of Khuwr [white cloth], the chief of the half part of Yerushalayim, made repairs.

10. And next to them, Y'dayah the son of Kharumath [split nose] made repairs--in fact, adjacent to his own house, and beside him Khattush [assembled] the son of Khashavn'yah [whom YHWH has regard for] made repairs.

11. Malkhiyah [YHWH is my king] the son of Kharim [dedicated] made repairs to a second part, and Khashuv [considerate] the son of Pakhath-Moav [Pit of Moav], the Tower of the Furnaces.

12. Then next to him, Shalum the son of Halokhesh [whisperer], the chief of the [other] half of Yerushalayim; he and his daughters made repairs.

13. Khanun [gracious] and the inhabitants of Zanoakh repaired the Gate of the Valley. They rebuilt it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, as well as a thousand cubits along the wall as far as the Refuse Gate.

14. But the Refuse Gate [itself] was repaired by Malkiyah the son of Rekhav [rider], the chief of [one] district of Beyth-haKerem [Place of the Vineyard]. He rebuilt it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

15. And the Gate of the Spring was repaired by Shalun [retribution] the son of Kol-Hozeh [seeing everything], ruler of the district of Mitzpah. He rebuilt it, roofed it in, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, as well as the Pool of Shelakh, which belongs to the King's Garden and as far as the stairs that go down from the City of David.

16. After him, Nekhemyah the son of Azbuq [strong devastation], the ruler of half the district of Beyth-Tzur [Place of the Rock] as far as [the point] across from the tombs of David, that is, up to the [man-] made pool and as far as the mighty mens' house.

17. After him the Levites--R'khum [compassion] the son of Bani [built]--made repairs. Beside him, Khashavyah the chief of the half part of Qe'ilah, made repairs to his own district.

18. After him, their relatives, Bawai the son of Khenadad, chief of the [other] half part of Qe'ilah, made repairs.

19. Then next to him, Ezer [help] the son of Y'shua [YHWH delivers], the ruler of Mitzpah repaired a second section from the ascent opposite the armory to the corner buttress of the wall.

20. After him, Barukh [blessed] the son of Zabbai [pure] furiously repaired another section from the corner buttress to the entrance to the house of Elyashiv the high priest.

21. After him, M'remoth the son of Uriyah the son of Qotz repaired another section from the entrance to the house of Elyashiv all the way to the end of Elyashiv's house.

22. Then after him, the priests, the men of the surrounding [district], made repairs.

23. Next, Binyamin [son of the right hand] and Khashuv made repairs alongside their own house. Then Azaryah [YHWH has helped] the son of Maaseyah [work of YHWH] the son of Ananyah [YHWH brings clouds] repaired [the part] adjoining his house.

24. After him, Binnui ["built up"] the son of Khenadad repaired another section from the house of Azaryah to the turning-buttress--that is, the corner.

25. Palal [intercessor] the son of Uzai, from adjoining the turning-buttress and the tower that proceeds from the king's upper house, which is toward the courtyard of the prison. After him, P'dayah [YHWH has ransomed] the son of Parosh [flea].

26. (Now the Assigned Ones were living on the Ofel as far as [the point] across from the Water Gate toward the sunrise and the tower that stands out.)

27. After him the Teqoites repaired another section from adjoining the large tower that sticks out, and as far as the wall of the Ofel.

28. The priests repaired from above the Gate of Horses, each opposite his own house.

29. Next, Tzadoq the son of Immer made repairs across from his house. After him, Shema'yah [YHWH has heard] the son of Sh'khanyah [YHWH has dwelt] the keeper of the eastern Gate, made repairs.

30. After him, Khananyah the son of Shelemyah made repairs, then Khanun the sixth son of Tzalaf repaired another section. After him, M'shulam the son of Berakhyah repaired across from his chamber.

31. After him, Malkhiyah the son of the refiner repaired as far as the house of the Assigned Ones and the traders across from the Gate of the Visitor, then as far as the ascent of the corner.

32. And between the ascent of the corner to the Gate of the Flock, the [gold] refiners and traders made repairs.

33. [4:1 in English] Now, as it turned out, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and began to be very upset and to ridicule the Jews.

34. And in front of his relatives and the army of Shomron, he spoke up and said, "What are these Jewish weaklings doing? Can they set themselves free? Can they do sacrificial slaughters? Can they finish [the job] in a day? Can they bring the stones out of the piles of burnt debris back to life?"

35. Then Tovyah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, "If even a fox goes up on what they are building, it will break down their wall of stones!"

36. Listen, our Elohim, because we are being held in contempt! And turn their taunts back on their own head, and hand them over as plunder into the land of captivity!

37. And do not spread a covering over their perversity, nor let their sin be wiped away from before Your face, since they have brought anger to alongside the builders!

38. So we [kept] building the wall, and the whole wall was secured tightly to the part that [had been] divided from it, because the people had a determination to get it done.

CHAPTER 4

1. But when Sanballat and Tovyah, along with the Arabians, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the restoration for the walls of Yerushalayim had gone up, since the breaches were being closed up, it made them very furious.

2. So all of them banded together to come to fight against Yerushalayim and to cause confusion for it.

3. But we had made our prayer to our Elohim and stationed guards over them day and night because of their presence.

4. Then Yehudah said, "The strength of those who bear the burdens is faltering, and there is so much debris that we are unable to build the wall!

5. "And those who are oppressing us have said, 'They'll never know, and they won't notice until we arrive in their midst and kill them, and cause the work to cease.'

6. And indeed, when the Jews who lived near them came in, they told us ten times, "Any place from which you may return, [they are] against us!"

7. So I had them stand, from the lowest parts of the place, from behind the wall, in the glaringly bare areas, and I stationed the people by their families with their swords, spears, and bows.

8. Then I inspected [them], and got up and told the freeborn nobles and the deputies, and the remainder of the people, "Do not be afraid of their presence! Remember the great and awesome Adonai, and fight on behalf of your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!"

9. And it turned out that when our enemies heard that it was known to us and that Elohim had frustrated their conspiracy, then we all went back to the wall, each to his own task.

10. And from that day on, half of my young men did the work, while half of them kept a firm grip on the spears, the shields, the bows, and the body armor, and the officials were behind the whole house of Yehudah--

11. those who were on the wall building, those carrying burdens, those loading [each did so] with one of his hands--[one] that worked on the job, and [one] that held a weapon,

12. because each of the builders [had] his sword tied on his hip while he built, and the one who blew the shofar was beside me.

13. So I told the nobles, the deputies, and the rest of the people, "There is a lot of work and it's a big [task], and we are spread out on the wall, each a distance from his brother.

14. "Wherever you hear the sound of the shofar, assemble to us there; our Elohim will fight for us!"

15. So we worked at the task with half of them holding onto the spears from the rising of the dawn until the stars came out.

16. At that time I also told the people, "Let each man and his servant spend the night inside Yerushalayim, so that they may serve as a guard for us at night and labor during the daytime."

17. So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me--none of us took off his clothes; each man let down the water.

CHAPTER 5

1. Then there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their brothers, the Jews.

2. Now there were [some] who were saying, "[With] our sons and our daughters, we are many! Let's seize grain, so we may eat and survive!"

3. And there were [others] who were saying, "In [our] hunger, we've mortgaged our fields, our vineyards, and our houses so we can acquire grain!"

4. And there were [some] who were saying, "We've borrowed silver for the king's measure of our fields and vineyards.

5. "Yet now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, and our children are like their children, and look! We are forcing our sons and daughters to be slaves, and there are some of our daughters are being brought into bondage, and our hands have no power, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others!"

6. And when I heard their outcry and these words, it made me very angry.

7. But my heart ruled over me, and I lodged a complaint against the nobles and the deputies and began to say to them, "Each of you is lending at interest from his brother!" And I convened a great assembly against them.

8. Then I told them, "As we have had enough, we have bought our brothers, the Jews, who were sold to the Gentiles. Will you also sell your brothers now?! Or will they be sold to us?" And they quieted down, and could not find a thing [to say].

9. So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our Elohim, from the taunts of our enemies, the Gentiles?

10. "So indeed I, my brothers, and my servants are lending them silver and grain; I beg you, let's give up this lending at interest!

11. "Please, give them back their fields, the vineyards, their olive [orchards], and their houses--today, in fact--along with the one percent of the silver, the grain, the new wine, and the fresh oil that you are extorting from them!"

12. So they said, "We will give [it] back, and we will not ask anything from them; we will do just as you are saying." So I called the priests and had them swear to act according to this promise.

13. I also shook out my lap and said, "May Elohim cause anyone who does not make this promise binding to be intensely shaken out from his house and from the property he has acquired. May he indeed be shaken out just like this and emptied!" And the whole congregation said, "Let it be so!" And they praised YHWH and the people did according to this promise.

14. Moreover, from the day that I was put in charge as their governor in the Land of Yehudah (from the twentieth year all the way until the thirty-second year of Artakhshasta the king)--twelve years [in all]--neither I nor my brothers ate the food of a governor.

15. The first governors who preceded me were too heavy upon the people and had taken bread and wine from them, after [already taking from them] forty sheqels of silver. Even their young men lorded it over the people. But I did not do it that way because of the fear of Elohim.

16. And I also held on strongly in the business of this wall, not even buying a field, and all of my young men were gathered together there on account of the work.

17. And the Jews and the deputies--150 men--and those who came in to us from among the nations that were around us were at my table,

18. and what was prepared for one day [was] one ox, six choice sheep; birds were also prepared for me, and every ten days in all the plentiful wine. Yet with all this I did not request the bread of a governor, since the service [that was] on the people was so heavy.

19. Remember me, my Elohim, to favor all that I have done for this people.

CHAPTER 6

1. But what took place was that, when Sanballat, Tovyah, Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach was left in it (though by that time I had not even firmed up the doors at the gateways yet),

2. then Sanballat and Geshem sent [word] to me, saying, "Let's meet together in the villages on the Plain of Ono." But they intended to do me harm.

3. So I sent messengers to tell them, "I am working on a big job, and I can't come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?"

4. They even sent [word] to me four times in regard to this matter, but [each time] I repelled them in this way.

5. Then Sanballat sent his young man to me about this matter the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, in which was written,

6. "Among the nations it is reported, and Gashmu says, "You and the Jews intend to revolt, and that is why you are building the wall--so that you can become a king to them"--according to these reports.

7. "You have even had prophets stand up and make a proclamation about you at Yerushalayim, saying, "A king in Yehudah!" And reports like these are what will be heard by the king! So come now and let's talk it over together."

8. But I sent [word] to tell him, "Such things as you are saying are not [really] taking place, because you're inventing them from your own mind!"

9. Because they were all [out to] inspire fear in us [by] saying, "Their hands will grow weak from the work," so it would not get done. So now, strengthen my hands!

10. So I came to the home of Shma'yah the son of Delayah, the son of M'heytav'El, who was in custody, and he said, "Let's set an appointment to meet toward the House of Elohim in the middle of the Temple, and let us shut the doors of the Temple, because they will come to murder you, and it’s at night that they will come to murder you."

11. But I said, "Should a man like me run away? And what kind of man of my type would go into the Temple to survive? I won't go in."

12. Because I discerned that, indeed, Elohim had not sent him, because he had spoken the prophecy against me, and Tovyah and Sanballat had hired him.

13. This is why he was hired--in order to make me afraid and act like this, so I would sin and come to have a bad name for them so that they could criticize me.

14. My Elohim, remember Tovyah and Sanballat according to these things they have done, and also Noadyah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who [want to] inspire fear in me!

15. So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, on the fifty-second day.

16. Now when this was reported to all of our enemies, and all the nations that were around us saw, they suffered a severe fall in their own eyes, because they recognized that this work was accomplished by our Elohim.

17. Also, in those days the nobles of Yehudah were increasing the [number of] letters they were having walked to Tovyah, and those belonging to Tovyah were coming to them,

18. since many in Yehudah were masters of an oath to him, since he was the [son] in-law to Sh'khanyah the son of Arakh, and his son Y'hokhanan had taken the daughter of M'shulam the son of Berekhyah [as a wife].

19. His beneficial deeds were also being reported in my presence, and my words were being taken out to him. Tovyah was sending letters to [try to] frighten me.

CHAPTER 7

1. Now when the wall had been built and I had begun setting up the doors, and the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites had been stationed,

2. then I gave my brother Khanani charge over Yerushalayim, along with Khananyah the ruler of the palace, because he was reliable as a man and feared Elohim more than most.

3. And I told them, "Do not let the gates of Yerushalayim be opened until the sun is hot, and until they present themselves, let them shut the doors and fasten them. And station the inhabitants of Yerushalayim as guards, each one at his guard-post and each near his own house."

4. Now the city was spacious on both hands and large, but the population within it was small, and houses had not been built.

5. And my Elohim granted to my heart to gather the nobles and the deputies and the people to be enrolled according to genealogy, and I found a genealogical record of those who had come up at the beginning. And [this is what] I found written in it:

6. "These are the sons of the district who came up from among the captives who had been exiled--whom Nevuchadnetzar the king of Bavel had taken away into exile, and who returned to Yerushalayim and to Judea, each to his own city:

7. "The ones coming with Zerubavel: Y'shua, Nekhemyah, Azaryah, Raanyah, Nakhmani, Mordekhai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, N'khum, Baanyah; the count of the [mortal] men of the nation of Israel:

8. "The descendants of Par'osh [numbered] 2,172.

9. "The descendants of Sh'fatyah, 372.

10. "The descendants of Arah, 652.

11. "The descendants of Pakhath-Moav, belonging to the sons of Y'shua and Yoav, [numbered] 2,818.

12. . "The descendants of Eylam, 1,254.

13. . "The descendants of Zattu, 845.

14. . "The descendants of Zakkai, 760.

15. . "The descendants of Binnui, 648.

16. "The descendants of Vevai, 628.

17. "The descendants of Azgad, 2,322.

18. "The descendants of Adoniqam, 667.

19. "The descendants of Bigwai 2,067.

20. "The descendants of Adin, 655.

21. "The descendants of Ater, belonging to Hizqiyahu, 98.

22. "The descendants of Khashum, 328.

23. "The descendants of Betzai, 324.

24. "The descendants of Kharif, 112.

25. "The sons of Giv'on, 95.

26. "The men of Beyth-Lekhem and N'tofah, 188.

27. "The men of Anathoth, 128.

28. "The men of Beyth-Azmaveth, 42.

29. "The men of Qiryath Ye'arim, Kfirah, and Be'eroth, 743.

30. "The men of Ramah and Gava, 621.

31. "The men of Mikhmas, 122.

32. "The men of Beyth-El and Ai, 123

33. "The men of the other N'vo [numbered] 52.

34. "The descendants of the other Eylam, 1,254.

35. "The descendants of Kharim, 320.

36. "The sons of Yerikho, 345.

37. "The descendants of Lod, Khadid, and Ono, 721.

38. "The descendants of Sna’ah, 3,930

39. "The priests: The descendants of Y'dayah, of the household of Y'shua, 973.

40. "The descendants of Immer, 1,052.

41. "The descendants of Pashkhur, 1,247.

42. "The descendants of Kharim, 1,017.

43. "The Levites: the descendants of Y'shua, belonging to Qadmi'El, belonging to the descendants of Hodvah, 74.

44. "The singers: the sons of Asaf, 148.

45. "The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akuv, the descendants of Khatita, the descendants of Shovai, 138.

46. "The Assigned Ones: descendants of Tzikha, descendants of Khashufa, descendants of Tabbaoth,

47. descendants of Qeyros, descendants of Siy'a, descendants of Padon,

48. descendants of L’vanah, descendants of Khagava, descendants of Shalmai,

49. descendants of Khanan, descendants of Gidel, descendants of Gakhar,

50. descendants of R'ayah, descendants of Retzin, descendants of N'qodah,

51. descendants of Gazzam, descendants of Uzza, descendants of Paseakh,

52. descendants of Besai, descendants of Meunim, descendants of N’fiushesim,

53. descendants of Baqbuq, descendants of Khaqufa, descendants of Kharkhur,

54. descendants of Batzlith, descendants of M'khida, descendants of Kharsha,

55. descendants of Barqos, descendants of Sisra, descendants of Tamakh,

56. descendants of N'tziakh, descendants of Khatifa,

57. descendants of the servants of Shlomoh, descendants of Sotai, descendants of Sofereth, descendants of Pridah,

58. descendants of Yaalah, descendants of Darqon, descendants of Gidel,

59. descendants of Sh’fatyah, descendants of Khattil, descendants of Pokhereth haTz’vayim, descendants of Amon--

60. all the Assigned Ones and the descendants of the servants of Shlomoh [totaled] 392.

61. And these are the ones who went up from Tel Melakh, Tel Kharsha, Kruv, Adon, and Immer, but who were not able to tell whether they, their ancestral household, or their seed were of Israel:

62. The descendants of Delayah, descendants of Tovyah, descendants of N’qoda, 642.

63. And from among the priests, the descendants of Khavayah, descendants of the Qoz [thorn], descendants of Barzillai, who took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gil'adite as a wife, and was called by their name.

64. These were searching for their documentation among those who were enrolled according to genealogy, but it was not found, so they were released from the priesthood.

65. And the governor told them that they should not eat of the holiest of the holy [things] until a priest with the Urim and Thummim should be established.

66. The whole congregation as a unit [consisted of] 42,360,

67. apart from their servants and handmaids; these were 7,337, and among them 200 male and female singers.

68. Their horses [numbered] 736, their mules 245,

69. their camels 435, and their donkeys 6,720.

70. Now some of the heads of the ancestral [households] donated to the work. The governor donated to the storehouse [for] the work 1,000 darkmonim of gold, 50 pitchers, and 530 tunics of the priests.

71. Also, some of the heads of the ancestral [households] donated to the storehouse [for] the work 20,000 drakmonim of gold and 2,200 manim of silver.

72. And what the rest of the people donated was 20,000 drakmonim of gold, 2,000 manim of silver, and 67 tunics for the priests.

73. Then the priests, Levites, and [those] of the people--the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Assigned Ones--settled in their own cities, and all [the rest] of Israel in their cities. And as the seventh month was being reached, the descendants of Israel were in the cities.

CHAPTER 8

1. And all the people assembled themselves like one man into the open [plaza] that is I front of the Water Gate, and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Torah of Moshe, which YHWH had put Israel in charge of.

2. So Ezra the priest brought the Torah in front of the congregation (from men to women, whoever had the understanding to obey) on day one of the seventh month.

3. Then he read it aloud, in front of the open [plaza] that is facing the Water Gate from the [first] light until the middle of the day, near by the men and women who could understand, and the ears of all the people were toward the Book of the Torah.

4. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose, and Matithyah, Shema', Anayah, Uriyah, Khilkiyah, Maaseyah stood beside him on his right hand, while on his left [stood] Pedayah, Misha'El, Malkiyah, Khashum, Khashbadanah, Z'kharyah, and M'shulam.

5. Then Ezra opened the book for the eyes of all the people (because he was higher than all the people). And as he opened it, all the people stood up.

6. And Ezra bowed the knee to YHWH, the great Elohim, and all the people answered, "Amen! Indeed, let it be so!" while lifting up their hands. Then they bowed and worshipped YHWH with their noses to the earth.

7. And Y'shua, Bani, Sherevyah, Yamin, Aquv, Shabbethai, Hodiyah, Maaseyah, Q'lita, Azaryah, Yozavad, Khanan, P'la'yah, and the Levites provided the people with understanding of the Torah, while the people stood in their place.

8. And they read aloud clearly in the book of Elohim’s instruction, and established the sense, and they were perceiving [what was] read at the calling-out.

9. Then Nekhemyah, who was the governor, along with Ezra the priest (the scribe) and the Levites who had brought the people understanding of the Torah, said to all the people, "Today is dedicated to YHWH your Elohim. You must not mourn [for yourself] or weep." (Because the people were all weeping when they heard the words of the Torah.)

10. And he told them, "Go ahead and eat of the best parts, drink of the sweet [wine], and send portions to him for whom nothing is arranged, because today is dedicated to our Master. So don't be grieved, because the gladness of YHWH is your stronghold!"

11. Then the Levites began settling the people, saying, "Quiet down, because today is set apart; don’t be grieved."

12. So all the people went to eat, to drink, and to send away portions, and to make great merriment, because they had understood the words that were made known to them.

13. Then on the second day, the heads of the ancestral [households] of the whole nation, the priests, and the Levites gathered themselves unto Ezra the scribe and for the purpose of gaining insight into the words of the Torah.

14. And they found written in the Torah by which YHWH had given orders through the hand of Moshe that the descendants of Israel must dwell in temporary shelters during the feast of the seventh month,

15. and that they should make it heard and cause [the announcement] to pass throughout all their cities as well as in Yerushalayim, saying, "Go out [from] the mountain and bring olive branches and branches of the oily trees, branches of myrtle, and branches of date palms, and branches of trees with dense, interwoven foliage to make sukkoth [temporary shelters], as it is written."

16. So the people went out and brought [these things], and made sukkoth for themselves, each man on his roof or in their enclosed courtyards or in the courts of the House of Elohim, as well as in the plaza of the Water Gate and the plaza of the Gate of Efrayim.

17. So the whole congregation of those who returned from captivity made sukkoth and sat in the sukkoth, because since the days of Y'hoshua, the son of Nun until that day, the descendants of Israel had not carried this out. There was indeed very great merriment!

18. And he read aloud in the book of the Torah of Elohim day by day--from the first day until the last, and they accomplished the festival-gathering [for] seven days, and on the eighth day there was an encore, as the Torah [commands].

Festival-gathering: based on a word meaning "to reel" or "to dance", especially in a circle. So to fulfill the feats, this element should be present. Encore: the word includes the senses of continuation or carrying on what has been going on, an affectionate farewell, holding over, as well as bringing closure. Imagine what Sukkoth will be like when the Messiah returns and we carry out the feast together with Him in the Temple courts!

CHAPTER 9

1. Then on the twenty-fourth of this month, the descendants of Israel gathered themselves with fasting and with burlap and earth on themselves,

2. and the seed of Israel set about to separate themselves from all the sons of the foreigner, and they were standing and confessing to one another their sins and the perversities of their ancestors.

3. As they rose up upon their standing-place, they read aloud in the book of the Torah of YHWH their Elohim for a fourth of the day, and for a fourth of the day they were confessing and prostrating themselves to YHWH their Elohim.

4. Then Y'shua, Bani, Qadmiel, Sh'vanyah, Buni, Sherevyah, Bani, and Khanani got up on the staircase of the Levites and called out with a loud voice to YHWH their Elohim,

5. and the Levites--Y'shua, Qadmiel, Bani, Khashavniyah, Sherevyah, Hodiyah, Sh'vanyah, and P'thakhyah--said, "Rise up and bend the knee to YHWH your Elohim from age to age." Then, "May the weightiness of Your Name, which is raised up above all blessing and adoration, be blessed!

6. "It is You, O YHWH who alone have made the heavens--the heavens of heavens, and all their armies, the earth and all that is upon it, the seas and all that is in them, and You keep them all alive, and the army of the heavens bows down to You.

7. "You are the One, YHWH, the Elohim who chose Avram and brought him out from Ur of the Khasdim, and appointed him the name Avraham,

8. "and you found his heart to be reliable before Your face, and cut with him the covenant to entrust the Land of the Kanaanite, the Khittite, the Emorite, the Prizzite, the Y'vusite, and the Girgashite--to give [it] to his seed, and You have upheld Your words, because You are righteous.

9. "You also noticed the oppression of our ancestors in Egypt, and listened to their cry of distress at the Sea of Reeds,

10. "and You employed distinguishing sign and miracles on Par'oh and on all his servants and on all the people of his land, because You knew that they were dealing arrogantly against them, and You made a Name for Yourself, just as [You have done on] this day!

11. "Then You split the sea in front of them, and they crossed over in the middle of the sea on dry land. And You threw the ones who were chasing them into the depths like a stone into the fierce waters.

12. "Then by day You guided them with a column of cloud, and a column of fire by night to light for them the way in which they should walk.

13. "And on Mount Sinai You came down and spoke with them from the heavens and gave them straightforward [standards by which] to judge and trustworthy instructions, prescribed customs, and beneficial commandments,

14. "and You made known to them Your set-apart Sabbath, and by the hand of Moshe Your servant You ordered them [with] commands, prescribed customs, and instruction.

15. "You also gave them bread from the heavens for their hunger, and brought them water out of a rock for their thirst, and You promised that they would go in and take possession of the Land You had raised Your hand to give them.

16. "But they and our fathers acted insolently and hardened the backs of their necks, and did not listen to Your commands.

17. "and they utterly refused to obey, and did not remember Your wonders that You had done among them. Rather, they hardened the back of their necks and in their rebellion appointed a head to go back to their bondage. But You are a forgiving Eloah, showing favor and full of pity, slow to anger and great in mercy, and You did not forsake them.

18. "Even when they had made for themselves a cast-metal calf and said, 'This is your Elohim, who brought you up out of Egypt' and acted with great contempt,

19. "still, in Your abounding pity, You did not abandon them in the wilderness; [You] did not turn the pillar of cloud away from them by day to lead them on the way or the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way in which they should walk.

20. "You also gave them Your Spirit of Appropriateness to cause them to act with consideration, and did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.

21. "Indeed, forty years You carried them through the wilderness; they suffered no lack. Their outer garments did not wear out, and their feet did not become blistered.

22. "Then You granted them dominions and peoples and distributed the plunder to the side, and they took possession of the land of Sikhon, that is, the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

23. "And You multiplied their descendants like the stars of the skies and brought them into the land that You had promised to their fathers, so that [they should] go in and take possession of it.

24. "So the sons went in and dispossessed the Land, and You brought the inhabitants of the Land--the Kanaanites--into subjection before them, and handed them over to them--both their kings and the people of the Land, to do with them as they pleased.

25. So they seized inaccessible cities and robust soil and took possession of houses full of all [kinds of] nice property, wells [already] dug, vineyards, olive [orchard]s, and abundant trees from which one can eat, and they did eat and were full, and became fat, and delighted themselves in Your great beneficence.

26. "Still they disobeyed and rebelled against You and cast off Your instruction behind their backs, and they murdered Your prophets, who testified against them in order to turn them back to You, and acted with great contempt.

27. "So You handed them over to their adversaries, who oppressed them, and in the time of their anguish, when they cried out to You [for help], You heard from the heavens, and in accordance with Your plentiful mercies, You granted them deliverers, who liberated them from the hands of their oppressors.

28. "But after they had a respite, they went back to doing evil in Your presence, and You left them in the hand of their enemies, and they trod them down. But they came back and cried out to You [for help], and from the heavens You heard and in accordance with Your compassions, You rescued them many times,

29. "and solemnly warned them to turn them back to Your Torah, but they were proudly defiant and did not listen to Your orders, and missed the target in Your legal procedures (which, if a person carries out, he will thrive by them), and they showed a stubborn shoulder and hardened the back of their neck, and would not listen.

30. "Yet for many years You postponed [the judgment] on them and solemnly warned them by Your Spirit through the hand of Your prophets, but they would not give ear, so You handed them over to the peoples of the lands.

31. "Yet in Your abundant compassions, You did not make a complete end of them, nor did You forsake them, because You are a compassionate El who shows pity.

32. "So now, our Elohim--the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring El--who keeps covenant and [retains] lovingkindness, do not let all the hardship that has fallen upon us (for our kings, our leaders, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and Your whole people) since the days of the kings of Ashur to this day seem trivial before You--

33. "though You are just in regard to all that came upon us, because You have acted reliably, but we have been guilty,

34. "in that our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our ancestors have not carried out Your instruction nor obeyed Your orders or listened to the evidence that You brought as witness against them.

35. "And in their kingdom, despite Your great beneficence that You bestowed on them and the wide and rich Land that You had laid out before them, they did not serve You nor turn from their evil practices.

36. "Look at us today--we are slaves, and the Land that You gave to our ancestors to eat of its fruit and of the beneficence of the Land, indeed, we are slaves within it,

37. "and it is yielding abundant produce for the kings whom You have set over us in our sinning, and they are exercising dominion over our bodies and our livestock whenever they wish, and we are in great distress.

CHAPTER 10

1. "So in all of this, we are cutting a covenant and documenting it, and our leaders--Levites and priests--are in the process of being sealed."

2. Now the ones being sealed [were] Nekhemyah the governor, the son of Hakhalyah, as well as Tsidqiyah [YHWH is My righteousness],

3. Serayah [YHWH is ruler], Azaryah [YHWH has helped], Yirmiyah [YHWH has appointed],

4. Pashkhur [freedom], Amaryah [YHWH has promised], Malkiyah [My king is YHWH],

5. Khattush [assembled], Sh'vanyah [increased by YHWH], Malukh [counselor],

6. Kharim [dedicated], M'remoth [elevations], Ovadyah [servant of YHWH],

7. Daniel [El is my judge], Ginthon [gardener], Barukh [blessed],

8. M'shulam [man of peace], Aviyah [my father is YHWH], Miyamin [from the right hand],

9. Maazyah [consolation of YHWH], Vilgai [my cheerfulness], Shema'yah [YHWH has listened]; these [were] the priests.

10. And the Levites were both Y'shua [deliverance] the son of Azanyah [YHWH gives ear], Binnui [built up] of the sons of Khenadad, Qadmiel [El is the ancient One],

11. as well as their relatives, Sh'vanyah [increased by YHWH], Hodiyah [YHWH is my majesty], Q'lita [crippled], P'layah [YHWH does wonders], Khanan [favor],

12. Mikha [who is like him?], Rekhov [broad place], Khashavyah [YHWH has considered],

13. Zakkur [mindful], Shrevyah [YHWH has scorched], Sh'vanyah,

14. Hodiyah, Bani [built up], Beninu [our son].

15. The heads of the people [were] Par'osh [flea], Pakhath-Moav [pit of Moav], Eylam [eternity], Zattu [his brightness], Bani,

16. Buni [built up], Azgad [Gad is mighty], Bevai [my cavities],

17. Adoniyah [my master is YHWH], Bigvai [in my bodies], Adin [delicate],

18. Ater [one who binds], Hizqiyah [my strength is YHWH], Azur [assistant],

19. Hodiyah, Khashum [rich], Betzai [conqueror],

20. Kharif [plucking off], Anathoth [answers to prayer], Neubai [flourishing],

21. Magpiash [moth-killer], M'shulam, Khazir [swine],

22. M'sheyzav'el [Elohim delivers], Tzadoq [righteous], Yaddua [knowledgeable],

23. Platyah [YHWH brings escape], Khanan [favor], Anayah [YHWH has answered],

24. Hoshea [salvation], Khananyah [YHWH has shown favor], Khashuv [considerate],

25. Halokhesh [whisperer], Pilkha [slicing], Shoveq [free],

26. R'khum [compassion], Khashavnah [reasoning], Maaseyah [work of YHWH],

27. and Akhiyah [YHWH is my kinsman], Khanan, Anan [cloud],

28. Malukh, Kharim, Baanah [in affliction].

29. And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Assigned Ones, were all being separated from the peoples of the lands unto the Torah of Elohim, along with their wives, their sons, and their daughters--[who were] all perceptive [and] having insight--

30. [and] were holding fast to their kinsmen, their majestic ones, and entering into an oath, swearing to walk in the Torah of Elohim that was given through the hand of Moshe, the servant of Elohim, and to guard and carry out all the orders of YHWH our Master, as well as His legal procedures and prescribed customs.

31. We also [swore] that we would not give our daughters to the people of the Land, nor would we take their daughters for our sons,

32. and when the people of the Land bring merchandise or foodstuffs on the Sabbath day, we would not accept [anything] from them on the Sabbath or a holy day, and let [the Land] lie fallow the seventh year, along with the interest of every hand.

33. And we set up ordinances over ourselves to set aside a third of a sheqel for the service of the House of our Elohim,

34. for the Bread set in order, for the regular tribute, the regular ascending offering for the Sabbaths, new moons, for the appointed times, the sin offerings to effect a covering over Israel, and all the work of the House of our Elohim.

35. Then we let the lots fall for the priests, Levites, and the people for the bringing near of the pieces of wood, to bring it into the House of our Elohim for our ancestral household year by year to burn on the altar of YHWH our Elohim at the fixed times, as it is written in the Torah,

36. and also to bring the firstfruits of our soil and the firstfruiits of all trees year by year to the House of YHWH,

37. and to bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as it is written in the Torah, and to bring in the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the House of our Elohim for the priests who minister in the House of our Elohim,

38. and that we would bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, and the fruit of every tree, new wine and fresh oil to the chambers of the House of our Elohim for the priests, and the tithes of our soil for the Levites, and that they, the Levites, might receive the tithes in all the cities where we labored,

39. and that the priest [who is] the son of Aharon should be with the Levites during the tithing of the Levites, and the Levites should bring a tenth of the tithe to the House of our Elohim--to the rooms of the storehouse,

40. because the descendants of Israel and the sons of Levi must bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine, and the fresh oil, and the utensils of the sanctuary will be there along with the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers. Indeed, we will not abandon the House of our Elohim!

         We need to have the same resolve as we are again in the same process of restoring what our ancestors forfeited. Notice, thought, that they did more than make a resolution; they put themselves under an oath (v. 30-31), which is essentially a curse on themselves if they failed to fulfill it. (Compare Mal. 4:5-6)

CHAPTER 11

1. While the rulers of the nation settled in Yerushalayim, the rest of the people let lots fall to bring one of the ten percent to live in Yerushalayim, the holy city, and the [other] nine hands in the [outlying] cities.

2. And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to remain in Yerushalayim.

3. Now these are the heads of the district who lived in Yerushalayim (while in the cities of Yehudah [each] man dwelt on his inherited property within their cities of Israel): the priests, the Levites, the Assigned ones, and the descendants of Shlomoh’s servants.

4. Also, some of the descendants of Yehudah and some of the descendants of Binyamin lived in Yerushalayim. From the descendants of Yehudah [there were] Athayah the son of Uzziyah the son of Z'kharyah the son of Amaryah the son of Sh'fatyah the son of Mahalal'el, of the descendants of Paretz,

5. as well as Maaseyah the son of Barukh the son of Kol-Khozeh the son of Khazayah the son of Adayah the son of Yoyariv the son of Z'kharyah the son of the Shilonite.

6. All the descendants of Paretz who lived in Yerushalayim [totaled] 468 capable men.

7. And these are the descendants of Binyamin: Sallu the son of M’shulam the son of Yoed the son of P'dayah the son of Qolayah the son of Maaseyah the son of Ithiel the son of Y’shayah,

8. and after him, Gabbai, Salai, 928,

9. and Yoel the son of Zikhri [was] in charge over them, and Yehudah the son of Snuah [was] second over the city.

10. From the priests: Y'dayah the son of Yoyariv, Yakhin,

11. Serayah the son of Khilqiyah the son of M'shulam the son of Tzadoq the son of M'rayoth the son of Akhituv, the overseer [who ruled] the House of Elohim.

12. And their relatives who did the work of the House [numbered] 822. And Adayah the son of Y'rokham the son of Pelalyah the son of Amtzi the son of Z'kharyah the son of Pashkhur the son of Malkhiyah,

13. and his relatives, heads of the fathers' [households], 242. And Amashsai [burdensome] the son of Azar'el the son of Akhazai the son of M'shilemoth the son of Immer,

14. and their relatives, mighty men of valor, [numbered] 128, and Zavdiel, son of the great men, was in charge over them.

15. And from the Levites [there were] Shema'yah the son of Khashuv the son of Azriqam the son of Khashavyah the son of Buni.

16. And Shabtai and Yozavad, from among the heads of the Levites, [were] over the external business of the House of Elohim.

17. And Mathanyah the son of Mikha the son of Zavdi the son of Asaf was the head of the opening of thanksgiving for prayer, and Baqbuqyah was the second among his brothers, along with Avda the son of Shammua the son of Galal the son of Y'duthun.

18. All the Levites in the Holy City [numbered] 284.

19. Then the gatekeepers, Aquv, Talmon, and their relatives who guarded the gates, 172.

20. And the rest of Israel, the priests, the Levites, [were] in all the cities of Yehudah, each on his inherited property.

21. And the Assigned Ones lived in the Ofel, and Tzikha and Gishpa were over the Assigned Ones.

22. And the one in charge of the Levites in Yerushalayim was Uzzi the son of Bani the son of Khashavyah the son of Mathanyah the son of Mikha. Of the descendants of Asaf, the singers were to the front of the work of the House of Elohim,

23. because it was the king's command concerning them that certain [ones should be] over the singers, the day's matter on its day.

24. And P'thakhyah the son of M'sheyzav’el, from the descendants of Zerakh the son of Yehudah, was at the king’s hand in every matter concerning the people.

25. And for the [enclosed] villages in their fields, some of the descendants of Yehudah lived in Kiryath-haArba and its suburbs and in Divon and its suburbs, and in Y'qabtz'el and its suburbs,

26. and in Yeshua and in M'ladah and in Beyth-Palet

27. and in Khatzar-Shual and in Be'er-Sheva and its suburbs

28. and in Tziqlawg [winding] and in M'khonah [foundation] and its suburbs

29. and in Eyn-Rimmon [spring of the pomegranate] and in Tzar'ah and in Yarmuth,

30. Zanoakh, Adullam, and their [enclosed] villages, Lakhish and its villages, Azeqah and its villages; and they camped from Be'er-Sheva all the way to the Valley of Hinnom.

31. And the descendants of Binyamin from Gava' [lived in] Mikhmash, Aiyah, and Beyth-El with its suburbs,

32. Anathoth, Nov, Ananyah,

33. Khatzor, Ramah, Githayim,

34. Khadid, Tz'voim, N’vallat,

35. Lod, and Ono, the Valley of the [Secret] Craftsmen.

36. And from the Levites, the allotments of Yehudah belonged to Binyamin.

CHAPTER 12

1. Now these are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubavel the son of Sh'altiel and Y'shua: Serayah, Yirmeyah, Ezra,

2. Amaryah, Malukh, Khattush,

3. Sh'khanyah, R'khum, M'remoth,

4. Iddo, Ginthoy, Aviyah,

5. Miyamin, Maadyah, Bilgah,

6. Shema'yah, Yoyariv, Y'dayah,

7. Sallu, Amoq, Khilqiyah, Y'dayah; these were the heads of the cohanim and their brothers in the days of Y'shua.

8. And the Levites [were] Y'shua, Binnui, Qadmiel, Sherevyah, Yehudah. Mathanyah [was] over the songs of thanks--he and his brothers.

9. Then Baqbuqyah and Unni; their brothers [were] toward the front of them to keep guard.

10. And Y'shua fathered Yoyaqim, then Yoyaqim fathered Elyashiv, and Elyashiv fathered Yoyada,

11. and Yoyada fathered fathered Yonathan, and Yonathan fathered Yaddua.

12. Now in the days of Yoyaqim [those] who were the heads of the fathers' [households among the] priests [were]: for [the household of] Serayah, Merayah; for [the household of] Yirmeyah, Khananyah;

13. for Ezra, M'shulam; for Amaryah, Y'hokhanan;

14. for M’likhu, Yonathan; for Sh'vanyah, Yosef;

15. for Kharim, Adna; for M'rayoth, Khelqai;

16. for Iddo, Z'kharyah; for Ginthon, M'shulam;

17. for Aviyah, Zikhri; for Minyamin, belonging to Moadyah, [was] Piltai;

18. for Bilgah, Shammua; for Shema'yah, Y'honathan;

19. for Yoyariv, Mathnai; for Y'dayah, Uzzi;

20. for Sallai, Qallai; for Amoq, Ever;

21. for Khilqiyah, Khashavyah; for Y'dayah, N'than'el.

22. The Levites in the days of Elyashiv--Yoyada', Yokhanan, and Yaddua--were listed as the heads of the fathers along with the priests, until the reign of Daryush the Persian.

23. The sons of the Levites, the heads of the fathers, are listed on the Scroll of the Words of the Days [which records] up to the days of Yokhanan the son of Elyashiv.

24. And the heads of the Levites [were] Khashavyah, Sherevyah, Y'shua the son of Qadmiel, with their brothers toward the front of them to make them shine, to give thanks by the command of David, the man of Elohim, posted guard alongside of posted guard.

25. Mathanyah, Baqbuqyah, Ovadyah, M'shulam, Talmon, [and] Aqub were guarding the gates--the guard posted at the threshold of the gates.

26. These [were] in the days of Yoyaqim the son of Y'shua the son of Yotzadaq, and in the days of Nekhemyah the governor and Ezra the priest, the scribe.

27. Now at the dedication of the wall of Yerushalayim, they searched out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Yerushalayim, to effect the dedication with joy, with thanks, and with song, cymbals, harps, and lyres.

28. And the sons of the singers gathered themselves both from the district around Yerushalayim and the villages of N'tofathi,

29. as well as from the House of Gilgal and out of the fields of Geva’ and Azmaveth, since the singers had built villages for themselves all around Yerushalayim.

30. And the cohanim and Levites purified themselves; then they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

31. Then I brought the leaders of Yehudah up onto the wall, and appointed two great thanksgiving-choirs and [set up] a procession to the right from on top of the wall to the Refuse Gate.

32. Then after them went Hoshayah and half of the leaders of Yehudah--

33. that is, Azaryah, Ezra, M'shulam,

34. Yehudah, Binyamin, Shema'yah, and Yirmeyah,

35. and some of the priests' sons on [silver] trumpets--Z'kharyah the son of Yonathan the son of Shema'yah the son of Mathanyah the son of Mikhayah the son of Zakkur the son of Asaf,

36. and his relatives, Shema'yah and Azar'el, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, N'than'el, and Yehudah Khanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of Elohim, and Ezra the scribe was in front of them

37. Then at the Gate of the Spring and in front of them, they went up by way of the stairs of the City of David at the ascent of the wall above the House of David and as far as the Water Gate toward the sunrise.

38. And the second thanksgiving-choir that walked opposite them, and I followed it along with half of the people from on top of the wall from above the Tower of the Furnaces as far as the Broad Wall,

39. and from above the Gate of Efrayim and above the Old Gate and above the Gate of the Fishes and the Tower of Khanan'el and the Tower of the Hundred as far as the Gate of the Flock, and they stopped at the Prison Gate.

40. Then the two thanksgiving-choirs took their stand in the House of Elohim along with myself and half of the deputies with me,

41. then the cohanim, Elyaqim, Maaseyah, Minyamin, Mikhayah, Elioeynai, Z'kharyah, [and] Khananyah, with trumpets,

42. then Maaseyah, Shema'yah, El'azar, Uzzi, Y'hokhanan, Malkiyah, Eylam, and Ezer, and the singers sounded aloud, with Yizrakhyah being in charge.

43. And on that day they slaughtered great offerings and rejoiced, because Elohim had made them glad with great joy, and the women and children also rejoiced, so the rejoicing of Yerushalayim was even heard from far away.

44. And on that day, men were appointed [to be] over the rooms for the storehouses, for the contributions, for the first[fruits], and for the tithes, to collect them in for the fields of the cities from the portions [assigned by] the Torah for the priests and for the Levites who were stationed,

45. and both the singers and the gatekeepers guarded what their Elohim had put them in charge of according to the command of David and his son Shlomoh,

46. since in the former days of David and Asaf [there had been] heads for the singers and songs of praise and thanks to Elohim.

47. So in the days of Zerubavel and in the days of Nekhemyah, all of Israel donated portions [assigned] to the singers and gatekeepers, a day's item on its day, and they would set apart [what was] for the Levites, and the Levites would set apart [what was] for the sons of Aharon.

A day's item: or, a day's word. Notice the flow of how the contributions were made holier and holier in turn when Israel was functioning as it was intended to. This is the goal toward which we must begin gearing all of our activities today, as the Kingdom draws nearer and nearer. The framework and infrastructure must be set up so that when Y'shua arrives, the flow can begin and not cease again.

CHAPTER 13

1. On that day they read aloud from the Book of Moshe in the hearing of the people. And in it there was found written that the Ammonite and the Moavite should never come into the congregation of Elohim,

2. because they did not meet the descendants of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Bilaam against them to curse them, but our Elohim turned the curse into a blessing.

3. And when they heard the instruction, what they did was separate all the mixed multitude from Israel.

4. Now prior to this, Elyashiv the cohen who was entrusted with the chamber of the House of our Elohim, had become close to Tovyah

Tovyah (in the context of v. 1) was an Ammonite and the servant of Sanballat. (2:10)

5. and had prepared for him a large chamber, where they used to put the grain offering, the frankincense, the utensils, the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the fresh oil, the orders of the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers, as well as the contributions of the priests.

6. But during all this I was not in Yerushalayim, because in the thirty-second year of Artakhshasta, King of Bavel, I approached the king, and at the end of days I asked [leave of absence] from the king,

7. When I came to Yerushalayim and realized the evil thing that Elyashiv had done for Tovyah by preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the House of Elohim,

8. and it grieved me deeply [to the point of trembling], and I threw all the utensils of Tovyah's household out of the chamber.

9. Then I gave the order, and they purified the chambers, and I put the utensils of the House of Elohim back there along with the grain offering and the frankincense.

10. And I found out that the portions [belonging to] the Levites had not been donated, so each of the Levites and singers who carried out the work had hurried to his field.

11. So I complained to the deputies and said, "Why has the House of Elohim been abandoned?" Then I gathered them together and stationed them in their standing-place.

12. Then all of Yehudah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the fresh oil into the storehouses.

13. And I set treasurers over the storehouses: Shelemyah the priest, Tzadoq the scribe, P'dayah from the Levites, and at their hand was Khanan the son of Zakkur the son of Mathanyah, because they were considered reliable, so it was [put] upon them to assign portions to their kinsmen.

14. (Remember me, O my Elohim, in this regard, and do not let the kind deeds that I have done for the House of my Elohim or its observances be wiped out!)

15. In those days I noticed in Yehudah some treading out winepresses on the Sabbath, bringing sheaves and loading up donkeys—in fact, even wine, grapes, figs, and all [kinds of] burdens—and they were bringing them into Yerushalayim on the Sabbath day! So I solemnly warned them on the day they sold foodstuffs.

16. And people from Tzur lived in her, and brought in fish and all [kinds of] merchandise and were selling to the descendants of Yehudah and in Yerushalayim on the Sabbath.

17. So I complained to the nobles of Yehudah, and said to them, "What [kind of] evil thing is this that you are doing, and profaning the Sabbath day?

18. "Didn't your ancestors do the same thing, so that our Elohim brought all this misery on us and on this city? Yet you'd bring still more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath?"

19. So when the gates of Yerushalayim began to grow shaded before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut, and ordered that they not be opened until after the Sabbath, and I stationed some of my young men over the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the Sabbath.

20. And all the traders and sellers of merchandise passed one or both nights outside Yerushalayim.

21. Then I protested against them and said to them, "Why are you staying right in front of the wall? If you do [it] again, I will let a hand loose against you!" From that time [on], they did not come on the Sabbath.

22. And I told the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as the guards of the gates to set the Sabbath day apart. ([For] this, too, remember me, O my Elohim, and look with compassion upon me according to the abundance of Your lovingkindness!)

23. In those days I also saw the Jews who had provided a dwelling for women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moav,

24. and their children spoke half in the language of Ashdod, and they had no recognition of the Jewish language, but according to the language of [one] people or [another] people.

25. So I protested against them and treated them with contempt, and struck some of the men among them, and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by Elohim: "If you give your daughters to their sons, or carry away their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

26. "Wasn't it by such things that King Shlomoh, like of Israel, sinned? Though among all nations there was no king like him so beloved by his Elohim, and Elohim set him as king over all of Israel, but the foreign women caused even him to sin.

27. "Should we listen to you and do all this great evil by acting treacherously against our Elohim by living with foreign wives?"

28. Now one of the sons of Yoyada', the son of Elyashiv the high priest, was Sanballat the Khoronite's son-in-law, so I chased him away from me.

29. (Remember them, my Elohim, on account of [the fact that] they have desecrated the priesthood, the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites!)

30. So I purged them of all foreign elements, and appointed the priests as guards and the Levites, [each] man to his job--

31. that is, for the bringing near of the wood at the appointed times and for the firstfruits. (Remember me, O my Elohim, for pleasant [things]!)